Free Doom Star: Book 05 - Planet Wrecker by Vaughn Heppner

other horrors had this monster committed? He must never become like Yezhov. He must never sink into depravity. Maybe the only dike against that would be to keep his word.
    “My solemn word is all I have left,” Hawthorne said.
    While crouched in his chair, Yezhov sneered.
    Hawthorne almost drew his gun and fired. To have this worm doubt him….
    “Your days of power are over,” Hawthorne said, and he was surprised at his calmness. “But I want your expertise. You shall become one of my advisors. You will receive a double ration of food and full privileges. But you will be in confinement in my headquarters. I want to know everything you’ve been doing, Chief. You must hold nothing back.”
    Yezhov gingerly massaged his shoulder. “The Directors won’t stand for your highhandedness.”
    “My reading of history indicates otherwise. If those with the guns are willing to use them ruthlessly, then a small group can with terror effectively control nations.”
    “You’ll use PHC methods?” asked Yezhov.
    “We’re on the brink of the abyss. Will humanity hold together through good will? I doubt it. We need fierce ruthlessness now.”
    “Your way has failed us,” Yezhov said.
    Speaking with this filth was wearying, but Hawthorne clamped down on his revulsion. He needed the Chief’s knowledge. If he would practice ruthlessness, he would also practice it against himself.
    “We’re still holding territory,” Hawthorne said, “and that’s due to my way, my control of the military.”
    “Your years at the helm have changed you,” Yezhov said. “Or don’t you recognize that in yourself? Each year, you’ve become increasingly dictatorial.”
    It was probably true. Wars brutalized soldiers, people and the commanders. Long wars only intensified the process. Even so, Hawthorne doubted he could keep listening to Yezhov. The desire to kill the monster was nearly overwhelming now.
    “Each year, I become increasingly desperate,” Hawthorne said. “You now have five seconds to answer me.”
    Yezhov glanced right and left, and stared at the dead technicians. Three seconds passed as his gaze froze on them. Then sweat bathed his face. He jerked upward. Maybe he realized he’d been immobile. Maybe he didn’t know for how long he’d stared.
    “I’ll talk!” he screamed. “I’ll tell you everything.”
    Hawthorne found that his heart was beating with heavy thumps. In a thick voice, he said, “That’s too bad, Chief. I wanted to kill you.” He took a deep breath, tried to make it a calming one. His heart kept thumping, and he didn’t know why. “My word is my word. Now start talking.”
    “Where should I begin?” Yezhov asked.
    Hawthorne took a second deep breath, and finally his heart-rate began to return to normal. That was a good question. Then he knew the answer.
    “What do you think will make me the angriest? Start there.”

-11-

    Hawthorne paced before a one-way mirror. In the other room was an operating chamber. Former Chief Yezhov lay strapped down on a gurney, with a metal band around his shaved head.
    Three doctors stood in green gowns around him, with surgical masks covering their faces. Medical equipment filled with room, with banks of computers, imagining holographs and mind-scanners.
    Yezhov squirmed as a doctor inserted a tube into his left arm. Turning toward the one-way mirror, Yezhov shouted, “You’re breaking your word, Supreme Commander!”
    Captain Mune stood to the side. He glanced at Hawthorne. “The man’s a liar, sir. He’s been lying for months.”
    It had been five-and-half weeks since the raid on PHC Headquarters. Since then, Hawthorne’s most trusted soldiers had arrested the top echelon of Political Harmony Corps and sixty percent of the under-chiefs and ranking secretaries. Eleven of those secretive men and women had been shot. Twenty-three more faced Director-controlled Tribunals. Unfortunately, three Directors were discovered attempting to initiate a coup. They’d used a