Author's note: What's up everyone? Doing well I hope? Anyways, here's a new chapter for you all, so enjoy.
The Return
Part 3
"So this is the place, huh?", Jim asked his older companion.
"Yes. Like I said earlier, a good friend of mine lives here. She must be home, because the lights are still on. So let's go greet her."
With that, they walked up to the door and knocked on it. Soon after, the door opened up, revealing the lone occupant inside, a young woman with long lavender hair that flowed around her shoulders and possessing caring eyes. When she saw Ewan, she smiled and said, "Minister Remington! What an unexpected surprise! How long has it been since I saw you last?"
"Too long", came the reply from Ewan. "It's good to see you too, Azmaria. How have you been?"
"I've been just fine. Please, come in. You'll catch a cold out there."
They didn't need to be told twice. Jim and Ewan promptly stepped inside out of the cold and into the house. Still, in the back of his mind Jim wondered why this Azmaria person addressed Ewan as a minister of all things. He certainly did not appear to be involved with any kind of church.
"I don't believe you two have been formally introduced. Azmaria, allow me to introduce you to Jim Patterson. Jim, this is Azmaria Hendric, the friend I told you about."
"Nice to meet you, Azmaria."
"Nice to meet you to, Jim."
"Now that the formalities are over", said Ewan, "there is a matter I must discuss with you, Azmaria. You see, my young friend here arrived today from Chicago, but I'm afraid accommodations were the last thing on his mind when I found him at the café I usually go to. He actually proposed the idea of sleeping on a park bench of all things, and I just don't think that will do. What do you think, Azmaria?"
Azmaria smiled at Ewan; she knew what he was getting at. By now she knew him well enough to know what he meant. "I agree. Well, I just happen to have an empty guest room here that no one is using. What do you think I should do with it, Minister Remington?"
Obviously, Jim had been listening to the whole conversation and couldn't believe what he was hearing. Was she actually going to let him stay here for the night? She didn't even know him; they had just met. Ewan was right, she was very generous.
"If I was young Jim here, I would notice a good opportunity when I see one. "
"Well…are you sure it's okay? I don't want to be any trouble."
"It's no trouble at all. I wouldn't mind having a guest for a while. Believe me, it can get lonely here by myself," Azmaria said to put Jim's doubts at ease.
"Well then, if everyone is in agreement, then my work here is done. I'll be in touch, Jim, and Azmaria, make sure to take good care of him. He hasn't had a decent meal today and I suspect he's just about to faint from hunger. Now then, I have somewhere else to be. It was good to see you again, Azmaria."
"Are you sure you can't stay? How about some coffee before you go?"
"Maybe some other time, but thanks for the offer."
"Okay, then. See you soon, Minister Remington."
Jim looked on as Azmaria and Ewan walked to the door and said their final goodbyes after which she closed the door behind her leaving only herself and Jim in the room. Jim felt it was necessary to show his appreciation. Truly Azmaria was doing him a great service by letting him stay with her.
"You're kind is a dying breed, Azmaria."
"Oh? And why's that?", Azmaria replied, seeming surprised at the young man's remark.
"I mean…well, I don't how many other people would've taken a completer stranger into their home just like that. It just doesn't happen that often anymore. Thank you for doing that for me. If you hadn't taken me in, I probably would be looking for a park bench right now. Ewan was right about you; you are kind."
"Oh, stop it. I was just doing what was right. There was no I'd get it around my conscience if I left you out in the cold. Besides, you seem like such a nice young man. How could I possibly have said no?"
"Uh, yeah…just one more thing. Do you mind that we're already on a first name basis? I mean, we barely know each other."
"Oh, come on. I'm not that much older than you are. Of course it's fine that we're on a first name basis. How else are we supposed to address each other?"
"Yeah, I guess you're right", Jim responded, feeling a little stupid for even asking a question like that.
"So was Minister Remington right when he said that you hadn't had anything decent to eat today?"
"Yeah, he was. All I've eaten so far was a sandwich with a cup of coffee."
"Well, you're in luck. I just happen to have some of the stew I made left over. I'll tell you what, make yourself at home, I'll be right back"
Having said that, she turned around and disappeared into the kitchen. Jim took a moment to survey his surroundings. What he noticed was that Azmaria was very good at keeping the place clean because there was no dust to be seen anywhere. All the furniture was polished to a shine, and paintings of all kinds decorated the walls. Truly a comfortable space to live in.
