Escape: Omega Book 1 (Omega: Earth's Hero) (8 page)

Chapter 10

It was a new day. The events at the software office were in the past. The First Lady was safe and her brother, though injured, would live. But if anyone expected the Adaven Base to return to normalcy, they would be quite mistaken.

From an uninformed observer’s perspective, it looked as if the research, training, and operations at the base had not changed. While the change was slight, it was real nonetheless.

And soon the change would be much more dramatic.

“Keep that damn needle away from me,” Black shouted. The rather large male nurse regarded the Ranger almost sympathetically. It was five in the morning and neither man was in the greatest of moods.

“Captain, you need this shot. It’s a very strong antibiotic. Your body needs it to fight off the infection.”

“You twit. I know perfectly well what antibiotics
are
. The best thing you could do is put down Excalibur, run off to the pharmacy, and get me some pills. I don’t need that needle. I don’t need a shot, and I certainly don’t need you to give it to me.”

The practiced ease in which the nurse parried in brought the hypodermic forward and, without the slightest hesitation, sunk the biting needle down into the soft flesh of Black’s shoulder—the only bare patch not bandaged.

Captain Black eyed the nurse evilly. His right first balled and blood coursed through him. Perry was not a finicky man, and usually shots did not bother him. Being career military, you had to adapt to the never-ending inoculations and vaccinations needed for worldwide travel. But, this morning in particular--whether due to the excruciating pain he was enduring, the fact that his team had failed, miserably, on its mission, or that he would be on light duty if not complete bed rest for the next several weeks--he was in a mood that could only be described as downright crappy. This was
not
the day for an overgrown wet nurse to try his patience.

The sight of the man walking through the door of the infirmary was all it took for his building anger to slip from his mind. General Hendricks, in full uniform—as his usual—strode in with the strong confident gait that Black believed the military only instructed generals to perform. The man simply exuded self-confidence and machismo. While Black might not appreciate that from many, General Hendricks was an exception. Thurmond Hendricks was a remarkable man with a remarkable service record--and, Black suspected, so were the things he accomplished that didn’t quite make it into the official dossier.

Immediately, Black stood to attention, bringing his not unremarkable bulk and height to ramrod straightness. He attempted a salute, forgetting his right hand was bandaged.

“At ease, soldier. You’ve earned it.” The general’s voice was lower in volume but no less in resonance as he returned the failed salute. “Have a seat, captain. I apologize for intruding on your treatment this way, but I need to speak with you.” Hendricks gave the nurse one quick but very meaningful look.

The nurse, who of course was an enlisted officer, did not regard the general with sympathy, as he had Black. Instead, he looked as if he’d almost ruined his pants when turning around to see the most senior officer in the United States Army that he’d ever had the fortune—misfortune?—to personally meet.

The nurse’s total lack of etiquette did not go unnoticed. Hendricks came within a few feet of both men and stopped. His stern hazel eyes fixed the larger man. Instantly, to Black, it seemed as if all of the air had been drained from the room.    

“Sergeant, if you would excuse us.” It was not a question, not even really an order, just a statement--clear and concise from a man that was very accustomed to having his every whim answered in mere seconds.

“Yes, general.” The nurse had found his voice,
and
his sense, it seemed. He saluted, a little sloppily, and wasted no time getting out of the exam room.

When they were alone, Black finally realized why the general had paid him this visit: his mission’s failure. He’d lost men, lost civilians. He’d come a hair’s breadth of losing the First Lady as well. The only one not injured was that infernal experiment.

Black was no fool. He knew there were things about Omega that he would never know. He also knew there were things about him that he didn’t particularly want to know. There were enough geneticists on base and other scientists with degrees in medical areas that had no business near a military installation to figure out the basics. Omega was an overgrown science fair project. While he had no idea of the specifics of what went on in the depths of Phantom Base’s labs, he knew they were attempting to make the “super soldier.” Even the term caused Black to groan.

Not raised in a religious family, Black still knew that when you meddled with God’s designs, He often paid you back in manners you didn’t welcome.

Black couldn’t easily dismiss the fact the government--
his
government, the very one he pledged his life to--would infuse who knew how many millions of dollars into such projects while real men and women in uniform lacked proper equipment on the frontlines. Black had trained for the army since before he could remember. All he’d wanted was to be a soldier, an officer, and a leader of men. That a scientific mutant could receive such prestige and importance compared to not only him, but also his hundreds of thousands of brothers and sisters on the front lines, made his blood boil. 

All those thoughts flashed through his mind at breakneck speed and he pushed them away as he concentrated on his visitor and readied himself for the worst possible scenario.

“Things didn’t go very well out there, did they captain?”

A moment’s hesitation. “No, general. They did not.”

Hendricks looked to contemplate his words, and then, “Nevertheless, the First Lady is safe and secure back in Washington. The president is pleased. The SecDef is relieved. The terrorists will terrorize no longer. You, while a bit worse for the wear, are in one piece.”

