Page 49 of Heart’s Prisoner

When he said nothing, Lana continued. "I...I know there's no hope now for...for Asset X." She paused trying to keep her voice from cracking. "But please, I need one last session with him. I can't get a hold of Cole and the guards won't let me in."

"Lana, I'm sorry, I really don't think–"

"Please, Jacob, I know it's not fair to ask this of you, but I need this as a friend. I don't expect...I know I can't save him now, but I need to at least speak with him one last time."

There was a long pause before he blew out a breath. "Give me an hour and I will be down."

Lana closed her eyes and pursed her lips. "Thank you. Thank you, Jacob."

When she hung up she made sure to take her sweet time at her computer, pretending to work on any final reports, watching the guards carefully for any signs of change.

When the doors to the facility opened and Jacob stepped through, the guards paused in their affairs and saluted. Torrence stood up from his desk with a frown.

"General Hartin," Torrence just barely remembered to salute before saying, "what are you doing here, sir?"

When Jacob's eyes looked over to Lana, Torrence's expression went from surprise to red-hot anger.

"Sir, I'm sorry, but she isn't authorized–"

Jacob put up his hand. "One moment, Officer Torrence, please." He approached Lana who met him halfway.

"Thank you, Jacob, for coming. I didn't know what else to do and..." Lana shook her head and closed her eyes, taking deep breaths. "I'm sorry I failed you. But I need this last favor."

Jacob went to place a hand on her shoulder, but when he saw Torrence eyeing them, he thought against it and dropped his hand. "I'm sorry this happened. And the failure wasn't yours. Not by a long shot. You did everything you could do, Lana. And despite what the others think, you did better than the rest... but getting through to Asset X was clearly impossible."

Lana lowered her eyes, not wanting him to see. She wouldn't dare let him see what she was feeling.

She was so sure. She had been so sure she and Xerus were...But somehow she had been wrong. That was why she needed to speak with him. She needed to know why.

"Give me this last moment with him. For everything I did, I would at least say goodbye."

Jacob bowed his head. "Alright. But after that, Lana, I can do no more. I will give you permission to enter the unit this last time and grant you twenty-fours hours to gather your things within the facility. After that, we will...discuss."

Lana wanted to hug him but Torrence was still watching. Instead, she let out a relieved breath and gave him a little smile. "Thank you, Jacob, thank you."

Jacob nodded and turned from her, stepping back over to Torrence. "Officer Torrence you will grant Dr. Hart admittance into unit three one last time." Torrence opened his mouth to protest and Jacob gestured to the door. "That is an order. And she will be granted time to gather her things from the facility before her keycard is deactivated is that clear?"

Torrence went tight-lipped and silent. He chewed slowly on his gum and nodded his head.

"Good. Dr. Hart?" Jacob waved her over. Lana came to him and followed him towards the facility door. "If they give you issues, don't hesitate to contact me."

Lana nodded and thanked him once more before he left. She looked to Torrence whose glare was black and cold.

"Open the door to unit three, please," Lana said as she walked back over.

Torrence turned back to his computer and punched in the code for unit three. As the door opened and she began straight for it, she gasped as a hand caught her arm and gripped it tight enough to hurt.

"You can shove a general's cock in your mouth to get your way for now but that won't work in the long run. Asset X is done for and anything you say won't change that." Torrence let go of her with a shove, making her stumble. "Make it quick. You got fifteen minutes."

Lana twisted around to shout at him that he couldn't treat her like that but saw the other guards watching, none moving to intervene. Hands curling into fists, she told herself it wasn't worth it and to focus on the time she had left. She turned back without a word and rushed down the way toward Xerus' cell.

***

When the sliding door opened to her and she stepped into the room, the first thing Lana noticed was that the screen was down. The second thing she noticed was Xerus' back facing the window, still as a statue. The third thing she noticed was Galger sitting back in her chair, his gun laid out on the table.

"What are you doing here?" Lana asked.

As Galger twisted his head around to look at her, Xerus also raised his head slightly.

---