"The Chaktaw hit us every couple of days like clockwork. I’m sure you’ll get to see the fireworks for yourself."
"You don’t sound too concerned. You know, no one around here seems too worried about it. The guys in your Operations Center were busy making social plans and bull shitting."
She said, "That’s part of the problem. We’ve got pretty good defenses. We’ll fight off the Chaktaw next time they come. Then the time after that and after that. But each time we lose a little more. They’re just eating away at us."
Trevor remembered the Battle of Five Armies. He remembered how the enemy they dubbed the "Vikings" used a similar strategy with skirmishes and raids.
"I’ve been in that position, too."
"So a lot of people around here have this kind of fatalistic approach. I mean, on one hand I think they’ve accepted that we’re doomed. At the same time, maybe they don’t think there’s anything they can do about it, so it’s better to get drunk."
"Eat and be merry for tomorrow we die?"
"Yeah. I mean, I suppose so, yeah."
"And that wasn’t how Trevor ran things, huh?"
She laughed at the thought. "Are you kidding? He’d have heads on platters if he spotted that attitude. Don’t get me wrong, Trevor could party, but in the morning he was all business."
Somehow Trevor could not imagine himself partying. "I guess your Trevor and me; we may not have been that much alike."
That gave Nina pause. Her eyes narrowed. "Not that much alike, huh? You know, I had almost forgotten about it with everything that’s been going on since we got back."
She wagged her finger toward him and circled like a wolf to a rabbit.
"Forgotten about what?"
"You. I mean, so look, I get to your planet, monitor a few transmissions, and I get the lay of the land. I figure it’s a lot like things over here. You know, people and stuff. To make a long story short, I nab the Nina from your world because I got to believe that Trevor Stone will come running to save his honey."
"My…my honey?"
"So I tell her that I don’t mean her any harm, I’m just using her as bait to grab Trevor. She practically freaks out laughing. She’s like, why would the Emperor save my sorry ass?"
Nina continued to circle with her eyes focused entirely on him. "I mean, she was convincing. Really was. I’m about ready to figure that things were different on your side and then, wow, you show up. You did save her sorry ass. But man, I’m telling you, she couldn’t believe it. She was totally shocked by you showing up."
The Major stopped and waited for him to explain.
"I just decided to…wait, what made you think that she was my…my ‘honey’?"
That knocked her a little off balance. He watched as she put together the words she wanted to use. "What made me think that?"
She stepped close to him. The light streaking through the atrium fell across her body. For a moment, she was almost angelic in the glow. An illusion, of course.
"I thought that because here, in my world, I loved Trevor Stone, and he loved me. We were together. We lived together. We went to war together. We…wow…we partied together. Like you wouldn’t believe."
Trevor swallowed hard.
"I shared his bed. I shared everything with him. All of me. Everything he ever wanted…he could have it from me."
Her eyes…so beautiful.
"So," his voice cracked. He stopped and licked his lips. "So you just figured. You figured that on my world me and you…I mean, me and Nina were—"
"Lovers. Yes."
"You were wrong."
He stumbled away from her. The fly and the spider again.
"Was I?"
"Yes. You were wrong."
"Okay then," she conceded. "I suppose so. I guess I was wrong. I’m glad then, too."
"Huh? You’re glad?"
"Well, the Nina over on your world…I mean geez. I didn’t spend a whole lot of time with her, but I could see she wasn’t the type I’d think Trevor—or any guy—would go for."
"What are you saying?"
"A real cold girl. I can’t see her warming up to anything or anybody without, like, a candle up her ass or something. A real waste."
"A…waste?"
"You’re lucky you didn’t hook up with her. She probably wouldn’t know what to do with a man if she—"
"Shut up. You…shut up."
"What do you care? I mean, you didn’t—"
He grabbed her shoulders but his reaction did not surprise her. In fact, she nearly laughed as he spoke his peace.
