Emthion had been waiting patiently outside Rethais’s office for about ten minutes now, and Rethais would have been content to make the new Vice General wait even longer, if it wasn’t for the fact that he wanted to go home soon. With a sigh, Rethais pushed a button on his desk and the door swung open.
The Vice General walked in calmly, not at all phased by Rethais purposefully making him wait. He nodded a thank you to one of the V-Class Ksa standing outside and stood in front of Rethais’s desk.
“Good evening, Rethais.”
“Good evening to you too. Sit down. What are you doing here?” Rethais wanted to get straight to the point, but it was clear that Emthion was in no hurry. He slowly pulled a chair out and sat opposite Rethais.
“Nothing… Nothing… I guess…” Emthion muttered. “I wanted to apologise.”
“What for?”
Emthion had never apologised to Rethais in his life. It was almost a tradition among the highest ranking generals that Emthion never apologised to anyone. But there he was, admitting that he wanted to say sorry.
The Vice General took a deep breath. “I am sorry for a lot of things. Mostly of things that I said to and about General Elkay…”
More confusion. If there was one thing better known than Emthion’s inability to apologise, it was his hatred for the former Rethan hero. For the last three terms, Elkay had completely and utterly destroyed Emthion and pretty much anyone who had run against him in elections, and that anger and defeat had always boiled Emthion’s blood.
“… You… want to apologise to me… about your disagreements with Elkay?” Rethais was almost dumbfounded.
“Yes.”
“What has happened to you?”
Emthion rolled his eyes. “You wouldn’t understand. Being Vice General is not as enjoyable as one would expect. Not even close. I have been ignorant, dear Rethais. Oh so very ignorant.”
“How so?”
“The duties Elkay used to perform. He was essentially running our species. The High General does nothing and expects me to know and do everything. I had always believed that my job was to assist the High General, that was what Elkay always made it out to be…”
All Rethais could do was nod in understanding. He had never been Vice General, despite desperately wanting too, but at least he was more aware of the work involved.
“Rethais, I fear I am making mistakes. I… hate to admit this, but I do not believe I can be Vice General for the long term.”
“So you won’t be running next year?” Rethais asked.
“No. I’ll run for my old seat, but not for Vice General. If no one runs against Photeianos and he maintains his place as High General, I want nothing to do with my current rank. I do not think anyone but our late friend would be capable of replacing him. Well, maybe you…”
With that, Rethais sat up, a smile on his face. He ran his hand under his desk, reaching for a hidden compartment. From it, he pulled out a small file.
“You know… I had been considering it… But…”
Rethais laid the file on the dead and pushed it towards Emthion.
“But what?”
“Look at it.”
Emthion flicked through the pages, looking confused. “What is this? These are just images of one of those former Ξ-Class Ksa and a couple of armoured Rethans… Aren’t they exiled on Portalia?”
Rethais tutted and pointed at a particular figure. A Rethan wearing much more armour than the others.
“Look more closely.”
Finally, Emthion saw it. Just as he did, Rethais snatched the file away and hid it under his desk once more.
“We keeping this quiet?”
“Indeed. Can’t spoil the surprise now.”
Emthion nodded. “I can hold on for now. Make some preparations for April next year.”
“Good.”
The Vice General got up, a smile on his face. “Thank you, Rethais.”
“No worries. Have a nice evening,” Rethais grinned as Emthion left the office. “Glad we finally see eye to eye on something.”
“Heh. Yes. Indeed…”