Chapter 13: Chained no more - Part 2
9th July - 15:00
I sat on a stone stair at the Acropolis,finishing for the second time the Illiad. Specifically,the Trojan Horse story. Before I did,I barely managed to get to this place thanks to the expected police chase against me. I had to follow some alternative pathways in order to avoid them. I was annoyed...more than annoyed,I was frustrated. I'll be frustrated again,knowing that the same scene will occur once I go back to my apartment.
Sadly,that's the downside for standing up against my "president".
Anyway,this story was about the wooden horse structure which was constructed after the fruitless decade-siege of Troy,when I was little,when I studied philosophies with my family while Odysseus,the writer of that story,was one of the men who entered inside the horse. When the Trojans thought that this was their victory trophy,they've invited the horse into their city. Once the night came,my people got out of the structure and destroyed the city of Troy,ending the war.
And today,the modern Trojan Horse isn't the structure of deception,though the comparison from the past are quite similar,but of representation. It represents Greece,my people and yes,my government. The Trojan Horse of today was constructed not to surprise the enemy,but to appease it. The new Troy is NATO and it's leader,Alfred. I don't know why did I joined the NATO in the first place,but after the Greek Junta was ousted and democracy got restored,none of my leaders from this point on,had confronted Alfred Jones...no,not even in Thessaloniki on late April. All they really do,Kostis in particular,is to obey and,if they get informed by a new that their people harmed the West (read: Alfred) in any way,they'll fucking beg for mercy,and I think Kostis is pleading the Yankee not to punish him for the latter getting confronted and having his face pelted with rotten tomato (Ω θεέ μου,how unstable and cracked Alfred got after this. I think he isolated himself in his base room and shook in humiliation over it) Speaking of Alfred,he sees this horse as a prized possession,not nothing that from inside are the people who are against him. He only sees the wooden exterior,but he never saw the interior. Once the Horse explodes,his delusions and opinions about my country and my people will be destroyed.
Either way,Kostis and his predecessors are major pussies!
I closed the book and left it on a large stone. Before I decided to go back in my car and ride to my house,I walked around the Acropolis for fifteen minutes,contemplating and letting the mild wind fly through my face. As always,the sights from this place are excellent,with the exception of a few smokes rising from random sides of Athens,showing unrest among the protests.
Like Nero,Kostis is playing with his harp when his country is on fire. He could resolve it in no time,just accept their demands and he'll maintain his position,with decreased popularity as a price.
18:00
I'm in the middle of the car traffic at the borders of the Central Greece region,waiting for the car rows to diminish. I was very angry,making me occasionally beep my steering wheel loudly and curse some obscenities at the cars in front of me. However,the silver lining behind this is that the police force hadn't and won't find me here,because they'll also get stuck if they join the car traffic. In part,I saw this moment as a blessing,because at least I'll get safe when returning home.
Suddenly,my phone is ringing,ending my focus on the traffic. I looked at my pocket,while also looking at the traffic lights,slowly regaining my focus. When I touched it,I grabbed it and placed it on my ear.
"Χαίρετε?" I said,kindly.
"Здраво,Atino!" Vuk replied "How are you?"
Thank God it's him. I could've swore it was Kostis who would usually tell me that I have another useless NATO meeting scheduled (though now it's surreal,since we're at war with one another),or Violeta and Mikis,to tell me what had happened to them while fighting against Kostis.
"Solid as usual." I replied,smiling "You?"
"Tired. I'm now in bed with a very bad fever after completing some missions to fight the KLA terrorists in Kosovo." he said,irritably "What makes it more outrageous is that whenever we kick the KLA out of one place,the KLA is popping out on the other. It's like a Whack-a-mole game where you whack a mole and have the other mole come out of its hole. Urgh..."
And to top the fact that the Yanktard and his NATO are helping the KLA out against the YPA (Yugoslav People's Army) by bombings YPA's strongholds and random places surrounding them,there's no wonder why he's in a very bad mood.
"I understand you." I said,pushing my pedal after seeing the green light "In my case,I'm busy fighting my president with my colleagues and my people,since yesterday."
"Ah,so that's why you haven't been in Serbia over the last week." Vuk said,worried "You should've informed me and Arisha about it earlier.
I know...but I didn't had time to inform him. I was busy with the meeting in Thessaloniki two days ago,and the infiltration on Thessaly Regional Jurisdiction the day after.
"I'm sorry,Vuk. I have many problems to resolve right now,mainly to get rid of my President." I sighed,sliding my steering wheel to the left "I've already told you at the end of May that I'm going to make a grand plan to depose Kostis,and I executed it two days ago."
"Oh,right,sorry." Vuk facepalmed for forgetting my past statement. I heard the slapping sound through the phone "Anyways,have you heard of what had happened to Niksic's Eparchy five days ago?"
Yes I did,through TV on 6th July,the day before my people started revolting. I growled and honked my wheel hard in anger.
"Ναί,ten people died with no survivors!" I seethed,then angrily asked "How many war crimes will it take before Alfred says 'Enough!'?!"
"According to Alfreak,either until my president capitulates and resigns or if I die!" he answered,also angrily.
'Alfreak'...he,he. How fitting this name is for that disgusting and shameless dick. Maybe I should call him like that,soon.
"Well,what can I say. You can't have peace with someone who doesn't know what 'peace' is." I added,angrily. I almost got to my home,just ten more kilometers to go.
"Да,the only 'peace' he likes is when he thinks he's winning a war!" Vuk ranted,after releasing a frustrated sigh. The volume of his tone became saddened "Alfreak doesn't want peace,he wants victory. He can bomb and kill dozens of my people at any day and he'll spat as "peace",and I'm the 'Genocidal Brat'..."
"I couldn't agree more." I concluded,firmly. I finally passed that tiring traffic. Then,I rushed to ask one more thing before he ends the call "Where's Arisha?"
"From what she had told me,she's in Grozny because she wanted to see her people,to check if the Islamic Separatists aren't causing any trouble as they do." Vuk replied,informingly "She'll come back tomorrow to pick me up to the Victory Park. It's far more safer than my homeland."
Sometimes,you have to go safe from war,from the constant fear of getting hit by NATO's bombs. He may be lucky that he lives in a resolute part of Central Serbia,but there's a possible chance for his village to get attacked at any moment.
Before I ended the call,Vuk asked me if I could visit him again,but I told him again that I'm busy fighting you-know-who,in which he just sighed in sadness and put down his telephone.
When I finally got to my apartment,I looked back behind my car to see if there's any police coming in my street,but thankfully,there was no one. After that,I did the usual stuff and,after doing my chores until the night began and,in the midst of doing these things,calling Mikis,Violeta and Helena if they're alright (and they were,thank God) and what did they did,I thought about changing my number plate for my car,so that the Police and Army won't notice me anymore.
Come to think of it,maybe changing the color of my car would also do the trick. Or not,since I don't have that much Δραχμή to do both of these things. I can't have both,it's either the number plate or the car color.
