Chapter 16 The new one in the wildcat enclosure

The music stopped and everything was as before. She had to blink. 

Babsi waved her arms in front of her face.

"Hey, are you all right?"

"Uh yeah..." 

The guy looked straight at her. She sensed that he knew. 

" Nice instrument. "

The poncho chick looked at him askance.

 "And that turned mom on?"

He laughed.

"No. She mostly ran away because she couldn't stand it. "

He looked at Babsi.

"You'd better hurry or you'll miss it."

"Yes?"

" Of course, I've seen his schedule."

She grabbed Min and hurried off with her.

 " How big is the north block?"

 Babsi turned to her as she walked and continued walking backwards, she smiled. 

"How big do you mean?"

"A few cities?" she had no idea.

Babsi continued to grin. 

"Almost, we have a few countries. But it started with one city yes. "

Min looked after her as she turned back around. She couldn't understand any of this. 

How was this possible. They got the basic supplies for Min and went to the shelter where Min got her own room. She noticed that it was a women-only house. 

Then they went to Alex's office. Min had imagined something dominant. Not an old office building. 

Babsi grinned. 

"He used to set up a command car as his office. The building also serves as an apartment."

She wondered how Babsi knew that. They went inside. It was clean Min saw that there was a staircase upstairs and a door downstairs. Babsi opened the downstairs door. 

"Upstairs is his quarters."

" I'm confused, no guards?" 

" The guards are near him. There's no point in putting any here. He has his laptop with him etc. There's nothing valuable here." 

"But what about assassins?"

Babsi looked at her. "He takes part in the special forces training sessions to keep fit. I'm getting worried."

They went inside and Min realized that Babsi was telling the truth. She had already seen a few offices and this one was sparsely furnished with documents and electronics. She saw a coffee machine, a television, a heater and air conditioning. What caught her eye was a world map on the wall that was illegibly labeled for her. 

"He's trying to figure out where the world is," Babsi commented next to her as she approached the map. She saw the North Block area and was shocked at how large it was. She saw markings all over Europe, parts of Russia, the USA, but many regions of the world were empty.

"I don't understand, the North Block must be right at the eruption site ..."

Babsi looked at her. 

" No, the north block started two months after the eruption. "

"Two months after the eruption ..." she looked from Babsi to the map. 

She went to the coffee machine and pressed buttons. 

"I got it the day after my liberation, when it started."

"Liberation? Where were you?"

Babsi looked at the coffee running into the cup.

"With the bandits who intercepted me on the way to the Zone, I mean I was so stoned at the time. I didn't really realize it. Even that they fucked me and everything. " She sipped her coffee. She looked at Min. 

"Yeah, I finally sobered up. I think two weeks ago when they didn't give me any more and I was puking in front of me and looked like a wreck. 

Well, at some point... ah I remember. It started when the bandits panicked. Because more and more of their people were being killed and they found their heads impaled. Then they got drunk and went to other gangs the next day to ask for help. 

Well, during the night, a cat with three small cats snuck into the robbers' hideout and killed them all. The leader was dragged outside by the big cat's feet and beheaded in front of us all."

Min tried to grasp the symbolism. 

"What I'm trying to say."

" The pilots on the plane said Alex was called the stray cat."

Babsi choked and had to cough.

" Yes, the name suits him. But he's more of a big cat. I'm firmly convinced that he already had a rough plan for the whole thing in mind when he came to the Zone and," she looked worried for a moment. 

"A powerful ally, you've seen him."

Min looked at her questioningly. Babsi put her hand on parts of Russia.

"Alex tried to force leadership on him more than once, but he just laughed and said the only thing he does is fill in for him when Alex is out of action, and I'm honestly dreading the day. Paris was his signature. 

" Can you just put him to bed?" Min asked spontaneously, Babsi looked at her and then grinned like a cat.

" You have to be able to share and live with the fact that he is a stray cat."

" Yes, but what about feelings and stuff?" 

Babsi sipped her coffee, looking thoughtful for a moment. 

"Well, he has them. Even if you'll hear different things from others. For example," she sat down on the sofa against one wall and knocked next to her. Min sat down next to her. 

"My little sister fell in love with him the first time she saw him. She was 16 at the time and I was already at university. You'll get to know her. She was very energetic back then, but extremely shy when it came to boys. She saw him for the first time when he drove our father home for her birthday. 

He actually looked the same as he does now, except he didn't have as many muscles. He only got them later when he became a policeman. 

