“Well I guess it goes without saying that, the assault on you boy’s wasn’t part of the plan, my plan.” The scowl on Alex’s face didn’t fade. “I was in the Admin building waiting for them to come to me like you are now, and then I was to lead the siege, capture the city, lastly fight and subdue any combatives. When they opened fire on the people trying to cross the bridge, I could see the bloodlust in their eyes. They looked like demons waiting to harvest the souls of those fleeing from judgment; they only wanted to torment those people. Any attempt to stop them was in vain, but then something curious had happened. A single shot from the tower of a church turned their attention. Only a few men could make shots like that, and the ones following.”
“That is one way you could see it I guess. However looking through my scope I saw a different story unfold. It doesn’t matter which way you look at it, you created a plan to march men into battle, without knowing what they were capable of doing. You knew they were looking to divide the world again into two countries, and yet you supported a coup.”
“I was the only hope to control those men. Their leader is a man bent on destroying anything in his path, and the men below him follow in his callous ways, or he kills them himself.”
“And you were the only one to provide enough structure and order?”
“You kids were more organized than they were.” Tillery said with a light chuckle.
Tapping the magazine on the desk in front of him, Alex disapproved of the notion, “I don’t believe you.”
“Well, think about it this way Alex. I’m here, alone, and knew you were coming. What does that tell you?”
There was a long pause as Alex digested his words, and slowly the thought started to germinate within him. Somewhere deep inside Alex knew his former teacher was looking for redemption in the mind of his brightest student, trying to cultivate something and teach him one last lesson.
“If I take you back to command, they won’t pardon you, no matter what information you try to barter with for your life.”
It was a statement Tillery already knew to be true, and he blinked slowly in conjunction with a nod in affirmation. The MLM had trapped him. Somehow they took his mind in exchange for a weapon, something he could holster, but didn’t give him the munitions for it. With every decision made, Tillery, the puppet, forged and loaded another round into the cylinder, until he was left alone, useless, with a loaded weapon.
“What were your last orders?” Alex asked in a far different tone than that of the inquisitor he started off as; he had understood why he was here.
“Here they are.” Tillery pointed to the small sheet of paper, the only thing other than Alex’s weapon, on the desk. Alex slid the paper to him as Tillery recited from memory. “Shall in these confines with a monarchs voice, cry havoc and let slip the dogs of war. I was to lead the next attack, but I could see as they were loading up, the second in command had a close eye on me, and I jumped over board the first chance I had.”
“You shouldn’t be surprised, as the rope maker, when the hangman asks you if you want him to use your own creation for you dance in the gallows, Mr. Tillery.” Alex said once again tapping the magazine on the desk, knowing why his teacher jumped overboard. “Cowards die many times before their deaths; the valiant never taste of death but once.”
Knowing the two were on the same page, Andrew Horatio Tillery hung his head in his hands speaking into the desk. “I made my own home be my gallows, Alex. The evil that men do lives after them; the good is oft interred with their bones.” Looking up he knew Alex would do what he was asking. “I know you can figure out the rest on your own. Now go quickly. Please son, know I’m sorry.”
“Even Hell has its hero’s Mr. Tillery.” Alex said softly as he began to rise to his feet, seeing the half forced smile on the man sitting in front of him.
Leaning as he rose, Alex reached across the table, quietly grabbing his side arm and slid the clip inside, locked his knees into place and squeezed the trigger. The muzzle flash startled Eli, as he grabbed his own weapon and pointed it at the lifeless body to his right.
Holstering his weapon Alex turned away from the carcass as the blood slowly drained from it.
“So, Apparently this whole operation went to shit well before we got here?” Eli asked as he watched the somber look on his friends face coming towards him.
“Call the Tadpole tell him to come all the way up stream, we have to move.”
“What about the beach?”
“This island is empty, Eli.” Alex snapped back quickly.
Reaching for the mic, the thought didn’t seem to fully take root in Elijah’s mind, and Alex decided to give him the footnotes of the conversation as he started jogging out of the tomb.
“They set sail for the pillar, and after that the promenade.” Alex’s voice echoed in the hallway as Eli turned to follow him.
“Why would they do that unless the intend to- SHIT AL!” Eli spirited to catch up and spoke into the mic. “Tadpole, come up river full steam now, we need immediate extraction, don’t worry about enemy fire, there are only Ghosts in the mist.”
“Copy that Eli, I’m on my way.” The throttle of the small craft was audible as the brief communication ended.
Making their way down the stairs and out into the subdued daylight, Alex could only look at his watch and hope there was time. It wasn’t difficult for them to find the river after scaling the wall, as the motor from the skiff could be heard roaring in the fog. Hopping into the boat, the driver hastily turned it around and headed back out to sea. Alex continued to stare at his watch, hoping, they wouldn’t be too late; hoping there would still be time, hoping that fate had not made her judgment.
“Where’s the prisoner?” Teller asked as the trio quickly came onto the bridge.
“Do you hate being right Al?” Eli shouted over his shoulder as he and Tadpole ran to one of the consoles.
