Toy Soldiers

by Dabeagle & Ryan Bartlett

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Chapter 12

Harlequin

We drifted much of the night with minor adjustments. Periodically I would bring the boat a little closer to shore to avoid lights or minimize the possibility of being seen from bridges. We were fortunate that there was very little river traffic. I dodged one tug boat pushing a barge by slipping behind one of the many tiny, uninhabited islets we passed. We only went as fast as the river carried us, which was less than briskly. I opened the map book Cass found in an office – someplace I had not told him to go – and I flipped through it, looking to identify our location.

I decided to drift down to the New Hamburg Yacht Club, deciding that there would be a vehicle we may be able to commandeer or that Cass might be able to steal. That would be the most likely point, and then we could get to the town of Fishkill and Cass's father – and his weapons. We approached the club about one thirty in the morning, and I guided the canoe to the shore and allowed it to run into the muddy bank. Cass grumbled, but Sage sat up, reasonably alert.

“What happened?”

“We'll get out here, find transportation. We are close, within thirty miles. I'd like to be there and safe in the home before daybreak.”

Sage nodded in understanding and woke Cass. From there it was shockingly easy to obtain a vehicle – dumb luck, in fact. We crested the bank and found ourselves in a parking lot. At the far edge was a security patrol who had stepped out of his vehicle to walk down to the docks and check on the boats. It was simply a matter of running to the vehicle and leaving with it.

Cass drove like a madman, but then he was the only one of us who had any idea how to drive at all. I was thankful for the lack of traffic, else we might have not arrived. As it was, trees and buildings were our largest worry.

Cass slowed down as we drifted through some residential neighborhoods some thirty minutes later. At this point, Cass shut the lights off to mask our approach. He parked the vehicle on the street, and we peeled off the security stickers from the side, just to mask the vehicle for the short term. We approached the house, a solitary light on in the building.

“That's his office. I wasn't allowed in there. He's even got a fire door on it.”

I nodded and approached the window. A blackout curtain hung, obscuring the view of the room, however a breeze was making the curtain twitch – a fan, perhaps. A glimpse of a man, large and sweating uncomfortably. There was something unsettling about his appearance, something that pulled at the back of my mind. I waited, willing myself to be patient. A few minutes later, long minutes later, the screen twitched again. I dropped to the ground, my back to the building.

“What is it?” Sage asked.

“One man. I'd prefer to avoid a civilian casualty, and we don't want anyone on the street to be alerted to our presence from noise. Three trying to move through a front door is easier for your father to detect and more likely that neighbors will hear. Can we gain rear access to the building?” I directed this last at Cass.

“There's a spare key for the front. I can unlock it and go to the back and let you in. What are you going to do then?” Cass asked.

“My aim is not to harm your father.”

“Why the hell not?” Cass snorted. “You saw my shoulder, right? Harley, if you need to knock him around a little, I'm good with that.”

“The goal is the keep things quiet so that neighbors and law enforcement aren't alerted. Cass, we'll wait at the rear door. Do not delay.”

“Sir! Yes, sir!” he whispered and slapped his forehead in a sloppy salute. I frowned and Sage hid a smile.

Cass slipped off to the front of the house, and Sage and I moved to the rear. We crept along the side of the modest home and found the back door with no problem. We waited, nervous to have allowed Cass to be left alone. Noise could be heard inside and then a crash. I shot up from the crouch I was in.

“Wait for him to open the door. I'm going around.” I took off at a dead run, berating myself for risking Cass. Should he be injured, the responsibility was mine. When I reached the front of the house, the door was not quite shut, and I burst through. The living room was small and tidy. A couch and a recliner were the only seating, the chair accompanied by a small table. I dashed through to the dining room, and my blood curdled at hearing Cass scream in terror.

“Dad! Stop!”

“Hold still! God damn you!”

Then I was in the kitchen and saw his father viciously back hand his son, sending him flying into the rear door. Cass alertly unlocked the door, while bleeding profusely from the mouth. The boy had more mettle than I'd have credited him with.

Sage was in and up in the air with a roundhouse kick. The older man deflected with a practiced move of his arm and brought a counter which Sage easily avoided. In that short glimpse I knew where I'd seen this man – on our training floor. He'd killed Forest. Taken his beauty.

Cass was throwing plates and pans, but the sounds around me were as static. I roared, years of pain harbored after watching Kelly cry and this man – this man placed a pistol against his head and made him stop crying.

“Murderer!” I shouted and drove my fist into his kidney. He staggered, and I brought a barrage of punches to his lower body. As he turned, I brought them to bear on his face. His hands came up, tried to counter, but I felt a blood lust come over me as I screamed Forest's name. His face began to break down in front of me, a ruin, and still I came. As he fell I kicked.

