The Mullinix Book 1: Ascension

  Chapter 89 - Lingering questions

  "What condition is he in?" Medoferro asked Suvorov as they went to the guard cell that Coblein was being held in, "Can he talk?"

  "Hard as it was we left him alone," Suvorov told him, "Luckily we hadn’t heard about Massimaferro’s death yet."

  "How are we going to handle this?" Simon asked them, "I’ve never been involved in questioning."

  "We can do it," Suvorov said, "I’ve been trained in this…"

  "I’ll do it," Medoferro said, his eyes looking forward in a cold stare, "I can tell things you can’t."

  "I’m going in with you," Miranda said, "Someone has to keep you calm."

  "Me too," Suvorov said, "We don’t know how dangerous he is…"

  "You’ll intimidate him," Medoferro said, "I don’t want that yet. Trin, if you come in let me handle it. I have an idea on how to do it."

  "Trin?" Simon said, "They name you in there?"

  "Trinaferro," Miranda told them, "So start on it gently, please and understand if I don’t respond."

  "I swear they come up with the weirdest names," Suvorov chuckled, "Ok, do your worst guys."

  "One question," Medo said, "Does he know about Massimaferro yet?"

  "Not by us," Suvorov said, "I only just found out. Most of the boys only know he’s been sick and that our friend here is the cause."

  "Good," Medo said, "I want to see his reaction."

  "You don’t think he meant to kill Massy do you," Miranda/Trinaferro said to him.

  "If they were trying to kill him they would have used a more direct method," Medo said, "They wanted something else. I want to know what."

  "I’d just like to know who ‘they’ is," Simon said, "It would be easier if we knew that."

  "That’s what I aim to find out," Medo said, "I’ll yell if I need you."

  Medoferro and Trinaferro walked in to the cell block, a solitary stone building designed for holding the one or two drunken idiots that the local guards dealt with every once in a while. Coblein didn’t look so hot when they walked in and looked at him. Coblein didn’t even look up as they entered.

  "I see they brought you back in one piece," Medoferro said, "Though you don’t look like you’ve eaten since you left."

  "What do you want, Medoferro?" Coblein asked, "To soften me up before you send in the goons on me?"

  "No goons, Ari," Medo said, opening the cell door, "Just us."

  "I was expecting people with more authority," Coblein grunted, "I guess I don’t rate that high."

  "Thanks to your trick with mellemaic there aren’t many people with more authority than us now," Medoferro told him, "What have you got to say for yourself?"

  "Great," Coblein said, "Fuck both of you. I’m up for assault. Give me my lashes and get me out of here."

  Medoferro looked at Trinaferro and couldn’t help smiling a little. Coblein definitely didn’t know the effects of what he had done yet. He pulled a chair up so he could get a better look at the former Medico’s face when he revealed the enormity of what happened. Trinaferro stood behind Medo and put her hand on his shoulder, letting him take the lead.

  "What makes you think you’re up for simple assault?" Medoferro asked him, "And if that’s the case, why did you run?"

  "I ran because that bitch Toria figured out what I did," Coblein growled, "Would you take lashes willingly?"

  Trinaferro’s hand tightened on Medo’s shoulder as the anger came through her. Medo put his hand over hers and remained glad that she was keeping her council and letting him handle it.

  "Why did you do it?" Medo asked him, figuring to try before he realized what he was in for, "Since we all know you did."

  "Stick it, Medoferro," Coblein said defiantly, "I don’t have to answer to a mere apprentice. If Massimaferro is still too sick then send me back to Mullinix Centre."

  "You don’t know a thing about mellemaic?" Trinaferro asked him, "Do you?"

  "Trin…" Medo said softly, gripping her hand, "I’ll handle it."

  "It causes some minor memory loss and a few other side effects," Coblein said, "It should not have done what it did to him."

  "You obviously never read up on it then," Medoferro said, "Because if you did you’d know why it was pulled from use."

  "I thought it was simply because there was something better," Coblein said, "It served my purpose. Now get me to a real court."

  "You see," Medoferro said, "Mellemaic has this nasty habit of causing allergic reactions."

  "In twenty percent or more of the people who take it," Trinaferro put in.

  "So that’s what happened," Coblein said, "Figures."

  "That’s why I’m here instead of him," Medoferro said, still remaining calm, "You see, you have managed to do something that hasn’t happened in centuries."

  "What’s that?" Coblein said, "Get the better of a Mullinix?"

  "No," Medoferro said, letting his voice run cold, "Kill one."

  "What?" Coblein said, his eyes going wide, "What are you talking about? That shouldn’t have killed him!"

  "Perhaps I should introduce myself," Trinaferro said, "My name is now Trinaferro. I’m the one who is stuck with this damned apprentice job because of your little stunt."

