Imminent Threat

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Chapter Quote:
"The strength of a family, like the strength of an army, is in its loyalty to each other."
~Mario Puzo
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Chapter 3: Imminent Threat

Bryn

I scanned the next part of Brian's letter, attempting to ignore the intense gaze Felicity was giving me. I had a sneaking suspicion she didn't like me. However, I pushed the thought out of my mind and read:

The war seemed to unfold in the blink of an eye. I don't remember exactly when the forces from the west occupied my town; I was too busy scanning the skies day after day, waiting for "Yellow Thirteen" to reappear.

Before I knew it, everything had changed. The language they taught us at school, our friendly local sheriff "disappeared" and was replaced by foreign MPs. In the beginning, some people secretly tuned into broadcasts from North Point on their parabolic antennas. But as time passed, the broadcasts no longer came in; maybe the satellites were destroyed.

All non-military computer networks were shut down. Gasoline was rationed to civilians. Though we lived in the twenty-first century, we were reduced to using crystal radios and horse-drawn carts.

I moved in with my uncle in town who used to be a taxi driver. Out of gasoline and out of work, my uncle did nothing but to drown himself in drink. I earned my keep by playing the harmonica in the town bar, the one thing I was good at. I'd play for sullen occupation soldiers in exchange for their charity in loose change and used the money to support my uncle and myself.

My uncle trash-talked the barkeep who catered to the enemy soldiers, but he never refused the money I brought home. As for myself, I had a crush on the barkeep's only daughter, who was a little older than me.

Another day passed yet still no sign of the fighter plane, Yellow Thirteen, in the skies above our town.

I smiled, making sure to fold it back up so Felicity wouldn't see the part about Brian liking her when he was little. Maybe she knew, maybe she didn't, but I didn't want to be the one to reveal the secret if it was unbeknownst to her.

I waited for Brian to enter the sunroom where Felicity and I waited with Mobius before diving into the next mission.
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5 October 2004...

"You're alive!" Lucky exclaimed, sounding thoroughly relieved. I couldn't help but smile, imagining his face lighting up the way it used to. I wished I could see him in person. That's all I'd wanted for years now, but this war put up quite the obstacle.

"I'm alive. What about you? Any missions you're going on soon?"

"If I am, they haven't told me. Listen, when this war is all said and done, no matter what side wins, and dependent on whether we both make it out alive, I'm coming to see you, and I'm going to treat you to a nice dinner."

"It's us. Of course we're going to survive. I may not know anything about your squadron or call sign or number, but I know you, and I know you'll find a way to make it through this. And I'll make it through because, well, it's me, and I'm awesome."

Lucky snorted. "I know better than to argue that. Besides, you'll never get me to repeat this, but it's also true."

"I'm burning those words into my mind, and I'll never let you forget them."

"I believe you. Listen, I have to go for some training exercises, but I'll talk to you later. I'm looking forward to our date sometime in the future. Love you!"

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