"Is that Stone in there?"

Soldier Boy looked up from his desk in the corner of the training room to find a man standing in his doorway looking across the hallway into the Cathedral's vast hangar. He was about thirty, if that old, and eager. He had expected someone older and worn down. That was Soldier Boy's preconception of reporters. One of the kids who helped Phi run the place had escorted the guy. Soldier Boy gave him an 'I'll take it from here' nod to send him on his way.

"If he's a scuzzy loner that you wouldn't want near your sister, then yeah that would be Stone."

"Think I could speak with him?"

"I wouldn't recommend it," Soldier Boy said.

The reporter turned toward Soldier Boy and smiled. "You trying to protect him from the big, bad reporter?"

"Actually, kid, I was thinking it was best for you." Soldier Boy rose and extended his hand in greeting. "You my appointment?"

"I am," the young man said as he advanced and shook Soldier Boy's hand. "Geoff Geoffery."

Soldier Boy laughed. "Jesus Christ, your parents must have hated you giving you a name like that."

"Actually, it's a pen name. I thought it looked good on a byline."

Soldier Boy shrugged and offered Geoff a chair opposite the desk. They stared at one another for a moment. "So," Soldier Boy said, "this article of yours. What angle you looking for? You interested in how my Conquistadors are shaping up, or you just want to hear some old war stories?"

Geoff produced a recorder and set it on the desk. "You mind if I record this?"

Soldier Boy turned the recorder off. "Yeah, I do. Let’s get to know each other first. What kind of article you thinking of writing?"

"That’s the thing. Actually, what I have in mind is more of a book. A biography."

Soldier Boy chose to be irritated. "I thought you were a reporter for the damned Star-Gazette."

"I am. I’m sure you heard there’s not much of a future for newspapers. I was hoping to make a name for myself as an author."

"You lied to me, son. You let me believe this was for some fluffy little piece for your piece of shit newspaper."

"I’m sorry about that. I figured if you knew the truth you might not meet with me."

"You figured right. Hey, look at that. It’s the door. Get your ass on the other side of it."

"Please, just hear me out. This book could benefit us both. "

Soldier Boy pointed over Geoff’s head. "Door. Other side. Now."

"But the public wants to read about your life."

"If anyone wants to read a book about me there’s like an entire section at the library. They can take their pick."

Geoff laughed. "You mean like one of the biographies the Defense Department approved that painted you with broad strokes, or maybe the book Glenn Beck wrote about you which was… well… hilarious? I want to tell a different story."

"What story?"

"The truth."

Soldier Boy’s head turned red bordering on purple. His breathing, slow and steady, was like an animal growl.

"Unless you don’t think we can handle the truth."

That was some kind of movie reference. Soldier Boy could have probably figured out which one if he gave a shit. "Most of my missions are still top secret. Couldn’t help you there if I wanted to. If… I wanted to."

"I’m sure there are a thousand good stories there, but I’m not interested in your missions. I just want to tell your story in your words."

"You’re a bit late with that. I already wrote a book back in the eighties."

"No you didn’t," Geoff said. "That was the other Soldier Boy. The one who made public appearances for you. I‘m looking into that, too. Look, I want to tell a very personal story about things the public has never read. Things like the events that lead up to you being fired from the Soldier Boy Project."

"I retired."

"I know a hooker named Glitter who says otherwise."

The edge of Soldier Boy’s desk splintered in his grasp. "You expect me to just bend over and take this? Why the fuck would you expect me to sign off on this? I’ve had people do hatchet jobs on me over the years, but you’re the first one to come asking my permission first."

"I’m not doing a hatchet job. There’s just this dark side to you that’s only been hinted at before. It’s not a bad thing. It just makes you more complex, more interesting, and more sympathetic. Your duality makes you an interesting subject," Geoff paused to see if anything was registering. "You know what I mean by duality. Right?"

"Of course I do," Soldier Boy said as he put one of his feet on the desk top. "It’s like this thing on the end of my leg. It’s got duality. It’s not just a combat boot. It’s also the world’s nastiest suppository. Now get your lying, piece of shit ass out of here before I demonstrate."

Geoff made a pacifying gesture and began to speak. With the back of his hand, Soldier Boy sent his desk flying across the room. With no other obstacle between them, he advanced on the reporter. Geoff turned to run, got his feet tangled in the legs of his chair, fell, got up and ran for the door. "This story will be written, Soldier Boy, if not by me then by somebody else."

Soldier Boy loomed over Geoff. "Then you make damned sure it’s by somebody else."

Geoff tried to look bold. "That’s a threat. What exactly are you threatening me with?"

Soldier Boy extended his middle finger. "Fuck you."

Geoff turned and stormed down the hallway. "The people have a right to know the truth, Soldier Boy."

Soldier Boy extended both middle fingers. "Fuck you."

Geoff disappeared around the corner and Soldier Boy noticed Stone standing in the door to the hangar wiping a wrench with a shop rag.

"World’s largest suppository?" Stone said.

"Fuck you, too."

Soldier Boy slammed his office door. He took a look at the mess he made and started straightening up. The desk was beyond repair. He didn't care. He'd just set up that card table he used for a desk when he started the job. Then he remembered the desk was a gift from Phi because she hated that card table. That was going to be a fun little conversation. 'This is why we can't have nice things', or some shit like that. He decided to leave it for Phi to find out on her own. Soldier Boy would never admit it, but Phi scared him just a little bit.

He found Geoff’s recorder. It hadn’t recorded what just happened; Soldier Boy made sure of that when he turned it off, but what else was on it? The interview with Glitter? Soldier Boy knew it was in his best interest to listen to the thing, but he didn’t want to know. He was sick of hearing about himself. He crushed the recorder like tin foil and threw it away.