'The Pit: Hell Frozen Over' - Arc 3, Chapter 3: 'The One Truth' (Closed, Started)

[Mr.Ivebeenframed]

"We can do this one of two ways. You can talk to him. Get him to spill the beans, or... I can beat the truth out of him. Your call."

Aggie didn't like Connors' proposal but neither didn't she like Lewis' vagueness. She trusted him that he did have a plan but he hasn't revealed anything yet which bothered her. Sometimes, sibling promises can't just cut it. But she also thought of how Lewis would react if she let a hound like Connors on him. Would he still promise to let her out? There are only a few things she had in this prison and one of them was hope. If Connors were to beat the truth out of Lewis would that quash such a hope? Aggie was racked with thought before finally deciding.

"I'll talk to him one more time..." Aggie sighed, rubbing the back of her neck anxiously. "If he doesn't say anything... then yeah.. you can get the truth out."

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"My mother never shared his strength, is it really so terrible that she wanted more warmth than she could ever find in him?"

Richard listened to Selina's "situation" as she dodged his proposal which he really didn't expect to be followed through. Her dodge proved a few things to Richard and one of which was that Selina was still her cold self. He read her statements carefully but it seemed to be the truth for the most part which concerned Richard even more. Apparently her mother had an affair but telling the father would make him grieve already more. A sticky situation nonetheless.

"Sometimes, ignorance is bliss. The truth can hurt more than intended and if your father is already "hurting" then perhaps what he doesn't know, won't hurt him. Truth can drive people to do crazy things and sometimes the truth can be blurred with lies making one indistinguishable with the other. This is a tricky situation you are caught in, just make sure your father doesn't know you know."

 

[NinjaDeathSlap]

"I'd be there right now if it weren't for my assistant barkeep Zachary coming down with a cold last week."

"It's quite alright." Selina rebutted politely. "I've said quite enough already."

So, Richard counselled silence. Selina wasn't sure if she would make peace with that. After everything she had achieved for Venture Horizon, after all she'd walked away from in their name, to look the other way upon discovery of the largest breach of trust perhaps in the entire history of the company was almost unthinkable. The secrets Lee had gathered together were enough to destroy Venture, and that was only counting the secrets she herself knew. If Selina still believed in what She was trying to accomplish; if she still believed in a vision of a world brought back from the brink, with stability and true prosperity at its heart, and if she still believed that Venture Horizon was the organisation that above all had the power and ambition to make such a world a reality, then she had to protect the company.

Yet, a part of her was relieved by his answer. There was still so much of this she didn't know, and would never know if she went to the Director with this information immediately. Selina still couldn't understand what Lee would stand to gain by leaking what he had learned, and he certainly wasn't the sort of man to do such things on a whim. Her gut instinct told her that there was more to this. While Lee might not truly be on the team, he had poured as much of himself into RACDI-Alpha as Selina had Venture Horizon itself. He wouldn't risk throwing all of that away without good reason; but if he was not willing to share his reasons with her, then how could Selina protect him.

Perhaps Richard's answer would have been different, had she told him the truth, but Selina had found that personality traits were rarely circumstantial. Irritatingly, it would seem that she had been left with more new questions than answers.

"Thank you for the advice, and, well, the company." she said to him. "Now, I hope you'll forgive me, but it's late and I really have to be going. I have a lot of reports to file."

Selina paid for both their drinks, before leaving for her quarters.

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Nikolai gave a swift nod of approval at the plan. It wasn't much to go on so far, but he was sure that more details were incoming. He would reserve further judgement until he heard what precise roles he and his would take in the plan.

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"I can see why they follow you. If nothing else, you're quite clever."

The Talon returned her smile. Compliments would always be appreciated, even if they were only half-sincere, and even that half more than a little condescending.

"Thank you," She replied. "and do not worry. I have not forgotten the nature of our arrangement."

From there, the Talon turned to address the whole group.

"What we witnessed on this mission was the first of two arrivals. This first science team arrived by air, and would leave the same way with their consignment of the Phantom formula. The second will come and leave by land. We will intercept this second convoy before it reaches the base, all the while feeding them false intelligence to cover our tracks. We neutralise the science team and the Behemoth troops that are escorting them. From their, our mission splits in two. One team will take the place of the Science team and Behemoths and proceed on to the base. The second team will take up positions close to the perimeter, as well as over-watch. When the first team has successfully penetrated the most secure levels of the facility, where Phantom is being stored, then Team Two will stage a massive attack on the compound. We will hit the base fast and hard for maximum impact, again feeding them false intelligence to make our numbers seem greater than they are, whilst also sabotaging their ability to deploy defenders effectively. The Venture forces will commit all their attention to securing the perimeter in their panic, leaving the way open for Team One to extract Phantom from right under them. The Venture forces will even be glad to see the convoys leaving, thinking that they held us off long enough for the transaction to be completed, and Phantom moved to safety. Once Team One is clear, Team Two will stage a fall back; and when the convoys divert to our rendez-vous sites, we will, for a third time, feed Venture false intel to cover our tracks. With any luck, Venture will not even realise anything is amiss until the Phantom caches fail to arrive at their planned destinations, days away, by which point we will be long gone."

