Chapter 23

Sequoia sat across from the prisoner. She had been her usual when it started out nice and easy in interrogation. It was a little sped up since they were running out of time. She hadn't gotten physical since Tomas had already done that. Besides she knew that physical torture only did so much in certain situations. She remembered the last one and it was to a traitor.

You were caught trying to give secrets to the Federation. You know that falls under treason.

You can go ahead and kill me since I would be a dead man anyway.

That is very true but you want to know something? I'm not going to kill you. At least not yet. Maybe not ever. After all it isn't every day that someone is brave and clever enough to commit treason on things.

Please kill me.

I don't think so. Perhaps we'll just have a conversation…

That was exactly what they were having now. It was merely a conversation between her and the prisoner Jorge. Mostly she had been quiet and let Jorge say anything that came to mind that was like an insult of sorts. She had learned to let it brush over her and she made her observations. It had gone on for about a couple of minutes when she decided to lean forward and asked, "So you wanted to tell me something?"

Jorge looked at her wondering what was going on in her head. She hadn't reacted too much and in fact looked like she had no feelings even though he had seen something on her face. He had been warned though. Still he would do as he was ordered. Leaning back in his seat, he replied, "I said I wanted to talk to you. A nice change from the bad cop routine as you Americans say."

If only you knew. Sequoia kept her thoughts to herself and continued their conversation, "What do you have to say? I prefer my time isn't wasted. Who sent you to infiltrate El Libertad?"

"You know the answer to that so why are you persisting in asking me that?"

"Maybe I want to hear you say it. It's a quirk of mine." Sequoia kept a blank expression as she studied the prisoner. It was going to be a long conversation probably but she might be able to get to the bottom of things. "So who sent you?"

"The Federation of course," Jorge replied teasing her. "But if you want to be specific, I'll tell you that this was orchestrated by Rorke. Yes, the American who betrayed you." He had used mocking tones hoping to get a rise out of her.

Sequoia wasn't impressed. Few of her prisoners had ever surprised her. It was the supposed friends and definitely friends that did that on some level. Besides she had been trained in being on the receiving end of interrogation and torture. The interrogation her father taught her and the torture… that was something that came with Freefall. She merely raised her brow at Jorge at that. "I'm not surprised if that was reaction you wanted. I know Rorke betrayed us."

"How much do you really know?"

"Plenty, if that is where you want the conversation to go."

Jorge shifted in his seat as he struggled against the ropes. He kind of liked talking to her and thought her to be pretty good. "So you do know that Rorke is rather pissed that you escaped."

"Nothing new to me." Sequoia shrugged her shoulders as she crossed her arms over her chest. She studied the prisoner some more. "So why don't you tell me something new? Like what he is up to."

"You should know since you were and still are his favorite pet. Last I heard… he misses you."

Sequoia merely stared at Jorge. She wasn't going to discount that. Rorke had been pretty… she couldn't really say it and she wasn't going to give the prisoner the satisfaction of knowing. "Well I don't miss him. Now tell me what he is up to and maybe this will go in your favor."

"Highly unlikely. If you let me go I'm a dead man. He doesn't tolerate failure and he doesn't like it when his favorite Little Charlie is fucked with. Instant death with that." Jorge stomped his foot on the ground. The movement made the chair legs thump onto the ground.

The sound brought back memories to Sequoia. She remembered Vegas when she was Rorke's prisoner and he spoke to her. He tried to convince her to join him then and when one of his goons got too friendly, he put a bullet in his brain. She looked at Jorge and got the feeling that he had been told a few things. That would imply that he was planted in there when his team was to infiltrate El Libertad knowing that she would seek them out once she got wind of what they were doing. Most would say that it was highly improbable but given the experience that she had with the man… it wasn't too far of a stretch.

"You know it was all about how great that we had a student of someone named Charlie. It was all Rorke could ever talk about." Jorge stared at Sequoia but he wasn't getting anything from her. "Kept saying that this Charlie was the best and that he was a specialist. He could do things that would make your government cringe but of course you know that."

Sequoia made her lip twitch slightly like he was being ludicrous. She knew though that it was anything but that. Ashford told her as much and she learned the same thing; she requested it of Ashford when she went through Freefall. It was one of the few things she wasn't even sure if she wanted to tell Hesh about; that she asked for it. It sort of made her seem like she was… She had no way to describe it but it was ugly. So she played with it, "Yeah right. I had basic POW training like most others. That and a bunch of luck on ops so… I have no idea what you are talking about."

"Lying bitch."

"Whose the bitch because I'd say that it is you right about now."

