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Erwin Rommel walked down the streets
of a quiet town. It was late afternoon and he had taken some
leave from the war. He was saddened by the state of affairs.
It seemed the war was lost and he feared the thoughts that were
beginning to enter his mind. All these years he had served his
beloved country and now he was thinking such horrid things.
As he walked through a narrow alley all seemed deathly quiet.
In the distance two men appeared and walked up to him. They
were two generals and they had very solemn looks on their faces
as they stared at Rommel. One of them whispered something into
his ear. Rommel stepped back shocked. He couldn't believe what
these men were proposing to him.
"I couldn't! That would be... I'd be a traitor!" he
said. The two generals were trying to convince him to plot
against Hitler.
"You know we can not possibly win this war." One of
them said.
"When it's over you'll want to be on the right side. Our
'Führer' lost his mind long ago, and only a few of us see
that. We know you have considered this yourself." The other
responded.
"I don't believe that. I'm not going through with it."
Rommel said determined not to give in.
"Don't you? I'm sure you've thought that Hitler must be
stopped. He's insane to persist in this lost cause. All the
work you've, everything you've fought so hard for will be lost
and mean nothing!"
Above a thin dark figure stalked through
the rooftops. Kroenen knew this was the day that Rommel would
be set up. He had to stop it at all costs. In the alley below
the two generals crowded in on Rommel.
"We'd hate to loose a good man to the wrong side. It would
be best if you came to our side. Hitler is a mad man. Either
join us or we will order you to! We'd rather have you come willingly."
"What would you do if I don't join you?" Rommel asked
suspiciously.
Kroenen stopped. His sensitive hearing picked up their distant
voices. He leaped from building to building until he saw three
figures quietly arguing below.
"We'll charge you with disobeying orders and more. We'll
make you look like a traitor on all sides." One of them
held his hand through his pocket as though he had a gun in it.
Rommel's eye's shifted to the ground, then back up.
"I suppose I'll have to join you." Rommel said painfully.
His expression was an upset one as he said this. He didn't want
to betray Hitler. Kroenen's eyes flashed and he leaped down over
the edge of the roof with his long coat trailing behind him.
He landed between Rommel and the two treasonous generals. He
had one hand planted on the ground and he crouched ready to pounce.
From behind, Rommel's view, he seemed like an ordinary man, but
what the two saw was frightening.
"What the HELL??? Who the devil are YOU??!!" Yelled
the first man. Rommel stepped back surprised. What had just
happened he thought.
"So you would dare to betray your country and your fellow
Germans? Treason is punishable by death!" Kroenen said
in a raspy metallic voice. The one General pulled the gun out
from his pocket and aimed it at Kroenen while the other fumbled
for his own weapon inside his coat. Rommel had backed up against
the wall fearing that one of the other Generals would shoot him.
He pulled out his Luger pistol, holding it shakily. Kroenen
unsheathed the sword on his right arm in response to the first
attacker. The man fired just as Kroenen leaped high into the
air with the tail of his coat trailing behind him. He pulled
back and brought his blade down hard on the man's wrist severing
it. The hand still clutching the pistol plopped to the ground
in a bloody mess.
"AAAHH!! What have you done to me you bastard! You'll pay
for this!!" He screamed as he dropped to his knees and held
his arm as the blood flowed from the stump like a faucet. Kroenen's
eyes began to glow red as he saw this and remembered his old days
of torture. He lifted his blade and thrust it into his enemy's
chest. More red liquid poured out of his mouth this time, and
a spray exited out of his back. With the body still lodged on
his blade the mechanical Nazi spun his head around too see the
other man taking aim at Rommel. Rommel held up his luger, and
aimed at the man. He fired just missing his chest and hit him
in the shoulder. Rommel was terrified. The man screamed. A
stream of blood coursed out as the bullet went into his shoulder.
He put his hand up to it trying to stop the bleeding. He tried
to ignore the pain as he lifted his arm again to aim at Rommel.
Kroenen swung his arm around sending the corpse flying off of
his blade and smashing back first into the enemy that was still
standing. He leaped at Rommel just as he heard the sound of the
gunfire. Right before being hit by the body of his friend the
man managed to shoot off a round. The bullet sailed past Kroenen's
head as he placed his left arm around Rommel's neck and tossed
him to the ground and to safety. It all happened so quickly that
Rommel wasn't sure what had happened. He watched, trying to
see what was going on. From his safe spot he caught his breath
and tried to calm down.