 

[The Funslinger]

Acolyte sat, listening to the plan. When it was done, he asked, "have you decided how you're going to divide the groups?"

 

[Mr.Ivebeenframed]

Lewis was standing in the corner, far away from the Reaper when Aggie and Mr. Connors came back in. He wondered what they discussed and guessed it had something to do with his plan. Lewis wanted to keep the truth hidden away as much as he could. Like Lee said, the less the people knew the better. Lewis got off his lean as Aggie approached him.

"Lewis, remember when Mum told me to look out for you... Remember when she told me to do everything it took to keep you safe?" Aggie asked and Lewis sheepishly nodded. He knew where this was going. "Lewis I need to know what your plan is if I'm going to keep you safe. You can still watch out for your big old sister but I need to really know what you have in plan for getting out. The one thing I still have here is hope and I don't want you voiding that."

"And I'm not going to void anything, Aggie. I... I'm doing this because I'm the one that's protecting you now. That's why I transferred here and that's why I got incarcerated. I'm doing this to give back all the years you've protected me from the thugs, the violence, everything. I'm because of you."

"I did that because Pa wasn't around for you Lewis and I'm not going to trust you any further unless you tell me what you are planning. Lewis, you need to tell me. How many times do I have to say that for you?! You want my trust then you can have it for the truth... that's a good deal down here."

"The less people know, the better!" Lewis shouted. Aggie was slightly taken aback by Lewis raising his voice at her. Lewis' eyes showed surprise in himself as well.

"You sod!" Aggie raised her hand at him but she lowered back to her mouth as a coughing fit struck her. It sent her to the her knees as the coughs sent her wheezing and gagging. Lewis rushed to her but she pushed him away with a sudden surge of strength. It sent Lewis to his back as she coughed some more. When the coughing subsided, blood trickled out of the side of her mouth. She wiped it away but Lewis could see even more blood from the hand she covered her mouth with. She looked at Lewis and cracked a smile.

"I didn't want to tell you now but I guess now is better than never." Lewis didn't catch was Aggie was implying by the look of his worried face.

"Are you sick?" Lewis asked. He went to her once more like a beaten pup clinging to its dying master.

"I've been sick but now I think I'm dying... I don't know what I have but its been getting worse and worse. Don't touch my blood. It's been tainted... like me."

"I-I can fix this..." Lewis said, sullenly. Aggie laughed at him.

"I'm running out of time, Lewis. Either tell me what you're planning or I'm walking out this door and never coming back." She briefly looked to Connors, slightly nodding her head. Aggie knew she had Lewis.

"Lee wants to talk to the Reaper..." Lewis mumbled. He knew he was defeated. "The arrest was a scam... it was to give me cover so he could talk to the Reaper. He was gonna let me leave with you once everything is set in place."

"Once what was set in place?"

"When I had the Reaper in a room, alone." Then a realization dawned on him. The twins. He got up. "You two need to go now! Leave!"

 

[NinjaDeathSlap]

"You two need to go now! Leave!"

"As do you." Commander Montoya announced, stepping through the threshold, six members of Falchion squad following behind him. The Wardens were disguised in the orange jump-suits of inmates, and yet they all carried side-arms.

"The mission didn't exactly go according to plan," he continued "but it some ways that has made things easier for us." His eyes darted between the two twins. "Once the Moore's have been escorted above ground, see that they are taken to the medical wing." he told one of his underlings. "The staff there will do everything they can."

Now, Montoya turned his gaze towards Mr. Connors, and the still-unconscious Reaper.

"Wake him up, if you please Mr Connors..." he requested. "and then you will be free to leave us. You've fulfilled your role in this operation too. If you're thinking of trying anything stupid, know that you are quite surrounded. Considering the Colonel would be well within his rights to have you shot for harbouring this fugitive, I suggest you accept this offer of your freedom. It will only be made once."

 

[Fappy]

"You two need to go now! Leave!"

Mr. Connors simply groaned.

Great, what now?

"... Considering the Colonel would be well within his rights to have you shot for harbouring this fugitive, I suggest you accept this offer of your freedom. It will only be made once."

