Tales from the Former Universe

25. Compromised with a Flavor of Pressure

"I'm sorry, Dimaggiore," Haumecea said. "A field trip, I am afraid we are not going to this year."

"Oh?" Dimaggiore listened. "Well... if my friends invited me to a place to go, would you..."

"Dimaggiore," Martinner called. "The time, it is not bisected and proper," he reminded. "We are... we are going to be very busy... and our health, we cannot afford to be diminished for more work."

At the school canopy,

"Know the walk back home, do you not?" Martinner asked again.

"I know where to go, father," Dimaggiore said.

"Promise us you will be alright, and not get into trouble," Haumecea stated. "For a while, it would be like that way."

"A—, awhile?" Dimaggiore responded.

"Yes, Dimaggiore," Martinner said. "A while, it could be..."

"B-but how could I..." Dimaggiore feared.

"It's nothing severe, just more," Haumecea said. "You are a strong boy, Dimaggiore, please be resilient, for our sake."

Dimaggiore hugged both Haumecea and Martinner's legs. Both only placed their arms on his back, rubbing him, telling him that time was on the run for their work.

At yet another disclosed location, Derrac and Han-Cho were overseeing Orama's hardware deal in Kealu, Canada.

"I've been here twenty minutes," Orama said.

"Remember response protocol," Derrace reminded.

"Damn it, for how long?!" Orama was angered on his behalf.

"Hey, we need these resources, Brogan's orders! Dealer's on our rebellion, another division," Derrace  reminded again.

"It's wet here, don't expect them to cancel the deal," Orama amused.

"You wait—an order, that is!" Derrace said and closed the comms. "He a charmer, but he a fool, where did the rebellion find this idiot?"

"We all came through, nothing more, nothing less," Han-Cho spoke for.

"Scars are a commodity in this rebellion," Derrace said. "Slow, it always causes."

"What about you?" Han-Cho said. "Who did you lose?"

"Lost someone, I never have. But they, they lost me!" Derrace said. "Blinded they are, by the United Nations. They are not the same, glory, the tribe was when we were against it. I feel no shame leaving my tribe, and I feel no shame telling them just how wrong, the tribe is."

"Because of union? Or because of personal?" Han-Cho asked.

"An infant would understand the circumstances, don't coy some sympathy of words on me, you hear?" Derrace said.

Then Derrace's device rang, and her nephew called.

"Sweety, dear, if it is another problem with mommy or daddy, please..." Derrace called gently.

"Hehe, you're gonna love to hear this," the voice said everything.

"Who is this?! IS MY NEPHEW SAFE!" Derace shouted.

"What about the other nephews your rebellion has killed? Dear, why bother counting 'em?" the voice alluded.

"It is the UN who's been taking people's liberty away, MY LIBERTY TOO, darn Security Council scum!" Derrace called out.

"Oh don't worry, I already knew you wouldn't cooperate. See your local news, there's fire, and nobody hears how!" the voice closed the call.

"YOU TWISTED PRICK, YOU'RE A DEAD MAN!!" Derrace was angered and aborted.