Beyond the Game

Professor Hoeltzer reached for the cell phone playing a song fitting for the occasion; Lost in a lost world by the Moody Blues. He loved the band, but at the moment he disdained the interruption. Linda was no longer writhing beneath the straps, though her finger appeared permanently curled in distress. "Miss Vangaard, can you hear me? Linda..." he prodded, finally answering the cell phone. "Yes, who is it?"

Danny was sitting in a side street, watching the front of the hotel, hoping the three men would come out before nightfall. "Professor, I don't think our three visitors will give us any problems tonight, but when they show their faces in the morning, I'll make quick work of it." The professor hovered over Linda, flashing a light into her pupils, looking for any evidence of brain activity. "You do that Danny, but make it a clean work, do you understand? We cannot have the police prying into our affairs, especially with guests coming."

"Jake, there is no way I'm able to sit in this hotel. I suggest that after we eat and rest for a while, it might be wise to check out a few places that look familiar to you." Larry was already in the shower, and Jake had found the wet bar consisting of six small bottles of assorted booze in a pay-for-as-you-use refrigerator. "There is an Academy not far from here that the Honorable Professor Hoeltzer lectures in and, I believe conducts much more than the average Joe is even aware of." The small bottles caught Jim's eye, but he could not understand the currency.

"5dm for one bottle...ok, and what exactly is a 5dm?" Jim asked, seeing that the machine would not release one until the money was first dropped into the slot. "That's Deutsche mark, which equals about 3 American here," Jake said, offering Jim some German money. "I just paid three dollars for less than six ounces, that's robbery where I come from," Jim sputtered, quickly downing the drink. "Perhaps, but then we're no longer in America, so expect everything to be much more different than what your accustomed to."

Jim was the first to exit the hotel, weaving a little from the liquor. "Jim, your wife would not be happy with your condition right about now." Larry was right, but Jim needed a sedative to calm his nerves. "Yeah I know, but fortunately for me, my wife is not here and I figure, while in Germany...live it up a little."

"Now you're starting to get into the swing of it Jim old boy. If you like, we can venture into some of the local pubs. You really haven't lived until you've tasted a German beer, but I have to warn you, most of the time you can expect the beer to be served at room temperature." Larry was busy helping his friend into a nearby cab. "Jim, I really don't think it would do you any good to drink anymore. You're already getting pretty sloshed," Larry said. "Now you're sounding like my wife."

Danny had left his car for a moment, entering a nearby café to use the restroom and grab some coffee for the long night ahead. "You won't get past me Jake, not this time. I intend on making sure you never leave, as well as your friends," said Danny, settling into his car. He had no idea that Jake and his friends had already left the building while he was getting coffee. In the meantime, he waited and watched.

"Jim, are you doing alright?" Larry asked. Jim was doing some considerable weaving. "I told you mom, I'm fine, but I do need to use the restroom again." They were nearing a small beer joint, smoke filled and reeking of stale booze. "You can use the restroom in here," Jake suggested. As Jim stepped into the bar, his stomach turned from the noxious fumes and loud music. "Guy's, I'm going back to the hotel to use the restroom. I can't imagine what this one must look like, just from the looks of everything else." Jake protested Jim's decision, but knew he couldn't stop him. "If you really want to go back Jimmy, be very careful and on the look-out. You know we're under surveillance, and it's my guess that Danny is lurking somewhere near."

Without answering, Jim turned and left the bar, "Jim do you need me to go with you?" asked Larry. Jim looked at his friend with contempt then answered, "I really don't think I need help using the crapper Larry, but thanks for the offer. I'll be back in a flash." The real reason Jim had left his friends was from a sensation of distress, this combined with too much liquor on an empty stomach made for a bad beginning to his evening. He needed to talk to his wife, no matter what the time difference may be. He wondered if his cell phone would reach across the waters. "I'll try it when I get into the room," he whispered to himself.

Danny was sure the fellow entering the hotel was one of the men he saw with Jake, but...why is he is entering the hotel? How did he leave without being seen? "Damn it man," he cursed at himself for leaving the car in the first place, but how was he to know these boy's would leave so late in the evening. "Well then, perhaps I should introduce myself to Jakes friend...maybe use this fellow as bait to attract Jake and the others. Yes Danny ole' boy, now your thinkingahead."