Connors shrugged and walked over to Neil who looked to be in the process of waking up, "'Harboring this fugitive'? Sure, call it whatever you want." Connors opened a plastic water bottle and dowsed Neil's head, causing him to jump in shock.

His eyes snapped open, a sharp pain shooting from his head down his spine, "F-fuckn'... what the fuck's going on?" He mumbled as he began regaining his senses. Once Connors came into focus Neil's confused expression transformed into that of barely contained rage. "YOU... WH-" Before he could continue he noticed a few familiar faces among the men pointing guns at them. "YOU FUCKING SOLD ME OUT YOU ROTTEN, PIECE OF SHIT!?"

Connor's smacked him across the face, "Shut the fuck up, Neil. Listen, this isn't what it looks like. They're not here about the corpse." He glanced to Aggie and then Montoya. "I'm doing you a favor."

"Favor?! How the fuck's this a favor?! You know they've been looking for me!"

Connors shook his head in frustration and started for the door, "You'll figure it out eventually. Good luck with this maniac, Commander."

Connors gone, Neil looked to the wardens and sneered, "What do you want?"

 

[NinjaDeathSlap]

"What do you want?"

"What do I want?" Montoya sounded faintly amused, but his eyes showed only disgust as he looked down at the Reaper. "To see you suffer and die would be a start, Conrad. We dealt with Sticks, and we're almost done cleaning up the mess he left behind. That's all you are Conrad, a mess. The brown streak left behind in the bottom of the pan once the shit has been flushed away. You're a worthless addict who was only ever good for being a lackey to a psychopath. Speaking of your addiction, do you remember the raid on that Crip weapons cache a few years back, or were you too off your face at the time? My first real command, and I lost good men when Sticks and his flock of sadistic sheep, yourself included, abandoned our flank."

Montoya's stare hardened, and the tips of his right fingers brushed against the pistol holstered at his hips.

"If it were up to me," he continued, his voice thick with malice. "you'd be shot at dawn in the Atrium tomorrow, and I'd let the men of Trident Squad who survived your betrayal do the honours. Fortunately for you, The Colonel has other ideas, and I don't think it's even much of a boast to say that I have a greater sense of duty in a single flake of skin than you have in your entire body."

With that, Montoya turned to two of the others who's joined him in the room.

"Take him." he said, revolted, and the two wasted no time in putting Conrad in handcuffs, and marching him out.

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"have you decided how you're going to divide the groups?"

"I have." The Talon said, nodding at him. "I will lead the diversion team, along with the larger portion of our forces. I am too conspicuous to enter the facility undetected." As if to emphasise her point, The Talon flexed her long, metal fingers as she spoke. "Our Wolf Brother is far better suited for that task, and so he is given command of the entry team, accompanied by his best men, and you."

It was only for the briefest second that The Talon caught Lucia's gaze, but when she did she smiled. Well, the girl did insist on making her lack of loyalty so abundantly clear. The Talon would be remiss not to employ some insurance to keep her in line.

"This leaves me short a Second in Command. To fill this space I need someone who is adept at causing maximum impact, as well as commanding forces of their own." The Talon turned to address Nikolai. "You and your Free Men would appear to be more than up to the task. The girl come with us as well. She has a certain degree of first aid skills, and we may have many wounded that will need tending to."

 

[The Funslinger]

Korovitch sat up, yawning. Compared to how he had been when he drifted off, his perception now was that of a short sighted man wearing glasses for the first time. He felt much, much better. Belting on his weapons, he quickly left his room, and headed towards the nearest coffee machine.

With a steaming cup of black in hand, he was walking aimlessly when he bumped into Hayes. "Where are the rest of the men?"

"The newbies are relaxing in their barracks. Wickers and Tanner are heading down to the Gates of Pandemonium. I'm actually about to join them."

"I suppose I'll join you, then."

"Really, sir? I've never known you to go near that bar."

Korovitch nodded in the affirmative and fell in beside his subordinate, quickly drinking the coffee as he went. By the time they caught up to Wickers and Tanner, who were just as surprised as Hayes that their Captain had joined them, Korovitch had dropped the empty cup in a waste bin. Pushing through the doors into the bar, they took a corner table, and Korovitch and Wickers headed to the bar itself.

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Riley nodded at the orders idly, but a scowl creased Acolyte's brow. This was bullshit. Objecting would get him nowhere, though. He settled for giving Nikolai a focused look. The meaning behind it was clear. Look after her.

 

[Evrant-Knight]

"It's quite alright." Selina rebutted politely. "I've said quite enough already." The couple continued talking for a little while longer before Selina got up from the chair she was sat at. "Thank you for the advice, and, well, the company." She said to Richard, the male Executive. "Now, I hope you'll forgive me, but it's late and I really have to be going. I have a lot of reports to file." Selina then paid for both the drinks and walked out of the bar.

