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The J.A.M. a.k.a:Oh yeah, it's about to.
Rodrigo walked into school that morning and headed straight for the gymnasium. He had been informed about what occurred throughout the city the day prior and was anxious to see what the results were...and its cost. He had arrived earlier than usual, so there were almost no other students inside, safe for those in the Work program, several ISF agents and a few students.
He walked through the hallway and headed straight to the gymnasium. As soon as he arrived, he stopped at the entrance and was aghast by what he saw.
Rodrigo and the Committee had managed to mobilize almost the entire school at lightening speed and right under the noses of the school administration. They were numerous, but had no training, preparation, nor did they even have a professional officer corps to lead them. It was decided that students from 6th to 8th grade were allowed to lead a unit of kids to the now growing various fronts throughout the city, but there was ample room for rapid promotion for any lower grader that distinguished him/herself.
Rodrigo would have wanted to train his army of young conscripts, but there was simply no time. Throughout the day, he and Sid had been receiving emergency calls and texts from other schools, begging for assistance. They barely had any time to coordinate with them as to where they would be needed, who would lead them, information about the enemy, just so they can at least prepare their troops accordingly. It was purely by good luck that all those that were sent to the front to fight had warmth clothing.
Rodrigo barely slept that night. He was anxious and worried how his new army would fare. Although he was hopeful, he remained realistic and expected, at best, several defeats with high causalities.
As soon as he entered the gymnasium that morning, his expectations were confirmed. The gymnasium was now almost full of injured kids from all grades. As soon as casualties began to be reported, it had quickly become a medical center for those returning from the front. Volunteers had to be called up to act as care providers, with several from the Work program 'recruited' to help out.
Rodrigo looked throughout the gymnasium in horror as he saw scores of kids lying on the ground with the deafening sound of kids moaning and groaning in pain. Many only literally had mere minor cuts or bruises on their knees or arms, but there were some whose injuries were more serious. Then there were those who became 'troubled' by the realities of war and were required to be escorted out. Some sorted to crying, while others needed to hold onto a stuffed animal and as they rocked themselves back and forth.
Seeing that his newfound army had experienced a major defeat, he gathered up his nerves and went inside to ask just how bad the situation was. As he went inside and passed the injured, his heart sank at just how many there were.
"How bad is it?" Rodrigo went up to the newly appointed Head Nurse who was in the 7th grade.
"Well, there were more casualties than we expected." The Head Nurse said. "But many of them are fine. A lot of them just have minor cuts and bruises. They just need a good hot meal, some support and rest before they are sent to the front."
"Well, that's good." Rodrigo said with a sigh, feeling a bit relieved that many of the kids were not seriously injured.
"What about those who really hurt?" He asked.
"Well thankfully, they are only a minority." The Head Nurse replied. "There are a few that require some bandages and castes, but the most serious ones are those who got wet and are at risk of getting hypothermia. We managed to find some spare clothing, so they are recuperating."
"Thank you." Rodrigo said. "Do what you can for them and let me know if there is anything else you need."
The Head Nurse nodded and smiled before moving on with her duties.
Rodrigo was about to move on when he saw a 1st grader boy lying on the floor, in tears.
"Hey, hey." Rodrigo knelt down before the grader and tried to comfort him. "It's going to be okay. Where are you hurt?"
"On-On my elbow." The 1st grader whimpered as a tear fell down his eye.
Rodrigo moved a bit to see only a few small cuts on his elbow.
"You are very brave." Rodrigo said to him.
"I am?" The kid asked as he sniffed.
"Yes." He said before he then saw a nurse who came next to him and took out medical alcohol and a cotton ball.
"But you need to brave again." Rodrigo then told him as he lifted his elbow up for the nurse.
The 1st grader whimpered and another tear fell down his eyes, but refrained from crying and prepared for the inevitable.
Seeing her cue, the nurse immediately put some alcohol onto the cotton ball and put it on top of the 1st grader's wound.
"Hhhmmm...Gggrrrr!" The little guy grunted in pain as he felt the sudden sting.
