The R.A.R (Red Army Resistance)

Flashback, Part 5, The Army

***About a year later, Aug. 27th, 2093***

***Charlee's POV***

"I've joined the Army," I say as I look at the little crowd of friends and family I'd gathered together. Yuri, dressed in a pair of ripped jeans and a skimpy purple tank with her new tattoo of Scorpio, stares at me along with her family. Her blue eyes stare into mine as my mom clears her throat. "How did you join?" she asks as I shrug. "I was hanging around the military base in St. Petersburg when one of the recruits put some flyers up. France has been causing trouble and I guess the president's expecting a war. He's sent those flyers to all the foreign territories, apparently. I asked if I could join and they gave the physical needed to join and I passed," I say as Dmitri laughs. "You really think they'll let you join? Just cause you joined over here doesn't mean you've joined over there," he says as Yuri smacks him. "Dmitri's right, hon. Ever since the 3rd World War, we've had a very tense relationship with them. I'd really doubt they'd let you join," Mrs. Mikhailov says as my mom clears her throat. "Charlee isn't just Russian. Her father was a German military man. He was stationed in Russia during the Irish War. He left me with Charlee growing in me. With him being German, they may let you join," she says as I hug her. "May I join, momma?" I ask as my mom purses her lips. "As long as you come back, Charlee Eliza!" she says as I wince. "Call me Charlee Eliza again and I won't come back," I say as she laughs. "Well, you'll need a military uniform and a military dress. Dmitri, can you be of assistance?" my mom asks as he nods. "Get yourself a uniform from that base and I'll perform the needed altering. When do you leave?" Mr. Mikhailov asks as I shrug. "I fly down in a week to start my training," I say as he laughs. "This won't take more than a couple days. Plus, if my son'll go scavenging up near St. Petersburg, I can sew a couple patches onto your uniform to show you're different from the rest of those beastly Americans. Plus, I think there's a couple old hat pins around here somewhere," he says as I smile. "Charlee?" Yuri asks as I turn to her. She grabs me around the shoulders and hugs me. "Must you really go?" she asks as I smile. "I don't have to do anything, Dixie. I wanna join. I don't just wanna stick around Moscow for the rest of my life. I wanna do something, Dixie," I say as she sighs. "I don't want you to leave, Charlee! What if you don't come-?!" she exclaims as I kiss her. "You think I haven't already thought about that? That's the first thing I thought about," I say as Mr. Mikhailov clears his throat. "She'll be wearing dog tags, Yuri. If she does fall, they'll be able to recognize her," he says as he pulls out a tape measure. I stand and Mr. Mikhailov measures around my bust, hips, and chest. "Rather small for a soldier, dear, but once you start training, I suspect you'll bulk up," he says as I smile. He writes down the measurements and then taps the paper. He begins to draw something and I try to see what it is. He puts his hand over it, hiding it from my view. "Sorry, kid. I have to keep my secrets and this, is a big one for you, hon," he says as I sit. Yuri sits by me and puts her legs on my lap...

***A week later, Yuri's POV***

I watch as Charlee walks out of her apartment, wearing her beret. It's black, not a color that agrees with her pale skin and hair, and clipped onto it was a hat pin with the Red Army logo on it.

Charlee'd told me that once, a long time ago, Russia had a powerful army. The special forces were the Spetsnaz. And before being called Spetsnaz, the army was the Red Army during World War II. Russia had taken the Reichstag in Berlin to end the war in Europe. Then the Americans had bombed Nagasaki and Hiroshima in Japan to end the war over there. If she's telling the truth, why couldn't we take the Americans in the 3rd World War? We'd taken Germany, but why couldn't we take their older cousin?

I hug Charlee, my head resting on her shoulders. I sniffle and she laughs. "Don't worry, baby. I'll be back once the war's over. Until then, keep Dmitri in line, will you?" she asks as I nod, tears in my eyes. I suddenly begin rummaging in the pockets of the jacket I'm wearing and then pull out a picture. "This was taken a few days ago. I want you to have it. So you'll remember me," I say as she laughs. "I love you, Yuri," she says as she kisses me and then pulls away. She picks up her bags and then gets on the plane. She looks back only once to salute me. The door closes and I watch the plane take off. I shiver suddenly, not from the cold, but for an awful sense of foreboding. It's as though when Charlee comes back, she'll never really return, but perhaps I'm just nervous.

***Charlee's POV***

I try to relax as the plane reaches maximum flight height. My stomach is nervous and jumpy. I feel like I want to vomit. "Thank you for flying American Airlines. We'll be arriving in about 6 hours, so make yourself comfortable," the captain says as I start to heave. "You have anything for motion sickness?" I call as he laughs. "In the cabinet, dear," he says as I stand and walk to the cabinet. I open it and pull out a bottle of pills. I open the bottle and dry swallow a couple pills, trying not to vomit. I sit back down and soon fall asleep.

***A few hours later***

I wake up suddenly. "Welcome to Ft. Lauderdale," the pilot says as we touch down. My stomach begins to feel jumpy again, but now, I'm just nervous. "Welcome to day one," I think as the plane stops. I grab my bags and watch as the doors open. I step off the plane and look around. The first thing I notice is a blast of heat. I shield my eyes from the sun and then look around. I see the ocean and palm trees. "Curiouser and curiouser," I think, feeling like Alice after she fell down the rabbit hole...

***Thank you, friends! This is the end of the flashback, but now, to the present where the true tale begins! Song is if I die in a drop zone, American army Ranger cadence***