The Hand

DISCLAIMER:

This story is fiction. It is loosely based on an old comic book. There is some male to male sex, BDSM, CBT and other aspects of gay sex and love. All names, places and events are fictional. Any resemblance to anyone living or dead is strictly coincidental.

Chapter 1

I was walking down the lower level mall, when I spotted what looked like a bundle of clothes on the floor in a corner. There were very few lights here on the lower level so I pulled out my flashlight to get a better look. As soon as I turned it on and shone it at the bundle.

"Please, please don't hurt me anymore. I don't know anything. Please don't hurt me."

I knelt down beside him and carefully laid him on his back.

"Easy Sir. No one is going to hurt you."

Looking at his face, I could see he had been really beaten up. One eye was almost swollen shut and it looked like his nose had bled for a long time, considering the amount of dried blood on his face and t-shirt. His hands were holding onto his crotch. Looking further down, I could see he had on an old set of combat pants, the type that had been changed almost 15 years before. But I noticed you could see where they had been pressed. Looking at his boots told me he took very good care of them as they still had a shine through the dirt and scuff marks.

"Wilson!"

"Sir."

"Go find Doc and get him down here."

"Yes Sir."

"Timpson, go get a stretcher and a couple of men."

"Okay Chief."

Looking back at the man on the floor. The Hand had really worked him over. I wondered why. They usually just tossed civilians in here without working them over. I tried to comfort the old man as best I could.

"Just take easy Sir. Help is on the way."

A few minutes later I heard boots running toward me. First to arrive was Doc. Doc was Sgt. Newell. He was a combat medic. One of the best I had ever met. Doc kneeled down by the old man and gently checked him over.

"Fuck they really laid a licking on him."

"Sure looks that way. I wonder why?"

"We need to get him moved some place where I can check him over CW."

At that moment Timpson arrived with four men. They opened the stretcher and set it down by the old man. Placing four pairs of hands under him they gently lifted him onto the stretcher. When the two sets of hands that were supporting his hips and upper legs were pulled out they were covered in fresh blood.

"Shit." Doc said. "He has to be still bleeding. Might need that drunk Doctor Silverstein. Someone go find him."

Timpson took off to see if he could find our drunk Doctor.

The four men picked up the stretcher and we headed for the hotel. After arriving we took him up to the seventh floor and down the hall to 712, an empty room. After moving him off the stretcher onto a bed Doc said.

"Need to remove all his clothes. Do we just cut them off?"

"No. Try to save the pants and boots. It may be all he can relate to."

We removed his boots and then his pants. His shorts were bright red with fresh blood. Doc carefully cut them off. And then cut off his t-shirt. He was covered in lacerations from head to foot. Whoever had worked him over was an expert in causing pain. Even as being as gentle as we could he was still crying in pain.

"Doc. Can you give him something for the pain?" I asked.

"Really would like to wait for the doctor."

The words were barely out of his mouth when Timpson dragged the Doctor in. He really was hammered, hardly able to stand but as soon as he saw the old man, he seemed to sober almost instantly.

"Christ in heaven. What happened to him? Never mind."

He sat down and pulled out a stethoscope. Checking his heart and respiration. Next he looked at his eye and then down to his lower body.

"Help me roll him over."

The old man screamed in pain as he was rolled onto his stomach. The Doctor pulled a vial from his bag and after filling a needle injected the old man.

"Morphine. Should ease his pain."

"Get some wet cloths and clean him up."

While we cleaned his legs and crotch area as well as his ass, the Doctor was applying salve to the lacerations on his back. Then the Doctor started to examine his anus. He took several minutes.

"He has been raped. But whatever was used ripped and torn his sphincter muscles. He's bleeding from three places. I am going to have to sew up the tears."

He got up and went into the bathroom to wash. Coming back out he put on a pair of rubber gloves and then went to work sewing up the tears in the old man's ass. After almost an hour.

"That should do it. If you see anymore bleeding, let me know and I'll have to check inside to see if he was torn up inside. If he has been there is not much I can do without a hospital operating room. I just don't have the facilities to anything more."

He handed Doc a vial of Morphine.

"Keep him sedated, let his body heal. Give him plenty of liquids. You should know his sphincter muscles won't work for a while so he will have to kept clean."

The Doctor got up and staggered from the room.

We were standing looking down at the old man.

"I'll stay here and take care of him Sir." Timpson said.

