Marco Domici: Following Orders

The ceiling fan circled lazily as Gabbie stepped into the room. She winced at once; Afgad was sitting behind Jaedeyn's desk.

"Tjanern Tio Gabirella, so good to see you." Afgad smiled thinly, placing his hands widely on the desk. His uniform was pressed as always, and tailored to make him look bulkier. "It is good the Creator wills you to come see me, we have heard of your difficulty."

"Heard?" Gabbie started. "Where's Jaedyn?" She looked around the room. It was plain, utilitarian. She could smell Afgad's cologne but not his usual cigarette affectation. Those things brought her comfort. It meant Jaeyden was still around, if not here right now.

"The Creator wills me to see Tjanern Hundra Jaeyden, Afgad." She replied.

"Ah, don't worry about him, Gabriella. The advisory council has already heard about the issue and issued a resolution. The matter should be resolved shortly."

"Since I haven't given a report, Afgad, I fail to see..." Gabbie paled. "You fool!" She started backing away. "You stupid..."

"Guards!" Afgad screamed as he stood. His face turned red. "You will not speak to your superiors like that, woman! I'll have you in penance for that."

Two guards had rushed in. One made the mistake of grabbing Gabbie's arm and received an elbow deep in the stomach for his efforts. As he doubled over Gabbie pushed him to the floor and stepped around as he flailed. The other guard fumbled for his side arm and froze as a steady pistol muzzle appeared in his face.

The man had the sense to gulp. He raised his hands.

"You! You can't do that!' Afgad screamed. "Guards! Stop her!"

The downed guard heaved and held his stomach while his partner looked at Gabbie. He looked at Afgad, and back to Gabbie. And ran out the door.

"Afgad, so help me I will kill you myself if your stupid plan somehow works. I may just kill you any way." She moved quickly out of the office and raised Balt on the comm.

"Balt, quick. Every Guide member guards Marco! They are trying to kill him." She sprinted through the office. "I'm on my way! Ooof!"

The impact knocked the wind out Gabbie as she collided with two people running in to the main office. Momentum carried the day and Gabbie found herself trying to lift weight off her that she could not bear. "Move, now!" She ordered, and the three of them tried to disentangle themselves.

"Wow." A mans voice said. Gabbie had just registered that the people on her were female. "Is this a new conditioning routine no one told me about?"

Everyone froze. Gabbie looked past someone's calf to see Jaeyden as he leaned against a desk. He raised an eyebrow and folded his arms across a loose fitting uniform. His arms and face were tanned and his hair was short. A touch of grey, but his appearance lied about his age; he was almost old enough to be Gabbie's grandfather.

Within moments all three women were standing at respectful attention. Afgad was standing in the doorway with his slick smile. "Sir, this woman attacked one of my guards and threatened to kill me. May I escort her to penance?" He looked at Gabbie. "I'm sure she will do well."

Jaeyden looked at Gabbie, who already seemed about to bust. "Sir! Afgad sent people to kill the leader of the rescue team without hearing the full story. I need to get there and save him!"

One of other women spoke up. "That's the truth sir." She was older, and starting to gray a bit. She nodded as she spoke. "At least the bit about Afgad sending some boys out. I know the ones he sent. Not the brightest, but good workers. If the job can get done, they is likely to do it."

Jeadyn looked at the woman as she spoke. He glanced at Afgad, and then looked at Gabbie for a long moment. She seemed about to cry, but held her tongue.

"Tama, Betty, see that you stop them. Let's not attack someone who might actually be friendly to us. Gabriella, my office." He looked at Afgad. "You should be some place else, Afgad. Probably far away."

"I" he replied.

"Now, Afgad." Jaedyn motioned Gabbie into his office. Tama and Betty were long gone. After he saw that Afgad was gone as well, he closed the door. "It sounds like the Creator has given you a difficult time, Gabbie. Care to tell me about it?"

"No sir." She replied. "I mean, yes sir, I'll tell you about it. I don't think the Creator is being especially mean...but..." She paused as Balt's three clicks signaled he had gotten everyone in place. "I..."

Jaedyn leaned up against his own desk and resumed his folded arms and quiet smile. Soon Gabbie was telling the entire story from beginning to end.