"Have a safe night." Abigail said in a friendly way with a wave at the end. Looking up at the clock, it was coming up towards the early evening, soon there would be the rush that always seem to occur when the day-shift guards clocked off and the night-shift guards clocked on. Another squad of guards came in, four in total, two went off towards a corner table, whilst the other two came up to the bar.

"Ah good evening gentleman, I hope you've had an eventful day so far. So what will it be?"

 

[Fappy]

Neil followed their lead without a fuss. He was flustered for sure, but the fact that they hadn't shot him on sight was a sobering thought. What was going on here? What was Lee up to?

"If it were up to me, you'd be shot at dawn in the Atrium tomorrow, and I'd let the men of Trident Squad who survived your betrayal do the honours. Fortunately for you, The Colonel has other ideas..."

What did Montoya mean by that, exactly? What possible use could the Colonel have for a man who's proven himself so utterly disloyal to the wardens? Though he didn't suspect he'd come to any conclusions, he spent the rest of the trip contemplating the what-ifs. The warden escorts probably appreciated his silence as well.

********************************************************************************************************************************************

Kusanagi picked up on Acolyte's reaction almost immediately. From her perspective, it was wise to split her and Acolyte up. It didn't mean Kusanagi had to like it. However, she had made herself enough of an enemy since their first encounter and chose not to protest. She had to choose her battles.

Instead she opted to lighten the mood and ease some of the tension in the group, "Naming me specifically in your strategy? I'm flattered." She shot Talon a sly smirk. Though she didn't look, she half-expected Nikolai had roll his eyes or grunted, un-amused at her banter.

Ah, fuck 'em.

 

[NinjaDeathSlap]

Shortly after their departure, a bag was placed over Neil's head, as well as headphones on top of that, in order to disorientate him completely. Still, it was possible to discern that the route they were taking out of The Pit was not conventional. As much of their time was spent going down as it was going up; and when they did eventually meet a steady rise, it was not in the form of the massive elevators that connected The Pit's main levels, and the Atrium itself, but rather a slope, steady at first, but with the gradient getting steeper and steeper all the time. The other key difference was the length of the journey, in which Neil was half-marched, half-dragged for almost double the time that a man could usually travel from the Lower Levels onto the surface. When they reached the end of the ascent, Neil was unceremoniously strapped into a harness and winched up a short, vertical shaft. More walking followed after that, though in some moments the wind pushing against the bag told him clearly that they were outside. Not long after this final moment had been and gone. Neil had his sight and hearing returned to him, right outside the door to Colonel Lee's office.

"He's expecting you." Montoya said, standing behind him. The guards that accompanied them were different now, clad in usual Warden uniform, and with sub-machine guns trained on Neil. "Try not to do anything stupid."

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So, the final play was at hand. Lee had nothing left now but to hope that this meeting went according to plan, and that he was not already too late. The reports reaching the surface now of the tunnel collapse could be nothing more than an industrial accident, the kind that an operation of RACDI-Alpha's size was bound to suffer from now and then. Or, it could be a diversionary tactic, forcing the Wardens to look inward, rather than keeping proper tabs on the perimeter. Was it only paranoia if he was wrong?

His thoughts were blessedly interrupted by the arrival of the man who at this moment, was both his greatest remaining enemy, and possibly his most vital ally. The guard Lee and Montoya had assigned followed close behind him. The Colonel hoped that this exchange could be as pleasant as possible. However, right now The Reaper was a man with nothing to lose. Lee wasn't taking any chances.

"Welcome, Sergeant Verner." Lee opened, in a tone that might have suggested this meeting was nothing out of the ordinary. "Or is it Mr. Toombs now, or even just The Reaper? When a man has so many names it makes the pleasantries rather awkward. Regardless, make yourself comfortable."

 

[Mr.Ivebeenframed]

Lewis didn't know what to feel. On one hand, he and his sister were out of the prison with their lives but on the other, he wondered what would their fates be here. Lewis was led to a blank room with nothing but a cot and some bare necessities much like what they had in prison. Despite the elevator ride up, he could have guessed that he still remained in prison. He wrung his wrists, anxious of Aggie's state. He hoped that the doctors here would nurse her back to health. With all the upgrades this facility had gotten, surely they could save just one prisoner here, right?

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Once the staff was aware of Aggie's condition, she underwent heavy medication. But as soon as she came in, another coughing fit attacked her. She coughed up blood once more but this time in hospital garments instead of prison rags. Doctors and medical personnel attended to her as soon as her first cough was let loose. Aggie felt the morphine kick in. Her limbs began to feel cold and numb much like the cold she felt on that damned offensive.

