The Final Freedom's Epilogue

"Where's Claes now, Captain?"

Raballo studied his walking stick. "Why, Director?"

"Well, I don't want her telling the others about this little misadventure." He stared at Captain Raballo over the tops of his rimless glasses.

"She won't talk. She knows better." Raballo knew that. He trained her to be mindful of operational security at all times, even with the other cyborgs on Agency grounds.

"I'm afraid that's not good enough."

Raballo slowly tenses up. "Not acceptable. You can't pretend she's a videotape and erase her when it's convenient."

"This isn't my decision. The Ministry originally wanted her terminated."

The shock of the statement melted Raballo's tension and replaced it with a cold dread. "Why?" His mouth was dry, his voice soft.

"Think about it. Did you ever hear of Project Icarus before?"

"No, but I've been out of-"

Director Lorenzo shook his head, slowly and sadly. "It was during your time. And, I've never heard of it either. You can believe me or you can call me a liar, but think about it: what was your security clearance?"

Reluctantly, Raballo nodded once.

"If you and I didn't hear a trace of Icarus, then it's something someone very high wants to keep very secret." The Director pushed his glasses up. "Those people will go to extremes to keep their secrets."

"So my choices are to have her memories be erased, or …"

"I'm afraid those are your choices, Captain. I've spoken with Doctor Bianchi. He is sure we can target just the most recent memories, at most a week's worth."

Raballo thought back to the large fish they caught, the smile on her face. She smiles so rarely. He remembered her recent progress using her Heckler & Koch VP70 machine pistol.

Better to lose a week than to lose all of her.

"No more than a week's worth, do you hear me?" Not bothering to wait for an answer, he lurched to his feet, and stomped out the Director's office, the metal tip of his cane clicking in time with his injured leg.

Ξ§§§Ξ

"So, Claes. What do you remember?" Raballo was aware the hospital room was almost certainly bugged.

"I … I don't remember getting shot. Did the target get away?" She blinked, and worry lined her forehead.

"No. You did fine. Doctor Bianchi said that with a head injury like that, trauma may cause you to block out the actual event."

She closed her eyes and tried to remember the shooting, but all she could remember was chasing after the enemy agent.

And falling…

She opened her eyes and shook her head. "No, I can't remember anything about it."

"That's nature's way of protecting you, or so I've read."

"Uh-huh." Claes dabbed at an unexpected tear.

Raballo tensed. I hope there's not a camera in here, too. "Uh, Claes? Is your eye all right?"

She forced a smile. "I'm fine. I just had a sad dream, that's all."