15 Operation Kingmaker 2 (1/2)

Thomas had many questions for Major General Hughes, and in return the Major General had many answers. However, most of those answers just left Thomas with more questions. It was in this way that Thomas and Major General Hughes got to know each other over the next few days. At the end of each day, Thomas would be escorted out of the room and to another building which served as sort of an officer's quarters, he had never seen anything more fancy in any of his experiences. Of course going back to when Thomas and Hughes were conversing, the first thing they did was show him a journal he had kept as a boy.

”Thomas, do you recognize this journal?” Hughes held up a thick leather-bound book, it looked old and weathered, but well kept. He had a soldier bring it to them from the vault it was kept in, it was of course a valuable tool for them. They had gleaned many insights into how to build more advanced weaponry and some technological surveillance prototypes. Such as the ones used on the training course yesterday when they went through the survival course. The loudspeakers up on the poles were prototypes developed from the contents within the journal.

Thomas examined the journal and found it to be very familiar, but he couldn't place where he knew it from. So in the end, after a few minutes he just shook his head.

”This is yours,” Hughes said. ”Well to be precise, its yours and one other persons.” He leaned closer. ”Thomas how well do you know about the circumstances surrounding your death and well let's just say for lack of terms, rebirth?”

”The details are fuzzy sir, only thing I can recall is that I died on the beach in Normandy.” Thomas went all in and told the truth, after all, if they already knew about that, what else didn't they know about? ”Sir, I have a question about this, about me. What happened to me or rather what is happening to me?” As far as Thomas knew, these things were not natural, he should have died that day and he didn't. The other thing was that no matter how much he tried to remember about his past in this life, he couldn't recall anything. His life here was a blank slate, he only knew how to be a soldier, as if that was his calling here.

”Well I'll answer since you asked, would have had to tell you anyways,” the Major General paused for a second before he turned to look at one of the blank walls and shouted, ”turn that thing off, keep this...off the record.” Thomas heard a loud click within the somewhat empty room. It seems there were new pieces of technology in play here.

”All right Thomas, let's have out with it, you ask and I'll answer, I have most of the answers anyhow and have to fill in the blanks for my report.” Hughes said. ”As for your question in particular, what do you know about Operation Kingmaker?” Hughes answered his question with another question.

”Nothing at all sir, not even a shot in the dark.” Thomas replied.

”All right then, well let's start with your first question, let's talk about what happened to you.” The Major General flicked open the leather journal and after flipping a few dozen pages he stopped at one particular. ”This thing has most of the answers, we had a hell of a time finding this. Even your parents didn't know about it, wait I almost forgot. You don't know anything about you do you? Of course not, can't even remember your own parents. Your life is tragic private, very tragic and I wouldn't wish it on anyone else.” Hughes shook his head, obviously saddened when he thinks about it. ”So, let me say this first. You were never intended to be in this time line, or should I say, this reality.”

”Excuse me sir, what do you mean by that?” Thomas was confused, there was just too much information, he didn't have time to process any of this. Didn't boot camp just start? Were they not three days in already?

The Major General chuckled. ”You aren't supposed to exist here, the very nature of you being here has already changed history from the moment you were born in this world. Tell me, how long do you think you've been at boot camp?” It was a statement, not a question. Thomas answered it anyways.