BRAINWASHED

I do not make any claims to Hogan's Heroes. I am simply borrowing them for the purpose of this story. Some of this story refers back to another story I wrote called Broken, but there is no Maria in this one.

Chapter 1: A Secret Mission

Kinch came up from the bunk that led to the tunnels below Stalag 13. "Colonel Hogan, London is on the radio for you and they said it is urgent. They want to speak to you alone."

"Wonder what they want now?" Colonel Hogan asked as he made his way downstairs. Hogan's irritability was not lost on the men in the barracks. They new Hogan would not admit it to anyone but ever since Koch broke him and sent him to Stalag 1, he hadn't been the same but for that matter neither had his men.

All of them lived with the guilt as each played a part in their CO's private torment. None of them would forget the look on Hogan's face as Koch tortured them in front of him with the sole purpose of breaking him. For a while, Hogan believed his men were dead because of him and that was more than he could bear. It wasn't until he returned to Stalag 13 that he found out that everything Koch said was lie and that his men were alive.

Since then, Hogan had only sent his men on a few missions and declined to go on any himself. Everyone could tell that he had lost the fire that once propelled him to lead the Underground in the area and be the great Papa Bear. When he heard London had a private message for him, he knew it meant he was the only person who could go on this mission. He sat down at the radio and put on the headset "Goldilocks, this is Papa Bear. Go ahead Goldilocks."

There was a moment of static before Goldilocks responded. They knew Papa Bear was the best Underground agent they had and wondered how to brake the news to him. The direct approach seemed to be the best way. "Papa Bear, we have received some disturbing news about your Stalag. Our contact in Berlin said that he overheard two chaps talking about receiving the escape route to the sub from someone in Barracks 2 at Stalag 13."

"That's impossible, I have checked everyone out thoroughly myself. Do we know who?" Hogan asked concerned the operation had been compromised.

"A German plant came across our minds and had our contact in Berlin look into it more. All he was able to find out was some drunken SS bragging how every Ally has a price and the return for their investment would be Papa Bear. Chances are they managed to bribe a captured Ally soldier or a soldier was brainwashed by the Gestapo to turn traitor so if someone ran a check on him, he would check out as being an Ally. We are assuming it is someone who has spent a great deal of time with the Gestapo or someone they have taken an interest in."

Hogan thought about each person in the barracks. Out of the fifteen men living there, only a handful fit the description, including him. "Can you narrow it down a bit more. Your description fits about five people including me."

There was a pause before Goldilocks answered. There was no way to say it without offending Hogan. "We have had a member of the Underground in your area keep an eye on you to make sure you are not the traitor"

"How could you possible even think that I was the traitor?" Hogan yelled a bit irritated at the implication.

Hogan didn't disappoint Goldilocks and reacted exactly as they expected. "We had to assume everyone was guilty and you did fit the profile. It has been determined though our contact down there you are not the traitor and right now you are the only one there we trust. Unfortunately, since our contact in your area doesn't have access to everyone in the barracks, we need you to discover who the traitor is and arrange a trip for him to London via plane. You are not to tell anyone about this so the traitor is not tipped off. Not even the men on your Alpha team.

Hogan was shocked by his comment. He trusted Kinch, Newkirk, Carter and LeBeau with his life. That is why he had them on the Alpha Team. Most of them he hadworked with since he arrived here. He had risked his life to save them many times and they him. "You can't really suspect any of them…"

"There are too many lives at stake for us not to suspect everyone. The sooner this traitor is stopped, the more lives that will be saved." There was another moment of silence. "We never received the last batch of escapees. They were picked up somewhere along the way. We have requested that all transportation of escapees be stopped until this person is caught."

Hogan's heart sank at the thought of those men getting captured again. He could only imagine what techniques were being used to get the men to talk about Hogan's compromised escape route. In a hoarse voice, Hogan asked, "Is the operation in danger?"

Another moment of silence before Goldilocks answered. "No. They didn't talk. They were executed on the spot." Goldilocks knew that that this would bother Hogan and gave him a moment.

Hogan lowered his head and fought the tears that threatened to fall. He couldn't help blame himself for their deaths. Your men are dead because of you. You alone are responsible for their deaths. Koch's words echoed in his head.

"Make sure that none of your men are in the Hildburghausen. We are planning a bombing raid there." Goldilocks added for a couple of reasons. First was to keep Hogan's men safe and second, Hogan's group was the only Underground cell that would have knowledge of this and if the Germans found out about it, it would confirm the leak.

