There was a moment of quiet as the three of them contemplated the results of a super werewolf under military control.
"So, I've only broken onto a military base once, but I've never tried to get a person out of one. How are we going to do this?" Chloe asked, sitting delicately on the bed. She still kept Jackson's hand on her shoulder though.
Quent's eyes narrowed. "Well, I have an old military uniform and I have a buddy who has..."
"How about we just use these?" Jackson interrupted, pulling the two ID badge from his pocket. "These identify you as scientists on the base, so if you're wearing them, you can get on base."
Quent blushed slightly. "That is certainly a much easier option."
Chloe took one of the cards in her hands and played with the plastic. "Then what? We find my brother, get him and the other two out of that tube thing; that much I know. But then how do we get them off base? I don't think the Colonel or that scientist doctor person is going to be very happy about us just taking their science projects."
"We'll go tonight when most of the science staff has gone home. We can use my truck to get them off base." Jackson crossed the small motel room and handed Quent the remaining ID badge.
"What would happen to you if we get caught?" Chloe asked, her voice quiet. She looked up at Jackson with big green eyes.
"Probably a court-martial. No big deal," he said, shrugging as if it were nothing. Chloe frowned.
"If you don't want to be a part of this, I would completely understand." she said, holding up the ID badge. "You got us these. That's more than anything I could have asked for. I don't want you losing your career for some girl you just met.
"You're hardly 'just some girl,'" Jackson said without hesitation. He looked at her with serious brown eyes. She could see a world in those eyes that she wanted to be a part of. They were warm and caring and made her feel alive.
Quent cleared his throat after a moment and Chloe felt her cheeks heat. She wondered just how long she had gotten lost in Jackson's eyes.
"Then it sounds like we have a plan. A flimsy one, but it's the best we got. Chloe and I arrive with you and pretend to be scientists. We break her brother and two other soldiers out of a dangerous lab experiment and bring them home, all while trying not to get you court-martialed." Quent shrugged. "Sounds easy enough."
Chloe giggled nervously. When phrased like that, it sounded ridiculous, but she knew she was going to do it anyway. Her brother needed her and she had never let him down. She wasn't about to start now.
"We can't bring them back here, though," Jackson said, glancing around the small motel room. "Three grown Weres in need of a full moon change are not going to fit in this room."
Quent nodded. "You are absolutely right. We'll have to take them to the Changing Grounds. I'll tell the Alpha to expect company."
Jackson growled. "I don't think it's a good idea to be broadcasting our intentions. I'm not comfortable with anyone knowing, even your Alpha."
Quent waved a hand dismissively. "I won't tell him exactly who is coming. Just to expect three new wolves about to change." Jackson's still glared at him so he added, "if we don't tell him, we won't have access to the Changing Grounds. If you have a safer place than 65 acres of uninhabited woodland, then I'm all ears."
"Fine. But no more details than necessary. This is dangerous enou
gh as it is," Jackson grumbled.
Chloe cleared her throat, the tension in the room higher than what she was comfortable with. "Why is General Bronn so invested in this project? Shouldn't he be busy with base operations or something?"
"It's Colonel Bronn, and that's why he's so interested in this project. The man in power hungry. He's young for Colonel, but from what I know of him, he rose up the ranks quickly because he was ruthless. He's made it very clear that he wants to be a General someday," Jackson explained.
Chloe cocked her head. "So why not just wait for a promotion like everybody else? If he rose up this quickly, it should only be a matter of time."
"The only way to become a General is to be nominated by the President of the United States and confirmed by the Senate. It's very political and the spots are only available when a vacancy occurs, either through retirement or death. Can you think of a better way to distinguish himself and get that General’s star than to provide the Army with a squad of super soldiers?"
"But why this particular avenue? It seems a bit extreme. Why not just be a hero in a war zone or something?" Chloe asked.
Jackson made a pained face as though her lack of military understanding was causing physical discomfort. "It's not quite that easy. He got into some trouble overseas. Screwed up big time. An entire battalion under his command got too violent. They started playing fast and loose with the rules, especially those concerning the treatment of the locals. That's why he's now in charge of a base in the middle of nowhere. He probably sees this as his last chance to earn that star."
"So what you're saying is, he's desperate. Which makes him dangerous," Quent spoke up quietly.
"Very." Jackson nodded and Chloe felt herself shiver. She had to get her brother out of there.
The small motel room went quiet. Chloe thought about her brother and the thought of losing him. They were going to do something to him tonight. Jackson said the scientist had called him a Were, and she was actually okay with that. It was the fact that they were about to do something more that frightened her.
Quent picked up his car keys and went to the door. "You two get things ready on your end. I'll go make sure the Changing Grounds are prepped."