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Thaddeus Duke · (10-14-2020)

The Residence at the Illuminatus Compound || Old Saybrook, Connecticut

”Thaddeus baby,” Liz says, cutting the silence like a knife. ”What about Karen?” she asks, referring to my Head of Security for the Gate House. ”You told her you’d find her something more worthwhile, hun. You said something that aligns with her skillset more than wallowing away in boredom outside.”

That isn’t exactly what I said but the sentiment is spot on. I took an instant liking to Karen when I met her. She’s no nonsense and takes her duties seriously. The question that needs answered is that with Lizzy and now Frankie living here at the Compound, I need someone to head the security detail of my family, for lack of a better word. Someone needs to have their six when I can’t.

”I don’t want her promoted simply because she’s a woman, Elizabeth.” Jim interjects after a light cough.

”I don’t know that she’s the right fit,” I offer in response. More so for the sake of debate than anything else. In reality, I’m quite sure she’s up to the task.

”I’ve watched her train, baby. I’ve watched her train others. If something were to happen, I’m not sure there’s anyone else I’d rather have to protect Frankie.”

”Not even me?” I joke as she leans in over my chair for a kiss, inadvertently knocking over my crutches.

”You know what I mean.”

”This is serious, mates,” he says as he tries looking at me around Liz.

Fucking buzzkill.

”I’ll call her in for an interview,” I finally relent causing Jim to shake his head in disgust which in turn causes him to cough.

”No need,” Liz replies as she abandons me and heads for the door.

”She’s in the hall, isn’t she?”

”Been there for the last twenty minutes,” she states as she opens the door. ”Karen come in please.”

I chuckle out loud a bit.

”We’ll need the room,” I inform Liz, much to her chagrin. ”This is a big decision. I can’t have you and your emotional blackmail influencing my call.” It might be a little harsh, but it’s the honest truth. I have a nation to run. My own emotions force me to make bad decisions enough on their own. I really don’t need hers toying with mine to make even worse ones.

”Have a seat,” Jim says pointing to the chair across from me. It’s an informal setting, up here in the residence. This offers a bit more comfort than downstairs where actual business takes place.

”I guess I’ll just go help Berta in the kitchen then,” Liz says as she exits with a feigned huff, pretending she’s mad at me. The fake make up later ought to be fun though.

”Do you know why I called you up here, Karen?” I ask of her as Jim takes a seat in the corner to observe. He buries his face in the crease of his elbow coughing again.

”You better not have the Trump Plague you fuck,” I joke, looking over at Jim. He doesn’t laugh.

”No sir, I don’t.”

”With Elizabeth moving in and now Frankie... Karen, I’m looking for someone to lead the protection detail for my family,” I inform her. Her ears perk up a bit at that information. ”I’m not sure if you’ll recall this but I told you the day we met to give me time and I’d perhaps find you a more fulfilling position suited to your talents.

“Do you remember that?”

”I do, sir. Yes.”

”We can probably agree that protecting my family is of the gravest importance, no?”

”Sir, forgive me, but I’m not sure I’m following.”

Either she’s just a little nervous or she’s the wrong choice. What I said, I think was pretty clear.

”What I’m saying, is that they can take everything from me. They can raze the Compound to the ground and kill all of my people and me too if that’s what it takes...as long as Frankie and Elizabeth are safe. Berta too.

“That’s the most important thing to me, Karen. The safety and survival of my family.”

”Berta?” Jim questions.

”Yes Jimmy, Berta. She’s been working for me for years and is part of my family now.”

”Sir, that’s what I thought you meant.

“And yes. I agree entirely.”

”Please Karen, don’t be nervous.

“I’ve watched you train since I’ve been home,” I inform her. I have. She’s quite good. ”You can draw your weapon with cat like quickness, your reflexes are unrivaled and I’ve watched you defeat men three times your size in hand to hand combat.

“That’s what I need.”

”I serve at your pleasure, sir. It would be an honor to protect your family.”

”You’re aware by now I would hope, that the Ares Project attacked the Compound some time ago?”

”I am, sir.”

”You’re aware then, that we nearly lost that night?”

”But you didn’t.”

Perspective matters in this case. I live only by the love and loyalty of my lions and no other reason. I was beaten bloody and nearing unconsciousness when that big mother fucker was finally able to get his hands on a weapon to finish the job. It was in the cellar near the entrance to the labyrinth. My lions waited for me inside and had they not, I wouldn’t be here right now. My forces still would have repelled theirs but if I’m dead, then what? Pack it up and go back home...wherever home is.

I’m brought back to the conversation at hand by more hacking from Jim.

”We didn’t, no. If I didn’t have a small outpost a couple miles through the wilderness though, we wouldn’t be having this conversation so it’s important to consider the what if’s.”

”Understood, sir.”

”If I choose you for this, you understand that you give your life for theirs if need be?”

”Yes.”

”You understand that any threats to Frankie or Liz are to be met with lethal force?”

”Absolutely, sir.”

”Are you familiar with the labyrinth?”

”Sir, I haven’t spent much time in the house. I know it exists, but that’s it.”

”Tomorrow, I’ll have Jim...” more hacking. ”If he’s still alive, give you a tour of the cave complex. Learn it. Know it backwards and forwards. Know it without light so you can navigate if the need arises.

“Once you know it, I want you conducting evacuation drills with the family two days a week.”

”Forgive me for asking sir, but hasn’t the Compound been fortified and rebuilt since their attack?”

”It has,” I answer her.

”I understand having the evacuation protocol but do you really think that they’d do it again?”

”These people want me dead, Karen. They almost succeeded last time...”

”Almost.”

”We can be cocky and arrogant, thinking they wouldn’t have the balls to do it again, but they blew my plane out of the sky with me in it.

“They’re serious, so we need to be too.”

”Yes sir.”

”If it were to happen… if they were to hit us again here at home… what do you do?”

”I take Elizabeth and Frankie to safety.”

”You understand that you are not to stay back, you are not to try and fight anyone. Your only goal is to get them to safety and nothing else. I don’t care if your friends are falling over dead as you go, you do not engage unless there is an immediate threat to them.

“Am I being clear?”

”Perfectly.”

”Return to your post, Karen. Report to James at oh six hundred.”

”Oh six hundred!?” he interjects after another coughing fit. ”I’m fookin’ dyin’ here mate!”

”Oh six hundred,” I confirm as Karen excuses herself. After she leaves the room, I turn to Jim. ”What the fuck is goin’ on man?”

”What do you mean?”

”You’ve had that cough for like two months bro. Have you seen a doctor?”

”Mate, I’ve been running your house for you, I don’t have time for a doctor.”

”You’re fired,” I inform him with no hesitation in my voice.

Jim looks at me with a shocked expression. Bewildered with amazement.

”Until you see a doctor, Jim, you’re not doing a fucking thing. I’ve made jokes at the expense of your health, but it’s time to get real, Jim. See a doctor and find out what’s going on.”

”What about Karen?”

”She’ll be fine. I’ll give her the tour.

“Now get the fuck out of the residence before you give us all...whatever the fuck it is that you have.”

He’s not really fired. But he needs to know what his priorities are and that cough has gotten progressively worse and who the fuck coughs for two fucking months and doesn’t see a fucking doctor? I mean, it legit takes like two hours out of your day. Just fucking do it, get some meds, and get your ass back to work. How fucking hard can it be?

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