Killer Instinct

Chapter VII

VII.

At 0630 hours I was up and ready for Mission Red Recapture.

First stop? A private recon room where the healer would bruise me up, suck the water from my body to mimic dehydration and other injuries that would attest to my hostage situation. The Resistance was playing this to the hilt, and there was no room for halfway doing anything according to Apollo.

"We haven't had a chance to officially end the MIA." Apollo told me as the healer put splotchy bruises on my face and bloodied my nose. Thankfully I couldn't feel a damn thing since they'd had the forethought to numb me. "My dad wants to make sure we get this perfectly right."

"I'm sure he does," I rolled my eyes. I didn't know why Apollo was here. Of course I preferred his presence to his father's, but not by much.

"Don't fuck this up, Isley. We can't afford to lose this opportunity." Apollo's laser green eyes cut through me with mistrust.

Ah. He was still bitter about me threatening him and his father yesterday.

"As long as I get my freedom, you have no reason to worry." I purred, watching him through narrowed eyes. "Unless of course, you're planning to double-cross me. Because then you'd have a reason to worry."

Apollo gave me a disgusted look. "My father is a man of his word. If he told you he would let you walk, then he's letting you walk."

"And for some reason I don't believe he meant it." I smirked at Apollo. "And if he doesn't mean it, you won't have to worry about me killing him."

"Oh really?" Apollo smirked. "That's nice to hear."

"I know. Because I'll be killing you."

Apollo's face whitened for a brief second with anger, veins bulging from his forehead.

"Just a friendly warning. Something to keep in mind." I laughed at him.

"You're a crazy bitch, don't you know?" Apollo exploded, his tone venomous as ever.

I shrugged. "Take it up with the person who made me that way. Otherwise this crazy bitch has a mission to do."

"All done." The healer said. "She's weak with dehydration and fatigue from little sleep. Her brain will find it hard to focus, making the telepath's job a lot easier."

"Excellent." Apollo kissed the woman's cheek. "Send in Rachelle for me."

The healer gave a little bow, to which I found weird. I opened my mouth to comment when Apollo turned to me with a big smile on his face.

"I'm really going to enjoy what comes next. Feel free to take it perfectly personal."

I crinkled my brow in confusion. "What?"

"Oh, you'll see soon enough."

A tiny red-headed woman entered the room, her face relaxed yet focused.

"You've read the debriefing on what we want done?" Apollo asked. I swayed slightly in my seat, starting to feel the effects of the dehydration and fatigue. It was a struggle to maintain consciousness for a second as I fought the urge to faint. I'd been doing so much of that lately I was sick to death of it.

"Yes." The woman said. "I must say, I've never done this before. Do you think her psyche can take it?"

"It's a small risk my father is willing to take." Apollo answered. "Just make sure it gets done. If there are any complications, we will proceed from there."

The woman didn't answer. She simply studied my face for a long moment. As if she were satisfied, she put both hands on either side of my head and closed her eyes.