Code 47 to BREV Force

Prologue The man slowly became aware of his surroundings. He did not know where he was...or how much time had passed; if he would ever know those answers. He swallowed hard and tried to find his voice. He looked up and pleaded, “Please, help me?” the man struggled to extend his hand but it wouldn’t move. He tried to get up but his lack of strength and the extreme push being exerted against his body caused him to collapse. A weight seemed to be holding him down, even though he couldn’t feel any physical restraints. “My name is Frederick. I wish I could help you,” the somewhat meek voice told the man. “My brother has ordered me not to interfere and, he’ll be back any minute.” The man took a deep breath. The air seemed cool as it flowed down his throat but not fresh and there was a musty smell that permeated his lungs. He began to cough and shiver. Frederick got the man a glass of cold water. He put his arm under the man’s head and raised him up enough to drink. He gently touched the glass to the man’s lips and watched the trickle of water flow. The man’s face showed the pain of swallowing the small drops of water. He attempted to talk in between swallows. He coughed and his teeth were chattering shivers, “Wh... wh...why?” Frederick felt the man’s anguish and slowly lowered his head. “Sh… I’ll try and find a blanket for you. Stay quiet until I get back.” The man watched through glazed eyes as Frederick’s shadow moved beyond his sight. He heard a metallic clang echo in the room, followed by a click sound then, a deathly silence settled over him. Although his mind seemed steeped in a fog, there was an analytical sense that appeared to be on auto-pilot. He turned his attention to his surroundings. The only light source he could see came from the glaring panels directly above him. He didn’t know why but he was sure these tubes got their luminosity from sun flares stored in their cells and were used primarily in extremely dark places to replicate sunlight and provide heating. In order to observe more of the room, he knew he needed to get up. But all his efforts only enabled him to turn his head. There were objects beyond his range of vision that only appeared as shadows. He squinted and concentrated until he was able to make out more than the silhouettes. A huge object which seemed to have a clear covering, almost like a giant clam shell, sat on a metallic base at the opposite side of the room. Red and green lights flashed from the front panel and were reflected by the shiny substance that covered the walls. At first, he had no idea what he was looking at and then, he finally reached through the cob-webs of his mind and it struck him. He’d seen pictures of bunkers and storage cellars from past wars that looked similar to this room. The man kept searching his mind but all he could remember was that the walls were specifically designed to conceal secret facilities. Disjointed thoughts flooded his mind: images of people, places and things and strangely enough, repetitive sounds of music. He knew he needed to remain calm and sort through the questions that kept shouting at him: Where am I? Why am I here? I believe I know one of these men but why can’t I remember? And, why am I being restrained against my will? He knew he had to try and analyze the situation and then maybe the answers could help him resolve this nightmare. Concentrate on the brother the one called Frederick. He seemed like he wanted to help but why has he been gone so long. Frederick said his brother warned him not to help me, maybe he got caught. Maybe he isn’t coming back! The music played louder in his mind. Then suddenly, he realized it had a calming effect. Use your mind. Think, think, he told himself. What is the last thing you remember? The thoughts were there but they just seemed out of reach. Disconnected words rushed through his mind. A phone call. Someone at the door. A loud bang… hot fire in my veins. Dizzy! Movement, yes, some type of motion; then darkness and extreme cold. He struggled to see through the indistinct memories. Who was I talking to? Before he could figure it out, his thoughts were interrupted by the sound of loud voices. Yelling? The sounds seemed too far away to make out what was being said. He listened for anything he could understand but the words were too faint. Then, he heard footsteps and a click; then clang, followed by a swoosh and a rush of welcome warm fresh air. He closed his eyes and let the feeling bathe over him. Suddenly, he felt a presence. His eyes flew open. Frederick was standing over him placing the blanket he had gotten on him. “Th…ank Y ou!” the man struggled to form the words that barely made a sound. “Quiet! My brother is coming and I don’t want him to know we spoke.” The man started to say something else when