Well, she fell for him straight away, my mother saw him and still sees him in a different light. She sees him more as a devil. Well, I tried to understand her. She described him on the phone at the time as the worst my father could get."

"What do you mean?"

Babsi took a sip.

"My father worked for military intelligence back then, covert operations and so on, not the nice stuff but the dirty stuff. He was looking hard for suitable recruits back then and found Alex in the military. A young up-and-coming officer, as I heard about him, he was a long-range reconnaissance officer, then with the DSK and then with my father. "

"DSK? I'll have to ask about that."

"Special operations, that's all. I don't know what he did and his file has been blocked or censored. Right, where were we? Oh yes. My mother, even today she still says that he's a scaremonger. I asked my dad why he supported Alex for the North Block and he told me what else could he have done? He was a desperate man, the refugees were desperate, they were on the verge of mutiny and Alex took the burden off them. He said he would give them refuge. Wrapped it all up in an idiotic name and to give them something to do, he introduced the Council. "She laughed. "And my father put him in as president, just so that if anything went wrong, he could be blamed. 

Min puzzled. Babsi wiped away a tear of laughter. 

"Sorry, okay, about Alex's feelings. He wanted to marry my little sister when she turned 18. Everything was set up, really everything, and she had bad friends at the time who influenced her. She got drunk, did drugs, hurt him and then had an accident with him when he picked her up from a booze cruise. She started a fight in the car and grabbed his steering wheel. 

He pulled her out and treated her until the ambulance arrived. The doctors diagnosed her with amnesia, combined with panic attacks and aggression whenever she saw him. She only reacted normally to him when she was asleep or taking medication. She was 18 years old at the time, at the beginning of her adult life. "

She sipped her coffee.

"Well, the doctors called it cruel what he did, but he decided he wanted to give her a normal life. So he went to my parents and asked my father for guardianship. My dad had a hard time accepting it and let him go, but he never lost sight of him and made sure he never really had a career. "

"But it looks like she can remember him today."

Babsi smiled. 

"Oh yes, when she was 22 I think, she had recovered from her amnesia and the memories came back. It bothered her for a while, but she never really processed it. Okay, now she has. So I found out from a friend of Alex's that Alex had left and only had a sporadic relationship and had a photo of my little sister in his apartment. The friend also told me that Alex is in a long-term relationship. You'll soon see for yourself.

Min processed the information she had received. 

"And what role do you play in all this?"

"Me?" Babsi looked up from her coffee. 

"Oh, I used to tease my sister. When she was 16 and 17, Alex didn't think she was an adult. That really frustrated her back then, because no matter what she did, she couldn't get him into bed. But I did," she smiles.

"Well, I was able to tease her about it."

"And today?" 

"That's what I mean by sharing. I'm not ready to give him up and neither is my little sister."

Min mused. The door opened and Alex and John came in. 

"No I'm serious, we really have taken everything. With all the artwork and literary stuff, the Council could fill museums." 

"Which they will, John. How many people were saved? " Min looked closer now and he was bigger than she'd thought and those paws. Alex went to get a coffee.

" 109 people."

" 109? For such a big city?" 

" From what we've heard, most of them fled in the first few days and only a fraction stayed. "

" Still ..." Alex sipped his coffee, he went to the world map and crossed out Paris. 

Min looked at John, up close he looked like the movie agent cliché. John was the first to look at Babsi and Min. 

"Hey Babs, who have you got there?" 

" Well, that's Min, she's the newest addition and like she said." Babsi grinned.

" An agent from China and horny for Alex."

John raised an eyebrow and looked at Alex, who was staring absorbedly at the card.

"Girls, don't do that to yourself, whenever Gitte or Babs get nailed by him here, people complain because they're so loud. We had to have extra soundproofing installed. But no... can't happen in the bedroom."

"Uh..." Min began. 

"No, I'm serious," he raised his finger. 

"Once I came into the command car and Gitte grabbed him and once I came into the office here and Babs grabbed him. He has no shame. Since then, only in the bedroom. "

"Oh come on John, it wasn't that bad."

John looked at her. " Really Babs? "

Babsi grinned. John looked at Min. 

"Think about it, no matter what she tells you. Oh Alex has feelings pppfff he shuts down during sex and fucks you until you're unconscious or drooling and I mean that." 

Min looked at Babsi, who was sipping her coffee. 

"Alex! You've got customers!" she exclaimed. 