"There, all better." The nurse said as she took out a band-aid and put on top of the wound.
"Good lad." Rodrigo said to him before adjusting his pillow and making his way to find Sid.
Sid was on the side of the hallway, talking to a few commanders.
"That's great guys!" Sid said excitedly. "Keep up the good work." Before the commanders left.
"Morning Sid." Rodrigo greeted with a somewhat somber tone. "Just tell me honestly; how bad is it?" He asked.
"Actually, things worked out better than we thought." Sid replied. "Thanks to everyone doing their part, we managed push back the enemy on several locations."
"Really?" A surprised Rodrigo asked. "That's great! Which places are we struggling in?"
"Well, we've pretty much gained control of the streets on the southern part of town." Sid explained. "Some of the school that oppose us are ripe to be taken. We just need to concentrate our forces and hit them hard and they will be ours."
"Good." Rodrigo said, but Sid wasn't done.
"The issue is on the northern part of town, across the street." Sid continued. "That's proven a tougher nut to crack. Then there's Tina Park; it's still holding out. We've send wave after wave of attacks, sustained a lot of casualties, but nothing is forcing them to leave. I heard the fighting had gotten so bad that many of our troops got a bit...well, violent."
"That's not good." Rodrigo worryingly remarked.
"You're telling me." Sid said. "It's gotten so bad that that park is already earning the nickname; the Meat Grinder."
"Let's prioritize." Rodrigo said. "Let us concentrate on clearing out all enemy schools on the southern part of town and Tina Park. Only then do we concentrate on the schools on the northern side. Tell the commanders to continue the pressure on Tina Park and to have the same units fight there. They are gaining experience fighting them, so it should only be a matter of time before they beat them."
"You got it." Sid said with a salute before sending a series of text messages to the various commanders about the new plan.
"Oh by the way," Sid then spoke as he and Rodrigo headed out of the gymnasium. "Helga is looking for you. She said there is an issue."
"What issue?" Rodrigo asked.
"That you're little work program isn't working." Helga then uttered from behind them as she approached them.
"These dopes are more focused on breaking out then learning anything about the benefits of perseverance and hard work." She explained. "What's more, I have to dedicate more agents to babysit them, when they could be out scouting around this cesspool of a school for more of Wolfgang's sycophants."
"That doesn't sound much of a problem." Rodrigo commented.
"That's more of an annoyance." Helga said. "The real problem is where to put more of them joining the program. We're reaching our full capacity and with many hands to look out for, it's hard trying to find things for them to do. Boredom is the real enemy here and unless we keep their minds occupied, any leisure time will only get them to plot their escape."
"Maybe you should ease a bit on the arrests." Sid suggested.
"Hey! I don't tell you how to do your job." Helga snapped at him.
"What do you suggest we do?" Rodrigo asked her.
Helga led out an evil grin.
"I may have a way to 'motivate' them to work." She said as she cracked her fingers. "It's simple. We give them a choice. Either they put up the work or they will spend their time locked up."
"Where?" Rodrigo asked.
"There are a few vacant classrooms I've seen." Helga responded. "We can use them to lock up the ones causing the most trouble. It'll require less agents having to babysit them."
"Good. Do it." Rodrigo acknowledged. "Just make sure the teachers aren't aware."
Helga's cell then vibrated, prompting her to grab it and look at it.
"Looks like it came not a moment too soon." She said. "Been getting reports of some underground resistance movement."
"That doesn't sound good." Sid remarked
"Any info on who is behind it?" Rodrigo asked.
"Nada, so far." Helga said as she scanned her messages. "Just that they are recruiting some disgruntled students."
"Get on it quickly, Helga." Rodrigo directed her. "We have to crush this movement before it spreads."
"Don't tighten your panties in a bunch. I'm on it." Helga snapped before heading out.
"Sid, continue to coordinate between our generals and the other schools." Rodrigo then turned to him. "And ensure we send them as much reinforcements as possible."
"You got it." Sid said with a salute before making his way.
The war continues...
