A rude awakening

“GET UP!” A deep, gravelly voice screams at us. “WAKE UP!” I hear boots being kicked

My eyes snap open and I flail my way to my hands and knees before standing up and turning around. Fedorov is standing in our room, flanked by Captain Zaitsev.

“Everybody on the wall!” Fedorov barks at us.

We all scramble to line up against the wall and stand at attention. I still feel so tired. It feels as if we haven’t even been back for an hour yet.

“You, you, and you!” Fedorov growls, jabbing Dadonov, Smirnov, and I in the chest with his finger one after another. “Come with me NOW!”

Our funeral procession follows Fedorov and Zaitsev to Fedorov’s office. The three of us stand before Fedorov’s desk in the middle of the room, Zaitsev to the side.

Fedorov paces in front of us.

“Did you destroy the bridge?” Fedorov asks, leaning into Dadonov. His tone indicates that he already knows the answer.

“No, comrade commissar.” Dadonov answers.

“Then what the fuck are you cowards doing here?” Fedorov roars. “Why the fuck did you defy my orders?”

“The charges failed to detonate, comrade commissar, and we were attacked by a large enemy ****.” Dadonov says.

“So you gave up?” Fedorov asks. “Ran away? Crawled home with your tail between your legs?”

“I lost four men, including my engineer. Had we stayed, we would have lost everyone and still failed.” Dadonov argues.

“Your failure is unacceptable.” Fedorov growls at Dadonov. “We have lost our chance at a crucial objective because of your cowardice and ineptitude. Your only redemption is that you brought Tatyana back alive.”

Fedorov backs away and continues pacing in front of us.

“I have thought about your punishment. As satisfying as it would be to have you all strung up as cowards and traitors, our current situation compels me do otherwise. Your squad will be given extra duty. You will start the day with guard duty, you will spend the afternoon digging, then you will pull security on the airdrop tomorrow night.” Fedorov says. He pulls his watch out of his pocket. “It looks like you start in… three hours! Now get the fuck out of my office!”

We turn and begin to leave.

“Not you.” Fedorov says. I stop dead in my tracks and turn to face him. Dadonov and Smirnov look back at me before walking out the door.

“Captain, you are dismissed.”

I shiver when I realize that I’m going to be alone with Fedorov again. Captain Zaitsev leaves.

“Tatyana.” Fedorov says. His voice seems a little softer than usual. “I thought that I’d lost you when your Captain told me the news.”

He comes over to me, wraps his arms around my back and pulls me tightly into his girthy torso. His embrace is suffocating. He finally lets me go and looks into my eyes.

“I want you to come with me, back to my quarters.” He says. The hairs on the back of my neck stand up.