"I will make sure everyone stays clear and will see what I can find out. Papa Bear over and out." Hogan sat there a moment thinking hard about the five, well make it four, people who fit London's description.

First person who came to Hogan's mind was Sergeant Ivan "Kinch" Kinchloe. He was a black sergeant from Detroit and Hogan's right hand man. Since the Germans didn't have much contact with black people, they had been really interested in studying him. Hogan got nauseated as he thought about the techniques they used in studying his friend. They had treated him like a lab rat, if not worse

Those thoughts made Hogan angry. Kinch was smart and would make an excellent leader, but because most people only saw him as a Negro, he would always be skipped over or looked down upon. Hogan remembered his mom sitting down with him when he saw his first black man and explained variety is the spice of life and life would be dull if we all looked the same. Because of Hogan's up bringing, he was able to see Kinch's potential and did what he could to help him develop it.

He shook his head and then hung it as he thought about the words the Nazi used when interrogating him at Dulag Luft. They asked him what right he had to come to Germany and tell them that viewing non-Aryans as lesser races was wrong when Americans pretty much did the same thing.

This line of thinking wasn't going to get him anywhere so he went on to the next person: Sergeant Thomas Wright. He was a difficult man from New York. He didn't mind getting in the middle of things, and there was nothing shy about him. When Wright disagreed with a person, he wasn't afraid of letting it be known and he didn't pull any punches when he told them. One can imagine the things he told the Nazis at Dulag Luft because on the day he came to camp he was in leg and hand shackles and had to be carried because he was unconscious. The Nazis have given him a good working over to try and teach him respect. Hogan gave a laugh. The only person Wright ever really respected was himself. Somewhere along the way though Hogan earned a smidgen of respect from him and that was saying a lot.

The third person who came to Hogan's mind was Corporal James Knox. Knox was a quiet man from Nebraska. He could be hard to get along with, but when someone was in trouble, he was the first one to help. When he started a fistfight with the Germans over a disagreement, he was lucky they didn't shoot him. Hogan thought a moment trying to remember any more information about him. The only thing that came to his mind was he was married and had a couple of kids.

Last on the list was Sergeant William Christopher. He was a very religious man, and not a military career man by any means. If Hogan remembered correctly, he was raised on a farm in Iowa and he was going to seminary to become a pastor. He did take offence when the Nazis started mocking him and his religion. Hogan smiled as he thought back to the first time he met Christopher at Dulag Luft. They were together for a short time before Hogan was moved Wretzlar. He was so full of hell fire that Hogan never figured him to be a pastor.

Hogan's smile faded though when he met him the last time before he got shipped out. After Christopher let the Nazis know how he felt about their mocking of God, they let him know how they felt about him. As they were escorting Hogan out, he passed Christopher in the hall as they were taking him back to his cell, and noticed he was dirty and bruised, but it was hard to tell which was which. About a year later Christopher ended up at Stalag 13. For the longest time he favored his side, but said nothing. Most of his time was spent lying on his bed reading the Bible. It appeared he didn't learn his lesson at Dulag Luft.

Hogan let out a sigh. None of the suspects screamed traitor, but if it did they would have been found out sooner. Hogan contemplated how he was going to try and discover the traitor without the help of his men or tipping the traitor off.

HH HH HH

That night, Hogan sat quietly at the table in the common room drinking a cup of stale coffee, observing his suspects. Kinch was sitting on his bunk reading a book. Knox was writing a letter home to his wife and kids. Wright, Christopher, Newkirk and Carter were playing a game of cards. How do I discover the information without it looking obvious? I just can't ask them 'Pardon me, but are you a traitor?'

"Colonel, are you okay?" Carter asked pulling Hogan out of his thoughts. "You have hardly said a word since you came up from downstairs. Is there something the matter?"

Hogan took a sip of his now cold coffee "Nothing I can't handle."

"Is it a mission gov'nor?" asked Newkirk with excitement. "Except for the escapees that we got out of here, it 'as been quiet. I would like to 'ave a mission to go on. I don't care if it is blowing up a bridge or munitions dump. Beggars can't be choosers, ya know."

Hogan smiled at his friend's enthusiasm. "Sorry Peter, this is a private mission. London pretty much said it is beyond top secret."

LeBeau walked over to Hogan with some fresh coffee and topped off his cup. "You know Colonel, we are here when you need us."