P.S. 118 did not let up and continued sending reinforcements to other schools throughout Hillwood. The battle for Tina Park was especially fierce, producing more and more casualties on both sides. As time went on, the battles became more and more horrendous. Units that managed to survive their baptism of fire grew ever more determined to see their enemy defeated. Frustrated and angered by the enemy's tenacity to continue resisting, they resorted to more violent acts with many ceasing to use snowballs, opting instead to use either their hands or even sticks. They even showed little mercy whenever they manage to capture one.
At one point, it was thought that the Park was finally taken, only for a last minute reinforcement to crush that hope. In the end, the revolutionaries resorted to starving the garrison out. They blockaded all entrance and patrolled the walls, preventing anyone from getting inside. Slowly, the enemy hiding in the bushes and forests began to starve...
However in other parts of town, they were getting results. Through sheer bravery, determination and sound strategic leadership, the revolutionaries began to push the counter-revolutionaries all the back to their schools. One by one, they slowly started to fall, but it was not without cost as the units in these sectors sustained casualties as well.
All chosen commanders were given the opportunity to demonstrate their competence, leadership, bravery and intelligence. Those that showed great promise and excelled were rapidly promoted while those that lacked any initiative or showed their incompetence were either demoted and replaced or transferred elsewhere.
As more and more of P.S. 118's finest students were sent to the fronts, more came back as casualties either physically or mentally. Although there was initially strong enthusiasm for the war, the high number of casualties and prolonged conflict soon began to take its toll. Some began to question the war, while others, homesick, cold and starving, began to think of mutiny.
To counter this, the now dreaded ISF sent its agents alongside the units, some covert, while others in plain sight to restore discipline. Any hint of dissent was quickly snuffed out by arresting anyone whom they suspected of 'lacking the will to resist' and were immediately sent to Helga to be interrogated.
By now, everyone knew about the Terror happening in the school and of its chief architect. Not wanting to be labeled as a weakling or traitor, many kept their mouths shut and followed orders. The few that did not simply disappeared, sometimes with not even their commanders not knowing about their arrest. While this had the necessary effect, the growing fear of being 'outed' and subject to arrest and torture was a becoming a serious burden or everyone's shoulders.
The tension in the school was where that burden and anxiety was most felt. Student that were not ordered to the front remained at school to continue their studies. Only instead of the usually hustling and bustling, the hallways were dead silent. No student dared speak with others, not even to their own friends. The paranoia of getting arrested far outweighed the trust they once held to one another. Most simply opted to get to class and pray they wouldn't be conscripted to the front so they could go home.
One particular fourth grader had just left Helga's 'office' and made his way back to his locker. He was badly shaken by what he just experienced, so much so that his knees were shaking and he was breathing heavily. As he made his way back to his locker, his friends were there.
"John!" One of them called out when he saw him walking toward them. "Are you alright?"
"What happened?" Another friend asked him.
"Why did you get arrested?" Another asked him.
John said nothing and just quietly made his way to his locker, unlocked and opened it and got his water bottle. For some reason he was so thirsty that he gobbled it all down.
"John." One of his friends again addressed, now worried. "What happened?"
"You can tell us." Another said to him. "We're your friends. We just want to make sure you are alright."
"I..."John finally uttered something as he continued to breathe heavily and supported himself by leaning against the lockers. "I don't know why I got arrested. I remember just being in a foul mood today. I got up late, so I had to rush eating my breakfast, but I ended up missing the bus anyways, so I had to walk to school, in the cold and while it was snowing. I was just having a bad day and I was minding my own business. All I remember was that I was complaining about a project from class."
"That's it?" A friend asked. "They couldn't have arrested you just because of that."
"Wait." John then spoke. "The project is a teamwork and I remembered that my partner wasn't in class because he got conscripted and is out fighting and the project is due in a few days. I-I-I guess that set me off because I remembered saying how stupid this war and Revolution is. I was blaming both Rodrigo and Wolfgang for all of this and now because of this war, I may not be able to finish my project on time. I guess someone must have heard me complain because the ISF came and arrested me as soon as class ended."
