Chapter 13: Chained no more - Part 1
7th July - 12:00,Thanos Apartment,Larissa
Athene's PoV
I came back from the shop near my home to buy yet another newspaper,to review the current situation between my President-Traitor Stephanopoulos and his ministers. The recent newspaper I've just brought revealed something I hoped and asked for: My people have finally had enough of him and his pathetic servitude,since today. Ever since that American fuckface decided to,as if he had created the International Law,unilaterally build the Camp Bondsteel in the midst of war against my closest friend Vuk,I bought newspapers everyday to see the hopeful results if Kostis had decided to leave this Terrorist Organization where you're treated as nothing but a colony of Alfred.
Though,truth be told,most of the members of NATO aren't terrorists to begin with,except Alfred,Emily,Arthur and Gilbert.
By collecting and analyzing the newspapers day by day,I came to realize something which I should've did less than three months ago. The late April confrontation against Alfred and Emily,with the protests on the railroad under my lead,hasn't been a nationwide event. If it had been,I would've been out of NATO months ago and Kostis would've got ridden off in no time. I was so naive back then,thinking that by just making a large scene in my lands would cause Alfred to kick me out,especially for throwing a rotten tomato at his face (and I'm still proud of that,thanks to Violeta). But no,it didn't happened. How? I'M STILL IN FUCKING NATO!
I opened the window to take a fresh air,because my house was suffocating with heat. I felt the winds flowing through my face. It was sunny and bright,but the situation with which the next days are going to ensue would make Greece not-so-bright.
I checked the time on my clock. It reminded me that I have a meeting near the headquarters of my Anti-Stephanopoulos Group in Thessaloniki at 17:30,which I arranged. The other leader of this group,aside of me and Violeta,was a singer named Mikis Theodorakis who was the leading speaker of a protest against the bombings,which occurred in Syntagma Square,two days before the confrontation in Macedonia happened.
As I was about to start preparing lunch,I felt someone pulling my trousers.
"A-Athene..." someone spoke out in a shy and sad tone. I turned,it was Helena,my daughter "I-I don't want Stephanopoulos and N-NATO to hurt me."
I understood her,she thought the same as I do. I elevated her with my arms,carrying her and caressing her cheek.
"You'll be fine,my dear." I said,in a motherly tone,hugging her "I'll make sure none of them hurt and abuse us further."
"A-And you'll come back,mommy?" Helena has started to cry.
"Yes,as safe and sound as possible." I replied with my previous tone,cleaning her tears.
"Ε-Ευχαριστώ..." she replied,leaning her head towards my body.
Seeing her face filled with sorrow and worry,I felt sad and angry,and I made a face as if I was about to cry. No,she isn't suffering the bombings like Vuk does,but she's my daughter nonetheless,and she has as much of a value as he does. I can't let her stay chained for too long. It's all Kostis' and Alfred's fault.
I placed her on my bed,telling her to take a nap and rest.
"C-can I attend your meeting in Thessaloniki?" Helena asked me,straightening herself.
"Are you sure?" I asked her back,placing my head on her forehead to check if she has a fever. She has a mild one.
"Yes I am."
I was silent after her short answer. I wasn't sure if I could keep her inside alone or to drive her to the meeting. They don't know her at all. I took a deep breath and picked the latter.
"Ok then."
By the time I left her to nap in my bed,I started cooking for me and Helena. After we finished the lunch,we took a shower,dressed up and got out of our home. I unlocked my car with my keys after I placed Helene on the backseat,inserted the keys and launched the car,and drove all the way to Thessaloniki.
17:30,Thessaloniki Headquarters
We sat in our respective seats inside a private room,looking like the principal's office like in all schools. Everything was dark except the lights lightening a portion of this room,and one lemonade candle. Helena is playing with her cat plushie,and Violeta and Mikis are waiting for me to start the session.
"What's the situation behind our traitor?" I asked them.
"Same as usual,Kostis ignored some of his ministers warnings of staying in NATO." Mikis answered,annoyed "He still thinks NATO is on his side,and he even called them "simpletons"."
Why am I not surprised? I knew it was hopeless to trust him from the beginning!
"What an idiot!" Violeta retorted,angrily "Even after what had happened in April,he still refuses to listen to us! What's worse,NATO hasn't noticed our action!"
