A New Beginning

by Alexander W Meurant

  "I think you should answer that Lieutenant" Sembak stated practically right after the knock and Lesha nodded, using it as an excuse to break eye contact with the man. She went to the door and opened it, seeing Keu on the other side. She stepped back allowing her colleague into the office.

  When he did, Lesha just closed the door quietly and stood back, watching Keu as she hugged her clipboard to her chest.

  "Lieutenant Hayes. You are back from your interrogation. Either you are better than I expected to have returned so soon, or those pirates were loose lipped. Which one is it?" Sembak asked, a brow raised. He hadn't even given Keu a chance to initiate the conversation. Keu raised a closed fist to his mouth and coughed slightly, clearing his throat.

  "The latter sir. They were quite ready to offer information. And they told an interesting tale" Keu replied before dropping his hand back to his side. Sembak scoffed and leant back in his chair that bit further, making it seem like he could tumble over at any moment.

  "Well you have my undivided attention, so please share this tale of theirs Lieutenant" the commander stated, flicking a hand casually in the air as if to prompt the officer.

  "As you wish sir. A good deal of the pirates were actually paid mercenaries, placed on that ship weeks in advance. The actual pirates had that attacked the ship did so under the orders of the employer of these other mercenaries. They had been told not a lot, apart from that when the marines failed in their attack, then naturally the special forces would need to get involved. And if they did, then any special forces soldiers were to be identified before being killed. They were told to capture a blond-haired man" Keu stated before falling into silence. Lesha stared at him in surprise, a surge of feelings suddenly welling up, and the foremost of those was anger. She clenched her jaw and tried to push the anger down even as Sembak spoke.

  "That sounds like a very farfetched scheme. The only person in my special forces command with blond hair is Belford. I have a feeling this is connected to the leak you discovered on base, so I want this investigated fully. It is to be your number one priority" Sembak ordered, the man’s face impassive. Lesha surveyed him, finding not a single indication that he was surprised. He certainly had nerves of steel. Well, compared to her anyway.

  "Yes sir. I will make it my top most priority. I will root out whoever it is that is the source of our leak, and I will use the utmost discretion as well. I would also like to follow up on a lead in the port of Kairo, where I was told the pirate leader has a base of operations. A man by the name of Rehan" Keu stated and then fell silent, as if waiting. After a few moments Sembak gave a small nod and then lifted a hand, making a dismissive gesture to the man.

  "Kairo. I know the place. Unfortunately, it is in Cassar Alliance territory. I will think on it, but for now learn what you can of the place externally. And as for those other pirates. I hope you dealt with them after the interrogation, no matter how forthcoming they were" Sembak stated and when Keu gave a nod Lesha felt a stab of queasiness run through her stomach. Whilst she looked after the everyday things of Sembaks command, she knew Keu looked after the darker, grislier side of Sembaks command. And she had seen enough classified reports to know how Keu disposed of certain types of people. Lesha felt a small shudder before she stepped up beside Keu.

  "Sir. Is there anything you would like me to do before we land? There is still some hours" Lesha asked of her commander, flinching slightly when Sembak turned a steely glare on her.

  "If you need to keep your mind busy Lieutenant, then look into the ship. I was told it was owned by a merchant from the Island Republic, but I know of only one man who would go to such lengths to arrange this whole fiasco. And if my hunch is correct, I want evidence tying this whole thing to the Gestonian Royal" Sembak stated and Lesha stared at Sembak, her eyes suddenly wide. She sensed Keu tense up next to her and she swallowed, trying to wipe her surprise away.

  She had not thought that far ahead. Prince Bradley had pretty much ceased trying to get Sain back as a supposed fugitive of his nation many months ago. If this was another ploy of the man, then he was far more conniving then she had given him credit for.

  "I can see by both your faces that you had not entertained the possibility. At first, I had not either, until you told me of these mercenaries and their intent to find a blonde soldier. Both of you work on this. But Lieutenant Tahl, do not forget those forms I asked you for. For now, you are both dismissed. Get to work" Sembak continued, his voice level even as a small smirk crept onto his face. Lesha tried to hold back her own as she stood straight and saluted her commander, Keu following suit. Then she just turned sharply and left the small office behind, Keu on her tail.

  Once out in the hallway she heard the door close behind them and Keu let out a shuddering breath.

  "I had not thought about that Lesha. The commander has a sharp mind, and sometimes I wonder how much he already actually knows before letting on" Keu stated and Lesha turned to face him, seeing a thoughtful look on his face.

  "I'll admit I had not either. If it is possible for Prince Bradley to instigate this, then it should not be hard to find proof. You said that the mercenaries had been hiding in a container on the ship. Perhaps you should get in contact with the navy and have them search the ship thoroughly. It will have reached the naval base by now I imagine. Maybe there is something in these containers we can use to identify the employer" Lesha suggested, a brow raised slightly. Keu frowned a moment and then nodded.