“Stop! Sage, stop him!” Cass screamed. Perhaps it was his voice. Perhaps Sage's arm on mine that brought me, if only marginally, back to reality. I had made a lot of noise, broken my own instructions. Why? To avenge a boy that was beyond caring?

“You said you weren't here to hurt him,” Cass said breathlessly.

Cass's father spit blood and smiled at his son. “I see you found some of my missing squad, fuck-up. About time you did something right.” He turned back towards me and said as authoritatively as he could, “Harlequin, execute Cassidy. Then we'll get the rest of your squad back together.”

“What?” Cass shrieked.

“Sage,” I said with more calm than I felt. “Take Cassidy in the other room.”

“298! I gave you an order! Sage! Execute 298 for disobedience!”

“Sir,” Sage said softly as he passed him by, “fuck you, sir.” Then they were gone, Cass torn between spitting and crying. I knelt down and stared into his hateful eyes.

“How do you live with yourself?” I asked in a soft voice. “How can you kill and maim indiscriminately?”

“Money, that's how. Lots and lots of money.”

“But...you killed Kelly. For what? How did it profit you monetarily to kill such a beautiful child?”

“That was always the problem with you, 298. You're soft. I should have put a bullet in your brain pan instead of Kelly's,” he spit. He moved as if he would stand – as if I would allow him to – and I drove my fist into his already ruined face. He kicked out, knocking a foot from under me and was then trying to scramble to his feet. Rather than try to gain my feet immediately, I kicked out and landed square on his kneecap.

I always follow through on my kicks. He taught me that. He screamed and dropped back to the floor, gripping the wounded knee. I regained my feet, chiding myself for letting him get the drop on me.

“So, Green Squad is still alive. I appreciate that intelligence,” I said. His eyes narrowed.

“I never said that,” he gasped.

“Not in so many words. I'm glad so many evaded you. The mighty Corporation managed to catch one sick scout. That's it. Now who's soft?” I said mockingly.

“You can all be replaced. Blue Squad will roll out instead of you,” he said weakly.

“No, I don't think so,” I replied with a conviction I didn't believe. “There was a reason we were chosen.”

“Someone had to die with Blue Squad,” he said, flashing teeth covered in red. “You were worth money, that's all. Now you're just going to die.”

“Not today,” I said. “But a lot more will die when I destroy Lion Mountain.”

“You...ha, oh that's perfect. Go back to die. I love it,” he grimaced, flashing his bloodied mouth again before gaining some control. “What soft-hearted reason do you have to go back?”

“Because too many of my squad mates are there, under the green. G-303, Kelly for instance.”

“What is it with you and that kid? I don't even remember him. Besides, he's dead! What else can you do besides follow orders, huh?”

“I can kill the director,” I said as I drew my knife. “The Docs. The Unnamed...and the managers,” I said and slid the knife into his heart. “You killed him because he was scared and crying, you heartless piece of shit.”

I made sure he was dead, and that I had composed myself before walking out into the living room. Cass was squished into a chair with Sage, huddling against him in shock. I knelt by the chair, feeling remorse for the horrible situation Cass was now in.

“Cass. Your father, who does he work for?” I asked, gently.

“He kind of works for whoever. He doesn't really tell me anything. He goes away, sometimes a few days at a time, and then just shows up here again. Why? It's bad, isn't it?”

I glanced at Sage, who nodded his head. “Cass, your father is involved with the Corporation that produced us. He's one of the people that hurt us.”

“But...” he shook his head and looked at Sage. “He hurt you, Sage? He...” he started to pull away, but Sage, demonstrating again how he was so much better at fitting into this world and its emotions, grabbed Cass in a smothering hug.

As much as Cass needed it, watching them and their drawing ever closer weighed heavily on me. I told them to stay put while I moved our vehicle into the driveway and off the road before the sun came up. The vehicle wasn't that hard to drive, and I managed to get it behind the house and hidden from view from the street. Re-entering the house, I discovered a basement door from the kitchen and dumped the body and then sanitized the kitchen.

Clean up done and feeling tired, I discovered my companions did not stay where I left them. Instead they apparently had gone into the office and were making a small degree of noise. I was thinking we'd rest up and check the office later, but since they were there I decided to do it now. After all, there were possibly weapons, and we should be armed in case there is some kind of response to the manager being dead. For instance, he may have a proscribed check in or something.

It was a small room. Three gun cases dominated one wall. There was an assortment of long barreled rifles, short barrel semi-automatics and pistols. Cass and Sage were looking at a screen, a computer that had been on when we'd interrupted the manager. Cass was wide eyed and clicking as screens changed, and Sage's mouth hung open.