"You shut up about her. You have no business judging her. Look at you people over here! You’re getting your collective heads kicked in. She’s a better soldier than anyone I’ve seen in this whole place."
She goaded, "Better than all of us, huh?"
"Damned straight!" He shot.
"She could probably make a big difference over here."
Trevor growled, "She’d teach you a thing or two. You bet."
"And I bet it makes you really mad…" she led
"Damn mad!"
"…that I look like her."
Her words derailed his train of thought.
"Mad?"
"Half the time you look like you want to sweep me off my feet; the other half of the time you want to curse me. And not for kidnapping you. Because I look like her, but I’m not."
Trevor realized his hands trembled on her shoulders. But did they shake because he stood so close to an image of the woman he once loved, or because he was angry with her for daring to resemble his Nina?
"What happened? If it was just a regular break up, I would’ve got that from her."
Stone let go of her shoulders and retreated to the shadows.
She asked, "Maybe you loved her but you never told her? Did you let her get away?"
"I don’t want to…I don’t want to talk about it."
"Yes. Yes you do."
She stood behind him.
So close.
Major Nina Forest repeated, "You want to shout it at me. You want to scream at me how I’m an imposter in her body."
How long had it been since he spoke of it? Who had he ever told?
It had been nearly six years since the mysterious Old Man—his supernatural benefactor—told him that he could not be with Nina. That revelation came at the same time they found Nina’s memory implant, courtesy of Voggoth’s The Order. In one fell swoop Trevor learned destiny forbade them to be together and found a means of preserving that separation.
"C’mon Trevor. We’re alone here…in another universe…far away. Tell me why you came for her; tell me why you love her but you’re not with her."
He faced the woman who looked like Nina.
"A confession? Is that what you want?"
He paused. The flood of memories and emotion and…and loss… lapped over top the dam. It was not until that moment—the moment when he decided to let it come roaring out—that he realized how hard it had been to hold those flood waters at bay all these years.
"Nina was the only woman I ever loved; and she was taken from me."
Oh, where to start? And if I start…will I be able to stop?
"She found my humanity and gave me a purpose beyond this whole save-the-human-race-crap. She gave me a purpose that wasn’t a burden, it was liberating. If I’m supposed to be the person to save mankind from Armageddon, then she was the one person who could save me from myself. A lifeline to my humanity. Without her…without her I can be…I can be…"
He did not finish the sentence, not aloud. In his mind the sentence finished with fields of dead aliens; attack dogs swarming a peaceful human village.
Trevor bowed his head, licked his lips, then continued. "And I gave to her, too. We found out more about who she was; who she wanted to be. I think I…I think I unlocked a part of her that had been waiting to come to the surface. I could see our future. We would stay together and fight the fight. At night, we could retreat to each other and find happine
ss—real honest-to-God-happiness--in a rotten world. "
Nina spoke soft but with the tone of a detective trying to find the last piece of the puzzle. "You said she was taken from you. What does that mean?"
"You felt your Trevor knew things about the world? He did. Just like I do. There are powers behind all this. I won’t say any more because, shit, I don’t know a whole lot more. But those powers told me I had a path to walk, and that Nina was not on that path with me."
"Unless I’m really gullible, she doesn’t remember being in love with you."
"That’s right. My Nina had been infected with a memory implant from Voggoth’s Order. When we removed it…when it was taken away…she lost a year’s worth of memories. She didn’t even remember meeting me. She…she went back to the person she was before we even met."
"So you still love her?"
Trevor told this Nina, "The woman I loved doesn’t exist anymore, do you understand? The memories and experiences we had together were erased. That’s what makes us who we are. The things we do…the things we remember. Take them away and we’re somebody different." He exhaled loudly and repeated, "She doesn’t exist anymore."
Major Forest put a hand on his chest.
"I exist. I’m real."
So close.
She put another hand on his shoulder. Trevor grabbed her wrists and pulled them away.
