A Partisan's Fight - COMPLETED!

Chapter Twenty

"We do not have time to argue about this. We need Markus and we need to get going on this plan. The more time we spend discussing this, General, the more damage is done to both my people and yours. You cannot deny that." Mina's hands were firmly placed on the man's desk. Her eyes and jaw more unyielding then ever. She was going to get her way in this. If things happened the way she hoped, they'd have Markus's help with the chance that he wouldn't make it out alive. It'd be a win win on her account. They'd get their help and he'd get what he deserved without it being by her hand.

The general sat back down in his chair. "No, no we don't have time." He sighed, sliding his hands over his face in frustration.

He looked up at Aldrik. "What does your friend think of your plan?"

Mina straightened and looked back at Aldrik. She hoped he'd say the words she wanted to hear. She'd known him long enough to know he didn't agree with her idea. "We need the help to pull this off."

"I do not even know what this is, Mina." He sighed, crossing his arms even tighter in front of him. He looked patient, but hints of frustration were syphoning through him.

"We know that you want to make a difference in this war. We know that you want Private Jones to accompany and assist you. We also know that you are just a woman and you have just lost your father. And we know that you have another companion that we don't know the intentions of that has escaped this camp. You do not give me much to work with, young lady." The general sat back deeper in his chair. "What's keeping me from locking you and your friend up to be interrogated and executed?"

Infuriated, Mina exchanged looks between the general and Aldrik. She couldn't believe her ears. They may have been right to admit that she didn't have much of a plan, but it still enraged her. Where was the trust? They lacked in the areas that she needed to get the support she needed.

Clenching her jaw, she grabbed a lantern off of the desk and flung it against the canvas pole. Shattering, the glass shards sprinkled everywhere. "You both want to know a plan? That is what you are asking me, correct?"

"Mina, settle down." Aldrik uncrossed his arms, giving her a look of warning at her raised voice.

"No!" She snapped. "I expected some trust from you of all people. You should know that I have a plan and you should know that you should support me."

An irritated growl slipped from his lips as he looked away, shaking his head in irritation. "I also know that you can be irrational and hot tempered."

"That sounds a lot like Private Jones." The general commented. "Sounds like the two of you would be more explosive working together rather than not."

She could feel her hold on the two men minimizing. She was losing the control that she needed. Tightening her jaw, she focused on the map still on the desktop. She pulled her gaze up to the general. Her voice dangerously low and vicious. "You want to know my plan? I will tell you. Private Jones has all ready agreed that he would give his life for this cause. I have a name that warrants me rights that others do not have in my country. My name has the influence needed to get the clearance to infiltrate these camps. Aldrik knows a person that can create the documents we need to get both him and Private Jones into two other camps. I have the means to create an explosion that would not only serve as a distraction to get those people out of the camps if timed right, but it would also eliminate a huge portion of the upcoming soldiers intended to cause your people harm. This would give you an upper hand in the war and it would save many lives."

"As well as take many lives in the process." The general stared at the map in front of him. His voice was unreadable and his face out of view enough not to know where he stood.

"Lives that think your people are hypocrites that need eliminating. People that are hurting others daily. People who will not change their minds and who have been taught that the only way to solve this war is to eliminate the threat that's coming at them. There is no changing their minds. There is only creating a solution. And I have the solution." She stood behind her words. The confidence was in her voice. The anger and determination twisted in her words proved she was serious.

"And if you die?" The general looked up, leveling with her his concern.

"Then I died trying to do what was right." She believed what she said. She would sacrifice herself if that was the only way to accomplish this, and she wouldn't get caught accomplishing this.

"You speak with a lot of confidence." The general watched her carefully. "I believe every word you say."

"Thank you." She took her anger down a peg, but was equally as cautious.

"But I don't see you as having the ability to accomplish this with the amount of people you have. There are three of you that I am aware of if we count Private Jones. That is not enough to plan such a grand scheme of events such as this. There is no way that you could possibly pull this off."

The lack of encouragement simply fueled Mina. She knew she could do this. She just needed the support.

"I made it here, did I not? I made it into your personal tent and I could have killed you. Does that not speak for my abilities?" It was true. She had done all of those things, and she'd excelled. There was no way of denying that.

"Let me try." She didn't blink. Didn't breathe. Just focused.

The general weighed out her words. He looked between Mina and Aldrik, clearly judging their capabilities. "I have no guarantee that you won't execute Private Jones after you're out of the camp. I have no guarantee that you won't tell traitorous details of this camp to your people. I have no guarantee that you will uphold your end of the bargain."

Mina dropped her gaze for a moment, weighing out her options. She understood his uncertainty. She would have the same concerns in his place. "If you are worried about our intentions, or lack thereof, then have Private Jones contact you when we get back. And when we catch up to my fiancé, if he is not willing to be a part of our plan then I will execute him myself. Our plan will be successful. Let this be proof of our good faith to you."

There was still uncertainty in the general's expression. He made them wait for his answer. Without saying a word, he stood up and went to the tent doors.

"Bring me Private Jones, please." He told a soldier walking by.

Mina glanced back at Aldrik. He was watching the general, giving his dog the signal to wait. The dog looked just as on edge as they were, watching her friend's hand gestures as well as keeping an eye on the general. The dog was more of an asset than they could have ever imagined. She had no doubt that he would be very important in their future.

It hadn't taken long for Private Jones to be in the tent with them. She glanced at him before refocusing on the general taking his position back behind his desk.

"This woman informs me that you are willing to help them with changing how this war will go. Is that true, Private Jones?"

Markus didn't look at Mina. He looked straightforward, his back straight, and shoulders rigid as he stated his answer respectfully. "Yes, sir."

"She also says that you're willing to die if need be. Is this also true?" The general's eyes were narrowed as he watched Jones carefully, making sure he hadn't been coerced in any given way.

"She is correct, sir. If dying saves lives then let it be my mission, sir." Markus answered truthfully. He had the right answers and they seemed to please the general.

"You can be at ease, Jones. Do you trust this woman? Answer me honestly." Mina watched the general's eyes narrow. She ignored it, focusing on Markus.

Her heart pumped louder, eyes narrowing as Markus took his sweet time answering.

He looked at her, not giving away what he was thinking. He hid his feelings very well, pulling his gaze back to his general in command. "I trust that her intentions are genuine, sir."

The general nodded after a moment. He stood up and offered Mina his hand. "Then Godspeed to you."