'We remind you that you do not hold any official rank. You are considered an advisor.'
'This is why the sanctions will primarily be against Director Snowe and Major Forest.'
'You are not to take any action without first consulting-'
'Action?' Trevor interrupted. 'Let me tell you something because you folks need to hear it. You’re all dead! Every last one of you inside these walls, you are already dead.'
'You are out of line!'
Stone disagreed, 'No! You are out of line. This entire city is a big graveyard! You sit up there and do nothing but file reports. I’ll bet you have one Hell of a set of push pins!'
The insubordination stunned The Committee into silence.
'I am trying to save you. Do you understand? You have nothing left to lose! If you are going to survive, if you are going to keep this Earth for yourself, then we have to start fighting! We have to risk everything because there’s nothing left to lose, anyhow!'
One of the Committeemen appeared ready to pounce but another took his arm and whispered in his ear. To Trevor's disappointment, all three of the men retreated from the heated discussion in favor of their monotone approach.
'We can not and will not waste supplies and resources on foolish ventures.'
'For all that you say you still found nothing of value. You returned empty handed.'
'Indeed, one may interpret your decision to fight with the Geryon Reich as an attempt to distract us from the truth that your mission was a failure.'
Trevor responded, 'Empty-handed? Failure? Then you have not looked into the eyes of the soldiers who returned from that mission!'
One Committeeman said, 'Less than two dozen soldiers returned, many of them injured.'
Stone nearly screamed, 'I tell you that those men-that handful of men-could take over your entire Operations Center in five minutes! They are better soldiers now! Their enthusiasm will grow and spread until maybe- just maybe — it might revive what’s left of your sad army.'
Director Snowe decided to join the discussion again. 'Trevor Stone speaks the truth, your Honors. His victory during mission forty-two seventy-six has improved morale among those who fought there. I agree the result will be an improvement in the defensive capabilities of the city.'
Trevor stammered, 'The defensive capabilities? You don’t understand-'
'I agree,' Nina stopped Stone with a hand on his shoulder and her words. 'I think the defensive posture of Thebes has been greatly improved directly as a result of this mission.'
Snowe continued on his end. 'I would add that the likelihood of a Geryon Reich retribution strike against our city is unlikely. Our sources indicate that the Geryons have been under constant assault by the Chaktaw. I doubt they will risk expanding this one engagement into a full blown war on their western flank. They’d have little to gain by it.'
'Then it’s agreed. We are concentrated on defensive actions for the immediate future.'
'The Committee expects a written report from Trevor Stone. Due to the positive side effects of mission forty- two seventy-six we anticipate that sanctions against those involved will be confined to credits and punitive assignments.'
'However, further insubordination and misuse of vital supplies will not be tolerated. All parties are hereby duly warned. This Trevor Stone's special disposition may change if this type of transgression occurs again. You are dismissed.'
Trevor’s mouth worked open. Nina tugged at his shoulder.
'Not now,' she whispered. 'C’mon.'
Major Forest glanced to Snowe and then pulled Trevor from the chamber.
– Reverend Johnny sat on the bench with the Ashley of that alternate world. A cold breeze brushed through the leafless trees. The gray clouds overhead felt oppressive.
'I’m a support specialist in Records and Information Systems. That’s how I know about you and the other… the other dimension. I sneak a look at a lot of those records and reports. I know, well, I know all about you and Trevor and why they brought you here.'
'I see,' Johnny listened.
'Tell me about your Trevor. I’d like to know if he’s…if he’s the same man I knew.'
'On my world, Trevor Stone is a great leader who won numerous battles when the odds were tall and has shown wisdom.' Johnny considered and offered an addendum, 'I should say he usually shows wisdom. Alas, he allowed his emotions to get the better of his head and that is why we are here in your world. He made a few brash errors along the way.'
She clutched her hands on her lap, cast her eyes down, and solemnly said, 'He sounds very much like the Trevor of our world.'
'He is my friend. I would do anything for him,' Johnny tilted his head in introspection and added, 'Which is why, I suppose, I ended up here, too.'
'You followed him, no matter where it would lead? Not surprising. Trevor always had a great deal of control.'
'Control? My dear, you misunderstand. I volunteered to be by his side even in the face of danger. He is my friend, and he has earned my loyalty, and I have been inspired by his courage and even-on occasion-his compassion. While he does his best to display a suit of emotional armor, I know he is a man who feels things deeply.'
She brought her eyes up quick and widened in what had to be surprise, or perhaps shock.
'The only things the Trevor I knew ever felt deeply were anger and cruelty.'
Ashley clamped her lips down abruptly as if trying to stop the words.
'What do you mean, my dear?'
'Nothing. Never mind. I talk too much. Trevor always told me I talked too much.'
She stood to leave. He touched her arm. 'You have nothing to fear.'
She reconsidered. The trees rocked from the gentle persuasion of another cool breeze.
'Nothing…nothing to fear…' she sat again and rolled the words on her tongue.
'I understand how foolish that may sound. After all, your city is under siege. I know that you have plenty to fear, and you have my sympathy.'
A short, sardonic chuckle escaped her lips. 'Fear? Oh yes, we have much to fear. But for me-for many of us- we had more to fear before, when Trevor was still alive.'
'I do not understand.'
'Trevor and I were together before…before-'
Johnny used the phrase that was common on his world to finish her sentence: 'All this?'
Ashley nodded. 'I suppose so, yeah. Then the war came. He grew into the great leader. He inspired those around him and they followed him to victory after victory.'
'I see our Trevors are indeed similar.'
'Please don’t say that. Please. I had hoped… I have hope… that is not true. That maybe on your Earth, that your Trevor…that he…'
'What? What happened here to Mr. Stone? I know he was killed on the battlefield.'
'Yes. And many of us cheered that day.'
'Cheered?'
She absently touched the scar on her cheek. 'I read, in the reports, that your Trevor Stone has a son. Is that true?'
Johnny nodded. She went on, 'Our Trevor may have had children. Probably does, from his mistresses. But he never wanted a family. One of the few things he didn’t want.'
'It sounds to me,' the Reverend contemplated, 'that your Trevor indulged himself. A man, perhaps, of passion?'
'A horrible, terrible, frightening man. Is that the Trevor Stone you know?'
He answered, 'Not at all. He has done some horrible things and made decisions that haunt him to this day, but I know his heart is in the right place.'
'Haunt? Could it be that your Trevor has a conscience? That is something my Trevor Stone discarded as he grew into the great leader. The great warrior. The killer.'
