Chapter 15
"Where are the prisoners?" Ben asked coldly.
"Are you sure you should be questioning them now, considering your state of mind?" Jenna asked. "I don't mean to be a bitch, Sir, but we need to keep them alive for a while longer."
Ben glared at Jenna but knew she was correct. If he tried to get answers out of the prisoners now, he would end up killing them. But people like them didn't deserve to fucking live! They were alive and well while his sweet little Christina was...
He had to force himself off that train of thought. There was no proof yet that these people had actually had a choice in the matter of the attack. In fact, at least one of them obviously hadn't. The girl that was posing as Asia was one of the girls from that academy in New Orleans. From the little amount of time he spent in her head, it was clear that the girl's own personality was either completely gone, or so sublimated that it was unrecoverable. He had little doubt she would either have to be killed, or once again be reprogrammed into something else.
Ben felt the hate, and sorrow, of his wives; sorrow over Christina, and outright hate toward those who had caused it. Melissa had to be sedated to keep from tearing her mother to shreds with her bare hands. He glanced over at the stretcher bearing her small form. It was securely attached next to the still form of her first love.
Tears once again came to his eyes as he looked at that stretcher. He tried again to reach out to the mind of the girl who had given him her heart only a week before. Though he felt no connection, he poured all the love he felt for her into the link. Christina lay motionless, unresponsive to the emotions being poured on her. She was alive, but she was in a coma. Her mind was shut away from her lovers. Amanda was worried about possible brain damage since she had come so close to death from blood loss. Kathryn and Melissa linked to repair the damage the bullet did to her chest and replace the lost blood.
Ben tried to help, but he had given too much of his own energy just keeping her alive to help them. Jenna had to send two of her troops to help carry him to their vehicle. They managed to get clear of the area before the local police arrived, but only barely. Jenna had told him that they had tried to keep their planes from taking off at the airport. The other planes had managed a clean get-away.
"You're right, Jenna, Thank you. However, I would like to see Helen Michaels. I won't harm her, but I very much want to talk to her," Ben said. "If you think I'm going to hurt her, you have my permission to deck me."
"Just as long as you don't make me strip in public again if I do," Jenna said grinning. "Come on; let's go see the mouthy bitch. She's been raising holy hell since she woke up."
"If that's the case, I might insert a command or two so we can talk. Would you have a problem with that?" Ben asked.
"Problem? No; in fact the guards might just think you deserve another blow-job if you did that," Jenna said as she opened a door in the large aircraft.
"... FUCKING Right! I DEMAND you let me go RIGHT THE FUCK NOW! I AM A..."
"Shut the fuck up, Bitch," Ben said in a dangerously quiet voice that caused the guards to look alarmingly at their commander. It appeared that he had scared the loud-mouth woman enough to stop screaming at them. "You will answer my questions fully, and to the best of your abilities. Once we are done here, you will sit quietly and do what you are told, or I will grant your wish and let you go right here and right now. Just for your information, we are about forty-five thousand feet above South Dakota at the moment. Do you understand me?" Ben said again in that quiet voice. The woman nodded frantically.
"What is your name?" Ben asked.
"Helen Michaels," she replied.
"Helen, do you know who I am?"
The woman just shook her head negatively.
"What do you know about your husband's mission?"
"Carl was supposed to go to a resort to train two... You're one of them, aren't you?" she asked as the realization came to her. "You're one of the monsters that Susan created."
Ben ignored her question and continued. "When was the last time you heard from your husband, Helen?"
"What have you done with my daughter? She belongs to the Emperor. Her and that little slut Crystal DeWitt are supposed to be on their way to New Orleans right now," Helen said, and wondered why she had.
Again, Ben ignored the woman's answering question and continued to ask his own. He was getting the answers he wanted from her mind. He didn't really need to ask her anything, but there was an audience to this interview.
"Where is Solms at, and what is his schedule?" Ben asked.
The woman snorted. "You don't stand a chance, you know. He knows all about you; he's been preparing for you. You'll die watching him fuck your sister's ass while your mother licks his balls."
Ben turned to Jenna. "She has no idea where the fucker is. I guess we need to capture someone that actually has some importance to him. Flunkies like her are not going to be of any use to us at all. We might as well just kick her ass out here..."
Helen screamed and lunged at him. Before the guards could do more than raise their weapons, Helen Michaels was on the floor, blood starting to flow from her nose and a large red patch forming on the right side of her head.