While he was still admiring Azmaria's handiwork, she came into the room holding a plate with a delicious looking stew on it. "I thought you might like some of this."
"Yeah, it looks good. Thanks."
They made themselves comfortable at the dining table. Jim couldn't wait to sample Azmaria's cooking and immediately began eating the stew. He had to admit, he hadn't eaten this well in quite some time.
"This is some really good stuff. You're one of hell of a cook, Azmaria", Jim said in between mouthfuls.
"Thank you. Its just leftovers, but I promise you tomorrow I'll make you a breakfast you won't soon forget."
"Yeah, but….you don't have to go to all that trouble. I'm might not even be here that long."
"Oh, it's no trouble, really, and I told you, stay as long as you like. I really don't mind having you here. So, what brought you here to New York?"
"It's a long story, a really long one."
"Well, I have time and the night is still young."
Half an hour later…
"…and that's what happened. I know what I saw that day was real and no one is going to convince me otherwise."
"That's…some story you told me, Jim. I had no idea you were a soldier."
"Nearly three and a half years. Actually it's closer to four years if you want to get technical but that doesn't matter. I'm here and I'm alive. I couldn't ask for anything more than that."
During the conversation, Jim noticed that Azmaria looked a bit sad when he talked about his participation in the war. "Hope I didn't say anything to offend her."
Nevertheless, he felt that he should found out what was bothering her. He didn't want to risk bad relations with his host at this early stage. "Is everything okay, Azmaria?"
"Well…I don't exactly live here alone. At least, that wasn't the original intent. You see, I'm engaged to be married, and my fiancée is stationed over in the Pacific. He's a Marine. He'll probably only be coming home next year."
"Oh, I see. When I was talking about the war…"
"Yes. I realized just how much I miss him. We met each other two years before the war started in the Pacific. Three months before the attack on Pearl Harbor he proposed. What else could I do but accept? He made me so happy and I was sure there was no one else I'd rather spend my life with. We started planning everything, from the wedding to the honeymoon, we even looked for a house. Obviously we found one we liked because you looked at it when you and Ewan arrived. Everything was set. Then…the war broke out. We had to put all our plans on hold because my fiancée, just all the other young men like him, wanted to make the Japanese pay for what they did. There was another reason though; his brother was stationed at Pearl Harbor and was killed during the attack. For him it was personal. Of course I wasn't happy about it, but if wouldn't have helped anyway. If he didn't enlist, he would have been drafted. Either way he would've had to leave me, so I let him go. He promised me he wouldn't die, and I'm glad that he kept his promise. Now you can understand why I said it can get lonely here. I've waited for him all this time."
"You really are amazing, Azmaria."
"Why?"
"You wouldn't believe how many times during the war I saw guys go off the deep end when they got letters from their girlfriends and wives saying that they can't wait for them anymore. I remember this one time when one of the guys in my squad got a letter like that. His wife wanted a divorce and she was gonna take everything. He got so mad that he smashed a wooden chair to pieces with his bare hands, and this is a guy who's usually calm and collected. It took five of us to restrain him. After that he just wasn't the same anymore. I guess what I'm trying to say is that you are one in million because you are willing to wait no matter how long it takes. Your devotion to your future with your fiancée is truly inspirational."
Azmaria couldn't help but blush and smile at the same time. She had never thought about it that way before. "Oh, stop it. Can I help it if I know he's the one? Of course I'm willing to wait for him. It hasn't always been easy, I'll admit, but I can honestly say that I've never felt like breaking off the engagement."
"You're really something else. One more thing: why did you call Ewan a minister? Is he involved with a church or something? He didn't look like someone who'd be involved with that kind of thing."
"Well…uh…that's kind of a long story on its own. Yes, he was involved with a church but he's no longer a minister of any kind. He quit that job years ago. We have known each other for a long time though. I tend to still call him by that title out of respect."
"One last thing: Are you sure you're fiancée wouldn't object to this? I don't want to cause trouble."
"No Jim, he wouldn't. He's a kind man, he'll understand. He's not the type who's jealous or overprotective. That's just one of the reasons why I made the choice to be his wife."
Jim wanted to say something but before he could start a big yawn came upon him. He was more tired than he would have liked to admit and Azmaria noticed this. "You know, it is getting late. Let me show you to your room. I'm sure you must be tired after walking so much today."