"Do you need any of my bombs? I don't care, big or small or how many. Just say the word and you got them, boy…I mean, Sir." Carter said quickly. It was hard for Carter to remember Hogan was his CO since he didn't mind socializing with the enlisted or getting in the middle of stuff with them. It wasn't very often that he even used the power of his rank. Then again if Hogan only socialized with officers, he would be a very lonely man considering he was the only prisoner who was an officer.

After taking a sip of the fresh coffee, Hogan raised his hand to stop the questions. "I appreciate the help, but this is one I have to do on my own, London's orders, and no Carter, nothing is getting blown up."

Schultz, the German guard assigned to Barrack 2 opened the door "Lights out! Everyone in bed."

"Awh, gee Dad, can't we stay up just a few more minutes?" Newkirk asked looking up from his cards. Most of the prisoners had come to view Schultz as a father figure mostly because of the way he treated the prisoners and would joke around with him about it.

Schultz walked around doing a final head count before the prisoners went to bed. "No. It is time for all good little prisoners to be in bed. Now turn the lights off and get in bed before I put all of you on report." Schultz ordered.

Hogan finished his coffee and motioned for everyone to do as Schultz asked as he made his way to his room. With a lot of grumbles, everyone did as they were told. When everyone was in bed, Schultz turned off the light. In one voice the prisoners all said. "Good night Schultzie."

Schultz gave a chuckle. "Good night Jolly Jokers," and walked out of the barracks.

When things were quiet at camp and was as it should be, he didn't mind being a guard. Most of the time he felt sorry for the men here at camp. They were so far away from home and their loved ones. Day after day they had to stay in the confines of camp unless they were on a work detail. As Schultz stood in the center of the compound he looked all around at the barbed wire fence and noticed how small the camp seemed to be with all the buildings and prisoners and guards. It made him appreciate a lot more the times he could leave camp and go home to see his family and part of him wished the prisoners could get a pass to visit their families.

Schultz stopped looking around and feeling sorry for the prisoners and stared at barracks 2. He then remembered they were not ordinary prisoners who stayed inside of camp. He didn't know all the details, but he knew they could leave camp whenever they wanted. Schultz shrugged his shoulders as he started to walk to his barracks. He ought to be angry or report them for that, but he figured that as long as they came back and he didn't get in trouble why worry about it.

HH HH HH

The next day, Carter, LeBeau and Newkirk were cleaning the kommandant's office. LeBeau was dusting the bookshelves near the window when he heard some people talking.

"You got the stuff?" he heard someone say.

"Got the information?" he heard another ask.

About the time LeBeau could get to where he could see who was talking, they had already dispersed and he wasn't able to recognize the voices.

LeBeau motioned for Newkirk and Carter to come closer. "You would not believe what I just heard. I just heard two people exchanging information for goods? What do you make of it?"

"It could just be something innocent." Carter said looking on the up side. "Maybe it was two prisoners exchanging what is left from their Red Cross Package for some news from back home."

"I think we ought to tell the gov'nor just to be safe, suggested Newkirk.

HH HH HH

When the men had finished cleaning Klink's office and going through his mail, they headed back to barracks 2 to find Colonel Hogan. He wasn't hard to find. He was sitting on a bench in front of the barracks with his crush cap pulled over his eyes.

"Colonel, we need to speak with you in private." LeBeau said quietly.

Hogan tipped his hat back and looked at the men standing in front of him. "Okay." He stood up and went into the barracks. With it being such a beautiful day, no one was inside. "What's up?"

"Colonel, 'ave you seen anyone over near Klink's office today?" Newkirk asked.

Hogan thought back to when he sat down and was watching everything going on. "My vision was blocked by the football game. It was the battle between Barracks 4 and 6. Why?"

"Colonel, while I was cleaning near the window, I heard two people talking. Someone was trading information for goods." LeBeau stated.

The men noticed how tired Hogan seemed to be. Hogan's eyes had a distant look to them and wondered if he had heard what LeBeau said.

Hogan saw the puzzled looks on his men's faces. "Thanks fellas, I'll look into it." Hogan walked into his room and left the three men staring after him. Each of them wondered what had just happened.

HH HH HH

Hogan stood at the window looking out into the compound with his arms folded in front of him and watched the various prisoners going about their day. Everything seemed normal. Maybe the escapees would have been better staying in a POW camp, at least they would still be alive. STOP IT! Listen to yourself Robert. Those men died free instead of wasting away in a cage. Hogan shook his head as he sat down on his bunk. Not wasting away, surviving.