Chapter 5

The truck kept going for hours, following the resistance leader's instruction, until it stopped a makeshift base hidden in a forest. When they arrived, Claude got off the truck and stared dumbfounded at some twenty-plus people ferrying each other on stretches into and out of six tents made of tarps and wooden sticks. There were no securities. Aside from one box contained a few outdated ZM Kar rifles, there were no other indicators that this was a guerrilla camp.

"Claude, give us a hand."

"Right, coming."

Unloading the wounded from the truck took a few minutes. The leader guided the way to the tent where the wounded received treatments. It felt like a job well done to Claude, until he and his friends stepped out of the tent, into the busy crowd.

"A word, if I may?"

The resistance leader stepped up to Claude from behind. Claude looked at the others.

"Claude, should we help them?" Teresa asked. Zaiga broke off the line and joined the crowd, picking up a wounded. Claude looked at him go.

"Yeah, yes. Vancey, stay with the truck."

Claude looked as they went off and followed the leader into the forest.

"Thank you for your help. I'm Jorsen and as of six hours ago, acting leader of this Blue Rose branch. And you are?"

"Claude. What happened last night?"

Jorsen took a moment to look at Claude.

"Cigarettes?" He offered.

"I don't smoke." Claude said.

"But you reek of the smell. I almost mistake you for one of my own. But let's be frank here, Claude. You know who we are. But I don't know who you are. I appreciate what you and your friends did for us but it's hard to proceed otherwise."

Claude looked at him, grabbed a cigarette and pulled out a lighter.

"We're looking for someone. Captured by the Empire. The Blue Rose helped one of us before, someone named Jascha. He told me that the Blue Rose can help." Claude said.

"You're either insane or stupid. Did you cross the border?"

"Yes. It was not as difficult as you may imagine."

Jorsen puffed some smoke and leaned against a tree.

"Sadly, I won't be able to help you much. Our branch didn't involve with saving your friend Jascha. But our sister branch further west might have. I can give you direction, as thanks for last night, but that will be all we can offer. As you see, this is a first aid station only. We don't have spare fuel."

"That won't be necessary. But if you could fill me in what happened last night, that would be great." Claude asked.

"It should be obvious, shouldn't it?" Jorsen laughed bitterly. "The Blue Rose declared a general offensive throughout the Empire. We thought we could take Ardaha or at least destroy their garrison. We didn't even make it past the police. And then we ran into you."

"Why would the Blue Rose launch an offensive? I thought it is a guerrilla group?"

"The ceasefire forces our hands. The Nord Republic counted on the Federation to liberate us from the Empire's control. But I guess everyone's as tired of fighting as the next one. If we don't move now and the ceasefire settles in, we'll lose our home."

Ashes fell to the ground. Claude inhaled a big one and held it in.

"So, when are you heading out?" Jorsen asked.

"I'll see if my friends can do without a rest, but we'll move as soon as possible."

"Shame. Thought I could use some more manpower. You seem to know a lot about the Blue Rose."

"We helped each other once in Lowehelm. Mika. He was my liaison. Do you know him?"

"Never heard of him. Must be one brave soul."

Claude finished his smoke and grinded the butt into the ground. Jorsen's was still burning.

Some hours later, after the wounded had been tended to and everyone caught a break, Claude rallied his group by the truck and debriefed.

"So that is the situation. We're heading to the Crystal Sea again. I'll take the first shift driving. There's a village two-hour drive from here, we can resupply and camp down there. Questions?" Claude said.

"Why aren't we helping them?" Zaiga asked.

"It's not our fight." Claude said.

"What do you mean it's not our fight? They're fighting for their homeland, taken by the Empire. Didn't we sign up for that? They could use our help."

"This is not our fight, Zaiga. We're not their outfit. We're here for Raz."

"Raz would have stayed and helped them."

"To what end? Until we liberate their country and start another war against the Empire? I'm here to save Raz, not the Nord Republic."

Everyone flinched.

"I'm sorry. You're right." Zaiga said. "I didn't think through."

"Let's pack up and move. If you need rest, sleep on the truck." Claude said. He half turned his back around but then he stopped. No one moved.

"Come on, Claude. Let's think about this a bit. At least we can help them move to their new base first. We have plenty of room in the back of the truck and enough fuel for a round trip." Vancey said.

"And then what? We have some spare ammos and let's give it to them? And maybe help them take out an Imperial garrison just because we have the time to spare?"

"Claude." Teresa murmured.

"Every moment we spend here arguing is every breath less Raz's taking, if he is at all. I'm here for him. I'm not here for anyone else. And I certainly dragged you here across the border to recruit you in someone else's fight."

"Claude." Teresa shouted and gestured everyone quiet. Claude was taken aback but simply followed. Then he realized the entire camp was also silent. Mere seconds later, the shouting from the distance echoed back, becoming clearer and clearer.

"Enemy! Enemy! Assault tanks!"

Before Claude could make clear what the sounding off was, Jorsen already ran toward his group.

"Claude. I'm sorry to impose on you, but would you help?"

Zaiga and Vancey already jumped on the truck and grabbed the rifles and threw them toward Mabel and Teresa. Claude only watched as they moved, too stunned to say anything, until Zaiga locked eyes with him. And he caught his rifle from Zaiga.

