Legionaries

Ed Harsono

October 27th, 2018

At 08:00

ONE Cenderwasih cap coffee shavings slid smoothly into my esophageal cavity. Inevitably, its pleasant aroma immediately went out along my sense of smell which lately was too tired to snort. In a very short time, the intake of caffeine contained in it directly stimulates the performance of my nerves that had weakened.

After settling for a bitter taste in my tongue, I turned to Peter who had set himself back in his lazy chair. While the two fingers of his right hand were clutching the coffee cup, his eyeballs were showering me with that distinctive look. His soaring eyebrows like a slide were like spreading a dangerous threat.

"Can you stop looking at me like that?" my sergeant, looking at Peter's cold gaze.

"Hmmm..." Peter responded by grunting quietly. "It seems that the decades you've spent getting to know me aren't enough to get you used to my style."

"Don't be silly, Trus. If it wasn't me, who else would have felt like you were glaring like that?" I said, leading the mouth of the cup back to my lips.

"You underestimated the abilities of those around me. You think none of them enjoy an eye-to-eye with me?"

"Don't joke, Trus. If there was, maybe that person was out of his mind."

"Even a man who is not sane should not be underestimated, General. Vito, for example." Hearing that name, my eyes immediately glared. "You've been too sure you've beaten him. To the extent that you didn't have time to take into account what's going on right now."

For a few seconds my eyes were open. Peter's words have a point. All this time, I've been too jumawa. I don't think Lieutenant Colonel Vito still harbors his gratitude for my treatment of him. I'm too sure the exile decision will deter him.

"I admit it was a big mistake, Trus. After killing his superior, Rico, I should have killed him too."

Peter took a moment to smile. "With the power you have now, you could have persuaded the military institutions to exile him again."

"It's not that easy. The people who occupy the seat of government today are no longer in line with the old people like us. For the sake of my balance of position, I should be more careful in maneuvering."

Just as my mouth was clenched, I was suddenly startled by the sound of knocking on the door. My body immediately got up from the seat. Carefully, I glanced at Peter who was apparently no less surprised by the sound. Immediately I sent him a signal to respond to the sound.

"Who?!" Peter's voice pierced through the door of the room.

"I'm Toni, Ndan. Can I come in?" reveal that voice.

I was somewhat relieved to hear the voice of Toni, one of my aides, from outside the door. "Come, Ton!"

Hearing my agreement, Toni rushed in. His movements seemed to be moving. "Bad news, Ndan. I just got the information from other colleagues. They said Special Detachment troops were on their way here."

"Police?"

"Yes, Ndan. They're about to stage a massive raid, Ndan."

That shocking information surprised me not a bitch. How could I not have known of the raid plan? According to existing procedures, all ambushes, whether against the location of residence****** or the nest of drug kingpins, must be on the recommendation of the intelligence services. It seemed that there were indeed a number of high-ranking officers who had come into play in this situation.

Police Commissioner General Rully Tanurejo, head of the State Police Institution, would not dare to act so recklessly. He is not a typical police officer who is willing to interfere in matters beyond his own institutional interests. In fact, had he gotten instructions from the executive stakeholders directly, he would have definitely communicated with me first. After all, all this time he was quite aware that I was no match for him.

"And, I'm waiting for orders" Toni said, disturbing my daydreams.

For a moment I sighed before starting to speak straightforwardly. "I hereby grant you a mandate over all the members currently standing guard on the lower floors of this building. Prepare full armament. I'll call the headquarters to send backups."

"Ready! Do it!" yelled Toni who immediately rushed out of the room. Faintly heard the sound of the sole of his boot that hastily clashed with the stairs.

With a face full of anxiety, I glanced back at Peter who was still faithful in his lazy chair.

"The situation has gone too far, right?" said Peter, who was still relaxed while flicking his eyebrows as if he was sneering at me.

"Yes. That's why you better shut up and start acting fast." I started to panic. "We need your men, Trus. If you still want this place to stand tall, you'll have to call them back."

