Gundam SEED Rebuild
Ch. 6 - Protect Martha
Disclaimer: I do not own Gundam SEED. The Lockheed and Donnelly families, Glenn's immediate family, and Doug McLaney are my OCs. Andria Yamasaki is Titanic-X-21's OC. Mark Allen and Mackenzie Allen are ZAFT Convoy's OCs.
Response to Reviews:
-edboy4926: Glad you like. :)
-Just a Crazy-Man: Thanks!
To define each of us by our race is nothing short of a denial of our humanity. - Clarence Thomas, Associate Justice of the United States Supreme Court
Lockheed Residence, Jacksonville, Florida, Feb. 10, CE 54
Adrian washed his face and took a deep breath, ready for a long and tense night watching the operation in the hospital his wife was in.
After talking with his friend, Halberton, he decided to talk to his wife when she woke up, albeit in a weak state. He was very nervous. Heck, he wasn't sure if it was even going to work.
His mind went back to that decision-making with Martha when she woke up.
Flashback
Adrian was shown into the ICU by one of the nurses, both of them donning sanitary clothing. After talking with his friend, Duane Halberton, then Andria, he decided to talk with Martha concerning the baby. The pilot and husband had to compose himself for a bit as he witnessed his wife hooked up to a few IV bags, and several machines including an oxygen machine. She looked pale and withered, and doctors around her silently observed her status and that of her baby in her womb.
Her eyes fluttered open briefly.
"Martha!" Adrian rushed over to his wifeonly to be slowed by one of the doctors.
"She's very weak Mr. Lockheed," the doctor advised, "please take it easy."
The man nodded as he slowly came closer. "Martha..."
"Honey..." Martha groaned as she gave a soft smile through her mask.
Adrian clasped her hand in his own. "You doing okay?" he asked.
Martha shook her head gently, and looked around in bewilderment. "W...what... happened..."
"You were stricken with the Type S2..." Adrian whispered. "You and the baby."
The woman groaned in exasperation. "Should have... been... more careful..." She then looked up. "Who..."
"Jeff and Andria brought you here to Mayo Clinic," Adrian explained, "they told me what happened."
Martha was surprised. "They... They did?"
"Yes," Adrian nodded.
Martha softly hummed. Then she remembered someone, and her eyes widened. "D-Derek." She shuffled about in a near panic.
"Calm down. He's fine," Adrian said soothingly.
Martha sighed in relief, but then looked towards her bulging stomach. "My baby... ugh..." She groaned in pain as she felt her body ache.
"We have a plan in place to save him," Adrian assured her.
Martha looked to her husband confused. If she heard the news right, there was no vaccine available. Was Adrian perhaps trying to comfort her in her last moments?
"We're going to..." Here Adrian sighed. "We're going to save the baby's life... by making him a Coordinator."
Martha was tired, but she was awake enough to do a double take. "What?"
"We're going to make Derek's brother a Coordinator," Adrian repeated. "Andria came up with the idea. And if it works, we could have a vaccine formula in the end."
Martha looked at her husband in silence. Adrian suddenly felt uncomfortable. He scratched the back of his covered head.
"Martha... I know this was a sudden and major decision on my part..." Adrian muttered, "but I want you and our son to live."
He the looked his wife deep in the eyes. "Yet, I also want this to be a decision that we can both make together." Adrian gestured towards the Glenn Health doctors in the room. "They will only proceed with the operation... if the both of us approve."
Adrian knelt down next to the bedside, and took Martha's pale hand into his own. "Now it's up to you... can we do this?"
The weakened woman looked down at her stomach, then at her husband. "Just... do what...whatever it takes... to save his life..." she rasped.
Martha coughed for a bit, and paused to let it out before composing herself. "If... nothing else... we'd at least... tried..."
Adrian nodded. "We'll do our best," he promised.
End Flashback
Sometime after that, Lockheed went to his local church and spoke with his pastor in private about the operation and the struggles that he went through making this decision for his wife and second son. The pastor did warn Lockheed of the challenges going ahead for him and his family in the world and environment they inhabited, but did agree to pray for Adrian and his family, and that God would bring good out of this difficult decision. Adrian after some thought did realize that Derek's little brother would grow up in a world were men would judge and condemn him based on the difficult circumstances of his birth, but Adrian would love his son no less in raising him.
Now, here he was, trying to figure out how to deal with what was coming.
"Martha..." he muttered. Her life now depended on the success of not only the operation on his second son, but also the conversion of the data from the operation into a workable vaccine. If the vaccine failed, his second child would die with his mother regardless.
He knew that Derek would be depressed over the loss of both his mother and brother. The boy was very attached to both, and not to mention he was very observant and had somehow known about his brother's illness before anyone else had been aware. And if both his mom and brother died, he'd be very, very upset.
Speaking of whom...
"Daddy?" Adrian looked down to see little Derek standing just outside the bathroom.
"Derek, you doing okay?" he asked.
"Mommy and brudda still hwurting..." Derek whined.
"They'll be fine," Adrian said soothingly as he picked up his son. "I promise."
"Auntie Andria can make brudda and Mommy bwetta," Derek asked.
He nodded. "Yes. She's doing that right now, actually," Adrian told the youth.
Derek sniffed as he looked at his dad. "Pwomise?"
The man nodded. "Promise," he said.
For the first time in a while, Derek's cute face showed hints of a smile. "Daddy..." he said as he hugged his dad. Adrian returned it.
Then, setting his son down, Adrian coaxed, "come, let's go see your mommy and brother." The boy nodded eagerly as he took his father's hand.