"I haven't told you anything."

Sequoia nodded in a mocking manner. "Really because…" Her expression became very serious and she began describing things about Jorge and a few other things. Her most revealing secret had him widen his eyes, "And you have a profound hatred of Rorke based upon how you say his name"

"Wow. You are good."

"Oh I'm just getting started. What is up with the shipment classified as Lab Rats?" Sequoia had leaned forward in her seat. She smiled sweetly at that. It was one of the more annoying aspects of her interrogation techniques. "I mean I know that the job that I was in charge of was a shipment of certain chemicals and the like and I did catch a peek of a special manifest." She stood up and started pacing around and put her hands on Jorge.

Jorge tensed when she touching him on the shoulders in an overtly friendly manner. He wasn't sure what was going on that had her being so friendly. He had heard stories of her interrogating the old man when Rorke first let her out. It was brutal from what he heard. This was a complete opposite. "You're not getting anything out of me."

"I understand," Sequoia replied in a resigned manner. "After all you probably don't know anything. Just an underling with details on this mission… which is to find me."

"I know plenty," Jorge spat back as he tried to shake her free from his shoulders. How dare she insinuate that he wasn't important! "Rorke knew that you would seek out El Libertad. You're the kind that follows the whole enemy of my enemy is my friend."

"But you should know that cuts both ways in the end." Sequoia released the shoulders of Jorge and started pacing in a slow and nearly seductive manner. "Everyone has an enemy somewhere."

"You would betray the very people that rescued you, saved your life?"

"The only thing I care about is my squad. Now that I have them, why would I need to use the help of these people?" She shrugged her shoulders, well aware that they were listening. She had to admit that it was ballsy of her to do that. She didn't know how well Tomas would take to her implying that she was willing to use his group and then lose them. He didn't come barging in so… "One thing that Rorke taught me was that people are expendable… Like you."

"Not me. I'm valuable."

"Really?" Sequoia circled slowly until she was in front of Jorge. She slowly began to play with the edges of his uniform. She put her face close like she was going to kiss him but more along the lines of being attracted to him. She then backed away making the rejection clear, "No you're not. He wouldn't waste time with you." She took a step backwards and gave a clear sign of rejection. "You're not even worth this conversation. There is nothing you could tell us that we don't already know."

"Like you know anything."

"Destabilization within the Federation… A problem there and one obvious since the fall of LOKI," Sequoia counted off on her fingers. "The fact that Rorke is going mad by an obsession… Not at all good confidence. Operation Lab Rats was slowed by the Ghosts…"

"You contributed to that. You betrayed us," Jorge spat out. He gave a slightly feral grin and added, "Of course the things you did beforehand… You sure that your friends know?"

"We are trained to survive. Even you should know that POW training is now a near requirement. Too bad Rorke was such a weakling and he let the Fed break him down." Sequoia shrugged her shoulders like it was no big deal. She had yet to tell anyone, even Hesh what she had done. Cesar knew since he was her first victim but she made it possible so that it looked like he died at her hand and then he escaped. "I merely played to him."

"Nah," Jorge replied shaking his head. "I heard the stories and I saw you. You weren't afraid to punish soldiers who didn't do what you wanted." He leaned forward to draw her in. "What does it feel like shooting someone for making a simple mistake? Killing them in cold blood?"

Sequoia studied the captured Fed. If only he knew what she knew. Then he wouldn't be so cocky with his assertions. She looked at him like he was an interesting specimen in a specimen jar. "Those that I killed are ones who deserved it. But are you certain you saw what you really saw?"

"I know my eyes. You were even ready to kill me before making me a prisoner."

"Actually that was a couple of Special Ops dogs that know how to kill."

"Don't bullshit me. You want me dead. You want him dead. Deep down you want to be the one that pulls the trigger." Jorge nodded and grinned at Sequoia. "Cause you see, you are a killer. Rorke… heh… he knows you because you are exactly like him. You are a killer; it's why you survive. It's why you came after him on the beach. Why couldn't you just let things go?"

It was tempting to get angry at the prisoner but Sequoia knew that it would get her anywhere. Intimidation only worked so far on soldiers. They were all trained for it; that was why it was called boot. They broke you down and built you up. You understood the life. Of course they were people too. Sometimes they were full of emotion.

There will always be someone trying to make you break. If they want to, they will and only if you let them, little Hawk.

True hunters though never submit.

Sequoia stared at the prisoner for a time. She had killed but only because she had to. Before she was made a Ghost, her last op at the Wall was tracking down a traitor, finding out what he knew and then dealing with it. She dealt with it. Looking at the prisoner she replied, "If you really knew me then you would know that I wouldn't leave a teammate behind. Maybe that's why I'm better than Rorke."

