Battlefield: Control (Book Two)

Chapter Ten - Alan

"I have a message for you," one of Alan's shipmates said the moment he arrived back on board.

Curious, Alan took the envelope of paper from his comrade and opened it. Paper was only used for top secret, or otherwise important, messages. Everything else was sent via electronics.

"Come up to my room A.S.A.P."

That was all the note said. He wasn't sure what was so important about it. Who was it from? Sir Tuliy? Had to be. The only other person who'd send confidential notes was Sir Oriol, and he'd never invite Alan to his private quarters.

Why all the secrecy, though? Impromptu meeting to talk logistics? Or maybe Sir Oriol was involved and only using Alan's friendship Sir Tuliy as a cover. Given the nature of Alan's commands, he needed to keep things on the down-low. Too many trips to his commander's office might look suspicious.

What Alan wanted to do was go back to his room and shower, or at the very least change into something more appropriate for a meeting with his superior officers. When a note from a higher up said to come as soon as possible though, that was not to be ignored. Sir Tuliy wasn't over Alan necessarily in terms of rank, but his reputation gave him a different kind of esteem. Alan had to respect it.

He rode the elevator to the upper floors and knocked on the door to Tuliy's room. His friend answered the door with a big grin. "You're back. Wonderful Come in, I have something to show you."

Alan stepped into the room and then stopped immediately where he stood. "Why is my stuff here?"

He couldn't help but stare at the collection of things he'd placed into storage, because the small quarters he'd been given before couldn't hold even the most standard of items brought from home. Those things were in Sir Tuliy's room on the floor.

"I told you I would put in a word. They of course tried to tell me there was no room for you anywhere else. Obviously that is false. My quarters are designed to house four individuals, primarily with families in mind of course, but I do not have a family with me on the ship. No one does. It seems like a waste of space, and to be honest, I don't like living on my own." Tuliy briefly glanced at Alan before going into the kitchen to get some water for each of them. He handed a bottle to Alan, and then opened his own before continuing. "Don't tell anyone I said that. I wouldn't want the others to think less of me. They might think it's because I'm afraid when in all actuality I'm just lonesome. Who better to live with me than my friend, yes?"

"Yes," Alan said. It was the most he could manage at the moment. "Forgive me, I...thank you."

"There's nothing to forgive, and you're welcome."

Alan knew he should have protested more. He had made it clear he did not want pity or any kind of special treatment. At the same time, he couldn't complain. He might not have deserved the upgrade in housing, but he did know how to appreciate it.

"How can I repay you for your kindness?" Alan asked and finally moved so he could take care of his things.

Leaving them in the middle of the floor didn't seem like a good idea. He took a drink of the purified water from the bottle and smiled. Drinking that water would be an everyday occurrence for him now. It all had to be too good to be true.

Tuliy watched him and shook his head. "I don't want anything in return. I told you, we're friends. It's what we do for one another. Are you so jaded you think everyone only does things with a hidden agenda?"

"My apologies."

"Again, you haven't done anything wrong. I'd be jaded too come to think of it, especially after hearing everything you've told me about your father. And please don't start treating me like one of the other boot lickers on board. It'd be disappointing."