“We need you to help us get into the jail,” Manny continued, “where those negotiators from Rolling Fuck are being held.”

Dr. Brandt grimaced, either from the obscenity or just due to the continued pain of Roland’s iron grip.

“And what makes you think I’ll give you any aid?” There was a bit of strain in his voice now, but the doctor’s features stayed decidedly neutral. “I may be a doctor, but I’m no less prepared to die for my Kingdom than anyone else here. You might as well just go ahead and kill me.”

Roland relaxed his grip. The doctor sighed in relief.

“Yeah, we thought you might say something like that,” said Manny. “That’s why Roland and I prepared an alternate proposal.”

Roland drew the guard’s stolen sidearm from its holster. He gripped the pistol in one hand and then crushed it in his grip like he was balling up a piece of paper. The doctor’s eyes widened in shock and horror.

“So,” Manny said, “my friend’s just fulla chrome. High grade stuff. He could walk right through a tank if he wanted. You’re an educated man. You know what people like him can do.”

The doctor nodded, but didn’t say anything.

“Our offer is simple. You help us out and we’ll leave with our people. You refuse to help, and we’ll get our people anyway. Only Roland here will take a little detour to burn half this city to the ground.”

“I see.” Roland could smell the fear wafting off Dr. Brandt now, but the man’s expression didn’t change.

“You wouldn’t be a doctor if you didn’t see value in human lives,” Manny’s voice was soft, his reasonable tone wouldn’t have been out of place in a boardroom. “If you refuse to help us we won’t hurt you, won’t harm a hair on your head. But my friend here will break this city, and a few thousand of the people in it. You’ll be hale and healthy so you can pick up the pieces. And you’ll know that every ounce of that suffering could’ve been prevented if you’d just helped us out.”

“It’s true, sir,” Sasha spoke up. Dr. Brandt stiffened. She sat up from her hidden position in the back. The doctor was a smart man; he put together that she was not being held as a prisoner. His eyes narrowed in contempt.

“Sasha.” Dr. Brandt’s voice was cold, “I’m sorry to see you in such poor company.”

“Sir, I’m really sorry but–”

“But nothing,” he snapped, and now the anger showed on his face. “Have you been a traitor this whole time, or did your will simply fail?”

“Sasha,” Manny spoke up, “we really don’t have time for this…”