5
Chapter 25
Lo-Chem stood in front of the steps…casting a weary gaze towards the front door.
His eyes swept across the porch…not picking out anything in particular.
His hand shook from anxiety; he tried to steady it with his other hand.
He glanced back at the field behind him…but thought nothing of flowers.
He slowly one step up the stairs…then another.
He paused at the door…hand on the handle.
He looked down at his shaking hand…then slowly turned the nob and took a deep breath.
Lo-Chem approached the doorway…careful not to make a sound.
He peered inside…examining the grim scene.
His father laid in bed…his face grim and all the life sucked out of it.
His eyes looked almost empty…only a small glint of light left in them.
Lo-Chem's face was full of sorrow; he quietly entered…and took a seat next to the old man.
He rested his hand upon the old man's…careful not to disturb him.
The old man let out a lung-spitting cough.
"Who's there?"
Lo-Chem's eyes shot towards his face.
"Its me…your son,"
The old man coughed again.
"Mother sent for me…she said you were not doing well,"
The old man coughed again.
"I came…to see you one last time, Father,"
The old man turned his head towards his son.
"I'll be on the front-lines soon. They've given me a division. I won't be back for sometime."
The old man started cackling; his cackling lead to more coughing.
"I don't see what's so funny, Father," Lo-Chem said weakly. A tear formed in the corner of his eye.
"You are," the old man got out through wheezes.
The old man's hacking became uncontrollable; a few moments passed…and then he completely stopped.
The last glimmer of life died from his eyes.
Lo-Chem's face melted into devastation; tears flowed from his eyes.
He felt as though his heart had been torn out.
He thought of the flowers one last time…but they dissolved into oblivion.
Lo-Chem had lost his only chance to redeem himself in the eyes of his father.
Lo-Chem sat his desk…analyzing report after report. With each passing paper…his face became more and more grim. His eyes grew wearier.
He set his papers down…and gently got to his feet.
He walked towards the window…over-looking ships coming and going; engineers repairing damage; small craft hauling this and that.
He heard the swoosh of the door; he turned to his friend Sakal.
As he entered…Lo-Chem nodded to him. The other man held just as grim a look.
"I thought you could use some company,"
Lo-Chem feigned a smile.
He motioned towards his desk…and the two men took a seat.
He poured a drink for himself and Sakal.
"So you've heard the news?"
Lo-Chem took a sip; Sakal nodded…peering at him over the top of his glass.
"Five million…five…million…"
Sakal looked down at his feet…holding the glass in his lap.
"I know…"
Lo-Chem shook his head in frustration.
"We can't keep up with this any longer,"
"They say the council is planning to call surrender in a few months,"
"Not if I can help it,"
Sakal said nothing; Lo-Chem sat back in his cheer and peered into his glass.
"My friend," he said quietly.
Sakal glanced up.
"I have a plan,"
"Oh?"
Lo-Chem got to his feet; he turned towards the window…watching the damaged ships being towed.
"I need your full support. None of this can leak out to the council,"
"I am behind you…always,"
Lo-Chem took another sip; he thought of all the young men he'd known.
All of the youthful faces…charging straight into enemy fire.
He inwardly shivered.
"We'll need to capture several of them…." He paused mid sentence.
He turned to face his friend; his eyes were filled with pain.
"Using what we find from their bodies…we can create a weapon,"
"A weapon?"
Lo-Chem took one more drink.
"One that will wipe them out,"
Sakal shifted uncomfortably; he looked down at his feet yet again.
"Well?"
Sakal glanced up.
"I…" he glanced off uncomfortably.
"Are you behind me?!" Lo-Chem's face filled with murderous rage. For a moment…he wanted to stop himself.
He wanted to forget the whole thing.
But he couldn't; he had a duty to his people.
"I am behind you," Sakal said quietly.
Sakal set his drink down and left…quietly battling his guilt.