The pain started as a dull ache in his shoulders. Slowly, it spread up through the muscles to his elbows and eventually the wrists. As the arms went numb, his eyes blinked once or twice and opened. The world around him swayed, not just from the excruciating pain in his head, but also from the fact he was hanging by his wrists from a rafter.
"I see you have finally decided to grace us with your presence." A voice said to his left as the owner of the voice walked into his field of vision.
"How are you feeling, out mysterious friend?" the man asked. A name was assigned to the man from Shockwave's memory...Headman.
"Haven't felt better in years. You should open a spa or something."
"Still you insist upon relying on humor and sarcasm." Headman spoke, shaking his head disapprovingly. "It would be some much easier if you would just tell me what I want to know."
"Easier, but where's the fun in that?" Shockwave smirked.
"Touché." As Headman flipped a switch, the dull ache in Shockwave's upper body turned to fire as electricity surged through his body. His spine jerked as the current ran through his body, in one arm and back out the other. Just as quickly as it started, the current stopped. Trembling, Shock looked back up at Headman.
"Something I added while you were napping. I don't like your behavior and you get to be a light bulb." Headman tapped the switch. "Now, let's try again. Who are you here and why are you here?"
"Bond, James Bond. I'm here to stop your diamond cannon."
"Tsk, tsk, tsk." The switch activated once more as the sounds of Shockwave pain filled the room. As quickly as it had begun, the pain fades once more, the smell of ozone lingering. "Please. Try again."
"Seriously..." Shockwave's voice trembled. "The Lotus Esprit is in the parking lot. Or use my phone. Ask for Q." As his hand flipped the switch, a look of frustration crossed Headman's face. Twisting in agony, Shockwave's went rigid as the muscles constricted. A ghastly wail of pain echoed through the corridors as the smell of burning flesh permeated the air. After what felt like an eternity passed, the current cut off and Shockwave went limp in the chains as he was unceremoniously dumped onto the cold concrete. The flesh around his wrists had reddened and charred in spots as small wisps of smoke rose from the ruined skin.
A shadow blocked the overhead lights, which had previously blinded Shockwave.
"You are an enigma. And I hate not knowing what I desire to know. Tell me what I desire and our doctor will bandage your wounds."
"Fuck...off."
"Rrrrraaaaaaghhhhhhhh!!!!!!!" the roar of anger tore through the room as Headman slammed his boot into Shockwave's midsection, causing him to curl into a fetal position, a groan of pain escaping his lips. Twice more the boot connected with Shockwave before Headman turned away in disgust.
"What do we do with him?" a guard asked. "Leave him?"
"What do you think?!" Headman's eyes cut through the man like a katana through butter.
"Sir?" the man managed to reply as he stumbled back.
"Bring the doctor! Use that bitch to heal him. If she cannot, kill her." Those words were the final thing Shockwave heard before passing out from the pain.
The steel door clattered as it slammed into the wall. A young raven hair woman looked across the room at the intruder.
"Let's go." The guard ordered.
"You can't keep me here forever!" the woman screamed. "Someone will find me!"
"Unlikely."
"I'm an officer of the United States Army! My government will find me!"
"I am really getting sick of this." The guard snapped, crossing the room and grabbing her by the shirt, jerking her to her feet. The woman swung her arm, slamming her palm into the guard's face. The bones of the nose popped, allowing blood to flow freely. Screaming in pain, the guard brought his knee to connect with the woman's stomach, driving the wind out of her. She hit the ground, gasping for air as two more guards entered.
"What happened?"
"Da bitch broke ma noze." The guard garbled, trying to stem the flow of blood from his damaged nose.
"Serves you right." The second man replied as he and the other guard lifted the woman by hooking a hand under her armpits. They dragged her down the corridor and shoved her into the room where they held Shockwave. She hit the cold concrete and came to a halt as a medical kit hit the ground and bounced once.
"Fix him." The guard ordered. "And remember your well being depends on how useful you are to us, Doctor. Try anymore little stunts like that and I'll give you more than a fist in the face." She found herself imprisoned once more as the thick steel door slammed shut and the lock clicked.
"BASTARDS!!!!" she screamed. It was futile; the guards ignored her as they returned to their posts. Looking around the room, she could smell burned flesh and saw the batteries on the table. A groan of pain caught her ear.
She found Shockwave lying on his side, his right arm pressed against his ribcage protectively.
"Holy..." She started before her medical mindset took over and she quickly retrieved and opened the medical kit. If the smell was nauseating, the burns she saw made her want to vomit whatever it was she'd eaten for lunch. Carefully, she knelt to roll Shockwave onto his back. Before she could touch him, his hand lashed out and seized her by the wrist, catching her off balance and pulling her forward. He pulled her arm back until it pressed against her throat, forcing her to fight for breath.
"What are you doing?" he growled in her ear.
"I'm a doctor...trying to...help you." She rasped.
"Bullshit. Call the guards and let me out or I'll kill you."
"Won't...listen...prisoner too..." she managed, spots beginning to appear in her vision. From the bruises and cuts on her arm and the few he could see on her face, he knew she wasn't lying. The vice grip on her wrist released and she pulled away, gasping for air. Shockwave leaned back carefully, wincing from the jolt of pain that ran through his chest.
"Are you insane?" she snapped, "I was trying to help you."
"Sue me, I haven't experience the best service here." Shockwave snapped back. "Who the hell are you?"
"I was going to ask you the same. My name is Catherine Belmont. I'm a doctor."
"Army?"
"How did you know?!" she demanded. "And who are you?!"
"Name's Jason. And your shirt gives it away, lady."
"So what did you do to anger that guy?"
"I tried to stop him from selling his toys."
"You're a cop?" Catherine asked suspiciously.
"Was." Shockwave replied. "Ouch."
"Pipe down, I'm being as careful as I can. What do you mean 'was'?"
"I used to be a cop. Now I'm not."
"I see." She replied, not sure what to make of him. "This is going to hurt, so get ready."
Clenching his jaw to refrain form screaming, his eyes squeezed shut as well. A minute later, his eyes opened and his jaw relaxed.
"Better? Now take off your shirt."
"Jesus, lady, we just met."
"Shove it, asshole. I'm not that easy. It's obvious your ribs are injured. Take of your damn shirt and let me see so I can fix them, jackass."
'I hate doctors...' Shockwave thought as he complied.
Inside the communications room, a technician crossed to where Headman sat.
"Sir, I have the results of those fingerprints you had me run."
"And?"
"He's a cop. American from Detroit. His name is..."
"Faria." Headman cut the man off. "Now I remember him."
"He's the one who tried to stop your US operations." The tech spoke.
"Yes..." Headman replied, lying to the tech. No one knew the real Headman was rotting in Levinworth while he, who had been surgically altered to look like Headman, had taken his place and started running the organization as he saw fit, moving into the expanding European market. If this Faria was here, it could ruin everything. He had to know why Faria was here, whom the women were he had been with, and why he was meeting with representatives of MARS.
"We need a specialist." Headman spoke, walking to a terminal. "Get me this man."
"Him?" the technician's eyes opened wide when he saw the picture with the dossier.
"But..."
"I need the services of an interrogator and he is the best. I want to know why Faria is here, this man will find out."
"Yes, sir."