Insurgency. Part 5

Chapter 8.

"I don't see how we can keep Lieutenant Barker alive eight more months," commented Captain Lopez. "Too many want to kill him, including me."

"I know," I said. "It is all I can do to not shoot him myself. Keep reminding yourself of the big payoff."

"The insurgents will probably get him anyway," said Captain Lopez. "They're doing something new. Spider insurgents are shooting at us from across the MDL with mortars and rockets. They think we can't shoot back without causing an intergalactic incident. The good news is that they're not all shooting at us. Other insurgents, maybe human, are firing from our side of the MDL at Arthropodan troops."

"That's odd. Are the spider and human insurgents cooperating? Or is it just a coincidence they're using the same strategy?"

"I liked it better when they were shooting at each other. You better tell your spider commander buddy I don't like being shot at from his side of the MDL. Just today a rocket blew up the sidewalk in front of Walmart."

I called the spider commander on the phone as Lopez suggested. "If you keep supplying the insurgents with arms, you are going to find those same arms someday pointed at you," I said.

"I think you may be right," said the spider commander. "I'll stop immediately."

"What?" I asked. "No argument? You're going to stop giving aid to the insurgents that quickly? What's the catch? What made you agree with me?"

"My spies tell me the insurgency is changing tactics," said the spider commander. "Spiders and humans are plotting together. I don't know what they are up to, but it cannot be good. I suspect they are giving each other arms, too. I was planning to cut them off anyway."

"I want permission to strike at will at insurgents across the MDL," I said.

"You do that anyway," said the spider commander. "And your aim is lousy. Do you realize how much collateral damage you cause? It's a good thing Uncle Sam has deep pockets."

"Now I have your permission to cause collateral damage," I said. "Perhaps we can start getting serious about chasing terrorists. They can't survive without a safe haven."

"I agree. I'll contact the governor about similar cooperation on a planet-wide basis. In the meantime, do not trespa.s.s."

"And I'll contact General Kalipetsis," I promised.

"Does this mean you will honor our extradition requests?" asked the spider commander.

"That is still a touchy subject. Extradition will still be done on a case-by-case basis. And you may not request to extradite any legionnaire, especially Lieutenant Barker. The publicity it causes every time you do that does not help things."

"Only full cooperation will work," warned the spider commander. "Lieutenant Barker is a bad egg. You should cull him from your nest now."

"Probably," I agreed. "But he is my problem. I will take care of Barker, not you."

"Why did the T. Roosevelt bomb an office complex in New Memphis?" asked the spider commander. "Not that I care when you human pestilence bomb each other, but New Memphis is under joint administration, and you should still inform the Empire before doing something so dangerous. We do not want to create a public panic."

"I don't know anything about it. Was anyone killed?"

"Just a bunch of Mafia bookies. But gla.s.s windows were shattered in buildings a half mile away. I'm sending the Legion a bill."

"I'll check on it and get back to you."

I went to my underground bunker for some sleep. It seemed like there was too much drama seeking me out, and I just wanted to get away from it all. As I entered my quarters, I was smacked on the side of my head. I fell to the floor. At least four a.s.sailants kicked me repeatedly. I tried to protect my head and ribs with hands and elbows, covering in a fetal position. The beating continued. I was in bad shape. My right eye closed shut from injury. Someone put a cloth bag over my head and cinched tight a cord. Breathing was restricted as I struggled. Others bound my hands behind my back with handcuffs. They yanked me to my feet and pulled me along down a hallway. Every other step, someone punched or kicked me and told me to shut up.

"Get this bag off my face!" I yelled. "I can't breathe!"

"You can breathe," replied one of my kidnappers. "Shut up, or I'll shoot you."

"I have asthma," I cried. "I will die if I can't breathe. Take this bag off my head."

"I'll shoot you now!" repeated the kidnapper.

"Look me in the eye when you shoot me, coward!"

"Don't worry, I will," he said, laughing nastily.

"We will cut off your head," added another a.s.sailant.

I was sure he was a spider. I could tell that a translation device was involved in the conversation. "How did a spider get down here?" I demanded. "Human traitors are working with spiders?"

"Shut up," said the spider, striking me in the head again.

This time I lost consciousness as they carried me the rest of the way to wherever it was they were taking me. When I woke, a bright light shone in my face. The cloth bag had been removed. I was still bound, sitting on a chair. A spider calling himself Desert Claw loomed over me with a large sword. A human insurgent by the name of David Torres and another human were setting up video cameras on tripods.

