Life was bustling in the Valley which was once a barren plain with the only resource it was plentiful in being hard granite rock but unfortunately there was no market to import those heavy rocks.
There had been drastic changes to the landscape particularly around the compound to the Arsenal, along the entire stretch of road to the gates were shop houses and tents with merchants and market grocers.
The Arsenal had formed a steady paying job for three hundred employees and with the numbers steadily growing. Naturally, people sought to either join or at least make a living out of such a large concentration of people in one area. Sales businesses and markets wanted the employees to spend their recently earned salaries on their wares and so it wasn't just people looking for a job in the arsenal that gathered. In a matter of three weeks, a small town had formed at the entrance road to the arsenal.
It was Maya who had the foresight to make full use of this influx of people coming to the valley. She contracted Saras to have the super-builders of 3rd Company build for her ready-made shop houses to rent out to merchants for a more permanent shop. They were also made to build a small inn to accommodate short-term visitors, a public well for daily water consumption and a soup kitchen to provide low costing meals for the construction workers and others that were around the arsenal. These were all worthy investments that Maya took into consideration as it would stimulate the stagnancy in his domain and drastically improve the standard of living for the people. Within the two weeks which Ajay wasn't around, these projects had already been completed by them. For their quick yet efficient work, Maya payed them handsomely from Ajay's pocket.
Ajay was considerably wealthy despite his dressing of denim jeans and working jacket that he wore on his free time and the only other pair of combat fatigues that Mr. Chiffon designed for him when he donned the mantle of Badala. Maya had accompanied him on several occasions where he went treasure hunting for diamonds, rubies and other valuable items scattered around the mountainous regions of Kyrat. Hidden over centuries with no one to lay claim to them until Ajay picked them with relative ease like they were already his. He had a natural skill as a tomb raider for finding these treasures as well as getting to them which was not a feat just anyone could perform. There was also that occasional hunting of rare animals for Mr. Chiffon who paid him top dollar for their unique hides. She once had the pleasure of meeting the man who first laid eyes on her and declared her the Aphrodite to Ajay's Adonis. Offering to pay her to wear his clothes, Chiffon was quite well known amongst Kyrati high society who waited in a line and paid high premiums to bid for even one article of his clothing. So there really wasn't a reason to refuse, if it made him happy, she'd just try on his creations. But it wasn't like she wanted them in the first place, absolutely not!... Definitely-…not!...
There were also the funds which King Min provided to him as a Vice-Lord which he used mostly to purchase the machines and procured the raw materials with, not forgetting the employees' salaries as well. All the additional costs were however covered with the riches he acquired. Ajay handed control over his assets to her as Maya asked of him. The last time she saw him give away those precious stones to the rest of the mercenaries that left the country, it worried her about his spend thrift ways.
As for the rest, Longinus was out procuring machinery that Ajay ordered from him, his purchase was legitimate this time. They were brand new CNC machines and rifling machines coming from Switzerland for precision cutting. They were the most expensive purchase yet, it almost depleted Ajay's considerable wealth, Maya still couldn't understand why he went to the extent of buying such expensive machines for only simple production. Samson figured it was for long-term planning. He wanted good quality machines to not only build weapons and special cartridge cases but further. Ajay wasn't around to share this with her at the moment but she planned to ask him the moment he returned.
"At least he isn't wasting those funds on lavish parties or other stupid purchases!" Maya ended voicing her complaints with the only bright note to his entire operation. Lending an ear to her complaints was Saraswati who happened to stop by to check on how she was doing.
"Ah!- Thank you!" Saras received the cup of Kyrati brewed tea from Elina's steady hands who offered them tea before returning to her new office to run her duties.
Saras took a whiff of the fragrance before indulging in the milk goodness. "Mmmm….. this tea's really good, reminds me of the cup I once had in the Royal Palace."
"That's because it is from the Royal Palace…" Saras realized it was too good to be true, just how did Maya come to acquire such highly demanded tea leaves?
