King of All I Survey-Chapter 176: Reunions

As I made the call to Joe, I watched Sokolov’s face go from helpless desperation to curiosity to hope, then fear. As the call concluded, the knock on the door seemed to scare him again, he retreated a step, again looking around wildly as if for any weapon at hand.

Then suddenly, his face was filled with wild hope, then despair again.

"What?... Is that... No, it can’t be. It was only seconds... They’ve found us!"

The door opened, a little girl wearing jeans and a plain blue sweatshirt stood there, with one of our white-uniformed paramilitaries standing behind her. She was, I would guess, about my age, maybe eight years old, she looked frightened as the door opened. Her eyes swept the room, stopping as she saw Sokolov. As they did a huge smile appeared on her face, her eyes lit up, "Papochka!" she cried and rushed forward to him. As she ran, he bent down to one knee to meet her at her height. His arms were open wide and waiting for her when she collided with him, rocking him back a little with the impact of her charge. His arms folded around her wrapping her in a protective embrace.

I noticed then that he was very thin, like really too skinny for a normal person. I wondered how long he had been held in the Russian prison. His body seemed as ravaged as his psyche by whatever treatment he had endured in that place. I sent a mental note to Joe, Joe, get them both the tablet versions of the implant therapy devices, and a full medical scan and treatment. He doesn’t look well.

Acknowledged. I did a basic scan with the drone’s limited capabilities on his arrival here. He has a couple of broken bones, maybe in the last year, that were set sub-optimally but clearly had some medical intervention. He is malnourished to the point of early organ degradation. He’s not thinking clearly for the same reason, in addition to the trauma he endured and constant fear for his daughter’s safety. Should I transport him to one of our hospital facilities in South America? I would estimate 30 hours to get his organ damage repaired and blood chemistry corrected so he can better benefit from nutritional intake and prevent further erosion.

Yes, but I need him ready to transport back here at a moment’s notice. Let his daughter stay with him, too. Give them an hour here after we leave, then let them know what you plan.

Acknowledged. Miguel has the tablets outside in the hall now.

Good, send him in.

Miguel stepped into the open doorway from the hall holding the two small tablets, I had requested. He placed them on the counter of the kitchenette by the entry, caught my eye briefly and nodded before disappearing back into the hallway, closing the door behind him.

The implant therapy tablets would use a video screen interface at surface level, using games, chat (with Joe as therapist) and other activities to engage Sokolov and Katya, while the real work happened behind the scenes. As the screen activities evoked certain emotional reactions and memories, Joe would use the advanced technology to alternately strengthen or dampen the neural pathways. Gradually mitigating the psychological impact of the trauma and stress they had endured.

Sokolov had released the hug and was holding his daughter by the shoulders at arm’s length so he could look at her and talk to her, but not quite willing to let go of her yet. They were speaking animatedly, but in quiet tones. Tears rolled down both of their faces, tears of joy, now.

I smiled, I felt good about rescuing her and bringing them back together. Lisek’s words ’his wife is already dead...’ haunted me though. from his tone, it had seemed he meant that Volkov had ordered her killed, probably as a punishment for Sokolov... This little girl’s mother, killed, taken from her forever to make a point and play a game of dominance. I resolved again that Volkov would never be released regardless of the outcome of the ICC trial.

"Alexei," I said softly.

He looked up at me, his eyes still shining with the joy of having his daughter here, safe.

"We can talk later. We’ll give you some time with your daughter, then I’d like to have you both transferred to one of our medical facilities for a complete check-up. I want to make sure that you’re both OK. These tablets, I pointed to the devices on the counter, have some games and access to a live therapist. They are designed to help... maybe smooth over some of the trauma. It would be good for Katya. If she saw you using yours, it might encourage her..."

He nodded silently in understanding. Then, pulled her close for another hug.

I turned to General Lisek, "Let’s give them some time. When they get back from the medical check, we can put you in adjoining rooms so you can visit and talk."

Lisek looked at his old friend earnestly conversing with his daughter, then back to me nodding his agreement. We stepped back into the hallway and closed the door behind us.

I sighed... We started back to Lisek’s room. "What do you think, will he testify now?" I asked.

"Da, absolutely. He has his daughter safely back. You’ll have to hold him back from strangling Volkov himself, now. His wife...was... treated badly, then killed by Volkov’s monsters. They promised the same thing would happen to his daughter. It’s horrible..."

I nodded. Maybe I wouldn’t bother with an ICC trial for Volkov, I thought. No, I refused to give in to the temptation to murder, even though, in this case, it was probably the right thing to do...

I opened the door to Volkov’s room, "I want a list of other’s who might testify, especially if we relieve whatever leverage Volkov had over them. I think we should bring your family in, too, willing or not. I’ll leave the choice up to you."

Lisek looked at me for a moment, his face frozen in indecision. Finally, he frowned, "They won’t want to see me, the incompetent traitor... Can you bring them somewhere else safe? Maybe just tell them it’s too dangerous in Russia with everything going on?"

I nodded, "I can do that. I could even arrange a Disney World vacation for the lot of them, with hidden security watching them the whole time..."

He smiled, "Andrey would like that."

"Andrey?" I asked.

"My grandson. He’s five, oh six now. I haven’t seen him in almost a year..."

A plan formed in my head of a surprise reunion at Disney... Maybe get Mickey Mouse or whoever to facilitate the meeting... I’d work out the details later.