AU PAIR
DISCLAIMER: I do not own Card Captor Sakura.
Chapter Eleven: Octobers Storm
"Bye," Sakura called, holding Lyri in her arms, her small head resting against her shoulder as they both waved to Meilin. The soft drizzle of rain began to change angles, hitting them from where they stood beneath the roof. That morning, they all were woken up by the thunderous storm followed by lightening that had lit up the sky like a rave. Lyri, being the only one upstairs had come running and screaming, waking the two females slumber downstairs. "Thank you again Meilin," Sakura called again as an after thought, making the raven haired soldier give them an air kiss before getting into the awaiting cab. Since the dark clouds threatened a storm, they both agreed she needed to head to work before she became stuck in a place that wasn't even her home.
The two stayed on the porch until the taxi was no longer in view, before finally deciding to go back inside. The early morning chill made her body twitch as an after math of being outside and she placed the three-year-old down, letting her run towards the living room like a jet. A quick look at her cell phone made her groan, knowing the few hours they had to waste before she needed to get Lyri off to school, was going to be a long few hours. Snatching up the blanket she'd used that night, she cuddled up on the couch and stared at the television screen. Lyri was already planted on the floor before it, dolls in hand, as she let her body swing to and fro with the shows theme song. Ni-Hao, a strange, yet addicting preschool aged cartoon had begun to play for the hour. The Chinese-American show taught children the language and how to act right when it came to bullies. Sakura found her-self dozing off, the words of Ni-Hao's hello and good day song filling her mind. Knowing it would probably be bad if she fell asleep; Sakura absently pitched her leg beneath the blanket and swore. Her nails dug deep, leaving a mark that would bruise quickly. Having worked, she stared at the screen then at Lyri's black hair swaying. She was indeed absorbed into the cartoon. As the time passed by, her eyes grew heavy in depravation. Exhausted and bored, she found her body falling into the depths of the comfy furniture, her mind a complete haze as it tried to fool her into crashing. For the second time, she had to pinch her skin, not wanting to fall asleep. Coffee, she groaned mentally, letting the cold living room bite her as she got to her feet.
"Sakura…my tummy's making noises inside." Lyri spoke up, eyes not leaving the screen. Smiling to her-self she headed for the kitchen, the thought of breakfast made her stomach growl in anticipation as well. Though it was the second day working as the Li's babysitter, she already felt she got the hang of where everything was. Meilin had helped a lot the night before, the two girls going all out with a dinner that could have served an army. Getting the coffee set up, she dug through the cabinet for a bowl and followed that up with eggs and milk. Breakfast was probably one of the easiest meals to make, no one could mess up on that, and her confidence made her spirits rise even as the sound of incoming thunder shuddered outside the house.
The volume of Ni-Hao rose considerably, drowning out the thunder that rolled for a second time. Sakura shook her head, getting ready to react if the volume got too high. She didn't blame the child for being scared, storms in Middleton got bad. Thunder always came with Lightening and lightening always came with rain by the gallons. Being by the Atlantic Ocean wasn't a plus either, especially during a storm. Quipping up the yellow mass of eggs, Sakura began searching for the pans. Okay, spinach, milk…pan spray…she mentally tallied her instructions up, making sure she had everything she needed before she began actually cooking breakfast. It was one thing to make a meal for more than one person and another to make it when the second person is a child that was far pickier about food than Sakura herself. At least children were healthy eaters, so she didn't have to worry about what it was she cooked. As the eggs began sizzling on the pan, she added the spinach, breaking the leaves up in tiny pieces. She remembered her mother hiding vegetables in every meal in order for both her brother and she to eat them. It was a dirty trick, but it worked. No one was the wiser. Now, she just did it out of habit. Spinach was the easiest to cook with, especially when the leaves were fresh. The substance melts away, turning into a green string of evidence but not tasting like anything. It added texture, if not color. As the smell of coffee roast wafted up her nose, the scent bitter sweet, she began finishing up the eggs and popping bread into the toaster.
Lyri's voice was shrill as she laughed in the other room, enjoying her show. Wondering what it was that made children love such cartoons, she went in search for a mug. The early hour made the coffee sensation welcomed in her mind. Goosebumps ran up her arms as she poured the hot steamed liquid, the smell growing stronger. Her mind already tasted the substance even before she sipped it, blowing on the steam unconsciously. Rough droplets of rain began to pelt the window and she looked up, eyes staring in awe at the dark morning. The thunder that followed the pelts startled her. Hands wrapped around her warm mug, she went to the back door. Frost fogged up the glass, her breath adding to it. Holding it, she pressed her forehead to the window and gazed at the clouds covering the entire sky. The storm looked promising, the rain that fell growing by the second. A jagged line of lightening fell across in the distance, thunder rumbling angrily, the toast popped up with a ping. Calling Lyri, she let out her held in breath and watched the foggy mass cloud the window. The temperature would surely drop as the day grew on, she didn't know if she was prepared for that just yet. October was a month of rain and wind, storms and unexpected heat. The month itself was shrouded with leaves that fell for the season and the moon's gravitational pull on the earth. Hearing Lyri's footsteps she finally turned from the window, eyes growing large as the small child stared at her in freight.
