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Big Brother and online Hunger games.

Short scifi story. Part 1. Not suitable for every reader

May 10, 2013 by Grant
Please plussed if you've enjoyed it and would like to read the next part.

Author:  Grant
Translated to English by: Grant

DISCLAIMER:  THE OPINIONS OF CHARACTERS IN THIS STORY REFLECT ONLY THE OPINIONS OF THE CHARACTERS, NOT THOSE OF THE AUTHOR.  PLEASE DO NOT COPY IT WITHOUT INFORMING AND CREDITING THE AUTHOR.

This might NOT be suitable for young readers.  I do not force anyone to read it.  You CHOOSE whether or not you do. 

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“Your wife will die in the next few days.  Take a few seconds to come to terms with it.”

These words snapped the soldier back to reality.  He slowly lifted his head toward the speaker.

Despite the swelling in both his eyes (insignificant damage compared to the torture he had to endure in the past three days) the soldier managed to focus his gaze in the man in front of him.  An unshaven savage with a black beret on his head and a cigar in his mouth.  He identified the savage immediately.  It was Eduardo Bernero, leader of the rebels, a pathetic rip off of Che Guevara. 

Bernero continued:  “Oh, yes, we know who you are and who your wife is, Agent Frank Marcus Davis.  And your precious Jessica… One of my men is on his way to her parents’ house in Lincoln, Nebraska.  She’s finished.”

Bernero paused for a moment to puff on his cigar, and, of course, to give Davis a moment to reflect on his words, to internalize that he knows where his in-laws live, where his wife is.

“Even if you break right this second and give us the information that we tried to extract from you in… how do you Americans call it… enhanced interrogation techniques?  Even if you do so, you have to be punished for your refusal to cooperate.  So she’s dead.  The question is… what about your children?”

Davis wanted to say something, something like “you leave my family out if this” or “if you touch them I’ll murder you” or any other empty threat, but he knew that the man in front of him had been threatened in the past, and nothing he could say will change the situation to his advantage.  He also knew that Bernero will never cancel the order of his wife’s assassination.  He will never see Jessica ever again.

“I’ve read your file, Agent Davis.  Did you really think that just because you pretend to be friends of the rebels we’ll refrain from planting spies in your country?  Did you really think you can come here and do whatever mission you’d like, on our soil, without confiding in us first?”

Davis smiled.  “I’ve read your file as well, Bernero.  A Harvard graduate, correct?  I’m a Yale man myself, but that does not mean there can’t be peace between our peoples.”

Bernero smiled back.  “For three days my men have been trying to ask you one simple question.  About forty kilometers to your left is the castle of Adam Schneider.  Your government wants to execute him, and I want to execute him.  You Americans have supplied me with more weapons and money than I can manage just so I’d take down the dictator, you’ve coordinated positions with me perfectly so I could take down the dictator, you’ve helped me recruit people and take over half the villages in this area so I’ll take down the dictator, and then, all of the sudden, right before I give you Schneider’s head on a silver platter, all of the sudden I learn that you and your friends are planning your own operation against him, and leaving me out of the game, with all of the men and money you’ve helped me organize exactly for that cause.  That seems very suspicious to me, Davis.  Does it not look suspicious to you?”

“I haven’t talked until today.  What makes you think I’ll talk now?”

Bernero smiled.  “You’re going to die today.  Your wife will join you soon.  Meanwhile I’ll also kill Schneider, and as many Americans as are willing to stand in my way.  I’ll get my information in either case.  The way I get it depends on the amount of love you have for your children.”

Davis realized he’s gotten to the end of the road, and he must make a choice.  Without thinking, he convinced himself that the sacrifice of his own children will not help protect his country’s secrets.

Davis breathed heavily, as if the revealing the information will cause him greater physical pain than the torture, and greater emotional pain than the death of his family.  But what choice did he have?  Bernero will go to war with Schneider anyway, will kill Jessica anyway, so what does the sacrifice of the children accomplish?

“Fine, you’ve won, Bernero.  The truth is we’ve received reports that Schneider put his hand on a top secret American technology, something that had not been seen in the past, something that very few people know about.  We were not told what it was, but apparently it’s something that can change the world.  This is all I know.  We didn’t come here to plan a secret mission against you, Bernero, but only against Schneider.  We wanted to put our hands on that technology before it’s sold to Ahmadinejad, and before you’ll get to it.  We were not told what technology it is.  Not even all government secretaries know what it is.”