  "Yes, I will do that. I had thought of that myself as well, but it slipped my mind when I came here. Anyway, I will get on that, and perhaps you should check on Belford. I passed the medical bay on the way here and things sounded grim" Keu stated, a soft expression on his face now. Lesha gulped and stared at him, wondering how much her knew about the extent of her relationship with Sain. A rush of emotion came back over her, sadness, grief and anger and she let out a slow, shuddering breath. Those were emotions she had tried to keep buried.

  "I think I will. We had become friends, and I feel for him, but injury and death are a part of being a soldier, so I will not get hung up on it" Lesha stated and lifted a brow as Keu snorted.

  "Lesha, pain and grief are also part of being a human. Go see him then and come to terms with it and yourself. Be well" Keu said and then turned away, heading down the hall. Lesha watched him go, a feeling of irritation welling up to replace the emotions from earlier. She may as well get it over with. Putting things off was not in her nature.

  Letting out a soft sigh, Lesha walked down the hall in the opposite direction of Keu, her mind and emotions a mess of thoughts. An image of Sain flashed into her mind of him lying there on that bed, a blackened husk. The image was quickly replaced with one of him sleeping, his head on a pillow and his hair tousled and messy.

  Lesha swallowed and mentally pushed the thought aside even as she arrived at the medical bay of the airship. The vessel was not exactly large after all, and everything felt crammed together. Stepping through the auto doors, Lesha looked around. The area was filled with injured soldiers, some of whom were lying on the ground on stretchers propped up on various objects. The medical bay was not meant to hold so many injured it seemed.

  Seeing a nurse coming for her, Lesha turned to look at the man, noting a tired, drawn expression on his face. When he reached her, she smiled at him, getting a tired smile in return.

  "How may I help you Lieutenant. I am afraid we are quite busy" the man asked, his voice sounding quite strained, like he was making an effort to hold back emotion from his voice. Lesha knew the medical profession was a tough one and casting a look around she could see a number of soldiers with rather severe injuries. There were mats on the floor covering pools of blood, and she could even see a bucket and mop against a wall, its water a reddish colour. Suddenly feeling as though she shouldn't have come, she turned her attention back to the man.

  "Apologies, I should have realised you would be busy. I just wanted to know the status of Private Belford if that is no trouble" Les
ha replied, instantly regretting it as she saw the nurse wince.

  "Well Lieutenant, I am not sure what to say. Belford will live for now. His condition is stable, but for how long the doctors don't now. He will need specialist attention when we get back to base. And even then, well, I don't know" the nurse stated and then shrugged. Lesha gulped and gave a jerky nod.

  "Alright, well then thank you. For your efforts as well. I will be going now" Lesha stated and let out a shaky breath before turning away and leaving the medical bay behind, her posture straight and rigid. She walked away awkwardly, feeling eyes burning into her back. What had she expected coming here? For everything to be alright? What nonsense. She shook her head and kept walking, wondering if taking leave really was the best idea. Perhaps she would be better off simply losing herself in her work. Yes, perhaps that would be better.

  Sighing Lesha looked up as she walked, and she frowned, noticing a man lounging against the wall nearby. He looked at her and frowned in return before shoving a device into his pocket and pushing off the wall. He tore his eyes away from Lesha and seemed disinclined to make eye contact. Lesha stopped and turned as he walked past her, watching him. He seemed relaxed, his hands shoved in his pockets as he walked past the medical bay door, a quick glance being shot inside.

  Lesha frowned further wondering why a lone airman would be lounging around in such an area. It wasn't exactly a communal hang out. She shook her head and sighed. It wasn't her concern. She had far more to worry about. Shaking her head again she lifted her hands and slapped them into her cheeks, her clipboard held awkwardly for a moment. Snapping out of her thoughts, she started walking, this time in the direction of the mess hall. She suddenly felt famished, her tummy letting out a soft rumble.

  * * *

  "What, you don't want to go again" one of them asked, Mehrasa wasn't sure who. The voices sounded muffled as she curled up in a foetal position on the cold floor. Everything hurt, and she felt hot in her groin. It wasn't a good feeling. She had stopped crying long ago, her tears had all dried up and her eyes were left swollen and puffy.

  "Nope, and if you guys don't want to then we do what Keu said. Throw her overboard. We have no more use for the pirate" another voice stated and Mehrasa felt a spark of hope. Not because she would be free from these men, but because her suffering would end. Please, just let it end she thought to herself.

  "Guess we throw her off then. I'll do it. You guys get the corpses" a third voice stated and Mehrasa opened her eyes slightly, staring straight ahead into the eyes of Mehrbad, slumped on the floor, his eyes dead and mouth hanging open. He was pale, all the color drained from his body. That was what happened when all the blood left a human she supposed. They turned pale. Very pale.

  Feeling hands grasp her ankles and pull, Mehrasa whimpered as pain tore through her abdomen. It lanced through her in waves and she pulled her legs up, trying to go back into a ball. It hurt so bad. Her legs got yanked harder this time and she let out a cry as her body straightened and she was dragged across the floor, Mehrbad disappearing from her view. She felt every bump, every uneven surface as she went over it, her entire body protesting at the motion, causing her to cry out weakly in anguish.

