Beyond the Rivers of Jordan
Book 1: River Crossings
Chapter 9
JAG Internal Network
Log entry no: 20018777
"I choose the blue pill. Shut up, Tiner."
User ID: Laurensinger
Mess Room, JAG HeadquartersFalls Church, VA
0834 ZULU
Victor held out his mug for the other to pour the coffee. The strong aroma filled his nostrils, beginning his 'wake up' process. His lips curved discreetly, coffee was improving.
"Well done on that scholarship, Tiner," he complimented.
"Thank you, Gunny…" the other replied.
"He couldn't have done it without some help," Singer had to put in one of her snide remarks as she came in and gruffly snatched the pot from Tiner to pour herself a cup. Victor glanced up from his cup, deciding not to jump to his defense to see what he would say. He wasn't disappointed.
"Got stuck with the loser cases again, ma'am?"
Singer glared back at him and promptly told him to "Shut up, Tiner," – before she swung back out of the mess. Improving, Victor commented silently once more.
*********
JAG HeadquartersFalls Church, VA
"After all that effort, Mr. Webb…"
Clay scowled, AJ just had to rub salt into that wound.
"I found it hard to believe myself," Bobbi commented.
"Although I'm thoroughly, enjoying myself right now," he added, raising his voice, "I can't say it makes up enough to cover for how pissed off I am! Do you have any idea how much this is going to set us back?"
"That's why the SecNav made additional arrangements…" the third replied.
"Additional arrangements? ADDITIONAL ARRANGEMENTS! Why you…"
"Alright!" Bobbi interjected, "take it easy…" she stood to motion an infuriated AJ back into his seat, "Killing him is not going to make life any easier on yourself…"
Clay snickered some more, and Bobbi immediately got to him, "And you! You better shut your trap on those smart ass remarks or I'm going to shut you down!"
Clay shifted in his seat, reluctantly doing as was told. He let AJ continue his belly aching, "We're in over heads in cases needing representation, and you pull a stunt like this…"
"He gave you another man didn't he…"
"A CHAPLAIN!" AJ shouted, "Oh yeah! That absolutely helps! What am I supposed to do with him? Send him to court with 'we are all sinners in the eyes of God' as his grounds for dismissal!"
"It's still one more man on staff…"
"I need lawyers, Webb! The man may be upholding the law of God Almighty - God bless him – but I need a man upholding the law of the United States Navy! What good is he going to do a man's defense in the courtroom?!"
"Hey," Clay shrugged, "Jesus saves."
"Oh I'm…"
"Okay! Enough…" Bobbi frowned, glaring at Clay who quickly went silent again, "I would expect you two could behave like mature adults, but that's obviously not working for you…"
"Gee…" AJ remarked sarcastically, "you don't say?"
Bobbi looked at her watch and heaved, shaking her head. Ten more minutes. Men.
"Look, it's just for the duration until its decided who's taking the case, you or Harm…" Clay tried to soften AJ up.
"So what made you decide all of the sudden to let us both in on the case?"
"We, the Under Secretary of State and I, thought it would be best to get a head start on investigations rather than wait another two and half weeks till its time for the 'inquiry'…"
AJ raised an eyebrow. He didn't believe it was that simple, there had to be something going on…more than just a game of politics between the US and Myanmar. He had read the case file, apparently Kathryn Reese had evidence of US ties with Myanmar's Minister of Defense General Nyumgong, of the war atrocities kind, as well as the drug trade kind, and she had been leaking this information to a reporter from ZNN named John Sheets. When they checked, they found out that the reporter had MIAed in Myanmar a month back, which fit Reese's cover story, that she was found out by her 'mates' and captured along with Sheets. During their escape attempt he was caught, and she believes, was by now already dead. Reese managed to hide the documents in a 'yet-to-be-disclosed' location and find sanctuary under a rival political faction of Nyumgong's known as the Karan Loyalists Faction, which was under General Pietnam. Now why was this such a high profile case? Kathryn Reese…well on paper, the Military Unit she belonged to known as Tango 5, was just another peace keeping unit under the United States Navy. But in actual fact, it was a special ops unit under CIA jurisdiction, in the business of gathering intel on the Burmese government. Of course, this was denied by the Pentagon. Secondly, Minister of Defense in Myanmar, well that was equivalent to 'King of Myanmar' as far as the Burmese were concerned.
"I've read the file, Webb. Honestly, if her story doesn't check out…if we go over there…and if we don't find the evidence she claims she has, she doesn't have a case…at all. Period." AJ replied soberly, "And I find it hard to comprehend why you're taking her word for it…especially when she won't disclose the location, or the nature of the evidence she has."
To make matters worse, during the course of her escape, Reese had set off two charges, killing sixteen US soldiers, whose families were now another group added to the already long list of people looking to nail her. So there you had it, the CIA, Nyumgong's lackeys, some unknown fellow or fellows up in Washington, her supposed 'shipmates', the families of those killed in action. All gunning for one lucky enough to have gotten out marine…but AJ seriously doubted she'd have enough luck getting out of this mess.
"It's for her protection, Chegwidden. If she discloses how credible the evidence is, and if we have a mole in our midst, it would give the other side reason to get rid of her…"
"Why do you think there's a mole?" AJ questioned.
"They already tried that…" Bobbi reminded him as well.
Clay glanced at both and replied respectively to AJ, "Precaution…" and to Bobbi, "It would give them reason to try again."
The JAG narrowed his eyes, "Something happened?"
"Nothing serious," the other curtly replied, so AJ played along,
"And the info she has…it may broach the topic of drug trade relations…"
"It might…"
"Ha…and that's why you're in here this morning deciding to put both me and Harm on the line two weeks earlier than necessary?" AJ commented sarcastically.