"If you're wondering how I got it, it was through Badala's connection with the Palace kitchen." She tried to save herself time on explaining in a roundabout way that she simply mentioned Ajay to the Chef Patrick and Royal Supplier and they threw a crate full to her.
"So what have you been up to?" Maya only just starts to ask about Saras.
"Well I've been fine, thank you very much!" Saras chuckles in her usual manner at Maya's slowness in checking on how she was and going straight to talking about how horrible it was to manage all the workloads with Ajay gone.
"Lots happening after Sugun's humiliating demise, father left me to manage the Army in his stead while he was reorganizing the Royal Guards."
"Mmmm…." Maya was aware of this change but was still unsure how it would affect her arrangement, she was after all still a Royal Guard too although of a very special category.
The Royal Guard had indeed been divided though careful planning. Half of its strength was used to form four regiments, one was assigned to be border guards and another became rapid response units to internal and external threats. The last two were made into light infantry regiments specializing in heli-borne operations and high-speed raids on mounted vehicles. And the other half of its strength was in the midst of reorganizing into the first Kyrat National Police Agency.
There was still a feeling of exclusiveness to the units that the Royal Guards formed into although they answered directly to Arjun and his successors in future, no longer directly to Pagan. This would appease the warrior clans and prominent families in Kyrat's court that have had a long history in serving dozens of Kings over the course of its sovereignty. Ajay had said many times that the Royal Guard being a separate entity from the Army was redundant. They would have their own budget and spending, which took from the portion that was allocated to the Army. Having them together they could utilize over a hundred percent of the military budget to fund and equip their soldiers consistently. Besides, the Royal Guards did nothing while the Army had been warring with the Golden Path in the South for decades.
The projections showed that the average trooper was now adequately dressed and was equipped with body armor as standard. Arms and munitions were still a problem that the now twice as large Royal Army was facing. But they had the munitions that Sugun had the Royal Guard hoard in the armories, including the stinger missiles that they recovered from the airlift. Although those anti-air weapons weren't much use against a non-air oriented Golden Path they were still dangerous weapons they couldn't leave lying around. Arjun had them kept in reserve with a mobile unit in case there was ever a need to use them, hopefully there wouldn't be.
"Managing the Army on your own? That just makes what I've been doing all this while seem cute in comparison!" Maya had great respects for Saras as a model to base on.
"Aren't you doing a good job yourself, Mistress Maya?" She replied jokingly about her position of running the arsenal and the newly constructed town.
"Touché!" Maya stroked the soft fluffy fur of Bishal who was too keen to have contact with its mistress. The white tiger cub grew quite considerably since they last found him, and was about the height of a fully grown Lynx. While still young, it would grow to be as fierce as its mother and put on a few dozen pounds more. Being a hunter, Maya had been taught the secret methods of domesticating wild animals but her bond with the tiger made it seem needless. She literally went on walks with Bishal unchained as it wouldn't attack anyone so long as Maya was around. This garnered the attention of everyone, and it became a symbol of her power in Ajay's domain so nobody questioned her again like the last time.
Looking out the window, the hunters Darshan and Anish were running around doing some errands for her and Bipin.
"Just a while longer then I can finally get back to the field!" Maya stretched her limbs.
"You certainly seem excited to return to where Badala is!" Saras giggled loudly.
"I know what you're implying and the answer is no!" She told her straight.
"You're starting to get good at reading me, dear!"
"Please don't put me in the same category as you."
"Oh? And what would that be?" She was peculiar of Maya's perspective of her.
"Wile, flirtatious, thinking of yourself as just irresistible!" Saras smiled gleefully.
"I'll take that as a compliment. I'm not just some pushover woman that obeys her husband like those wretches in the court or elites." Saras admits to her ideals.
"I guess we're the only ones that made it this far, huh?" Maya said smiling, referring to her and Saras as the only ones with actual authority in the military. Every other woman were ladies of their houses.
"Indeed." Saras agreed as she helped herself to the brewed tea once more. The continued to gaze as the flowing traffic of passing caravans down at the street below from Maya's office.
