Ch. 5: Goodbye Arisitide

A.N.:

For all those who hate Aristide, here you go.

After Aristide ran into the facility, I uttered a frustrated groan before I angrily yelled to no one in particular, "Fuck. Why does she always run?" Alma raised her right arm up and gently grasped my left shoulder.

When I looked down at her, she quietly assured me, "We will get her Michael." I nodded before I turned to the two Replicas.

I ordered Gamma 3, "Defend this position. Do not let anyone approach or leave."

In the typical fashion, the puppet soldier replied, "Order confirmed. Defending position." This time, Aristide was not slipping through my grasp. I was going to make her tell me everything she knew about the Board of Directors before I killed her.

I followed the arrow for "Specimen intake" and hoped that it would lead me to an unlocked entrance to the facility. The loading area was small and we soon reached an airlock similar to those I encountered at Still Island. I activated the release mechanism but a robotic sounding woman's voice stated, "Warning, lockdown in progress. Unauthorized entry denied. Thank you for your cooperation."

I mimicked in disgust, "Thank you for your cooperation." Backing away from the door, I remarked as I stretched my back, "So, we had to do this the hard way huh? Okay Mrs. Lockdown, I got your cooperation right here." I retrieved four blocks of C4 plastic explosive and attached one to each corner of the metal door. I retreated to a safe distance and detonated the synchronized charges. The door shuttered but did not give way. Undeterred, I shoulder charged the door. When my left shoulder collided with the barrier, the weakened structure finally submitted and fell backwards. It landed with a ground shaking crash and I fell on top of the heavy metal door.

Alpha 1 helped me to my feet and handed me my rifle. I took it before surveying my surroundings. The facility almost looked like an exact replica of the facility below the Elementary School. If that were true, then Aristide would likely be in the central command room. Over the intercom, I heard the same robotic female voice state, "Alert, security breach. All personnel are to follow protocol. Please stand by for further instructions." I led the way through the first section of labs. The machines we passed looked like the ones Aristide's doctors had used in my surgery except these were clearly meant for something else.

Instead of injecting substances, these needles appeared to extract whatever it was that the scientist were extracting from the children. As torturous as these instruments appeared, for some reason, I had a sense of nostalgia when I looked at them. I stopped at a particularly torturous looking room and looked through the observation window. The room was only the dimensions of a medium sized pickup truck but the object at the center of the room evoked a chill down my spine. There was a chair that was similar to the amplifiers except it was child sized and a vertical grouping of needles was attached to the inside of the back support section. I shivered as I had a sudden feeling of needles penetrating my spine as I was forcibly strapped into the chair.

No. I realized it was not a feeling, but a memory. Or, more like a memory of a memory. I shook my head to clear my thoughts. I had a mission to complete and uncovering my secret past was not part of that mission. Besides, I personally did not want to remember what they did to me as a child. Some memories are better left buried. I was having a hard enough time keeping my current anger in check so the soldier part of me was in control. I was determined not to end up like my coveter. She had not been consumed by anger, she had drowned in it. She was rage incarnate; a living remnant of a neglected, victimized human being that had become saturated with the desire for vengeance to the point that nothing else remained.

My thoughts were interrupted by her voice asking me inside my mind, "Is that all you see when you look at me? Do I not mean anything else to you?"

I replied, "That is a pretty sermon coming from the woman who raped me. Alma, do not lie to yourself. You have my sympathy and I am sorry for what was done to you, but that is as far as my positive feelings for you go. I made a promise to you and I intend to keep it, but after that, we part ways and I would like for you and everyone else to leave me alone." She seemed unmoved, even amused by my response.

She smiled in an irritatingly happy manner before she stated with a tone that riled my suppressed primal urges, "Oh Michael, you forget that you cannot hide anything from me. Do not lie to yourself either. I know those darker thoughts and desires that you try so hard to ignore."

I retorted back, "Well, I never had thoughts like these before you came along."

She raised her right eyebrow as she said smugly, "So you were a perfect little saint before you met me and now I am solely responsible for your surfacing morally questionable urges. Is that right Michael?"

