by Jim Mohr
He looks at my hand as his eyes shift as if gazing into the horizon. “Do you know history Cheetah? Human history?”
I lower my hand. “Yes, some.”
“In 1838 my people, the Cherokees, were forced to relocate. We were not alone. The Creek, Seminole, and other tribes were also moved. Thousands of my people died traveling from Georgia to Oklahoma. The white man offered his hand in peace. In his other hand, he held a knife to stab us in our empty bellies. Keep your hand to yourself.”
A warm wave washes over me. It is a combination of shame and of being humbled. This man, German Shepherd, carries pain from multiple sources. His nationality, his power, and obviously him being a dog. “I am sorry, German Shepherd. I am…” I bow quickly to him. “Let’s see the civilians, shall we?”
German Shepherd’s eyes refocus on me. “They are two birds, the empath, and Owl,” he says. I have no idea what he means. He turns from me and enters the medical ward. I follow him. A significant distance inside the ward I sense the two visiting Psychokinetics. They are both weaker than I am. Guards stand outside the room they occupy. As we approach, the guards snap to attention, in recognition of my rank.
German Shepherd opens the door to the civilians’ medical room and we enter. Seated on the gurney is a young woman, she looks to be two or three years older than I am. She is dressed in all brown. A bloodied rag is tied on her left hand. She is crying. Seated next to her is another girl, slightly younger than the first. She is dressed in all white. Her hair is white, like a pure light source. Her eyes are the brightest sapphire blue I have ever seen. She looks at German Shepherd and then at me.
“I am German Shepherd, this is Cheetah,” Sergeant First Class Lightfeather announces.
The girl in white stands, bows slightly, and points to the woman in brown. “This is Owl, I am Dove. Eagle told us to come to you. Owl is injured. We were both attacked.”
“By humans?” German Shepherd asks.
“No, by Lion and Falcon,” Dove answers. Owl’s head hangs low as she continues to sob. “Falcon killed her companion, her barred owl.”
I can feel German Shepherd’s power growing again. It’s as if a guard dog sees an intruder, it braces itself for a fight, its fur bristles, and it bears its teeth and growls. “Why did you go to Lion? Why provoke him?”
Dove blinks at German Shepherd. “I am looking for someone. I was told Lion could find him. Lion summoned the Pigeons. Owl wanted to see him as well.”
German Shepherd shakes his head. “Foolish birds. Lion is head of the cat family. You aren’t cats, and you don’t have the power to invite yourselves into his throne room. So why go there and rouse him?”
Owl looks up, tears are streaming down her face. “We went in peace, you damn dog, we weren’t there to cause trouble. If the asshole says he is King, then he damn well can act the part. To kill my dearie, my sweet Mister Beauregard though.”
German Shepherd nods slowly. “Listen, stay away from Lion. Unless he summons you, stay clear of his mansion. You will find that the more power we have, the more paranoid, insane, or harmful we become. Timere are the same way.”
Owl looks at her hand. She holds it close to herself.
“What happened?” I ask.
“He ripped my damn thumb off. The filthy fucker.”
German Shepherd approaches Owl. “I can heal the wound, I cannot grow your thumb back. Only Saint Bernard can do that. Give me your hand.” Owl extends her left hand. “This is going to hurt,” German Shepherd says as Owl braces herself.
German Shepard releases his healing power and Owl screams. Her eyes grow big and her back arches from the pain. A minute later it stops. “If you find Saint Bernard, he can grow it back.”
“How do you know these things?” Dove asks.
German Shepherd looks at Dove. “Wolf told me to lead the dog family before he and his wife went into seclusion. He told me his past, and about the Timere. I am the second most powerful dog, I lead the family now. If Wolf wants it back, it is his. But for now, I am the alpha male.”
Owl looks at her four-fingered left hand. “This is going to suck, taking care of a new owl. I can never replace Mister Beauregard.”
German Shepherd nods. “Dove, who are you looking for?”
“My dad gave me this letter.” She pulls an age-worn paper from her pocket. His name is Cougar. His mother sent this to my mom. He needs my help.”
My heart skips a beat. “Oh shit!” I exclaim.
Dove looks at me as her blue eyes flash. “Do you know him?”
