Fireborne: Rashen Rising

CHAPTER 10: RASHEN'S VERDICT

At the main Imperial headquarters in Nottenam and behind closed doors the council of commissioned officers of the Imperial Forces were seated with the Ranking Commander as the head of the table. The council only included officers from Squad Commander all the way to Ranking Commander, despite being commissioned officers,Senior Officers and Sub-Commanders were not permitted to be in the same room and sit at the table.

"We will now begin the discussion at hand" said the Ranking Commander to begin the meeting.

"Thank you Commander. We are here to discuss the issue involving three cadets newly graduated from the Nottenam Imperial Academy." Said a Troop Commander.

"And what is this issue?" Asked the Ranking Commander

"Two of the cadets,Ngoko Halter,who graduated as the best overall cadet and Raspin Krust were found in near death states by Squad Commander Malloy and he has reasons to believe that the one responsible for said incident was another cadet,Rashen,who graduated as the cadet with the most potential."

"Squad Commander Malloy,is it true you have reasons to believe that Cadet Rashen is responsible for the current states of the cadets you took under your wing?" Asked the Ranking Commander,

"Yes Commander,I do. That Cadet known as Rashen has committed the greatest crime that could be committed by any Imperial Soldier and that is attacking a fellow Soldier. The cadet,as attested by his fellow cadets,is mentally unstable and extremely prone to violence. This claim is backed up by a written statement by Cadet Ballious Balder of the Balder Family who was intimidated and almost attacked by the suspect."

"But what does that have to do with the attack on Cadets Ngoko and Raspin?" Asked the Ranking Commander,

"Commander,as per the attestation of the cadets present that night after the suspected had almost attacked Cadet Balder he was restrained by the Cadets Ngoko and Raspin and taken away. Further investigations and eye witness reports all show that the suspect,who was seen to have red wings,led Ngoko and Raspin to the Ruins of Old Dreigon."

"Really Squad Commander Malloy? Is that your proof? Claims from the cadets and eye witness reports are enough to make you believe that Cadet Rashen was capable of committing such a heinous crime?" Asked,not the Ranking Commander,but the Head Academy Officer of Nottenam Imperial Academy Remry Gillurt who was granted a seat at the council.

"Is there a problem Officer Gillurt?" Kuro asked,

"Yes there is. Do you truly really believe that Cadet Rashen could do such a thing?" He asked,

"There are statements and eye witness reports that all lead to that conclusion don't you think-?" Kuro replied,

"If that's the case Squad Commander Malloy I have a few questions. How exactly did Cadet Rashen lead Cadets Ngoko and Raspin to Old Dreigon? What could he have possibly done to leave the best cadets of their set in a near death state? The scene where they were found indicated that there was a battle,a big one. Do you believe your cadets would lose to Cadet Rashen in a two on one?"

Kuro stood there in silence and shame,he had no answers to Officer Gillurt's questions,

"Your silence tells me all the answers I need to know," Gillurt said, "I've known Rashen for four years and the fact is as far as he is concerned the general masses tend to think irrationally towards him because of his...particular incident. But the truth is I know his capabilities,I know his nature and I know how determined he is to protect people,he would never harm another soldier" Gillurt said confidently

"Your sentiments are appreciated but they're not proof,we can't disregard the eye witness reports because you think they are based off bias." Said a Platoon Commander seated.

"Proof? There is no substantial proof that warrants any sort of punishment. Rashen is a fire tamer,his fire isn't even as hot as normal fire not to talk of the fire commanded by the Goldenfire Family." Gillurt said indignantly,

"He's right," Said Squad Commander Alora Hamson, "We are yet to receive official reports about the injuries suffered by the two cadets nor do we have official statements from the cadets involved."

"Well said Squad Commander Hamson," Gillurt said with a satisfied look on his face, "With all this said I believe we should apply the 'Innocent until proven guilty' rule as there is no substantial amount of proof to warrant a punishment of any kind."

"There are too many factors at play here but I believe Squad Commander Hamson and Head Academy Officer Gillurt make valid points but the situation is far more complex than meets the eye. The suspected was at the scene and completely unscathed while the other two were practically dead so it's not like we can just let him go freely without having a proper answer" another Platoon Commander added.

"So what does the council believe should be done to the suspected?" Asked the Ranking Commander,to which the Platoon Commander replied,

"I suggest a suspension of his award and position as a member of the top fifteen. I also suggest that he remains in an Imperial holding center till the matter is concluded."

Gillurt immediately objected,

"No. He keeps his achievement and is deployed with the rest of the cadets,I can't even believe you would suggest such a thing Platoon Commander." His statement led to an argument between the two and amongst the council members.

"Enough!!!" Ordered the Ranking Commander and the council followed suit.

"After hearing statements from the council about the situation I have decided on my verdict and I will give it now...."