"It's an important case…"
"No more important than it was the day before…what changed?"
"Nothing changed…"
"Really?"
"I just decided it's best to get a head start on it than waste valuable time waiting to see who is game enough."
AJ and Clay held intense gazes at one another, Bobbi, at both of them. It was going to be a long morning, she thought to herself, looking at her watch once more…five more minutes. Hurry up and make up your mind, Harm.
*********** Front of JAG HeadquartersFalls Church, VA
Harm jerked the corvette slightly when he forgot to press down on the brakes properly at the inspection booth for the usual morning checks. It embarrassed him a little, but he didn't let it bother him very much. He was simply too tired to care. The Corporal stepped up to the car and greeted him, getting only a half-hearted mumble in return. Corporal Bing was from North Dakota, and he had a smashing accent to prove it too. The JAG officers had nicknamed him 'Perky Bing', 'Perky Bing with his m'wighty d'wag ac'ce-nt'. As much as Harm would credit him for his genuinity of service, poor Bing was as raw and clueless as they came, and he had to conclude that the young man would be better served a bear scout. The Corporal after greeting Harm actually went on to enquire as to how the Commander Rabb was feeling on this 'beautiful fine morning'…of which in reward he got a good look of the pretty eyes behind Harm's sunglasses, and a definitely more audible reply,"I'm doing just fine, Bing. But I'll be doing even better if you get down to finishing those checks of yours."
"Y-yes, sir! Sorry, Sir!" Bing hurriedly went about his order of business, running the detector around the car, and in a manner that seemed almost familiar. Harm thought for a second, but just couldn't be bothered go further than that and shifted his shades back into place.
"Thank you, Corporal, I really appreciate it." He said almost sarcastically
"No problem, sir… All right! You're clear to go, Commander!" the young man replied as he completed his duties, but of course, not before finishing off with a flashy smile and a chirpy send-off line, "And you have yourself a real nice day, sir!"Harm rolled his eyes at the eager young man and thanked him again as he drove off. As he did a name slipped off his tongue, making him realize who Perky Bing reminded him of: Tiner. When he just started out. He smirked sheepishly to himself as he drove down the lane to the car park.
As he came around toward his parking space, he noticed that Mac's car was already in. A little closer and he saw a pretty marine colonel's head immerging above and walking around to the passengers' side He sighed and then considered driving around the car park one more time just to avoid her, but he quickly chided himself for being childish. Come on hammer, you're gonna have to get this over with someday. Better sooner. He ran his hand along the steering wheel thoughtfully, and then took a breath before pushing on the pedal lightly. Mac saw him pull up just behind her car, each taking single quick glances at the other as she engrossed herself with changing her shoes and Harm proceeded to park the rental. Even with the makeup, he could tell Mac's face was a little pale and her eyes tired and sunken. She wore an intense demeanor and frown, no doubt lingering courtesy of their unpleasant trip two nights back. But if he knew her well enough, they had both within two sleepless nights managed to stabilize any heightened emotions they had felt, numbing and hardening enough to function despite the issues' lingering presence. And by now, two nights past, it was nothing but a dead stump in their hearts. Each time they said goodbye they seemed to get better at it. Better at ignoring and snubbing the pain.
He watched her as she slipped on her shoes. The way the uniform wore on her, its lines and curves, the way she steadied herself with one hand as the other reached back in swift motion. His throat became airy, and was painful when he attempted a dry swallow. He felt so aware of the woman she was just watching, and he was fixated, aching with want to be the one to show her that he knew. But he knew, some things in life, were just not meant to be his.
Got a girl?
She's got me.
From the back of her head Mac could feel his lingering gaze on her, burning under her skin. She felt her rib cage tighten and her limbs go limp. She felt vulnerable, almost scared at him looking at her that way. She wasn't sure why. He'd looked at her many times, everyday…but just sometimes, it would be different.
Mac put her runners in cautiously as Harm wound down the engine and put on his cap, and each closed their car door, reminding themselves to stay poised. When they turned, both were mere inches from one another, in between the narrow strip separating their cars. They tried not to show it, but they were shaking inside again, struggling to hold emotions down so nothing would keep them from doing the right thing.
"Hey." Harm offered.
"Hey yourself." she returned.
They didn't move, instead avoided looking directly into one another's eyes by randomly looking everywhere else. Their conversation was close to whispers, more so from being too worn out than it was a coconscious effort of keeping their conversation from the ears passers by in the car park.
"Mac…I was out of line. I didn't mean to...I mean I did, but…"
"I know," Mac tried to help, if anything so he would say no more than he should.
"...You know how much I…I value you…" Harm continued, every part of him wanting to say something other than what he finally chose.
Walking away was the right thing to do. | It wasn't easy.
Although the two looked composed in everyway to anyone who strolled past, it seemed no more than a case of Monday blues, it was getting hard to keep up, and Harm just wanted it to be over. He finally mustered the gull to say,
"If you want me to…"
His eyes met hers as he struggled to say the words. He couldn't, so he just hoped she understood what he meant. She always did.
"If you want me to…. …I will."
Harm looked one way while Mac pivoted her entire body the other. Her side faced him so there could be no way their eyes would meet by accident until she was prepared for it. She quickly swiped away the stray tears, using her cold hands to cool her cheeks. Then she sniffed a little, shoving her hands into the trench coat again. Without turning back to look at him, she gave her answer.
"Yeah…I want you to."
Sometimes that's how you help a person the most.
