THE MOMENT
Connor climbed the stairs to join the General on the wall. He had other projects to be working on and did not expect to be called that morning. He reached the top of the wall and noticed all the armaments were slightly different. A black cylinder was attached to the end of the cannon barrels. He looked further down the wall and saw a strange, rainbow-haired teen overseeing a group of privates. They were in the process of installing another cylinder.
"General Pyrpys," he gave a proper, though, informal salute. He'd been the generals second in command for years, and they'd become friends. It was strange that he didn't know about the modifications to their defenses. The general nodded at him.
"New orders from higher up," he said. Connor tilted his head slightly, but did not interrupt. The President was the only 'higher up' the general had. "This base is going to be attacked and you need to see how things play out for next time," he said. Connor glanced around the base. Other than the group modifying the artillery, and the gunners that ran it, the rest of the base seemed underprepared.
"Sir?" Connor asked. "Shouldn't we rally the men?" It never occurred to him that the General was mistaken somehow. Over the years he learned that if the General said something, it was true. The General shook his head.
"The upgrades for the cannons are good enough," The old man leaned closer and dropped his voice to a whisper. "We're not going to be attacked by men, we're going to be attacked by monsters."
"Sir?" Connor asked with a confused expression. The general nodded. But, before Connor could ask anything else, the rainbow-haired girl walked up.
"Ready for a test round," she said to the general; and, she completely ignored Connor. The general looked out over the lush countryside and Connor followed his gaze. He had to admit it was a beautiful morning. The sun was just starting to peek over the horizon; it always woke up later than Connor. He noticed a fog bank in the distance, but knew that the sun would burn it out before long.
"Fire," the General said. Connor wasn't ready to be close to firing cannons and he clapped his hands to his ears to try and muffle the sound. He didn't hear anything; but, in the distance a small explosion left a crater; it was notably bigger than the last time he saw a test fire.
"I didn't hear anything...," Connor said.
"Thanks General," the girl spoke over Connor. "I'll go set the bait." She whirled around and jumped off the wall instead of taking the stairs.
"Who the hell is that?" Connor asked. He had several questions, but needed to start somewhere.
"That's Monday," the General said. "She ordered these upgrades."
"Wait a second,... She's the 'higher up'?? That pallid, teenage...GOTH GIRL is on the president's level?"
"Careful soldier...," the General said. It wasn't a warning he had to use on Connor often; but, it meant something when he did. "Everything is under control, you don't need to ask questions. Just do your job."
For the first time in five years, Connor doubted the General. General Pyrpys always encouraged him to ask questions and seek out new information. The General himself was an inquisitive man by nature. While he processed his doubts, he focused on something he could ask.
"Why didn't I hear anything?"
"Those are silencers," he pointed at the nearest black cylinder.
"Silencers, Sir?" Connor asked. "To fight off monsters?"
"That's right, soldier," the General nodded.
The frustration of not understanding his situation boiled over and he attacked the first idea that didn't make sense.
"That is, without a doubt, the stupidest thing I've ever seen!" The general's eyes went wide with panic and he leaned closer.
"Stop now. Explanations later. That's an order." Unfortunately, Connor was too far gone.
"What monsters could we possibly be fighting that we need a platform of artillery pieces WITH SILENCERS??!" the rainbow-haired teen returned as Connor raised his voice.
"There a problem?" she asked the General.
"No no, not at all," he quickly, and timidly shook his head. "All set to go," he stepped between Connor and Monday.
"Yeah there's a problem!" Connor knew he'd already made the mistake and decided to see it through. It was a habit that the General tried to break him of; but, he relapsed. "Who the hell are you and what the hell are we killing that the cannons need silencers?" He yelled over the General's shoulder.
Monday narrowed her eyes and tilted her head at him.
"What's your-," she began to ask a question; but, the General spun around and clamped his hand over Connor's mouth. Despite the action, Monday finished her question. "-favorite number?"
"''irty phour," the muffled answer came despite the General's efforts.
"DAMNIT!" Monday growled. "I can't even set up a farm without you idiots waking up!" A rainbow crown of light appeared over her head.