Chapter 27

Logan felt the cool feeling of the floor before he saw it. He opened his eyes slowly but didn't move a muscle. He had spent the last few hours listening to Rorke and his story about his best friend and her father. From what he gathered, the man hadn't figured out yet that she was the daughter of Charles Williams. He could only imagine what that would bring.

It didn't help that he decided to be a pain in the ass, as was his calling as Hesh's baby brother. It earned him a few smacks across the face and Rorke saying that he could break his arm again if he wanted. That was the last thing that Logan wanted since the first time was a clean and complete break. He was lucky that no serious damage had been done and it healed the way it did. Plus if he got it broken again he would have to deal with Carol and he wasn't up for that.

Logan slowly let out a slow breath of air since he was lying at an odd angle and his hands were tied behind his back. That made them stiff but he would live. It just put him in an awkward position since he was on the ground face down, sort of, and he didn't have leverage to push himself back up. He tried though but he felt like a fish flopping on the group gulping for air as he tried not to make too much noise until he heard a door open.

"So you're awake. Come on kid. On your feet."

Logan felt himself being yanked up by his bound arms and dragged to his feet. The grip was hard and it tweaked his arms slightly but he didn't cry out in pain. No way was he going to give the bastards that satisfaction. He did struggle just to prove that he was a pain in the ass about being a prisoner. As he joked it was his calling in life and he was good at it. He tripped and fell mostly on purpose and the other part was because he wasn't steady on his feet.

It made his captor angry and it resulted in a shove and, "Get up and keep moving."

Logan got to his feet and continued walking in the direction that he was being pushed into. He couldn't help but be the pain in the ass. He stumbled slightly if only to annoy his captor. Plus his legs were a little numb having fallen asleep. His arms though were the worst since they were behind his back. He could barely move his shoulders to rotate them but it was uncomfortable and didn't do much. So he made do as he was led through the building having a pretty good idea where he was being taken and he didn't like the prospect of it. He then thought about his best friend and what she had went through.

They made it to the outside of the building and Logan could see that it was a compound of sorts. It was a series of buildings surrounding what looked like a courtyard or sorts. He could see Federation running around and doing what they are supposed to do. It looked to be a pretty big operation. He wondered how the hell their forces missed this place. Then again they were in the middle of the jungle and it was possible to walk within ten yards of someone and still not see what you were looking for.

This must be where they dragged Rorke and Hawk.

"Like what ya see kiddo?"

Logan turned to see Rorke looking at him with an amused expression. His throat involuntarily convulsed as he looked at the man that killed his father. He would like nothing more than to punch the living daylights out of the man for that and for what he may have done to his best friend. He didn't say anything since he didn't want to give the man any reason to do anything.

It didn't seem to matter to Rorke since he went on, "Better get used to it. This is where I was set free."

Before Logan could say anything or Rorke could say anything, someone started shouting something in Spanish. Rorke turned to listen to what was being said and Logan watched as the man grinned when the last person he expected to see emerge from behind the Federation guard. Rorke said, "So did you enjoy your freedom Little Charlie?"

Logan blinked as he saw his best friend step out of hiding and looked at her. What was she doing? Did she…? He was confused about things going on. Especially the way she looked at him… it wasn't the look he had seen previously. Was he wrong in his assertion? What about Hesh?

Sequoia looked at Rorke after giving a look that surely would confuse the hell out of him. She replied, "Like you said, they weren't going to believe me. How could they believe that I didn't turn?" She shrugged her shoulders, "What choice do I have?"

Rorke took a step forward and looked her in the eye. Logan watched as the guard that escorted her in stated in Spanish that she had surrendered to them willingly. His Spanish was high school level but he understood it well enough. She surrendered to them? His mind started firing off the pistons all at once as he tried to figure out what was going on.

"I have nowhere else. No one else that appreciates my talents."

"Knew you'd come around Little Charlie," Rorke replied with a grin. He did mock her a little though, "But you know that you did do some bad things."

"I know. But it was what you wanted." Sequoia gave a slightly feral smile as she said that. She looked at Logan still smiling and continued, "I brought you the pup here." She gestured at Logan. "Believe me, this pup is easy."

Logan blinked at that. He didn't want to believe it. Not from her. "Hawk, what are you doing?"

Rorke looked on in amusement at Logan's reaction. The poor kid didn't have a clue as to whom he was working with. Neither did Elias… well… maybe Elias did. He had to remember Charlie. That man knew how to make people think one way and then turn around and completely shatter the image built up. No doubt Little Charlie was the same way. "Don't look so surprised, kid. Charlie was the same way. That's why she's little Charlie."

"Only because I learned everything about the man."

