CHAPTER SEVEN - SABOTAGE

It was very cold and there was something throbbing painfully in the darkness. Dimly Sammy began to realise that it was his head and that he was beginning to wake up. His entire body was heavy and it was hard to move without feeling dizzy.

“Uh…” His mouth was thick and dry and tasted awful.

“It’s okay, Sammy. Just take it easy,” A familiar voice said.

It was highly difficult to open his eyes and he was confused. How had he ended up lying on the floor? The last thing he remembered was something hard hitting his head. He had blinked and now he was here…

Finally he managed to raise his head slightly. Kevin was bending over him, staring at him in concern. “How do you feel?” he asked softly.

Sammy blinked his eyes in confusion and then placed a hand to his head. “Ow.” His skin was damp with cool water.

Kevin held out a cloth soaked in cold water and Sammy gratefully place it on his aching temple. His eyes swivelled about the room. They were in a cell with green painted walls. Opposite them were a series of black bars. They were in a cell.

“What happened?” he whispered.

“One of Heather’s cronies gave you a nasty blow to the head with a gun butt. It knocked you straight out.”

“Ow…” Sammy said again. “Uh, I have a headache.” It was almost as if a brick had connected with his head. There was a burning pain that thumped deep within his skull that seemed to send painful echoes throughout his entire head.

“What did you expect? Just lie still for a while. You’re going to be all right. One of the guards brought in a med kit earlier and checked you for a concussion. At least they don’t want you dead.”

“No, they don’t want any of us dead at the moment,” a new voice said.

Sammy peered around Kevin and suddenly noticed that they were sharing the cell with three other men who were seated along the opposite wall. He slowly manoeuvred himself so that he was sitting up and blinked a few times until everything stopped being quite so blurred.

“They need us to work for them,” the first speaker said in a British. He had dark brown hair and a rugged face atop a muscular body.

“Sammy, this is Paul,” Kevin introduced as he nodded towards the man. “He and his friends were captured from a nearby base.”

Paul nodded his head. “This is Cal and Harvey,” he said, gesturing to his two companions. Cal was dark like Paul but Harvey had ginger hair. None of them looked pleased about their situation, but they did not seem to be too badly treated. Paul had a small bruise on his face and their clothes had obviously been worn for some time, but they looked healthy enough. At least the Gerai were not going to starve them to death it seemed.

“Hi,” Sammy greeted, his voice still thick and slightly slurred. He glanced about the cell. He did not remember being moved. He did not remember anything but a moment of blackness before awakening here. He hated it when a part of your life went missing without so much as dreams to fill the gap. “How long was I out?”

“Several hours,” Kevin replied. “I think. It’s hard to tell.”

Paul stood up and crossed to them. “You feeling all right?” he had a deep voice, but it was kind. Sammy could not help but like him.

“A little dizzy,” Sammy confessed. “Is there anything to drink?” His throat was screaming for water. It was as if he had been unconscious for days without something to drink.

Paul unhooked a flask from his belt and handed it to him. Gratefully Sammy took it, the cool water soothing to his aching mouth. “Thanks.” He handed it back and leaned with his head against the dark green wall. Above them were a cluster of crystal lights that cast a dull glow throughout the cell.

Paul regarded him carefully. “So you’re B’s brother,” he said. “You look like him.”

Sammy tilted his head. He had never thought he resembled B much. There was no reason as to why they should seeing as Sammy was adopted. “How do you know B?”

Paul smiled sadly. “Everyone knows him and what he looks like. Everyone knows about you and your dad too. You three are kinda famous.”

Sammy lowered his eyes. “What I would give for us all just to have a normal life though.” A thought suddenly hit his mind like a sharp splinter. “Kev? Do you think they really have B here?” The Gerai were desperate to seize hold of him and Sammy could only shudder at the thoughts of what the might do to him. He remembered when he had rescued B from the Gerai base he had been in as a child. B had been screaming his head off in agony as blood rolled down his arm over the red and purple vaccination marks.

Kevin exchanged a glance with Paul. “I don’t know,” he said eventually. “These guys haven’t heard anything about him, but the Gerai don’t tell them much.” He glanced towards the bars of the cell.

Sammy stared at the bars and just beyond he could see a guard seated at a console. “What is this place? Why are they capturing us?” he lowered his voice slightly, even though the Gerai seemed to be engrossed in his work.

“It’s a high tech Gerai base,” Paul explained. “It’s an incredible design. It was a hidden research facility and the only base the Gerai ever built underground. The scientists here though didn’t have much to do with the war. After it was over, they were still stuck down here and decided to fight back. The problem is that there isn’t many of them at all. They aim to try and win by developing new weapons and they intend to use the same thing we did. They’ve been trying to hack into the computers of our resistance bases.”

“They’re not getting very far though,” Kevin added. “They need B.”

They always needed B and they were dependent on him to ever give p their ruthless hunt for him. B was just a kid…

“Yeah, what the hell is in that poor kid’s arm? It must be something big if they’ve spent over twelve years chasing him!” Paul said.

