RCAF COURT- TWELVE DAYS POST THE JUDGMENT DAY
Margaret Aniston walked out of the courtroom alongside her partners-in-alleged-crime as the men in military apparel shoved them forward. All throughout the trial, she had stayed silent with pursed lips and her head bent down, while the judge served them with satirical justice. She found no point in arguing. She believed that arguing for the right cause with the wrong people would render it wrong.
She maintained her silence even as the soldiers shoved her roughly into the back of the truck with the rest of her accomplices. Lt. Wayne watched her get into the truck, while his mind tried to decipher her silence. He had expected a lot of fuss from her in the court, and had prepared accordingly. However, her welcoming nature towards the justice raised suspicions, which left him unsettled. When he stole a quick glance at his watch, it said 5.30 in the evening. They had to hand over the detainees to the RCAF Prison authorities by eleven in the night. It was against the protocol to escort prisoners in dark, but Lt. Grisham, who contacted him after the trial, had strongly insisted.
Once the detainees were loaded and secured in the trucks, Lt. Wayne got into the BMW in front of the truck and ordered the driver to get going. As the convoy, comprising of a BMW and two trucks, made its way out of the court’s premises, Lt. Wayne called Lester, the traffic correspondent, and ensured that everything was all right. He called Lt. Grisham’s number and notified him about the status.
‘You sound nervous, Wayne,’ he said.
‘Margaret’s silence is raising suspicions.’
‘She’s just a lady. She is not a matter of concern. Take care,’ Grisham said and ended the call.
As the convoy continued unobstructed through the city roads, a blue Chevy struggled to keep pace with it through the side roads.
TIM BRONSON’S FLAT
Tim had grown impatient of waiting in the bathroom and he stopped his endeavors to pry the door open after finding no success with it. He had never cared about using a proper cleansing liquid for the toilet and his confinement proved the importance of a cleansing liquid. As the sounds of gunshots reverberated through the house, he feared what was happening outside the bathroom. All throughout the audio-only action sequence, he hid himself behind the wall adjacent to the door to assuage the probability of taking a bullet, which could make its way through the thin door. When the sounds disappeared suddenly, he felt even more terrified. He watched through the ventilator as the last rays of the sun disappeared and the moonlight stormed in to illuminate the stinky place.
Out of the blue, the bathroom’s door opened and he found a man pointing a rifle at him from his living room. Tim reflexively raised his hands into the air and walked out of the bathroom.
‘Tim Bronson?’ the man asked commandingly.
Tim nodded. The man patted Tim and then shoved him towards his computer room. The time in the clock displayed 8.15. The servers and the other equipment in the room stood mangled except for his laptop, which lay unharmed on the table. He found a burly, mustached man standing beside his chair and gazing at his laptop’s screen. When Tim stepped closer to the room, he shifted his sharp gaze towards Tim.
‘So, you must be Tim Bronson,’ he said, looking at his computer-chair. ‘I appreciate this tiny chair for bearing an elephant like you,’ he said, stroking the chair’s back. However, the absence of a smile on his face confused Bronson as to the genre of the comment.
Tim maintained a blank expression, while he mentally ran a list of serious crimes he had committed in the recent past. ‘Bronson, have you heard of the string of murders of RCAF servicemen in the past few days?’
The mention of the murders ran a shiver through his spine. Normally, he would have felt contentment for evading the hectic task of recollecting his crimes. However, his scenario kept him praying for the least damage he could handle. Unable to find the right words, he gazed blankly at the floor. Suddenly, a strong hand grabbed his hair and yanked his head upward.
‘Answer my fucking question! Have you heard of them?’
Tim nodded his head painfully, despite the restricted scope of movement.
‘Good, then you must have heard this conversation,’ he said, leaving his hair and fishing his phone out of his pocket. He pressed on the screen and Tim’s voice played followed by Jeremy’s voice.
