Intellect
"Don't ever let yourself or any of the men get captured. Especially by people like the Taliban. A buddy of mine from our sister unit got captured and later recovered several years ago. I've seen the results firsthand. They tortured and mutilated the poor fucker, cut his dick off and everything."
"Really?" SFC Harrison was providing his young Platoon Leader with wisdom he gained from years of colorful experiences he has had in his service to the nation.
"Yeah, he was lucky to survive. Or, maybe not so lucky, all things considered. Those damn towelheads will get medieval on your ass if you give them the chance. A couple well placed pieces of lead will make sure they don't."
"What the hell is this?" the lieutenant yelled at the silhouette standing behind the window of the darkened observation room.
"This is what success looks like." the silhouette said, speaking through the intercom. "Your friend there, next to you, is honey. You are the fly. The room you are in, flypaper."
"What do you want? You wouldn't go through all this trouble to trap me if you didn't want something from me."
"You were able to deduce that but cannot guess at my intent? I had hoped you would be smart enough to figure that out."
"You want to question me."
"Very good! So, you are smart enough. You will hopefully be smart enough to give me the answers I want."
"We'll see."
"Yes, we will. Your friend there, she did not give me the answers I wanted. She was either too stubborn or did not know. Either way, I now have a man who has the answers. I hope you aren't as stubborn as she was."
"AAAAAAHHH—" Renamon screamed out as an electric shock ran through her body.
"You bastard!" The lieutenant raised his rifle and aimed at the man in the glass. He fired four rounds at the silhouette, but the glass caught the rounds. The glass spiderwebbed with cracks around the bullets but did not shatter.
"You think I'd be foolish enough to put regular glass between you and me? Your gun will not break this glass. There is no escape for you, American."
"Ask your damn questions, then."
"What are you doing here? On the digital plane, that is."
"I got lost."
"I don't believe you."
"That's the truth."
"Wrong." The man pressed a button, sending another electrical shock through the lieutenant's partner. She screamed out in pain.
"GODDAMNIT! I got LOST! It's the damn truth."
"Stubborn, very well. We will move on. You are an officer, yes? A lieutenant, I believe. Where are your soldiers, those you command?" 2LT Joseph's face grew solemn.
"Dead."
"Again, I don't believe you." Another electrical impulse passed through Renamon, who cried out in agony. "Where are they hiding? When will they attack? What do they know? Give me the answers I want!"
"They are dead. I failed them all."
"Do you believe me to be a fool. You would venture out here, alone into a heavily guarded facility? My men did not report killing or finding any dead Americans in the area. One of your men was with you when you broke in here! I know you are lying, you damn heathen! I will show you I don't play these games!"
The man turned around, turning a large dial clockwise. He then pushed the button again. Renamon screamed out again, but for much longer this time. Her body continued to convulse wildly.
"Stop!" the lieutenant pleaded. The man pushed the button, Renamon stopped convulsing.
"Where are they?"
"DEAD!"
"No." Another button push, another cry of agony.
"STOP!" Once again, the electrical current stopped briefly.
"Where?!" Fed up, 2LT Joseph grabbed at one of the cuffs and attempted to pry it off of his digital partner's wrist. "Fool!" The man turned the dial up once more and pushed the button.
"AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHH!" Renamon screamed the loudest and highest pitch she had all night. 2LT Joseph, also on the receiving end of the electrical current, was knocked off and fell back onto the floor.
"Damnit! Renamon, I'm gonna get you out of this!" The lieutenant stood up and picked up his rifle. He started shooting at all the metal bits connecting the chair to the floor. He emptied the whole magazine, dropped it, and slid in another. He fired again at the connections, and after the seventh round Renamon stopped convulsing. Sparks and the sound of static electricity flew from the base of the chair.
"You devil!" The man turned and broke a glass panel. Inside, he pulled a lever. He then went to leave the observation room. The interrogation room slowly began to fill with fire suppression foam.
"Renamon!" She was unresponsive. The lieutenant grabbed her under her chin; with a firm grip, he shook her head. Limp and unresponsive. He took his helmet off and put the side of his head to her nose. He heard no breathing and did not see her chest rise or fall.
"I'm not losing you too, damnit!" The lieutenant put his hands firmly against her chest and started to conduct CPR. Thirty chest compressions, no response. He opened her mouth and inhaled deeply. Placing his lips on her lips, he blew air into her mouth and down her windpipe. Another deep inhale, another breath of air. Still no response. Another thirty chest compressions. Upon stopping, he felt her heart slowly continue to beat on its own. He brought his ear once again to her nose. No breathing. He opened her mouth, inhaled, and gave her another breath of air. Inhale, another breath.
This time he felt her tongue reach out and touch his. His eyes widened and cheeks flushed, and he pulled away. He grabbed her by the chin again. "Renamon?" he asked. Her ears twitched. Her eyelids twitched and slowly opened.
"Michael?" she said, barely a whisper. Her ears shot up, her eyes shot open and alert. "Michael!" She raised her head off his hand. He wrapped his arms around her, and the chair, in a warm hug, putting his head on her shoulder.
"Don't ever die on me again, okay?"
"Okay." The lieutenant stood up.
"Lemme see if I can get you out of this damn torture…" He grabbed at one of the cuffs again and pulled sloppily. "Torture thing." He pulled again, shaking. He started to lose his balance. His breaths grew short. He passed out, falling forward onto Renamon, and rolled off onto the floor by her feet.
"Michael!" Foam began to surround them.