"What's wrong?" she asked, placing her coffee on the island's counter and kneeling.
"I'm scaredy," enveloping the girl in her arms, she lifted up with a groan, placing her cold forehead to hers. "The thunder's scary,"
"I know it is, but you're safe here with me." Sakura promised, letting her eyes flutter against her skin. A distinct ringing sounded, the kitchen filling up with the echo instantly. Arching a brow, she stared across the room at the phone. It paused before ringing again before she registered that someone was calling the Li's house. Placing Lyri back on her feet, she jogged the distance and hesitantly picked up the receiver. "Um, hello…Li residence," it felt so strange to answer someone else's phone.
"Miss Kinomoto, this is Cassandra Bock from Lyrianna's school." The voice was filled with static, the urgency in the woman's tone making I frown. Head turning, she gave the child one look seeing her sitting patiently on the chairs around the island; Lyri's obvious hunger making her smile slightly as she turned her back again.
"Yes, good morning Ms. Bock,"
"I'm calling to inform you the school will be closed today. This storm…well…the military has ordered an evacuation of Fort Middleton." Eyes growing, she couldn't help but let out an inappropriate word. A storm, they were having a storm that called for evacuations across the coast. "We will call back if school proceeds tomorrow, but I highly doubt it." She added, not at all fazed by her mute answer.
"Thank you for calling, do you know if the evacuation will reach the valley? I believe we're only twenty or so miles away from Fort Middleton." She stated, swallowing a lump in her throat. It was the perfect time to have a storm; while she was babysitting a child she didn't know very well, with a father that was miles over the ocean.
"Not that I am aware of, I'm sure they will announce it over the News soon." Cassandra Bock said the static growing as thunder made the house shudder. No more words exchanged, Sakura thanked her once again before hanging up. The crash of thunder made goose bumps run up her arm and down her spine. They were having one hell of a storm. She stood still for a long moment, letting the thought of evacuation run her blood cold. She wasn't ready for such extremes; she wasn't ready to protect a human other than her own body. Then again, who was prepared? When it came down to it, things fall into place with or without preparations. Fort Middleton was closer to the weather the Ocean had to offer, always the main target to such storms.
"Good news," Sakura said, finally catching her composure and walking slowly to the waiting child. "No school, so what should we do today?" in her mind though, she was screaming in fear that they truly were going to have to evacuate next.
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The pain that resided in his shoulder kept his mind from falling at ease into a comfortable state of sleep. Hidden beneath the surface, deep underground, no one saw or heard the disastrous storm that brewed just outside. Being hidden underground kept them safe, yet trapped. Syaoran, however, felt the need to escape, an itch deep within his gut even with the pain that throbbed throughout his body. He was stiff, sore, and lacking efficiency to walk around the tight space of the shared room. His internal clock told him he needed to find sleep, get his body back what he lost during the fight outside the confined walls hours before but yet, he couldn't. The first moment he had fallen into a slumber, he woke in cold sweat and realized the pain that escaladed in his shoulder was real and not part of his dream. A dream he knew was just a replay of the humvee that flipped his crew, threatening their lives second by second. The second time he found sleep, he just couldn't take it anymore and got to his feet, letting his eyes adjust to the dim lighting of the power source. Deep underground, the only form of lights were an orange glow from a generator that hummed. The noise was getting to him as well, the humming a drone like a refrigerator that bit at his bones and irritated his senses. Syaoran knew most of his irritation was coming from not seeing a medic right away, letting the pain find its way throughout his body slowly, but that didn't mean he wasn't irritated for other things as well.