Kroenen making sure Rommel was alright jumped back in a flip and
drew his left blade in mid air as he went after the second traitor.
He rushed him with both swords slashing. The sound of their
metal echoed off the walls. The remaining traitor pushed his
friend off him as he saw Kroenen come back for him.
"DIE FREAK!!" He yelled as he tried to aim at Kroenen
once more, but he was wounded and did not have time to do so.
Kroenen drove one sword into his good shoulder causing both his
arms to go limp and then rammed the other through his mouth as
he screamed out in agony. The tip exited out the back of the
man's skull. He convulsed a moment then Kroenen let him softly
slip off his sword. He hit the ground with a disgusting slush
sound. Rommel started to get up after it was all over. He couldn't
stop staring. He couldn't quite get up, since he was a bit terrified
still.
"Thank.... thank you... for saving me." He stammered.
Kroenen turned slightly but kept his back to him. He noticed
that Rommel was in a fairly dark shadow of the building. He turned
slightly tipping his hat over his face and before Rommel could
see him Kroenen was beside him in the darkness. He reached down,
grabbed his arm and helped him to his feet.
"Mein Herr, are you alright? It is something anyone would
have done."
"I'm okay. Just a bit shocked." Rommel said, putting
his hat back on. "I could never betray my country."
He said grinning somewhat.
"I know you wouldn't. I shall make sure you are not branded
as a traitor for consorting with these fiends this day. Those
traitors deserved what they got. I will be sure to inform the
authorities as to what transpired here." Kroenen said trying
to keep his eyes from glowing, but in the end the thrill of two
recent kills got the best of him and his eyes flashed once in
a bright red. He had no time to explain what he was so he stepped
back further into the shadows and disappeared knowing he'd left
Rommel confused if not disturbed. Rommel saw his eyes, and looked
up quickly, tilting his head in confusion. "Are... are you
still there?" Rommel stammered somewhat fearful of the red
glowing. But Kroenen had left. He still had to find the others.
The out come of the war depended on it. Rommel stood for a moment
in the empty alley just watching then ran out of there back to
his staff car and went home.
**********
On the Russian front German soldiers
hunkered down as the bitter cold seemed to put up a white barrier
between them and Moscow. It was almost as if the blasted country
were defending itself and using the storm as a force field. It
was so horribly cold that tanks literally froze in their tracks
as ice formed between their ridges. Guns could not be fired as
their metal parts seemed to be fused together. Icicles hung down
from vehicles, weapons and even helmets. The storm had already
killed more soldiers than the Russian army as frostbite set in
and took many lives. General von Kleist sat in a makeshift headquarters
trying to think of what move to make next.
"I can't think anymore! We shouldn't even be on this front!
I can't make any moves anywhere, we have no way of fighting back,
and it's so damn cold in this place!" von Kleist shouted
at another general. Visibility was almost zero. Perhaps one
could see a foot before them, two if they were lucky. The soldiers
shivered as they stood up from their trenches and pushed forward
slowly ever so slowly with their eyes shut. Eyes open or closed
the view was the same. The coats they wore were designed for
German winters. Russian winters were unlike anything they had
expected and old man winter would claim more lives because of
this. Von Kleist paced around and dismissed his Generals. Soon
a messenger came in all frenzied.
"Sir! There's been reports of the Russians advancing!!"
The young soldier said forgetting a salute. Von Kleist didn't
care though. He was furious at the thought. The wind whipped
around the headquarters threatening to rip it apart and expose
it to the elements. On the battlefield the Russians were in their
element having sent in special forces from Siberia. These men
were trained for fighting in such weather. What looked like a
bad situation suddenly seemed to become worse for von Kleist as
the ground shook without warning. The overhead lantern bounced
around making shadows dance all over the walls. A loud hiss was
heard as though a massive steam engine had just pulled into a
station. Von Kleist pulled on his coat, and went to look outside.
He wore a look of frustration and anger. He dismissed the messenger,
but got his generals back to follow him.
