The Elsewhere Files

Divide and Conquer Pt 3 - Mission One

[Kiera]: drops the knife and sobs, crying. There is a bloody wound on her arm and a large puddle arouns her. "He was in my head. Oh god he was in my head." vocie weak, broken

[Crowe]: grabs the knife away from Kiera's grip and lunges to wrap a towel around her arm. The wound goes from burn scarred wrist, up the inside of the foream and ending at the bend of the elbow. His other, bloody hand goes for the radio and the camera hears him radioing out for an immediate emergency transport. Scene fades to black.

Kiera is laying in a hospital bed. Her arm is heavily bandaged and the other is strapped with an IV tube and blood bag. Captain Nguyen is sitting in a chair, leafing through a magazine, looking casual.

[Kiera]: "I didn't try and kill myself." tone insistent

[Nguyen]: looks up at her, smiles kindly "The Major walked into the bathroom to see you with his kay bar knife hovering bloody over your nearly bisected forearm and there was no one else in the room." tone is neutral but the words are telling.

[Kiera]: shakes her head "I wasn't in control then. Barry Hoover, the EWOK. He's found the Elsewhere bubble he belongs in. It made him ridiculous. I can kind of act like a blood hound and scent things out. He makes Chuck Norris and MacGuyver look like chumps!" tears in eyes but keeps from crying "I didn't try to kill myself and I definitely didn't try to kill the Major. Barry Hoover tried to go funhouse inside my brain. Admitted that he was trying to break me, and has constantly been trying to split me up from the Major. Now, either you can explain that to him and make him believe it, or you take me to see him. Your choice."

[Nguyen]: smiles broadly and laughs, then leans back in his seat "For all you look like her, you certainly don't act like her. She was all perfect hostess, you're more, pass me the beer."

[Kiera]: slumps, looking exhausted "Look Captain Nguyen. Can you please tell him that? I wouldn't do anything to hurt him. Hell, I've even had to take care of myself just to keep his ass alive once or twice."

[Nguyen]: stands and walks to Kiera's bedside, lowering her hospital bed into the sleeping position "Don't go and fall in love with the man before you learn all his faults. I'll tell him."

[Kiera]: laughs "Don't worry Nguyen, I've slept with him, not gone stupid for him." shakes head "I just need my partner to know that I want to have his back but the bad guys have a strong advantage. It seems I'm not immune to their mind games anymore either."

[Nguyen]: nods "Good to hear. On both counts. I lost good money on you two holding out so long. Jeese, you're both like freaking monks."

[Kiera]: stares at the Captain, openly shocked at his words, then laughs weakly, then yawns "Sleep."

[Nguyen]: "And now I lay thee down to sleep. The Lord I ask your soul to keep. For if you die before you wake, the Good Lord I ask your soul to take."

[Kiera]: "Well that wasn't absolutely the most creepy thing you coud have said."

[Nguyen]: laughed "I like being dramatic. I think I was a drag queen in a past life."

[Kiera]: snorts but closes her eyes "You would have loved my hair then. Had to dye it so they wouldn't take out the Major to get to me. Apparently when you make yourself a target, your body guard takes the heat. How whack is that?" yawns again and breathing deepens

[Nguyen]: softly "Pretty whack Kiera." leaves room. There is a guard outside, visibly armed, obviously military. "Go in, keep an eye on her. She's been pretty lucid, no signs like the Major described." the soldier nods and steps into the room while Captain Nguyen walks down the hall and into a different hospital room.

The Major is standing at a bathroom mirror, the cut on his face taped shut, not even needing stitches. Looks in the reflection to see Captain Nguyen studying him.

[Nguyen]: "Did you hear all that?" takes and ear piece out and sets it on the counter in front of the Major

[Crowe]: "Yes." tone flat

[Nguyen]: looks annoyed but then blanks his face "Can I ask why you wouldn't just go in there and talk to her yourself then?"

[Crowe]: turns to face Captain Nguyen straight on "I need them, and thus I need her to believe I don't trust her. If they think I'm withdrawing, leaving her more vulnerable, they'll take the bait and try to physicallly grab her. That's been the ultimate goal all along. Grab her, but if you can't, eliminate her."

[Nguyen]: looks at his friend with clear disgust "You're using her as bait?"

[Crowe]: shakes his head "The difference between the good guys and the bad guys is simple. Bad guys use others as a shield, good guys put themselves as the shield for others. I'm gonig to make her a beacon and draw them in to my kill zone. Time to give us some breathing room by taking out one of their Generals. Barry Hoover. Eliminate their most organized agent and we might be able to figure out what the hell is going on before they swarm us under."

[Nguyen]: "God I love it when shit creek runs this high."

In unison with Crowe "And what I wouldn't give for a paddle."