"You sure? You'll have to clean up his shit when he goes, keep him clean."

"Yes, Chief Warrant, I'll take care of him."

"Okay. He's all yours. Call me if he wakes and wants to talk."

"Yes Sir."

During the ten days after we found him and fixed him up Timpson never left his side. He tried to wash out the blood from his pants, but found it impossible, so he obtained a set of new combat pants and pressed them. He polished the old mans boots until they shone. He kept him clean, even if the job entailed cleaning the shit and piss from the old man. He never once complained or asked to be relieved. I was pretty sure Timpson was gay and I think he was in love with the old man even though I was pretty sure the old man would reject him when he awoke and found out.

"Chief Warrant."

"This is Timpson Sir. He's awake and wondering where he is."

"Be right up."

As I walked in Timpson had just finished giving the old man a glass of juice.

"Thank you Peter." I heard.

"Feeling better Sir?" I asked.

"Much better thank you. So where am I and how did I get here?"

"Long story Sir. Would help a lot if I knew who you are."

"My name is Justinian. John."

"And you are?"

"Chief Warrant Officer MacDonald, 23rd Brigade, 2nd Infantry."

"Are we still in Kalahoo?"

"Actually Sir we are in downtown Kalahoo, in a Hand POW camp."

"Hand? What's a Hand?"

"Well that needs explaining."

"I guess I'm not in any hurry Chief."

"Three months ago The Hand attacked. They used some kind of sleep gas to render everyone unconscious. My Brigade was ready to deploy overseas. On New Years Eve after a very good party I passed out in my quarters. When I awoke I was here. Well I awoke in an underground garage along with my entire brigade, with the exception of the officers or females. As we came awake some of the men tried to leave, but we found our way blocked with some kind of force field. After several hours in the garage, several men materialized in front of us. The apparent leader of them spoke to us.

"I am the Commander of this Enclosure. You are all now prisoners. Any attempt to escape will result in execution. Any breach of the rules will result in execution. The rules are simple. One. Do not attempt to escape. Two. Obey the curfew. Sunup until Sundown. Three. Obey all orders given to you by The Hand. Any of The Hand. Failure will result in your execution."

Then they just dematerialized.

"After they were gone, we found out we were in downtown Kalahoo. In Fact we were enclosed in an area of 6 blocks wide by 12 blocks long. It was fenced, but gave us access to all the buildings, malls, hotels, bars, everything. You are in the Biltmore."

"No Officers eh?"

"Not one Sir."

"Peter. Hand me my right boot please."

Timpson handed him his right boot. He turned it over and pressed on the logo in the center of the sole. The heal rotated 90 degrees and he removed a dog tag. He handed it to me.

"Did they shut down the Command and Control Internet Access?'

"Not all of it. We can still access Personal and Logistics, but been confined in here the logistics is useless."

"Well maybe, maybe not. Run that tag and see what you get. Now I need to rest."

"Yes Sir, take it easy. If you need anything Timpson can get it for you."

"Thanks Chief."

I took the tag he gave me and headed down to my office. I typed in the name and numbers on the tag. When the personal log came up on his name I almost had a heart attack. No wonder the Hand had worked him over so much. A full blown Colonel in Military Intelligence. But one that had being released over 15 years ago. Retired. I also noted he had been trained as an Infantryman and had commanded a battalion in the third Gulf War. He had more decorations than I think my entire Brigade. Now what do I do. Pretty obvious. I now had a Commanding Officer.

I called all my senior NCOs' together to give them the news. I also told them that as far as The Hand were concerned the old man had died of his injuries. If they came looking.

I asked them to give me a report on exactly what each of them had, as in, Infantry, Armor, Artillery, transport, and logistics. I wanted to be able to tell the Colonel exactly what was incarcerated here.

"Report back in 2 hours."

I then headed back to the Colonels room. When I entered Timpson was seated next to the Colonels bed, holding his hand. When he looked up I could see tears in his eyes.

"You okay Timpson?"

"I love him Sir. I'm sorry but I'm gay and I love him."

"It's okay Timpson. I kind of figured you were gay. But you know he might not feel the same way."

"He does. We, I, well We have met before. It's been almost two years. But. Oh fuck Sir I just don't know anymore."

"Did you know he was a Colonel?"

"No."

"So is he gay"

"You will have to ask him Sir."

