“This is bullshit,” said St. George.
“It is also entrapment,” said Stealth. “We were brought out here under false pretenses for the sole purpose of seizing the Cerberus suit.” Her head tilted toward St. George. “As I tried to tell you.”
“Look, guys,” said Smith. “Guy and gal. You have to believe me, I didn’t think we’d ever need to talk about any of this. I thought Danielle would want to stay here at Yuma. I didn’t want to bring any of this up because I knew how you’d react.”
“We’ll fight you on this,” said St. George.
“You can’t. If you resist they’ll slap the ‘traitor’ label on you and have a court martial.”
“They can’t court martial us. We’re civilians.”
“Martial law,” said Smith. “What do you think it means? The Army is the law right now. They’re judge, jury, and executioner in any legal matters.”
“I’d like to see them try.”
“Look I know this seems like a bad thing at first, but you don’t need Cerberus in Los Angeles if you’ve got a platoon or three of soldiers stationed there. Heck, they could rotate in a squad of Freedom’s men and they’d probably be even more effective than the battlesuit.”
“Cerberus isn’t really the issue,” said St. George. “Danielle’s our friend. We’re not going to abandon her.”
“I’m sorry. I wish there was more I could do to help, but the colonel’s not going to bend on these points. I think you should—”
“What else is there?”
Smith glanced at her. “I don’t know what—”
“Your body language indicates continued reluctance. You have more to tell us.”
He sighed. “Yeah, there is. The other thing they want, the big thing really, is...” Smith rolled his shoulders and studied his shoes for a few moments.
“Yes?”
“Well... they want your power supply.”
There was a moment of silence. Then Smith felt the floor drop away from under his feet and the wall whirled around to slam into his back. The clipboard clattered away. His clothes were painfully tight. St. George had wrapped shirt, tie, and coat into his fist when he grabbed the smaller man.
“Where is he?”
“Hey, hey, hey!” Smith raised his arms as best he could in the twisted coat. He waved his palms. “I can’t... I’m not at liberty to say.”
“What’s that supposed to mean?” Ripples of heat and smoke flowed out of St. George’s mouth.
“I’m under orders not to tell you.”
“We are giving you new orders,” said Stealth.
“Look, it’s not that simple. I don’t like it either, but you need to see the big picture. You’ve got to calm down and listen if we’re going to work together, okay? You want to work with me, right?”
St. George loosened his grip and Smith slid down to the floor. “I’m listening.”
“Thank you.” He brushed the bigger wrinkles out of his shirt, adjusted his tie, and picked up his notes. “I’d like to help you. I would. But it pretty much amounts to treason and treason can get you shot around here.”
“Are citizens being executed?” asked Stealth.
“No, of course not. Hell, the stockade’s full of people who probably should’ve been executed for the crap they’ve done. But that’s bad for morale. That’s how you end up with a rebellion. And none of that helps rebuild America.”
St. George cracked his knuckles. “Where is Zzzap?”
Smith sighed. “The important thing is he’s fine and he’s safe. No one’s going to hurt him. But he’s way too valuable to the military. He’s a walking reactor, for Christ’s sake, and if these people are going to rebuild America they need power.”
Stealth crossed her arms. “Has he also been stop-lossed?”
“No,” said Smith. “They’re detaining him as a person of interest.”
“Oh, come on,” snapped St. George. “This is ridiculous.”
“Colonel Shelly must realize if we decide to free Zzzap, there is little his forces can do to stop us.”
“I wouldn’t be too sure of that,” Smith said to her. “He’s got a full brigade of soldiers, plus Captain Freedom and his company of super soldiers. Heck, there’s two tanks here somewhere.”
“It would not be enough to stop us,” said Stealth.
“Okay, think for a minute. Think about what happens if you did get him and get away. Los Angeles gets branded hostile territory. No food, no medical supplies, nothing. And once they gather enough forces they’ll just come in and take over anyway. Then we’re back to court martials.” Smith shook his head. “You have to play ball.”
“Like you have?” asked Stealth.
“Yeah,” he said, “just like I have. You have to understand. America’s in pieces and these guys are the glue. They’re trying to save the country they swore to protect. It’s nothing personal.” He sighed and tossed his clipboard on the table. “Your best bet is just to go with it. Tomorrow the two of you will go home to Los Angeles. Everyone there will still think you’re heroes.”
*