Out in the snowstorm something strange
was happening. The earth had cracked open and three points were
curled up like the petals of an opening flower. Through the white
came a bright yellow glow as though a miniature volcano had just
grown and opened up. From its center stepped out what seemed
to be a man covered in cloth and rags that blew about in the frigid
wind. He held a scimitar in one hand and held it up into the
sky as he roared into the howling wind. Von Kleist watched in
disbelief and amazement at what was happening. His generals had
decided to run for it. He thought they were cowards now, and
he stood there and watched what was happening. Heat seemed to
rise from the ground where this man stepped and swirl around him.
It was Sahel. He noted von Kleist's presence and just glared
at him through his yellow eyes then continued on. In his wake
the temperature seemed to rise. The earth was left scorched in
his path and the wind kicked up the only thing that was left behind,
sand. Von Kleist was shocked, and ordered his generals back.
He tossed his coat onto a chair, and walked outside to watch.
"Maybe there's a chance we can actually advance." He
mumbled to himself. The further Sahel marched on, the more sand
built up and was kicked up until he had a massive sand twister
following him. He had brought the powers of his desert homeland
to battle the North wind. The temperature continued to rise and
Sahel battered the snowstorm with his intense heat and sand storm.
He roared like a lion as he pointed his scimitar in the forward
direction ordering his destruction to proceed further on. The
generals stood in awe. Von Kleist wanted to follow, but decided
it better to stay behind. He then got an evil look on his face,
and started laughing.
"Mein Herr, why are you laughing?" a general asked.
"Two reasons. The Russians will probably have the shit scared
out of them, and this is perfect for our advance! We'll just
take the approach of the Afrika Korps, and ask Herr Feldmarschall
Rommel to join us." He grinned sinisterly.
Sahel swung his blade around and the sand storm mimicked his moves.
He fought off the winter allowing the ground troops to fight
off the human enemy. It soon became hot enough for them to remove
their coats.
The soldiers couldn't believe their eyes.
They let out a loud cheer and advanced knocking down shocked
enemy Russians as they were led forth by Sahel's advancing fury.
General von Kleist ran out to see all the advancing soldiers,
tanks and artillery. He got onto the nearest panzer tank and
started to follow them out almost as if he were Rommel; who often
went onto the frontlines with his men. He was so overjoyed at
this that he couldn't help but go out with them. One by one the
Russians were knocked back by the German troops that had found
their second wind. Sahel would point at different enemy divisions
and have the twister scoop them up and toss them away screaming.
They were very close to taking Moscow now. The capital was within
sight. Von Kleist laughed a somewhat evil sounding laugh as he
looked through the sight on the tank turret. He fired at one
of the Russian tanks knocking it out of the battle.
"That's another for me." He said to the actual commander
of the tank, who was too busy laughing about the advancing than
counting his victories. Sahel took some of the ground troops
on himself that dare to venture close to him. He raised the heat
around him until the air rippled making it difficult to see then
he'd swing his large scimitar disemboweling soldiers that had
been foolish enough to assault him. From the sand sprang up vipers.
They were like a plague everywhere striking and hissing yet they
only went for the few Russians that remained injecting their venom
and immobilizing them. Von Kleist's tank started moving up through
the reformed columns of panzers. He wanted to be first in to
Moscow whether the tank commanders liked it or not. He had the
commander of the tank man the machine gun, and continued to the
front of all the other tanks.
The Russians formed a wall at the gates
of the city. Men, tanks and other vehicles stood poised ready
to not let a single German into the capital. This did not discourage
the German army and they charged in with sand blazing all around
them. For a moment they seemed to be at a stand still but this
would not be the case for long. Von Kleist saw this wall through
the sights.
"If I have to run them over to get into that damn city I
will!!" He said with a nasty tone.
Sahel brought his hands together building up energy in them.
He aimed them toward the middle of the wall and a huge heat wave
sprung out and rocketed towards them causing the scenery to ripple
violently. It exploded on impact sending soldiers and shrapnel
flying out in all directions. There was an opening now. Von
Kleist's tank went ahead of all the others going right into the
city. The tank commander gunning all the attacking soldiers
down where they stood. The Kremlin was within sight. The winter
storm had all but vanished. German soldiers rushed in firing
at any enemies in sight. Sahel growled pleased with himself and
just held the weather for the Germans. Von Kleist was pleased
at how this was going. He radioed back to the headquarters.