"We'll buy you some time." Vancey shouted at Jorsen shouted back "ten minutes" before quickly returned to the medical tents. Then the rest of the squad, all locked and loaded, stared at Claude.

"We're only buying time. Zaiga, get on the truck and find us an exfil point. Teresa take point and OP, get back to the line when you make contact. You two with me." Claude gave the order and everyone moved. When he stepped into the tree line, he glanced back and saw only two Blue Rose members scurrying off the base. He discarded the grim thought and continued running behind Vancey.

"Alright, stop. We're about fifty yards out. Vancey, base of fire here. Mabel, move as you want. Whatever you do, run if you see a tank."

Cloud gave the order and watched as Mabel went off. He glanced at Vancey and then faced forward, waiting for the inevitable. Each second passed marked off a drop of sweat forming and rolling off Claude's cheek. He leaned against a tree and readied his rifle.

Gunshots and truck's engines sounded off before Claude could see Teresa wading through the dense tree line. But she made it. And Claude and Vancey began firing.

"How many are we looking at?" Claude asked between firing.

"Looks like a battalion. I counted six truckloads of scouts at least."

"Tanks?"

"Didn't see any."

"Ok, spread out and pick your shot. Conserve ammo. Teresa shift right. I'll take left."

Perhaps the Imperial soldiers didn't expect a fight that they headed straight into his squad's crossfire. There were screams behind the trees, groans and cries blended in the sounds of gunfight and ragnite burning. Claude and Teresa moving instantly masked their true numbers, combined with Mabel's sniping helped them hold the line for longer than Claude expected. Zaiga joined in the fight as the second Imperial wave advanced. It was simply a miracle that they fought until the Imperial retreated as soon as Claude began to run out of ammo.

"Equipment sound off." He yelled out.

"Two mags left." Vancey yelled.

"I'm dried." Zaiga yelled.

"Me too." Teresa sounded off.

"I have two clips left." Mabel said.

"Fall in. We've done our job. Vancey watch our six. Zaiga take point. We're heading back to the truck."

They moved fast before the sounds of the next wave reached them. Gunshots and shouting hurled at them from their back, but Claude ignored them all, wishing only that the truck was untouched. They moved in tactical line, almost running instead of keeping formation, and soon reached the base. Which was razed. Tents burned to the grounds. Wounded left crawling on the ground. And the two Blue Rose members Claude saw earlier were bleeding, holding hands while waiting for death. And then an Imperial soldier walked by them and unloaded.

As for Claude, when he came to his senses, he was already raising his hands, staring at a tank's muzzle pointing at him.

"Well, well, I certainly didn't expect you here, soulmate."

It had been a few days since Minerva's visit but Leena hadn't been able to move on from what she said. It wasn't her fault that Claude was dumb and did things on his own. But she couldn't help but thinking about Minerva's words whenever her mind was free and started to wander. She kept herself busy, taking Angie to and from school, spending time with the old town watchers that she knew before she joined the Federation army. There was something about home that reminded her of the burden she carried. Yeah, it was definitely Riley. She was Claude's lover after all.

"Leena, why aren't we going home early? Riley can't use the stove. We have to make dinner." Angie said.

Leena looked at the little girl and said nothing. The sun was setting. The pink and orange skyline whipped a brush across the park, covered everything with its colors. Only Leena appreciated such a painting. The kids in the park were too busy being kids on the seesaws and slides to care about anything else, including their parents calling them to head home. At least Leena bought Angie off with an ice cream cone.

"Do you remember Raz?" Leena asked. Then she looked at Angie who wouldn't answer. The girl kept her face down and looked at the ice cream as if it was her untouched overdue homework.

"It's okay, I'm not crying." Leena tried to force a smile, but it came out dried. Instead, she put her arm over Angie and pulled the little girl in closer. The warmth of the setting sun had never felt so filling.

"I miss him." Angie finally murmured.

"Yeah."

A moment of silence.

"Do you remember anything from the war?" Leena asked.

"I remembered everyone onboard the Centurion. Everyone was nice and gave me lots of candies."

"Do you hate it? The war, I mean."

"Yes…but I get to meet you and everyone."

Angie switched the ice cream cone to the other hand and leaned in closer, buried her face in Leena's embrace. Leena looked down at the girl, chuckled, and stroke the pink curvy hair.

"Finish the ice cream then we'll go home. Riley must be waiting for us." She said.

The evening was still tense as usual, even if Leena and Riley were putting on a feign to hide from Angie. Leena kept herself busy with the housework, doing everything she could find until the house was spotless, Angie tucked in, and Riley's wheelchair oiled and cleaned. When there was nothing else to be done, Leena finally gave in to the dark thoughts. She entered Riley's room late after midnight, half hoping Riley had slept.

"I think it is about time we talk about Raz." Leena mumbled. Riley sat up on her bed and scooched over to make room for Leena.

"I'm listening". Riley said. Leena snuck in beneath the blanket and laid on her side, facing Riley.

Riley's touch was like opening a valve. As she felt Riley's hand patting on her shoulder and sliding through her hair, she cried and hugged her friend. "I'm ready, Riley. I'm ready to go back." Leena murmured between hiccups. "Let's go save them." She cried.