10th July - 12:10
I brought a newspaper in a cafe bar in the northwest part of the Evia island,currently finding a seat to sit on and start reading. I needed to go somewhere safe because I wanted to refresh myself,to have one day of not having to stumble upon the police and forget these revolts. As such,instead of using my car,I used a cheap boat and paid the driver to drive me to this place,since there was no police or military to try to hunt me and my colleagues down.
While I was in the boat,Violeta called me and informed me that she with my daughter Helena did the same things as in 8th July,standing and protesting in Athens until the Police took the chance to strike and did the running battles against them (she also told me that her eye got hit by the pepper spray,which got hurt and itched until the injury recovered for three hours. After Violeta ended the call,I contacted Mikis about what's he doing today,and he told me that he and his leading protesters are on their way to neutralize West Macedonian Police Jurisdiction,with the same or similar tactics I used in Trikala two days ago (except the switching-clothes part,because he deemed it as too risky and "not his style").
This cafe,and Elia in general,is contrary to what the major parts of Greece look like now. It was a place in an island of tranquility where you won't feel any kind of stress,war and chaos,since this island is untouched by the protesters nor by Kostis and NATO's forces,for now.
I picked the seat and sat on it,in front of an old lady in her eighties who sat in front of me,not paying attention. When I did,I ordered a meal and a drink to bartender left through the menu,but I saw that she didn't ordered any of these things,telling him that she already ordered it from another guy. After he left,I took the newspaper and placed it on the desk. I took a deep breath of relief,hoping that the news I'm about to read will be positive. But,to my outrage,I got the opposite.
"British Air Force bomb an Albanian refugee caravan in Podujevo."
I tempted to tear this newspaper to shreds,but I knew better,so I slammed the newspaper at the desk,angered. I placed my hand through my hair,closed my eyes and took a deep breath,trying to soothe myself,but it was partially unsuccessful. I'm still angry,but more relaxed.
This was the third time when NATO bombed the people they claim to protect against. I couldn't get my eyes off the newspaper. I took a look at how many of them had died and survived,and it was written that Emily took 123 lives and left 77 innocents as survivors (still salty about your destroyed embassy and about what had happened to you in late June,hmm?). As of today,it's the most bloodiest attack in Serbia.
No matter what had I done and risked to weaken and stop these imperialist scum from bombing my best cousin Vuk,it seems as though my actions,ranging from defying my "allies" to arranging an incident against Alfred and Emily in Thessaloniki,were all for nothing. By this conclusion,the attacks will only get worse (and the backfires would get more harsh against Vuk's enemies,in return).
"You there." the old lady asked,abruptly,after she heard my slam "Are you alright?"
I raised my look at her. She had a white curly hair and a summer attire. Her expression was dull and frowning,staring at me as if I was an alien. Part of her face was covered in shadow by the sunbeam near umbrellas.
"Urgh,I'm fine." I replied,moody. "I'm just little tired,ok."
"By your tone,I won't say so." she argued "Can you hand me over your newspaper?"
I nodded and did so in an instant. She grabbed the newspaper with both hands and started to read.
"These fuckers..." she commented,angered by what she had just read "They're still careless about their crimes on their "harmed populace" of Albanians without labeling the attacks as "collateral damage"." Then,she let the newspaper fly on the desk "Now I understand why are you so angry."
"All with the absence of Kostis Stephanopoulos!" I added,also angrily.
She nodded. A silence warped around us,feeling the summer breeze. I didn't had much to say for a minute,but during that silence,she kept looking at me.
"You look very familiar." she said.
"How?"
"Were you the one who led the group of our courageous brethren in Thessaloniki on 28th April?" she suspected,pointing at me.
"Yes I was,along with my student colleague Violeta Asynithis." I answered,smiling "As a matter of fact,I and some part of the protesters have infiltrated the Trikala Police Jurisdiction two days ago."
She was astonished. Her eyes became googled by my statement.
"I like your guts,my dear." she complimented,also smiling "My son would've picked you as his girlfriend if he found out about your merits."
"Your son?"
"Yes. My son is a member of the Revolutionary Nuclei,an infamous and armed Leftist group who stood and stand against the Western military occupation and involvement in Greece."
Wasn't this terrorist group the same one who,on the same day as the Thessaloniki Action happened,threatened my government to step up attacks against Western targets in Athens if the NATO bombing continued? I know I heard from news the day after,but back then it was just a suspection,if not a conspiracy.
"And the Government still sees your son's group as 'terrorist'?" I asked,curious.
"Yes,and with some valid reasons." the old lady explained "From its creation in 1996 up until the bombings against our brotherly ally Serbia happened,this group had no political purpose but to act like an annoying opposition group who'll attack businesses and some governmental buildings. Because of their former habit,they earned their infamy and are still considered as a terrorist group and a major threat to the government."
"Is this group involved in massive protests and revolts which I,Violeta and Mikis are staging against Kostis?" I asked further. This "terrorist" group,despite its idiotic beginning,could be useful to me and my current goals.
"Yes!" she exclaimed,pausing for three seconds "The day after the Trikala Police were humiliated,my son led one part of his group,under the protection of raging protesters,at the small international airport in Corfu. While our people staged the running battles against the riot police,his group took action as soon as they saw a NATO aircraft on the tarmac. They sabotaged that aircraft through their skills and permanently cut the transit point from NATO. Before this,Corfu was used as a transit point for aid to Albania,one of our enemies."
I wholeheartedly disagree. Well,it's true that Dhimiter is technically on the side of NATO,Alfred and Emily,but...he doesn't want this war. Despite what the Western Propaganda from the Yankee told the World,his condition is more worse than that of Vuk and his people are also getting killed in Kosovo (Djakovica,Korisa and,since yesterday,Podujevo). He lead the refugees to flee from Kosovo to Albania and Vuk had found him three times,and during those times,Vuk doubted Dhimiter because of his affiliation with NATO,until they met one another for the third time. Both haven't felt well (and they still aren't). And as far as I can tell,Dhimiter had gone so far as to attend the 610th Anniversary of the Battle of Kosovo on 28th June and even got pissed off and brave enough to confront Alfred on 1st July at the UN Hall,spewing everything what Vuk explained to him at Alfred,only to get beaten badly by the UN guards under "The Hero-Leader". After that,Dhimiter got to my apartment and begged me to comfort him and let him sleep in my home until he felt better three days later. Poor him.
"Not exactly. Many Albanians in Kosovo had also died in the ongoing bombings." I countered.
"I already know that," she said,looking at the newspaper again,and then at me "but what I don't know is...which Albanians are they backing exactly?"
"Well,if NATO intentionally bombs innocent Serbs AND Albanians in Kosovo and elsewhere,I think the answer is their precious KLA."
