06-17-2014, 11:15 AM
Continued from: Wounds
Not once did he look back.
Michael and the Captain's men managed to catch up to the convoy as the driver sped towards the airfield like a madman. Everything had been destroyed. The base he had worked to keep secure was burnt out, the open plain littered with bodies, blood and char.
The sight was enough to sober the euphoric taste of power which he held on to. His grasp on the tangle of dog-tags tightened until his fingers were white. He glanced at Captain Istivak "What happened here? You should have been gone long before this started."
The exhausted man looked away. "I...did not follow your orders precisely. We..."
Michael spared the Captain. He did not need to know more. "It is done. I am equally to blame for this. You did what you thought best, I'm sure."
Yes, he had failed in more ways than one. He could no more defeat the mist-monster than he could keep his own troops alive. No matter that he had sent orders. As the commanding officer, he should have been there. Perhaps he could have prevented this massacre.
It is done. Remember. Learn.
The truck was silent while they approached what seemed to be the evacuation site. Already civilians and the wounded were being loaded onto planes and fresh Custody troops bolstered the thin defence.
Michael surveyed the battlefield with an impenetrable gaze. Evidence suggested that the rebels retreated at the arrival of reinforcements, likely waiting for their brothers to arrive from the south. Which meant they had little time.
On inspection, he spotted a familiar figure in the middle of the rescue effort. "Take me there,"
he said, pointing to the CEO of the Legion. The small truck navigated through the ruin with relative ease and stopped metres from his destination.
Captain Istivak and his men formed up around him as he exited the vehicle and made his way forward. Jacques Danjou held himself with great dignity even with the trace of fresh tears wet on his cheeks.
Michael met him in silence, looking the man in the eye.
Then he bowed his head in a gesture of respect and gratitude. To his surprise, the Captain and his men followed suit.
When he lifted his gaze again, Michael held out his arm full of Legionnaire dog-tags. "They fought well; to the very end."
He paused, noting the Custody surveillance material. "Their sacrifice will not be forgotten. I have kept my ability secret for over 4 years. I will likely die for what I have done here, for what you and your men saw."
He stared at Jacques without visible emotion, but the tension that had possessed his bones for so long leaked away. "I don't regret it. It was a gift freely given. Thank you."
Now I am free...
Edited by Michael Vellas, Jun 17 2014, 12:56 PM.
Not once did he look back.
Michael and the Captain's men managed to catch up to the convoy as the driver sped towards the airfield like a madman. Everything had been destroyed. The base he had worked to keep secure was burnt out, the open plain littered with bodies, blood and char.
The sight was enough to sober the euphoric taste of power which he held on to. His grasp on the tangle of dog-tags tightened until his fingers were white. He glanced at Captain Istivak "What happened here? You should have been gone long before this started."
The exhausted man looked away. "I...did not follow your orders precisely. We..."
Michael spared the Captain. He did not need to know more. "It is done. I am equally to blame for this. You did what you thought best, I'm sure."
Yes, he had failed in more ways than one. He could no more defeat the mist-monster than he could keep his own troops alive. No matter that he had sent orders. As the commanding officer, he should have been there. Perhaps he could have prevented this massacre.
It is done. Remember. Learn.
The truck was silent while they approached what seemed to be the evacuation site. Already civilians and the wounded were being loaded onto planes and fresh Custody troops bolstered the thin defence.
Michael surveyed the battlefield with an impenetrable gaze. Evidence suggested that the rebels retreated at the arrival of reinforcements, likely waiting for their brothers to arrive from the south. Which meant they had little time.
On inspection, he spotted a familiar figure in the middle of the rescue effort. "Take me there,"
he said, pointing to the CEO of the Legion. The small truck navigated through the ruin with relative ease and stopped metres from his destination.
Captain Istivak and his men formed up around him as he exited the vehicle and made his way forward. Jacques Danjou held himself with great dignity even with the trace of fresh tears wet on his cheeks.
Michael met him in silence, looking the man in the eye.
Then he bowed his head in a gesture of respect and gratitude. To his surprise, the Captain and his men followed suit.
When he lifted his gaze again, Michael held out his arm full of Legionnaire dog-tags. "They fought well; to the very end."
He paused, noting the Custody surveillance material. "Their sacrifice will not be forgotten. I have kept my ability secret for over 4 years. I will likely die for what I have done here, for what you and your men saw."
He stared at Jacques without visible emotion, but the tension that had possessed his bones for so long leaked away. "I don't regret it. It was a gift freely given. Thank you."
Now I am free...
Edited by Michael Vellas, Jun 17 2014, 12:56 PM.
"She saw a flaring halo around his head, radiant in gold and blue. It shouted of glory and power to come"
"No matter how fast light travels, it finds the darkness has always got there first, and is waiting for it."