The R.A.R (Red Army Resistance)

The Pub

***Leah's POV***

    The patrons stare at me oddly as we enter. A hush goes through the pub, but then the noise begins again. “W-Welcome to the L-Laughing T-Tiger,” a waitress says as she eyes us. “Thank you, mein freund*. One table for all of us,” I say as the waitress seats us. “Three beers and a bottle of rum for us, please,” I say as I stand. I took the girl aside and then give her a bottle. “Spike our drinks, okay?” I say as the waitress eyes me strangly. “My troops are way too uptight and I want them to mellow out. And I need to sleep soundly tonight,” I say as she nods and then goes to the bartender.

***??? POV***

      “Maruska, isn't that your kid?” a waitress says as I look up. I smooth back my hair and then look at the tall blonde woman she mentioned. “Charlee?” I murmur to myself as I knock over a beer, spilling it on an Irishman. “Watch it, bitch!” he says as I come out from behind the bar. “Maruska Petrovich?” a German male's voice says as I turn. “Renard?” I ask as he nods. “Renard!” I exclaim as I rush to him. I embrace him as he kisses me. He towers over me at 6'7, and I'm tall at 5'11. “How have you been?” Reynard asks I tug at his uniform. “How have you been General Adelberg?” I ask mockingly. “I was promoted after the French and English,” he says as I pull away. “After you left, I had a little girl. Her name was Charlee Eliza Petrovich. She was executed by the Americans 6 months ago,” I say as he looks at me. “I had a little girl?” he says as I draw a picture out of my apron. “The girl in the uniform is Charlee. The other one is Yuri Mikhailov, her girlfriend and greatest friend,” I say as he looks at it. “Charlee was-?” he asks as I nod. “Apparently, I've got her döppelganger* in my army. You see the tall blonde? The one who's kicking back the rum?” he asks as I nod. “Charlee's favorite drink was rum,” I say as the girl walks over to us. “Herr General Adelberg, sir!” the woman says as Renard salutes her. “At ease, Frau Corporal Aschennbrenner. Leah, this is Maruska Petrovich, the woman you've heard I met during the Irish War. Maruska, this is Corporal Leah Aschenbrenner,” Raynard says as Leah shakes my hand. No flicker of recognition goes through her eyes as I stare into them. She salutes Reynard again and then goes back to her troops. “I'll be right back, Renard,” I say as I walk out. I turn to the apartments that are near the pub and then go up to her apartment. I knock on the door and then watch as Yuri answers. Her electric blue eyes are red and she regards me with a look of anger. “What do you want?” she asks as I step back. “There's a woman in the pub who may be Charlee,” I say as she pales. “Don't mock me, Maruska,” she says as she turns to shut the door. “I would never! Just go and look!" I exclaim as she stops. She walks down the steps and goes into the pub. I pull the door closed and then go after her.

***Yuri's POV***

   I can't believe it. Charlee alive? Maruska's kind enough not to mock me, but I have my doubts. I enter the pub and Maruska enters after me. She goes to a tall German man and then motions me to come over. “Renard, this is Yuri Mikhailov,” Maruska says as the man reaches out to shake my hand. I don't return the handshake. “It is nice to meet you, Frau Mikhailov. I am Renard Adelberg, general of the German Army,” he says as I scan the pub for the Charlee lookalike. My eyes fall on a blonde woman and I stiffen. She pays for the drinks as I run out. I stand in the middle of the road and then wait for them to walk out. As they walk out and I finally see the blonde's face, a shiver of recognition goes down my spine. “Charlee?” I whisper softly as a warm feeling goes down my spine…

*German: my friend

*döppelganger: double