"Ohh…" The friend said as he and everyone else realized the severity.
"What did they do to you?" One of them asked.
John didn't say anything as he stopped breathing for a second as he recalled being taken to Helga's office.
"That...woman...is a monster." The shaken John said with his voice whimpering. "She has no...soul. She is the Blonde Death. She'll show you no mercy!"
"Whoa, that bad?" One of them asked, to which John just nodded.
As the traumatized John left the interrogation room, which must be remembered that it is only the janitor's closet, Helga stepped outside not long after. As soon as she appeared, the few students that were around quickly dispersed, for fearing of being the next victim.
"Sheesh! What a cry baby." Helga complained as she wiped her hands with a white cloth.
"Helga, I'm afraid you went a bit overboard with your interrogation." Phoebe said to her. "I believe you've induced a psychological trauma."
"What trauma?!" Helga exclaimed. "I only plucked out one of the eyes of his stupid Teddy Bear. What fourth grader boy takes a stuffed animal to school anyways? Hm! Looks like he was already traumatized."
"Anyways," She continued, "I'm starving, let's head over to the lunchroom and get us something."
Helga and Phoebe made their way to the lunchroom, got themselves a meal and headed to the nearest table to eat. Unfortunately, they didn't have long to eat before an ISF agent quickly approached them and handed Helga a note.
"Ugh, crimeny." She annoyingly complained when she read the note.
"What is it, Helga?" Phoebe asked.
"Looks like we've got a rebellion in our hands." She sighed. "A group of kids are going to meet up right after school and protest against the mobilization and us. Whimps." As she crumbled the note and threw it away, she then looked at the ISF agent who was still standing.
"You! What's the name of that small kid with the funny accent?" She asked.
"Uhhh, funny kid?" The confused ISF agent asked.
"You know, the small kid who is in the fourth grade, who comes from some stupid island in Europe or something." Helga said to her. " I forgot his name, but he has a neck for strategies and leading kids. I think we briefly arrested him, but later released him."
"Oh yes, him!" The ISF agent exclaimed. "I remember now. His name is N-"
"I don't care what he calls himself." Helga interjected. "Just go find him and tell him that he is reinstated and to recruit as many ISF agents and soldiers as possible to put down this protest."
"Yes, Ma'am!" The ISF agent acknowledged and saluted to her before quickly departing.
Helga, satisfied and confident that she dealt with the problem, simply leaned against her chair and smiled. "Ah yes. It pays to be the boss." She said as she took a bit out of her sandwich.
After school…
Helga's source of an incoming protest, potential rebellion was not unfounded. Just on cue, several students meet up right outside the main school entrance and attempted to recruit any kid that passed by them. On most cases they were unsuccessful, but they managed to get a bunch of kids, at least several dozen to be taken seriously. As soon as the teachers and all administrators left, the protest began.
Many held banners that contained various messages. Some just called for an end to the police terror tactics, while others called for an end to the war. Some however, called for the resignation of Rodrigo and his cabinet, including Helga. It was a diverse group with different goals in mind. But they all had one thing in common; they wanted all of this to end.
"No more Terror! No more Terror!" The crowd of protesters chanted as they made their way into the school via the main entrance.
The few remaining students that were there either looked on or, realizing that perhaps now was the time, joined them.
The group headed its protest throughout the entire school, with eventually reaching the gym and vacant classrooms that were being used to detain many students.
"Heck no, we won't go!" The group now chanted against the conscription and the war.
The group turned a corner through the hallway, not being practically empty. Some of the students that heard them left the scene, not wanting to draw suspicion from the ISF. Then, the protesters turned another corner, only for those at the front to instantly stop when they saw a group of kid soldiers blocking their way. The whole group eventually stopped their chanting and stopped just a few feet away from the column of troops.
An intense standoff soon developed. Neither side said anything and just stared as each other. The column's leader was a fourth grader of short stature and was standing just to the left side. He also remained silent and stared at the protesters.
