Colonel Frank Basen sat back in his seat as he eyed the one page letter that rested on the desk. Stroking his hand through his gray hair, he thought for a minute about the request that was presented to him.
'Temporary Leave.'
Giving vacation time seemed more applicable but letting him go, one of his best, even temporary without any knowledge of when he would be back, didn't sit well with him.
Captain Rian Kovak! His very name brings forth a thought, imprinting on the mind, of an amazing specimen among men. A man one might have seen, seated in the congregation among the men in Mount Olympus.
A man who seldom takes time away from his duties as the captain of the 'sanitization' team. Only on two occasions had he left the base to attend to private matters. The last time he did, ten men had ended up in the hospital.
With a slight exhale, Colonel Basen reached forward and pressed the button on his intercom to his secretary and said, "send him in."
A six foot one, muscular man, calmly walked into the office and approached Colonel Basen, after having done a quick survey of the room.
Medals, antiques and model replicas of various vehicles adorn areas of the colonel's office. A few pictures of other recognized colonels and admirals hung upon the wall indicating Colonel's Frank Basen notoriety with his peers.
With a gesture, Frank motioned Rian to sit in one of the leather seats located before the desk.
The chair groaned slightly as the weight of this muscular individual had now come down upon it. His muscular arms being brought closer to him as he forced himself to sit appropriately in front of the Colonel.
"Colonel, I appreciate the fact that you have taken the time to review my request," Rian stated in a strong tone.
Well, I appreciate the fact that you came to me first, and didn't run off, responded the Colonel, to Rian. I know that friends and family are very important to you.
I can recall an incident where the medical staff had to attend to an individual whose head was stuck in a toilet, after he had a tussle with a female member of your team.
Rian's face remained stern even after he thought about the incident.
Interestingly enough, that individual never brought forward any charges against you… Anyway, am I clear into understanding that you are planning to go to that small island in the Caribbean named Trinidad.
Yes sir, responded Rian. I have not heard from my brother who resides there, in a few months. I am going to see why he has not kept in contact with our mother as well as myself.
Understandable, responded Colonel Basen. I have no problem granting this request for time off, for the sake of your family.
I do politely ask that you do not cause any trouble when you head down to that small island, because I am fully aware of your methods and capabilities. I also know that trouble always seems to run head first towards you, eventually hitting you like a brick does on a piece of iron.
Basen stretched out his hand and pulled open the top draw, reaching for the first pen that he could find. After signing the request, he placed it in the envelope and handed it back to Rian.
"Do try to keep the peace, Basen asked, for the sake of the people who would be around you!"
Colonel Basen got up stretched forth his hand towards Rian who had also gotten up. Rian firmly grasped the colonel's hand and asked, "are you not going to tell me, to be safe?"
"Hell no!" It's the people who start a tiff with you are the ones that I am worried about and certainly needs to be protected.
With a smile, Basen continued, be safe and now, get out of my office. I got things to do.
Rian turned and began heading for the exit when the colonel continued, while you are down in that backward country, sample something that they call 'a doubles.' I heard that it is worth having, when you visit Trinidad.
Rian nodded at the colonel and then he exited the office while the colonial returned to his seat, behind the desk. Sanitization, he joked. How a six foot man became part of the 'sanitization' team is beyond me.
'Let's hope that he does not sanitize Trinidad, Basen joked to himself.'