It was presumptuous but it helped. Jorge replied, "You're just a sentimental wad. What Rorke sees in you… only a Ghost. Obsessed with someone named Charlie and what he knew. Said you knew what he was talking about and what you showed… He can't wait to get his prizes back."

"Not if we stop him first."

"Right Lab Rats." Jorge chuckled at that. "You know what I'll tell you what he's up to but I doubt you'd be able to do anything." He leaned back in his seat and shifted slightly. "Let's just say that the Federation wants a speedy end as much as you. Sometimes you have to use a bigger explosion… suck out the oxygen and snuff the flame. In this case, the scientists are the key. People can have adverse reactions to things."

Sequoia studied the prisoner. There was no reason to lie and she had suspected it from the beginning. Rorke had given her access when he shouldn't have. The thing was now she was wary of the why. She remembered how they got their info on where he was… She heard something outside but it sounded like drills were going on.

Jorge was grinning and he started chuckling, "Of course there are more things that the Federation wants, especially Rorke. He wants you back but he's looking to find something else that got away. And I think he is pretty close."

Sequoia would have said something but the noise outside caught her attention. She went to the windows and took a look outside. She could hear gunshots and people screaming. She heard soldiers shouting orders and the men from the camp shouting.

"You're not the only one that he wants back."

Sequoia turned and looked at Jorge just as Tomas and Cesar came in followed by Hesh. She grabbed Jorge hard and pried open his mouth and found a tracker embedded on his teeth. "Shit, he's got a tracker." She pried it out and crushed it.

"Too late. The thing is can you live with knowing what you've brought down," Jorge replied with a grin. "He'll win one way or another."

It was mortar fire and very effective in not only scaring the people that didn't have a weapon but killing people too. Logan looked around as he ran back towards the camp. He had his rifle ready but with all the chaos coming, it was hard to tell whether or not who to shoot at. He did manage to bump into the kid that he had helped earlier and asked, "What's happened?"

"The Federation found us," the kid said trying not to tremble. "How, I don't know and I don't know what to do."

Logan looked around. The first thing they would have to do is get the women and children out. They didn't have the means to fight with and even though it sounded cliché, it was still the right thing to do. He was going to tell the kid what to do when shouts were heard. Some of it was in Portuguese and some in Spanish. What he heard in Spanish was for the people to make for the trees. At least that was what he thought he heard.

"Fall back to the rally point!"

Logan turned to see Sequoia come running out carrying probably an M4 along with the sniper rifle. She motioned behind her and began firing on what clearly was the Federation. Logan ran up to her, "Hawk, what's going on?"

"Fed," Sequoia replied taking a shot. "Prisoner had a tracker."

"Fuck," Logan replied. He turned into a soldier and asked, "Orders?"

"We need to get the village out. The militia and Tomas' men will help hold the line." Sequoia looked at Logan and gave a shrug, "Kind of made Cesar promise to work something out once I said I would help."

"Figures," Logan countered with a slight smile. "You always like a backup plan."

"In our line of work, you need one," Sequoia replied as she brought up her gun and took a couple of shots. "Logan, we got the line. You and Hesh need to help direct traffic and lend a hand."

"And Hesh agreed to that?"

Sequoia looked at Logan and took in his expression. "Most reluctantly."

Logan couldn't help but sigh, "This is gonna be on my head if it goes south." He adjusted his gun and locked and loaded. "Alright we'll go but you better come back Hawk. You have no idea…"

"Copy that Sungmanitu," Sequoia replied as she looked at Logan. She watched as Logan went to join his brother with Skye in tow. They would find Harris since she saw him providing a secondary defense.

Logan joined up with Harris as they started directing people out while providing cover fire. Logan was actually impressed that the village was fairly well organized. Then again they were following his best friend's lead and maybe she gave them the push they needed to organize themselves into what they needed to be.

"They're coming in full force," Harris was saying.

"Hawk said that the prisoner had a tracker. We missed it," Logan replied as he shot at a couple of Feds on the turret of an ATV. Thing was a tank and near impossible to maneuver through dense forest unless they cleared a path for it.

It seemed that the Federation was content in sending in lines and then using artillery to cover their charge. Logan regretted that they didn't have anything to counter that in terms of heavy weaponry. He took out another Fed and said, "We need to spread out and hold the line here. Cover anything that gets through the first line."

