Nightmare
Chapter Two: Waking or Sleeping
I woke up again, after several days of decidedly unpleasant questioning, to a pounding head and an aching body. I felt like I had the world's worst hangover. If only. I smiled bitterly to myself as I opened my eyes to look up at McKenas Cole. He had a gun in his hand, and naturally, he was leering again; it seemed to be his perpetual expression.
"You're a tough chick, huh? I respect that. I mean seriously, I thought this would be easy, but ..." he shook his head. "You know, believe it or not, I really don't like doing this." He attempted to wipe the leer off his face, but it wasn't working. It was still there as I glared at him. "Really, I'm not a big fan of crushing the human spirit and all that crap. Come on, just make it easy on yourself, won't ya? All I want is to know who you're working for, what their objectives are, and what you've told them about the Covenant. That's it."
He looked down at me, waiting to see how I would respond. I struggled to stand as I locked eyes with him.
"Arvin was right. You are as insincere as you are incompetent." His eyes widened at the mention of Sloane's name, and I had the satisfaction of laughing in his face before he pistol-whipped me to the ground.
"Well, well, you're a pretty ballsy old gal, aren't you?" He was trying to act as though my reference to Arvin hadn't bothered him, but I could tell otherwise from his tone.
"More so than you, at least. But then, I guess that's not really saying much, is it?"
He kicked me in the head, but I did not regret my words. "Okay, at first I was impressed," he growled, "But now I'm just pissed. If you think what you've already been through is bad, you won't believe what I got planned next!" He bent down so that his face was closer to mine. "Now, being the gentleman and all-around good sport that I am, I'll give you a few hours to rethink your position. And then, when I come back, believe you me, if you're not in the mood for a little chat, we're still gonna have a lot of fun." I caught a last fleeting glimpse of his sneer before he departed, bolting the door behind him. Well, at least I wasn't handcuffed this time. I looked around the gray room, trying to ascertain if there was any way I could escape. My mind was spinning, but I tried to center it on thoughts of freedom. Still, I couldn't help wondering about Yelena ... and Julian. Also Irina, I had to wonder what you were doing right now. I'm sure you and Jack were already feeling very put out about having to come to my rescue, being the ingrates that you are. The clank of metal interrupted my thoughts. "I've come to interrogate the prisoner," I heard someone say. I was confused. Hadn't Cole said he'd give me a few hours? Was surprise part of his "strategy?" Well, if so, it certainly wouldn't work. Mentally, I fortified myself, preparing my body for more pain. I heard a scuffle in the hallway, voices arguing and – was I imagining it? – the sound of someone choking! The heavy door clanged open, a dirty light brimming through. I squinted until my eyes adjusted enough for me to discern the figure in the doorway. "Julian." I gasped. He looked at me, then away. "Irina made me come," he said. "Can you walk?" I saw another figure, and recognized the voice as Jack's. His tone, in contrast with my son's, was not awkward, was businesslike and practical. "Julian will help her," this was from you, Irina. God, it's so good to hear your voice! You pushed past your husband to scoop me up off the floor, wrapping me in your embrace, which I returned gratefully. "You are such a fool, Katya – you know that, don't you? Next time, no holding out on me, you give me the intel as soon as you get it!" You released me, smiling shakily, as I struggled to stay on my own two feet. "Julian, you come over here and help her," you called over your shoulder. "Like hell I will. I already dragged myself all the way to Moscow to help you break her out, right under the nose of the most volatile idiot I've ever had the misfortune of working for! You do it – you're her dear big sister." "Shut up!" This was Jack again. "We don't have time for this," he continued, as I leaned on you and we all began to stumble out the doorway. "Help her." "Oh you shut up," Julian snapped, "Or else I'll started calling you 'uncle.'" "Not funny!" This was a fourth voice, one I didn't recognize, but which was identified soon enough.
"It wasn't meant to be, Sydney." I turned to see the face of my niece, and I saw so much of you there (especially since she seemed to be angry) that I nearly fell to the floor again. I wondered nervously if she had your temper. If she does, I thought, Julian had better watch out!
"She risked her life for you, and you can't even –"
"Enough!" You and Jack said together. Resignedly, my son offered me his arm. I leaned heavily on him out of necessity, and we exited the building as quickly as we could. "Of all the people I have to be related to ..." I heard Sydney mutter.