"Fair enough. Although I don't care. All I know is I now have a CO. Our Brigade now has a CO. And that means more to me now than anything else. Now we have hope."

"Hope for what Chief."

"Well I'm not sure. But one thing for sure maybe now we can again have some purpose. Maybe escape."

"Or maybe fight back. Do what we have trained to do. Timpson, I'm a soldier, I've been a soldier all of my life. I didn't surrender."

"And I won't surrender, ever."

"When he wakes up call me."

"Okay Chief."

I went back to my office and collected all the information that had been supplied by my senior NCOs'. We had what would be called a short Brigade now. Almost totally intact, less almost 250 Officers and 65 women. I also got several maps of the enclosure including an old topographical map I found in a map shop. About three hours later Timpson called to say the Colonel was awake and hungry. He also wanted some shaving stuff to clean up. I grabbed everything I had, ordered a good meal brought up and picked up a shaving kit from one of the abandoned stores on the ground floor of the Biltmore.

When I arrived at the room the Colonel was in the shower. I gave the shaving kit to Timpson to give to the Colonel and sat down to wait. When he came out he a totally changed man from one I found laying on the floor of basement. Now wearing the clean and pressed combat pants, shined boots and a clean t-shirt, I saw a very well built man. I stood immediately.

"Chief Warrant Officer MacDonald reporting to the Colonel as ordered."

"Relax Chief. And from now on, no Special courtesies. I think we should keep the Hand in the dark as to my rank."

"I agree Sir and have told everyone to say you had died of your injuries before we could help you."

"Good. Now."

A soldier walked in with a plate pilled high with hot food. He also brought several bottles of cold beer.

"Ah food. Just what I need."

As I got up to leave.

"Sit down Chief. We can talk while I eat."

I sat back down.

"Now where was I? How many men are in here?"

"Our whole Brigade less 256 Officers and 65 women. There are also 126 civilians. 3256, all ranks."

"Breakdown?"

"Two Mechanized Infantry Battalions, One Armored Battalion, One Artillery Regiment less one company and a transport and logistics Battalion."

"Very good, very good indeed."

"I'm not sure I understand Sir. Without weapons, we can't do a hell of a lot."

"I'll get to that in a bit. Got maps of the enclosure?"

"Yes Sir."

I laid out a downtown map with the enclosure outlined in red grease pencil. It showed all the buildings, offices and bar and restaurants and the overhead connectors to each building.

He looked over the map and shook his head. He then laid out the topographical map. It was about 15 years old and some of the building had changed as well as streets and avenues.

"This is better."

"I'm not sure I understand what you mean. That map is over 15 years old."

"How long have been here Chief?"

"Almost six years Sir."

"Well you see these double dotted lines running southwest to southeast?"

"Yes Sir."

"Well that's the old railroad tunnel running under the city."

"I didn't know Kalahoo had a rail line running under the city, in fact as far as I know the only line into Kalahoo is the one to the base."

"Well actually there isn't a rail line under the city, but there is a tunnel. It's blocked at both ends. It was built by the Army engineers about 20 years ago."

"Sir. Now you have me totally confused. Why the Army engineers and not the rail company?"

"Because my good Chief Warrant, while they were putting in the tunnel, they also built an Emergency Command and Control Center under the city."

"Holy fuck!"

"The problem is, I'm not sure where the entrances are and I'm not sure if it will even let me in."

"Well why not?"

"Access Codes change."

"Well Sir, if we find a way in and you are able to get in, what will it do to help us?"

"First. Communications with all the other Command Centers all over the country. Second. If memory serves me right, it is a storehouse. With enough weapons and equipment to fully outfit a Division. Complete with Ammunition, rations, quarters, basically everything to survive for six months."

I was flabbergasted. To think everything we needed to take on the Hand had been beneath our feet and we didn't know about it. But where were the entrances?

"How do we go about finding a way in?"

"Well comparing this old map with the new, I see that at least four building were here when the tunnel was built. This hotel, the Esquire building, the Bunsen Block and the Court house. Of those four the only one we don't have access to is the Court House."

"We're going to have to search the basements of those three very carefully. Including checking the walls for hollow spots. But this has to be kept very, very quiet. Only a very select few can know about what we are looking for. If even a single word leaks to the Hand what we are interested in, they will move us all out of here and tear this city apart to find it."

"I think I have just the men we need Sir."

