The Inaugural Address

PART III - CHAPTER IX

9.

Have you ever experienced the aftermath of countless, continuous explosions going off all around you? Have you ever really been afraid? Now I can say I have.

The fear of my limbs getting blown up was silenced by the ringing in my ears that first started the moment the second missile hit the helicopter. And despite its debilitating effects, the ringing offered a strange clarity – it offered insight on what leading a rebellion for independence in such a dangerous environment could entail – how doing so was both exhausting yet exceedingly necessary – and next to impossible to actually achieve. Throughout that hollow ringing tone, I noted the disaster around me, and it made me want to prioritize finding the least violent ways to achieve that goal of independence – of peace, although I feared finding such a solution was harder than it would be for me to breathe underwater.

My parachute guided my seat to the ground. I looked out over the scene to locate Leo, Valerie, and Kaster. I was grateful that we all survived the attack on the helicopter, even if it displaced us from each other. Soldiers were fighting all around me and I stuck out like a sore thumb as I fell from the sky to interrupt their battle. I noticed many Ariesan soldiers were fighting as if to clear my landing for safety, and I couldn't help but wonder which side of the conflict they fought on. Who would be more willing to protect me – Alexander or Alexandria?

"DON'T MOVE, MAVERS." I heard one of the protective soldiers instruct as they grabbed ahold of my seat as it reached just a few feet above ground. "WE HAVE ORDERS TO PROTECT YOU UNTIL YOU CAN BE RETRIEVED BY THE EMPRESS. SHE IS ON HER WAY WITH HER SECRET SERVICE PERSONNEL. I'M GOING TO HAVE TO ASK YOU TO REMAIN SEATED."

"ALEXANDRIA?" I shouted back, realizing I must be of higher importance to the Empress than to her predecessor.

Instead of responding to my obvious question, however, the soldier that initially spoke to me turned around and joined other members of his battalion. I watched in horrifc awe as they actively fired their guns at approaching opposing forces. As their battle ensued, I noted that the vast majority of casualties belonged to the opposing side as they were greatly outnumbered, thankfully. I tried to locate Leo from my seat. I didn't see him, but I did manage to pick out three different clusters of battles similar to that of mine.

I hope that the three other clusters were protecting Leo, Valerie, and Kaster.

Remaining seated was necessary, not only because it was what I was instructed to do, but also because doing so prevented many of the attacking soldiers from being able to get a clear shot at me. At this point, I estimated two rows of Alexandria's forces were surrounding me from all sides, staggering their positions so that even I could barely see past them. Through the human wall before me, however, I did manage to identify an approaching vehicle – no, a number of vehicles – battle tanks – as they appeared from the horizon.

At first I worried that the tanks were here to attack us. However, to my relief, I noticed they began to fire at the opposing forces attacking the three other clusters protecting who I assumed were Leo, Valerie, and Kaster. Soon, one of the tanks was beside my cluster as well and began to fire at Alexander's forces too.

It became clear rather quickly that the approaching tank belonged to Alexandria's forces. The tank closest to me drove right up beside my cluster of protectors. The soldiers enveloped the tank into its protective circle, allowing me the ability to take a closer look at the tank. As I studied its appearance, I noticed the logo for the Ariesan military painted on the side facing me.

I watched as four soldiers came around that side of the tank, dressed differently than the Ariesan soldiers that were protecting me. I noticed that the four appeared genderless, and they wore all black and quickly approached my seat.