Dragon

[DerVVulfman]

Chapter Twenty One
That Burning Sensation

“Damien did... what?!?” the General asked, astounded.

“The doc’s gon rogue, General. I think he’s trying to use Fox to start up some kind of race war. I’ve never heard anything like it. You had to know.”

“Yeaaaaaaah, but how long has he been doing this shit?” He puffed a cigar.

“I’m guessing when we went after Pure Skumm on the last mission you authorized, it gave him an idea to incite things further. He--”

The cigar dropped. “What the hell is Pure Skumm? The last mission I authorized was for Minnesota. What the hell is going on?”

Hunt’s jaw slackened. “Oh, my God. Shit. Excuse me, sir, but-- he’s been playing us big-time. That whole last mission was unauthorized, and nobody knew it but HIM. Three men wasted for nothing. Dammit!”

“The ultimate black-Op,” the General realized, mouth wide open. Hunt waited expectantly. “Hunt... get all the men together on Deck 1... all of ‘em... and put Doc Roberts under arrest.”

“Yes, sir. What about Fox?”

“We’ll get to that. First, get the men.”

“Yes, sir.”

? ? ?

Some minutes earlier, back in Roberts’s bedroom, Becky and the doctor were still going at it like two stubborn bulls. Finally, he slid his door open. “All right, then! The mission’s tomorrow! You sleep in the damn hall! Get out!”

“TOMORROW? NO! I WON’T--”

[tabindent]“I’ve heard THAT before. Don’t worry, I’ll make you! NOW GET OUT!!” he shouted. She rushed past before he could change his mind, then he slammed the door furiously. Damn her, he thought, his mind teetering on complete breakdown.

Becky felt on the verge of vomiting. She walked quickly but pointlessly down several corridors, past more than a few soldiers, just trying to find someplace where she could be by herself. Her old room was off-limits, and no doubt being repaired for future bribery. She passed numerous overhead cameras and figured the soldiers didn’t need to trail her directly. Why can’t I find just one window so I can drop right out of it and be gone for good? she despaired.

She ended up in the one place she really didn’t need to see again, the immense military testing facility. It was completely barren except for its fireproof walls and the tank she spent hours in. It made her nauseous. She stumbled to the middle of the room, feeling her stomach spasm, then knelt down and threw up... fire.

There was just one problem.

She hadn’t flicked her fingers at all. The fire came up by itself.

NO! Becky screamed in her mind. No, please, no-- shut it off, flick it off! She flicked. The flames continued. No, God, no! She clamped her mouth shut, reflicked her fingers, the opened. Fire shot out. No, no, no! Please! She clamped again, flicked, opened. Fire. Clamped. Flicked, Opened. Fire. Flicked. Still fire. Flicked again. More fire. Flicked. Fire. Flick, fire, flick, fire, flickflickflick...

The only thing to do was shut her mouth...