Good news guys,
I'm working on a new fic. Be sure to check it out.
*****
Chapter 25: Second Encounter
Every day was the same: speeches, followed by dinners or parties with dignitaries and politicians. Rhys navigated this world of glamour and excess. He had done these things before in his past life; for a special agent, playing a role and being a convincing actor was one of the most important means of survival. Even as he delivered impassioned speeches in grand theaters, he sometimes wondered if he had become completely lost in the character.
"There is nothing more important than honor! In the heart of every soldier is a noble sense of that honor. What are the wind and snow to us? To us, they are merely the festive atmosphere before our victory over our enemies…"
"Yes, I am only a Staff Sergeant, but I am a part of Easy Company, a part of the 506th Regiment, and a part of the 101st Airborne Division. What we must do is become the finest soldiers in America…"
"We aim high. We firmly believe that the United States of America will achieve final victory. Just as when we marched into the city, the people will cheer for us. We should not be the victims of an attack; we should take back what we have lost at the hands of the Japs, and we will take even more! We will also go to Europe to liberate the enslaved peoples and nail Adolf Hitler to the pillar of shame for all of humanity, to be reviled by the people of the world. We must be the aggressors, the victors who take the initiative to attack those evil people and evil nations!"
"What I want to tell you is that victory belongs to us. But the arrival of that victory requires the support of all the people of the United States of America, and your generous contributions will be a crucial guarantee of that victory…"
"He made some changes," a middle-aged man in a well-tailored suit said to a general in the VIP section of the audience. "But the changes are excellent. This fellow is a natural-born orator, General."
The general was Brigadier General William C. Lee. He had already inspected the 506th at Fort Benning once before. Now, he was in New York, partly because of his health—the general had a weak heart and was here to rest—and partly because of the Staff Sergeant, Rhys Parks, who was currently speaking so passionately on stage. He had been worried that the Staff Sergeant, lacking worldly experience, might embarrass the 101st Airborne. He had to keep an eye on him.
But now it seemed that in a glamorous city like New York, the young man was like a fish in water. Even his speeches often broke the rules. He would frequently deviate from the prepared script and go off on an impromptu tangent, yet the effect was always surprisingly good.
"He is an outstanding soldier," General Lee said with a nod and a smile. "The pride of the 101st Airborne."
"And you still think you can hold onto this young man?" the man, who was around fifty, said with a laugh. "Many people have seen his talent. A natural propagandist, and his acting skills are first-rate."
General Lee's expression soured. He shot the man a sideways glance and said coolly, "Mr. Rossiter, are you Wall Street financiers also interested in a mere soldier? No matter what, he is still a soldier, and as long as this country is at war, he will obey his orders and go to the battlefield."
Mr. Rossiter smiled. "I know he is a soldier, and an outstanding one at that." He paused. "But if you were willing to part with him, I certainly wouldn't turn away such a talented individual. You know, Wall Street needs young men exactly like him: confident, bold, able to play a role, and able to make the best adjustments to any situation."
"He's a celebrity now," Roster said to General Lee with a slight smile.
Just as General Lee was about to speak, a storm of applause swept through the entire hall. Many people stood up in excitement, some even with tears in their eyes.
This was the power of inspiration.
General Lee suddenly felt a sense of helplessness. Even if the law forbade Rhys from leaving the service, what did the law mean to these financiers? If they wanted something, they would fight for it, even resorting to the tactics of thieves.
"I'm feeling a bit unwell. I must be excused," General Lee said, forgoing etiquette. He quickly and quietly left the hall, the sound of unending applause at his back.
***
"Did General Lee agree?" In a luxurious room, a woman in an elegant long dress asked. Her long leg peeked out from the slit of her skirt. She took a cigarette from a box on the table beside her and held it gracefully between her fingers.
'Click.' A blue flame flickered to life from a man's hand as he lit her cigarette.
"Why are you so interested in that kid?" the man asked, extinguishing the lighter and sitting down, looking puzzled. "I had my people investigate his background. There's nothing there. He's as ordinary as they come."