"Oh great, a distraction..."

"That always works!"

 Alex looked from the menu to the man. 

"Are you done talking about my sex life?"

"She started and when did you start listening?" John replied.

" That I have feelings."

" That's Min. She was with the Chinese secret service," Babsi said. 

Alex looked at her, Min looked at him and a wave of excitement ran through her. The voice was the same as on the radio.

"Ah, the Min from the radio. "

John had pulled out a tablet and was clicking through the systems. Alex came closer and sat opposite her. 

"We have no contact with China Min, John's bag of tricks doesn't help either, well, I could ask Uther ... "

"I have a number where we always have to report, I'd like to call it..."

Alex looked at John. 

"It's worth a try. If someone picks up, we could at least find out the status there and ask Uther... "

Alex looked at Min thoughtfully, wondering what was behind those lost in thought eyes. 

"Fine." He stood up, went to the table and pulled out a satellite phone, came back and held it out to her. Hesitantly, she took it.

She dialed the number she had dialed so many times before and pressed the dial button. Her heart leapt when it rang and she picked it up. She heard a familiar tone and went through the recognition process. It rang and just as she gave up hope, someone answered.

>> Ying? << 

Her eyes widened.

>> Lee! How are you doing? <<

>> Bad, little sister, bad. We're just living like this. Where are you? <<

She looks at Alex, who studies her. 

>> I've just come from Paris, Europe is... <<

>> Give me the man who gave you the phone, Ying <<

>> But... << 

>> It's not safe here, Ying, and I want to know if you're safe, Ying. <<

Min held the phone out to Alex. The latter took it.

"Hello."

John grabbed his face.

"I'm Ying's brother Lee," he said in broken German.

Alex sipped his coffee. 

" Yes, we found her by chance. She saw one of my helicopters flying away from Grad." 

" And then?" 

" The pilot threw her a radio. Then I spoke to her. "

"Is Europe whole?"

" No, we started over."

Alex heard a laugh on the other side. 

" You started a new empire?"

" Something like that, yes."

Another laugh. 

" I like that, I think I'll do the same here. May I know your name?"

" Alex, but the title is General Imperator."

" Army? "

" Yup, do things look that bad for you too?"

" Unfortunately, and so many traitors. "

Alex stood up, put his cup down, went to the map and circled China. He lowered his voice. 

" No mercy, Lee, I've had whole villages burned to the ground and most recently Paris. "

"And the criminals? "

" They will be executed. It will be years before I have a proper justice system. Minor offenses can be treated in rehabilitation centers. But the serious crimes. 

"But won't they scream about the dictatorship?"

" There is a Council Lee, experts who cover the different areas and speed up the reconstruction. If I can think of one Lee, when you start the recapture, prepare for a harsh winter. Since the Americans dropped bombs here, you can prepare for harsh winters."

"Did they get it too? ... I'll remember that and prepare myself."

Short pause on the other side.

"Can you be reached at the number?"

"Yes."

"Good, give me my sister again." Alex handed her the phone and made notes on the wall. Min watches him and holds the phone to her ear. 

 >> Ying? <<

>> Yes? << 

>> Don't let the man out of your sight. <<

>> Well, I... <<

Short silence.

>> Good Ying, you have my approval. I'll see you again Ying and I want to meet this Alex face to face. << He hung up the phone. Min looked at the phone, a little confused.

"So? " John began.

" You're making a fresh start like us John."

"Hhmmh," was all he replied. 

Min was now undecided. 

" I would like to stay here, I mean until ..."

" That could take a while, you should know that." 

Min nodded.

" Good. Min will join Gitte's unit. She definitely needs someone with combat experience."

" Are you sure Alex?" asked John.

" Yes why not?" 

John passed the order on the tray.

" Come on I'll take you back." Babsi said and stood up. 

" Um thanks..." Min stood up and followed Babsi, she had to process what she had experienced. It wasn't until she was sitting on the bed in her new quarters that she regained consciousness. She reached for the tablet she had been given and activated it. She was presented with an overview of different languages and selected Chinese. The OS loaded and greeted her with her name. 

She clicked through the various menus and found the network with the media content. She found a kind of wiki about the North Block and clicked on it. 

It was basically the same as Babsi had told her. Only more in the direction of collective. She clicked on the structure and found the hierarchy of the council. Alex was listed three times. Once as commander-in-chief of the troops, then as chairman of the council, and then as founder of the northern bloc. She clicked on his name and got extremely abbreviated file entries. 

