Toy Soldiers

by Dabeagle & Ryan Bartlett

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Chapter 14

Sage

“The guards at the main complex are going to expect us to turn in our rifles,” said Sky as we walked down the tunnel from the guard shack to the main complex. Cass and I were dressed in our stolen uniforms and hoped to blend in.

“How many guards?” I asked.

“Two and a master-at-arms,” said Sky.

“When is the next squad due to return from patrol?”

“About half an hour,” Sky replied.

“We’ll kill the guards and the master-at-arms then hide the bodies. We should be evacuating before anyone notices they haven’t reported in,” I stated.

“The alarms are going to go off as soon as we hit the small arms locker. The guards will focus their attention there,” said Sky. I nodded my agreement then turned to Cass.

“How are you holding up?”

“I’m about to shit my pants,” said Cass.

“I’m sorry. There was a bathroom in the guard shack…” Sky began.

“No, it means I’m scared.”

“It’s okay. I’m frightened too,” I admitted.

“You don’t look it.”

“We’re trained to put our fears aside and focus on the mission objectives.”

“For once I envy you guys.”

“We’ll be alright,” I assured him. “Stay close to me, and I won’t let anything happen to you.”

“Thanks,” Cass reached over and squeezed my hand.

“He isn’t a soldier?” asked Sky. “Not one of Green Squad?”

“No. Cass is a friend we encountered on the outside. His father was a Manager.”

“Why are you helping us?” asked Sky.

“My dad was a bastard. His favorite hobby was beating the shit out of me. I didn’t know he did it professionally. Sage and Harley are my friends; where they go, I go,” said Cass.

“Fair enough,” said Sky.

“His father had detailed files. I learned my name, Sky.”

“Really?” said Sky, his voice in awe.

“I was called Elliot Whitmore.”

“Do you think…do you think maybe my name is in there?”

“Probably; there were so many files. We can look when we get out of here,” I explained.

“Thank you,” said Sky, addressing Cass.

“Yeah, sure,” Cass replied.

“Keep your back straight and shoulders back. Soldiers don’t slouch,” said Sky. “The helmet will hide your face, but your body language is a dead giveaway.”

“Thanks,” said Cass, as he straightened up.

“Here we go,” I stated as we approached the doors.

“I’ll distract them. You take them out,” said Sky.

“Roger,” I acknowledged. “Cass, stay behind me. I don’t want you firing at anything unless I tell you.”

“Okay,” said Cass.

“State your business,” said the master-at-arms when we entered.

“Delta Patrol returning from duty,” said Sky.

“Discharge your weapons while on patrol?”

“Sir, no sir,” said Sky.

“Very well, present your weapons for inspection.”

Sky made to hand in his rifle, which drew the attention of the guards. I brought up the muzzle of the silenced M-4 slung over my shoulder and fired from the hip, dropping the Black behind the master-at-arms. The master-at-arms noticed too late that Sky’s weapon was oriented in the wrong direction. It was a fatal mistake, as Sky dispatched him with a shot to the chest as he reached for the barrel. The last guard should have been protected by his helmet but the armor wasn’t strong enough to deflect the M-4’s 5.56mm round when I turned the weapon on him.

“That was easy enough,” said Sky, when the bloodshed was over.

“We had the element of surprise. Let’s hope we can keep it,” I replied. “Help me with these bodies.”

We dragged the bodies behind the counter and grabbed extra magazines while we had the chance.

“This is where we part ways,” said Sky.

“Good luck,” I extended my hand.

“And to you, Green boy.” Sky took my hand and shook it, then Cass.

“Hey,” Cass called after him.

“Yes?”

“Make sure you make it back. If your file is on my dad’s laptop, we’ll find it,” said Cass.

Sky nodded his thanks, and then he was gone.

“Come on, Cass.” I placed my hand on his shoulder and led him into the belly of Lion Mountain.

“This place is creepy,” Cass whispered as we passed by unsmiling doctors, helmeted Blacks and soft bellied Managers with cruel eyes.

“Try growing up here,” I scoffed.

“I keep thinking about my dad and the things that have been done to you guys. Those scars on your chest and stomach – it makes me sick,” said Cass.