"Look at what he's done to this place, I bet if our kids ever knew this place was once the desolate Valley of Death they'd have shaking legs!" Saras exclaimed.
"You plan to have children?" She didn't seem the type to want brats.
"Of course, and needless to say with whom."
"I'll say this as advice once more, you might want to rethink your decision. He's not like what he portraits himself to be." Maya cautioned her.
"Oh? Then pray tell, what's he like then?"
"First off, what's your impression of him? Why are you so interested in him? He's killed like hundreds without flinching, commits atrocities like forcing Samson to kill his men or rigging human traps for the Golden Path fighters. He even admits that what he does goes against human rights! What's so appealing to you?" Maya wanted to know, was she one of those sick people?
"What Badala's real name, Maya?" Saras asked instead.
"All I can say is the King has censored it personally." Maya remained quiet about it.
"I see….. and why do you suppose he chose the name Badala and donned that Yalung mask?"
"I-…. To scare his enemies, I guess…" Saras shook her head.
"He's afraid he'll implicate us in his fights. It feels like he's thinks he's fighting the Golden Path on his own…. You remember, right? When he tried to blow the Golden Path at Meh Teh Airport with him before sending us away."
Maya remembered clearly, how couldn't she. It was like Ajay was on some suicide rampage.
"That strength is what I admire, but if it were just strength alone I'd fall for any old how that displayed their power. He's a rather romantic fellow too!" Saras chuckles as she recalls her last request from him.
"So even if he really did hide something from me, I don't find it a problem. Because he would never let it hurt me."
"Saras-…" Maya didn't think she'd think on her relationships so seriously, despite her nonchalant character.
"That's just my thoughts, you don't have to dig into it too hard!" She laughs.
"Do you want to know his name?" Saras was caught by surprise by what Maya said and hesitated for a while but said….
"No." Quite seriously.
"Why?! Isn't it what you wanted, won't you feel secure knowing something about someone that you're interested in?!"
Maya looked to Saras eagerly for answers, while the later drank from the teacup calmly.
"What's the point if I don't hear it from him myself, that I didn't make an effort to improve my relationship with him and cut corners instead? I don't feel gratified, neither does feel like I put my all into making him mine!"
After Maya heard this from her fellow woman she laughed, but it was more of on herself as what Saras saw.
"I really envy you Saraswati Roka… not everyone can be as honest as you!" She said without making eye contact with her.
"Envious on me? What about yourself?"
"Huh?"
"It isn't just being indulged to such sensitive info but you. Among everyone else, you are the only one that seems to understand him the best and he knows that. That's why he relied on you this much, how can I not be jealous!" Saras said smiling warmly.
Maya sighed. No wonder everyone thought they were a couple, because they were interacting like one. Except there was no smooching or lovey dovey nonsense, they were arguing or discussing all the time in the presence of others. But in the more private moments, Ajay turned to her for closure, there were things that even he couldn't keep bottled inside. So she was there to lend an ear to listen as he poured out why he had been fighting all this while.
Her conclusion, Ajay was more broken than what many believed him to be. Something in his past had shattered him so badly that he turned to helping the kingdom, helping King Min in order to redeem his soul. And he went at it with little regard for his own life.
-What does he expect to get out of doing all this?-
Maya hoped that Ajay could return to enlighten her further on it.
Day 17, and the Golden Path still didn't suspect him. Nobody questioned his origin nor inhuman abilities in combat. How dumb were they? He overestimated Sabal and Amita on these accounts, because all they cared about was using him against the other party. Even in this timeline they still fought with each other, not that it surprised him or anything but there were subtle changes in their behavior from before.
Particularly Sabal, he was more prone to aggressive behavior and even lashed out when something didn't please him. What was responsible for this change was the disfiguring of half of his good looks. Combining his aggressive attitude with a frightening visage of bandages poorly covering the wounds earned him the name Rakshasa amongst the younger fighters, a terrible foe unleashed onto the Royal Army and Pagan. It didn't seem to affect his charisma though, in fact it made him more assertive towards his demands which was causing Amita strain on her end. Ajay asked around on how Sabal attained that scar and to his surprise they responded it was Badala. He had apparently been in the proximity of a trip mine that was underhandedly laid beneath some tied up comrades on the attempt on Pagan's life.