  "Oh shut up you annoying bitch" the voice muttered before she heard a door open. She was dragged through it, her head hitting the frame and she let out another weak cry. Then her ankles were released, and she looked up, her vision blurred through her puffy and sore eyes. She saw a figure above her, barely distinguishable from the darkness.

  "I said shut up bitch" the man stated and kicked out, his booted foot slamming into her naked belly. Mehrasa didn't make a sound as the air left her and pain rushed through her in a wave, causing her to black out briefly. She came to slowly, her mind hazy and almost dreamlike. She felt something land on her, and then something else. They were both heavy. And cold.

  Hearing voices she came to fully and looking up again she saw Mehrabad, his face next to hers. She gasped and realised that his corpse had been thrown on top of her, his body twisted in an unnatural way. She could see another leg as well and thought that to be Garka's. Tears welled up again and she sniffed. This really was the end wasn't it. She felt so weak and she let out small sob as boots appeared before her face.

  "That’s that then lads. Any last good byes. No? Thought so. Seeya lass. Enjoy your last moments" came a voice followed by a snicker and then the boots disappeared from her vision. Then a door slammed, and a gentle hum began to reverberate around Mehrasa. A cold breeze washed over her, steadily getting stronger and Mehrasa pushed both arms underneath her, trying to force herself up. Her arms shook badly, and she clenched her teeth even as pain raced through her, her entire body protesting the movement. She managed to sit up, Mehrbad rolling off her and she turned to face the breeze.

  An opening appeared in the room, running its entire expanse. It appeared to be a door lifting up and beyond it Mehrasa saw the ocean, its surface dark under a night sky. What was the time she wondered? How long had she been on this ship? She didn't know.

  Lifting a shaky hand, she dashed her thumb against her eyes, wiping away those few tears. She was somewhat surprised she even had tears left to shed at this stage. She felt completely dead inside, her only reminder of still being alive was the pain throbbing through her lower body and groin. Those men were bastards, and perhaps if she lived, she may get revenge on them. She shook her head at that and sighed. No, they were just a symptom of something larger. Perhaps the people that set this all up. Or perhaps the person that started it all. Her brother Mehrbad. But he was dead now so there was no point in thinking of revenge.

  Hearing a scraping noise behind her, Mehrasa turned and saw the back wall of the room moving towards her slowly. She saw it hit the body of Garka and start pushing it. Then it hit Mehrbad and pushed him, which in turn pushed her. She clenched her teeth as she slid across the floor slowly. It was not a pleasant feeling. Clenching her teeth even more, she rolled over towards the moving wall, coming to rest on top of Mehrbad’s corpse whilst resting against the moving wall.

  Eventually it reached the precipice of the room, the ocean appearing below. Mehrasa saw the corpse of Garka disappear over the edge and then Mehrbad fell from beneath her. Then she fell from the room, a feeling of weightlessness overtaking her. She fell fast, the cool air rushing past her and caressing her naked body. She turned in the air as she fell, her legs pointing down as she looked up. She saw a ship in the sky, a myriad of lights adorning it. A beautiful sight. Then her scarf tore from her head and she realised she had forgotten she was still wearing it.

  He scarf fluttered through the air above her and she looked up as her long brown hair blew out from her, covering her vision. She kept falling as she tipped her head back further, the ship in the sky disappearing only to be replaced by a half moon surrounded by stars.

  Now that was a beautiful view. One she had grown to love viewing from the sand dunes that surrounded her village. She smiled weakly as more tears came.

  "There are many things in this world far more beautiful than a starry sky" came a voice in her head and Mehrasa blinked in surprise right before she heard a splash below and then her body slammed into the cold water, engulfing her, not even a single bit of pain being felt as she blacked out from the impact.

  Chapter 38

  * * *

  Victor lay down behind one of the logs, his rifle resting its surface, his finger resting lightly on the trigger. Peeking up above the log, Victor watched as Anne and her two scouts came back up the ravine, treading carefully in the darkness. They were about halfway to the first barricade which was the one Victor was positioned behind. About fifteen meters behind him was a second and final barricade and above that was Shawn positioned on the outcroppings of the cliff.

  As Anne got closer still, Victor narrowed his eyes, seeing shapes appear further down the ravine and move out from the bend. He couldn't make them out very well due to the darkness of the night, even more so due to the half-moon above the mountains
, shrouded by clouds. Flicking his gaze back to Anne, he saw her scramble across the barricade and crouch low as she made her way along the line towards him.

  "Over here Anne" he murmured, and she came for him, laying down on the rock next him and propping her own rifle up on the log.

  "They have been travelling slowly, possibly out of caution. Not sure. But I watched them climb the ravine for nearly two hours" Anne stated and shifted a little, her foot hitting his calf. Victor didn't reply and just kept looking down the ravine, trying to count shapes in the darkness. Thankfully the darkness would be hiding his own people and their position. They would be hard to make out lying on the ground behind the logs.

  Counting twenty figures below, or what he thought to be twenty anyway as he thought he had double counted a few, Victor shifted his rifle slightly, pointing it down somewhat. He exhaled slowly, trying to calm himself. His heart was beating rather rapidly, like it always did before a fight.