Chapter 207: Men Out Of Time. 2014 CE

In the middle of the night, Isaiah sat on the terrace of the house, smoking cigarettes peacefully as the full moon shone brightly in the sky. His face looked quite calm between the thick smoke of the cigarette, the dim glow of the fire lit up his face, and the ash of the cigarette dropped to his pants, burning it slightly.

It has been almost 2 months since the attack, and tomorrow was the day where the plan will be executed. Chaos will definitely ensue in DC, martial law would probably be declared instantly, and they could risk all out war between the US and Zimera.

To Isaiah, this isn’t an Unseen One operation anymore, it’s a Zimeran operation. It’s a risky move, but technically, as a special member of the security council, the Zimerans have the right to conduct a proper operation in any soil under the name of the United Nations, provided that he has a solid casus belli.

So many things could go wrong tomorrow, the pride of men, the greed of kings, the envy of peasants, yet he is confident, after all, they have done this so many times.

“You smoke?” asked a voice from the door. Isaiah turned to see who it was, it was Rogers, with his usual white T-Shirt.

“Not often, but yes.” Isaiah hummed, turning back to the moon once more. “You?”

“No.” Answered Rogers. He sat beside him, turning to the moon. “You think this’ll work?”

“The plan? Yes.” said Isaiah. “You have any complaints, captain? Say your grievances now.”

Rogers just leaned on the chair and sighed. “No, it’s just… too risky. The relationship between the two races is already complicated as it is, this might be the one event that will break the thin line.”

“Everyone knows that, captain.” Isaiah nodded. “But it’s also a declaration. That the US and Zimera will work together to vanquish this parasite of an organization once and for all.”

“The higher ups might not like that.” Rogers chuckled.

“So you know how corrupt the government is. I was starting to believe you did not.” said Isaiah, putting the ash to the tray.

“Yes… I know how they treated you during the Korean War, Fury told me.” Rogers said as he looked at the floor. “You served in World War 2 too?”

“I didn’t.” said Isaiah. “But after I saw your heroics back in the war, I feel like I haven’t done anything for the country, so I signed up. Once me and my brothers flew to Korea, they brought us to a facility… tetanus shot they said… bullshit… We were just weapons…. Imprisoned like dogs, experimented like monkeys…”

“I’m sorry,” said Rogers in deep regret.

“Don’t be.” Isaiah continued, puffing another cig. “It’s not your fault, captain. You are an epitome of what I imagine from this country, but the truth is far from imagination. I was naive, that’s it.”

Rogers just hummed, he looked at the bright full moon above and continued. “You have a family?”

“I have.” Isaiah nodded. “I got married before I signed up, had a child, but that was in the 50s, now, I am a great-grandpa.”

“Well, that’s good.” Rogers smiled. “I… loved a woman once… she’s old now, married to somebody else. Sometimes, I think that I am too out of place. The people I know are either dead, brainwashed, or too old to talk. I’m still deciding whether or not this is a curse or a blessing.”

“We all are still deciding it, captain.” said Isaiah. “We are men out of time. King Grodd is almost a millennia old, Cleo IS a millennia old, yet we are still deciding on whether or not this life is a curse or a blessing. People come and go, our founder’s wife used to say this… ‘while everyone dies, we live to bury them.’, yet she seems so… used to it, I find it scary to not feel anything if one of my loved ones dies.”

“Maybe she never got used to it.” Rogers said. “Maybe she just got better at hiding it.”

“Perhaps.” Isaiah hummed. “Are you afraid of death, captain?”

“I would be lying if I said no,” said Rogers. “But now, I feel like I’m due for a meeting with death.”

“You’re still young if I am thinking psychology wise.” said Isaiah. “Don’t think about whether or not you deserve this second chance. Just enjoy it, maybe find someone other than your woman back in the 40s…”

Rogers chuckled sadly. “I don’t know about that… I tried… but I couldn’t… she… I owe her a dance.”

Isaiah just shook his head in amusement. “You are one loyal man, Rogers.”

“I’m a soldier,” said Rogers. “It’s in my nature.”

“There’s a thin line between a soldier and a dog, captain.” Isaiah continued, making Rogers frown. “You need to learn how to think for yourself, instead of taking orders all the time.”

“What about you? Aren’t you a soldier too?”

Isaiah sighed, the smoke of cigarettes permeated throughout the area. “No. I have my own voice here. If I think a plan is stupid, I will say it, I will debate it, not just sit quietly in the corner, listening to bullshit.”

After that, no one spoke again. Isaiah just kept smoking, while Rogers watched the moon above.

Then, Isaiah checked the time, and said to Rogers. “You should get some sleep, captain, we will be busy tomorrow.”

“I will.” Rogers hummed, standing up. “Good night Bradley.”

—

The sun was shining brightly above DC. a group of men and women were gathered in the middle of a glassed room, holding champagne glasses as a holo projector was playing in front of them, showing a countdown.

Pierce stood in front of everyone, raising his champagne glass. “I know the road hasn’t been smooth during the past couple of months, some of you might want to kick me out of the chair…. But… finally, we’re here. And the world should be grateful. We will make earth a more secure place, where peace is eternal.”

A woman raised her glass. “To a more secure and safe world.”

““To a more secure and safe world.””

Pierce was  about to drink his champagne, but behind the crowd in front of him, he saw something approaching the building. It was… an air vehicle, more specifically, a Thopter, buzzing through the sky of DC.

Pierce stopped as he eyed the thopter. “Well well, looks like someone has finally arrived.”