Roudan called the game off to avoid any complications with the chain of command. Though both the AAF teams and town folks were riled up, there was no bitter spirit among them. Yoshida watched in his peripheral as Broudus slowly crawled through the mud away from the melee. Noticeably, he moved with a staggered hesitation that was from fear or certain injury. Yoshida laid on his back while several children remained on top of him. There was no way he could chase Broudus even if he wanted to.
Rage turned to frustration until he looked once more for Broudus, only to see Savoi kneeling in his line of sight. Her face was pleasantly calm, with stern eyes. Then suddenly, a child impaled her with a handful of mud. Yoshida gasped and held his breath, waiting to see her reaction. To his surprise, she smiled. Her eyes beamed, and she laughed in such a way reminded him of the carefree little island girl she once was. He used the opportunity to encourage all the children to go after Savoi, to which each took a delightful pleasure in.
After countless minutes of rolling around in the mud, parents and elders called their children home. They summoned Roudan to report to Captain Zukowski. Yoshida and Savoi found a nearby stairwell in an alleyway with a hose. He watched as Savoi rinsed away the mud from her hair and face. She opened her eyes and met his gaze.
“What are you looking at?” she asked.
“You missed a spot,” he chuckled.
She rinsed again. “Did I get it all now?”
He nodded with amusement. “No.”
Savoi huffed.
“Well, don’t just stand there, come help me.”
He walked over and took the hose, stroking her face. She grinned with a giddy satisfaction. His heart melted at her comfort. It vaguely reminded him of the loving smile she wore as a child. Overcome with emotion, he kissed her lips. The cold water complimented the warmth of touch between them.
Yoshida and Savoi sent their fatigues to the laundry promptly after leaving the stairwell. They put on civilian attire in the meantime, as regulation permitted it. He wore a simple pair of beige cargo pants and a black undershirt with sneakers, while she wore a fitted yellow sundress and bound her hair in a scarf. They enjoyed the idea of shedding their military roles for disguises.
Yoshida met up with Roudan over by the chow hall. They joked about the rumble tag fiasco while bringing a tray of foodstuff back to the sleeping quarters. Suddenly, a thick bolt of lightning hit the ground with loud sonic booms landed. The blast left an enormous crater about 200 meters in front of them and rocked all the cottages and buildings. Roudan and Yoshida sprinted back to their quarters to find a hole in the wall with Savoi sprawled on the floor. She had been knocked unconscious. She roused, with drops of blood oozing from her nose and ears. Immediately, she hyperventilated. Yoshida rummaged through a medical kit and placed an oxygen mask over her face. “Thomasa, just breathe.” he said.
“What was that?” No sooner than she asked, four more lightning bolts hit the area. The town folks scurried about like ants.
Yoshida looked at Roudan and said, “We’re under attack.”
Roudan gasped.
“That can’t be. There’s been no word that the capital has fallen.”
Savoi stood to her feet and braced herself against a wall.
“We’ve got to get everyone to safety,” she said as she made her way to the blasted door. Yoshida tugged at her arm, but she snatched away. “Don’t worry about me. I’m ok.”
He looked at her, unsure, but then allowed her to pass. The three left the building and went in separate directions into the fray of bomb shells and lighting. Suddenly, they realized the safe haven of Heddison became a fierce battle ground. Cyberattacks hacked the communication mainframe. IT technicians scrambled to restore service. The area was infiltrated with more Lesser House insurgents within an hour. The plan was to rush as many civilians as possible to the rendezvous point where choppers would be waiting to evacuate.
Shortly after, Roudan and Yoshida arrived together with their groups. Savoi had not come by the time the first chopper landed. Only one helicopter could safely land to board, as the other five were hit with heavy air strikes. Broudus approached them, terrified to the core.
“They’re saying we can’t board, because there isn’t enough room for AAF.” He burst into sobs. “I don’t want to die!”
Roudan slapped him, and said, “Stop that foolishness at once! Have you forgotten your training at the Academy? We were sent here for this very reason. If you die, it will be because you didn’t deserve to be here.”
Captain Zukowski came by and instructed Yoshida and his group of civilians to board the chopper.
“I’m not a civilian,” Yoshida refused.
Zukowski looked him over and realized he was telling the truth. While the Captain was distracted, Yoshida quietly told Roudan to get on board.
“There’s enough room for you both, if you hurry.”
Roudan was confused until Yoshida pointed at Broudus, who had sustained black and blue bruises from their scrimmage earlier.
“Look at blondie. He certainly appears in rough shape. I doubt anyone would deny him medical treatment given the circumstance,” he said.
Roudan shrugged.
“What about you?”
Yoshida looked him square in the eyes.
“There’s no way in hell I’m leaving without her.”
Roudan realized Savoi still had not arrived.
“Then I’ll stay too. We’ll find her together.”
Yoshida stopped him.
“Emmett, no. Go now! Lilya is waiting for you. Take care of her and your son.”
Roudan winced, holding back a tear. Yoshida extended an arm for a handshake, but Roudan pulled him in to an embrace. The men stood together in place until they could no longer ignore Broudus’s sniffles. Feeling defeated, Roudan grabbed Broudus by the arm and ran to enter the chopper. Yoshida watched the men safely board and take to the sky before he ran from the field. As he got near the light post, ten tiny missiles flew over his head. The midair explosion scorched the sky and a purple haze of engine fluid descended. Yoshida looked away, narrowly escaping falling flames by taking cover under a torn down tent.
~The Waring Robins~