Chapter 47
"Taylor, thank you for coming in. We need your insights on the situation." Captain Chandler said as he waved Wolf over to the table where Commander Slattery, Lt Commander Burk and Kara stood around while the rest of the room was concentrating on the current mission.
"Is there any word on my sister?" Wolf asked, he knew he should ask about the others but right now he needed to make certain Larrin was ok as the call to come in had him more than concerned. He moved to the table to stand with them, he tried to read them all to get a better sense of the situation. Slattery gave nothing away, the Captain looked deep in his own thoughts while Burk's older brother's attention was torn between the action of the room and what was on the table. Kara had a weird doe caught in the headlights expression which gave him nothing as it was her version of 'I'm working and not saying a thing'. If it was a more casual setting he'd tell her that her expressions needed work as her's tended to make him feel more stressed out than he should.
"The tracker is still active, there has been no visual sighting of her yet but Tex and his team are waiting for back up." Kara said to him, Wolf nodded as an active tracker didn't mean much but appreciated the information.
"This is the compound. We've counted many guards on the ground. It seems we're going to have to make a lot of noise and drop a lot of bodies to get your sister out." Chandler said to Wolf as he gestured to the maps and satellite photos they had on the table. Wolf looked it over knowing they were planning to storm the compound which was a risky move as it could result in a lot of collateral damage. If the number of people on the grounds was correct.
"Ok, when is it going down? Why do you need my insights?" Wolf asked, he looked at the others sensing there was something he was missing and it wasn't good given the reticence he felt from the others around the table.
"We've learnt that Julian has in his possession a drug that wipes out his victims memories. As Doc explained it to me that if all of Larrin's memories are wiped then she'll only retain skills and knowledge that have been ingrained into her-" Chandler started to explain but Doc appeared by Wolf's side and cut the Captain off.
"No, I said that he's been experimenting with removing himself from his victims memories." Doc said correcting him as she folded her arms across her chest and looked annoyed at the man.
"Is there such a thing?" Wolf asked Doc as he knew she was annoyed at the Captain because he wasn't acting fast enough to retrieve Larrin. Something that told him she was not military as she would understand this type of mission relied heavily on patience and strategy to make sure everything was in place before proceeding otherwise more people ended up injured or dead.
"There is a prototype drug that is an enzyme that was being developed for PTSD suffers as it- look I'm not going to bore you with the science. The point is he trying to wipe the slate clean with your sister. The problem is that memories aren't stored in a linear sense or like a computer." Doc offered as she understood it but had difficulties dumbing it down enough for others to understand but she was trying.
"I'm confused." Wolf said as he felt a headache coming on as she lost him at enzyme. Doc took a deep breath using it to give herself a moment to gather her thoughts.
"For the drug to work, she has to be thinking of what he wants erased while injecting her with the drug. The problem like I said is that it's not a simple fix. Memories are basically a jumbled mess in your brain. You can't just wipe out one part without removing other parts or leaving massive blanks." Doc looked around for a prop and picked up Mike's cup of coffee that was on the table. "For example, pretend I was trying to wipe the memory of this terrible coffee from your memory. Even if you were focusing on how terrible this cup of coffee is, your brain has already attached the memory of it to every other cup of coffee previously had before good or bad. It's automatic association in your brain linking those memories together. It's how you make the comparison between this coffee and others previously-"
"So I'd forget coffee?" Wolf asked her, he couldn't help the wry smile curling on his lips as what she was saying was science fiction to him and because Slattery was eyeing the cup of coffee like he was planning to snatch it back but not sure when to strike. Everyone on the Nathan James knew not to stand between Slattery and the coffee.
"It's a little more complicated than that. You'd forget this cup of coffee but if I gave you too much of the drug you could forget every memory attached to every cup of coffee you had. So that morning briefing you had three weeks ago where you perfected the perfect milk to sugar ratio gone. Too little of drug, you'd feel a sense of deja vu but your brain wouldn't be able to interpret what makes it familiar. So it leads to confusion as your brain tries to remember how it could know what the coffee tastes like. Got it?" She asked him, She placed the cup back on the table at which point Slattery picked it back up to guard it.
"Vaguely. So Larrin could-" Wolf started but Doc cut him off.