The fact that no one has gone in search of him throughout, what he hoped was nighttime, meant the soldiers of the SRT division weren't needed. The soldiers that got treated for injuries were probably all in their own shared rooms or still with the medic. Syaoran knew he probably should go see the medic as well, having been in the humvee that flipped, throwing his body about painfully. Stubbornly, he didn't want to, not yet. His team members should take first priority and he was still angry about the whole scenario. If it weren't for the voice that warned them of the enemy, it would have ended a lot worse. He was thankful for the unknown soldier, even if he didn't take the time to find out who it was that spoke through the ear piece. Walking slowly through the corridor, he made for the far end of the base, his stomach twisting in knots and growling. The cafeteria should be somewhere, what he needed right now was food. Having not eaten since he left his house, he was starting to feel the affects of an empty stomach. Letting his mind wander, he walked, trying to figure out where everyone had disappeared too. Haku and the soldier Farce had fallen asleep in the bunks, not at all stirring when he had left the room. It was obviously a time of rest, but just how much time were they allowed to rest. Mission was complete, wasn't it? Syaoran ran a hand across the cold cement wall of the corridor before turning the corner, his footsteps echoing off the walls in anticipation.
The mission had been to collect anything they could in order to keep the enemy from getting their hands on it. They collected far more than what the base had thought was still at the sight. Syaoran was curious as to what was inside the medal casing he brought personally to the Lieutenant Major, what had caused his anger to spike even as he ignored the requests that he see a medic. Absently, he brought cold fingers to his forehead, feeling the caked on dirt and blood. He hit his head pretty hard, maybe he should go see the on site medic. Protocol states an injury while on duty needs to be tended to right away; however, in his mind he was no longer on duty. They brought back burnt up computers and weapons that survived the destruction. Unless there was something else that needed to be done, he was off duty. He'd even gone as far as not falling asleep for over an hour in case he truly did have a concussion. As his thoughts strayed to calculating injuries on his body and lack of, he found his feet had brought him to the central room. The air tight door opened the moment he stepped forward, hitting the hidden censor. Inside, window after window were brighter than the room itself, revealing different pictures. Entering the room, he stopped short and stared.
"What is that?" his words were sharp, the gasp of surprise and fear escalating. There were only a few bodies in the room, only one of them turning to acknowledge Syaoran. His dark eyes were wide, taking in the ragged and dirty face of the solider standing there, staring at the screen in front.
Glancing at his name tag, he turned back to the screen. "It's a typhoon that has escaladed drastically over the past few hours. You are First Officer Syaoran Li of Fort Middleton, correct?" Syaoran couldn't find his voice. On the screen were different colored images of the storm, the highs and lows of the speed in which it was escalading. However, it wasn't the colors of the storm; it was the map in which the storm was flowing over that caught his attention. "We have estimated that this storm will last, hours if not days, the speed in which the center of the whirlwind has gathered in only one specific spot and hopefully die down before it gets worse."
"How…?"
"We never would have figured out what was happening without my help. The satellite units have been gathering data and sending it back to this base, in which the speed…"
"No, I mean, how bad is it in Middleton?" Syaoran asked, cutting the soldier off easily. He didn't care about ranks right now; all he cared about was whether or not his daughter and Sakura were safe. With a storm like that brewing, he knew Meilin would be on duty and not able to see Lyri until it was all over. The desperation in his tone of voice must had shown because the man turned, eyes slightly widening, brows raised in the astonishment one would give a five year old. The other two soldiers monitoring the screens before them, turned in surprise, but for different reasons entirely.
"Fort Middleton has called for an evacuation twenty miles of the coast that is including the Marine Base." He glanced at the screen, fingers typing in a quick speed as he changed the picture. Syaoran stared wide eyed at the satellite image of the Atlantic Ocean just outside of Middleton's line. "The storm is passing over us and heading over the Atlantic, if you want to know specifics…" he paused, bringing up a different image. "The typhoon looks to be dispersing and will not bring about cause to evacuate the rest of the city. Fort Middleton and the Marine base are the center of the storm, the city itself will merely get rain and at worse, a black out from the constant thunder."
"You're sure?" Syaoran never once let his eyes tray away from the screen, trying to decipher the different images and see what it was this solider saw.
"I'm positive," a hand was suddenly in his vision, startling Syaoran from thoughts of his daughter. "I'm Major Takashi Yamazaki, the one that brought in the satellite images of the enemy. I'm a specialist in the Intelligence Division, top of my class, I'm positive I can tell whether or not the destruction of both our hometown will be destroyed."
"He also talks a lot," a new voice stated, making the two turn. Syaoran found his arm going up before he could even register Lieutenant Major Cole, dressed in a clean suit instead of the uniform she had been wearing before. Her wavy hair was pinned in a tight bun at the base of her neck, her sharp eyes taking in the screens revealing the storm, before staring at the two soldiers that had been talking. "Sergeant Li, you have seen a medic yet, why don't you do that know and meet in the briefing room in an hour, we have another job for the SRT division."
