“Our relationship was not like you are making it out to be,” she said indignantly.
“Dinner at your place? What would you call that?”
“I would call it talk.”
“I’m sure you would,” he said sarcastically.
“General, I am not one of your little lackeys that run around after you like a puppy dog. I don’t care what you think one way or the other. We have achieved a remarkable breakthrough here and that is what I care about. You can just keep your speculation and demeaning remarks to yourself,” she said, letting the anger in her voice raise.
“This is my base Doctor Yuriss. Mine,” he said, slapping his chest.
“Everything that goes on here is my business. You are my business. I will ask any damn thing I please. Are you clear on that?” he said, glaring at her.
“No. I am not clear on that. My work here does not mean I forfeit my personal time or my rights as a human being. I am not in the military. I can, and will, walk off this base at any damn time I please.”
“Brave talk doctor. You seem to forget that I control who leaves and who doesn’t,” he shot back, his face getting red.
“You’re threatening me. Who do you think you are? Hitler? You’re an egomaniac,” she said reaching for the door.
He grabbed the back of her coat and yanked her back in the Hummer before she could get out.
“Let go of me. Are you crazy?” she shouted.
The two guards outside the Hummer didn’t move to interfere.
“You listen to me Doctor Yuriss. Listen very carefully. I don’t give a damn about what you think I can and can’t do. You will do what I say when I say it. If you try to interfere with the projects at this facility, I will personally have you shot and buried in the desert. Do I make myself clear?” he yelled at her.
Spit bounced off her cheek as he clutched her lab coat. She knew he was ready to go over the edge. He was certifiably insane. This was not the time or place to say anything that would anger him further. She let her shoulders go slack and the tension drain out of her as best she could. He
“Have it your way general. I get the message,” said. “Now, would you please let go of me. This is hurting my hand.”
He released his grip on her and straightened his shirt and tie.
“Just so we understand each other Doctor Yuriss. You will continue to work as before, but be assured, I will be keeping an eye on everything you do from this point on,” he said.
His voice had become calm and he seemed to be back in control.
“I got the message,” she said and climbed out to the Hummer.
As she was about to shut the door the general said, “Doctor. Just one more thing. Hand your coat to the guard. You can get another one inside.”
She took off the lab coat and threw it at the guard and walked off briskly.
She was shaking by the time she got to the building. She rushed to the bay and leaned against the door once she was inside.
He was definitely certifiably insane, she thought. What could she do about this situation? She had no doubt that he would be watching every move she made. Knowing how sick he was, she wondered if her room was bugged or worse yet, have hidden cameras.
Hold on, she told herself, she didn’t want to get a paranoid as that crazy bastard. If he was having Raymond held, she was sure he would have no trouble making good on his threat. No matter what, she was going to have to come up with some plan. With him watching her every move it wasn’t going to be easy.
Devin was watching from the tower as they rolled the Su-12 out of hanger 18. He looked at his watch, it was 02:16. He smiled, they were exactly on time. The Su-12 rolled slowly down the ramp way to the taxi strip. He watched as it reached the far end of the almost five mile long runway.
“Control, Fastmover, in position for departure.”
“Fastmover, Control. You are cleared for immediate departure.”
The general watched as the magnificent machine started accelerating, gaining liftoff speed of two hundred and fifty knots within the first mile. Slowly its wheels lifted off the runway and its momentum took an immediate leap. The giant bird gained altitude rapidly and was nothing more than a spec by the time the roar reached the tower.
“Control, Fastmover. Switching to one-five-one-two point five.”
“Fastmover, Control. Copy one-five-one-two point five.”
“Control, Fastmover One. Read back correct, out.”
“Control, out”
Within minutes the Su-12 Fastmover was already reaching an altitude of sixty thousand feet. It was time for the next phase. The general left the tower and walked a few hundred yards to a giant dish pointed toward the sky. He opened a door in the base of it and went to the control panel. The computer displays were already on.
On one screen he could see the two pilots. Another gave him a view out the front of the craft and a third the instrument panel. The general set the frequency to one-five-one-two point five and pressed the microphone key.
“Fastmover, Thor, do you copy?”
“Thor, Fastmover, we have you five by five.”
