Chapter 4: Commander Mortensen

(Leopold’s POV)

The secretary indicates me to go in. I take a deep breath before I open the wooden office door. The first thing I notice is the tall woman standing next to Mejor Anderson’s desk. I can tell she is a Matron because of her brown uniform. A simple blouse and skirt, boring and plain, just like the Matrons are. The woman stares at me attentively.

“I’m sorry, Major Anderson, I thought you requested to see me but I see you have company. I’ll leave” I say as I turn around to exit the spacious office.

“No, Commander Mortensen, I did request to see you, I have news for you,” the major says with a wicked grin on his face. He then turns his eyes to the Matron and she gives him a knowing look. What is this man up to now? “This is Matron Sarah, she is a member of the Assignment Committee. Matron, this is Leopold Mortensen, Commander of the 9th Unit.” He introduces us.

“It’s a pleasure to meet you,” I say to the Matron without understanding why she is here. The Assignment Committee is in charge of matching fertile people with a suitable partner, but Major Anderson has had a Bearer for years and is way past his assignment age. Why is he meeting with a member of that committee?

“It is an honor to meet such a renowned commander. I truly appreciate all the things you do for Estermond,” she says and I nod thankfully for her recognition.

I immediately notice that Major Anderson makes a face. He hates that everyone in Estermond recognizes me, he envies my fame and that’s the main reason he repeatedly tries to sabotage my career. I should have become a major myself years ago, but Major Anderson always opposes my promotion.

“Enough with the chit chat,” Anderson tosses me a file, it lands exactly in front of me over the desk. I take it with curiosity. Maybe it’s a new Eel location we can raid. It is about time! It’s been a while since the Keepers got any useful information from interrogating their prisoners. I open the file and frown, I don’t get it. Prisoner 3312? Who is this girl and why am I looking at her file? She appears to be just another dirty Eel... she was part of the attack against the Ministry of Education a few weeks ago. She is already detained... Jordan, my number two, did it. Good for him.

“I sincerely apologize, major, but I don’t get why you are showing me this file,” I say frowning.

The major stands up with that stupid grin still on his face.

“Can’t you read, commander? Female prisoner 3312, formerly known as Aubrey Campbell, 19-years-old. The only daughter of Mia Campbell, a well-known Eel we’ve been chasing for years. Prisoner 3312 was detained by your men while she was helping her mother attack the Ministry of Education three weeks ago,” he uselessly repeats what’s in the file.

“I see that, major. I was there that day with my men; we shot Mia, too bad we didn’t do the same with her rebellious daughter. But luckily, she was detained so the Ministry of Obedience will handle her now,” I put the file back on the desk, uninterested by it.

“Well, not exactly, commander. I’m afraid we have stumble upon a bit of a conundrum, you see, prisoner 3312 used to be part of the Shark Youth Forces in our very own ministry, apparently, she was exceptionally talented...”

“Are you telling me an Eel infiltrated our forces?!” I feel my blood boiling with rage, those dirty Eels are everywhere!

“Unfortunately, it seems like it,” Major Anderson replies.

With one swift move, I take the file once again and scan the document with my eyes frenetically, but I don’t find what I’m so eagerly looking for.

“What is happening here? Why haven’t the Keepers executed her already?” I ask furious. “After what she has done, she must be eliminated at once!”

“On normal circumstances we would, but I’m afraid we have other plans for this girl,” Major Anderson informs me.

“Other plans?” What plans can there be for an Eel?

“Actually, that’s the reason why I called you to my office. You see, Commander Mortensen, prisoner 3312 took her fertility test right before the attack, and given her unusual results, the Ministry of Obedience, as well as our own ministry and the Assignment Committee, have had to reconsider what to do with her. Not every day do we get FX100 results. You surely understand the extraordinary circumstances we are facing, with our birth rates getting lower and lower every year, we simply can’t execute a girl like her,” he explains to me with his eyebrows arched.

“Major, are you telling me that our superiors have decided to let her live?!” I ask in disbelief.

This is outrageous! Who cares what her test results were? She is a traitor! And a dangerous one, if she was sneaky enough to infiltrate our Youth Forces, who knows what else she is capable of? We can’t let an individual like her on the loose.