"Were we out of line, Lieutenant Major?" Takashi asked, a smile playing the sides of his lips as he sat back in his chair. Legs planted firmly on the floor, he let the swivel chair move only a fraction of an inch as he crossed his arms. Though, the woman before him was his superior, he was acting like she was the complete opposite. Syaoran noticed the smug look in his eyes, a look that would have gotten him in trouble if Cole didn't return that smug look for a split second. She had turned a cold stare to him, however, before releasing him from his salute. Syaoran remained still, arms clasped behind his back. Cole approached closer, a pad of papers in her arms, which she fixed gingerly, before letting her stance falter at the sight of the typhoon on the screens.
"Not at all, in fact, I would like more on the storm detail in the briefing room from you Major Yamazaki; we will need your personal opinion on the matter." She eyed Syaoran wearily, then Takashi. "Medic, now soldier that is an order," Syaoran saluted one last time and left, not sure if he liked the tone of voice she used or the secretive aura she had surrounding her and those papers. She needed the SRT division for another job, which means he was still on duty. Being reminded of his stiff body and lack of sleep, he found his way back through the cold corridor until he reached the infirmary. All the while, his thoughts straying to what it was she wanted his team to do in such an intense weather.
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"An evacuation of Fort Middleton's base, the Marine Base, and most of the coastal residence has been enforced, as of twelve this afternoon. Any residences that can not evacuate are told to take emergency actions…" Sakura turned the mute on, her heart thudding against her chest as she stared at the screen before her. Since early this morning, there has been nothing but news on the in coming storm. Day time shows had been canceled in order to broadcast the emergency evacuations, a rerun of the same report that only got updated recently. Emerald eyes began to tear up as she chanced a glance at her charge, thoughts straying to the man that abandoned them for an emergency deployment. It wasn't his fault, but she just wished there was something she could do. They were decently far from the coast, a safe distance from the evacuation line, but barely. Lyri continued to draw in five different coloring books, all princess's from different movies. She wasn't fazed by the news or fazed that she didn't have to go to school, in fact, her high spirits was what kept her from having a melt down.
Two days ago, she would have thought the situation with the storm was simply that; a storm. She knew a lot about the comings and goings of storms, especially ones that they dubbed a high risk to society. The ocean would take the impact of the down pour; the waves would pick up velocity and begin the never-ending crash against the cliffs. Fort Middleton was being evacuated because they were the neighboring base with the Marines, while Fort Sudder was further inland and safe from harm. She knew that was where the soldiers of both bases were going to head to, unless they were on duty protecting the citizens. She highly doubted that, though. Legs crossed beneath her butt, she leaned into the couch with an exasperated sigh and watched Lyri draw circles on one spot over and over again. The three year old didn't know what was happening, she didn't know the danger the storm was brewing for them. Her mind only registered the scary noise thunder made and the bright lights lightening made when it lit up the sky. Sakura had solved that problem by closing all the blinds and using pillows throughout the house to muffle out what she could in the first place. It worked, but it didn't keep out the noise the rain made with its constant thump against the windows and the roof. The chill from the rain had forced her to use the heater once again, in hopes Li didn't mind the extra notch to his bill. She was just glad they still were able to use the electricity. The "typhoon" as the news had been starting to call it, hadn't gotten too severe.
Getting to her feet, she fell straight to her knees and crawled her way to Lyri. The small girl gave her a large smile that reached the depths of her teal colored eyes brightly. As the second day of babysitting began to unravel, she found herself in love with those teal eyes. She was such a lively child as well, her humorous attitude towards anything and everything made her wish she was that age ago, herself. Dragging a coloring book to her, Sakura found a comfortable position on the floor, her stomach protesting with the way her jeans button poked into her skin. Using the first crayon she could get her fingers around, she began the inevitable coloring of Princess Aurora, shading in the dress red. Lyri began to giggle, using her own crayon to help her with the shading. Soon the two girls found themselves, decorating the whole page in pink and red, with a dash of blue to emphasize the hair. As they began working on the next page of a different book, her lifted her head to check the news. Scrolling in small lettering on the bottom of the screen, directly below the picture of the anchorman giving an update on the storm, was the evacuation code for Middleton Valley. Eyes going wide, she abandoned the crayon and got to her feet, feeling the protest in her lower back as she scrambled for the remote across the room. Hands shaking, she fumbled for the button and pressed it, letting her body hit the floor with a thump. The slow precision of the volume returned gradually, the voice of the anchorman cutting through the silence of their drawing match.
"…the evacuation of Middleton's coastal area has now been extended to the range of twenty miles around the radius. Middleton Valley and that of Downtown is now being advised to evacuate to the inlands. Highways and roads have been blocked off but…" Sakura turned it off, she couldn't take it anymore. The beating of her heart reached her hearing, the thumping sound a dull ache as she shakily let the remote fall to the carpet next to her. They were evacuating, the final word from the mayor of the entire city has finally made his verdict. It wasn't a solid evacuation though; otherwise the storm horns that echoed throughout the city would go off in warning. She had no reason to worry as much as her body was.
