-Chapter 14: The Uncertainty Principle

The room was dark and quiet. No one dared to move or breathe.

Lake slowly opened his eyes again, although it did little good in the darkness.

‘I’m alive?‘

Confusion filled his face; he’d heard the gun go off, felt the pierce of the bullet… hadn’t he? Or had he? He let out a long, shaky breath as he attempted to get his bearings.

Suddenly, Sands started laughing.

Admittedly, Sands’ laugh was an odd thing to hear, but it was at that moment that Lake realized what had happened. Sands had only yelled bang as he shoved the barrel hard into Lake’s temple, and let his fear-ridden body drop to the floor.

Sands hadn’t actually fired the gun.

He’d been playing with him the whole time.

But Lake had heard the click… "What?" he started to ask as he caught his breath, the room still frighteningly dark.

Still lying on the floor Lake saw the dark outline of a figure loom above him and answer back, "Don’t flip your wig, kid. It was only the sound of yours truly clicking the safety back on."

Sands smirked before lifting the gun up and demonstrating, rather sarcastically, how to flip the safety on and off.

At the new revelation and developments Mike slumped into the nearest chair in relief. He realized that he was covered in sweat and took out a handkerchief, starting to pat his face dry. It had been too dark for him to see exactly what had happened, and he’d been more than a little caught up in the moment. Sands had given them a good scare, but thankfully nothing more.

Sands smiled. ‘Oh, how I’ve missed all this. The thrill, the control, the power - and the ability to strike pure terror into the hearts of those who try to fuck with me.’

Sands knelt down next to Lake. He could hear him trying to catch his breath.

"Just remember this Lake. I could have killed you," Sands stated menacingly, tapping the gun against his thigh absentmindedly as he spoke. "And the only reason why you’re not dead on this floor right now is because I chose not to kill you." He paused for a moment, letting the words sink in. "I hope for your sake, dear Lake, that you never do or say anything again that will make me regret my choice here today." Sands leaned a little closer towards Lake, causing him to lean away. "What do you think Lake? Can ya walk to the tune of that beat?"

"Yeah," Lake answered softly, caught slightly off guard, as Sands stood up again. "But-" Lake started, then stopped abruptly.

"But?" Sands questioned. Lake sat there on the floor for a long moment, rubbing his sore neck before answering.

"But why didn’t you? Kill me, that is," Lake asked, curious about the answer. He was quite sure that Sands was capable of murder.

"Hmm…" Sands considered the question as he walked back towards the desk; one hand reaching out in front of him slightly until it hit the edge. He was grateful that the room was probably dark enough that the other two Officers couldn’t see his obvious weakness. Sitting on the edge of the desk, Sands’ gaze seemed to fall on nothing as he fiddled with the gun in his hands, "You’re afraid to live and scared to die." He let out a small laugh, "That’s truly… unbelievable."

Sands heard some shuffling from the floor, and assumed that Lake was finally starting to get up. "It’s not that," he heard Lake say, "But you seemed serious enough to do it."

"Oh, it would have been easy enough for me to do it kid, and I certainly wouldn’t have found it difficult to pull the trigger after what you dared to say to me. However, I’m not so insane as to surely wreck my career and future at the Company by killing a kid who’s hardly worth the effort," Sands said calmly, surprising both the other officers in the room, until he spoke again.

"At least not here at OOS where I’d be immediately arrested," Sands threw in, smirking.

Mike looked at the silhouette of Sands. ‘He’d been in control the whole time.’

"Hey, Mikey?" Sands questioned, while he unloaded the gun’s clip. Sands wasn’t quite sure where Mike was anymore; he’d lost track after focusing on Lake so intently.

"Yeah?" Mike asked, getting back up.

"Catch." Sands said, tossing the unloaded gun in Mike’s direction.

Mike managed to catch it, despite the dark and the slightly off throw, and regarded Sands as he put the gun back in its holster. Sands was rolling the clip in his hand, not really facing either of them. Mike glanced at Lake and put a single finger to his lips, signaling for Lake to say nothing else.

‘Sands seems calm enough and I definitely don’t want Lake blowing it now, at least not any more than he already has.’

"Well Sands, I’d say this debrief has run its course. As always… it hasn’t been dull."

Sands smiled at that, "You know I’m always good for a little excitement, Mikey."

"True. I suppose some things never change."

Sands stood up and tossed the clip on the desk. "It does seem that way, doesn’t it," he said distractedly. ‘And some things do change.’

Lake started walking towards the door, then stopped at the sound of Sands voice. "Oh and Lake, I wouldn’t mention what happened in here, if you catch my drift."

Lake looked at Sands, then at Mike who gave him a look that clearly said ‘agree with him, and don’t talk about it’.

"Yeah, I got it."

"Groovy. Besides, who’s going to believe you? Mike owes me one, more than one actually, but who’s counting? And thanks to you, this whole little incident isn’t even on record." Lake looked at the recorder and realized Sands was right. The tape didn’t include any part of the ordeal; he himself had turned it off before the whole thing started.

"Don’t be too terribly disappointed, kid. You’re walking out of here with your life firmly intact. Just take this as a friendly lesson, and remember it well. Don’t ever underestimate anyone, no matter what you think you know about them. In the Company it’s something that’s likely to get you killed… or worse. Take my word for it," Sands said, tapping one of the lenses of his sunglasses. "I know, and I would truly hate to see any fellow agent or officer have to learn it the hard way. Consider yourself lucky, kid, because I’m sure that if you’d been sent out in the field before today, you’d be dead before you could even send in your first HUMINT report." Sands quirked an eyebrow. "I just gave you free training in field psychology, I’m sure you can dig it."

Lake let the words sink in, and at least had the good sense to be humble and not say anything stupid. Deep down his mind knew Sands was right, damn him.

Sands frowned. ‘Why the hell did I just tell that kid all that? Lake certainly doesn’t deserve any helpful tips from me, and I’d have been perfectly happy if that idiot had gone out into the field and gotten himself terminated.’

He shook his head slightly, as if to clear it.

‘Seriously, I cannot watch, or rather listen, to any more Soap Net.’

"Then I suppose I should thank you," Lake said, not sounding very thankful.

"Fuck off!" Sands snapped back, irritated and confused, though more at himself than at Lake.

Lake raised his eyebrows in surprise but said nothing. Mike chuckled as shades of the partner he remembered started to slip through Sands’ seemingly somber mood.

"Mike, I believe I’m through here. Just remember, find the cell phone. It’s got all the proof the Company needs that my superior superior’s intentions were to burn me, and not with the Company’s blessing."

Mike nodded in consent, then realized that Sands couldn’t see the gesture and voiced his reassurance. "We’ll relay the information immediately. The Company will be on it right away."

"Spiffy," Sands replied as he followed the sound of his ex-partner’s footsteps out of the room, hoping to hell that the Company would manage to find his proof.