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\u201cYou don\u2019t do anything halfway, do you?\u201d Commander Joshua Gregory said.<\/p>\n
Yuri Yamamoto shrugged. \u201cWe didn\u2019t have much choice.\u201d<\/p>\n
Gregory sighed and shook his head. \u201cThis is not good. Not for us, not for STS.\u201d<\/p>\n
After the showdown at the Sheriff\u2019s Department, nowhere on Moreno Island was safe for the STS. The mission was over. Back at STS HQ, a group of PSB Special Agents\u2014regular ones, not STS operators\u2014took custody of the cyborg and departed without a word, leaving Yamamoto and Wood to explain themselves to Gregory in his office.<\/p>\n
\u201cThey were all dirty,\u201d Wood said. \u201cMatthews, his buddies, the Sheriff, they were all working for the Guild.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cThey were armed,\u201d Yamamoto added. \u201cThey were killing to kill us. We did what we had to do to get out safe.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cIn your shoes, I\u2019m sure I\u2019d have done the same thing,\u201d Gregory said. \u201cBut\u2026 STS shooting cops. Not a good look.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cMaybe if the Sheriff hadn\u2019t let the New Gods infest his Department, we wouldn\u2019t have gotten to this point,\u201d Wood said.<\/p>\n
\u201cEasy for you to say. For all their ambitions and doings, the New Gods have done a lot for the people. This incident could jeopardize the STS\u2019 existence.\u201d<\/p>\n
Wood\u2019s voice dropped an octave.<\/p>\n
\u201cYou\u2019re going to throw us to the wolves?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019m going to have to explain this incident to the Director. Sure, you acted in good faith, but there will be consequences.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cLike what? We\u2019re just going to let the Santiagos go?\u201d Yamamoto said.<\/p>\n
\u201cNo. But some other team can pick up the slack.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cCome on!\u201d Wood exclaimed. \u201cWe\u2019ve got the most time on the ground here. And we\u2019re close to finishing this. We get the guys who grabbed Antoine Santiago, we get Antoine. We get Antoine, he can lead us to Raul.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cKarim is an Elect,\u201d Yamamoto said. \u201cHe can look into the past and track the ones who abducted Antoine. We can do this.\u201d<\/p>\n
Gregory crossed his arms. \u201cThe Sheriff called me just now. He said, in no uncertain terms, that the STS is permanently barred from operating in his island. Yes, I know you said he\u2019s dirty, but we have no proof. We still have procedures to follow.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat the Sheriff doesn\u2019t know won\u2019t hurt him,\u201d Wood said.<\/p>\n
The two men looked at Wood.<\/p>\n
Yamamoto laughed dryly. The Director followed a moment later.<\/p>\n
\u201cI want to take down Santiago and the Green Bliss as much as you do,\u201d Gregory said, \u201cbut I don\u2019t want any more cops getting hurt. Or, at least, any more good cops.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWe\u2019ll do our best,\u201d Wood said.<\/p>\n
\u201cThat\u2019s not good enough.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWe won\u2019t knowingly harm any MISD personnel,\u201d Yamamoto said. \u201cNot unless we can confirm they\u2019re playing for the other team. That\u2019s all I can promise.\u201d<\/p>\n
Gregory sighed. \u201cThis op is this close to becoming a major scandal. Don\u2019t make things worse for me. If you do, I will not be able to protect you.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWe\u2019re going deniable?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cDeniable isn\u2019t enough. Leave no trace behind. And don\u2019t get caught. Clear?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cUnderstood,\u201d both operators said.<\/p>\n
The rest of the team regrouped over the course of the hour. In the team room, Yamamoto explained what he needed to Mustafa. The Elect nodded, then retreated to a corner and sank into a semiconscious meditative state. As they waited for Mustafa, the rest of the team laid out and cleaned their gear.<\/p>\n
That left Wood alone with his thoughts.<\/p>\n
Matthews. Goddamnit. He had grown up with him, gone to school together, shared his hopes and dreams together. They\u2019d studied together, played together, went hiking and fishing and hunting in the swamps and the forests together. They found a common interest in guns and gear, and that led to military and law enforcement and special operations.<\/p>\n