Harm felt like he would have died altogether there and then. It was the expected answer, yet he never anticipated its weight to be so crippling to him. Outwardly all he did was lower his eyes and close them lightly, but inside he felt like everything had fallen apart all over again, the broken pieces of his heart so small they could have been passed through the eye of a needle.
"Are you in love with him?
Mac sighed and gradually shifted to face him, leaning back against the car.
"That's not a question you can ask…."
"Just answer the question, Sarah," he pleaded again.
For a moment she wanted to raise her voice at him for making this harder on himself, but instead, she obliged with a gentler answer which she knew he couldn't refute. They had come from his very own lips,
"What does love have to do with anything?"
Mac let out short mournful sigh inside her chest, and then she tried to help him understand, "Harm, we've been here before, and we know exactly where this road ends. …I can't go down this one again. Please don't make me."
His two feet remained planted where they were, his mind sinking into thoughtful melancholy.
"We just can't seem to get it together, can we?"
"Some things are just not
meant to be, Harm."
"Yeah," he conceded, "…not in this lifetime anyway."
She saw how sad he looked, and she was going to give him a gentle touch of affection, but she pulled back, remembering where it had gotten them two nights before. Until now she could still feel him in the skin of her palm, his right hand that had found its place over her stomach just a week back, even the long past memory of him on her lips at the engagement party, lingered. In ending, she offered him the little hope in her eyes, and an impossible covenant,
"In another lifetime then."
As much as sadness still hovered painfully, Harm crushed those words to his heart in despite. For a while Mac thought that he would not reply, and when he began taking two steps away, her heart sank. But then he turned, to give her the answer she had waited for.
He said the words soberly,
"Don't make a promise you can't keep."
She paused, looking stunned yet glad that he had remembered, and then sincerely replied,
"I haven't yet."
Only when she had completed the contract, did he give her the smile she had not seen for so long. That in turn made her smile, reminisencent inside. Secretly, she wished things were as they had been, that their friendship was as it used to be. That handsome grin had made her lose all the frustration she felt, and it made her happy just to see him happy. But she knew this was as far as it could go. Let one emotion follow the other and you'd end up drowning yourself. They were doing the right thing. They were. So she took a deep breath, shoulders straightening back as she turned to face another cold, hard stone edifice, letting him follow her quietly just a foot behind.
Location doesn't change who we are.
**********
AJ's Office
"Tiner, get Commander Turner and Lt. Roberts in here now, and make sure Col. Mackenzie and Commander Rabb come straight in once they're here." AJ spoke into the intercom and then turned to the two in front of him, "I pray you know what the hell you're doing…"
Bobbi cleared her throat and spoke, intentionally, to cut of the beginnings of another argument, "Admiral," she glanced to the side at Clay to silence him, and then continued, "Arrangements have been made for you and Harm to fly out to the USS Lansing, of course you'll be accompanied by myself and Mr. Webb here…"
"We're not going to see the Major first?" AJ frowned.
"Unfortunately…" she hesitated, only proceeding when Clay gave her a reluctant nod, "…the Major is recovering from an unexpected breech in security…"
"And you call that nothing serious!" AJ's frowned deepened as his eyes went wide with disgust at Clay's previous understatement.
"She's fine, AJ," Bobbi exhaled frustratedly, "But because of what happened the facility is on maximum sercurity…so your clearance to visit the Major will be subject to processing and approval which we cannot get done by this morning…."
A knock on the door came, interrupting their conversation. Bobbi was grateful.
"You wanted to see us, Admiral?" Sturgis' voice came, and as he and Bud came in at AJ's permission, he glanced only briefly at Bobbi, who allowed a playful smile to grace her lips. Nobody noticed the two except Clay.
"Sturgis…you know Congresswoman Latham…this is Mr. Clayton Webb…"
"Special assistant to the Under Secretary of State…"
"Yeah and I'm the Dahli Lama."
Clay rolled his eyes as he shook the other's hand at sat back down grudgingly. Dahli Lama. Ha. AJ's lips curved a little in satisfaction and then continued, "Commander, Lt., due to some unforeseen circumstances…there will be a change in the allocation…"
Another knock came on the door. This time it was Harm and Mac.
"You wanted to see us, sir?"
"Ah! Just as well, close the door behind you." AJ studied the two and noticed the haggard look they both seemed to have. Harriet had informed him this morning about the incident on Saturday afternoon, he had no doubt it had everything to do with the demeanor the two now wore, but he carried on as pernormal. He'd have more than enough time to get to them both.
"As I was saying, due to unforeseen circumstances, there will be changes in the allocation of cases. Thanks to two of our…endearing compatriots here…Commander Rabb and myself have been assigned to take on the recent complication involving Major Kathryn Reese and the Burmese government."
Mac's eyes widened with unbelief and was about to speak out, but AJ shot her a look telling her to be quiet until he had finished, "As of today, Col Mackenzie you will drop the case of the peeping tom, I've already assigned it to Lt. Singer…you will now take Commander Rabb's place on the murder investigation with Commander Sturgis. Sturgis you will now second chair Lt. Roberts on his investigation, you'll be expected to mentor him on the dynamics of his case, it shouldn't be a problem for you, you've done many such cases on your last station…"
"Yes, sir," Sturgis replied.
"Now," AJ emphasized, "You may voice any objections you have."
"Sir," Mac immediately shot out, "I have an objection…"
AJ rolled his eyeballs, and mumbled only to himself, "I am not surprised, Sarah… " before enquiring, "And what might that be to, Col.?"
"With all due respect to Commander Rabb, I object to him being on the case involving Reese…"
"And why might you object to that, Col.?"
"You know why, Admiral" Mac snapped, shocking everybody else in the room and making them wonder uncomfortably.
"Excuse me, Col.!" AJ frowned.