"Do it, General," said Peter again, still with his relaxed attitude and his nosy smile. "Sure them they'll be here sooner than your backup troops from headquarters."

I refuse to respond to Peter's cynical statement. My mind was too busy guessing who was behind this ambush. While remaining in a bowed position, my mouth growled savagely. "Buckin' vito! He must be the mastermind of all this!"

Slowly, I lifted my head to throw a glance at Peter. "If they want war, we give them the battlefield" I whispered in a threatening tone.

Meanwhile, Peter who heard my words was astute. It was as if he had no interest in responding to my statement. "May you still have a stash of money to compensate for the damage to my property. That's if you can still survive the poison in your body."

I looked directly at Peter. My mind is full of question marks. "What do you mean?"

"Two minutes," This time his voice sounded soft. "I didn't think you'd last that long. Next time, I'll ask Markus, my son, to add a slightly higher dose for you."

I had not yet been able to digest Peter's words, I suddenly felt unnatural bodily symptoms. My body suddenly shook violently. There was a heat that covered the entire wall of my esophagus, stomach, and lungs. Slowly the heat was getting stinging and spreading to all my organs.

"What the fuck is this, Trus?" What are you... Hickk!" My words suddenly stopped. My breath is roaring. My throat is choking so hard. While the hot air that struck me this time has been spilled throughout the internal organs. "Kkkhhhkk..."

"Yes. Here's my plan. The biggest plan behind my plans you've ever heard."

Apparently the bubbling heat was not only attacking my body, but also my heart. Overwhelmed with rage, I tried to approach Peter's chair, but my body began to stagger. In an instant my balance dropped dramatically. The trembling in my knees grew wild, shaking my body until it fell down to kiss the tile.

"Kkkhhhkk..."

I longed to curse Peter, the Old Bangka, or at least question what he had done to his own sidekick. Unfortunately, the bleached froths had stuffed up my mouth. While my vocal cords were already burned by the heatstroke.

Quietly, I said in my heart: Peter, are any of my words offending you? Or maybe you've been working with Vito to get rid of me? Answer, Trus. If I have to die now, I don't want to die curious.

While my body was floundering on the ground, the old man started to step closer to me. It was as if he knew my inner content that was piling up a lot of questions for him. "Patience, Ed. Don't rush. There's one thing you should know before your death."

"Kkhhkkk..."

"What kind of friend are you, Ed. You think you know me? You don't even know my name, do you? Peter.."

"Kkkhhhhhhkkkk..." My eyes wide. My throat is getting choked. Not because of the poison's influence, but because of my shock at Peter's confession.

A priyambodo? Peter Priyambodo? Priyambodo Rico?

"General Edi Harsono. The Peter you've known all along is Rico Priyambodo's younger brother, your former superior, who you killed on the railroad tracks."

"Khhkkkk..."

So right my guess. You're working with Vito, Rico's former aide.

"No, Ed. Don't you misunderstand me. It has nothing to do with Vito. We work our way."

I began to fall when my sight faded. Faintly, my eyes could still watch over Peter who suddenly retreated.

"Kkhhkkkk..."

Kill me now, Trus! Don't let your friend suffer for too long!

BRAAKK! Suddenly the door of the room slammed. Shortly after, a shadow appeared in the doorway of the room. My sense of sight had indeed decreased, but the physical form of the shadow was enough to make me recognize it. Towards the end of my life, the mysterious figure who had legendary it finally revealed its true form before me.

"Someone wants to meet you." Peter's voice echoed in my ear.

My guess all along turned out to be wrong. Unlike many media outlets, the physical appearance of the creature was not particularly appalling. Although the creature had a pair of predatory animal-like claws, its face still resembled that of an ordinary human. He was like an ordinary young man.

"Kkhhhhkkk..."

Alright. Monster, I'm ready to die.

When the shiny claws were raised in the air, I closed my eyes. I am ready to face my destiny.