Hidden Truths

Written: 1998
© Julie Ruffell 1998
Description: Two soldiers plant a bomb to take out the enemy, but discover the enemy isn't who they think.

"Hidden Truths"

Ken Merrith slowly and carefully placed the bomb in the air duct. Perspiration trickled down his forehead as his massive hands cautiously set the wires in place. He knew how powerful the bomb was and he didn't want to be anywhere near it when it went off. A tiny bead of sweat rolled into his eye, as though a bee had flown into his eyeball and stung it directly. Ken wiped away the sweat with the back of his meaty hand.

He was a colossal man, standing six-foot-eight, with large, bear-like shoulders. He had large upper arms and the legs of a swimmer. His square face was framed by short, ebony hair and a neatly trimmed beard and mustache. His eyes were a clear ice blue, capable of enchanting anyone who looked at them.

He wiped his forehead once more before returning to the task at hand. "Is it me, or is it hot in here?"

The smaller man turned from his lookout position to face Ken. "It's just you. All that mass absorbs all the heat in the room," he replied.

Ken gave his friend a nasty look. "Aren't you the funny man?"

"You know it."

Ken and Ray had been friends as far back as Ken could recall. Raymond Taylor was a dwarf of a man, standing at five-foot-two. He was five years younger than Merrith, with a clean shaven, oval face and olive skin. His short, chestnut reached only to his ears, and his brown eyes sparkled with clear intelligence.

Ray adjusted his rifle and looked down the vacant corridor. "Aren't you done yet?"

"This is a bomb, Ray. Forgive me for wanting to take a little care. I didn't know you were so eager to be part of the scenery."

Now it was Taylor's turn to shoot his partner a nasty look. "We're spies in the enemy's base. Excuse me if I'm a little nervous."

"It's nothing to be ashamed of. I'm just as nervous as you are. All this bloodshed really gets to you after awhile. Your nerves just get shot all to hell, until you're nothing more than an animal."

Ken finished hooking up the bomb and then set the counter for ten minutes. "Okay, let's get out of here."

"Gladly."

The soldiers moved quickly down the corridor, but not so fast that they would draw attention to themselves. They moved into the hallway where the casualty lists were placed and Ken couldn't help but look at the faces. He knew this was war, but he hated all the useless bloodshed. He despised how mankind couldn't just learn to put down the guns and talk things out. He knew that would never happen and it let a deep sorrow in his heart.

Beside him, Ray was starring at the faces on the wall, surprised at the number of men and women who had given their lives. Then, he saw an all too familiar face. "Oh my god, Ken! Look at this!"

Ken looked to where his friend was pointing and saw his picture, with the letters M.I.A. written across it.

"Missing in action?" he whispered. He moved closer and started to read the information beside the picture. It said that he was the youngest child of Bruce and Laura, with three older sisters, Hanna, Dawn and Andrea. It also said that he was married to a woman named Rachel and that they had two sons, Timothy and Mark.

Ken searched his brain; not only did he find no memories of these people, but he couldn't find memories of any family. That clearly made no sense, as he obviously had to have parents. He turned the picture once more and continued to read. As his eyes raked over a history he didn't know, something sounded in his brain. He grabbed his head as the ringing grew to a nearly deafening level. Then, as abruptly as it started, the ringing died, blood running down his ears. Ken looked at his picture again, and at once, he remembered everything.

He remembered being caught by the enemy and being brought to one of their labs. He remembered the tests and he remembered the implant. He and Ray had been brainwashed into believing that their friends were their enemies and they were about to blow up all they held dear.

"We've got to stop that bomb!" Ken bellowed.

"Have you lost your mind, Ken?" Ray questioned. "We've got to get out of here. Don't start getting soft on me. This was our mission and it needed to be done. Then this stupid war will all be over and people will stop dying."

Ken grabbed Taylor's arm and shoved his face against another picture. "Read it, Ray! Read it and remember who you are!"

Ray looked at the picture and was amazed to find himself staring into his own eyes. He read it, and soon, he too, knew who he really was. He looked at Merrith and, without words, they turned in union and raced down the way they had come.

They ran down the corridor, prayers flying through their minds that they were not too late. Should the bomb go off, all would be lost, and all they were fighting for would end in a blaze of fire. Their lives, their families and friends would be nothing more than distant memories that faded in the morning light.

Ray ripped the vent off the air duct as Ken reached in and removed the silently ticking explosive. He couldn't let his family down. He couldn't let all those innocent people die. It all rested in his hands; the fate of the war, the fate of the children whose lives had not yet been lived. If the bomb went off, a huge chunk of the Earth would go with it, and it would be the end of everything.

Ken looked down at the counter, sure there would still be time. He found himself staring at the face of Death itself as the counter reached zero.

FIN