Losing control, I dropped my rifle as I grabbed her by her scrawny throat with my right hand and pinned her against the glass. Roughly grasping her chin with my left hand, I forced her to look me in the eyes when I stated, "Do. Not. Ever. Call me that name again. No one has ever called me that since…"

"Your father." She said, finishing my sentence. She continued, "Mr.…"

I squeezed her throat harder as I leaned in and whispered in her left ear, "Don't you dare say his name."

She whispered back in a sultry voice that was completely alien to her childish façade, "Michael, you know I don't need air. Is there any particular reason you are getting so close to me? Do you like holding me like this so close to you? I'm defenseless and vulnerable. You could force yourself upon me and punish me for being a bad, little girl. You want that don't you? To teach me a lesson and regain your pride? To treat me like the naughty girl that I am? To experience the sensation of my cold body and your warm body intertwined as we fight for dominance? Admit it, you want me." She knew that she was right, but I was not going to lose sight of my objective. My mind calmed as the soldier regained control and I released her.

As I turned away from her and retrieved my weapon, I uttered bitterly, "The mission is all that matters. My personal feelings are not part of that mission."

I started to continue moving towards the control room but paused when I heard her call after me softly, "It does not make you weak to act on your emotions sometimes. I know that is why he would hit you but you are a human being Michael. Not a robot."

I did not respond and continued walking away from her except I was purposely making my footsteps louder. I knew that she was smiling at me even though I could not see her. She had the worst timing for trying to bond with someone that I had ever encountered. Even though she had changed from constantly being around me since the event in the amplifier, she still had a long way to go before she could even remotely mimic being a normal person.

It was becoming apparent to me that her abilities may have indeed set in motion the tragic events that unfolded but it was the isolation that had finally broken her. I had seen the same method used to break prisoners when they refused to divulge the information that was needed to continue an operation. I had seen many things as a Delta Force Operative that I would never be able to forget and watching grown men slowly crack in solitary confinement until they were reduced to nothing but crying shells was one of those things.

For people broken like that, it would take years to recover and even then, they would never be the same person that they once were. Of course, some of them were simply beyond mortal recovery and chose to end their existence. All considered, it was commendable that Alma was even able to remember who she was and somewhat able to function like a person.

I scolded and reminded myself that I had a job to do. I tried to remember the path I had taken in the facility underneath the school because otherwise I would be fumbling around in a maze. If my memory was correct, I was near the holding area where I had encountered the abominations at the other facility.

Sure enough, I found the security door that sealed off access to the rest of the facility. I knew that there would be two of these doors that I would have to unlock or breach in order to continue on to the control room. As I leaned against the door, I heard movement and the animalistic cries that I had learned to associate with abominations. Irritated, I switched the safety on my assault rifle off as I stated, "Shit. Not these things again!" A small hand lowered the barrel of my rifle. I glared at her as I asked, "What the Hell are you doing? Those things have tried to kill me."

She disarmed me with her eyes as she stated, "They are in their cells. There is no need to harm them."

After a few seconds, I switched my rifle's safety back on as I said, "Fine."

I reached for my C4 charges but she stopped me and said, "Next lesson. Use your mind to unlock the security doors."

Shaking my head in disbelief, I asked, "How?"

She smiled and said, "Concentrate."

Muttering about wasting time, I tried to focus on unlocking the doors by using the console at the center of the prison like room. I nearly cried out in shock as I was overcome with a strange feeling of weightlessness. In my mind, I could see the console before me and though I could not use my hands, I still somehow deactivated the lockdown in the room.

I had to resist the urge to hurl for a brief moment, but I felt a small sense of empowerment for unlocking the doors with my mind. Alma clapped briefly before she said, "Very good. See, most of it is just letting go of your own limitations." I smiled, but not because of her comment. With the holding area doors unlocked, only one last obstacle stood between Aristide and me. I had to suppress the traces of fear in my mind as I made my way through the holding area. In the pens, I could hear them crawling on the walls and vainly scratching on their cell doors.

