“Actually, if you stand any chance of surviving I have the perfect person to accompany you.” Colbert glanced over at Richard. “We just have to find some way of persuading him to do it.”
Krisztina looked at Richard doubtfully. “But he not soldier.”
“It’s not a soldier you need. You need someone who is devious, quick-witted and willing to do anything to survive. Believe me, he’s gotten out of worse scrapes than what you are about to face, virtually unscathed. He has also encountered the type of alien you have here and survived—and even managed to persuade it not to kill him. Yes, he risked a ship’s crew to save himself, but he did survive. Watch him like a hawk, and you should be okay.”
Unconvinced of the man’s credentials, Krisztina studied Richard for anything that might alleviate her concerns.
Noticing the pretty Russian woman looking at him, which he took to be an expression of interest, Richard gave her one of his most charming smiles. Perhaps something pleasant would come from his abduction after all. He had never been with a Russian before.
With Krisztina following, Colbert approached the group by the elevator. “We have a problem.”
“Now why doesn’t that surprise me?” said Richard.
“The bomb has been disconnected, and someone needs to accompany Krisztina to Level 4 to reconnect it. Due to our injuries, Dalton and I can’t go, and I want Sullivan and Ramirez to remain up top in case the Russians arrive earlier than expected.”
A bad feeling swept over Richard when Colbert focused on him.
“That leaves the best man for the task in hand, you, Richard.”
Richard shook his head. “Uh uh! No way I’m going back in there and especially not to the facility’s alien-infested bowels.”
“I understand your reluctance, but there is no one else,” said Colbert. “As I just explained to Krisztina, if anyone can do the job and survive, it’s you.”
“Flattered as I am, I don’t care. I’m not going,” stated Richard adamantly. “I wouldn’t set foot back in there for a million pounds.”
Colbert appealed to Richard’s vanity. “There’s no money on the table, but there is your reputation.”
Richard snorted. “What reputation? Your government shot that to pieces damn quick after Antarctica.”
“What if you could get it back? Though for obvious reasons I’ll be unable to mention your role here, if you do this I’ll make sure everyone knows you are a hero who saved the world from an alien entity and that aliens do exist and you, Richard, battled with them on a spaceship in Antarctica, twice!”
Though Richard was tempted by the offer, it was too dangerous to go back in. “Won’t do me much good if I’m dead, will it? No, thanks, I’ll rather be alive with a bad reputation than dead with a good one. You’ll have to think of a different plan.”
“Your choice, Richard.” Colbert glanced at Sullivan. “Shoot him.”
Sullivan pointed his weapon at Richard.
Unconcerned, Richard looked at the rifle pointed at his heart. “Yeah, right, you’re going to shoot me.”
“Trust me, Richard, I will have you shot. I have the full authority of the President of the United States to do anything I see fit to complete this mission. You are one hundred percent expendable,” stated Colbert. “The mission comes first, and if you’re not part of the mission, you’re a liability.”
Richard began to worry. “You’re bluffing. You wouldn’t kill a civilian, and anyway, how will shooting me help? It doesn’t make sense.”
“We are wasting what precious little time we have. I need to go now,” said Krisztina. “Alone, if necessary.”
“Last chance, Richard,” advised Colbert.
“Kill me then. A bullet will be a quicker and a less painful death than any I’d find down there.”
Colbert nodded at Sullivan.
Sullivan lowered the rifle to aim at Richard’s stomach. “I wouldn’t be so sure about that, Richard. You ever see a man die a lingering painful death from a gut shot? It’s not pretty, I can tell you.”
Richard focused on Sullivan’s finger moving nearer the trigger, resting against it and then beginning to squeeze. Were they really going to shoot him? They wouldn’t dare. The trigger was depressed half-way now. Fear gripped Richard. Beads of sweat formed on his brow. The finger continued moving. Any moment now the bullet would pierce his flesh, and the agony would begin. He almost wet himself when the weapon clicked. There was no loud retort and no pain. Richard had called their bluff.
“You’ve more guts than I credited you with,” praised Colbert.
Richard was just glad his guts weren’t splattered on the floor.
“Tie him up,” ordered Colbert. “We’ll leave him here. If the aliens don’t get to him first and he doesn’t get vaporized by the bomb if Krisztina gets it working, the Russians can have him to torture for information when they arrive. If Krisztina fails, we’ll have no option other than to abort the mission and hope the President will see sense and nuke this place.”
Sullivan nudged Richard into a corner with the rifle, and after using plastic ties to bind his hands and legs, he forced him to sit on the floor.
“Whoa, hold on. You can’t do this,” pleaded Richard.
Everyone ignored him.
“Krisztina, let’s get you up top and fitted out with some gear you might find helpful, and then you can start—or alternatively, you can leave with us?” said Colbert.
Krisztina shook her head. “You know I can’t. I have to try and destroy it, them.”
Colbert nodded. “If you fail, I’ll do everything in my power to try and convince my superiors to destroy this place and everything inside.”
Krisztina smiled anxiously. “Then it seems both our missions stand little chance of success.”
“We’re leaving,” called out Colbert to Sullivan and Ramirez. As they stepped into the elevator, Colbert tapped his radio mic. “Mission aborted. Eagle 3. Power up. We’re leaving in 5. Eagle 4, pick up in ten.”
“Powering up,” replied the pilot.
“Rodger that, pick up in ten,” affirmed Mason.
As the rest of the team entered the elevator, Richard reluctantly called out, “Okay, okay, I’ll go.”
Either unheard or ignored, the others continued as if he hadn’t spoken.
When the elevators doors began to close, Richard shouted, “I’ll do it!”
Hiding a smile that his bluff had worked, Colbert slammed a hand against the door to prevent it closing, stepped out and glared at Richard.
“You’ll do what?” asked Colbert.
“I’ll go with Sweet Cheeks and help her connect the bomb.”
“I no longer think you can be trusted,” said Colbert. “You’ll flee at the first chance and leave Krisztina in the shit.”
“I must admit that did cross my mind, but the way I see it, if I return too soon and alone, you’re going to suspect I double-crossed Krisztina and take appropriate action—like leaving me here again for the aliens, the bomb or the Russians. All three are obviously events I’m extremely eager to avoid. It’s in my interest to help her in her foolhardy suicide mission that has little chance of either of us surviving, and slim though my odds are, they are a slight improvement over the former choices which offer me none.”
“Fair enough,” said Colbert. He pulled Richard to his feet and cut his ties.
Colbert updated his team over the radio. “Change of plan—we’re staying a while longer.”
“If we succeed in getting the bomb working and I live through this or not, you’ll make sure people know what a hero I was.”
Colbert nodded. “I will.”
Richard turned to Krisztina waiting with the SEALs in the elevator. “Well, Sweet Cheeks, it seems we have our first date.”