by Troy Snyder
For a moment time seemed to stand still. A flash of lightning caused Alexander to just briefly see a cable connected to the top of the tower. Then it began to fall and his heart raced, the time to move was now. His friend had done his part and now it was their turn. Almost at exactly the same time as the tower began to fall a military jeep roared to life and began accelerating toward the group of sentries right outside the small building the relief group was huddle within.
Bullets began to tear into the vehicle, but it did not stop until it slammed into the small building creating a hole and smashing anyone that would have been directly on the other side. A group exited the hole to investigate the jeep and, upon investigation, they were surprised to see it was occupied by one of their own. An attempt to remove him from the vehicle sealed their fate, and the fate of those remaining in the building. Set precisely as soon as the body was moved, a trip wire detonated the last of the small groups remaining grenades they had found on the way over.
The force of the blast seemed to echo and even behind the walls of the barrack block they occupied, Trent and Alexander could feel the explosion rip through the air, much more than grenades could produce. Those in the immediate area had no hope, and even the ones at a distance were thrown like ragdolls, but the worst was inside the building. Force from the blast shook and damaged the structure more than it could take and it crumbled around them, burying or crushing them.
From his vantage point Alexander saw the carnage and knew Nate had effectively taken out almost all the forces guarding the prisoners in a single efficient, if not stealthy, blow. The six sentries, the only remaining force - now in disarray, began to look for cover of any kind to withstand the assault from an unknown direction. The roar from the prisoners within the cages was almost deafening above the storm as they began to swarm to the edges and shout torment at their previous oppressors.
Alexander knew they had to keep the momentum going or the sentries were more than likely to turn their guns on the cages. With a quick motion, Alexander sent Trent out of the building and into a place of cover. Shots rang out from somewhere nearby and Alexander assumed one of the enemy had spotted Nate. Quickly he returned fire, more so to cover the others than to actually do harm. The prisoners immediate silenced their upheaval and pressed themselves against the cold wet ground.
Shrapnel flew toward Alexander’s face as bullets penetrated the wall be was covered behind. Scrambling for cover he barely managed to hide himself completely as the window was filled with bullets where he had been. Smiling triumphantly, he took shelter from the hailstorm, he knew he had seen at least two men fall before he was forced to hide. Moving to another window, Alexander repeated the process and once again took shelter as bullets rained down on him, but noticeably less than before.
Soon the sounds of gunfire ceased, and Alexander seems to let out a full body sigh and shuddering as he heard the words “all clear.”
At a state of near exhaustion, they freed the captives, who then took up arms and besieged the main building where Borys and his remaining 100 men barricaded themselves. For the first time that night they had the numbers advantage, and the three American soldiers sat with their backs against the cages as the previous occupants spread out around them.
One man stepped forward out of the crowd and walked toward them. He was skinny and badly bruised and the signs of age were telling. His hair had more grey than black and there was a slight beard forming on his chin and his skin seemed to sag in places where a younger person his size wouldn’t. Mud streaked his raggedy clothes and they were still drenched, but as he approached he still gave them a smile as if nothing was in any way out of the ordinary.
The three rose stiffly to greet the man.
“I am Xander Polites, Antistratigos of the Hellenic Army,” He said in a richly accented voice. “How many are with you?”
Before Alexander could respond, a deafening loud screech became ever more present as time went on and they began looking for the source. Soon the culprit, as it reached its loudest, became evident and the noise stopped as the large military truck did.
"I didn't know what you wanted me to do with it so I brought it to you," Antonio said gesturing to the radio tower hooked to the back of the truck.
"How did he even pass the psych evals?" Trent asked incredulously.
“This is all of us, sir.” Alexander said, turning to the Greek commander.
Xander’s face seemed to go slack jawed as he eyed the four boys, younger than even his own sons. He could hardly believe it, and yet, these are the first, and only soldiers he had seen. “My God, you must have fought like demons from the pits of hell itself…” his voice was lost in a loud crack of thunder. Taking in their injuries and exhaustion, he knew these four could do no more. And while his men were not in much better shape, they had the want – no, the need, for vengeance. “Leave it the rest to us, boys. We will take it from here.” He said in a gentle, almost fatherly voice, and with that, the man moved off followed by the over 100 previously imprisoned, now armed, soldiers.
Systematically they approached the enemy’s stronghold, bouncing from cover to cover and once inside, cleared it room by room and level by level. Soon Borys was alone surrounded by armed men in the courtyard as he was being loaded into the back of a truck. The losses were heavy on the Greeks and only half returned from the assault on the base, but they had their vengeance and the war would be over.
Shortly after the news broke when the small group reached Greek controlled territory with the prisoner, the anarchists, leaderless, surrendered. Their allies followed not two weeks after, effectively ending the war. It seemed that overnight the Demon Boys had become known worldwide. Stories of their heroism and bravery were spread, some greatly exaggerated - as almost all the witnesses did not see them until they were freed, and they were talked about with a mix of fear and awe.