"That's because it was a local,not a nationwide,event...sadly." I replied,in a stern tone "Our people had just begun their revolts at today's morning."
"Will we block the railroad and throw fruits and vegetables at NATO tanks and vehicles,like we did the last time?" Violeta asked,drinking her juice cup.
"No we won't,this won't be the same plan,strategy,tactic and action as we did back then." I started explaining,after I rolled my eyes "Streets aren't the railroads and unlike in the past,we have to face Stephanopoulos and his police and army. In the simple terms,NATO and their leaders are on his side."
"And who leads this dreadful organisation,Athene?" Mikis asked,clasping his hands at the desk.
"Alfred Frederick Jones. If you haven't heard of him before,he's the Leader and "the Hero" of NATO and the main responsible for bombing our ally Serbia ad nauseam." I said,angrily,turning my head at him "While you held your Anti-Bombing rally in the Athens,I and Violeta confronted him and his dumb sister Emily in Thessaloniki,blocking their way to their supply base and pelting them with what Violet had just said. Alfred got his face pelted with a rotten tomato as well."
We snickered,and Helena ignored us.
"I see. He must be as evil as NATO." he thought.
"More than that,he's repulsive with his unbearable personality." I replied,angrily. "He's an volatile,selfish and cocky asshole who was also responsible for instigating a military coup of 1967 against us and me in particular."
"And he even tried to hit me for saying that we have more rights over their supply base because it was located in Greece!" she added,also angrily.
I nodded. All these years of standing that spoiled jerk who acts as if the World belonged to him has ended. The murder of Milica and the bombings against the RTS Headquarters may had ended my patience,but the unilateral construction of Bondsteel was my last straw.
"Very well then..." he got up,and started proclaiming "We shall combine our forces to fight against Kostis and his backers,like we did in April!"
"Yes and,now that you've mentioned "our forces"," I said,turning backwards,opening my backpack hooked on the chair and taking the Greek map from it "I'm going to explain my new plan for you."
I got up and placed the map on the desk,but not before I temporarily moved the glasses of juice and the lemonade candle out of the desk,then to do the opposite once the map was placed. I took a pen from my pencil case.
"As we can see,98% of our people are AGAINST the bombings,and consequently,against our "president"." I explained again,pointing at the map with my pen "They won't rise up against him en masse in one day,but it'll slowly grow after each passing day. There will be numerous fights in the streets and sieges,as well as targeting key police and military stations,in order to pacify Kostis' men."
"And what's with Athens?" Violeta asked "Why not simply strike at the Presidential Palace and execute him?"
"Kostis may be an useless idiot,but he's not like Yeltsin. Unlike Yeltsin,Kostis has the police and most of his army are keeping him safe." I continued "The Athens will be our final priority and if we just strike at the Capital,our enemies' media would treat it as a coup and not as the popular revolt."
A two-minute silence came in.
"And what should we do?" They asked at the same time.
"Cause trouble,do sabotage,make chaos,you name it." I answered again,feeling a bit tired to explain more "Mikis will rally the rioters to the North,Violet to the South,and I'll rally them on the center of Greece."
"And what'll happen to me?" Helena intervened,suddenly.
Everyone turned at her. She got up from her seat behind me and approached us,holding her plushier with her hand. I know she doesn't know anything about committing action,but I don't want to leave her alone her house.
"You'll join Violeta." I replied,smiling,after the half a minute of thinking "She'll show you what to do."
She hugged me tightly,crying. I hugged her back,and before I concluded my last words,Mikis spoke out.
"Who's that little girl?" he asked.
"That's my daughter,Helena." I turned at him.
Ten seconds have passed. During those seconds,she introduced herself to Mikis and Violet. I coughed.
"Gentlemen,the fight is going to start tomorrow morning,with both of you leading the rioters on the designed places I just gave you." I finalized "As I've said back in April,only the people can save themselves from the soft tyranny of the Unpopular Democracy,and they alone,along with us,have to act once more! In the meantime,I'll contact you and vice versa if something goes wrong,ok?"
They nodded and we gave each other a collective high five,packed ourselves and went back to our homes,with Helena going with Violeta to Athens to start action. To be honest,I wasn't really sure if sending my daughter to Violeta was a good idea to begin with,but I told Violeta to pick her up if she no longer wants to stay with her.