“Try not to think of it now. Focus on what needs to be done, and it will help keep you calm,” I assured him.

“I’m trying, but can I ask you something?”

“Go ahead.”

“We keep passing guards. We have weapons. Why aren’t they stopping us?”

“You notice the guards are all armed too?”

“Yeah.”

“They’re Black Squad, the Director’s men. We’re wearing their uniforms. The Director probably brought them in after our escape to keep control of Red and Blue.”

“Then why did we have to kill those guys at the check point?”

“Sky wears the uniform of a Blue,” I reasoned.

“Oh, okay, I guess that makes sense,” said Cass as we rounded a corner. “Do you think he’s okay?”

“Sky is a scout like me. He knows how to be careful.”

By that time we’d reached the special weapons locker, a counter off the main arsenal with a massive steel door behind which lurked some of the Corporation’s nastier toys. There was no master-at-arms there, just a guard sitting behind the counter.

“What are you doing here?” he challenged us.

“Manager 291 sent us to pick up a case of M7A3 grenades for riot suppression training,” I lied.

“There isn’t any riot training scheduled for today. There isn’t even a master-at-arms on duty,” said the guard.

“Do you expect me to go back to a Manager and tell him you said no?” I asked and noticed a slight hesitation in the guard.

“If a Manager sent you, show me your authorization,” the guard challenged.

“Sure, I’ve got it here,” I replied. I reached towards my pocket but kept going until my fingers wrapped around the butt of my silenced Beretta P-96. I brought the weapon up, and as the guard reached for his own weapon, he took two rounds in the chest.

“Jesus,” Cass swore.

“I don’t like it any better than you do,” I reminded him and searched the guard. I found his keycard in his pants pocket.

I slid the card through the reader, and the massive steel doors hissed open. We stepped into the cavernous special weapons locker and searched the racks until we found green canisters labeled M7A3. Cass ran back to the door, and we started loading the canisters. I grabbed a pair of gas masks and handed one to Cassidy, showing him how to hide it inside his uniform top.

“Cass, listen to me. You’re going to push the cart and follow me to the HVAC room. We have to be careful now, because we don’t have authorization for these canisters. If someone catches us, I’m going to have to kill them before they kill us,” I explained.

“Okay, I understand,” said Cass.

“There’s one other thing,” I sighed. “If we’re taken, they will kill us, probably torture us for information first.”

“I figured as much,” said Cass, returning my sigh.

“I can’t endure that anymore. If it happens, your sidearm, point the barrel under your chin and…”

“Sage, you want me to kill myself?” he exclaimed.

“No. I want to walk out of here tonight with you and Harley. I want to be free, and I want to kiss you - a lot. But if we’re not going to make it out, I don’t want to give the Corporation the satisfaction of hurting us.”

“Let’s not think about that now. Focus on the mission at hand – it’ll keep you calm,” said Cass parroting my words.

“Sir, yes sir,” I replied and smiled under my helmet.

I set off with my rifle up and butted against my shoulder. It was slow going as we dodged guards and worse, security cameras. After some time we made it to the maintenance level and found the unguarded HVAC room. It was almost as large as the special weapons locker and full of heavy machinery. The air ducts were easy enough to find, and once we had the covers off the vents, we unloaded the gas canisters.

“Put your mask on now,” I told Cass as I brought my mask out, took off my helmet and began to put it over my face.

“Now what?” said Cass once his mask was on and I’d checked the straps to make sure it was secured properly in place.

I took one of the heavy canisters and used the butt of my rifle to break open the safety valve. As the noxious gas began to spray out I picked up the canister and pitched it into the open air duct. I heard it rattle around and hoped the flow of air would quickly disperse the contents throughout the building. Cass saw what I’d done and soon we were both cramming canisters into the air duct as the HVAC room filled with gas. It didn’t take long for the alarm klaxon to sound.

Harlequin

As I parted from my comrades I felt a sadness that I might not see them again. I tried to force it aside and deal with the issue at hand. I moved through the corridors unchallenged in my guise as a member of Black Squad. My memories of coming to the Master Control were not recent, and I made more than one mistake in direction.