It was then that the doorbell rang. Adrian turned and, after letting go of Derek's hand, he headed for the door. He felt for his Glock 9mm under the sweater just in case and he activated his door camera.
Adrian peered into the monitor. He could see that it was a trio of friends, Jeff Glenn, Duane Halberton, and even Joe Donnelly.
"Hey buddy," Joe said in a friendly manner through the camera.
Seeing that, Adrian unlocked and opened the door to greet his friends. "Hey guys," he said, "what are you all doing?"
Jeff stepped forward. "I got the three of us together to support you," he explained, "we want you to know that neither you nor Martha are alone in this. Andria also wanted me to tell you that she's going to be beside Martha throughout this whole deal."
Halberton nodded in agreement. "Martha's in good hands," he added, "Andria's says she's got the best working on this."
"And you've got the best pals a lucky Natural can ever have," Joe said with a buddy shoulder slap.
Adrian let out a smile. "Thanks, guys," he replied. Jeff really went an extra mile for him, even though they were only friends for less than a year.
Derek ran up to the front door. "Unca Joey, Unca Jeffy, Unca Lewie!"
"Hey, little guy!" Jeff remarked with a smile as he knelt for the boy, arms open.
Derek ran into Jeff's arms. "Daddy said Auntie Andria make Mommy bwetta!"
"She's working on it, now, kiddo," Jeff remarked as he ruffled the kid's hair.
Halberton laughed good heartedly. "Your mommy and little brother will be alright. Uncle Jeff and Aunt Andria are really nice and kind to help them."
Derek looked to be actually eager and happy that his mother and brother were going to get help. "Daddy," Derek said as he jumped up and down, "let go now!"
Adrian nodded with a chuckle. "Okay son!"
"Don't rush your old man too much, Derek," Joe warned with a chuckle, "he's not a sprite one like you."
"Hey," Adrian retorted playfully, to little Derek's giggling. It was then that a jingle sounded from Adrian's pocket, where his phone was. Adrian looked down and pulled it out. He pressed the call button. "Hello?"
A mysterious robotic voice then rang out. "At 7:00 PM local time, a riot will break out on San Pablo Road."
Now Halberton looked both confused and concerned. "Riot? San Pablo Road?"
Adrian stared at his phone wondering what it was all about. It then occurred to him as his eyes widened. With a grunt he rushed back into the house.
"Adrian!?" Halberton rushed after him, with Joe and Jeff following.
"Daddy?" Derek was confused as Jeff took him by the hand.
Adrian went to his TV and turned it on, rapidly cycling through the menu to local news channels. The news feed came on, and his eyes widened as he stared in shock at the scene displaying out on the TV.
Downtown Jacksonville was flooded with angry demonstrators marching down the streets, many of them were wearing red and black clothing and masks, and others wearing the blue berets of Blue Cosmos militants. They numbered in the hundreds as much as the cameras could capture. They were carrying numerous signs of protest, with slogans of anarchy and violence against capitalism, Atlantian constitutional conservatism, the rich, and political opponents, along with the infamous BC motto of a blue and pure world. However, the signs were the least of the city's problems as some of the more militant demonstrators were brandishing and pointing guns around.
"My goodness," Jeff said as he covered Derek's eyes.
"This is bad..." Halberton said seriously as his eyes were glued to the mayhem.
Joe clenched his teeth in silent seething at the shamelessness of the demonstrators as they pointed their guns and others chased and threatened innocent bystanders with the firearms and blunt objects, some of them with spikes and chains.
It was then that Adrian's phone buzzed, this time with the text message tone. He clicked on the message, and frowned at what he saw.
His eyes hardened.
"What's wrong?" Jeff asked worriedly.
"Cover Derek's ears," Adrian prompted.
Jeff was now really concerned, but also covered the little boy's ears.
"Whoever it was that sent me the call," Adrian said witha quietly seething voice, "also sent me this manifesto... threatening to raze the hospital, kill and rape the staff, assault Martha and force her to abort the baby..."
Jeff clenched his teeth at hearing that. The thought of one of them kidnapping and forcing himself on Andria caused him to see a bit of red.
"That is barbaric." Halberton could not believe how depraved and violent these young BC activists could be.
"Crud...!" Joe's eyes hardened. "We have to get there, ASAP!"
Halberton put his hand on Joe's shoulder to stop him. "Joe," he warned, "if we simply run out there willy-nilly, we could end up getting seriously hurt or worse. Don't forget that you're a Coordinator, and those people are bound to recognize Adrian."
"We don't even have the guns to compete," Jeff also reminded, "and those yahoos are loaded for a fight."
"Not if I have anything to say about it," Adrian said as he went into his room. He was intent on being there for his family, no matter what. But first, he had to get prepared. He took a key from his nightstand, and urged his three friends. "Follow me."
The others looked at one another, but then followed Adrian.
"What's the game, pal?" The grizzled Marine asked, though there was some knowing anticipation in his voice. The four men entered the basement, stopping in front of a door to one of the rooms.
Adrian answered as he worked his key on the lock, "those guys are geared up for an assault right? I hoped to never have to use these... but we're not going in bare arms."
He finally opened the door. "So arm up." The door swung open. The three friends, especially Joe, had to do double takes at the guns and ammo in the room. It was Adrian's gun collection.
Jeff looked to his friend. "You sure?" he asked. He knew Andria was tough herself, having served in the military, and she had a decently sized security force around, so no doubt she'd be able to hold her own. It felt a lot like the men always had to come to the rescue of the women.
