Time after Time
In response to the ability of large corporations, particularly Grunder Industries, to operate in secrecy, various law enforcement agencies expanded their operations to cover for crimes of large multinational organizations. Such power was non-existent previously. This paved the way for similar expansions in police forces around the world. Proponents for the expansions argued that the Circum-Pacific War, and the lives and property lost would never have happened had there were enough oversight for powerful industries. Opponents – largely those representing the very corporations in question- fought hard against the expansion. Ultimately, they lost. Law enforcement's new investigative powers exposed high-ranking members of several organizations of colluding with the Grey Men. Other exposures – criminal or civilian – made executives of many corporations vary of their own actions.
Though the morning of 25th December 2010 brought peace, it was overshadowed by sadness and anger. At least 14 million souls perished in a single day. Public outrage made the year 2011 marred by the Nebureg Trials, the most infamous witch-hunt of the modern era. Individuals from many walks of lives were found guilty as Grey Men sympathizers. At its peak, the World Court prosecuted as much as 100 individuals in a single day. Such was the public's demand for justice, a justice marked by anguish of lost loved ones, a justice of the mob.
My name is Kei Nagase. 5 years has passed since the Allied victory at Sudentor. President Harling defended everyone who served in the Kestrel fleet and cleared us of all charges brought by the vice-president's military. No one opposed him as they either knew the service that the crew did for the country or knew nothing about them at all. Despite that, I found myself unable to keep up with the many things that happened. I left the air force and went back home to my mother. By chance, the local swim club has need of a lifeguard and I applied. Life was much simpler and perhaps, happier. The townspeople were friendly, and I could see my mother everyday. A few suitors – men who I neither knew well nor dated before - even asked for my hand in marriage.
Then, everything changed. My mother died on her way home from the market in the evening; she was murdered, or so I believed. There were no witnesses. The only one proof that exists - tire tracks near where her body was discovered – prompted the police to classify the case as "hit-and-run". But being a small law enforcement force in a small town, they couldn't find whoever killed my mother the case. To take matters into my own hands, I enrolled in a police academy in the next town, graduated and did some field work for experience while looking into my mother's case in my spare time. Year after year, I still couldn't understand why and who killed her. Almost no leads were present, and the majority of those present lead nowhere. Even my recruitment into the Interpol – due to my track record – seemed empty as I couldn't solve my own mother's murder. But then my colleague from Osea's internal investigation bureau, FBI, sent me a series of evidences pertaining to a completely different case. It surprised me for it pertained to the person whose death made me leave the Air Force.
"Detective Kei Nagase. Interpol clearance Level 4. Loading personal files" stated the words a notebook screen. "Accessing folder: Case 49231A. Warning: contents of this file are confidential. Disclosure strictly prohibited. . . Playing video: Security Camera, Visiting Room 3, Edwards Base Prison
Nagase was seated behind a lone desk in the middle of the window-encased, barred room. Soon, a door opened and Blaze entered. The prison guard unbound his hands and motioned for him to take the seat across the table.
"How are you" she asked first.
"I'm fine. And you?"
"I'm fine too"
The awkwardness of their meeting soon became evident as neither said anything for a few minutes.
"For making you help me that time," Blaze asked about when Edge broke him out of Kestrel's brig, "I'm sorry"
"Don't be. I never regretted it. Besides, we weren't punished. The circumstance didn't allow it"
"Speaking of the Kestrel, how are Grimm, Pops, and Captain Bartlett?"
"Pops is still alive and kicking. He's still the same old Pops. Captain Bartlett, on the other hand, got a Medal of Honor" she said, her face lighting up a little. "Yeah, the President personally handed it. But you know Bartlett. Right after he got it, he stashed it someplace where he knew he could never find it again"
Both chuckled.
"And Archer?"
". . . He didn't make it"
"What? How?"
"He crashed in Sudentor. No ejection"
"I, I see. Did he get an acceptable fune-"
"Yeah" she interrupted. "It was hard seeing his mother breaking down . . . Like Chopper, he was posthumously promoted to Colonel"
"Are you still in the Air Force?"
