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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Lazybones" data-source="post: 5095196" data-attributes="member: 143">Session 16 (August 4, 2008)Chapter 55The cell had been situated on a little-used sublevel of the base, originally intended for maintenance access.  As they descended a narrow staircase, Jane, James, and Vasily could see where cables had been hastily rigged to provide power.  The followed the cabling to a door that was likewise new, warded by two alert guards.  The guards were polite but thorough, verifying the IDs of the Alphas before letting them through.  Beyond was a foyer where another guard kept watch, and to their surprise, they found Eleazar Perez there as well. “What are you doing here?” James blurted.  “Thought I’d see the traitor for myself,” the Beta replied, his lips curling into a sneer.  “What we should do, is take him up to 20,000 feet and push him out the door.”“We don’t have the luxury of that at the moment, Eleazar,” Jane said.  “Well, you want to talk to him go right ahead, but I’m outta here,” Eleazar said.  With a nod to the guard, who opened the door for him, the Beta left.  The Alphas shared a look.  “Ready for this?” James asked.  “Don’t let the bastard off easy.”“Keep your distance, please,” the guard said, as they headed toward the interior door.  “You can talk through the door, just don’t mess with it.”They continued into a small chamber dominated by the cell holding the African scientist.  The cell had been constructed out of armored glass, giving him no privacy.  A cot, chair, sink, and a simple toilet were the only fixtures.  A camera observed from high in a corner. Doctor Okwelume rose slowly from his bunk, and came to the armored-glass door of his cell.  He looked like he had aged a decade in just a few days.  "I understand that you want my assistance on the reactor project," he said. “That is what Beluca want,” Vasily said. “And what is it that you want, Vasily?”The Russian said nothing, his jaw tightening.  “Doctor, what can you tell us?” James asked.“I have shared everything that I know with your interrogators,” Okwelume said.  “I am happy to dedicate my knowledge to X-COM; I bear no animus for this body, nor any love for the aliens.”“I’m glad to hear that,” James said with a nod, “as the aliens appear to be trying to kill us all.”“If you allow me to work on the project, I will submit to whatever security protocols you see fit to impose.”“When we can get the okay, we’d like to begin,” Jane said. “What did mister Perez want?” James asked.  Okwelume shrugged.  “He wanted to know the motives for my actions.  Or so he said; he did not seem pleased when I told him again what I told agent De Farrago, and the men who interrogated me.”“Tell us again what happened,” James said.  “I’d like to hear it from you.”Okwelume sighed.  “Very well.  I worked with an outside agent.  I believe he was Chinese, although I may be mistaken.  He worked out the details of my data sharing… ah, my treason, that is.”“Why did you work with the agent?” James asked. “Two reasons.  First, I believed… believe, that is, that the knowledge being researched here must be shared with all nations.  Second, I arranged for investment to be channeled into the area of the Niger delta where I grew up.  There is amazing poverty there.”The African drew back and sat on the chair before continuing.  “The delivery system was trivial to arrange.  My contact provided the flash drives, and the recovery process.  They kept their word.  The hospitals, schools, refinery, and solar power station are already being built.”“Well, it was a win-win then,” James said, a bit of an edge to his words. “Who got the data?” Jane asked. “The Israelis, Chinese, and Indians received the data directly; there may have been others.  From what I understand, much of it is on the Internet now.”Vasily looked down at the floor, and shook his head.  “I cannot apologize for what I did, but I will make it up to you, if you wish me to work on the reactor project.  If you do not trust me enough, I understand.”“So what we need from you is simple, and you seem to have agreed to it already, to work on the reactor,” Jane said. “I will do what I can,” Okwelume said. “We are concerned you would just repeat the exercise with the reactor project,” James pointed out.  “And that would let the aliens know exactly what to expect.”“And is not that simple,” Vasily added.  “Americans want to take you into custody.”“I understand.”“What?” Vasily pressed.  “What do you understand.”“They want to… what is the expression… put the water on the board?”The Alphas shared a look.  “I understand that they wish to subject me to their usual methods,” Okwelume continued. ”I suppose that if I were in your situation, I would do the same.”“They are vague, but the vagueness speaks volumes,” Jane said.  “And what do you think about that?” Vasily asked.  “You okay with that?”Okwelume laughed, but it was a bitter sound.  “You think I am eager to undergo torture?  I am not.  But I knew there would be consequences when I took my actions.”“Can you promise not to provide any more information outside of X-COM without authorization?” James asked. “I will cooperate with whatever restrictions you deem necessary.  I don’t imagine they’d let me access a computer with outside contact in any case.”“That isn’t what I asked you, Doctor.”“I am sorry.  I cannot make that promise, Doctor Allen.  I must act as my conscience directs.”“Enjoy your trip, then,” James said, jerking back and turning away from the cell. “Let me put it to you like this,” Vasily said.  “France already surrendered to aliens.  How long you think it be before some African warlord sees aliens as path to control of country, even whole continent?”“Not long at all, I imagine.  I am fully aware of the historical problems of my people, Vasily.  I suspect some Africans would welcome an alien invasion, as long as they brought food and protection.  But that does not obviate my concerns.  There are things about this organization that are noble.  But surely you can see that there are also things about it that are… troubling.”“All right,” Vasily said, letting out a breath.  “We will let you know.”“I will await your decision, either way,” Okwelume said.  He laid back on his cot, and took out a dogeared copy of a book.“He’s not a team player, guys,” James said, once they were back out in the corridor.  “We gotta let him go.”“We not talk about that here,” Vasily said.  They didn’t talk more as they made their way back up toward the main level of the base.  In her office, Agent Drake watched them go on her monitor.  On the right side of her screen, a second window showed Okwelume’s cell, where the doctor lay reading.  After a moment, the FBI agent frowned, and reached for her phone.</blockquote>

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