In other words, Ajay did that to him.
There was a tinge of joy in Ajay's heart, knowing he inflicted great hurt onto Sabal.
"You're worn that creepy smile for three days now, what in the word are you so happy about?" Kamala asked him out of concern for his mental state.
-Nothing. Just some good tidings.-
"O-Ok?... So anyway, how about I treat you to dinner tonight? What do you say?" Kamala asked eagerly.
Kamala was one of the better people in the Golden Path that he met. Ajay saw her as what the Golden Path should have been like but was unfortunately too incompetent and conceit. That's what happens when there are two conflicting ideals in leadership represented by Sabal and Amita.
Sabal looked to religion to overcome one's problems, to seek inner peace and sanctuary in the tradition that was set in stone by their ancestors.
Amita on the other hand was more into industry, how to improve the lives of the people and women in particular. Making her extremely popular with the same gender.
But if there was anything they had in common besides wearing the same uniform would be their lust for power. Ajay knew Sabal well enough to know that he was only using tradition as an excuse to justify his actions as a righteous cause, what he truly wanted was power over the masses. Bhadra was one of the means to get closer to that dream of his. In the past, when Amita accused him of wanting to marry Bhadra which he didn't deny nor admit to it.
Amita wasn't an angel herself, on one occasion where he was deployed to capture and not destroy the brick factory that produced heroin and meth he saw a glitter in her eyes as she looked upon the factory goods being brought out. Even Rabi Ray Rana was hosting talks about how she would expand a drug empire from Kyrat. So far, what balanced the power between them was Bhadra who was by Amita's side presently.
If Bhadra was on Sabal's end, he'd have full support over the Golden Path so that was how important her supposed position was as the next Tarun Matara. Ajay didn't have good thoughts about that mantle, to him it was a curse that need not have been. The cause of more death than any other reason in Kyrat, take Ishwari as an example.
Like usual, Ajay visited Bhadra to hear her thoughts and dreams. Bhadra was especially happy to see him as it was one of the things she looked forwards to the most. Ajay was the only one not to acknowledge her position as the Tarun Matara which seperated her from same age peers or simply someone to talk to. Amita became aware of Ajay's closeness to Bhadra as was expected of being her guardian. And she tried to tag along with her on their meetings to determine if the silent soldier could join her cause through Bhadra. She mentioned to him in one of their meetings what Bhadra might have to go through if Sabal were in full power and she wasn't wrong on that. Ajay knew best of all.
He did consider Amita's suggestion though, not like he thought she was any better than Sabal but by giving her a hand he might be able to balance the power between the two parties while they were at each other's throats and kill each other off or just plot against one another. This made it significantly easier for the Royal Army to counter attack while they were still arguing on what they should prioritize on. That just left only one more variable, Willis.
Since his entry into the Golden Path he had not even seen that Alex Baldwin sounding fucker. Truth be told, he hated Willis as much as Sabal and not being able to find him made him really pissed off. The last he heard from rumors were that he was over at Varshakot doing something with Paul's forces. Saras's report was they were in a stalemate with the Golden Path but Ajay wasn't convinced.
Willis was here for a purpose and that was to destabilize this region in the interest of his agency and country. There was also a rumor of a supply drop by air, no one else would have that ability in the Golden Path except him.
If staying here wouldn't help him enough, then he was heading over to Paul's region to investigate.
As for Sabal and Amita, they were the same as ever so there really wasn't any need to interfere. But Bhadra… To the victor his spoils, Bhadra was that prize. To use her as a figure head to rally the Kyratis' to fight behind them and as a means to control Kyrat through back stage manipulation.