"I'm not surprised." she answered,surprising me. I thought she hadn't differentiated between Albanian civilians and the KLA filthy terrorists throughout her entire life "When the NATO supplies and weaponry are riding to the north,it would logically mean that they're se-"
"You two,here's your meal!" the bartender interrupted her,looking at him as he told us to move the newspaper from the table,placing our ordered food and drinks on it.
When the bartender left,we paused our conversation between one another to eat and drink our meal. However,in the midst of our eating,I heard loud rotors from the sky in the distance. I looked to the left and it was a military helicopter flying northwards. I felt my goosebumps in my stomach.
"Ma'am."
"What is it?" she mumbled through her stuffed mouth.
"Look at the helicopter."
She swallowed her bite and turned her head at the sky.
"Don't tell me that Kostis is going to use military force now?!" she snapped at me,also shocked as I am.
I was about to shrug my shoulders,but then I remembered that,since Alfred's Nighthawk got downed four months ago,he now uses a helicopter as his personal transport vehicle. Alfred's going to his base in Thessaloniki,yet again. Is he going to use NATO military to aid Kostis? I don't know,but it's a great possibility that he will.
"Probably." I replied,after taking a deep breath,trying to calm my stomach down "Even if it's false,there's always the NATO military to back him up."
"That's right."
After the helicopter diminished and disappeared from our sights into the clouds,we turned back and continued eating our meal. When we finished,we paid the bartender our check and we slowly stood up from our seats,cleaning the crumbs from our trousers.
"So,would you like to join me and my allies to defeat Kostis and NATO?" I asked her,smiling.
"No,sweetie. I would gladly join in,but I'm too old." she explained,in a sad tone.
"Oh,we-"
"On the other hand," she surprised me again,raising her voice "I'll give you my son's phone number. He and his group are always ready to fight and take action. I'll tell him about you,our encounter and our conversation. You're so friendly and brave."
"You too."
She asked someone to lend her a pen and a piece of paper to write his number. When she wrote the number,she covered one part of the paper with her left hand so as to not have the rest of the people see the phone number.
"Here you go."
I took the piece of paper from her hands and put it in my pocket. I greeted her goodbye and went back to my home,but then...
"Before you go," she recriminated me,grabbing my shoulder,making me turn at her "I want you to take this."
She then picked something from her bag and placed it on my hands. It was a blue badge with white circle and a red Δέλτα symbol. I recognized this symbol instantly,it's the symbol of the Democratic Army of Greece,a short-lived army founded by the Communist Party of Greece during the Civil War I had for three years when Ivan backed them against me,one year after the Second World War had ended,while Arisha was busy reconciling German citizens after the defeat of Nazi Germany. Maybe that's why I joined the NATO?
"You're a DSE veteran?" I said,amazed.
"Yes." she replied,then concluded,raising her fist "Keep fighting a good fight,girl!"
I thanked for her remark and finally went to my boat to return to my apartment,but not before I told her my name and she told her own,along with her son's name. Her name was Rena Stratalli,while her son's name was Markos. This encounter is something that I'll always remember. I hope I can see her again.
20:30
After I came back from Evia island,I never felt so refreshed and better since a long time. It's as if I went from one World to another. From a World of complete chaos and tension to a World of peace and calmness,and the conversation which I had with Mrs. Stratalli made me more motivated to do another neutralization action against another Police Jurisdiction,but at night. I need to get dressed and prepared before I do.
At the same time,I don't know if Vuk had found out about the Podujevo attack. I know he went to Moscow with Arisha to stay with her. If the destruction of Surdulica Sanatorium and the bombing of Staro Gracko haven't already been hard blows,imagine how would he feel if he hears about the recent attack. It appears that Vuk can't have a peaceful week without having at least one day of disgusting tragedy. Vuk would also feel like shit for not being in this place to help his minorities,despite not being at fault for what had happened. He's already sick of wars,particularly the current one he has. He doesn't deserve this.
I sometimes think that Alfred's real goal is not to "protect" Albanians from getting "exterminated",but to simply torture Vuk for the crime of not allowing Alfred to construct his stupid base in Kosovo. And,ever since his embassy was deservedly blown up in Moscow and the Second Cold War had begun,he bombs Vuk with zero demands. Oh,wait,there is one: Vuk,his leader and the ideology.
I took the paper note where Markos' phone number was written from my pocket,thinking about contacting him if he can join my side and help me in my already-known mission.
Then,I grabbed my phone,clicked the following numbers,and put it on my ear. It rang and took a deep breath,removing my jitters.
"Hello?" Markos said.
His voice wasn't the one I expected. I thought Markos was a young man,not an old adult.
"Καλημέρα,Μάρκος." I replied.
A short pause came in.
"Who's calling?" he said,annoyed "Have you called a wrong number?
"No,sir." I explained,formally "My name's Athene Karpusi."
"I don't know you." he retorted
"True,but your mother does."
Another pause came in,but this one was filled with sounds of murmuring,as if Markos tries to tell me something.
"You mean...are you the girl my mother had told me about after she got back?" he exclaimed.
"Yes."
"Oh,nice!"
We had a long phone conversation for about ten or less minutes,talking about ourselves and our job. It was pleasant,but at first it was tense,because we haven't known each other up until now.
"So that's why you called me. Well then," he stated "I'll officially join you,but only in one condition."
"Which is?"
"You must not tell anyone that we're affiliated with you,until Kostis surrenders." he told me,in a serious tone "Because if you do,both of us will have our houses hunted down by his military!"
I don't remember the Greek military hunting people's houses to kill the residents,but I don't think it's impossible.
"I won't,don't worry. I'll keep it as a secret between us."
"Good." he concluded "If you need help,contact me,but don't call me on smaller issues like joining the protests. We're a militant group,not the protestors."
"Ok. Bye." and I ended the call.
After that,I prepared myself to go to the Epirus Police Jurisdiction,but not after I ate something and took my plastic bottle of juice from the fridge,so as to not waste my time finding somewhere to eat whilst being on a mission.
Here we go again.
11th July - 04:20
I just came back from Epirus,leaving it's Police Jurisdiction neutralized. Like with the previous case,it was successful and decisive. But unlike the former,it was shorter,harder,dizzy and I used some different methods to deal with the Jurisdiction.
I don't want to get into details,but to make the long story short,I haven't switched clothes with a knocked down officer. However,since it was midnight and most of the police have either gone to their respective homes or sleep inside the building,there were no deaths and protestors and rioters were probably sleeping.
The first thing I did there,the hardest thing,was to disable the cameras in a surveillance facility where two officials sat there and watched through cameras. One of them was asleep and the other one was awake. My heart pumped when I disabled the cameras,one by one,because I had to do this very quickly before the former wakes up,after I knocked down the latter. After I checked them if they're still asleep,I went to each telephone I could find and cut the phone cables from them. The last thing I did was to go to the Police Chief's office and write a letter to his desk to read it,writting "Give up."
It's nearing the dawn and my legs hurt badly,to the point of not feeling them,being numb from running back to my car into my home. I was too tired and I got scared for suspecting that someone's watching me at the night. My head was dizzy even after I opened the door.
