Preparations and Complications
Disclaimer: Same as before…
From Kate's PDA:
A complicated man. As a profiler I can say these three simple words capture my partner in this case. An American who served in the French Foreign Legion. A sensitive soul with a hard edged view of justice. A man both cynical and idealistic in the same breath on romantic love. Conrad's got a lot of healing he needs to do.
These last five days have shed some light on Conrad's psyche. Even with these revelations he's changed from a mysterious man to a complicated one in my mind.
Two days ago I learned about why he joined the French Foreign Legion and about the 'hot headed indiscretion' he said he paid the price for. Even though that incident happened almost a decade ago I can feel the hurt that still resonates in him. He's a man who loves deeply and without reservation.
He's the sort of man who will put it all on the line for those he cares for. He's also the sort who doesn't take kindly to any perceived betrayal. While I don't necessarily agree with him beating the daylights out of the man who abused the woman he loved, I can understand why he did it. I also can understand his anger and hurt towards Brook, his ex-girlfriend, for denying the abuse she was enduring at a time he needed her to admit it.
I can see how a young Conrad would see that as a betrayal and how he felt like he had nothing left. I can understand how such things would drive him to the French Foreign Legion.
In two days I head to Panama for four days worth of jungle training with Conrad. On his experience with this sort of thing alone I trust him with my life. I would be lying if there weren't things about him that worry me.
One thing is that bloody minded sense of justice of his. I read the reports on the things Cobra got up to in Africa. And some of them are horrifying, like human experimentation, forced labor, and murders and rapes of innocent people. I can see how Conrad views killing people responsible for these things outright as justice, but I have to question his 'Exterminate the Brutes' mentality when it comes to these people.
The Pit, Officer's Quarters
Toad and Roadblock
06 March 2002, 1233
"Roadblock?" Todd asked as he set out the place settings for their lunch, "So there are former Cobras in G.I. Joe?"
"A few," Roadblock said, "Mercer is one of them."
"Really?" Todd asked, "And G.I. Joe takes them in just like that?"
Complicated issue. Roadblock sighed as he thought to himself while getting some cold cuts, bread, and other fillings for sandwiches from the refrigerator, But Psyche Out did tell me that he's on his way to being an adult and I should talk to him about these things.
"No, not just like that. They get vetted, to ensure they're not running from crimes," Roadblock replied.
"Like the ones Conrad was talking about?" Todd replied as he put ice and water in a pitcher and set that in the middle of the table.
Roadblock nodded, "And if they make it they get closely monitored for a while. Mercer's been here a couple of years."
"Did the French really kill Cobras guilty of war crimes on the spot?" Todd asked.
Roadblock nodded again, "After the 1994 Pyrenees Incident when almost 300 French civilians were victims of human experimentation by Cobra, they instituted a doctrine called Sans Pitie."
"What does that mean?" Todd asked.
"Without mercy," Roadblock replied, memories of witnessing that unforgiving campaign in Africa running through his mind.
The Pit, Officer's Quarters
Kate Todd and Conrad Hart
06 March 2002, 1242
As she sat at the dining room table Kate glanced over at Conrad as she made the final notes on her PDA. The only other sound in the room was a newscast, the BBC, discussing continued violence in Africa. She saw Conrad's jaw set in a hard line as they both looked over at the screen.
"Tensions remain high in the Central African Republic as Cobra-backed factions continue to fight against French forces. Thousands have been displaced by the fighting and still more have died in the violence…" the BBC newscaster began.
The screen showed a weeping child, squatting by the bodies of his family before it switched to several more bodies lying in the square of a village.
"Of all the brutalizing effects of war, the worst is the numbing of compassion," Conrad remarked with a slight gulp.
"Why do you say that?" Kate asked gently.
What is it about this woman that makes her so easy to talk to? Conrad thought before he replied, "Of the worst things I saw was the suffering of children, as I said a long time ago. Very often orphaned or separated from their parents. You had to build a shell around your heart to ignore their suffering."
Kate felt the lump in her throat, "Why do you say that?"
"The alternative was to lose my mind completely," Conrad replied and with a sigh added, "Sometimes I wonder if my sense of compassion is gone."
"I don't believe it is," Kate declared, gently placing her hand on his forearm.
"Why do you say that, mademoiselle?" Conrad asked.
"Because I see signs of it every day," Kate replied.
"Such as?" Conrad asked, genuinely curious.
"The biggest sign is how you sympathize so much with what Todd endured," Kate replied.
