Day 260 - Repeat Offenders - Chapter 13.1 - (1085 words)

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REPEAT OFFENDERS

By Wayne Webb

CHAPTER 13.1

Mike was angry, that was normal enough for him, the rage he felt inside was far from a unique feeling for him. His way in the world was paved by the blitzkrieg of his temperament. The thing that worked at him, gnawed at him was how impotent it made him feel in the moment now. He wanted to tear apart his bonds and leap across the room, grab the offending scientist by the throat and squeeze until the flesh gave up and tore, soaking them all in blood.

That image was dominating his mind even as his body screamed for release, he could see it in his mind, he could feel the slippery fluid of the man's life seeping into the sleeves of the shirt he was wearing. Gloved in the man's blood he stood in his own reality far away from the inability to move or effect any change. The ropes that tightened when he strained against them were causing an extra reaction in him, he was draining of energy and purpose in his body, the complete opposite of his thinking.

His arms and legs felt like lead in his clothes, and were he to free himself suddenly it was more likely he would have keeled over before killing anyone. This sensation was new to him, instead of the unstoppable force he became when his ire was raised, instead he was collapsing in on himself, he had become a hollow man, and shell unable to support it's own mass. His head lolled about on his neck, like a baby without the muscle development.

To the others around him it looked like he was having a fit, an episode of madness, sickness or blind rage maybe? Not one of them could have known of understood what was happening to Michael, he could not comprehend it so how would they be able to?

“Bastard.” he spat as his head kept flicking from side to side, the flecks of saliva doing nothing to aid the perception that he was losing it, was uncontrolled and blind with fury or insane.

Brian Prime sneered at the man in response, it was hard to take him seriously with no focus, no ability to present a credible front. It made no difference to his desire to keep the man locked up, tied down to the chair and out of harms way, there was the possibility of a ruse where he would leap up and take his price, exact his vengeance once the 'coast was clear'. So he was not going to take any chances, he was he going to let the bound man take the upper hand again.

“You have no idea what is going on, you don't have a clue. So why don't you just sit there and shut up and let the clever people talk? When we need someone punched, we'll call you... if one of the Ivans isn't free.” Putting him in his place, reminding him that he was replaceable, by more than one version of the junior team member he brought in. Adding insult to injury, Brian was doing exactly what Mike had been trying to accomplish.

Show no fear.

“Fucking kill you.” Mike stammered through the words but his head hung low as he could barely keep it level to stare down the scientific mind that taunted him.

“See? This is why we can't free him! One chance, that's all he needs and he could kill us all!” Brian Prime sat back with his arms folded, his case made.

“Except he won't though.” Said Ivan Prime, the one who was left behind.

“You just heard him!” Brian stared at the younger man incredulously, taking all the effort he had to not roll his eyes in disbelief. Pissing on the people who are on your side was not the most effective of tactics.

“You said he could kill us all. He said he would kill. You. Just you.” Ivan held his palms up to finish the sentence with a 'so what' gesture.

“Really? You think a man who could kill one of us, would not hesitate to kill all of us?” Brian was pressing his advantage but the room was no more sympathetic to him than it was to the strangely incapacitated Mike.

“Am I always this much of a douchebag?” Brian Two asked Ivan Prime.

Ivan Prime in turn considered his answer very carefully. Today had been a shocker for him, he saw the other him, Ivan Two, staring at him most of the time strenuously avoiding contact with him and keeping out of his way. He also saw that the man he was only hours before, days maybe in real time but not many, was very different from the man he was now. Ivan Two had the intellectual knowledge, the same as Ivan Prime, but without experiencing the fear and revelations that Ivan Prime had? That was a different person staring back at himself.

“I don't know exactly.” he said finally. “There are moments of 'douchebaggery' sure, but they are... when you get angry and frustrated I can see the similarities for sure. Only then though.”

Harold White cleared his throat and then raised a hand as if asking permission to speak. No one said anything or made any concessions, so he sighed and spoke anyway. He was out of his depth with the criminal element, with the men that spoke with their fists and rode rough shod over people who disagreed with them. Harold had his fair share of those moments, when in his chosen career he held life and death in his hands. Usually it was a slow death, but one just as shocking and inevitable once foreclosure or denial had occurred. The opposite was also true where his beneficence could be just as terrifying and controlling.

“So the only real difference is what? The cancer? Cancer makes you a dickhead that can't be trusted?” He pointed this at Brian Prime who scoffed.

“I'm just trying to find a cure, to save my life, I'm not killing ...”His voice stopped moving but his eyes widened slightly at his choice of words. He was not admitting to killing anyone.

“Look, it's not the same.” he started.

“ Really? You think a man who could kill one of us, would not hesitate to kill all of us?” Brian Two through his counterpart's words back in his face and waited for a response.