Bhadra was a cheerful girl, although reserved to things that are unfamiliar because Amita kept her in close areas. Ajay had formed a special bond with the girl, although she didn't know it, she had a special ability at listening and providing others the words they needed to hear in times of trouble. What this the reason she was chosen as Tarun Matara, the spiritual leader?
Ajay really wanted to take her away from this place that he knew would ruin her in time to come, but only if she wanted to.
-I wonder what type of effect it'll have on the Golden Path when they find out I kidnap Bhadra.-
The another day of patrols had ended with the sunlight fading. The jeep parked at the curb and the five of them jumped out making their way up the steps to Headquarters to report their success at delivering a shipment of precious artifacts. It was dark in Banapur but a figure could be made out from the torches waiting for them at the end of the steps.
"Sabal?"
"I expected nothing less from you, sister!" He placed his hands on Kamala's shoulders as he congratulated her on a job well done. Ajay walked pass them onwards back to the bunks where he could finally sleep, he hadn't eaten yet but fatigue took hold of him.
"Uh-." Kamala had intended to go out with Ajay to have a dinner on her for the help he did.
"Yah! Took'em down and save the damsel's in distress like Robin Hood!" Hurk exclaimed as he joined the party with Kamala and Sabal, denying her the opportunity to leave them and catch up to Ajay.
Ajay yawned as he was walking back to his bunk, he took out his phone when he received a message.
*Finished up with delivering the Royal Army their supplies. Turning in, goodnight!* It was a text from Samson reporting on his job being finished for the day.
*Good job. Return to standby in the Arsenal, have a good rest.* He wrote before closing the phone.
"Soren, is that you?" Ajay turned to the young voice, the light from inside the house revealed it to be Bhadra, who opened the door to the house she lived in with Amita.
Ajay waved and went on his way.
"Soren, wait!"
Bhadra came running over to stop him from moving onwards. Ajay patiently waited for her to speak.
"Um-….. have you eaten yet? Would you like to join us?" She offered but was almost like she was pleading him to.
"Why not give in to her, she's been talking about inviting you over since this morning!" Amita came over smiling. That woman had a really beautiful smile, if she wasn't always pissed off because of Sabal perhaps he might have supported her instead in the past. Or was that the secret to her success, a charismatic smile?
Ajay nodded, there wasn't any reason to refuse either.
Bhadra pulled him excitedly into the small house with Amita giggling on. Being around with Bhadra, he would of course encounter Amita who was sort of like her guardian. The Kyrati woman had often tagged along with Bhadra to see Ajay, he knew why she was doing so too.
To get her hands on that secret Golden Path weapon, Soren before Sabal did. Ajay's hypothesis was, if Sabal was as cunning and deceitful as Ajay knew him to be, then Amita would be just as good at it as well. If not, she wouldn't have been contesting with Sabal over control on the Golden Path leading to their name, the 'Two-headed elephant'. It meant that if his choice had fallen upon Amita, the result would have been the same; the destruction of Kyrat and his death at their hands.
On the table was set for a Kyrati cuisine, three matching plates and silverware were placed on the table neatly.
-Looks like I've been expected.-
Bhadra brought him to have a seat before they did.
"I hope you're alright with something spicy tonight." Amita informs him, he types on his phone and presents it to her.
-I'm not a picky eater, It's the thought that counts. Thank you.-
"Don't mention it, Soren. Now come, let's eat!"
They dug in and Ajay quickly learnt Amita was giving him a heads up on the chilli found in the dishes. He was coughing and gasping for water, nearly broke silence too. Amita and Bhadra laughed long and hard at his agony.
-Seriously! What's in here?! Not even Pagan's chilli crab was this hot!-
Finally, Bhadra came over with a glass of water from the sink. Ajay gratefully accepted to quench his thirst and to clear the chilli still burning his mouth. That was Kyrati spice for you, even hotter that those Thai spicy fried chickens he had before.
Ajay went onto the other dishes, a nice stir fried vegetable with garlic quickly became his favorite dish out of all of them.