  "You see," Medoferro told the now very pale medico, "I am the one you have to deal with now. Massimaferro’s heart gave out after fighting the allergic reaction. He died a few hours ago."

  "Oh gods," Coblein said, standing up and pacing in his cell, "I’m dead."

  "Not yet," Medoferro said, "I want information."

  "I can’t," Coblein said, looking around desperately, "I’m dead…"

  "You aren’t dead until I pass judgment," Medoferro said, "I won’t be doing that until I know for sure why you did it."

  Coblein darted around the cell and looked for something, anything to help. He saw that someone had left a quill pen over on the table, something that was usually safe as these cells were usually used as a drunk tank on the weekend. Coblein, knowing his life was over decided to make it happen on his own terms and grabbed the pen.

  Medo and Trina saw what he was about to do and stood up quickly. Trinaferro went for the door while Medoferro decided to do something a bit more direct. Coblein took the pen and was lunging it at his throat when Medoferro used a power control to grab hold of it.

  "Get a key," Medo grunted as he pulled with forces, "Get in there, Trin!"

  Trinaferro saw what Medo was doing and ran out to get someone with a key so that they could stop Coblein. Medoferro continued his hold, despite the drain in power it was taking on him. Rav Suvorov came running in holding the keys and opened it quickly. He pulled the quill pen away from Ari Coblein and restrained him.

  Medoferro dropped the hold on Coblein’s arm and walked into the cell, using a bit of power to make his eyes glow a little to scare the hell out of the former medico. Medo was in no mood to play around with Coblein, he intended to get the information. Trinaferro saw what he was doing and closed the door so no one outside would see what Medo was about to do.

  "That was stupid, Coblein," Medoferro said, "I’m not going to let you go that easily, you idiot."

  "Oh gods," Coblein whined as he looked at Medoferro, "What are you?"

  "The man who’s really pissed that you put him in power," Medoferro said honestly, "Now. I want to know who paid you to do this. You obviously weren’t up to doing it yourself."

  "They’ll kill my family," Coblein said almost crying, "I can’t tell you!"

  "I think that they are the last thing you have to worry about," Medoferro explained to him making a ball of light in his hand to complement the glowing eyes, "Now start telling me the truth or I will show you the real meaning of power!"

  "Ellis LaPorte," Coblein said, crying in defeat, "He’s the one behind the ones who have been paying me."

  "Colonel Ellis LaPorte?" Suvorov said, "That son of a bitch!"

  "Why?" Medo asked him, "What on earth does he have to gain
by this?"

  "You think he’s going to tell me that?" Coblein said, "I’m nothing. Just someone that Tony Stack found out was able to be corrupted. I follow orders."

  "Stack has been on the run since before the trip was announced," Medoferro said, "Who gave you the instructions?"

  "One of LaPorte’s lackeys," Coblein told him, "I don’t remember his name. Never saw him before or after, just gave me the mellemaic and told me to make sure that he was muddled for the conference."

  A little puddle had formed by Coblein’s foot, showing everyone in the room that he wasn’t lying. Medoferro let the power go back into the natural form and sat back down in the chair. Trinaferro went over and put her hand on his shoulder, which he held on to and looked up to her.

  "I’d say we’re in the wrong part of the world," Medoferro said, his eyes glazing in thought, "LaPorte is up to something."

  "What do you want me to do with him?" Suvorov asked them.

  "Send him to Mullinix Centre," Trinaferro said, "We can deal with him when we get back."

  "Medo?" Suvorov said, "You’ve got to give the order as Mullinix."

  "Sounds like a plan," Medoferro said, "But not until morning. I have some ideas, but I’m too tired to form them yet."

  "What are you thinking?" Trinaferro asked him.

  "I don’t know yet," Medoferro said, mind still churning at the new information, "I’ll know after we discuss it with Insegniferro."

  "Get him ready," Trinaferro told Suvorov, "It’ll take you a few hours anyway. I think by then we’ll have a plan together."

  "Hopefully," Medo said, his fatigue showing, "It’s nearly three in the morning. Let’s get some sleep before we decide what to do. I’ll call Insegniferro then."

  "Sounds like a good idea," Trina said, "Let’s go back to Toria’s place. We can get some rest there."

  "And another one of those potions," Medo grunted, "My headache is back now."

  "Serves you right," Trina chuckled, "But I can’t fault the results."

  "I’m going to go get some sleep as well," Suvorov said, "I’ll get the convoy ready in the morning."

  Medoferro nodded and leaned against Trinaferro as they walked. He was tired to the point where he needed sleep badly. Trina kissed his cheek and helped him stay up. It had been a long night, but at least now they had some answers. Unfortunately, the answers only brought more questions.