//------------------------------//
// Chapter 6 
// Story: The Detective Turned Smuggler 
// by Lamasioux 
//------------------------------//

December 15th, 1009

GOD'S FUCKING HELL! Torsti awoke to a sudden but quick passing pain that went through his body. He quickly became aware of what was around him and he saw Admiral Lauri Seated across from him, staring at him.

“Wake up.” Lauri said.

“What!? What’d you do!?” Torsti asked with a concerned tone.

“Punched you. You wouldn’t wake up.” Lauri said.

Torsti was holding the spot on himself that had been punched with his hoof, trying to put pressure on it to try and subdue the pain. It didn’t really work since the pain itself passed quickly.

“You didn’t have to do that- What is it? Why’d you wake me?” Torsti quickly got to the point.

“Just now arriving in the city.” Lauri said. He pointed out the back of the truck with a hoof to drag Torsti’s attention outside.

Torsti looked out the back, his eyes dilating quickly to the light and seeing an occasional building pass. Everything was covered in snow as it had been during the past week. But nothing looked special enough that he thought warranted a punch to the side.

“The outskirts?” Torsti asked.

“Far outskirts really. Just left the airfield a while ago.” Lauri said.

“The airfield? We already stopped by?” Torsti asked.

“Mhmm. Just a quick stop, unloaded a few more things, got some more fuel, and off we went. Our driver and navigator were replaced by two other deer who were already on the base. They’re taking us to the Palace where we’ll meet Einair. Other deer I mentioned a while ago.” Lauri said.

Torsti moved about, getting closer to the exit so he could look outside better. Every building he saw was either a rundown house of the past or a new one being built by the occasional deer who wanted a copious amount of property. Sadly, the houses being built looked as if they too had been abandoned.

The scenery slowly changed as they drove. Buildings being closer together and in higher quantities. Slowly and slowly the urbanization and the feel of the city became more expressive. What was surprising though was there were deer.

Torsti had grown used to the dead feeling of Vaverfront from the frontline nearby but here in Hjortland, it seemed almost as if there was no war to speak of. Bucks were playing in the snow, families out enjoying the cold.

The scarcity of cars helped with that, most deer having to walk to the nearby stores.

There was one thing obvious though, a lot of the deer that Torsti noticed out the back seemed as if they didn’t even acknowledge his truck's existence. Maybe they had grown used to military trucks driving about.

Lauri then nudged Torsti from behind and said, “Here.”

Torsti looked back and saw that the Admiral was handing him a familiar item. His police issued revolver.

“Wait? Why do you have that?” Torsti asked.

“It was handed to one of the soldiers the day you were taken in. Just kept it laying around, never got around to returning it. No deer did.” Lauri said.

“Wait, so why are you giving it to me?” Torsti said.

“Protection. You’re a Captain now, plus you’ll be in charge of a lot of secret shit. Never know when some Changeling spy is around or some defector deer.” Lauri said.

“I-” Torsti got off.

“You were a police officer.” Lauri sighed, “Listen. If you’re going to shoot me because it’ll be your chance to escape, just know the only thing that’ll happen in the end is the Changelings will win and turn you into larvae food or whatever it is they do.” Lauri shoved the holstered revolver to Torsti, “Here.”

Torsti finally took it, “Thanks then?”

The first thing Torsti did was check the cylinder of it for any bullets, which he came to find was empty.

Lauri then hoofed over a box, “Ammo.”

Torsti took the box and opened it, finding that it was the correct ammo for the revolver and loaded it. He finally took off his jacket so he could put on the holster. He then put his jacket back on to hide it and shoved what ammo was left in the box into one of the many pockets the military had decided was needed for it.

Lauri took a seat again but said, “Look out the back and see if you can see the palace.”

“The palace?” Torsti asked. He was already moving to stick his head out the back to look around, seeing in one distance some of the few skyscrapers the country had managed to build before finally seeing the top of the palace. “Seems like it’s a bit far still. Ways off.”

“Good. That means the ride will be over finally.” Lauri said. He started to rummage through one of the bags that remained and started pulling out the uniform of a navy officer, “It also means I should change finally.”

Torsti looked back and saw Lauri, “Wai- You always had a navy uniform?”

“Would’ve stuck out like a sore thumb out in Vaverfront in it so I wore an army one. Worked well I thought.” Lauri said.

“Oh… What about me?”

“Just wear what you have on. No reason to worry about it.” Lauri said.

The rest of the ride was silent between the two. They rode through the city streets with ease. The only thing that was different were the many turns they were finally having to take to get to their destination.