Ben calmly walked over to her and knelt. "I wouldn't try that again, Helen. You don't have the training to even provide a workout for me." He leaned in closer so she was the only one that could hear him. "I don't need to actually touch you to rip you apart, you know. Your Emperor has no idea what he's in for. We can do far more than read minds. I can kill you with thought alone, or make you believe anything I want. I could even reprogram you to be a good and loving little cock-sucking body slave. I can make it so you can only achieve orgasm with a cock up your ass, pussy and down your throat at the same time. So you better not piss me off again." He stood up and walked over to a cabinet. He took out a plastic bag and set it on the table. He turned to the guards. "Strip her. I want her clothes and anything else she might have on her in the bag. Make sure the rest of the prisoners get the same treatment. We'll go through it once we get back to base. If she gives you anymore trouble, send for me."
"Yes Sir," one of the guards said, and saluted.
With a final look at the weeping woman, he led Jenna out of the cabin. "Killing her would be a mercy to her, and she deserves none. She has never been programmed. She is fully aware of her actions. She will pay for them, but her death will be much worse than a simple bullet to the head."
Jenna shivered at his words. "I understand your feelings Sir, but... do we have the right to do that? I don't mean to sound soft hearted, but I know what you are capable of. Perhaps a bullet would be for the best?"
Ben smiled softly at her. "You might be right, Jenna. Either way, I won't be the one to make that decision. I don't think it would be a good idea for myself or any of my wives to be in on that either. I think perhaps we should ask John to decide. He has less of an emotional involvement in this." He sighed as he took a seat, motioning her to sit with him. "When Amanda first outlined this whole thing to Kathryn and me, neither of us thought we would be able to kill a person. It scares me how fast that view has changed. When I see what the person has done, or what they would do if given the chance, it's hard not to want them to hurt before they die."
"Sir, I don't have your ability, and I'm coming to be thankful that I don't. I can only imagine what you saw in her twisted mind. I think it would be impossible to remain detached and objective if I could see the memory of the person's crimes. I don't envy you anymore. But I'm afraid of what all this is going to do to you.
"Taking a life is never something to do lightly, but in combat it's a different story. You don't have time to think about the life you just ended, or the others you are about to end. But when you have to do it like this... Taking lives also takes a toll on you. Taking her life would have a higher toll than most because it would be an execution, not an act of combat or self-preservation."
"I know. I think that worries me most. In my anger at what those animals have done, and are doing, I'll lose myself in killing them," Ben said.
"Well, don't! I don't want to have to try to stop you. But I would like to know one thing, if I may?"
"Sure," Ben replied.
"You make one hell of an interrogator. Where did you learn that voice? I almost pissed my pants when you spoke."
"I don't know. I didn't even realize I was doing it at first. Since I saw she was responding to it, I kept using it though. I guess it worked, though she doesn't really know very much."
"Well, I think I'll recommend you work with the rest of the prisoners as well. That voice sounded like it came straight from hell," Jenna said.
Ben leaned back and scrubbed at his face. "I think I'll go sit with Chris and Melissa for a bit. Let me know when we are getting close, okay?"
"Will do, Sir."
"I've received an inquiry from our contact in Washington. They want to know just what the hell we think we're doing," John said as he sat in a chair in Ben's office. "I told them that we had been hired to provide protection services to a client, and defended her when she was attacked. They were not happy campers. The Duluth Police department wants the whole team returned to Duluth for questioning, and the return of our prisoners. I told them that we didn't have any prisoners and our team would not be returning. Our lawyers will present them with depositions covering the action there, but I think our friends in Washington are getting nervous. They've never objected this strongly to action like this we've had to take before."
"Have we tipped our hand?" Ben asked.
"I don't think so. From everything I could get from them, they think this was an isolated incident. Of course, this only rubs it in the face of Solms and his crew. I think we need to get to New Orleans before Washington starts pressuring me to stop what I'm doing. Hear anything new on Chris?"
"No, no change," Ben said quietly. "The longer she stays in the coma, the less chance of her waking up. Melissa isn't dealing with this very well; she is ready to start killing every one in sight that might be part of Solms' group. I can't say I blame her, but it's so unlike her."
"Yes it is. I'm sure she wants to have a turn at her mother before we execute her. Melissa seems to have focused on Helen as the root cause of Christina being in a coma," John said.
"I'll need her in New Orleans. But if she can't shake this bloodlust, she might just end up getting herself killed there," Ben said.
"Have you tried talking to her?" John asked.
"We all have, Hell, I even tried ordering her, as her master, to get over this, but she is still... cold. I think the only thing that will bring her out of it is Chris waking up. Until then, she is going to be one dangerous woman."