"That I have no doubt." Rorke stepped forward and caressed Sequoia's cheek. He rubbed his thumb across it in an affectionate manner studying her reaction unaware that she hated it and was hiding it extremely well. "I told you that you would come willingly to me."

Logan blinked as he watched the scene unfold. His best friend was reacting like she liked it and she had been in cahoots with Rorke all along. He had a hard time believing it. She shot at him but not to kill or hit him. So that didn't mean that she was betraying them right? After all she loved his brother. She would do anything to let him know she was okay but this? This was enough to make him crazy.

"You did. I still hate you but… I have nowhere else to go."

"Do you want to want to stay?"

"I'll stay but know that I don't like you."

Rorke couldn't help but chuckle at that. It turned into a guffaw, "Ha! But I like you Little Charlie. I did the moment since I set eyes on you. I knew that you were something."

Logan blinked as Sequoia stepped forward and stared long and hard at Rorke. She was staring at him like she did when they first caught him. He was surprised that none of the other Feds were doing anything. Then again Rorke had warned them to stay back while she was there. Maybe that was how she got to the position she had been. He didn't know. He felt his breath hitch and tried to hide it. It occurred to him that this was done on purpose for him to see.

"And you are still weak and pathetic."

Logan tensed up since he thought Rorke was going to hit her or worse. The man certainly was pissed at what she had just said. Yet she wasn't backing off. She was standing there defiant and that was definitely the friend he knew. He was relieved somewhat when Rorke chuckled but it wasn't friendly. That meant anything could happen.

"As long as you're honest Little Charlie." Rorke smirked at her, "And I look forward to seeing you in action but…"

"I know. Punishment."

"Very good." Rorke motioned for Logan's captor to start moving. "You're here willingly but there are rules." He led the way forward to where Logan was going to be taken in the first place. "I'll let you get the kid acquainted."

Logan was pushed along and finally to a place that was still in the compound but close to the surrounding jungle. He hesitated when he saw the grating over what was obviously a large hole. He glanced over at his friend and noted a look of apprehension. Was this what she went through? It was gone though when the hole was opened and she jumped in. Next thing Logan knew was that his arms were unbound and he felt relief. The next thing he knew he was pushed down into the hole.

The joke between him and his brother was that he had a tendency to get hurt. Falling into a pit ranked in the realm of getting hurt. He landed with a dull thud and a grunt. His limbs had been numbed since being tied up so they did little to help him in the realm of breaking his fall. He thought he broke his arm again but a tentative movement told him that he was good. Except for the bump on his head.

"Now you two behave down there. Little Charlie, show the kid here what it means to be set free."

Logan rolled over to look up and saw Rorke kneeling near the edge and looking down at them. He turned his head to see his best friend standing there like she was bored. She was looking up at first but then she looked down and at him. He didn't like the look that crossed her face. It was predatory in nature… at least that was how he saw it. It wasn't like when she teased him when they were making their way down to Caracas or when they sparred on the sub. It had that smirk but it was different. It really was messing with his head. She said, "Oh he'll learn what it means to be free." Then in a lower tone, "Just not the way you want it."

It had Logan step back a bit. He didn't move to indicate he had picked up on it but something told him something was up. He didn't like the fact that his best friend was giving a look that he was very uncomfortable with and his reaction seemed to have pleased Rorke for the man said, "Then I leave you to it Little Charlie. You're the leader down there. Your way."

"Excellent."

Logan had looked up to see Rorke grinning like a loon and when he looked down, he saw her advancing towards him. He had seen her fight and knew what she was capable of… at least he thought he did. Her sudden grip on him caught him off guard and allowed her to punch him a good one across the face. She then said, "You have any idea how hard it was not to kick this baby face in the ass. Even in sparring…" She made a slight noise of contempt.

Logan was ready for the next blow but it felt like he knew nothing. Everything they did in sparring went out the window. He ended up with his face planted in the dirt and his arm twisted behind him. She was in a position to break it but he felt her push him into the dirt like she was going to suffocate him. He couldn't move since she had him pinned and more pressure was applied. He muttered, "What happened to you Hawk?"

"Don't kill him now Little Charlie, but have fun."

There was the sound of a chuckle and footsteps walking away. Logan could only feel his chest being compressed into the ground and he felt ready to pass out. He grunted until all of a sudden the weight was off of him and he was rolled onto his back. He was able to take in a couple of deep breaths and the air filled his lungs.

"Sorry about that Logan."

Logan opened his eyes and looked at his best friend. She had dropped to the ground and was sitting resting her wrists on her knees. For a moment he was reminded of when this all started with his and Hesh's patrol, just before they were sent to No Man's Land. Hesh had been sitting in the same position playing with Riley. He propped himself up and looked at her as she looked like she was tired. What the hell was going on? He couldn't help but voice it out loud and not in the nicest of tones, "Geez, what the fuck Hawk?"

