Chapter 11
Jason was nearing more than 50 hours in captivity and, for the first time, he started to seriously wonder whether a rescue would be coming. He was hungry and considerably weak, despite the extra energy provided by the cerebonic implants. He was also increasingly afraid that he would not be able to take another round of interrogation without breaking down and spilling his guts out as far as ISO confidential information was concerned. When the door opened again, he barely managed to stifle a groan.
"Get up, you!" grunted the goon.
Jason followed the goon out of his cell, and this time he was led to a plush, lavishly decorated office. A Spectran in a dress uniform sat behind a desk. From the piping on his uniform, and from what Jason knew of Spectra's ranks and army corps organisation, he was probably a Major of the Counter-intelligence division.
"Sir, we have the prisoner", said the goon, saluted smartly and left.
"So. We got G-Force's second-in-command. Not our first target, but good enough".
"What you've got is a big fat nothing, unless you count the destruction that will be caused to this base when G-Force arrive", said Jason defiantly.
"Interesting. Why don't you take seat and we can discuss this?"
The Major pushed a hard-backed chair towards Jason.
"Thanks, but I'd rather stand", snarled Jason. "I don't plan to stay long".
"You think your friends are coming to get you? Why would they do that?"
Jason couldn't figure out the point of this conversation, so he preferred to keep his mouth shut.
"Why would they come to rescue you, if they think you betrayed them?"
Jason couldn't hide his surprise. A sudden chill went through him, but he fought to regain his composure.
"Why would they ever think that? You're bluffing", he said dismissively.
"My dear G-Forcer, let me give you some basic facts. Our patrol encountered your convoy with the data updates quite by chance. But when you were captured, Zoltar, our magnificent leader, had the idea to use this opportunity to capture the whole of G-Force or, barring that, cause so much distrust and mayhem that your precious ISO would not know who to trust from now on. What better than to use you as bait? We knew you disobeyed a direct order to return to the Phoenix and, let me add, that was very brave of you. But is that how your comrades will see it? Or will they think that you planned this from the start?"
The Major paused and Jason wished he had taken his offer of a chair, as his legs were feeling wobbly. Still, he tried to keep a neutral expression on his face.
"Interesting tale. But you're very much mistaken if you think that they'd fall for a cheap trick like this".
"Perhaps not, in the beginning. Perhaps only your Chief Anderson, who is of a deeply suspicious nature, will start putting two and two together. But what if we were to provide evidence? They know you are being questioned, ergo, they know they have to rescue you. But surely they will not miss the opportunity to solve the mystery of the ambush at Traitor's Pass? And what G-Force will find, is indications that our information about the data transfer came from the very top of the ISO, maybe G-Force itself. Nothing about you personally, of course, as it cannot be expected that we would be so unprofessional as to actually keep a record of the traitor's name. But little clues, enough to make the ISO look over their shoulders for a very long time. And, I'm afraid, enough to make G-Force see you as the enemy".
To be continued
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