"Like I said, his plight reminds me of the child soldiers the Cobra aligned faction used against us in increasing numbers," Conrad replied, "But the boy has a chance. Unlike them. When I encountered child soldiers in Africa I killed them."
The burden Conrad carries is obvious, Kate replied. Especially because I know where to look. He's got a bigger heart than he gives himself credit for.
"So, mademoiselle, I don't just hate Cobra for their atrocities, I hate what I became in sending them to Hell," Conrad replied, and with a sigh added, "He who fights with monsters should look to it that he himself does not become a monster."
"Nietzsche," Kate nodded in recognition.
"Sometimes I wonder if I've changed so much that my family won't recognize me whenever it is I go home again," Conrad confessed.
"I'm sure they miss you," Kate said.
"I do plan to visit them, for the first time in almost ten years," Conrad replied and with a slightly ironic grin he added, "The prodigal son returns."
Kate smiled wanly, "He was welcome home with open arms."
"I do remember that, mademoiselle," Conrad replied, returning her smile with a small one of his own.
Tim,
I leave for jungle training in Panama in two days. Preparations are still going on at a pretty good pace and I'll be going through the jungle training with two G.I. Joe team members and Agent Hart, my partner on this case.
He's a former member of the French Foreign Legion who has extensive experience in jungle warfare. I'm definitely going to pick his brain about all of this.
I miss you. I hope this assignment wraps up soon so we can enjoy our Delayed Valentine's Day.
I love you,
Kate
Kate,
Good luck out there in Panama. Watch your back with an ex-Legionnaire, after all the French Foreign Legion has a reputation for taking in all sorts of riff raff. Case in point a good number of former Nazis were in their ranks after World War II.
Also, regarding Conrad Hart, I've heard some things about him back at San Diego State University. Namely that he was kicked out of their NROTC unit for hitting an officer.
Anyway, I miss you too. And I love you. Oh I think you'll love our Delayed Valentine's Day.
Tim
The Pit, Medical Center
Psyche Out and Mercer
06 March 2002, 1317
"I understand you had an encounter with a familiar face from the past," Psyche Out began.
"You could say that," Mercer said.
"Brought back memories?" Psyche Out asked calmly as he jotted some notes down on the legal pad on his desk.
"Yeah," Mercer replied, "Namely that they hanged a friend of mine."
Psyche Out clicked his pen and asked, "What happened?"
"Beni Gabor was the runt of the litter," Mercer replied, "He grew up in an orphanage outside of Budapest in Hungary. He joined Cobra after drifting around Eastern Europe. That's pretty much all I know about his background."
"You said he was the runt of the litter, what was that about?" Psyche Out asked, making notes as Mercer spoke.
"The guys in my old platoon treated him like a pariah. Sure he was a little shifty, not the bravest, but he was loyal."
"You befriended him," Psyche Out concluded.
"I guess it's because I kinda felt sorry for him. I could relate to his situation too," Mercer replied.
"Empathy is a good thing," Psyche Out encouraged.
"Beni was on a patrol that got ambushed by Commando Depuis, a force of local militia trained by advisors from the French Foreign Legion," Mercer replied calmly, "He was wounded but managed to escape to a medical mission run by Dr. Julia Keller."
"They treated his wounds and let him stay there," Mercer continued after a brief silence, "But he kept us informed of what was going on over there. Namely that Dr. Keller was giving Commando Depuis information about our movements."
"I read the report about the destruction of Dr. Keller's mission," Psyche Out asked, "So what role did Beni play in that?"
"He told one of the militias we supported about Dr. Keller's intelligence support to Commando Depuis," Mercer replied, "The militia leveled the place. The Skeleton Men responded in kind. The militia had a few folks and Beni left behind to complete the destruction. They overran the militia pretty quickly and Beni was executed for his betrayal."
Mercer paused for a few minutes as he blinked, remembering that moment, "He was incompetent, sure. The runt of our group. But he didn't deserve to swing by his neck after having the crap kicked out of him."
The Pit, Officer's Quarters
Conrad Hart and Caitlin Todd
06 March 2002, 1422
"There," Kate said as she set the heavy duffel bag on the living room floor, noticing Conrad's considerably less laden duffel beside hers.
"Are you sure you didn't forget anything, mademoiselle?" Conrad asked, with a light smirk.
"Don't they say luck favors the prepared?" Kate replied.
"Yes, but travelling light is essential in the jungle," Conrad countered, "The heat and humidity can sap your strength. A heavy pack will do so even more."
"Okay, maybe you can help me pack?" Kate asked. The man does know what he's talking about.
