their
goal is not immediately clear,” the General confirmed.
“So what’s the plan?” Bell asked with
his usual gung-ho tempo.
“We find these things and we kill
them,” Hark said as John nodded in agreement.
****
Thorn could feel the state of
heightened awareness in the room squeezing everyone like vise. Each of the team
members went in different directions once they exited the conference room,
everyone seeking different types of Intel they could bring to the others when
they reconvened. This left Thorn feeling out of place and less then useful once
again.
“Hey Thorn,” Karen Williams called to
her as the thin woman stepped into the hall. “How about me and you go hack the
doctor’s computer files and see what we can find?”
Now that sounded like something of
use and Thorn wasn't about to pass on the chance to be a part of what was happening here.
“Count me in,” she replied happily
turning to follow the woman toward Dr. Hough’s private quarters and office.
“You two best be careful,” John called after her. “You never know what else the man might be
hiding.”
“We will be,” Thorn called back,
happy to finally do something other than watch.
Hough’s rooms were off the medical
lab and accessed through a steel door with optical scanner. Luckily Karen wasn't just the
General's person assistant but somewhat of a computer whiz. In a matter of
seconds, she’d had a set of wires plugged into some sort of box with digital
numbers rolling around. It amazed Thorn how quickly her friend could bypass
security as the thick door slid open.
Letting out a long whistle as the
automatic lights flickered on, both women looked around. The man lived in a lab
right out of an old horror movie. Shelves lined the walls filled with various
colored liquids with things floating inside. He had ever body part imaginable
inside those glass containers as both women looked about wide-eyed.
“Hey Thorn,” Karen said from behind
her, making Thorn spin to face the woman who held up a small jar filled with a
dozen eyeballs. “I have my eyes on you.”
Both burst into laughter. Not that it
was all that funny but given the tension of the situation, it worked.
“Please tell me this is not what I
think it is,” Thorn said, spying a jar which most definitely contained a full
set of male reproduction organs. “That’s sick.”
“Damn, that just isn’t right,” Karen
agreed.
The computer and two tall filing
cabinets sat in the far corner, Having their fill of
the doctor’s creepy collection, they headed that direction. Karen would handle
breaking into the files on the computer as Thorn looked for something to make
quick work of the cabinet locks. A strong paperclip should do it. Bending one
straight and the other into an L shape, she began the task. A few grumbles and
cuss words later the first click sounded, signaling success.
The top drawer contained all Hough’s
military paperwork, every reprimand, promotion, and re-enlistment, along with a
copy of his birth certificate. Nothing worth reporting there. The second drawer was a whole lot more interesting, it
had a file for each of the current team members including photos and medical
reports. It appeared that each of the men shared a career ending medical
condition or injury, an IQ at roughly the same level, and reports indicating
high levels of willingness to self-sacrifice. Thorn did find it odd that all
the files were color-coded blue with the exception of Beamer's, who was tagged
yellow.
The last drawer made Thorn's mouth
drop open. It was a large, hulking file on her. It had copies of work
schedules, emails she'd written to her sister in-law and pictures spanning the
period from Thomas’ funeral until the evening she first met John. Staring at
the images of her standing in front of her brother’s grave marker caused a
chill deep inside. What the hell was going on here?
“How close are you to breaking his
encryption?” Thorn asked Karen.
“Just
goal is not immediately clear,” the General confirmed.
“So what’s the plan?” Bell asked with
his usual gung-ho tempo.
“We find these things and we kill
them,” Hark said as John nodded in agreement.
****
Thorn could feel the state of
heightened awareness in the room squeezing everyone like vise. Each of the team
members went in different directions once they exited the conference room,
everyone seeking different types of Intel they could bring to the others when
they reconvened. This left Thorn feeling out of place and less then useful once
again.
“Hey Thorn,” Karen Williams called to
her as the thin woman stepped into the hall. “How about me and you go hack the
doctor’s computer files and see what we can find?”
Now that sounded like something of
use and Thorn wasn't about to pass on the chance to be a part of what was happening here.
“Count me in,” she replied happily
turning to follow the woman toward Dr. Hough’s private quarters and office.
“You two best be careful,” John called after her. “You never know what else the man might be
hiding.”
“We will be,” Thorn called back,
happy to finally do something other than watch.
Hough’s rooms were off the medical
lab and accessed through a steel door with optical scanner. Luckily Karen wasn't just the
General's person assistant but somewhat of a computer whiz. In a matter of
seconds, she’d had a set of wires plugged into some sort of box with digital
numbers rolling around. It amazed Thorn how quickly her friend could bypass
security as the thick door slid open.
Letting out a long whistle as the
automatic lights flickered on, both women looked around. The man lived in a lab
right out of an old horror movie. Shelves lined the walls filled with various
colored liquids with things floating inside. He had ever body part imaginable
inside those glass containers as both women looked about wide-eyed.
“Hey Thorn,” Karen said from behind
her, making Thorn spin to face the woman who held up a small jar filled with a
dozen eyeballs. “I have my eyes on you.”
Both burst into laughter. Not that it
was all that funny but given the tension of the situation, it worked.
“Please tell me this is not what I
think it is,” Thorn said, spying a jar which most definitely contained a full
set of male reproduction organs. “That’s sick.”
“Damn, that just isn’t right,” Karen
agreed.
The computer and two tall filing
cabinets sat in the far corner, Having their fill of
the doctor’s creepy collection, they headed that direction. Karen would handle
breaking into the files on the computer as Thorn looked for something to make
quick work of the cabinet locks. A strong paperclip should do it. Bending one
straight and the other into an L shape, she began the task. A few grumbles and
cuss words later the first click sounded, signaling success.
The top drawer contained all Hough’s
military paperwork, every reprimand, promotion, and re-enlistment, along with a
copy of his birth certificate. Nothing worth reporting there. The second drawer was a whole lot more interesting, it
had a file for each of the current team members including photos and medical
reports. It appeared that each of the men shared a career ending medical
condition or injury, an IQ at roughly the same level, and reports indicating
high levels of willingness to self-sacrifice. Thorn did find it odd that all
the files were color-coded blue with the exception of Beamer's, who was tagged
yellow.
The last drawer made Thorn's mouth
drop open. It was a large, hulking file on her. It had copies of work
schedules, emails she'd written to her sister in-law and pictures spanning the
period from Thomas’ funeral until the evening she first met John. Staring at
the images of her standing in front of her brother’s grave marker caused a
chill deep inside. What the hell was going on here?
“How close are you to breaking his
encryption?” Thorn asked Karen.
“Just
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