"Actually, walking wasn't that exhausting because I'm used to it. But you're right, it is getting late. Lead the way."
With Jim in tow, Azmaria led him to his room. It was unremarkable as rooms went, but it had all the basics for a comfortable stay. Obviously there was a bed, a closet, a mirror hanging on the wall and two paintings. It didn't matter to Jim how the room looked though, he was just glad to have one tonight. "Thanks again, Azmaria. I think I'm gonna sleep pretty well tonight."
"It's no trouble at all. Well, I think I'll be heading to bed myself. Sleep well, Jim."
"You too, Azmaria."
That night Jim slept better than he had in four years. He often had to remind himself that the conflict he was part of was now over and that there were no hostile Germans out to get him. Besides, the Germans were thousands of miles away. That part of his life was now a closed chapter in the book of his life. The remaining chapters were yet to be written.
Ewan wasn't asleep though. That was the last thing on his mind. Right now he was speaking with a close personal acquaintance of his about the situation regarding Jim. "Something is going on with that young man and he's not even aware of it. Why would she reveal herself to him? What is it about him that she would do that?"
His acquaintance, a woman in her mid-forties, responded, "But how can you be sure, Ewan? You've only known him for a short while. What if it really was just his imagination? And you can't' be serious about bringing him here. You know our policy on strangers."
"Please, all I ask is that we see what happens. I think it is in our best interests to find out what's going on. If it turns out I was wrong, then we will have neither gained nor lost anything. Besides, with the situation as it is now, he could be an immense help. His skills are exactly what you need right now. Please, just consider it."
"I don't know why you've become so involved with him, but…alright. Bring him here at the first opportunity you can get. We'll see if there is really something about him."
The next morning Jim was greeted by the light of the sun streaming through his window, inviting him to wake up to a new day. He gladly accepted the offer, and stretched and groaned as he got out of his bed. After he made sure he was fully awake, he thought he would save Azmaria some trouble and made up his bed so that his host wouldn't be burdened with it later. Admiring his handiwork, he smiled for no apparent reason until he realized why he did: for the first time in a long time, life was good.
It got even better when he left his room and smelled a delicious scent coming from the kitchen. "Seems like Azmaria made good on her promise about that breakfast."
His curiosity got the better of him and as such he made his way to the kitchen to "investigate" as he called it. When he opened the door and looked inside, he was amazed at what he saw. Azmaria was busy making eggs sunny side up with toast and on the kitchen table behind her there were already two plates set out and a whole loaf of bread, cut into slices. Accompanying the bread was some fresh butter, strawberry jam, and last but not least a whole plate full of pancakes stacked on top of each other. Azmaria was not kidding when she said this was a breakfast he would not soon forget.
Azmaria noticed she was being watched and turned, looking straight at him with a smile on her face. "Good morning Jim. I hope you slept well."
"Better than I have in a long time. Smells good in here."
"Glad you like it. Come on, sit down. I'm just about to finish up."
Jim didn't need to be told twice. There was no way he was passing up Azmaria's cooking.
And what a feast it was. If he hadn't watched himself, he might have devoured everything on the table, it was that good. Azmaria was happy to cook for somebody who enjoyed her cooking, so she didn't mind at all. Afterwards, he helped her to clean up as thanks for the hearty breakfast she made for him.
Keeping in the spirit of cleaning up, Jim took a shower afterwards. If there was one thing he hadn't had in a while it was a shower. It was only when he opened his suitcase and saw just how lacking his wardrobe was that he realized he would need to find employment soon. "I can't keep staying here without paying for it. Azmaria's been kind so far but sooner or later I'm gonna have to find a job. I already feel like I'm taking advantage of her generosity."
He put on a white shirt and pair of brown pants along with the shoes he had been wearing so far. It was basically all he had to wear anyway. As soon as that first paycheck came, he was going to buy some new clothes as well as pay Azmaria her due for letting him stay there. Any further thoughts about his future were put on hold when he heard the doorbell ring. He knew Azmaria was nowhere near the door because she was in the backyard busy hanging up the laundry so he made himself useful and headed for the door. To his surprise, Ewan stood there after he opened it. "Hey Ewan. Didn't expect to see you here again so soon."
"Good day, Jim. I don't suppose you have any plans for today, do you?"
"Actually, I was thinking about getting a job soon."