After several minutes she slowed, and then stopped. "Sorry sir, that was a lot of me talking and you not having a chance to speak."

"Where's the nervous new Tjanern Tio I installed a few months ago?" He smiled. "I seemed to recall you having some doubts about your leadership skills then. That seems resolved."

"Not really, sir." She replied. "Not fully. It's just that Marco, I mean, Captain Domici seems to inspire people." She paused. "He talked to me as if he understood my struggle, and he said he needed me."

"That would tend to motivate someone." Jaedyn replied. He waved his hand to encompass the offices. "From your behavior, it seems as if you believe him." He looked at her, and paused. "Should I ask if there is more?"

"No...yes...no..." Gabbie stammered. "As a man, he's cute and all, but he seems taken." She smiled. "Maybe more than he realizes. But it's more than that, sir. I'm not sure how to say this."

"Openly often works with me, Gabbie." He replied. "I'll even take it a bit bluntly if that's the best you can do."

"Thank you, sir." She nodded. "I haven't studied the guidance as much as I should have, sir. So maybe I'm way off. But Ma...Captain Domici speaks like someone from the Path, but he includes everyone. Path, Mountain Men, and Red Cards. It's like he...he sees a bigger future."

"Interesting." Jaedeyn siad. "It sounds like you think he could be Tjanern Minst. Is that what I'm hearing?"

Gabbie nodded. "But I don't know, sir. I'm not the best scholar."

He snorted. "You're a lot smarter than I am, Gabbie. Younger by far, yet already a growing leader. I suggest we both think about your idea, and pray a lot. Perhaps the Creator will make the path clear."

"Until then." He stood and brushed off his uniform. "Perhaps we should see about this captain of yours. Domici, eh? I've met a few. Wonder if they are related?"

Tama nodded to Jaedeyn as he approached. "We made it in time, sir." She looked at Gabbie and grinned. "Thanks to the Lieutenant there."

"A new rank?" He said, as Gabbie blushed.

The crowd had cleared away from the convoy. Two men were kneeling, facing a truck with their hands behind their heads. Around them was a ring of Guide members, weapons out and towards the kneeling men. Around them was a ring of others, weapons also out. A mixed back of Red Cards and Mountain Men. All looking ready to shoot someone, though they faced out, towards any new threat.

"Captain Domici, this is Tjanern Hundra Jaedeyn. Sir, this is Captain Marco Domici, company commander."

The men shook hands. Jaedeyn spoke first. "My apologies, Captain. One of my subordinates mistook a lack of communication on my part as authority to act on his own. I assure you, neither the Path nor the Guide supports him. Will you accept my apologies?"

Jaedeyn noted that the captain had his own weapon clipped off. Several people stood near him, protectively, but he had moved to Jaedeyn without worry.

"Certainly, Tjanern Hundra. I'm sure these are difficult times for all of us." He glanced at Gabbie, who nodded. Marco's voice leveled out. "I asked the Lieutenant to make a full report to the Guide, as she saw fit. I assume she has done so?"

Jaedeyn nodded. "There are undoubtedly details missed, but she seemed to cover the highlights. A difficult time indeed."

"She did well, Tjanern Hundra. I am proud of her." Marco said. "But I must apologize for our haste. We have places to be and not a lot of time to get there."

"So I'm told, Captain." Jaedeyn stepped back and looked around. "Please accept my personal apologies. Further, as your mission has been put at risk because of my people, I ask that you let Tama and Betty join you as replacements for who you have lost." He paused and looked down at the kneeling men. "And if you will have them, these two. They were following orders, just not good ones. Perhaps they will have a chance to see the error of their ways?"

Marco paused, and nodded. "If they come with your recommendation, I am happy to have them."

"They come with my fervent prayers for your success, Captain." Jaedeyn folded his palms in reverential salute. "I and my people will be praying for your success and safety. Until we meet again."

He turned, and smiled. "Lieutenant. I believe your captain expects you to fully support him. I find nothing in his behavior, or yours, that makes me doubt you are fully in the will of the Creator. Go with my blessing. Go to bring all the peoples together."

Gabbie smiled. "Yes sir!"