Two Imperial Soldiers of the rank Third Junior Officer,had arrived at the dark cells section of the Maximum Imperial Prison, Nottenam division. Without saying much they showed the warden in charge the an official written statement signed and stamped by the Ranking Commander.

The warden led the two men to the very last cell of the dark cells section. He pulled out the key to the thick metallic door and unlocked it and inside the pitch black room held in chains and blind folded was Rashen.

The warden unlocked the chains but left the binds on his hands and the blind folds as a safety measure. The chains were made out of a rare metal capable of blocking a person's ability to tame the natural forces.

Rashen knew that the soldiers were taking him somewhere but had no idea where in particular. He could at least tell they were in a carriage. After dropping from the carriage and walking a while they finally stopped to take off the chains on his hands and the blind folds. When he finally got back his sight he saw that they were at the door of the Head Academy Officer's office. They opened and took him along inside to see Officer Gillurt.

"You two can leave, I'll be perfectly fine on my own with the boy" Gillurt said while focused on the voluminous amounts of documents on his desk. The two soldiers did as were told and left Officer Gillurt alone with Rashen in the room.

"Take a seat cadet" Ordered Gillurt but Rashen just stood there staring at Officer Gillurt with a blank expression on his face. He stood there while Gillurt went through the documents. After about twenty minutes Officer Gillurt was done with the documents,he dropped his pen and looked at Rashen,he was still standing.

"Take a seat cadet!" Gillurt ordered again and this time Rashen complied. He slowly walked over to the seat across Officer Gillurt and sat down quietly.

Gillurt took a good look at Rashen. His expression wasn't blank,it was more of a tired and exhausted look. His face had sunken in and he had bags under his eyes. He looked terribly malnurished and even thinner than he usually did. He had the same clothes he got from the Dreigon center.

"Hello cadet" Gillurt said warmly trying to make Rashen feel as safe,

"Are Ngoko and Raspin okay? How are they?" He asked,his voice sounded just as tired as he looked.

"Well they're not definitely not dead...afraid that's all I can tell you" Replied Gillurt,

"That's good."

They were both silent for some time. Rashen looked down on the floor and Gillurt looked at him intently.

"Cadet. I'm truly sorry for what you had to go through,it was against protocol. You were taken away without definitive proof and locked away in the Dark cells and for that I am sorry."

Rashen took a deep breath and exhaled,

"You don't have to apologise to me Sir,it wasn't your doing." Rashen replied.

"Cadet, I know you wouldn't want to relive that incident but I really would like to know what exactly happened that night." Gillurt said,not as an order but as a request. Rashen was quiet for a bit but then told him everything that happened not missing a single detail. After hearing his story Officer Gillurt was quiet,he thought to himself.

"This is a serious matter Cadet. If there is someone out there capable of defeating both Cadets Ngoko and Raspin then that could spell troubles to come," Gillurt said in a very serious tone, "And you say you don't remember who the old man was?" Gillurt asked,

"I didn't ask his name and I didn't get a good look at his face,sorry." Rashen was replied.

"This is a very grave issue Rashen, regardless of your innocence in all this you're still a key figure in this case" said Gillurt still in his serious tone.

"We will prioritize finding the man as he is a key figure in this, just as you are. In his haste to arrest you Squad Commander Malloy failed to question the park workers and conduct a perimeter sweep. We will prioritize finding the man and the suspect" He said trying to assure him.

"Sir if you don't mind my asking,how long was I in prison?" Rashen asked. The question didn't surprise Gillurt one bit,he knew it was an effect of being in the pitch black dark room. A horrible form of punishment that dulls the senses and makes one lose track of everything, including time.

"One week and three days" Gillurt replied. Rashen sighed,

"So I've missed my deployment."

Officer Gillurt took out a written statement stamped and signed by the Ranking Commander and himself.

"Cadet,as far as your deployment is concerned the Ranking Commander has given his verdict on your case. You will be deployed but you have lost the privilege of choosing where you will serve,a privilege enjoyed by the top fifteen of any Imperial Academy graduates."

Rashen wasn't even surprised after hearing that news,he retained his drained and tired expression.

"You will serve as an official Imperial Cadet but you will be under probation until this case is settled and by my guess, that would be when Cadets Ngoko and Raspin have given their accounts of the incident." Gillurt said as he handed Rashen's deployment form over to him. For the first time since their discussion started Rashen showed expressions other than exhaustion,shock, disbelief and then frustration.

"I truly am sorry Rashen," Gillurt said once more as Rashen got up to leave, "Endeavor to freshen yourself up here in the academy before heading home. You must leave for your deployment as soon as possible."

Rashen stopped at the door and without looking back at Officer Gillurt he asked,

"If it were someone else there that night other than me. Would they have gotten the same treatment as I have?"

Gillurt was silent,he didn't need to say anything because Rashen already knew it.

"Goodbye Officer Gillurt,these four years have been an honour." Rashen said before walking out the door.