"Not now," Cond growled into the darkness.
"You got what you wanted."
"Yeah. It's still not over."
"Now it's my turn."
Cond leapt up, "Like hell it is. We had a deal. You get the information when I get Kleer."
"You don't have much longer."
"And you think you can make me tell you where the others are hiding?"
"I don't doubt it."
"You're mistaken. You don't belong here."
"I'm gone for now. But you're time is running out."
"Don't cross me White. You don't want me as an enemy."
Ames White smiled and turned away, "You don't know the half of it."
"Send 626 and 589 to my tent once they return."
"Yes, sir," the guard stood at attention as White passed.
Caine wiped his blade in the grass in an attempt to remove the blood on it but he succeeded in only leaving murky streaks. He wasn't a fan of White's new policy of removing barcodes as proof of the kill but he wasn't about to challenge his authority. Freedon closed the plastic sleeve that contained the new barcode and slid the book containing dozens of barcodes into the duffel bag over his shoulder. "It's getting slow around here," Freedon remarked as the two of them walked back to camp.
"Any transgenic stupid enough to hang around here deserves what they get," Caine replied halfheartedly though they both regretted every kill.
"Splinter 7 this is base, over," shouted the walkie talking strapped just behind Freedon's shoulder.
Reaching around he clicked the send button and spoke back into the receiver, "This is Splinter 7."
"What's your status?"
"We have confirmation of another kill."
"Good, you're needed back here. Report to White upon arrival."
"Understood, over."
They had never stopped for a moment but their pace had slowed considerably, "Wonder what the freak wants now," Caine groaned.
"I really don't want to know. It's only a matter of time before he doesn't need us anymore."
"I'd say that time is approaching quickly. Not much action left around here."
"You think it's a problem?" Freedon questioned.
"With the X-7's he has total blind loyalty. Maybe we should think about getting out of here."
"Abandon our mission?" Freedon replied in shock.
"Not exactly," Caine started, "but I think it's time we tried to find Lydecker. Maybe he'll know what to do. I trust him a lot more than this one."
"Maybe you're right. But when should we leave?"
"Let's see what White has to say first. If we don't show up soon then he'll send someone after us. But if he has an assignment for us then we'll have more time to get away."
"But what if it's a trap?" Freedon asked.
"Then we'll have to fight our way out."
"And Terrence?"
"Oh, he's coming with us. I'm not leaving him to get his barcode torn off."
The thought presented a gruesome picture in their minds as they found themselves on the edge of the perimeter. A group of identical X-7's eyed them through their cold black eyes and Caine fought down a shiver and tried to grasp to his superior rank. He wondered if they feared him at all or even respected him. Deeper, he wondered if they thought or felt at all. Caine wasn't sure which answer would more surprise him.
The two of them went straight to White's tent and knocked on the guide pole, waiting for White to give them entrance. "Come in," a voice called from inside.
Pulling apart the tent flaps to the largest tent would usually yield a luxurious residence of whatever leader resided inside. But not in White's tent. Inside were boards filled with charts and maps of the surrounding area as well as dozens of print outs of genetic make-ups and sketchy lists of the residents of the lower levels of Manticore. A twin sized cot rested in the corner of the room with a single blanket and pillow folded on top of it. White sat at a large drafting table with a mug of coffee as he poured over perimeter patrol routes and callsigns.
"Sir?" Caine stated as he and Freedon stood at attention.
White looked up as if just realizing he had invited them in and swiveled around on his stool. He looked as if he was already bored at their presence and wanted them to leave. "I've got a lead on some anomalies in the Seattle/Portland area and I want you three to check it out. They may have information regarding where a larger group of these transgenics are hiding." White's voice bred contempt at the thought of the anomalies and it left a bitter taste in his mouth that lasted as he stared at the two in front of him. "By you three I mean you and 6 872."
"The field office has everything ready for you," White continued. He looked at the two for several moments, "Why is it you're not already leaving?"
Caine was caught off guard and immediately began pushing Freedon out the tent flaps and back outside. The two of them hurried to the field office where several packs were lying on the floor with several sets of identification strapped to the packs. No one even looked up at them and it gave them both the feeling that they didn't exist. That they weren't important enough to acknowledge. Freedon noticed they had two full packs but there wasn't anything for Terrence.
Stepping to the table where a young man was filling out forms, Freedon spoke up, "Where is X-6 872?"
The man looked up to Freedon but it still felt like he was looking down on him. "872 left about 2 hours ago on an outgoing supply truck. You're to meet up with him in Portland. You're Hum-V is in the North Block in slot 7-B." He then went back to his paperwork as if Freedon had already gone. Picking up his bag, he followed after Caine and no one in that room would remember their presence.