After I drank a cup of water and closed my windows,I fell to my bed,exhausted,and went to sleep.
08:05
I suddenly woke up by the ringing of my phone. I was half-asleep and barely managed to sleep properly,just about four hours. I wondered who calls me and picked up the phone. It enraged me after hearing that disgusting voice.
"Yes?" I said,blinking.
"Uhm,Athene." Emily said "Alfred has requested you to go to the Macedonia Base to have a talk with you. He's worried about why ha-"
"PISS OFF!" I screamed at the phone and slammed it shut.
Not only did she managed to piss me off and wake me up so early,but also for having the guts to call me,even though she's the one who bombed Podujevo yesterday!
My headache got worse. I placed my hands on my face,screamed in frustration and took several deep breaths to at least calm my rage.
In those instants,what I want now is to close my eyes,continue sleeping...and punch something hard after I wake up.
10:25
My phone rang again. My body's boiling and trembling by the mere irritating sound of my phone. I grabbed it violently.
"IF YOU CALL ME ONE MORE TIME TO TELL ME ABOUT YOUR STUPID MEETING,I SWEAR TO G-"
"Hey,HEY,chill out,Athene!" Violeta shouted "What's the matter with you?!"
My worsened mood got better for hearing my friend's voice. It made my headache diminish and permanently woke me up.
"Oh,sorry...I thought it was Emily..." I confessed,blushing.
"Who?"
"You know who I'm referring to,Violeta,you SAW her in Thessaloniki at the end of April,along with his brother!" I replied,irritated "Anyway,why're you calling me?"
"To tell you that me and your daughter will be in Thebes tomorrow afternoon to wait for you to pick Helena up." Violeta explained "Helena no longer wants to stay with me and she wants to go back."
I became happy and worried. Happy because I'll now see her again and worried because I don't know what happened to them. Did they got hurt?
"I will!" I said,cheerfuly "Now,are you two alright?"
"Yes we are."
"Phew,I thought you were injured or worse,kidnapped!"
"Of course not,Athene!" Violet replied "If you ask why in Thebes,a large Anti-Kostis gathering arranged by me will occur,from all stripes. It will be great for the most part."
I smiled,only to turn it into a frown after her next statement.
"However,I need to warn you..."
"What is it?" I asked.
"I saw many tanks and troops marching and scouting everywhere in Greece,to protect police jurisdiction from the rioters. Kostis' also using his military force to block pathways to Athens and in particular,his Presidential Palace." she explained,then warned "Be especially careful with stumbling on tanks. You might get squashed or have a car crash if you do."
"I'll take it to an account. I'll find you as soon as possible." I concluded.
12th July - 13:35,on the way to Thebes
Turns out that Violeta was right all along. After I launched my car and went to pick up Helena,I indeed saw five tanks blocking roads and patrolling the streets,making sure that my people won't dare to cross the street and confront Kostis' forces in order to reach their destinations.
What made it worse is that almost every pole with megaphones which they stood on every town shouted: "Under the President's Order,anyone who finds and captures three infamous individuals: Athene Karpusi,Violeta Asynithis and Mikis Theodorakis,alive,will be proclaimed National Hero!"
As if I and now,my colleagues,weren't already wanted... In any case,I must avoid the tanks and me (and them) being seen in public. Crowds in Thebes would help me in hiding,but I currently need to change the number plate. That way,they'll have to recognize which blue car are they're chasing after. He,he!
14:20
I've finally changed the number plate of my car from a local Automobile repair shop in Livadia. The car mechanic asked me why do I want this,and I haven't bothered except paying him and telling him that I'm in hurry,leaving this shop instantly. I wasn't going to reveal the real reason,for he'll probably report me to the authorities for finding me and get profit from it.
What's more,it's raining now,and I didn't knew that it would rain in the middle of summer. Great,now I have to come out wet!
After I left and passed two kilometers,I saw a small group of troops with two tanks blocking the highway to Thebes. It blocked my car and the others ones in front of and behind me. Two soldiers are inspecting drivers if they have seen me or if they ARE me,but just hiding their appearance...somehow.
Though I didn't feared them,the soldier came closer to my car,finishing inspection on the past drivers,after which they let them pass through the tanks. I rushed to find something to hide either my eyes or my mouth,or simply make a ponytail again out of my hair. I searched everything from each storage compartment in my car,and I only found sunglasses (despite raining,ironically enough).
When the soldier reached my car,I've put my sunglasses on.
"Excuse me,ma'am,have you seen this suspect?" he asked me,showing the picture of my face.
I looked at it and,at first,told him that I've never heard or seen her before.
"Are you sure?" the soldier replied,looking at my face and the photo.
"Yes I am."
"Would you remove your sunglasses,then?" he said,after pausing.
"Why?"
"WHY?! I have an entire row to inspect and you have the guts to spit 'Why'?!" he complained,angrily.
"If you insist..." I said,shrugging my shoulders.
I slowly removed the sunglasses and revealed my bare eyes. He did it again with the photo and at my face. After he realized that my face matched the photo,due to my face complexions,he opened his mouth slightly in shock without releasing a word,turned and rushed towards the group.
"EVERYONE!" he shouted at the group "I'VE FOUND HER! SHE'S HERE,FIVE ROWS BEHIND!"
At this point,I took of the rubber band from my hair into reverting my original haircut and drove to the right near the grass,out of the highway. They entered their cars and started chasing and shooting at my car. The tanks moved backwards and rolled their turret to point at my car,firing their shells around my car,trying to hit me.
I drove as fast as I could, putting the speed to maximum by violently pushing the lever. I turned left and right (and around the grass,out of the highway) dozens of times,trying to avoid their hits. My car almost fell upside-down by the tank shot.
After ten minutes of driving rapidly away from them,I slowed down the speed and hid behind a stone for five minutes. I opened the window to take a fresh air and leaned my body out of the window,checking if there are no military group riding over the fields. They're nowhere to be seen.
Damn,Kostis' forces aren't as weak as I thought. They know how to coordinate defenses from revolters. Consequently speaking,no matter how many risks will I and my people would commit,Kostis' forces would grow in numbers.
Only ten more kilometers remain...
15:05
Here I am in Thebes,coming out of the car after I parked somewhere near the place where the gathering is occurring,locking it. I listened to the loud chants far away from me,but still hearable enough to spot where did they came from.
I sighed and went to the gates of Thebes. It was incredibly crowded and all of them had umbrellas on their heads,but I have to know where Helena and Violeta are. They're the reason why I'm here to begin with...I hope they're doing well...
No soon I tried to move around the narrow crowd like they did with others,thus getting out of the crowd for a while to go to the wet sidewalk,I spotted an old man in mid 50s near a shop where the rally was minimal on this area. He looked like one of the Greek presidential guards,but he wore an entire uniform. He didn't have an umbrella and he wore the white clothing,but his chest uniform was different. He had a big moustache and short black brushy hair.