"Disperse, now!" The commander then shouted at them with a rather peculiar accent. Being only a child and a recent immigrant, he had a thick accent that many kids found difficult to understand when he spoke. More confusing was that no one knew what type of accent he had.
Regardless, the high level, awkward voice from the commander didn't make the protesters take him seriously and taking a chance, they began to march again.
"No more Terror! No more Terror!" They shouted as they marched closer and closer to the column of troops who just continued to stand there.
It was inevitable that unless one of them moved, they were going to collide. The protesters were trying to call their bluff by marching straight at them. They were there to protect them after all, not hurt them. Why would they attack?
"Fire!" The commander then shouted and almost immediately his troops revealed water balloons, tomatoes and other soft fruits and began to throw at the protesters.
The protest immediately stopped and shocked by the torrent of water and sweet liquid hitting them, they began to panic.
The troops did not led up and continued to pound the protesters with projectiles.
"It's too much!" One of them shouted as she was instantly splashed by a water balloon.
"We need to retreat!" Another one shouted.
Eventually, the protesters had enough and proceeded to run back from where they came from. However, they were shocked to find their only avenue of escape blocked by ISF agents who had their handcuffs ready to arrest them.
"Oh no!" One of them shouted in panic. "We're trapped."
"What do we do?!" Another one almost hysterically shouted.
"Every kid for himself!" Another shouted, with everyone going in different directions and attempted to get away.
But it was no use. With the troops on one end and the ISF on the other, the kids were trapped and one by one, they were apprehended, forcefully thrown either into the ground or slammed to the walls and arrested. Panic gripped the entire movement and while few very of them did manage to escape, the majority of them were eventually arrested and immediately dispersed and taken to some of the vacant classrooms where they will remain.
The whole affair lasted roughly 15 minutes before it was brutally put down. Some of the protesters got trampled by their comrades and were injured, but not one of the ISF or troops sustained any casualties.
Helga was close by and watched the whole operation from a distance. Once it was all over and the troops and agents were leading the rebellious group to their cells,
"Great job, shorty!" Helga congratulated its commander with a slap on the back.
"It was just my duty, Ma'am." The commander said with his high pitch, foreign accent.
"Well, you're loyalty and services will not go unnoticed." Helga said. "In fact, I think it's time we promoted you. I'm gonna put in a good word for you to make you commander of all our forces at the Italian quarter."
"Wow, really?!" The ecstatic commander exclaimed. "Thank you so much, Ma'am."
"Well don't thank me just yet." Said Helga. "I still need to talk it over with the head boss. But I'm confident he will accept it. Get yourself cleaned up and get the new 'workers' to mop up the hallway. We don't want to leave any evidence behind for the teachers to notice."
"Yes, Ma'am." The commander acknowledged and saluted before making his way.
The rebellion was put down and all seamed quiet at P.S. 118. Well, not really. The tension was still there and more and more students were called up to fight in Rodrigo's and Wolfgang's seemingly endless war. At first, most of the initial students that were called were proportionally from the higher grades. However, due to casualties and having mobilized practically all of them, more and more lower graders were then called up to fight. P.S. 118 at least had the luxury of having some of the highest number of students in all of Hillwood, but it could not sustain this for long.
However, all other schools were suffering similar manpower shortages. It was made even worse for the counter-revolutionaries as they lost the support of their bases. More and more schools that supported them eventually had their forces routed, invaded and had their leaders toppled off, replacing them with leaders who were friendly to their revolutionary cause. While this provided more manpower for the Revolution, it only served for the counter-revolutionaries to fight even harder, with almost fanatical determination.
But eventually, only a few holdouts remained. Tina Park and just literally two other schools were still holding on in the southern part of town. The northern part of town was still strongly holding out, but it was only a matter of time before they would be overwhelmed. Apart from taking a few schools, there were not able to make any great advances. Rodrigo supported every effort to capture these last rebel strongholds in the southern sector.
"Rodrigo, Rodrigo!" Sid excitedly ran up to him one day in the hallway.
"What is it Sid?" Rodrigo asked, noticing his excitement.
"Tina Park finally fell!" He happily exclaimed. "It's all ours."
