by L. Fergus
“Where’s General Thorne?” said Snowy.
“We’re hoping he was taken hostage and he’s not dead in a ditch somewhere,” said Forrester.
“Take me there.”
“If you’re here, where’s Kita?” demanded Cowboy.
Snowy hesitated. She didn’t know what Kita had planned. “I don’t know. We were separated after she rescued me. I haven’t seen her since the bears found me and brought me here.”
“It’s good to have you back,” Cowboy said with a twinkle in his tired eyes.
“Yes, it is. The number of animals has dwindled. I feared they had abandoned us to search for you,” said Forrester.
“I am their main loyalty,” said Snowy. “If I go missing, they will search for me.” Something rubbed against Snowy’s leg. “Sarge! Kita wondered what happened to you.” Snowy explained about Kita and Sarge perked up. She glowered at the men. “He says someone has been kicking him.”
“Barneky. Sarge is used to going where he pleases. Barneky didn’t see it that way,” said Cowboy.
“I’ll have to have a chat with Barneky.”
“You don’t have anything to do with this.”
Refusing to be left out and wanting a larger role said, “Yes, I do. Before we became separated, Kita made me her Junior Commander.”
Snowy heard a muffled laugh from above her.
“What?” Cowboy exclaimed. “She can't do that. We don’t know if Angus is dead.”
“I know he is. Kita killed him. He’s the one who took me.” Cowboy looked skeptical. “Don’t give me that look. Angus is not who you think he is. He was one of the original crew aboard the colony ship.”
Cowboy’s eyes widened.
“Do you have proof?” said Forrester.
“Kita said she’d get me into the system as soon as possible.” Something hit Snowy's leg. She bent down and picked it up. “Kita did give me this.” Snowy held up Kita’s chain.
“We need a legitimate successor for the Legion of Yorq,” said Forrester. “Barneky can't be it. You’re as close as we have. The men know you were her right-hand woman. It’s worth a try.”
“You should get Zidin and her brother for support,” said Snowy.
Cowboy shook his head. “Zidin left, figuring Kita was dead. He’s gone looking for one of the Arconian mercenary forces. Jeffrey has been in mourning, but I can rouse him.”
“We’ll get a force together and present you to the Legion of Yorq,” said Forrester.
Snowy, Cowboy, Forrester, and Jeffrey made their way through the Legion of Yorq camp. Barneky stood at parade rest grinning like a hawk in front of the command tent, flanked by armed legionnaires.
“Changed your mind, Forrester?” Barneky growled.
“No. We have a legitimate successor to the Commander of the Legion of Yorq,” said Forester.
“Yeah, who? We don’t know if Angus is dead,” General Barneky sneered.
“We have a report confirming Angus’ death. Commander Kita did choose someone. It’s been hard to get her into the system with all the administrative centers out of our control,” said Cowboy.
“Her? You mean the cat woman?” Barneky laughed. “The men wouldn’t follow her to the litter box. You’re wasting my time.”
Barneky went to leave when Snowy said, “I have Kita’s chain.” Snowy pointed and wiggled her ear.
“That doesn’t mean anything. You could have pulled it off her corpse.”
“Do you need to get your ass kicked again, General, to put you in your place? I won’t be as gentle and forgiving as Kita. She enjoyed keeping dumbasses around. I prefer to get rid of them and not waste my time. You want my Legion, General? Take it, only cowards usurp. Are you afraid to get your ass kicked by two girls?”
“I will fight for the honor of this Legion. You women are making it soft. Only I can do what is necessary to save this region.”
“You’re what’s wrong with this Legion, General. Stand down.”
“Never.”
Snowy phased behind Barneky and punched him in the kidney. Barneky stumbled forward, and Snowy slashed him down the side with her claws. Barneky swore, and Snowy grabbed his upper arm, freezing it. Biting down hard on the frozen flesh, she shattered the appendage. Phasing in front of him, Snowy punched him several times and then vanished.
