Behind The Trigger

Chapter 1: Triggered.

I woke up abruptly from a well deserved sleep to find my house devoid of human presence. Not that I expected any. I impulsively reached for the .45 Colt which I always slept with under my pillow in case I was visited by unwanted late night visitors. In my line of work one can always expect unwelcome guest at any hour of the day.

Standing up from my bed I accepted the fact that there was no more sleep for me for what remained of the night. It was 4:57 AM on the clock but my body was reluctant to accept the fact and was still functioning as if I was still back in Italy where it was only 2 in the afternoon.

After thoroughly browsing my apartment for any disturbances I deposited the gun in the the drawer and reached for my cigarette case. I set alight a cigarette and took a long drag from it, feeling the nicotine seep through my veins, enjoying the sensation. Sliding the doors open, I stepped into the balcony looking up at the inky blue sky buttoned with thousands and thousands of diamond like stars. I absent-mindedly stared up at the sky barely noticing a plane fly past in the distant while I finished smoking my cigarette. The now invisible plane's engine's whirring sound and a stray dog's howling was the only thing breaking the peaceful tranquility of the mesmerizing night.

I finished smoking my cigarette, returned to the main house and took a beer out of the refrigerator when the wall phone started ringing. By that time I was fully awake and vigilant. Who could it be calling me at that uncivilized hour of the night? Wondering, I warily picked up the receiver, ready for the worst, and waited for the caller to speak first.

"Commander Sergei Tulpanov?" asked a female voice.

"Who's it calling?" I replied, my training instantly activated of not answering a question with a statement but with another question when in doubt of the caller's identity.

"General Yuri's Office." replied the voice coolly.

"You're ordered to report at Tantalus Base at 0800 hours sharp. The coordinates of the Base are 78° North and 69° South of the latitude. Install these coordinates in your military GPS device and it'll lead you straight towards the Base. You will not recount this conversation with ANYONE." informed the almost robotic voice before the line went dead.

I stood there for what seemed like ages, holding the receiver, trying to make some sense of the whole conversation. My imagination, sadly, failed me. I guess I was not fully awake after all! I came out of my 'trance-ish' state and realized to my bewilderment that it was already 6:37 AM on the clock. It had been almost over an hour and a half since I had woken up! Time does fly when you're enjoying yourself. So much for early morning humor.

I stripped myself off my clothes and jumped into the shower, shaved and looked myself in the mirror. I looked older than my 36 years old with pale blue eyes and sharp features. I could've have easily passed for an actor with my silver blond hair and moderately athletic physique rather than an Armed Forces Intelligence Officer. Yes, the work is as interesting as the post sounds.

I rubbed myself dry and fell in a quandary whether to go in my dress uniform or in civil clothes. Civil it is then! I has always been my belief that dressing impeccably breeds success. I decided upon a white silk shirt, navy blue blazer and pants, hand-knitted orange tie and tassel loafers to finish it off. Not too formal I hope.

When the clock struck exactly 7:00 AM I was already backing my beat-up Mercedes out of the driveway. Having never even heard of Tantalus let alone visit it, I rummaged in my glove compartment for my military GPS and when found it, inserted the coordinates, pressing the circular "GO" button when I was done.
A rotating wheel appeared on the screen while it searched for the exact location when the screen blinked into life showing where the Base was situat.....Wait. WHAT?! Were my eyes deceiving me? The location dot was blinking in the middle of the Spinewoods, surrounded by forest on all sides for hundreds of miles!