Jim hadn't noticed the large man leaving his car and walking briskly down the sidewalk towards him, if he had, he might have recognized the man from the photos Jake had. Continuing into the hotel, he waved at the young man behind the counter and entered the elevator. Danny was just entering the hotel as the elevator doors closed, catching a good glimpse of Jim. What he didn't know was that Jim had also recognized Danny.

"Now what am I supposed to do?" Jim pondered this new situation, helping to turn his stomach even more. "It will take some time for Danny to get up here," Jim thought looking around then, spotting a small hammer hanging next to a fire extinguisher, he grabbed it. "Well there is no fire, but this hammer will be useful." With a slight tug, the weapon snapped free from the small chain. Jim returned quickly to the elevator door, standing far enough back as not be seen. Playing with the weapon, Jim questioned his decision. "Oh man, what if I kill the guy, or leave him in a coma. Then I could spend the rest of my life behind bars right here in Germany. He needed a better plan, and fast. Throwing the hammer down the hall, he walked to his room which could be seen from the elevator doors, and waited. The elevator doors opened with a corresponding ring of a bell. Danny exited and stood in the hall looking down one side then the other. As he looked down the right hall, he saw Jim entering his room.

"This is too easy," thought Danny. "I'll knock and say room service, when the lad opens up, he's going down." Jim waited with a clenched fist the size of a soft ball on the other side of the door, not certain of the final outcome. A knock at the door indicated Danny's arrival. "Who is it?" Jim answered. "Room service."

Jim was extremely nervous, sweat dripping down his face. He wanted to throw up, but the time wasn't right. He wished he were home, with his wife. "This is ridiculous...I'm about to flatten some guy I've never met." Another knock on the door, "hello, room service...is some-one there?"

"Just a moment please," Jim clenched his fist once, then again and held it tight when he opened the door. "Yeah, what can I do for...," Danny fell back as an unexpected freight train slammed into his face, knocking out three front teeth and sending him to the floor. Jim stood over him and hit him again, this time to the side of the head, knocking the big man unconscious. "Oh man, I hope I didn't kill 'em." Jim struggled in his own thoughts with the use of violence, but he knew this man on the floor was out to kill him as well as Jake and Larry. He felt justified. Fortunately, Jim was also a large man, quite capable of dragging Danny's limp frame into the hotel room before anyone caught sight of this event. Using a lamp cord, Jim securely tied the hands and feet of Danny, then he made a call to Jake.

"Danny, why am I on this stupid voice message. What are you doing? You had better answer this phone Danny, I am becoming worried. Call me as soon as you can." Professor Hoeltzer had lost his patience long ago, when Danny's phone continued to place him on voice message. There was no reason why Danny would not answer. Or so thought the Professor, the fact was, Danny couldn't answer.

"Jake, this is Jim." Jake had already downed two beers, along with Larry. The noise in the bar had become louder and more obnoxious. "Jim ole boy, where are you man. The party is starting to build here...do you need some help getting back Jimmy boy?" Jim sat on the bed, staring down at Danny who was still knocked out. "Jake, listen to me, I was attacked by that guy we saw in the airport...Danny. He was going to jump me, but I got the upper hand." Jake held his cell phone tight to his ear, but still had trouble hearing. "Jimmy, what are you talking about ole boy, come down here, I have a cold one set up for you, hurry man." Jim knew he would have to go back to the bar, but would Danny remain secure? It would be a chance Jim would have to take. At least he came out on top...this time.

"Miss Vangaard, you must settle down or I will have to give you a heavy sedative. Your heart cannot handle the pressure it is receiving from the monitor display...please relax." The professor didn't want to entertain the idea of losing another patient, or student. He knew the game levels were beyond the understanding of most technicians, but experiments had to be made periodically, and the unfortunate loss of another student would only fuel further trials that he could not afford. "Now then, Miss Vangaard, if you will relax, I will try to reduce the encoding and hopefully lower your stress," the professor said, fumbling with the frequency dials. Linda's fingers had relaxed some, but a guttural moan emitted from her chest, then she went silent. "Miss...Linda, what are you seeing now?" Linda remained silent for a moment as she stared into the monitor, then her eyes widened, and her pupils dilated. The expression on her face displayed anger and confusion. " Miss Vangaard, you have entered the seventh level...a new level. This level will allow your soul to experience things unheard of, since the sixties." The professor laughed at the thought. "You see Linda, the fifth level opens the mind, but the sixth and seventh levels...well, if there was ever a game to sweep the market for its clever 'indifference', this would be that game."