"I have…I have responsibilities at home."
Responsibilities? That's what Ashley and Jorgie are?
"What does that mean?"
"I told you, I wasn’t supposed to be with my Nina. I found out why. A woman I had been involved with before the invasion reappeared. Together, we have a son. My son is special. I think…I think he’s a part of the bigger picture…"
His words trailed off as he considered that big picture.
Nina grew frustrated. "But you don’t love her. And she’s a universe away!"
He did not listen to her. Instead, his eyes widened and he said, "That’s it! Don’t you see?"
"See what?" His change of demeanor unnerved her.
"Here you and I never split up. I wonder if your Trevor told the Old Man to go to Hell."
"The who?"
"If I had stayed with her on my world, maybe we’d be in this spot. Maybe we’d be in the trouble you’re in now. Maybe here humanity is about to be wiped out because your Trevor followed his heart, instead of his path. Did fate bring me here to show me what could have happened if I had done what I wanted to do, instead of what I was supposed to do?"
Thoughts raced through his mind. Thoughts of an Earth where he had stayed with Nina; where his desire for her had made him walk off the path.
He felt a wave of empathy for the Trevor of this different universe; even jealousy for the happiness he must have known with Nina. If not for The Order's implant, would he have stayed with her? Would he have done what the Trevor Stone of this universe did? Is it possible…could it be…was he sent here to make amends for his other self's weakness?
She said, "I don’t understand."
"Neither do I," he admitted. "But there are answers here. I can feel it. I’m going to find those answers."
12. Cult of Personality
Unlike his first night in the apartment, Trevor slept well the second night. Perhaps because even though questions still surrounded his presence there, he felt he had direction. If he helped the people of this world fight off the invaders, perhaps he could glean some insight into the greater plan. Maybe even circumvent the Old Man's hold over him.
After a shower with weak water pressure and a breakfast of powdered orange drink and an oatmeal-like cereal, Major Nina Forest took them for a trip. They traveled by car for ten minutes to a training facility for the "Third Legion."
She gave the men gym bags containing work out clothes, towels, and soap then directed them to the men’s locker room. While Trevor fit perfectly into the sneakers, sweat pants, and tank top (no doubt from the other Trevor's closet), Johnny's outfit hugged his stocky frame a little tight, although not as tight as Nina's spandex hugged her.
When they first arrived, the place seemed nearly deserted except for a clerk and a sentry, both of whom eyed Stone suspiciously. However, with time more people filtered in for exercise and training maneuvers.
Nina led the two newcomers to one area that remained quiet; an indoor shooting range.
"Okay, boys, I’ve got a feeling you’ve handled guns before, right?"
Reverend Johnny proudly proclaimed, "If it is capable of dispatching aliens I most certainly have handled it."
"Well, okay then. Handle this."
She handed them each an assault rifle. Trevor looked it over disapprovingly.
"What? What’s wrong?" She asked.
"Bullpup…I don’t like it," he referred to the design that placed the magazine and ejector slot behind the trigger mechanism, essentially next to the shooter’s ear.
She defended, "Makes for a shorter gun. More compact."
"Yeah. Less reliable, can only be fired from one side or you take spent casing in the face; tends to jam more. Not a favorite of mine."
Reverend Johnny quipped, "True, but this baby looks way cool, Trevor."
He laughed, "Rev, don't ever say 'way cool' again and I promise not to quote scripture."
Nina said, "Well, it’s what we got. I mean, sorry it isn’t up to your standards."
"Oh no, no we’re fine," Trevor mocked. "Don’t worry about little old me."
She pointed out the rifle’s mechanisms including the safety, bolt, iron sights, rate of fire, clip ejection, and stock adjustment.
He admitted, "A little longer than the bullpup designs I've seen, but pretty light and easy to handle. The rounds are similar in size to the ones I use back home in my M4."
"So, gee, like you can put up with it for now?"