"Get over it, cousin." Julian grunted as he struggled to keep pace with the rest of them while helping me. "We all know you're the paragon of virtue and I'm the ultimate weasel of evil or something. Don't worry, no one will be drawing parallels between us any time soon."
Sydney seemed almost chastened by this bitter sarcasm. Clearly, she had inherited something of her father's more restrained manner; while I could see a heated response forming in her mind, she held herself in check as we made for a sleek black car in the parking lot. I breathed a sigh of relief. Good. I don't think the world could handle another woman with your volatile temper, my sister.
Suddenly, I realized one family member was still unaccounted for. "Where's Yelena?" I turned to my son, ignoring the pain in my head as I did so. "Please, Julian –"
"In the car." I heard the tightness in your voice as you replied.
"Don't worry," Julian added, as he helped me into the passenger rear side. "We gave her enough tranqs to knock out an elephant." And indeed, I saw her there, bruised, slouched and ... strapped in, seatbelt and all. I looked at Julian, and he smiled at me. "Well you know," he shrugged. "Figured you'd want her to be buckled in and all."
"How is she?"
"Better than she deserves to be," you said bitterly, as you squeezed into the front of the car with your husband and daughter.
"Rina ..." I began.
"Later," you said, as you turned on the ignition. "Later, we'll talk about ... everything." I knew you were referring to more than just our little sister; there was also the matter of the mole's identity. Had Julian told you already? I couldn't be sure. Without further preamble, you pulled out of the parking lot. I heard cars speeding after us and knew operatives from the Covenant were already on our tail.
"Jack, Sydney – I have a safe house nearby where we can regroup and tend to everyone's wounds. Then we can decide our next move. Agreed?" I assume they both nodded, because you said, "Good then," as you took a sharp turn, trying to throw the pursuing vehicles off our trail.
"Don't I get a vote?" Julian called from the back.
"NO!" The three of you said simultaneously. He smirked. "Thought not. Ah well, no harm in asking."
I saw Sydney twist around in her seat to face me. "I wanted to thank you ... Katya ... for helping me and Vaughn in North Korea. For ... well, for saving our lives!"
I looked into the face of my niece, so open and honest, so devoid of pretension; her eyes were wide and kind. Were we ever like that, Irina? I can't even imagine.
"Don't be foolish, my dear. You are family. The need, the obligation to help you – it is in my blood." I heard Julian give a contemptuous snort. Sydney looked as if she wanted to snap at him again, but in the end, she bit her lip, gave me a small smile, and turned back around. I swallowed.
"Julian ..." I felt my throat close around the sound of his name as I struggled to speak.
He looked at me for a long moment. Then he looked down and buckled himself in. Very deliberately, he put on my seatbelt as well. "Suppose I should thank you too. For not ratting me out to Cole." He avoided my eyes as he spoke. I winced as the car jerked to a halt, and then sped up again, renewing the pounding pain in my head.
"Are you alright?" It was probably just wishful thinking, but I thought I heard genuine concern in his voice.
Despite my discomfort, I smiled at him. "I'm fine. Are you?"
"I guess." His eyes locked with mine, seeking I know not what. For a moment, I considered it, and I almost didn't. But then, when I realized I might not have another opportunity, I decided to take my chances.
"Don't be mad at me for this," I whispered, as I wrapped my son in a hug, one that, despite my condition was (I think) as bone crushing as one of yours. I felt him stiffen. "This is so stupid," he muttered, his voice brusque. "I'm not going to ..." I held him tighter, until I finally felt his arms slip slowly around me, returning my embrace. "It's hardly fair, you sacrificing yourself, acting so noble when I'm busy trying to hate you, you ..." his voice broke, and he rested his head on my shoulder. "Completely unfair." He muttered again. I let him go, and kissed his forehead.
"Sorry," I said, as we half-laughed in the darkness of the car, speeding through the Moscow streets at night. The thought occurred to me that perhaps I will still in Cole's cell, or in the back of Yelena's van, or even in my hotel room, sound asleep, my breathing slow and even, as it was now. If this is so, I mused, as I held onto my son, all I can hope for is never to wake up.
