Soldiers in a Broken World

Cindy Airgead - Meeting Adriane

They walked down the same road again, going to the same bar. She was so bored of this. How could they say she could climb the ranks if they only did this every day? She did nothing, no arrests, no interviews or even a talking to. She had her steel face on and just followed. 'These men definitely need a lesion taught to them. I hope I can show them what it really means to be a MP.'

A person with a hood covering their head came out of the bar and looked at them. Cindy thought she saw glasses that were fitted to goggles before the person looked down and quickly walked away right past them. She looked at the person with interest. 'Only Scouts would have glasses like that.' She thought. 'And that almost looked like...'

"Rookie." Oran said. "Don't worry about that person."

Cindy looked back, holding her anger back. "Sir, that person looked like they were hiding their face."

"And if we stopped every person who had a hood up and didn't look at us, we wouldn't get very far." Mark said with attitude. Oran looked at him and Mark backed off. "We don't need to look into every person we see."

She sighed though her nose and nodded. "Yes sir." She watched them enter the bar. 'Right, because if we asked questions, they wouldn't get that drink sooner.' Then she heard them talking as they paused a tick.

"Yeah, that's him. Finally showed up." Oran whispered. "Play the role." He eyed Cindy before walking to the bar.

'What?' She thought as she looked around, making sure the regulars didn't do anything. It was sad she could see the same faces almost every day. But then there was a new one. A man about her age with sort dark hair and blue eyes was looking back at them with a look that told her that he was analyzing them for threats. The same look she had. 'He has training. Should be careful with him.' But he turned his back to them. 'Or not. Guess he doesn't care.'

But the way he looked. She saw an air of loneliness around him, an air of kindness and the willingness to fight if need be.

"Rookie, you want some too?" Oran asked her, snapping her back from her thoughts.

"Sorry sir, but I am still on the clock." She said without wavering. "It would be wrong to drink right now." She was standing with her hands on her spine. At ease but standing tall. 'Every damn time. You would think he would learn by now.'

"Suit yourself rookie." Oran smiled and drank. Looked at the man and paused. "Hey you, do I know you?" He looked hard. "I have seen you before."

The man sighed and looked right at him. "You know my father because you guys are friends. He had you follow me in the 104th."

Mark looked at him too and nearly choked as they both realized who this man was. "Shit!"

Cindy eyed him again, this time with caution. She shifted her weight and feet in case he tried something. 'Finally, something to do. But I don't think this man wants a fight.'

"Wow...you grew up kid." Oran chuckled. "Heard you visited your old man the other day. He was a little upset about that."

"I don't care." The man said without a care, drinking some of his drink. "He isn't my problem anymore."

Mark suddenly stood in anger. "Is that what you think?" Cindy jumped a bit and looked at him wondering what he was going to do. "You think after all those years of us trying to get you for him, that it is over just because YOU say it is?" He pushed the stool on the floor, making everyone look. "Guess what. It isn't over until WE say it is! We are Military Police!"

Cindy looked back quickly and saw ALL eyes on them. "Sir." She said with slight urgency. Oran and Mark looked at her. "I don't think that would be a good idea right now." She nodded to the people behind her watching. "Plus, starting a fight while drinking on duty? That can't look good to anyone. No matter who you are connected to."