There was a knock at the door; when Ben said "Enter," Jenna and Tabitha entered.
"I've finished my after-action report, and the team is resupplied. We're ready for redeployment," Jenna said, saluting.
"Have a seat ladies," Ben said in acknowledgment. "I want to get moving on the New Orleans base as soon we can. Has the computer section had any luck getting into their computers?"
John smiled at the easy way Ben was commanding. He was sure the young man wasn't even aware of it. "The school records are physically isolated from the 'net, so only an on-site presence will be able to extract what we want. However, they did manage to get Forsythe's schedule for the next few weeks. I recommend setting you and Kathryn up as a young, wealthy, married couple that happens to meet the Forsythes at a social function. You notice the girls and make some comment on how nice they look and how well behaved they are. Later, you can steer the conversation into something like how hard it is to find good body guards, and how unsafe it is for wealthy folks to walk the streets anymore, yada, yada.
"If Kathryn is somewhat sloppily subtle in her admiration of the girls, and other women at the party, it would help. Of course, anything to steer the conversation to private schools, and the need for top-notch protection, should work. I'm sure you'd be able to figure out the best way to do that once you're on site. We'll set up the background for you so it'll stand up to scrutiny." He checked a file he was holding for information. "There is a benefit dinner for the arts coming up and Forsythe is scheduled to attend. I think we'll have enough time to get you set up to attend."
Ben nodded in agreement. "That makes sense. While we're down there, we can get into the school records as well."
"We'll send one of the computer geeks and a small team with you. I don't think I need to tell you to be careful, do I?" John asked.
Ben smiled softly. "No you don't. No one else needs to get hurt in this."
John turned to the two women. "Tabby's on the burner for this one. Tactical review and oversight tomorrow at thirteen hundred. Be ready to take off at twenty-two hundred tomorrow night. Dismissed."
"Why aren't you taking all of us with you?" Amanda asked, pissed.
"We simply don't need everyone this time. I wouldn't even be taking Melissa except that if I tried to leave her here she would simply stow away on the plane and come along anyway. We only have two simple missions: making contact with the senator, and raiding the school computer systems. This isn't a full-blown assault. I need you to stay here and look after Chris and Diane. Please love?" Ben asked. "Besides, now that the funeral thing is past, Diane will be able to regress. You know how much she's been wanting to do that."
"Yes she has, but we haven't figured out how to explain it to everyone yet," Amanda said. "Now quit trying to change the subject. What happens if you get into trouble down there? Or if it's a trap?"
"Then we'll get out of it. Tabitha is leading the team going into the school, and Jenna will be on standby if we need her. You're not going this time love. I need you to stay here and help Chris... please?" Ben asked in an almost pleading voice.
Amanda realized his true reasons then, and rushed into his arms. "Oh baby, I'm so sorry about what's happened to her. We are really doing everything we can to pull her out of this. But we knew when this started that there was a good possibility that some of us would get hurt. You can't keep us all from harm."
"I know love, but it really isn't necessary for you to come with us this time. Why risk it if we don't have to? Kathryn and I can handle this, and Melissa will watch our backs. We won't be gone that long," Ben said softly. "Please just do as I ask?"
"Diane is going to be so pissed when she finds out you left her behind. You're going to have to be the one that explains that to her when you get back. Your apology had better be on par with the first time you made love to her, or you're going to have to keep doing it until she passes out," Amanda said. "Then you're going to have to apologize to the rest of us too.
"I think you should probably have a talk with our daughter as well. I don't know if you've noticed, but little girls usually don't start growing breasts until they are a bit older. I think she is cheating and aging herself slowly. She's also taller, and she's starting to have more of a figure than any ten year old should have."
"Do you really think I'm the one that can make her stop? I haven't noticed because she seems to wear a lot of baggy clothes lately, but how far has she advanced herself?" Ben asked.
"At least two full years, maybe more. She is really one persistent and determined little girl. She grew almost a full inch while we were in Minnesota."
"Damn! I need to start paying more attention to her," Ben said. He sighed. "I'll try to talk to her once I get back. Please don't let me forget or put it off because of some other emergency."
"I won't, love. Have a safe journey, and come back to us," Amanda said, kissing him tenderly.
"I will always come back to you, love."
Louisiana in June is hot and muggy. Of course, compared to Colorado, it would be hot and muggy no matter what time of year a person was there. Ben and Kathryn settled into their four-star hotel like they owned the place, and promptly began playing tourist.