Chapter Two: Waking or Sleeping
I woke up again, after several days of decidedly unpleasant questioning, to a pounding head and an aching body. I felt like I had the world's worst hangover. If only. I smiled bitterly to myself as I opened my eyes to look up at McKenas Cole. He had a gun in his hand, and naturally, he was leering again; it seemed to be his perpetual expression.
"You're a tough chick, huh? I respect that. I mean seriously, I thought this would be easy, but ..." he shook his head. "You know, believe it or not, I really don't like doing this." He attempted to wipe the leer off his face, but it wasn't working. It was still there as I glared at him. "Really, I'm not a big fan of crushing the human spirit and all that crap. Come on, just make it easy on yourself, won't ya? All I want is to know who you're working for, what their objectives are, and what you've told them about the Covenant. That's it."
He looked down at me, waiting to see how I would respond. I struggled to stand as I locked eyes with him.
"Arvin was right. You are as insincere as you are incompetent." His eyes widened at the mention of Sloane's name, and I had the satisfaction of laughing in his face before he pistol-whipped me to the ground.
"Well, well, you're a pretty ballsy old gal, aren't you?" He was trying to act as though my reference to Arvin hadn't bothered him, but I could tell otherwise from his tone.
"More so than you, at least. But then, I guess that's not really saying much, is it?"
He kicked me in the head, but I did not regret my words. "Okay, at first I was impressed," he growled, "But now I'm just pissed. If you think what you've already been through is bad, you won't believe what I got planned next!" He bent down so that his face was closer to mine. "Now, being the gentleman and all-around good sport that I am, I'll give you a few hours to rethink your position. And then, when I come back, believe you me, if you're not in the mood for a little chat, we're still gonna have a lot of fun." I caught a last fleeting glimpse of his sneer before he departed, bolting the door behind him. Well, at least I wasn't handcuffed this time. I looked around the gray room, trying to ascertain if there was any way I could escape. My mind was spinning, but I tried to center it on thoughts of freedom. Still, I couldn't help wondering about Yelena ... and Julian. Also Irina, I had to wonder what you were doing right now. I'm sure you and Jack were already feeling very put out about having to come to my rescue, being the ingrates that you are. The clank of metal interrupted my thoughts. "I've come to interrogate the prisoner," I heard someone say. I was confused. Hadn't Cole said he'd give me a few hours? Was surprise part of his "strategy?" Well, if so, it certainly wouldn't work. Mentally, I fortified myself, preparing my body for more pain. I heard a scuffle in the hallway, voices arguing and – was I imagining it? – the sound of someone choking! The heavy door clanged open, a dirty light brimming through. I squinted until my eyes adjusted enough for me to discern the figure in the doorway. "Julian." I gasped. He looked at me, then away. "Irina made me come," he said. "Can you walk?" I saw another figure, and recognized the voice as Jack's. His tone, in contrast with my son's, was not awkward, was businesslike and practical. "Julian will help her," this was from you, Irina. God, it's so good to hear your voice! You pushed past your husband to scoop me up off the floor, wrapping me in your embrace, which I returned gratefully. "You are such a fool, Katya – you know that, don't you? Next time, no holding out on me, you give me the intel as soon as you get it!" You released me, smiling shakily, as I struggled to stay on my own two feet. "Julian, you come over here and help her," you called over your shoulder. "Like hell I will. I already dragged myself all the way to Moscow to help you break her out, right under the nose of the most volatile idiot I've ever had the misfortune of working for! You do it – you're her dear big sister." "Shut up!" This was Jack again. "We don't have time for this," he continued, as I leaned on you and we all began to stumble out the doorway. "Help her." "Oh you shut up," Julian snapped, "Or else I'll started calling you 'uncle.'" "Not funny!" This was a fourth voice, one I didn't recognize, but which was identified soon enough.
"It wasn't meant to be, Sydney." I turned to see the face of my niece, and I saw so much of you there (especially since she seemed to be angry) that I nearly fell to the floor again. I wondered nervously if she had your temper. If she does, I thought, Julian had better watch out!
"She risked her life for you, and you can't even –"
"Enough!" You and Jack said together. Resignedly, my son offered me his arm. I leaned heavily on him out of necessity, and we exited the building as quickly as we could. "Of all the people I have to be related to ..." I heard Sydney mutter.
