The Silver Wolf

Chapter 4

(Silver Wolf POV)

As I made my way to Doctor Bellum's lab, I felt a growl of annoyance come up in my throat. Carmen Sandiego had been captured. I had completed my mission. So why do I have this weird feeling in my gut? I had the feeling that something wasn't right, but I didn't know why. As I walked into the lab, Doctor Bellum was watching the door, waiting for something. I walked over and sat on the bed. She came over, seeming distracted. As I was trained, I reported my strange feeling to her. She pulled out a small box, setting it aside carefully, and asked a few questions before doing anything else, constantly glancing at the door.

"How long have you been having these thoughts?"
I didn't have to think before answering, I could pinpoint the exact moment in my mind.

"Ever since Carmen Sandiego was interrogated earlier today."

Doctor Bellum nodded, like she was expecting this.

"I assumed she called you Jules?"
A flash of recognition shot through me, gone as quick as it came. I nodded, recognising the taunt as the source of my confusion. Doctor Bellum picked up the small box again when there was a knock at the door. As Countess Cleo stuck her head through the door, the doctor quickly started packing up.

"Run along now, we're done here. Go relive Tigress of her duty. You are to stand guard until further instruction."

I stood up and left, passing the countess on the way. As I walked back to the cell, I got many strange, even hostile, looks from other operatives. I ignored them and continued on my way. As I got there, I heard the back end of an insult directed at Carmen Sandiego. Internally I rolled my eyes. Insulting her wasn't going to do anything. I could see that Carmen didn't care, and was just blocking Tigress out. As Tigress saw me approach, she sighed.

"I guess that you're here to take over my post again?"
I nodded, noticing how Carmen looked up when I approached. Tigress's face went from annoyance, to anger, to... joy? Her face curled into a sneer as she looked me up and down.

"So, you're not much of a talker huh? You and that creepy mime would get along well. Once Bellum gets bored of you, you'll be tossed to the side. I'd say, a week, maybe two?"
Seemingly bored of the insults, she left. Her words didn't affect me, I was here to do a job, not make friends. I noticed that Carmen seemed furious at the operative's words, more so than when they were directed at her.

"You're just going to stand there and take that? The only way to shut up that cat is to stand up to her. Come on Jules, there's still got to be some part of you left. Even if it's only you standing up for yourself, VILE has to have left some part of your personality."

I ignored her, remembering what Doctor Bellum said. She's just trying to trick you, ignore her. I had been told not to talk to her, only to stand guard, but there was a part of me that wanted to turn around. A part of me that wanted to point out her hypocrisy. She wants me to stand up for myself, when she does the same thing as me? That's my Carmen. Standing up for me when I can't do it myself.Wait, what was I thinking? I had never interacted with her before today, certainly never with her standing up for me. Carmen was watching me curiously, so I stood up straighter and flattened my ears. I managed to tune her out, for the most part at least. Every time she said Jules, it was like an electric current went through me. I wasn't sure why; I just knew that there was something was missing. In an effort to distract myself, I went over my training again.

Rule one. Carmen Sandiego is the enemy. This rule had been engrained in me so many times it was like my personal motto. Maybe that was the point, as I had gone through many tests to make sure there was no way I would betray VILE for Carmen. If I had gone through all of this, she must have been good at convincing operatives.

Rule two. Report all odd feelings to Doctor Bellum. She had said this was because of an accident years ago. My memory was broken, meaning that with careful execution, Carmen could implant false memories. This could have been detrimental to VILE's plans, meaning I had to tell Doctor Bellum so she could help me discern the real from the fake.

Rule three. Obey all commands given by faculty. This was a given, or so I thought, but it seemed many operatives would go rouge and ignore direct commands. I still remember the 'test' of my loyalty. There was an agent who had disobeyed a direct order, and put the whole caper at risk. They were told that we were sparring, and they were merely being more training before being let back in the field. I was getting ready for a fight when Doctor Bellum whispered two words to me.

"Kill them."
And so I did. We were fighting, and I was just waiting for the perfect moment to strike. As we lunged at each other, I managed to get a chokehold off. After struggling a bit, they tapped the ground three times to signal surrender. When I didn't loosen my grip, they started to panic and struggle more. After looking helplessly at the faculty, they eventually fell unconscious. After they were subdued, I quickly used my fangs to inject a lethal dose of deadly nightshade into their bloodstream. I had stepped away from the body, with no remorse, sadness, or any feeling at all. Doctor Bellum had scribbled down something, and the other faculty just looked on in shock. I had been sent back to my room, which was separate from the other operatives. I had been told never to speak of that moment. So, I never have.

I noticed that Carmen had stopped trying to talk to me, instead muttering under her breath, seemingly planning something. I wasn't concerned, there was no way she was escaping. I kept a watchful eye on her until I got relived. I didn't know the operatives name, but he was tall, skinny and had a French accent. As I was leaving Carmen called out something to me.

"Jules, please wake up."

Sorry it's so late, I didn't fall asleep until like 5am this morning and slept in super late.