“Damn it! Fight like a legionnaire, you feline bitch!” Barneky bellowed.
Snowy phased in with six copies of herself standing around Barneky. “I was taught to take advantage of every ability and skill I have. It’s not my fault you’re only human.”
Snowy circled him. Barneky swung at several of the mirrors. She raised her hands and extended her claws, arcs of lightning crackling as they jumped between them. The mirrors surrounded Barneky and reached out to touch him. A shock knocked him to the ground.
Snowy returned to normal. “So, General, who’s Legion is it?”
Barneky coughed. “You’re worse than she was. You’ll kill us all.”
The men with Barneky raised their weapons on Snowy and her group. The men with Forrester raised their weapons in retaliation. Tense seconds passed as both sides waited for the other to make a move.
“Kill them!” Barneky ordered as a shadow appeared on the ground.
Kita circled high above the fight. Seeing it was time to intervene, she dove and landed in a cloud of dust. Her wings hid her from view. Kita opened them wide. She smiled wickedly at Barneky and frowned menacingly at her troops.
“Lower your weapons. Get Command Sergeant Major at Arms Petersen here immediately,” Kita ordered.
“H-he’s in detention, C-Commander,” said a legionnaire.
“All the better reason to get him here. Now move!”
The legionnaires with Barneky snapped to attention and saluted before taking off at a run.
“General, I see you have met my junior commander. What do you think? It looks to me like she’s learning quickly.” Kita picked Barneky up by his collar. “I placed my faith in you to do what was right and to lead my men. You have destroyed my faith in you and have led my men into mutiny. I just hung a sign around the neck of a man for betraying me. I killed another for betraying this Legion and me. Now, you have forced me to do the same to you. Traitors I will not tolerate, especially those taking good men with them.”
“I did no such thing!” Barneky snarled. “You betrayed us. You left us in the hands of this incompetent fool who doesn’t know who his superiors are. You’ve selected fools and morons to lead my men. I won’t let you kill them just so you can pretend to save the world.”
Kita shook her head. “I have selected two fools; one is you and the second is me. I gave you a second chance to show that you could be trusted and I could work with you. I am a fool for it. You were there and now you’ve squandered it. You will die for this.”
“Look me in the eyes and tell me that, if you have the guts.”
“I can see you and everyone else just fine, General. But if you insist.” Kita undid her bandana and let her hollow eyes look into his. “You are going to die, but you will be spared dying by this Fallen Angel. Your crime is stupidity, not wickedness.”
Barneky flinched. “What the bloody suns are you?”
Kita retied her bandana. “A fallen angel. Take this man into custody. Release all those who were imprisoned on his orders. I want my Legion assembled in an hour.”
Kita turned to Forrester, Snowy, Cowboy, and Jeffrey.
“Is she really your junior?” said Cowboy.
“She earned it in the best tradition of thieves and assassins.”
“What happened to you?” said Forrester.
Kita’s tone turned somber. “Angus killed me and I was reborn as you see me. I have rendered a verdict upon that traitorous and wicked being, but I still need to finish the job. Angus still lives. I will find him and finish him. He will pay for his crimes against me, my Legion, and humanity. Cowboy, officially record Commander Angus’ death in the tubes as first reported.”
<
br /> “I thought you said you just killed him?” Forrester said, looking confused.
“Angus has found a way to inhabit different bodies while maintaining a master copy of himself somewhere else. I will find it and destroy it in time.”
“What's wrong with your eyes?” said Jeffrey.
“I lost my eyes to Bart. They haven’t regenerated. I can still see better than before, though.”
“When do the rest of us get wings?” said Jeffrey.
“If I have my way, you’ll never get them,” said Kita. “Now, if you’ll excuse me, I have to oversee my Legion.”
The icy fingers of sadness and melancholy gripped Kita’s heart. The happy memories of being with Snowy seemed so distant now, replaced by the stupidity of an old man and what he’d done to her well-laid plans.