“Yes, I know him. He is a childhood friend. He is at Wisconsin Illinois base. He’s a bit wild.”
“Wild? How?” Asks German Shepherd.
I place my hand on my sword. “He’s interested in hunting Timere and getting revenge. They tortured him. He’s got a temper.”
“What Timere? Who?!” German Shepherds power surges again. How can his power continue to go up and down the way it does, and he shows no sign of tiring?
“Funnel Web is one, and Taipan also, whoever that is.”
A wave of defensive power washes over me. Dove and Owl both seem to feel it. It emanates from German Shepherd. “Taipan!” He says, his eyes flash as his head lowers slightly. “Wolf told me of him. I would love to aid Cougar in hunting that snake.”
Owl glances at German Shepherd, then at me. “I know that I am not completely sane, but you dogs and cats are fucking loopy. You know that? Between Lion, German Shepherd, Cougar, y’all are crazy as hell.”
“I think you should probably stay here, German Shepherd. You may be too much for Cougar to handle. If you two got into a fight, holy shit.” I cautiously pat German Shepherd on his shoulder. “I’ll take the birds to Wisconsin Illinois base.”
German Shepherd nods and I feel his powers recede. Has my touch calmed him? “So be it, Cheetah. I am here if you need anything.”
“Oh good, I feel safe now,” Owl replies sarcastically.
“And just so you understand,” German Shepherd interjects, “Lion will summon us all to pay homage to him. That is why he summoned the Pigeons.”
Owl bristles as she stands. “Homage? I’ll pay that asshole homage. I’ll break HIS damn thumb, the piece of shit.”
I wonder how German Shepherd knows these things. How does he know Lion’s intentions?
Chapter 34
Cougar—Wisconsin Illinois Base
Soldiering 101. Are you kidding me? I spend ten years of my life in tactics, Intel gathering, special forces training, and hand-to-hand combat training, to now have to sit in a class full of sixteen-year-old civilians and learn the proper way to salute, stand at attention, and walk?
The instructor looks at me. “You have something to say, recruit Reed?”
“No, sir,” I reply. The instructor is a Sergeant, but recruits call everyone sir or ma’am. I have to just tough this class out.
A knock at the door interrupts what could have been an ugly exchange. The door opens, Sergeant Montclair and the Special Operations Officer, Colonel Kell Zahn, enter the room.
“Class, ATTENTION!” The instructor yells, desks tip over and students fall over themselves. Myself, the instructor, and a girl in the front row are the only three to stand at attention smoothly.
Colonel Zahn addresses the instructor. “Sergeant, we are here for recruit Reed.”
“Yes, sir. Reed dismissed.”
“Yes, sir!” I respond as I gather my shit: my soldiers’ handbook, notebook, and pencil. I rush to the Colonel. “Sir, recruit Reed reporting, sir!” I do what should be done when reporting to an officer. I am crisp and smooth.
The Colonel smiles at me. “Come.” He turns and leaves. Sergeant Montclair and I follow.
As the classroom door closes I hear the instructor say: “Recruit Reed did that perfectly! That is how you report.”
The three of us
head for a secure elevator, I can sense a problem has come up. “Sir, is there something wrong?” I ask Colonel Zahn.
“Reed, we are going to Command Staff Room 1. It’s the main meeting room for the entire Command Staff of this base. Something has come up involving you. Now, you will be in a room with the Admiral, five Generals, myself, and Sergeant Montclair. Do not, I repeat, do not, go apeshit. Control yourself, answer any questions that you are asked. If General Andrews or General Rose prod you, respond respectfully and control yourself. Understood?”
“Yes, sir.” I do not read the Colonel’s mind, to discover what this is about. It’s private, and I don’t want to get worked up beforehand.
We enter the elevator and Colonel Zahn presses the fingerprint sensing button for command sublevel two, the doors close.
Sergeant Montclair gives me a sideways glance. A frown is on her face. “Is everything all right Sergeant?” I ask.
“With me? Fine, it’s you that I am worried about, Recruit. Sergeants never go to Command Staff Room 1. For a Recruit to be summoned, even a traitor, is very odd.”
