I'm very sorry for the long time, but I was in vacation for the summer. I want to thank my beta EskimoSatan for the great work she've done. Thank you for the reviwes, I'm trying to work faster now that I'm back home and not in the midle of the wood with no energie exept candles. Not very good to make my computer working. LOL.
- CHAPTER TWELVE -
- SAVING LUCAS -
" Admiral Noyce, it's good to see you. " General McGath stood up, extending a hand, which Noyce took.
" What can I do for you? "
Noyce held a thick folder up with his free hand, " I want you to read this report and tell me what you think. "
McGath took the folder and opened it, thumbing through the pages, his frown deepening the further he got into it. Noyce tried not to look smug as he watched the outrage slowly building in the General's face. Sitting down, McGath continued going over the file, slower, taking in the details of the events.
After nearly an hour, McGath looked up, his face pinched tight, but his voice calm. " Stay here, I have something to take care of. "
Noyce sat at the desk quietly, watching the minutes tick by on the clock, wondering what McGath was doing, what he had planned. For the boy's sake, he hoped it was good.
General McGath slid into his car, followed by two of his guards and gave his driver clipped orders on where to go. It was a building only a few blocks away, as tall and imposing as every other government building in the area, but lacking the usual crests of loyalty. Most people assumed it was simply a high priced office for successful businesses that had a reason to be near the UEO. Perhaps a trade company, or the headquarters for one of the many manufacturing firms that provided parts and labor to the UEO.
It served a few of those purposes, mostly as cover, but it's main tenants were on the top floor, thirty stories up on a glass elevator that overlooked a large atrium in the center lobby. When the doors opened, McGath allowed his guards to flank him as he marched across the tastefully decorated sitting area.
The secretary looked up, smiling at first, but then faltering when he didn't stop to identify himself, or even so much as look at her. " Excuse me! " She stood up, holding out a hand to grab the sleeve of his coat as he past. " Sir, you can't go in there without..."
One the guards fell back and took her arm, pulling her away as he flashed his badge. She stuttered, looked at her phone and back at McGath who was quickly coming to the door, but even if she'd thrown herself across her desk she couldn't have buzzed her employers before the General slammed open the double wide doors.
The conference room was a large and windowless, with mundane artwork and a round metal table in the center, where the members of Section Seven congregated daily to discuss their affairs. McGath had dealt with them often enough to know that they rarely left the room, preferring to communicate with the outside world through vid-links. Sometimes, he wondered if they didn't sleep there in the office.
They managed to not look surprised as the doors banged forcefully against the wall. McGath himself was hard pressed not to cringe - manual doors were antique, used by people with too much money and power and not enough sense. In other words, people like Section Seven.
The little secretary brushed past McGath as she finally forced her way into the room, " Excuse me, sorry. Sirs, it's um... Secretary-General Georges McGath. Here to see you. "
Her cheeks blushed dark and she gave an apologetic shrug. " That's alright, Dorene. We'll take it from here. "" Thank you, sirs. Excuse me. "
McGath didn't spare her another glance as she brushed past again, her head ducked in embarrassment. She couldn't have been more than twenty-two, fresh out of school, perhaps even still attending.
" You'll have to excuse Dorene. She's new here, but she's so enthusiastic. " There were nods of agreement all around the table and McGath found himself once again disconcerted at facing a group of seven men that seemed to have only one voice. " So, this is very much a surprise, old friend. Why don't you join us? Have a seat and a coffee. "
McGath considered refusing, but decided that he'd rather try and keep this civilized, despite the fact that it would most undoubtedly end up otherwise. " My guards will have to stay, I'm afraid - as a security measure. I'm sure you understand. " He sat down, his guards moving to stand behind him while Dorene shyly bustled forward with a steaming cup of coffee and closed the doors behind her.
" Of course, whatever makes you feel comfortable, Georges. " If they noticed the hostility in his voice, they didn't acknowledge it. Not that he expected them to. The few meetings they'd had, had been filled with forced niceties and they were very good at controlling their expressions, keeping their feelings in the dark. " Now, was there something you needed from us? "
" I'm here for Lucas Wolenczak. "
Apparently, they weren't as perfect as McGath had thought they were, because the shock was clear in their widened eyes and suddenly slacked jaws. They recovered quickly, but not quickly enough. It was obvious that whatever reason they had thought McGath was there, Lucas was not it. That made McGath wonder what else they were hiding. What dirty secret - and he was sure there were plenty of them - had they thought he'd uncovered?