With a flap, she took off.
Kita landed in front of her Legion’s formation. Snowy, Cowboy, General Thorne, and Sergeant Major Petersen waited for her.
“It’s good to see you, Commander. I was afraid we’d lost you,” said Thorne.
Petersen nodded.
“Thank you both," said Kita. "I’m sorry I was away so long and let this happen. I want a full report. It’s going to take a while to restore discipline. You’re free to be as liberal as needed.”
She didn’t relish the idea of heavy punishment for minor infractions, but to restore discipline in a hurry it would be necessary. She stepped forward to address her legionnaires.
“For those who believed different, take a good look. I am alive. General Barneky is under arrest for mutiny. I know many of you supported General Barneky for what he did for you. This time he has led you astray. If you come forward now, I will be lenient. If I have to root you out, you will join him. Step forward now or forever hold your peace.”
Legionnaires stepped forward, many that General Barneky had led out of the tubes. Once the men stopped moving forward, Kita instructed Petersen to take down their names.
“General Forrester, please form a detail from the other Legions to guard these men until they have been interviewed. Tell General Yang and General Fedorov I need their best interrogators to do the interviewing.
“Commander Snowy and General Thorne, you are to supervise the interrogation. I do not want the men to be berated or abused without cause. You can decide what that is. Find out what they know. Sort them out by their level of involvement. Round up anyone else that didn’t step forward that should have. Feel free to be rough with the latecomers.”
After Petersen returned to the platform, Kita said to the assembled men, “The entire Legion is in detention until this mess is sorted out. Sergeant Major Petersen, they’re yours.” Kita saluted and took off for the inn.
The inside of the inn was in disarray. The mutiny had turned the neat chaos into a mess. A friendly chuff greeted Kita from a corner. She found Sarge curled up in a ball. He stretched, wanting his belly scratched. Happy to oblige, she rubbed him. “Sorry for being gone for so long, buddy.”
Sarge huffed and rubbed against her. When Kita finished, Sarge returned to following her.
Jeffrey sat at a table engaged in a deep conversation with someone. Kita approached to find that someone to be Earl Caezul.
Caezul stopped talking and smiled at Kita as Jeffrey glared. “How are you, Commander? You have grown since the last time I saw you. The wings are impressive. Jeffrey told me about them. I’m sorry to hear your return has been marred. We greatly appreciate your rescue and you have our unwavering support. The other nobles have been dribbling in as they’ve heard of our release.”
“It has been a trying day, but nothing I can't handle. How are you and the other nobles? We hoped you’d be able to help solve the political issues.”
Caezul shook his head. “It has just added more people to each side. Neither side has a viable candidate. None are military men. Most are political hacks. Those of us that are politically savvy enough for the position are too old to lead an army.”
“None are military men? Did they all die with the King?” Kita said, surprised.
“Yes, your brother is the only one with any kind of experience and youth.”
“So why not elect my brother? He’s military, and with you as an advisor, it could work.”
Jeffrey held up his hands. “We talked about this. It would look like you were trying to put me on the throne.”
“Fine. I’ll take my Legions and go fight in the tubes. You guys can sit here and figure it out where to get your army.” Kita walked away.
“When does the Legion back away from a commitment? Aren’t you required to keep regions stable?” said Caezul.
“I am required to keep regional conflicts from spilling over. The only reason I’m involved in this civil war is because Cunningham has attacked us. All I care about is removing him from our tubes. My Legion is involved because I thought I owed it to my region. If you and the other nobles can't get your heads out of your asses to support us, then find yourselves another army." Kita didn’t look back as she exited the inn.
At the bottom of the stairs, Caezul, Jeffrey, and a few other nobles waited for Kita as she hurried downstairs.
“What do you want?” said Kita.
“We have come to a consensus on who we wish to put on the throne,” said Caezul.