“And Omega without a scratch.” Black had no idea where the words came from, but wished he could draw them back. Unfortunately, no one seemed to be granting wishes today.

“Humph.” Again, contemplation from the general. Silence hung like a pregnant beast on the verge of delivery.

Black almost opened his mouth to apologize, but at the last moment decided against it. Such a gesture would no doubt appear weak and pathetic. Black just sat there, awaiting his just desserts.

“Captain, you have always conducted yourself in a most professional manner. You trained, disciplined, deployed your men admirably, and I sincerely doubt I’ve met a more dedicated leader.” Hendricks put his hand in his pocket, fished around, withdrew a stick of gum in aluminum foil, unwrapped it, and placed the entire stick in his mouth at one time. After several chews, he said, “So I will excuse that remark—”

“Sir, I meant no disrespect…” this time unable to stop his apology, but Thurmond Hendricks silenced him with a wave of his hand.

“I also know that you don’t think too highly of the Omega Project.”

Despite himself, Black nodded subtly. “I really didn’t expect you to. To be honest, Captain,” Hendricks, surprisingly, took a seat on the exam table just beside Black, “there are quite a few things I don’t expect too many people to care for around here. That’s the nature of the beast. To keep our country free, to ensure the liberties that Americans take for granted every day of their life, things deemed… distasteful… to some must be tolerated.”

“I understand that, sir.”

“I know that you do, captain. Need I remind you I handpicked you myself for this assignment? I did not make that decision lightly. Many factors went into that decision. Not the least of which was leadership ability. So, don’t beat yourself up too much for the events that transpired yesterday. I don’t know of anyone that could have done any better, me included.”

Just as he had when Hendricks’s speech had broadcast to he and his men on the flight to New York, Black found himself astonished by the unannounced and unexpected sincerity of the man. General Hendricks was not known for such empathy, and while the words did ring true to Black’s ears, it put him on guard.

“The second reason you were selected, and a very close second I might add, is the ability to keep your mouth shut about clandestine missions. I read your file. I also read between the lines. You’ve been involved in co-ops with CIA, NSA, and the Department of Defense, as well as Homeland Security. When you have bedfellows like those, the old maxim “loose lips sink ships” translates into “speak of this again and die.”

“I do as my country needs me to. That’s not an empty, hollow pledge, but a vow I take very seriously.”

Thurmond nodded. “So with your elevated sense of secrecy and patriotism, you were a perfect fit for my operations.”

Black regarded the man sitting next to him. He could not recall ever conversing with the man for such an amount of time. Then his mind caught what his ears had been on alert for:
were.
You
were
a perfect fit
.

Perry Black had been shot in the shoulder, grazed in the thigh, and suffered myriad bumps, bruises and cuts. Emergency surgery was performed in New York City. As soon as his surgery was completed, Hendricks ordered him flown back to Adaven, still unconscious, and placed here. The last twenty-four hours were a whirlwind, and he was having more than a little trouble accepting things. This last hour pretty much pushed him over the edge. He pushed his aching body off the table. Weak, stumbling, he stood.  

“Sir, before you say—”

This time, Hendricks didn’t silence him with a wave, but simply a look. A very stern one. “I applaud your dedication, captain. I also commend your service while assigned to this detail. In return for that, I have decided to transfer you. You will ship out for your new assignment tomorrow morning, 0600 hours. A better climate, less demanding duties. A reward for all your hard work.”

“A transfer? Tomorrow morning?” Black could control himself no longer. Damn the ache of his shoulder. Damn the three sparkling stars on the man’s shoulder. Damn Omega and this dusty desert base. “You can’t be doing this. I almost lost my life trying to save the First Lady of the United States of America. You come in here like Andy Griffith and talk to me like I’m Opie. You tell me how well I performed and how no one could have done better. Then you book me on the first thing smoking like outgoing mail? How dare you, general. How dare you!”

“Calm down, Black. Take a seat. You’re still not well. But I will remind you whom you are talking to.”

Black just couldn’t help it. Insubordination had never been a flaw of his, but it festered beyond the ability of his will of restraint to contain. His anger erupted.

“I have to say, general: I thought you weren’t the kind to leave a man behind. To throw away a good soldier. I see that I was completely mistaken.”

Hendricks was on his feet as well now, his face flushing and quickly turning scarlet. “You’ll mind your tongue, captain. And shut your mouth. I came in here to help your feelings. You screwed up. You screwed up tremendously. Your men are dead, and without the Omega Project, you would be too.”

Uniformed men rushed in. Apparently, Hendricks had anticipated Black’s response. That’s the kind of man that makes general, he reminded himself.

“Now calm yourself, captain. You’ll only further injure yourself.”

Black looked to the other men’s eyes. He recognized them from around the base; the mess hall, the recreation room, things like that. They were not part of his unit. While several of his men had died yesterday, he still had others. Again, Hendricks had been wise.