"Of course, mademoiselle," Conrad replied as Kate hefted her duffel bag and carried it into her bedroom.
Kate opened the bag and set its contents on the bed. Conrad followed her in and immediately commented, "You only need two sets of clothes for the jungle. One you wear on operations and another you reserve strictly for sleep."
"Why is that?" Kate asked, raising a quizzical eyebrow.
"The clothes you wear on operations is your 'wet kit'," Conrad replied, "The one you wear to sleep is your 'dry kit'. You want to be comfortable when you sleep and being wet and miserable is counter to that."
"Okay, how do I keep that stuff dry?" Kate asked.
Conrad held up a big plastic bag, "Keep it bagged up inside here."
Kate took the bag, packing up one set of clothing, "What about change of socks?"
"Two to four pairs is about right," Conrad replied, "Again keep those as dry as you can."
"Now I see why your bag is so light," Kate replied.
"Between that and one set of civilian clothes for the flight I'm all set," Conrad replied.
"Thanks for the tips," Kate replied, with a slight smile.
"My pleasure, mademoiselle," Conrad replied, turning to leave the room.
"Hey Conrad," Kate called after him.
The former Legionnaire stopped in his tracks, turning his head, "Yes?"
"Is there any truth about former Nazis in the French Foreign Legion?" Kate asked.
"That's a bit of a long story, mademoiselle," Conrad replied, turning to face her, "But suffice to say Germans made up a large number of recruits to the Legion after both World Wars."
"Okay, what about after World War II?"
"An old hand from the 1950s I met in my travels after the Legion said that there was a large German contingent whose collective memory stretched back only to 1945," Conrad replied, "But to answer mademoiselle's question, yes there were doubtlessly former members of the Wehrmacht and Waffen-SS among the Legion's numbers. In Indochina and Algeria their combat experience proved its worth."
Kate's eyes narrowed in recognition, "Did they influence the Legion in modern times?"
"In some ways, yes," Conrad replied, "For instance how we conduct a running gun battle, fast, hard hitting, and with the unit commander leading from the front. Right out of the Waffen-SS playbook. That and our emphasis on maximum firepower. Why so curious, mademoiselle?"
Kate sighed, "Tim told me I should watch my back around you. Especially because of your time with the Legion. He specifically said that fact about former Nazis in the ranks."
"French intelligence ferreted out and appropriately sentenced known war criminals," Conrad replied, "Even in the early days of the Indochina war. You can tell him that."
"He also mentioned that incident at SDSU," Kate replied.
"As I've said, mademoiselle, Lieutenant Bailey got exactly what he deserved for what he did to Brook," Conrad coldly replied.
"You've got quite a brutal sense of justice," Kate observed, "Yet you have a gentlemanly way, like some kind of modern knight."
"Behold the knight, in solemn black manner. With a skull on his crest and blood on his banner," Conrad replied, "It's a 15th Century German poem by Garnier von Sustren."
"And I think it's one that suits you," Kate replied. It does fit him. Not exactly a knight in shining armor, but not a totally dark one either.
"I'll take that as a compliment, mademoiselle," Conrad replied before heading to the living room to let Kate finish repacking.
The Pit, Ninja Dojo
Todd Tolansky and Stormshadow
06 March 2002, 1506
Todd jumped into the air as the arrow flew towards him, hurling a shuriken along the arrow's back trajectory. He watched with satisfaction as the projectile embedded itself in the wooden silhouette of a human.
"Very good," Stormshadow said.
"Thank you, sensei," Todd replied while still in the air. When he landed he removed the black ninja mask from his face.
"Is there something on your mind?" Stormshadow replied.
"What is the difference between killing in battle and murder?" Todd asked.
"In battle you kill to defend your life and those of your teammates and innocent people. Murder is killing without discrimination. What prompted this?" Stormshadow asked.
"Agent Hart was talking about his time in the French Foreign Legion when they hanged a Cobra prisoner responsible for a massacre," Todd replied.
"One could call what Conrad and his team did murder. But also one could call it justice, given that man was responsible for a massacre," Stormshadow replied, "Taking life is a matter that should not be taken lightly."
"Agent Hart felt, ethically, he was cleansing evil from the world," Stormshadow replied, "He, alone, is the one to bear the burden of what he has done."
"How will I know if I kill for the right reason?" Todd asked.
"You will know your actions are right," Stormshadow replied, "But even if you kill for the right reason, it will be an experience that will forever change you. Meditate today, Toad. Nothing more will I teach you today."
"Yes sensei," Todd said with a bow.
TBC