They looked at each other before the speaker focused back on McGath, his face a carefully carved, smiling mask of pleasant confusion. " I'm sure we have no idea what you're talking about. Who is this Lucas Wolenczak? "
" Don't play games with me. " McGath stood up, his arms straight at his sides, his hands curled dangerously close to the gun concealed under his jacket. " I know the boy is here, probably through that door behind you. In one of those labs that don't exist. Now either bring him out, or I'll let my men take care of you while I go in and get him myself. "
Seven pairs of eyes narrowed angrily and there was more than just a small amount of satisfaction at having provoked such an obvious display. " Don't threaten us... "
However, satisfying or not, he wasn't here to play with them. " Stop. I've had enough of your dirty little intrigues. I want Lucas and I want him NOW. Guards. Call a search team in, anyone who resists or interferes is to be arrested and remanded at UEO headquarters for further questioning. " Sitting down, he eyed them across the table as he picked up his coffee. " You aren't getting out of this. I've put up with a hell of a lot from you in the past few years, but this is going too far. So, why don't we all just sit back and wait and see what else we uncover in our search. " Sipping from the Styrofoam container, he raised an eyebrow, " Good coffee, by the way. "
After several seconds of silent communication between the seven officers, their shoulders sagged. " Lucas Wolenczak is in Interrogation Room Delta Six. Do you want to come with us, or would you prefer to enjoy your coffee while we go fetch? "
The resentment was clear and sweet, but McGath didn't have time to enjoy it. " Why is the boy in an interrogation room? "
More conspiratorial glances. " The punishment for going anywhere near the Wolenczak family, and Lucas in particular, was severe. Ghost Man understood that. We needed to know why he wanted Lucas so badly. However, Lucas hasn't exactly been as cooperative as we'd hoped. So, we... took some measures to get what we needed. "
" You tortured him. "
" You make it sound so crass. We merely used our impressive powers of persuasion. "
" Did he tell you? "
There was a significant pause. " No, he's proven very difficult to break. He would make a marvelous agent for the team. "
McGath's stomach rolled at the thought. " In your dreams. Take me to Lucas. "
Six of the members stayed behind and McGath ordered one of the his guards to sit watch. He doubted they'd do anything, but then they'd just admitted to torturing a child, so perhaps he shouldn't over estimate them. The halls wound through the building like a maze. Stairs leading to one hallway, but no further, other leading two floor doors without breaks.
It was designed to be difficult to navigate. Anyone trying to sneak around was more likely to get lost than actually find what they were looking for. A floor down and three halls later, they stopped in front of a metal sliding door. The representative for Section Seven stepped back, head tilted in the universal ' you go first. '
Looking into the room, though, McGath felt his stomach drop out from under him. " Oh, god, you... " He faltered at the words, because ' torture ' didn't seem harsh enough. Lucas wasn't covered in cuts, he had only minor bruising, but McGath knew there were many things a person could do that wouldn't leave a mark. From the way Lucas was huddled in the corner, arms wrapped around himself, whimpering softly at the light, McGath could only begin to guess which ones they'd implemented.
Slowly, he moved forward into the room, trying not to lose his barely held calm when Lucas's bare feet scraped against the floor, trying to push himself further into his corner. " Lucas, it's me, General McGath. "
There wasn't any relief in the sob that shook the boy's body.
" I'm not here to hurt you. You're safe now. I'm taking you out of here. "
Finally, Lucas looked up, his eyes betraying his mistrust. He remembered classes on military tactic, lectures on how you could break a person just by giving them hope and he very nearly took the gun from it's holster and ended the sorry waste of skin that would do those kinds of things to a child.
Lucas held his gaze, watching him carefully for nearly a minute before forcing himself to speak in a dry, cracking voice. " I just want to go home. "
" You have to see a doctor first, Lucas... " He reached his hands out and put them on Lucas's arms, attempting to draw him out of the corner.
" No! " Lucas pulled away, his voice more forceful, as if daring McGath to do something. " I want to go home. I want the Seaquest. Please. "
McGath imagined these men offering Lucas respite from the torture. Telling him he could go home, promising to take him back to Captain Bridger and his other friends, if he just gave them what they wanted. He saw a few faded track marks on the inside of Lucas's arm and knew there were more, wondered what kind of drugs and how much of them they'd pumped into him. He had to get Lucas to a doctor.
" It's all right. I'll make a deal with you? " The mistrust didn't fade, but it didn't intensify and McGath had to be thankful for that small favor. " I'll take you to UEO Headquarters. Bill Noyce is there. You've met him. He's a friend of Bridger's. "
After a long few moments, Lucas nodded shakily, " Yes. "
" Okay, we'll go there, let my personal physician take care of your injuries, give you a check up, and then Bill will take you back to Seaquest. It won't be more than a few hours and you don't have to answer any questions you don't want to. "
There was a very long pause and McGath was beginning to think he was going to have to sedate Lucas just to get him out. Finally, Lucas looked down, nodded, and spoke in a very quiet, subdued voice, " Deal. "
TBC