8th July - 09:10
As I suspected,the moment they got informed about who's going to rally them,they exploded their country and chaos has started to build up. People on the streets have gone wild and are resisting the police. The streets are getting vandalized and smokes are rising by the overall chaos. Words like: "DEATH TO NATO!","DOWN WITH KOSTIS,UP WITH GREECE!","FIGHT THEM HARD!" and "GREEKS,UNITE!",were the most used slogans against my enemy of a president.
I had to wake up early to get ready. As soon as I exited my apartment,I saw everything I needed to confirm what I suspected. Shower and a quick fruit breakfast with water have helped me getting conscious. If it wasn't for them,I would've stayed tired.
Suddenly,my phone is ringing. I hoped that it was Arisha,Vuk,Mikis,Violeta or Helena,but by my annoying misfortune,it was Stephanopoulos.
"Athene," he exclaimed,confused "w-what the γαμώ is happening to my people?"
See for yourself,idiot.
"I think I've already said why,three days after the bombings started." I replied,angrily.
"Yes,yes,"Serbia is your ally and you can't let the Westerners hurt him." and all the assorted nonsense." Kostis dismissed my sentence,predictably "Specifically speaking,though,what's the real trigger? Why are you doing this to them?!"
He's starting to get on my nerves...
"You."
"Me?! How?!" he snapped at me,also angrily.
"You're refusing to LISTEN and UNDERSTAND the people's demands to leave the NATO, ΠΡΟΔΟΤΗΣ!" I shouted,getting my phone closer to my mouth "Your supposed "allies" and "protectors" are attacking our ancient ally and friend Serbia!"
"And you're going to prove your point by making them cause the second civil war on yourself?! Are you suicidal?!" Kostis retorted,still angrily.
"And are you not ashamed of what you're going to drag this country into if you keep INSISTING on supporting the criminal bombings!?" I countered,frustrated.
""Criminal Bombings",you say?" Kostis replied,with an antagonizing voice "Really,you call a necessarily evil operation to stop genocide and oppression against a minority of people "criminal"?! I think not."
Is he trying to pull an "Alfred" on me?! I can feel my blood's boiling right now!
"EXCUSES!" I exploded "STOP TAKING EVERYTHING FROM THE YANKEE'S NARRATIVE,EGGHEAD!"
"You can't stand the truth,abettor." I think he's now smirking at this point "You're at the side of evil,your cause is evil,and if you think you can get rid of me in one shot,you'll wrong yourself..."
"You call helping innocent lives from a victim nation "EVIL"!?" I snapped at him,enraged "What kind of a "president" are you?! If Greece is getting a civil war and an economic crisis,it'll not be on me,but on you,TRAITOR!"
Silence from the phone came in. I thought he forgot to end the call,but instead I heard him sighing.
"You were always been a naive fool,Athene." he replied "I've got NATO backing me. MY Police and some of MY Army is against you." Never knew about that before,I thought,sarcastically "I don't know how did you managed to make our people so angry,but your little scheme will fail. You won't make me step down. If you're going to do so,you have to do it in a hard way!"
"You have no idea what you're about to face next,idiot." I seethed "Once I find you,you'll swallow your words in agony. You're having a fight you've never counted on. STEP DOWN,NOW!"
"Make me..."
He ended the call,but just as he did,I heard a fast marching,growing more hearable after each seconds. I turned behind me and it was a pack of policemen marching. They're going up on the hill where I'm at. I didn't had binoculars (which I should have,lucky Vuk and Arisha.),but I saw them from the distance.
When they saw my figure,they started to run at me.
"GET HER!" they yelled.
I quickly turned back and ran near my car,not having enough time to take additional stuff I planned to use. I took my car keys from my pocket,unlocked the door and got inside. When I launched the car and,as I did,they started to shoot at me,with some bullets successfully hitting the front glass of my car. I even felt one bullet cutting a bit of my hair,but I didn't cared. I ran into them,making them jump away from my car. Once I did,they got up and kept running and shooting at my car until I got away from them.
Konstantinos Stephanoupulos,if you want to play this game,I'm all for it. You forced me to do this. Your days as the President have been numbered.