"He's awake," announced Desert Claw. "Let's get started."

Three humans and two spiders, all wearing hoods to mask their ident.i.ties, posed next to me for the cameras. Desert Claw grabbed my hair, forced me to my knees, and put his sword to my throat as he read a prepared statement. "We are the Fist and Claw. We abducted the Foreign Legion war criminal and ma.s.s murderer Colonel Czerinski, the Butcher of New Colorado, to bring him to justice. We demand a free and independent New Colorado. We demand the Arthropodan Empire and the United States Galactic Federation both leave New Colorado at once. If you refuse to leave New Colorado, the sand will be nourished with your blood. We demand all freedom fighters be immediately freed from prisons on both sides of the border. Otherwise, by sundown tonight, I will cut off Czerinski's head and mail it to the Legion." The cameras stopped, and the bright lights went out.

"So which is it?" I asked. "Are you going to bring me to justice or trade me for prisoners?"

"We are going to chop you up a little bit at a time," said Desert Claw. "Then I will have your head."

I recognized both Desert Claw and David Torres from wanted posters at the Post Office. Up until now, they were just local nuisances that operated mostly north of the DMZ.

"David," I said. "You are taking orders from a spider? Como puede esto ser? Amigo?" Como puede esto ser? Amigo?"

"Your Legion hunts us all like dogs," replied Torres. "The tables are turned now! How does it feel?" Torres slapped the side of my head.

"The planet is big enough for everyone," I said. "Friend, there are so many unexplored parts of New Colorado. This is not necessary."

"You are not my friend, legionnaire," said Torres. "Entienda?" "Entienda?"

"Si," I answered. "We have both fought the spiders. We have too much history and culture in common to fight among ourselves. It should not end like this between us. We are family. We are humanity." I answered. "We have both fought the spiders. We have too much history and culture in common to fight among ourselves. It should not end like this between us. We are family. We are humanity."

"Enough!" interrupted Desert Claw. "He only seeks to drive a wedge between us!"

"Men don't take orders from bugs," I said. "David isn't through talking to me, and will not take orders from you!"

"You think I'm stupid?" asked Torres, slapping me again. "You are not Latino. Don't speak Spanish to me like you're family. We are not family! I will kill you soon. Lock him up!"

"I have a lot of money," I offered. "Maybe I can buy my way out of this?"

"I don't need money," said Torres. "If I needed money, I would rob banks."

"Let me make a phone call," I said. "I want to say good-bye to my girlfriend."

"You have nerve, asking to use a phone," said Torres. "Do you think you can call for help? Do you think your call can be traced to us?"

"Everyone here has loved ones who care about them," I said. "I do, too. You said you are going to kill me. Fine. I can accept that. I had no illusions when I joined the Legion that I would die a hero, other than I thought it would be spiders, not traitorous humans, who would kill me. I want to say good-bye to Valerie. I'll just send a text if you are so afraid of hidden messages or a trace. Please hand me my communications pad."

"What does she look like?" asked Torres.

"Valerie looks like a blond Playboy model," I bragged. "I'll show you a picture."

Torres handed me my pad, allowing my one hand to be free. I brought up Valerie's photo. Then I sent her a text. "Good-bye Valerie. No matter what happens, remember I love you."

The virtual image of Valerie appeared before me, via the link to my brain. The others could not see or hear her as she said, "I will not leave your side. I will help you through this, sweetie." Then she kissed me.

"Valerie is very beautiful," commented Torres, looking at her database photo. "Does she have a sister?"

"Several," I said. "And they all like men with big guns. I'll put you in contact with them through the database, if you like."

"Maybe in another place and another time." Torres sighed. "Too bad such a lovely woman will be grieving soon."

"Who is this pig?" asked Valerie.

"Someone that needs killing," I replied.

Torres slapped me again. The insurgents bound my free hand, covered my head with a bag, dragged me down a hallway, and threw me to the floor of a locked cell. Valerie followed, seething with anger. "I was able to see out a small window as they brought you here," said Valerie. "I have sent enhanced images to Captain Lopez. Several landmarks and even a street sign are easily identified. Sweetie, I promise you will be rescued soon."

