Codename Black: Rise of the Fallen Commander

Chapter 4: Fort Titan

The sun had barely risen when Victoria began packing a small bag for the trip into the city to see a doctor. She glanced over at Alex, who was now sitting quietly on her bed, his gaze distant.

"Ready to go?" she asked, trying to hide her own unease. She wasn’t sure why, but bringing him to the city felt like the right thing to do.

He nodded, offering a soft smile. "I suppose I don’t have much choice."

Victoria chuckled and grabbed her keys. They stepped outside, and the crisp morning air greeted them as they headed to her car.

The drive into the city was long, winding through scenic back roads before merging onto the highway. For a while, neither of them spoke, the silence interrupted only by the hum of the car’s engine.

As they neared the city limits, Victoria found herself glancing at him more than once. His strong jawline, his broad shoulders—everything about him radiated strength. Despite his injuries, there was an undeniable presence about him. She smirked, her thoughts wandering for a moment.

"You know..." she said, breaking the silence, "if you weren’t an amnesiac stranger I rescued from the sea, I’d say you’d make a pretty decent boyfriend."

Alex turned to her, clearly caught off guard by the sudden statement. "Is that so?"

She chuckled, shaking her head. "Well, yeah. You’ve got the whole tall, dark, and mysterious thing going on. Plus, you’re not bad to look at."

He smiled, and for a brief moment, she saw a flicker of amusement in his eyes. "Glad I meet the criteria."

But Victoria’s smile faltered as her mind drifted back to the reality awaiting her. The impending marriage her uncle had arranged loomed over her like a dark cloud. Her future husband, if he could be called that, was nothing more than a playboy, someone her family deemed "worthy" based solely on his wealth and connections.

She let out a sigh, her fingers tightening on the steering wheel. "But I guess none of that matters," she muttered, mostly to herself.

Alex noticed her shift in mood. "Something on your mind?"

She hesitated. It wasn’t as though they were friends—not yet. But something about him felt... safe. Maybe it was the way he had stood up to her father the day before, or the fact that he seemed as lost as she felt.

"It’s nothing," she replied softly.

As Victoria drove in silence, the hum of the car’s engine sputtered, followed by an unsettling clunk. The dashboard lights blinked erratically, and the vehicle began to slow down.

"Are you kidding me?" she muttered under her breath, steering the car to the side of the road.

They were in the middle of nowhere, surrounded by dense woods on either side of the narrow highway. She glanced at Alex, who sat calmly in the passenger seat, his gaze fixed on the now-immobile car.

"Of all the places to break down." She sighed. "Great."

Victoria got out and popped the hood, her hands already slick with sweat from the humid air. She stood in front of the engine, staring at the mass of metal and wires, feeling utterly helpless.

Cars weren’t exactly her specialty anyway. So she pulled her phone from her pocket, hoping to call for a tow, only to realize she had no signal.

"Perfect."

Before she could even try to assess the problem, Alex appeared by her side. He silently inspected the engine, his brows furrowed. Without a word, he rolled up his sleeves and began fiddling with some parts.

"Wait, you know how to fix cars?" she asked, astonished as he worked effortlessly.

He didn’t respond immediately, too focused on what he was doing. Within minutes, there was a loud click, and the engine roared back to life. He wiped his hands on his pants and stepped back. “There…”

Victoria blinked, taken aback. "Wow! You must have been a mechanic before you lost your memory. No wonder you fixed it so easily."

Alexander silently stared at her, speechless. A mechanic? The idea was almost laughable. Here he was—a high-ranking general, the most powerful military commander, capable of leading armies into battle—and now she thought he was an auto mechanic.

A strained smile tugged at his lips, unsure how to respond. "Yeah... I guess so."

Victoria beamed at him, clearly impressed. "Good thing I found you then. You’re useful to have around," she joked, climbing back into the car.

He stood there for a moment longer, processing the absurdity of it all. Pretending to have amnesia was one thing, but now he had to pretend he was something as far removed from his reality as a mechanic.

Little did she know, his hands were more used to handling weapons than engines. But for now, he had to play along. He took a deep breath and followed her back into the car.

Soon enough, the city skyline appeared in the distance, and before long, they arrived at the doctor’s office.

Inside, Alex sat on the examination table, his back straight as the doctor examined his vitals. Victoria watched from a nearby chair, nervously fidgeting with her hands, waiting for some news.

After a brief examination, the doctor clicked his pen and stepped back, folding his arms. “Well, physically, you’re in remarkably good health,” he said, glancing at Alex.

He added, “Whatever injuries you sustained from the incident—aside from a few minor bruises—have healed well. As for your memory loss… it’s difficult to say. I recommend seeing a specialist in cognitive therapy, someone who can run more tests. Sometimes, these things resolve on their own, and other times it can take much longer.”

Victoria let out a breath she hadn’t realized she was holding. “So… nothing serious?”

The doctor smiled kindly. “No. From a physical standpoint, he’s perfectly fine. Just keep monitoring him for any unusual symptoms.”

Alex nodded quietly, and Victoria thanked the doctor as they left the office.

Once outside, she turned to him. “Well, that wasn’t too bad. At least you’re not dying or anything.”

“That’s a relief.”

“So, what now?” she asked. “Ready to head back?”

He nodded firmly. “Let’s get out of here...”

The highway stretched before them, the road empty except for the rolling hills and sparse trees on either side. Victoria’s grip on the steering wheel relaxed slightly. Then, something caught her eye.

Ahead, a distant roar grew louder, and soon a convoy of sleek black military vehicles thundered down the opposite lane. Massive armored trucks bristling with advanced weaponry were flanked by motorcycles, their riders clad in tactical gear.

“Whoa…” Victoria whispered, her knuckles turning white. “That’s… a convoy from Fort Titan, right?”

Awe colored her voice as she watched the procession pass. The insignia of Fort Titan gleamed on the vehicles. Everyone knew what that symbol represented.

Fort Titan was one of the world’s top military regions, a fortress in the south renowned for its elite forces. Even civilians like Victoria, with little knowledge of military affairs, understood the significance of witnessing such power up close.

Victoria stole a glance at Alex, expecting him to share her amazement. But he seemed indifferent, his gaze following the convoy as if it were just another passing vehicle.

“It’s always a little intimidating,” she murmured, her eyes fixed on the rear of the convoy as it disappeared around a bend. “Seeing that much power in one place. They’re probably heading to some high-stakes operation. And the generals who run Fort Titan? Legends. I can’t imagine what it must be like to serve under someone like that.”

She waited for a response—perhaps an agreement or at least a comment—but Alex remained silent.

Inside, though, Alexander was far from indifferent. He fought to keep a smirk from tugging at his lips.

She had no idea that the very convoy she found so intimidating was under the command of one of his most trusted generals—Marcus Devereux. The man had been his right hand for years, fiercely loyal and utterly dependable.

Alexander couldn’t help but wonder what Marcus had thought when he heard the news of his supposed death. A small smile finally broke through as he imagined Marcus’s reaction once he learned the truth.

Right now, the formidable general was likely still mourning the loss of his commander, all while Alexander sat in a civilian car, pretending to be a mechanic.