Krebs was still thinking about his rescue the other day. So Burgdorf didn't just save me, he saved a village as well. Huh. He was sitting on his bed, well aware of the chirping birds above him. Even though they were underground in the bunker, he somehow still couldn't escape the excruciating sounds of the morning.
Better get to work. If I'm not gonna go home anytime soon, then … I might as well just make the best of it. He sighed, making his way to the planning room. To his relief, Hitler was there as well, alongside Burgdorf, Günsche, Jodl, and Goebbels. That meant it wouldn't be just him and Burgdorf, which probably would've been the worst experience ever for Krebs.
Krebs didn't know if Hitler knew about Burgdorf and the generals coming to Krebs' rescue the other day, but if he did, he showed no sign of it. He was as nonchalant as ever as he looked up at Burgdorf. "What's the news?" he asked.
Burgdorf glanced at the map in front of him. Krebs let his gaze slide over towards Günsche, who was looking grim. That can't be good …
But Burgdorf was calm as he spoke. "The threat of an uprising in the village of Altena was destroyed the other day." Although he didn't look up at Krebs, his words were pointed, and Krebs wished he would just shut up. Smug asshole.
"Frankfurt? Würzburg? And Tier?" Hitler was focused on the map.
"Tier was crushed before," Burgdorf explained. "Frankfurt needs more reinforcements, more supplies, more help."
"Then we'll get that sorted as soon as possible. Exp - Fegelein!" Hitler's topic changed instantly from the war towards his arch nemesis. Krebs turned around, seeing Fegelein's smug face at the entrance of the room.
"I'll get you, you little dipshit!" In a second, Hitler was out of his chair and lunging towards Fegelein. Fegelein leaped back, racing away from the furious Hitler. "You can't escape from me!"
Krebs pulled back. "What was that?" he asked, baffled by Hitler's sudden change of heart. He had went from utter seriousness to complete fury - just by seeing Fegelein.
"Better go calm him," Günsche said, following Hitler quickly. Jodl cast a nervous glance at Krebs and Burgdorf, before joining Günsche on the race after Hitler. Krebs was about to join them as well, but Burgdorf's curt order sent him halting.
"You stay right there."
Krebs slowly turned around, wincing. He had hoped to avoid a one on one conversation with the general, but it seemed as if that was wishful thinking. He met Burgdorf's blue gaze, forcing himself not to shake.
Burgdorf tilted his head, a smug grin climbing on his face. "I don't recall a 'thank you' for saving your life, even though it was honor bound to repay me."
"Repay you …?" Krebs stared at Burgdorf, bewildered.
"Yes." Burgdorf wreathed around Krebs. "I need someone in Frankfurt …"
"As a military negotiator?" Krebs' heart leaped in his chest. A job! Something to do, so I'm not worthless!
Burgdorf shook his broad head. "No. Someone undercover. You can go in and say you betrayed Hitler and his generals, and you want to ally with Frankfurt's armies instead. You know, switch and switch. A trade, maybe. You'd have traded yourself for their armies."
"You mean … you want me to pretend to be a traitor?" Krebs felt his eyes widen.
"Yes." Burgdorf nodded. "Now you get it."
"What if I get killed? They'll find out I'm not one, that I'm spying for them! They're not stupid, you know! And they've seen me before! They'll know the truth!" Krebs found his words turning into piercing wails.
Burgdorf stayed calm, his shoulders relaxed, his eyes betraying nothing. "If you die, well, that's your fault. You'd have served your purpose, anyways."
Fury burned up inside of Krebs, sending his blood boiling. He pushed back Burgdorf, who was too close for his liking, with all of his strength, sending him against the wall.
Burgdorf gasped as he collided with the wall. Krebs curled his lip. "Don't you dare treat me like I'm sort of object! Something to bargain with! You're no worse than those men who kidnapped me! They wanted to trade me for someone else! I never came here just so you could use me! Don't think that just by saying it, you can bend everyone to think the same way you do!"
The general he was yelling at stared at him, his blue eyes round, as if he was never expecting Krebs to talk back at him. Well, look where you got yourself now, you dumb fool! Krebs went on. "So, no, you're not going to use me! I won't let that! Just for your military advances? I would understand if it was for something else, but you'd be just fine with me getting killed out there!"
Burgdorf curled his lip. "So what, you're just gonna back down and be a coward?"
"If my only other choice is to live with the shame, then I would rather you kill me!" Krebs yowled. "Because I'm not getting killed by them, just so you can use me!"
"Shame?" Burgdorf voice was a furious roar, punctuating the hallways. Krebs knew it was only a matter of time before someone came in.
"Yes!" Krebs snapped. "But you're too full of yourself to realize that anyone else would see it as being used!"
"Arrogance has nothing to do with it!" Burgdorf yowled. "Someone only as idiotic as you would refuse such a special offer to save their armies!"
"That's not how I'm going to go about it! I'm not as worthless as you think I am!" Krebs flashed back at him.
Finally, the door that Jodl had left closed opened again. Günsche and Jodl were both there, their eyes wide. Burgdorf snapped his head over, his flaming blue eyes focused on them.
"General," Günsche began, "I heard it all. Krebs just doesn't understand the importance of the mission he was offered."
You too, Günsche? "I do understand!" Krebs hissed. "But not the way it's being carried out. Burgdorf wants to use me as a traitor, by just shoving me off to another group! He's bargaining me for information! He doesn't care if I die!"
"Get out of here," Burgdorf snapped, but not at Günsche or Jodl - at Krebs. "Leave."
"Leave the bunker? I'd be honored!" Krebs yowled at him.
"No, not the bunker. Leave this room, before I end your life with my bare hands." Burgdorf's voice was thick with fury, and Krebs spun around, not waiting for Burgdorf to ask a second time.
With most of his mind focused on his fuming, Krebs hardly made it to his room without running into something. Continuing to be furious, Krebs slammed the door to his room and started to walk around.
"That idiot!" Krebs snarled to himself. "He wants me dead for information? Doesn't he have a shred of remorse?"
Left to himself, Krebs continued to hiss insults at Burgdorf under his breath, and his thoughts were ravaging his mind as fast as a storm. That … that asshole! I can't believe someone as dignified and with such a high status like him has so little remorse for human lives! Well, maybe I do believe it. I've seen what he's capable of. He killed those three men like they were nothing more than flies. Granted, they were kidnapping me, but he still killed them easily! I thought I knew who he was before, but now I would give anything to see him fall off a cliff! Ugh!
Suddenly, there was a knock on his door, and Krebs looked up.
"Come in," Krebs called.
Günsche's face appeared as he pushed the door open. His eyes were apologetic, and he dipped his head to Krebs in a manner of respect. Krebs bit his lip. Günsche was of a much higher rank than him in the bunker, he shouldn't be bowing to him.
"Don't do that," Krebs murmured.
Günsche lifted his head. "My apologies for how General Burgdorf acted back there," he said. "He was … well …" Günsche's words trailed off, and Krebs realized that not even he had a valid explanation to excuse Burgdorf's behavior.
"You have no need to apologize," Krebs stated firmly. "You didn't do anything wrong."
Günsche sighed. "But I am sorry for how he acted. Just let him cool off for now, and you should as well. Please, let me know if there is anything I can do to help. I want you to remain in this bunker, and I do not want anything to happen to you."
"It's all right," Krebs said. "No need to worry - as I said, you didn't do anything wrong."
Günsche gave Krebs a sheepish, small smile. "Just keep up the good work. You're doing a great job so far. All of us think so."
"Thanks, Günsche." With that, Günsche left the room, and Krebs was left to study him.
What will happen now?