An Old Friend

  Leech and Laser just confessed to murdering Georgie. They have no look of remorse, just soldiers doing their assignment. Today Bucket feels a knot in the pit of his stomach thinking about it.

  The Colonel walks over to the desk and removes two Red Labels from Buckets pack, handing one to Bucket and taking one for herself she strikes his lighter, lighting them both. The pair of them look at Leech and Laser bound on their knees.

  “Who else have you killed in the Cavern?” The Colonel asks. Leech turns his gaze from her to Bucket, shrugging his shoulders. Bucket can see it in his eyes; he wants to discuss this without the Colonel here.

  “She knows we're with Nightfall and knows far more about most things than any of us, either speak or I'm throwing you on the next sub to the mainland.”

  “Yeah, that's the problem; she does know more and is more involved. And, now, by association we're not sure we even trust you. But we have no choice.” He says with an uneasy desperate look.

  “I'm an observer of all that's going on, an impartial mediator that keeps communication flowing. I don't have a say in things, other than running the Specters. So you can speak freely.” She says, only partially lying—or partially being truthful. Bucket knows she's not just sitting on the sidelines observing, it's also a bit unnerving to him just how smooth she is speaking in a misleading way to Leech.

  “Georgie wasn't Georgie.” Leech says.

  “Who was he then?” Bucket asks, he glances over at the Colonel who looks back at him with a knowing look. It doesn't make sense they would kill him though.

  “Perhaps we should focus on why you killed him.” She says. It's clear to Bucket she doesn't want to discuss who they were to Leech and Laser; they probably don't know. Until last night Bucket wouldn't have known either.

  “We were ordered to, we were informed he was a traitor. But, well, that wasn't the issue.” Leech hesitantly looks at the Colonel, “Can I have a smoke?” Bucket can see he's being truthful but also knows Leech has issues when he gets pushed too far. He offers Leech and Laser both a smoke, “Thanks Bucket.” He takes a big drag. “You saw the video surveillance?”

  “Yes, even looking over it we had trouble seeing what you guys did, it was pretty smooth.” Bucket says, genuinely impressed at how they pulled off a hit while being recorded.

  “No body was recovered, correct?” Laser says.

  “Correct.” The Colonel says.

  “He started heating up, I mean burning, look,” Leech holds up his arms, on the inside there is still a redness with some burn scars. “As he was falling he burst into flames, as he hit the water it was a bright phosphorous blinding burn as he sunk in the water. Two things; bodies don't burst into flames and they don't sink like a rock either.”

  The Colonel looks at Bucket, slowly nodding her head. The truth of this won't be discussed until Leech and Laser are not around. He takes out his knife and cuts the zip ties off their hands. “Did you report this occurrence?”

  “No. Only the four of us know, plus an old friend I sent info to. He's a tech, I talked to him asking what he knows of spontaneous combustion. Last night he died of a drug overdose. His mother had a drug problem growing up, Nathan didn't even drink. It's too much of a coincidence he randomly started doing drugs and OD'd. When I went back with Underwood to the mainland I never disembarked at the port, I came back here. There was other Nightfall on the sub when I came back.”

  “Who?” Bucket asks.

  “I didn't see faces, but there was littered sunflower seeds.” Leech says. They both know who that is. Flea; the most notorious Nightfall agent. All Nightfall agents are trained to do what is needed to accomplish their mission, including unethical and not legal tactics. Flea is well known for relishing that part of his training. He's also known for eating a copious amount of sunflower seeds.

  There is a small chime on the Colonels communicator. “Looks like the SS Dartmouth is docking.” Her and Bucket look at the pad, the topside hatch opens, heavily armed soldiers stream out of the submarine. “Shit, how many?”

  “We're getting the hell out of here.” Laser says.

  “Yeah, go. Good luck.” Bucket says. Laser and Leech grab the gear and rush out. Bucket bars the door after they leave. He pulls out his own communicator, viewing the holo-vid display extension that opens up an image the size of his forearm he pulls up all the cameras in the Cavern. There is gun fire, citizens all abandon the market and businesses, rushing to their boarding houses or homes. He sees Underwood step out of the sub. Specters and harbor police challenge Commander Underwood's men, Motormouth approaches Underwood.

  “I have sound from Motormouths communicator.” The Colonel says.

  “Stand down Motormouth. You have new orders; all Specters and harbor police are to immediately board the sub and head back to the mainland.” Underwood says.

  “What kind of bull shit is that? Who will keep order here?”

  “The harbor police and Specters are employed by the Royals, the King has ordered all who are employed by the crown back to the mainland.”

  “Shit, did I tell you about the backup command room?” She says.

  “Yeah, among other things.” He looks at her with a grave look.

  “The code is 9523, in case we get separated. Underwood won't touch me, but you're not untouchable.” He's never seen such a look of concern on her face. They embrace, holding each other like it may be for the last time. She pats him on the back and pulls back. Bucket goes to the door with, putting the fisheye cam under it he hears more gunfire.

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  “They're chasing someone.” She says.

  “Probably Leech and Laser. I hope they get away.”

  “I hope you get away.” She says as all the surveillance cameras go offline. “No feed on the cameras, he's shut down all cameras in the Cavern. There's just no feed.”

  Through the portable fisheye cam he sees a group of soldiers and Underwood approaching. A moment later there is a pounding on the door.

  “No one's home.” Bucket says.

  Bucket is looking through the door with his ghostshades, one of his men points a shotgun at the door lock. “Get down!” He dives to the side, a slug blows out the lock and 6 men enter. They walk over to Bucket, hitting him in the stomach with the shotgun stock he drops to his knees as the zip tied his hands behind him and his ankles.