He realized his helplessness. His assistance to Jeremy in the murders played in front of him with proofs, and Tim felt his knees buckle. As he stood silent, trying to make sense of his future, the audio continued. The man had a record of every conversation he had with Jeremy and played them in front of him. He wondered how much time they had taken to acquire all those audio files.
‘Bronson, you must have realized that you have no way out of this. We have proofs of your perpetration. You helped him find out the identities of SAF members and you hacked into the RCAF servers. So, you are going to be boxed in for a long time.’
Tim hung his head and thought of any offer he could make to the man. When he thought harder, he remembered the trump card he had been holding onto for the past few days, which he intended to use later.
‘Sir,’ he said, raising his head. ‘How many years can I expect?’
The officer raised an eyebrow and said, ‘It depends on what charges are pressed against you. And, I can assure you, you can expect anything above ten years.’
The number sent yet another chill along his spine. ‘If I can help you with something, can you reduce my sentence?’
The officer lunged at him and grabbed his hair again. ‘Listen, I am not a fucking cop to fall for your bribes, and neither is the judiciary your bitch. Shut the fuck up.’
‘I didn’t mean it in that sense,’ he said, and paused to catch his breath and swallowed hard. ‘Is Donald Miller’s murder still open for investigation?’
The officer displayed curiosity for the first time since their encounter. ‘Why?’
‘I know who murdered him.’
‘Listen!’ he yelled exasperated. ‘The fucking Alliance killed him. Everyone knows that.’
Tim arrogantly shoved the officer’s hand away from his hair. ‘Maybe, but not everyone knows the identity of Sazyfan. Do they?’
The curiosity in the officer’s face brightened. ‘Come with me,’ Tim said, moving into the computer room.
My trump card!
THE ONE WITH GLIMPSES OF PAST
IN THE KGH-TWELVE DAYS POST THE JUDGMENT DAY
WITH MARTELLO’S CAR parked safely in the employees section, Daniel entered the building and found Manyap still busy on his phone, while Daniel Ryu Xavier sat beside him with a bandaged nose. Daniel walked into the room to find Cynthia still unconscious. Not wanting to disturb her, he stepped out and joined the others outside. Manyap nodded in his direction, still on his phone, while Xavier gazed at him intently as if guilt played on Daniel’s face.
Suddenly Xavier pointed a finger at Daniel. While Daniel expected him to accuse him of theft, he said, ‘Mr. Lang, thank you for saving my life today.’
The name struck a chord. It did not take him long to recollect that it was stated under the “Sources” list in Xavier’s room.
‘Do we know each other?’ Daniel asked.
‘Yes, you helped me couple of months ago. And, it’s funny to hear that you too are a Daniel, unlike Lang.’ He leaned in closer and whispered, ‘the report about Operation Rochen Fort is ready. I am going to get it into open as soon as possible. It is going to change the face of Fremia. The existing higher-class, who made their fortune through the mission are going to answer the society for the last time.’
Daniel nodded his head in agreement, while the questions in his mind demanded answers. ‘Daniel Xavier, I have got to notify you that I am suffering from retrograde amnesia, wherein I don’t remember the events of the past four years. So, would you be kind enough to let me know how and what I helped you with?’
Xavier pursed his lips and nodded. ‘OK, I met you in July of this year, when I was notified by an acquaintance that
you were the man, who spent most of the time with Ralph Mek Gallitzin during his last days before he succumbed to cancer in May of this year. For your information, Ralph was the Senior Scientist in Explosives Unit of EDDAOF during the Rochen Fort Blasts. One of my sources, Mr. Wilson Wilkins, told me that Ralph was one of the perpetrators in the operation. So I approached you to ask if he had said something to you in his final days. Usually, these old lads tend to confess their sins in their morbidity anticipating their confession to pave their path to heaven, despite their sins.