He stepped to the firing line and looked down range at a flimsy paper target twenty yards away. It took him a moment to get used to the design—the bullpup alignment meant a trigger farther forward on the barrel than his M4.
Still…very light. It felt comfortable against his shoulder.
Stone pulled the trigger. A burst of four shots hit the target.
"Hmmm, not much kick."
Trevor remembered the bruises on his shoulder the first month after Armageddon; that first month of firing an assault rifle. They would not have been as bad with this weapon.
"Quiet, too."
"Yeah, but hey—it’s a bullpup so I’m sure you won’t like it."
Was that a pout in her voice?
He fired more bursts. His aim improved with each pull of the trigger. Never perfect. Just better. He was--he reminded himself--a jack of all trades yet a master of none. The ultimate expression of human adaptability. Part of his purpose, he supposed.
"Hey, easy, ammunition doesn’t grow on trees around here."
The bolt locked open; he had ripped through an entire magazine of thirty rounds.
Johnny stepped to the line for his turn but first thumbed the fire selector switch. He then launched a storm of fully automatic fire. The barrel flash reflected off his angry eyes and a steady low grunt slipped from his lips. The target hung from its mount shredded.
"Well, I’m ready."
He returned the smoking gun to the woman.
"What’s next, Major?"
Next was a visit to the quartermaster’s shop manned by a tired-looking older fellow who jolted awake at the sight of Major Forest and her friends. The poor guy stared at Trevor, obviously wanting to say something but apparently afraid to.
Nonetheless, the man did his work. He presented a battle suit to both Johnny and Trevor. Each man entered a dressing room, put on their new threads, and then paraded in front of their hostess.
"Okay, this ain’t bad," Trevor said as studied his reflection in a mirror.
The suit fit tight and felt almost like rubber except for strategically-positioned armored plates on his forearms, legs, and abdomen. Still, he found it s
urprisingly comfortable and, even more surprising, wearing it made him feel stronger.
"Wow, this really feels good. What’s the trick here?"
"Special design. You’ll find it regulates your body temperature; I mean, it’s not perfect but it’ll help. Also designed to support your muscles. Your stamina is a little better in this."
Johnny did not fare as well. "Dear Lord, this thing is cutting off circulation in my ass."
For his part, Trevor said, "I'm good here."
Okay," Nina said. "Slip out of it and we’ll have it delivered to your quarters."
Johnny protested, "Hells bells, my thighs feel as if they’re being wrapped by a boa constrictor and the devil’s—"
"I think my friend here needs some help," Trevor spoke to the quartermaster who nodded and attended to Johnny.
Nina said, "Why don’t we move on. I think the Reverend is going to be tied up for a bit."
"Good Lord, I fear she speaks the truth. Carry on, Mister Stone, I will join you when—uggg—my new suit fits."
Trevor spent two minutes changing out of the armor and into his sweat pants again. He and Major Forest left the shop to the sounds of Johnny’s grunts and groans.
"What now?"
"Like I said, ammunition doesn’t grow on trees around here."
"So?"
"So," she said. "You need to learn what to do when your rifle runs out of bullets."
"Or," he joked. "When that lousy bullpup design jams."
She scowled, "Yeah, that too."
Trevor followed her through the complex. He saw more people—soldiers—walking the halls. Men and women. Most appeared to be in their mid twenties to early thirties. Some wore battle-weary expressions others looked freckled-faced and new. Regardless of the universe, it required only a glance to tell the rookies from the veterans.
Few of these people gave him a second-glance. They appeared too wrapped up in their own thoughts to worry about their surroundings.
They came to a small room with a padded floor. Nina opened a locker built into one wall that appeared to contain assault rifles but he saw them to be wooden replicas with flexible—maybe rubber—bayonets affixed to the barrels. She handed one dummy to him and retrieved a second for herself.
Beyond Armageddon: Book 03 - Parallels Page 15