The room began to leak snow and not gently as the ceiling panels gave way to torrents of snow. The heavy, cold air took her breath in gulps. A sweeping gust of snowflakes blew through the room, blowing away the doctors, and patients except for her. Soon, Aggie could barely see a few feet in front of her. The wind blew hard and the cold bit at her skin. Her breath left in visible wisps but was lost to the gusts like tears in the rain.

Damn it! We're losing her!"

 

[Fappy]

"... When a man has so many names it makes the pleasantries rather awkward. Regardless, make yourself comfortable."

Neil sat down in the chair opposite Lee, "Call me Neil. I retired the Reaper persona the moment I let myself get caught, and Conrad... Conrad died the day I abandoned Cornelius in the basement of that chapel."

Neil studied Lee, but came up with nothing. Not only was he a hard man to get a bead on, but Neil's head was still swimming from the concussion he'd suffered earlier, "Montoya said you had something 'planned' for me. Look, I appreciate not getting a bullet in the head, but quite frankly," Neil stared directly into Lee's emotionless eyes. "I'm done working for monsters. You want me as some pawn in another desperate gambit? No, that's not going to happen. I'd rather suffer a slow, painful death than get a single drop of innocent blood on my hands. I know what you did, Colonel. I know that Sticks' crimes can't hold a candle up to the genocide you wrought on this place three months ago."

He resisted the urge to spit at the man, but the look on his face made it clear he didn't respect him, "'Neil' doesn't dance with the devil. The man you're looking for is no longer here."

 

[NinjaDeathSlap]

"'Neil' doesn't dance with the devil. The man you're looking for is no longer here."

Lee didn't say anything to that for a few seconds. He did not move, and his expression did not change. When he finally acted, he stood up, and cross to one of the many filing cabinets that stood at attention around the room. A rattling of keys, the low sound of the draw sliding out, and he had what he was looking for. Walking back to the desk, Lee placed the file in front of where Neil sat. The file was not dropped from any great height, and yet the sound in made was akin to a crash due to its thickness.

"I won't dispute your assertion that I am a monster." Lee said quietly, sitting back down opposite Neil. "It's entirely possible. My record was black long before I came here, and I know from where you're sitting, it can't seem like I have done much to improve it. For two years I went to bed, every night, asking myself if I was doing the right thing, knowing what would be sacrificed. Now three months have passed, and I still have not entirely stopped asking myself that question. It is immaterial. I did what I did, as did you. I'm sure by now you've realised, despite what you would have me believe, that redemption is not as simple as changing your name and acting like it all never happened."

As Lee unwound the string that bound the file, there was a look in his eyes suggesting that a part of him was very far away.

"Within these pages are a detailed and documented collection of every crime I could trace back to Lieutenant Cornelius during his tenure at this facility. All the rape, murder, theft, corruption and smuggling that I could pin on him, or on those acting under his orders. I'm sure I don't need to drag you though the disturbing nature of what's in this file. For one thing, as his former right hand man, I sure you could probably add a few more things even I never found out about. I have other files of similar length on the exploits of the Arctic Wolves, the Aryan Brotherhood, The Crips, The Cannibals... and every other faction who once sought to carve out their own fiefdoms inside my facility and abuse the populace as they saw fit. I have read every single word of it, and committed it all to memory. Perhaps if you could join me here, after having read though every last grisly, morbid report, and to have what was written there weigh on you every minute of every day, then you might see my actions differently. On the other hand, if you could honestly stand where I stand now, and tell me that you would have been content to let it all continue rather than pay the price for stopping it, then I might accept your judgement. Until that day though, I do not even remotely care what you think of the things I've done. I hope to one day have a better man than I sit in judgement over me, but that man is not you, and never will be."

At that point, a ghost of a smile appeared to pass Lee's lips, though there was no warmth in it.

"You say that you don't dance with the Devil, and yet, you've been making some very interesting friends of late. When the Apex predators die out, it presents an opportunity for the scavengers to stand tall. Because of this, I had The Dragon neatly contained, until you turned him loose. Is this the part where I guess which one of you is supposed to be 'Bad Cop'?"

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"The girl come with us as well. She has a certain degree of first aid skills, and we may have many wounded that will need tending to."

Nikolai made no verbal objection, and yet it was several seconds before he nodded in agreement.

 

[Fappy]

"... Because of this, I had The Dragon neatly contained, until you turned him loose. Is this the part where I guess which one of you is supposed to be 'Bad Cop'?"

