Claire settled herself into the shared room at the Inn. The room had several mostly enclosed, hammock like beds hanging from the ceiling, in order to maximize space. As of right now, Ann was the only other person in the room with her. She wondered what this Inn was like before it was a stronghold for the resistance. Possibly like the Inn that her parents had owned. She sat on the floor cleaning her weapon. Her side still ached from one of the wounds, but at least it was treated at this point. It still fascinated her how Mineral Town worked so efficiently. She wasn't sure what her role would be in this town, but she was determined to do what she could.
"You ever think of times before Jin took over?" Ann asked Claire. She could hear the nostalgia in the girl's voice.
"All the time," Claire admitted. "It's what keeps me going. I look forward to when our land can be like that again."
"I just feel bad for the children," Ann stated. "They never knew a time before this." Ann's words echoed Claire's thoughts. The children never had their taste of freedom, most had been too young to remember a time before Jin.
"Yeah, they haven't. I was very young when Jin took over," Claire stated. "But I remember the time very clearly." Claire thought of her brother. He had been her best friend and her hero. He'd fought against Jin the first time and had been executed as a result.
"Who did you lose?" Ann asked. "I lost my mother. My father was a leader in the opposing army, Jin couldn't catch my dad, so he killed my mother as punishment." Her blue eyes teared up.
"My brother was executed," Claire stated. "Does your dad live here?" Ann shook her head.
"He became a nomad. He comes here every once in while," Ann replied. Ann had lost just as much as she had to Jin. There was a collective moment of silence between the two. They both seemed to recognize what each other had lost.
There was a soft knock on the door. That broke the two girls out of their memories.
"Come in!" Ann called out. Cliff opened the door shyly, he had a tray of food in his hand. Claire was amazed at the food she saw on the tray. There appeared to be some fresh bread and butter, and a fried egg and cheese, for each of them. Claire had not had fresh food in a while. Flowerbud had been cut off, and because it wasn't fully acting for the resistance, Jin's army was able to block any resources given to them.
"Dinner rations," Cliff replied. He quickly left.
"How do you control the rations?" Claire asked.
"All of the food is stored here in the Inn, people come here for their meals. This town is so small that it's feasible to be able to do it that way," Ann informed between bites of her food.
"I can't tell you the last time I've had fresh food like this," Claire stated. She gingerly took a bite. The food tasted amazing.
"We're quite lucky here, the spies in Harmonica town use the water to transport goods to us. Since we are on the seacoast," Ann said. They both stopped talking and continued to eat their meals.
Suddenly the door opened and Gray burst through it. The two people he had in cuffs brought a cry of joy from Claire.
"Kai, Jack!" Claire shouted. "I thought you were dead!"
"We thought the same thing about you!" they both shouted in unison.
"So these are your boys then?" Gray asked gruffly.
"Yes," Claire said, composing herself. "I didn't know anyone else survived."
"We are the only two, we went back to Flowerbud, it's decimated, Raiders everywhere," Kai informed. Jack was leaning heavily on Kai. He appeared to be injured.
"Are you injured soldier?" Claire asked Jack. Jack nodded. "Let's get him to the clinic." Claire looked at Gray. Gray wasn't sure what to think. This was more than he had expected. But his faction of the resistance was spread thin, extra hands would help at this point.
"Alright, let's get going," Gray grumbled.
"Can you take their cuffs off at least?" Claire inquired. Gray mumbled somthing unintelligable, but released the two prisoners.
"I'll take Jack to the clinic," Gray advised. "Ann, please get Kai some food."
"Yes sir!" Ann stated. She saluted him quickly.
"Let's get ya some grub," Ann stated. Claire was left alone in the room reeling at what just happened. Kai had been her right hand man. She had thought for sure they were among the dead or captured. The only reason she'd survived is because she hadn't been in Flowerbud when the invasion started, she had been on a recon mission. When she had returned she had a run in with the Raiders, but had managed to escape. Although Kai and Jack had been two of her toughest men, it didn't surprise her that if anyone had survived it had been the two of them, but she still had more questions, she made her way downstairs to have a talk with Kai.
XXXXX
Laney Hill made her rounds around Bluebell. They adhered to a strict lights out or curtains drawn curfew of six pm. Tonight was Laney's turn to check it out. She returned to Bluebell's headquarters which used to be the old town hall, to report to Georgia. Laney, had not hesitated when she was asked to join the resistance. Much like everyone else in the twin towns. Everywhere she looked, she saw people struggling. No one knew what was going to happen next. Jin made up laws on the spot, and did whatever he pleased. The saddest part for Laney was her mother. Laney had adored her mother, striven to be just like her when she was a child. But then mother had fled the twin towns the minute the resistance started. She fled to the capital, and had her marriage annulled. Laney received a letter a few months later from her mother the letter stating that Laney was no longer considered her daughter under Jin's rule. Her mother had sighed a piece of paper absolving her of any responsibility. It had stung deep within Laney. Any doubts she had about joining the resistance had left.
