The End of the Beginning
Chapter 16: A Dare

Struggling to keep up, William followed the commander as closely as he could, sometimes almost stepping over her pounding black boots. Hammond let William enter her office first, then slammed the double doors behind her as she entered. She took a seat in her desk chair without even looking at him. Electrochromic glass that separated her office from others behind it changed opacity so no one could see in. William, ready to take on whatever she had to throw at him, or so he hoped, just stood in front of her glass desk and held his hands clasped behind his back.

From a desk drawer, the commander pulled out a flash drive and placed it on her desk. Like bursting fireworks, files of various base personnel were projected around the drive in uniform columns. She scrolled through each one, swiping her fingers hard against the glass as she did, making for an uncomfortable noise. She continued to scroll until she came to what she wanted and tapped on it. William tried to get a better look but could only get a blurry view at the bottom of his eyes. Whatever it was, she read it for a little and then looked up and just stared at him darkly.

“Ma’am, if this is about yesterday, I can - ”

“We’ll talk about yesterday in a moment, rescuer. What I want to know, is where exactly you think you are?”

“Florida, ma’am.”

Commander Hammond gave a quick sarcastic laugh and then turned darker still.

“Not what I was looking for, Captain. What I meant was, do you think you’re still in the US Air Force playing American cowboy? Your personnel file here says, and I have read it many times, that you were about as crazy as they came. You routinely put men and women under your command at risk and gave your commanding officers trouble in just about every place you were stationed. Kadena. Korea. Now, I don’t know if they are were lenient, nice, or are just plain stupid here in America, but if you had been under my command back across the pond, I’d’ve had your ass out the window and on the boat within a few days of you opening your smart mouth. Knowing that, and taking into account your recent medical history, which your physical yesterday put so helpfully out in the open, along with a little testimony from Mr. Douglas that was not in your favor, I have half a mind to terminate your recruitment. In UNIRO, one doesn’t indulge in selfish rescue missions. One doesn’t sacrifice all for a show and a thrill. And one certainly doesn’t rescue others when it seems one can’t even rescue themselves.” Hammond leaned back in her chair and brought both hands to a point in front of her face.

“I am in direct command of over 9,000 people, hundreds of aircraft and ships worth more than some countries, pieces of equipment the size of buildings, and enough resources so that this base could survive even if the whole damn planet blew up,” she continued. “I have enough to worry about without adding you and your rogue tendencies to that list. So, please, tell me why I should keep you here.” “Ma’am, I - ” William started. He floundered, unsure of how to continue.

“I don’t care if you’re one of the Korean War’s great heroes or what you did in Incheon or what you went through,” the commander said matter-of-factly. “I was there; I know what happened. I was in Ulsan when that bloody bomb blew us half to hell. You think you lost people? If you’re not all here and together with your head on straight, looking forward, your cock down, and your bonnet shut, and ready to go then I don’t want you!” William became angrier with every word that passed her less than perfect teeth. He tried to compose himself but he started to sweat and his hands began to quiver. He knew if he lost it now, this would only prove the commander’s point and he would be on the next flight home. Focus, he thought. Focus. On his wrist, the med-bracelet was vibrating, trying to adjust to his increasing state of anger and stress.

“Ma’am, I…”

“Yes, Captain?”

Maybe it was working because he started to feel better and his thoughts slowed down. He took a deep breath and tried to calm himself. His hands stopped quivering and the sweat dried up. Finally, the fog lifted and his mind focused.

“Ma’am.” He stopped and looked out the windows and over the base.

“Well?”

“You don’t know why you need me and honestly, I don’t know why you need me either right now. I haven’t seen action in six years. I’ve barely talked to anyone in that time. I haven’t taken care of myself, of my mind. You have every right to mistrust me or overlook me in favor of one of the other 9,000 people on this base. So, instead, give me the opportunity to show you why you could use me. Let my actions speak louder than my few words. Let me show you, and myself, what I can do. I dare you to give me that chance. I dare myself to take it.” The commander stood up, put two fists on the desk and leaned across the glowing glass slightly. Unbelievably, and to William’s relief, Hammond nodded her head.

“You’ve got some balls, Captain. Good start. Most would have just quit, I think, halfway through that conversation. But, know this - you are not here by my choice. But, now that you’re here, I’ll be watching your every move. You are dismissed.” As he left her office, he cracked a smile. He had managed to calm himself. He had stood his ground. He was pleased.

Feeling the tension disappear, William finally took note of the office. Medals from the United Kingdom’s military were displayed in casings on the wall to his left, and to his right were artifacts from various UN campaigns from over the last half-century, most from Korea. A blue helmet with a bullet graze, a copy of the new United Korean Republic’s constitution, other documents that were too far to read, powerful pictures of conflict and peace that were illuminated by LED track lighting on the ceiling, and a silver fountain pen in a glass box. The more he looked, the more the office screamed Korea.

William had been there long enough to know the culture and its tangibles. Bamboo trees and bonsai plants greened up the office to add to its already apparent Asian style and feel. Pottery, jade jewelry, tapestries that showed ancient scenes, and a stone Buddha that was blackened on one side and the size of a dishwasher watched over the office, reminding whoever entered, or maybe even the commander herself, of what was won and loss over there.

The floor was navy marble with a white UNIRO symbol embedded in the center of the room. As William opened one of the double doors to the office, the glass became transparent again.

“Captain,” the commander called out, now staring out over the plaza, hands held behind her back, as though inspecting her kingdom, her subjects scrambling about below like ants trying to satisfy their queen.

“Yes, Commander?”

“I love a good dare. Show me.”

As William closed the double doors he watched Hammond through the glass continue to stare out her office windows. There was something curious about her. Something that made William want to know more. Something…

“What are you going to show her?”

William spun around at the all too familiar jovial voice. Standing with his hands in his pockets, his glasses crooked, a smirk on his face, was John.