"Get over it, cousin." Julian grunted as he struggled to keep pace with the rest of them while helping me. "We all know you're the paragon of virtue and I'm the ultimate weasel of evil or something. Don't worry, no one will be drawing parallels between us any time soon."
Sydney seemed almost chastened by this bitter sarcasm. Clearly, she had inherited something of her father's more restrained manner; while I could see a heated response forming in her mind, she held herself in check as we made for a sleek black car in the parking lot. I breathed a sigh of relief. Good. I don't think the world could handle another woman with your volatile temper, my sister.
Suddenly, I realized one family member was still unaccounted for. "Where's Yelena?" I turned to my son, ignoring the pain in my head as I did so. "Please, Julian –"
"In the car." I heard the tightness in your voice as you replied.
"Don't worry," Julian added, as he helped me into the passenger rear side. "We gave her enough tranqs to knock out an elephant." And indeed, I saw her there, bruised, slouched and ... strapped in, seatbelt and all. I looked at Julian, and he smiled at me. "Well you know," he shrugged. "Figured you'd want her to be buckled in and all."
"How is she?"
"Better than she deserves to be," you said bitterly, as you squeezed into the front of the car with your husband and daughter.
"Rina ..." I began.
"Later," you said, as you turned on the ignition. "Later, we'll talk about ... everything." I knew you were referring to more than just our little sister; there was also the matter of the mole's identity. Had Julian told you already? I couldn't be sure. Without further preamble, you pulled out of the parking lot. I heard cars speeding after us and knew operatives from the Covenant were already on our tail.
"Jack, Sydney – I have a safe house nearby where we can regroup and tend to everyone's wounds. Then we can decide our next move. Agreed?" I assume they both nodded, because you said, "Good then," as you took a sharp turn, trying to throw the pursuing vehicles off our trail.
"Don't I get a vote?" Julian called from the back.
"NO!" The three of you said simultaneously. He smirked. "Thought not. Ah well, no harm in asking."
I saw Sydney twist around in her seat to face me. "I wanted to thank you ... Katya ... for helping me and Vaughn in North Korea. For ... well, for saving our lives!"
I looked into the face of my niece, so open and honest, so devoid of pretension; her eyes were wide and kind. Were we ever like that, Irina? I can't even imagine.
"Don't be foolish, my dear. You are family. The need, the obligation to help you – it is in my blood." I heard Julian give a contemptuous snort. Sydney looked as if she wanted to snap at him again, but in the end, she bit her lip, gave me a small smile, and turned back around. I swallowed.
"Julian ..." I felt my throat close around the sound of his name as I struggled to speak.
He looked at me for a long moment. Then he looked down and buckled himself in. Very deliberately, he put on my seatbelt as well. "Suppose I should thank you too. For not ratting me out to Cole." He avoided my eyes as he spoke. I winced as the car jerked to a halt, and then sped up again, renewing the pounding pain in my head.
"Are you alright?" It was probably just wishful thinking, but I thought I heard genuine concern in his voice.
Despite my discomfort, I smiled at him. "I'm fine. Are you?"
"I guess." His eyes locked with mine, seeking I know not what. For a moment, I considered it, and I almost didn't. But then, when I realized I might not have another opportunity, I decided to take my chances.
"Don't be mad at me for this," I whispered, as I wrapped my son in a hug, one that, despite my condition was (I think) as bone crushing as one of yours. I felt him stiffen. "This is so stupid," he muttered, his voice brusque. "I'm not going to ..." I held him tighter, until I finally felt his arms slip slowly around me, returning my embrace. "It's hardly fair, you sacrificing yourself, acting so noble when I'm busy trying to hate you, you ..." his voice broke, and he rested his head on my shoulder. "Completely unfair." He muttered again. I let him go, and kissed his forehead.
"Sorry," I said, as we half-laughed in the darkness of the car, speeding through the Moscow streets at night. The thought occurred to me that perhaps I will still in Cole's cell, or in the back of Yelena's van, or even in my hotel room, sound asleep, my breathing slow and even, as it was now. If this is so, I mused, as I held onto my son, all I can hope for is never to wake up.