"Before you give it any further consideration, I need you to come with me. It's regarding your encounter with the girl you told me about."
"Are you serious, Ewan? So soon already?"
"I can't promise anything, but it might help you on the right track. So are you coming with me or not?"
"Uh…yeah. I'll be right there, I just gotta go tell Azmaria I'll be out for a while."
After informing Azmaria he'd be gone for some time, he got in the car Ewan had arranged and made their way out of New York and into the countryside. Jim noticed that while the car was speeding along, Ewan didn't say a word, as if he was thinking about something deeply, with a worried look on his face. "What's gotten into him? He's as quiet as a grave."
"Hey, Ewan, what's wrong? Something bothering you?"
Ewan didn't respond immediately. Finally he answered, "Jim…don't worry. Everyone has their problems and we all deal with them differently. By the way, see that building in the distance? That's where we're headed."
In the distance, the building Ewan spoke of was coming into view. Jim could make out a large structure surrounded by a wall with a single gate being the only way in and out. As they got closer he could make out more of the structure bit by bit.
"So what's so special about this place, Ewan?"
"This, my friend, is where you'll find what you're looking for. If anything it will serve as a starting point. But let me give you a bit of advice: expect the unexpected."
"What the hell are you talking about? And what's your connection to this place?"
"It's…hard to explain right now. I was involved with this place years ago but I sometimes visit for old time's sake. There are many memories here for me, some good and some bad. But I promise all will be revealed soon."
As he said this, they drove through the gate. What was hidden behind the wall was now clear to see. Two large structures, one that looked like a kind of cathedral and another that was joined to it, stood out as being dominant. Several smaller buildings were located further away along with a small fountain. Now Jim was really curious as to why he was brought all the way out here.
"What is this place? Some kind of church?"
"Actually, this is the New York branch of the Order of Magdalan. Let me just park the car, then we can go inside."
"Wait, what are we doing here? How's a church in the middle of nowhere going to help me? I already told you I've been to just about every church in New York."
"Patience. I promise you that you'll know everything you need to know in due time."
Finally Ewan brought the vehicle to a stop. As they got out, Jim surveyed his surroundings. This looked like an ordinary church, but if what Ewan said was anything to go by, it was for from it. He followed behind Ewan and took in more of what he saw.
The grounds surrounding the buildings weren't abandoned; there were people coming and going all the time. But what caught Jim's eye was the number of young nuns compared to all the other people he passed on the way. "They can't be older than sixteen at the most. What are they doing here? Kinda young to want to be a nun, isn't it?"
By now they had arrived at the entrance to the larger of the two buildings, two large doors made of glass. The inside was dull; basically, a large, open area with large windows and a staircase leading to the floors above.
"Well, isn't that just a coincidence? He used to be a minister and now we're at a church. I'd bet my last dollar he used to work here."
One of the young nuns approached them, and said, "Mr. Remington, welcome. Sister Kate is expecting you and your friend. Should I show you the way?"
"Thank you, but that won't be necessary. I know my way around. Come, Jim. Your answers are just up those stairs."
"About goddamn time. How long were you gonna keep me waiting?"
Jim had no choice but to follow his guide up the stairs, around a corner and down a hallway until they came to a stop in front of a door. After Ewan knocked on it, a voice from the inside answered, "Come in, it's open." Obliging the request, they both stepped inside to an office with large windows. You could probably see everything that was going on outside from there. In front of the windows was a wooden desk, and sitting behind the desk was a middle-aged nun, who Jim thought had to be Sister Kate. It seemed like she was in charge of everything that went on here.
"Ewan, good to see you. I see you brought your…friend with you."
The way she said "friend" made Jim uncomfortable, as if she didn't like him from the word go. The way she looked at him with that penetrating stare didn't help to make him feel comfortable either. "What's her problem?"
"Yes, this is the young man I told you about, Sister Kate."
An awkward atmosphere reigned in the room until Sister Kate took her stare off Jim. "I see. Ewan has told me quiet a bit about you. Your name is Jim, if memory serves."
"Yes, ma'am."
"For some reason only Ewan knows, he's taken an interest in you, enough of an interest to convince me to try and help you. He discussed with me the nature of what you experienced, so I decided to make an exception in your case, but only because I have known him for a long time and for no other reason. Understand, young man, that what I am about to tell you is not to be repeated to anyone from the outside. Whatever is said in this room stays in this room. Are we clear on this?"
