[Naked Crook]

Nighthawk continued to push Hoffman down the corridor. Nighthawk moved quickly through the corridors. Hoffman was nearly tripping over his feet as Nighthawk pushed him. Eventually, Nighthawk stopped outside of a large door. with the words RESTRICTED ACCESS written across the door. Nighthawk, keeping his grip on Hoffman's neck, turned back to face Jennifer. Nighthawk: Captain Frost! Open this door immediately! Jennifer knew exactly where Nighthawk had just brought Hoffman. She felt uneasy about what was sure to transpire, but, she complied, and she used her access codes to unlock the Artificial Intelligence Lab. Burke: Jennifer...what the hell are you doing? Jennifer looked back at Burke. Jennifer: Keeping a promise... Jennifer turned back to see Nighthawk pushed Hoffman into the AI Lab. AFter crossing the threshold of the lab, Nighthawk stopped after a few steps. Nighthawk: Look around Hoffman. Do you recognize where we are? Hoffman paused, as he took a look around. Hoffman: Medical equipment...an AI Matrix Compiler... Hoffman paused. Hoffman: We are in an AI Lab... Nighthawk: Very good Hoffman. You are spot on with that answer. Nighthawk then proceeded to drag Hoffman over to one of the large machines, as he grabbed Hoffman by the throat, lifted him into the air, and slammed him down onto the table of one of the machines. Hoffman: What the hell are you doing!? Nighthawk: Remember when I said that I am going to take the information I want from you? Well...Hoffman...I am about to start taking information from you. Nighthawk engaged the restraints on the table, as they pinned Hoffman to the table, rendering him immovable. Hoffman: What the hell are you planning to do to me!? Nighthawk ignored Hoffman, as he turned away and walked over to the control panel for the large machine. Nighthawk invoked a few commands, as the machine began to power up. Hoffman: Answer me you lunatic! Nighthawk looked up at Hoffman, as he began to laugh. Nighthawk: Let me tell you a story Hoffman...you may have heard it before given your involvement with The Trust. Nighthawk stepped away from the terminal, as he moved towards Hoffman. Nighthawk: About 25 years ago...during a time when there was no such thing as The Covenant...there was this little thing called The Insurrection. By about 2515, The Insurrection had evolved into a fairly well organizaed and fairly dangerous terrorist organization, thanks in large part to many contributing factors, not the least of which was assistance from The Trust some years prior in order to create an unstable political and military climate to flourish in. Nighthawk paused. Nighthawk: That last part...I myself only learned that recently. Nighthawk paused. Nighthawk: Anyway...with the threat of The Insurrection on the rise...The Office of Naval Intelligence realized it needed more effective ways of collecting intel from Insurrectionist POWs. There was a great need for intel...and ONI was desperate. THis desperation gave birth to something that came to be known as "ONI Emergancy Interrogation Protocol Alpha-Ilo-Durango". This interrogation protocol was very....polarizing in ONI. Some ONI Agents thought that it was barbaric...while others approved of its use in the name of security. Both Jennifer and Burke became wide-eyed when they heard those words. They both knew exactly what Nighthawk was about to do. Nighthawk: Now...I am sure that you know what Alpha-Ilo-Durango is Hoffman. Hoffman had a look of concern on his face. He was visibly scared at this point. Nighthawk: But for the folks in the audience who are scratching their heads...let me elaborate out loud. Nighthawk turned to face Harrison, and the others. Nighthawk: Alpha-Ilo-Durango stands for Artificial Intelligence Recompilation. It basically involves using a process know as Cognitive Impression Modeling. You see, SMART AIs are not programmed...they are actually built from the neural pathways of deceased human beings. People are usually dead when they undergo this procedure. However, "ONI Emergency Interrogation Protocol Alpha-Ilo-Durango" was used on the living. This is why it was controversial. From what I heard...it is a very painful process, very inhumane, utterly ruthless. However...the nice thing is...Humans brains which are subjected to Cognative Impression Modeling basically become digital data which can be analyzed in a laboratory environment. Nighthawk turned back to Hoffman. Nighthawk: In other words Hoffman...I am going to destroy your brain tissue, digitize your neural pathways, turn you into an AI...then proceed to decompile your ass and have you analyzed until we find the information we need. Nighthawk paused. The tone of his voice suggested that he