5

Chapter 43

Sakal watched as the alien ship erupt into a blaze of flames and chunks of twisted metal. His heart wrenched as he thought of the hundreds of terrified…screaming lives.

"Sir,"

Sakal twisted his head.

He silently nodded to his subordinate; his eyes were like glass.

"Are you…"

Sakal held up his hand.

"I'm just tired,"

He thought of all the ships he'd destroyed in the war; he thought of all the lives he'd helped end.

He tried telling himself "What is one more,"

He inwardly sighed; he couldn't deny how he really felt anymore.

He stood there for awhile…watching the ship fall apart.

Lo-Chem sat at his desk…quietly staring off into space.

His eyes looked empty…as if nothing was going on behind them.

When Sakal entered…he did not notice him.

He did not flinch; he sat there…vacantly staring into space.

Sakal stood there for several minutes…watching him.

Feeling more and more uncomfortable as time passed.

"General," he said quietly but formally.

Another moment passed; Lo-Chem slowly turned his head towards Sakal.

"Yes," he said quietly.

Lo-Chem's eyes honed in on Sakal; it was most unnerving.

He didn't not blink once…or move a muscle.

"The enemy…" he mumbled, anxiety in his voice.

"Yes," his voice got slightly louder.

"They're…"

Sakal lost his train of thought. Lo-Chem's peered through like daggers.

"They're…crippled. They pose no threat to us,"

Lo-Chem started laughing uncontrollably.

Sakal took a step back.

"He's planning something,"

"Sakallllll….my old friend,"

Lo-Chem slowly rose to his feet.

"You have always been such a loyal friend,"

He slowly moved towards Sakal…so that they were nose to nose.

Lo-Chem peered right into his eyes.

"He's going to move against you,"

"But you've always been a lousy tactician,"

A wide and insincere smile spread across his face. His smile then radically changed into a horrid…demonic look.

"YOU MUST STRIKE THE ENEMY! STRIKE THEM HARD! LEAVE NO ONE ALIVE!" his voice was not of a man. As he screamed…he grabbed Sakal by the ear…practically tearing it off.

Sakal winced in extreme pain.

After a moment had passed…Lo-Chem let him go.

He returned to his desk…and started bouncing his body forward and backwards in his seat.

Sakal stood there for a moment…cradling his ear. Blood trickled out of it.

He looked at Lo-Chem in horror; all of his suspicions had come true.

"You know what you must do," Lo-Chem said.

Sakal slowly turned and left.

Lo-Chem pressed a button on his desk.

"Please escort Sakal to the airlock,"

"Understood,"

"Now no one will stand in your way,"

As Sakal walked…he noticed the hallways had become oddly empty.

He heard not a sound…but his own boots on the floor.

He started becoming increasingly agitated; he could sense something amiss.

He paused in his tracks; he heard the sound of boots surrounding.

He glanced about; guards surrounded him with guns pointed at him.

"Take him to a cell. The General has truly lost his mind."

The guards began running in the direction of Lo-Chem's office.

"I WILL CUT YOUR HEART OUT AND EAT!"

Lo-Chem began laughing crazily. He then tried shoving his way through the bars on his door.

"I WILL BURN YOU ALIVE!"

Sakal watched from a few feet away; a tear rolled down his face.

Lo-Chem continued screaming for about ten minutes. Then it stopped.

Sakal took a few steps closer; he peered into the cell.

Lo-Chem sat on the bench; he held that same unnerving smile and vacant look.

"My friend," he said quietly.

Sakal's heart started beating faster.

"My friend…you have betrayed me,"

Sakal said nothing; he felt his panic growing.

"For that," he smiled even wider.

"For that…you will pay,"

He began laughing hysterically.

Sakal slowly stepped back.

He sank to the floor…the image having scarred him.

He listened to the sound of the laughter.

And knew he was going to die.