"Yeah, but I have taken some time off. There isn't anything to do"
Another silent ensued.
"The president, I heard he and you had a talk?"
"Yeah"
"How did it go?"
"We came to an understanding, in one way or another. His administration won't press charges against me. But the Osean people obviously didn't agree with him"
"Why he didn't grant you a pardon? He has the power to do so"
"He's already taking a great risk by turning a blind eye for me. Doing so will be a political suicide; his popularity will plummet. I have to answer for what I did"
". . . You will get through this. I'm sure of it. You were faced with an impossible choice" she pointed out.
"Yeah"
"When I heard that they found your pod, I knew what you decided to do"
"You must think it's a stupid decision"
". . . The stupidest" she muttered under her breath.
"What?"
"No, I think it was the right thing to do. It was the bravest anyone could have done . . . well, other than saving the world by blowing up a space station" she said, drawing a slight smile for him.
"Listen" she said, her face becoming more serious, "If you require any help, tell me. I will do everything in my power."
"Kei . . . no matter what happens . . . do you want to wait for me? Will you?"
". . . I will"
Blaze nodded and both fell silent again. Nagase's right hand inched forward on the desk, and Schulz's left moved towards her. Their fingertips touched, followed by their palms. As they held hands and looked at each other, their fingers interlaced as if never wanting to let go. Sometimes action speaks louder than words. Many words, and feelings, were exchanged between them during that time.
After all these years, I still found myself freezing the video at this moment. Even my hand is involuntarily touching the screen. That was the last time we talked. My deepest fears – that I will never see him again – would soon be realized in ways I hadn't imagined.
"Accessing file: Nebureg Trials. Playing video: Security Camera 2, Main Courtroom"
The video showed 5 judges – two women and three men - seated behind a long, curved wooden podium. Audience packed the seats to the rear of the room. Armed guards stationed themselves strategically throughout. In the middle of the room were two desks. One person seated behind one, and two behind the other. There were no news crews.
"The defendant will rise" said the judge seated in the middle of the five.
A black-haired man dressed in a tie-less, slightly crumpled suit stood up.
"Wilhelm Grunder Schulz. You stand trial here today, 10th January 2011, on the following charges: first, for abetting a conspiracy responsible for starting and maintaining a war between the Federation of Osea and the Union of Yuktobania in the span of October 2010 to December 2010; second, for carrying out an act of genocide using the Ark Bird on the peoples of Federation of Osea on 24th December 2010. Are you clear of the aforementioned charges?"
"Yes"
"I see you have chosen to forgo counsel in this trial.. Questions posed in this courtroom will likely be of legal nature. Are you sure?"
"Yes"
"Then let us begin. Do you, the defendant, plead innocence to the first charge?"
"No"
"Do you plead guilt?"
"Yes"
That answer brought murmurs from the crowd.
"I see. Moving on to the second-"
The opening of the courtroom's main doors interrupted the judge. A spectacled, smartly-dressed but crippled woman with an injured right leg carrying file folders on her left arm and a walking cane on her right hand barged into the room and limped down the aisle.
"Your honors, I apologize for interrupting. I'm Hanna Rosenberg. Wilhelm Schulz is my client. As by Article 9 Section 22 of the World Court regulations., I request an adjournment. My client is not mentally healthy for today's hearing. I have the medical papers right here"
One guard took the papers from her and handed it to the judges. Meanwhile, one camera focusing on Blaze showed that he himself was surprised at Rosenberg's interjection.
"Very well. This hearing is adjourned until Thursday, 12th January 2011 at 9:05 am"
"Playing video: Security Camera, Visiting Room 4, Edwards Base Prison"
"How are you feeling, Mr. Schulz?" the woman, Hanna Rosenberg, asked.
"I'm fine" he answered simply.
"As long as you constantly wear that electronic locator beacon already fastened to your left leg, you are entitled to accommodations of your own choosing. I advise that you do not allow yourself to be locked up like a convicted criminal when you aren't"
"Thank you but I'm just fine here. I also did not ask for a lawyer. I appreciate what you want to do but-"
"Do you wish to die?" she interrupted
"If you are taking about a possible verdict to my trial-"
"At the direction and rate you are going, a death sentence is guaranteed" she interrupted again.
