Untitled
Chapter 18

Mother Confessor:

Jolting out of the fantasy world filled with wonder and adventure. It is a strange feeling that made me feel anxious. Lifting the heavy book off my chest and placing it closed on the bedside table. Sitting on the edge of my bed taking in a few deep breaths to calm my nerves a bit. I shall go for a shower, that will help calm me down. Exiting my new home, tapping the guard on detail.

“Excuse me sir, could you show me where I may bathe” , I politely ask rubbing away the rest of the sleep from my eyes.

“Yes of course miss. Follow me please”, he politely replies and gestures that I follow.

The hustle and bustle of the warship still fascinates me. The guard leads me through many busy corridors. Soldiers milling about in a quick pace to their designated stations. Maintenance crews with their heavy tool boxes off to keep the massive vessel in top performance.

We finally come to our destination after traversing up four levels and approximately one and half kilometers. Quite a distance to travel, good thing I do not have to run back to my domain. Otherwise I need not bother washing to begin with. The helpful reptilian escort points at the indicated way to go, into the female barracks.

“Thank you so much”, I graciously offer.

“Not at all miss”, he politely responds, before turning on his heals.

Hesitantly I enter the barrack, cautious of the environment within. Yet again I am a stranger in a strange land. Willing my feet to propel me to my goal of a hot shower.

Graxis:

After spending the better part of forty-five minutes of passing through the many corridors of bare whiteness. I am starting to wonder what the Ober-Commander is hoping to gain from replaceing another being with some pieces to this puzzling place. We have checked many of the ‘doors’, but this has been a vain exercise.

Wondering if Shadow Company has had better luck, than we have. Continuing our fruitless pursuit of gaining enlightenment behind the mysteries surrounding this enigmatic area. I hope we replace signs of life soon, boots pounding the metal floor. The only sounds in the deafening white silence. Meter by meter we progress further into the repetitive corridor, the glaring brilliance laughing at our efforts to solve the bigger riddle.

Marckus:

“Well shit, Captain”, I spit in frustration, “there has to be somebody up here. It only makes sense. Since there was a hundred Confeds on the lower floor. I feel that there will be a senior official up here hiding out. It will either be a first tier General, or a Major. Should be fun to replace out which, and what they have to say about this illegal base”.

Shifting the heavy war hammer on my shoulders, wondering where the commanding officer is concealed. I replace it rather odd that we had not come across another Confederation soldier since entering this bare white secondary floor. Continuing around the final corner to the last corridor to explore. At the far end I see a discolored panel amongst the ceramic walls. It looked like a wooden door based on the brown planking that it appeared to be. Gesturing for the Captain to look into the distance, to see what I am seeing.

This sighting changed our pace to an all out run. A burning in my wounded thigh from the extra weight of the hammer in the accelerated state. The hollow corridor echoing loudly with our boots slamming hard into the metal floor. The closer we got to the off door, there was a building crescendo of heavy, fast moving boots nearing the intersection with our corridor. Listening to the growing stampede towards our destination. Taking the hammer from my shoulders to a more aggressive grip. It must be Shadow Company racing to meet us at the unchecked corner of the floor. Just in case it is not, then I will be ready for them.

The steps from the adjoining corridor start to wind down as the captain and I start to slow our pace as well. Strafing the last ten meters against the inner wall. Quietly sliding the last meters, wondering who is on the corner. Making a quick partial glance around the smooth wall. I drop my raised hammer, and we reconvene with Shadow Company. They too were fruitless in replaceing any functional doors, in the many corridors up here.

Taking up defensive positions on either side of the door. Nodding at the Master Sergeant on the other side of the sill. Nodding back he tests the handle, and shakes his head. Locked! That does not come as a surprise to us. Looking him in the eye, and silently signaling him to knock. The Master Sergeant does so, banging loudly on the door in three heavy thuds. Then in the seconds of silence, the muffled sound of a pistol being locked and loaded. The dull sound of a slide being pulled back, then slamming a bullet into the barrel. Nodding at the Master Sergeant to knock again. Not a beat from the first glancing fist impacted with the wooden door, than a strafing line of holes come boring through it. Splinters flying freely from the scarred door. Giving the Captain the silent order to go prone with the 15mm, and not to fire until the next round of spray comes from the door.