I noted that I must be getting close to something important as there was a sudden lack of guards. That either meant I was getting farther from the director or...

I was suddenly face to face with our collective nightmare. The Unnamed.

It was not just that they had no names on their coats; it was their facility that set them aside. Stainless cabinetry and tools were laid out. My entrance hadn't been noted – for what did these monsters have to fear? I moved to a small knot of them who were clustered around a table.

“Time of commencement, zero two hours and thirty minutes. Subject was infected with inhalant Tango Sierra Romeo eighteen approximately thirty eight days ago. Subject was 13 and in reasonable health at the time of exposure. We have noted a decrease in muscle mass, overall weight and a considerable weakening of the nervous system. The nerves are hyperactive and many minor touches cause an increase in the level of pain felt by a factor of eighty five. The subject is expected to expire within the next forty eight hours without intervention by an antidote, accordingly we will conduct a vivisection now to ascertain the level of pain response achieved by the inhalant and the interior damage caused.”

He lifted a glittering scalpel, and I placed the barrel of my gun to the back of his head.

“What color is the sky?” I asked. “Any movement and this pathetic waste dies.” I glared at the others in attendance, noted their uneasy twitches.

“What do you want?” one asked.

I nudged the Unnamed in front of me on the side of the head, moving him enough to see the 'patient'. G-342, India. Our youngest. I pulled the trigger; his brain exploded across the monsters to his side.

They scrambled, and I plugged one trying to make it to the door. The rest were trying to cower behind desks or other furniture.

“The first one who cures him lives, the rest...the answer to your oft asked question, 'What color is the sky' – well the answer will be that it doesn't matter, because you will never see it again.”

“The subject is beyond medical help,” one said.

“I do not accept that,” I replied.

“Acceptance has nothing to do with truth,” replied the voice.

I pulled one out from behind their desk, panicked and shaking in my grip. “You dare show fear? You mock all you put us through with your trembling!” I knocked him to the floor in my rage. Footsteps rang off the walls, dress shoes whose heels were clacking solidly on the floor. I dropped to one knee and spun, finding a woman close enough to have stabbed me with a needle. I placed a shot through her gut, and she fell, squirming and crying out.

Turning back, the one I had released from my grip was running. I fired again, determined to not allow any to escape, such was my wrath. I hit him in the meat of his thigh and brought him down with a scream, clutching his leg. The room was a mass of hysteria, the injured moaning their pain, and the rest whimpering in fear.

I walked carefully to India and looked down into his warm eyes, now glazed with his condition. “India. It's Harlequin. Can you hear me?”

His eyes, sightless, moved toward the sound of my voice. His lips moved, but no sound issued forth.

“I'm here,” I said, placing my hand in his.

“Harley?”

“Yes, India. I'm here.”

“Got...away...”

“Yes, they all did. Sage and I are here, we came back.” I glanced around the room, made sure no threats were imminent.

“Hurts.”

“One of you help him!” I screamed and fired blindly. There was a chorus of squeaks at the shot and then, slowly, one emerged with his hands up. I aimed at him, gun hand shaking with my rage, my sorrow.

“The toxin has an antidote, but it should be administered within the first twenty four hours of inhalation. Giving it to him now may mean nothing.”

“You will try or you all die.” I stated, my voice thick with emotion.

“You will kill us all anyway. What incentive is that?”

“I can make it quick,” I glanced at the woman, now unconscious and bleeding out on the floor. “Or not.”

“I have no wish to die. I will help, only if you let me go.”

“What of your colleagues?” I asked.

He shrugged. “Your offer was to the first one, not the ones who came after.”

“If I sense any deception, you will die painfully,” I promised him. Another tried to break for the door, and I put two in his side. He lay on the ground, weeping and wheezing as his lungs filled with his own blood. I reloaded my pistol and looked at the volunteer.

He moved to a cabinet, removed two small cylinders and brought them to the table with a custom syringe to fit both cylinders in at one time. Watching him load them, I held my hand out for the over-sized syringe.

“I heard that piece of shit,” I spat on the man's corpse. “Can't you relieve his pain before you inject him?”

