فصل 35

Chapter 35: Cell 25

It was three in the morning and Quentin was fast asleep when Hatch opened his door and turned on the light. “Wake up, Quentin.” It took Quentin a moment to get oriented. He shielded his eyes from the garish light. “Dr. Hatch . . . what are you doing here?” Hatch looked around the messy room, then walked to the side of Quentin’s bed. “I think you know what would bring me to your room at three in the morning.” Quentin sat up. “No, sir.”

Hatch sighed a little. “No, I didn’t think you would be eager to confess your crime.” He sat on the side of Quentin’s bed. “So if you are insistent on playing this little game, I’ll oblige you. I know what you did, Quentin. Unfortunately, Tara’s powers don’t work through video.” “I don’t follow, sir,” Quentin said.

“Of course you do. You know exactly what I’m talking about. I trusted you. I made you a king, and you betrayed me.” Quentin stared into Hatch’s eyes for a moment, then shouted, “Guards!” An amused grin crossed Hatch’s face. “How optimistic of you. And pathetic. You actually thought that your guards would be loyal to you in the face of certain death? No, no one will be coming to your aid.” His eyes narrowed. “I’ve taught you thousands of lessons, and now you have taught me one. There is no loyalty. Not even between us. You’ve shown me that.” “Sir, I don’t know what you’re—”

Hatch slapped Quentin hard enough to knock him back into his bed. A thin stream of blood dripped from his nose. “Quit lying to me! Tell me the truth. Tell me that you escorted Welch off the ship. Tell me now!” Quentin held a hand to his stinging face. He was shaking with fear. “Yes. I saved him. He was like a father to me.” Hatch stood, then grabbed Quentin by the foot and dragged him off the bed. Then he kicked him while Quentin tried to protect himself from the blows. “I am your father,” Hatch shouted. “And your king. And you turned on me. Your betrayal is worse than Welch’s. And so your punishment will be worse as well.” Quentin coughed up blood. “How could it possibly be worse?” he said bitterly.

“You should know better than that by now. Things can always be worse.” Quentin, still on his back, feebly raised his hand to put out the power, but nothing happened.

Hatch shook his head. “And to think I had so much hope for you. Foolish, stupid boy. You didn’t think I would be prepared for that? We have a new invention just for you. That slight headache you feel . . . that’s me. The RESAT darts were too cumbersome. Too unreliable. So we invented this.” Hatch brought out a small hand remote about the size of a bar of soap. “The scientists who invented it named it the RESAT 2.0, but I renamed it the RAVE. It’s a remarkable improvement. I just slightly turn the knob . . .” Quentin screamed out in pain.

“Think of it as a handheld version of Nichelle. We created it based on her powers. Do you remember her? She’s one of the losers you let escape.” He turned the dial up more, and Quentin screamed out even louder.

“Please, stop. Please.”

“You’re begging for mercy? Wasn’t it you who said whoever helped Welch is a traitor and deserves the same punishment? You, of all people, should know that there is no mercy for kings. Kings are on thrones or in graves. There are no exceptions.” “Then kill me,” Quentin said.

“Quick death would fall under the category of mercy. An example must be made of you. We will build a special monkey cage just for you, and that is where you will spend the rest of your life.” “Please. I’ll do whatever you want.”

“What I want is for you to not have betrayed me, but it’s too late for that. Bad eggs don’t get good again.” He turned back toward the door. “Guards.” The room echoed with the clash of trooper boots on the marble floor as an Elgen patrol ran into the room, lining up at attention behind Hatch.

“Captain, take Quentin to cellblock T. Keep your RAVEs on six. I don’t want him damaging any of the electronics on the way in.” Sweat dripped off Quentin’s face. “What about the others?” he asked. “What are you going to do with them?” “Your immediate accomplices have already been arrested and are awaiting their punishments. Bryan and Kylee have also been arrested until I can determine how much they knew.” “They didn’t know anything.”

“I’ll determine that. As far as Torstyn and Tara, I haven’t yet decided what their fates will be, but rest assured their punishments will be commensurate with the crime they committed. Treason is always punishable by death. It’s the going rate. The only question is, how long and how painful will that death be?” He turned back to the captain. “Take him.” The guards quickly surrounded Quentin. They rolled him onto his stomach, secured his hands, then lifted him to his feet.

“Prisoner is secured,” the zone leader said to Hatch.

Hatch walked up to Quentin until their faces were six inches apart. “So, Quentin. How did it feel to be good? Was it worth it?” For a moment Quentin looked Hatch in the eye, then said, “I would do it again.” Hatch slugged him in the stomach, and Quentin fell to his knees, gasping.

“Get him out of here,” Hatch said. “Lock him in Cell 25.”