"What the hell is up with all this? You'd swear she was about to tell me something earth shattering or something. Oh well, just humor her for now."
"Crystal clear, ma'am."
"Good. I'm glad we understand each other. As I said before, I already know all the details, Ewan told me everything. I am in a position to help you, starting with this."
She took out a personal file from one of drawers in her desk and laid it down in front of Jim. With a confused look, he asked, "What's this for?"
"Open it. You'll see why once you do."
He wasn't sure what to make of this, but he picked up the file anyway and looked inside. The first two pages didn't look interesting, just text everywhere. The third page, however, was an eye-opener: two photos caught his eye. Jim couldn't believe what he was seeing. But surely it couldn't be…and yet there it was. The girl he saw on the beach on June 6th 1944 and the girl in the photo were identical! The same hair, the same eyes, the same everything!
He was speechless, nearly dropping the file out of sheer shock. It took him a moment to regain his composure. Even then he found it hard to hide his disbelief. "Is that the girl that appeared to you?", Sister Kate asked.
"Uh…yeah, it's her, definitely her. But how is this possible…"
No matter how hard he tried, he couldn't finish that sentence. He really had no idea what to say next. Nothing he could say would make any sense of this.
Seeing the condition Jim was in, Sister Kate continued what she wanted to say. "The girl in the photo used to live here as a nun and as an agent of this organization. You tried to get her full name before she left you, but you only got a small fragment of it. I'll not keep you waiting any longer. Her full name is Rosette Christopher."
Finally Jim was able to place a name with the face as well. A part of the mystery that surrounded her was now gone. But there was still so much more to learn if the whole mystery in its entirety was to be unraveled.
"So that's her real name. I think it suits her. Hey, what's this?"
He noticed two dates under the photos: 1912-1929. "So…she's dead."
"Yes. You saw the dates under the photos, right?", Sister Kate responded, seemingly having lost a bit of her commanding presence. In fact, she looked quite vulnerable at the moment. Rosette must have made quite an impression on the lives of everyone at this church.
"You…miss her, don't you?"
Sister Kate stood up from her chair and took a position in front of the large window behind her, looking over the outside as she continued her part of the story. "Every day. Lord knows I've tried to accept what happened to her in the end, but…it's hard. She was so young and full of life. Many nights I've gone on my knees and asked why she had to live the kind of life she did. But this is a cruel world and not everyone gets the fairy tale ending. There were days I thought I was going murder that girl for all the times she stood in front of me trying to look innocent after wrecking a car or damaging a building for the umpteenth time. Despite all this, she only meant well. She was always loyal to her duty as a Sister of this Order. Even when all seemed lost, she tried to stay cheerful. Sometimes, I still expect her to walk through that door, trying to look as innocent as possible because she knows I'm going to yell at her again."
For a while silence reigns in the room. Jim gathered his thoughts while Sister Kate looked at the outside through the window and Ewan just stood there, lost in his own thoughts. When Jim was ready, he spoke again. "So you worked here as a minister, right?", he asked, aiming the question at Ewan, who seemed surprised that Jim had figured it out.
"How did you come to that conclusion?"
"Simple: Azmaria called you a minister, and you told me that you were involved with this place years ago. Doing the math afterwards was easy."
"Yes, you are correct. I was a Minister of this organization, and Sister Kate's second in command. I also knew Rosette very well."
"I'm gonna take a wild guess, but Azmaria worked here too, right? Did she know Rosette?"
"Very sharp today, aren't we? Yes, she used to work here too until she met that young man and got engaged. She knew Rosette personally. You should ask her if she would share her memories of Rosette with you when we get back to her place."
"So everything that happened at the café….you knew who I was talking about all along. Am I right, Ewan?"
"It all seemed too good to be true. For that reason, I felt I had to speak to Sister Kate. Your case seemed exceptional to me, exceptional in the sense that Rosette decided to show herself to you specifically, and I think it is in our best interests to find out exactly why. It was also necessary for me to secure permission for you to come here. Due to the nature of the work of the Order, not just anyone can enter freely, Jim."
"And that's my other question: what is it that you do here? Why all the cloak-and-dagger secrecy?"
Sister Kate, who had only been listening thus far, entered the conversation, adding her bit to it. "Jim, I need you to listen carefully now. What I am about to tell you is kept secret to the masses. Not a word of this leaves this room. Do you understand?"