Jim re-entered the bar, smelling the smoke and foul booze in the air. "Jake, didn't you hear anything I had said? I was about to be jumped by Danny...do you remember Danny?" Try as he might, it was impossible to make his message heard over the din of noise. "Hey what are you doing?" Larry said, pulling against the hand of Jim. "Let's get out of here, I need to talk with you and Jake."

Danny had regained conscience, looking around the hotel room. "You have to be kidding me. Taken down by the enemy?" Danny thought. "Well, I will have to correct this little problem." Danny went to work loosening the cords around his wrists and ankles. "When you return, I will get the upper hand this time." Jim's knowledge in tying knots surpassed that of Danny's skills of escape. Thirty minutes had passed and Danny still remained tied up in the hotel room. "There has got to be a way out of this. Think Danny, think."

Linda pulled at her restraints, in a futile attempt of setting herself free. She saw images that made no sense, but her mind reeled with a rage uncontrollable. "I will kill you...do you hear me? Kill you...you will die." Linda jerked against the leather straps, but they held her tight. "Let me go. You can't hold me here. I will kill you." She protested violently, shrieking and pulling against the straps. Professor Hoeltzer had witnessed this behavior in previous subjects, but, there was something different about Linda, of course with the newest level, even the professor was uncertain of final results. Linda's behavior grew into an uncontrollable wrath, fiercely pulling on her restraints until one finally snapped, releasing her left arm. The professor was standing too close when the girls arm snapped against his head, sending the professor reeling to the floor.

With one arm free, Linda used it to release her right arm, all the while staring at the Professor with a primal gloat. She growled and spit, growing impatient with the straps. One final burst of anger, as she tugged on the leather and set her free. Professor Hoeltzer could see Linda sitting upright, reaching down to her ankles, fumbling with the straps; loosening each one easily. "Please Miss Vangaard, try to stay calm," pleaded the professor, still lying on the floor. "I was only trying to..." Linda sprang on him as a hungry lion would on defenseless prey. She was unstoppable, uncontrollable, savage. Linda ran from the basement, her prison, leaving the Professor in a bloody crumpled heap. She ran, and ran.

"Listen Jake, I have that big guy tied up in our hotel room. He might even have freed himself by now, I don't know. But, we have to do something. I'm not sure, but I don't think he was coming to pay a friendly visit." Jake took on a very serious expression. "I can't say what we should do next, I didn't plan this far ahead to be honest." Larry followed the two men outside. "Wow, it's way too noisy in there for me Jim, are you doing any better?" He asked.

"I think we just entered the war Larry, whether we asked for it or not." Jim sat on a window ledge, holding his head in his hands. He knew he was getting deeper into this than he wanted to be, but turning back was not really an option. He had to think, what would keep them alive, but at the same time end this wild goose chase.

"Jake, we need to find that Professor you were talking about...Professor, uh..." Jake sat next to Jim, staring down the street, into the darkness. "Hoeltzer, Professor Hoeltzer. That big guy you captured was Danny, I think you know that, but what you don't know is Danny is a professional at this stuff. He is probably loose right now, or at the very least, working on it. We can't go back to the hotel room, not yet." Larry was not pleased with this last announcement.

"Hey, we have to go back, where else can we go?" Jake knew Larry was right, regardless of the possible danger with Danny. "Okay, we'll go back, but expect anything."

The cell phone rang next to Professor Hoeltzer, but it was not heard. Two of the group coming from Belgium were calling the Professor to announce their arrival time for the next day, they had no idea of the Professors condition.

"You rotten dog's, I've got a surprise for you," Danny smiled as the ties fell freely from his wrists and ankles. "Why do you think I carry this around?" he mused, pulling a seven inch blade from his boot. "With any luck at all, the clown that clocked me, will be the first to taste the blade."

"Hey, Jim...Larry, I have a better idea. What if we find the Professor first, tonight?" Jim was tired, and a little strung out. The idea of abducting a Professor was more than he could bear. "Do what you want Jake, but honestly, I don't have the strength." Larry remained sitting on the window ledge, unsure of what to do next, or who to agree with.