That was until the walls of the palace started to pass by in the back.

Lauri started to gather some of the bags in the back, handing one to Torsti and having him take charge of it.

Then the truck came to a stop. The truck stayed on as it did before a deer popped their head into the back of the bed, looked around inside and noticed the two. Lauri nodded to the deer, who then said, “Looks good.” He then popped away as quickly as he appeared.

Then the truck started to drive again after a few seconds.

“Just inspecting. The two upfront know who I am and all that. Everything sorted it seems.”

As the truck drove on, the gates of the entrance passed by. A few armed soldiers were at the gate, along with a few cars.

“Wait- I can be armed in the palace?” Torsti asked as he started to pat himself down to feel for the revolver he had hidden under his jacket.

“You’re a Captain. If anydeer worries about it, they’re probably some fresh recruit. Plus you’ll have my word and Einair’s word to back you up for justification if anydeer objects.” Lauri said, “Plus it’s hidden.”

It was only a minute more before the truck finally came to a stop again. Once again, the truck stayed and another deer popped up in the back and said, “Here’s your stop.”

With that, Lauri tossed one of the bags he had to the deer outside and made his way out of the truck as well.

Torsti followed behind, grabbing the bag he had been assigned and joined Torsti out the back.

Lauri took the bag the other deer had held. The deer saluted the two before making his way back around the truck to the driver side, where he hopped in.

Torsti was too busy looking at the newfound palace before him to watch as the truck drove off.

Before Torsti was an entrance to the palace. It wasn’t as fancy as Torsti had hoped he would find for it being one but it was good enough.

Lauri made his way to the entrance where he was quickly met by a few deer who were making their way out.

Lauri made the quick reaction of giving one of the deer a salute, who waved a hoof quickly for him to relax and said, “Admiral. Good to see you again.”

“Same for you.” Lauri said.

Lauri unloaded his bags to one of the other deer who’d come out before saying, “Inside? You just came out but it’d be nice to get a room to talk in right away.”

Torsti wasn’t greeted by a deer who would offer to take his bag so he just had to carry it himself as he followed Lauri in. Lauri and the other deer were taken to a room inside the palace that turned out to be more of a lounge area.

As Lauri and the deer he had saluted sat down, Lauri said, “We’ll need some privacy now, just leave the bags here.” He said to the other deer who were around.

Torsti was confused for a second and started to follow the other deer out before he was stopped by Lauri who said, “Not you Tor! Set that down and come sit down.”

Torsti complied and left the bag he carried with the other bags that had been left and joined Lauri and the other.

“This is five star general Einair.” Lauri said as he Torsti finally joined.

“Five… star...” Torsti said.

Einair looked at Torsti and asked, “And who’s this?”

“They’re our new Preben.” Lauri stated.

“New? What do you mean new?” Einair asked.

“Dead. Was shot in the lug and died. Damn buck ended up beheading some deer in Vaverfront and Torsti here was the detective who was unfortunate to learn about our operation during his investigation, so me and Eilert decided to draft his sorry ass and make him in charge in Preben’s place. Spent 6 days on base with him locked up before the whole Changeling push and headed here. He’s already informed on a lot, but thought it’d be nice to let him meet you, and you meet him, since he’ll be the one deciding on the escape plan for Velvet.” Lauri said in only a few breaths.

Einair held a hoof to her face and said, “You gods damn idiots. I would’ve just figured it out on my own if it turned out to be this much of a mes- You two could have sent a letter about this but nope. We had to decide to be super-secret about this in regards to never sending anything but through word-of-mouth…” Einair let out a deep sigh and looked back up at Torsti and examined him for a bit.

“Well we had to decide to do something. Couldn’t just not give up on it. Plus you’re too busy commanding the entire army. Tor’s only job at this point will be to stay in the palace and come up with a plan. He’ll have however many months you’re able to give us with this Peninsula defense you have.” Lauri said.

“Ok, listen. I didn’t know it would change that much in the time you went up there. Just-” Einair looked between Lauri and Torsti before sighing, “Ok. But if he’s informed on everything, I have no reason to talk to him. You on the other hoof.” She pointed to Lauri, “You and I do.”

Einair then looked back at Torsti and said with a smile, “If you could?” She then pointed to the door to the room.

Lauri looked at Torsti and nodded. With that Torsti took the clue that he was to leave and got off. He didn’t salute or say any goodbye. He just left as quick as he could, leaving the two to whatever privacy the general wanted.