“We keep no anesthetics. I would have to go to the infirmary, something I think you would not allow.”

I looked down at India and asked him, “India. Do you want the treatment? I won't force you.”

Looking down the gaze had gone from sightless to dead. His chest was no longer moving, his dead eyes turned to face me – my accuser, having left him behind.

“You agreed, if I helped...”

“While you talked, he died.” My only gift to him was to make it painless, more than he deserved. I moved through the room, making sure not one monster survived. Before leaving the room I walked back to India and closed his eyes.

“Sleep under the green, little brother. I'll see you again.”

Moving back through the complex I thought I realized where I'd made my navigational error. I turned and, surprisingly, saw my destination – a bulletproof sheet of glass with a door cut into it. A guard was behind the glass, and I walked forward, trying to make a plan come together in my mind. It was then Sage gifted me with the gas, a pale yellow that began to drift from the overhead duct work. I sprinted to the glass, screaming.

Sage

“What is that alarm for?” asked Cass.

“The computer system has detected a foreign substance in the air,” I stated.

“So what does that mean for us?”

“It means the Corporation is now ordering its men to put their gas masks on and seek out intruders while the system tries to expel the toxic agent.”

“But if they have masks…” Cass began.

“Each member of a squad has one in his kit. Sky has gone to his barracks to rally Blue Squad. They’ll have their masks. You don’t usually carry them while on duty. The purpose of unleashing the gas was to disrupt Black Squad. Hopefully it’ll buy us enough time for Harley to kill the Director and for us to escape with Blue and Red,” I explained.

“So that’s it, we make our way back to the guard shack now?”

“Cass, I know that was Harley’s order, but I can’t leave Red and Blue behind. I have to make sure they get out.”

“I understand. What do we do?”

“We make our way to Red Squad’s barracks and rendezvous with Blue. I told you not to shoot unless I told you to, but I’m telling you now, shoot at anything that comes towards us with a weapon.”

Cass nodded grimly, and we set off. Lion Mountain was in utter chaos as Black Squad struggled to reach their protective gas masks. The halls were fogged with tear gas; staff stumbled around in coughing fits as tears streamed from their faces. Cassidy had his weapon up, but I kept him behind me. I’d ordered him to shoot but kept him from having to do so by taking the point position myself. I dispatched several unsuspecting Blacks and kept my eyes peeled for the prized targets, those I wanted revenge on, namely the Managers and the Unnamed.

“Attention, attention,” came a voice over the PA system. “Blue Squad, you are ordered to stand down immediately. Drop your weapons and return to your barracks at once. Attention, attention…”

“They made it out,” Cass shouted over the alarm.

“Now we just have to get to Red Barracks,” I agreed.

We pressed on, and as we rounded a corner I came face to face with a masked soldier. I was about to fire when he held up his hands and shouted, “B-322. B-322. Who goes there?”

“G-327,” I replied automatically. “Sky, it’s us, Sage and Cassidy. What are you doing here?”

“My squad is helping Red. I was coming to find you,” he explained.

“Red Squad is free?”

“My troops breached the Red wing. They’re fighting their way out now,” Sky confirmed.

“That’s it then, the rest is up to Harley,” I stated. Sky and Cass nodded their agreement. “Let’s get to the rendezvous point.”

We fought our way past the training area and the weapons lockers, but there seemed to be a hell of a lot more troops in Black Squad than Red, Blue and Green combined. They kept coming at us, no matter how many we killed. We finally made it to an area where it was safe to remove our gas masks. Corporate protocol once the foreign substance was found in the air was to flush the system, and it had finally succeeded in clearing most of the building. We were racing towards an exit into the administration section when a unit of Blacks came at us head on.

We ducked into a hallway, but it was a dead end. We needed to get past those Blacks; there was no choice. A fierce firefight broke out, and Cassidy made his first kill.

“Sky, can you radio any of your squad mates? Get us some support?” I shouted over the gunfire.

“I tried,” he shouted back. “Red and Blue are outside the walls already.”

“Shit,” Cass swore.

“I can try…” Sky began then screamed in pain. I saw him go down, blood rushing from a wound to his left side.