"Oh great, not this again."
"Yes, ma'am. My lips are sealed."
"I think you had better sit down for this. You will find this hard to digest at first."
Following her advice, Jim found a chair and made himself comfortable. After he had done so, Sister Kate continued her story. "The Order of Magdalan is not your typical church. This organization is dedicated to fighting the unseen evils that threaten this world."
"Unseen evils?"
"Supernatural phenomenon. I'll be straight with you, Jim. We fight ghosts, evil spirits, and above all, demons."
Even though Ewan had told him to expect the unexpected, this was far different from what Jim expected. Ghosts? Evil spirits? Surely she couldn't expect him to believe all this. Sister Kate was right; this was hard to digest.
"You don't seem to believe me, Jim. Let me assure you its all true. Remington can confirm it all for you. He was a Minister at this Monastery, after all."
"This is…look, I'm not saying you're lying but…this is a lot to take in. So you're saying all this is just a front for what you're really doing?"
"No, the church does have members, admittedly not as many as other churches, and everyone who works here is involved in one way or another. We are a real church, we just have…secondary duties, if you want to call it that."
"And those young nuns, Sister Kate? What are they doing here?"
"Believe it or not, Jim, they are the ones on the frontlines. They take up arms against our enemies and fight them. We provide them with all the training and weapons, and once they have finished their training, they acquire the rank of Exorcist. That's not the end though; after all this, they are sent on missions and patrol duty."
"Correct me if I'm wrong, but Rosette was an Exorcist, right? Is that why you called her an agent of this organization?"
"Yes, she was an Exorcist, one of the best. But she had an uncanny knack for destruction. I can't even remember how many cars she wrecked or how many buildings she destroyed."
"How'd she do that?"
"Only she will ever know. If I had a dollar for every time she caused damage one way or another I'd be a millionaire by now. I know she didn't mean to be destructive, she meant well. I tried to punish her to encourage her to be more careful but it only lasted a short while. But that was who Rosette was and nothing could change it."
"Sister Kate, I have a question to ask."
"Ask whatever you want. That's why you're here."
"How did…Rosette die?"
At first it seemed like Sister Kate was hesitant to comply with this request, but eventually she said, "To understand the circumstances of her death, I would have to go into her background."
"I've got the time."
For the next hour and a half, Jim listened in astonishment as Sister Kate and Ewan took turns telling the story of Rosette's life. He thought what he heard before was crazy, but this was nothing compared to what he was told so far. Suffice it to say, Jim was speechless when the story was told to its end. For him the strangest of all was that Rosette's soul was bound to a demon, the very beings she fought all her life.
"Hell…I don't know what to say. This is…crazy to say the least. Actually I do remember something about San Francisco being nearly destroyed and the appearance of a "saint." But I was only a kid when it all happened, I can't recall everything. I guess when the Depression came we had other things to worry about. So what happened to Chrono after Rosette died?"
"He just vanished into thin air and we never saw him again, Jim. We don't know if he's dead or alive."
"And where's Joshua now?"
"Aion's brainwashing eventually wore off, but he's just not the same anymore. At the moment Joshua is at the San Francisco branch of the Order helping any way he can. It's his way of redeeming himself for all the destruction he believes he took part in, whether he was brainwashed or not."
"Okay, last question: I'm not trying to be ungrateful, because I'm not, but I'm sure you're just as curious as I am to know why, out all the soldiers on Omaha, Rosette appeared only to me. Any ideas?"
"We can't be sure what her motivation was. The number of theories is near endless, so no; I can't give you a definite answer, Jim."
The one answer he was looking for and they didn't have one for him. Still, he knew Sister Kate and Ewan were only human and couldn't possibly know what Rosette's reasons were. The only one who could tell him would be Rosette herself, but what were the chances of seeing her again? He accepted the fact that he would probably never know, and at least this was not wasted time. He had found answers like he wanted. But what was next? What path in life should he be going down now? A job came to mind, but it could be long before he finally figured out what he was good at. He really didn't know what to do with his life now.
As if he was reading his mind, Ewan asked, "So what do you intend to do now, Jim? Your search is over; you found what you were looking for. Do you have any specific plans for the future?"
"Actually I was thinking about getting a job so I can start paying Azmaria for letting me stay with her. I know she said she doesn't mind me being there, but I should really be earning my keep. She would disagree if I said this, but I feel like I'm leeching off her. Problem is, I don't what I'm good at. I was good at being a soldier, but someone with my skills isn't really in high demand now that the war is over."