"Let's go fella's. I know exactly where the Professor is, where he always is. We find him and we can end this peaceably." Jake stood up, motioning to Jim and Larry to follow. "And what then Jake?" asked Larry. "If we find this Professor, what's next?" Larry had a point. "I don't want to think that far ahead right now, let's just find the Professor, then take it from there."

Linda's escape from the school was easy. The budget couldn't afford security, so there was no resistance, not that it would have made much difference. She ran to the center of the city, to the industrial section. It was isolated, away from anybody, except for the other young people huddled in the buildings, trying to keep warm. She was not like them, she felt stronger, powerful. She continued to run.

"This is the place, and I can bet, the Professor is in the basement. I could never understand his reason for spending so much time down there until I paid him a visit. That's what got me into all this trouble in the first place."

Larry and Jim followed Jake around the building, looking for an easy way to enter. "Jake, don't you think it would be a better idea to come back in the morning, I mean, breaking into a school like this can't be good." Jake paid him no attention. "Here, this will do," he said, pulling open a small window at ground level. "This looks like it might go right into the basement. Nobody should be in here at this hour, but keep it quiet just in case."

As the three men slid through the small window, Larry couldn't help but feel like a character out of a spy movie. "Hey, guy's shouldn't we have a gun or something? You know, in case we get jumped down here." Jake continued moving forward without responding to Larry's question. Jim re-secured the window and joined his friend.

"Somehow I don't think a gun is going to help us much Larry. Let's hope we don't run into anything too far out of the ordinary."

Jake had some familiarity with the basement, but only slightly. "I'm not real sure fella's, but I think the lab is just beyond those doors. Mind you, there are other doors that allow entry into the lab, but these look the most familiar." Slowly pushing on the two heavy wooden doors, with a creak of protest, they glided open. "Damn, it's dark down here," Larry complained. "And of course, none of us considered bringing a flashlight," Jim said, feeling the wall for a light switch. "Hold up boy's...I don't think we have to go much farther." Blindly moving through the room, trying to avoid crashing into anything, Jake had nearly stumbled over something resembling a sack of flour.

"Did you find something?" Jim asked in a low hush. Jake reached down to feel the object. "Oh yeah, I found something alright. We have to find a light." Larry discovered a small lamp and switched it on. "Oh man," exclaimed Larry, looking down at the battered body of the Professor. "You can say that again ole boy. Looks like what-ever or who-ever did this was out for blood, and got plenty of it." Jake took the time to look around the lab, focusing on the large screen with a chair secured in front of it. "I'm not certain, but I would guess that the Professor was using another student as a guinea pig, again." Jim drew closer to Jake, searching the computer controls. "You have to wonder what the student was being forced to watch, I mean, what if the Professor had subjected that person to something worse than what our boys had gone through?" Larry was rooting through various controls on a panel when he inadvertently flicked a toggle switch to the on position, exposing the screen Linda had been exposed to.

"Whoa man," Larry said louder than he realized. "That is one bright screen." The blue monitor was so bright that no other illumination was needed to see the entire room. "Check this out," said Jake. "Take a look at the matrix running vertical, offset from the surface graphs." Within minutes all three men became entranced with the display. Larry was the first to feel...something, fear? Anger...the need to kill. "Jim?" Larry said aggressively, surprising them all. But Jim and Jake both knew what Larry was experiencing, they were feeling the same. "Hey ole boy, I think we're done here," Jake said, flipping the switch to the off position. The room fell into darkness immediately, except for the small light afforded by a desk lamp. "Do you see? Do you see what is going on down here? We all know that someone was sitting in this chair, strapped in by the looks of it." Jim felt of the leather straps, noticing how they were literally torn apart. "I have to say Jake, that what-ever this Professor was doing here, went past his own expectations."

The other two men agreed. "So, are we going to just leave this man on the floor here Jake?" Larry asked. "Well Larry, we are breaking and entering, and there is a dead body in front of us...any suggestions?"

The men knew they would have to get out of the lab quickly, and with any luck...which was running low, they would still be capable of meeting up with the visitors from Belgium, in the morning. How that would happen, was anybody's guess.