15:20
I've finally got in Trikala near its Regional Police Jurisdiction,one or two kilometers away. Violeta told me that it was the second most loyal Police Jurisdiction (to Kostis) in Northern Greece,right after the Macedonian one. It would normally take half an hour to reach it,but since Greece is now under too many road traffics blocking the rioters and themselves and making blockades against us (and vice versa),it took me five or so hours to get there. To make things worse,my stress level got up high knowing that the police kept hunting me with their cars.
In the end,I stopped near a secluded area where absolutely everyone ignored. I parked my car inside a big bush,they would notice my car if I parked somewhere else.
After several minutes more,I got out of the car,exhausted,rolling my arms and took a deep breath. This is going to be a rough and tough day...
15:40
By the time I left the bush,not one person was in sight. At first,I walked with normal steps to the north,where the police station is at. After I crossed two streets foward,I saw four policemen patrolling the next street. I didn't had any weapon nor even binoculars. For now,I've sticked with using stealth.
By doing so,I avoided these four men by hiding behind trashcans and parked cars. Each time one tried to see me,I immediately ducked behind the next places,then to get up and repeat.
As I advanced into the Trikala's main city entrance,the sounds of raging protests' fighting grew louder and hearable,meaning also that there will be more policemen patrolling and tracking. Three minutes later,I've found an empty alley. In that alley,I saw one policeman moving towards the exit. Without hesitation,I slowly crouched and walked behind him,careful not to make any sound,or I'll get caught. Before I did,though,I stole one big vase from a porcelain shop for me to use. I've made a tiny trick up my sleeve.
I used the vase to dispose him by swiftly placing the vase on his head inside,making him turn at me,kicked him by the crotch and pushed him violently at the trashcan,making the vase crush itself and the policeman unconscious with blood on his head. While unconscious,I took the opportunity to steal his stuff: A walkie-talkie,a stun gun (the most essential thing out of all of things I've stolen from him) and his loaded handgun.
After leaving him and this alley,I've entered the city,since it was also a shortcut. I witnessed a violent clash between my people and Kostis' forces,with the latter using their teargas to slow them down and the former trying to fight them back. They covered an entire street,and I predict they'll cover many others. I bypassed them fairly quickly.
When I reached a street bridge,half a kilometer near the station,I saw something which angered me. I saw a couple of policemen beating one or two people (who happened to be protesters,obviously) relentlessly,and half of them stood by. I was about to approach and confront them,but I heard someone breathing near my neck. I turned,and it was a policeman beating his left hand with his nightstick,walking near me.
Knowing he'll beat me up,I grabbed the stun gun from my pocket and launched it at his neck,making him fall down unconscious behind me,almost killing him. When they heard him fall and the voltage of my stun gun,the slowly stopped their beatings and one of them had turned to me.
"Hey,what did you do to him?!" one of them asked me,shocked and angrily,unsheathing his nightstick.
An uncomfortable silence filled the ambient. I moved my head at the fallen policeman for three seconds to check if he's still knocked out,then I moved back and raised my handgun at them.
"I order you to cease your beatings and step aside!" I tried to order them,also angrily,pointing at the one with the soul patch.
They turned and looked at me for two seconds. They bursted in laughter,making me lower my arms.
"And who are you to demand us to stop beating these criminals?" The soul patched policeman asked,mockingly,after they stopped laughing.
"Yeah,to restore order!" the second policeman added,nodding his head.
I thought about the answer for ten seconds.
"Konstantinos Stephanopoulos." I replied,simply.
"Really?"
"Yes,I'm the daughter of the Police Commissioner in Trikala." I lied "The college you see on the floor tried to hit me after I informed the order. You better not to do the same."
And they fell for it. They looked at one another,and slowly walked away to a part of the bridge where I'm at. One of the beaten protesters punched the policeman by his nape hard.
"Ναί,cunts,you heard her!" the protester yelled at them. The one who just got punched turned and tried to release his nightstick,but I pointed my handgun at him again.
"Don't make me do it..." I warned,severely.
He and all the rest of the beaters kept going back and hit me on my shoulder grudgingly. Once they were gone from my sights,the other protester,who was shorter than first protester,also stood up and they thanked me for saving them.