She went back and clicked on another army commander, here was a full file with detailed information. 

She clicked on Uther and the guy's picture appeared, his file read like the average alibi file she had ever read. She clicked on the complaints and scandals that were in his file. It was a lot, the man hadn't made any friends. He was accused of disappearances, inexplicable machinations. 

The image of music came back to her mind. 

 She was so engrossed in her reading that she didn't hear the knocking at first. When it got louder, she got up and opened the door. 

Gitte was standing in front of her, Min thought it was Babsi at first. But Gitte had bigger breasts and her hair was different. Gitte looked at her scrutinizingly.

"So you're Min, it's nice that you're with me in the unit now. " Gitte's voice sounded different to Babsi's, warmer.

" Um yes ...?" 

" Good. We have an endurance test. I need to see how fit you are."

" Okay... I'll get changed."

" You don't need to, it's all there. "

" Okay..." She followed Gitte in amazement. It was already dark as they walked across the grounds. It seemed like an eternity to her, especially because Gitte turned off several times, then opened a door and went up the stairs with her. 

"We'll be right there. " She took the keys out of her pocket and opened a door, which she held open for Min, who entered after her.

"This doesn't look like a gym."

" I never said anything about gym" Min was grabbed by the hand and pulled, then she stood in front of a sofa lit by a TV. Alex was sitting on it and had dozed off.

"Babsi told me everything," came to Min's ear. 

"I want to see if you can stand it," came from the other ear. 

"He's asleep," she pointed at Alex. Gitte pushed past her to the sofa and bent down to Alex.

"Alex!" 

He raised his hand and felt her face. Gitte smiled, which disappeared when his hands began to tug at her pants. She looked at him, stroking his hair. 

"Alex!" 

 He opened his eyes sleepily, she asked him.

" Huh? Is it tomorrow already? "

"No.."

" Are we being too loud again? "

She smiled. 

" No, I have a new toy for you. " 

He looked at her cluelessly. 

" Huh?"

She grabbed his face with both hands and gave him a kiss.

" Uhh, I love it when you're crazy like that." 

She turned his head in Min's direction.

"There's your toy."

" Uhh..." he nodded again. 

"No, no, no," she patted his cheek. 

He opened his eyes again. 

" She's mad at you."

He just looked at her. 

" And since you brought her to me in the unit, I want to see if she can take it."

" Uh-huh ..." He slipped into a stare. Min was pulled closer to him by Gitte. 

"Maybe I should go, I mean, he..." 

" You stay. Alex, I'll make you your favorite breakfast if you fuck Min."

His gaze cleared.

"Pancakes and coffee?" 

"Yeah ..."

Min was confused by everything. She flinched, startled, when she suddenly felt his hands on her. Faster than she could think, he had undressed her and was fondling her breasts. She decided to throw all reproaches overboard and let herself fall. 

The next morning she woke up in pain. Everything hurt, from her pelvis to her private parts, her jaw and her brain. She struggled to sit up and realized that she was lying in bed, she looked to the side and saw Gitte stretched out next to her. In the light, she saw the scars Babsi had mentioned. Gitte looked at her with a grin, then lowered her eyes and grumbled. 

"Worse than a cat," she muttered. 

Min wondered what she meant by that and realized that it was just her and Gitte in bed. Instead, she smelled food coming from the kitchenette. She got dressed and went over. There were two plates of cake and coffee on the table. Gitte came in shortly after her and sat down at the table.

"Sit down, this is your portion."

" Mine?"

Gitte nodded and began to eat. 

"You've passed my endurance test."

" Thank you?" she sat down.

" But what about?" 

Gitte looked up and grinned. 

" At the latest when he woke up this morning and found you snuggled up to him, he had to choose between two things. " She raised a finger. "He keeps you," then she lifted the second finger, "he acts like it was just a one-time thing."

" And how am I supposed to know what he chose?"

"He chose the first one," said Gitte between chews.

"And how do you know that?" Mins looked at her.

"You were given food."

" Uh..." 

" Alex rarely cooks, if he has the opportunity to get ready meals, he takes them."

" Ehh..." She ate anyway.

" You'll see."

Min didn't believe it. 

Until she was surprised and eaten by Alex 3 days later after an exercise and she only really got to know him when she could talk to him normally. She understood why Lee had said that. What she also didn't expect, she would sneak over to Uther when she could when he was there and play the violin with him.