was smiling. Nighthawk: Hoffman...you are about to be subjected to something that is incredibly painful, incredibly agonizing, and incredibly ruthless. I am going to, literaly, strip you of your humanity, and reduce you to ones and zeros and then I am going to destroy what is left when I decompile you into raw data to be analyzed. You will, literally, cease to exist. Nighthawk backed away as he returned to the control terminal for the AI Matrix Compiler. NIghthawk continued to invoke commands into the machine, as he prepped it for the procedure. Hoffman, on the other hand, looked at Harrison. Hoffman: Are you just going to stajd there and let him do this!? HARRISON! HELP ME! Hoffman began to scream. Hoffman: This isn't right! You can't do this! Doesn't anyone see that this is wrong! Nighthawk ignored Hoffman's pleas. Hoffman: Nighthawk! Stop! Please! Nighthawk ignored Hoffman, as he finalized the initiation of the machine. Hoffman: I will tell you whatever you want! Nighthawk: I am not listening Hoffman. You had your chance to cooperate...but you decided it would be more fun to be a prick about it. Now I am the one who will refuse to cooperate with your cries for mercy. It is falling on deaf ears you son of a bitch! Hoffman began to panic as he tried to escape from his restraints, with no success. Hoffman: Please! Don't do this to me! Nighthawk: I am not listening! The Machine began to power up, as it prepared to bombard Hoffman's brain with the necessary electrical impulses necessary to replicate his brain patterns. Hoffman: STOP! Nighthawk sighed. Nighthawk: The more you struggle...the more this will hurt and the longer it will take... Nighthawk paused. Nighthawk: It is already on the slowest speed possible...I don't want to rush this...I wanna get it right, you know? It will definatly hurt for much, MUCH, longer...but...patience is a virtue, as they say. Hoffman was in full panic mode now, he was pleading with anyone who would listen to him. Hoffman: Please...someone...get me out of here! Don't let this lunatic do this! You are UNSC soldiers! How are you allowing this!? HELP ME! Nighthawk began to laugh. Nighthawk: They don't give a shit about traitorsa Hoffman. You deserve this, and they know it. You will get no sympathy from them! Nighthawk grinned, as he began to speak again. Nighthawk: Alright...all systems are in the green. We are good to go. Let's do this! Hoffman, cold see Nighthawk moving his hand over the confirmation button to begin the procedure. Hoffman finally broke down. Hoffman: Please...I will tell you everything! Anything! I will revrealve everything! All my secrets! Please...PLEASE...STOP!...DON'T DO THIS! Hoffman began to yell. Hoffman: STOP!!!! Hoffman began to plead. Hoffman: Please...God...stop... Nighthawk's hand hovered above the confirmation button, less than an inch from the button. Nighthawk glared at Hoffman. He could hear the utter fear and terror in his voice. He knew that he had just cracked Hoffman...and that NOW he was ready to be interrogated. Nighthawk glared at Hoffman, as he slowly walked towards Hoffman, and looked down at him. Nighthawk: Hoffman...look at me... Hoffman's eye's shifted towards Nighthawk. Nighthawk: I am going to ask the most important question of my life...and you have one chance to get it right. Are you ready? Hoffman nodded. Nighthawk: How do I get to The Ulterior Motive!? Meanwhile: Aboard The Ulterior Motive, Spender was on the bridge with Yates and Kolya. Spender: Yates! Yates stood at attention, as he looked at Spender. Spender: How was Hoffman compromised? Yates: Fireteam harmony sir. Remember those guys who you had no clue existed? Spender: I remember... Spender frowned, as he lit a cigarette. Spender: I think retaliation is in order. I believe it is time to make them..."not exist"... Spender paused, as he took a drag of his cigarette. Spender: Yates...proceed to cryo bay 1...and activate Hammer Team. We are going to need them. Yates nodded. Yates: Right away sir! Yates saluted, as he turned and left the bridge. Kolya looked at Spender, as he raised an eye brow. Kolya: Sir...I think we should leave Hammer Team active for the duration of our business on San Angeles. Obviously...once Hammer is done with these Harmony people...we can have them reassigned to another location of value. It would be prudent, and a good use of resources. Spender: I agree Kolya. I agree. Kolya: They could prove quite useful on any number of fronts. We will obviously have to see where they would BEST fit in, obviously. Spender: We will deploy them as they are needed. I don't think they need a static assignment. Spender took another drag of his cigarette. Spender: We will figure it out sooner or later.