Thoughts once again wandered for the young Colonel. How could they have such technology available and still send his brothers unit, a rag-tag group of barely trained civilians, into a city over ran with enemy, with a goal of extraction and attempt to establish a communications center with no military support? If the NVA thought such NVC units were that expendable, then what was the true delay of placing these systems on the standard troop transports? Alex was basically in an invisible safe, moving though a NVA occupied and secured territory. What made him so special?
Alex felt the Humvee slow down and eventually go into park. He looked out of the windows only to see a near empty landscape. Brush grew in patches like hair on the face of a young man. The dust and sand of the great south, was similar to his home in Falcons Crest. The dry environment made it difficult for anything to grow or prosper but that didn’t stop the farmers from trying to grow crops. People from the city had always called the area the Wasteland of the South. Gazing at the HUD Alex looked for the distance counter. It read zero.
“Excuse me,” Alex started. “Is that counter right?”
“Yes Colonel it appears so. This is what it says on the HUD and its never wrong. These things are programmed directly from Command itself. But don’t worry the camo system is fully functioning and we will be safe for quite some time.”
“So are we to sit here and wait for new directions or-?”
At that moment the Humvee began to shake. Looking through the window Alex noticed the ground alongside him start to split and dust and dirt fall through a crevasse and the ground slowly drew closer to eye level. The Humvee was being lowered and the earth welcomed is as bedrock welcomes a casket. Darkness slowly moved through the vehicle flowing smoothly like water. Peering out he could gradually see the light above them dissipate until darkness was there and nothing more. A moment passed until a green hue from the instrument panels illuminated the inside of the cab. The HUD showed walls and a long tunnel lined in green. The distance counter tallied up from zero and a honk came from behind them. A pair of lights flickered just long enough that the lingering light showed the inside walls of the tunnel. It appeared as they were made of concrete, a grey stone color was discernable in the brief flash from the headlamps. Just as quickly as the light came, it disappeared. In the still blackness, guided by the wire frame green display, the Humvee crept forward with their escort in tow close behind them. The headlamps never turned on, the driver just trusted his instruments and continued to move slowly down the ever-mapping environment.
“Do you happen to know where you are going?”
“Yes sir,” The driver said laughing. “We’re going to Central Command.”
“Thank you for that. I mean have you ever traveled there via this tunnel before?”
There was a pause as the driver made a fairly sharp turn to the left. “No sir I haven’t, there are several tunnels that serve as transit routes to Command. Others I have driven but not this one yet. They like to keep me on my toes.”
“Apparently they like keeping everyone on their toes.” Alex murmured quietly.
And so they drove through the labyrinth in relative darkness for another twenty minutes making slight turns as the wire framing indicated. The rate of travel hindered and exaggerated the feeling of desolation. All Alex could do is watch the numbers slowly drop as the journey through darkness dragged on and his restlessness drudged with him. Once again the number approached zero as the transport came to a halt. As the driver put the vehicle into park, the engine shut itself off automatically. Stillness once again took over the Humvee. Alex sat quietly and waited for the next thing to happen. The few moments he had ‘to himself’ made him wonder how things were back with his brother. Hopefully they weren’t attacked again after the MLM’s abysmal attempt to take the checkpoint the day before. If they had come back to make another move on the area, Alex was confident that with his team still at the base, and new fortifications and sheer increase in numbers, that it would have been equally harmful for them to advance on the position and take the supply route.
Interrupting his thoughts, a flood of light came pouring through the windshield, blinding him to the point where he placed his hand over his eyes.
“When we unlock the vehicle, both of you need to get out on the drivers side slowly and do not make any sudden movements.” A voice came over the radio inside the cab itself and drew Alex’s attention to the center console.
Another set of lighting came in, this time from behind and made it extremely difficult for Alex to even keep his eyes open. A distinct pop nose crept into his ears as he could tell that the mechanical locks had just been opened. He slid to his left, feeling for the driver’s side door. He pulled on the lever and the door separated itself from the body of the vehicle, and with it ushered in even more light causing Alex to step of the transport with his eyes closed. Taking a step foreword and closing the door behind him, the disoriented Alex could hear people moving. It was impossible to tell for sure how many pairs of clonking boots were parading on the floor around him, but he knew it was no longer just the driver and himself. Both his arms were grabbed and he could tell at least two men were surrounding him.
“Take the driver to the motor pool and debrief him. This one is to go to interrogation room C.” The voice was directly in front of him. “Turn this transport around so it can be ready to go incase another run is to be made today.”
The shuffle of boots continued as Alex tried to pier through his cracked eyelids in an effort to at least catch some glimpse of what was going on around him. It was to no avail. A pulling on each of his arms directed him and he followed. Counting off the steps they took, Alex had figured they had moved about twenty yards away from the vehicle when he could feel the warmth from the lamps dissipate from his face. He opened his eyes timidly to see that the amount of light moving into his retina, was drastically less than what it was moments earlier. Opening his eyes completely he looked at the two men escorting him. Both of them had some sort of personnel eye protection on to see what they had been doing while Alex was sightless. Looking back over his should he could see that there was a large staging area that they had pulled into and countless high intensity lights surrounded the area. In addition Alex saw several other vehicles and armed troops standing guard while others were inspecting and loading up transports, as if it was a secure mini warehouse.