"Really?!" Rodrigo also exclaimed, feeling so relieved and happy on hearing the news.
"Yup." Sid acknowledged. "But, that's not even the best part. We managed to capture a lot of the enemies troops. All of them come from the two last schools still holding out! There's no way they can continue to fight us now. They are practically defeated!"
"That is great to hear!" Rodrigo said happily. "I need to brief everyone in the school. I'm gonna head over to the gym to tell everyone. Sid, gather all available troops and tell the generals to take those two last schools. There are several units who just received a new commander. He was the one that put down the rebellion here. Inform him to head over to the Italian quarters as planned and to take it.
"Roger." Sid said with a salute and then quickly went about to carry out the orders.
Rodrigo meanwhile quickly headed over to the gym to inform everyone there about the news. Finally, after so much struggle and blood, he could finally see the light. Victory was now a real possibility.
As soon as he arrived, he went right in while trying not to step over any of the wounded that were sitting or lying on the ground. He quickly grabbed a chair and stepped onto it.
"Citizens!" He exclaimed, quickly getting everyone's attention.
"I bear some great news!" He continued. "After much struggle and blood being shed, Tina Park has finally been captured. It is now within the Revolution's full control!"
Just like with him, the news caused great shock and excitement and everyone began to excitedly murmur to those side them.
"But that's not all!" Rodrigo continued, getting them to go quiet again. "I have been told that during the capture of the park, we also managed to capture many of the enemy's troops that come from the last two remaining schools that are still holding out in the southern sector. They are now depleted of manpower, so it is inevitable that they will fall soon!"
This got the crowd even more excited, with some even beginning to cheer, but Rodrigo quickly put up his hand to calm them down.
"Soon the entire southern sector will be ours and with that, the northern part of town will also inevitable fall! Citizens, this is due to all of your sacrifice and hard work. None of this was possible without your dedication and support. The Revolution is winning and once we take the remaining schools, Victory shall be ours!"
"YYYYAAAAYY!" A thunderous roar was heard within the gymnasium.
"We just need to continue to push just a little bit harder!" Rodrigo continued to speak. "Victory is almost at hand, but it is not yet quite within our reach. The last few steps will no doubt certainly be the hardest, but if we just continue to push forward and show our courage and initiative, I have no doubt that we will triumph and all that we have sacrificed for will not have been in vain!"
"WWOOHOOOOO!" Another thunderous cheer was heard from the crowd and clapped their hands in excitement.
Rodrigo, satisfied with their excitement, got down from the chair, but was soon approached by many kids who thanked him for leading them through these difficult times. Rodrigo, moved by their gratitude, thanked them back.
"I was just doing my duty." He said to them as he shook hands. "But it was also all of you guys; you all made it possible!"
After some time, Rodrigo eventually got to the exit and made his way out.
"There you are!" Helga approached looking somewhat annoyed. "I've been looking all over for you."
"Sorry, Helga." Rodrigo apologized. "I was just giving our troops the great news; we took Tina Park and managed to capture-"
"Yeah, yeah, congratulations." Helga sarcastically interjected. "But I've got some even better news: I managed to find the location of this underground resistance movement."
"Really? That's great!" Rodrigo said. "Do we know who they are?"
"Not yet." Helga replied. "But we managed to get some information from one of their members. Turns out they are planning on meeting up in the school's basement in a few days' time."
"How do you plan on capturing them?" Rodrigo asked.
"We need to be smart about this." Said Helga with a smile. "Instead of trying to get them one by one, I'll just get that little traitor to show me where exactly their meeting will take place, then I'll let them all come together, and that's when we will pounce on them and put an end to their resistance."
"Sounds like a plan to me." Rodrigo said. "Use all available means to make sure you arrest all of the ringleaders and as many members as possible. Victory is close at hand and we must not let these traitors get in the way of what we worked so hard to achieve."
"Don't need to tell me twice." Helga said. "I'll let you know once we got them." Before departing to prepare.
As for Rodrigo, he couldn't be any happier. Victory was not only close, but it also meant an end to both the war and on finally restoring everything back to the way things were when he took power.
