Having a plan was essential to take maximum advantage of the way his hindbrain worked. A plan was nothing more than a clear set of tactics meant to accomplish a concrete goal. In this case, the goal was “free the prisoners and take his new friends to safety.” The plan he constructed to achieve that goal was based mainly on Sasha’s recollections and his own espionage on the jail. He knew it would change once the shooting started. But the fact that he had a rubric would give his hindbrain something to focus on while it zeroed in on the best tactics for the evolving situation.

At any rate, the plan Manny and Sasha had cooked up actually did survive first contact with the enemy. Roland and Manny had posed as guards and followed Dr. Brandt and Sasha right through the door. The Martyrs inside were all used to seeing the doctor and his assistant, and they didn’t pay a different set of armed guards any mind. When Dr. Brandt requested they send all the prisoners in to the examination room, the officer in charge didn’t even blink at the request.

The only thing that had seemed off to Roland was an odd scent of anxiety in the air. It wafted off the guards and hung in a thick cloud above the entrance room. The odor reminded Roland of countless hours spent sitting with nervous men in the cramped belly of an APC or drop aircraft. He assumed this had something to do with the giant explosion he’d caused earlier, or his escape from the training facility. Of course these guys are on high alert, he thought, some nutfuck monster-man blew up a factory this morning.

Dr. Brandt led them into a large waiting room and closed the door. He let out a long, nervous sigh and slumped back against the wall.

“Ok. You’ll have your prisoners soon enough, and no one else will need to die. Right?” He looked straight at Roland.

“Right,” Roland said. And then added, “Up until you fucks invaded Dallas, I’d gone years without killing anyone. I’m actually pretty good at it.”

The doctor did not seem comforted by this fact. Roland opened his mouth again, but Manny put a hand on his shoulder.

“No,” he said. And Roland nodded. I could have avoided so many violent misunderstandings with this kid’s help. Roland mulled this over and wondered if Manny might be interested in an adjoining mountaintop shack. Just then the door opened.