The reason why I'm describing his appearance right now is because he looks so...familiar to me,as if I've seen him somewhere in the past. I don't know when,but I knew a guy who was with Vuk all the time up until Yugoslavia was invaded and divided in 1941 during WW2.
Anyways,I tried to approach him as he's arguing with a merchant,but as soon as I blinked,he disappeared. Poof! Unbelievable! I rubbed my eyes again to see if I was hallucinating,and no one,except the merchant and the crowd,appeared.
I then approached the merchant.
"Excuse me,sir," I asked "have you seen someone with a random traditional clothing and big moustache?"
"No,what are you talking about?" he asked back,seeing my confusion.
"Your last customer?"
"Οχι. The last customer was a female who bought some bread and a sour cream,while the rest of my known customers are right here on a rally behind you." he replied,also confused "You must be seeing things..."
"I swear I didn't!" I tried to prove him wrong "Twenty seconds ago,I saw someone familiar who argued with you abo-"
"Cut the crap already! Do you want to buy something?" he said,now annoyed.
"No."
"Then get out!" he snapped at me,angrily.
I no longer bothered and turned away from him,walking forward near the crowd.
Ten minutes of slow marching,despite my shrinking patience,I saw two prominent people hugging and kissing their cheeks at one another,surrounded by the crowd who watched them in shock. To be precise,two radical political leaders. One's named Nikolaos Michaloliakos and the other one's named Aleka Papariga. The former leads the Nazi-esque party called the Golden Dawn,while the latter leads the Communist Party of Greece. Normally,seeing or even imagining two opposing ideologies and their representatives hugging or unifying with one another is obsolete. But in this case,it's not?
"You two!" the reporter called them,after one from the crowd took a picture of them "Why had you hugged one another?"
"To show the people that we and Greece are united against our common and current enemy!" Aleka said,proudly.
"Yeah,it wasn't out of love or anything." Nikolaos added "We may have many differences,but let me tell you,if it wasn't for America,NATO and the atrocities committed against our Serbian brothers,I would've strangled her to death."
Aleka simply turned to him and rolled her eyes. I know she would do the same.
Then,when Aleka told the reporters that the picture should be made private and the reporter dismissed them,they raised their arms. Nikolaos raised the palm while Aleka raised her fist. She tried to make Nikolaos form a fist into a hand,but in the end,they got separated and went to their rally parts where their flags are flying.
Weird.
15:30
Just as I thought that the road to my friend's location would become hopeless,I managed to find them by the end of the exit in Thebes. The bad news here is that,by the time most of the rallying people exited this place,I saw two policemen near a police truck fighting Violeta and Helena. While one of them grabbed Violeta and is in process to arrest her,the other one took Helena's body and started cuffing her hands.
"LET ME GO,MEANIE!" Helena demanded,yelling angrily. She bit his arm as deeper as she could.
"Now we've caught you in the act,little criminals!" the one who's struggling to make my daughter enter the truck shouted "You thought we won't capture the most wanted leaders against order! Well,we now have."
It pissed me of so much that I exploded in rage and launched against him.
"HOW DARE YOU TOO ARREST AN INNOCENT CHILD,YOU ASSHOLE!" I snapped at him,gritting my teeth,taking his face and slapping him hard and doing it again with his other side of his face.
"W-Who are you to slap a policeman,BITCH!?" he shouted at me,pushing me at the truck and taking out his nightstick. I hit my back hard because of the policeman's push.
I quickly grabbed the nightstick from his hands and slammed his head hard,knocking him down. It caused him to drop Helena and rush at me,hugging in tears. When I saw Violeta resisting the other policeman,I simply gave her a signal by nodding my head. She also nodded,and moved her cuffed hands up to choke the policeman until a minute passed,in which she kicked his balls and left him to moan loudly.
"WE'LL GET YOU SOON,PUNKS!" he swore us,but we ignored him.
We then ran away from them and,when we found my car,we got inside and launched it.
17:00
I'm driving Violeta and sleeping Helena to pick the former up to her home in Piraeus,Athens. All of us were wet and tired with our actions and we almost got caught by Kostis' Police.
"How's your day,Athene?" Violeta asked,sullenly.
"Deadly." I said,in a same moody and angry tone,looking at her through the rear-view mirror.
"How?"
"I almost died when I escaped a military group while I was going to pick you up." I answered,growling.
"I understand you." she said,slightly calmed "At least you now know that Kostis is using his military to suppress the opposition.
Kostis would do anything he can to stay in power. More so when NATO would very likely intervene to try to stop us.
One minute of silence.
"How did you ended up nearly getting arrested?" I asked,now calmed but still stern.
"They know who are the most wanted out there in Greece,as 'criminals'."
In their eyes,yes.
"And what about Helena?"
"The police thought that she was you,so they wanted to send her alive to Kostis to claim their reward."
"Yeah,not even Kostis nor the Atlanticists would believe them." I replied,smiling.
We both laughed. Who wouldn't?
"Hey,Athene,you're missing the road to Piraeus!" she reminded me,noticing the road sign I was about to cross.
When I reached her home building,she opened the door of my car and said goodbye,waving her hand.
"See you soon!" Violeta shouted.
The rain began to soothe me,with the rain bulging around the windshield and wipers cleaning them constantly,driving my way to my home to put my daughter in our bed.
When the red light came,I looked behind the sleeping Helena. Her cheeks were humid in tears,but I saw her smiling,making me feel better. I called Vuk to come here today or tomorrow,not to forget to ask Arisha or Ivan for a permission. I did so because,since Helena is going back to her house,it'll be the right opportunity to have Vuk babysit her until his president or one of his generals contact him to be on duty and complete a mission or two.
13th July - 09:50
I slept together with my daughter on our bed,hugging Helena in my arms. The heat in the room was naturally warm. I swear,I never felt so sleepy and calmed in my life,being with Helena. She's too young to fight,and much less participate,but she can be dangerous when she's really angry,as seen yesterday.
But then,someone knocked at the door. I haven't heard the first knocks,but when I heard them for the second time and a young teen voice calling me,despite sounding like a mumbler,I blinked,yawned and spread my arms high,trying to wake up.
"Hold for a moment,please?" I said,weakly.
I slowly got up from my bed,ribbing my eyes,and put my slippers on. I went at the door,sighed,and unlocked the door.
"Athene!"
"Υυκα!"
We hugged each other for quite a while. His visits are a blessing from Heaven.
"It's great to see you again,my friend." he said,calmly,smiling.
"You too,sweetheart." I replied,releasing my hug.
A short pause appeared. During this pause,Vuk carefully saw and analyzed my body,seeing my tired and sleepy face. He blushed.
"I-I'm sorry,Athene." he tried to apologize,tapping his fingers and shyly stuttering "I didn't knew y-y-you were sleeping..."
"It's ok,Vuk,you don't have to apologize." I assured him,placing my hand to his shoulder.
