I was in the gym, working a few things out on the heavy bag the next time I saw Tom. Seeing the bag swinging and the chain rattling with every blow, he kindly stepped up and braced it in place while I continued to work it.

“Rough day?” he asked.

“Try week,” I muttered, driving my foot into the bag. “I am not sure I have the patience to be working with kids.”

“They aren’t exactly children, Ray,” Tom grunted as I smacked the bag into him.

“Close enough.”

“And you aren’t old enough to be this crochety.”

I snorted but didn’t respond. It wasn’t like I could say what I was thinking: that it was pretty rich coming from him, the man who had suddenly decided that exterminating a species was a reasonable course of action. In comparison, I was a font of pure optimism.

“Look,” I finally replied. “If I had known how little you and Wallace had taught them, I might have thought twice about agreeing to this. It’s been nothing but days of remedial lessons mixed with answering a thousand questions from people who think shooting someone is cool, for some fucking reason. And do you think they believe me when I say that it isn’t?”

I sighed, then kicked the bag hard enough to drive Tom back a step.

“I’m sorry, I shouldn’t complain so much. I am just frustrated and so bored.”

“Well, how about we do something more interesting for the afternoon, then?” Tom offered.

“Oh? What did you have in mind?”

“I’ve got the go ahead to interrogate Cramer. You want in?”

“God, yes,” I stepped back from the bag, wiping the sweat from my forehead.

“Excellent. When do you want to start? Do you have a plan in mind?”

“Oh, I have an idea or two,” I grinned. “Let me get changed and then we can get started right away.”

I opened the door to the interrogation room to find Tom already seated, glaring in silence at Drew Cramer who was returning the favor from where he was chained on the opposite side of the table.

“You’re late, Ray,” Tom greeted me without breaking eye contact with the prisoner.

“I see you boys are off to a strong start,” I said cheerily, slipping into the empty chair next to Tom. “How have you been, Drew? You are looking much healthier today than you did last week.”

He narrowed his eyes but didn’t speak.

“Well, it is good to see you again,” I continued regardless. “Alright, now, you probably know why we are here, right? We want to ask you some questions about your friends.”

“Where are the other girls, Cramer?” Tom broke in with a snarl.

“Now, now,” I raised a placating hand. “We are working our way up to that. No need to rush. We are just having a friendly conversation.”

“Fuck friendly,” Tom slammed his phone down on the table. “We already know everyone you have been in contact with, going back for months. We have your phone and credit card records, video surveillance, everything. We are going to find out who you have been sending girls to, Cramer, it is just a matter of time. The only reason we are even having this talk is because there are hundreds of names on this list, and we are hoping you can save us a bit of time. That is your only use to us. So, just point out your accomplice and maybe this doesn’t have to get ugly.”

Tom shoved the phone closer, showing Cramer the list of names and numbers that had been compiled. The incubus looked away, studiously avoiding even glancing at the screen. I sighed.

“Look, Tom, I am sure that there is no need for threats. I am sure Drew is going to be very cooperative, aren’t you? There are certain… accommodations we can arrange for, if you are reasonable here.”

Cramer scoffed,

“You know, just a tip but next time you are picking who is going to play the good cop, maybe it shouldn’t be the person who’s already tried to kill me. It rings a little false.”

“Perhaps,” I acknowledged. “Of course, perhaps that should tell you how precarious your situation really is. If I am the closest thing to an ally you have, here, maybe you should think carefully about what that means for you.”

“Yeah, I am real scared,” he rolled his eyes. “What are you going to do? Bore me to death?”

“Oh, are we not holding your interest? My apologies, let me see if I can fix that,” Tom grabbed him by the collar and dragged him halfway across the table, knocking the phone to the floor as he did. “Don’t worry, I can think of a lot of ways to keep you properly entertained.”

“Oh, so you are going to beat me, then?” Cramer croaked. “How very… human of you. Your kind are all alike, no imagination.”

“I don’t need much imagination to make you suffer. Just motivation. And I have plenty of that. I know what you did to those women.”

“I didn’t do anything to them that they didn’t ask me for. Beg me for,” Cramer retorted.