“What have you found?” I asked, coming to look. A machine made a wheezing sound and then began to spit paper out, which Cass grabbed and handed to me.

“See for yourself.”

Manager 29,

The wind down is on schedule. Green Squad will be moved to the test facility where they should be physically castrated. We do not want any of them wandering off and spreading our expensive upgrades with anyone that hasn't paid for it.

They should be transported 72 hours afterward and fully outfitted for service in Nairobi. The agreed upon amount will be in our accounts by the time this happens or the product does not ship. When funds have been confirmed, movement and sale of Blue Squad will occur. We believe the gentlemen in Nairobi do not need to know they are buying two units who are quite used to killing each other. Blue will go through the same process. Once Blue has shipped, Red will be liquidated to make room for the new product.

In order to receive your bonus, all phases must be completed on time. Ensure compliance.

Director Trask

“So this was their plan. Is there any news in there? Has there been any report of Green Squad attempting to escape?” I asked, trying to confirm my intel from the manager that they still lived.

“No, not in his email,” Cass replied.

“Does that mean Blue squad will be sent? Or does this mean Green Squad...oh my.” I said, my eyes going wide.

“What?” Sage asked.

“Sage, you said you didn't recognize any of the faces when the Director showed you Green Squad at gun point?” I asked excitedly.

“Yes,” he replied crisply. “It was a short look, but I couldn't identify any faces; they were very badly beaten.”

“Sage, I think Green Squad is alive. More than that...the Director is in trouble. Deadly trouble.”

“What makes you say that?” he asked.

“Think about it. If I am the director and I am selling my troops, do I tell anyone if they disappear? Or do I get lucky and catch one sick member and force him to try and recover another member who I believe to have more knowledge – possibly of the location of the remainder of Green Squad?”

“You think...maybe they got away?” Sage said in a whisper.

“I think it's the best thing that could have happened. But now we have to move fast. Blue Squad is next, and I doubt they'll be warned as I was.”

Sage sat on the corner of the desk and looked at me. “The Director told me that you were the ringleader. He even asked me if I knew why we were breaking out, and I had to admit I didn't. Did you know about all this?”

“No. I was warned by one of the Docs. He said we were to be liquidated as failed prototypes. I don't understand how he could have been so wrong, unless he was lied to.”

“Do you think the Director planned to sell us for his own gain?”

“Hey! Don't either one of you care that you were going to be sold like slaves?” Cass demanded.

I looked at him blankly.

“The concept of freedom is...new to us,” Sage replied.

“Whoever this Director guy is, he's evil,” Cass replied and let his eyes wander back to the screen. “I don't want you guys to be sold.”

I glanced at Sage, and he shrugged. I nodded my head toward Cass, and Sage frowned back at me. I mimed moving my arm in a hook, as if to place it on someone. Sage's eyes lit up, and he placed an arm around Cass, who leaned into it while keeping his eyes glued to the screen.

“Hey, what are these?” Cass muttered. “G-300. G-301. What are these for?”

“They must be files, records. Is there one for G-306?” I said, trying to look at the screen.

“Yeah,” Cass replied and opened the file. “Derek Gibson.”

I touched the screen, my fingers trailing over the letters. “Forest. Your name really was Derek,” I said with a whisper. I left the room quickly, finding the toilet and closing the door before I lost my composure. I covered my mouth as a ragged breath tore free, and I felt the tears long denied to me flow. I rocked back and forth on the seat, trying to regain control, but all I could see was tiny Forest whispering that his name was Derek.

A small tap at the door, and Cass was asking if I was all right.

“Yes, of course.” I sighed deeply, then pulled a trembling breath in, and then I felt more in control. I stood and washed my face and dried slowly. Exiting the room, I found them both in the same large chair, looking like a matched set.

“Harley, I found my name.” Sage told me, his voice a study in sadness.

“I'd imagine we're all in there,” I replied.

“I wanted to look at yours, but we thought you should get to see it first,” Sage told me. “But I think you're right. My name was Elliot Whitmore. I had a family, Harley. The Corporation killed them.”

I wanted to hold him and to ease his pain, to share his burden. But there was Cass, pulling on Sage and filling my role. I felt useless, no longer needed - unnecessary.

“That was...I'm sorry, Sage. We'd both hoped for something better,” I said awkwardly. Feeling foolish, I continued, “I will go look now. You two should rest. I have the watch.”

Cass stood and pulled on Sage's hand. “Come on, let's go to my room. We can sleep on a real bed, at least.”

Ice stabbed my heart as I watched Sage smile gratefully at Cass. They left to console one another, to keep warm – and I was acutely aware of being unnecessary.