"I…apologise, Admiral," Mac was slapping herself inside, "But…you do know why…"
AJ observed her a couple of moments, at which she promptly let her eyes fall away to the ground, so she didn't have to answer to his question, or to Harm's look of betrayal. The superior sighed and then redirected his attentions to Harm, "Commander, should I be sharing Col. Mackenzie's concerns?"
"No, sir!" Harm promptly answered, his reply one that Mac reacted to.
"But, sir…"
"Col., you and everyone else in this room heard the Commander's answer to your doubts…is there any other reason why I should believe other wise that his testimony is true?"
"Sir…"
"There is no reason…sir!" Harm cut Mac off.
Four pair of eyes watched the exchanges taking place between the three, and each had their take on the situation, but said nothing. AJ decided now was not the place for the two to be settling relational issues, so he quickly ended the meeting.
"Very well then, Commander…you and I will be going out to the USS Lansing at…" he turned to Bobbi and Clay for an answer.
"We need to leave JAG in ten…" Clay replied.
"Well, you heard Mr. Webb, will that be a problem?" he turned back to Harm.
"Not a problem, sir."
"I didn't think so…you'll be briefed on our way to the Lansing. Get your things together and we'll be one our way…as for the rest of you," AJ continued the rest, "you have your orders…dismissed!"
Harm and Mac managed to exchange looks before snapping to attention with the other two, "Aye aye, Admiral," and proceeding out.
When the door was properly shut, AJ remarked frustratedly, "…You've started a flippin' war, Webb!"
"It's just a case…" Clay argued.
"He's not talking about the case, you idiot!" Bobbi each to the side and smacked his arm.
"Ow!" he returned back at her, "I know!"
***********
Outside Harm's Office
"Do you??"
"Do I what?"
"Do you know what you're getting yourself into!" Mac came after him.
He stopped only briefly when he had to open his door, "What am I getting myself into?"
"I'm talking about the case!" the door opened and she followed him in and smacked his arm with the back of her hand, hard.
"Ow!" he snapped round annoyedly, "I know!"
"Then enlighten me, Commander," Mac scowled, "Why the hell are you taking this case?"
I thought you said the issue about your father was resolved.
"You don't want to hear why I'm taking this case!" Harm jerked around and shouted, but just as quickly began kicking himself for doing so. Mac face went slightly pale at his sudden outburst back at her. He seldom ever lost his temper at her, not like this anyway.
"Wh-what are you…" she mumbled out when he started to lean in closer.
The door clicked shut behind her.
"Closing the door," he whispered, and then withdrew his hand from the door knob just behind her.
There was a long uneasy silence between them before Mac spoke again, "Why are you doing this?"
Harm hesitated, and then replied, "I said I would."
I'm walking away.
"Woah," she exclaimed, but quietly, almost dejectedly, "You're angry with me?"
You're replacing one obsession with another.
"I am not angry with you," he told her soberly.
"No…no you are…"
"This is not about you…"
"That's not what you said two nights ago," she argued back, and then chided herself for the inappropriate implications of her statement.
"Well what I said two nights ago doesn't really matter anymore now does it?" he whispered out, but communicating every sense of bitterness he felt inside.
Mac moved half a step back unbelieving, and then lamented, "You honestly resent me."
"And you have no faith in me," Harm himself took two steps back and slumped back against the table, holding her gaze, "This conversation is heading south really fast…and you don't wanna go there, Mac…" his eyes turned away, "I need to leave in five, why don't you go and let me pack up here."
She stood there for a moment, not in defiance, but in hurt that he had shut her out. What could she expect after their agreement? It was the obvious step, to put some distance in between one another. Yet now, confronted with the reality and consequence of a contract made mere minutes ago in a parking lot, she felt pain, pain that was not supposed to be there, and she could not muster a planned response. There was no such thing as a planned response when it came to the affairs of a broken heart. So she willed all within herself to turn, everything within not to go back on the contract, and what little that was left to open the door and walk away, or at least to get to the other side of that wooden separator. When she had done so, she kicked in her heels all the way to her own office before she would let any tears fall. His fingertips lightly grazing the door, as though he could touch her form that lay beyond it. And when AJ knocked on the door to call him out, he masked his own pain behind a steady voice, and composed himself as he walked out to face his new obsession.
Walking away was the right thing to do. They'd both made that choice together.
**********
About 13 hours later…
Just off the Straits of Malacca
USS Lansing
1745 ZULU
The helio started going down into the darkness, with nothing but a motley of colored lights below as a guide. They were recognizable enough to the likes of Harm and AJ, vaguely to Clay, but totally foreign to Bobbi. She never liked the Navy's toys, 'overrated tin cans' she called them. The congresswoman shut her eyes, trying to look as though she was tired from the long trip out, but all three men in the passengers' seats knew better, still they marveled at her determination not to show fear. Clay and AJ simply pretended to look out the window when Harm took the initiative to hold her hand. She grasped on tightly, and his eyes widened in surprise at her strong grip.
She let out a relieved breath when they finally touched down gracefully, quickly pulling herself together in the half a minute when they extricated themselves from the helio and stepped onto the flight deck, greeted by the Captain of the Lansing and his ex-o.
"Congresswoman."
"Captain Warren, this is the JAG himself…"
"Admiral Chegwidden, it's an honor to have you aboard, sir."
"Commander Harmon Rabb…and Mr. Clayton Webb, Special Assistant to the Under Secretary of State…"
"Yeah right…you're joking…" the CO started to grin, but quickly retracted his comment when he realized Bobbi was frowning back at him, "Sorry, Ma'am…Commander, Mr. Webb."
