4
Chapter 39
The young girl laid in the cold, metal bio-bed shivering.
At first…she couldn't recall where she was.
She could hear…like white noise…an array of screams of pain.
She could feel the icy metal on her hands; cold air blasting the skin of her face.
She could hardly see; all she saw was a dark blur…about twenty feet above her head.
A dim light shone in her eyes; she squinted in pain.
His vision started to clear…she could see a jagged utensil attached to a metallic arm.
"You had your chance,"
She recognized the voice.
She couldn't place it though.
The sound of it terrified her.
"You could have told me what I wanted to know,"
Her heart started beating faster.
"But you had to be stubborn,"
She started to hyperventilate.
"That information could have saved my people,"
Then it all came back to her; her eyes filled with tears.
"Please don't hurt me! Pleaseeee!" she cried.
The face of Lo-Chem met eye to eye with hers.
"I will do what I must," he whispered.
Sakal stood off to the side; he cringed and made a face of horror as the woman gurgled and wrenched in excruciating pain.
He stood there watching…helpless.
He looked into the young girls eyes…and saw nothing but innocence being blotted.
He looked around the vast, cavernous room.
Nineteen more lives…being tortured in the same manner as her.
All experiencing brutal pain; all with that same glint in their eyes.
Of innocence.
Sakal felt a sick feeling in his stomach; his gag reflex activated itself.
He quickly slipped out…and stepped out the door.
There…in the long winding hallway.
He up-chucked uncontrollably.
He stood there for sometime…leaning over the vile puddle.
Gasping for breath.
A tear formed in the corner of his eye.
He thought of the boy he'd once known…who'd been as gentle as a flower.
He protected him…befriended him.
"He's gone,"
Sakal sat with a close and trusted friend. Each had a drink in their hands…and smiled as a precaution.
"Thank you for coming," Sakal said quietly.
"What did you want?"
"I've been having reservations for sometime,"
"Reservations?"
Sakal paused for a moment; his words got choked up in his throat.
"About…" he glanced down at his drink. "About the General."
The other man's eyes widened. He let out a small hiss.
"Err…my…Sakal,"
"I know!" Sakal said a little louder. A few others in the room glanced over at him.
Sakal leaned in closer.
"I don't…" he glanced around at the others.
He looked the other man straight in the eyes.
"I don't think the man we knew…ever came back."
The man's face looked grim and depressed; he slowly and silently nodded.
"Yes…I didn't…"
He looked down at his drink.
"We have to do something," Sakal said quietly.