But in this case, it was probably justified for Martha. Andria was also Jeff's fiancé too, and the son of Glenn was still concerned out of love for her.
"I'm not sitting here when those freaks are threatening to butcher my wife and baby," Adrian said as he took one of the M1 Garand rifles from a rack, "and with that size of crowd, the police and security are going to need more good guys behind triggers." He held it out to Joe.
"Okay. But I also suspect that my fiancé is on top of things," Jeff remarked as he grabbed a gun as well, one of the AKs. "Remember, she served in the military."
"May be that," Joe said as he accepted the Garand from his friend, "but the mob is dangerous enough in the hundreds, even at least a thousand." He grabbed a vest, and loaded it with ammo for the old rifle and for an AK that he strapped to his large back. "And knowing these Bolshevik-wannabes, besides being armed and already unruly, who knows what drugs or painkillers they're on? They probably won't stop just because a few cops show up."
"I also trust Andria to have her wits about her," Halberton said as he picked out an AR-15 and several magazines, "but Joe's right. Those anarchists are still very dangerous in numbers, and we are going to go help our friends."
"Duane's right," Adrian said as he got another AR-15 and a semi-auto shotgun, "those guys are going to have to get past us first to get to Martha. We don't leave our friends behind."
The men finished arming themselves for the fight, but hopeful that Andria had a plan to deter the incoming mob. As they moved up the stairs with their guns and ammo, little Derek toddled up to his dad.
"Daddy, those people want to hwurt Mommy and Bwothew?" Derek sounded apprehensive.
"We won't let them," Adrian assured his son.
Adrian looked to Jeff. "I'm sorry, but could you stay with my son and watch him and the house? I don't want to bring him into this, but I also don't want to risk leaving him alone."
Jeff nodded. "Sure. Just make go and make sure Martha is safe. I have full confidence in my fiancé will be most helpful to you," he said.
"Thanks, Jeff," Adrian nodded.
Jeff returned the nod, then shifted as he looked back at the news worriedly. 'Andria... I know you can get through this... hang in there,' he thought.
Adrian, Joe, and Halberton loaded themselves into a car, putting their rifles into the trunk and double-checking their sidearms.
"Hang on, Martha..." Adrian remarked. "We're coming for you!" He put the car into gear and sped towards the Mayo Clinic. As he did, he decided to make a call to Andria. "Hello, Andria?"
The phone picked up.
"Hey. What's going on?" she asked. "You sound worried."
"I'm sorry," Adrian said, "but I'm giving you and whatever security you have a heads up about around one thousand armed anarchists and BC militants marching on the clinic. They're threatening to wreck the place and attack Martha."
Mayo Clinic Jacksonville
Andria let out a soft swear. "That's going too far!" she hissed.
On the other end of the line, Andria's mind was already racing. She knew the security team with her was well armed, and they did have some heavy vehicles, so perhaps... Her gaze flicked to the fire alarm, and an idea came to her mind. Yeah. That would work. The doors she knew were made of fireproof materials, such as steel... and steel was useful in stalling bullets, so... yes.
Adrian was still on the line. "Jeff is watching Derek at home," he added, "I'm coming over with Joe and Duane here with some extra guns to defend ourselves with. Just tell your security to not shoot us by mistake."
"Understood," Andria replied with a sharp military tone. "We'll be waiting."
She closed down the line and turned to look at the woman closest to her. "Take me to the security center. I need access to the fire doors!"
"Um..." the staffer was taken off guard, "it's against the rules without authorization from the chief administrator of the Mayo Clinic." She was sweating.
"This is an emergency!" Andria barked. "There are armed anarchists en route to this facility with hostile intentions. I need to speak to the chief administrator at once!"
"But..." another staffer, a young man replied with a stutter, "he already went home for the night... an hour ago..."
"Crud...!" Andria swore. "I need access to those doors NOW!"
"But-" the staffer tried to argue, but Andria looked him straight in the eye with a piercing expression.
"Unless you want those blue crazies coming in here, setting the place on fire, and violating you, your colleagues, and patients," Andria laid it down, "you will help me help you!"
"Um... right!" The male staffer relented, not wanting to argue further with this seemingly stubborn woman.
"Show me to the security center," Andria remarked as she pulled out a comm.
"All security, code red, code red," she alerted, "we are on lockdown." As soon as she said those words, the security forces started to swarm into the area, taking up positions inside and outside the building. She had drilled this force to, in the event of anti-Coordinator riots by BC militants, cordon off the entryways to any of Glenn Inc.'s facilities or affiliates by using their vehicles. It wouldn't stop them, but it would slow them down.
The forces were well prepared, but Andria knew that even the best laid plans had uncertain variables to them. It was up to her to get a handle on the situation. "We just have to buy the doctors enough time..." Andria muttered as she entered the security room. There was a security staffer manning the monitors who was startled at her entrance.
"I need access to the fire door controls," Andria said seriously. "We have rioters and BC anarchists coming to attack this facility, and we need to use the fire doors to stall them or keep them at bay."
The security guard gulped, but nonetheless complied. "T-the door controls are on this panel," he pointed out.
The woman nodded and approached, taking a seat. "Thank you."
She then scanned over the monitor showing the locations of the doors in question. She immediately picked out the doors that isolated the main lobby during a fire and pressed them to test. One of the doors flashed green on the layout, and she smiled. Andria turned to the man. "I want you to get all non-essential personnel down to rooms that have thick steel doors here. This way they'll be protected if the anarchists breach the doors."
"What do you want us to do with the patients?" The accompanying staffer pointed at the outside of Martha's room in particular.
