Capture the Flag

Chapter 4

My mind is working at high speeds as the plane descends. I think about all my unanswered questions as I rifle through any potential scenarios that seem possible. Before long, we have landed in what appears to be the middle of nowhere. The small, private airport has garages for planes, but no other people in sight. 

I sit there with more questions than answers. 

"Alright, kid, time to move out" the big guy they call Jones grabs my arm and pulls me to my feet. Having been sitting for so long, I stumble a bit, but the guy's strong grasp keeps me from falling.

They crank open the side door to the plane, and I am met with smells of fresh air. I peek out to see the sky just beginning to lighten, meaning we must be nearing dawn. 

We have been traveling through the whole night, I think to myself.

The runway is about 4 feet below us, and one of the guys hops down with ease.

"Your turn," Clark says, leading me closer to the door. The guy below preps to catch me. Before I can even hesitate I am pushed out of the plane and land with a grunt in the arms of the other guy. He sets me on my feet as the rest of my kidnappers join us.

I am surrounded, one of the guys I don't recognize is in front, Jones on my left, another guy on my right, and Clark (the leader) behind me. I am being led across the runway towards the only other vehicle in sight, an armored truck. It feels like a fully planned operation, with not much room for error. There is no escape.

I am led into an armored truck,  and once again set down on a bench on the side. This time though I am handcuffed and blindfolded. 

The ride is bumpy yet quick, and before I can even come up with a solid escape plan, we've arrived at our destination.

"We'll take off the blindfold when we get inside," I hear a male voice say as I am led from the truck. Unfortunately for everyone involved, that last ride left me motion sick and I can barely walk. 

"Just carry her," I hear another voice say. I am lifted up and held underneath someone's arm like a sack of potatoes. I try to kick at them but they're too strong.

Finally, I am set down and my blindfold and handcuffs are removed. The guy named Clark turns and I see for the first time a woman is in the room with us. She is dressed in a freshly pressed uniform with another United States emblem on the sleeve. 

"She's all yours," he says, he and the three other guys turn and leave the room, sealing the door behind them.

"Where am I?" I ask, turning towards the woman. I am ready for some answers.

"Barrow, welcome," she says with a smile, "please have seat." She gestures to a plush chair and takes a seat herself on the other side.

"I'll stand if that's alright," I say, almost challenging her to force me. Her black hair is tied into a tight bun behind her head and she wears a fake smile on her face. 

She shrugs in response, "My name is agent Strickland, and I will be your primary informant while you're here. I'm sure you are very tired and probably also confused, but I come with the answers you are looking for. You are probably wondering why you're here or why we chose you, but let me first assure you that you are safe." Her smile reminds me of one my teachers would put on to try and get us to believe in the stories they read to us. It screamed of lies.

"What kind of show is this?!" I shout angrily, "First you kidnap me then tell me that everything is fine? I want answers, now!" I stand there practically on top of her and she sits with no reaction, her face doesn't even twitch.

"Barrow, if you would just sit down and listen, I will answer your questions!" She says forcefully, pointing once again at the seat across from her. 

With not many options I go to the chair and take a deep breath. Strickland nods in approval. 

"As I said, Barrow, you're safe," she says pulling out a blue folder. "I'm sure you have figured this out by now, but our selection of you is not random. You were chosen specifically based on your aptitude and strengths. We've had our eye on you for a while, based on your scores in school and recently what we have seen in your college applications. You are a very special young lady."

"What is this place?" I ask.

She is silent for a moment before answering, "we're at a secret US military base. I cannot tell you the exact location."

"So it's true then," I say, my mind spinning, "I was kidnapped by the government?"

"This operation has top-secret priority, meaning we couldn't tell you about it. For the sake of your family and friends, it had to appear to be a kidnapping."

"But why?" I ask. None of this makes any sense.

Strickland sighs, "it's a long story. For years now the world has been in a race to develop the newest forms of technology. This is in devices, software, space travel, and combat. The biggest threat to national security is in the future wars when technology will be the biggest enemy"

"Okay," I ask, "so what does that have to do with me being kidnapped?"

"As I am sure you know, there is a major separation between how a human can think and how a robot can. Humans are practical, decisive, yet ultimately restricted by ethics and survival. We need to understand more about how humans think within high-stress combat to be able to develop this new form of technology. Our psychology division proposed an experiment that would ultimately allow us to solve this enigma, but to do so we needed young minds built for strategy. Ones like yours, Barrow"

"So you kidnapped me for an experiment? I ask, trying to put the pieces together, "Why not just ask me instead of dragging me from my home?"

"We need to keep this experiment under wraps, Barrow, and that means confidentiality - something we cannot assure unless we physically have separated you from outside sources."

"Do I have a choice in any of this? Can't I leave?"

The question hangs in the air as the reality of the situation comes tumbling down. Strickland looks at me, "you cannot leave, not now. We need you for this," she sighs, standing up from her chair, "you will learn more about the rules, the reward, and the experiment in the next few days. But know this, if you stay here and work hard, you will get to live the life you always dreamed of"