Lost first chapter had to rewrite
A girl code name "Claire," stared at the large imposing walls before her. She felt apprehensive to approach this large stronghold. She was trying to summon the courage to enter. Mineral Town was one of the two strongholds upheld by the resistance. It had been seven years now since dictator Jin Anaga had taken over the land. After the first war, many people had been punished. Shortly after he'd taken over, the resistance had begun. Claire had eagerly joined at a young age. Even though her parents had begged her not to, she'd been resolved to join. She had never gone back to see them, knowing that it would be too dangerous for them. She was now a marked women with a high price on her head. Many of Jin's Raiders, as his army was called, would love to collect.
"What are you doing here?" A gruff voice asked from behind her.
"Are you from Mineral Town?" Claire asked.
"Yes," he answered. "Who the hell are you?"
"Claire, I've come from Flowerbud," she replied. Flowerbud had been a city North of Mineral Town. Claire had been the leader of the faction of the resistance there. That is until the Raiders had invaded the town. She had nearly escaped with her life, and limped her way to Mineral Town. None of her men had made it out, all captured or killed by the Raiders. She had not cried about losing them, tears were a luxury she couldn't afford.
"You are from the resistance?" the man asked gruffly. "The leader correct?" His tone softened but he still did not lower his weapon. Claire didn't blame him, trust was something that needed to be earned in this environment. "I'm Gray." She nodded, then felt her legs giving way. While she had dressed her wounds as best as she could, she needed medical attention. He caught her before she fell to the ground.
"Sorry... Injured," she breathed out in pain.
"Let's get you to the doctor," he ordered.
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Georgia Worthington prepared herself for the brief speech she was about to give. The news of Flowerbud being invaded had been a blow. As leader of her faction of the resistance, she could not allow people to see her get too worried. It was her job to keep up morale. But how does one do so, when it was hard for her to find her own hope?
"What are you going to say?" Dirk, her right hand man, asked.
"Whatever it is I need to," Georgia answered. She hadn't always been this way, circumstance had forced her to become what she was today,
"You always find the right things to say," Dirk answered. Georgia smiled at him, she sighed and prepared to leave the tactical building she was in to face the crowd of people waiting for her news.
As she exited, people instant stopped talking, waiting for her speech.
"By now you all have heard, that Flowerbud was invaded. While we lost our last Headquarters near the capital, we still have the two strongholds, here and Mineral town. We must stay strong!" She rallied.
"Any survivors?" A voice called out.
"Just one. The leader. She's arrived in Mineral Town." Murmurs started up but Georgia quickly squelched them. "This is a minor setback, we must continue forward! We cannot let this break our spirit, or our will! This should serve to only strengthen our resolve!" She finished her speech. Everyone remained silent. Dirk who was standing next to her started clapping, soon everyone followed and cheered. She smiled her thanks to Dirk, who winked back.
When she was able to retreat into her office alone, is when she allowed herself to worry. Flowerbud had been the last town with resistance presence that wasn't a stronghold. Jin had been actively pursuing them, and they'd lost a lot of good men. She worried that with Flowerbud gone, he'd come for them next. She needed to start formulating a plan.
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Maya Logan was a spoiled girl who had become accustomed to the lavish lifestyle provided her due to her relation to Anaga's wife. As a result she'd become lazy and overweight, and unfortunately for Chase, a cook in the Logan household, obsessed with him. He had managed to escape her tonight so he could get away to his meeting. In the Capitol City of Harmonica Town, there was a webwork of tunnels from when it had been a mere mining town. He was able to navigate them easily, and was grateful that Jin and Raiders had yet to discover that they were still functional. Of course that had been the work of many people to hide the main openings, and create "roadblocks."
Chase was the leader of this fraction of the resistance. His was the smallest faction due to the fact that he was based in the capital city. His troop consisted of Molly who was a maid in the Logan household, Luna, who was a seamstress by day, Paolo, the young 12 year old that ran the lighthouse, Toby the fisherman, Renee from the animal Ranch, and Taylor from Marimba Farm. Then there was Phoebe the brains, she was an inventor, and had been the one to supply them with their weapons
Tonight the agenda of the meeting would be about the ball tomorrow. Jin loved to throw balls, and with all the hustle and bustle going around, it was easiest to sneak out the much needed supplies to the strongholds. Since they were both on the coast it was easier to get goods to them by boat.
Tonight he looked at his crew, they were a bit somber after hearing the news about Flowerbud.
"We can't let this get us down," Chase replied. "Mineral Town and the Twin Towns still depend us." Everyone nodded in agreement. Chase continued on with his plans for the next evening.
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After she had been sufficiently treated, Gray led Claire around Mineral Town. She couldn't help but be impressed. Mineral Town was very self sufficient; even growing their own crops and raising animals. They stopped first at a building that used to be a library, and had now been turned into a tactical room. A small Raven haired girl sat typing away at a computer.
"This is Mary, she's in charge of intelligence," Gray informed. "Mary this is the girl from Flowerbud." Mary merely nodded and returned back to her computer. Gray chuckled. Mary was no social butterfly, but was smart. And she could almost gather any information he needed.
Gray then led Claire to the Inn, which was the headquarters. Standing behind the counter was a small red haired girl looking at a bunch of maps, and a large brien haired man standing next up her admiring her. Behind her hanging in the wall was an array of firearms. Claire her jaw drop. It was an impressive amount.
"That's Ann, she's our tactician, the guy next to her is Cliff, best sniper we've got," Gray informed. Cliff blushed.
"You must be from Flowerbud!" Ann greeted. "Welcome to Mineral Town." She too continued on with what she was doing. Claire wondered what part she would play here in Mineral Town.
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Anissa Anaga stared at her reflection in her vanity mirror. Life had become so empty for her. She hated her husband and all he stood for. She longed to be a part of the resistance, but knew that could never be a possibility. Her brother Taylor was a member, and she needed to stay right where she was to protect him. Someday she hoped the resistance would win, and she would be free from her loveless marriage.