Wood left for the mainland. Matthews stayed. But both had pursued their boyhood dreams, growing into the men they were together. Over the years they had kept in contact, sometimes making time to train together and catch up over a beer. He thought he knew Matthews.<\/p>\n
But not enough.<\/p>\n
And when push came to shove, when it came time for Matthews to choose between his god and his friend, Matthews had chosen his god.<\/p>\n
And died for it.<\/p>\n
Shit.<\/p>\n
Shit, shit, shit, shit!<\/p>\n
There were no atheists in the world anymore, never had been since the day the New Gods took dominion of the Earth. But the Woods had never put much stock in matters of faith and religion, focusing single-mindedly on their little patch of farmland on a tiny island. James Wood knew intellectually that many people put their faith in some god or other, but the gods were never a part of his life. And after what he\u2019d seen and done, all he knew of the gods, the New Gods, was that they warp the hearts and minds of everyone they touched, stealing their humanity and twisting them into pawns.<\/p>\n
If this was what belief in a god was like, he wanted none of it.<\/p>\n
\u201cYou okay?\u201d Yamamoto asked.<\/p>\n
\u201cYeah,\u201d Wood said.<\/p>\n
Yamamoto looked frankly at Wood. This close, Yamamoto\u2019s genetic mixture was plain to see. He had inherited his black hair and stocky frame from his father; his mother had gifted him his high cheekbones and cold green eyes. A fine golden necklace peeked out from under Yamamoto\u2019s collar.<\/p>\n
His cross.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat happened back at the isle must have been tough,\u201d Yamamoto continued.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s over.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI heard you and Matthews were tight.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2026 Fuck.\u201d Wood sighed. \u201cWe were. At least, I thought we were. But now\u2026 I don\u2019t know. I didn\u2019t think\u2026 I mean, I knew he signed up with the Guild, but I didn\u2019t think he would\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cBetrayal is the only truth that sticks.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cYeah.\u201d Wood shook his head. \u201cFuck.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cHe made his choice. So did you.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI shot him,\u201d Wood whispered. \u201cIn the head. Just like that. No hesitation either. I\u2026 what the hell does that make me?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWhy did you shoot him?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cHe was reaching for a gun.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cIt was self-defense. He made the choice to draw down on you. You had to protect yourself.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cYeah, but the gravcar is bulletproof. If I\u2019d just closed the door\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cThe gravity mirror isn\u2019t. If he\u2019d shot us down, this would be a very different conversation,\u201d Yamamoto said gently. \u201cLook, the important part is that you acted in a manner consistent with training, policy and the law. That\u2019s what matters. Everyone will back you up on this.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cThe Sheriff won\u2019t.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cThe Sheriff gave Antoine to the Guild. Why does his opinion matter?\u201d<\/p>\n
Wood chuckled. \u201cGuess not.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cRemember: you did nothing wrong,\u201d Yamamoto said. \u201cLegally, morally, you did the right thing. We all know this. We\u00a0will<\/em>\u00a0go to bat for you. But right now, we need your head in the game. You ready to go?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYeah. Just give the word.\u201d<\/p>\n Mustafa cleared his throat. \u201cYou guys\u2026 you done with your moment?\u201d<\/p>\n Yamamoto raised an eyebrow. Wood nodded.<\/p>\n \u201cYeah,\u201d Yamamoto replied. \u201cYou found our guy?\u201d<\/p>\n Mustafa grinned and gave a thumbs-up. \u201cYeah.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cAlright. Let\u2019s go get him.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThere\u2019s one small problem.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYeah?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI read the energy trails of the snatch team. They bear the mark of the Maker.\u201d<\/p>\n —<\/p>\n If you’ve enjoyed this story and want more, look out for my next novel in\u00a0HEROES UNLEASHED<\/a>!<\/p>\n![\"Cheah](\"https:\/\/steemitimages.com\/0x0\/https:\/\/files.steempeak.com\/file\/steempeak\/cheah\/xngqz8ZC-CheahGitSanRed.jpg\")
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