"If that's the way you see it, then I can't help it. But I trust the judges will listen to reason. If their verdict is death, then so be it"
"Mr. Schulz, I hope you are not as naïve and short-sighted as what I'm picturing you right now. This case, or rather ALL of these so-called trials are not ideal. They are infused with emotion of the public asking for justice, and their vision of justice is putting every single suspect such as you to death"
"It is not the public's decision"
"But the judges are also part of the public. They are chosen through ballot by the public, and they have an obligation to their 'constituents'. Especially for a high-profile case like you, they are-"
"So as my counsel, you can guarantee victory?"
The woman nodded, correcting her spectacles.
"Your confidence is infectious, but I'm afraid I have no means of compensating you"
"No problem, Mr. Schulz. It has been taken care of"
"What do you mean?"
"As your counsel, my first advice is we leave this god-forsaken cage. I have arranged for a suite at a nearby 5-star hotel. We can discuss our strategy there in private" she said, looking at the security camera.
"Hanna Rosenberg. 39 years old, Osean, 164 cm, 48 kg, born in Johannesburg, North Osea" I read from the monitor, "This lawyer surfaced in the legal arena just a few short years before the Nebureg Trials. Her perfect record of 54 wins ended with the trial of Wilhelm Grunder Schulz. His case was resolved. She has since retreated from courtroom life, currently employed as a part-time consultant for General Resources Ltd."
When I first saw this clip, I have to admit I was jealous. Both intimidating and enviable, Rosenberg was also the type of woman that could snatch any man away with her wits and charms. Nevertheless, she could help Wilhelm where I could not.
"Playing video: Security Camera 2, Main Courtroom"
"Wilhelm Grunder Schulz," the prosecutor, Kearny McNell, said to the person on the stand, "what is your relation to Thomas Grunder?"
"He is my uncle"
"Is he a Gray Men collaborator?"
"Yes"
"How do know of this?"
"Because I was an agent myself"
"Really?" the man asked, pleasantly surprised by the admission. "I have no further questions, Your Honors"
"Defense, you may now question the defendant" a judge said.
Rosenberg grabbed her walking cane and limped towards Blaze.
"Mr. Schulz, how did you know that your uncle was a Grey Men operative?"
". . . I have said, because I was an agent myself"
"Twice now I heard the word "was". Why "was", Mr. Schulz? Are you not now still a Belkan agent?'
"I'm not"
"Why?"
"I have come to believe that their methods are wrong"
"I, for one, don't believe you. Neither do all these people"
That remark by the defense counsel generated soft murmurs from the audience.
"Why did you join the Gray Men?" she asked again
". . . It was initially for revenge for the deaths of my parents. 16 years ago, they were killed when an Osean cruiser shot down a civilian airline flying from Dinsmark to Oured. The Osean government covered it up and never apologized"
"Do you think then that the Osean government was a murderer just like what you are being accused of right now?"
"Yes"
"I see. . . Just shortly, you said "initially for revenge". Initially. Did something change?"
"As I spent time with the people at Sand Island, especially with my flight mates, I found that Oseans aren't war-mongering, deceitful people like I was led to believe. They were caring. They were the same as Belkans, just humans that are similarly fragile. But, just as importantly, the Gray Man's tactics became increasingly brutal. I could no longer agree to their methods"
"Did you or did you not help in initiating a war between Osea and Yuktobania?"
"No"
"But you said you were an agent. How can you be one without aiding their cause?"
"My only orders was to fly for the Osean Air Defense Force"
"And during that time, you racked up an impressive kill record of 188, unprecedented in Osean history. What do you think is the purpose of your order?"
". . . To help ensure a stalemate in every air engagement I took part of, so that both sides will be left exhausted"
"Did you continuously strive for that purpose?"
"No"
"What do you mean?"