"You have heard of the GI Bill of Rights, haven't you?"
(Author's Note: The GI Bill of Rights was passed by the U.S government in 1944, and it offered millions of war veterans the opportunity to obtain a free college education, a good job, and a comfortable home.)
"Of course I did, Ewan. Show me a single soldier who hasn't. Even if I did use my rights as a war veteran I still don't know what kind of job I'll end up with. But I guess beggars can't be choosers."
"Actually, you are wrong, Jim. There is an employer who needs someone with your experience and skills and who needs it urgently."
"Oh yeah? And just who would that be, Ewan?"
This sounded a bit too good to be true. An employer who needs someone equipped with the skills of the soldier? Who still needs those qualifications in this day and age, except maybe for the army?
"Perhaps Sister Kate should explain. She can describe the situation better than I can."
Jim was unsure what to make of this. For some reason he couldn't explain, he had an uneasy feeling about this.
"Just what the hell are they getting at here?"
"You said you were looking for a job, right Jim? Then maybe we can help you with that. You see, we are in a desperate situation here; we are short on trained personnel. Our combat trainer was sent to another branch last month, but we haven't received a replacement yet. All our branches are facing this problem. When the war broke out, the armed forces took most of the potential young men and women that might have joined us one day. Also, people don't seem to be as faithful in going to church as they used to be and this might be because the war has shaken their faith. You know how people are, when something like this happens, they ask, "Why did God allow this?", and when they can't find the answers, they start doubting. As it is now, we have to find the expertise we need from outside the organization."
"So what does any of this have to do with me, Sister Kate?"
"As I said, we have no combat trainer, and a shortage of staff. We have to make do with what we have. Our younger Sisters have almost no training, and the more experienced Sisters have a workload that prevents them from facilitating any kind of training program in between missions and patrols. I'll cut to the chase, Jim. I want to ask if you would take over as our combat trainer. You have combat experience and you know weapons and tactics. You would be perfect for this job. What do you say?"
Once again Jim found himself speechless, which seemed to be the theme for the day. Was she really saying what he thought she was saying? Surely she was only joking.
"You…can't be serious, Sister Kate. Just how am I supposed to teach a bunch of kids to fight? How am I supposed to teach them to fight an enemy I've never even fought yet? Have you thought any of this through? Do you have any idea what you're asking of me?"
"But Jim, according to Ewan, you were a member of the Army Rangers, and as I understand it they are an elite unit. It is because you were in an elite unit that makes you the best candidate for this position. You're training makes you far better than any regular soldier and that is what we are looking for."
"And just who came up with the idea?"
"Jim, don't be angry with Sister Kate. It was I who suggested to her that I bring you here. When you told me about your army background, I thought you would be a possible candidate to replace the combat trainer that left not so long ago. I was aware of the problem and took a chance. This is one the reasons I brought you here."
"You son of a…how dare you lie to me! You never told me about this! If I had a gun here right now, I'd shoot you where you stand! You think just because I'm looking for a job that I'm desperate? I'll tell you what you can do with your job, you can stick it where the sun don't shine!"
"And what is so wrong with this job? I thought it would be ideal for someone like you. You said you didn't know what you're good at and this is as close to being a soldier as you can get without being shot at."
"That's not what I mean, Ewan! I just came back from fighting a war for nearly four years, and the last thing I want to do is hold a weapon in my hand with the intent to kill. I've done enough of that for one lifetime. Do you have any idea of the kind of emotional stress you're under during a war? Moral boundaries are nonexistent, and anyone is fair game. I killed a lot of people, men who were somebody's father, husband, son, brother or cousin. They were people with their own dreams and goals, but the politicians decided we had to kill each other. I never hated the Germans before the war started and I didn't start hating them during the war. They were just following orders like I and every other soldier had to do. I really hated what I had to do, but that's war. I often found myself trembling after a particularly hard battle, knowing full well that I was responsible for killing who knows how many people. This one time, we came across the body of a German soldier after a fight, but he was barely even that. He looked like he wasn't even old enough to shave yet. He had his whole life ahead of him but he'll never get the chance to see a world without war now. The craziest part of all is that you had to ignore all that and just learn to live with it. It was my survival against theirs. Pulling the trigger was too easy."