Tom slammed the incubus’ head down onto the table,

“You want to say that again?” he snarled, dragging Cramer back up to reveal a trickle of blood flowing from his nose.

“Tom! Jesus,” I pulled his hand away and Cramer fell back into his seat. “This isn’t what we agreed to.”

“What, you want me to just sit here, while he mocks us?” he rounded on me. “Are you on his side, or what?”

“No, of course not. I just don’t think this is the answer. I mean, what do you think this is going to accomplish?”

“If nothing else, it will make me feel better,” he replied through gritted teeth.

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“Will it? Come on, you aren’t like this.”

“No? Why not? You don’t think he deserves to suffer for what he’s done?”

“It didn’t say that. I just…”

“You know, I always knew you were soft, Ray. But when did you get so weak? Honestly, maybe it is better if you just sit quietly back there and let me handle this alone. I don’t think you have anything useful to contribute, here, after all.”

I rolled my eyes and pulled the flask from my coat,

“Fine, you think you know better, show me how you it’s done, maestro.” I leaned back in my chair. “If you want to make a fool of yourself, I won’t stop you. I’ll just enjoy the show.”

Tom scowled but turned back to Cramer, dismissing me for the moment.

“Don’t let her lead you astray, Cramer. No one else here has any sympathy for you. No one cares what I do to you, or what happens to you in the end. You aren’t even human, so human rights laws don’t apply to you. There is nothing protecting you. From me, from my friends, from the families of the people you have hurt. We can make sure that you experience nothing but suffering for the rest of your life, however long we decide that should be. Do you understand?”

“Pfft. She doesn’t seem to think much of your competence, why should I be worried?” Cramer glanced in my direction with a little smile.

I shrugged and sipped my drink. This wasn’t my show, after all.

“Don’t look at her. Look at me. Whatever she thinks, I am the one that controls your future.”

“Well, I’ll tell you, I am considering her opinion because, frankly, she seems to be the more… knowledgeable, of the two of you. If you had any idea what you were doing, you would know that torture is of limited effectiveness for ubarae like me. After all, whether is it done to me or by me, torture is an intimate interaction between two individuals, isn’t it? I may not be able to force a connection with someone who is Immune, but if you willingly form one with me that is quite another story, isn’t it? And if you are enjoying yourself, there will certainly be some enjoyment in it for me, too. So, by all means, let’s get started. Let’s have some fun.”

“You’re a sick fuck, you know that?”

“Why thank you,” Cramer smiled triumphantly.

“Well, jokes on you, incubus,” Tom continued through gritted teeth. “Because even if you refuse to be of use to us this way, there are other ways we can make use of you that you will find less pleasant.”

“Oh?” Cramer smiled and raised an eyebrow.

“Well, with the Pact broken, we no longer have any agreement in place that compels us not to do research on your kind. We have plenty of experiments planned that need subjects. Everyone will be happy to hear you are interested in volunteering.”

For the first time, Cramer hesitated,

“Experimentation?”

“Oh, yes. There is so much about your kind that we don’t know. Like you just said. But we will, soon enough. We will make excellent use of any data you provide us, don’t you worry,” Tom grinned. “So, you see, maybe I can’t make you suffer, but I can make you helpful. Also, who knows, maybe in the course of the experiments, we will even find a way to really make you hurt, huh? I am looking forward to finding out. Unless, you have changed your mind, and you want to give me something now? Be useful in another way?”

There was a long moment of silence. The incubus really seemed to consider his options for the first time. Finally, Cramer shook his head,

“I’m done here. Take me back to my cell, and don’t come again unless you have a tasty snack for me. I am hungry.”

Tom’s face reddened with fury, and he jumped to his feet, knocking back his chair. It clanged to the floor violently.

“You think this is some kind of joke!?” he growled. “Let’s see you laugh at this.”

Tom clamped his hands around Cramer’s throat, shoving him back in his chair. The incubus’ eyes bugged out and he choked, trying to breath but failing. I waited a moment for Tom to let go, but he didn’t. Finally, I rose and crossed the room, pulling him off Cramer. The incubus collapsed, chuckling between gasps for breath.

“I wasn’t expecting a meal so soon,” Cramer licked his lips, breathing hard. “Thanks.”