"You got what you wanted."
"Yeah. It's still not over."
"Now it's my turn."
Cond leapt up, "Like hell it is. We had a deal. You get the information when I get Kleer."
"You don't have much longer."
"And you think you can make me tell you where the others are hiding?"
"I don't doubt it."
"You're mistaken. You don't belong here."
"I'm gone for now. But you're time is running out."
"Don't cross me White. You don't want me as an enemy."
Ames White smiled and turned away, "You don't know the half of it."
"Send 626 and 589 to my tent once they return."
"Yes, sir," the guard stood at attention as White passed.
Caine wiped his blade in the grass in an attempt to remove the blood on it but he succeeded in only leaving murky streaks. He wasn't a fan of White's new policy of removing barcodes as proof of the kill but he wasn't about to challenge his authority. Freedon closed the plastic sleeve that contained the new barcode and slid the book containing dozens of barcodes into the duffel bag over his shoulder. "It's getting slow around here," Freedon remarked as the two of them walked back to camp.
"Any transgenic stupid enough to hang around here deserves what they get," Caine replied halfheartedly though they both regretted every kill.
"Splinter 7 this is base, over," shouted the walkie talking strapped just behind Freedon's shoulder.
Reaching around he clicked the send button and spoke back into the receiver, "This is Splinter 7."
"What's your status?"
"We have confirmation of another kill."
"Good, you're needed back here. Report to White upon arrival."
"Understood, over."
They had never stopped for a moment but their pace had slowed considerably, "Wonder what the freak wants now," Caine groaned.
"I really don't want to know. It's only a matter of time before he doesn't need us anymore."
"I'd say that time is approaching quickly. Not much action left around here."
"You think it's a problem?" Freedon questioned.
"With the X-7's he has total blind loyalty. Maybe we should think about getting out of here."
"Abandon our mission?" Freedon replied in shock.
"Not exactly," Caine started, "but I think it's time we tried to find Lydecker. Maybe he'll know what to do. I trust him a lot more than this one."
"Maybe you're right. But when should we leave?"
"Let's see what White has to say first. If we don't show up soon then he'll send someone after us. But if he has an assignment for us then we'll have more time to get away."
"But what if it's a trap?" Freedon asked.
"Then we'll have to fight our way out."
"And Terrence?"
"Oh, he's coming with us. I'm not leaving him to get his barcode torn off."
The thought presented a gruesome picture in their minds as they found themselves on the edge of the perimeter. A group of identical X-7's eyed them through their cold black eyes and Caine fought down a shiver and tried to grasp to his superior rank. He wondered if they feared him at all or even respected him. Deeper, he wondered if they thought or felt at all. Caine wasn't sure which answer would more surprise him.
The two of them went straight to White's tent and knocked on the guide pole, waiting for White to give them entrance. "Come in," a voice called from inside.
Pulling apart the tent flaps to the largest tent would usually yield a luxurious residence of whatever leader resided inside. But not in White's tent. Inside were boards filled with charts and maps of the surrounding area as well as dozens of print outs of genetic make-ups and sketchy lists of the residents of the lower levels of Manticore. A twin sized cot rested in the corner of the room with a single blanket and pillow folded on top of it. White sat at a large drafting table with a mug of coffee as he poured over perimeter patrol routes and callsigns.
"Sir?" Caine stated as he and Freedon stood at attention.
White looked up as if just realizing he had invited them in and swiveled around on his stool. He looked as if he was already bored at their presence and wanted them to leave. "I've got a lead on some anomalies in the Seattle/Portland area and I want you three to check it out. They may have information regarding where a larger group of these transgenics are hiding." White's voice bred contempt at the thought of the anomalies and it left a bitter taste in his mouth that lasted as he stared at the two in front of him. "By you three I mean you and 6 872."
"The field office has everything ready for you," White continued. He looked at the two for several moments, "Why is it you're not already leaving?"
Caine was caught off guard and immediately began pushing Freedon out the tent flaps and back outside. The two of them hurried to the field office where several packs were lying on the floor with several sets of identification strapped to the packs. No one even looked up at them and it gave them both the feeling that they didn't exist. That they weren't important enough to acknowledge. Freedon noticed they had two full packs but there wasn't anything for Terrence.
Stepping to the table where a young man was filling out forms, Freedon spoke up, "Where is X-6 872?"
The man looked up to Freedon but it still felt like he was looking down on him. "872 left about 2 hours ago on an outgoing supply truck. You're to meet up with him in Portland. You're Hum-V is in the North Block in slot 7-B." He then went back to his paperwork as if Freedon had already gone. Picking up his bag, he followed after Caine and no one in that room would remember their presence.
