The 13th Star: An Action Adventure Sci-F Apocalyptic Novel by Adam Peled Page B

necessary to
     display the huge number of pennants and souvenirs properly. To see any of them clearly, one had to get close. Avoiding the
     trap of curiosity, however, he went straight to the secretary’s desk. From the entrance the woman looked very small. As he
     approached, he realized that the distance deceived him, and it made him smile at her broadly.
    Above her head was an old picture of Bar and stony-faced Coldor, both at least 15 years younger. Unbelievably, Bar was grinning,
     and a small smile at the corner of Coldor’s mouth seemed to have escaped by mistake. Maybe you can get a smile out of stones, Rettoul thought.
    Bar’s booming voice brought his attention back. “Enter and remain standing!”
    Rettoul went in, saluted, and held his gaze at the highest point above Bar’s head. The steel door slammed behind him violently
     and he panicked inside.
    “You chose to come back?” Bar shouted from his seat.
    “Yes, sir!” he said and continued quickly. “I would like to come back to Kantara to stay. I believe I have the ability to
     train good fighters and good pilots.” Everything he meant to say in ten minutes he said less than half a minute, during which
     time his legs almost buckled under him.
    The fact that he was in the office of the chief of staff was enough to stress him out , especially as Bar did nothing to calm him or give him a feeling of comfort and security. Cold sweat dripped down his back.
     Rettoul feared looking insecure in front bar.
    , he knew exactly what he wanted. Now he didn’t know what else to say in order not to fly out of the office in seconds.
    “You’re not the only one,” Bar thundered. “Come close so I can see you.” Rettoul moved forward, trying to demonstrate confidence
     and stability. He wasn’t sure that was what he projected. He stopped within a yard from the desk, saluted again, and smiled
     grimly.
    “I believe my place is here,” Rettoul said. “The last years were hard, but I had a goal. Now I want to find my purpose in
     educating the young to the heritage of battle, to the values that I brought from home and those I found here. Sir! I believe
     in, and want to be part of, your army.”
    “What you say is interesting. Tell me, what do you think of my assigning you to some outlaws? I believe you know them personally…”
    “Outlaws? Who I know?” he said, surprised. “I don’t know what you mean, but I’m here to do whatever I can for the army.” Rettoul didn’t
     understand what exactly what Bar wanted, but he was already here. Any offer would be better than what he had left behind on
     Falcon.
    Bar walked around the desk and stood an inch away from Rettoul. “There’s a guy named Mattoui. You know him, I think. He’s
     an interesting guy with just a little problem.” Rettoul glanced at Bar questioningly. “Since he returned home a few weeks
     ago, he’s been making an incredible mess for the law man's. No one’s been able to control him after he discovered that his
     home had been destroyed in the galactic battles. What do you think? Can you restrain him?”
    Rettoul couldn’t help but grin broadly. He didn’t know if it was a real offer to restrain his good friend, or whether Bar
     was linking them together to keep them both busy. But the mention of Mattoui’s name filled his heart. I did well coming back here, he thought.
    “I know him.” He smiled understandingly at the commander. “I would love to curb the guy.”
    “Wait. There’s more,” the authoritative voice boomed again as the commander turned back toward his seat. “If you take responsibility
     for Mattoui, I have a few more troublemakers I want you to take care of properly. How did you phrase it? ‘Curb’ the guy? Yeah,
     I wish you’d restrain this pesky group. I have no idea how precisely you, or all these other soldiers, made your way back
     here. What can I tell you? I don’t know if I’m happy about it or not, but here you all are. I have to take you back