Kyle slowly walked back to his apartment, taking a longer route than usual. He mulled over the other man’s words in his brain, not wanting to believe what he had heard.
Apparently Senator Plow had plans to launch an invasion on Inuktitut in order to obtain some of the last fresh water sources on the Earth. Coupled together with Eastern Atlantica’s water sources, this would place her as a massive world power.
Wars had been started over less.
Kyle knew, from experience and personal dealings with the Senator, that she was adept enough to sway people to her vision, and convince others to follow her plans. If she won the upcoming election, then she would be in charge of the military and be able to proceed.
Why this person had told him all of this, he didn’t know. He wasn’t sure if it was something he should go to his superiors over, or something he should just dismiss as hearsay and the ramblings of someone who wanted to make sure that someone else won the election.
Kyle stopped at an intersection as fire trucks screamed by, then crossed to the park on the opposite corner. He pulled his jacket closer against the cool Atlantic early morning weather, then scrubbed his hands over his face as he reached a decision. He took his cellular phone out of a pocket and pushed a button.
"Commodore," he began as the phone was answered by a sleepy voice, "I’m sorry to wake you, but I feel you need to be informed of a situation." Kyle told his superior everything that had happened that evening, including the revelation that his ‘girlfriend’ had been anything but.
Securing an in-depth debriefing in three hours, he disconnected the call and started back home. The acrid scent of smoke wafted by as he got to the end of the park, and he could see the glow of fire not too far away.
"God, no," he whispered as he got to the end of the street and saw the scene that greeted him. Fire trucks surrounded the apartment building he lived in, as fire personnel tried to contain the blaze that was definitely out of control.
Trying to tell himself that this was some terrible coincidence he ran towards the building, stopping short when arms reached out and yanked him into a small alley between two buildings. Training took over and he swung out, connected with a body, and jumped back to avoid whoever it was. Hands grabbed him from behind as he realized that there was more than one person present, he struggled as the other person got up from the ground, but stopped when something sharp was pressed against his throat.
"I don’t have any money," he told them.
"Don’t want your money," the one behind his said. "Just a moment of your time…Commander."
"You’ve got the wrong person," Kyle said, trying not to move.
"Commander Kyle Suene", the man in front of him said. "Eastern Atlantica Armed Forces, stationed in Ottawa, currently…and officially on extended personal leave." The man paused and smiled coldly. "Leave that is a cover for being attached to security for the upcoming election."
Kyle stared at the man, wondering which sector of the government he was with. This was getting all too surreal for him. "I already told you…"
"Cut the shit, Commander," came the voice from behind. "The fire in your building started in your apartment. That’s arson."
"I didn’t…" he stopped as the knife pressed harder against his throat.
"Of course you didn’t start it. All it would take is for you to work with us, and the arson charge will disappear."
Fuck, hell, shit, shit, hell, fuck! Kyle swore to himself, knowing that he was caught between a rock and a shit pile. "Talk," he ordered, determined to have at least some command of the situation.
"About an hour ago, you met and talked at length with one of Senator Plow’s aides in a diner. He most likely informed you that the Senator is intent on invading and taking a neighboring country’s water supply, and then charging exorbitant fees to other countries who would need the water."
Kyle stared, refusing to acknowledge or even deny the conversation that had taken place in that diner. "Continue."
"That man is a traitor, and will do anything he can to discredit Senator Plow." The knife was removed from his throat. "It would be in your best interest not to help him. It would also be in your best interest not to repeat a word of any of this, or what you heard in the diner, to anyone."
"Who are you."
The other man smiled, and said "No one," an instant before he pulled back a fist and struck Kyle in the stomach. He followed with a knee to the face as Kyle doubled over.
Pain exploded in Kyle’s face as he fell to his knees and he remained there as he heard to two men leave the alley. "Fuck!" he said and slammed a hand against the paved ground. He got to his feet, grimaced at the pain and walked to the street. He took one look at the smoldering ruin at the end of the street and then turned and walked away.
~~~~~~~~~~
Early that morning, and only three hours after the events, Kyle sat behind his desk at the Armed Forces Base. His fingers flew over the computer board in front of him, the result of his work suspended in a three-dimensional cube hovering over his desk. He reached in to the cube and touched a folder, opening yet another avenue of information.
His meeting with the Commodore was scheduled for the moment the other man arrived at his office, and Kyle suspected that would be anytime now. He didn’t want to approach his superior officer without facts to back up his stories about what had happened to him early that morning. He as still having a hard time believing the events, and had an even harder time believing that he was now homeless.
"You look like hell."
Kyle looked up at the voice, and glared. "Get away from me."
Taylor Simmons pouted. "Aw, come on, Kyle. I can’t believe you’re going to be mean to me after all we’ve been through."
"Get away from me, get off the base, and don’t come back unless you’re on official military business." He was too tired to be polite, and was surprised that he was as calm as he actually was.
"I am here on official business."
Kyle leaned back in his seat and blinked slowly. "Your official business is to stand in front of my desk?"
"No."
"Then get the hell away from me." He went back to his computer screen, effectively dismissing her.
"I heard about your apartment."
"Word travels fast," he said, not looking up. "And so should you, away from my desk…now." He continued to read the computer screen, wishing that she would just walk away. Before the previous evening, before he had found out that he was nothing more than an assignment, he had actually developed deep feelings for her. They had been, for lack of a better term, dating, for three months, and he had enjoyed ever minute he spent with her; until last night, that is.
Kyle glanced up as someone else approached his desk, and stood as the Commodore walked past.
"Commander Suene," the Commodore said as he walked past. "My office, now."
"Yes, sir," Kyle said as he turned off his computer and stood. He looked at Taylor. "Get out, and don’t ever come near me again."
~~~~~~
Commodore Dali, listened intently as the man in front of him recounted the details of the past twenty-four house. He had heard a lot in the thirty-plus years of military service, and had, unfortunately, heard this type of tale before. It was not unheard of for a member of the armed forces, or any government agency, to be the target of unscrupulous agents from other departments and other countries.
He waited until the Commander finished, then asked a few clarification questions. "This woman is military?"
"She’s on the base, so she’s from some agency, sir."
"Contact the gates, get her authorization and follow it up."
"Yes, sir."
"Relax, Commander. I’m not about to allow one of my people to be threatened with arson charges and political intrigue." He paused. "Dismissed."
Kyle saluted, turned and walked out of the Commodore’s office. He was relieved to see that Taylor was no where to be seen, and did a quick visual check of his desk as he walked past, satisfied that nothing had been touched.
He walked out of the building, and started across the compound to the main gate. His pace slowed as he got the eerie impression that he was being watched. He glanced around, and, not seeing anyone or anything out of the ordinary, continued on his way.
~~~~~~
Agent Taylor Simmons smiled as she watched Kyle walk across the compound. She turned away from the window as she took a small phone out of her pocket and pushed a button. "It’s me," she said as someone answered. "Yes...on his way to the front gate…he’ll do what we want…no, he doesn’t know that I know about the alley…okay." She disconnected the call, put the phone away, and walked out of the room.
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Comments
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Hmm She disconnected the phone call?? Bangs head on the table..I don't know if I woulda done that myself..
beginning: 5, language: 5, plot: 5, ending: 5, dialog: 5, characters: 5.
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hmmmmm....
this is in the works... and, the rest is, of course, on the computer that crashed
so, I have to find the copy I saved, and that means finding an untitled CD (don't ask) and something to play it on, since the CD thing on this laptop doesnt work.
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