"Are you going to arrest us?" the short one asked,scared.
"No I won't,I lied!" I said,smiling "Are you two alright?"
"Mostly fine,but we had no weapons to match their strength." the tall one paused,then said "How can we repay you?"
I also paused for two seconds.
"I want you to gather your men and women on the streets to surround the police station,before Kostis' men surround us." I told them,firmly "That way,the Thessalia Police will get crippled,and it'll get occupied by us."
"Got it!" they replied,and ran to the next street.
Seeing them happy and safe made my heart warm,for the time being. After I passed the bridge,the police have already made a blockade on the middle street. I also saw another group of policemen running from another street bridge into the station,probably knowing that my people will surround the station.
I must make haste.
16:30
I don't know why have I decided to take another police officer down again,but I had no other choice,the entry into the station requires for me to be a policeman myself,and I don't serve as such,much less by the fact that the majority of them are Pro-Kostis.
Before I entered the police station,I...how can I say...switched the clothes with the knocked down guy,after I sneaked up to him in the middle of the street. After that,I dragged him near a car far away from the street and left him there,careful not to have myself noticed by both of my allies and enemies.
Exactly three minutes have I taken to remove my clothes and switch them to his own,along with making my hair have a ponytail for the time being. While I did this,I thought I'd lost my mind. I leaned my back at the wall and cleaned the sweat from my head with my hand. I was dizzy and tired,but I wasn't going to give up.
I entered the station without any disruptances,not forgetting to salute the policemen at the gates by moving my cap and showing them the police badge. While it seemed that the officers inside this place haven't noticed me,some of them raised their suspicious looks at me. They haven't intimidated me,but I sense they knew which person Kostis had told them to go after.
I opted to go to the Commissioner's office at the highest floor (not counting the rooftop) to confront him,but out of the blue,near the straits,a random policeman suddenly showed up near my way.
"Where do you think you're going?" he asked me.
"To give report to the Commissioner about the situation with the protests." I said,not wanting to waste my time.
"That seems to be reasonable enough,ma'am." and let me go.
When I reached the fourth floor,I felt someone watching me,especially when the cameras are all around each floor. I turned for a sec and it was no one. Everything was silent for a moment. I slowly approached the Commissioner's office and knocked at it.
"Come in!" an old but boisterous voice exclaimed.
I opened the door and I saw a fat old man in his uniform with moustache and sunglasses,sitting and doing his papers.
"Well then,do you have something to report?" he said,raising from his chair.
I was silent. I have yet to invent something in order not to suspect me.
"Anything?"
In the end,I picked the naked policeman "story".
"One of my colleagues got stripped from his uniform and got knocked down by the stun gun." I began lying.
"Who did this repulsive act?"
"I don't know,but I think this should be delayed. We have to delay it,we must stop the protests from continuing their rampage." I kept faking.
"True,a naked policeman case if far less important than the revolts we're having since yesterday." the Commissioner said,rubbing his nose. Then asked "Speaking of which,have you seen Athene Karpusi?"
An uncomfortable and tense silence entered after his words. How did he know my name? Who told him this?! Ah,yes,Stephanopoulos.
"No I haven't,yet." I replied,in a formal tone.
Three seconds of silence had passed,after which he grinned.
"Do you know how much money we'll get if we capture her alive?" he said,happily "We'll going to be rich as soon as we bring her to our President!"
I rolled my eyes,and he saw my eyes.
"What are you rolling your eyes for?" the Commissioner asked me,raising his eyebrow.
"Oh,nothing. It's just that I'm getting bored lately."
"Same. I still hadn't got a word from Vassilis Mallopoulos while he was busy searching for her in Trikala. Where could he be?" he wondered.
You mean...the one that I knocked down near the station and stolen his clothes was his messenger all along? It made me feel more confident,but also bad too. I haven't eaten anything since I fled my apartment to Trikala,and I can even feel my stomach growl.
I don't want to waste anymore time here,but not before I neutralize this place. Deep down,I know that the Police are just doing their jobs like the rest of the people,but when it comes to facing and fighting a traitor like Kostis and the ones who're protecting him,you just have to let them know that they're on the wrong side,on the side of "The West".
"By the way,nice flowers!" I complimented,keeping him in check.