Sequoia looked at Logan. Her relief was mixed in with a pensive expression. She really hadn't wanted to do this but the more she thought about it, the more she realized she would have to change the game plan in order to sell it to Rorke. Initially she was to just return to him and say that she could get the insurrectionists under control and back to the Federation. That would work in some respect but she got the feeling that Rorke wouldn't bite at that. So she stopped thinking like a tactician and more like a hunter. The man was a predator after all and the most dangerous kind of hunter.

It meant that she had to abandon her gear to make it look like she had been chased out. It was better to appear that she was on her last legs. The only thing she brought in with her was a pistol. The rest she buried outside the compound, taking care that the jungle environment wouldn't cause damage to it. She also made it easy for the Ghosts to find when they did come and she put the tracker in the pack.

It was a risk taking the tracker off. It would only confirm to Reed that she betrayed them. It was a slight betrayal of Keegan's trust since he was the one that also had a lot on the line with this. Yet they believed her so far in that she hadn't turned even though Command did have the damning video feed. She had to trust in them that they would understand what she was trying to do and what she had to do in order to get Rorke to drop his guard and she would move in for the kill.

Looking at Logan, she knew he was confused and probably hurt by what she had done. The thing that sucked about this was the fact that he wasn't in a position to hear the full plan. He probably thought that she had turned and willingly came back and was going to try and turn him. She had to make it convincing and… "I'm sorry," she repeated. She sighed and put a hand to her forehead. "I just wish there was an easier way to do this."

Logan pushed himself up to a sitting position, aware that he could breathe easier now. He took in his friend's countenance and noticed that she was trying very hard not to sob or cry. It slowly began to dawn on him that her performance was what it was, a performance. But he still had to be sure of what was going on. He shifted and said in a softer tone, "Seriously Hawk, what's going on?"

"Isn't it obvious Sungmanitu?" Sequoia lifted her hear to reveal a raised brow and a smirk that reminded Logan of his brother. "I'm here to rescue you."

It wasn't funny but Logan couldn't help the chuckle that erupted from his chest. He kept it down just in case someone was listening. He replied, "And was walking back here a part of it?"

"Blame it on Ohanzee but then again he does get most things right." Sequoia couldn't help but chuckle with Logan. She sighed and asked, "Are you okay?"

"Minor throbbing of the limbs and they fell asleep. Not to mention a couple of bedtime stories that were… interesting to hear." Logan leaned against the wall and rubbed his arms. "I was worried that the bastard broke my arm again. You have no idea how fucking a pain in the ass it is to have your arm in a sling."

"No I don't. But I do know what it's like to be kept out of commission for a period of time. If my protests are anything to go by," Sequoia added with a smirk. She sobered though and continued, "Seriously, nothing too bad?"

"No. It's like…"

"He wants you in pain but not to the point where you're useless." When Logan looked at her, she explained, "He tried that with me." She brushed her cheek with her finger to indicate that the man had hit her. Of course he tried to poison her but he forgot that he was dealing with someone who had been trained to survive and learned how to tell the difference. Plus she never trusted any of the food he had given her, preferring to eat the bugs. "It's better than breaking limbs and living you in agony."

"And you would know that wouldn't you?"

"If you are referring to what I did in interrogation before we met, then yes." Sequoia shifted in her seat. "But punches to the face only got you so far. Bringing the victim close to death and then reviving them can get you further but then add in the hints of possibility… the mind takes over and…" She made a sweeping gesture to indicate what she meant, not really in the mood to say everything.

Logan took it in. He sort of got it and sort of didn't. "And does Rorke…"

"The Fed have their own means of torture and you also need it in the right combination. I wasn't lying when I said that Rorke was weak…" She drifted and gave a slight nod of her head. She sighed and looked at Logan. She wasn't sure of the look on his face but she wouldn't blame him if he was pissed. Hesh had been easier to deal with since he essentially badgered her and she caved in because of the love in his eyes. "I didn't turn Logan. I couldn't do that."

"I know Hawk," Logan replied automatically and full of conviction. He believed that fully. "It's just a lot to process. You caught me off guard and it felt like you really wanted to prove to Rorke that you were on his side. I almost believed it."

"I really am sorry." Sequoia looked upwards at the grating covering the opening. Being in a hole in the ground was… "I would have liked to have given you fair warning but…"

"You had to sell it to the bastard. You had to make him believe that you wanted back in." Logan got it but it still didn't make it any less hard to work through. "So… is this… what Freefall is about?"

