Bastian
Chapter 171 - A Clock That Never Stops

✧A Clock That Never Stops✧

*.·:·.✧.·:·.*

Bastian took the car straight for Rothewein station and from there, the express to Ratz, with his arrival set for around dawn. From there, on to the Admiralty without delay. Even though it was early in the morning, the operations centre was crowded with activity and the atmosphere was quite different from a few days ago. 

   Bastian passed through into the briefing room, where there were only a few officers present  after identity verification and security screening, waiting for the reason they had all been summoned here.

 In a partial wartime situation, please come back promptly and join the urgent meeting.

The notes they all got shed no light on why the war council was in session and all the high ranking officers were rampant with speculation. Bastian was one of the few who did not participate in the rumour-mongering, instead, he waited patiently for the official news, which finally came some time during the mid morning.

   “Intelligence has shown that the Southern Allied Fleet is amassing on the main front,” the operations commander said, going straight into the briefing without any preamble.

   A map was brought up that showed the positioning and make up of the Southern Allied Fleet, arrows showed the fleet movements. The north and south had been involved in several small scale engagements over the years, but this was the first time either side made a definitive move against the other.

   “Lovita is moving the fleet and the core of the naval powers, to the north sea.” The operations commander pointed to an island that Bastian was intimately familiar with, Torsa Island. The size of the force moving in was at least three times larger than that of the Berg fleet.

   “It has been confirmed that the fleet consists of some the navy’s best battleships and carriers. It moves to set up a blockade around Torsa Island and is led by none other than Admiral Cher.” The operations commander looked directly at Bastian.

   Bastian understood why he had been called in for this now. Admiral Cher, otherwise known as the Pride of Lovita, who had his pride dented by a young and hopeful Captain, Bastian.

*.·:·.✧.·:·.*

The office filled with acrid smoke as Admiral Demel chuffed away on his cigar anxiously. “Admiral Cher, that son of a bitch. I should have had him buried in the water long ago.”

  The Minister of Defence decided to deploy the entire fleet to the front line by the end of the month, under the pretext of a large scale exercise, but with the full intention of going to all out war. Bastian was commanded to go to Torsa Island to command the fleet from there.

   “I’m sorry, Major, to have cut your vacation time short,” Admiral Demel looked at Bastian with cold eyes.

   “Do you think war will break out?” Bastian said, ignoring the comment.

   “Lovita may be stupid, but there is no way even they would think it a good idea to deploy their entire fleet just for an exercise.”

   “If war does break out, it will not be confined to the local area, this could be a full scale battle.”

   “I know, its hard to tell. The people in power, that make these kinds of decisions, are usually too crazy to understand the reality of a situation like this. They think throwing a few bombs is enough to get the job done.”

   “Any idea how the battle lines will be drawn out?”

   “It’s too early to tell right now, but at the very least, Ardenne won’t be attacked.”

   “What about the east, Rothewein.”

   “Why? Have you bought a distillery there or something? Moving into whiskey now that you control the railway and steel industry?” Admiral Demel gazed at him, his eyes narrowed. Bastian saw an unfamiliar, intense seriousness and even desperation in them that he had never witnessed before. “Looking at the current situation, the army is advancing to the south, the navy to the north, leaving the eastern fringe out of it for now, it’s a difficult spot to occupy by land. I believe the north sea front will be the gateway to protecting the north and the east parts of the Empire.” Admiral Demel gave his consensus without any more mirth. 

“For now, let’s just concentrate on Cher’s fleet, let’s bury him in the depths of the north sea.”

   “When’s departure?”

   “This weekend, without any ceremony. You will slip away into the night as if on another routine training mission.”

   Three days. There was too little time to get his company and personal affairs in order. 

“Could you give me a few more days?” Bastian looked at Admiral Demel, cold and stern. Time was relentlessly slipping away. There was no room left for any hesitation or delay. “I promise to compensate for my disloyalty with a victory. Just give me a bit more time. Please,” Bastian pleaded, making a deep bow towards a bewildered Admiral Demel.

The silence filled with the sound of the ticking clock on the wall.

*.·:·.✧.·:·.*

The fragrant smell of baking filled the country house. Odette moved about getting everything prepared and ready. The potatoes were all prepared, so she moved to the sea bass and sauce, using tomatoes and an eggplant from the garden.

   Every time she checked the time, her hands moved faster. She moved like a woman possessed with making the finest meal for a man she didn’t really want to come.

   With the food prepared, Odette set the table. Laying out a freshly laundered cloth and settings for two. She even went into the village earlier, to buy two champagne glasses. She thought about only putting out one, there was no way she was going to be able to control herself, even after just one glass of alcohol.

   Once there was nothing more to do, Odette went up stairs to get changed. She tidied her hair, which had become a tangled and frizzy mess from all the running around and cooking. While she was arranging the shape of the ribbon, the bell rang.

   She got up to answer the door excitedly, only to realise, as she was running down the stairs, that it was in fact a bicycle trundling past.

   Six o’clock came and the normally quiet road became a little busier from all the people returning home from work.

   Seven o’clock came, the water in the river turned red from the sunset.

   Eight o’clock. The village was quiet now, shrouded in darkness.

   Odette got up from where she sat in the front window, watching the road and went out into the back yard, where a single lantern broke the night. She grabbed a single champagne glass and returned to the kitchen where the oven had cooled ages ago.

   The door bell rang.

   Odette nearly dropped the glass in her rush to the front door. When she pulled it open, doing her best to hide the excited smile on her face, she was met with someone unexpected.

   “Good evening, Lady Odette,” said Count Xanders.

   “Teacher,” Alma called out.

   “I am sorry to drop in unannounced, but I was passing through and thought I would call in to see how you were doing. I would also like to discuss about the carpenter coming over to fix the flooring.”

   “Ah, yes, okay, come in.”

Regardless, a visitor had come. She decided to think that was enough. 

*.·:·.✧.·:·.*

Bastian was the last person to get off the train. He rushed over to his hotel and changed out of his uniform. By the time he came back out into the square, the village clock chimed nine. He sprinted along the road beside the river that led to Odette’s house.

   His increasingly heavy breathing broke the quiet night, along with the thundering of his feet on the dirt road. His heart pounded hard in his chest, like it was trying to break free, but Bastian did not stop. He clutched a bottle of Champagne in one hand.

   He had been lucky that Admiral Demel agreed to let him have an extra couple days, he actually had until the end of the week. It was enough to get out and see Odette.

   As soon as the bright lights of Odette’s house appeared, he ran even faster. By the time he stood on the porch, his breathing was heavy and his lungs burned. He thought he heard the sound of a child’s laugh.

   Twisting his crumpled handkerchief Bastian carefully walked around the side of the house,  and peered around the wall. He saw a luxury car, one he recognised. Bastian headed further around, until he could see to the back garden. 

Alma was playing, while Maximin Von Xanders watched on and even Odette had a smile on her face as she watched him.

   They looked like a happy family, sat under the large tree, beaming and smiling at each other. It was a scene so beautiful and peaceful that it felt like a dream.

   She seemed like a completely different person from yesterday who was immersed in deep sadness and pain.. She was having a comfortable meal. She chatted and laughed often. Everything had changed

Who was the uninvited guest? 

   Bastian turned away, the firing in his eyes cooled as he chuckle to himself. The turbulent thoughts settled themselves and his hatred dimmed. The happy laughter of the three was a joyous sound to hear and the uninvited guest slowly slunk away into the night.

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