Power….that was a burden that was proving to be very costly to hold up. He went through many sleepless nights and anxiety on trying to reform an entire system into something new, lead it toward its most difficult time, and made hard decisions, decisions that on other occasions, he would have never made. But, it was all for a just cause and at last, peace was now within sight.
Feeling relieved, but also exhausted, Rodrigo went to the wall to sit down and for once, have some peace and quiet all to himself. He put his fedora hat close to his eyes to block the lights, put on his headphones and relaxed as he listened to some music.
A few days later… at the Italian quarters…
"Run!" Someone shouted as he desperately tried to get away.
"Let's get out of here!" Another shouted as he tried to dodge the hail of projectiles that were coming his way.
"We've got'em on the run!" A female grader shouted as she hurdled snowballs at them.
"Victory is ours!" Another shouted as he ran after them.
"The Italian quarters is finally ours!" Another shouted.
A few dozen kids ran for their lives, routed by a group of kids whom outnumbered them. After a vicious struggle, the Italian quarter part of town was finally within the control of the revolutionaries. But they did not let up. Seeing that the enemy was fleeing, the revolutionaries pursued them without rest, trying to advance as much as they could until they reached their ultimate prize.
The newly appointed commander of this unit was on top of one of the buildings, observing the battlefield and giving out instructions. He breathed a sigh of relief as he witnessing the routed enemy fleeing from the neighbourhood.
It was a stunning turnaround. He was the third commander to have been appointed to the Italian quarter sector. The first showed his incompetence while the second was almost immediately recalled and arrested after rumors circulated that she was in league with Wolfgang. He was now their third commander, but he inherited an army that was destitute, ill disciplined and lacked important supplies. Showing his prowess and initiative, he immediately got to work by restoring discipline, got all the necessary provisions for them to survive, trained his army in urban combat, sending scouts to survey the neighbourhood and even hiring spies.
The results were almost immediate when he led his army into a daring outflanking move, appearing where the enemy least expected and threw them into disarray. Using hidden hideouts, passage ways, pushing his army to their limits and showing extraordinary leadership, he led them to victory after victory, all within a single day!
As the commander looked on through his binoculars, he could see a tall building that was ground zero for the insurrection that was attempting to destroy their beloved Revolution. At last, victory was in sight. If they could concentrate all of their efforts, they could possibly take P.S. 120, Wolfgang's stronghold and end this war!
Two of his aide-de-camps were present and looked at their superior, waiting if he was going to move. He had barely moved, barely showed any excitement since the battle started. He was calm, determined, vigor.
Their Commander was a somewhat awkward kid. He was a recent immigrant. His parents came to the U.S. just a few years prior. Although he was a fourth grader, he was of rather short stature when compared to his peers. He had a confusing accent. He spoke French fluently, but had an Italian accent. English was not his first language, but he managed to quickly pick it up. He was quiet and shy. He hardly demonstrated any aggression. This made him a victim of being teased and bullied. However, he quickly showed his intelligence and capacity for leadership and organizing when playing in team-based games. Almost immediately, his peers recognized his talent for leadership and strategy and would often ask for his advice or even made him a leader for their games. It was no surprise then when P.S. 118 began its mobilization that this kid volunteered and almost quickly rose through the ranks, so much so that he even managed to get Helga's and Rodrigo's attention.
"Send a message to the Committee." The Commander said to one of his associates whilst still looking through his binocular. "Tell them we routed the enemy and took control of the Italian quarter. We are pushing through and trying to get the enemy's stronghold. I am asking them to send reinforcement so we can end this war."
"Yes sir." One of them acknowledged and began to send the message to Sid.
Meanwhile…
While the battle in the Italian quarter raged on, Helga, Phoebe and a group of ISF agents and military personnel were quietly approaching the main entrance that led to the basement. Helga was taking no chances. She had instructed Phoebe to surround the whole school by placing ISF agents right next to windows that led to the basement, but hid themselves beside the walls and away from view, so as not to be seem. True to their prisoner's word, the underground movement had indeed gathered to meet up. Helga and her entourage had to hide inside the classrooms while they all met up and headed downstairs. It was only when the hallways became utterly quiet did Helga give the green light to come out and surround them.
