Chapter 34: A hero gets his reward.

Chapter 34: A hero gets his reward.

If I dont get any coffee down my throat in the next thirty seconds, someones getting drowned in the river, Commander Dale Hutchins, a burly, balding man in his mid-forties who was the base commander of Null Westes, said in warning to his senior officers, who all sat gathered in the meeting room. Probably you, Ed.

Got your back, Commander, said Carrie Chalmers, his second in command. After everyone saluted, she passed along a pot of the Alliances finest brew, from which Hutchins gratefully accepted a large pour into his oversized mug.

"Ahhh, is there anything like the taste of this beatific blend of cat piss and rotten bean? Truly, the Alliance loves all her children, Hutchens said meditatively.

Don't give the brass too much credit, sir. Chalmers said chidingly. Were the ones who provide the dirty stockings used for filtering."

Id definitely suck the dirt off your hose, maam, said Ed with a bit of hope in his voice.

And Id definitely have you shot in the face if you ever made the attempt, Chalmers replied cheerfully.

Moving on, kids, we've got a busy morning today, Hutchins said. Im going to need some updates on the new personnel wholl be arriving soon. Hows the situation in the east settlements going?

Oh, youre going to love this one, laughed Chalmers with fake mirth. It looks like weve got some Pal-dian extremists running wild out there. Theyre claiming that theyre suffering mistreatment from the locals and vowed to take the law into their own hands if we refuse them aid.

That has got to be a joke, snorted Thompson in disbelief. Who the hell do those deviants think they are to demand anything from us but the spit in our mouths?

I really wouldnt mind slapping a little humility into them, said Chalmers. One of these days theyre going to have to get it through their thick skulls that being from Paldia doesnt mean a damn thing in todays world. Theyre such entitled little pricks.

Well, the locals will set them straight soon enough, laughed Ed. Nothing for us to deal with.

An aide entered the room bearing a sealed letter which he hurriedly passed to Hutchens before departing.

It's funny you should say that, said Hutchins after reading it. It would seem that all seven would be vigilantes have recently suffered a simultaneous disconnect.

Huh?

Well, lets just say they were all found nesting southwards of a tree branch.

Hahahaha! laughed Thompson at the news.

Oh, shut up, Thompson, said Chalmers disgustedly. You already know that Denards going to take these hangings personally and insist on investigating them when he gets back, whichll make more work for me.

Im just offering a little light-hearted commentary, said Thompson sheepishly. Still, good thing the Hero is always willing to go that extra step, right?

Yeah, otherwise you might have to work for a living, said Chalmers with poisonous sweetness.

Hours later

No, no, I get it, I do, Hutchens said.

He was describing an amusing argument hed had earlier in the week with an angry representative from one of the new settlements.

You tore a bunch of traumatized war orphans screaming from the arms of their new families and gave them back to the natives you stole them from to save yours lives. But they double crossed you and now events have taken a turn towards being SCARY. That was the gist of it. Was I gisting? Is that even a word? Carrie, is gisting a word?

Gisting is not a word, Commander, replied Lieutenant Chalmers.

Yeah, well, tell that to my son. Puberty hit that punk like a rhino horn. The missus is always complaining to me about having to clean his bedsheets, says his room is starting to smell like old gruyere

Thats really more than I ever wanted to know about your son, Commander, said Chalmers.

or maybe fresh limburger, I dont know. She wants me to talk to him, father-to-son, ask him to give it a rest, take the weekend off or something. I mean its not like hes getting paid for it. Im trying to think of what to say to him. Maybe, "Son, you dont need to flog it like a dead horse!

Thats not how the saying goes, Commander. You dont want to flog a dead horse.

Well, I dont want him flogging himself either!

You know, I have a theory that kids who start wanking early, become adults with small pricks, said Thompson, who found the conversation interesting and wanted to contribute.

Are you speaking from experience, Thompson? asked Chalmers who hated Thompson, hated him so fucking much, had hated him for years, and would gladly hate him for eternity if she could but live long enough.The source of this content nov(el)bi((n))

Huh? No! said Thompson defensively.

