Read Online The Minus Faction, Episode One: Breakout by Rick Wayne - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: Rick Wayne
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for the man. And with the doc's help, he'd get what he needed.
Amarta said a few words to the corporal before the MPs took him away. She watched him disappear behind the elevator doors, then turned to look down the hall at the man in the wheelchair.
It was only a moment before the lieutenant stepped over and asked her to join a debriefing with key members of the staff. Several doctors and hospital administrators had appeared after the "all clear" came over the intercom. They had gawked from the nook by the stairwell as the guards handcuffed Gabe. Now they were discussing where to meet and who should be present. They were all so serious.
Dr. Zabora wanted none of it. She waved off the lieutenant and walked down the hall without a word. The young officer scowled at her and turned back to the cooperative staff.
Amarta stopped in the door across the hall from John and leaned against the frame. "You're just full of tricks."
The captain shrugged.
"I don't suppose you'll tell me how you pulled this one off either."
"Shouldn't you be . . ." He waved to the end of the hall.
"What? Debriefing ? The lieutenant's balls are bigger than his ears. He isn't going to listen to me. I'll wait for Colonel Philip. There's no less dick-waving but at least the colonel is up front about it. We need to talk." She stepped inside the exam room behind her.
John scowled and rolled in after. "Last time someone said that to me, I got accused of treason."
"Our mutual friend didn't bother to check in with me this morning. Makes me think I'm not important to her anymore."
"You're not. My case got escalated. They're probably here already."
Amarta was confused. She thought Ayn wanted the captain at the hospital. "Wait. Who?"
"Some folks you really don't want to mess with."
Dr. Zabora crossed her arms. "What are you talking about?"
Regent looked to the side. He wasn't sure how to explain it. "Most of the time, the stuff that goes on in the world is pretty much like you expect. For that last little bit, the folks in charge--or maybe it's the folks who want to be in charge. Either way, they're willing to break the rules to get things done. To get what they want."
Amarta tapped her foot. She was getting flustered. She had a plan. She was proud of it. Now she was afraid it didn't matter.
"There was a kid in Malaysia—well shit, he's probably grown up by now. His body discharges shocks, like an electric eel. I saw it. He threw a little fit and there was a crack in the air. Everyone standing around him flew back and hit the ground in convulsions like they'd been standing next to a bolt of lightning."
The doctor had had enough of the captain's fantastic stories. "What does that have to do with Ayn?"
"We took him. Put him in a cage. I'm not sure what they did to him or even if he's still alive."
Amarta let out a long, deep sigh. "I see."
"Like I told you yesterday, I'm not your problem anymore." Regent held out his right hand. "Thanks. For everything."
Amarta didn't take it. That would be shaking on a surrender. "They can't just take you."
"Doc--"
"There are laws."
"Laws are just words, ambiguous ones too, especially for anyone labeled 'combatant.' How many guys at Gitmo can you name? Folks with uniforms and badges show up and say someone's a terrorist, how many people you think will ask questions?"
"So they're just going to--what? Kidnap you in front of everyone?"
"They won't have to."
"You're going to give yourself up?"
"I'm done fighting, Doc. I had a good run, but it's time to face facts." Regent raised his weak arm. "I can't get very far. Not like this. I need meds and a steady supply of colostomy bags." He laughed. He was the only one who ever had a sense of humor about his intestines. "And I sure as hell can't blend in. I knew the best I could ever do was hold them off for awhile."
"What about . . . what you told me yesterday?"
John shook his head. "I'm not doing that anymore." It was one thing to hide from torture or sneak an
Amarta said a few words to the corporal before the MPs took him away. She watched him disappear behind the elevator doors, then turned to look down the hall at the man in the wheelchair.
It was only a moment before the lieutenant stepped over and asked her to join a debriefing with key members of the staff. Several doctors and hospital administrators had appeared after the "all clear" came over the intercom. They had gawked from the nook by the stairwell as the guards handcuffed Gabe. Now they were discussing where to meet and who should be present. They were all so serious.
Dr. Zabora wanted none of it. She waved off the lieutenant and walked down the hall without a word. The young officer scowled at her and turned back to the cooperative staff.
Amarta stopped in the door across the hall from John and leaned against the frame. "You're just full of tricks."
The captain shrugged.
"I don't suppose you'll tell me how you pulled this one off either."
"Shouldn't you be . . ." He waved to the end of the hall.
"What? Debriefing ? The lieutenant's balls are bigger than his ears. He isn't going to listen to me. I'll wait for Colonel Philip. There's no less dick-waving but at least the colonel is up front about it. We need to talk." She stepped inside the exam room behind her.
John scowled and rolled in after. "Last time someone said that to me, I got accused of treason."
"Our mutual friend didn't bother to check in with me this morning. Makes me think I'm not important to her anymore."
"You're not. My case got escalated. They're probably here already."
Amarta was confused. She thought Ayn wanted the captain at the hospital. "Wait. Who?"
"Some folks you really don't want to mess with."
Dr. Zabora crossed her arms. "What are you talking about?"
Regent looked to the side. He wasn't sure how to explain it. "Most of the time, the stuff that goes on in the world is pretty much like you expect. For that last little bit, the folks in charge--or maybe it's the folks who want to be in charge. Either way, they're willing to break the rules to get things done. To get what they want."
Amarta tapped her foot. She was getting flustered. She had a plan. She was proud of it. Now she was afraid it didn't matter.
"There was a kid in Malaysia—well shit, he's probably grown up by now. His body discharges shocks, like an electric eel. I saw it. He threw a little fit and there was a crack in the air. Everyone standing around him flew back and hit the ground in convulsions like they'd been standing next to a bolt of lightning."
The doctor had had enough of the captain's fantastic stories. "What does that have to do with Ayn?"
"We took him. Put him in a cage. I'm not sure what they did to him or even if he's still alive."
Amarta let out a long, deep sigh. "I see."
"Like I told you yesterday, I'm not your problem anymore." Regent held out his right hand. "Thanks. For everything."
Amarta didn't take it. That would be shaking on a surrender. "They can't just take you."
"Doc--"
"There are laws."
"Laws are just words, ambiguous ones too, especially for anyone labeled 'combatant.' How many guys at Gitmo can you name? Folks with uniforms and badges show up and say someone's a terrorist, how many people you think will ask questions?"
"So they're just going to--what? Kidnap you in front of everyone?"
"They won't have to."
"You're going to give yourself up?"
"I'm done fighting, Doc. I had a good run, but it's time to face facts." Regent raised his weak arm. "I can't get very far. Not like this. I need meds and a steady supply of colostomy bags." He laughed. He was the only one who ever had a sense of humor about his intestines. "And I sure as hell can't blend in. I knew the best I could ever do was hold them off for awhile."
"What about . . . what you told me yesterday?"
John shook his head. "I'm not doing that anymore." It was one thing to hide from torture or sneak an
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