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Episode
132
“Attacking that battle station is not my idea of a good time.
“Okay, here’s what we’ve got.” Everett said, laying out the
general road map of the entire Solaritec company site for everyone in the
crowded living room to see. Everett’s gray and white room was nearly at
the bursting point as all the knights sat behind him, while he faced off
against Marilyn and the World Alliance behind her.
“We
have three possible objectives, and I’d like to point out that I don’t
like any of them.” The black knight continued as he knelt over the map,
staring at them like they were the enemy. “First, and lowest on the
preference list, is we assault the fortress and try to destroy it. We,”
He looked back at Roland and Ledger. “Believe that we can use shaped
charges and timed explosives to detonate key buildings for a maximum
damage.”
“Wouldn’t
that kill a lot of people?” Kim asked, raising her hand as she squeezed
Alan’s left hand.
“That’s
the biggest single reason why it’s on the lowest preference.” Everett
said, looking reassuringly at the girl. “But there’s other problems
with this plan as well. First, a lot of these buildings seem to go deep
into the ground. Even if we knock over the actual over-ground structure,
we may not be able to do significant damage to stop their plans. Second,
explosives are hard to keep anonymous. After the Oklahoma City bombing in
the nineties and the World Trade Center bombing, explosives forensics has
really become a pain to circumvent. And as much faith as I have in my
team, I just don’t like the odds.”
“What’s
option number two?” Oliver asked, next to Ruwani as they both stood on
Marilyn’s left.
“Option
two is preferable for tactical reasons, but just as deplorable for
personal reasons.” Everett said, sitting up on his knees. “Option two
is for surgical strikes into the actual Solaritec site, taking out several
key individuals and isolating the chain of command.”
“Isn’t
that murder?” Malcolm asked, on Marilyn’s right.
“I
prefer to call it assassination.” Everett clarified, looking at Malcolm.
“And I hate to say this, and I know this might come as a shock to you
guys, but if we are going to do either of these options, then a body count
is to be expected. And in both cases so far, it will be double digits.
Possibly more for Option One.”
“How
can you be so calm about this?” Ruwani asked, shocked just to hear the
very idea. “You’re talking about killing people.”
“That’s
an argument for another time, Ruwani.” Everett comfortingly. He sighed
and looked back down at the map. “But I do have some good news.”
“It’s
about time.” Victor said from directly behind Marilyn, standing over her
as he tried to look down at Everett.
Everett
swallowed some words, then looked back at Edger. “At the insistence of
my team, I have been assured that it could be possible for a single
operative could infiltrate the Solaritec site, get the transportation
schedule we need to get the reactor itself and then intercept the reactor
just as it leaves the site.”
“You’re
talking about stealing the reactor? While it’s on the street?” Alan
said, nearly passing out at the very idea.
“The
premise being that if we have the reactor, we can stall the completion of
the fortress for months, maybe even years.” Everett surmised. “Now,
this option has a HUGE number of gaping problems with it, the least of
which is the idea that a single individual is going into enemy
territory.”
“I
still don’t see how the reactor is more important than the plutonium.”
Malcolm said, looking over the inverted plans. “Why not steal the
plutonium?”
“Plutonium
can be replaced.” The knight explained, while the others behind him
strained to stay quiet. “The reactor, on the other hand, would take
months to replace. In that time, we could see to it that the fortress was
addressed by the proper authorities, ones who aren’t in the
Brotherhood’s pocket.”
“It
really seems like Option Three’s the best one.” Marilyn said, smiling
at Everett, even as Victor put his hand lovingly around the back of her
neck.
“I’m
inclined to agree.” He said, looking back down at the plans. “The
problem is, who goes in there?”
Morgan leaned against the window, staring out as the countryside
passed him by. The air conditioning of the car kept the heat at bay, but
against the glass of the window, he still found himself warm.
Arthur
still drove the car, not saying a word. Every now and then, he shifted his
large frame incautiously, making Morgan move his legs to accommodate the
larger man. Next to Arthur, Jason paid sole attention to a CD player in
his lap, changing discs after what seemed every other song.
In
the backseat with Morgan, Vincent played video games on his cell phone,
changing up from one to another as soon as he got bored. Next to him, and
between the two knights, Lilah sat playing on a portal video game, humming
subtly to herself, keeping rhythm with the music from her CD player that
plugged into her ears.
She
began to move with the music, rubbing up against Morgan. A shift in the
road and she was pushed up against him. The former knight in black and red
looked over at her, making her smile awkwardly. “Sorry.” She smiled,
then went back to her game.
Morgan
looked at her for a moment, then looked up through the two front seats.
Arthur turned back to the wheel from watching the exchange. Morgan sat
back, resigning himself.
“I still think this is a bad idea.” Everett said, as he and
Malcolm waited at the counter of the fast food restaurant.
“It
was your idea to get everyone lunch.” Malcolm defended. “We’re poor
college students, no way any of us are going to turn down a free meal.”
“I
meant a surgical theft.” Everett clarified, still staring at the chicken
menu above him, as if expecting the prices or options to change.
“We
already ordered. What are you looking at?” Malcolm asked.
“I’m
watching the restaurant behind me.” Everett said. “The menu’s
reflective and with it’s tilt, I can see the whole place.”
“What
are you looking for?” The World Alliance president asked.
“Whatever
I need to.” Everett answered, his arms crossed over his chest. Malcolm
just shook his head and sat back against the railing as the two waited on
their food. “Is Marilyn still with Victor?” Everett finally asked.
“Regretfully,
yes.” Malcolm affirmed. “We all had hopes you’d take care of him in
his sleep, but he brags, constantly, about how you swore that no knight
was going to hurt him.”
“We
all do dumb things.” Everett defended. “Now, I don’t do a lot of
dumb things, but when I do, man, I really do ‘em.”
Malcolm
turned to Everett, his eyes wide in comic fear. “Was that a joke?”
“Maybe.”
“Cause
that sounded like a joke.” The president of the World Alliance went on.
“And I have never heard a joke out of you. Was it?”
“Maybe.”
“Everett,
you do have a personality!”
“Maybe.”
“It’s like being back in middle school.” Sydney chuckled, as
she stared across the living room at the World Alliance. On one side,
black and red was everywhere, while the other side held the World
Alliance.
“Yeah,
but middle school had cuter girls.” Roland said, looking over the
Alliance. “And they weren’t all kooky crazy girls, either.”
“What
middle school did you go to?” Ledger accused, staring at Roland.
“The
same one you went to, nut-ball!” The white knight yelled. “It was back
when you insisted on wearing BDUs every single day of the week.”
“They
were comfortable.” Ledger protested.
“Guys.”
Edgar said, stepping between the two of them. “Everett and Malcolm went
to get food. Armand and Ruwani went to get drinks. There’s got to be
something we can send the two of you off to do.”
Ledger
looked at Edgar, then glanced through the opening in the wall over into
the living where Victor sat on half the couch. “How about some solid
slugs?”
“Knock
it off.” Edgar bit, his humor gone. “Now, like it or not, these guys
are working with us on this mission. So get used to it.”
“Edgar,”
Ledger said clearly and unbothered. “That boy is a liability.”
“Be
that as it may, you bite your tongue until the proper time.” The eldest
knight cautioned. “Take it up with Everett, when they leave.” He
added, stopping Ledger before he could protest.
The
black knight looked over at Victor as the college boy tried to pump
Marilyn for attention. “It might be too late by then.” Ledger
grumbled. |