"Is the General safely on board, Captain? Comfortable?" Bobbi got straight down to business.
"Yes of course, Congresswoman, …this way please," he ushered them off the flight deck.
"Any problems at all?" Clay added.
"No, Mr. Webb, twelve men as agreed; the General, his legal affairs officer, personal advisor, eight man security team…oh, and the cook." Warren replied, "He's been in quarters since arrival at 1100 ZULU."
"No fuss…tantrums?" Clay enquired, much to AJ and Harm's wonder.
"Not a bit, Mr. Webb."
"Ha. Amusing…" Bobbi commented.
"What's going on…" Harm whispered into her ear, but didn't need to wait for an answer. The door to the General's quarters was opened, and his questions…answered.
**********
Mac's Office
JAG Headquarters
"Hello, beautiful."
Mac startled out of her revelry and saw him standing at her door, a bouquet of flowers in one hand, "Hey, what are you doing here so early?"
Mic laughed and replied, "It's nearly six, Sarah, our reservations for sixty thirty!"
Mac had to glance at her watch to confirm his assessment of the time, and he was right, it was nearly six, "I'm sorry, must have gotten caught up with work, I'll be packed in a minute."
"Leave it for a moment, luv," he came over to where she was and politely handed her the flowers, pulling out something from his pocket. It was a deep blue velvet box, not big enough to be a necklace, but not small enough to be a ring…but small enough to hold two rings! Mac's eyes widened in shock when the box opened.
"What's the matter?" Mic was puzzled by the look that crossed her face for a fleeting moment, "You knew I was picking up the rings today…"
She smiled back and put her hand on his, "Yeah..."
"Why don't you try it on to see if it fits…"
"Er, no." Mac stopped him, snapping the box close lightly, "Later," she told him, "We're going to be late."
He grinned and nodded, quickly helping her get her things together. Mac breathed a sigh of relief, but she made sure he didn't see it.
Twelve days, twenty one hours and fifty-nine minutes.
**********
General Pietnam's Quarters
USS Lansing, Off the Straits of Malacca
Seven guards stood around the room, each dressed in the traditional costume of the Burmese people, adapted to fit their job as bodyguards to the General. They stood, unmoving, big men. A conference table had been set up for their meeting, AJ, Harm, Bobbi and Webb on one side, the General, on the other, flanked by his legal officer, who introduced himself as James Shire, and personal advisor, Mr. Roy Puk Nong. The head of his security was introduced only as Captain Punomo, Harm was utterly grateful for that, their names were difficult to pronouce as it was. He observed their behavior, and quickly realized they were much like the Thais in mannerism, their cultural roots if not nearly the same, but of course that was to be expected. The thing that was shocking though, was the General, his choosing probably went against all the rules of sociology, if there were any. It amazed him how superstition in a society could transcend all class barriers and paradigms. Harm listened intently, if not in understanding at the arguments going on in Burmese between Nong and Webb, but e kept his eyes on the general.
"Something the matter, Commander Rabb?" Pietnam finally spoke up, cocking his eyebrow up with an air of confidence befitting a leader, and that made Harm marvel with unbelief, first at his confidence, and then at the revelation that the General had understood every word of English they had spoken, without the need for his assistants' interpretation.
"Forgive me, General, " he replied, trying to explain, "It's just that I'm not used to…it came as a surprise…"
Pietnam turned to Punomo and said something in Burmese, and immediately the other motioned to a guard who moved from his place and across the room to a wine bar. Pietnam continued, "You find it offensive that a twelve year old boy could be commanding his own armed forces?"
Harm kept a confident approach towards the other and replied, "Surprised yes, but hardly offensive."
The other smiled and then took out a cigarette, allowing Shire to light it for him. AJ had to consciously tell himself to hold up his mouth to keep from gapping. Then the guard who had gone over to the wine bar came over, with a glass of scotch, and then accidentally tripped over his Captain's feet, breaking the glass. The four American noticed the flash of fear that went through the eyes of all the guards in the room, and then winced when the Captain shouted in Burmese and slapped the other across the face with the back of his hand, so hard that his nose bled. And then all seven guards dropped to their knees to the ground.
"What's happening?" Bobbi whispered to her right to Webb.
But before he could answer, Pietnam, did so, "They are begging for mercy, Congresswoman Latham. Or did you not hear I rule my officers with an iron hand?"
She didn't flinched at his statement, but stared on in defiance, which made him all the more impressed with her, especially since she was a woman, "Women in my country would not dare look at me that way…"
"Women in my country are quite different from yours, General, just as the laws in my country are as well. And while you are on American soil, it would be best you followed them."
The General laughed and took another puff of his cigarette, "Get this cleaned up," he said to Punomo, "…and send the rest of them out, I'm quite sure the American's sercurity is more than adequate."
The other nodded and ordered the rest to get onto their feet and out of the room.
"You don't approve of me, do you, Congresswoman?"
"Of your brutality and militant propaganda? No." Bobbi answered bluntly, "Of you? I've yet to see."
"You don't fear what a spoilt brat like me could do?" he asked and went over to the wine bar by himself.
Bobbi watched the guard who was clearing up the mess finally hurry out and then said, "Petty quarrels are for children, you and I are mature adults…unless you'd like to prove me wrong?"
The young boy laughed and nodded, again impressed by the 'woman'. The four of them observed him intently, perhaps more so because of his age. By their standards, a boy of his age and intelligence should be in school, being groomed for a great career in future, but fate had landed him in a place of power and immense responsibility, a place of international controversy. And they were intrigued at how those around him had grown so accustomed to the circumstance that they had little reaction to any of the child's premature dispositions. When they looked at him, all they could see was a boy in a man's job, but when Shire or Nong looked at him, they saw a great leader, or a powerful one at least.