"Can I come in?" Vuk asked,moving my hand from his shoulder with his hands.
I didn't replied,but I instead loved my arm at the room to show he can enter. He cleaned his shoes at the floor mat and taking off the same,placed his cloak at the stand and closed the door. He also brought his chess box and a backpack with him.
"Is this your daughter? he asked me again,quietly. He didn't want to awake her.
"Yes." I replied,in a same volume as he spoke,winking. I don't remember if he ever seen or heard of Helena before. He probably forgot "She doesn't know you,but she'll be absolutely happy to see a new friend as her company."
Vuk nodded. Looking at his face,he's paler than the last time I visited him and his eyes now have tear troughs for occasionally crying whenever a tragedy occurs over the atrocities NATO,Alfred and Emily are perpetrating on his people,especially civilians. I fear his facial change would soon get permanent if the bombings continue even if I successfully leave NATO,or worse...losing the war. He's fighting so hard not to lose this crucial war for his survival. In short,he looked very sick.
I then turned to my sleeping child and caressed her hair,to soothingly wake her up.
"Hey,Helena,a guest has arrived." I whispered to her ear,after sitting on a chair near her.
She didn't replied,just moaned quietly. I tried again.
"Deary,someone came to visit." I babbled,now slightly louder.
Helena slowly turned her back rightwards until her face was revealed from the pillow.
"W-who?" she whimpered.
"It's a surprise." I told her,sweetly "Come on,don't be shy."
Like me before her,she yawned and slowly got her back up,moving towards the sitting position. When she opened her eyes and Vuk told her a simple "Hi!",she jumped and yelped in shock.
"Who am I looking at?!" she complained,in a shocked but somewhat quiet tone.
I know,she didn't got used to being with Vuk. Same with vice versa.
"The boy in our room is Vuk Misic,my best friend." I answered,moving my head at him.
"Why does he look like...l-like someone who got out of his grave?" she asked. You and your silly exaggerations.
Fifteen seconds of complete silence came through her words. During this tiny period,Vuk got confused,feeling uneasy and looking at the floor.
"He looks like that because he's fighting an unfair war against him from the skies." I explained "They're bombing him and his innocent people. You wouldn't imagine how he's going through many shit to make his appearance look kinda scary."
"You might be right." Helena agreed,but still doubting,calmly "But why's he in our house?"
"Bec-"
"Because I need to be with someone who cares about me." Vuk interrupted me,finally speaking up "I don't want to stay in a constant fear of getting attacked all day,and my land is dangerous to visit. Besides,I don't want to stay too long."
Helena lowered her head.
"I'm not sure...If-if you leave me here alone while you keep fighting our president...who'll keep me safe and be with me?" she stuttered,making a face as if she's going to cry.
"I will." Vuk told her "You may not know me,Helena,but you'll be fine when we get along and used to one another. It won't be difficult for me to stay there until I have to go back to my lands to fight my enemies."
"Yes,you could be a great babysitter." I added.
"No,I don't mean like that. What I meant was-"
"I know full well what you meant to say." I cut him off,standing up from the chair "That's why I propose you this: Can you be her babysitter until your president or a general tells you to come back?"
"I don't know...but I'll try. At least I won't put up with hearing more cruel attacks against my people by Alfreak!" he accepted and then complained,angrily.
"Alfreak" again...I bursted into a loud giggle.
"Alfreak who? Why's my mother laughing?" she asked him,curious.
"You better not know,but if you did,you would wish you never heard of him." Vuk answered "He's an evil and disgusting freak."
"What's so funny about it?" she kept asking.
"T...the...the name,HA HA HA HA HA HA!" I bursted in laughter,no longer taking this label anymore. It's so funny and accurate. There's no other word to describe Alfred but Alfreak.
"Is it the one who's bombing him?"
"Yes he is." I replied,after calming down.
Helena got up and hugged him,thus Vuk returned her a hug. When they released each other and Helena asked what's for breakfast,I told her it will be sandwiches and despite Vuk wanting to help me,I told him that there's no need to do so,and just wait for the breakfast to come.
After I almost finished eating the meal,my phone rang. It was Mikis. He told me that I must meet him in our private Thessaloniki Headquarters at 15:30,telling me that it's about his secret "masterplan".
"Uhm,I sorry to tell you,but I have to go now."
"Already?!" both of them snapped at me loudly,shocked again.
"Yes..." I said,with a sad and heavy sigh "I know you'll miss me,but I'm still in the fight."
"I see." Vuk replied,dismissively "Hope you come back dealing with them all."
"I will." And went out of my house with my backpack hanged over my shoulder and putting my blue heeled boots on,but not before telling them to be on their good behavior and telling Vuk to take care of her.
"We will." Helena smiled.
I got out and closed the door,but when I heard the swift footsteps,someone prevented me from closing it fully. It was Vuk.
"Wait! I need to ask you something before you go." Vuk exclaimed,in a rushed tone.
I was a little annoyed for being interrupted. I felt tempted to roll my eyes,but I didn't.
"Remember when I asked you if you could throw a pile of shit at Alfreak this time,instead of a rotten tomato. You know,when we were in the Surdulica Sanatorium by the end of May?"
I laughed again. Oh my God,it always gets me whenever I get reminded about it.
"Y-Yes I do,he-he-he!" I replied,with difficulty for laughing again.
"If you find Alfreak somewhere,like in Mace-*cough* I mean,Солун,pick up the first pile of shit you find and throw it RIGHT at Alfreak's face. You'll make me a huge favor for doing so."
I let out a snort and moved my eye pupils up for attempting to say "Macedonia". It would serve Alfred right yet again,but I'm still not sure.
"I'll consider it,Vuk." I exclaimed,firmly "When I see him again,I'll humiliate and ruin him so bad that he'll never step his foot in Greece ever again."
"And if his face gets smeared with wet dung,the better." he added,with a mischievous smile.
The best would be if he also gets headlined again,like he did after what had happened in Thessaloniki at late April. Good times...
"I have to go now,Vuk." I reminded him "Mikis won't be happy if I'm late. I may be the Leader,but I must respect my compatriots."
"Understood." he said,simply.
"Good,and take care of Helena while I'm out. Be on your good behavior and keep her alive and safe from harm,ok?" I told him again,just to make sure.
"Yes I will." he concluded and sighed,rolling his eyes. "Довиђења!"
"Αντίο!"
To be honest,Vuk is by no means good. He was known for doing antics against me when I was younger during the Byzantine times. He acted (and in a way,was) like a monkey for being a barbarian and illiterate child a millennium ago,up until he and his Slavic siblings (including Arisha and Ivan) got civilized and taught proper manners by Cyril and Methodius. At one point,he destroyed and ripped my entire hair bald with some large part of my hair remaining,when he wanted to pillage my palace (I lived there back then) for how many times which I don't and WON'T know. The savage and wild brat he used to be...