"Like I said, as time passed, I began to question my dedication to the cause and my desire to protect my allies became stronger"
"I have here mission logs of my client throughout the Circum-Pacific campaign." she handed a file folder to the center judge. "Statistics-wise, as time progresses, his exploits grew drastically without any apparent increase in enemy numbers. This clearly proves what he said about wanting to protect his Osean allies."
"Prosecution, do you wish to cross-examine the defendant?"
"No, Your Honor"
"Defense, you may continue"
"At this time I would like to call Major Kei Nagase of the Osean Air Defense Force to the stand"
Nagase got out of her seat in the audience and walked to the front of the large room. She and Blaze glanced at each other as they passed.
"Please raise your right hand" a courtroom guard said to her. "Do you swear to tell the truth and nothing but the truth?"
"Yes" she answered before taking a seat.
". . . Ms. Nagase. You served as the 2nd flight in the 108th Tactical Fighter Squadron, also known as the Wardog Squadron correct?"
"Yes"
"What can you say about my client?"
". . . He is a strong leader. Trustworthy and honest"
"Is that it?"
"I don't wish to sugarcoat his character. Anyone who comes to know him will respect him as I do"
"I see. Did you see the change in him as described just a few minutes earlier? That he gradually renounced the methods of the Gray Men?"
"Prior to today, I have no knowledge that he was a Belkan agent. But I can definitely say that with each mission, he took it more and more upon himself to protect his wingmen and allies"
"On those missions, whose orders did you follow?"
"The Osean Air Command"
"Can you definitely say that you did not, under any circumstance, follow orders given by a foreign party other than the Osean Air Command?"
"Yes"
"Can you say the same for my client?"
"Yes"
"Are you completely sure?"
"Yes"
"And these are the mission reports of other pilots in the squadron, of the crew of AWACS Thunderhead, and of the officers in charge" she handed them to judges. "You will see that, through his actions, my client had never taken orders outside those of the Osean Central Command. He did not do what his fellow pilots didn't. He did what those pilots did . . . Your Honors, all of us have forgive and have been forgiven at some point in our lives. Wilhelm Schulz is clearly a changed man that deserves forgiveness. Furthermore, he ever since he joined the OADF, he took orders from no one else other than the Osean Central Command. Thus, how can he be branded a spy when his wingmen are not?"
Following that argument, Rosenberg took her seat.
"Prosecution, do you have questions for the witness?" a judge asked.
"Yes" the lawyer asked. "Captain, what is your relationship to the defendant?"
"He was my flight lead, someone I trust and respect"
"Was there no romantic interest?"
"Objection" Rosenberg asked. "Relevance?"
"If the witness's judgment is clouded because of her feelings, anything she says carries no legal weight" Kearny quickly explained.
"Objection overruled. Answer the question please" said one judge.
" . . . No, I don't have any special feelings towards him" she lied.
If I had not accidentally overheard Kearny and his associate talking, I would not have lied. Before the trial that day, I heard that they had somehow lost several key evidences. Though I could only catch a few words, they sounded exasperated. His assistant mentioned something about erased hard drives, missing papers, the president and my name, and Kearny said about improvisation, stalling, and some sort of technical play. Nevertheless, I was lucky that the video of Blaze and I in the visiting room turned out to be one of the evidences missing.
"Very well. Let's move on" Kearny said. "Capt. Nagase, you and your wingmen once broke a rule of engagement during a mission codenamed Hammerblow on 2nd November 2010. Many civilian lives were lost as a result of that. Can you describe the situation?"
"We experienced heavy jamming early into the battle and lost communications with AWACS Thunderhead. Amidst radio interference, we caught partial conversations of the 8492nd squadron, a Belkan aggressor squadron flying under Osean colors. When the interference cleared, we were informed by Thunderhead that the town was attacked, and that we were the only ones flying over the region at the time"
"What was the defendant's response when you first heard the unknown chatter?"
"The chatter wasn't unknown. It was the 8492nd's"
"Pardon me, but what was your flight lead's response?"