  “Colonel, on your knees, hands over your head.” One of the soldiers asks.

  “No, under what authority are you detaining me?”

  Flea appears, with Laser in tow, Laser's been shot a couple times he looks in really rough shape. The storm has arrived.

  “What's the hold up? Why isn't the Colonel restrained?” Flea asks.

  “We were getting to that.” The soldier says.

  Flea marches over, punches her in the stomach. She drops to her knees, he zip ties her hands behind her back and ankles and shoves her face first onto the floor.

  “Flea, you just made my list.” Bucket says.

  “You're assuming you'll be alive come daybreak. After all, you murdered Laser in cold blood. You got the camera ready, Moon?”

  “It's ready.”

  Flea cuts the zip ties on Laser, forcing him to stand. Flea stands in front of Laser, pointing a revolver at him. Laser looks at Bucket and to everyone in the room like a panicked rabbit. Standing upright he looks Flea in the eye with a cold stare, accepting what is to come.

  “Any last words Laser?”

  “Go fuck yourself...” Flea shoots Laser between the eyes, he crumples to the ground. The Colonel is speechless, Bucket wonders if he's next.

  “Good work men. Bucket, you're under arrest for murdering Laser.” Underwood says.

  “Are you fucking crazy? We just saw Flea do it!” The Colonel says.

  Flea puts a pair of ghostshades on Bucket and the Colonel and runs the 'live' recording of the murder. It clearly shows Bucket standing there shooting Laser.

  “You're a slimy piece of shit.” Bucket says.

  “You'll be getting that psych eval back on the mainland Forester. Bucket will remain here, Flea will be interrogating him thoroughly over his crime we all just witnessed.”

  “What about GSR and other evidence?” The Colonel says.

  “That won't matter once Bucket's dead, the Royals will just want the potential issue to go away. Let's head out.”

  “You can't do this!” The Colonel says. One of the men cuts her loose, she goes towards Bucket, the soldier holds her wrist, pulling her back.

  “Behave or we'll have to restrain you. Did you want to put some clothes on?” The guard lets go of her, she puts her pants and shoes on. They lead her to the door, glancing at Bucket. There are no words she can say that won't make his situation worse. As she goes to pass Underwood he grins at her, she spits in his face. The soldiers pull her away and out the door.

  “Hang in there Bucket!” She yells out from the hallway. All but Flea and the 5 other men leave. They mill about, packing gear up and mostly ignoring Bucket. If his hands were free he might be able to get to the AR that's strapped under his bed. He wouldn't make it in time though, he might get half of the six men before they gun him down.

  Flea picks up the bag of food and takes out a breakfast sandwich, taking a bite. “Oh, nice, I was starving.” He slowly eats the food, taking one of Bucket's cigarettes he turns to him “Want one? It'll probably be your last.”

  His best chance is to stall, maybe something will happen. Not likely though. He looks at Flea and nods, Flea gives him a smoke. Taking a drag he coughs and spits up blood. Flea walks over and puts the cigarette back in his mouth.

  “Ha, you might not even make it past the smoke. You've had a rough go lately, eh? I can see that purple from your chest and shoulder running up your neck.”

  “Why are you doing this?”

  “I was ordered too. Why did you live with the rebels for a year before killing their leader? You followed orders.” Yeah, why did he? No, he can't let his mind go there, he didn't know what he knew back then.

  “Do you want to know why I really do this?”

  “Definitely not for the pay.”

  “Nope.” He walks up to him, whispers in his ear, Bucket can feel the stink of his breath, the bits of the food spittle on his ear as Flea speaks, “I like it. I like breaking men down and having them beg to end them, just like you will.” He saunters over and starts eating the other sandwich, “I would offer you some but it'll just be more mess to clean up later.”

  On his knees Bucket is dragging out finishing the cigarette. He's not afraid, he learned from living with father to block out the threat of pain coming. Father was bad, but Flea will be worse. He's heard the stories, it's a matter of whether or not he's been given a time frame.

  Or maybe this is it, maybe this asshole will take him somewhere and take him apart piece by piece until there are no more pieces. He finally found a woman he cares for, and this greasy asshole is just going to end him. Maybe he deserves it for spending almost a year having Sunday dinner with Vic and Lucy, playing with the kids then handing Vic a bomb to put in his face.

  “Where did you get the food from? This is one tasty breakfast sandwich.” Flea says. Bucket knows how Flea is, he's toying with him. That's his way. Dammit, his foots shaking, no, he can't let Flea see, he'll take advantage. He's dealt with so much physical pain the last few weeks.

  He is whispering to him. Deep down, a quiet, unintelligible whispering from a forgotten friend. Bucket may need to call on him. He last spoke to him when he lived with his family. He helped him deal with things.

  “You got a twitch in your foot there Bucket? What's the matter? We're just going to have a little chat. Well, chat while I rip out your nails, break fingers, who knows? Oh dear, your whole leg is shaking now.”

  Kneeling there his whole body is shaking now, just like before, just like he could tell father was going to beat him by the way he slammed the front door. He can normally deal with all this, but he doesn't want to lose her, he really does not want things to end now. He has hope, and that makes him desperate to live on.

  Just say the word buddy... I missed you... The voice in his head whispers. You need me...

  “I... eed.. ye..” Bucket mumbles.

  “What did you say there Bucket? You seem a bit off.”

  “I need you Ryan...”

  “Who are you talking to?”

  Was it that hard to let me back in? I got you through father, we'll get you through this. The voice says in his head in a smooth, calm tone. I need to hear you say you're sorry for not talking to me for so long.

  “I want to save my hands, one of you crack him in the jaw so we can get out of here.”

  Moon cracks Bucket on the jaw, Bucket blackout.