Captain Lopez read the priority text message and sorted through the attachments. Its sender was anonymous. Lopez didn't think it was possible to receive an anonymous priority message, but someone had access to our secure codes. The text was most disturbing. Colonel Czerinski was missing? Kidnapped by terrorists? Colonel Czerinski was missing? Kidnapped by terrorists? Captain Lopez sent a text message to me. No answer. The anonymous sender's a.n.a.lysis of hidden video indicated I was being held at the G Company compound. This was based on a brief image out a window. Captain Lopez sent a text message to Lieutenant Barker, ordering him to report to Legion Headquarters. No answer. Captain Lopez sent a text message to me. No answer. The anonymous sender's a.n.a.lysis of hidden video indicated I was being held at the G Company compound. This was based on a brief image out a window. Captain Lopez sent a text message to Lieutenant Barker, ordering him to report to Legion Headquarters. No answer.

Captain Lopez broadcast a Division alert. All First Division legionnaires were ordered to muster for an a.s.sault on mutinous troops at the G Company compound. Legionnaire commandos quickly attacked through the tunnels and through the front entrance. I was found alive in a holding cell. Lieutenant Barker, Sergeant Toock, Corporal Wayne, and about twenty other legionnaires went missing. A new escape tunnel was later found. The rest of G Company was placed under arrest, pending an investigation and interrogations.

Chapter 9.

"Silly rabbit, Trix are for kids," said the small child, taking back a cereal box.

"And sometimes for sneaky rabbits," replied a large proud cartoon rabbit, as he ate his stolen bowl of cereal.

I turned the TV off as Captain Lopez and Guido entered my hospital room. I had some cracked ribs and a concussion. My head and chest throbbed with pain. Valerie slept cuddled next to me under the covers, unseen by my visitors. Her warmth felt so real. She was snoring. Sometimes I think computers go too far in trying to seem real.

"What are we going to do about Barker?" asked Captain Lopez.

"Continue keeping him alive for the next seven months, five hours, and thirty-two minutes," I answered.

"How is that going to happen?" asked Captain Lopez. "He's a fugitive. Now the fool is going to be on everybody's Ten-Most-Wanted lists. He was already wanted north of the DMZ. Now he has no sanctuary."

"We will issue a press release indicating Lieutenant Barker may have fallen victim to the same terrorists that kidnapped me," I said. "We will release video images of Desert Claw, David Torres, and the others. I will issue a statement expressing my personal confidence in Lieutenant Barker's loyalty."

"Who sent me the video of you in the hallway?" asked Captain Lopez. "Do we have a spy in the insurgency?"

"I can't answer that," I replied. "It doesn't matter anyway. All I care about is that Lieutenant Barker lives long enough to win our bet. We need to contain Lieutenant Barker inside the New Gobi Desert region. If he leaves the New Gobi, the bet is void."

"Actually, the fine print says Barker is to stay at his New Gobi a.s.signment," corrected Captain Lopez. "Does that mean he must remain in the Legion?"

"I'll run that by a lawyer," I advised. "I think the intent of that clause is to keep Lieutenant Barker from fleeing to an area of safety. He has not left yet. Anyway, Lieutenant Barker is still in the Legion, whether he wants to be or not."

"What about Corporal Wayne?" asked Guido. "I can understand Barker and Toock being traitors, but there is no way Corporal Wayne joined a human insurgency."

"It's a matter of moral character," commented Captain Lopez. "Who knows what goes through the mind of a spider?"

"Corporal Wayne is the most moral character I know," insisted Guido. "I do not believe he is a traitor. Besides, Corporal Wayne placed a bet on Barker, too."

"How many people are in on this bet?" I asked.

"People or spiders?" asked Guido.

"How many?" I demanded.

"Just a few," replied Guido. "Favors have to be granted and paid back. It's good business and important to maintain goodwill."

"I learned a long time ago not to ask too many questions about your business dealings," I commented. "But make it clear to everyone we cannot let that information get out. I still have a conflict of interest issue to deal with in spite of my precautions."

"What about Sergeant Toock?" asked Captain Lopez.

"I don't want him back," I said.

"We should contact Corporal Wayne," said Guido. "We need to confirm his situation."

"Go ahead," I said. "Captain Lopez and I sent messages to Barker, but there has been no response. I'm concerned for Wayne's welfare, too."

Guido sent a text to Corporal Wayne. "Friend, come back to the Legion. We can work this out."

The response was immediate. "I just followed orders. When the legionnaires stormed G Company's barracks, I fled through a new tunnel. I felt I would be killed rather than taken into custody."

Guido showed me the text. "Can I promise Wayne amnesty if he comes back?" asked Guido.