“Eyes forward please,” The man on the left said to Alex. “It’s dangerous to guide you if you aren’t even looking at the ground and obstacles before you.”
Just as he whipped his head back around, his foot hit and drug along the top of the first step of a short stair case. From that moment on, Alex made sure he was watching what was in front of him, making their way up the stairs and down the various empty passageways. The walls were unmarked and the same grey color as the traffic tunnel was. Eventually, the three men made it to a heavy looking steel door with a single small camera in the middle of it three quarters of the way from the floor and out of arms reach. After pausing for a moment the door lowered into the ground and the men lead Alex though it. On the other side two armed men and a central desk watched over seven rooms that were arranged in a circle around the desk. The color inside the room was a pale white that made no visible seam between the ground, wall, or ceiling. In fact, the only other color in the room, outside of the men in it, was a pastel looking, matte black, circular, top of the desk in the middle of a medically white bubble.
Passing by the guards, they took position behind Alex as he was walked up to the desk. One man stood behind the desk. He was a tall, lanky individual, wearing the same dull grey color of the passageways, for his uniform. He had a headset that was seen protruding from his black hair, near identical to the counter top in front of him and was watching every move that Alex made though a pair of topaz colored eyes.
“Room C is prepared and ready for him.” The lanky man said in a clear and monotonic voice, raising his arm and pointing to the right. No one went to grab Alex as his previous escor
ts walked over to the entrance to room C and waited, one man on each side. Credulously, he waited a moment and began his walk towards to the room, unprompted. Upon his arrival at the doorway, the steel door withdrew into the ground as the on from the main chamber had. Looking in he would not see more than a few feet in front of him. He looked over his shoulder, back to the desk, to see the man behind the counter and the two armed guards not watching him and going back to their normal routine. He looked at the two men who had escorted him, neither of whom, he was suspecting due to the eye protection they were still wearing, were making eye contact with him either.
Alex took two steps into the room and the lights came on. He could see a silver steel table and matching chairs and a pale brown couch on the far wall. On his third step into the room the door was vomited from the floor into its normal position. Surveying his position, Alex walked over to the couch and took a seat. It was made of a micro fiber material and was extremely comfortable. He flopped himself on the couch put his feet up and for the first time in nearly six months, relaxed. Gazing at the door, he saw that it was translucent and could see the minimal activities that were taking place in the main chamber.
He figured if he was a prisoner, they, whoever they were, wouldn’t have placed him in a room in which he could see the outside activities, number of guards and personnel. He wouldn’t be given such a room with a nice plush couch in which, had it been under different circumstances, he could have found it very easy to take a nap.
His attention was drawn to the wall to his right as he was sitting on the couch. There was a small rectangular pane in the wall that had a very defined boarder around it. Curiosity got the better of him and he proceeded up to the two-foot long rectangle, and pressed it in. A light clicking noise sounded before the pane folded down and Alex could see and empty cup and silverware waiting. After a moment he watched in amazement as the cup started to fill from the bottom with a clear liquid and a plate of food was passed though a small slot in the wall. It was a small six-ounce steak with a baked potato and the dressings on the side. He looked down at his utensil, a spork and positioned it on the plate. He then picked up the plate with one hand and his cup with the other and moved it to the table, sat down facing the doorway, and ate.
Eating slowly, Alex enjoyed every bite he was given. It had been quite some time since he had a nice steak. Not many cows wandered into active war zones. He was use to potatoes, but this one was fresh. Alex couldn’t help but joke to himself that Elijah could learn a thing or two from the cooks at Command, and who knows might even one day be a decent chef.
After he had consumed the meal he stood back up and placed the table settings near the slot in which he received them. As they were being pulled back though, the small pane started to retract itself like that of a drawbridge and resealed the wall. He moved back to the couch, sat down and waited.
At first, he wasn’t sure if he had fallen asleep or just let his mind be that at ease. Either way a slight knocking brought him back to reality as he turned his head to see an unfamiliar face at the door. As he moved, sitting so he faced the doorway, the door dropped and in walked a man in uniform, taking a seat in one of the steel chair at the table. He turned and looked at Alex before speaking.
“Would you mind joining me?” He said calmly pointing to the chair across from him. “I know they aren’t as comfortable as where you currently are, however it’s a lot easier to speak to you when you would be sitting across from me.”
Alex obliged the stranger’s request and quickly moved over to the table and sat across from the seemingly kind man. His uniform was royal blue in color with a red trim and brass buttons along the front of it. He had a square jaw and a short square haircut to match it. The two men sat quietly at the table looking intently at one another as if they were two heavyweights before a title fight. Alex could see out of the corner of his eye that the door had not closed behind the man. The passageway was wide open, almost as if it were daring him to make a move to the door.