I sat down in the manager's chair, an oscillating fan moving the stale air, and I stared at the rows. Found G-298. Opened the file.

Cameron Tremblay, son of Aaron and Jennifer Tremblay, deceased. Subject acquired on...

I backed out and then deleted the file. I had no one outside of the squad – and it seems the Corporation made sure of that. I would never be Cameron, son of Aaron and Jennifer. I was expendable – to be sold.

I skipped through the files, looking for anything that might be an advantage to us. I stood, stretching and feeling my fatigue set in. I walked a quick route of the house, chiding myself for not having done so before, and found them in bed together, snuggled tight and fast asleep. I looked on them for a long time and realized – they needed a chance. I sat down and watched them sleep, and my mind turned the last few years of my life over. I saw, clearly, any chance I had was passed. I thought hard about how I might make the largest contribution to Sage's future happiness and saw only one path.

Returning to the office, I moved things until I found a pen and paper. I then set my thoughts to Sage down, before I lost my resolve.

Dearest Elliot,

I'll ask you to indulge me as I write this, because these words will not be the kind you've heard from me before. You are used to me giving orders, barking and being abrupt. But now, at the end, there are things I would like you to know – but I cannot bring myself to speak them aloud.

Before you came there had always been just myself to take care of. True, as a squad, we all worked together and looked out for each other. But then you arrived and my heart broke for the first time because I knew what lay in your future. From that first day I protected you, though you never knew. I call some things beautiful that I see, and they are few and far between in the barracks. You were one.

You may not recall G-156. He was enamored with power - power he used both physically and mentally. He was communicating to the more developed squad members that he planned to chose a new pallet mate – you. We went out to train and he never made it back. I saw to it.

I waited for you to find your way to me. I saw, however, that you were being maneuvered and I couldn't bear the thought. When you returned to the barracks to find your bedding moved, there was no hiding the fear in your limpid eyes. You misunderstood and I had miscalculated. But, if I had not, it would have been worse.

In my secret heart, I watched you mature and dared to hope that, one day, you'd come to me. A fool's hope. When you returned from your treatment and I tended to your cuts and bruises I thought they had taken some of you from me. But, no. It was another – B-322, Sky. My heart broke for the second time, and yet I could not turn from you, whom I cared for so deeply. Instead I did my duty and I extended the aegis of my protection. I saved B-322 at least five times – bumping my own squad from a kill shot. Holding back – once ordering him to stay down.

R-613. A group of the R's had a similar style – brute strength. 613 had separated B-322, Sky, from the field and was wearing him down. Sky's skills were very good and sparing him had not only kept alive the hope that you could have him, one day. But he had also developed into a formidable, agile opponent. 613 had finally cornered him, however, and was enraged beyond all control. I broke his helmet with a heavy length of metal and sprayed his brains before he could finish Sky.

Then, there was R-718 who wished to force on you what I so hoped you'd give to me, willingly. I do not like to think about that, the screams still haunt me.

So you can imagine my transcendent joy when you arrived. I knew it could be for no good reason – you were too smart, knew to follow orders. When you embraced me the first time I thought, perhaps, you had a blade secreted on your person and I recall thinking that if the Corporation had burned the heart from you and you were to kill me – I would not fight you. Instead I waited for the metal to pierce my heart, and then there was your warmth, your scent.

I dared hope. Had you come from some desire for me? Had you felt the need to be by my side as I had yours for so long? But, no, it was the Corporation. My heart broke anew.

Now, at last, I see. Your beauty has not diminished – in just a day Cassidy has found a way into your heart while I blundered for years, unable to find the door. Now, as you sleep, I realize that there is no place for me. You hold a soft boy from the real world – a world you belong in, have a future in. A future I will secure for you. I know now I cannot ever find that emotion in you that I desire most. I have waited for so many faces, hoping they would see who I was – but now I know you did, and turned from it.

You see the twisted soul, the burst heart and the barren plain that was my hope. That is why the few I'd hoped for never came, and why you shall never, either.

Now that the beacon was activated and the uniform was found in the fire with a ruined body inside, the Corporation will think one of us is gone. When I show up and kill as many as I can before turning the gun to myself, they will think they have us both – and you will be free. Do not cry for Green Squad, dear one. If the Corporation truly held them, they did not live long enough for you to walk out alive. The best we can hope for was a ruse and that they live, somewhere.

And so, one last set of orders for you Sage, G-327, before you drop this ghoulish mask and live as Elliot, free to love Cassidy and be loved in return. I order that you will not follow me through some misguided sense of loyalty. I order that you will seek your happiness in Cassidy's arms or of whomever you choose because my protection has always come to that – your right to choose.

I order you to live, and to love. And if you think of me, please think of me well.

Love, always,
Harlequin Green