"All good?" Georgia asked. Laney nodded. "Good, just radioed Dirk in Konohana, all is good there." Georgia and Laney had been childhood friends. Laney remembered the times when they would play with their dolls, now they would be training and preparing for war. Georgia had become tough ever since Jin overtook the land. Her father had grown ill, and had not received proper treatment. Jin had only allowed certain families rights and privileges. Only the very richest of families had been given any care. They had all been moved to Harmonica Town. As a result her father had become nearly invalid. Rose, the wife of the old mayor, took care of him. She was getting on in years, but still wanted to help where she could.
"What keeps you going?" Laney asked Georgia. There were some days Laney felt like giving up.
"My family, this town. The people here who have given so much of their lives and talents for the resistance. That is what keeps me going," Georgia replied. Laney sighed. She wished she had Georgia's strength. Georgia reached out and grasped Laney's hand. "Find something up fight for, cling onto that during the hard times."
"Thanks Georgia," Laney said. She retreated to her room for the evening.
XXXXX
Chase spent much of his day preparing for the ball. Luckily for him there was enough commotion going on, that he was able to sneak out supplies for the strongholds. Tonight would be a prime time for the boat to go out. Paolo would be the one transporting it. No one would notice if he was gone for a few days. Paolo's father didn't seem to care that Paolo was gone for days on end. Both the remaining strongholds were pretty self sufficient, but they always appreciated the extra supplies from Harmonica Town.
Chase detested balls. Jin liked to throw one at least once a week. Tonight it was for the highest of aristocrats. Maya had been waddling around demanding this and that. He was grateful that he didn't have to attend the ball. At least Maya and her family, would be out of the house. While he was preparing her a light dinner before she left, he heard her scream.
"But Mama!" Maya shouted. Chase cringed. Her whiny voice was like fingernails against a chalkboard.
"No Maya, I'm putting my foot down you cannot bring help to the ball! Imagine how that would look," Colleen, her mother, scolded.
"I don't care! I love Chase!" She screeched. Chase cringed even more, and resisted the urge to vomit. Yolanda the head servant smirked at him. He scowled back.
"No, it's not happening. Jin has already arranged for Perry to take you, he's a pastor you know," Colleen stated. Maya's reply was too muffled to make out. At that moment Chase could have hugged Colleen, although she wouldn't have appreciated it. Last thing he needed was Maya vying for his attention. Tonight he had a very small window to get the supplies out to Paolo.
XXXXX
Anissa made her way through the crowd, doing her due diligence as a proper wife of the dictator. She mingled with the crowd and did everything that was expected of her. She did it mainly to protect her family. She wanted none of the scrutiny on her family, especially with Taylor as a part of the resistance. Her blue gown flowed around her. She'd never before worn such fancy clothing, as she did at these balls. She looked to the dance floor to see Jin wrapped in Selena's arms, Selena had a smug look on her face. Anissa held back the laugh that threatened to escape her lips. She really didn't care if Jin's affections were elsewhere. Selena wore a dark purple form fitting gown that left very little to the imagination. Anissa would have felt very uncomfortable in a get up such as that.
"Tasteless if you ask me," her mother, Ruth sneered as she looked at Selena and Jin. Ruth would never say anything to Jin, she enjoyed the lifestyle that her daughter's marriage to Jin provided far too much to raise any questions to him. But she readily complained to Anissa. "You really going to allow your husband to make that display."
"I don't really care what he does," Anissa said. She shrugged her shoulders in indifference.
"You should!" Ruth chided. Anissa sighed. This conversation, or variation of, happened every ball. Suddenly one of Jin's Captain's, Owen, came running in.
"What are you doing here?" Jin demanded. His raiders knew better than to interrupt a ball unless it was important.
"Sir we think we've captured a spy from the resistance!" Owen said nervously. "You advised us to tell you ASAP..."
"Yes," Jin pulled Selena off him. Anissa was curios to see who they had captured. Anissa knew exactly who was in the resistance, this could put her brother in jeopardy. Anissa made her way over.
"What's going on?" Anissa asked.
"Nothing, you stay here!" Jin ordered. He left with Owen, leaving Anissa alone with a room full of people staring at her