The young man felt as though from the very moment he entered the transport, every move he made was being scrutinized and watched by someone else. Everything up to this point had to be some sort of test, each one a little more daring than the other. The entire journey had been a way of evaluation and building of trust for both parities.
“There is a reason that door didn’t close behind me you know.” The man said with a smile.
“And what reason would that be?” Alex said with a straight face.
“To let you know, incase there was any question, that you are not a prisoner here. Since you have not shown any attempt to cause anyone harm and have been extremely cooperative with all protocol, I am actually here to ask you to join the Senior Command Council in the main chamber. They all have many questions and would like to get a closer look at you.”
“Well then sir should I follow you?”
A man entered the holding area and brought with him Alex’s pack.
“Is this your bag, Mr. Ehlinger?” the man asked pointing to the duffle bag.
“Yes sir it appears to be my bag.” Alex said nodding.
The man sitting across from Alex directed to where the bag should be placed by nodding his head towards the couch. “Just set it down over there if you would.” He directed his attention back to Alex. “Now if you would like to change or grab anything from there, now is the time to do so. After we leave this room, your bag will be placed along with yourself in your quarters until the council gives you orders themselves. You will follow me directly to the council room and then after the meeting you will be lead to where you will be staying for the remainder of your time with us, which I have to say is a lot nicer than the room you are currently in. When you are ready, please just approach the door and we will be on our way.”
After speaking, the mad stood up and walked out of the door and the door closed behind him. Alex wasn’t too perplexed about the entire situation, although he was relieved that he would not be spending an immense amount of time in the current room. Alex went over to his bag and took out a black leather jacket he had come across in Anderhill, a matching black shirt and the best pair of cargo pants, which were a dark brown color. In the outside pocket of his bag, he retrieved his a small 9mm that he grabbed the first day of the war, and placed it and its holster on the outside of his right hip, so it would be in clear sight of everyone present. Alex closed his bag and left it on the couch, turned and moved towards the automatic door.
Upon stepping out of the room he saw the same group of men who had escorted him in waiting for him with the addition of the man in the military dress. Sticking his hand out, he nodded at Alex’s sidearm.
“You wont be needing that. In fact no weapons are allowed into the chamber.”
“Forgive me sir, I didn’t know.” Alex slowly took the weapon out of the holster and gave it to the nearest guard who placed it in one of the outside pockets of his jacket. “And I assume I will be given it back after this meeting?”
“Yes, of course. In fact the guard will be waiting outside of the doorway to hand it to you and escort you to your room.”
After winding down a few corridors of the same grey color, they finally lead Alex into the main area of the facility. More than twenty people were running around a large open area filled with computer desks and monitors. Different maps including shipping lines and train routes each had their different screen and different drone accessing and divulging the countless amounts of data. Alex followed the men to the right as the stood outside of a secure yet see through room. Looking through the glass, he could see seven men sitting around a circular table in a mirroring circular room that held their own sets of screens and monitors on the seamless wall around them. The men were fairly older than anyone else serving in the army that Alex had seen up until this point, all of them at least in their late fifties, with some exceeding that in age.
“It’s fairly standard that no one is allowed in the room while they are in there. This conclave is only
for the ears behind that door. I’m just the errand boy for them, so this camerlengo would like to thank you. Because of you, I get to join them inside those doors today.”
The guard with his side arm passed in front of Alex, and he quickly snatched it out of his pocket unseen and placed it on the inside pocket of his own jacket out of sight. A few more moments passed before a man stood up from his seat and beckoned the men to come to the inside the sacristy of the facility.
The door opened quietly like the rest and the errand boy walked in first followed by Alex and another guard. He could feel the weight of their eyes as he walked into the room. A room that normally held only seven men was now expanded to ten, yet there was only one more chair at the table. The man standing motioned for him to sit in the empty chair a few down from where he was sitting. As Alex took his seat, the two guards moved to the wall directly behind him and there was a long pause of silence in the chamber as the door closed.
“Gentlemen,” the standing man said addressing the room. “This is our guest. Mr. Alex Ehlinger. He is from Falcons Crest and was present in Aurorae the day the city fell. He led several civilians and fellow classmates out of the city that day and since has been a thorn in the side of the MLM slowing them through Anderhill, and as of yesterday his men saved the lives of another twenty or so from losing a checkpoint, a supply route and most notably their lives. The group of men he has been with for the last six months are in fact the eidola that the MLM forces have feared, the only thing they have feared to this point. That is why I have broken our normal protocol and made sure he was brought before us today.”
There was a scattered chorus of hellos and welcomes form the other six men at the table and Alex acknowledged them with a pious wave and nodding to the elders around him. Their eyes were heavy as though they had been in the meeting for a while. Crows feet at the corners gave hint to the stress and age that he was definitely out of place at this table. There was an obvious disconnect with the older generation and he couldn’t help but wonder if the half hearted hellos came from the fact that he was not one of their countymen.
Pillars of Glass Page 13