𝚆𝙾𝚁𝙻𝙳 𝚂𝙾 𝙲𝙾𝙻𝙳

Behind Closed Doors

The truck hummed as Zeus drove through the roads that moved through the hilly forests. Volkov scanned around the cabin of the truck, observing high tech computers, radars, and communication equipment that filled the dashboard of the truck. Volkov then glanced over to Zeus who had his eyes locked on the road ahead of him. He noticed the blank look of Zeus as he focused on the road. After a moment, Volkov spoke up.

"Are you sure you do not know why my father sent you?" He asks.

Zeus pondered the question for a moment, keeping his eyes locked ahead of him. After a moment, Zeus then sighs, shaking his head softly. "Look, I don't know the exact reason. But what I do know is that a world of shit is on its way here. Your dad didn't want you caught in the middle of it."

"You mean as if he wanted me on the right side of it?" Volkov then asks, feeling as if he already knew the answer.

"What I mean is that parliament is not expecting the US Army to just take what was rightfully ours to begin with sitting down. It is going to be total war." Zeus answers.

Volkov already knew that deep down. He understood why war was coming. However, the response from Zeus was not what bothered him.

"Did my father expect me to enlist?" Volkov then asked, staring ahead at the dirt road ahead of them.

Zeus fell silent once again. But after a moment of silence, he gave his answer.

"He told me that he wanted you to put you in a safer place than you were in."

Volkov did not say anything in response. Zeus then looked over to Volkov, sighing out through his nostrils.

"Look, cousin. Everything is pretty tight lipped. Your dad called upon a favor from someone in parliament. As far as I know, this is a simple extraction job." Zeus says.

"Hmm. He seemed to be expecting this since he chipped the phone he gave me all the way back on my 18th birthday." Volkov says.

"Well, that's a no brainer. Every single one of us in Amarok knew that war was a long time coming as soon as the hate and violence here got downright horrific."

Volkov then sighs.

The two continue to ride in silence for a few minutes. "But you know," Zeus pipes up, breaking the silence. "I wouldn't have taken this job if I knew that Benjamin kid was still hanging around you."

Volkov then shoots a glance to Zeus. "What are you talking about?"

"Him being here is going to be a serious problem." Zeus answers.

"How so?"

"Well, for one thing, he doesn't own a citizenship at home. And two, ever since they subdued the US Army at the border, security checkpoints are going to maximum security, race wise." Zeus replied.

"I thought the borders were completely open to foreigners."

Zeus shakes his head. "Not anymore. They cracked down on that as soon as men in tactical gear and armored vans started shooting up anthro citizens in anthro neighborhoods and banned it entirely."

"Fuck..." Volkov swears in Russian, sighing out and lowering his head.

"Benjamin being a part of the equation means we will either have to ditch him, or smuggle him in."

"I am not going to ditch my best friend." Volkov says with a harsh tone.

"Look, I'm not advocating for that. All I'm saying is that we gotta think about how complicated this has to be."

"Ditching him is not an option." Volkov says again sternly.

Zeus sighs out through his nostrils again. "Fine. But I can't guarantee that Benjamin will be getting in so easily."

"We are just going to have to do what we can." Volkov answers.

The two continue to ride in silence, listening to the faint soft rock playing on the radio. After a while, Zeus then brings his hand up to his face and scratches his chin. "So, uh. There is something else that's been on my mind." Zeus then says.

Volkov glances over at Zeus. "What would that be?"

"That Amaria girl. Is she single?" Zeus asks.

Volkov then lets out a chuckle. "Why would you ask me that?"

"I dunno, thought she was kinda cute. I mean she asks a lot of questions, but she seems like a nice piece of tail."

Volkov rolls his eyes. "Oh, brother." He says, shaking his head.

"What? Can't blame a stud like me for being attracted to a fox like her." Zeus says with a chuckle.

"Well, hate to burst your bubble there, slick. But I think Amaria is into someone else."

Zeus then looks to Volkov before returning his gaze back to the road. "Wait, who? I mean who else could it be? If she is hanging around just you and the kid then who else?"

"Probably the guy she is laying with in the bed of your truck."

Zeus' eyes widen. "You're kidding."

Volkov chuckles. "Nope. Amaria has always rooted for the other guys."

"Well I'll be a son of a bitch." Zeus says, sighing out through the side of his mouth.

"Besides, she would not go for a smart ass like you anyway." Volkov says, laughing softly.

"Hey, now. What's the kid got that I don't?" Zeus scoffs.

"The other half of her soul." Volkov answered.