Chapter 22 "The Rebel General"
Tai waited long in Blake's quarters after he'd been treated by the doctors.
There were very few doctors scattered about, one of Blake's laws was only men or soldiers under him were allowed medical treatment at all; and anybody who gave any other medical treatment would be shot or executed.
Tai had proven himself in the heat of battle, and although he hated being involved, he did suck it up and fight.
There was a tension in his heart, wondering what Blake would say, and if he considered him a good General or not.
The opposing General was sitting at the side of the room quietly, bound and ashamed.
Tai wanted to speak with him, but the fact he was on the opposing side, made him hesitant.
"You do realize you're lucky, you know, I was once on your end," Tai said, stepping a little closer to him. "He could have easily killed you, I know, I've fought him before. The only reason you're alive is because he spared you."
"Is life under him, any better then death?" Alex said, bitterness overwhelmed in his voice.
"It will take your giving up your pride and sucking it up, but he's fair to those he respects. My advice would be; show him respect." Tai said, warningly.
Alex scoffed and ignored him.
"Ok then, it's not my life on the line." Tai said, as if to brush him off his mind.
Blake walked through the door, brilliance in his stare, frightening at first glance.
"General Tai." Blake said, sounding somewhat suspicious.
"Yes sir?" Tai said, saluting him, trying to hide the pain in his arm.
"I will speak with you later, for the moment I want to speak with the Rebel General." Blake said.
Tai ran out the door, heeding his words.
Alex didn't show it, but secretly, he was terrified.
Blake could have killed him; he didn't make an impact at all while fighting him other then tick him off.
"You knew of the risks when you attacked us." Blake said. "This may be disheartening to you, but only a few refused the offer I gave them. The others will soon be trained under me; and will learn discipline."
"You rat! You're going to brainwash them!" Alex said.
Blake laughed out loud. "You really have me pegged wrong don't you boy. I don't brainwash my troops, I find what it is each individual wants, and simply fulfill that wish."
"And the others you threaten!" Alex spoke out.
"Bite your tongue boy, I was the one who won the battle, remember?!" Blake said.
Alex's eyes squinted.
"I once gave Tai an offer, after his village was burned to the ground, to be by my side. I saw something great in him. But, I see nothing in you, but a pointless rebellious nature." Blake said. "I will not kill you like I did your loyalists, but I will lock you up until the end of your life."
Alex felt his heart pounding. "You killed them?!"
"They might as well have been begging for it. Being nothing but a young ambitious boy, I doubt you knew how to value their lives." Blake said.
Blake left Alex there, slamming the door behind himself.
There was a foul air this evening.
Blake was now standing outside, pressing into the grass softly.
Tai had waited for him there.
"General Tai, I am very impressed and that is not easy to do." Blake said.
Tai's heart dropped in surprise, he worried he would be overlooked.
"This battle, I watched you very closely, you slaughtered many as you served me." Blake said.
Tai felt guilty of that fact.
Battles were ugly affairs, and a part of him wished he had not been involved.
Let alone being the one dealing out other's deaths.
"Thank you Sir." Tai said, shaking on the inside.
In front of him, Blake's soldiers were clearing the battlefield of the casualties.
It was a sad sight; weapons were stuck into the ground or laying by the lost.
There was a small fire lighting the watching rebels' eyes with sadness and despair.
They had sacrificed their pride to remain alive, and those who died had made a statement, and died honorably, while they lived, cowards.
Blake's men were obeying orders without question.
The few with goodness still left in them, were full of remorse for being a part of the wrong side.
Tai was conflicted by duty and guilt for the dead, he masked it as best he could when Blake looked back at him.
"Tai, I will leave you to tend to this base for a while." said Blake.
"But sir, I have been trained under you for so long, I thought I was to aid you wherever you went?!" said Tai.
"Tai, I trained you to be a General, and now that I have seen you can handle things, you are going to do what a General does, see the job gets done," Blake said. "I'm not punishing you, but I need no help getting my work done, so I will trust you to do yours."
At the end of his sentence, Blake put his hands on his hips.
Tai kneeled respectively. "My apologies, Supreme Commander,"
End chapter