Explain it. Explain your reasoning, right now, Chalmers said. Her expression was so severe that Thompson began to fear for his safety.

O-okay, he said, stumbling on his words a bit. Its like weightlifting, yeah? Kids who lift weights too early can hurt their bone structure and stop growing, right? Well, my theory is the same thing. Only, for wanking. It makes sense, right?

A stunned silence awkwardly enveloped the room. Thompson looked around in desperation, but it seemed he had no allies here.

Thats the dumbest thing youve ever said, Thompson, erupted Chalmers. I mean it. That theory has leg braces! There is no way in hell you didnt just now make that shit up.

Well, no, I meant

You meant what? You just wanted to aerosolize your stupidity? Mission accomplished, friend!

But Maam, what I meant is--

What you just said is not rooted in any kind of actual scientific fact, cut in Chalmers. Penises dont have bones, you idiot, so why would vigorous masturbation stunt their growth?

Well, if thats so, then why do we call them boners? Thompson asked with horrifying sincerity.

An even more painful silence ensued, which lasted even longer before Chalmers began yelling.

That didnt even feel like an actual thought, Thompson, she seethed. It felt like an anti-thought, designed to kill real thoughts before they can be born. A thought-bortion. Do you feel proud of how stupid you are? I feel that you should. It's an achievement."

Thompson s eyes turned to the floor in embarrassment. Thats what I get for trying, he thought sadly.

Now, now, hold on, Carrie, Hutchens said to her, as he held up a placating hand. Lets just simmer down! Thompson s a good man. Not a smart one, but still a good one, and I know he's not deliberately trying to upset you. He just

Sir, Ed called out urgently after returning to the room. Sir, Captain Denard has returned, and he wants to speak with you urgently.

Did he capture the witches? Did he return with the Counts daughter? Hutchens demanded.

Hutchens sat back down, kicked back in his chair, and said: Politics aside, theres not a lot of action where youre heading, Knight-Captain. Youll have a lot of downtime on your hands. Hopefully youll spend it getting your head straight and deciding which values truly matter to you.

And should I have difficulty making a decision, sir? Denard asked, icily.

Well, then your new posting may very well be the ignominious end of a once promising career, Hutchens said bluntly. Youve got time, think it over. If you get bored, maybe theyll let you play town constable, out there in the boonies? Everyone loves having an amateur sleuth around. Dismissed.

Denard turned away, seething with frustration. Iknew I should have kept my mouth shut, he thought. Just as he opened the office door, however, he heard Hutchens voice call out.

Ah, ah, ah! Wheres my salute, Knight-Captain?

Before he could stop himself, Denard, normally the picture of calm neutrality, turned and gave his commanding officer the only salute he felt the man deserved. A single-fingered one. Then he angrily stomped away.

---

For his part, Hutchens laughed harder than he had in years; it was a belly shaking explosion of mirth that lasted so long, he worried hed break a rib. When he finally settled down, he wiped his brow and sighed, as he slowly regained his breath.

Heh, good for you, Denard, he said to the empty room. While the kid was normally about as emotionally expressive as a small rock, it seemed he had quite the volatile nature buried beneath that unflappable exterior.

As Mama liked to say, still waters run deep, thought the amused Hutchens.

Despite the flagrant disrespect hed been shown, Hutchens decided to let it slide, just this once, for old times sake. Besides, no one would have believed him if he said what Denard had done!

Still chuckling to himself, Hutchens activated the sigils on his transmission mirror and sent out an encoded request for face-to-face communication. A few moments later, he was granted permission to connect. Its done, Ser Mae, he said to the human noble projecting from his screen. The loose end has been trimmed.

Not as thoroughly as Id like, Ser Mae told him, humorlessly. He was a handsome, but stern-looking young man of far west ancestry. Young though he was, he exuded an aura of such absolute authority that Hutchens, who was a twenty-year veteran of the service, was always tempted to salute him whenever they made contact.

Youre certain a more permanent solution cant be arranged? Ser Mae asked, pointedly.