"Miss Sakura," the tiny voice was as unsure as the thoughts the clouded her mind. Blinking back tears before they threatened to escape, she looked at the three-foot-tall child and cracked a weary smile, hoping it helped ease her soul if not her own. "Is Miss Sakura upset?"
"Not at all," getting to her feet, she brushed her long shirt smooth until it was straight on her hips, fingers tightly gripping the ends as she thought of a plan. "Lyri, would you like to help me make snacks?" she found herself asking. To the girls delight she nodded, springing to her feet instantly. Coloring books and crayons forgotten, scattered carelessly all over the living rooms floor, the two walked towards the kitchen. They needed a plan that much she could come up with. Food was a key thing in case they were stuck without electricity and trapped within confinements of safety. Middleton was evacuating, wanting people to go further in land but to where, all the shelters were miles away from their current position…"Tomoyo's!" Sakura suddenly blurted out, stopping in her tracks to search for her phone.
"Can we have graham cookies?" Lyri asked, ignoring the outburst.
"Sure, why don't you go get them." fingers numb, she dialed Tomoyo's number and lifted it to her ear cautiously. She was almost afraid of what she would hear on the other end, but the lack of sound coming made her stare blankly at the floor. There were no sounds coming, no ringing, no static, not even a dial tone of any sort. Pulling the phone from her ear she stared at the screen, seeing the 'x' mark in the top corner. They've lost signal. She didn't know if it was that small notion of realization or the sudden flicker of the kitchen lights that made her panic. Inwardly her body was frozen by the root of her spot, the blood flowing from head to toe in her body making her go cold. Typhoon or no typhoon they needed to evacuate. "L-Lyrianna can you…do you have a bag, like a backpack for school?" her words were soft, not able to reach an easy tone that wouldn't portray the uneasiness coursing around her.
Lyri was fast to listen, her soft footsteps going past her and up the stairs hurriedly. Sakura stared at nothing, trying to recollect herself. She knew she needed to keep a cool head and get them to safety. Cell phones were obviously out of commission right now, but that didn't mean anything. The towers were thick and protected from hazardous weather; the signals would be back on soon. Her need of panic was quickly squished as she turned on a heel and bounded up the stairs. Lyri was where she thought she was, rummaging through her stuff for a bag. Lucky for her, she wasn't at all aware of the danger they were in. She went to the little girl's dresser, opening and shutting drawers until she had an outfit picked out for her. It took a moment too long, but they had everything sorted out. Lyri was finally dressed in clothes warm enough to withstand a chill, pink and yellow rain boots protecting her feet, hair set up in two pony tails. Hurrying her downstairs, Sakura took a breather and stared around the room. It was actually happening, they were evacuating further inland. She remembered the last the city had been told to evacuate; she had gotten trapped in a cellar for a few hours after the storm, the man she was with having panicked far more than he needed to and broke the handle from the inside. A smile played at the corner of her mouth, remembering the songs she sung to him like he was a child. A complete stranger she got stuck with merely because he was in the same department as she when the storm hit. At that time, she didn't own a cell phone so no one could help her.
"Miss Sakura, Miss Sakura, look at the rain. WOW!" Lyri's voice could be heard, her complete amusement breaking through Sakura's memories like the lightening that lit up the sky. Blinking, she made sure they had everything and quickly went to downstairs. Sure enough, the moment she was downstairs, Lyri had the blinds opened, her face pressed against the window in awe. The rain wasn't just pouring; it was like a river coming down on them. The dark clouds overhead thick and black as it moved westward. Outside, she could make out a few cars listening to the evacuation orders, neighbors bearing umbrellas and bags of emergency items.
"Let's go, we still have snacks to grab." Without a second's hesitation, chills running down her spine even as she thought of the worse, she made for the kitchen and its many items of food. Water, snacks…she kept repeating in her head, letting Lyri grab what she wanted as she went in search of a plastic bag. In moments they were done, far faster then when they had gotten dressed and she was ushering Lyri out and into the garage. Horror suddenly struck her as she got Lyri buckled into her car seat. Sakura's stomach twisted in knots that made her wish she didn't eat that one piece of toast earlier. They were evacuating, in a car, she barely knew how to drive.
"Where we going…?" Lyri asked, making Sakura shake her head.