Teller turned from watching the first two run onto the bridge to Alex who was making his way through the door. “What is he talking about?”
Alex waited to get a few feet from Teller before speaking to him. “The assumption I had. That you were holding back the fact you were briefed about this mission well before I stepped foot on this boat. You knew we were brining one man back here.”
There was a long pause as the two men stood looking at one another. The anticipation of Teller’s response had Alex’s eyes moving back and forth looking for the slightest flaw, the slightest tick that would give away whither Teller was about to tell him the truth or not. He didn’t flinch. The air between them grew stale and heavy. A sour stench frothed from Teller’s mouth as he took a breath.
“My orders were to make sure you followed yours. To see if in fact you were qualified to lead these men.” His tone became louder to put a show on for the audience, as their ears slowly perked up and turned towards the two men standing nose to nose in the middle of the bridge. “Now due to the fact that you came back alone I have to assume that you didn’t follow your orders, now I’ll ask you again. Where the hell is the prisoner that this entire operation was meant to capture?”
Alex shot back quickly annoyed from Teller’s attitude. “He’s dead damnit.”
There was an obvious anger that filled the eyes of the fisherman in front of Alex. He realized this and attempted to hide it with his body language however it was too late, Alex could tell there was something further he was hiding. “And who choose to violate a direct order to bring him back alive for me to interrogate?”
Alex could see that was why the anger quickly filled Teller’s eyes. He was supposed to interrogate Alex’s former teacher, and from everything that Teller has been projecting towards Alex, it wasn’t going to be a pleasant conversation. As the thoughts ran through his head, Alex heard a voice come from over his shoulder.
“I did you old bastard so stop questioning your superior officer in front of these men.” The tone of the voice was obvious to Alex who it was. The eye contact broke for a moment with
Teller as he leaned to see who would speak to him like that. Alex knew it was Eli, but he also know he had to stand fast and keep his eyes and focus forward. This wasn’t a private conversation between the officers behind closed doors, it was a public inquisition, and his body language would provide the best defense while under scrutiny in such a public forum.
“You killed him?” Teller began to move closer to Eli leaving his current field of battle to pick a new fight. “And who told you to do that?”
Eli stood his ground. “He was being hostile and made movement towards a weapon quickly when he was told we were going to take him back to the ship.”
“I knew the two of you would not be able to accept the responsibility and burden of command.” Teller said as he continued to walk towards Eli.
“Commander Teller, stop where you stand.” The tone was a foreign one to everyone on the bridge however its source was not. “What do you know about the burden of command in a time of war? From my understanding you have never seen a field of battle and have only ran drills with these men on this boat. Yet this entire operation has been secret enough that up till now you have been in that harbor since command let the invasion begin in Aurorae. I was there that day and watched as they killed civilians while I was only able to save a few as dearly dying so they could be evacuated. Now until you see first hand the extent of brutality we are truly up against I suggest you do not attempt to educate a superior officer on what the burden of watching those around him die, for a mad mans cause, can effect that person.”
The silence that filled the room at that moment caused a chill to go down Alex’s spine, he could see Eli flush with anger that he had never seen before as his gaze went from direct contact from the confronting Teller to his young friend. Slowly Alex motioned with his hand for Eli to calm himself to avoid further escalation of the moment.
Teller pointed at two of the men watching the situation unfold. “The two of you take this man to E Deck midship. Explain to the men outside of the black door that I have ordered this man to be placed there until I direct further.” The two men stood slowly and moved to Eli who raised his hands slowly to show there would be no objection.
“Apparently that must be where the brig is Al.” he said forcing a smile.
Alex watched as his friend was escorted off the bridge. The quietness in the room didn’t fade from the room along with Elijah’s presence however, still as tense as it was before he was dismissed from the room. Teller turned and made eye contact with his young commanding officer once again.
“Sir I apologize, but I also must ask you to leave the bridge until we can sail back towards the harbor and make contact with command once again and advise them on the situation on hand.”
“Commander Teller, I know you feel that will be the best course of action. I can tell you however that will be detrimental to the cause. We must set sail for the northern pillar before it is too late. The army that was to be on that island has set sail to tare any physical link between the two countries apart and purge them form existence.”
“If that is the case then command will need to inform us as to the next course of action, and making our way back to the harbor to drop off your friend before he can cause any more damage to this campaign must be the first course of action.”
It was obvious that the conversation was not going to progress the way Alex wanted it too without a more physical confrontation. But without Eli there, Alex knew he would be outmatched if the men on the bridge felt more loyalty to Mr. Teller.
“Very well Mr. Teller,” Alex said without nay hesitation in his voice. “I will head to the mess hall on grab something to eat.”
“You there,” Teller pointed to Tadpole. “Escort him to the mess. You are authorized to use any force necessary if he makes any attempt to move to E-Deck do you understand.”
Tadpole saluted the Commander, “Yes Sir. Mr. Ehlinger this way please.”
Once the pair left the bridge Alex took off towards the middle stairwell of the ship.
“Sir,” Tadpole called out after Alex. “What shoul-.”
