Ursula places one hand on her hip. “What is the reason for your visit, SVR Gamble?”
I hesitate for only an instant as I realize Butcher stands at the door. I hardly recognize him because instead of a dog’s head, he wears only a helmet fashioned after a dog. The unshaven face that glares from the depths of the helmet is sallow, the eyes red-rimmed and swollen, the skin cragged and saggy. He growls at me, which suddenly seems utterly ridiculous in view of his current manifestation.
I suddenly recall the pain, the burning sensation as the capsule melded itself to my inner ear. It appears to be working. Apparently the Dogmen and the pristine condition of the Empire are all a part of the illusion grafted to our consciousness by the hypnotic suggestions driven into our minds every day upon awakening.
I am forced to swallow the revelation quickly as I turn to Ursula. “I have gathered information that is pertinent, Madam Lieutenant. The leadership of the Coalition gathers tonight, and I have ascertained the location.”
The room buzzes with excitement. Ursula holds up a hand to quiet them, though her eyes glimmer with anticipation.
“You are sure about this?”
“Without a doubt, Madam Lieutenant.”
She claps her hands together and the officers leap up, almost running as they leave to ready their men. As the room clears, she gives me a questioning glance.
“Where is Agent Kilgore? Is he not supposed to be with you?”
Their bodies plummet like the last leaves of autumn…
I dismiss the thought. “I do not know, Madam Lieutenant.” It is the honest truth. I have no wish to see Jack after the lucidity of the dream.
I am afraid of what I will learn.
Ursula adjusts her tight leather gloves and reaches for her officer’s hat. “We do not have time to locate him. I will take you in my transport. This raid must happen now. We may not get this chance again.”
The interior of the transport is claustrophobic. Not because of the men that sit on the edge of their seats methodically checking their weapons and gear. It is the proximity of Ursula, who sits tightly against me. If only her appearance was an illusion as well, but it seems her allure is completely genuine.
Our bodies press together, seeming to merge more severely with every bump in the road. Her perfume infects my already hazy mind; her eyes gaze at me with the arcane knowledge of a graveyard raven.
“Who would have thought you would take to your training so well?” Her lips are parted, her breath smelling of mint tea. “Here you have barely joined us, and already you hand us the Coalition in one fell swoop.”
I drop my head to dislodge from her gaze. “I am just following through on clues and evidence that was already accumulated, Madam Lieutenant.”
Her hand finds my knee and squeezes. “Should this raid be successful, you can be sure your reward will be substantial.”
“My reward is my service to the Sovereign Empire. I am merely doing what is asked of me.”
Her eyes sparkle as she smiles. “So you say, SVR Gamble. But you forget I was once in your shoes. I know what it is like to be driven by ambition. You needn’t be ashamed. It is what separates us from the others. You have hungered, Franklin. And you will be fed.”
The transport slows to a halt. As soon as the doors open, the soldiers spill out. The sound of marching boots sounds across empty streets is unnaturally loud. Perhaps because the area is so desperately silent.
It is another stark, homogeneously constructed neighborhood, much like the one where the riot recently exploded. It could be the same neighborhood. How can I tell? How can I be certain of anything anymore, the least being my sanity?
The soldiers kick in the door of a nearby building and barge in. Their shouts echo in the empty streets. The other houses are merely mute witnesses, the darkened windows watch reproachfully like the empty sockets of uniformly lined skulls.
There does not appear to be any resistance. Butcher walks out of the building toward us, face still enveloped by the ridiculous dog-faced helmet. He gives me an odd sidelong look before turning to Ursula.
“You need to see this, Madam Lieutenant.”
She beckons with a gloved hand. “Come along, SVR.”
I follow them into the threadbare building. Despite its shoddiness, it has the appearance of being cared for; inhabited by people who care about one another.
There is something precious there, something poverty cannot touch…
Of course the soldiers and Dogmen have reduced everything to rubble. Even the pictures on the wall hang askew as we pass. Stairs lead us down into the basement where the soldiers surround a sizeable group of various individuals. They wear no uniforms, but they carry themselves with the defiant air of leadership. My eyes are blind to their faces, for they fixate only on one man who sags in the clutches of two Dogmen.
Jack.
His face is battered, his mouth bloodied as he smiles. “Madam Lieutenant. I am relieved to see you. Surely you can appreciate this little misunderstanding—”
Jack’s words disperse when Butcher punches him hard in the face, rocking him and his captors.
“He’s a liar, Madam Lieutenant.” Butcher picks up a handful of documents from the table. “These delivery notes and copies of blueprints all bear his signature and authorization. He’s been spoon-feeding the Coalition every bloody secret we have.”
Jack lifts his head groggily. One side of his face is heavily bruised. “I’ve been…establishing connections. Operating undercover so as to…take down the traitors.”
“You’re the only traitor, Kilgore.” Butcher deliberates his words with a brutal blow to Jack’s abdomen. I try not to wince as Jack sags, coughing up blood.
Ursula stands still as stone. Her face is even paler than usual, causing her lips to bloom like winter roses as she studies Jack’s face carefully.
Finally, she shakes her head.
“I’m terribly disappointed in you, Agent Kilgore. Terribly. Disappointed.” She turns to me. “What knowledge did you have of this, SVR Gamble?”
“None, Madam Lieutenant.” I am shocked that I can lie without trepidation. I should be a shivering wreck, but I control my voice and keep my face impassive under her scrutiny.
She narrows her eyes. “Are you sure, SVR Gamble? Your mentor who you’ve spent so much time with is allied with the Coalition — and you know nothing of his traitorous activity?”
I repeat the practiced response by route. “I studied the information Agent Kilgore gave me and found a few discrepancies. I didn’t want to bother the Agent so I followed up the flawed data on my own. It was quite by accident that I deciphered the location for this meeting. When I couldn’t find Agent Kilgore, I immediately thought to alert you, Madam Lieutenant.”
Butcher barks a guttural laugh. “And here I thought this SVR was a traitor all this time. I have to say that it never felt better being wrong.”
Ursula’s expression never changes as she stares into my eyes. It takes everything I have to meet that predatory gaze, to not wilt under the silent interrogation and confess everything that has occurred.
Finally she nods. “I believe you, SVR Gamble. But I must ask a token of your dedication. Your signature, if you will, to remove all doubt of your motives and assure the Sovereign Empire of your devotion.”
“You need not ask, Madam Lieutenant. I will do anything for the glory of the Sovereign.”
She smiles, but her eyes are cold. “Of course you will.” She swiftly pulls her firearm from the holster and hands it to me.