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Rebecca motioned for Agent Hill and Agent Ray to put the stretchers down next to the plane, then walked up into it, herself. Caitlin looked up at her. “Rebecca?” she asked, disbelieving. “Why are you here? Didn’t you leave?”
Rebecca looked away. Maybe it would be harder than she thought to forget about that. “I need to tend to the others,” she said, and looked back. “We need you to get off of this plane.”
“Of course,” Caitlin said, and stepped off, still wondering about Rebecca’s sudden return.
Rebecca walked to the two agents on the ground, Director Bowers following her. He stepped forward and grabbed Laura, lifting her up. Rebecca watched him carry her off the plane and onto the stretchers, then turned to the front of the plane. She saw Sarah curled up in the pilot seat and walked towards her. “Sarah,” she said gently. The girl didn’t move. She reached the front. “Sarah!” she said demandingly. The girl looked up at her. “Get off the plane.”
Sarah put her head back down. “Leave me alone,” she answered.
Rebecca knew it required a certain deal of force to get a grief-stricken person to do what people want, and she knew any physical pain would be swallowed in her grief. “Get up.” She grabbed her arms and yanked her off the chair.
“No!” she screamed, thrashing around.
“Stop,” Rebecca said, holding her tightly. Sarah kept kicking for a while, then stopped and sank to her knees, sobbing. “Get up.” Sarah stayed on the floor, so Rebecca hoisted her up onto her feet. “Walk,” she said. Sarah dried her tears and walked off of the plane. By then, Director Bowers had gotten Xarissa off the plane and onto a stretcher. “Take them to the Nurse Office,” Rebecca commanded, taking one side. Agent Hill took the other side, and Agent Ray and Director Bowers carried the other stretcher.
****************
"Adm. Taylor?" Rebecca asked. He looked up. "You said that you wanted to talk to Sarah and Caitlin?" He nodded. "Sarah's not well enough, but Caitlin is in her senses to talk." He nodded again. Rebecca paused, wanting to ask him what this was all about. She had no idea what had happened in that plane, and why Sarah had reacted to her the way she did. She had followed orders, like she was told. She wanted to know what really happened, but she decided not to ask. She left, and a few seconds layter, Caitlin walked in.
"Tell me what happened on the plane." Adm. Taylor commanded Caitlin. Caitlin looked down at her feet, silent as the grave. Then she broke down too. Rebecca ran in after hearing her screams and fell to her side.
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"What happened?” Rebecca asked sternly. She met his gaze and read the look in his eyes. “You know what happened on that plane."
"I'll show you." Adm. Taylor replied. He turned on the computer that was in his office and began to rewind the video. He stopped at the point where Xarissa started Laura's interrogation. Rebecca watched the video, wide eyed, not batting an eyelash all the way until Xarissa stopped. She looked at Adm. Taylor.
"Why would they do that?" She asked. Caitlin was still on the floor, moaning. Rebecca glanced at her. "How could they do such a thing?"
Adm. Taylor sat down. "I was hoping that Sarah or Caitlin would have the senses to tell me what happened. The camera doesn't record sounds. I want to know what caused this tragedy. As you know, Sarah was in a trance by the time she had landed. Caitlin seemed like my only hope, but now she's in a trance too. I don't think that Xarissa will talk: she blames herself for everything, and won't be talking to anybody right now. Laura's passed out, so we won't know until at least one of them comes to their senses. Something isn’t right here. I need you to figure it out."
Rebecca sighed. "I'll carry her to the nurse's office."
Adm. Taylor nodded, then went back to the computer.
****************
"Oh no." The nurse exclaimed. "Over here." Rebecca laid the twitching Caitlin down on the stretcher gently.
"Can you tell me what they're suffering from?"
"The physical wounds or the mental wounds?"
"Both."
"Well, Agent Pang's suffered from extremely severe bruises. She even has a broken rib in there. Her organs are also in danger. I'm more concerned about Agent Merkley. She's suffering a lot more than Agent Pang is. The mind is a strange and dangerous thing. She'll be suffering for years after this unless she learns to forgive herself."
Rebecca nodded solemnly.
"Sarah and Caitlin are just suffering from shock. They'll be fine in a few days, but they'll be very different. You'll need to stick with them. They won't be able to go out in the field again for quite a while. Especially Merkley. You need to take care of them!"
"AHHHHH!!!!!!!!!" Xarissa screamed in her sleep. "I'm sorry! I'm sorry! I'm so sorry!" Rebecca jumped, but the nurse did nothing.
"Is Xarissa ever going to be the same?"
"I don't know. It's not likely."
Rebecca turned to see Jake and Tyler R. slowly walk into the office.
"We heard screaming. Is everything alright?" Tyler asked.
"No,” Rebecca replied plainly. Jake looked around and saw Sarah and Caitlin thrashing on the stretchers. Apparently, he hadn't been told that they had been affected as well. To put it simply, Jake fainted.
****************
Armaan chewed on his pencil. There had to be a way. He knew they couldn’t stand the mental pressure, and he had to do something about it. “Agent Armaan Helvik, your brother is at the door,” the feminine voice of the AI announced.
Armaan sighed and sat back in his chair, turning the screens blank. “Let him in.”
“Agent Imraan Helvik, access granted.” The door opened and his brother stepped through.
“What do you need, Dimrod?” Armaan asked.
Imraan’s eyes narrowed, but he ignored the name. “Conner has asked to see you,” he said.
“Okay,” Armaan answered, and stared at him. Imraan didn’t leave. “I’ll be there in a second.”
“What are you doing?” his annoying twin questioned.
“I’m working, unlike you. I said I’d be there in a minute. Can’t you wait?” Armaan asked, irritated.
Imraan’s eyes narrowed even more. “Conner is expecting you. Don’t keep him waiting.” With that, he turned on his heels and left.
Armaan sat there for a minute, wondering what he was going to do. The HIA could be in a lot of trouble, but if the GCA found out he was trying to help them…
Well, let’s just say he’d be in a very tight spot.
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