"You all think I'm a silly little boy playing games…" the General mused and took his seat back at the table.
"That is hardly the case, General…" Clay tried to insert his own word of diplomacy.
"Oh shut up, American," the boy brushed him off, much to his offense. The other three however, tried hard not to laugh at their friend's expense.
"You do," Pietnam asserted, "This is our first meeting, so I'm quite alright with it, though I hope to change that mindset by the time this is over."
"And how do you intend to do that, General?" AJ smiled back, and Pietnam could tell the older was already starting to be turned.
He smiled, "People aren't won over by words, their won by actions…I'm sure a man in your position knows that well, Admiral?" when AJ nodded approvingly, he turned to Bobbi as well, "…you too, Congresswoman…if no one else in this room, you and I have the most in common…"
"And what might that be?" she went along.
The young boy smiled and replied, "Leaders struggling to be recognized in a world we do not belong…"
Harm continued watching the individuals seated at the table and the exchange between their side and the General. He watched the other three men on the other team remain in their place, in quiet, which seemed almost contentment. He assessed his feelings towards the young leader, how from apprehension in the beginning had so quickly turned into the possibility of acceptance, even liking, and he felt a certain understanding of the other three mens' position towards the young Pietnam. That confidence he had was contagious, addictive even. Humbling even.
But he had to wonder, as did AJ and Bobbi, how a child had been so ruthlessly thrown into the harshness of adulthood so fast so early.
Clay studied the expressions on the other three, with jaded melancholy inside for what he knew they had to be contemplating. It was something they would never begin to fully comprehend. For when Clay looked at that young man, he saw a part of him, of his childhood staring back at him, a part that he could share with no one, even those who had been through the same. For him and those had been the slaves of circumstance, it would always be a life lived in isolation, within the walls of their own memories.
"Tell me, General," he redirected the conversation, "Why are you so keen to assist the Major?"
The young boy smiled, as did his two 'chaperones'. Clay's lips curved a little as well, he was finally getting the boy's attention, proving he wasn't below his regard. The child replied, "I'm only interested in bringing about justice, Mr. Webb…the Major deserves a fair trial, and then perhaps you Americans will stop sticking your people where they don't belong…my people like our domestic businesses kept…domestic."
AJ studies the signed statement made by the young lad and then raised, "Would you mind General, if we went through your statements more thoroughly?"
"Perhaps a little later?" James Shire spoke up, "the General is weary from the whole morning's shuffling to and fro…"
"It's alright, Mr. Shire…" the lad replied, and then explained when he noticed the wondering expressions, "Mr. Shire was also my private…tutor," and he returned to AJ, "I am quite tired, perhaps you may ask me a few questions to get by for the time being? The full report can wait."
"Yes, of course," AJ replied, and then pulled of his glasses, "In this report, it's stated that Major Kathryn Reese was your head strategist? I was wondering why you would allow an American to hold such a high position…it was as good as inviting trouble was it not?"
Pietnam smiled, "You think I wasn't aware of this, Admiral?"
The four at the table straightened at the revelation, it had been a planned assault on regaining control of Myanmar rulership!
The child smirked quietly and then got up from his seat, "Enough for now, I am tired…Mr. Shire, would you show the gentlemen…and lady, to the door. Roy, yappa mashibayong kab payet."
Nong got up and went ahead to prepare Pietnam's sleeping area, and Shire respectfully ushered them out the door, "Shall we adjourn to my quarters? Perhaps I may answer any other questions you may have…especially those regarding our international policies and possible actions."
The rest nodded and followed him.
"Tell me Mr. Shire, how did a man yourself end up in the General's service?" Clay asked him as they walked on through the ships tight corridors.
Shire glanced up briefly at the other, with a hint of disapproval in his eyes, "You mean in the service of a boy forty five years my younger, Mr. Webb? Well, I assure you, the young man is not as inapt as you would believe, he is quite remarkable really."
"You're English…Mr. Shire?" Bobbi took note of his strong accent.
"Mmm…" the other nodded, "I was actually in her majesty's service for some time, tutor to some of the royal family…in eighty-five I left to pursue personal interests in the Southeast Asian regions…and I settled in Sabah, Malaysia for a time studying some indigenous people residing in the area…when my research had come to an end, around the same time General Pietnam sought me out, less than a year after he set up the Karan Loyalists Faction…and I thought why not? Terms of employment were good…but believe me it took some getting used to when I first learnt of the General's…unique circumstance."
"Are you telling me that all this strategic politicking was all masterminded by a twelve year old boy?" Harm asked in disbelief.
"His placement into power was quite a story as fate would have it. But what started of as superstition soon became a reality…the lads' present status speaks for itself, does it not?" Shire answered, his eyes, still ahead, "From what I gather the locals' piety toward him grew…and believe me, the Burmese people are a religiously conscious people. Nyumgong feared that his power would slip…when Peter…Pietnam was five, his village was massacred by a passing platoon of Nyumgong's soldiers…homes were raised to the ground, many died, women were raped. He lost his parents, and his sister, who was four at the time…has never spoken since."
Bobbi gasped in disbelief, and Shire noticed.
"Don't be so shocked Congresswoman, these things are a sad reality of third world countries."
"So the KLF was established as a result of a child's desire for vengeance?" AJ asked.
"What started off with twelve young men has become a dynasty," Shire replied, raising a hand to invite them into his room, and then continued, "It took a tragedy to spark of the KFL, but revenge is not the primary objective…the General wished to bring Myanmar out of her present state of affliction…poverty is a terrible disease."