‘At first, you were suspicious. However, when I agreed to trade some information you needed about the Operation Rochen Fort, you told me about how the old man collaborated with Mel Kennedy, Director General of Ordnance Factory Board, to acquire Ross Jankis’s report on the new explosive he designed with his team. The EDDAOF released the same report and presented it publicly as their achievement. Irony is that Donald Miller, who was a chemist in Explosives Unit, accompanied by Gen. Markus Levisohn, fixed Ross’s explosive in Ross’s car, which exploded after flying off the flyover. That bastard was lucky to be assassinated by The Alliance. But, this revelation of his role in those blasts would definitely damage his family name.’
Daniel had feared raising questions about Donald’s death for fear of facing the guilt he had to bear. Yet, he mustered the courage to ask him.
‘How was Donald Miller killed?’ he asked.
‘He was shot in his own house. The Alliance publicly agreed that they had sent someone called Sazyfan to kill him.’
Daniel nodded his head, trying to recollect any reference of the name in his memory. As usual, he recollected no links to the name, which was the routine with the other memories of that period. He doubted what caused his affiliations with the so-called Alliance, which claimed sending him as Sazyfan to terminate Donald. As a temporary conclusion, he expected his drive for vengeance for the death of his father, whose death resulted due to his links with Operation Rochen Fort, as his excuse to help them terminate Donald. The brief conclusion raised many questions as to how many people he might have killed or assaulted for the same cause. The thought of multiple-homicides in his account terrified him and he felt a raging guilt, which he attributed to going in a contrasting direction to what his profession, which his mother requested he perceive, taught him. Clearing his mind of the various doubts, which sprouted anew, he concentrated on knowing further about his link with Xavier. Before he could proceed, a new doubt took place. For him to seek vengeance against Donald, he had to be aware of his role in Operation Rochen Fort, which eventually led to his father’s plight. The doubt left him craving to know what knowledge he acquired about ORF, which must have set him on the path he chose.
‘So, what did I ask in return?’ he asked.
‘You were mainly concerned about the role of Gary Fernandez in the overall picture, apart from some names you asked.’
‘And, what was his role?’
‘He had no major role in the whole scheme, except for his friendship with Ross Jankis. Many accused him of being a co-conspirator in the blasts with Jankis. However, the allegations held no proof. Strangely, within few days after Ross went missing, Gary and his family disappeared.’
Daniel remembered his mom’s stories about how his dad had succumbed to an accident, and that his name was Leonard Vab Shelby, which he had believed. And knowing about the allegations inclined him to believe that the change of name and absence of his dad’s photos were intended to hide their true identities, which she must have believed wouldn’t allow a peaceful living. He wondered why his father had abandoned him and his mom. Expecting the question to remain orphaned for the rest of his life, he marveled if those facts formed part of semantic or episodic memory.
‘What do you mean by “Ross disappeared”?’ Daniel asked, while he thought of some other doubts he had.
‘After the blasts, it took a week for the EDDAOF to come up with their report. And, by the time Ross was framed publicly, he had disappeared with his family, before he was found dead in his ancestral home in his village.’
‘Dead?’
‘Yeah, it looked like he hung himself. But being a person who is well aware of these bastards’ influences, I believe that they must have framed his murder as suicide. And, everything these idiots did was only to frame Fremian Democrats Party as a terrorist organization, which it eventually turned into.’
Daniel pitied Ross Jankis, who had lost his life to the delinquencies of a few people. Daniel fell silent as he thought of what he had to do next. After a few minutes of reckoning, he came up with a list of objectives. Before he could give them his attention, Manyap reached him.
‘Daniel, I notified the higher officials about Jeremy being the murderer of our SAF mates. He is absconding. We do not know where he is. Judging by his drive for vengeance, I have a strong feeling that he might come behind us. So, we better get going.’
‘But, Cynthia’s condition isn’t good. She is unconscious,’ Daniel said.
‘Well, she isn’t anymore. She gained back her consciousness. She has not sustained any major injuries, thanks to the airbags. So, we better leave!’ Manyap commanded.
Daniel had to give in, before he ran to Cynthia, whom he found feasting on an apple as he entered the room.
‘Cynthia, how are you feeling now?’She nodded her head, while she chewed the apple. ‘We must get going. Manyap believes that it isn’t safe for us here.’
