ROT

Chapter 7

   "Don't you get it? We have to do something! I thought you would be able to understand that!" I shouted at Bauer, back in his office for the second time that day. A lot had happened- Kevin and the rest getting captured, the previous talk with Bauer, and now, Ria, Ace, and I dragging that information out of those mental civilians. That talk and the walk back had taken a while, and it was probably near midnight, though I couldn't be certain.

     "Calm down, Casie. We can't just attack a fully operational NDM squad, even if all they were doing is handing out drugs, which they're not. They have some firepower if they're killing all those civilians that Smith said, and can't be underestimated. It isn't as simple as running in there, grabbing the civilians and our members, and running out again. I thought that was something that you would be able to understand. Or are the frequent brushes with death effecting your decision making? Are you fit for duty, Casie?"

     "Of course I am! I just feel useless, sitting around here while they're probably torturing him right now!"

     Bauer sighed, running a hand over his mouth and resting an elbow on the table we were seated out. He had made sure we were alone when I said I had to speak to him, and the only other things here, besides the furniture, were the lit candles. All of the hand-crank flashlights were in the tunnels, as he wouldn't take the best for himself. The people need it more, he said, and we were left with the dim light that was barely better than the pitch blackness.

     "I don't want you going out on that mission. You've been too stressed out lately, here in the city. Too much is going on right now, and you, like everybody else, is caught in the middle of it. I can't loose one of my best soldiers because she's going mental on me."

     "I won't turn into one of the crazies around here, if that's what you mean," I reassured. But it didn't do any good.

     "That's not exactly it, Casie. These past few weeks, more importantly, the last few months have been effecting you- more importantly, your reasoning and logic. That bit before Kevin and the others got captured, about you being afraid of the NDM's surveillance? It might've been true, but it might've been a freak attack of paranoia. And I don't want to take anymore chances with you."

     "So that's where Ria got the word from," I mumbled offhandedly.

     He cleared his throat to get my attention before continuing. "That along with your declining physical condition, and not to mention with your increased rage and stress levels lately, I'll repeat it again: I don't want you going on anymore missions."

     My gaze traveled up from the graffiti on the table, and in the dim light, I could barely get a good look at his face. Maybe because it was the truth or maybe because of the profuse shadows, he looked serious. No way. So he actually...?

     "No," I choked out, and the lump that had settled in my stomach hours ago now threatened to rise up in my throat. "That can't be right. You can't be discharging me."

     "Not discharging. A hiatus, but a total lockdown this time instead of just avoiding the violence. Unfortunately, Casie, it seems to find you even in the most mundane situations."

     "If you're talking about the crazies and the gun, that was-"

     "I know already that it was Ace. He briefed me on the situation before you showed up."

     The walls to Bauer's office, instead of feeling homely and comforting like usual, now felt constricting. A prison- these tunnels weren't any better.

     "So I can't be let out of here until you say so? Just what the hell do you expect me to do during all that time?"

     He pushed himself up from his table and walked a few short steps, leading me towards the door. "For now, just talk to Danica whenever you feel like it. I'm sure she could find something for you to do, and won't hesitate to keep you busy. I'll keep you up to date on anything concerning Kevin and the others, but chances are, it'll be slow going to catch up to the NDM. I'm sure they'll have Humvees, and-"