"Get them into the areas as well," Andria ordered. "The more people we get out of the crossfire the better." She flicked a few switches and more door icons flashed green. The woman paused before she fiddled with them and a few vanished to standby while others flashed green. "Security, report," Andria spoke into her talkie.
"We're in position," the lead team member replied, "we've got the main door and fire exits covered."
"Good. Take up positions and prepare for my orders!" Andria remarked as she worked a few more switches.
Now the path to the room where the procedure was taking place was effectively blocked off. A few doors had been left open to mislead them, but other than that, the fire doors were locked in position. That is, if none of them had studied the plans beforehand.
"Also, make sure that all patients and medical personnel are led to safe rooms. Preferably ones with thick steel doors. That will buy some time until help arrives," she added. "Send squads Gamma and Beta to carry that out."
"Sure thing, boss," the security operative acknowledged.
With that settled, Andria turned her gaze to the nearby security camera monitors to observe the situation.
'No one is getting in here without a fight...' she thought grimly. 'Blue Cosmos... is going to learn that TRUE Americans don't kneel before tyrants, especially angry mobs, race warmongers, Communists, and Nazis. They want to get in... they'll need to go through the school of patriotic hard knocks.'
"Andria," Adrian phoned, "I'm driving up to the hospital in three minutes."
"Head around to the back There you can safely unload," Andria instructed. "I'll be opening the fire doors for you as needed."
"Thanks," Adrian said as he hung up.
Joe turned to Adrian. "So, what's the plan?" he asked.
"Likewise," Halberton chimed in as he glanced around, "I don't like throwing ourselves into this sort of situation without a plan."
"Simple Duane," Adrian replied, "we help hold the fort as the good doctors operate on my son and wife. Hopefully the police will arrive and drive the BC and anarchists away."
"And if the police can't drive them away," Joe asked seriously, "you do know what we're about to get ourselves involved in. Are you prepared to do what you need to do?"
Adrian squeezed the steering wheel tightly. He honestly hated the idea of having to personally shoot another human being, let alone a fellow AF citizen. However, his wife and his friend's fiancé were in the Mayo Clinic, and the anarchists already stated their depraved and cruel intentions should they barge into the clinic. "I think you know the answer to that Donnelly," he replied. He then glanced back at Halberton. "We are potentially putting our reputations, including yours in the line of fire, not to mention our lives," Adrian warned, "can you still help me Duane?"
Duane hesitated a moment, then nodded. "Yes. I will."
Joe also nodded. "We're all in this together."
Adrian smiled a bit, thankful to the Lord above for faithful friends in challenging times. As he drove up to the back, where the hospital docks were, Glenn Inc. security members came out to examine the car and the men inside.
One of them stepped forward, with his bullpup rifle at the ready. "You Adrian Lockheed?"
The man nodded. "Yes, I am," he said.
The operative looked relieved as he relaxed his stance. "Miss Yamasaki told us to expect you and company." He then looked into the car, and noticed someone missing. "Where is Mr. Glenn?"
"He's back home, with my son," Adrian replied.
"I see..." The guard understood, "anyways, we should get inside. Get your guns."
The three men nodded and grabbed their weapons. Once armed, the trio got out of the car and headed inside.
"I never thought I'd see the day I'd be defending my old friend against my own countrymen," Halberton lamented.
"I don't relish doing this, Duane," Adrian said, "but these people are deceived and given over to extremists that want this sort of violence and radicalism. We can't just roll over and let them terrorize us."
Duane nodded. "Okay. And I will be honest. I don't like it either," he admitted.
Joe was in agreement as the trio followed the security guards through the facility. Much to the men's surprise, they could see the fire doors were activated as they drew closer to an intersection.
"That Andria's doing?" Halberton deduced aloud.
The guard nodded. "Yes. She's in the security center where the controls for the fire doors are located," he explained. "She figured that the doors could slow the rioters and BC militants with their steel construction. It may not be a perfect defense, but it will at least buy the doctors time."
The fire door slid open, allowing them passage. Adrian glanced at the closest camera and nodded, knowing that Andria was in the security center.
"She must have been one heck of a wingman in space, Duane," Adrian complimented.
"She was," Duane said. "She never let up and was always trying to plan ahead. She was a worthy second in command. It's shameful that she felt that she had to leave the force, though." There was a nostalgic tone of regret in the Hawk pilot's voice.
"What happened," Joe asked.
Duane looked down. "Some of the higher ups wanted to court martial her... because someone accused her of being a Zodiac agent," he said seriously.
"And that actually went through?" Adrian was dumbfounded. "Was there any actual evidence to back it up?"
Halberton frowned. "I defended her as my wingman," he related, "but given that she was a Coordinator, and the panic over the Zodiac Alliance in the PLANTs was taking place, she was too convenient a target for certain career officers that were a little less than proud of competition from her. I did my best to advocate for her, but as harassment by the military investigators got worse, Andria chose to take her honorable discharge to protect me and my squadron from being dragged down with her in the event of court martial."
Joe frowned. "True. Sounds to me like they wanted to oust her because of her genetic typing, something that really makes me despise genoism even more."
"They don't even treat other Naturals who disagree so kindly," Adrian remarked in passing. He then asked the security member, "so how can we help?"
"We need some extra support up further near the front," the guard replied. "Miss Yamasaki has us spread out across the facility, but a good number of us are close to the operating room."
"How are my wife and son," Adrian followed up, "will they be alright you think?"
"Yes, they will be," the guard replied. "That's why we're doing this."
"Thank you people for doing this," the young father and pilot said, "you all are a Godsend."
