She shook her head. "I told you, they move real slow. And they’re cowards. I don’t know…after what happened today I don’t know if they’ll have the balls to stand up to you. The most they’ll do is send you a memo."
"I guess I’m making more impressions, huh?"
She smiled. "Just put something cool on. When you’re ready, c’mon down to the front entrance. I’ll have a car waiting for you."
"A…party?" He was not sure she had been serious.
"Yeah. I mean, I told you, the Trevor Stone I remember fought hard and partied hard. I got to believe you guys had a lot more in common."
"A lot… more? What have we had in common so far?"
Her deadpan stare served answer enough.
Trevor got out of the car. The sedan pulled away.
He surveyed the city without lights. The only illumination nearby came from a small band of soft bulbs outside the main entrance to the tall hostel. Johnny stood near that entrance, his eyes staring into the distance.
Trevor approached his friend and tried to paint on a big smile.
"Hey, yeah, there’s a party tonight, praise the Lord."
"A party? I shall pass, Trevor. I do not feel in the mood to celebrate."
"Jesus Christ, Johnny, will you just let it go. Will you just give me a break?"
"I love you, Trevor," Johnny said it frankly. "You gave my post-apocalyptic life direction and allowed me to contribute to mankind’s salvation, but that salvation is a world away. This place is not where we belong. I fear it is a world where you in particular do not belong."
Trevor realized he could not be angry with Johnny. At least not for long.
He absently rubbed the penthouse key card between two fingers as he collected his thoughts. "There are answers here, Rev. I can almost…I can almost see them. Like images behind stained glass. They’re there. I just need more time to make them out."
"Are you sure of that, Trevor? Are you sure you think there are answers here? Or is that just another excuse to remain? Another excuse not to find a way home."
"These people are human beings like us. The same species. The same bodies. A different Earth but still, their Earth. Their home! You would have me leave them to die when I might be able to help?"
"Yes! You have responsibilities to your people back home, Trevor. To your son. To Shepherd and Stonewall and our Jon Brewer! What is happening without you back home? Maybe the lesson here is that you are an important symbol, even if you’re stuck behind that desk you hate so much."
Trevor shook his head, "I might be able to find out why I failed here."
"You can’t undo that failure! It’s not your fault that some other man that looked like you made choices different from the ones you made. This is one place-one Earth-where you are not responsible."
Stone insisted, "I can make a difference here. I can feel it."
Johnny paused, huffed, and with a sharp edge in his voice berated, "Yes, it is so simple and easy for you here. Why, I think you prefer having your back against the wall. Just like it was for us in the early days, kill or be killed. So simple. Why, you can justify just about anything when you are fighting for your very survival. But Trevor, you are fooling yourself. Your responsibilities back home may not be as simple, but they are as real."
Stone deflected, "I can’t leave these people. I can’t abandon them."
The Reverend scolded, "I know why you can not leave them. You have everything you want right here. You can lead the battles from the front lines like Alexander the Great. And all the time you think you have the woman who was stolen from you. But, Trevor, she is not who you think she is. She is an echo of the Nina you knew."
Trevor pinched his nose and bit his lip.
Johnny pushed, "You know that, don’t you? That’s why you indulge your passions so intensely. You are hoping that the physical will take you to the places your heart cannot go with her, because you do not love this woman, you only wish you did."
"It’s been a rough day," Trevor jumped. "For both of us. Tomorrow morning…tomorrow I’m going to wake up and forget we had this conversation. In the mean time," Trevor wagged the key in the air. "I’ll be staying in the penthouse. You’ve got the room to yourself."
"Ah, I see. No doubt this world’s Emperor’s old room? Why Trevor, you’re just sliding right into his life very nicely. Must be a good fit."
Stone refused to take the bait. He had had enough fighting for the day. Nina was right; it was time to blow off some steam.
"Good night, Johnny. I’ll see you tomorrow."
"I suppose so."
Trevor walked inside the main entrance. Reverend Johnny waited behind. He craned his neck to stare at the sky. The stars blinked on and off as strands of clouds passed over head.
He waited for several long moments as if hoping the crisp February night breeze would cleanse away his foul mood.
"Reverend?"
He looked to the shadows. He did not need to see her face to know it was Ashley.
Johnny made sure no one watched and joined her in the darkness.
"Ms. Trump."
"Actually, it’s Corporal."
Johnny answered, "I fear, Corporal, that I am not affording Trevor the protection I had assured you. This place has a grasp on him."
She did not seem surprised.
"It’s not your fault. This is a cursed place. Thebes…" she glanced around at the tall, dark buildings. "…it feels more like a grave every day."
"Well perhaps it will bring you some solace to know that Trevor beat back an attack from the Chaktaw today and wiped out their entire force. It was, admittedly, a bold move that will alleviate some of the pressure on your city."
"That’s why I’m here. Word of the victory is spreading through the ranks. The Committee is held up in the Operations Center trying to decide what to do."
"Do you fear for Trevor’s life?"
"No. I don’t think they’re going to do anything. They sense that the officers are turning against them. It didn’t take much. I mean, it shouldn’t take much. I don’t know, I just don’t know," confusion chased away her words.
"I’m sorry," Johnny put a consoling arm around her shoulder. "I forget how difficult this must be for you."
She took a deep breath. "Now I’m going to show you how difficult it really is, Reverend. If they find out I’ve talked to you, I would be in trouble. But what I do now, well, when they find out they will kill me. But there are some of us who no longer believe in this great cause."
"The great cause? The war you mean?"
"When our Trevor died, there was a civil war."
Johnny knew that. "Yes. From the power vacuum that ensued."
"It wasn’t only about leadership. It was about this war. It was about whether or not it should still be fought at all. Some of us have grown weary of this crusade. We want it ended."
"That does not sound possible, my dear. I’m afraid the invaders did not come seeking peace, they came only to bring destruction."
She hesitated. His words obviously struck a cord.
"Reverend Johnny, I’m going to tell you something. You’re not going to believe it, so I’m going to show you. Then you’ll believe. Maybe it’s the only way you can save your friend. Maybe it’s the only way I can keep the same mistakes of cruelty and inhumanity from happening again. Maybe it’s…maybe it’s the only way I can help the Ashley of your world; and her son."
She produced a handful of items from her jacket pocket.
"This is the ignition key to a small ground vehicle. You’ll find it parked around the corner. As far as any one is concerned it was requisitioned by the Second Logistics regiment. Take it. When you’re done, park it where you found it and lock the keys inside."
"I can not fathom why I should need a car."
She held up a combination security badge and key card. The photo was of another black man but with a beard, perhaps a slight resemblance to Johnny but by no means his doppelganger.