Alexander stood up and looked at the men around him as the memory faded, “Well, pack your shit, we’ll be moving out soon, I can feel it.” he said.
Chapter 2:
Only a single day passed after the report on the news when a vehicle pulled up in front of the house the Demon Boys were being kept in. Its windows were tinted to hide its occupant from prying eyes and it carried government plates.
A large burly man who looked like he had to squeeze himself into the car stepped out of the driver seat and went around to the rear passenger side and opened the door. The person who stepped out was a squat man barely reaching the driver's chest. He wore a finely tailored navy-blue suit and carried a metal briefcase handcuffed to his wrist.
The short man looked around at the house before him. It was set back into the trees and accessed through a long half mile dirt driveway. The back of the house had easy access to a river and no neighbors within sight. Aside from the windows being sealed shut and blacked out from both sides, and the fact it was a governmental safe house, it would have been a nice place to retire. He stroked his balding head and frowned. Those thoughts have been coming to him more and more recently. He needed a place like this, fresh air, the sound of the river, the relaxing nature completely opposite his current life, but knew – in his position, it would never happen.
He arrived just as the sun began to rise, something he planned on. His reports indicated the Demon Boys had taken to sleeping in until late in the afternoon and his business was for Alexander alone. The man guarding the door, who had been lazily teetering away on a weathered rocking chair, now stood waiting for the new arrivals, the key that had been round his neck clenched in his hand. Once inside, the little balding man made his way to the study and sent his guard to retrieve Alexander.
Alexander stood bleary eyed in front of a stocky balding man who seemed to have an affinity for squinting at everything and, judging by the wrinkles around his eyes, has had it for some time. He had no idea why he was summoned, but he felt it had to do with new orders. Curiosity, however, caught him, this was no military man issuing orders, he looked more like a burea
ucrat.
"Good morning, Alexander. Please, sit." The balding man said, gesturing a hand towards the two seats in front of the desk he sat at.
Alexander enjoyed sitting at the desk the man sat in now. He like to read from the many books the government had provided them and enjoyed lecturing his men from the spot for various shenanigans. Now standing on the other side, in front of some random man who had torn him from sleep, he was a bit annoyed. So, without a word, he sat down.
"My name is Richard, Richard Pryce. You will not have heard of me, nor will you ever hear of me." He seemed quite serious as he spoke which put Alexander on edge. Indeed, he had not heard of him, but that in itself wasn’t a surprise.
Alexander replied with a simple nod, dropping the formality and testing the waters of the man's importance, or rather, rank.
"Quite. I know very well who you are, so no need to respond. You and your men are famous for succeeding in a mission I called off. I am also the one who arranged your current accommodations." Accommodations? Is that what he called keeping them locked up in this house for months? Alexander bit his tongue and let the man continue. "You have been here for a little over two months, is that correct?"
"It is."
"How are the arrangements treating you and your men?"
"OH, we love it. Especially the part where we can come and go as we please and do not have some burly half-wit watching us whenever we take a shit."
"You're here so we know where you are when we need to call on you and that time has come. So, let us drop the sarcasm, shall we?" The tone in Richard's voice changed to one of warning and his face seemed to change from one of unsubstantial features to one of calculated menace. This man was obviously not all he appeared to be. Alexander would have to tread more carefully.
"As you wish."
The cold eyes bored into Alexander a few moments longer to ensure the threat was well received. Then as quickly as it appeared the man seemed to slip back into an average man that Alexander would never take a second glance at. Silence hung over them for a moment before the man withdrew a briefcase from below the desk and dropped it onto the desk with a thud. Keys were pressed on the case followed by the clicking of the locks as the password was entered correctly.
A large red folder was retrieved from inside the case and placed neatly on top on the desk and the case was replaced on the floor. Richard opened the folder and pulled out a picture and passed it forward to Alexander.
"Do you recognize this man?" Richard asked.
Alexander picked up the photo and instantly recognized who it was. "That is the guy from the news, Manuel Valentino, the rebel causing all the issues down in Mexico."
Richard gave a half smile. "Rebel, hardly. The man barely has thirty followers."
"How is that possible? On the news it talks about how he destroyed several towns and managed to gather thousands of troops to fight for him..."
"News has a way of reporting only what we want people to see."
"So, it is all a lie?"
"The destroyed towns are real enough. You would be surprised what gang members will do for money and "power"."
"Wait... you did that? Killing thousands of people?" Alexander could feel his stomach clench at the thought. Who was this man?
"It was a necessary sacrifice to do what was needed to further our cause, and I will tell you now, if you ever breathe a word of this you will quietly slip from this world with no one being the wiser. A simple thing really, even being someone as popular as you are currently." The menacing face that accompanied the previous threat returned and it sent a chill down Alexander's spine. Then a thought occurred to him.
"Who the hell are you? You're no soldier. Do you work for the government?"
"I am the government."
"I don't understand..." Alexander was even more lost now wrapped in a growing mystery.
Richard went to carry on the subject. "No matter. You and your men will simply need to follow the orders given."