"Call the Reichskanzlei! We've re taken Moscow!" He
said victoriously. The tank crew inside laughed, which they hadn't
done in a while. The tank columns advanced with the soldiers
to Kremlin. Within minutes the Russians had been defeated. The
city was in flames and mass looting began. Von Kleist randomly
got out of the tank to throw a grenade into the window of a store.
He laughed evilly again. It was a terrible urge of his to do
that.
"Oh well, not like there was much in there." He said,
staring at the broken window.
Sahel grinned beneath his scarf. He had once been a thief when
he was alive. Old memories came back to him. Von Kleist radioed
to the other tanks to halt. The soldiers began to stop, and watch
what was going on. He got out to claim the city for Germany.
Von Kleist got out on top of the tank, and spoke loudly.
"Excellent work! We've claimed the city for the German Reich!!
Sieg Heil!!" He said happily to them as they cheered and
saluted. Von Kleist noticed Sahel watching, and got off the tank
to go talk to him. The looting and violence continued as the
younger German soldiers were running around laughing their heads
off.
Sahel walked up to him slowly yet deliberately.
His yellow eyes were fixed on von Kleist. Von Kleist has his
usual calm face on at the moment; happy about the latest victory.
A lot of stress from the Führer had been just lifted as
they passed through the city.
"Greetings. I'm General von Kleist." he said, starting
to get a bit nervous, after witnessing Sahel's power. Sahel said
nothing for a moment and just eyed him then finally spoke.
"The power of the desert was with you today as was wished
by my master to speed your victory." A low growl followed
his words.
"Thank you. I'm sure all the soldiers feel the same, but
they're somewhat, ahem busy right now." He said looking
at the looting soldiers who were laughing as if they were drunk.
"If it is not a problem I'd also like to thank your master."
He said wondering a bit about the growling. Sahel lifted his
scimitar quickly in a frightening manner then just as fast placed
it in his belt.
"When I leave the winter shall return so be warned."
"I see." Von Kleist said stepping back from Sahel when
he moved his scimitar. He'd gotten a bit more nervous after that
and kept his distance. A few feet away a vortex opened up and
from the swirling mass stepped out a man. He was in uniform an
SS officer, but from that distance something about him wasn't
right. He spoke in an unusual voice.
"Sahel! You weren't going to leave now where you?"
He said to the stranger that had just won them the battle. "Their
work here is not yet done so neither is yours."
Von Kleist looked at him closely and said a quick greeting. He
wondered who this was. He had never seen him before. Kroenen
looked in his direction and was very pleased. "Mein Herr!"
He saluted. "I am glad to see you are well." He said
as he stepped into visual range. Von Kleist returned the salute
still confused.
"How?" Was all he could say. He wanted to ask about
the time portal and all the other things that were going on.
Von Kleist had a bewildered look on his face, and tried to think
of how to word the question.
"You know, you remind me of how Feldmarschall Rommel described
the person who saved him." He said.
Kroenen cocked his head to one side surprised to hear that. He
was out in the open so there was nowhere for him to hide, no point
in trying. Had Rommel actually seen his face?
"Is that so? And how did he describe this person?"
Kroenen asked wanting to be sure.
"Well, he said that he had round eyes, and a long coat and
such. I had to pull some things out of him. He was still a bit
shocked. He'll come back to normal sometime though."
Kroenen ducked his head as he looked down.
"So he did see me after all." He said more to himself
than to von Kleist. "Yes, it was I whom he saw. I left
rather abruptly I shall have to apologize for my rudeness to him."
"I don't think he'll mind. I wouldn't. I'm glad you could
save him. I've been friends with him for a years. " Von
Kleist said, grinning.
"Thank you. I would do it again if need be. Traitors have
no right to live among us. I am glad as well that you have taken
this victory. This is an incredible prize for the Reich!"
Kroenen said as he looked around at the fallen city and joyous
soldiers. Sahel growled under his scarf. It was only a victory
because of him. Why did Kroenen place these lesser humans on
such a pedestal? He never understood that. Von Kleist nodded,
but did mention that Sahel helped.
"Well I couldn't have done it if it weren't for, er I don't
know your name." Von Kleist said looking over at Sahel.
"Sahel Razaq Zaraq ." He responded glaring with yellow
eyes. Kroenen shot him a glance that almost said 'Hold your place!'
then looked back at von Kleist.