"It's the least we can do for the man who saved our CEO's life," a second bodyguard said, her eyes sparkling with gratitude, "we also have many loved ones depending on this operation, one of them being my son. Help us so we can help your family and our families."
The third nodded. "Yes. But remember, we have a mission. Gratitude later," he said as he guided the group down to the next intersection. A second fire door slid open to allow them passage.
Adrian and his two friends saw that they were in the lobby; a glass atrium that on a normal day, would have given a warm, welcoming atmosphere. Now it was being fortified with ballistic barricades with rifle rests, and furniture and potted plants blocking the doors.
Adrian looked around and whistled. "I'm impressed. Andria clearly invests well."
"She doesn't spare any expense," the lead guard said. "Especially when her friends and family are in danger." Then he waved. "Now c'mon."
"We can use that overwatch to get eyes on the whole place," Joe pointed out to the stairways leading up to the platform above, "perfect marksman post." He wiggled the Garand in his arms for emphasis.
The lead guard nodded. "Then get up there. We got this down here."
"Oorah," the Coordinator marine acknowledged. The three friends went up the stairs and set down their rifle and ammo bags
"Alright," Joe said in a commanding drill sergeant voice, "lock and load!" He inserted a clip into the old WW2 rifle.
Adrian loaded a magazine and armed his weapon and Duane took up a position further back.
Down on the ground, a squad of security forces took up position near the barricade and, from their vantage point, the three men could see the vehicles moved into position as barricades in front of the doors. A group of guards huddled behind them, their own SMGs at the ready. It was then that sirens sounded from outside as the city police drove up to the scene.
Adrian looked at Halberton with an amused expression. "Wanna bet that the police were somehow tipped off by Andria?"
"Not surprised. She always did try to cover her bases," Duane remarked. As the three watched the police trucks unloaded officers in riot gear, readying shields, batons, shotguns, rifles, and riot launchers. "Looks like she called in the heavy firepower," Duane noted with a tone of pride in his former wingman.
"The mayor of Jacksonville is a huge law and order Constitutional Republican who makes sure the police are well equipped and ready to respond to the citizens' concerns," Adrian said in a thankful tone, "he and the sheriff don't like what they see in places like Los Angeles."
Joe nodded, "Regardless, I'm just glad we have the support."
At this moment, Andria's voice came over the intercom system. "All security forces, prepare for incoming anarchists and BC militants!"
"Here they come..." Halberton tensed as he chambered a round in his AR-15.
Adrian activated the dot sight he had on his rifle. "Joe, you see those guys?"
"Oh yeah," the grizzled marine said as he spied through the iron sights, "clear as day." Thanks to Coordinator eyesight sharpened with combat experience, Joe had no problem seeing the anarchists few hundreds of yards away.
Adrian tensed up as he made out the torches of the anarchists lighting up the masks and weapons they were sporting.
Within the security center, Andria's eyes narrowed as she observed the enemy group outside. She had anticipated this, but even so, she didn't know when, or what, the BC members would pull. All she could do was hope her preparations had paid off.
She was half tempted to have her men take the first shot, but she knew this was a civilian setting where private security and law enforcement MO meant that unless the rioters turned violent first, there was no cause to open fire. Not to mention, the BC-sympathetic mainstream media were capturing the events live, and any pre-emptive action on her part would play right into their hands.
All she could do was wait for them to take the first shot. If they did. All she could do was to wait, and pray that the anarchist mob turned away without her security having to shoot anyone tonight. The two groups were now facing off, each poised to take a shot.
"The anarchists just stopped," one of the operatives reported, "but we're seeing multiple blunt weapons and firearms, and counting at least three hundred individuals."
Andria frowned at this. This was one of the worst things about situations like this. It was only a waiting game.
"I see," she replied over the walkie talkie. "Keep an eye on them. Any of them makes a move, you record it and act in a defensive manner."
"Understood," the operative acknowledged.
Andria continued to monitor the situation as it ground into a tense Mexican standoff.
It was then that Andria decided to call the Jacksonville-Duval County Sheriff's Office.
"Sheriff's office," the operator on the line answered.
"This is Andria Yamasaki. We are needing some additional reinforcements. We are currently holed up in the Mayo Clinic, and have taken defensive measures to try and keep the Blue Cosmos anarchists and thugs at bay. So far we have not encountered any potential hostile actions, but there is currently a standoff in progress," the woman said.
There was silence for a bit. Then the female operator responded. "Miss Yamasaki, we do have units responding to your call, but we are unable to provide additional support at this time." There was then a confused sound from her on the line as a beep sounded. Nevertheless, she was able to answer, "standby, we'll see what we can do."
Andria bit back a swear as she gritted her teeth. "Understood. We'll be waiting."
Andria set her phone down, watching as the anarchists started hurling obscenities at the police from just across the street. She tented her fingers in front of her mouth, studying the situation at hand. Her eyes were hard as she watched a few security forces recording this via helmet cams.
"Who could have leaked Martha's operation," she asked herself the troubling question with no answer.
Up on the balcony, Duane was uneasy as he watched the BC thugs shouting and trying to terrify people. But much to his relief, and their credit, the security forces weren't breaking formation or even reacting to those obscenities, some of which were downright nasty. "These guys really hate cops," Duane quietly remarked as he watched the whole thing play out, with shouts of 'pig', 'fascist-lover', 'capitalist', and even worse curses and name-calling.