I glanced back and noticed that Alpha 1 seemed on edge as he constantly aimed his shotgun in the direction of the noises that he heard. I had never seen a Replica display fear before. Perhaps, there was more to this unit than I originally thought. I telepathically said to him, "Easy soldier. We are almost at the exit." I had expected him to respond as he had before when I said something to him that he was not programmed to understand.

However, to my surprise, he responded, "I am not afraid for myself sir. I am afraid that I will not be able to adequately cover you if the specimens attack us in a group. We are at a disadvantage being out in the open like this." It took me a minute to get over the shock of a Replica managing to converse in such a manner.

Finally, I was able to reply, "They are in their cells for now. Minimal threat."

He did not reply and we had reached the other door anyway. After we exited the holding area, it was a short distance to the final security door. As we stood outside Aristide's final defense, I could hear her inside talking to herself as she typed on a keyboard.

I ordered Alpha 1, "Prepare to breach and clear. Nonlethal force only."

He replied, "Order confirmed. Preparing to break and clear."

I leaned against the wall just to the left of the door and Alpha 1 did the same on the opposite side. I said to him, "I will go high. You go low. I've got point." He nodded in response. I requested Alma, "Alma, want to do the honors?" She giggled as the air around her started to pulse and shimmer with energy.

With a slightly different voice, she asked, "Ready?"

I answered, "Yes. 3, 2, 1, Go!"

A massive force of invisible energy collided with the door and the metal structure was no match for the onslaught. My reflexes activated as my left hand left my rifle's fore grip and grasped a flash bang grenade. As the door flew backwards, I tossed the tactical grenade through the opening. My reflexes deactivated briefly as I waited for the grenade to detonate.

After the grenade spent itself by emitting a single but intense sound that was equivalent to standing next to a Space Shuttle as it launched, my reflexes reactivated as I charged through the door with my rifle aimed at the ready as I yelled, "Breaching, breaching." Aristide was at a large central console at the center of the room. Her senses were still recovering from the flash bang's assault and she only had time to become aware of what was happening just as I struck her across her face with the butt of my rifle's stock.

The blow caused her to fall backwards onto the floor. Her eyes seemed unable to focus for a full minute but when she finally regained focus, the first thing she saw was the business end of my weapon as I pointed it straight at her face. My reflexes deactivated and I looked at her with an emotionless façade. Behind me, I heard Alpha 1 state, "Clear!"

I ordered him, "Alpha 1, subdue the target while I cover you."

He moved towards me as he replied, "Yes sir."

The business executive moaned in discomfort as the armored soldier roughly hauled her to feet and bound her hands behind her back with clear, plastic cable ties.

As he did, I said smugly, "Genevieve Aristide, for crimes against humanity and for resisting protective custody of members of the United States of America's Armed Forces, I am placing you under arrest."

She still seemed to be in shock from the sudden turn of events as she replied in confusion, "What?"

Alpha 1 had virtually no difficulty in overpowering her feeble attempts to break free from his grasp as he said, "Prisoner secured sir."

I roughly grasped her chin with my gloved left hand and stated, "Wake up bitch. I have someone here who wants to settle some things with you. I think you know her."

I stepped to the side and forced her to look at the red dress clad raven-haired child that glared back at the older woman with an ominous expression of unimaginable rage and hatred. Aristide's efforts to escape Alpha 1's grasp intensified as her eyes widened in fear. She started to scream but I relocated my left hand to cover her mouth. I moved to stand in front of her again before I said, "However, before you answer to her, you and I will be spending some quality time together."

A few minutes later, we had transported Aristide to one of the test chambers and strapped her into the amplifier chair. As she cried silently, I circled her calmly while I waited for Alpha 1 to return with the items that I had sent him to retrieve. I had informed Gamma 3 of the situation and he reported that there had been no activity at the entrance of the facility.

Alma sat with her legs crossed as she innocently examined my assault rifle a few feet from Aristide. I had unloaded my firearm before handing it to her and had even explained the basics of how it operated. As she repeated what I had shown her, she started to hum the song from the music box that she seemed enthralled with for some reason. I had to admit, it was a beautifully morbid sound and I softly hummed it myself as I repeated the same circle around the terrified woman.

