Atlantech: The Early Days Volume One

Chapter 14: Old Wounds

Lynne felt apprehensive now as she knocked on Captain Grant's door and heard no response. Perhaps he can't hear me? She thought as she knocked a little louder but still heard nothing.
Then she reached for the door handle to let herself in only to realize it was locked. "Where could he be?" She asked herself. "And why would his door be locked at this hour?" She looked puzzled.

"Because you're too nosey for your own good," he replied bluntly from behind.

"Oh Jesus, you scared me," she exclaimed as she turned around and clutched at her chest.

"My apologies," he replied. "Is there something you need?"

"I was just hoping we could have our talk now," she answered. "The one you promised from early this morning?"

He pulled the keys out of his uniform coat pocket and unlocked the door inviting her inside. "Well I guess now is as good a time as any, right?"

"How did you sleep?" She suddenly asked as she stepped inside the room.

"Not too great," he answered as he walked in and closed the door behind him. "I experienced one of the worst hangovers I've ever had in a while."

He chuckled and smiled in attempt to lighten the mood but she didn't seem to respond so well to his humor.

"No sense of humor today?" He remarked.

"Afraid not," she replied. "Now about that meeting with Morane, what did you two discuss?"

Abraham took a seat in his chair and pulled open his top desk drawer and took out a box of cigars. "Nothing of substance," he replied. "To be honest it felt like he'd only invited me to the meeting just to try and get me drunk, cause the first thing he did when I arrived was offer me a drink."

"I don't understand why," Lynne said in confusion. "What use are you to him if you're drunk?"

Abraham chuckled as he struck a match and lit the cigar. "I'm a lot more docile," he explained. "And less prone to anger than when I'm sober."

"I see," Lynne nodded. "But I asked if he threatened you last night and you said he didn't, now was that a lie?"

He suddenly became silent and closed his eyes as he puffed on the cigar.

"You got quiet," Lynne pointed out. "Does this mean you were lying?"

He opened his eyes again and saw her bitter face as she stared down at him. "I told you he and I go way back, didn't I?"

"Yes, you've mentioned it once or twice," Lynne answered.

"Well, I don't believe I ever told you under what circumstances we first met," he sighed heavily as he began to recount the memory he'd kept hidden so deep in his subconscious mind all this time.

"It was thirty years ago from today that I had my first encounter with Julius Morane. It was right around the time after he won the civilians over with his campaign and took control over the city council. Well at his inauguration a riot had broken out and things got violent. The people started assaulting the Tjatey on behalf of Morane, and since the AMF had sworn to protect them at any cost, we were ordered to intervene. I was a young soldier at that time and your father was one of my comrades. We attempted to break up some of the fights only to be attacked as well. It was an ugly horrible sight but I stood my ground and did what I could to subdue the attackers. Then your father said he had the situation under control and asked me to sweep the rest of the area, and so I did. I was armed, I had my rifle and much to my surprise, didn't get a chance to fire it yet. Well all seemed clear but then I heard something, something that sounded like someone struggling for their life and so I followed those sounds and they led me right down a dark alley."