"Not sure, but we need to leave now." She shivered for the umpteenth time that moment, pushing the driver's seat back into its original position. Straightening, she glanced around the dark garage. We can do this…I…I can do this, Meilin taught me the basics and this is an emergency right, I can do this. She thought hands tightly clenched to keep the shivering at a stand still. Making sure they had everything, she got into the car. The engine rumbling, she stared in horror at the opening door, the downpour of water falling from the sky like death itself. Taking a deep breath, she slowly moved the joystick and backed the car out without trouble. I can do this, I can do this…I'm doing it.
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Syaoran was quick to get the medic out of his hair. He knew his body better than anyone. The stiffness he felt was because of the rough toss around in the humvee, the pain he felt in his shoulder was because he dislocated it when his head smashed into the bar and he had one final crash against the window. The shoulder was easily fixed, the pain he felt during the relocating, hurt far more then the antiseptic pads the medic insisted on using to clean the cuts he had on his forehead. The wound he'd opened up wasn't a concussion and that was all he needed to know. He didn't want to be bandaged up, he didn't want painkillers that would override his senses and make him feel funny, and all he wanted was to find out what mission the Lieutenant Major had in store of his team. They already got what they came out for, even eliminated the enemy without a hesitation. His mind wasn't up for another mission, he just wanted to go home to Lyri and protect her from the storm that he'd recently found out was brewing at the heart of the Atlantic. Leaving the small cubicle they called a washroom, he followed after a few soldiers he didn't recognize into the briefing room. The entire base hidden beneath the ground was present including the medic that trust treated him. Brows knitted together, he kept all emotion out of his face as he sat down in the cold black chair next to Tsukino.
Haku wasn't at all pleased with the turn of events, his own expression held together as he kept his attention trained on the blank screen of the overhead projector. Having been woken up from a slumber, the blond soldier ignored everyone around him. Syaoran didn't blame him; they all were hoping to have returned home to their families, except Haku didn't know of the storm that had begun above their heads, like Syaoran did. The entire room sat in a strange silence, the ones having been woken up letting their minds wake up gradually while the soldiers that were already stationed in the base since day one, kept to themselves merely because they knew. Takashi Yamazaki entered the dimly light room, following closely by the Lieutenant Major, the same folders she'd been holding before in her arms tightly. Everyone got to their feet with a rustle of clothing and clanking of medal chairs, saluting the entrance of their superior. Once she was standing, back straight and eyes sharp in from of them, she released their stances. Once again, chairs clanked as they all sat down unison. Syaoran, arms crossed over his chest to the protest of his shoulder, watched her closely. Though, Cole was his superior, something about her he wasn't beginning to hate. Her ideal opinions on the SRT and what they could do was a high risk to his team. He remembered her words of how she requested them specifically. It wasn't because they were good at their job, it was something else entirely and he had half the mind to find out what exactly she wanted this team for.
"Major Yamazaki," her words cut through the silence, dulled by the number of bodies in the room. Takashi was on his feet, computer in hand as he hooked it up to the projector without a hesitation.
"Typhoon of the Gods," Takashi's voice mocked, body straightening as he stood aside from the light that pierced through him. The white screen turned blue than black as he set up something for all of them to see. Syaoran stared as the picture became clear in moments, the storm he'd seen in the central room becoming clear for all of them to see. It had changed in the hour that he'd been with the medic. Blood running cold, he remained passively still as Yamazaki began to talk. "What you see here is a storm that had gradually become stronger as minutes go by." he changed the image, showing them what he showed Syaoran earlier. "This is the alliance's satellite image of this gale two hours ago, directly above our heads in the Hot Lands is a storm that had brewed overtime. Now…" he changed the image, showing them the terrain. "This is what is left of the storm here, it had passed without much notice but it is now currently gaining strength over the Atlantic Ocean.
"Connections to home base have dropped considerably, we can't get a hold of them but this satellite image is the current situation." Takashi brought up the storm image once again, the different colors and codes in the left hand corner. A few people gasped, taking in the depths of the typhoon. Though, as Syaoran stared at it, it had changed drastically but it wasn't as bad as it had been when he'd seen the image earlier. Something had changed and he was sure they were about to hear it. "This red zone is the center of the gale; the pink is the lesser areas that will get hit. It's not a hurricane or tornado but flood warnings have gone up drastically." Syaoran closed his eyes, letting out a shaky breath. Takashi continued to talk and show them images, his voice drowning out as he continued about the depths of the storm and the likely damage it was going to cause. For some reason, he found himself thinking of Sakura; briefly wondering if his daughter was safe in her care and away from the depths of the storm. As the minutes passed, Haku hit his leg, catching Syaoran's attention. Turning, he stared as Lieutenant Cole returned to her post by the projector.