"No." Alexander sat back in his chair and crossed his arms across his chest.
"No?" There was the menacing face once again.
"No. I don't know who you are or what in the world you are going on about. I am a soldier. Plain and simple. I follow the orders of my superiors. What you just confessed to, I have a hard time believing came from the US government."
An exasperated sigh escaped the balding man and he leaned back in the chair causing it to creak slightly under his weight. One hand drummed fingers on the armrest while the other stroked his chin. "You file said you were childishly stubborn and insatiably curious, it appears it was correct. A horrible flaw on an otherwise good record." Alexander gave a slight pained expression but did not respond. "Very well, this was considered in our calculations, but you are sworn to secrecy on the charge of treason, but there will be no trial, you will just disappear. We, regrettably, need your talents; though, we can possibly make do without them. That is the only reason you are getting away with this childish and rude behavior."
Alexander ignored the insults and simply nodded his agreement to the terms.
"The government is simply a facade put on for the people to feel like they have a voice. A means of control if you will. Politicians and such even believe it is true, that their campaigning and other political maneuvering will get them somewhere." He smiled as if amused by the thought. "The only ones that truly know what is going on are the President, key big business owners, and a handful of others. All of which are constantly monitored. We are the ones who make the decisions and control everything with all finalities going through the President himself. I am his right-hand man. Together we work with other governments, much ruled the same way, to ensure the prosperity of all humanity. Did you honestly think a democracy could work?" He gave a dry laugh before continuing.
"Power is meant for the few. People cannot make their own decisions. We make it for them and push all of humanity onward. Without us, humans would still be in the middle ages. So, do not question my command over you again.
Now that you know you will be watched, constantly. If you so much as make a wrong move you will meet with an unfortunate accident like many before you. Not as flashy of a spectacle as Borys, the fool rebelling against the cause. This is the way the government works. Now, may we get on with our business?"
Alexander was speechless. His most recent mission, everything he was taught since he was child was wrong, everything he fought to protect, everything he had seen good men die for. His mind was racing but his mind could not produce a coherent set of words. Instead he nodded his ascension as he mulled over the information.
"Good, glad we can get past this." Richard leaned forward and went through the folder and found a satellite image of the new military base in Mexico and the surrounding forest. "This is the newest military installation in Mexico where you and your team are being sent. Officially you will be there to ensure our base is protected from the Mexican rebels..."
"One’s that don't exist."
"I'd advise you to keep that to yourself. Anyway, your real mission is one of utmost secrecy. Your unit is to patrol the jungle daily under the guise of keeping the base secure. Your real goal is to find and capture Valentino, alive. Do not under any circumstances speak to him. He is to be gagged and brought straight to base and then held in solitary with no access to anyone until I arrive. Is that clear?"
"Another rebel against your cause?"
"Hardly. The man himself is of no import, it's his ancestry, his knowledge of the past we require."
"What on earth could he know about the past that has any bearing today?"
"Do not be so quick to disregard the bearing of the past on the now or the future. His knowledge will lead to a relic that will most benefit humanity as a whole. That is all I can say on the matter."
"You mean something to maintain your control?"
"You may not like it, but you are a soldier in the United States military and you will follow orders without hesitation and follow them
to the letter. Is that clear?"
"Yes."
"I would appreciate it if you showed me some respect and answered with 'Sir' from now on."
"Yes... sir." The last word tasted sour in Alexander's mouth.
Richard gathered his belongings back into the case and sealed it. When he stood he let out a bright smile with teeth that looked too perfect to be real. "Glad we came to an understanding. You have your orders and another man of mine will bring them in writing later on. Excluding certain details, of course."
He strode over to the door with what seemed like a triumphant grin and a spring in his step he had not had earlier. In truth he was happy, he had been told to watch out for these men, the Demon Boys, they were unpredictable. In the time they had spent in hiding they had managed to elude the guards more than once and cause mischief. While they did not escape, when obviously they could have, they managed to blow up several vehicles and use their airbags on guard’s chairs, order thousands of dollars’ worth of pornography on the satellite television, somehow manage to get a full grown grizzly bear into the living room which took two whole days to finally remove and clean up after and place a small explosive charge in an outhouse and blew shit and piss all over a guard trying to do his business. All-in-all he had managed to tame the 'Demon Boys' and get them to do his bidding, it was a good day.
As Richard reached for the door Alexander shot out of his seat and yelled toward him. "Wait don't open that!"
"Another one of your tricks, is it? I will not fall for them." He defiantly grabbed the handle and burst through the door causing it to slam against the wall. "Your attempt to scare me has failed, good day, Alexander." With that he strode down the hallway toward the front door.
Alexander breathed a sigh of relief and clutched his chest as his heart raced in it. He had not taken part in any of the insanity going on in the house, but he did not stop it either, and, in fact, quite enjoyed it. This man was different though. He did not want his men to play a joke on him. Just as he began to relax a scream came from out in front of the house and Alexander's heart sank like a lead weight.