"Who might they be?"

"Their a Combat Engineer Platoon attached to the 116th Infantry Battalion."

"You didn't mention Engineers when you gave me your battle order."

"Sorry Sir. But their Infantry first and Engineers second. Normally we would have one platoon in each Battalion, but the other platoon was to be attached when we arrived out of country."

"Not a problem Chief. I should have known. It's been along time since I commanded an Infantry Battalion."

"We are going to need a secure place we can coordinate the search. Got some place in mind for that too Chief?"

"Well Yes Sir. It's the conference room on the second level here. We removed all the cameras and disconnected all the wiring."

"Speaking of cameras. Do you think the Hand are using the cameras in all the security centers in downtown to spy on us?"

"I don't think so Sir. We have men in all the Security Centers and can tell when the Hand are coming. They don't seem all that advanced. Their using weapons almost identical to what we use. Except for their obvious ability to transport in and out of places and the disintegration beams on the fences, I have seen nothing that makes any better than us."

"That is strange in deed. Okay set up a meeting with your senior NCOs' and the Engineers."

"Yes Sir."

I got up and left.

In the Colonels Suite:

"Well Peter it has been a long time since I last saw you."

"Yes Sir. About two years ago."

"I didn't know you were in the army."

"Well I'm not exactly Sir. I served two years in the reserves about 5 years ago. I didn't like it and when they found out I was gay they released from further military service. When I was thrown in hear, the Chief ran my name and found out I was an ex-reserve corporal. So he just swore me back in."

"As I recall you were a boy toy for hire."

"Yes Sir."

"So what happened to you?"

"I got arrested for hooking. They sentenced me to 90 days at the jail in Capital City. When I got out I met a guy who set me up to turn tricks. It was good money until he tried to get me hooked on drugs. I split and came back here. I've been working as a gas station attendant. I tried to call you, but your number had been changed and I didn't have your address. Sir. You were the best person I ever met and I guess I sorta fell in love with you. When you were brought here, I didn't recognize you at first but I needed something to hold onto. So I volunteered to care for you. Later when your eye healed I recognized you and vowed I would never leave your side again."

All the while Peter had been talking he had been standing by the table the Colonel was sitting at. Tears running down his face.

The Colonel stood up and walked over to Peter, pulled him into his arms. Peter was now crying deep heavy sobs on the Colonels shoulder. That's how I found them when I knocked and walked back into the Colonels suite. So maybe the Colonel was gay. I honestly didn't care.

"Chief. I would like Cpl Timpson assigned to me as my batman. Do you have any problem with that?"

"No Sir. In fact I was hoping he would accept when I asked him. As an Infantryman he is pretty lousy but, he knows this enclosure like the back of his hand. Guess it comes from working downtown. If anyone can find the entrances I'd place my bets on him."

"Thank you Chief." Peter chocked out.

"You might want to put these on Sir." I handed him a combat shirt and cover.

"Okay everything set up?"

I was about to answer when Cpl Timpson spoke up.

"Sir. I think I know what you are looking for. I think I know where there is an entrance."

"What? What do you mean you think you know where an entrance is?"

"Well Sir, when we, or I was hooking downtown here a couple years back the Police and Security guys were always on our ass. Me and a couple of other guys found this cubby hole under a set of stairs in the lower level of the parkade of Kalahoo Mall. We boarded it up and used to hide there at night from the cops. It was quite large and at one end was a door. At least I think it was a door. It was made of steel and set right into the concrete."

"Can you take us there now?" the Colonel asked.

"Yes Sir, but its daylight out and curfew is in effect. We can't get to the parkade with out going outside."

"Okay. Right, we'll have to wait till tonight. Can you get some flashlights Chief."

"Yes Sir. No problem there."

"Okay hold off on the meeting until we check out this door."

After the sun went down and the few street lights came on I went up to the Colonels room. I brought along the sapper Sgt. With me. With the Colonel, Timpson, Sgt Stimson and myself we headed down to the second level and walked over the flyway to Kalahoo Mall. We walked down to ground level and out onto the street. A Hand patrol was walking by as we exited but they just ignored us. I noted they were carrying what looked like our own m-16 rifles with night scopes on them. They were also wearing night vision goggles. We crossed the street and sort of wandered down the avenue until the Hand patrol was out of site and then entered the parkade. Peter led us to the cubby hole. He showed us how to enter it. After we were in and he closed up the entrance we turned on our flash lights. It really was quite a large space.