Bernero contemptuously spitted his cigar at Davis.  “You treat your ally like an enemy?  This is how you build trust?
Davis laughed.  “Who are you to preach us?  You’re on this land against Schneider’s will, just like me.  You’re conspiring to topple him, just like me.  You’ve killed, and you’re betraying your allies, and you’re planning to murder children!”

Bernero sent his hand behind his back and pulled a Berretta pistol.  He aimed it to Davis’ head.  “Hey, like Woody Allen says, “Whatever Works”, right?  Now tell me about that technology, for the children.”

“I’ve told you everything!  We weren’t told anything!  We don’t know anything!”

“Then tell me the rumors.”

“I don’t know!”  Cried Davis.  “I know that we’re talking about equipment light years away from anything that was ever seen, and I know that Schneider holds it in a bunker under his castle.  We were made clear that it’s better to destroy that equipment than let it fall in foreign hands.  Over two hundred people are going to storm the castle.  So good luck to you against the entire US Central Intelligence Agency, okay?”

Bernero lowered his pistol a bit and gazed into Davis’ face, in silence and in awe. 
“You haven’t given me much.  In fact, you’ve given me less than your friends.  Which is weird as they’re single men with no children and so it was harder to create mental leverage on them before they were executed.”

Davis rose, his hands still bound to his chair, which was now dangling behind him.  “You stinkin traitor!”  He spewed at Bernero.

No muscle moved in Bernero’s face.  “Sit!”  He ordered.

Davis was furious.  How can this punk even dare to go to war against the American nation?  And how the hell does he know so much about a black ops force that not even the top officials in the American government know about?  The only comfort, Davis knew, is that his group was so secret, that even the exposure of some of its members has to narrow the suspect list to less than ten names.  The double agent who works for Bernero, who ever it is, must know he’ll be caught soon.

The gun in Bernero’s hand made Davis rethink his moves.  He had to remind himself that these were his last moment, the final part of the marathon, the part where you only have to get to the finish line.  All goals in his life, those he strived to get for himself, his family, and his country, were now divided into two simple categories:  Those he had completed, and those he will never complete.  All but one goal that remained open:  To secure the future of the children before his own life ends.  And if the American government doesn’t like that, the American government can go fuck itself.

Davis sat down obediently.  “You’ve asked all I know so I’ve given all I know.”
“Okay.”  Bernero said silently.
“So you will spare my children, right?”
Bernero continues to stand in silence.
“Right???”
A bullet split the heart of Frank Marcus Davis.

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Lisa went over her papers one last time.  Yes, it was all there, in order.  All that was left now is one final phone call.  She rose from her laptop and started walking toward the phone, passing the television on her way.  On the screen was the face of Vice President Walter Tillman, who was mumbling something about the importance of helping the rebels, and how much the Cooper administration is obligated to do anything to fight Adam Schneider.  That idiot, Tillman, must be fantasizing about the elimination of all of Latin America.  Whatever.  He and Cooper can both go to hell.

Just as Lisa leaned toward the receiver on the wall, the phone began to ring.  She picked it up.  “Hello?”

“Hey, Lisa?  It’s Bethany.  I’m sorry I’m late.  I’ll literally be in the elevator in a minute.  Okay?”

“Oh, hey, Bethany.  No sweat.  You’re just on time.  I’ll be right out.  I’ll see you in a minute.”
“Okay, bye.”

They both hung up.  Lisa leaned in toward Connor, who was sitting there, quietly looking out the window.

“Hey, Connor.”  Lisa whispered.  “I don’t have much time, but it’s important that you’ll always know I love you, that everything I’ve done my entire life was only in the interest of helping the weak, and that I’ve made sure you’ll be taken care of, for your entire life.  The babysitter is on her way, so you will not be alone for too long.  But I have to go out, okay?”

Lisa lifted the cradle Connor was sitting in, and turned it so he’ll face away from the window.  Then she moved away from him, walked toward the window, opened the glass, and leaned forward.

Lisa Kravitz lived with her one year old child on the 17th floor.

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Stay tuned for part 2, and please plus.

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Sent by Jenna2010,May 10, 2013

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