‘Yeah, he told me,’ she said blankly.
He realized the change in her treatment towards him, as if she realized that he knew the truth about their past.
‘Fine,’ Daniel said, exiting the room.
Minutes later, seated in the passenger seat of the SUV, Xavier said, ‘Mr. Manyap, can you drop me off at my home? I have got to take my report and go to Fremia Daily.’
Manyap, who was driving the car, said, ‘Fine, but, I can’t guarantee your safety in your house. They know your house.’
‘Manyap,’ Daniel said, ‘why don’t you accompany him?’
Manyap gave a momentary pause before he answered, ‘Fine, I will accompany him till Fremia daily. It will also help him surpass the RCAF people stationed outside the office. What about the both of you? Where have you decided to go?’
They looked at each other and shook their heads. ‘We haven’t decided it yet,’ they said in unison.
‘Daniel, assuming that you don’t remember where you actually live, I believe it is better if you and Cynthia stay somewhere safe together till Jeremy is found.’
Daniel partly liked the idea, dedicated towards his newly revealed love affair with Cynthia. For that very reason, he kept aside his idea to visit the house he had inhabited with his mom.
‘We can stay in my motel room,’ she said.
‘You have a room?’ Daniel asked.
‘Yep, I have one in Nelson’s motel. After the cops arrested you yesterday, I was able to find a safe one. We shall take a cab to the motel from Xavier’s home.’
Daniel nodded.
The following minutes filled with silence, before Xavier raised a question. ‘Daniel, what’s your full name?’
‘Daniel Vab Shelby. Why?’
‘With your permission, I would like to state you as one of my sources in accomplishing my goal of revealing the truth about Operation Rochen Fort,’ he said, sounding like an excited kid. For a moment, Daniel doubted if he was the same person, who had prepared a report about a conspiracy that was destined to scar the future of the country.
While Daniel evaluated the pros and cons of the idea, Cynthia raised a question. ‘Did you say Operation Rochen Fort?’
‘Yep, I did.’
‘I need some info,’ she said.
‘Yeah,’ Daniel interrupted. ‘She told me that her father was involved with Operation Rochen Fort. And, that was why she accompanied me in this quest,’ he said sarcastically.
She glared indignantly at him for a second before turning to Xavier. ‘Do you know someone called Gabriel N
yl Romero?’
Daniel realized that she had used her real surname. ‘Aren’t you a “Roberts”?’
‘No, I lied. We will talk about it later. Period,’ she said. She turned away from him with her curiosity driving her. ‘So, do you know him?’
Xavier looked at Daniel. ‘I believe that she isn’t Jeremy’s kind.’
‘She isn’t that kind. But, are you sure you want to know the truth?’ Daniel asked, placing his hand on her shoulder.
She nodded, resting her palm on her neck.
‘Well, he was a mediator in the operation. He served as a link between Prime Minister Godwin and other people at different levels of the operation.’
She fell silent and closed her eyes. Daniels gazed at her for a moment and decided to let it be.
NELSON’S MOTEL, ROOM 20
After reaching Xavier’s home, where Xavier and Manyap grew busy in retrieving the report, Daniel and Cynthia took a cab, which escorted them to the Nelson motel. On Cynthia’s insistence, Daniel stood outside the room while she changed her dress and gazed at the stars, which shone brightly in the sky.
He had always heard of fantasy stories claiming that the stars were people who had died, and watched over the living from the sky. In his childhood, he had believed them out of innocence and a fantasy-fond mind. However, as he grew older, science had taught him that the stars are just like the Sun, but situated far away from us. Yet, gazing at the stars, Daniel fiddled with the contests between science and fantasy. He wondered what mattered more; logic, which explained things better, or fantasy, which lets you enjoy things despite being fiction. He knew that when science steps in, it kicks out fantasy. He wondered if man deserved to know the scientific truth, which disrupts the idea of everything he is made to believe as a child, or if he is destined to stick to the fantasy that makes him want to believe it.
The Memoir Page 16