And as for his past "genocides" he committed in Yugoslavia and told from the Western Alfred's...no,sorry,Alfreak's media,I doubt he committed some of them himself or by his orders. He DID committed many crimes,again,he's by no means good teen,but...even if Srebrenica is included,they're by no means "genocides",they were mass murders. But apparently,it's only HIM that he's guilty of all crimes in Yugoslavia,not Drazen or Amina. They too are responsible for their own crimes against each other and Vuk,particularly Drazen's action against the Krajina's Serbs in August 1995. I could at least hope that Drazen isn't celebrating this disgusting atrocity.
15:30,Thessaloniki Headquarters
"Why have you wanted me to come here,Mikis?" I asked him,with both of us sitting in our seats,alone "What's so urgent about your 'masterplan'?"
He stood up and remained quiet for several seconds.
"You see this?" Mikis said,pointing at Thessaloniki on the map,placed on the table.
"Yes,and?"
"Do you remember the Thessaloniki Incident?" he asked me,raising his head to look at my eyes.
"Yes I do. It was a successful action which led to nothing."
"Well,when I heard from the news that the American reinforcements,requested by Kostis, will come to reinforce the city borders and aid him tomorrow against us,I came up with a plan to defeat both of them."
"Explain. It sounds pretty convincing to me." I commented,satisfied about his explanation.
"Not just convincing,but grandiose. It'll be the second Thessaloniki Incident,but twentyfold." he told me,smirking "When you and Violeta were in the Thebes rally,I didn't neutralized the Police Jurisdictions like you did twice. Rather,I convinced the West Macedonian and Thracian police peacefully to join our side,in exchange to spare their lives and carriers,after we surrounded their buildings,of course."
Convincing the Greek Police is possible?! I always believed that the police are the most loyal for Kostis,but now I'll get proven contrary.
"That's astonishing,but I don't know how did you do it?" I said,joyfully.
"Very easy,just tell them that they'll get a ton of cash if they join or remain neutral in these riots and protests. I and my group didn't bribed or coerce them,we just convinced them. After all,they'll follow nothing but money when it comes to their allegiances."
"Will they really get money?"
"Yes,if you want to pay them yourself." he told me "I spent my entire savings to convince two of the jurisdictions,spending 12000 Drachmas for each of them."
He had a point. Kostis won't be stupid enough to pay the police to stand against him. Only his enemies can do it.
"I'll do the same after your plan is executed. Now," I then asked "how would this plan work?"
"An excellent question,Athene." he exclaimed,after pausing,pointing at the streets "I'll explain the details after the pause for lunch,but to make it simple,I'll gather 3500 people to surround four streets which are near this base." He then took a box and opened it,taking and placing five figures on each location "Our next act here is to encircle and raze this wretched base,which is in reality a building,from the inside out,and liberate the streets from the most loyal Kostis' police in Northern Greece. After this,the reinforcements will either come and fight us or retreat like cowards they are."
I applauded loudly. Maybe after this Alfred and Emily would realize that their "right" to meddle in Greece and keep chained against Serbia are meaningless.
"Got it. When will this battle occur?"
"Tomorrow at 12:00,when our enemies are active the most."
I shook his hands in approval and had a pause for launch. Afterwards,we talked about the details of his masterplan for half an hour.
"And that's how we'll win!" he finished,proudly.
"Don't take too much pride on yourself,Mikis." I warned him "Yes,it'll increase our pride,but don't get overconfident. Maybe your plan would fail."
"You're right,we must also be careful about our steps."
We said goodbye and went to our homes. If the April Confrontation was worth it,wait until the World sees the second attack in Thessaloniki,now directly targeted at the NATO land base.
I'm so proud where this is going.
14th July - 12:00,on the streets of Thessaloniki near its base
Everything is assembled. Two hours earlier,before we got organized and came to encircle the Thessaloniki Base Area (not the building,yet),we built roadblocks to make the police unable to clear paths for the reinforcements to arrive. Three sets of barricades,one containing an overturned lorry, were erected across the narrow street using material from a builder's yard and from local people's homes and shops nearby. We also brought many things from our houses which weren't just ripe and rotten fruits and vegetables.
During the first ten minutes,I and Violeta marched with our demonstrators from all stripes around the area in the clockwise direction,chanting our slogans loudly enough for the base residents and officials to hear us,and raising our fits (and palms by Golden Dawners who participated) in defiance.
Mikis,on the other hand,gathered half of demonstrators in front of the NRDC-GR's gate entrance,giving them an ultimatum. It could cost him his life for creating such deadly plan.
"Criminals! We demand you to leave Greece forever for acting as 'police officers' against our wishes not to get involved in a war against our ally you're committing." he shouted through the megaphone,giving a speech "You claim to protect us from an outdated cause you just reestablished two months ago,but we don't need you. You're transporting weaponry and supplies to a terrorist organization that murders residents and harvest their organs for profit,instead of giving them humanitarian aid they the innocent people richly deserve. YOU are the true terrorists! Close your base right now,or we'll do it for you!"
He lowered his megaphone and waited for them to come out and respond. Nothing was heard or appeared for one minute. The next half a minute had passed and we and Mikis heard galloping noise and firing bullets. They're here.
The action has begun!
"Assume your defense positions and hold your ground!" I yelled through my own megaphone,as the mounted police are coming to fight us "We'll defeat them and give them no pass!"
"NATO must fall!" Violeta added,taking the megaphone from my grip and returning it to me when she spoke her cry. We're leading the other half of demonstrators.
We had a very bloody fight which lasted for an hour and half. Hundreds of mounted and non-mounted police attacked us with extreme brutality from all street sides,beating anyone who stood in their way. They used nightsticks and guns as their weapons. It was so brutal that the cafes and shops were turned into first aid places by the residents to treat the wounded.
As our response,we hid behind the barricades and fought back by throwing lots of stuff. We firstly threw glass objects and marbles at the road within the barricades as a defense against mounted police charges. Next,when a few rounds of police came behind us,we used sticks,rocks,chair legs and other improvised weapons to hit and push them back. I joined in with Violeta and beaten several policemen and their shields. At the top of that,Mikis and part of his group were found by some of the mounted policemen,starting to fight the group.
"Protect Theodorakis at all costs! He must survive!" I yelled again,ordering the demonstrators to protect him.
The ones who were within the barricades had themselves pelted with rubbish and rotten fruits and vegetables. To my delight,I also saw women and men from some of their houses throwing the contents of chamber pots at the police along the streets,yelling at them.
"TAKE THIS,ANIMALS!"
"YOU'RE NOT WELCOME HERE!"
"KICK THEIR ASSES,DEMONSTRATORS!"
By the time the police were subjected to a humiliating defeat for no longer standing our resistance,they withdrew immediately. The battle wasn't finished until a tenth of our group parts combined charged like vandals at the NATO base building and started to raze everything inside. They broke the windows by throwing everything out of its rooms into the field,burned some of the rooms into spreading in every corner of the building and they beaten the black and blue out of the officials who served there.