He thanked me. Now that he no longer sees me,I opened each desk shelves to see if there're any weapons or at least munitions to take. I found several handguns,some bullet packs for plastic pouches and few nightsticks. I packed them into my unzipped backpack quickly.
Just as I was about to finish the packing,the Commissioner turned to me,shocked.
"Ma'am! Look outside!" he shouted,advancing towards me "It's urgent!"
I zipped my backpack and came to the terrace. What I saw outside were the marching protesters and masked people coming towards the station,starting to surround it. Now was the time!
I slowly leaned at him,took the stun gun from my pocket and hit him with it,knocking him down. Afterwards,in order to make him look like he's sleeping,I pushed him all the way to his chair to sit there. Because he's heavy for being fat,it slowed me down and my sweating grew more worse. Once I barely succeeded to put him in his sitting position,a naked man abruptly opened the door without knocking at it first.
"Commissioner,the protesters are trying to siege our st...wait a minute," the naked man tried to fully explain,only to see me after he cut his sentence "aren't those my clothes?!"
Damn,looks like Vassilis finally woke up conscious after I-don't-know-how-many minutes had passed since I knocked him down.
"No,sir." I replied,trying not to chuckle "You're in the wrong place. If you want to go around naked,you should go to the nude beach."
He took me by the collar of his stolen uniform,without taking a step.
"I KNOW WHO YOU ARE! GIVE ME BACK MY UNIFORM!" he demanded,enraged.
I snorted.
"LATER!" I snapped at him angrily,violently pushing him aside at the door,taking my backpack,and quickly opened and slammed the door closed to go to the rooftop.
When I got there after half a minute,my people have already surrounded the station,waiting for the police to respond.
I saw them four floors away from there,but since there was no fence around the rooftop,I would more likely to fall from the roof to the ground if I don't act quick.
I opened the backpack again,and threw the things I've put to the ground on the protesters,telling them loudly to equip themselves to sabotage them.
As I was about to leave the rooftop,six policemen,along with the Commissioner and Vassilis,marched on the rooftop.
"ARREST HER!" Vassilis screamed at the top of his lungs,pointing his arm at me.
The policemen pulled off their nightsticks,while half of them also took their guns,ready to shoot me.
"What're you waiting for? Come at me!" I taunted them,also pulling off my nightstick.
The ones with nightsticks sprinted at me. The first of them attacked me at the front and we clashed with out nightsticks like with the swords. When that same guy launched his weapon at my head,I blocked him with my own and started pushing back. In the midst of it,I punched his face hard with my head,making him fall and drop his weapon on the floor. Two seconds later,it got worse,as the second guy hit my head hard with his nightstick,making me turn and slam my nightstick at his face.
The ones with the handguns started shooting at me. I avoided their bullets as effectively as possible until I took the chance to start shooting back at them,despite succeeding to hit my left elbow,my right shoulder and my right thigh. It was painful,but I didn't cared.
The final nightstick guy tried to rush at me,but I jumped backwards,making him fall out of the rooftop into the road near the people,crushing him. When the shooting ones had their munitions run out,the also jumped at me,and the Commissioner also joined in. The fourth one tried to hit my face,but I grabbed it and slammed the fifth guy's chest,becoming the second one to fall out of the rooftop. The sixth one didn't do nothing but to flee downstairs,but I shot his knee,probably making him dump into the stairs like a ball,despite the pain I earned as by the bullets on my body.
Vassilis then took the Commissioner's shotgun from his hands and shot at me for a few times,all of which I dodged,only to,like with the last two,fall on the road when I moved around him and lean my leg near his own,tripping him. The only one remaining was the Commissioner himself,trying to run away from me. I sprinted at him and pushed him to the rooftop's ground. He groaned in pain.
"Who the fuck are you,lady?!" he turned and asked me,annoyed "What the hell do you want?!"
"I'm here tell you that your support of the traitor is futile." I answered,severely.
""Traitor" who?!"
"Kostis."
"Him?! So,you've decided to stalk me and my men just because we're "guilty" by affiliation?!" he retorted,angrily.
"Yes,you back someone who sells you and your nation to an organization that bombs an innocent country with banal excuses!" I explained,also angrily,pointing the gun at him and placing my left arm at his chest.