"Yes, Sahel is my loyal subject."
"If it wasn't for Sahel melting the Russian winter I couldn't
have gotten the tanks through to Moscow." He said. Sahel
nodded in acknowledgement. Kroenen looked at von Kleist.
"Yes, that is why he was sent." It was clear now who
the master was that Sahel had mentioned earlier. Von Kleist looked
back at the city.
"Now all that's left is to conquer Russia. Shouldn't be
too hard, we have the capital after all."
"The weather should be fairer now but if you need help call
on me and we shall return to help you." Kroenen said. "I
may need Sahel elsewhere soon."
Von Kleist nodded.
"I will. Thank you for the help and Saving Rommel."
Von Kleist stepped forward again. "Before you go can I
get you name?" von Kleist asked.
Kroenen nodded.
"My name is Karl Kroenen and it is my pleasure to be of assistance."
Von Kleist grinned.
"I'm Ewald von Kleist. Good to meet you."
"And it is an honor to meet you sir. Heil!" He said
as he saluted.
Von Kleist returned the salute.
"Heil. Russia will belong to Germany by Christmas."
Von Kleist said laughing.
"And a merry one it shall be. I must go now. There is still
much work to be done." Kroenen said as he opened a new gateway.
With that he and Sahel vanished through it.
Von Kleist got back in the tank, and continued on into Russia.
**********
Kroenen sat a top a high roof overlooking
the city of Munich. It was beautiful there. His mind was preoccupied.
He knew what he had to do next. He knew what would happen next
if he did not, yet how would he DARE to give an order to Himmler?
The only person he answered to was Hitler. Sahel watched Kroenen
from a distance. He was worried about his master. He hadn't
budged in hours. Why was he waiting so long for the next step?
Didn't he know that there was no time to waste? No time not
because of the way the war would turn out but because it wouldn't
be long before their master the Dark One found out what they were
doing. Tired of waiting Sahel went up to him.
"My lord, is something the matter?"
Kroenen looked up from the crouching position he was in.
"I do not know how to proceed next. The man I seek out is
my highest general. How can I tell him what shall be?"
Sahel knew exactly how he felt. He was now placed in the same
position with Kroenen as Kroenen would be in, or think that he
would be in with Himmler. He mustered up his own courage and
would just come out with it.
"The same way that I shall tell you. Forgive me for what
I am about to say. If you see it fit to punish me afterwards
so be it. I cannot understand how someone of your power and position
in Hell, in the spirit realm, can place these insignificant humans
on such a high level. He is no longer above you. You are much
above him to the point that he worships you though you do not
realize it. You are still thinking like them, like a human!"
Sahel said with a growl occasionally escaping as he explained.
"You may do as you wish, but time is running out for when
our lord does find out what we have done we'll have no second
chance to do anything else. Just as I have told you, now you
must as well. I do not think doing the bidding of these...creatures
is fitting of someone of your stature, but I shall be your loyal
servant and do as you wish." Sahel said as he finished and
bowed expecting Kroenen's wrath to follow. Kroenen watched him
a moment then stood up staring down at him.
"My loyal servant you are and you have pleased me. You have
reminded me of my place and I thank you for it. I shall find
him because time IS running out in more ways than one."
The door to a house blew open and out
stepped a man in a tattered uniform. He carried a small sack
over his shoulder and all his awards and insignias had been torn
of his suit. It was Heinrich Himmler. He was getting ready
to take a train out and escape from Germany. On a far away rooftop,
Kroenen stood up ready to stop what was about to take place.
As Himmler turned down a quiet street the wind picked up and everything
seemed to go deathly silent. Suddenly before him space and time
seemed to warp and spin around. He wondered what was going on.
Perhaps it was some kind of spell put on him by another. A vortex
began to open up and lightning shot out from it in all directions.
Kroenen would not be discrete this time. The vortex lengthened,
then from it stepped out a tall dark figure in black. He wore
the familiar SS uniform except it was black leather and he wore
a leather coat over it. He seemed normal except for his face.
His face was just wrong. Himmler stared in awe. He looked down
at his now destroyed uniform embarrassed.
"Who are you?" Himmler asked a suspicious. Kroenen
walked silently up to him.
