Interrogation
1800 Words
Nate
Thoughts swirled in Nate’s head as he paced the common room of the guest area. For over twenty years his mother had been missing. He searched for her. He looked for anything, everything that would bring her home. Now, she was here. How had he missed it? He knew her name, her face by heart and still he did not recognize her. Hank wandered out of the sleeping area and sat in an armchair.
“How’s your dad?” Hank asked, startling Nate.
“You knew!” Nate accused.
“About your mother?” Hank asked. “I only found out today, and it was while you were still in that bed.”
“Is that why grandma was so upset?”
“Yeah. She was trying to figure out why High Command looked so familiar. I told her it was because High Command is Cassie.” He leaned back in the chair and crossed his legs.
“So, she’s been in space the entire time?”
“Apparently. Per what she told me, she was not allowed to come back to Earth, that she had to stay away.”
Nate let out a frustrated sigh. “I hated the men that took her. I hated them so much and now I’m not sure if I hate her too.”
“Don’t hate your mother. She nearly died trying to rescue you. I don’t know why she stayed away, but I do know your safety would have been the topmost reason behind her decisions,” Hank said.
“I’m going to bed,” Nate said.
He started to cross the room but stopped when the door leading to the hall opened. Jacobee entered.
“High Command would like to speak with you,” he said looking to Nate.
“I don’t think that would be a good idea,” Nate replied.
“This has to do with a Captain Nodes,” Jacobee said reading the name off a tablet.
The name shocked Nate. He thought seeing Captain Nodes had been a hallucination created by blood loss.
“What about him?” he asked.
Hank remained where he sat, but Nate could see the question on his face.
“He has been moved from the prisoner hold to a secure interrogation room. High Command would like you to join us.”
“I have nothing to say to that man,” Nate said turning away. “He knew what was happening to my dad and did nothing.”
“It isn’t for you to speak but to watch. Due to your personal knowledge of the prisoner, High Command would like your attendance.”
Nate followed Jacobee through the ship and to a hallway with a row of four doors. Near each door, there was a large viewing glass into the room. Only one of the rooms had been occupied. Cassielle stood in front of the glass looking in on the room. Beside her stood a slightly taller lady dressed in fine gray robes. Her silver-streaked black hair had been pulled into a high ponytail with a mass of curls cascading toward. Clear jewels and flowers dotted the curls and a chain wrapped itself around the lady’s head. Her dress and the way she held herself told Nate this lady was in charge. On the far side of the lady stood two guards. The took one glance at Nate before resuming their position. Once he got situated next to Cassielle, Jacobee entered the room.
Captain Nodes sat at a table and faced the side Jacobee entered. A divider separated them. Behind Nodes sat a small bed and commode. White walls and table gave a blinding effect. The bed and floor both sported light grey tones.
“Captain Nodes. You have been charged with treason in the third degree against the Trident and Federation empires,” Jacobee said.
“I want my lawyer,” Nodes said.
“This is not Earth, and you do not get a lawyer,” Jacobee continued. “Please do not interrupt. This charge carries hard labor for twelve years with the Federation and a death sentence with Trident.”
Nodes hesitated but then leaned in close. “I don’t care,” he said softly. “You all are going to die so it doesn’t matter much does it?”
“We may be able to help you,” Jacobee said not fazed by the threat. “Keandre is your brother, correct?”
“Keandre is dead.”
Nate watched as the captain’s feet shuffled and jaw quiver.
“He’s lying,” Nate said. “He knows his brother isn’t dead.”
Both women looked at him.
“How?” Cassielle asked.
“He has a tell. He’s also a terrible poker player.”
From the corner of his eye, Nate could see his mother lean over to the lady and whisper something to her. The lady nodded before focusing on the interrogation again.
“He isn’t dead, and I believe you know that already,” Jacobee said holding the tablet up for Nodes to see the screen. “But he will be if we don’t get your assistance.”
“It doesn’t matter now. He’ll be dead within a few hours.” Nodes leaned back in his chair and stared at the ceiling. His eyes had gone glossy and he blinked his eyes a few times.
“Help us save him. Make the right decision here.”
