1 A Time for Redemption
The paved road almost shimmers with the sprinkling of rain as it falls onto marching soldiers. Four columns and six rows march down the street, only the sound of their boots hitting the pavement can be heard. The captain off to the left, keeping step, and checking his wrist watch every few seconds. Street lights light up the area, 29 dark blue uniforms marching down the street in solitude, and silence only accompanied by the sound of simultaneous steps hitting the pavement.
From the alley way someone follows, silent, patient, checking his watch every few minutes. His dark brown trench coat and hat are hard to spot in the alley, unless you where looking for it. Dashing silently from alley way to alley way to see where the soldiers would stop, hoping he still had time. " Platoon! Halt!" cried the captain in his somewhat lion voice as they reached a blue house, one of the few on the street with the porch light off. Pulling a piece of paper from his pocket to check the address, he calls for a fire team and four men fallout and line up following him to the door. A knock on the door, a few seconds later an elderly woman answers. " Good evening ma'am, I am Captain Rigne, might I have a few moments of your time?" The old woman nods and opens the door wider, the captain and his team follow her inside. " A handsome man like you can only be here for one thing at this hour" chuckles the old woman. "Oh? Asks the captain quizzically. "Yes, but you will have to come back tomorrow, I don't like my daughter to be out this late". The captain smiles, still following the woman down a hall lined with photos, a young couple slowly age the further in they walk, midway a baby appears in the photos, she too ages until the hallway ends. In a chair an old man reads a book, to which he snaps shut when stands when he looks up. "Eugene, this is Captain Rine" " Rigne, ma'am". " Oh I'm so sorry young man, this is my husband Eugene" "a pleasure sir" the captain reaches out his hand and the old man takes it. " Didn't know Norma was going to have company over, would have this place cleaned up, we don't get many visitors lately. Edna, fetch some tea will you?" " That is very kind of you, but this will only take a few moments". Eugene sits back down and begins to fumble with his book. " I'll go get Norma, please captain have a seat", he smiles warmly and nods, Edna disappears down another hallway leaving Eugene, the captain and his men alone.
"How long have you known Norma?" Eugene asks, his voice breaking with a hint of nervousness. "Not long but, you have to meet the parents sometime right?" The captains awkward grin, showed he too was nervous, or at least pretending to be. His eyes dart around the room, until his eyes fall above the fire place, a porcelain statue of a black widow. He gets up to inspect it, "what a remarkable piece". " That's hers, got is from a bishop when we moved here oh, 'bout 30 years ago almost." You don't believe, I take it?" The captain asks, eyes still fixated on the shiny black figure. " Not really, still go to service with her when she asks. Just don't see how any one believes in it. A spider goddess married a wolf, and they produce what? thousands of different spiders, and no wolves". "Its not that at all" eyes still fixated on the figure, finger caressing on of the legs. "Its the web, to build, ensnare, and destroy...or end whichever you prefer". " Yeah, listened to the sermons for a while now, heard it all." The captain snaps out of his trance at the sound of foot steps entering the room. "Oh hello, is there something we can help you with?" Norma's eyes scan the room. " Well I think the ruse is up, please I would prefer you willingly take a seat". The three residents exchange looks before Eugene motions the other two to have a seat on the couch.
"Norma, such a lovely name" the captain says walking over to the younger woman and bending over so they are at eye level. In a somewhat silent yet serious tone " I need you to be honest with me Norma, you know why I am here and what I want". " Not a clue" "How old are you Norma?" The captain stand straight up again and begins pacing slowly in front of his men. " Mid, late thirties?" she nods, " and how many children do you have?" "none". He stops his pacing and turns toward her again and smiles. A hand reaches into his pocket and he produces a piece of paper he hands to her. "A record of your visits to the hospital seven and six years ago. Rather odd each set of visits was around eight months at a time, and then, you haven't been back since". " Had a really bad flu" she replies nervously.
A knock on the back door breaks the silent moment. The captain's finger motions behind, then to door, and one of his men comply. A man in a dark brown trench coat and hat enter the room. "Ah Adum, I wasn't aware command had dispatched you here to assist, unless one of your lengthy investigations has lead you here". "No, followed you, when your men began to surround the house I didn't want to get shot at and cause a scene". " Well I can assure you my friend, very well under control". " Was hoping there would be cake" Eugene's brow shot up momentarily, to fast for the captain or any of his men to see. "Old lady, you got any cake in the kitchen?" Edna looks at the captain, he nods, and she gets up and guides Adum to the kitchen. "Now where were we? Ah yes, so I know that seven and six years ago you gave birth to two children." The captain says holding up two fingers and resuming his pacing. " To which such information is not apparent by looking at such a piece of paper, no we had to track down a certain number of home service physicians of whom did not give up information willingly, nor easily. Tracking said information through and around Station City, leading us back to this residence, back to...you." He stops his pacing and points a finger at Norma. She gives a nervous cough, and asks " What information would that be?" The captain grins with the words " Virgin births". Eugene's face ruffles " Captain! you cannot seriously be insinuating..." " It's either that or incest, no-one that has ever known you has ever seen you with anyone else, save your parents". " I'm just very private person, that's all". " Regardless, I will ask this next question only once, then your parents will die, and you will be taken to head quarters for....questioning. Where are the boys?" Norma's eyes dart around the room looking for an answer. Her parents where probably dead anyway the second her mother answered the door. As far as the "questioning" goes, she reasoned the military is never kind in their pursuits, protecting her boys was all she could do now. "They are gone" she replies, confident this time, letting her eyes linger on the captains before switching to the black porcelain spider above the fire place, thinking a prayer to herself. Adum and Edna return from the kitchen and she takes her place beside her daughter. "Not a damn slice of cake in this place" he mumbles rather loudly.
'Dear mother, great goddess see our sins and forgive us'
"Too bad Adum, your ruse is also up, I know why you are here. Although "cake" would be something in this house, such pleasantries are best not pursued during an investigation". Adum lowers his stern brown eyes at the captain, meeting his ocean green.
'Guide our hearts and minds toward your precious light'
With a grin Adum responds, " The Great Captain Evan Rigne, if I didn't know better, I would think your inquisitive mind is throwing accusations recklessly". Smiling, almost showing teeth now " Even your advanced mind must think it the obvious conclusion, my dear friend". The four men behind the captain take a knee and raise their weapons at the captains' now four captives.
'Protect us from the evils of the wretched gods'
"Too bad you can't read my mind". " My dear friend, I don't have too. Super Secret means Super Secret".
'Let the Red Wolf be our shield, when we have none'
Adum grimaces, the front and back door are kicked open and soldiers swarm into the ever shrinking room. "Perhaps you can be fixed once we return back to base. Must be a wire loose in your head". The captain says pointing a finger at his own head spinning it in a circle.
'And when we pass from this world, grant our souls passage to your lands'
The captains' hand raises, pointing a finger at the elderly couple, then to Adum. Without hesitation every rifle in the room is fired. Blood is splattered all over the captain, as he smiles. Adum is too quick for that, he doesn't wait, he drops and rolls out the open back door, hopes the fence and is gone into the night. "Captain, should we pursue?" " No, we have what we need, Adum will be dealt with soon enough. Restrain her, and let us return home men." Norma is compliant, and everyone begins to exit the building through the front door. Before leaving the captain takes one last look at the spider figurine and notices a few spots of blood, using his sleeve wipes it off. Admiring his work, proceeds to kiss it, " Thank you goddess, there is much work to do." After bowing, proceeds out the door smiling "A lot of work indeed".
