“Then, who is the enemy?” Marcum asked.

“Me,” Rezkin stated.

“Explain,” the general commanded, as generals are prone to do.

Rezkin curled his fingers and tapped on the arm of the chair as he thought about how much he should divulge. “I was given orders to kill a number of people, which I did, all except for one. He managed to escape while I was dealing with the others. I question, now, why those particular people had to die. If it had been my choice, I would not have killed them.”

“Yet, you killed them anyway,” the general stated grimly. The truth was finally revealed, and he could see the young man for what he was. He was a killer. He murdered people on command rather than through necessity. The fact that the young man admitted his actions so casually demonstrated his cold and calculating nature.

Rezkin shrugged. “They learned of my orders at the same time as I, and after that, they really gave me no choice. Although, in truth, I cannot say I would have done differently at the time had they not attacked me first. I must follow the Rules.”

“So your rules say you are supposed to kill innocent people?” General Marcum asked.

Rezkin cocked his head as he replied, “I did not say they were innocent, General. I am not a cruel man. In fact, if I was given orders to kill the men, then there was most certainly a good reason for it. The problem is, I do not know the reason, nor do I know who issued the orders in the first place. As such, I do not know where I stand. Since I am no longer obligated to follow anyone’s orders, I am free to make my own choices. That is with one exception. My last order was to kill those people and one escaped. I must find him.”

“So that you can kill him?” Marcum said.

“Perhaps,” Rezkin replied honestly. “More importantly, I wish to know what he knows. Those men I killed knew much more about my orders than I.”

“And what of the one who gave you the order in the first place,” Lieutenant Jimson said.

Rezkin frowned. “He is dead. He was killed during the battle, but not by my hand.”

“Battle? Just how many did you kill?” Lieutenant Jimson sputtered.

“There were many, but that is irrelevant. The point is the kill order would not have originated with the man who issued it. I want to know where the order came from and why it was given. And …” Rezkin paused as he worked to understand his own thoughts. “I want to know if I really must finish the job.”

“You want to know if you must kill the survivor,” the general stated.