“It’s a virus,” Sammy said softly, thinking of the horror that lurked within his little brother’s arm.

“You said they don’t have many people left, so they aim to wipe out the resistance the easy way. It’s a nasty thing and highly complex. It really could be a problem for us if they ever get it,” Kevin said grimly.

“Shit,” Cal swore from the opposite end. “That’s why they have us working with viral research?”

Sammy’s brow furrowed in confusion. ‘Viral’ research? “What?”

Paul stared at him. “I was just explaining to your friend Kev here what we’re doing here,” he said. “Our base is very close to this place and the Gerai have been kidnapping us all! They have raiding parties and have been aiming to catch resistance members. They’ve also been raiding local villages for supplies and catching people there as we. You see, they need people to work for them. They have some people helping to build weapons and they have blackmailed several scientists to help them out. We’re not sure what they’re doing because they’re kept separately to us. Other people they’ve been torturing for tactical information.”

Sammy could feel his skin growing cold and pale. Torture? How many people had suffered at the hands of the Gerai? Sammy knew how brutal their methods could be. He had found himself locked in a Gerai base with his brother once where they had been brutally tortured by a psychotic commander. He closed his eyes. He had never felt so sick or hopeless in his entire life than merely watching as B suffered. He would give his own life for him if he could, but sometimes you are just so hopeless.

“There used to be four of us,” Cal said drearily from the other side of the room. “There was a woman called Ruth with us but they tortured, raped her and then killer her when she wouldn’t tell them anything.”

“They did it in front of us,” Harvey whispered quietly, his eyes closing at the memory. He lowered his head. “She was my sister.”

Sammy stared at him and saw something that looked like a tear glistening upon his face. He gulped slightly. “I know the feeling… I once had to watch B be tortured,” he whispered, feeling that he had to say something to make Harvey realise that he understood.

“They have their ways of getting what they want,” Paul whispered. “Cal here helps to build weapons and Harvey and I help them out with their computers. The damn things are always shutting down and blowing up. They need constant maintenance.”

Cal smirked slightly. “Maybe because you’re causing it all!”

Paul smiled proudly and puffed his chest up while winking at Kevin and Sammy.

“You’re sabotaging the base?” Sammy hissed, leaning forward slightly. Suddenly he wasn’t so helpless. He pushed the pain of his head away, instead he was now intent as doing as much damage as he could while in this place.

“Keep your voice down!” Cal hushed, pointing to the guard by the console outside.

Paul nodded, a daring gleam in his eyes. “We play the part of stupid, scared and dumb slaves. We’re waiting for our chance to strike.”

“Don’t they notice?” Kevin asked curiously.

Sammy nodded in agreement as he turned to Paul. The Gerai weren’t ones to tolerate sabotage. Surely it would look suspicious if the computer their ‘slaves’ were working on was always breaking down?

Paul shook his head. “It’s a real old machine. This place looks good, but most of the stuff they’ve salvaged and it’s really quite old. The system was always blowing up before we arrived and we’re careful not to over do it.”

“When the time is right, we’re gonna blow out the security system,” Cal said as he crept closer. “They won’t be able to track us or anything! We’re gonna destroy their entire system and all their research and then run like hell! They’ll be finished!”

Sammy shook his head unbelieving, wincing slightly as the gesture caused the room to spin. His temple still hurt although the burning pain was slowly beginning to diminish slightly. The Gerai could not be stupid enough to let the resistance at their vital systems could they?

Paul grinned at the expression he saw on the younger man’s face. “They’re desperate! There’s hardly any of them at all! When you came in you must have noticed that there wasn’t any guards or anything. They really need us so we just play dumb and they’re relieved to think that they have help, when secretly we’re plotting!”

“You have to play dumb to stay alive as well,” Cal muttered. “If they think you aren’t cooperating, then they have ways of making you. They’re unusually cruel here.”

Sammy lowered his head. Something was twisting painfully inside of him. He remembered the look on Heather’s face. There had been a triumphant light within her eyes and he had an awful suspicion that she knew something that he didn’t. ‘Please God don’t have B,’ he prayed inwardly. He would do anything they asked if they had him and everybody knew that. B had been tortured too many times and Sammy could not let it happen again. After rescuing B from the base when he was five he had promised that he would never let them take him again.

“Uh oh! Hot bitch Heather alert!” Cal whispered.

Kevin stared and Sammy both stared at him at him. Sammy couldn’t help smiling slightly in puzzlement. “Hot?” he questioned.

“Come on man, she’s well fine!” Cal said. “It’s just a pity she’s an evil ice queen.” He rubbed his hands together. “I’m sure she’s warm up though with a good old f - ”

“She’s break your neck is she caught you saying that!” Paul hissed.

The three of them suddenly slunk back against their wall and resumed looks of hopelessness and despair. Sammy realised that they really did look like mindless slaves. Maybe their plan wasn’t so foolhardy after all. Even though they were captured, Sammy and Kevin might still be able to do some good.