"We have a few hours until the next bout of rain hits the Hot Lands. However, because of the drastic measures the desert has when it comes to such storms, I need the SRT and Unit 8 to go out and perform a search and rescue, here." Takashi brought up an image, the satellite photo of their current position on the globe. Zooming in, they all stared at gamma rays of bodies in what looked like a destroyed village. Syaoran frowned, as the image changed to a much clearer image. "These villages are uncivilized, and as you can see have been destroyed from the storm two hours ago. There's four villages in total with, we hope, survivors. I need the SRT and Unit 8 to search for those survivors before the next wave of rain hits us."
"You're joking right?" someone said, making everyone turn in their direction. Syaoran recognized Farce in the far corner, his body leaning forward as he stared intently at the screen. "Another wave of this gale is going to hit and you want us to be out there when it happens? That's a suicide mission."
"So you would let the people of those villages die in that next storm?"
"No, but I wouldn't want my comrades too either. How far away are these villages and there is four in total, that means they are all separated by a grip of miles. How are we to perform a search and rescue in the short time you're giving us?" his accent hit thick within the walls of the room, his frustration regarding the mission bringing out the worst of it. Syaoran made to say something, being Farce's superior but Lieutenant Cole beat him too it, her voice like ice as it cut through them all.
"Death is nothing compared to being stuck within a trap caused by the world's natural disasters. Would you be willing to betray your comrades, the military itself because you believed this mission was beneath you?" the silence that followed went on for a few seconds longer before he shook his head, falling back in his seat in desperation. They all knew a command to remain silent even if it was simply a statement about death. Syaoran didn't blame Farce for his opinion though; it was a suicide mission that probably would end with them stuck in the coming storm. It was their job though, they needed to abide by the contracts they signed and live through it. At least, they weren't doing it alone and had Unit 8 from the alliance base to help them. The unknown soldiers that sat in the room had the same kind of expression on their faces, probably thinking the same thing as he. A job was a job and they needed to do it without hesitation. Takashi began his drawl about the storm that was coming, giving them instructions about it. Before Syaoran knew it, they were heading out, unprepared and agitated.
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Sakura winced every time the gears grinded, her body automatically flinched even before she moved the joy stick into the correct spot. If Meilin was in the car with them, she would be wincing with her, a comment here or there, but Sakura knew she was at least doing something right because they weren't stalling. That was the one major point not to do wrong; stall. The rain hit the windshield hard, the wipers moving as fast as it could to keep her vision clear but it did no help. Leaning against the steering wheel, she was practically resting on her hand as she drove ever slowly down the street. The cars in front of her were in the same boat, moving slowly but surely through the storm of a life time. With the heater running and the music on low, Sakura tried her best in keeping them safe from the hazardous road and typhoon at the same time. As clear headed as she could get, she knew her destination, but that continued to arise in her mind kept her palms clammy and her stomach twisting in knots. Were they going to make it in time? She wasn't even sure what was coming, a hurricane, a twister, a large earthquake in the middle of the Atlantic? The news hadn't been quite clear with their evacuation plans, only that the storm was brewing stronger and stronger, the rain coming down like buckets from a waterfall. Through the rear view mirror she could see Lyri bobbing her head to the music, eyes staring out the windows in awe. Coming to a complete stop, Sakura stared in frustration at the cars that wouldn't move.
A part of her wanted to turn the station and hear what the radio news had to say, but if she did she knew she would only get agitated by their words. Agitated and stressed out, since her charge was only three. As the cars in front of her moved once again, her body winced with the shifting gears and moved forward as well. Heart beating fast, she stared through the soaked windshield as the trees overhead waved with the wind, threatening to collapse. Barely able to withstand the fierce storm themselves, she almost pitied the plant life. Deciding on turning the corner instead of following the cars, she went a different route, hoping the traffic wasn't as bad. Fun's "We are Young", began to play on the radio, his voice as loud as Lyri's as she tried her part at singing the words. Sakura couldn't help but smile at this. Such an innocent mind, unaware of what was happening around them, unaware that the storm was practically crying buckets and causing a panic in the entire city, she was cute. Lyri's body was moving as best it could, the car seat only moving slightly with her vigorous dance in it. Driving, listening to Lyri, and hoping for the best, was the only thing that kept Sakura sane. As strange as it was, she was glad she was the one babysitting Li's daughter. The two days that grew horrifying weather wise, was becoming one she didn't mind anymore. Lyri's carefree personality was heartwarming, and probably the only thing that kept Sakura's spirits up.