"I also think it's because of the fact that there are Coordinators among the security forces," Adrian noted as he watched a couple of Coordinator security guards narrowing their eyes at a particularly nasty bunch. One of them was clearly inching their finger towards the trigger every so often, only to pull it back; it was only due to discipline that she wasn't doing anything more than tapping her gun.
"That, and they just hate all cops in general," Joe remarked as he kept eyes on, "some of the activists are anti-police, and had run ins with the law before."
The other two nodded in agreement with their Marine companion. "If a fight breaks out," Adrian said, "it's going to be real bloody." He was specifically eyeing the militants brandishing their firearms, and showing very poor trigger discipline in doing so. It was amazing that they did not accidentally shoot themselves or anyone else.
"Let's hope that's not the case," Duane said with a serious look.
It was then that someone suddenly called out on the bullhorn. "Adrian Lockheed! Wherever you are! We will find you and make you and your dog wife ever regret turning your backs on Mother Earth!"
"Come out, Glenn," another anarchist taunted, "unless you are too scared to walk out from your line of pigs!"
"Do us all a favor and abort that Coordinator lump of cells!"
Adrian frowned as they shouted these horrible things over the bullhorn, but knew not to react hastily.
"They want us to get riled up," Joe said, "I hope the security and police hold the line and keep cool."
A few guards ducked behind the vehicles, keeping their eyes on the thugs. The mob was growing in number in their view, and increasingly threatening as they skirted closer to the edges of the sidewalk they were on. It would not take much for something to provoke them into crossing the streets and attacking the police barricade.
It was then that the sounds of additional sirens started to ring out. Adrian was a little surprised. Was the city bringing in more reinforcements? When he looked below, he saw that everyone, the police, Glenn security, and even the anarchists, seemed surprise at the growing sound of what appeared to be several more police cars.
Duane broke through the growing noise, "Adrian, how many police are there supposed to be in this city?"
Adrian's eyes widened. "Oh... that woman is gonna get a hug from me after this!" he said with a smirk. "She called in some support!" Additional cars and trucks pulled up to the scene. They were clearly police, but they were not Jacksonville units.
In the security center, Andria's eyes went wide. Sure she had called out for support, but not THIS much!
It was then that the radio sparked. "Miss, we've got responding units from Nassau County here... wait, St. Johns, Clay, and Baker!? Is the whole state coming here!?"
"It seems we got more than we bargained for," Andria smirked. But deep down, she was trying to figure it out herself.
She watched on cameras as the sheriff deputies from other counties began to cordon off the area around the hospital. The area was flashing blue and red as the assisting sheriffs augmented her security force and city police. Her eyes narrowed. 'Just how could all these people know what was going down here?' she thought to herself.
It was then that Andria's phone rang for the umpteenth time of the day. It was Jeff. She grabbed it. "Yes, Jeff?"
"Andria," the fiance sounded breathless and in disbelief, "turn on the news! There are big demonstrations out there!"
Andria almost wanted to roll her eyes. "Jeff, you know that I'm already dealing with a potential riot here," she said exasperatedly, "I know what's happening."
"That's not what I meant," Jeff defended, "look, just turn on the news!"
The woman arched an eyebrow, but turned to face a nearby TV and grasped the remote, turning it on to a local news channel.
When the screen came on, she was treated to footage of a demonstration that was indeed happening in town. However, this was different... they were not burning, looting, or threatening people. Andria switched channels to try and get closer up footage, and landed on one particularly striking one.
They were militiamen, sporting semi auto rifles on their backs, wearing a mishmash of tactical vests and headgear moving in groups. However, they were not anarchists... they were patriots, some of them sporting AF flags, American flags, and even Gadsen patches reading 'Don't tread on me.' They moved about, helping police set security and firefighters put out arson set by the anarchists. Some of the patriot activists even handed their guns to their comrades and put on red cross armbands, helping injured bystanders alongside EMTs and helping them into ambulances.
And much to her surprise, it was not just Naturals, but Coordinators as well. People were not caring about genetic types, but that they were all the same: human beings.
A smile crossed her face. THAT was the America she had heard so much about in her youth. And that was the country she wanted to see thrive again.
When she switched to another channel, she was greeted with on the ground and helicopter footage of numerous demonstrations. They were carrying signs showing opposition to Blue Cosmos and antifa violence, and support for conservative causes and Coordinator rights. As with the other militiamen, they were also waving the flags of the Atlantic Federation, the old United States, Gadsen flags, and even the thirteen-star Betsy Ross flag as they converged on the Mayo Clinic.
And as before, there were both Naturals AND Coordinators working together. Not one race, but both. Human beings.
Her grandparents' stories were holding true. When people worked and sought compromise, rather than going after each other like animals across the aisle in the political arena.
Furthermore, it looked like a combination of local groups from throughout the Jacksonville area and prominent conservative and libertarian groups throughout the American South. Best of all, they were flooding the cameras with their sheer numbers and looked to even outnumber the anarchists that trashed the city.
"Those anarchists and BC radicals are so in trouble," Andria beamed as she watched.
Jacksonville Sheriff Sergeant Milo Ortiz had seen his fair share of civil disturbances working the beat in the Jacksonville-Duval County area, but they were still nowhere near as crazy as tonight. His eyes hardened as he watched the rioters ahead of his car. He was especially eyeing the rioters waving their firearms about, keeping his own rifle in his hands hidden, but ready.
"You morons are just being brainwashed by Blue Cosmos," Ortiz grunted as the anarchist mob continued to menace him and his fellow policemen. He saw the news helicopters overhead and frowned. He knew that many of the far left pro-BC news organizations were hoping to turn this confrontation into a national spectacle, through which they could crucify Coordinators and his fellow law enforcement in the sphere of public opinion. The brandishing and reckless waving around of firearms by the Blue Cosmos activists was meant to get the police on edge and intimidate any who dared oppose them.
