He stands at attention beneath the old tree in the monastery, his arms held before him in a position he’s practiced hundreds of times. He can hear the soldiers coming up to the walls, laughing. Their shots cut through the night and leave a ringing in his ears. The smoke from the village fills his nostrils, mixing with the smell of blood and rot. Turning to look behind him, he sees the old woman reach out to him with her broken fingers. Beside her a young boy lying on the ground looks up at him through empty sockets, his arms open, pleading. No, I didn’t mean to. More people join the woman and boy, all reaching out to him; their silent screams tear at him. I’m sorry! I tried! The group of people merge together in the darkness, their arms reaching farther and farther. Their faces blend together, twisting around the tree, consuming it, while still begging with their eyes and silent lips that he save them. I can’t. Their sad faces continue to pitifully entreat him: Save us. He turns away from them and drops to his knees. I can’t save anyone. Brother? She reaches out her arms as she hangs from the mass of bodies. Petals fall from her like rain. Save me brother! I’m sorry. I’m so sorry. “Tenzin.” Forgive me. “Tenzin.” I’ll avenge you, I promise. “Tenzin!” -Indira!- “Wake up!”
Tenzin jerked forward, throwing his thin blanket away from his bare chest while simultaneously bringing his knife to the ready. “Bloody shards and ashes!” His eyes quickly traced the narrow confines of his room, but nothing disturbed his otherwise empty dorm. It was just a dream.
“Jane? Is that you?” Tenzin struggled to focus his eyes on the clock appearing on his wall. 4:25 am. I thought I had today off.
“Sorry about the early wake-up call, Tenzin,” Jane said, her face appearing on his wall screen. “Aegis HQ has an urgent mission for the Keleres.”
Tenzin rubbed his eyes and pulled himself to a sitting position. “Another one?” Tenzin asked, stifling a yawn. “We just got back last night. Tell’m to send the Gladiators or the Phoenixes.” And let me get some more sleep, hopefully without the dreams.
“No can do, boss,” Jane replied with obvious and obnoxious cheer. “They both got called out earlier this morning. We’re the only field team available to escort one of Glaucus’ engineering squads.”
Tenzin groaned slightly. “Babysitting. Great. We’re supposed to risk our necks fighting tired just to save some apprentices’ sorry asses.”
“Keep, or rather, put your shirt on, Tenzin,” Jane said. “You barely escaped a court-martial the last time you ignored a mission.”
Tenzin smiled wryly. “Well good thing you found that loophole in my contract, Jane. I never did bother to read it all myself.”
Jane sighed dramatically, the wall speakers transmitting every nuance of her voice. “You really are a hopeless meatbag, aren’t you?”
Tenzin grinned at having gotten to Jane. She normally won all their verbal sparring. “Don’t you forget it.”
“How could I,” she retorted, “with you constantly reminding me?”
“Ouch.” So much for winning that one.
Accepting the fact that he wouldn’t be getting any more sleep this morning, Tenzin pushed aside his weariness and stood up. “Alright, fill me in while I wake up.”
As Jane began to explain the mission he would lead the Keleres on this morning, Tenzin started his exercise routine. As he prepared himself for several minutes of Horse stance he reflexively began a calming meditative ritual, unwittingly tuning out Jane’s instructions as he did so.
Indira…I dreamed of you again today. You and everyone else I failed. I don’t understand. Ever since that Department Chair, what was her name, Angela something, assigned Jane to me, she’s caught my mistakes. I’ve only lost 3 men in the past 2 years thanks to her, but I still have the dreams. It’s funny now, actually. I complained and I cursed when I saw the Commander’s order, but I’d never give Jane up now.