Slowing down, Sakura squinted at the sign above her head to no avail. The rain, the windshield wipers, and the wind kept her from seeing the street sign. It moved to and fro with the storm, the green light bright in comparison. Leaning forward till the seatbelt kept her body back, she stared, her breath fogging up the window. Gorman was scrawled across the swinging sign, and she hoped that she read it correctly. The five minutes sitting there was long enough, anymore wasted time and someone would slam into her back end. Shifting gears, she moved forward just as the light turned red for the third time in that sitting and kept her speed in check. As the time passed, it donned on her then that the road was empty; cars were parked and abandoned on the side of the road. Slowly down, curiosity getting the best of her, she rolled the window down to get a better look. The entire street had more water then a pool, the wind and constant fall of downpour bringing it to another octave. Sakura stared wide eyed at the flooded street, barely blocked with construction pillars to keep the flood from going any further into town. Rolling the window back up, her hair a dripping mess, she backed the car up and turned around cautiously. They needed to get somewhere safe and now, no more tip toeing around the storm; she needed to get her charge somewhere.
"Wow, Sakura you're wet!" Lyri yipped in joy, clapping as she laughed. Sakura faked a smile, driving slowly up the street she just came from. If the streets were flooding then it was only going to get worse as the time went by, the rain hadn't let up since that morning; at least the thunder and lightening had come to a stop, she thought absently, staring through the washed up windshield as she drove slowly. Turning a different corner, she tried her luck at the street and smiled, seeing the red back lights of moving cars. Large trucks came into view, men wearing bright yellow trench coats directing the traffic and yellowing out instructions. Sakura, her chest tightening at the feeling of stress, let out a shaky breath as they followed the man's instructions to keep slow and a nice distance from the other vehicles. Seeing the lit up sign, directing the traffic as awfully as the men in trench coats, Sakura turned the corner and followed after a few other cars.
"We're almost there," she stated, more to herself then to Lyri.
"Where are we going?"
"It's a surprise; I know you'll like it." I just hope Chiharu is there, she added in her head, following the traffic until they were further inland.
The two hours it took them to reach the place she hoped was good enough for the government's evacuation order, had drained Sakura and put Lyri to sleep. Parking in the underground garage was far more difficult than driving the mustang and she wished she had been giving more lessons at driving. As the car came to a warn stop, the vibration from the engine leaving her legs tingling, she quietly got their things together before getting out. Chiharu's studio home was the only place she could think of that was high up and further inland from the ocean. The cold garage sent chills running through her body as she gathered the sleeping Lyri from her seat, holding her head to her as she ducked awkwardly into the vehicle. Her forty pound weight was difficult to carry with the bags of food and emergency clothes but she managed. As the caged in elevator dinged, she pressed a worn out button, buzzing her friend to let them in. time ticked by, her heart thudding against her chest, her mind screaming at the same time. If her friend wasn't home, they'd be in trouble. The two hours it took them to reach this place, gave the pouring storm a chance to continue to flood the streets further. There was no way she was going to be able to drive back out in that storm, not without getting stuck. To her relief Chiharu opened the medal door, eyes wide at her guest.
"My god, Sakura, what are you doing here?" she glanced at the sleeping child, her hazel eyes bugging out even more. "Scratch that, who's the kid?"
"My job," Sakura whispered, walking into the warm room. Chiharu made a strange noise, shutting the elevators cage, then her own door. "I didn't know where else to go, the cell signal is out and we were in the evacuation zone." She added, placing Lyri on the large couch. Chiharu was quick to turn the music off, letting the silent room envelope them quickly.
"So…you took the job with that military guy right?" Chiharu whispered her back turned as she walked to the kitchen. Sakura sat against the couch's back, watching her friend.
"Yeah, I really didn't have a choice, he got called in the night we had that second interview. Rika didn't tell you?" Chiharu held up a bottle of liquor, getting Sakura to smile and nod. "Where's Takashi, I figured he'd be here too."
"Called in," she walked back to Sakura, two glasses of the brown liquid in her hand. "Oh, he sent me a message on my computer about this storm. It was more of we don't have to worry about it, it should be over by…" she paused, brows knitted together as she thought of the message. "Sometime tomorrow, but the time difference between us is huge so he gave me his best guess."
Taking a small sip, Sakura let the cold drink warm her throat. "So he's working too, it must have been on hell of an emergency deployment." Chiharu nodded eyes sad as she watched her friend drink. She could see it written all of her face, her stance, absently shook with the passing adrenaline of rushing to her studio, that Sakura was stressed to the max. Eyes flicking to the sleeping child on her couch, she sipped her own drink. At least they were safe.
To be continued…
Okay, I don't know what happened but for some reason all the Sakura's, and hers, in my document got changed to the letter "I". I think I fixed it, but if you find some like that please let me know and if you can, tell me where in the story it's located at so I can fix it. But I think I got it all. Hope so.