Graxis:

Silently sliding into my position three and a half meters in line with the door, crosshairs on the door. The Ober-Commander gives the Master Sergeant the go ahead to knock again. The process repeats the same as the first. Six more bullets strafe the door a second time. As soon as the final bullet exits the wood, my trained response kicks in. Firing half a dozen shells of my own back in retaliation. The 15mm sounding like a cannon being fired in an amphitheater, the brass bouncing off the wall and floor like a metal rain.

The Ober-Commander gives me the signal to cease fire. The door still in my sights for new assault on the occupant hiding behind the door. My heart beat rushing in my ears from the adrenaline racing through my nerves.

Marckus:

As the final shot is fired from the Captain, I hear a muffled groan of pain coming from within. Slamming the war hammer with all my strength into the door. On impact the compromised wood, explodes inwards raining splinters and chunks. Captain Graxis now kneeling with his sidearm still trained on the now shattered oak plank. Resting the hammer against the wall and drawing my own pistol. The Captain giving me the signal to move in.

Entering the lavishly decorated office, 50 cal trained on the large handcrafted desk cluttered with reports and trinkets.

“Give it up, you may get me in a rush, but my friend just outside has nine more children to bury in your sorry ass. Now get up slowly and place your weapon on the desk” , I bark at the occupant behind the desk.

Taking a slow breath, my eye lining down the sights of my weapon. Feeling the trigger depress slightly with my tightened grip. I watch as a small smooth hand raises a pistol to the desk, letting it clatter on the lacquered finish. Then the hand grasped the edge of the desk for support, a small cry of pain following the rise of the second. Centering my pistol with the hands, a feminine face starts to appear above the desktop. When her shoulders emerged after her agony stricken face. I catch a glimpse of her rank on her right shoulder just below her collar. There plain as day announcing that she was a Major. Reaching with my left hand to retrieve the Major’s pistol from the desktop. Dropping the empty magazine and checking the chamber, I replace the now safe weapon back on the fancy desk.

The Major’s face flush with anger, her dark eyes boring into me, burning like lit coals. I start to have a moment lost in a memory. Her middle-aged face wears a familiarity that I could not quite place.

“You know who I am don’t you, Major” , I ask the younger officer directly. Holstering my pistol knowing that Shadow Company and Captain Graxis in a semi circle at my rear in the lavish office.

The glare turned into a full on scowl and she replies, “ I served under you. You sent in the commendation and presented me with my promotion. That was back 160 years ago. The Brigadier General in active duty had me thawed out a decade ago. So yes, Ober-Commander, I do know who you are”.

“Well I must say Major, you have a hell of a way of greeting an old C.O. when they come to visit”, I say back at her. Watching her to see what she will do, noticing the arm of her dress uniform stained with blood from being hit by a 15mm round.

“No sir, I do not acknowledge your authority anymore. I was told by my superiors that you were M.I.A, with an unofficial note of being dead” , the Major coldly cuts back.

I respond in kind to the blatant lie, “If I am dead then this is the worst paradise I have ever seen. Sorry to disappoint you and subsequently your superiors. To other matters, they left me in that fucking frozen hell warehouse! I owe a length of gratitude to my captor, Captain Graxis, taking me by force to reactivate me, “ I gesture at the Centurian Captain.

“To add fuel to the fire, the Captain showed me some rather interesting, if not illegal activities going on with the Confederation. That brings us to the present. I have been wiping out the Confed soldiers, and then captured you Major. Now to the business of what this facility is going to used for once completed.”

Her face softens a few degrees, her eyes not burning so hotly.

“Would you boys give us some privacy, please”, I ask my companions.

They comply by the sound of their boots moving out of the destroyed oak door. Taking a deep breath, letting it out slowly. Confident that we were sufficiently alone in the luxurious office.

