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ER Background Story

The Twighlight Guardians
“So, are we in agreement?” The Director looked around the room. The Board had met in a special session, which was rare, now that the regular sessions had to be called more and more often. In a way, that’s what this session was about. One of the members raised his hand. “Yes?” The Director asked.
“I’d like to hear from the military commanders themselves. What do they think of the idea?” The man asked. The Director smiled. It would work. He would have his army.
“I’m glad that you asked. I had the Legatus Legionis here today, just in case any questions arose.” The Director reached underneath the table and pressed a button. A hologram appeared in the middle of the table, showing a woman seated at a desk. She looked up at the Director. “Send him in, please.” The woman nodded in an acquiescing way, and the Director cut the hologram off with another touch of the button.
About four seconds later, the double doors opposite of the Directors chair opened. In stepped a tall man with a commanding aura about him. He stood at 6’4’’ and had a scarred face. He wore a hauberk made of real leather, and a slimmed down riasa over it. The riasa seemed to be made of lapis-lazuli. It shimmered with every sharp movement of his body. The Legatus Legionis obviously wasn’t one to dress down for an occasion.
He approached the table and bowed. The leader of the Praetorian Cohorts stood at attention, which looked odd in his robe. Staring straight ahead, he braught his fist to his chest and said, “Legatus Legionis Meerial reporting as ordered, Directors.”. The awe on the faces of most of the Board members was obvious. The man was larger than life in almost all of their minds. He was a hero of many incursions by both criminal factions and mutants.
After letting that settle into their minds for a second or two, the Director motioned for him to relax. “At ease, by all means.” The commanding figure spread his legs apart and placed his hands behind his back, a perfectly formed posture that still looked odd done in a robe and leather instead of armor. “We have asked you here to share with us your opinion on the formation of the Guardians.”
The general’s passive face registered a small amount of anger. He should be commanding, but these fools had him giving recommendations about private armies? He smothered the emotion as quickly as it appeared, and none noticed except a single woman sitting at the table. She had the tact not to say anything, but he was sure that she had seen it.
“What facet am I to discuss?” The man asked in his rumbling bass voice. The Director was pleased. He had been afraid that things might have been difficult, but the man seemed to play perfectly into his hand. That was odd, as Meerial had always made known his distrust of the Board. The only reason the Director placed so much trust in him was he would never disregard his duty. It seemed that duty was all that could contain many soldiers now, a fact not lost on the Director.
“I believe we have all seen the need for the unit itself, but certain members of this board don’t seem to agree with my choice of leadership.” The Director stated. Several members nodded, but most just continued looking at the Legion commander.
Realization and a smattering of…. agreement? Played over the man’s face. “Well, I suppose I can understand that. The two men you have proposed will almost certainly not be able to work well together!” The Director’s eyes flashed at this and the man knew that he had gone too far.
“I disagree, but go on.” Meerial swallowed, and began again.
“You have chosen two polar opposites, sir. I believe you have made the wrong choice.” Meerial couldn’t seem to get it right today. “-Ah, before you disregard or dismiss me, allow me to explain, I beg.” The Board members looked on in shock. Was the LEGATUS LEGIONIS afraid of this man?
The Director drew his lips into a fine line, then nodded. The commander breathed a small sigh of releif. Well, you see, I do think your choices are good ones, in their own right. They are both strong leaders…” The Legatus Legionis paused, as if he didn’t really think that at all, and was just saying it to placate the Director. “But I believe putting them together would be a mistake. A dire mistake, in fact. They could do more harm than good.”
The woman who had noticed the Legatus’ displeasure earlier looked like she wanted to speak at that, but once again held her tounge. Meerial looked at her and nodded as if to allow her to speak, eager to get out of the spotlight, if only for a moment. She only looked him in the eye and said “Go on. Why don’t you tell us about your experience with each of them as commanders?”
The big man looked crestfallen at that question. I’m finished… he thought. There’s no way I can tell the truth and not be killed by the Director. The Legatus took a deep breath and launched into what would certainly be his death.
“You see… the two you have chosen, Director.... they are polar opposites. Meristan, a shining example of command, he will do what is necessary, but only that. He will minimize civilian casualties. He is a high-ranking Consular Guard. The other man…. This…. Zorky” The Legatus formed the strange and slightly comical name in almost distaste. “He is a brutal man.” There. He had said it. “I have disagreed with him on more than one account.”
A man at the table spoke. “Issss thhat suchh a bad thhhing? Maybe whhat we need isss a commander to… shhape up, shhhall we sssay, thhhe mobs?” The man’s lisp was so prevalent that Meerial had to think twice about his words, in order to understand what he had said. Several members of the Board nodded their emphatic agreement, but most just looked at Meerial in support. They knew what it took for him to say such a thing.
The Director’s eyes flashed. The Legatus stood at the other end of the table, face clear of all emotion. He wouldn’t give up easily. “Maybe so… maybe so. However, this Zorky is far more than just a commander who won’t let anything get in his way. The man is determined to rid the world of criminals, I will say that for him. I believe, however, that his determination goes too far in many cases. He would kill hundreds, just to get to one cell of opposition, regardless of the hundreds’ position of allegience. What’s more, he almost turned once!” Gasps chorused around the room, from everyone except the Director himself. The Director’s eyes stopped flashing. Now, they blazed with fire, rage beginning to redden his face.
The woman finally spoke. “Please, Meerial. Tell us… what experience do you have with these men… and why do you draw these conclusions?” The Legatus’ eyes thanked her for her help.
“I would be happy to, milady.” The man began to tell a story…