Escaping My Shadows

A Beginning and an End

Archer stands in the interrogation room, just a few feet in front of Walker, who is still tightly strapped to the interrogation chair. Additional straps have been added to hold Walker's head still and to prevent him from dislodging the microscopic electrodes implanted into his skull. Wires run from his head to a special machine that will intensify the mental attack on his mind. Archer knows more than likely the intensity of the interrogation will result in the mind death of Dave Walker. At best Walker will be what he himself called a mind zombie. But Archer will know where the telepaths and their families have gone and he will know what else Walker has planned.

To either side of the room two rows of chairs have been set up. Twelve advanced telepaths, the cream of the crop, sit in the chairs, mentally preparing themselves for an interrogation of who may be the most powerful telepath Psy Corps has ever dealt with.

Archer sees that Walker's eyes are open and he stares straight ahead. So far he has shown no emotion or reaction and his eyes appear to be glazed over. Archer is not surprised, considering all of the drugs being pumped into Walker. In addition to sedatives and psychic dampening drugs they have added what some would call truth serums. Psy Corps will do anything it can to extract Walker's secrets.

"Hi, Bruce." Archer looks at Walker's face. His eyes no longer appear glazed. They glance from one side of the room to the other. "Whew, I guess by the expression on your face and the backup you've brought all sorts of hell have broken loose back in Psy Corps land. Can't say I'm sorry it's happened."

"Why, Dave, why have you turned your back on your people?"

Walker laughs. "My people. Good God, man, my people? If I had known then what I know now I would have told that Psy Corps lieutenant who sucked me into this to shove it ... oh, sorry, looks like she's here. Hi, Lieutenant. Oh, it's captain now, huh?"

Archer turns to look at Captain Jacquard. She lowers her blushing face.

"My people. Everyone is my people, as they should be yours. Not just telepaths, but the normies as well. The things your people have done. Forcing telepaths to join. If they refuse or don't cooperate you stick them into one of those damnable hospitals. The forced breeding ... how many women have been raped to help create your master race? How many of them had their minds destroyed but you still used their bodies. Man, that's just sick. What about all the others you raped mentally. You sick disgusting bastards. And how you got this ship ...."

Walker's statement hinting at the circumstances of how the William James was obtained shocks several of the telepaths who knew about it or were actually involved.

"Oh, yeah, don't think I don't know about that. Want to guess where Captain Bryce is? I know exactly where he, and the others are. Or, to be more precise, were."

Archer curses. "If Earth Fleet learns that the captain was not killed in a suicide attack but is still alive and being used by Psy Corps–"

Walker interrupts his thoughts. "I guess you decided not to wait to get me back to Earth. Well, good luck. I've been wondering if this day would happen. Not sure if anyone could prepare for this, but I'm as ready as I'll ever be ... I'd be careful though, I might have had one of my friends put in a self-destruct command somewhere. Trigger it and poof, all you'll want to know becomes nothing but mental goo."

Archer sees Walker squeeze his eyes shut and grimace. "Oh, not fair ... some of you have ... already ... started ...."

Archer looks at the telepaths. All of them are focused on Walker. He realizes they tried to attack while Walker was focused on talking to Archer instead of on his mental defense. Archer nods to the technicians who run the feedback machines. They increase the power levels that interfere with the subject telepath's brain waves to make it easier to access their mind. He's seen the results of what happens to the uncooperative telepath when these machines are used. Some of the 'mind zombies' who captured Walker are the result of using these machines.