he was stopped, “Please,” Frederick pleaded, “just trust me! It would be better for you to cooperate with my brother.” The look on Frederick’s face was sad and troubled. “I’m sure if you tell him what he wants to know, he’ll let you go.” Tell me what I want to know, the words rang in the man’s head. Then, he heard yelling again but this time it was coming from deep inside his mind. He saw an elderly man demanding, “Tell me what I want to know!” The pieces began to fit together, and, for the first time, the man understood his fate. He looked up at Frederick. “He went to a l..ot of tr..ouble to get me here. I be..lieve you know as well as I do, he will ne..ver let me go!” “No, no! You are wrong!” Frederick pleaded. “You do not know. He just needs recognition for his work…to be honored for his accomplishments! He only wants to benefit mankind. He needs the answers you have. He believes he has a right to them!” From across the room the man heard the same voice that was yelling in his mind. “Frederick! Get away from him.” The elderly man marched into the room ranting, “What have I told you? Now, get away from him. If you keep helping him he will never give me the information I need!” Frederick sheepishly did as he was told. “Yes, Ori,” he responded with the name he always used as a token of affection for the elderly gentleman. “But… I was only getting him a blanket, he was freezing!” Frederick felt small and weak. “That’s all I was doing,” he added, pleading for Ori to understand. “Do not take me for a fool, my brother. I know you were talking to him. And, I told you, his comfort is of no concern to me…nor should it be to you! He is here to provide me with answers! That is all!” The elderly gentleman held up an object and shook it in the man’s face. “You know what I want. It is a fair exchange for your life.” This conversation with the elderly gentleman sparked a flood of memories that electrified the man’s brain and filled in at least some of the gaps. “Yes, I now know what it is you expect of me. But you also know me well enough to know I am my own person. Do whatever you will to me. I will never put my knowledge in your hands!” Frustrated and angry the elderly gentleman paced back and forth. “Then, I have no reason to continue this conversation.” He turned to his brother who had pressed himself against the wall. “Frederick, prepare the chamber!” He ordered. “Now!” “No, Ori, please I beg you! Don’t do this! We’ll find another way to get the information you need. I know you feel you must have it to finish your work but this is not the way. You are not an evil man like those in the past. You are my older brother and a good man. You risked your life to save mine. I know you, Ori, if everything hadn’t gotten out of control you never would have resorted to this! Please, it is not too late. Let him go. Together we will find another way. The elderly gentleman stopped; slumped into a nearby chair. This ordeal with the man had added a great deal of stress to an already impossible situation. He saw the pain in his younger brother’s eyes... “Oh, Frederick…,” he whispered. Then, he looked away; stood up and continued firing his instructions, “I said prepare the chamber!” The answer was barely audible, “Yes, Ori.” The elderly gentleman approached the table with an instrument in his hands. The man looked up with confidence, “Knowing you will never succeed without my help, makes whatever you are about to do to me, worthwhile.” The man heard the loud hum of machinery cycling. Then he felt the jab in his arm and immediately sensed a now familiar fire rushing through his veins. His vision became more blurred. Through his fog, he could still hear the two men arguing. “Frederick, blame him for what I do. You see I gave him a choice! I just want him to cooperate. My responsibilities are beyond what one man can handle…, you, this place, the world!” The elderly gentleman continued his ranting, “If I do not have his formula, my life’s work will have been for nothing…all of it. I know that is beyond your comprehension, Frederick but I will be a failure…just a washed up old man.” “No, Ori, you are wrong. Your greatest achievement is there in those test tubes.” “Yes...but only with his information. Without it, who knows what it will eventually be?” Ori’s voice sounded regretful, “Without his information, I am no better than an amateur. Frederick, I have reached beyond my abilities!” The words were getting harder for the man to understand. He wasn’t sure if the sounds had gotten farther away; as if the two men were moving beyond the room, or if, whatever was injected into his veins, was taking effect. The last thing the man was aware of was the familiar music that began playing again in his head, followed by the constant flash of numbers, 4…7… then everything went black.