Nodes sat motionless for a few moments. He leaned forward again. “I’ll do you one better, but only if you promise to carry out the death sentence.”
“I’m listening.”
“I need your word that I will die by execution.”
“This is as close as you’re going to get with any sort of promise. What do you have to offer?”
“I’m willing to help my brother, but I offer nothing else without a guarantee of execution.” Nodes leaned back again.
Jacobee got up and exited the room.
“What’s your assessment now?” Cassielle asked Nate.
“It’s obvious, he’s scared. He’s not scared of you or even Trident. It has something to do with the Federation,” Nate said.
“Jacobee?” the lady asked turning to the larger man.
“I agree, the man is scared,” he answered.
“What information do you have on him?” Cassielle asked.
“He grew up in Africa with his brother and three sisters. Parents and sisters all dis-owned him about fifteen years ago and has an estranged daughter and ex-wife that live near his parents. He’s been living under an alias in America for about eleven years and has been impersonating a police captain the whole time. About a year ago Liana’a contacted him, and he joined her about three months ago. From everything we were able to gather on him, he changed his behavior at that time,” Jacobee said reading from the tablet.
“Someone threatened his daughter,” Nate said casually. Again, all of them looked at him. “He was willing to sacrifice his brother for some reason. It’s the only explanation.”
“His brother could have disowned him as well?” the lady pointed out.
“Did he?” Nate asked Jacobee.
“Their family also disowned Keandre, so chances are, no,” Cassielle said.
This time, Nates turned to stare at her. She glanced at him before following Jacobee back into the room.
“Hello Ja’arby,” she said.
“Cass,” Nodes said surprised. He stood up. “I can’t believe you’re alive. I mean, you’ve been missing for, what, twenty years.”
“You agreed to help Keandre. That’s all I am interested in, but I am prepared to speak on your behalf with High Council if what you have to offer is worth it,” she said.
Her words may have been soft, but she commanded his attention.
“It is,” he said smiling. “What would you like to know?”
His demeanor changed and he shifted his chair sideways to sit and cross his legs. He had a smug look.
“She needs to get out of there,” Nate said.
“High Command, leave,” the lady in fine robes said.
Cassielle turned to leave.
“Where you goin’, Cass?” he taunted. “I have so much to tell you. I was wondering something, though. How’s that boy of yours? I saw he took quiet a beating. He wasn’t doing too good on the trip up here.”
Cassielle turned back. The lights began to flicker.
“Cassielle, get out of there,” the lady commanded.
“What? Did I hit a nerve?” A wicked smile crossed his face. “I guess you weren’t able to save him. And now you’re trying to save his daddy? Why?”
Lights down the hall began to pop and shatter. Nate reacted before anyone else could. He ran into the room and pulled Cassielle out, slamming her against the wall opposite the room, knocking the breath out of her. The lady looked shocked at his actions. The lights stopped flickering.
Cassielle took a few deep breaths and stared at Nate.
“Sorry,” he said letting her go.
Nate could hear laughing from inside the cell. Before anyone could stop him, he walked back into the room. Jacobee chased him.
“One call to the Federation and Belina is dead,” Nate said taking Jacobee’s seat.
Nodes immediately stopped laughing.
“Once they hear you are assisting us, she is gone. Do you really want to risk that?”
Nodes clinched his jaw muscles and stood back up. “You leave her out of this.”
“You have a choice to make. You either help us, or you don’t, and we make them think you’re helping us.”
“You should have died.”
“What can I say, I’m hard to kill.”
Nate stood up and walked out, Jacobee following. Everyone stared at him.
“We do not actually talk with the Federation like that,” Jacobee said.
“He doesn’t know that,” Cassielle responded.
Node’s demeaner changed dramatically. He sat back down at the table and put his head in his hands.
“Ok,” he shouted. “I’ll help.”
Jacobee re-entered.
“But,” Nodes started. “I want your assurance my daughter will be kept safe.”
“Do you still want us to execute you,” Jacobee asked.
“I don’t care anymore. I need your promise you will keep Belina safe.”
“We will do everything in our power to protect Belina,” Jacobee said. “For now, we will start with helping your brother.”
- Writer
