Fidelity | militaristic | alley

Smith leans against a wall, waiting just within a shadow in an alley. The letter told him to wait here. He is waiting and looks back at the opposite wall where a chalk written symbol he put there does nothing. He pulls out his watch from inside his pocket.

"I'm probably early. Maybe it needs readjusting, again."

Those thoughts bring with it changes from the symbol. For a moment it shimmers and then swirls into a different symbol. Smith pushes away from the wall he was leaning against and smiles with a snort, "Time to take it back to its maker, again."

The symbol changes again, into the form of a man who steps away from the wall towards Smith.
Smith looks at this apparition and greets it, "Major. How's life treating you, since your dead?

The ghost doesn't offer an answer but goes on about the content of the letter.

"Major, really, I may have the hearts of the people but my enemies have me by the throat. They're laying out accusations of corruption against me. They're right, of course. I already tried to save the people. I lost."

Once more the ghost asks for Smith's help.

"Who in the Senate will support me? I've made too many enemies, the Senate has already cut me off. The rest of the Republic will make sure I lose the next election, if I'm not in prison first."

Now the ghost appeals to the Senator's compassion for the people.

Agitated, Smith stops the ghost, "My compassion got you labeled a traitor to the Republic and executed. I still hear your screams for mercy as they tortured you to death! My enemies have taken everything I have. I have no voice, I can't fight anymore."

In desperation the ghost grabs Smith's arm, a cold shock runs from his arm to his head and is gone. The ghost lets go and looks at Smith.
"Smith! Run!", and vanishes back into the symbol on the wall.

Senator Smith shakes his head with a loud sigh. He can hear the soldiers coming too. They are looking for the ghost of the Major and don't know the Senator is  involved.

"Major never did know that I'm not exactly from these parts."

As he walks further into the alley, through the back of a shop into another busy street he takes out his watch again, looking at the hands showing the time. The maker knows where he comes from and if his enemies will use it, if they find out.