Struggles

Chapter 8: Once and For All

Take your time. Be careful. There's no rush. You don't want to mess this up.

Sitting on the edge of the bed, I look up as the door is pushed open. A young man steps in and quickly closes it again. He's holding a tray of food. He comes in every few hours with my meal and sits to make sure that I don't take anything for my experiments. A precaution I must compliment Monger on, but unfortunately for him, there's always a disadvantage to using humans. They have emotions.

Typically not a bad thing, but in situations like this…

"Good evening," I greet casually, as I typically do.

He smiles awkwardly and holds out the tray for me to take. I return the smile calmly, taking the tray and setting it on my lap. This is usually where we fall silent. He has a job to do and I have a meal to eat before it's taken away.

I have an objective this time, though. "Feel free to sit down, my boy."

He frowns, shifting uncomfortably. "No thank you, Doctor."

I shrug, poking a little at my meal. "Suit yourself. It can't be comfortable, standing in one place for so long…"

He hesitates, rubbing the back of his neck before sighing. "Well… alright…" He hesitates, glancing around before finally taking a seat at the very end of the bed, a couple feet away from me.

"What's your name?" I ask, taking a small bite so as not to look too suspicious.

He looks at me uncertainly.

"Don't worry about General Monger, my boy. He won't punish you for having a little chat." He still doesn't seem sure. "I promise." He cross two fingers over my chest in a little 'x' before holding up a Boy Scout symbol. "He used to do it himself. Even before he was promoted."

He chuckles a little, rubbing the back of his neck. "Well… my name's, uh… Corporal James Davis."

I hold out a hand politely. "Dr. Cockroach, PhD."

"Yeah," he smirks. "I know." But he takes my hand, shaking it anyways.

We chat a little. He asks questions, mostly about inventions, how I manage them. He can't tell me anything about his job, which I understand. He just tells me a little about his home town. I feel a little bad, using him for this plan, but I have to do what I have to do. Perhaps some day I'll be able to make it up to him.

Finally, I push my tray away, as though I can't eat anymore. "Thank you, Corporal. Your company has been lovely."

"No problem," James answered, taking the tray and standing up. "See you for your next meal Doctor."

I nod in response, silently watching him go. When I'm absolutely sure he's gone, I allow myself to smile. Reaching into my coat pockets, I pull out a single paperclip I'd snagged while he was distracted.

It wasn't much, but it was perfect.

-

It's been about an hour and a half as far as I can tell, since I 'overheard Monger and the Lieutenant. I crawl up the wall, removing the speaker for the PA again. I reach into the wall, praying to anyone listening that there isn't rats or anything in there. It's difficult at first, but I find a handful of wires. Luckily, just like any other structure, this places' wiring usually all follows the same path.

Smirking, I pull gently, managing to stretch them out enough to work on. By process of elimination, I'm able to determine which wire is the one I need. Reaching into my pocket, I pull out the paperclip, using it to carefully begin cutting into a thick black wire. I'm careful not to touch the actual metal core, not particularly wanting to burn my fingers. Instead, when I get down to it, I grind it into the edge of the wall.

The wire snaps. Glancing to the side, I can see the metal door to my cell unlock and slide open. Perfect.

Smirking, I hop down, quickly making my way out. I have to be quick before someone notices. I'm not sure what part of the base I'm in, I hadn't even recognized it, but it's nothing a little sneaking around can't solve.

I'm coming, my dear. And we're going to deal with this once and for all.