“They have, commander, but that’s not all,” replies the Matron. “As you can imagine, this situation is rather unusual for us at the Assignment Committee. We have debated what is to be done with this case because, naturally, a girl like Aubrey Campbell can’t be left unchecked as a Bearer. She needs a partner who is capable of keeping her in place. We need a strong, brave, and intelligent man capable of containing any threat she might pose for our good society... preferably a man already experienced in dealing with Eels...”

My jaw drops the second I decipher her intentions. “No way,” I exclaim  “Absolutely no. I won’t accept it! I’m a Shark commander! I won’t be forced to be the partner of an Eel. I refuse!”

“Commander, I am certain you can see our predicament. We wouldn’t put a burden like this on a man so beloved as yourself if it wasn’t necessary,” Matron Sarah explains.

“Commander Mortensen, be reasonable! All the other commanders already have partners. You are the only one who is still unmatched. The situation is too unusual, a heroic man like yourself should give this country many children. I know you and sweet Grace were never able to conceive and after she passed away, out of respect for your loss, we tried to give you time and space to heal, but that time has passed and now you have to serve your nation.”

“Serve my nation? I already serve Estermond every day,” I defend myself.

“Commander Mortensen, don’t be so childish. Part of your duty is also doing what you can so we don’t get extinct,” Major Anderson’s eyes sparkle with malice, he is enjoying seeing me upset.

“But an Eel? You expect me to spend the rest of my life with a traitor like her? This is outrageous!” I’m doing my best not to lose my temper but I am so infuriated I could smash my fist against the wall.

“If anyone is suited for this, is you, Commander Mortensen,” intervenes the Matron.

“That is insulting. A couple of minutes ago you said that you appreciated what I do for Estermond and this is how you pay me? I do my best every day to fight our Eel enemies and now I’m going to have to live with one too? That is my reward for working so hard to ensure the safety of our nation?”

“I’m afraid you have no choice, the Assignment Committee consulted the decision with General Schubert and he thinks this is a good idea,” Major Anderson informs me.

I draw my breath in. The head of the Ministry of Bravery thought this was a good idea? Then the major is right, there’s nothing I can do about it, no matter how much I hate the situation. I can’t go against General Schubert’s wishes.

“I… I… guess I’ll fulfill my duty,” I mumble defeated.

I look away bitterly. After everything I have done for Estermond, and this is how they pay me? Forcing me to be with an Eel? I’m going to need to go for a run or get in the fighting ring to get rid of all of this anger and frustration I’m experiencing.

“Enough with that sour face, commander. Come on! Don’t be so dramatic! We are giving you a pretty 19-year-old girl for you to knock her up, not a contagious disease! And look at the photograph on her file, she is beautiful! Look at her, you have to admit she is good-looking,” he says with satisfaction.

“I don’t care how she looks… she is an Eel,” I mutter.

“I know she is, but are you seriously telling me you can’t handle a 19-year-old girl? Maybe you are not such a great Shark after all,” Major Anderson exclaims jokingly.

I clench my fists and take a deep breath. The major is trying to get on my nerves, Anderson won and he knows it. He has been trying for years to prevent me from becoming a major, he can’t stand the idea of us being equals. Now he found the way, no one will consider me for a promotion with an Eel by my side. He has always hated me and now the opportunity to mess with me arrived on a silver platter. I’m sure he is behind this unusual decision. I don’t know how he convinced General Schubert this was a good idea, but I know this is all Anderson’s plan to mess with my career.

“I can control any Eel presented to me,” I assure him.

“That is good to hear, commander,” says the Matron.

“Have you thought about what is going to happen if the girl refuses to reform herself? What if the tries to betray Estermond again?” I inquire.

“In that case, the decision will be 100% up to you, commander. You will choose if you want to hand her to the Ministry of Obedience or kill her yourself, we won’t intervene, we will trust your judgment,” the major replies.

I gaze at the major for a few seconds, considering the situation.

“I guess I can live with that. Thank you, major,” I mumble feeling a little bit calmer.

“I’m glad we have come to an agreement,” the Matron says with a smile.

“Me too. You may go back to your activities, Mortensen. I’m sure you are a busy man,” the major says.

“Let the Righteous Regime last forever,” I say before I step out of the office.