Shame [2]

He had been awkwardly placed across the seat, which was both unideal and uncomfortable due to the chains digging into him. However, the pairs of hands that touched him in an attempt to reposition him caused him great anxiety. It reminded him of the previous evening's events too vividly, hence he started flailing with resistance. Despite this with great difficulty they managed to get him in a sitting position.

He hadn't snapped out of it when the vehicle had started moving. He continued to breathe heavily and irregularly. Someone had attempted to comfort him by running a hand along his back, though this had only worsened his state thus he was left alone for the rest of the journey. His panic attack resolved itself after he was left alone for enough time. 'Stupid, what happened to being calm?' He berated himself.

By the time they had finally come to a stop, Cadet 1111 had fallen asleep sitting. He only woke up after he heard the rattling of chains. 'I suppose we're here.' The weight on his body lightened, they had removed his handcuffs. He felt a hand around his head, this time he was ready and prepared for their assistance but he was surprised to find that they were undoing the cloth that was concealing the upper portion of his face. The vehicle was much brighter than he was expecting, it was considerably large, long and tall, with parallel red seats outstretched from end to end. His bafflement was interrupted by a hand being offered. It belonged to the kind lady who had wrapped and unwrapped his blindfold. She had hazel brown hair and she wore a silk-like shirt, decorated with metal plating on a shoulder.

He took her hand and stood up, he was knowledgeable of courtesies and manners. The Ra regiment's etiquette classes had drilled them into him. "Are you okay? You kind of freaked out earlier, so the minister thought it was best to release you." She stated proud of their master.

'So he's a minister, I can help the empire if I assist him.' He thought beaming. "Yes, I am all right." He said in a pleasant tone. He was determined to leave a positive impression in spite of his initial gaffe. "Do you have any instructions for me? Pardon my ignorance for I am rather new to this." Valena was visibly withholding her amusement and her fellow guardsman was cracking up. Cadet 1111 was annoyed "I apologise if my request was improper."

"It wasn't improper but How am I supposed to know why you're here? For now, we'll take you to your digs." She offered. 'What is a digs? Does she take me for a fool?'

Undeterred by the thought "Of course" he replied, not wanting to seem benighted. They led him outside the truck, taking care to ensure they remained behind him. The sight blinded him, the sun's harsh rays as well as the overwhelming amount of colour. The designer had gone mad with its use, the walls of the enormous mansion splashed with the colour of sand, the slate of the roof a rich brown, with grass that radiated green in the forefront and wall fences that emulated the grisly house. He cleverly decided it was best not to voice such opinions to his new master.

The walk was difficult, the sun had warmed up the pavement that lead to the mansion and due to the continued absence of Cadet 1111's footwear, it was agonising. 'Is this infernal heat normal? Surely not right.' He hoped. The doors to the mansion were large and arched. They were opened by a man who stood there awaiting guests. He had greeted them and Cadet 1111's cortège halted to exchange pleasantries.

The comforts of within teased him brazenly, he was only a mere stumble away but he could not yet enter nor could he rush his escorts. He would have to adhere to their schedule disregarding his own fancies. If this was for a greater pair than those two Cadet 1111 would not have felt the enmity he did. However, in his mind, they were equal if not inferior in the hierarchy and thus he was allowed such luxury.

They finished not so promptly and took him down a dimly lit flight of stairs that were hidden beneath a trap door. The aesthetic of the walls changed from a sandy yellow to a more rudimentary walling, black stone. Cadet 1111 preferred this the monochromatic theme felt far less alien to him. He was dropped off at a room opposite a corridor, it was rather small but he could manage. 'So this is a digs.' The room had no furnishing except for the sink and a lavatory. The guardsman left him alone, with only the single command of not leaving the room unless instructed to. 'Not that I wished to anyway, the vibrance is scandalising.'. In a corner, he found a folded futon and concluded it would be wise to take a nap and revitalise himself before he was summoned.

Perhaps due to the fatigue of travel or his uncomfortable day, or perhaps days chained. Sleep came easily. It was an experience he was always grateful for. The darkness once again consumed him and the dim lights of the chamber vanished.

He was awoken by a knock at the door, his wakefulness restored the lights. 'So sleep activates it…I should turn the lights off before I doze off.' He noted while feeling grateful for the presence of courtesies. He opened the door and was greeted by an elderly woman, who was possibly past her sixties. "The sire has called for you, follow me." She instructed and he obeyed. She was slow to say the least, especially when climbing the stairs. '…Why is everyone hell-bent on testing my patience.' Eventually, they made their way up to a room on the second floor. The lady knocked on the door and a voice answered "Enter". It belonged to the master. The hag kept to a side so Cadet 1111 entered and closed the door behind him. 'I doubt she has any more business here.'

The office was well decorated. The sandy wallpaper was accented by red and gold furnishing. However, juxtaposed with the theme of royalty and elegance was the minister who was sitting behind his extravagant desk. He had a cigar in his mouth and judging from the ashtray on his desk this wasn't his first. "You don't have a name do you, boy?" He asked trying to make a small conversation.

He would have preferred if he got to the point but he answered. "I do have a name, My name is Cadet One Thousand, One Hundred and Eleven." He had decided it was best not to mention his shortened name, Eleven-Eleven.

The minister deeply inhaled accelerating the burning cigar and finally releasing plenty of smoke when he exhaled. "Do you think I care to memorise such a tedious name? I'll call you El. I presume that is all right with you." He stated calmly.

'I suppose that's my temporary alias.' He was content with the name, he didn't hold any attachment to his real name, thus it was easy to accept. "Yes, that shall do."

The minister blunted his cigar against the ashtray before clapping his hands-free from any residue. "You've seen your room, yes?" El nodded "That room is opposite to the corridor that leads to the dungeon. You can continue to use the main entrance but keep in mind that it isn't the usual entrance for that section of the house. Your task is to interrogate and extract truths from the prisoners. Simple yes?"

This caught El by surprise but he nodded. He understood the filth that was left unsaid. "I shall serve you and the empire well." He added to aver his true allegiance. 'I will do this abhorrent work for the empire not you.' The minister simply nodded before standing up and placing his hands on El's shoulders.

"I have a feeling you'll perform your duties well." He affirmed. He then handed El a few documents which contained personal records of people. "These are your first few cases. I expect you to start by tomorrow. One last thing, your meals shall be brought to you. So don't leave your section, which entails your room, the corridor and the dungeons unless I ask you to. " He said seating himself in his chair again.

He excused himself and headed back downstairs. Taking special care in remembering the layout of the mansion. Once he reached his room he sat on the floor and read through the documents. His first victim would be a woman named Adele Tress. Aged 37, a mother of three and a serial robber. Her latest heist ended in a fiasco when she targeted a friend of Director Arte. El was rather impressed with her audacity, 'The director and his friends are good men how ungrateful of her. When they are the ones bettering the lives of her and her children.'. As for why she was handed to him, the minister wants to learn about the larger organisation she works for.

He spent the rest of the day working out, he'd already missed a day at least, thus it was crucial that he return to schedule. 'An unfit soldier was worth less than a pig raised in grime and I am no pig.'. His empty little room was less than ideal for his needs, it was far inferior to the Ra Regiment gym but it would suffice. He had been taught to make do with what he had.

To be continued tomorrow