The New Haven Incident - Part Twenty-Eight

Sebastian stepped over the wire. It was a clumsy trap, easily spotted along the path through the jungle he now trod. The smell of explosives and the charred remains of several trees hinted that it had worked before, however.

The feeling of being watched prickled at the back of his neck. He had no doubt that his quarry was hunting him in turn. This did not surprise him. Berkley was the most dangerous man in The Department for a reason.

A sudden pain in his chest stopped Sebastian in his tracks. He stumbled, bringing himself short of another wire trap. He shook his head, staring down at the wire, panting. He straightened, bringing his breathing under control. Scowling, he shifted his weapon and looked around.

Something was wrong. It wasn’t that he had been sent on what must surely be a suicide mission. It was not that The Department was hoping he would succeed where two kill squads had failed. It wasn’t that he would have to face the man who trained him, or that it was his objective to kill him. It was something else. Something intangible.

Forcing the thoughts from his mind and resuming his careful walk, Sebastian moved forward. He followed the twist in the path, stopping as he met the first of the corpses - a headless member of the second kill squad, skewered on a sharpened stick. Sebastian’s gaze flickered to the name on the patch at the corpse’s breast. Cpt. Biska. He closed his eyes a moment. He had met the captain briefly a number of years ago. He had been a jovial man with kind eyes. Sebastian had liked him instantly.

“I’m sorry,” Sebastian murmured before moving down the path.

Heads on spikes, bodies swinging from the trees and one artfully posed corpse propped against a tree with its middle finger extended greeted Sebastian as he moved forward. Shaking his head, he passed each one, aware that Berkley was dogging his steps.

Just steps away from the clearing ahead, a twig snapped behind him. He spun, lifting his rifle. It didn’t get very far. Berkley was on him, pushing the nose of the rifle down and holding it as he delivered a powerful punch to Sebastian’s chest. The pain of the strike stopped his heart a moment, robbing him of his breath as he flew backwards. He landed hard on his back and rolled to his feet, narrowly missing the underside of Berkley’s boot. He drew his knife, but that was batted away as soon as it left the sheath at his shoulder.

Berkley’s gnarled hand wrapped around Sebastian’s throat and the former Master Sergeant lifted him easily from the ground.

“Getting slow, pretty boy,” Berkley sneered.

Sebastian snarled in response. It was not the first time Berkley had called him that. Each time it was pejorative, the reason why the Master Sergeant believed Sebastian was soft or undisciplined or incapable.

“Fuck you,” Sebastian grunted. He swung one leg over Berkley’s arm, pushing down on his bicep with his heel. He threw the other knee upwards, aiming to collide with Berkley’s elbow. The maniac had no choice but to drop Agent Connors, or he’d have a broken arm.

Sebastian scrambled to his feet and faced Berkley, his hands up, prepared to fight. Berkley grinned and launched himself forward. Their engagement was impossibly fast, each block and counter happening faster than the eye could catch. Instinct and, ironically, Berkley's training, kept Sebastian on his feet and unharmed.

“Just give up,” Berkley growled. “Let it happen, Connors.”

“Go to hell,” Sebastian answered.

They engaged again. Fast as lighting they danced around each other, moving in and out, blocking and striking.

“Not ready to die yet?” Berkley said as he grabbed Sebastian’s arm before the agent’s elbow could strike his face. Sebastian narrowed his eyes at him. “Then why are you?”

“Wha—?” Sebastian lost his ability to speak as Berkley struck him full force in the chest, lifting him from the ground and throwing him backwards. He landed hard on his back, losing his vision momentarily.

Mendez jumped back as Sebastian’s back arched. The agent took a deep, gasping breath in, before slumping back onto the gurney. Dr. Liu stepped forward, pressing his fingers against the agent’s neck. He needn’t have checked. Sebastian shuddered, breathing in again. His blue eyes fluttered open.

Lilith rushed forward, wrapping Sebastian in a close hug. There were tears on her cheeks when she pulled away. Clearly confused, Sebastian looked up at her, lost, it seemed, in her dark eyes. He managed a small smile before his eyes rolled and his body relaxed. His breathing did not slow or stop.

Mendez felt his shoulders drop as the tension left his body in a single, great wave. He was suddenly exhausted. He looked up at Dr. Liu, who, surprised at the agent’s recovery, was quietly assessing Sebastian around his daughter, who refused to let the agent go.

“Well,” Dr. Liu said at length. “A burn on his chest, but otherwise stable.” He looked at his daughter and shook his head.

“Is he…?” Mendez started.

“Asleep, Warrant Officer. Simply asleep.”

“Oh.” Mendez smiled. “Thank God.”

“I’m not sure He had much to do with this.” Sighing, Dr. Liu reached across to tap Lilith’s arm. She pulled her gaze away from Sebastian.

“We all could use some sleep,” Dr. Liu said. “You’re going to stay?”

Lilith nodded in affirmation. Someone has to keep an eye on his vitals.

Dr. Liu grunted. “Don’t neglect your own, Lil.”

To this, Lilith answered with a gentle smile. She took her father’s hand and with her spare signed, Thank you.

James nodded. He squeezed Lilith’s hand and then straightened. He rubbed the side of his face and turned to Mendez. “There are some more gurneys in the next room. Feel free to take one for yourself.”

“Will do.”

Nodding as if to himself, Dr. Liu turned and exited the treatment room, turning left to head back down to the computer room at the entrance of this particular lab.

Mendez straightened and stretched, working the residual tension from his limbs as he watched Lilith. She had returned her attention to Sebastian’s face. He looked angelic now that he was asleep. Mendez smiled softly.

“Hey,” he said gently, getting Lilith’s attention. “I’m going to grab some Z’s. I’ll just be next door, so you come and get me if there’s anything you need, okay?”

Lilith smiled at him and nodded. Mendez grunted. He turned to Sebastian and patted him companionably on the shoulder. “Well done, Connors,” he said. “See you when you’re up.”

His only answer was a deep breath. Grinning, Mendez made his way from the room to find a place to rest.

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