"The jamming was so heavy that we could barely hear each other. He simply continued the mission and we completed our objectives"
"In other words, he acted as if he knew the Belkan squadron was there"
"Wha- I did not say that!"
"Objection" the defense said. "The prosecution's interpretation is groundless"
"Objection accepted"
". . . Despite your ignorance of the attack, you were charged with the murder of those Yuktobanian civilians. During the trial, did or did not the Osean military deny the existance of the 8492nd?"
"They" Nagase stopped, finally realizing the point of the prosecutor.
"Ma'am?"
"They denied it"
"So now there are two possibilities." the prosecution said. "One, the Wardog squadron lied about the 8492nd and were themselves involved in the plot to kill innocent civilians. Or two: the Osean military was the ones in cahoots with the enemy. Which is it, Ms. Nagase?"
". . ."
"Answer the question please"
I remember struggling for an answer. If I lied, Blaze, and probably I, will be implicated as Gray Men conspirator. Otherwise, the defense's previous point about Blaze following only the orders of Osean Central Command will be undermined because the Command has been infiltrated by the Gray Men.
"Your Honors. The prosecution has no right to demand the witness of answers to such a question" Rosenberg said.
"Mr. Kearny, unless you have proof, please refrain from pressuring the witness. She will answer at her own choosing"
Nagase kept her silence.
"Alright . . . Let's move on" Kearny said. "On December 7, 2010, you returned to Sand Island only to be branded as a traitor and spy. Several people escaped with you"
"Objection" the defense attorney interjected again. "My opponent brought up a confidential OADF report. He cannot use it in this courtroom"
"I have a presidential order granting me access to this information" he said, holding up a piece of paper which one judge then examined.
"This is authentic. Objection overruled. Carry on, prosecutor"
"Why were you accused of treason?"
At that time, I knew what Kearny kept trying to get at. He was trying to prove that the Osean military had been compromised by Belkan operatives, and thus refute Rosenberg's argument that Blaze can no longer be considered a spy during his time in OADF as he did not take direct orders from the Gray Men.
"Because the Adjutant Commander of the Sand Island Base is a Belkan spy"
"So the real traitor was responsible for accusing a decorated officer such as you?"
"Yes"
"How can a single spy make that happen?"
"He somehow managed to convince the Base Commander Leftenant Colonel Perrault that we were the traitors?"
"For how long has Colonel Perrault been influenced by the Adjutant Commander, Allen Hamilton?"
"I have no idea"
"As I understand it, Mr. Perrault has also been accused as an accessory to the Gray Men conspiracy in the Trials. Therefore, I ask this: how can we be sure that the Mr. Schulz, the accused, received no orders from his organization during his time in the OADF? We can't, because the most publicized front line base in the Circum-Pacific War has been compromised to such extent by Gray Men operatives!"
Kearny took his seat after concluding his argument.
"Why don't you ask what Blaze did at that time?" Nagase blurted out.
"There was no purpose to. Your Honors, the witness spoke out of turn-"
"What he did then is important, you cannot ignore it!"
"I, for one, would like the witness to continue" said one judge, and the others agreed.
"He stayed behind to cover for our escape. That was the only way we could escape. Mr. Kearny, you said you have access to report on this matter, right? Why don't you show it? Show that Blaze was tortured and put under solitary lock-up for helping me escape"
Several in the audience began murmuring.
"Prosecutor, do you have such evidence? I advise that you do not withhold it from this court" the center judge warned.
Kearny reluctantly handed that portion of the material he deliberately left out.
"Defense, do you have further questions for the witness?"
"No, Your Honor . . . However, following up what the prosecution said, I have in here," she said, handing the center judge a flash drive "the names of 40 million individuals, including the witness Ms. Nagase, and the prosecutor Mr. Kearny himself. During the Circum-Pacific War, they took orders from the Osean Command in one form or another. If we go by what the prosecution said, that anyone who followed the words of the Osean military is undoubtedly a spy, they we must also prosecute all these 40 million people!"
Voices of objection exploded from the rear of the room.
"Order! Order!" said the center judge, knocking her gavel.