"For γαμώ sake,we have nothing to do with NATO nor Serbia!" he confessed "I'm just doing my job!"
"I know you do,and I'm giving you a chance to spare you."
"Well,you could might as well kill me,if that's what you w-..."
"No,your and your colleagues' life and carrier WILL be spared,you just need to do what I'll tell you next." I told him,firmly.
"Like what?!"
"Go outside and announce to the people surrounding the station that you'll cease the support for Kostis and turn neutral." I explained.
"And to risk myself getting fired?!" he exclaimed,still angrily.
"It's either that...or the bullet in your head." I warned,smirking.
He took a deep breath and agreed,pushing my arm aside.
"Y-y...you disgust me..." before he got up,went downstairs and slammed the door. I went outside.
When I did,the Commissioner has declared surrender to the public,and I removed the rubber band from my hair and removed the uniform into nothing more than being naked with pants,bra and my short high heel boots,while in the bathroom.
"EVERYONE!" he proclaimed through the megaphone "I,LEADER OF THE THESSALY POLICE REGION,HEREBY TO DECLARE TOTAL NEUTRALITY AND THE CAPITULATION TO THE ANTI-GOVERNMENT SPOI-...I MEAN,PROTESTERS! YOU WON! WE NOW DON'T WANT ANYTHING TO DO WITH YOU!"
Once he did,the surrounding people slowly pulled back from the station and they probably gone either to their homes or to fight somewhere else. I'm so proud of their bravery.
Everybody looked surprised at me for being semi-naked,running back to my car. My thigh hurt badly when I ran to the bush where I left the car. When I got there after five minutes of running,I got into the car,fastened my belt and went to my home.
The Thessaly Police Region has been neutralized. With it,my driving to my location will be easy,given the fact that the police would no longer secure this region,because of this.
I need to take rest and eat something,immediately.
21:00
I finally reached my home relatively safe. Relatively,because there were police cars chasing me like dogs at a vehicle,but they were less in numbers compared to the ones from today morning. It was a successful day,but also a rushed one too. No one expected for someone to commit such risky action on the first day.
I took a cold shower (it instantly made me feel better),threw my dirty clothes into the bin and went to the dining room to eat something. Then,I went to my bedroom and let myself fall on my bed,slamming the blanket with it,and taking a deep breath. I relaxed there for ten minutes,before I grabbed the phone and started typing the numbers to call Violeta,to check if Helena is alright.
"Χαίρετε!" Violeta greeted.
"Hey,Violeta,how's your day?" I asked.
"Exhausting like yours,I assume."
"What did you do in Athens?"
"I gathered thousands of people near the Presidential Palace and blocked the main streets,shouting at Kostis and his loyalists." she explained "We chanted our slogans until 19:30,in which we rushed together away from the Palace into our homes. We even tried to storm the Palace,but over a hundred of the Police stopped us from our attempt and fought back."
"Any casualties?" I asked further.
"23 arrests,43 injured cops and zero deaths. Now,what did you do?"
"I and the protesters neutralized the Thessaly Police Jurisdiction." I answered,proudly.
"Already?!" Violeta exclaimed,shocked.
"Yes,we didn't wait a minute to retaliate."
Violeta paused,feeling uneasy.
"How would Kostis react?"
"I wouldn't care less,he would probably declare Martial Law by tomorrow or overmorrow."
"I know that,but...what would happen to you next?" she asked me,worried.
"I don't know,but I think they'll keep going after me more often than today. It has increased my notoriety,unfortunately."
Ten seconds later...
"Do you have anything else to tell me?" Violeta said,calmly.
"Yes,can I hear my daughter?"
"Sure,but I need to know something."
"Like what exactly?"
"Are you alright?"
"Yes,but I got painful injuries after the fight with the police." I said,also calmly "I injured my elbow,shoulder and thigh."
"Oh my...I hope your injuries recover." she said,assuringly.
"Thanks."
Fifteen seconds later,after I heard nothing but their murmurs,Helena showed up.
"Mαμά,I'm so happy you came out alive!" Helene said,cheerfuly.
"You too,my dear." I responded,in a motherly tone. I then briefly paused "Do you get along with Violeta?"