"End up like me where she doesn't remember anything or in the middle ground where she might be missing blocks of time. Julian does this so he can have his fun, wipe her memories and attack her again. It's a 'victimless' crime as she doesn't remember. He'd have complete control over her as he'd create the narrative for her to understand why she couldn't remember things. The point is that your sister might not remember Julian is a bad guy, she might not recognise Tex as a friendly." Doc told him, Wolf wanted to argue with her calling it a 'victimless' crime but he knew the point she was trying to show him. She wanted to understand that she was one of Julian's victims but she was hardly traumatised or able to tell him what happened as she didn't remember. That and there was a strong chance Larrin could end up the same.
"Which is why I asked you here. You and your sister have had an unorthodox upbringing. We need to know how she's going to act with half or all her memories gone as she will most likely fall back onto that training. That makes you the most qualified to tell us how she'll operate." Chandler told Wolf cutting through his thoughts and the grief sickening him as he he realised he could have lost his sister completely. Her words about disappearing into the forested came back in a haunting way.
"If Julian hasn't brainwashed her? She see two fighting forces and hightail it out of there. It's better to retreat than get in the middle of or takes sides in fight she knows nothing about." Wolf told them, pushing his dark thoughts away and focusing on getting Larrin back. He'd deal with whatever happened as it did.
"She won't hide?" Slattery asked him, Wolf shook his head as he knew that majority of people in Larrin's situation would find a place to hide and wait for the smoke to clear but their father hadn't taught them that.
"No, our father taught us hiding isn't always the best option. At least in this scenario if you attack from three sides, she'll escape through the path of least resistance given her injuries. Let me go out there." Wolf told them, as he indicated to the map. He could barely keep his emotions to himself as he felt anger roll into the mix of grief as he felt helpless. If Larrin didn't remember him then she'd run blindly and he couldn't lose her not now or ever.
"No, this is too close for you." Chandler told him in a tone that brokered no argument but Wolf ignored it.
"Put me on this side of the perimeter. I'm not asking to be in the fight. I asking to be on the sidelines to catch my sister when she runs." Wolf told them. He could see they were going to say 'no' but couldn't stand to hear it. "Please, I've never asked for anything. Just let me be there. If she doesn't recognise any of you, she might recognise me and I don't want to lose her. So please let me go." Wolf pleaded to Chandler and Slattery.
"It would help if we have familiar faces. Assuming he hasn't wiped her memory completely; she's going to be fevered and disorientated. If she doesn't remember coming to America then she won't know any of our faces but his. You can't tranq her as we have no idea how it will interact with whatever he's put in her which means the only other way of subduing her is with violence which could backfire. Wolf will be your best bet to get her comply." Doc said taking Wolf's side and backing him up.
"You said he was in no condition-" Chandler started by Doc cut him off much to his clear annoyance.
"For combat. This isn't combat duties we're talking about. He's standing on the sidelines with me and an ambulance to transport her." Doc said in a matter of fact tone like it was all going to go easy as pie. Slattery and Chandler exchanged looks in some kind of weird telepathic conversation before Chandler caved.
"Ok, you're in. Wear a vest and you'll be given a side arm. Go get geared up." Chandler ordered him, Wolf felt a wave of relief wash through him.
"Thank you sir." He said.
"Ok Natasha, here's the sweet one time deal. You tell us everything and you end up under house arrest in a beautiful two story brick house with a swimming pool. The state of Missouri will deliver food to the doorstep and the pool maintained because exercise is important. If you don't spill then it's back to super max prison." Roy told her as they were placing all their captured scavengers into a federal prison as it was the closest secure place to hold them between St Louis and the hunting grounds.
"Why would I talk? Julian is going to win this war purely on the amount of men and women on his side. There are what? 300 of you. There are thousands of us. So I think I'll sit pretty here for my rescue." Natasha told them with a smile as she reclined back onto one of the two beds in the cell. Roy stood inside the room while Miller leaned against the open doorway. Natasha seemed pretty complaint now she was in chains. Her ankles and wrists were cuffed with a chain linking them but they weren't fools. She was still dangerous and they had precautions in place as the facility was fully staffed with guards and the prison itself was surrounded by pressure mines. So if someone tried to overrun them they'd have to make it through a minefield first.