“I want you to go to the aft stair well and make your way to my quarters and grab the gear you stashed there. All three of us will need a weapon then meet me on E-Deck in five minutes, if anyone tries to stop you, wound them. I will not have any men die over the Commanders foolishness.” Alex made his way down the midship stair well while he saw Tadpole continue by him without looking back. It reminded him of his little brother, how he would follow and have faith in whatever came out of Alex’s mouth.
Slowly Alex made his way down to E-Deck, calming his breathing and pulse. For the first time in his life, Alex was about to break the law and help a man escape from prison.
“You two,” Alex said walking up the men standing outside of the black bulkhead door. He made his way to stand uncomfortably close to the men in an attempt to show his authority. “Where did the two men go that delivered you the prisoner from the bridge?”
Unsure the two men looked timidly at one another
“You two men do know who I am correct?” The men nodded in affirmation. “Then answer me before I have you sharing this room.”
“They went to the mess hall to get some food. They wanted us to cover form them until they ate, they haven’t eaten since yesterday.”
“And what about the two of you, when was the last time you got some food?”
The other man spoke up this time. “About the same time sir, we were going to trade guard duty once they cam back.”
“Well men, go ahead and join them in the mess.” Alex said freely.
“Sir I don’t wish to object however who is going to be in charge of guarding the door?”
“I have someone on their way who was sent here by Commander Teller personally. The new guard is equipped to deal with this kind of individual incase they attempt to escape some how, he will be along in a minute or two.”
Stumbling through his response the man spoke up once again. “If its all the same to you sir, Can we please wait until the new guard gets here to rotate out and preserve the chain?”
Alex smiled outwardly at the request while he dammed the men in his mind. “Yes, that is acceptable, and I will wait with you to ease you mind on the request.”
There was a softening in the look from the men as Alex advised and reassured them that they would not come under any type of discipline for the exchange of watch duty. All three men stood there anxiously awaiting the arrival of Tadpole, the two guards to get their food, while Alex was hoping he would show before anyone else showed up outside of the door. The two guards kept looking down the corridor in both directions. In an attempt to burn time and make small talk with the men Alex pointed at the aft of the boat.
“He should be coming from that direction. Now do not be alarmed when you see him, he will in fact be armed as a safety precaution, a direct order from Mr. Teller. It would seem that the old Capitan is nervous about the addition of the prisoner to the boat, but I assure you that if you two follow my instructions, there will be no issues regarding him. He can be like a dog sometimes, just have to know when to tell him to heel.”
“If you don’t mind me asking Sir, How many men have you killed? I only wonder because you are younger than a lot of us expected when we were briefed by Mr. Teller.”
“Well I can tell you that even Commander Teller was surprised at my age. I can tell you I have only killed a necessary amount of individuals to protect those I care about and to ensure execution of the mission itself. I find it a shame that we have to sacrifice individuals lives to fight for an idea.”
The look of shame came over the two men standing guard as they digested Alex’s comment.
“Sir, It seems that we come from different worlds. I just stand here because I am told to. I joined this cause for no other reason than to make a group of people from across the sea remember where they are from, not sure I’m here to fight for any ‘Idea’”
“You may not feel you are fighting for any
idea, but the ones who command you are. They have an idea of what the world is, how it should be shaped. You may feel that you are here to help end conflict, but do not be blind to the fact that all of us, including myself, have orders.” Out of the corner of his eye, Alex saw Tadpole a dozen yards away, and a smile slowly crept across his face. “And as a son of Mispelliem, fighting for and leading the people of Valhari. I feel a constant struggle within me to understand my orders. The fight isn’t against the entire nation, it’s the fanatics who perverted it. A group of people who have dawned the colors and name of a nation they wish to represent entirely though they are a small contingent. They aren’t the senators, or individuals that cross the pillars every day and live in harmony with their neighbor. The fight is against anyone that feels a race, or creed or idea is superior to that of someone else’s. Just as a rope has two ends, there is never one extreme. And I apologize gentlemen but that meal will have to wait a little longer for you.”
Tadpole tossed one of the ARs to Alex from a few yards away. Alex caught it and pointed the rifle at the two unarmed men. “Please do not make me discharge this weapon. Stand aside, or are you willing to die for the orders you were given to guard this cell? Are you willing to die for what is behind that door, or do you want another meal?”
The men looked at one another and after a moment they broke the silence the weapons created. “Last I knew Sir, you were the senior officer on this ship and as such, your orders are the ones to follow.” There was an additional pause before he continued, raising his hands. “I don’t give a shit who wins this war, sir. I assumed that was the answer you wanted to hear. As long as my family and I are alive at the end, and the fighting stops, when I have some grandkids, will it matter who runs the world? It seems all history does it repeat itself because we feel this is the generation that will get it right, we wont make the decisions or constant mistakes the others have made. But it seems like we never learn. Maybe that comes from us thinking we are better than those before us. Personally, I think sins of our forefathers become our own when one fails to educate the other, and the consequence stemming form those decisions effect us for generations.”
Pillars of Glass Page 18