"You like it?" Amita noticed him taking fancy to that dish. Ajay gave a thumbs up.
"It was made by Bhadra, good for you squirt!" She tussled her charges hair on her head. Ajay writes on his phone.
-I'll hate to disappoint my host but it was the best dish in the spread in my opinion.-
"Really?" Ajay nodded, Amita pouted at his comment but laughed anyhow.
-I'm a poor appreciator of spice so forgive my transgression, ma'am!-
Ajay made a mock worshiping motion to Amita who chuckled at his humor and played along.
"I pardon you." She said with her left hand held over Ajay's head.
Bhadra laughed loudly at their routine. "Amita only knows how to cook spicy meals-."
"Bhadra!-…"
Ajay laughed so hard he almost spoke again.
They took a while to settle down before they returned to their seats. Bhadra started explaining her day and what she saw outside. She'd ask Ajay for his opinion on the sights she had taken in on her journey to and from Chal Jama Monastery and the crematorium, these were the only two paths she walked along for the past ten years before her family died.
Much time passed and it had already reached midnight.
"I think it's time for you to sleep, Bhadra." Amita reminded her.
"Awwww!" Bhadra whined.
"You still have to wake up early tomorrow to practice on your archery."
Bhadra turned to Ajay.
"Well, I'll guess I'll see you tomorrow then!" She set a meeting with him before turning in.
-It's time for me to go back as well, goodnight Bhadra!-
"Goodnight." Bhadra said before she went into her room.
-Thanks for the dinner, Amita.- Ajay typed for Amita.
"No worries." He took his rifle from the porch ready to leave when-
"Ah!- Soren, might I have a chat with you before you turn in?" Amita blocked his way to the door dangling a bottle of whisky in hopes to persuade him for to stay for a few words.
-Here we go…- Ajay knew what she was about to do, but stayed for a free drink.
"Thank you. How bout we have this at the patio?" Ajay just nodded.
In the patio was a coffee table with two rocking chairs facing the open air, the moonlight shone on the patio adding to the serenity and ambience.
Amita took her seat at one of the chairs and offered the other to Ajay, she poured out some of the whisky for him and for herself.
Ajay nodded to show his appreciation for the drink as she handed it to him.
Amita gulped down her drink in an instant. "Ahhh!" With a satisfying sigh. Ajay took careful sips from the cup but held it in his mouth, he wasn't sure if Amita spiked it so he let it splash around in his mouth for a while. He didn't need to move his mouth so it was fine, he'd just let it stay for five minutes to see what were the effects on Amita who took a drink as well. Call him suspicious but he had absolutely no defense against Sabal's honeyed words the last time.
"A ten-year bottle, something I found on one of my first combat missions when they let me go. It was also the time I tasted first victory over capturing an outpost from the Royal Army, it was the best taste ever with nothing coming closer! I've only drunken it on days of celebration or when I feel down to remind myself of the good times. You might be the first person I've ever shared it with, don't you feel lucky?" She said with her signature smile.
Ajay typed quickly on his smartphone with one hand while the other held the cup.
-To the first then.- He raised his cup to Amita, she chuckled at his humor and collided their cups in cheers to her first guest that shared her prized whisky.
This time Ajay gulped down the previous dose and drunk the second at hand.
"You truly are an enigma you know that, Soren? I won't lie, the first time I saw you I thought nothing of you. Just that you were a little braver than others for signing up just when we suffered a horrible defeat to the Northern Demon. Now all the fighters and commanders are so terrified when his next assault on the Golden Path will take place. We have literally no defense against him in the event he attacks Banapur himself… That was until we meet you."
There was no change in Ajay's expression, he wanted to reveal as little as possible for her to play at him.
"Slaughtering an entire company of Royal Guards and killing Sugun without receiving so much as a scratch in return!"
Ajay raised his finger to point out that he was not responsible for Sugun's death but Amita held her hand in front to stop him.
