The guards are there. There's a bunch of guys standing around in
uniforms, their faces covered by bandanas and ready to go on shift
with a few people getting off shift. Without missing a beat I look to
-the officer that's working the front desk. He's a middle aged older
-guy with a beard and thick black hair. I notice at least two men
-talking to him. He nods to me and I continue on to the central area.
+the officer that's working the front desk. He's a middle aged guy with
+a beard and thick black hair who looks like he's been through a lot. I
+notice at least two men talking to him. He nods to me and I continue
+on to the central area.
Grabbing a towel, I toss it over my shoulder and push past the
officers. Walking in to the shower I take a seat in the corner to
standing around talking about playing some football in the middle of
the night when I arrive. "Not me", I tell them, "I've made two runs
around the compound and I'm beat." Still, I take a few minutes to walk
-outside with my teammate before going to bed. I can't sleep because my
-head feels like it's going to explode any minute but I can see my eyes
-glazed over. I tried a few different pills to bring some relief. It
-was hard because while they certainly helped not all of their side
+outside with my teammates before going to bed. I can't sleep because
+my head feels like it's going to explode any minute but I can see my
+eyes glazed over. I tried a few different pills to bring some relief.
+It was hard because while they certainly helped not all of their side
effects were worth the trouble.
"The perimeter has been breached," I heard the voice saying urgently
We've known each other our whole lives. I had to be the one to tell
his family.
+Before that could happen my squad leader arrived in silence, looking a
+little uncomfortable. It took him a few minutes to work up the nerve
+but he broke the silence. He said we needed to go to Central Base to
+meet with the Lieutenant Colonel and then he'd take me back.
+
+"I can drive" I offered as we approached the vehicle. "Leave me the
+wheel," he laughed and we zipped through the desert air and down the
+compound's tight, gravel trails.
+
+Pulling up before the entrance to Central Base half hour later I got
+out and went around the gravel parking lot. I had to walk through an
+armed gate in order to approach the the door. I nodded and waited for
+the door to be opened.
+
+The Lieutenant Colonel turned to face me as I walked in to her office,
+smiled, and shook my hand. "I'm glad to meet you", she said. I nodded
+and then realized I had to sit somewhere. In front of the door was a
+vinyl chair and while I sat down, I felt my arms burn up. My squad
+leader remained standing near the door.
+
+"When did you last talk to Rodrìguez?" she asked.
+
+"I haven't spoken to him since I left him in the detention center," I
+told them. "He called me this morning."
+
+In that moment the office door opens and in comes the General, who
+promptly orders me to come with him.
+
+We walk down a guarded hallway to a large white box marked "Isolation
+Cell", the exterior of which which was decorated with two small
+paintings and flowers on the walls. It had "1.0" written next to the
+sign by hand. The door was closed so that I couldn't see what was
+inside.
+
--
Copyright (C) 2019 Jason Self <j@jxself.org>
You can redistribute and/or modify this under the terms of the GNU