Meet the Commissar

We travel with the partisans. Artyom is shy but he talks to me from time to time. Sasha teases me for having a crush on him.

When we reach the partisan headquarters, Dadonov pulls the two of us aside.

“Are you sure you want to do this?” He asks.

“I am.” I say without hesitation. There aren’t many options for us.

Sasha thinks for a moment. “I guess so.” She says.

“Alright, I’m going to bring you in to meet the boss.” He tells us.

“The boss?” I ask.

“Commissar Fedorov.”

We follow him underground, into a tunnel. There are a few areas dug out where we see what looks like living areas, another where we see radios and a few men working. He stops us when we reach a door.

“This is it.” He says. “Are you ready.”

After we give him our nods of approval, he knocks on the door. We hear the sounds of scrambling and shuffling coming from the other side.

“Who is it?” A deep, gravelly voice asks quickly.

“Sergeant Dadonov, Comrade Commissar.” Dadonov answers through the door. “I’ve brought two girls.”

“Two girls?” The voice asks excitedly. “Come in!”

Dadonov opens the door and we follow him inside. A fat and sloppy man, maybe around fifty years old is sitting behind a desk, wearing a Soviet commissar uniform. He’s bald on top, but has a ring of salt and pepper hair around the back and sides of his head, and wears a thick, bushy, black mustache. His eyebrows perk up when he sees us, and a grin crosses his face.

Dadonov greets him.

“Were you successful with your mission, Sergeant?” He asks, turning to Dadonov.

“Yes, Comrade Commissar.” Dadonov answers.

“Casualties?” Fedorov asks.

“Two dead, Comrade Commissar.” Dadonov says.

“That’s less than I expected.” Fedorov says. “Now could you tell me why you brought these girls into my office?”

“They mentioned that they wanted to help our cause.” Dadonov explains.

“They can help my cause.” Fedorov says with a chuckle. “Anyways, I’ll take it from here. Sergeant, you are dismissed.”

Fedorov looks over at us with a little smirk.

“You two, come over here and have a seat.” He says.

We approach his desk. Sasha sits down. I pull another chair over and join her. We look across the desk at the commissar as he lights a cigar. It explains why he smells like an ashtray.

“So, what are your names?” He asks us.

“Tatyana.”

“Aleksandra”

“Very nice.” Fedorov says. “So, you want to help. Tell me about yourselves and tell me what you can do.”

“We were students before the invasion.” I tell him. “I was studying English and German.”

“And I was training to become a nurse.”

“Very interesting talents that you have.” He comments.

He looks at Sasha. “We are always in need of people who have medical experience.” He says, before turning to me. “And you, I could also have a job for you in the communications room.”

He ashes his cigar.

“Why is it that you wanted to join?” He asks.

“They attacked us.” I tell him. “I killed them, and we’ve been on the run ever since. They know who we are. We have nowhere to go.”

His eyes get big. “Killed? You?” He asks. “How many?”

“Two.” I answer

“And how did you kill them?” He asks.

“One with a gun, the other with scissors.” I tell him.

“Scissors?” He asks in disbelief before turning to Sasha. “Is this true?”

“Yes.” She says.

“You are a dangerous woman!” He says. "Just the type that I like to have around!”

“Are you sure you want to join with us? Are you ready?” He asks.

“I’m ready.” I tell him.

“Me too.” Sasha says.

“Excellent.” He says. “Just a little bit of paperwork and you’ll be off to the infirmary, and you’ll be off to the communications room.”

He pulls a form and passes it across the desk. “Just sign here.”