“Congratulations. I hope he’s a happy puppet.”
“They’ve chosen me, Kita," said Jeffrey.
“Lucky you. Take it to General Forrester.”
“Kita, stop.”
Jeffrey took Kita by the arm to a side room. He gave her a worried look. “What’s eating you? Ever since your return, your attitude has been darker than your wings.”
“What’s it matter to you? You’ve never cared before.”
“If this is going to happen, we need you.”
Kita huffed. “You care now that you need me? Go stick your head up the southern end of a northbound mule.”
“Kita, if there’s something bothering you, maybe I can help.”
“My Legion and my army disintegrated while I was gone.”
“You’re putting it back together as we speak. You made a mistake, it happens. But look at what you accomplished. You strong-armed the nobles into a decision. That’s no small feat. I think once you finish cleaning house, we can start the next piece of your plan.”
“It’s a mistake that’s going to cost me.”
“Those men followed of their own free will. They’re going to reap what they sow. So, don’t worry about it.”
“I’d rather not lose the men.”
“Then don’t. Take them all forward to be executed, but at the last moment, give the majority parole. You then just have to kill the ones truly responsible. The others will fall in line and thank you for showing them mercy. The rest of your command will see you showing the accused mercy and will have more respect for you.”
Kita wiggled her nose. “I like that. Where did you learn this trick?”
“It was part of command school. There is a whole class on discipline.”
“Guess I get to learn the hard way.”
“Everyone keeps commenting on how well you’ve done handling this crisis. Don’t forget you are young and inexperienced. You don’t have to have the solution to everything.”
Kita frowned. “It feels that way.”
“Everyone is here if you need us. Now, I need to start getting my court in order, and you have an army to run.”
The legionnaires not involved in the discipline parade lined up in two formations facing a hangman’s platform. The twenty guilty officers and senior sergeants, along with Private Barneky, were marched to the front of the platform.
Kita stood on the platform flanked by Snowy, Cowboy, Forrester, and Thorne. Petersen stood on the parade field to call out the orders. He called everyone to attention.
Kita addressed the formation, “These twenty-one men have been found guilty of mutiny by a military tribunal from our sister Legions. I now sentence you to death by hanging. S
ergeant Major Petersen, you may proceed.”
In proper military fashion, Petersen called out the orders. Each man had the noose put around his neck and a black bag placed over his head. Once the men were in position, the executioners took station behind one of four levers. The system was designed, so none of the executioners knew which pulled the kill lever.
Kita walked down the line of men. She floated up to talk to the first man who had been rescued by Barneky. “Sergeant Greenfield, do you understand why you are here?”
“Yes, Commander. I’m sorry. It was a mistake. Please forgive me?”
“It takes a strong man to admit his mistakes and an even stronger one to accept the punishment. I accept your apology, and you are forgiven, but you must still pay for your error in judgment.”
“Yes, Commander.”
Kita stopped at each mutineer and talked to them briefly. Almost everyone was remorseful, except one who spat at her and Private Barneky, who refused to speak.
Petersen gave the commands to the executioners. I didn’t realize there were so many steps involved. In the distance, a drum played the death march. Just before the final command was given, Kita called a halt. The executioners stepped back. She walked down the line of mutineers.
“Sergeant Greenfield, it is by my grace that I choose to commute your sentence.”
Tears streamed down the man’s face as Kita removed the hood and the noose.
She spared sixteen others, leaving the most senior men to hang.
She addressed her command, “I have commuted these men's sentences. Their new sentence will be to take the place of the executioners. Executioners, you’re dismissed.” The executioners stepped back and the newly freed men took their places.
One man did not move. “Problem, Sergeant?” said Kita.
“I won’t kill them. I’d rather die with them.”
Kita nodded. She replaced the noose and the hood. She went to the first remaining man. “Captain DePue, your sentence has not been commuted because you were ring leader and convinced others to join. Do you understand?”