I laid back down and stared at the ceiling. Boris stood still for a few minutes then sat on the edge of the bed. He said, “What will you ask John?”
I said, “I don’t know Boris. Can’t you tell I’m thinking?”
He said, “I can’t read your mind. So no.”
I raised up and said, “That’s it!”
He raised an eye brow and said, “I’m lost.”
I said, “Sara knows. She knows how to get through and manipulate everyone and everything. We just have to sway her in a different direction. She kept wanting to go back. Maybe she can help me go back and get the child that was lost all these years.”
He said, “I don’t follow. You also got rid of Sara.”
I said, “Where does the path go to in Intelligence? Which sector? Do you know?”
He said, “It’s in the basement below S3. Project Merge.”
I said, “Perfect.”
He said, “You can’t do what you are planning. Also, what will Sara do? You want to go to your apartment and get the metal box. That’s it. Sara? Child that is lost?”
I crawled over to him and grabbed his shoulders, “Revenge.”
He said, “You’re that vengeful?”
I said, “Come on Boris. We can strike two birds with one stone.”
He said, “Do you want to revive Sara so she, I mean you will sabotage Intelligence?”
I said, “Yes! Let’s end the machines! Let’s destroy everything they built and what they did all these years to me. To you especially.”
He eyed me and said, “Are you sure?”
I said, “Come on Boris. We are a team.”
I kissed him really hard and he pulled me tightly to him. I let go and said, “For our love that should have flourished all these years and they stole it from us. We have to do this.”
He nodded and kissed me again. He let go and laid me on the bed and said, “I’m in. So why you need John?”
I said, “He will help us with the cameras and internal security. Do you think he is awake?”
He looked at the panel on his wrist and said, “Lina? It’s 03:45 am.”
I said, “Oh? Should we go back to sleep?”
He sighed and said, “I’m hungry.” He got off the bed and walked over to the kitchen counter. He grabbed a tray and sat on the bed. He said, “Maybe we should eat a lot today. It seems we will have a long night ahead of us.”
I giggled and said, “You’re so funny. Maybe I fell in love with you because of that part.”
He was chewing and tried to say, “What part?”
I said, “Your innocent and gullible part.”
He continued chewing and said, “You love me because of that?”
I nodded and said, “So, have you ever killed anyone?”
He said, “No.”
I said, “You may have to today.”
He said, “I know. I have been waiting for this day for a long time.”
I said, “Great!”
He said, “But my number one priority is to protect you. So you have to promise to stay with me at all times.”
I said, “I will try.”
He said, “You will not try. You will just do what I say.”
I said, “Control again?”
He said, “It’s not control. We are both soldiers and have a single objective. We need to stay together to complete it.”
I stared at him and said, “Maybe your right.” I closed my eyes and he said, “Lina? Do you want to eat? Drink? Did you even put anything in your mouth today?”
I opened my eyes and said, “Leave me alone. Let me sleep for a couple of hours. I will eat and drink later.”
He continued chewing and said, “Suit yourself.”
It was day time. I knew because the sun was burning my eyes. I thought that Boris really needed window blinds. I opened my eyes and turned around. Boris was looking at the ceiling. I said, “Good morning.”
He turned his head and said, “Morning.”
I stretched my arms and yawned, “Big day ahead of us!”
He said, “Yes.”
I raised myself up and looked at the window. I said, “If there is anyone out there. Do you think they will welcome us?”
He said, “I hope so.”
I looked at him and said, “I can’t wait to leave. I don’t care anymore what’s out there.”
He nodded and said, “We should start implementing the plan soon. It’s 09:15 am.”
I said, “What? You let me sleep this long?”
He said, “I’m not going to wake you up when you’re so tired.”
I sighed and said, “Well I’m awake. Let’s get going.”
I got off the bed and stood up. Boris didn’t move and just stared at me. I walked around the bed, then suddenly, my head was heavy and I felt that something was pounding on it and I fell down. He got up and helped me sit on the bed. He looked at the bruise on my head and said, “It looks bad. Worse than before.”