Rodrigo was also with them. He had been told that this resistance movement included many kids and was growing by the day. Wanting to see just who was behind it, he tagged along to come face to face with its leaders, but he did not intervene in the operation. He allowed Helga to have full control.
"All units; is everyone ready?" Phoebe spoke through the radio.
One by one, all units acknowledged they were in position. Phoebe then signaled to Helga the all clear.
"He he he he, got them cornered." Helga chuckled.
"You sure you'll get everyone?" Rodrigo asked.
"Positive." Helga replied. "I've had the whole building surrounded. They won't know what hit'em."
Helga then signaled to open the door. Slowly, two ISF agents grabbed the handled and very gently, opened the door. As soon as there was space, Helga signaled to the rest of her team to get inside.
The ISF agent acknowledged and started to go inside, but they made sure they didn't make any noises. None of them knew how many kids were at the meeting and so couldn't take chances. They needed to have as many ISF agents down there as possible to ensure they arrested them all.
"The rest of you, stay here and make sure no one leaves that basement." Helga then ordered one of the units.
As soon as the other units went inside, Helga, Phoebe and Rodrigo entered the stairs and quietly made their way down. The flight of stairs was dark, except where there was a small hallway that had some lights, although they flickered. Slowly and quietly, they made their way downstairs and walked through the hallway, where they saw a door that was semi-closed. Helga, now in the lead, quietly approached the door, but stayed to the side to ensure she wasn't seen. From there, she could clearly hear voices, but she couldn't really make out who it was.
Helga smiled and signaled to Phoebe and Rodrigo who was just behind her that they were in there. Rodrigo acknowledged and prepared himself for the confrontation. Helga then looked at her units and signaled to her that in three seconds, she was going to burst in and surprise them. All agents braced themselves as Helga started the countdown with her fingers.
3…
2…
1…
*BANG*
Helga immediately kicked the door wide open, starling everyone inside.
"Alright you traitors, the party's over!" She yelled as ISF agents quickly made their way inside and without warning, began to grab and arrest everyone inside.
There were a lot more kids then they thought. Realizing this,
"Phoebe, call the rest of the units upstairs and tell them to get their butts down here!" Helga instructed them.
"Unit Red and Blue, come down to the basement quickly and proceed to arrest everyone inside." Phoebe gave the instructions.
A panic began to ensue in the room as ISF agents quickly tried to grab anyone they could and put them in handcuffs before they began to resist. Some already tried, but were quickly taken down by the agents. Others, still startled didn't even react before getting grabbed, thrown into the ground and were handcuffed.
"You all have the right to remain silent." Helga then said. "Resistance is futile! Just lie down on the floor and make it easy on yourselves so we can get this over-"
"Helga, stop!" A familiar voice then suddenly exclaimed, which got Helga's, Phoebe's and Rodrigo's attention.
From among the crowd, they could see someone approaching them. After a few pushes,
"You need to stop this Terror and put an end to the arrests!" The person said as he revealed himself.
There was a fateful gasp when the person appeared before everyone and stunned the whole room into silence, including the ISF agents who almost immediately stopped arresting people. But no one was more stunned than Helga, who upon witnessing him became frozen as his pleading eyes pierced right through her. Realizing the severity of the situation, for the first time since she took this job, she began to quench in dread on what now needed to be done…
To be continued...
Uh oh, who is that person that make Helga come to an abrupt halt? Lol. And who is that weird kid with the funny accent who has been getting rapidly promoted?
So just a few comments, scenes of war between the kids, I tried to make it be more of a black comedy. While many of the injuries suffered were very minor, which many kids were complaining about, the stress and hardships of having to fight against someone can mentally scar people and kids are no exception. The scene in Tina Park becoming a brutal slogging match was no exaggeration and many kids will indeed come out of it physically and mentally scarred.