I,Violeta,Mikis and the remaining people watched in joy as they did,but I saw two things once the building was officially razed from inside out: I firstly saw someone ripping the NATO flag from the flagpole at the top of the roof and replacing it with the Greek flag,which made us applaud,and the second thing,which was ignored by most of us (except me and few others),was a helicopter emerging out of nowhere and one brown figure with one small thing on its shoulder getting inside the helicopter,flying away and disappear.
Is this figure Alfred Jones?! I won't be surprised if it's true,since he always stays there when going to Greece. He's a total coward for fleeing from the enraged people trying to beat the shit out of him. The pilot who flies this helicopter would be no other than Emily Kirkland and that little thing on Alfred's shoulder must be an eagle.
I didn't knew that he has an eagle as his pet,but that didn't concerned me.
When the people who razed it exited the same,the rest of the demonstrators followed their suit and walked out of the streets.
"Congratulations,my allies!" I shouted at Violeta and Mikis,cheerfully "We finally destroyed the base!"
"With the help of our people on our side!" Mikis added,also shouting.
"I think this would make Kostis give up and leave this Terrorist Organization." Violeta said.
"Let's hope so." I concluded.
We then got separated and left this place. I on the other hand wanted to go back to my house and tell Vuk and Helena about this event,and also write the letter to Arisha and Maria to read it,like I did at the end of April...but something prevented me to go back right away.
Just as the military is about to approach the streets,I saw a big mass of shit laying on the ground in the street,as all the rest of the disgusting things which were thrown during this battle. I wanted to pick it up and do Vuk a huge favor,to throw at Alfred's face when I find him. But then I realized that,even if half of me demands the other to take the shit,it would melt in my pocket after many hours and stink my trousers up.
In the end,no matter how disappointed Vuk would become,I choose not to pick it up and went back to my parked car definitively,now that the army is going to search what has happened and give Kostis a very bad news.
I still doubt that he doesn't want to see chaos anymore and give up,accepting my demands. I'll write a short letter of ceasefire to him. If he doesn't,well...I don't know what to say about him.
23:30,Presidential Mansion,Athens
Narrator's PoV
Konstantinos Stephanopoulos is in his office,reading the report one of his ministers gave to him about what had happened in Thessaloniki. He was shocked,furious and stressed out after reading it.
He left the paper on his desk and he felt his heart pumping. His confidence was destroyed when the raze happened today. He didn't knew how did his people went against him so suddenly a week earlier,despite living in relatively positive conditions. He was confused and scared for his life,acknowledging that the entire north of his land he ruled is now in the hands of the opposition,and then have the Capital City taken over and get ousted into prison.
Seeing all the bad news he has received,particularly about what had happened on 8th July and today. He wanted to resolve this peacefully,knowing that the issue isn't about his Domestic but Foreign Policies. He spent in his office deep in thoughts,if he could accept some of his advisers' advise to leave NATO immediately and end this chaotic charade.
A loud noise ceased his thoughts. It was his telephone which rang loudly in the midst of the isolated night. When he put his phone in his ear and said "Hello?",he felt his blood freezing,as the voice coming from the telephone was from someone who...didn't took the today's incident lightly.
"Mr. Stephanopoulos,I heard about the attack on my base in Thessaloniki..." Alfred said,in a cold tone "And you know full well how I fell about this..."
"L-l-look,I-I tried my best to prevent those demonstrators to destroy your building." Kostis stuttered,trying to reason with his backer "They outnumbered them by numbers,an-and they fled the city as soon as my milita-"
"SILENCE!" The Leader yelled out "Those who destroyed it weren't 'demonstrators',they were SAVAGES!"
"Ναι,ναι,I know...but you must understa-"
"I completely understand you,Mr. President..." he cut him off mid sentence,severely. "You don't know IOTA about suppressing the opposition. You shouldn't have sent your men to handle them,you should've CRUSHED THEM WITH TANKS AND BOMBED THEM TO BITS LIKE HOW THE CIVILIZED FUCKING WORLD DOES!"
His ear got hurt and vibrating for hearing Alfred screeching at the top of his lungs,moving his phone away from him for some seconds.
"I know it would scare the opposition but...they're still my people." he said,after a pause,placing his phone to his ear again,raising his voice "No matter how wild they became,I can't kill them. I can order my forces to injure,arrest and contain them,but not to go as far as to KILL THEM!"
Alfred growled.
"I DON'T CARE!" he shouted again,gritting his teeth. Then reverted to his loud but calm voice "If you don't know how to manage to herd your sheep in their place,then you won't know how to do the same with your people!"
"I don't know if I could keep staying in NATO,Mr. Jones." he complained "It's costing me my life and my reputation among my populace. It's not that simple." he then shouted,angrily "I won't be able to sleep...WHAT THE HELL DO YOU WANT!?"
"Don't you dare raise your tone at me,gramp!" Alfred warned,enraged. Then mocked "Oh,'you won't be able to sleep'. I TOO CAN'T AND WON'T SLEEP for standing your incompetence,Kostis! I literally had to flee from these savage maniacs to save my skin in the helicopter,flying to my Crete Naval Base!"
He didn't knew how to reply next. His backer is having a big tantrum at his phone,but Alfred's the only one who's backing his career and life.
"You hear me?" Alfred asked,checking Kostis' silence.
He came up with one crucial question.
"Can I leave NATO?"
Alfred breathed in from his nose hard in rage.
"NO!" Alfred screamed,as if he's about to lose his voice "You'll be siding with our enemy and without me,your country will end up in a Civil War! You don't want this to happen...do you?"
He had a dreadful point.
"Then...what should I do? How can I be spared?!" he conceded.
Ten-second silence appeared from his words. Alfred took a deep breath.
"I'll give you one last chance,Kostis..."
After hearing the beginning of his new sentence,he took of his glasses,and closed his eyes in fear when Alfred uttered his last words,before ending the call.
"If you don't manage to get rid of the ringleaders like Athene Karpusi,and then repeat the same mistakes even if I intervene myself,you might as well consider your downfall..." Alfred threatened,in his coldest voice "It's either you or Athene. Fail me again...and you're as good as dead."
Here's the second part of my Thirteenth Chapter,the longest one since my Sixth Chapter. I'm sorry it took me long to post this part,but I had the university stuff and issues to deal with. I won't promise when will the final part come,but I can assure you that it'll be shorter than the previous one.
From meeting with a DSE Veteran to letting Serbia babysit Athens,Greece has done everything for the first week to resist his President,from riding away from his forces to kill her to committing an organized and staged terrorist attack on the Thessaloniki Base. She still hopes that her President would change his mind and give up denying the majority's wishes. Meanwhile,after what had happened on 14th July,America didn't took this event well and denied the Greek President to leave NATO to save his country,as he's loosing his trust and love for Kostis. Whatever the next week between Greece and Kostis would give,it won't be as easy and they hoped it would turn out.
Thanks for reading.