18 Fool Me Twice....

Thomas hadn't taken his eyes off of Lila's face since they escorted her to the loading dock. Coming to this decision was not easy. He never wanted to be the person whose success laid on another person's sacrifice, but here he was.

In all his years in the military, this will be the first time killing an innocent person, because he knew once his foot crosses the line, it would be hard to pull it back. However, he consoled himself by saying this was for the betterment of the crew and the mission.

Country Q's people will not lose their lives to rumors and mayhem nor to anything else under his watch. The sacrifice of this young woman will be painful, though he will not regret his choice, Thomas will make sure he will not be fooled twice.

Secretary Jun watched the Commander sentence Lila to her death. He never thought they would be in this situation, but here they were. For the last twenty years from the time the Commander was just a General, Jun has worked as his secretary.

To Jun, no matter how high or how low the Commander title was, he will always be the person recognizes as his superior. At a young age, Thomas had saved him, taken him under his wing and gave him a life worth living. He was the person Jun owned his life to, the person he looked up to the most.

So seeing the Commander having to break his morals, to kept the fleet under his control, broke his heart. Looking towards Pace and Kara, Jun vowed to return the favor.

Thomas' and Lila's eyes met at the moment after they placed her into her sleeper cell. The rage, helplessness, and disappointment were clearly there in her eyes. Looking away quickly before his guilt chokes the breath out him, Thomas addressed the crew.

"To all of you here today, let this be a lesson."

Thomas quickly pushed the button, ejecting Lila into outer space.

___

Kara was holding her breath, the whole time. Even when Lila attacked her and Pace, she still was in a state of euphoria.

When Pace came up with this plan, Kara thought the best outcome would be for Lila in be shunned by everyone, including the Commander. But who would have thought that they would be able to get the Commander to eject Lila?

A vicious smile graced her face, glancing at Pace she saw a similar smile on his face. Grasping her hand, Pace gave her a reassuring squeeze, Kara knew he was feeling the same emotion she was. They honestly were the same kind of people.

The crew stood in horror, at the scene before them. Lila's scream still echoed in their ears.

They were first pleased to partake in the rumors circling the young woman. As long as it added some thrill and excitement to their time on the ship, why not? It wasn't them.

Yet, now seeing and hearing the pleading cries of this young woman made their stomach turn. They couldn't help but question themselves. Could this not happen to me?

Thomas used this moment wisely to regain the control he lost in his fleet.

"I want every single one of you to remember that you took part in this. Remember this the next time you find satisfaction in tormenting your fellow passengers with lies and sleepless nights. You are all people who were selected to give humanity a chance for survival, not destroy each other with gossip and ridicule...I have been put in charge of not only leading you, the crew and the civilian passengers, but all of Country Q!..." Looking around, Thomas saw most of the people present either hung their heads down or had tears falling down their eyes.

"....Do not disappoint me again! Dismiss!" The crew left the docking station with their heads low and heavy hearts.

As the crowd was clearing, Secretary Jun made his way to Kara and Pace.

Nudging Pace, Kara was the first to see the Commander's secretary coming their way. Swiping the smirk off their faces, Kara and Pace masked their faces with despair before the Jun could reach them.

"Secretary Jun, couldn't the Commander have come up with another way to handle Lila. This..this is too much!" Kara turned and cried into Pace's arms.

"Yes, even though Lila did her share of awful things, she was still a citizen of Country Q." Pace Followed up with words of his own.

Secretary Jun didn't stop Kara's and Pace's two-person show, just nodded his head in understanding. Right now, the last thing he needed to do was expose these two crooks. The Commander wanted a disciplined crew, not one that questions his integrity.

"Yes, well...we must keep to a strict policy or else order will turn into chaos." Giving this response cleared the air with the lingering crew members in the area, who were being noisy.

"The Commander will like to see the both of you in his office before we depart. He has something to give you for your contributions in this matter." Having said his peace, Jun spun around, leaving Kara's and Pace's presence before they could ask any questions.

Though, Pace and Kara didn't think much for his rude departure as they were too caught up in their happy emotions to care.

_____

Back in his office, Thomas sat down dejected.

*Sigh*

"Is it done?" Thomas asked once Jun returned from his task.

"Yes, sir. They should be here shortly."

"Good..."

Soon, two knocks could be heard at the door.

"Come in!" Two soldiers posted outside the office escorted Kara and Pace into the room.

When they entered the room, Kara and Pace felt on top of the world.

Getting rid of our opponents? Easy

Getting recognition from the Commander? Even easier.

However, as time passed by, the once good feeling disappeared. The atmosphere in the room was oppressive, it left no chance for Kara and Pace to move let alone say something.

They stood there, like everyone else in the room waiting for the Commander to release them from his spell.

Finally, after having them stand in the same spot for an hour, Thomas walked to the wall behind his desk.

This wall was specially designed by him. There were things that the government kept hidden from the public, and one of those things was kept hidden in one of the wall compartments.

Entering in his security code and fingerprint, Thomas pulled two glass vials full of greenish liquid. Placing them on his desk, he closed the compartment and retook his seat.

"How are you feeling after seeing your friend die?"

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