The Betrayal revised Chapter 26 (90% new writing)

Rising in the center of Washington DC, was the Senate Building. A short building, only thirty stories, the buildings around it dwarfed it. However it was here that all legislation was crafted, making it the focal point of the government.

Senator Andrew Rollins looked at Thad Brindle across his desk. Leaning back in his chair, he sighed. Things were starting to move too fast, he mused, especially with the ‘terrorist attack.’ Carver was using the crisis to get bills that allowed all sorts of Government intrusions passed in reaction to it.

They say the death of liberty comes in small increments, he thought with a groan. But it seems to me that it dies all at once now!

“So let me get this straight,” he said, his eyes on the small sensor scrambler on his desk. All Carver’s listening ears would get was a conversation about vacation spots for his staff. “Almir went to Haven after all?”

“That is correct,” Brindle nodded. “But in her defense, sir, Beatty didn’t give her much choice.”

“I don’t give a damn what he did,” Rollins said with a sigh. “The woman is our key weapon.”

How could she allow herself to be played like that, he wondered. What was she thinking when she took on the mission? Didn’t she realize it was a death sentence? For someone who managed to survive everything, she sure didn’t use her head much!

Reyes hadn’t helped things out; he fumed, with his handling of the situation. The memory block was the dumbest thing he had ever heard done! Why hadn’t the man just gone out and tried to turn her against them?

And killing Matthews was totally unnecessary, he thought as he looked at the ceiling in consternation. From what his reports were saying, the damn memory block was going to fail anyway…her will was too strong not to break it. What did Claudio think he was gaining by killing the one man who truly knew how her bionics worked?

“Sir,” Brindle said, breaking the long silence.
“She might have been our weapon, but I know from personal experience that we’ve grievously injured her mentally.”

“That’s an understatement if I’ve ever heard one,” Rollins said. “Just what the hell was your superior thinking?”

“I honestly wonder that myself, sir,”

“Either way,” Rollins said. “We know she’s on Haven now?”

“Yes, sir,” Brindle said. “And Johansson’s got a five man death squad waiting for her.”

“Oh ****,” Rollins groaned as he placed his head in his hands. He ran his hands back through his hair as he groaned in frustration. “This can’t be happening!”

“I’m afraid it is, sir,” Thad said. “And if something isn’t done, I’m afraid she’s going to perish out there.”

“What do you think we can do about it?” Rollins stroked his chin in thought. “We don’t have anyone on Haven that I know of.”

“You could pressure Reyes, sir,” Brindle said. “To send her someone to help her.”

“How long would it take for a message to get to Reyes?”

“With the new FTL transmitters?”

“Yes, Thad,”

“It would be a six hour delay,”

“Too damn long,” Rollins groaned. “This can’t be happening…”

Before brindle could speak again, the com system buzzed for attention. Rollins noted the origination of the message, and he placed his scrambler on it. With it reasonably secure, he opened the channel.

“Yes, Reyes,”

“Almir’s on Haven, sir,” Reyes said.

“Brindle just informed me of that fact, Admiral,”
Rollins said. “Could you possible **** up the handling of her anymore?”