"I don't know what were your intentions on handing away the credit to that girl but it hasn't changed the Golden Path leaderships' opinion of you, Soren. I know they've been handing you recommendations to move to the frontline but you've refused them on every occasion. Might I ask why? Isn't your goal fighting the Royal Army to avenge your family and friends in this civil war?"
Amita was well informed on the history he posted to the recruitment, it seemed she had been doing some research on him but could only come up with this half-ass attempt to persuade him.
-It seems I've been misinterpreted.- Was all he said to her causing her to lose her cool as he got up from his seat to indicate he was leaving.
"I've misread? Wait! Then please tell me why you fight with us then?"
Ajay looked into her eyes and found she was genuinely interested to see what drove him rather than use it as a means to bring him over to her faction.
-I'm only here to stand against indifference, not to influence waves.-
"Indifference?... Influence?..." She was having trouble comprehending what kind of meaning there were to his sentence.
-It was nice of you to share this bottle, I'll remember this show of generosity.- He typed to her before picking up his rifle for the second time before leaving. This time Amita didn't prevent him from leaving, she was still thinking about what he said.
Amita had never expected this mute to be so intelligent to know what she was planning, a miscalculation on her part. There was never anyone like this among the grunts, Ajay had proven this to be wrong. She still didn't know why a person of his caliber was still a mere fighter instead of a strategist or a field commander.
One thing remained in her thoughts, she would stop at nothing to attain herself the silent soldier.
Ajay was now wide awake thanks to the alcohol in his system but he planned to do his best to get some rest for the next day's routine.
"Little late for night visits isn't it brother?" A familiar an ever annoying voice came from the shadow cased by the buildings in the narrow alley.
Sabal steps out of the cover of darkness to face Ajay. "Your interaction with Bhadra isn't exactly subtle on any level, brother. I assume Amita gave you a sob story on how harsh life was as the pioneer woman in the Golden Path no doubt. Believe me, she did that to me as well."
Sabal chuckled at the irony that the lowly soldier became his direct opponent to full control over the Golden Path. Except for those old geezers in the old Guard who only wanted a dead man to lead them. Ajay walked around Sabal and continued on his way.
"Whatever she meant to you, it won't matter in the future when she is crowned Tarun Matara!" What Sabal said stopped him in his tracks just as Sabal had planned.
Ajay turned around to Sabal and gave him the deadliest glare he could muster and it successfully made Sabal stumble a few steps back with nothing coming out of his open mouth. Ajay continued on his way to the bunks leaving Sabal alone to wallop in the empty streets.
Sabal grit his teeth in anger. He didn't know why but that look made him feel all the fury burst out of him, he had been made aware of Amita's attempt to recruit him but wasn't sure of her result. Waiting outside to determine if he was really joining her but it didn't seem to be the case which was fortunate. He planned to convince him of the way Amita handled things would only lead to a failing state and how he was different in hoping to restore order by giving the people the spiritual support they needed in their daily lives. But then again, those piercing eyes made him forget his original objective….. and why did it look so familiar? Sabal had the feeling he had only just recently seen them yet it made a huge impact on him, but right now the thought was merely drifting in his head with no clear answer. Still, if Amita didn't manage to attain Soren's support that was alright.
"Sabal-.." A dispatch came to him.
"WHAT!" His mood had fouled already. The dispatch bent his head timidly when faced with his wrath. Sabal quickly corrected his mannerism.
"Forgive me, brother! I was just having a really bad moment, I didn't mean to shout at you. So what is it you wish to tell me?" The dispatch accepted it rather easily after Sabal explained.
"It's a report from the elements in De Pleur's region, the American spy has call in help from his country."
Sabal's face was full of fury.
"That bastard!-…."
Sabal had stressed many times that Willis was not to bring in soldiers or military advisers from the US or any other outside nation. Mohan had done the exact same thing before, because the moment foreign intervention came into play, there was a possibility for higher collateral damage in the end or a prolonging of the conflict at the interest of outside groups. Sabal remembered seeing on the television that one foolish president from the United States that launched an attack on a certain Middle Eastern which had nothing to do with an attack on his domestic soil on two skyscrapers. The possibility of Kyrat facing a similar fate as that middle east nation was only a stone throw away with the unwarranted things Willis was doing.