"Go ahead but I don't think your friends will stay quiet and we have a plan. The Scavengers have had their hour. So don't get used to this plush room as it's just a stop over." Roy promised her.
"That's adorable." Natasha said mockingly as she didn't believe they could win. But then the odds were against the Military. She just underestimated their drive to take back the country from the Scavengers.
"We know where Julian is, there's a plan in the works. But extra information doesn't hurt." Miller told her, he knew that Tex was out there and when he checked in. He was given a two hour reprieve to get geared up and join them as they needed more bodies on the mission they dubbed 'the party' which was the rescue of Larrin and taking Julian into custody. He had a feeling things had become more complicated but they weren't ready to discuss it over the radio in detail.
"I didn't come down in the last storm. You have no idea where Julian is." Natasha drawled.
"We sent him the girl of his dreams and she had a tracker in her. So we have his location, he'll be dead before sun up. So that will create a power vacuum which will create a lot of dramas in your factions about who will be at the top. While your friends are in fighting, we'll come in and help out with a few well placed drone attacks. Boom Scavengers are no more." Roy told her.
"And possibly kill innocent people?" Natasha asked, she quirked an eyebrow as she knew civilian causalities went against the grain with the Military and civil servants. But Roy just gave a nonchalant shrug like it didn't matter and Miller kept a neutral expression as he knew Roy was trying to get Natasha to talk.
"Acceptable losses for us to rebuild the country. The question is will you choose luxury or got to super max with all your other playmates who survive the siege. I'm sure they'll love knowing you snitched them out." Roy said.
"They know I'm loyal."
"Will they? Even when they are all going to be charged for escaping prison and the crimes they committed in the past few months. While you just get off scot-free like you cut a deal with us to just serve your time and waive death penalty." Roy said with an amused smile as he gave her a scenario where her inmates would believe her a traitor. Natasha wasn't moved in the least by his words.
"I'm not turning on Julian or anyone." Natasha told him, Roy gave a nod accepting her decision.
"Well, it's your life. I hope you enjoy the scratchy sheets, lumpy food and cold showers. Not to mention the lovely fashions of jumpsuits and scrubs. Just remember to watch your back." Roy said as he walked out of the room. Miller followed and closed the door to the cell. The lock sounded and Miller turned to Roy.
"What's next?" Miller asked him, he had to admit he liked being in the room of the interrogation. He'd only seen such things on TV, not that he got to be as cool as the cops on TV but it was interesting.
"We join your Captain and hope the others have better luck." Roy said with a shrug, he was genuinely apathetic to the situation.
"Why didn't you push her?" Miller asked out of curiosity as he just wanted to understand the mechanics of it all and Roy seemed well versed in interrogation skills.
"Natasha is a woman who thrives on dominating her prey. We can deal with her but we can't break her without doing physical harm and that never produces the results we want. We'll wait for your friend Miyuki and Brad to bring in their scavenger. He has a serious drug problem which can definitely work in our favour. Withdrawal is a bitch especially for long term abuser." Roy told him.
"She's burning up, it might be best to wait until the fever is gone before administering more drugs. They'll be less effective or possibly make her worse. If she has no memory and enters a delirium we could have another event like we did with Hannah." Farhad told Julian as they looked down at Larrin's unconscious form.
"Hannah was definitely special." Julian said as he remembered the woman with her spunk, the only problem was that she was a redhead and too pale. No amount of hair dye or sun were going to make her Larrin but what happened with her had been amusing until she managed to disappear like a ghost in the woods.
She had been a medical student or a doctor. He couldn't remember but what he did remember was that she was brilliant and vivacious woman. When he'd given her too much of PKMzeta-blocking drug, she went into similar symptoms of overdose; the most notable was the delirium as the drug had melted away her memory and seemingly her ethics as she went into survival mode to escape. She institutionally knew she was in danger and went on the offence and apparently the memories of her studies into the human anatomy helped.
"Doctors are just as dangerous as soldiers when their memories are missing." Farhad told him.
"She's not a soldier. She's a student but her father trained her how to fight and survive. There is a difference as she's disinclined to use violence unless it's a last result. The problem is that if I can't wipe away every trace of her fear then she'll never trust me." Julian said.
"Too much of the enzyme could destroy her mind and endanger us all." Farhad warned him.
