Axton glanced over at a clock as it ticked in the corner of the office. Just one more minute. He thought to himself as he leaned back in his chair, bracing for what he figured would be a very explosive conversation. Merely seconds later, there was a knock on his door. “Come in.”
The door opened, revealing Jaylee. She closed the door behind her and walked up to the desk. “Jaylee Hayes…reporting.”
Axton motioned to a chair in front of the table. “Please, sit.”
Jaylee nodded and sat down, avoiding eye contact with Axton. Axton stared at Jaylee for several seconds, trying to gauge her body language before sighing. “Under ordinary circumstances, this would be a quick and simple meeting about your dismissal from your role as second in command, and maybe even from the military as a whole. You’ve repeatedly shown open hostility to me ever since we were both stationed here, both in private, and now openly with others present. Not only that, but you’ve shown this hostility when we need to stick together the most. Our lives are in constant danger now that a civil war has started, and having a second in command that openly hates your guts isn’t the greatest for morale.”
Axton leaned forward and continued to stare at Jaylee. “However, before I make my decision, I want to hear why exactly you’ve shown such hatred and disdain towards me, not only while we’ve been stationed together, but at the academy as well. I highly doubt getting beaten in our first mock battle would instill such hatred and animosity towards me, and considering what you’ve said about my family multiple times now…it has something to do with them, doesn’t it?”
Jaylee was silent as she looked away, before slowly nodding. She finally looked at Axton. “Yeah, you’re right. It is because of your family.” Jaylee shifted positions in her chair before continuing. “My family, while it’s very recent, does have some history regarding military service. My father graduated from the officer’s academy as the top in his class. He was then stationed at an outpost similar to this one, but he grinded every day and rose through the ranks. He was eventually promoted to a general and put in charge of a military fort near Acray that protects the town of Cerenth. During his tenure of command there, he continued his exploits, putting down riots with few casualties and even stopping a rebellion before it could start through peaceful methods. He was kind, yet stern when needed. He was always available for his men to talk to and give them advice wherever possible. The soldiers under his command absolutely loved serving under him, and many fought tooth and nail against reassignments to another commander or general. However…”
Jayle took a deep breath to steady her emotions before continuing. “One day, he was given a letter from the top general at the time: General Perseus Graham. He was told that he would be visiting the fort within the next week and to expect a review of his performance. Thinking nothing of it, my father continued his command as business as usual. When Perseus finally did arrive, his review was…a sham, to put it lightly. He was docked for things that never occurred, complaints that nobody under his command ever complained about, and was even told that peacefully resolving the would-be rebellion circumvented the proper channels, and he could be charged with failing to adhere to the chain of command. He was given the option of stepping down and being reassigned to a tiny outpost in the southwest of the country, or be discharged from the military.”
Jaylee shook her head. “Well, my father didn’t take either choice and instead fought tooth and nail against it. He made a formal complaint to not only the Prime Minister at the time, but also to the military ethics board. He gave a mountain of evidence proving that his performance review was a farce, and that he was being treated unfairly. However, merely two days after filing his grievance, he got the reply that his grievance was denied by both the board and Prime Minister. The person who he had to give up command to? A man named Heath Riley, someone who had just graduated from the academy and given command merely because of his family’s name.”
Jaylee shook her head. “And that’s not all, years after my father was dishonorably discharged from the military, my brother decided to join the military. He wanted to redeem our family’s name and become a well-respected member in the military. He started as a mere private, but through countless hours of dedication, training, and studying, he flew up the ranks before being considered to be promoted to a commander, despite not attending the academy.”
Jaylee’s voice had begun to rise ever so slightly. “He absolutely blew the interviewer out of the park with how well-prepared he was, showing that he was the most qualified candidate. However…when he was told that he was passed up for promotion, he asked who the role had been given to. Of course, it was to a Riley. Nathan Riley to be specific, another recent graduate from the academy, but dear daddy pressured those making the decisions to give command to Nathan.”
Jaylee paused for a second, wiping her eyes as she had begun to tear up. “My brother, like my father, filed multiple grievances, and just like my father, was told each and every grievance was denied. My brother still didn’t give up and requested an audience with the ethics board to plead his case in person. However, the next day, his commander was told he had been given orders from General Killian that my brother was to be dishonorably discharged, with no specific reason given as well.”
Jaylee clenched her fists. “My brother fell into a deep depression afterwards, blowing through his savings at bars and throwing money at women. One day…when my brother didn’t leave his room…I went to check up on him…only to find that he had hung himself.”