An officer of that caliber doesnt deserve to lose his career for the sake of a few dead underlings, replied Hutchens. Not even a half-breed.

I wasnt talking about ending his career, Ser Mae said ominously.

He must be joking. Well, if ever you feel like throwing your life away, why not armor up and take a swing at Denard yourself? Hutchens snorted.

Dont think I couldnt deal with him personally, Commander, Mae said. Hes nothing compared to me. One day, the Alliance will know it.

Hutchens couldnt help but smirk at Maes confidence. Young nobles were all the same, boasting of the glory theyd easily earn in battle if they didnt have more important things to do with their time. But at least most of those cowards werent silly enough to claim they could take down a Magna Hasta.

Oh, Id love to see you try, sunshine, Hutchens thought uncharitably to himself.

Half-breed or not, Denard was the Magna Hasta, the champion of the Alliance; and Hutchens was an Alliance man, through and through. Rich kids acting hard because they had their family names to hide behind, did not impress him.

Besides, there were all those prophecies that Denard supposedly played a part in. He might well be the literal champion of humanity

Suddenly, Hutchens realized that while hed been lost in thought, Mae had continued to stare at him in silent scrutiny. The smile drained from Hutchens face when he realized the other man had meant everything hed just said.

R-right, well Hutchens stammered.

The agreed upon payment will soon be deposited into your private account," Mae said.

Thank you. But are you certain this, uh, hunter youre assigning me will make up for losing Denard?

Stalker, Commander Hutchens. His title is stalker, corrected Mae.

Right, Stalker. My question still stands, though. Denard is the Magna Hasta. A lot of people are going be wondering why Im sending him away.

That things tainted blood makes him unworthy of being the Magna Hasta, stated Mae without emotion. He should have been struck down for the audacity of pursuing the title, much less obtaining it! Correct-thinking people of considerable influence are now petitioning the Alliance senate to have Cross' status invalidated. This grotesque mistake will soon be rectified.

Youve got to be kidding me, Hutchens thought. Hed never heard of the title being stripped of someone before. It was supposed to last until death in battle or retirement from service.

The Stalker being assigned to you will prove his superiority. The girl will be retrieved, and all witnesses will be silenced. Grail, the silence in white has never failed us. The future is ours. You will see, Mae continued.

Uh, right, Hutchens said uncomfortably.

Yes. Right, Mae repeated. A new era has begun, Commander. Forget what came before and embrace the changes to come. Creatures like Jonah Denard will be discarded like rotted fruit. His throat will be slit like that of a swine, but his blood will be carefully collected and poured into a midden bucket, to prevent it from contaminating any precious soil it might have spilled upon. The dirt itself will have more value than his life.

Hutchens said nothing. He just sat there, listening, not daring to interrupt. This pleased Mae.

Stay loyal, Commander Hutchens, he said in dismissal. Your obedience will guarantee your continued prosperity.

Of, course, my lord, Hutchens said quietly. Uh, but about Denard's reports of a rogue sentient weapon? If the Eun Malum truly have access to such a tool

Unlikely. The bungling fool was making excuses for both his failure and the loss of his men. Godly weapons do not wander this tainted world randomly intervening in mortal affairs. That is blasphemy. If a divine weapon were to appear, it would immediately see the value of serving we the faithful.

Ofcourse, Hutchens said.

Do you remain faithful, Commander Hutchens? asked Mae.

Always and forever, great lord.

Excellent. See that you remain so. Farewell for now.

Maes image faded from the mirror, leaving Hutchens alone with his thoughts.

Hutchens nearly said what a crazy son of a bitch, aloud, but his instincts warned him to stay silent. Who knew who was watching? Listening? Waiting for an opportunity to catch him off guard? Loyalty might guarantee his prosperity, but silence would preserve his life!

Like he said, old man: Its a new era, he thought to himself. But it might also soon be time to put in my papers.

Oh, who was he kidding? If he ever actually retired, Carrie would have had Thompsons life within the hour. She was a smart woman, too. Shed know how to make it look like an accident.

It sure was rough being the boss.