Neil blinked stupidly as Lee's point sunk in. It was as if he was looking into a mirror. Neil had been thinking himself above Lee all this time, but had failed to realize he'd used the same rational when he was backed into a corner. Who knows how many people would suffer in the wake of Travis' revival. Leaning forward, Neil clutched his forehead. He felt ill.

As much as he'd wanted to become someone else, Lee was right... he was still the same man that had facilitated countless atrocities under Sticks' command. Who was he to judge Lee's methods? Looking at him now, it was clear that Lee at least meant well. Innocents would suffer, sure, but many more would receive salvation.

After taking a moment to collect himself he leaned back in his seat, looking Lee in the eyes once more. Defeat, written all over his face, "I-I... I'm sorry, Colonel." Neil just wanted to save everyone. "I have no right to judge you. I've considered suicide countless times sine Borealis. The only thing that kept me going was a promise I made to myself that I wouldn't let evil go unpunished. That I would become something I wasn't in hopes I'd find some kind of meaning for my life. Some form of redemption."

Neil looked down at the hefty file and back up at Lee, "Whatever you ask of me Colonel, I beg you, please don't take me back to that place. I need to know... know, without a shadow of a doubt, that what I am doing is the right thing." Lee may have been hard to pin down, but he could tell now. He could tell what Lee knew in his soul. "There are good people in this facility. People that need protecting. For them, I'll do anything you ask."

 

[NinjaDeathSlap]

"There are good people in this facility. People that need protecting. For them, I'll do anything you ask."

"On that we are agreed." Lee replied "While I cannot give you the solace that you seek, I may be able to give you the opportunity to, in time, find it within yourself."

The Colonel then produced from his desk draw a small device, and placed it on the desk an equal distance from himself and Neil. It was a humble thing, black and rectangular, looking no more special or sinister than any other radio transmitter.

"Tell me Neil, how much do you know of Project Condor?"

 

[ProtoChimp]

Travis was bored. Waiting for the Reaper to come back was getting excruciatingly dull. Tired of standing there he left the entrance of the mineshaft and began looking for him. He didn't know any places where he might be, he mentioned seeing old friends but Travis had no idea who he could be referring to. He didn't even know the man. He wouldn't be back at The Dragon's cell, and Travis didn't know where the hell he stayed. He started off towards the warehouse where he himself was held prisoner by the man but no one was found. He stepped into the building and walked through to the room where he was tied him and looked around.

"The fuck is he? Mother fucker tried to embarrass me didn't he, piece of shit." He sat down on the chair in the centre of the room and began playing with the knife when he noticed some blood on the floor. It was small, only a little bit, but it was there. He put his fingers on it and it felt fresh. Likely from someone coughing or sneezing blood, perhaps a small cut, but still, someone was bleeding here. "Were you here you fuck? Did you bring someone else here?" Confused Travis exited the building and set off back towards his old cell. If he couldn't find the bastard he was going to rest and wait for him. 'Fuck waiting for that piece of shit he's just fucking me now.'
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Unaware of her surroundings Clementina kept drinking, noticing some fellow wardens entering the bar. She ignored them and kept drinking. She would leave for her quarters soon as the drink was hitting her now.
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Prisoners wildly threw rocks aside with their bare hands while others smashed pickaxes against the wall of rubble, others using drills and hoping to make some hedge way. Felix meanwhile was trying to ease the pain of the guard that had been crushed while also trying to make a hole for others to travel through one at a time. Wardens from the other side were doing their best to try and bring the wall down, but with all the progress they made more rocks trickled down from the origin of the collapse. There wasn't much that could be done without accelerating the complete and utter destruction of the mine.

The guard coughed and weezed up blood as he organs were beginning to fail him, being crushed under the debris and pierced by his own bones. "Hang on my friend you will be free soon." The guard tried to respond but his pain limited him almost completely. Pity for the man growing inside of his gut Felix could not allow him to suffer much longer and focused his efforts on the passage he was making in the bottom corner of the collapse, desperately scrambling for escape. "Help! There is a Warden here he had been crushed! He's still alive!" He yelled to the other side. Someone was yelling something back but he couldn't understand him, it was likely that they couldn't understand Felix either.

With all his might he ragged rocks behind himself in order to make a whole. It was tiny but with enough space to crawl through. Felix then grabbed a shovel and lifted it between the warden and the rocks and tried his hardest to give him some leeway. It wasn't working, and clearly he was causing the man even more pain as he screamed out in horror. "I am sorry!" he shouted before attempting to shatter the rocks with a nearby pickaxe, as ice began bearing down on them from above. There wasn't much time.