Bobbi looked up at the man, understanding exactly what he meant. Clay touched the small of her back lightly just a moment, unknown to everyone else in the room, and she shot him a tiny smile in gratitude.
"I find it sad…" she commented, "that one so young need be placed in such a position…the pressure, the responsibility…"
Shire took some glass cups and sat down at the table, pouring drinks round, "Well…we all have a destiny if you will…but before you can get there you need to know its there first, and then journey toward it. Peter, he just saw it…prematurely as fate would have it, and started on his journey earlier than most of us."
"He's twelve!" Harm exclaimed.
"And special young man." The other replied.
"You believe he is the incarnation of a great warrior king?"
Shire smiled back at the question, and answered soberly, "I believe he knew what he wanted, and went after it."
**********
Breek's Restaurant
Near Georgetown
Mic studied her carefully, and then popped another piece of roast into his mouth, forcing it down with a gulp of wine. He was perturbed. She had hardly said a word since he picked her up, and now she was poking around uninterestedly at her steak. He knew there was something weighing on her mind, and he had his suspicions on what it was. When he called yesterday, all she would say was things with Harm had been resolved, that it was a big misunderstanding. A small part of him wondered though. Had he hurt her when he got drunk? Was she having second thoughts abut the wedding? Was she over Harm?
"Sarah…" he put down his utensils and reached across to hold her hand. He worried more when she seemed almost startled by his touch, "…if there's something bothering you, you can tell me…"
Mac willed herself out of her revelry, forcing a smile, "I'm sorry, Mic, my minds' just a little preoccupied with the case, that's all…"
His eyes feel to the table briefly and then he asked again, "You sure that's it?"
Mac felt almost sorry for him, but kept up appearances, squeezing his hand and blowing his second question off, "Mic…don't be silly, I'm just having a difficult time figuring out this case I'm working on. I'm sorry, for here end, its just you and me…case is out of my head, completely."
Mic grinned back at her. She had started smiling, so why mess with a good thing? And they both returned to their meal.
"Friend I told you about…" he began.
"…Casser?" she asked.
"Mmm…he's not going to be able to be the bestman…"
"Why?"
"Turns out he's flyin' same day as our 'weddin…couple of hours after…so he won't be around for lunch." Mic explained.
"I'm sorry, Mic, I know you were looking forward to having him there…" she reached over to hold his hand, and he held on gratefully.
"It's alright luv, demands of his job…"
"Mmm….so he won't make the wedding at all?"
"Oh he'll be there for the ceremony…but he'll have to run off straight after…"
"So tell him to stand in till then!" Mac told him.
"That's okay with you?" he shot up intently.
"Of course it's okay," she laughed, "Why wouldn't it be?"
"Cos' he was worried you wouldn't like that…him runnin' off like that…"
"It's perfectly fine, Mic, he'll be like your only family here…"
Mic's eyes twinkled estatically, almost like a little boy, and she laughed, shaking her head, "Oh, Mic…"
She was about to pull her hand away to grab her drink, but he held it back, and his face grew serious, "I love you, Sarah Mackenzie."
Mac let out a sigh and smiled back.
Twelve days, twenty one hours and thirteen minutes.
***********
Deck of the USS Lansing
Waters north of New Ireland.
2350 ZULU
Harm closed his eyes and took in a deep breath of the salty night air. Then he leaned his elbows over the railing and gazed out at the colored lights, the only indication of life in the darkness of the night ocean, the sea ports of the Caroline Islands that the Lansing was passing through. It reminded him ever so much of that night at Sydney Harbor.
We're not in Washington…we're not even on the same continent.
"Location doesn't change who we are…" he whispered back like she was right there in front of him, and then pulled his coat tighter over himself, deciding not to think on the matter further. What if he had risked it that night? What would it be like now? Those questions were best left alone.
"Couldn't sleep?"
The steel door behind him closed, and he straightened up, "Evening, Admiral…time lag…couldn't get adjusted…"
AJ joined him by the railing, "Neither could I…had to go to the MO for some pills…" he took out a small pack of blue pills from his pocket and waved them in front of Harm.
"They're blue, sir…" the other grinned, "bright blue."
AJ frowned annoyedly and stuck the pills back in his pocket, "Well they're not what you're thinking, Rabb…"
Harm's eyes widened, "Actually I wasn't, sir…Singer's…"
'Oh', AJ mouthed, and then nodded, "I see…the logbook…"
"Yes, sir."
"The Lt. has been upset…" he lamented.
Harm laughed a little and assured him, "No complaints, Admiral…"
AJ laughed too and agreed, "None from me neither…but then on the other hand…"
"Poor Tiner," Harm finished for him.
"Poor Tiner, indeed," AJ smirked.
"But he's been improving, Admiral…" the younger looked at him knowingly.
AJ nodded, understanding what Harm was referring to, his recommendation for Tiner's scholarship. But he chose to ignore it, "It's been a long time since I've slept in a boat."
"One of the perks of being an Admiral, Admiral…" Harm smiled back.
"Mmm..." AJ nodded absently, "So tell me, Commander…what's your take on this case?"
"Messy, sir," Harm immediately responded.
"I agree," AJ replied.
"And the kid…ha!" the other shook his head in disbelief, "…who would have thought?"
AJ laughed, nodding once more, and then was interrupted by a petty officer from behind, "Your drinks, sir…"
"Ah, thank you," AJ took the four bottles from him and let him be on his way. He grinned at Harm's raised brow and handed him two bottles, "Perks of being an Admiral…"
"I can see that, sir."
"Let's take a seat, Harm."
They found a corner of the deck where they could both comfortably settle adjacent to one another, and then got down to their beers. Harm's lips were a little dry from the salt air, so the cold brew was very agreeable to him.