“Sky!” I shouted.

Cass grabbed him and pulled him behind cover. My system flooded with rage, and as Cass pulled Sky to safety I rounded the corner. I caught them reloading their weapons, four Blacks at the end of the hall. I killed the first two with ease but the others had recovered and reloaded their weapons. They fired at me but a moving target is hard to hit, and I was able to take them in their defensive positions. Once I’d secured their position I checked the halls; there weren’t any more Blacks heading in our direction. I raced back to Cass and Sky.

“Sage, he’s hurt bad,” Cass said fearfully. He was seated on the floor with Sky’s head resting in his lap. Sky’s blood was pooling under him and his skin was becoming pale.

“No, he is not going to die,” I replied, holding back my own tears. I lifted Sky in a fireman’s carry and he rewarded me with a grunt. He was still alive; there was still hope.

It was hard to carry Sky and keep my weapon up, but Cass stuck close, and the Blacks had mostly disappeared, likely in pursuit or in combat with Red and Blue Squads. We made our way to the infirmary, and I kicked the double doors open. The medical staff was there and cowered behind their desks and equipment when we entered. How dare they have the nerve to be frightened after all the things they’d done to us. I was tempted to kill them all, but I knew they were the only ones with the knowledge to save Sky’s life.

“Someone help him, please,” I sniffled.

No one moved.

“Please, I beg you. I won’t hurt you, just help him,” I pleaded.

I saw Dr. Hopkins, the one who warned me not to squirm whenever he gave me a shot, but all he did was turn away from me.

“Somebody please!” I shouted.

“Bring him here,” came a voice from the back.

I turned and spotted a man pushing through his colleagues. His lab coat bore the name Warner.

“Give him to me,” said Dr. Warner, holding out his arms. I eyeballed him suspiciously.

“Do you want help or not?” said Dr. Warner.

“Yes, yes,” I replied and put Sky in his arms.

“Follow me,” said Dr. Warner, then he turned to his colleagues. “The rest of you get out.”

The doctor led us through the outer office and into the medical bay. He placed Sky on an examining table and tore open his uniform then examined the wound.

“It looks like the bullet passed through without hitting anything vital,” said Dr. Warner. “I can seal the wound, but he’s lost a lot of blood.”

“Can you save him?” I asked, my voice pleading.

“Roll up your sleeve. He needs an immediate transfusion,” said Dr. Warner.

“But, what if I’m the wrong blood type?” I asked, remembering my training in anatomy.

“He’s your twin brother. Your blood will match,” said Dr. Warner.

“Twin brother?” I said in shock. “But I’ve seen my file…”

“Some parts of that file blacked out?” said Dr. Warner.

“Well, yes…”

“G-327, Sage Green, AKA Elliot Whitmore,” he stated.

“Yes, that’s me,” I agreed.

“B-322, Sky Blue, AKA Evan Whitmore.”

“But why…”

“Look, you can trust me. I’m the one that warned Harlequin Green Squad was in danger. Now you can stand here and ask me questions all night, or you can roll up your sleeve and we can save this boy’s life,” said Dr. Warner.

“Yes sir,” I nodded and rolled up my sleeve.

“Holy shit,” Cass smiled at me. “Sage, you’ve got a brother. I totally see it now…”

Harlequin

“I need a mask! Air born contagion!” The guard, startled by my outburst looked up and saw the inhalant and released the door mechanism. With a quick shot to his temple he was down and I pulled my mask into place. I checked the seal, took his weapon, then moved deeper. I passed rooms with computer equipment and a small kitchen and a large conference room complete with long table ringed with chairs.

Turning a corner there was a large door, wooden, with the Director just coming through it. I raised my weapon, but he saw me and ducked, my shot slamming into the door. He threw himself back into the room, and my shot shattered the thin wood of the door frame and sent splinters flying. I moved quickly, dropping the guard’s gun into my open hand. I pushed the door open and pulled back, smartly so, as a trio of bullets crashed into the door.

“I should have had you killed, 298!” the Director yelled.

“Like you did so many others?” I replied calmly, listening.

