The Story of My Life

Prolouge

The buzzer gave a shrill ring through the complex and the heavy mesh wire gate added it's own claxon clang as it slid open. Two soldiers stationed as guards jumped snapped to attention giving the superior officer walking through the gate a proper by the book salute. If nothing else the man was a full bird Colonel, with a crisp returned salute and a nod the Colonel continued on his way down the cold dim metal hallway, his thick soled leather boots making dull thumps with each step the rustle of the thick blue cotton of his uniform starched and pressed to first issue perfection singing a soft backup to the beating of his heart loud in his own ears as he moved ever closer to his destination, the maximum security cells of Centrals prison three where only the truly depraved and uncontrollable are locked away never to see the light of day again.

One more buzzer and more clanging metal, the screech of metal on metal a familiar lullaby but only a small comfort to him. Two more guards, another round of pointless salutes an opened door and there he was. The man no prisoner the Colonel had come to see. The man no prisoner sat his wrist shackled together and pined to the metal table bolted to the floor of the small cell his feet likewise shackled and bound to the visibly uncomfortable straight-backed chair he sits in. Once proud strong shoulders slumped in defeat his head hanging shaggy unkempt hair hiding his face from view. The men no prisoner's people in this place were nothing but prisoners; no rank any flashy titles any acclaims just prisoners. This prisoner in particular is set for execution at dawn before a soldiers firing line for crimes too numerous to name. Sighing out a deep breath and straightening his shoulders the Colonel stepped forward firmly ignoring his guilt over his inability to protect this man no prisoner before him even if it was that guilt that drove him to this awful place to begin with. This last chance to explain, confess would be a better word looking for absolution even more accurate. This truly his last chance the prisoner would die at dawn there was no question about that no last minute appeal, no outside help, no called in favors from the higher ups, no ifs, ands, or buts. Taking another deep breath the Colonel stepped fully into the cell and let it out in the words "Hello Colonel Bastard"