Finally, after what seemed like ages, the door opened and Alpha 1 walked in with a twelve-volt battery that could be found in most automobiles, a set of booster cables with alligator clips at the ends, and a one-gallon bucket that was filled with water. He placed them down in front of Aristide before he moved off to the side of the room. Alma casually looked over at the items before quickly returning to her examination of my rifle. I stopped humming and stood by the right side of the executive. I turned my body to face in the same direction that her body was and squatted down until I was at her height.

I placed my left hand on her right shoulder and calmly and clearly explained, "Aristide, you have information that I want. However, fortunately for you, the U.S. Military does not officially condone the use of torture to extract information from prisoners of war. It is considered inhumane and violates the rules of war. However, unfortunately for you, the U.S. Military abandoned me so I no longer report to them. I now work for someone else and she has authorized me to use whatever methods I deem fit to accomplish my mission."

I looked at the dark haired goddess and asked, "Isn't that right Alma?" Without looking up from the weapon that she had in her lap, she gave me a quick thumbs up with her tiny right hand in response. I resumed my statement to Aristide, "See that? Now, I know you think that you know what I am planning to do with those items, but trust me I can get creative. However, being the kind person that I am, I am giving you a limited time offer. Simply give me the names of the members of the Board of Directors as well as any other information I might need to take down ATC. Do that and I give you my word that I will not harm you or pursue you further after I leave this room. So Aristide, how would you like to proceed?"

She broke down and started sobbing. Groaning in annoyance, I said, "Tick Tock ma'am. My patience is running out."

She blurted out, "Becket, I…I swear it wasn't personal okay? Please just let me go. Please?"

I snapped at her, "Bitch, I don't care if it was personal or not. All I care about is information. Now, my patience has run out. The next statement that comes out of your mouth had better be about the Board or I will start breaking things. Now, I am going to give you some advice. Think very carefully about your next move."

She hung her head down in defeat and said, "In my left pocket, there is a PDA. On it, you will find all the information that you will need to know." I searched the pocket and sure enough, I found a weathered grey PDA. After looking through some of the files, I verified that she was indeed telling the truth. I nodded my head and stood.

I said, "Outstanding. See, that was easy and painless. Our business is concluded."

I looked down at my coveter and asked, "Alma?" She looked up at me and cocked her head to the right in curiosity. I continued, "Your turn."

As I made my way to her, behind me Aristide cried out in fear and panic, "What? You said…"

I cut her off as I reached the young girl, who had raised my rifle up to me as if she was giving me a holy relic, by stating, "I said that I would not harm you. I did not say anything about my little friend here."

After I gently retrieved my weapon from Alma's outstretched hands, I playfully ruffled her hair and said, "Have fun sweetie. I will be outside waiting for you."

She giggled before she mockingly threatened, "Stop messing with my hair."

I replied, "Yes ma'am."

I made my way to the door and as I reached it, I heard Aristide beg me, "Please Becket, I'm sorry. Have mercy. Please don't leave me with her. I'll help you. I have friends in the government. You can go back to living your regular life. Just please don't leave me with her."

Without looking back, I replied with satisfaction, "Goodbye Aristide. I would stay but she has requested to have some privacy while you two work things out."

I exited the room and Alpha 1 followed close behind. We leaned with our backs against the wall on opposite sides of the doorway. I heard Aristide crying and begging for her life for a few moments before she started screaming in agony. For nearly an hour, I indulged myself in twisted pleasure as I listened to her pain as well as the occasional image that my goddess would show me in my mind through our psychic bond.

At the back of my mind, I knew that with each passing moment of indulgence that I was succumbing more and more to Alma's influence. However, while I stood with my back leaning against the wall and while I was casually examining my weapon to ensure that Alma had not accidently damaged it, I simply could not bring myself to care enough to fight it.

Finally, the screaming ceased and dead silence filled the corridor. Alma materialized between Alpha 1 and me. She had a look of satisfaction on her pale face when I looked down at her.

She calmly reported, "One down. Thank you for that Michael."

I smiled before I replied, "No problem. Come on, let's get out of here."