Jaylee’s voice had begun to crack. “That’s why…that’s why I absolutely HATE the Rileys! The main reason why I applied to the officer’s academy was to be in command, rise up through the ranks while at the same time using my position to dig up information that would show their blatant corruption and get justice for my brother and father! When I learned that you were a Riley, I spent every ounce of energy I could during our studies to show that I was better than you! To show what a fraud your family is! I had managed to turn almost everyone against you at the academy, but yet you acted like you didn’t care about that! In the end, I wasn’t able to show just how much better I was, but I was glad to know I would never have to see your ugly face again…only for me to be placed directly under your command”
Jaylee slowly shook her head. “The disgust I feel for knowing that I have to be under the command of someone whose family destroyed mine…it sickens me. It ate at me the first few days we were here, even after the war was declared. Then, when you tried to do your post-battle review…those feelings just couldn’t be contained anymore, and I burst.”
She stared directly at Axton. “I admit…I was completely in the wrong with that outburst. You were only doing your job. I admit I didn’t do as well in the battle as I could have. I was so focused on me defeating Kailyn, to say I was the one who ended the battle, blinded me to what else was happening. However, that kind of thinking will not only get me, but others killed. The war should take more importance than any personal feelings I have towards you. I humbly request that you don’t demote me…I promise I’ll fulfill my duties as second in command to the best of my ability.”
Axton was silent after Jaylee had finished, slowly nodding his head. “The man who took command from your father was my uncle, and Nathan is my eldest brother. I can guarantee that what you think of them as both people and commanders is most likely accurate. My uncle was a hedonistic womanizer who got killed by a jealous lover after being found in bed with someone else. My brother is a narcissistic brat who think that he’s the greatest person to walk the earth. I never got along with them…with any of my family actually.”
Axton leaned back in his chair. “How much do you know about me, besides me being a Riley?”
Jaylee shrugged. “Not much to be honest…”
“I’m not surprised, as I’m the unplanned and unwanted member of the family. I was born six years after my older sister, and from what I’ve been told, I was a mistake, though my mother supposedly ‘begrudgingly’ went through the pregnancy. To make matters worse, apparently I was a difficult pregnancy, and she held some disdain for me because of that from the moment I was born. As I was growing up, I was repeatedly yelled at and berated for not being able to beat my siblings in any games involving strategy, despite the fact that I was six and they were twelve, fourteen, and fifteen. I was constantly told how much better my siblings were at my age, but here I was struggling with the same things they excelled at. My father even accused my mother of being unfaithful in front of me because ‘there’s no way he could sire such an idiotic child.’”
Axton chuckled. “I spent every moment I could studying wars, tactics, strategies, trying desperately to beat my siblings and gain my parents’ affection. However, no matter how much I tried, I always failed and was always told how much of a failure I was. I finally had enough when I was a teenager and moved out. I managed to live in a shack up north from the capital for a few years before applying to the academy. Like you, I wanted to show my family how wrong they were. I wanted to show them that I was better than them. After being shunned by my family my whole life, yeah I didn’t mind having nearly everyone at the academy not liking me. It was just business as usual to me. I thought that when I was assigned here, that I would be in your position: under the command of someone else and using that time to learn and get better. However, as soon as I arrived here, I was told my oh so gracious father of mine had pressured the top brass into giving me command of the outpost.”
Axton sighed. “You were right. I was given this post because of my family, and I hate it. I hate that, even now, they’re still trying to interfere with my life.” Axton leaned forward. “I know this might not mean much coming from me, but I am sorry for everything my family did to yours.”
Jaylee looked away from Axton, a few tears once again threatening to fall down her cheeks as she shook her head. “There’s no need…for you to apologize. You weren’t the one who did what they did…”
“Maybe not, but I doubt you’ll ever get one from them.” Axton stood up and walked over to Jaylee. “Jaylee…I wasn’t going to demote you or discharge you…especially not now. What I need from you though is a guarantee that you and I can work together. We don’t have to be buddies. You can even hate my guts and my family’s guts until the day you die. I just need a guarantee that you and I can have a working relationship that doesn’t end with us at each other’s throats.” Axton stuck out his hand. “Do I have your guarantee?”
Jaylee stared his his hand before nodding. “You…you have my guarantee.” Jaylee stood up and firmly grasped his hand. “Jaylee Hayes once again is reporting for duty Commander!”
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