"Her interpretation is unfounded!" Kearny said. "I advise you, Ms. Rosenberg, not to go down a slippery slope!"
"Objection accepted. I agree with the prosecution" said the center judge.
"However" added another judge next to her. "Mr. Kearny's arguments have far-reaching implications. If the five of us accept it, we must also prosecute 40 million people simply because they took orders from an authority which they trusted. That in itself destroys this whole trial for the prosecutor is now an accused and anything he says and does must be subject to proof"
"I agree" said another judge in support of the one who just spoke.
"Your Honors, I don't wish to stall this argument any longer. I would like to address the 2nd charge against my client as soon as possible" said Rosenberg.
"Prosecution, do you have any objections to that?"
"No, ma'am"
"Alright. Prosecution, you may state your case"
"I would like to question the defendant once more"
Blaze got out of his seat next to Rosenberg and walked up to the stand.
"Mr. Schulz. By your own admission on GNN on December 27th, 2010, you were the one who fired the Ark Bird laser on Osean soil?"
". . . Yes"
By this point, I was completely convinced that the prosecution was playing, and betting their case, on Blaze's honesty. How unsightly. They had lost their key evidences and now they depended on the accused for a victory.
"How many people did you think you killed?"
"Objection" Rosenberg said. "Relevance?"
"Objection accepted. Move on, prosecutor"
". . . I have no further questions, Your Honor"
As Rosenberg walked to the front, she stopped right in the middle between the judges' podium and front row of the audience. She looked at each judge and then turned around towards the audience.
"Counselor?" asked the center judge.
"Wilhelm Schulz" she pointed at him. "Everyone knows he's guilty. Gosh, even I think he is a killer! I mean look at the figures: 18 million dead and/or missing! 18 million souls in a single day! We know he is responsible! Why go through this painful hearing? For what? Save all of us from the pain and suffering of this damned circus! We all know what we want in the end. He alone is to blame for all of this. And since he had the audacity to come back to face justice, he must die! So let's kill him already! Shoot him! Blow him up!"
Her words generated a whole slew of objections from the audience. The main judge knocked her gavel to keep them calm, and the moment order returned, Rosenberg continued without pause.
"December 25, 2010, a day which we came to know as Red Christmas, many souls perished and those that survived grieved for their loss. Wilhelm Schulz was in some ways responsible for those deaths, yes. But I ask you this: what would you have done? What would you have done?! What would you have done if you were him, being there seeing something that could destroy this entire planet, and having the ability to stop it yet with it comes a heavy price of sacrifice others to save more? What would you have done?!" Rosenberg repeated. "Do you let the world come to an end? Or do you burden yourself with lives that you have to kill so that many more may live? No person should have to make that choice! But he did. He did so that this world may go on. Look at him. I beg of you, look at him sitting here today being subject to our laws where he could simply run and hide. But no! He chose to stay. He chose to believe that true justice is not justice of the mob. He chose to believe that true justice isn't one where a verdict has already been decided. He chose to believe in the good of his fellow humans."
There was silence for a few moments as everyone absorbed the emotional appeal of the speech which captivated most of the audience. The light of dusk coming from the windows of the room seemed to enhance the effect. Some eyes looked intently at Blaze while others followed the female attorney as she limped her way back to her seat where, before she took a seat, said, "I don't wish to belay this any longer. The defense rests"
"Prosecution, do you have anything to add?"
Kearny and his associate stood up and said, "No, Your Honor"
"Very well, this court will adjourn to consider a verdict. We will reconvene on Friday 13th January 2011 at 9:05 am"
By this time, I was convinced that the judges and audience had been swayed onto Blaze's side. What happened right the next day proved it because some people clearly was so convinced that the verdict will be wrong that they would sacrifice their lives for it. That event greatly influenced me to leave the air force.