"I swear, I'll gut him! Send a message to the council, bring in the reserves to the staging area at Varshakot. We've got some spring cleaning to do!"
Willis took a deep puff from his favorite cigar to clear out the smell of the air he found distasteful.
"I know you're there, why don't you take that silent and deadly crap you people've learnt and shove it right where it belongs!" He said without turning to the forest to his back.
Out from the trees and bushes came men dressed in the forest green camouflage not native to Kyrat.
"Agent Huntley?" The leader asked.
"Who else? Don't you jarheads read the files before dropping?"
The marines were already finding him to be a prick on first impressions but remained quiet about their thoughts. Their leader stepped forward to greet him.
"Captain David Goh, 4th Recon Marines, Force Recon. JSOC has sent me here to pick you up."
"Woah there!-… pick me up? I sent a request for black assets to help me fuck up the local ecosystem here! Besides, I'm far from done here."
"Agent Huntley, we've been briefed on your little detour off the route which was specified to you. I have direct orders from the director Lynch to pull you out of Kyrat and back on track to Russia. We can do this the easy way or the hard where I'll have Perkins here tie and gag you, where your trip the rest of the way will be anything but comfortable."
The marine officer motioned his subordinate already to move over to restrain him.
"Hey! Hey! Hey! Hands off buttercup! And what was that you said?-….Lynch?" Willis found something hard to believe in the Officer's report.
"That's right, sir. Director Paul Lynch has sent-."
Willis broke into a hysterical laughter and began bending over to hold his guts that were hurting from laughing. The marines did nothing while he struggled to recover from his laughter.
In a few seconds he recovered and looked at the Officer with a serious expression.
"No. Go back and tell Paul where the fuck does he get off telling me of all people what to do?! After what he did to me! Left me to take the blame on that op gone south! I spent twenty years on Rook Island! 20 YEARS! Because he didn't man up, and now you're telling me he's the fucking director?! Tell him to fuck off, I'm doing this op right first!" Willis screamed twenty years of built up anxiety at the marines
The marine Officer had no words to convey to him, apparently the director left this bit out from his briefing and the file he was handed.
"We aren't here to chit-chat, we're here to throw you back on track. With or without your permission. Whatever affair you had with Director Lynch is none of our concern."
"Oh yeah?!- Then let me put you on the same page then!" The marine officer wasn't sure what he meant when he said so.
"(Sigh) You know… I almost knew this day would come…luckily I prepared for it!" Willis took out a file that looked extremely worn.
"Yunno-…. I'd bet sitting in the director's seat in Langley must be really comfortable. So comfortable that you could almost forget all the trivial details of the mess you went through in your younger days in the field. I wonder what kind of face he'll wear when this gets released to the public, that'll probably feel like the dream you worked your entire life to achieve getting shattered in an instant!"
Captain Goh frowned, he was more than aware of what Willis held in his hand, it was Lynch's dirty little scandal with Willis. Enough to end his career in the CIA and their involvements under his authorization in several theaters around the world if he is found with this scandal. Willis was blackmailing them.
"Do you know what twenty years does to you in the field? It's horned my skills to the very best, I've got backup plans within backup plans and I've been doing it before you even left the cradle! So don't think you can just take me out and burn this file and think that'll be it, I've got loads of these back in an undisclosed location!" Willis told him expressively as he probed the Officer's shoulder.
"So what'll it be sunshine? Were you sent to pick me up or help me destabilize this country?"
Captain Goh thought about it for a while, he'd have to contact Lynch to inform him of the situation.
"What do you want us to do, sir?" Captain Goh gave up his idea of dragging Willis back for now. Willis's grumpy looks turned upside down with glee.
There was no way a slouch in a desk job could beat him at a game he'd been playing for decades.
"I want you to kill a guy that goes by the name Badala. But first, you'll need to rattle a cage first to find him!"
