The Origin of Roh-Shan

Home

"Make sure they don't go out again." One of the soldiers said to Roh's father. "It's not safe out there."

Roh and Maita shuffled into their kitchen where their mother sat, while their father talked with the soldiers at the door.

"What do you mean?" Their father asked.

"There's an escaped fugitive. The criminal who killed the mayor. There's a manhunt out for h-- the fugitive right now. Everyone needs to stay indoors."

Maita choked a laugh at the soldier's avoidance of the pronoun; the men were too afraid to admit the "criminal" that escaped high-level guarded security was a teenage girl.

A different soldier glared at her.

But Roh was paying attention to their father's reaction to this news. She saw his head barely turn towards the girls, but thought better of risking making them look guilty. All things considered, they probably seemed pretty guilty to him right about now.

If he thought it, he didn't show it. "That's terrible, do you know if the fugitive is targeting anyone, or anyplace in particular? I want to stay as far away as possible."

"You're fine where you are, sir. Just stay indoors."

"Well, thank you for that warning, we appreciate it. I'm surprised the Army got here so fast, I was told they were several days out."

"We were serving in a nearby outpost, and were dispatched after the zoo fire, so it only took us one day." The first soldier said, but for some reason it set off red flags for Maita. She glanced at Roh, who read her face.

"Well, I'm very glad you're here. You're taking over police operations for an internal investigation, correct?"

The phrase seemed to confuse them for a second, as if they weren't totally familiar with that plan. "Yes." The soldier replied anyway.

"Very good. Well, I should let you be on your way. Lots of investigations to cover. I'll be in tomorrow, I have a number of internal transcripts and documents that may be of interest to you." Their father said.

The soldier thought for a moment. "No need. The fugitive was working with the rebels. It's an open and shut case."

Their father looked confused. "You're not going to do any kind of internal investigation?"

The man gritted his teeth. "It's open and shut. Why, do you think we should be investigating members of the mayor's inner circle?"

"Well, it is protocol. Plus I did see the crime scene myself. There's no way it was set from the outside, and the transcripts I have document some concerning disagreements between the mayor and those under his direction, especially General Suley--"

Without any warning, the first soldier reached into his belt and pulled out a spring-loaded piston, pressing it firmly to their father's temple. "Where are those transcripts, exactly?"

Their father's eyes went wide. Their mother's fist clenched in fear on the table, scratching the wood. Maita grabbed Roh's hand under the table. Roh did nothing.

"In my desk, bottom left drawer." He pointed to his office.

Two other soldiers went inside while the first one held position.

"Please," Their father sounded surprisingly calm. "Not in front of my daughters. I'll go outside with you." He turned just his eyes to the three women at the table. "I love you." He said, with equal parts sincerity and defeat.

"Dad, no!" Maita spoke up, before her mother grabbed her other hand and held it down firmly. The message was clear: don't give them any reason to bring you into this.