Tom struggled against me, trying to swing at Cramer, but I held his arms.

“Stop it! This isn’t helping!”

“Why are you defending him!?” Tom turned on me, shoving me back. “He is the enemy, Ray. In case you forgot.”

“I didn’t forget anything. Maybe you forgot that we are trying to get information, here. Were you planning to kill him? I know you are angry, but you have to stay in control.”

“In control? You are one to talk. Look at you, still drinking, even now,” he knocked the flask from my hand, and it clattered to the floor splashing vodka as it skittered away. “Why did I even ask you to be here? I should have known you were nothing but a liability. I can handle this alone.”

“You think? Look at him, he doesn’t respect you. He doesn’t fear you. You are wasting your time.”

“Maybe he would if you weren’t here, undermining me at every opportunity.”

“Don’t blame this on me!”

“Get out! I will do this myself.”

“No. You obviously can’t be trusted in here alone.”

He put his hands on my chest and shoved me towards the door,

“You seem to think you are the one in charge. But this isn’t the Organization, anymore. I am your superior, Ray, and you will respect my authority.”

“Ha! That implies that I care about this job. Go ahead, fire me for insubordination if you want, boss.”

“Maybe I will!”

I glanced back at Cramer, who was observing the argument with poorly concealed glee, and paused.

“We shouldn’t be having this conversation in front the prisoner. Hallway, now,” I grabbed his arm and pulled him out of the room.

As the door closed behind us, I slammed my fist into it.

“What the fuck are you doing? Are you trying to make us look incompetent?”

“Of course not!” Tom retorted. “You’ve been ‘retired’ too long, you’ve gotten sloppy. You are the one that is making us look like a laughing stock.”

“This is stupid. We need to figure this out before we go back in there or we aren’t going to accomplish anything. Why don’t you just… go find a guard to watch him for now and we can hash this out in private, ok?”

“And leave you here with him, alone? I don’t think that is a good idea.”

“Well, I am not leaving you here alone, either.”

Tom sighed deeply,

“Alright, we’ll go together, then,” he pulled out his keys and locked the door to the interrogation room. “He should be safe enough for now. He’s chained up, what can he do? Follow me, there will be someone in the next wing we can get to watch him.”

I nodded and trailed after Tom, the sound of our footsteps retreating down the hallway. As we passed a door to the left, we turned and stepped into the room. A technician sat in the darkened space; his face illuminated only by the faint flickering of the monitors he watched. I closed the door behind us.

“Well, how did it go, Edwards?” I asked.

“You two put on quite a show, I’ll say that much,” Edwards kept his eyes on the monitor, but I could see a little smirk play across his lips.

“Thanks. But more importantly, do you think he bought it?” I nodded at the screens, showing two angles from the inside of the interrogation room.

“So, it seems. He looks pretty amused right now, at any rate.”

“Good.”

“You aren’t worried that you’ve lost some face with him?”

“Nah, who cares what he thinks. Respect, even fear, would not have made him tell us anything. He isn’t that stupid. He knows he is screwed either way. No. This is our best chance to learn anything worthwhile from him.”

“Agreed,” Tom stood at my shoulder, watching the monitors. “Now let’s just hope he takes the bait.”

I turned to him,

“Good work in there. Though, don’t you think you might have taken that a little far with the choking?”

“Hey, it worked, didn’t it? Besides, I knew you would stop me. Eventually.”

I shook my head but didn’t say any more. Frankly, I thought he had enjoyed playing that role a little bit too much. But, that was why it worked. The best lies were at least partly true. What worried me was how true it might be. A concern for another time. For now, I turned my full attention back to the monitors, watching as Cramer stretched out his leg, reaching for something just under the table.

“It didn’t fall too far, did it?” Tom asked, worried.

“Relax, he can get it,” I replied.

After his tense moment, the incubus’ foot found the edge of the cell phone that had hit the ground earlier in the interrogation, left seemingly forgotten during the argument that followed. He pulled it towards him and then strained his chained wrists towards the ground, managing to grab it and pull it into his lap. He hesitated for just a moment, then began to punch in a number. I smiled,

“I don’t know about you guys, but I can’t wait to see who he calls.”