"I am the one that shall stop you from making a grave mistake.
How dare you think to leave our land at a time like this?!?"
Himmler looked shocked and noted the rank on his uniform's collar.
If this lower officer pretended to order him around and was too
cowardly to show him his face he had another thing coming.
"I may have all my insignias off, but I am still Reichsführer!"
Himmler said slightly disgruntled and trying to sound authoritative.
Kroenen was taken a back by this. His instincts told him to
fall in line to his superior officer. He was the Reichsführer
meaning he was head of the entire SS and answered to no one but
Hitler himself. For a moment he felt intimidated yet Kroenen
had to remember what he had become and why he was here. Still
a little uneasy he tried again.
"And for that you are needed here."
Himmler looked at him a while.
"Have we met? And how do you know about what will happen?"
Himmler asked.
"No, we have not met but I do practice the occult arts like
yourself." Kroenen said holding out his gloved hands. Himmler
lit up upon hearing that.
"Perhaps we could get along. Do take off your mask though,
nothing to hide. I won't insult you or anything." Himmler
said all of the sudden changing his tone to a friendlier one.
Kroenen let out an angry sigh. The first thing he did was remove
his gloves; revealing his artificial fingers beneath them. He
then reached up for his hat and pulled it off. His face was clear.
He had no hair. His head was metallic like his face. His eyes
flashed with red.
"I am not wearing a mask." He said sternly. Himmler
felt awfully stupid. He began to fear who, no what he may be
talking to.
"I…I'm sorry. I didn't know." He didn't want
to admit how stupid he felt for saying that. "So tell me,
why should I stay?"
"I do believe you are the only one that will believe what
I have to say the first time I tell it." Kroenen said placing
his hat back on. "I have made a long trip here from Hell
and through time to warn all the leaders of Germany. The war
can be won and the change has already begun."
Himmler's eyes went wide and he fell on his knees with his head
down in a bow.
"You must be the one who saved Heydrich!" He said in
reverence. Kroenen's eyes flashed again in surprise. He was
amazed how quickly word spread. He looked down at the groveling
Himmler and could not stand to see the sight of him like this.
He reached down placing both hands on Himmler's arms and yanked
him to his feet.
"Yes I am the one who saved him. My name is Karl Kroenen.
I have come to make sure that we are victorious. You must not
leave your country when it most needs you." He said as he
looked into Himmler's eyes with his artificial circular crimson
ones.
"I'll stay! Have to get a new uniform but I trust your advice!"
Himmler said stuttering.
"Wait." Kroenen said. "I must know, are you still
faithful and loyal to our Führer and our cause? I can not
allow you to run off if you would still betray Hitler."
"Yes I am." Himmler responded. "I'm not exactly
sure why I wanted to leave. Maybe the other peoples' opinions
are getting to me too much. They don't believe I would be right
about Reincarnation and such."
Kroenen laughed upon hearing that and placed his heavy hand on
Himmler's shoulder. "But you ARE right. The proof stands
before you. In a sense you are talking to a dead man."
Himmler laughed.
"You'll have to come visit sometime then, maybe we could
meet in a castle alone. Away from Heydrich and the others."
Kroenen nodded.
"Yes, but don't worry. By the time this is over everyone
will believe."
"I think Heydrich will too. He is still somewhat skeptical,
but that girl seems to be him in a future incarnation." Himmler
said.
"I may have another conversation with him. She is him and
once I am finished I must return her to her time. After meeting
me and my underlings, I do not see how he could not believe.
He's witnessed my power first hand."
"Ahh, well. Heydrich's just, Heydrich. An enigma, if you
ask me. I can't figure him out." Himmler said
"Do not concern yourself so much with what others think.
Take care of yourself. You are on the right path. If you'd
just done that you never would have had these treasonous thoughts."
"You're right. I'll get back to my home and put my uniform
together." Himmler said.
"Indeed." Kroenen responded noticing the bad state
of Himmler's outfit. Before he left Kroenen turned to him again.
"Sir, it was a pleasure to meet you. HEIL!"
He gave him a strong salute. Himmler returned the salute.
"I will see you soon then." He said grinning a bit.
Kroenen stepped back into the time distortion and the world return
to normal right before Himmler's eyes. He felt that for the first
time he had finally made contact with the other side.