"We need people like him, Mr. Rossiter," the woman said, frowning slightly. "My father often speaks of your contributions, but do you know why you've never had a seat on the board of directors?"
The man was Mr. Rossiter. He leaned forward slightly, feigning humility. "What is the reason? Could Miss Grey perhaps enlighten me?"
"It's because you still lack a certain vision," the woman said, gently tapping the ash from her cigarette. "From the first moment I saw this man, I had a feeling about him. He was never going to be mediocre. And his transformation now has only confirmed my premonition."
"You are correct, Miss Grey. But…" Mr. Rossiter hesitated. "Don't you need to hear his opinion? Perhaps he's not interested at all. I mean, in our one-sided plans for him."
Virginia Grey was taken aback for a moment. It was a point she hadn't considered. But with such a generous offer, could any man possibly refuse? She was quite confident.
From their chance encounter on the train, her interest in Rhys had been mere curiosity, coupled with an appreciation for his strong body and passionate lovemaking. Physical pleasure always guides one's first impressions. And their meeting again in New York had been a coincidence; she hadn't expected to have any further interaction with him. But his increasingly outstanding performance had greatly heightened her interest.
"I think you should still meet with him and hear his opinion, Miss Grey," Roster said, maintaining his respectful demeanor.
Virginia Grey nodded. "I understand. Alright, I'll trouble you with this, then, Mr. Rossiter."
"It is my honor to be of service to you," Roster said, standing to leave. He walked a few steps, then turned back. "Miss Grey, your father asked me to give you a message. I think you should hear it."
Virginia suddenly looked annoyed, but she just nodded. "I know. It's because I snuck off on my own last time. I will explain it to my father. You don't need to worry about it."
Roster nodded, then left, gently closing the door behind him.
***
This was his fifth day in New York. Every day was almost the same, only the locations were different. Speeches and cocktail parties, moving among the celebrities and socialites of high society. People constantly tried to curry favor with him, and just as often, others shot him looks of disdain. But none of it mattered to Rhys. He just held a glass of wine and sat quietly in a corner of the party. To be honest, he missed his brothers in Easy Company, even if it meant enduring all kinds of difficult training and Captain Sobel's bad temper.
"Hey," a familiar voice broke through his solitary meditation.
"Hey, Virginia?" In his loneliness, Rhys finally saw a familiar face. It was the beautiful and captivating woman he had met on the train.
"My God, I can't believe we actually met again, and in a magical place like New York, of all places," Rhys said, standing up, his mood instantly lifting.
Virginia smiled slightly. "I told you we would meet again. How does it feel to be a celebrity? Your picture is all over the streets of New York. You're a hero in people's eyes."
"No, I'm not a hero yet. I haven't even been to the battlefield to kill any Krauts," Rhys smiled. "But I really hope I can go back soon."
He was speaking from the heart. It was the same thought he had later that night, after another round of passion, as he held her beautiful, captivating body in his arms.
"If you stay here, you'll have many opportunities," Virginia said, gently shifting her body to avoid his mischievous hands, though she remained pressed tightly against him.
"I know. Maybe after the war, I'll come here. But not now," Rhys said with a small smile. "And I also know that your identity here must be quite extraordinary."
Hearing this, Virginia's body tensed for a moment. She then wrapped her arms around his neck and whispered, "Yes, my identity is a bit special. But I'm just a woman, and you know what a woman needs most. Can't you stay for me?"
Rhys smiled, stroking her face, then shook his head. "I'm sorry, Virginia. You know I can't."
Virginia was silent for a long time. She pressed her face against his chest and sighed. "You must be wondering. A woman like me… my father is Ben Grey, an arms dealer. You know, our Grey family has always been struggling to survive among the giants of the arms industry. I…" she trailed off, her expression growing dim.
Rhys listened quietly, then nodded and smiled. "Can you also produce some firearms? I mean, produce them independently."
"We can only produce some guns," Virginia said, looking at him strangely.
"I mean," Rhys said softly, "if a gun with superior performance were to be produced, are you confident you could get a government procurement contract?"
*****
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P.S. psst... Don't forget about the Power Stones.