Behind The Mask

Chapter 17: Absolutely Safe

Time is like the finest string... something delicate, something precious and something that can easily slip through your fingers without you even knowing it.

With a sigh, I put down the book I have in my hands.

I've been reading far too much, haven't I? I'm coming up with all these philosophical ideas... even though that's not my purpose.

My purpose is the same as it has always been — to lead the greatest army in the world. It's simple. To take every fact, eliminate all uncertainties and reach the logical conclusion. To make the choice that is best for my troops, and for the army as a whole. To serve Master Porky, and do whatever he wishes.

It's a simple job, isn't it?

But... well, sometimes I find myself thinking about more... something beyond the army. If I am to become the Commander, then one day, I'd obviously retire, if not because I'd simply want to, then because of my age which would prevent me from being an effective fighter.

So, what then? What would I do when I leave? To be quite honest, I'm... not sure.

I have given it some thought... I'd like to go somewhere... peaceful? New Pork City is certainly nice, but... but what?

Hm... what's wrong with New Pork City? It... it has everything I need... it's home, isn't it? It's home, and it has everything I'd ever want. And yet... I think I'd prefer somewhere different.

Actually, the Thunder Tower does sound rather nice. It might not seem like a sensible choice for most, but for someone like me, it's perfect.

I've only visited the tower three times, but the building astounds me every time. I've grown rather fond of lightning — my extensive use of PK Thunder might have something to do with that.

So, a tower that makes the stuff by the gallon for all of New Pork City? I'll admit — it's quite interesting for me!

I've even been able to sit in on some of the Pigmasks' experiments with lightning — like seeing the production of a Clayman, scary and yet amazing.

And of course, the Thunder Tower is where Miss Marsh currently resides... hm... all in all, it does sound like a lovely place for retirement.

But that's in the far future, and this is now. I've been at this for quite some time... in fact, I've even hit another milestone — my second year of being with the Pigmasks.

The occasion passed without much incidence — I celebrated the occasion with my regiment, and the Fierce Pork Trooper, as I did last year and saw another of the DCMC's concerts. The Fierce Pork Trooper says I'm doing rather well — he reckons I might have actually surpassed him!

It's a strange thought — I am going to be the Commander of the army, which means I should be the strongest, but actually being the strongest is something that I hadn't ever considered I would reach.

Hm... I wonder if I might even surpass Fassad.

Speaking of Fassad, he's less pleased with my progress, to put it mildly. PSI is something I'm struggling to grasp and that hasn't exactly been the best of news to Fassad. My efforts to learn PK Love are just fruitless as they were before... I simply can't understand it...

I've used it once before, so why am I struggling to replicate it?

I've taken to trying my hand at other kinds of PSI instead — though it was hard, I have managed to learn the very basics of Lifeup. And I mean basics here — Fassad doesn't reckon I'll go any higher than Alpha, and for once, I'm inclined to agree with him.