"Playing video: GNN news report, 8:00 a.m., outside courtroom building"
"I'm now just outside the steps leading to Versailles courtroom building. We have just received word from the inside the courtroom, in a vote of 3 to 2, Wilhelm Schulz, a former OADF ace pilot and alleged Grey Man conspirator, was found innocent of all charges. Of all the trials of this Court, his is undoubtedly the most publicized-"
On the background behind the reporter, Blaze, Rosenberg and their bodyguards exited the grand double doors of the building and walked down the stairs towards their transport. Barriers and policemen in the surrounding areas struggled to keep onlookers and reporters away from them. Without warning, Rosenberg tripped and fell down the stairs. The two guards ahead of her tried but failed to catch her; their movements revealed an opening. Two men from the crowd broke jumped the barriers, tackled policemen blocking their way and ran straight at Blaze. One guard managed to shoot one on the leg. He fell at Blaze's feet. No one expected what happened next. The two men - wearing bomb vests - committed suicide, taking everyone within 6 ft radius with them.
I don't know how many times I have seen this video, convincing myself that it didn't happen. But the fact is there. Blaze was caught right in the middle of the two explosions, while the guards around him miraculously escaped the same fate. Subsequent reports confirmed his death. But somehow, I have this lingering feeling that he's still alive because he asked me to wait for him, and that feeling was eventually strengthened by something the female FBI agent showed me.
"Playing audio: FBI surveillance bug, Suite 702, Teresa Hotel.
"I think the outcome is decided, don't you think?" Rosenberg said.
"You promised me you would tell me who hired you" Schulz said, ignoring her comments. "And you don't have to keep walking like that. I know your leg is just fine"
" . . . Even this little thing counts in that battlefield called the courtroom. You know many people wants you convicted. So the only way to get out of this is to play on their pity and emotions. If my being crippled helps, then use it. Keep that in mind, Wil"
"And your employer?"
"You"
"What?"
"Deny it all you want"
"I don't understand"
"Hypothetically speaking, I might be the attorney for General Resources, a perfectly ordinary investment company. Hypothetically, that company might be owned by Thomas Grunder and might have a 59 percent stake on Grunder Industries. And hypothetically, the "Grunder" in the company's CEO is not Thomas, but his nephew. Interesting ideas, no?"
"…"
"Never know if someone is listening in . . . Come on, Mr Grunder, don't act as, and don't play me for, a fool. I know you found out about this during your meeting with him. You two struck a deal, right? You need my help if you want to see it through"
"Who are you?"
"Someone who might want to kill you for betraying him"
"Then why are you defending me?"
"It's his last wish and will. No matter what happened, he wanted you to know he loves you"
"He's a self-righteous bastard who believes only in the superiority of his blood"
A sound that sounded like a slap could be heard after he said that.
". . . Are you close with him?" he asked in a much subdued tone.
". . . I loved him very much"
Following that admission, silence ensued for several minutes.
"What about Helmine?"
"You wanted me to help her in exchange for your cooperation, right? Don't worry, I finish her case by tomorrow. The prosecution has nothing against her. But what do you want to do with her after? That girl has a serious medical condition"
"I must take care of her. Her plight may be caused by Grunder, but I must pay for his crimes if I were to go ahead with the plan"
"So, I can take that as a go-ahead?" she asked.
"Yes, but I won't follow Grunder's path. I will find my own"
"Whatever and however you convinced yourself is none of my business. But you still have one loose end not taken care of"
"What do you mean?"
"For the sake of our future partnership, we cannot pretend at every chance we get. You know who I mean"
". . . She will not be a problem"
"I see . . . Well, I will convey your decision to him. . . Good night"
Though their conversation was as cryptic as if they knew someone was listening in on them, I was convinced enough that the "plan" mentioned involved the suicide bombing that killed Blaze. The fact that the FBI illegally obtained the audio made further investigations difficult. How do all this connect to my mother's death, you ask? I asked myself that question too. How can Blaze, someone who saved the world so dramatically, and then died equally dramatically, be involved in her mother's murder?
"Playing audio: Audio bug, Tangier, Ustio"
"How did it go?" asked a man amidst static noises and random chatter in the background.
"We got it. But there's a complication. A woman got in the way. It was an accident" replied a woman.
"Who is she?"
There was silence for a few seconds.
