CHAPTER 8
"Here they are the two of them," someone dressed in black stated to someone else dressed head to toe in black.
Mack and Vizio looked up and around. They were both on their knees enclosed in glass with two Retriever Swabbies standing over them. Vizio looked over at Mack. He was wearing a knitted cap, plaid shirt, a thick green coat with pockets on the arms, and blue jeans.
"My name is Vizio I am an officer A567 assigned a few days ago to go into Tunnel W," Vizio called out as he still shielded his eyes from the brightness. "Please dim the lights. I need your commanding officer."
"You are talking to the commanding officer," a Retriever above him pushed him toward the glass. "Chief this is Officer Vizio and Mack McGregor the tracker confirms it."
"Chief, if you will," Vizio started. "Time is limited. Can you please dim the lights sir?"
"Maam," a voice called back through the glass.
"Maam, I am sorry. I should know better my superior officer is a woman," Vizio stated. The lights dimmed. "Thank you Chief. As I was saying. Mack here has important information. I need quick authorization to get him into the Center quickly to discuss a deal."
"Deals we do not . . ." Chief started.
"Chief all due respect it is important we are brought through," Vizio stated and tried to stand. The Retriever above him pushed him down.
"Let them through," Chief ordered. The Retrievers pulled a device from the wall and held it against Mack and Vizio's trackers. The felt a small burn on their arms. Both entered the Center.
Mack and Vizio looked around the room. The walls were covered with flat screens with red blips on the screen. Each screen was labeled with letters. The both of them were surrounded by people covered head to toe in black. The guards standing were heavily armed with guns, and full battle gear. Several Swabbies sat at computers and were tapping the screens and their keyboards. They too were dressed head to toe in black, but no battle gear. Vizio spotted the screen labeled W and kept moving his gaze back and forth from the screen to the Chief.
Chief was only about 5'3" tall, and sounded to be about 60-years-old.
"Chief," Vizio said as he saluted her. "On my time undercover in Tunnel W I came upon Mack. He has intelligence that suggest that not only does Rebel have a small army in the cities, but he knows how to connect and track them down. He under my direction, will give this information to us. In return he is asking for release from the tunnel."
"I can't authorize this," Chief stated.
"I know, but forgive me for the interruption," Vizio stated. "I only have a few minutes before we are detected."
"You don't have to go back in," Chief stated.
With this Mack screamed and fell on his knees grabbing the shirt of the Swabby working at the screen closest to him.
"Please don't make me go back," Mack begged. "I will do anything."
"Control your Relo," Chief said to one of the Retrievers who pulled Mack back slamming him against the glass.
"Go back we must go back. Wait there is more," Vizio stated. "Please get the High Commander connected. I don't have time to explain this twice."
"I don't think . . . " Chief started.
"We have no time! From someone who has been on the other end of High Commander's whip, please you do not want to be on his bad side," Vizio stated. From the looks of the other Officers' eyes Vizio could tell everyone knew that the Commander had sent Vizio to his death in the tunnels. The Chief motioned to someone by a big screen and High Commander Sam Day was produced on the screen.
"Chief," Sam stated.
"High Commander, I am sorry to bother you," Chief stated. Vizio looked at Tunnel W and the dots in the alcove started to disperse.
"High Commander!" Vizio yelled up to the screen. Two officers grabbed his arms.
"Ahh, one of my lost sheep," Sam answered. "Did you catch Rebel?"
"No, but I have done one better," Vizio stated as he looked at the screen and the dots continued to leave the alcove.
“30 seconds,” Mack whispered as he looked at his watch.
"I only have but thirty seconds to explain and for you to decide. Relo here has information of Rebels army. Believe me there is one. We can bring everyone of them down plus capture Rebel in the tunnels. I can get close to her and with Mack, Sindi and my doing we can deliver Rebel to you too, sir."
"Army," Sam started to laugh. "There is only one Rebel."
"Sir, all due respect, think of all the Relos saved that sure isn't the work of one person," Vizio said. "If you want Rebel and the army done with, I have the answer. I just need permission to go back into the tunnels to capture Rebel, and you to make a deal with Mack that he can leave the tunnel." Vizio looked at Tunnel W and the dots continued to move except two that stayed in the alcove.
"Who are those two dots there?" Vizio asked someone sitting under the screen. "The ones in the alcove."
"Maam?" the Officer asked. The Chief nodded. "It is Officer Sindi and William Preston."
"Who?" Vizio looked at Mack.
"Crisper," Mack whispered.
"I need an answer in 10 seconds and in less than an hour you will have Rebel standing in this Center, you have my word on it," Vizio stated.
"You are that confident," Sam answered.
"5 . . .4," Vizio stated. "Once they notice we are gone . . ."
"Yes, go!" Sam stated. With that, the Chief punched a code on the glass and Vizio stepped through. Mack stood in the Center staring at the screen.
"Mack!" Vizio called.
"My deal?" Mack asked up to Sam.
"You have my word," Sam said.
With that the two of them went into the glass enclosure. Vizio grabbed the de-tracker.
"Need this for Sindi to give her an advantage in fighting for Rebel," Vizio yelled through the glass. "I will reactivate mine in the tunnel when we have Rebel." The wall opened, they were pushed through and were back in the tunnel, but not before Mack could grab a second de-tracker.