His eyes hardened. "You have to wake up!" he muttered.
"Come, shoot us, pig," one of the anarchists shouted as he banged his bat against the pavement.
Ortiz wasn't deterred. He narrowed his eyes. "You're fools to think that," he whispered calmly. He watched as one of the BC thugs crept closer. Beside him he could see several of his men tensing, and across the way the security guards were anticipating the next move. "Don't do it..." the law enforcement veteran muttered, praying to God for a miracle.
"Sarge, how long do you think we'll have if it breaks down?" one of his officers asked nervously.
"Given the size of that crowd and our numbers," Ortiz shook his head, "maybe ten minutes... twenty if we are lucky."
The officer narrowed his eyes as he turned back. "Best hope a miracle comes soon..." Ortiz then heard more sirens in the distance. He glanced around as the cacophony of police cars arriving grew louder. "What...?" Ortiz was shocked. Where had all these other cars come from?! True enough, the flashes of several police sirens lit up the whole block as reinforcements came in. Ortiz was floored at the number of responding officers, and they weren't even of this county and city!
Ortiz did a quick count, his eyes widening even more at the sheer number of communities coming to their aid. He eyed one of the sheriff deputies, who was from St. Johns County. "Hey," he called out, "where did you guys come from!? The whole state coming here all of a sudden?"
The deputy looked at Ortiz with a determined look. "All I can say is that we got the word from someone who said there was gonna be a riot down here," she said. "And well, when we heard that there were going to be others helping out, we couldn't just stand by and watch."
"We all called in to your mayor, who accepted our offers of assistance," a deputy from Clay County chimed in, "we couldn't leave our brothers in uniform to struggle defending the best shot we have in stopping the virus."
For once, Ortiz was glad for the support. And not just that, but he was grateful that someone had intervened when they did. "Thanks," he told the deputies, "we need to tighten up the perimeter around the hospital."
"Understood!" a few of them said. The rest meanwhile spread out wordlessly to tighten the barricades.
'Don't know how it all happened," Ortiz thought, 'but we certainly can use the help...' That was perhaps the best thing that happened. Along with some additional arrivals a few minutes later.
"Sarge, what's that?" Ortiz's colleague gestured down towards the other end of the street.
Ortiz narrowed his eyes as he tried to make out the newcomers. 'More militants?' Ortiz readied his rifle. However as they came closer, his eyes widened upon seeing the banners of the nation and those espousing the ideals of its spiritual predecessor.
It was a massive crowd, containing both Naturals and Coordinators, waving the old American flag and the flag of the AF, along with several groups with signs that read "Genoism equals racism", "Blue Cosmos = Brownshirts Bolsheviks", "No Antifa, No Anarchy", "Blue Cosmos, Green Radicals, Red Communists", "Stop the Blue Terror", among others.
Two notable signs were at the forefront and they read "Atlantia, Liberty and Justice under God!", and "Don't Tread on Me" from the snake-styled Gadsden Flag.
The group was way bigger than the thugs and anarchists' numbers. Ortiz did a quick guestimate, and his eyes widened as he realized that the numbers were over five hundred... and climbing!
Furthermore, some of the demonstrators were armed militiamen from a number of patriot project groups. True to their veteran background, though, they kept their rifles lowered and fingers off the trigger, still ready for defensive action.
"You're kidding me..." Ortiz's voice trailed off.
As the group got closer, the frontmost marcher with an America-themed ballistic helmet, a Gadsden flag on his vest, red hair and beard, and green eyes was visble, carrying his tactical rifle in a confident, yet disciplined manner. Ortiz and his fellow officers recognized him as a prominent veteran turned conservative activist. "Patriot76," Ortiz muttered his internet tag.
"Oh my..." Ortiz whispered as the former soldier took the bullhorn.
"I am Patriot76 of the Atlantic Federation Minutemen Project. Tonight, we patriots and law-abiding citizens of this great republic rally in support of Adrian Lockheed and his wife, Martha. We are gathered here to stand in opposition to Blue Cosmos and their misguided, lawless ideologies of anti-Coordinator and anti-Atlantian prejudice. I speak on behalf of the citizens of Jacksonville gathered here tonight who have suffered injury and unrest because of the Antifa-style violence Blue Cosmos has inflicted, and now threatens to do to a sick mother and her unborn child."
Patriot76 raised his left hand. "The Lockheeds and Glenns do not stand alone," Patriot76 exclaimed, "they stand with the goodwill and brotherhood of fellow countrymen behind them. Any attack on these folks by the radical environmentalist Blue Cosmos and their socialist allies is an attack on all of us law abiding Atlantians. We can no longer stand by as they use the rhetoric of anti-Coordinator prejudice to justify their lawlessness and rule by mob and terror. Tonight, we Minutemen are telling the far left Blue Cosmos that we will not allow you to harm those inside the Mayo Clinic!"
Within the security center, Andria was shocked, but at the same time a smile crossed her face. "Blue Cosmos... now you face real Americans... real Atlantians."
"As law abiding and patriotic citizens of our great Federation, we hereby demand that Blue Cosmos and its anarchist allies cease their attacks on our fellow countrymen, police officers, and an innocent family seeking treatment for the Influenza outbreak," Patriot76 continued, "we will not accept any further acts of lawlessness and mob violence by Blue Cosmos Antifa claiming to oppose fascism, when they themselves practice it. We Americans, and Atlantians raise our voices tonight to let the world know that we do not consent to this twisted revolution. For no matter what our genes and circumstances of birth, we are fellow Atlantic Federation citizens, united for truth, liberty, and justice for all men. As free citizens of a free federation, we reject the totalitarianism of groupthink and racial identity politics practiced by Blue Cosmos and the far left seeking to destroy this republic. Don't tread on me, Blue Cosmos!"