Tabitha, four members of her team, and one of the 'geeks' from the computer section also settled into their hotels. Tabitha and Julia Wright of the computer section roomed together at a nearby Motel 6 while the other members of the team got put into a Red Lion Inn with Melissa. They hadn't even arrived on the same flights. Ben and Kathryn arrived on a first class ticket from Los Angeles, Tabitha and Julia rode 'sardine class' from Las Vegas, and the other five arrived on different flights from the east coast. John did have a private plane sitting at the airport if things went sideways, but if everything went according to plan, Ben and Kathryn would be departing in a week on a flight to Europe with a stopover in New York. The rest of the team would have already left.
While visiting a certain art gallery, the well-to-do couple received an invitation to a charity benefit dinner the following evening from the assistant director of the gallery. It was so perfect a set up that Ben scanned the woman to make sure that John hadn't set it up. He hadn't; the woman simply detected the aura of money around the two, and thought they might be inclined to pay the thousand-dollar-a-plate price for the dinner. This time, fate seemed to be taking a hand on the side of the good guys.
During the long-distance conversation, via telepathy, that night, Ben learned a few things.
John: "Well, someone is checking out everyone that got an invitation to that dinner. At first we thought it was just the standard security checks the secret service would make to protect the senator, but whoever was doing the check seemed to take special interest in the two of you, as well as two other couples. Your files were copied, in their entirety, to a special folder then zipped and sent off somewhere. We're still trying to work on the where, but we are starting to think it was the school."
Kathryn: "So we might not even have to bring up the subject? You think we might be approached about it?"
John: "That's a strong possibility, you'll have to play it by ear. I just thought you might like to know that someone has been checking out the attendees to that little party."
Melissa: "We'll be right outside the entire time. After you scan the prick, we'll be ready to go hit the school. Tabby and her folks will be checking out the security at the school tonight."
Ben: "Will you be going with them?"
Melissa: "I hadn't planned to, Master. After all, someone has to watch your backs while we're here."
The meeting broke up, and everyone went about their tasks. Later that evening, while Ben and Kathryn were eating dinner in the hotel restaurant, Melissa spoke to them again.
Melissa: "You are being watched, and not just by me. There is a couple sitting three tables from you that are straining to hear your conversations, and paying a lot of attention to you."
Ben: "Where are you? I didn't think your range was all that great."
About that time, Melissa, dressed in a server's outfit, stepped up to their table. "Is everything to your satisfaction? May I get you anything from the bar?"
Ben smiled at her. "Everything was excellent, thank you. I would simply like some more coffee if I may?" He turned to Kathryn. "Honey? Would you like anything from the bar?" Then added mentally to Melissa; "Smart girl, but doesn't that make you suspect? After all, you are supposed to be just a tourist."
Kathryn frowned at the girl, as if she might be somewhat jealous of her husband's attention to her, and spoke in a dismissive tone. "I think a glass of red wine would be wonderful, thank you." Then mentally; "You look really cute in that outfit, Melissa. I think we might need to get a French maid uniform for you when we get back."
Melissa made a show of writing down their orders and curtsied before scurrying off to get them. "Not really, the management here hired me as a temp for the night. I've hinted around about my money getting stolen and needing work to get enough money to get home. If Master and Mistress wish me to wear such an outfit, I'll get one as soon as we get back."
Ben: "That couple are security agents from the academy. They are following us to make sure we are not law enforcement. Apparently we are being evaluated. Neither of them seems afraid of us in the least; they are just checking us out is all. Later on they are supposed to 'scare us' by following us and making sure we see them."
"I think I should say something to the management about how their pretty servers make passes at their customers," Kathryn said to keep up the conversation. "So are we going to fall for it and be scared?"
"Why don't you flirt with her instead, dear heart? You know the only reason you're mad about it because she didn't flirt with you first," Ben replied. "I think we should, don't you? We'll be less suspect if we do, and you were supposed to have been attacked just before this trip, love."
Melissa: "He's right Mistress. To them, you'll be just another rich couple scared into getting 'the best security money can buy'. Although, I happen to think what you already have is far superior."
Kathryn: "Wow, that little girl's really modest. I don't think she knows just how much we appreciate her. We'll have to do something about that once we get home, Darling."
They finished their meal and after dinner drinks, then paid the bill before slowly walking, hand in hand, to the elevator. The other couple, just as expected, followed them and tried not to make it obvious they were following Ben and Kathryn.
Kathryn did an Oscar-winning job of acting spooked and pulled Ben
into the bar until the other couple seemed to lose interest and move
on. Ben and Kathryn returned to their room, linked with the rest of the
family, and made love before going to sleep. Tomorrow was going to be a
long day.