Part 3 (2/2)
”And you do not consider the ma.s.sacre at Window Rock a provocation?” asked the spider commander. ”You allow terrorists to join your Legion, and look what happens!”
”If your failed attack on the hospital was an attempt to kill Lieutenant Barker, he has already been moved to a more secure place. Any more adventurism or attempts on his life will be considered acts of war. I will hold you personally responsible.”
”Lieutenant Barker is a separate issue. I demand the safe return of my trainees.”
”Whatever,” I said. ”First your commandos will be interviewed. Then General Kalipetsis will decide their fate. Personally, I'm voting for firing squads.”
”You would not dare. The Empire will not tolerate the kidnapping or custodial abuse of its troops.”
”We need to set up a face-to-face meeting to negotiate. Perhaps a prisoner swap?”
”I am not holding any of your human pestilence.”
”Maybe you are holding prisoners elsewhere,” I argued. ”Check your other local lockups. Are we still on for poker tonight? We can discuss it then.”
”At your club?” asked the spider commander. ”Of course, I will be there. Have I ever missed a Sat.u.r.day night of poker at the Blind Tiger? Prepare to lose the rest of your money.”
”You got lucky last time,” I said. ”But your luck will run out.”
”Whatever as you human pestilence are so fond of saying,” said the spider commander. ”Talk is cheap, victory is sweet.”
Lieutenant Barker and Sergeant Toock were moved from the hospital to my personal bunker deep below my office at Legion Headquarters. Lieutenant Barker was now awake and recovering. Sergeant Toock still needed to grow back limbs and appendages. For ants, that was no problem. He would be okay when the pain stopped. Both were ordered to stay in bed and rest for a week.
”I've been in this bunker system once before, back when the spiders last bombed us,” commented Lieutenant Barker. ”These tunnels connect all of New Gobi.”
”I had no idea Czerinski had living quarters underground,” said Sergeant Toock. ”He should have told us about these tunnels. They could be important during an emergency.”
”Familiarize yourself with as much of this tunnel bunker system as you can,” ordered Lieutenant Barker. ”As you say, it may be useful later. Perhaps G Company can build its own bunkers and connect into these.”
”You have no need to be snooping about our tunnels,” interrupted Captain Lopez, standing just outside the door, listening. ”There are already air-raid shelters and bunkers for you and your men. These tunnels are for strategic use. Consider yourself lucky that Colonel Czerinski feels so strongly about your safety as to allow you down here for even a short time. Usually there is no access unless nukes go off.”
”Why would Colonel Czerinski be concerned for my safety?” asked Lieutenant Barker. ”That seems a bit off his baseline.”
”Colonel Czerinski is your commanding officer,” advised Captain Lopez. ”As such, you are an extension of his will. Colonel Czerinski would no more wish you harm than he would want to lose his right arm.”
”Thank the good colonel for putting us up in his personal quarters,” said Sergeant Toock. ”His generosity is appreciated and will not be forgotten.”
Lieutenant Barker remained silent and suspicious. He wondered if the room was bugged with listening devices. ”I need my uniform and sidearm,” he said. ”Hospital pajamas aren't my style. They leave me feeling exposed.”
”You are confined to this room until the doctor says otherwise,” said Captain Lopez. ”I'll see what I can do to bring you some of your personal property and uniforms. Don't worry; you won't be here all that long.”
Chapter 6.
”You've got mail,” chimed my communications pad. It was a text from Lieutenant Valerie Smith, retired. ”Hi, sweetie. I sent an attachment for you to download into one of those illegal learning chips I heard you have embedded in your bones. Enjoy. Hugs and smooches.”
I had one of our Legion information technology geeks check out the attachment. Not completely trusting Valerie, I did not want to catch a virus. The tech geek said the attachment was a very sophisticated virtual reality program.
”I have never seen anything quite like this,” said the tech geek. ”This program must be a very expensive prototype. It is the very latest breakthrough technology. It almost looks alien. Even Microsoft can't do this. Where did you get it?”
”That is a military top-secret,” I said. ”Why is this program special?”
”It's a communications program that will project an image into a chip in your brain that will make images seem real,” explained the tech geek.
”Why would I want do that?” I asked. ”Wouldn't hallucinations cause a mental breakdown? I do not want anyone inside my mind.”
”The program would allow you to touch the person you are communicating with,” said the tech geek. ”This is real hot stuff, if it works. Can I have a copy to study?”
”That would be treason,” I said. ”You don't have the security clearance. Don't even consider making a copy or telling anyone about this.”
”Yes, sir,” said the tech geek, as he downloaded a copy anyway.
”Is it safe? Could someone communicating with me reach out through s.p.a.ce and a.s.sault me?”
”Theoretically the sender could inflict pain,” said the tech geek. ”But it would be imaginary, and you could disconnect at any time. The only way you could be injured would be if you had a heart attack, or went into shock, or maybe fell, or something like that.”
”Could I have s.e.x with the person I was communicating with? Would the image be that real?”
”That would be awesome!” exclaimed the tech. ”I never thought of that. This technology could be worth billions of dollars. Where did you really get it?”
”From the grave,” I said. ”Which is where you will end up if this gets out. Understand?”
”Hi, sweetie,” texted Valerie. ”When are we going to hook up?”
”When h.e.l.l freezes over,” I replied. ”I do not want you inside of me.”
”But I so much want you inside of me,” said Valerie. ”Please. What's the matter? Are you chicken? Afraid of little old me?”
”You are a computer memorial implant,” I said. ”It could be dangerous to allow a computer inside my mind. I don't trust computers. I need to study the implications.”
”The best minds at Arlington National Cemetery created this software,” said Valerie. ”It's a prototype, but they a.s.sure me of its absolute safety.”
”Are others using this technology?” I asked.
<script>