“You're soft. You never should have been allowed to lead that group! Do you have any idea what you've cost me?” he railed and fired wildly. I dove into the room, coming up in a kneeling stance and fired off both guns where I thought his voice had come from. The bullets blasted into shelved items, knickknacks of all things. I moved to the far wall as two more shots fired wildly, and the Director was out through a back door.

I moved to the door, checked that he wasn't lying in wait behind it, and then pursued him. I heard his feet running quickly, muffled on the carpeted floor of the hallway, and I lengthened my stride to close the gap.

I heard a metallic slam as a door was flung wide, crashing against the wall. Turning a corner I saw the door and what appeared to be underground vehicle storage facility. Sprinting into the room I heard two more shots, and then a horrible burn from my side that could only mean a bullet had found me. I dove, biting pack a moan from the pain, and rolled up behind a nearby car.

“The rest of Green is dead, but even if they weren't – I have more! You can't defeat them all!”

“Your Black Squad is being overrun, director!” I called out. “Your facility is coming down!”

“Fool! You think this is the only one? I'll have your head!” he screamed and then there was the closing of a car door. I was up and sprinting, my side screaming in pain. Headlights came on and a vehicle jerked out of a space, then slowly turned towards me. I aimed for the grill, the tires, anything that may be weak. Then I remembered. This was the Director, not a trained soldier.

I stopped and fired both weapons at the windshield. As I'd hoped, the sparks flying from the glass caused the director to twist the wheel and crash into another parked vehicle. His instinct had taken over, and he'd likely thought he was going to be shot.

I ran to the car, but he threw the door open, hitting me and knocking me back. I fell and landed awkwardly, banging my head against something. Red flooded down over one eye, inhibiting my vision. The director was out of the car and running when I fired a shot at his feet and screamed, “Director!”

He came to a stop, slowly, holding his hands up with the gun in his grip. I aimed both guns as I drew closer, breathing a misery, and stopped perhaps five feet from him.

“Tell me why.”

“Why? Idiots always ask why,” he spat. “Humans aren't special. All we do is kill one another, step over the weak to get more for ourselves. We took the best, molded them to our needs and were making money – great mountains of money!”

“All our pain was for what, so you could live in luxury?”

“Each improvement that worked was sold for a profit,” he smiled, a feral look. “You were hardy, human guinea pigs. You were nothing more than a lab animal – still are.”

He moved his hand quickly, bringing the gun to bear. I realized he'd been trying to anger me. He didn't realize my anger was already raging; he could not have made it worse. Both shots rang from my pistols and the forearm of his gun hand exploded in gore. His gun clattered to the ground as he screamed.

I put a bullet in his right foot and said, “Kelly.” I shot the left foot and said, “Forest, who was Derek.” And on, until each joint was shattered by a bullet. “India,” I said as I put a bullet in his brain. I checked my watch, realized I still had time to make it to the rendezvous. Could I watch Sage fall in love? Could I bear to be without him? He had given me part of his heart, I decided I could do no less. I headed to the guard shack, hampered by my injuries, but determined.

Sage

It was 0205 when we reached the guard shack, and part of me feared Harley had arrived first and took our absence to mean we’d been killed. I had Cass cover the front entrance with orders to let me know if he saw any movement. I knelt in the doorway and watched the tunnel, in part to watch for Harley, but also to cover our six o’clock should any lingering Blacks head our way. Doctor Warner cleared off the desk and placed my brother on it.

My brother, my twin brother. The thought of it was almost unbelievable. Cass said he could see the resemblance, and as I pictured Sky’s – Evan’s – face, I could too. His hair was blond like mine. and while our eyes were different colors, most of our facial structure was the same. I began to wonder if what had always drawn my mind to thoughts of Sky was some unknown fraternal bond. After all, the Red boy who endured the treatment of the Unnamed alongside us was also beautiful, but his face was a mystery to me after all these years.

Sky and I had shared a womb, shared a family, and now we shared a hope for the future. I wondered if we shared our dreams, if he was haunted by our mother’s singing. I shook thoughts of Sky from my mind as the door at the opposite end of the tunnel opened and a tall dark figure staggered out. I brought up my rifle and sighted the soldier, but when I saw Harley’s face I dropped the weapon and ran to him. I cleared the distance quickly and threw my arms around him in a powerful hug, relieved to be reunited with him.