“Simone, I know that you are not willingly going along with the charade the Confederation and the Chairmen are playing at out here. I taught you better than that to obey a direct order that violates the law and the treaty” ,my tone softened to a friendlier tone. I watch as she hangs her head indicating my assessment. Knowing full well my displeasure in her actions, despite my lack of authority upon the officer. Though she is a good soldier, she had always lacked the ability to think for herself.

“ I cannot help you with what you want, not anymore” ,her tone quiet and low, “you will have to replace the answers on your own.”

Her gaze turns toward the very detailed desk, she continues, “I am sorry to be a disappointment to you, do what you have to, sir”.

Her words sting as they hit my ears, it saddened me for what I have to do. Taking the large caliber pistol from the holster. The slide seemed to resist my desire to chamber a powerful shell as I force the weapon to comply. Dropping the magazine, my heart too seems to plummet. Slipping the magazine in my pocket, cursing the universe for being forced to do this. Clicking the safety off, I place the heavy pistol on the desk. The whole scene unfolding feeling surreal. Gently pulling the chain around her slender neck, watching her carotid pulsing as I remove her dog tags beneath her dress shirt. Taking one from the chain and leaving the other behind. There the lone piece of stamped metal lay between her moderate sized breasts. Putting my fingers under her pointed chin, raising her gaze to meet mine. Tears staining her soft features, eyes full of remorse and regret.

“I am sorry it had to be this way” , I whisper to the Major, “Do me one last favor, Simone. Say hi to Benny for me”.

She gives a small laugh at the mention of Benny. Oh how I missed his ability to joke even when staring death in the face.

“I am sorry as well. I will pass the message for you”, she softly replies, “It was an honor to serve with you, sir.”

Taking a small step closer to me, standing on her toes to gain a few more centimeters of height. I feel her thin lips pressing into the cheek of my mask.

“Never forget this. I will always be with you, Syrilious” ,she whispers in my ear. These words bite hard into me. Turning to leave her to complete the final step of this transaction. To pay the highest price in surrendering her life, to escape a far worse fate.

“Goodbye, Marckus” , the Major says to me as I am transitioning back into the pristine hall outside the office. Her final words echoing in my ears with my exit.

Leaving the Major, I slowly walk back to the others down the hall. My shoulders slung low with the burden of sentencing an old friend, no, a lover to death. This is my cross to bear, for better or for worse. Gripping the dog tag tightly in my hand, silently wishing her farewell from this life into the next.

Halfway toward my fellow comrades, the sound of the Major’s death rings out. The shot explodes, as if someone had just fired off an artillery barrage right in my ears. I close my eyes at the concussive sound as it echoes in the hollow halls. The casing her funeral bell as in clanks against a hard surface. The pain in my thigh intensifies causing me to limp.

Graxis:

Noticing as the Ober-Commander approaches that he seemed to be limping, he must have been hiding an injury from an earlier battle. His demeanor is riddled with a low mood as he comes nearer. The Major must have been an old friend of his from when he was still under Confederation command.

“Captain, the answers we seek are in the desk. You and your men check it out. Please be respectful of the Majors body, and recover my weapon as well” , he says somberly, his voice reflecting his morose posture. Staying with the grief stricken officer as Shadow Company starts searching the desk. Placing an arm across the mans sullen shoulders.

“If it is any consolation, I would like to share some words from my old instructor at basic. He always reminded us that sometimes on the way to victory, we must first lose. Fore if it had not been for the loss, how will you reach victory” ,I try to offer some solace.

Seems his only family are those that he has been to hell and back with.

“Thanks, Graxis. You never cease to amaze me. This far you have proven to be a most invaluable friend and soldier” , he says to me, starting to return to his normal demeanor.

Shadow Company now back with us, our time table shrinking on the parameters of this mission. A few hours left on the clock. No time left for dawdling around. The Master Sergeant hands me the Major’s personal console, and I start searching for the answers to our many questions.