A shot rang out and a Fed who had gotten too close to comfort went down. Logan turned to see his brother up high and with a sniper rifle. He heard the bark of Riley and the other dog he learned was Ash. Logan checked to make sure his sync was in tuned with Riley. He switched to his own sniper and took aim.

"Nice shot." Skye picked up what appeared to be an AK-47 and started shooting. "Think you can help me clear out that ATV. If I can get to it, we can turn it on the Fed and drive them out."

Logan looked at the land and called through he com, "Hesh, you see the ATV?"

Copy that. I can see three using for cover and then there's the driver. Takeover?

"Solid copy. Skye can get in."

Huh, pilot turned driver. What'll they think of next?

"I drive and fly better than I shoot," Skye commented. A grin twitched at her lip.

Logan let out a huff that was almost like a snort. "Okay, Skye get to the ATV. Harris you go with. We'll lay down cover fire up high and low. You receive?"

Who died and made you boss, little brother?

Logan knew that it was Hesh's way of saying that he was going to follow through with this. He couldn't help but reply, "You got a better idea?"

You'll never know. I'm in position. You're clear to move, Skye.

"Copy that."

At that point some of El Libertad members joined their line and helped laying out cover fire. Logan gave orders at what they were to do and they obeyed. It was a little tense since they were not soldiers and they followed Tomas. However since they were all under attack, it wasn't really a time to quibble over stuff like that and they were in just as much trouble as the people that helped Sequoia out. They followed him and Hesh's direction when they needed to shift the line.

Almost there but it looks like we're bogged down.

Logan scanned the area. He was going to say something when he heard Hesh say over the com that he had it. They had shifted as needed so Logan ended up losing where Hesh's last placement was. So it came as a surprise that Hesh was in a position to help but he wasn't going to call his brother out. Technically Hesh was a superior officer and he had been cleared for duty. Yet Logan couldn't help but worry a bit that his brother would get a spasm and end up getting gunned down.

The explosion that sound got Logan's attention. It was from a grenade or rocket launcher. It was near where Skye was heading. Panic filtered into his mind but there wasn't time to get hysterical about it. A few Feds had broken through and they had to take them out but they were hiding within the foliage. The downed trees served as means of cover and they found cover behind the trees and what was left of the temporary structures.

Logan tried to clear the area. It was a relief when he heard Hesh's voice on the com and it sounded like he was okay. More explosions came from grenade launchers and RPGs. He took cover when one came right at him and the shell hit the ground making the dirt fly and shower around him. The concussion he felt through his feet and back since it seemed to hit the tree he had been taking cover behind.

"You okay?"

Logan looked up to see Sequoia looking at him. "Yeah."

Sequoia patted his shoulder. "Good. We need to pull back to the rise back there and hold them off." She gestured in the direction that they were to head off in. "There are shooters in the trees to cover the fallback."

"Hesh is helping Skye and Harris. They were trying to secure an ATV." Logan pointed out the direction. "I don't…"

Sequoia looked up and surveyed the area. This was not like hunting but… She came up with a decision and nodded, "Okay. Come with me."

Logan got to his feet while Sequoia relayed orders to the rest of the village. He teased, "I didn't know you could speak Spanish."

"You'd be surprised at what I picked up from Morales, my old FNG." Sequoia braced herself against the tree. She peeked around to survey and she saw the gunfire had been drawn from them She managed to pick out the ATV through the smoke. She tapped Logan's shoulder, "Come on."

They picked their way through while most of the enemy fire was directed away from them. Sequoia took point and Logan covered the flank. They came across Riley and Ash and Sequoia whistled for them to follow. They caught up with the group to find that an explosion had knocked them unconscious. Hesh was coming to and Logan said, "Oh yeah you got it."

"Shut up… pain in my ass," Hesh said as he got up while trying to fend off Riley's reassuring lick. He managed to get a look at the ATV. "Agh. The ATV isn't going anywhere. Engine's shot."

Skye got to her feet and took a look. "No wonder. This is a piece of shit to drive."

Sequoia looked at the group when that uneasy feeling started to come up. She watched as Skye looked more into the engine and started to babble some more. She looked as Harris went to where the door was. "Stop."

Skye looked up from her work. It was then she heard the click. "Back away. Run!"

They started running but the ATV exploded and sent them flying. Logan hit the dirt and something hit his head. His vision was blurry and he thought he heard his brother saying something as he turned over. His gaze turned to see Riley barking and then lunging towards someone out of his vision and heard a yelp before… Not him. Logan tried to scamper away and look for a weapon but got a hit to the back of his head.

A/N: Hawk interrogates and it looks like the Federation tracked them. Things are getting dicey. Stay tuned for more of The Hunt...