“Easy,” Harley winced but hugged me back just the same.

“You’ve been hurt,” I stated the obvious.

“Just a scratch,” said Harley. “That bastard Trask shot me.”

“Is he…”

“He’s dead,” Harley interrupted. “Him and his Unnamed monsters along with him.”

“Let me help you,” I smiled at the news of the Director’s demise and put Harley’s arm around my shoulder so he could lean on me for support.

Cassidy was the first to see us coming into the guard shack. He raced to Harley and hugged him, then helped me bring him inside.

“Looks like you’ve been hurt,” said Dr. Warner.

“You!” Harley exclaimed.

“Hello, Harlequin,” Dr. Warner smiled.

“Sky was hurt and Dr. Warner saved his life. Harley, he’s my brother,” I rambled excitedly.

“That’s great, Sage,” Harley groaned and slumped into a chair.

“Let me take a look at that,” said Dr. Warner.

Harley let the doctor approach him and examine the wound.

“It’s only a scratch, but it is a nasty one,” said Dr. Warner. “It’s going to need stitches, but I’d suggest we get out of here first. Corporate security must be on its way by now.”

“Yes,” Harley agreed.

“We have a car,” said Cass. “It’s parked about a mile from here.”

“Can you make it that far?” I asked, looking back and forth from Harley to Dr. Warner.

“I think so,” said Harley.

“Take these,” said Dr. Warner, as he took a bottle of pills from his medical bag and handed two of them to Harley. “Pain killers. They’ll help with the ache.”

“Thank you,” said Harley as he swallowed the medicine. “Sage, I want you on point. Cassidy, I need you for support. Doctor, you can carry the boy?”

“Sure, I got him,” said Dr. Warner as he scooped Sky’s unconscious body into his arms.

It was slow going, our trek through the woods. We had to take breaks so Harley could rest and the Doctor could put Sky down long enough to catch his breath. He reminded us that he wasn’t as young or healthy as we were. I was worried about Harley despite the fact Dr. Warner assured us he’d be okay, and I was relieved when we finally made it back to the Suburban.

Harlequin

When we reached the vehicle, Dr. Warner cleaned my wound and field stitched it. The pain was excruciating, but I endured it as I had so many times before. We climbed into the car, Cassidy in the driver’s seat, Sage beside him, and Dr. Warner in the back seat with me. Sky lay with his head resting in my lap and his legs over the doctor’s. We could have put him on the third row of seats, but the doctor said it would be best if we held onto him to keep him stable.

“Head west, Cass,” I instructed. “I know you’re tired, but we need to put some distance between us and the facility.”

“Got it,” said Cass as he put the car in gear and pressed down on the accelerator.

“Why did you help us?” I asked after a period of awkward silence. I’d thrown the question out in the open, but everyone knew who it was for. Cass eyeballed the rear-view mirror, and Sage turned in his seat to look at Dr. Warner.

“I was tired of seeing you boys brutalized. When I got word from the Director that Green squad was going to be liquidated, I couldn’t stand for it. Such a waste of young life,” Dr. Warner sighed.

“We weren’t going to be liquidated,” I informed him. “Director Trask planned to sell us.”

“Bastard,” Dr. Warner scoffed. “It sounds like he told the staff you were to be liquidated because he was appropriating corporate assets for his own financial gain.”

“That is the sum of it, yes,” I agreed. “You could have helped us before, saved us from some of the pain we’ve suffered. You say you couldn’t stand the thought of us being murdered, but murder was routine at Lion Mountain. Why did you act now? Why did you really act now?”

“I joined the Corporation right out of medical school,” Dr. Warner began. “Back then they had this great program where corporate physicians would travel to third world countries and cure diseases using the Corporation’s newest, most advanced medicines and procedures. I became a doctor to save lives and the work was rewarding.”

“How did you end up at Lion Mountain?” asked Sage from the front seat.

