Less than half an hour after the conclusion of the Generals' meeting, Simon was airborne. Seated in an elegant armchair with his head raised to study the ceiling of his private jet, Simon finally took a breather.
He had just received very disturbing news and although there was no real proof to support the news, his instincts told him to do exactly as he was told. Simon knew better, he had learned to trust his gut.
A slight turbulence reminded him that he was sitting in his own private aircraft with his name boldly and beautiful painted on its exterior.
As a General, private jets were little compared to the greater luxuries provided. The plane, as he had been told, could easily go Mach 20. He had found that hard to believe.
The Empire G-16 was the aircraft of Generals, they all owned one or more, no other being did.
Simon would have loved to know more about his own jet but that was a luxury he couldn't afford. Not at the moment. The words of the General who had approached him still rang in his ears, his words had sounded urgent, fearful even.
One thing was certain, Simon was in trouble. He suddenly realized that he had been taking things a bit too lightly since he woke up in this strange land.
What did he expect? A fairy tale where he lives in the future, happily ever after? He shook his head. No use blaming anyone, he had to think.
"Take it slow, restrategize." He told himself and took a deep breath. Then another.
With eyes closed, he tried to replay the short conversation from earlier and plan his next move. After that encounter with the General, he hadn't returned home or even had a change of clothes. It was too risky a move.
"What do you mean China wasn't responsible?" Simon had told the General with his car door already open.
"No use repeating myself but...China didn't cause the Second Black Death. Someone else did", the General had said with truthful eyes.
Simon searched his face and expression for any trace of humor but found none. He stood there, stunned.
"Now is not the time to get stunned. There isn't much time, you only have until the next meeting, Simon. The lives of millions of people are at stake." The ominous tone of the man's voice sent a chill up Simon's spine.
"Wait time out. You're saying China is innocent, someone else is guilty, who?" Simon said.
"That...", the General paused, obviously weighing his options, "I can't tell you that, sorry. But you must believe me."
"I must believe you? I don't think so, and whether I believe you or not, doesn't matter."
"Actually" the General started "it does."
"What?" Simon asked.
"Although I can't tell you who's responsible, I can tell you one thing that's certain. You, my friend, are in grave danger."
"I would appreciate if you stopped speaking riddles and just tell me what's on your mind", Simon stared at him coldly. Then he watched the mad breath and look around once again to ensure no one was within range.
"Simon Krieger" he began, "By opposing the head General and doing so in the presence of the entire council while deliberating on a matter of such importace, you have no doubt angered someone beyond measure and driven yourself inches away from death."
"Death?", Simon stepped back fazed. "Death, by who?"
"General Gates, the Head." The man affirmed.
"Why would he want to kill me?"
"I'm not completely sure but opposing him is one reason, amongst others. I suggest you don't even go home, there's nothing good waiting for you there."
Simon swallowed hard, he stared blankly at the General. "What do I do then?"
"Leave. General Gates cannot be stopped, not by you or me. It would take the combined resources of all the Generals to even match his power and unfortunately, there are Generals who support him completely. Others just want to be left alone. Apparently starting a coup is not a welcome idea to them. "
"You all did look like lap dogs in there, to be honest." Simon spoke without thinking. He immediately regretted saying that.
"It can't be helped. His plan to wipe out China will succeed if we don't hurry."
"I still don't know why he wants to do that", Simon muttered.
"You will know in due time. For now, you must run." He advised.
"Run to where?"
"To China." the man said.
His words shocked Simon. 'This man's a lunatic' Simon screamed in his mind.
"You expect me to head over to the country that's about to be obliterated? Are you crazy?" Simon snapped.
"You have to trust me, Simon. There's no time. China will die, you will too. We can't stop Gates but there's one who can help you." The man's eyes searched the perimeter once more.
"Someone who can help me beat a General?" Simon asked in disbelief.
"Yes."
"That means there's a rank above General?" Simon queried.
"There isn't." the General answered.
"You're not making any sense General. No matter where I run, Gates will find me. There is no greater rank than his, so what's all this talk about a helper?"
"Yes, Gates will find you. Hopefully he doesn't find you before you complete your task", the man's voice was laced with a tone of sadness.
"I didn't know I had a task", Simon was adamant, refusing to believe or be swayed so easily.
That was just moments before. The private jet touched down on the Chinese Airport and taxied into a separate hangar. Simon stepped down, Elaine did too.
The doctor looked around, surprised she was in China. The China. Simon's call was totally unexpected but sounded very urgent. A matter of life and death, he had said.
Fortunately, she had been nearby, having just finished another night shift at the hospital. A racing car had stopped right in front of her, it was Simon. She got in and was driven to the airport where they boarded the private jet and were airborne.
While in the jet, Simon had said nothing. He just kept gazing at the roof and shutting his eyes every now and then, no explanation had been given other than, 'Lives are in danger'.
As a doctor, she dedicated her life to saving lives but she needed some sort of explanation and hoped to get one once they settled in.
Elaine glanced at Simon, he was walking very quickly, taking long strides. He was deep in thought.
As Simon exited the airport in an ultra classy car, he recalled the closing moments of his conversation with the General.
"I didn't know I had a task"
"This is not a joke, General Simon", the man had said. He didn't appreciate the youngster's attitude.
"This helper you speak of, where do I find him?"
"Not a him, a she", the General had smiled dryly.
"Wow a woman that can help me stop General Gates"
"A very special woman. The moment you get to China, General Gates will be aware of your escape." the man warned, "find the woman as fast as you can and warn her. Her name's Arlene."
"She doesn't sound too popular. How do I find her? ", Simon asked. He looked up and saw the General staring at him, his expression was a mix of disappointment and disbelief.
"What?" Simon asked, worried that he had said something wrong.
"She may find you first. Simon, there's a reason you haven't been to China, ever."
"Really? Why?" Simon asked. Before the General could offer a response, Alice spoke, her words carried an unbearable weight.
"Simon, that's your mother's name. Arlene"
"Wait!", he half screamed causing the General to look around nervously. "You surely don't mean my dead mother, Arlene, right?" Simon was speaking to his assistant and the General.
"Arlene isn't dead. She's alive, in China"
"What? Where's proof?", Simon glared at him.
"You didn't let me finish, General Simon." He had said gravely. "Arlene, your mother, I saw her last week."