AN: More plot, sort of!
11/10/18: When The Going Gets Tough
The worst part was the constant stream of news.
On 2nd September, Lagos fell, opening the way for the US Army to advance towards Wakanda. On 15th September, the House passed the Freedom of Truth Act. On the 21st the Senate ratified it. The 26th was long and hectic - the First Battle of Wakanda had seen PURITY repulsed on the border, but only barely. On 2nd October, as a preventative measure, US paratroops occupied Ottawa, Toronto and Vancouver - the Prime Minister, who had volunteered to be a go-between for Fulton and T'Challa, suddenly vanished. On the 6th, Ford had saved Jameson by the skin of his teeth, but other journalists had been arrested, and one had even been shot on air in Orange County. And now, Fulton had announced the second major offensive against Wakanda. He promised swift and decisive action - 'we'll have them by Halloween.'
It was getting hard to stay optimistic.
They had good days, of course. Connie had loved her time in Wakanda, experiencing one of the most advanced cities on Earth, and T'Challa and General Okoye had added a lot to her precious training with Pearl (she could use a spear now!) But part of her felt immensely guilty for living in shelter when others lived in fear, and on darker days - like today - wells of depression and anxiety built up within her.
She was sitting outside the office of Allied Supreme Command - the body that planned the war with Rausseman and Fulton. The discussion within sounded grim.
"We can offer you a company of tanks," one man - a Colonel Atkinson - was saying, "And at least a brigade of infantry, plus some fighter support from within RERE. But trying to get London to commit to more is like pulling teeth."
"And what about our other allies?" she heard T'Challa ask.
"Japan is willing to offer us surplus Type-10 tanks, but that's strictly off the record," Agent Coulson explained, "But they've got thousands of American troops deployed there against possible Chinese intervention. The Australians are nearly completely in America's camp, so we're getting nothing from them. We've got small, mostly infantry task forces from Italy, Spain, New Zealand, India and Vietnam."
"As it stands," added Okoye, "The bulk of our defences are still the Wakandan Army, with some SHIELD and RERE support. They're still recovering from the first battle."
There was a long silence.
"You can bring in some fighters?" asked T'Challa.
"Sixty GR.10 Harriers," replied Atkinson, "They've been something of a pet project for our R&D team. I reckon you'll like them."
"Sixty won't be enough," noted Okoye.
"It will have to be," said T'Challa simply.
Connie sighed, burying her head in her hands. She just couldn't keep listening to this. She had to get out.
She wandered through the advanced palace, back to the set of rooms that had been designated for herself and the other refugees from America. She found her room - perhaps barracks was a better term - largely empty. Danny Fenton was snoring away in his bunk, but otherwise, she was alone.
She wandered over to her bunk and lay down.
She missed her parents. They'd been smuggled out of the US by Wakandan agents, and originally had lived with her. But in late September, the air raids had begun, and while PURITY ordnance had no hope of penetrating the sturdy Wakandan buildings, their napalm and white phosphorous bombers wreaked havoc on unprotected pedestrians. Non-essential personnel were evacuated - apparently, Doug and Priyanka now lived with M'Baku in the mountains, which was at very least funny to imagine. But there was the fear, in the back of their mind, that if PURITY won…
What if she'd seen them for the last time?
"Connie?"
Connie sat up. Sapphire was standing in the door.
"Oh," she nodded, "Hey Sapphire. How're you holding up."
"I'm fine," replied Sapphire, "Or at least, as fine as I can be. How about you?"
"I'm good."
"No, you're not."
Connie sighed.
"Is that your future vision?" she asked.
"No," replied Sapphire, "It's obvious."
She walked over and sat down next to Connie.
"It can be hard not to feel like it's hopeless," she admitted, "Every time I close my eye, I see a hundred futures where we lose."
"And what does that look like?" asked Connie.
Sapphire paused for a moment.
"What I see," she replied, "Tells me why we have to fight."
Her hands gripped the side of the cot,
"Superhumans," she said, "Gems, mutants, inhumans - they're only the start. It's already turning into political opponents. After they've won… they'll keep finding new 'others,' forever and ever, because they'll need it to keep their society working. They'll always be killing someone because that's the only thing that can justify their existence."
She took a deep breath.
"There are so many wonderful life forms in the universe," she said, "Imagine PURITY's Earth unleashed on them. That is why we have to win."
"But how can you keep going?" demanded Connie.
"Ruby," replied Sapphire, "I'm going to get her back."
"Can you see her?" asked Connie, "With your future vision, I mean?"
"No," said Sapphire, "But I know, deep down, she's alive."
The room suddenly cooled, and the cot around Sapphire's hands began to freeze.
"And if she's not," she declared, "I'm going to avenge her."
There was a long silence.
"As long as there's still to fight for," said Sapphire at last, "All of this is worth it. And besides, you never know when good news might come."
She smiled and stood up.
"Take a moment," she said, "Clear your head. I'll make sure no one disturbs you."
She walked away, leaving Connie alone.
Connie took a deep breath and closed her eyes - she cleared her mind. Slowly, she controlled her breathing - in, out, in, out… Flexibility, love and trust…
Dusk came, painting the sky like a brilliant red canvas. The PURITY bombers weren't yet overhead, and the distant air defence cannons were silent. Connie sat on the roof, gazing at the fiery texture of the clouds.
"Everything okay?"
Connie glanced back. Steven had emerged from the building - slowly, he walked over and sat down next to her. She nodded and smiled.
"Yeah," she replied, gently taking his hand. They looked back up towards the clouds, watching them slowly drift by.
"It's gonna be."
AN: It's always darkest before the dawn.