Long Beach

Our Lord Ignacius watched the sad news in an air flight video how the almighty King of Thailand was executed like an epic TV Drama Caligula. At his public religion ceremony the whole of his family was spiked on steel rods like Turkish kebabs. 

The monks did it with long pierce blades out their gowns shouting for their freedom. Our NATO heroes observed.

Simon Says flipped to a Thai Drama on TV: 

"I'd rather watch this focking TV Drama than think about our last holiday slash mission in Thailand." 

Lord Ignacius. "You relax before our flight swap over I Los Angeles to Columbia to visit our old friend El Paso behind the bars." 

The screen starts to play. 

The sun hung low in the sky, casting long shadows across parade ground, where soldiers stood in rigid formation, their faces set in grim expressions that mirrored tension in the air. Today was supposed to be a celebration, a showcase of loyalty and honor, an undercurrent of unease rippled through assembled crowd.

Nari stepped into thrumming heart of the gathering, feeling the weight of unseen eyes upon her an ever-watchful presence that sent shivers racing down her spine.

The General's voice boomed across field, a commanding timbre that echoed off surrounding buildings. He spoke of duty and honor, weaving tales of valor that reverberated in the hearts of soldiers. beneath surface, a different story simmered one that Nari was all too aware of. She had seen cracks in facade, the whisperings of discontent, and dark rumors that danced like shadows in corners of barracks.

Suddenly, the atmosphere shifted. A commotion erupted near dais where General stood, and Nari's heart raced. She turned just in time to witness arrival of Harem Queen, a figure cloaked in elegance and mystery. Dressed in flowing silk, her presence commanded attention, and Nari felt an inexplicable pull towards her. Even she admired woman's grace, a sense of foreboding settled over like a heavy shroud.

General's demeanor darkened Harem Queen approached. Nari's stomach twisted caught sight of tension etched into the lines of General's face. The air thickened with anticipation, and crowd held its breath the two figures faced one another embodiment of power and subjugation. Without warning, General's hand shot out, gripping Harem Queen's arm with a force that made Nari's heart lurch.

"What is the meaning of this?" General shouted, his voice cutting through the air. The crowd shifted uneasily, murmurs spreading among them Harem Queen's face went pale, her color draining.

"General, please," she began, her voice shaking, he interrupted her with a quick gesture.

"Enough!" he snapped, and his words carried weight. Nari felt her breath catch she saw General's face twist with a mix of anger and something darker, something that hinted at abuse of power hidden beneath surface of military honor.

The arrest happened quickly, a blur of movement that left Nari stunned. Harem Queen, once a symbol of beauty and charm, was dragged away, her silks trailing like remnants of a fading dream. Nari's heart raced in her chest, matching the chaos unfolding before her.

The soldiers formed a tight line, leaving Nari standing on the edge, watching crowd's excitement turned into confusion. Whispers filled the air, heavy with shock and disbelief. A cold fear gripped Nari realized this was just beginning.

Determined to understand depths of this humiliation, she clenched fists, feeling anger rise within her. Harem Queen represented more than just an individual caught in a web of power she was a reflection of fear that controlled military's dark side. And Nari refused to stay passive.

"I will find out the truth," she whispered to herself, a promise born out of desperation and rage.

The crowd started to disperse, Nari knew what she had to do. She was already starting investigation, and with each step away from the parade ground, uncertainty loomed larger. General's laughter echoed in her mind, cruelly mocking dignity.

She turned to leave, a voice called out behind her, sending chills down her spine.

"Nari, wait!" It was Sergeant Anan, looking serious. "You need to be careful. Things are about to change."

His warning hung in the air with unspoken meaning. Nari's heart raced she turned back to face him, tension crackling between them. What did he know? What was warning her about?

Shadows grew longer, she felt stakes rising, pulling her deeper into a world where loyalty and betrayal blurred.

And in that moment, she understood that finding out the truth might come at a terrible cost.

^.^

Nari's thoughts raced walked away from parade ground, weight of Sergeant Anan's warning hanging over her like a dark cloud. The setting sun bathed streets in a warm glow, a stark contrast turmoil brewing inside her. With each step, she replayed events of the day, Harem Queen's humiliation, General's cold authority, and Anan's ominous words. What dangers lurked in shadows, waiting for her to uncover truth?

She turned down a narrow alley, the familiar scent of street food wafted through the air, mingling with sounds of laughter and chatter from nearby stalls. It was a world alive with color, Nari felt like a ghost wandering through it. vibrancy around her was a facade, hiding undercurrents of fear and control that flowed just beneath surface.

Nari approached a small café, its faded sign swinging gently in breeze. Inside, the walls were adorned with photographs of soldiers in various poses of glory smiling faces, strong camaraderie, and yet, smiles felt forced now, like masks concealing deeper truths. She took a seat in corner, her heart still racing contemplated next move.

The café owner, an older woman with kind eyes, approached Nari with a steaming cup of jasmine tea. "You look troubled, my dear," she said, concern etched on her face. "Is everything alright?"