"Shit" said the man.
"Do we need to tell him?" she asked.
"No. It will complicate matters. You made sure no witnesses?"
"Yes. But I really feel he should know"
"And how do you think he's going to take this? That woman's her-" the man stopped abruptly before continuing. "It's your neck on the line of you want to tell him"
The male in the tape, Liam Ahmed, a General Resources employee, was seen by an FBI stake-out team in the company of an infamous drug dealer in Sapin. Naturally, they began tailing him. Though I realize that the recording gave nothing definite, it gave strong indications that General Resources, my mother's death, and perhaps Blaze, were related somehow. But the tape evidence hit a brick wall for the man apparently never existed in the company records. Even Osean Registry – where Ahmed was previously listed as a consultant for General Resources- listed him as a driver for another, unrelated trucking company. There was no hint of data manipulations in the Registry. I dug deeper into the investment company but their official records are clean. They specialized in stock trading of numerous corporations in the world, nothing more, nothing less. They experienced loss and gain like any other similar companies. There was nothing to implicate – at least officially- them.
I found myself sighing. For all these years, why do I do what I do? The view from my apartment in that moonlit night was a much needed intermission from my thoughts. I undid my hair and let it fall below my shoulders. Suddenly, ringing could be heard from my pocket. Must be Tanaka, I thought. He was my partner in the Interpol. I flicked open my mobile phone and answered.
"Nagase, I just got a breakthrough" a man said enthusiastically.
He was about to continue when a loud bang rang out from the other side of the call.
"Tanaka? What-"
I suddenly sensed movements outside my apartment door. I grabbed my gun and relocated behind cover. Amidst the silence, I could hear the beeping of the pad key entry to the front door. They were trying to bypass its passkey. But I didn't expect them to crack it so quickly. The door opened a few seconds later, and something was thrown into the room. I immediately covered my eyes. But it was too late. The flash-bang blinded me. Within seconds, I was disarmed and pinned to the ground. By the time I regained my sight and hearing, several heavily armed soldiers were already in the room.
"Sweep the place and clear all evidence" said one of them before speaking into his mobile phone. "Bravo-One here. Target secured"
The soldiers clearly knew what they were doing. They wiped my laptop clean and checked my apartment for bugs even inside my underwear drawer. Without a weapon, I couldn't escape or overpower them.
"Who are you?" I asked.
They remained silent. After a few minutes, however, they packed up their equipment and simply left. The last one to leave left my weapon at the doorstep. As I moved to recover it, I heard someone walking towards the door. This one's footsteps, though deliberately lightened, weren't as rushed as those soldiers'. I waited behind my shoe cabinet and aimed my sidearm at the door. Just as expected, the footsteps drew closer until it stopped behind the door.
"Hello, Kei" said a voice I definitely recognized.
My throat felt choked as I could not muster up words of reply. His voice took me completely by surprise. Though I tried convincing myself that it was just a trick, or that it was the voice of someone else, parts of me wanted it to be otherwise.
"I'm sorry for not telling you, for leaving you behind, for everything" he said, as if knowing the questions she asked just moments ago. "I couldn't involve you. It was too dangerous . . . I knew I was being unfair to you. I can see you everyday, but you can't see me."
I walked toward the front door and touched it. But somehow, I couldn't bear to open it.
"If you want, please come see me. I will explain everything. Hopefully, you will understand"
"I miss you" I whispered, my voice barely audible.
". . . I miss you" his voice said, just as softly as mine.
I knew, and people told me I was, tough, but tears began forming on my eyes. As his footsteps began moving away, I dropped to my knees, still trying to absorb the revelation. He was gone when I finally opened the door. In his place was a book, my old storybook which I thought I lost.
A/N: Dum, dum, dum! What an 'ending', eh? *takes cover from flying pots and rotten tomatoes and/or eggs* I'm itching for more chapters and/or a sequel, but there's no "Eureka!" moments for a plot yet. And, sigh, school is starting again. How time flies . . . Thanks to everyone who read this story, especially to yellow 14 and general MB. *bows*