"The door is at the end there Sir."

The Colonel walked up to it and just looked at it. It was definitely a door. Set flush into the concrete of the parkade. He started to run his hands over the wall next to the door, sometimes tapping with his fist. He stopped at one specific place.

"Anyone got a knife?"

Timpson produced a wicked looking switchblade.

Sgt. Stimson produced a combat knife. The Colonel took the combat knife and started to score the wall close to where he had been checking. He scored a square about 6 inches on a side. Then started to hammer the concrete within the square. After clearing all the concrete from the square, he put the point of the knife under the edge of a plate that had been exposed and pried up. All at once it popped open. Under the plate was a 10 digit key pad and a round glass aperture. The colonel stood back and looked at it.

"Well here goes nothing."

He punched a 13 number combination on the keypad. Nothing happened.

"Just as I suspected, the access code has been changed."

"So now what?" I asked.

"Well one other thing to try."

He punched a four digit code into the pad and then placed his right eye next to the aperture. A bright light emanated from the aperture. Less than 10 seconds later a grinding noise could be heard from the door as it slowing opened inward.

"Retinal scan." the Colonel said.

As soon as we were all inside the door closed behind us and lights came on. Directly in front of us was another set of stairs leading down.

"Come into my den said the spider to the fly." the Colonel said quietly.

"Okay were in but, I don't know what kind of automatic defenses are in place down here. Everyone just follow. Don't touch anything until I have checked it out."

We headed down three flights of stairs and came to another steel door. This one only had the same round aperture to the side. The Colonel again just put his right eye next to the aperture and after a brief flash of light the door opened on a long hallway. To the right was a solid wall. To the left was windows looking down onto a floor. Actually more than just a floor. It was a huge cavern. Lined up were row on row of M1A5 heavy tanks. In the distance I could see M2A3 APC's, heavy trucks, tank trucks, jeeps and other vehicles. Everything looked like it just came out of the factory. To say I was astounded is an understatement.

"See anything you like Chief?" The Colonel laughed.

"Everything Sir."

"Well lets see if we can find the Command center. But first one thing."

"Sir." I asked.

He just turned to Timpson and hugged him.

"You Peter have just saved an entire Brigade. There isn't a decoration high enough to award you for what you have done. But from now on your Sgt Timpson."

I could see the Colonel really did love Timpson. And I was glad. Funny, ten yeas ago he would have been run out of the service, but now he was a real hero even in my eyes.

"Congratulations Sgt Timpson."

We headed down the hallway and came to another door. As we approached this one it just opened. I figured once you were in the place just accepted you. We entered a room filled with dead screens and computer terminals. The colonel walked up to one and keyed in three digits and then six more. All at once everything started to turn on. Screens lit up showing maps of the surrounding area, while others showed maps of the country. One terminal started to flash red. The colonel walked over and looked at it.

"Shit."

"What's the matter Colonel?"

"It looks like the Hand have compromised a great many of the Command and control Centers. If I answer the enquiry on here they might find this one."

"Then don't answer Sir."

"Well that brings up another problem. Because I was in such a hurry to find out if the other Command and Control centers were still online, they may be able to trace us, just from the traffic that is traveling between all the Command and Control centers. Most of it is automatic once the system starts up."

"Sir can you figure out which ones have been taken and which haven't?"

"Chief it has been along time since I was in. I don't have any of the access codes. We may find we are on our own."

"I guess then we fight Sir."

"Yes Chief we do."

The Colonel walked over to a table in the middle of the room and brought up a map of the under ground bunker. It showed all the entrances and two tunnels leading out. Both were well outside the prison camp.

"First thing we have to do is get everyone, and I mean everyone including all civilians down here. All at once and then seal the entrances."

"That will drive the Hand bananas."

"I hope it will do more than that. Okay I see there is an entrance in the basement of the Biltmore. Chief your going to have to coordinate the movement of everyone down here. There is also the entrance we came in and another here in the Esquire Building. I'm going to give you an access code to open the doors. You will have to pick other men and show them how to get in. We're going to have to do this all in one night."

"In one night? That's going to real hard to pull off, with the Hand patrols wandering around."

"What if some of the civilians are helping the Hand." Peter asked.

"Very good point Peter. I hadn't thought of that."

TBC

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