Wolves
Opportunity

With each night of the following week came a slew of nightmaresfor Traw, leaving him restless and disturbed. His days droned on withlittle energy as he returned to the mundane life to which he was onceso accustomed. As he fixed fences and herded cattle, he thought ofnothing except the chaotic gunfire and explosions, with darkness andflames as their backdrop. He could still taste the bitter rubble dustthat fumed through the air, most of it carried adrift by smoke. Hecould still hear the blaring sirens from afar, the intense laserfire, and the cries of children abandoned in the streets.

It was the end of the seventh day since the invasion. Traw returnedhome with bags under his eyes and dust ground into his face, as helost his mask and goggles in the battle. Occasionally, he could hearthe faint noises of construction from the city. Blocking his wearyeyes from the blazing sun on the horizon, he shifted open the ricketyback door to his homestead and slipped off his coat. He was ready topass out in the entrance. Luella greeted him enthusiastically as shealways did, and he took in her embrace, giving thanks again to someinvisible entity for her safety. “We have visitors,” she told himexcitedly. “They look strange, but they've been nice. I like them.”

Thereain't been any well-meaning strangers around here for as long as Ican remember, he thought, subtlyresting his hand on the holster strapped to his tough leather belt.He turned the corner to see two men in black longcoats standing inhis kitchen, hands folded behind their backs. Traw's glance darted tothe other side, where Louise stood with a cup of tea.

“We have visitors, dear,” she told him, forcing a pleasantsmile. He saw that look in her face before: it was a look that spokevolumes to her anxiety of the situation, yet concealing it so as tolet the situation remain tepid.

He nodded briskly and excused, “Why don't you go upstairs,darlin'. This's bound to be private business.”

Not hesitating, she set her cup down on the counter and wentupstairs, Luella close behind, not asking a question. “Sogentlemen,” he began, once he heard the door shut upstairs. “Itake it you're no emissaries from those raiders I sent to hell.”

“Do we bear the attire of raiders?” one of them asked, his voiceclipped and smooth. The way he looked into Traw's eyes disturbed him,as if the well-dressed newcomer had some unspoken power over thesituation.

“I wouldn't be surprised if you just dressed all official likethat so you can get into my house. If you are, let's get this brawlover with. I wouldn't want my daughter to see two more corpses in herlifetime.”

“I assure you we're of a higher order,” the other replied, hisvoice similar to that of his associate. As he spoke the words hetapped a pewter pin on his chest, bearing the the symbol of hisorganization: a diamond-shaped eyeball. “We've been sent here byIRO: Intelligence and Research Offices. We are an associated party ofthe Galactic Armored Marines, handling all surveillance,intelligence, investigation, and much more that proves to be thecrippling blow which sends enemies of the State to their knees. Ourmission is to--”

“Enough with this,” Traw dismissed in a groaning tone, sensingthe memorization in the agent's voice. “Just tell me why you'rehere, I get the point already. Very impressive.”

The agents glanced toward each other, as if diverting to a backupplan. “Our surveillance monitored the battle that took place oneweek ago. Among other things, our task was to seek out the bestfighters, for Project Azrael, directed by Commander General Venko ofthe GAM. You, and four others, have been chosen to be part of anelite combat unit known as Death Squad. Upon joining, you and yourteam members will undergo five weeks of rigorous training, bothmental and physical, to prepare you for your assigned missions andbond you as a team. After that, your team will be under CommanderGeneral Venko's direct orders to accomplish special tasks that canonly be performed by you and your team. This will continue for twoyears, and then your tour will be over. This is a prestigious honoramong the GAM community: the Council of Officers has taken a highdegree of consideration in choosing you.”

Traw smirked, looking down to the floor. “I don't give a damnabout the GAM. Or IRO. Or any of you people, for that matter. I justwanna live my life in peace, not serve some great purpose or performa noble duty. I live in the desert, you idiots. I couldn't care lesswhat happens to the rest of the State, as long as my family and I canlive in peace. That's all. So get your patriotic BS outta here,before I kick it out.”

As Traw dismissively walked away, the other agent chimed, “Theoverall salary for this two-year-tour is 2.3 million kaoris, Mr.Traw. Additionally, during your tour, your family will be kept at theutmost comfort at the capitol resort near the capitol on Neptune.”

Traw stopped in his tracks. Turning around slowly, he asked, “Yousaid 2.3 million kaoris?”

“That is correct.”

Traw put his hand to his mouth and bit it, replaceing the offerdifficult to believe. He almost laughed. “I'll have to talk it overwith my wife, but if you ask me, it's a sealed deal,” he told them,slightly jittering. “When would I start?”

One of the agents pulled out a small pad, with a stylus attached toit. “You will have twenty-four hours to comply, Mr. Traw. When youhave reached a decision, please sign your name onto this pad. Withinfour hours, we will have a transport here ready to take you and yourfamily to the capitol. Upon your arrival at GAM headquarters, you andthe other members of the team will be escorted into the CommanderGeneral's office, where you will be briefed. Finally, you will beginyour training and embark on your first mission. As we tell all oursoldiers, 'time flies with the service of one's country.'”

Traw smirked. “I'll let you know. You can get goin' now,” hedismissed, a thousand thoughts stirring in his skull. The agentsnodded and left for the front door in single file, hands still foldedbehind their backs. When they heard the door shut, Luella and Louiseslowly descended the stairs, cautious with every movement. They bothsaw Sebastian's back turned to them as he stared at the face of thepad, pondering his decision.

“Babe?” Louise asked, taking the final step to the floor. Luellawas close behind, sensing something important had happened. She stoodbehind her mother, glancing around. Sebastian turned about, limplyholding the pad. “2.3 million kaoris,” he repeated, partially tohimself.

“How many?” Louise asked in shock, joining him.

“2.3 million,” Sebastian answered, slowing his words for furthereffect. “Plus a resort for you and Luella while I'm gone.”

Louise's expression was somewhere between joy and concern. “I...Idon't know what to say, darlin',” she exclaimed, putting her handon his back. “But why'd you be gone?”

“Workin' for the GAM. Big company, big paycheck. After that, wecan settle down, just the three of us. I'll never have to workanother day and miss time with you and Luella. No more raiders. Nomore danger.”

“How long did they say you'd be workin'?”

“Two years. That's it. After that, freedom's ours. We won't haveto worry about crawlin' on until the next paycheck, or havin' ourcattle stolen by raiders. I've kept up this farm my whole life...andI think fate's finally givin' us a chance to move on.”

Louise gazed at the floor, her stance modest. “I don't know,”she admitted. “I don't like the notion of bein' away from you forso long. It makes me...uneasy.”

“You'll be mighty safe, darlin',” Sebastian assured, putting hisarm around her. They both looked at the datapad in his hand. “Ipromise.”

She remained hesitant. Luella approached from behind. “Your pamight have a new job,” Louise told her daughter, struggling tosound excited. Luella nodded; she had heard the whole exchangebetween her parents. It was clear she too was trying to hide herapprehensiveness.

Sebastian looked into the eyes of both his women, young and old.“I'm seizing this,” he told them, unclipping the stylus. Heclicked a smooth button on the top of the screen and it flashed on,displaying a bar on which he would sign his name. Once again helooked at them both. In their own ways, they expressed their anxiety.

Not giving it a last thought, he signed his name onto the pad, andit flashed green, showing a paragraph of text regarding the arrivalof his transport craft. In that moment Louise looked at her husbandlike she never had before: there was something heroic in him, and yetsomething so alien to her.