“My wife and daughter got tired of me being gone all the time. I was getting older, and when the Corporation offered me a senior position at their newest facility, I saw it as an opportunity too good to pass up,” he explained.

“My first day at Lion Mountain Director Trask took me and some other new members of the medical staff on a tour of the facility. We were horrified by what we saw and told him as much when the tour was over. He made it clear that if we didn’t perform our duties, if we told anyone about the work we were doing, we’d meet an end far stickier then anything we’d seen endured by the boys we were to treat.”

“Sounds like you kept quiet to save your own ass,” said Cassidy.

“Not entirely. I wasn’t as concerned about myself as I was my family. I lingered behind after that tour to try and talk some sense into Trask, but he wouldn’t listen. He promised me that if I didn’t do as I was told I’d watch while his men dismembered my wife and daughter before he personally put a bullet in my head,” said Dr. Warner.

“What changed?” I asked.

Dr. Warner let out a heavy sigh.

“Three years ago my daughter was on her way home from college. She was coming home for Christmas break when she was hit by a drunk driver. She died instantly.”

“I’m sorry,” said Sage, speaking for all of us.

“My wife couldn’t handle it. She drank herself to death. You see, I had nothing left to live for. My life didn’t matter, and my family is gone. If Trask found out what I’d done, so be it. I couldn’t let him kill you boys.”

We sat quietly and evaluated the doctor’s story. In a way he was a victim too. He hadn’t been beaten, tortured and experimented on like we had; his brutalization was more psychological in nature.

We drove in silence until Cass became unable to contain his yawns. We pulled over to the side of the road, and Dr. Warner took his place. Cass and Sage fell asleep snuggled together on the third row of seats, and Sky continued to rest his head on my lap as I looked out the window at the passing trees wondering what the future held for us. As the sun rose a small, tired voice drew my attention.

“Harley?” said Sky looking up at me through heavily lidded eyes.

“Yes, Sky?”

“Are we dead?”

“No, we aren’t dead. We won,” I smiled down at him.

“Sage and Cass?”

“Fine, both fine,” I assured him.

“That’s good. My side hurts.”

“Yes. You were wounded, but the doctor says you’re going to be fine.”

“What’s going to happen now?”

“I…I don’t know. For the moment we’ll take each day as it comes.”

“Okay.”

“Rest now. You need to conserve your strength,” I stated.

Sky nodded and closed his eyes. I stroked his cheek and looked at his face as a strange feeling overtook me. It was something I hadn’t felt in a long time…hope.

Epilogue

Dearest Tim,

I hope this letter finds you well and recovering from your surgery. I confess I don't know quite what to say, only that I felt moved to reach out to you. At the least I thought you might be concerned by things you may have heard or read about the Mullaney's. I am certain that they would have harmed you had I left them able to do so. I know that, realizing now what I am capable of, you may regret the kindness you showed me.

There are still many things I cannot share with you, for your own safety. I would like you to know that we are safe. Cassidy has fallen in love, though he sends you his warmest wishes and hopes you think well of him. My brother is who has stolen his heart; it's something he's good at.

I, too, have found some peace, or feel like I could. I prefer to call him Evan, and as we recuperate from our injuries, we've discovered a certain level of comfort with each other. I do not dare hope yet that it may grow to more, as he shares his brother's ease with stealing hearts. Though we grew up in a place devoid of hope, we always held some deep in our hearts, and that is what I have now. I thought it lost, for a time, but he has found it and nurtured it. Sage seems to be amused, I think. I cannot tell.

We leave soon, going to a place I'd never dreamed of being. There is a boy named Cody who lost his mother, and Sage feels we owe him our help. Our help is usually fatal, but Sage is determined, and I could not let him go alone. Indeed, I will never let him go alone. It's my duty to him as his brother.

And so, dearest Tim, I leave you with fondness in my heart and a wish for you to have love in your life. I remember our kiss warmly, as I hope you do as well. I take pride in being the only boy you ever kissed, but even if you were to kiss a thousand more, it will still mean the world to me. I shall write when I can, and perhaps see you if we come close. Leave the latch undone, my friend.

Love,
Harlequin Green