Sequoia looked at Logan. There was no need to keep it a secret. She figured that Ashford would have given him and Hesh more to work with than what Slayton would have. Still she could tell the truth and Hesh knew more or less the basics to the point where he could fill in the blanks. "Something like that. Freefall was designed to create master interrogators but also the essentially perfect spy. Some of us were double agent material. Physical and mental endurance were required."

"And it was developed by your dad."

"He did come up with it and he based it off what he taught me."

"Wait. Your dad…" Logan wasn't sure if he heard it right.

Sequoia held up her hand knowing where it was going. She waved it to indicate that he was to calm down. "What Freefall became and what my father taught me were two different things. You must understand though that he was doing what I have been doing and he made enemies. He kept work separate from home but he taught me how to protect myself. I just… tended to treat it like a game at times since I would play with my cousins and lead them in circles." She looked at Logan and rested her wrists on her knees. "And there are things that he taught me that those in Freefall never got."

"But Ashford implied that… things may be different."

"Ashford worried a lot and she should. She is the shrink hired to monitor Freefall candidates and developed the original with my father." Sequoia looked upward and around. She narrowed her eyes slightly but everything seemed to be okay. "I can see where it was coming from because well… after ODIN and I started serving… I really wanted to stick it to the Federation. You could say my motivation was revenge in the beginning. I'll tell you one thing; it's a lot different interrogating the enemy than it is working a simulation. That's what makes it different."

Logan nodded as he thought about it. Then a thought occurred to him, "Does Hesh know?"

Sequoia couldn't help but chuckle. She rubbed her face with her hand as if trying to keep the expression from coming on her face. "Hesh… I don't know how he managed to get into the secure database while we were waiting for the go but he did. He admitted he was interested in my father and his career. I know he has pretty much awed all the little boys playing soldier." She smiled at Logan especially when he got a little sheepish.

"Okay, I was awed by him too," Logan admitted grudgingly. He sighed and looked at nothing in particular before he said, "So I can see why Rorke wants you around."

"Well my father did have a unique way of things and I learned from him so…" Sequoia looked away to stare at the wall. She listened to the outside and could hear the guards patrolling. No doubt they would have been told to keep an extra eye out. Well she had something in surprise for them. Turning to look at Logan she clapped her knees and got to her feet. "Well, time to get to work."

Logan frowned as she got up and walked to the far side of the hole in the ground. He watched as she dug around in the dirt creating what looked to be a hole in the ground. "What are you doing?"

"Getting comfortable," Sequoia answered as she scooped out the loose dirt, thankful no one discovered it. They had probably figured that she had hidden her means on her person. Like she would do that; no way would she give a man a reason to grope her. She scooped out the dirt and when she was satisfied curled up into the hole.

Logan eyed her like she had gone crazy. He ventured, "Aren't we supposed to find a way out?"

"We will but I've been traveling all night and I need some shut eye." Sequoia peered over the edge to see Logan and chuckled at the expression that was on his face. She almost laughed but held it in and managed to explain, "It will be a while before we're able to do anything. Keegan and the others will be following the tracker that I left behind but they won't be able to breach the compound."

"Well then how did you manage to get out?"

"Luck."

Logan looked at her with an incredulous look. He didn't believe that Sequoia operated on luck. She was methodical… at least when she took in the situation like sneaking up on a hostile and taking them out. She was calm and deliberate. He raised his brow as she made herself comfortable in a hole in the ground and replied, "Now I know you don't believe in luck."

"Not really," Sequoia replied with a chuckle. "It was by chance that I managed to get out at all. It took the months I was captive to plan and execute and I doubt that they would have left that option open. You might as well get some sleep and it will give the impression I knocked you unconscious for a time. They might be watching." She gave a slight gesture upwards at the grated ceiling.

Logan looked up and surveyed the area that they were to be 'guests' in. He could see that Sequoia had a point and he knew that her way of dealing was to wait and see. But if Rorke acted as she implied, with him being smarter, she was going to change it up. He nodded, "Okay. But if you need to hit me, make sure you mean it."

Sequoia looked up and saw the serious expression in Logan's eye. She nodded, "You know it Sungmanitu."

Logan nodded and curled up on the ground where he had been dropped. He might as well follow advice and pretend to be knocked out. She almost made him pass out anyway. He glanced over at his best friend and nodded again. He trusted her and trusted that they would both get out of this.

Sequoia waited until she was sure that Logan was asleep before sitting up. As much as she wanted to involve Logan in the plan, she couldn't tell him everything. She still needed him to be the one that was somewhat in the dark in order for this hunt to be successful. It was mean from her view but… She turned to where she had dug another hole hidden in the wall and started digging again until she found what she was looking for.

A/N: Looks like Hawk went back and she's got a plan. But how much of it will she let Logan or anyone else in on? Keep watching for more of The Hunt...