“How long will I be referred to as a traitor? If I would have carried out my mission, the Admiral would be dead, this base destroyed.” Sergeant Montclair nods. I can see she regrets calling me a traitor. There is something else though, she fears this approaching meeting.
We walk down the hall toward Command Staff Room 1, the frequency of guards increases. I can sense six humans in the Command Staff Room as we stop at the door. Colonel Zahn is recognized by the security system and the fortified door slides open.
The technology and authority in this room are awe-inspiring. In the center of the room is a 12-foot-long oval table. At the head of the table sits Admiral Cummings. To his right, on the far side of the table, are the O1, O2, and O3 officers. On the near side, closest to the door, and on the Admiral’s left side, are the Special Operations seat (where Colonel Zahn will sit), Air, and Security. Sergeant Montclair and I will sit next to the security officer, Brigadier General Tyson Jones.
In front of every seat is a command console, which allows the department heads to handle emergencies while in Command Staff Meetings. Colonel Zahn, Sergeant Montclair, and I enter the room and take our seats.
“Welcome Sergeant Montclair and recruit Reed,” says Admiral Cummings. “I am sorry to pull you out of your training, but something has come up that we need to discuss.”
“Yes, sir.” I reply.
“Don’t worry about the Command Staff seated here, we are all on the same side.”
“Yes sir, thank you, sir.” I can see the O1 (Operations) officer, Brigadier General Rose, is red-faced. She is not happy about something.
Admiral Cummings looks at Colonel Zahn. “Colonel, it’s your show.”
“Thank you, sir.” The Colonel stands. “We received an unsecured message from Prague base; High Commander Pavia Prazak commanding. Let me read it. “Wisconsin Illinois base, your infiltration into our facility by the spy posing as Colonel Vladimir Mikhailov has been corrected. Be forewarned, that future infiltrations shall be dealt with in the same manner as Colonel Mikhailov’s. We offer a momentary truce in exchange for the return of the traitor; Sergeant Cougar Reed. Failure to accept this offer means a continuation of hostilities between the Alliance and European-based Resistance facilities. As a sign of our resolve, we have executed all persons who aided Sergeant Reed: civilian Nada Dvorak, Representative Gabrielle Detches, and nurse Jen Andrev. Return Sergeant Reed immediately.” Colonel Zahn leans forward and looks at me, his concern for me is obvious.
My heart is beating fiercely, the pressure in my chest is painful. I feel lightheaded as the room is filled with sparkles and lights. My life now hangs in the balance with these people in the room. If they turn me over, I am dead. If they do not turn me over, this war will continue to rage. I believe that it will continue regardless of what happens to me. Underneath it, all my loved ones in Prague have been executed.
An elbow strikes me on the right side of my rib cage, it is Brigadier General Jones. Admiral Cummings is looking at me. “Are you okay, recruit?” the General asks.
I cannot breathe, emotion is causing my power to boil. I cannot focus. There is wetness on my cheeks. I am crying. “Oh, God.” I cry out as my emotion overpowers my military etiquette. “Gabrielle, Nada…” My hands go to my face. “They were executed because of me?”
“Reed, what did you think the Resistance would do?” Admiral Cummings asks.
“I didn’t plan on surrendering. My plan was for you to kill me. I saw the air attack in Sebrev’s mind, I had to warn you.”
Colonel Zahn interjects. “Sir, he’s a recruit. He’s not a Resistance Sergeant anymore. No offense sir, but fuck them.” Admiral Cummings looks at Colonel Zahn. Colonel Zahn raises his eyebrows as he says meekly, “Sorry sir.”
My anger is still growing, Nada is dead. She was my friend. Her family sort of adopted me, they took me to concerts in Prague. Poor Nada, I wish I could tell her how sorry I am. I look at Colonel Zahn. “Colonel Zahn sir, who interrogated them? Who signed for the executions?”
“What does it matter, Reed?!” yells Brigadier General Rose. “This isn’t debatable, we turn him over, sir.” I can see that her stance all along was to broker for peace.
I ignore her, I stare at Colonel Zahn. “Sir, who was it?”
“It was Colonel Cyril Kral. He had his Office of Interrogations under a Captain Feng Chu run the interrogations.”