With the rocks sufficiently damaged Felix recieved an audio and visual cue that it was time to pull the man through the hole: a scream of utter anguish and a large gushing river of blood. His legs were completely destroyed. He cried and whimpered and screamed to god as Felix dragged his shoulders and lay him into the whole. He got on all fours and began pushing him through hole, covering his hands in blood and cutting them in the warden's bones as he pushed his legs through. "Crawl backwards on your hands man, I am so sorry for this," he said to the warden before yelling, "I'VE MADE A WHOLE! HELP THIS MAN HE'S DYING!"

Quickly he could hear scrambling and his job became easier as he could feel the warden being pulled through the hole. Felix was about to go back when he felt someone tug at his feet and pulling him in the direction he was already intending to go.

"************ get outta there!!!" Yelled a prisoner as he scratched and clawed at Felix, he was about to cooperate and go back when the sounds of imminent disaster were above. Doing something he would possibly never forgive himself for Felix cralwed to the other side of the wall of rock, kicking the man who was pulling at his feet. "You sunovabitch! I'll kill you!"

"Come through there is enough space I was blocking come on come through!" Felix shouted back. The man got to about halfway through the hole when it gave in. Not just that small hole, but the entirety of the mine. Stalactites falling down on them as Felix ran towards the exit. He had left them behind, abandoned those men who he could have helped. Shame overcame him, the only good thought in his mind was seeing the warden he saved being carried away by another. Just as he could see people yelling for him to get back everything went black in his mind. He couldn't see but he could hear a little.

[sub][sub]"Get that prisoner out of there he saved Max,[sub] get him get him quickly!"[/sub][/sub][/sub]

Darkness, hearing fading. He couldn't feel anything. 'Goodbye Marisa'

 

[Fappy]

"Tell me Neil, how much do you know of Project Condor?"

Neil shrugged, "Not much. I know it's got something to do with surveillance, but that's about it." He studied the object on the table for a few moments, but came up with nothing. Was it... some kind of detonator or something?

 

[NinjaDeathSlap]

"It is that, and more." Lee replied. "Project Condor is perhaps the largest single information warfare endeavour conducted by any faction in the history of mankind. The technology developed for this project give the people who wield it the power to manipulate any and all surveillance and communications they please. Hundreds of square miles of land can be covered in a shroud, and have whatever image is least likely to arouse suspicion placed over it. Condor can make an offensive force of fifty men appear to be five thousand, or none at all. It is one of the many strategies Venture Horizon considers employing in the event of full-scale war with its competitors. Condor staging areas have been set up near every single site or settlement where said competitors hold a tactically significant presence. Entire armies hiding in shadow, ready to strike at all the heads of the Hydra simultaneously, within minutes of the challenge. If such were to come to pass, Venture Horizon would emerge uncontested in its dominance... or so is the plan."

Lee's tone was matter-of fact through all of his explanation. He would not allow himself the catharsis of getting the truth of his chest, not yet.

"I looked into Condor originally as a means of protecting myself, and this facility, from those further up the chain of command who wished to see me removed. I thought that I could not allow them to dispose of me until my work was complete, so I sought to blackmail them if necessary, while at the same time co-opting the technology for myself as a means of self-defence. What I discovered frightened me enough to put all my other plans to bed.

The technology has been stolen, Neil, and Venture has covered up the theft. The fact that such a weapon exists was troubling enough, but in the hands of an unknown, rogue element? The consequences could be catastrophic. For three months I have followed the trail of breadcrumbs, as small and inconclusive as it has been, to try and find the perpetrators, and stop them from using Condor in any way that might upset the already fragile politics between Venture and its rivals. I won't go into every single detail, we do not have the time. Rest assured that I have discovered things that make me sick, even after all I have seen and done. When I took a step back, and observed the whole picture, the pattern of events was clear, and its conclusion undeniable. War, Neil, a war large enough to crush the delicate structures of humanity that have been rebuilt over the last few centuries into dust. Someone is attempting to manipulate the largest and most powerful among us into tearing each-other's throats out, while the rest of us drown in their blood. I don't know who, and I don't know why. All I have is a name of another Venture Horizon project, deeper and darker than all the rest, along with some vague and dubious co-ordinates. This is what scares me most of all Neil. Even after all the I have dredged up, I feel that the greater part of this is still unknown to me.

What I do know, however, is this. There is one piece of the puzzle that is missing. RACDI-Alpha itself. We are the jewel in Venture's crown, the largest and most notorious statement of her superiority. Should this facility fall into other hands, hands dressed up in the gloves of one of our rivals, then Venture would have no choice but to go to war. The gun pointed at the head of the world is cocked and loaded, and we are the trigger."