Heather walked coolly across the room towards the cell. She stopped and said something to the guard, but they too far away to hear the conversation. Sammy inched a little closer to the bars and stared at her. For a moment her eyes flickered towards him, but she quickly averted her gaze when she that he was watching her.

Hot, yes he could see what Cal menat. She was tall and slim with a pretty face. It was very unusual to see a female Gerai, especially in such a high position like Heather. Usually the Gerai were highly sexist.

Finally she drew herself up to her full height and began to approach them, a gun in her hands and several more were tucked into her belt.

“Fuck, look at those legs,” Cal whispered under his breath.

“Bloody well shut up!” Paul whispered as he elbowed him in the ribs.

Sammy was hardly listening. Her eyes were glued to him and he had an ominous feeling about what was going to happen next. She stopped just in front of the bars, so close to where Sammy was that he could have reached out through the bars and touched her.

“Stand,” she ordered, her eyes drilling into his own.

Sammy slowly did so. He was slightly taller than her and he noticed her eyes taking in his height. They stared at each other for a moment. Sammy wondered if her silence was to make him feel uncomfortable. He certainly felt the urge to fidget uncomfortably.

She finally reached out and opened the door. “Out,” she instructed.

Sammy noticed Paul and Cal exchanging curious glances. He took a deep breath before stepping out of the cell. Heather took a step closer to him.

“We need you to help us,” she said coldly.

Sammy folded his arms defiantly. “Where’s my brother?” he asked. He was desperate to know that B was safe. He had lost Brian and there was no way he would ever let his little brother go. Something throbbed painfully inside of his chest as he thought of Brian. Was he better or worse? There wasn’t time to cry for him now though, even though every part of him wanted to scream.

She ignored the question. “You’re good with computers. Very good from what we here. You’re also from Darren Lyons’ base. Their computer has the most advanced security system we have ever seen. We can’t break into it.”

Sammy glared hard at her. “My brother,” he said simply. His heart was quivering as worrying thoughts spun around inside of him. She had to be lying.

She continued to stare at him with her blue eyes. “The security system,” she relied.

“I don’t believe you have him,” Sammy whispered. “You’re still searching for him.” Surely she would be gloating otherwise?

She said nothing and her face was impenetrable. There was no trace of a smug or satisfied smile. He felt a little dumb for his reaction earlier. The Gerai must have loved seeing him screaming for his brother.

“The security system. It has codes that stop us accessing it,” she said.

He was becoming slightly nervous with her eyes so firmly glued to his face. What was the point of the staring? “I designed them,” he said with a touch of pride. It was impossible to remote access anything in their base now thanks to his security codes. “You won’t get into it. You have to be in the base. You can’t access it remotely.”

“But you can,” she whispered, pressing her face so close to Sammy’s that he could feel her sweet breath upon his neck.

Sammy raised an eyebrow. What the hell was she trying to do to him? Was she trying to intimidate him by being so close? It wasn’t possible when he was taller than her. He moved slightly closer to her. “But I won’t,” he replied huskily.

She suddenly slapped him hard across the face. Sammy took a few steps backwards and placed a hand to his bruised cheek.

“You don’t say no to me!” she hissed.

“Oh yeah?” he challenged. He didn’t care what the others said about being cooperative. Darren’s base was the elite of all the resistance bases and if the Gerai accessed it, they would know everything about every base in a few minutes. He could not betray his friends like that, even if they did torture him.

She seized hold of his face in a slender hand. “Nobody,” she whispered. Her eyes gazed at him. Sammy stared at her levelly. He couldn’t understand why she kept falling silent like she did and why she kept staring so hard at him as if scrutinising him for flaws and being irritated to find none.

They stared at each other for a long moment before Heather turned away from him. “Follow me,” she instructed. “We’re going for a walk.”

Sammy turned frantically to stare at the others. He saw that all of them looked grim. They knew that Sammy could not possibly do as Heather wanted without destroying everything the resistance had ever worked for. If they hacked into Darren’s base then they would see all the defences and weapons the resistance had. The Gerai would easily be able to penetrate them.

Harvey shrugged his shoulders helplessly and Kevin scratched his head uneasily. They couldn’t give him any advice as to what to do.

Sammy gulped slightly, wondering what cruelness Heather had planned for him. But he had no choice but to follow.



Kevin watched him go. “Damn, that’s a bitch. They want him to hack into our own base?” He shook his head. He new Sammy would never agree to it, but what would happen to him if he didn’t? As Paul and the others had said, the Gerai had brutal tactics for getting what they wanted. He did not want anything to happen to Sammy, not when they did not even know if Brian would survive. He owed it to his cousin to look after Sammy and B.

“That’s a nasty one,” Paul agreed. “For us it’s easy to go along with what they want because it doesn’t directly affect our friends.” He sighed and stared after Heather with a strange expression upon his face. “I wonder…”

“What?” Kevin asked.

Paul exchanged a glance with his friends. “I’m not sure. I’ll let you know if I suspect anything…”

BACK

NEXT