The Immortal Greed

Lady at the Bar

Astron City

Various colored lights and high-rise buildings, some of which seemed to seize the heavens, occupied a vast stretch of land at the Center of the United Alliance Confederation. Roads intertwined in different levels, some were overlapping and some were strategically built underground, stretching to the outskirts beyond the barren.

People from different places varied in terms of status and visited this somewhat enchanted place to indulge in various selections of majestic tastes of fine living. It was their capital, the wealthiest, largest, most advanced, and where the UAC commerce rotates, named Astron City. Oftentimes than not, people were transformed in this City. They tend to acquire a sense of unexplainable hope of thriving as they wanted to experience more of this City.

Different memorials were constructed in every corner of the city that commemorated the victory and survivability as it was under siege by Rebel militants, years ago, almost destroying a significant fraction of the City. These memorials augmented the beauty as these became tourist spots. Not only beauty these memorials provided but also signified the strength and power the UAC possessed.

One of many memorials was a large golden statue of Commander James Johnson, which stood in front of a beautified park with utmost pride. It was placed on a high pedestal with the proud logo of UAC with embossed writings below,

'Country before self'. A perfect reminder of patriotism and dedication to serving the country and his fellow countrymen.

Not only that this statue provided patriotism, but it was a beacon of hope and something that the military personnel of UAC pursued.

***

On a small drinking bar at the heart of Astron City, Lt. Lance sat alone beside the bartender with a large glass of beer in his hand. Lt Lance was a handsome guy in his mid-30s, medium built, lean, and athletic form. But his face and his eyes showed that he had a soft side.

He was wearing a tight shirt, cargo pants, and an expensive military-grade wristwatch. After he drank the first glass, he signaled the bartender with a deep soft voice "One more please", and the bartender immediately poured him another.

Lt. Lance fixated his eyes on his glass ignoring the crowd and the light music in the medium-classed bar. He was deeply thinking of his military days. In this one mission, a mission called Red Sparrow, they were assigned in this rebel country to rescue civilian hostages from one of the rebel camps.

He let his mind drift to the past, to the significant and horrifying moments the past could ever be. Every day he wished for the past's outcome will be changed if he had changed his course of action. But only the price of being alive and the remorse he was carrying was the only reality he could alter. Unfortunately, he couldn't, or at least he wouldn't.

He was a sniper so he positioned himself on top of a building far from his comrades for a proper vantage point. His team approached the camp where the hostages were held. They were suddenly ambushed by heavily armed rebels.

Lt. Lance shot 3 militants on top of the building where his team was located. The rebel bodies dropped from the roof. The sound of light machine guns muffled in his thoughts as his team fought the ambush. Every gunshot somewhat ached the cold heart thumping in between his lungs.

He remembered blood splashing everywhere from the rebel militants or his comrades. He was not sure at that moment, but he hoped that they were winning. They had the proper training that the militants lacked. They were able to fend off the ambush.

Unknowingly, somewhat seemed to be a civilian lady dressed in black long clothing covering her whole body, which came out of nowhere. She approached the Military task force and caught them off-guard. His crosshairs trained unto her but he hesitated. He was looking for signs. But they were none or he had disregarded them. He recalled it was his incompetence in assessing the situation that triggered him that it was too late.

Then an explosion was visible in his sniper scope. The lady exploded as she was effectively near his team. He found that his comrades were there and the explosion killed them - his friends and his teammates leaving him the only survivor of the mission.

He snapped himself back to reality. He clenched his fist and nudged it at the center of his forehead. He bent his head down as he closed his eyes. Self-blame flooded his thoughts.

These memories kept playing repeatedly in Lance's head.

He was always disturbed by these events and it was the reason that Lance band-aided this uneasiness by being drunk and out of the house often. This was also one of the causes that he and his wife argued a lot. He seemed out of focus and his mind was always drifting, forgetting the importance of being a caring and loving husband to his wife.

Back in the bar, three socialite girls, a little bit drunk by tequila, saw Lance drinking alone in the corner of the bartender's table. One girl stood up from his couch, dressed sexily in her skimpy pencil skirt. With high heels and a perfectly fit pink spaghetti top that showed the curves of her waist and emphasized the size of her breasts, plunging and showing cleavage.

She moved and talked confidently and decided to end her girl's night out banging a hot guy in the bar as she had declared this to her drinking buddies.

She approached Lance in the bar and poke her finger to his shoulder, "Hey do you need company?"

Lance glanced at her and said in an unfriendly manner "No."

The girl, as she was popular during her college days, was not used to being negated by a male because of her kinky, foxy smile and smoky eyes. She was very confident that he could tempt any man to bed. But the way the Lieutenant answered her, flagged her like a challenge.

She saw an empty high chair near her, pulled it near him, and sat down close to him. Lt. Lance kept on staring at his glass of beer. She slowly flicked her blonde hair in a very seductive way. But Lance did not seem to notice her actions and her pretty face, thus the lady decided to stroke a conversation again.

"What are you doing alone in a bar like this? Do you intend to go home very drunk and alone? I mean, are you gay?" She talked loudly close to their right ear of Lance.

Lance responded as he turned his face close to the lady's face. "That's the idea. But I am not gay."

The lady stared into his eyes then into his lips and uttered, "If you want.." she hesitated, "let's get drunk together, and maybe you could take me home with you ."

"It's a good idea if you want to meet my wife," Lance responded.

"Ooh, so you are married ha. Maybe she wants a threesome or better, I will take you to my place. I live in a high-rise condominium a few blocks from here. My place is a penthouse on the highest floor, overlooking the city. You would love to go there."

"Sounds good!" Lance still staring at the young lady. He continued, "But this time, I pass."

"You are playing hard to get ha?" She exclaimed. Then she turned to the bartender, "Give me vodka on the rocks, also one for my friend here."

She continued, "How about you should have a few drinks with me here and you tell me your decision after 10 shots of these."

"Ok," Lance responded after a few moments of just staring into her eyes. He drank the beer he had in his hand, slid the empty glass away back to the bartender, and ready himself for the vodka shots.

"Deal?" The Lady replied, the sexy curve of her lips had never ceased.

After a few small talk conversations and 10 shots, the lady revisited the idea. "So now, tell me. Are we going to my place or have a threesome with your wife?" She chuckled.

Lance stood up from the stool and told the lady,

"I still pass but thanks for the free drinks though." He struck a smirk at the lady and ordered the bartender the whole bottle of vodka and was ready to leave.

Immediately, the lady stood up facing him pressed her palm to his chest, and said "I will respect your decision, and what you did now is very respectable." The lady's drunk act seemed to have vanished.

"You did not try to harass me or even gave in to my offer. I know you are married because I see a ring on your finger and it is quite a challenge for me to lure you to my desires." Lance was speechless momentarily.

Lance just stared into her eyes and he felt sadness. He suddenly remembered his wife with this look. She just looked like her wife, her features, her figure, and her confidence. The lady spread her arms and hugged Lance tightly.

Then she slowly moved her mouth close to Lance's cheek. Lance slightly resisted by tilting his head away from her lips because he thought that a kiss was coming. But instead, the girl whispered close to his ear, whispering.

"From now on, choose your decisions wisely. Think always for your wife and yourself. You are a good man and you brought great service and sacrifice. I hate to break this to you but your country needs you."

Lance was startled and beguiled by the words spoken by the lady. He just stood there for a few seconds as the lady went back to her friends still drinking on their couch. Then he left the bar carrying the whole vodka bottle.