He looked back at my pillow and grabbed it to examine it. He said, “There are little spots of blood. I will bandage you and take you to the ward. We can talk to John there and get some antibiotics in you.”
I said, “I can’t be weak. We have to do this tonight.”
He shook his head and said, “Lina, your health is more important for now.”
He looked disappointed and proceeded bandaging my head. He asked me if I was comfortable walking and I nodded in agreement. I followed him slowly. He sighed a few times then carried me to the ward. As we approached John’s room, he said, “I will take you in to talk to him while I get a doctor from across the hall.”
He opened the door, John looked at us and said, “Valiant aren’t you Boris?” I giggled. Boris was confused and said, “She is not well and I have to get a doctor.”
He sat me on the chair and walked out. John looked at me with a concerned face and said, “What’s going on?”
I said, “Oh you know Boris. He worries too much.”
He said, “It’s his duty.”
I said, “Umm, General? How are you today?”
He enthusiastically said, “I’m doing great. The doctor last night said I’m good to go. I wonder what I can be helpful with at Red. Maybe I will garden.”
I nodded in agreement and said, “Sounds wonderful, but is that what you want to do?”
He said cheerfully, “God gave me a second chance at life, and I should dedicate the rest of my days being a servant to mankind in any way I can.”
I hesitated and wondered where Boris was. He looked at me concerned and said, “Lina? Is there something you want to say?”
Suddenly, the door swung open. The doctor and Boris were there. The doctor said, “Lina! General Boris is being a little panicky.” He walked over and looked at the bandage and said, “I don’t see any blood stains. Let me take it off.” He grabbed a pair of scissors to remove it. He looked at my bruise and said, “It’s external. Nothing too serious. I will bandage you back up and inject you with an antibiotic every six hours for three days. You will have to stay here in the ward so we will keep an eye on you. Also, you look very pale and your eyes are blood shot.”
I gasped, looked over at Boris and said, “No no no!”
The doctor looked at me and then back at Boris and said, “Did I say anything upsetting?”
John said, “She seems she has something important to say.”
Boris stared at me with pursed lips. The doctor said, “General Boris?”
John was angry and yelled, “Lina! Talk now!”
My eyes widened and I stared at John. I tried to speak and Boris interrupted me and said, “She wants the metal box in Intelligence and she wants to get it tonight!”
John looked confused and said, “Metal box? Intelligence? What are you talking about?”
The doctor interrupted us and said, “She can’t go anywhere unless it’s a suicide mission. If that’s the case, then you don’t need me.”
Boris came closer to the doctor, grabbed his shoulders and said, “Just bandage her and give her an injection.”
The doctor said, “Yes General.”
I couldn’t move and the doctor proceeded with his task. I stared intently at Boris and then at John. John wasn’t sure what to say and remained silent. When the doctor was done, he excused himself and walked out. John stared at me and said, “I may not have authority over you anymore, but I have to question your motives and your ridiculous plan.”
Boris stared and waited for me to speak. It was an indication to tell John the entire plan and our planned departure. After I spoke of the plan, John looked at me and didn’t speak. He sighed, looked at Boris and finally said, “You’re a General. Don’t let your emotions cloud your judgements.”
Boris hesitated and said, “I have no choice in this matter.”
John yelled and said, “Yes you do! She is insane! Sara didn’t leave her at all. She wants her to die. It’s a final protocol to end her.”
Boris’s eyes widened and he looked frozen. John looked at me and said, “Are you sure there is a metal box with your photos? Ever? Did you hallucinate them?”
I said, “Yes I’m sure of it.”
He said, “You also want to destroy the machines using Sara’s magical powers?”
I hesitated and said, “Yes.”
John sighed and was silent for a few seconds. I looked over at Boris and he looked at me. John then spoke and said, “I have some unfinished business that I need to take care of in Intelligence. I will need all your soldiers Boris. I won’t take no for an answer. As for you Lina … stay with Boris. At least there is one sane person between you two.”
I smiled and jumped at John to hug him. He said, “Wow there. Boris, you have a wild one to deal with here!”