"Honestly I don't know what to figure about all this…Reese is part of a CIA operation to steal info on the Burmese government? And she went on an undercover espionage in Pietnam's camp…only Pietnam knew, he planned it that way…and then after it's over she goes back to camp and leaks info to Sheets because she wakes up one morning and decides to blow the confidentiality clause on her contract with? And then her platoonmates find out and try to kill her, but she ends up killing some of them, Sheets dies and she runs back to the one place you would think she'd have made the most enemies…and now Pietnam wants to vouch for her instead of stringing her up…and throw in he's a twelve year old kid! …Webb has out done himself this time."
Harm smiled a little and then replied, "Be grateful Pietnam has turned twelve, Admiral…at least we have a testimony admissible in court. As of now, that kid is the only thing we have in our favor…"
"But his testimony only proves that Reese was involved in an undercover op in his administration, not that it had anything to do with the US…as of now whatever claims she has made…there's nothing to prove its validity…"
"Well, she does claim to have evidence stashed her secret location…"
"Ha," AJ snickered, "And we're supposed to run in with her to find it…if it's not there…we're wasting our time with this…the CIA is not going to acknowledge she was on their pay roll…she's as good as convicted."
"There are the documents I was handed, Admiral…if we petition for the CIA records to be disclosed we could have a valid case…maybe enough to prove reasonable doubt, then again the locations shown in the photographs, if they are real, would probably have been covered up by now, and anyone in the area, relocated…"
"Just like Boone's case…"
Harm nodded, taking another swig of his beer, "We've got a hell of a lot of digging to do on this…"
"The transcripts won't be any good unless validated…whoever gave them to you didn't give us much to go on…"
"Couldn't you pull a couple of strings in high places, Admiral?" Harm suggested.
"Don't you think I would it I could?" the other frowned at him, "Unfortunately, with all the perks I do get, this one is out of my reach…probably out of Latham's league too…"
"Hopefully after we meet with the Major something substantial will turn up…whatever the Congresswoman and Webb relayed is definitely not enough to go on…"
"I suppose the bulk of work now is research…"
"The worst kind..." AJ lamented, "Harm,"
"Yes, sir?"
"Its still to be decided which one of us is going to take this case…"
Harm moistened his lips and replied, "My options, sir?"
"Well," AJ answered, "there are a couple…obviously we can't both take the case, not at the moment anyway. My first instinct would be to go with Mac as second chair...by the time the either of us returns from the inquiry, she'll have settled down and back to full load…so it's not a problem…but correct me if I'm wrong, that will be a problem for you?" Harm said nothing but looked down, so AJ continued, "I thought so…Bud's not ready, I've yet to see Sturgis' performance…next option is, Singer…ha ha ha…which by your expression I can tell is out of the question…so my last suggestion is this: You'll do bulk of the work and I'll second chair you."
"The Admiral second chair me?" Harm mused.
"Either that or Mac, son…you take your pick." AJ smirked.
"She'll wrong my neck for this one," he laughed and then slumped back against the metal wall dejectedly again, "You know my answer, sir."
"Mmm…" the older grunted thoughtfully, "Tell me though, you taking this case…does it have anything to do with your father?"
Harm's eyes fell down to the bottle he had resting on his lap before he replied, "I admit it was at first, but after reading his file…" he shrugged the rest of the sentence.
"So I have your assurance this is resolved? If you do this there will be no chasing of ghosts?"
"No ghosts, Admiral…" Harm answered quietly.
"Harm," AJ told him with some show of affection, "There must come a point when you no longer run every time someone cries wolf, that's when you'll know it's truly resolved."
"I know, sir…and it is resolved, I honestly believe that…"
The older shifted himself to a more comfortable position, and then asked in all seriousness, "Then why are you here?"
Harm glanced up from his hands at the other, contemplating his query.
This is one case, it's hardly an obsession.
You're replacing one obsession with another.
He sighed and then replied in a near inaudible whisper, "I suppose I'm replacing one obsession with another…"
AJ raised an eyebrow, squinting to see his face more carefully in the shadows, waiting for him to explain his statement. Harm registered the look on his face, but simply took another gulp of the beer ignoring his superior.
"This has nothing to do with your father, does it?" AJ finally spoke at which he got a fleeting glance from Harm once more in response. He continued, "I thought so…"
AJ picked up the empty beer bottle next to Harm, holding that with the two he had, all in one hand. He raised himself from the floor and inhaled a deep breath of the cool night air, taking his time to enjoy the sound of the sea moving in constant motion, and the lights of the nearby coast line. He decided not to say too much, to allow Harm the opportunity to sort this out himself, so all he would say to the younger before her left, was this,
"Sometimes you just have to make a choice and move on."
Harm looked up from the ground at him, squinting at the deck lights that shone straight into his eyes, "You're not talking about the case are you, sir?"
AJ sighed and answered, "I told you once, to never look back…but you did…always do. That's why you keep coming back to the same place…" he took another step closer, his eyes steady and intense on Harm as he advised him once more, "Figure out what you want. Make a choice. Then stop looking back."
The other was silent, pondering the true meaning of his words, and while he did, AJ pulled out a pill and chucked it down. Then he resealed the small bag and threw it to Harm.
Harm caught hold of the small bag and took a moment to examine the small blue pills sitting in his hand, and then look back up at AJ.
"Your call, Harm," the other told him, and then started back to his cabin.
"Goodnight, Admiral," Harm called out.
"Figure out what you want!" he bellowed back as he disappeared through the door.
Harm tightened his grip on the small bag of pills and stared out into the night reflectively.
Walking away was the right thing to do. Never look back.
************