C17 Interrogation(1)

Bear City Administrative Center

Leader's Office

...

"Reporting for duty as the newly appointed Military Executive, Macdonald!"

"Hmm, alright, come in..."

Seated in a swivel chair with his back to Macdonald, the leader of the Dimensional Organization gazed out at the Administrative Plaza. Where once stood the "joint statue," now there was only a peculiar structure painted purple, resembling an antenna base.

Fiddling with a metal coin, the leader held it too far for Macdonald to discern its origin.

"Oh, you've arrived?" The leader swiveled around, retrieving a document from his desk drawer and handing it to Macdonald.

"Sign this document and take a solemn oath before the founder's statue, and you'll officially become an Executive of our organization..."

"Leader... It's an honor! However... what about my predecessor? Isn't there supposed to be a... ceremony to exchange duties?"

"He's right here!" The leader exclaimed, snapping the metal coin onto the table, sliding it toward Macdonald.

"Leader... This is..." For the first time, Macdonald could closely examine the coin. It was a pure iron coin, bearing the terrified visage of the former Executive just before his recycling.

Macdonald felt a chill run down his spine.

"Besides, your predecessor provided us with about 40 kilograms of drinkable water, a small supply of calcium tablets, and a bundle of copper wire. In the end, that was the extent of his contributions."

The leader gestured dismissively. "Everything else has been allocated for use by the various departments. I've kept this little iron piece as a memento. Your... ceremony for exchanging duties can be conducted with this coin."

"This... I..." Macdonald was petrified, rooted to the spot in fear.

"If you're not up for that, then simply sign the contract, complete the procedure, and then proceed with your first mission!"

"Okay... Okay... So, leader... what is my first mission?" Macdonald managed to sign his name, his hand trembling as he asked.

The leader's face twisted into a rage, veins popping out as he clenched his fist and slammed it onto the desk.

"Go... Bring back the survivors from the organization that kidnapped Bella. I want to personally tear them apart and shove them into the biochemical reactor!"

In Vage, the tension was palpable.

"I'll ask you one more time! What's your name? Who do you work for? What's your objective? Why are you spying on us?" Ashes bellowed with rage.

"I've told you already! I won't divulge a thing! Your methods of coercion are futile against me!" Bella retorted with equal force.

"Really? I find that hard to believe! Can't I, a skilled assassin, pry the truth from your lips?" Ashes snapped, brandishing his sleeve sword and feigning a stab at Bella's face.

"Go ahead, try your worst. Kill me, and I'll just resurrect somewhere you'll never find. Humiliate or assault me, and I can have my memory erased back at base. Bottom line, you've got nothing on me! So give it up, you freak!" Bella taunted, pulling a grotesque face at Ashes.

"That's enough!" Ashes was utterly infuriated. He zipped in front of Bella, sleeve sword in hand.

But ultimately, he couldn't bring himself to harm her. The sleeve sword merely swished symbolically before her, snipping off a lock of her hair.

Truth be told, Bella was terrified, despite her bravado. The prospect of death, even with the possibility of revival, was frightening, but she masked her fear well.

"I can't handle her... Someone else can try their luck..." Ashes muttered dejectedly as he slunk away to inspect the supplies he had previously scavenged from Bella.

Payson wouldn't even consider it; to avoid any misinterpretation, he'd steer clear of Bella at all costs. And sending Meow would be like giving away a cat for nothing.

That left Moorer as the only viable option.

Moorer rummaged through the trunk, retrieved a gasoline bottle, and pulled up a crate to sit on before Bella.

"Taking turns now, are we? Don't bother. It's a waste of effort..." he said with a light chuckle, then cleared his throat.

"How about we strike a deal instead..."

"Oh?"

"It's straightforward. You answer my questions truthfully, and I'll grant you two minor requests. But letting you go isn't on the table."

"That doesn't sound too bad..." Bella relaxed a bit. "But what if I refuse?"

"I'm giving you three minutes to think it over. The clock starts now... After three minutes, you'll be out of options."

"What options? What can you possibly do to me?" Bella scoffed.

Moorer remained silent, fiddling with the broken bottle.

A minute went by.

Bella heard a pop and saw Moorer remove the cork from the gasoline bottle.

"I suggest you make your decision quickly," Moorer said, his face breaking into a strange smile. "Time waits for no one..."

"Wait... You're not going to..." Bella's voice shook as she realized what Moorer intended to do.

"I'm familiar with the cloning technology. In my time, it was known as the 'Heaven Return Plan'. This plan uploads all your memories and the genetic sequence at the moment of your death. Then, within two days, you're reborn in another cloning tank..."

"How... How do you know about this?"

Moorer stayed close to Bella and continued, "The technology has a flaw. It can only upload the genetic sequence at the exact moment of death. Meaning, any physical trauma you suffer before dying will be preserved in the clone."

"So... What's your point?" Bella was visibly unnerved.

"I'm just letting you know... Burns are included in those traumas. And without a professional team and specialized medical equipment... those burns could stay with you for a lifetime... Oh, and by the way, two minutes have passed."

"You're saying... Ahh!" Bella's words were cut short as Moorer doused her with gasoline, unhesitatingly soaking her purple hair and the upper half of her clothing. The pungent odor of gasoline filled the air instantly.

Moorer then poured the rest of the gasoline on the floor, creating a trail several meters long, moving away from Bella. He tossed the bottle aside, took out a lighter, and flicked it on and off, sneering coldly.

"One last minute..."

"Wuu! Wuu! I'll talk! I'll tell you everything! Just don't light the gasoline! I can't be disfigured! Please... Wuu... Wuu... Ahh!" Bella's screams were laced with sobs. Faced with the threat of disfigurement, she broke down.

...

"Remember, tell the truth, or else this hand holding the lighter... might just slip!" Ashes, upon learning that Moorer had handled the situation, eagerly hurried back to continue the interrogation.

"Of course... I wouldn't dare... I just wouldn't dare..." Bella hadn't yet recovered from her recent scare.

"First question, what's your name?"

"I... My name is Bella... I'm 21 years old... born in..."

"Good... very good. Next question, which organization do you serve?" Ashes' mouth curved into a slight smile. This Moorer really had some tricks up his sleeve!