"I'm…sorry, Jim. I never knew that was how you felt. I should have given it more thought before assuming you'd be eager for the job."
"Damn right! No one knows what it's like. I'm sorry, but I'm not gonna teach a bunch of kids how to point a gun at someone and pull the trigger. You'll just have to find someone who's willing, but as for me, I'm done."
Silence fell upon the room once more. Sister Kate and Ewan were disappointed that Jim did not accept the offer of replacing the combat trainer, but they understood what he meant as well. Those were his wishes and they had to abide by it.
"I can't believe they wanted me to…hell no, there's no way. I know I gotta put the war behind me, but I'm not ready yet."
Suddenly, without warning, he saw Rosette in his mind's eye and the words she said to him echoed through his mind: you've been given a second chance. Don't waste it. Is this part of what she meant? Did he not promise her that his fears and personal issues wouldn't get the better of him anymore? That he would face them head on? By refusing the job, he was effectively breaking that promise to her.
"I'm doing exactly the opposite of what I said I would. What would Rosette do in this situation? She'd rise to the challenge, that's what. Why shouldn't I do the same?"
"Listen, maybe I overreacted a little. I guess it wouldn't do any harm if I took over as the combat trainer. Just until you get someone better to take my place."
Understandably, Ewan and Sister Kate were looking at Jim with surprised expressions on their faces. That was the fastest they had ever seen anyone change their mind. Ewan was the first one to gain control of his vocal chords and said, "I'm glad to hear you've had a change of heart. Why, though? You made it quite clear you weren't interested."
"I made a promise to Rosette that I would never let fear stand in my way again. If I don't accept this job I feel like I'll have broken that promise, and I take promises seriously. So, Sister Kate, when do I start?"
"As soon as you are able. As you know, the groups you'll be working with are all girls, but don't go easy on them because of that. They have to be prepared for anything, and I trust you will do an excellent job with them."
"Well, to be honest, I'm not sure how I'm gonna do it, but what the hell, I'll try anyway."
"Just do your best, that's all we ask. I think it might be a good idea for Jim to see firsthand what he'll be dealing with. If it's okay with you, Sister Kate, I suggest that I should take him out on patrol duty for a week or so, just to get his feet wet, metaphorically speaking."
"I see no reason why you shouldn't, Ewan. It would definitely serve to introduce him to our way of doing of things. What do you say, Jim?"
"I don't mind, Sister Kate. The sooner I get started, the better."
"I suppose you'll want to discuss your payment while we're here?"
"Not really. Just pay me what you think is fair. I'm not in this to get rich, as long as I have enough to pay Azmaria for all she's done for me. We can sort out all the other financial details later."
"Let me be the first to officially welcome you to the Order of Magdalan as a member of our organization. Wait, let me rephrase that. You're actually a non-official member, but a member nonetheless. You just haven't been accepted into the Order through the proper channels, but there's no time for that now. And by the way, we'll do everything in our power to find out why Rosette appeared to you. I believe it is in our best interests to know more."
"It doesn't matter, Ewan. We'll probably never know why she did it, and that's fine by me. It's not gonna help any of us chasing after something we could never get the answers for."
Ewan was not so sure of that, but he kept his thoughts to himself. Even if Jim didn't think so, there had to be a specific reason why Rosette did what she did.
"There is something about you, Jim. It's a pity you can't see if for yourself. I'll just have to continue my investigations on my own."
"Well, if there's nothing else to be said or done, I believe we should be going, Jim."
"Yeah, you're right. Thanks for everything, Ewan, Sister Kate. You've helped me in more than one way and I don't know how I could ever repay you."
"Just do your best with training our Sisters. That's all the thanks we need."
And so began a new phase in Jim's life, one that would take him down avenues he could never have foreseen in his wildest dreams….
Author's note: And so we come to the end of another chapter, hope you enjoyed it. For those who are wondering, I based this fic on the Chrono Crusade anime, but with a few changes: Aion is dead, Chrono is…well, he's still there but you'll just have to keep reading to find out what I intend to do with him, and as you have already read, Azmaria left the Order to start a new life with her fiancée, and in addition, Joshua is now a grown man who is no longer under the effects of Aion's brainwashing. (I've only watched the anime so far, but I'm working on getting my hands on the manga soon.)
Hope everything makes sense. Well, until next time, this is Saracen Redhawk signing off…