Deserters

Judgment

"You son of a bitch!" Alex screamed and bolted across the room. He grabbed Velator by his shirt, picked him up and slammed him onto the table in front of them. Alex began to pound away at Velator's face. Two guards came over and pulled Alex away and Velator over to medical. The commanding officer questioned Alex. Alex explained to him that Velator and his men never showed up and that's why Alex's men were almost wiped out and Alex was captured.

The commanding officer questioned all of Alex's remaining troops and concluded that it was all true. Velator was held as a prisoner and the commanding officer sent a letter out to Maximilian with the statement.

A month passed and word from Maximilian's response came back. Velator was to be brought to the Capital and executed for treason. Alex was ordered to be there. Velator and Alex were put on a carriage with some of Maximilian's Royal Guards who were sent to deliver the message and retrieve Velator.

It took two weeks to arrive in the Capitol. Velator was immediately put on trial and sentenced to execution. Velator was stripped of his rank and his uniform was taken away. He execution was set for the next day. Alex was ordered to be on the stage.

At the break of dawn, a massive crowd had formed all screaming for the execution to happen. Alex was on the stage with two Royal Guards. Velator was dragged onto the stage by two Royal Guards led by one of Maximilian's Colonels. Velator had clearly been beaten severely throughout the night. He was shot through the jaw so that he couldn't speak and blood was dripping from his clothes. The Colonel read the charger and said that Velator was to be executed my hanging. Velator was brought to the edge of the stage, the rope was put around his neck and he was forced to stand there for a moment. The Colonel then kicked him in the back sending him off the edge of the stage. Velator's neck didn't snap and he started struggling in the air trying to get the rope off. He was chocking and his face began to turn red and you could hear his pain through his gags.

The Colonel walked over to Alex and handed him a pistol, stepped back and nodded. Alex looked at him, then Velator. Alex walked over to the edge of the stage, watched Velator struggle for a few more minutes, then shot him through the back twice. Velator tried to scream but couldn't and tears streamed down his face and blood poured from the bullet holes. Velator spun around still chocking but less now, he looked Alex in the eyes, and Alex raised the gun and shot Velator through the head. Blood, skull and brain bits shot out of the back of his head and a little onto the crowd. The crowd screamed with pleasure.

Suddenly they all stopped and got down into the bowing position. Alex was confused, he turned around and saw all of the soldiers saluting. Then the giant doors on the Capitol Building opened, and out of the darkness came Maximilian III himself. Alex snapped to attention and saluted. Maximilian walked up to Alex and ordered him to stand at ease. Alex dropped the salute and looked Maximilian in the eyes. Maximilian ripped Alex's Captain ranks off and replaced them with Major ranks. He shook Alex's hand. "I advise you don't fuck up like that worthless piece of flesh" Maximilian said pointing to Velator's hanging body. Alex nodded slightly afraid of messing up. Maximilian looked Alex in the eyes, nodded and then walked back into the building.

Alex was put on a carriage back to his fort. He replayed all of the events that just happened in his head multiple times. He looked down at his new ranks and sighed. He went to sleep and slept soundly like nothing had even happened.