The rest of the conservatives and the citizens of Jacksonville began to chant, "don't tread on me!" The chanting grew until even the security guards were repeating the phrase.
Ortiz and his fellow deputies looked around them in amazement. Never before had the AF moderates and the center-right come together in this manner of rally, and in such numbers to counter the aggressive and hostile Blue Cosmos. Something, or someone had somehow motivated these people of various walks and backgrounds to come together to support the Lockheed and Glenns despite the danger.
There were three helicopters circling overhead, flashing their beams of light at the anarchists, almost blinding them. They were also flying flags out their open sides, them being the AF banner, the Betsy Ross flag, and Gadsden banner.
Ortiz narrowed his eyes as one of the choppers flew down lower, and his mouth fell open. There, sitting in the seat of the leading helicopter, was Senator Mark Allen.
"I am Senator Allen of the Atlantic Federation Senate," the famed senator announced from a bullhorn, "I am here tonight to address Blue Cosmos and its radical left allies in response to the threats they have made against this hospital and the city."
This earned cheers from the conservatives and citizens, and boos and jeers from the anarchists.
"Right now, Blue Cosmos has threatened to attack innocent lives, and this is something that we, no matter our political affiliation, should denounce! How far have we fallen, to become nothing more than a bunch of thugs who threaten to attack one woman all for a chance to save her soon-to-be-born child? How far have we fallen as human beings to attack a hospital, where people are to be saved and given treatment for their injuries?" he spoke, his voice booming out over the crowd.
"For generations the Allen Family has striven for a better world, and now, this has become something of a mission in this divisive era! And as a member of that very family, no... as a human being, I hereby say to everyone present in Blue Cosmos that your actions are a stain against the human race! What new lows will we sink to in trying to wipe out Coordinators, if this is not the worst? What will you people who have not been fully swayed by Blue Cosmos rhetoric do? Will you resist it and stand up for what this flag-" Here he pointed at the old American flag. "-stands for? Or will you continue to be swayed by rhetoric that has clouded your judgment?"
"So I say to you all in that rioting crowd... if you wish to seek to harm innocents in this hospital, then you have fallen far below what America's Founding Fathers intended in the American Republic! You have fallen far from the ideals of the Atlantic Federation-" Allen then pointed at the Atlantic Federation flag. "-built on the foundations of that republic!" Allen declared, his eyes locking onto the crowd. To some of them, it felt as if he were staring into their very souls, as if he could see their human nature.
"Think, all of you, before you make your decisions! Good citizens and human beings do not do this. Only godless thugs and monsters do! No matter what our gene type, no matter what our political affiliations, we should not stoop to such depraved acts! Harming a woman and killing her child in a hospital is beyond inhuman. It is barbaric, and only those with no empathy or rational thinking commit such evil! If you dare to, then by all means go ahead! But be warned... We, all of us here, will not stand by, nor will we let you continue your threats and intentions! If you attack... we will fight back! To Blue Cosmos, it's your call! What will you choose? Attack us and suffer? Or back down, and let us end this night peacefully without a fight?"
Allen was hopeful that there wouldn't be a battle. In fact, he was sure that Blue Cosmos would call his bluff and retreat. Cowards like them always did.
Ortiz watched anxiously with his rifle, muttering prayers to the Lord in Spanish for His mercy.
The Blue Cosmos blue berets and the anarchists grumbled as they begrugingly began to back away. Some of them uttered more curses and threats and stared menacingly at the senator, police, and the conservative militiamen and citizenry, but the mob slowly, but surely began to withdraw.
Senator Allen let out a sigh as he leaned back in his seat. His gamble had paid off. "We'll see you around old man!" One rioter threatened before turning away.
Allen narrowed his eyes at the threat. He frowned as he folded his arms and gazed down at the crowd. It was nothing short of a miracle that things had gone the way they did. And in his eyes, it was a blessing.
Ortiz breathed a sigh of relief. "Alabanza sea a Dios," he muttered in gratitude to God. The other sheriffs also seemed relieved that the anarchists were turning away.
Within the hospital, Andria slumped back in the chair in the security center. "God... thank you..." she whispered. "...for sparing us a bloodbath."
In the back of her mind, she wondered how all these other county sheriffs and conservative militia and activists knew about Martha's operation, but she was too tired and relieved to ponder any further.
The news footage of the conservatives and the citizens of Jacksonville cheering played in the background, as some of the reporters of the more critical news stations were forced to report and comment in disbelief.
From his location, even Adrian was stunned.
"They're going away..." Halberton lowered his rifle as he rested against the handrail in relief.
"I guess we got lucky," Joe mused. "Or something else happened..."
Adrian breathed in a relaxed manner, and looked out of the windows towards the helicopters, one of which was carrying Senator Allen. He could barely comprehend everything that went down tonight with Blue Cosmos and all the people who came out of nowhere to support him and his wife, but he was just grateful that no shots had to be fired.
End Chapter 6
I was hoping to make this chapter longer, but given how much work Titanic and I already put into these sequences, this is enough to have a good chapter going.
I hope you all continue to read, fave, and review this, and if I don't get another chapter out soon, have a Merry Christmas you all! :)
God Bless!