“Funnel Web,” I say. A warm feeling begins to burn in my chest.
“Who?” replies Admiral Cummings.
“Sir, he’s a Timere. Funnel Web spider, the little fuck.”
Major General Andrews nods at me. “Control yourself, recruit.”
I look at him, then General Rose, then the Admiral. “Release me, let me deal with them on my own. I can get into the base. I’ll kill Funnel Web first, then Kral, then the High Commander.”
Next, to me, Brigadier General Jones places a hand on my right shoulder. “I like this guy. Sir, I’m with Colonel Zahn. To hell with Prague base. They tried to assassinate you and sent jets to blow us to shit. They can kiss our ass.” He squeezes my shoulder. I can tell he respects me, or at least my bravery.
“Who was Mikhailov really?” I ask.
Colonel Zahn answers immediately. “His real name was Brad Yarrow, Major Bradley Yarrow. He was our top agent in Prague. He thought something of you too. He sent you a gift, along with your credentials. They educated the hell out of you Reed. You seem kind of lowbrow though, not the philosopher, engineer, tactician that your records indicate.”
“Sir, I learned in Russian, Czech, and German. You only speak English. I can’t articulate my knowledge in English right now. It doesn’t change my knowledge, sir. It’s been nine years since I’ve spoken strictly English.”
Admiral Cummings looks at Sergeant Montclair. “Sergeant, any thoughts?”
I hear Sergeant Montclair gasp, she wasn’t ready to be drawn into this conversation. “Sir, from what I’ve seen of recruit Reed, he seems trustworthy if not verbose. I believe he’s loyal and honorable, sir.”
General Rose again speaks up. “We cannot risk our security based on the Sergeants word. He’s a Resistance soldier.”
Admiral Cummings looks at General Rose. “Actually General, he’s a recruit of the Alliance. The way I see it, we have a former Resistance weapon who wants to help us. We stole their club, and now we are going to beat their ass with it.” He looks at me. “Is that correct, Reed?”
“Sir, I understand the concern about me. I will accept whatever decision is made about my fate. I can say this, it’s only a matter of time until they win. Right now, the Alliance is losing.”
The O2 (Intelligence) officer, Major General Steve Andrews, looks at me. “Really, what is your Intel based on?”
“Sirs, ma’ams, I am not trying to fo
rce your hand. There won’t be peace with the Resistance. I told you how we got into the base to run the assassination. They won’t stop.”
Silence descends on the room. Admiral Cummings nods to Colonel Zahn. Colonel Zahn pulls a red box from the table. “Reed, Major Yarrow sent this to you.” He stands and brings the box to me. It is heavy and dark with age.
As I open the box I feel my powers rise. Before me, nestled in black felt, sits the Kalashnikov PL 22 that Mikhailov, or Yarrow, showed me all those years ago. The stainless steel, as perfect as the day it was made, sits there for me. The grips now have engravings in them; on one side a roaring mountain lion, the other side of it reads: “Mors Hostibus Meis.”
I look at Admiral Cummings, he is staring at me. “Do you speak Latin, Reed?”
“No, sir.”
“Huh, so there is a language that you don’t speak. It means “death to my enemies” or something close to it, my Latin sucks, so forgive me.” I look at the beautiful 44 Magnum pistol. “It’s yours, and we would prefer that you stay here, with the Alliance. We have an offer for you. If you want to leave, however, you are free to go. We will try to stay out of your way, out of your line of fire, so to speak.”
Chapter 35
Cougar—Wisconsin Illinois Base
“Staff dismissed. Reed and Montclair, you two stay.” The Admiral’s order was resolute and firm, he is finished debating my future. I would either remain here, or be set free, and the decision is mine to make. No returning to Prague for me, at least not yet.
The staff stand and shuffle out of the door. Colonel Zahn motions with a “calm down” movement of his hand. General Rose delays exiting, only the Admiral, General Rose, Montclair, and I remain.
“Sir, permission to speak,” General Rose asks.
“General, I’ve got my O1, and Air, saying ‘no’. Special Operations, Security, and O2 saying yes. I’m sorry, this isn’t a damn democracy. If it were, you’d still lose.”