Lee slid the device across the desk, so it sat directly under Neil's nose.

"You want to help the innocent, Neil. Here's your chance. I intend to defend this facility to the death if need be. However, should I fail, you will be Plan B. You will recall how I mentioned co-opting Project Condor, for my own purposes. Well, my purposes have now been revised. Anyone who instigates war by taking this facility must needs do it where all the world can see. If we were to be wiped off the map, with all communications and surveillance to and from here blocked, then the doubt, the hesitation that would cause, might just buy somebody the time to halt what has been set in motion.

This transmitter is the Kill Switch. Take it, and go back to the Lower Levels. Should hostile forces wrest RACDI-Alpha from my grasp, activate it, and then hide. I will give you this last warning Neil. Should the worst come to pass, you will be a hunted man. Those who would hold this facility fail every day that you allude them, and thus will have no qualms about using whatever leverage they have to track you down. They may kill a hundred people for each day in which you do not give the Kill Switch up to them. Should that turn out to be the case, you must not be the Reaper. Play the hero, and we are all lost. I want you to be the coward who ran and left his master to the hounds. No matter how many people they make scream and perish in your name, you must not yield."

It was only now that Lee dropped his gaze, rising from his chair and turning his back on Neil. He chose instead to stare out of the window, with back straight and hands clasped behind them.

"Go. I fear that we do not have much time."

========================================================================================================================

"If there are no further questions," The Talon announced after a fashion "then we should return to base camp and prepare. We begin in a matter of hours, and when we are done it will only be a few short days until the whole world knows The One Truth that will never be forgotten!"

========================================================================================================================

'Project Talon'

The name swam there above all the others, as Selina continued to stare at the list she had complied, ready to send to Venture Horizon HQ. She had been putting off this moment in any way she could think of. She had checked her computer was completely secure eight times by now, and had even considered going back to the bar, getting thoroughly drunk and sleeping with Richard, just to put of the time when she must make her decision for good. Instead, she had settled for sitting here, for what must have been over an hour by now, letting it all blur and return to focus in front of her, over and over again, as if it might choose to take a clearer form the next time.

She had to report what she had uncovered. Whatever Lee's reasons, he had crossed a line. Several lines, in fact, and by no small margins either. He was a traitor, and had to be removed for the good of the company. Selina couldn't make exceptions for people who's motivations intrigued her.

'So why does it feel like I'm about to make a terrible mistake?'

As her hand hovered, ready to send the message, an alarm sounded outside.

 

[NinjaDeathSlap]

[HEADING=1]Chapter 4[/HEADING]

When Selina and the rest of the Executives barged their way into the Command Centre, Lee was hunched over The central table, maps and blueprints of RACDI-Alpha strewn out before him. His face was set and fists clenched, though even as alarms blared all around him, the Colonels tone was level and direct.

"Do we have a secure channel?" he asked one of his officers.

"It's difficult to be sure. Whoever is attacking us keeps cutting off random freq-"

"Do we have one or not." came the interruption.

"I-Yes Sir."

Lee then wasted no time, leaning forward and speaking clearly into the microphone.

"Attention all units. We are under attack from hostile ground and artillery forces. This is not a drill. I repeat, this is not a drill. RACDI-Alpha is now in immediate and indefinite lock-down. First and second battalions are to defend the perimeter with all hands, Defensive Formation Echo. Third Battalion is to fall back and defend the Atrium, Defensive Formation Bravo."

The Colonel had no sooner clicked off the radio before he shot off his next question. "What is our intel?"

"Sir. Hostile forces are attempting to break the perimeter in three key locations." said Commander Montoya. "They have infantry and light armour, with snipers, heavy weapons and mortars in support. We are holding so far, but we are unable to predict their numbers, or ascertain if they have heavier ordinance to bring into play. It could be that these attacks are diversionary."

"How many birds do we have in the air?"

"Three fighters, five gunships, and an unmanned drone, but they are all experiencing complications with navigation and targeting. Until their systems are clear, no more can take off."

It was then that Lee looked up, his eyes locking on to Selina.

"Ms Hernandez." he said coldly "You and your compatriots will be coming with me."

"May I ask where?" Selina challenged.

"We have a leak." Lee informed her. "I intend to plug it, and until I can ascertain that none of you are involved, I will be keeping you all in my sight."

=========================================================================================================================

They had been waiting now for over an hour.

Much like they had bee earlier, the Free Men laid prone in a ditch by the side of the road, among the tree line, accompanied by a company strength of Songbirds. The mood was restless. Nikolai could feel it, although no man of them had uttered a sound since they took up positions here.

"Convoy approaching." The Talon's voice whispered through the device in his ear. The attack was about to begin.