"Oh,she's so kind." Helena answered,in a childlike voice "She takes care of me quite well and I had a lot of fun."
"Did you participated in the protests?"
"Of course. It sometimes got boring and tense,but nevertheless,I'm fine." she explained.
"Can I pick you up?" I asked.
"You don't have too,but I don't intend to stay with Violeta forever." Helena said "Just for three or four days."
"Then enjoy staying there." I said.
"I miss you so much,Athene!"
"You too,my love." and I ended the call.
I got up and took the medical kit to clean up my wounds. Each time I cleaned the blood with my soaked cotton,it hurt. I took and hold a deep breath when I did this.
When I finished,I picked the picture of Vuk from my night desk. Vukie,no matter how much hostile months you have to endure,I'll still protect you,along with your family. Everything for my friends.
But then I got reminded that,despite opposing the bombings,I'm on the Vuk's enemy side. I put my hands on my face in embarrassment and frustration. No media hadn't listened to me in April,and it won't do the same in July. If it wasn't for Kostis,I would've got demonized for real.
In reality,that's a good thing,since if Kostis gets dealt with by either removing or blackmailing him,I would finally Alfred's true face. He never cared about me,as long as my heads of state are supporting him,but himself and his siblings. He only cares about my allegiance and obedience,not my people that he CLAIMS to support for the likes of "Democracy" and "Liberty" over his enemies,as he and his loyalist gang did back in 1967 and 1974.
I took one last deep breath,thinking about what'll happen tomorrow after I wake up from my bed. After two minutes of wondering,I turned off my lamp and went to sleep.
9th July - 12:00
"Let's not mince our words,what happened yesterday against the Thessaly Police Region was an act of terrorism committed by Anti-Western scum who just had to do it because they've finally decided to leave their family basements to take protest against their voted government for the support of the necessary military action against the tyranny in the Balkans." Kostis addressed the nation "These people were not talking about domestic issues like poverty or inequality,they talked about some kind of a betrayal,incompetence and irresponsibility,and these people who are protesting weren't there for the first time,only the degree of aggression was higher. Today,I declare the Martial Law official. We'll suppress these protests and keep fulfilling our commitments to NATO,in exchange for their protection in the fight on this new Cold War."
That was his today's address towards Greece. He was wrong about almost everything except for one thing,the aggression WILL get higher if he doesn't stop supporting the useless terrorist organisation.
And,what did he said in the end,the "New Cold War"? Arisha told me about it,and it's the consequence of Alfred's demand to keep pushing Arisha to the edge and attacking her young brother until his embassy got blown up. You wanted the war,you got the war. I hope you lose SO BADLY,that you'll beg your rival for forgiveness once you lose,but I think you won't do it. I know you pretty well.
Also,would Alfred want to stop and confront me? I think not,but there's a major chance he will. But overall,he hadn't started to bomb me for getting pelted with rotten tomato.
Since I'm still recovering from yesterday's action and because I didn't had much to do aside of chilling in my house,I decided to go to the Acropolis,to contemplate my thoughts with or without zither,and picking up my Mythology Book and my phone,should anyone,especially Vuk and Arisha,want to call me. I need to explore the stories from what my mother had taught me.
Yesterday may be the first day of the battle,but it was just the beginning of Kostis' downfall,a beginning of instability and chaos which'll make my people's voices louder and clearer to the World,that their Orthodox bond was damaged by their so-called "Allies",and that we'll be on our own.
I may have won the battle,but war is yet to get resolved.
Here's the first part of the Thirteenth Chapter. I originally intended to post it with no parts,but since I saw that it'll be more than 10000 words long,I decided that I'll make it into three parts.
After Greece got informed that America has built the Camp Bondsteel out of spite against Russia,despite the ignored International Law,she took it as her last straw,had had enough with her leader and launched her war against her president to either make him step down or compromise in her favor,which Greece sees as a more preferable option. The Greek people have always supported the Serbs at all times,and in OTL Greece was faced with the potential fall of her government if they keep supporting NATO,as we can see with what had happened in Macedonia in later April world/1999/apr/30/helenasmith. It's still a know fact that 98% of the Greek population were against the bombings against Serbia and,now that in ATL the bombings will last longer,even more.
Thanks for reading.