07-03-2015, 12:43 PM
Laurie had bad days in her time, but this one was about the worst in living memory. She literally ran through the jungle, scooped up kids, and hid anywhere they could find. The foliage had been thick, and never mind the needle-trunk trees, low-hanging snakes, and poisonous spiders, the scariest part of the jungle was the buzzing of bullets flying from no where, shot by men they couldn't see. In the end, she only made it out with two children. One was about five years old, the other twelve or so. She shuddered to think that some of the monsters running them down were teenagers or younger. Burly, monstrous men were easier to accept as evil doers. A child demon was harder to hate.
She'd never been so happy to see Zander, her skinny intern, in all her life when he met her at the edge of Freetown. She even hugged him, although the intimacy made him duly uncomfortable afterward. During the ride through town she relayed the experience, including how she lost her sunglasses. Thankfully, everything they recorded was uploaded and safe. Zander had the rest of their equipment stored, so as soon as she was ready to write, the internet was waiting.
"First I need a change of clothes and a wash cloth."
She had no illusions about hot bubble baths. She could clean herself up fine enough with a sink and towel. Meanwhile, he explained the ride back to Freetown from the soldier's perspective. They'd all heard the very gunfire chasing down Lawrence and the children, but nobody turned to intercept it. He had video too. It was disturbing to watch, to say the least.
In Freetown's central district, the Legion let her and Zander past their checks. It seemed Jacques Danjou wanted some press, and given how few foreign reporters were on scene, Laurie was it. The strangeness of walking through an elaborate mansion stripped down to pure utilitarian functions was not lost on her as Zander showed her to the room they were given to share for the next few days. Or until they were kicked out. Considering the story she was thinking about writing, she mentally prepared herself to find new accommodations on a dime.
As she only had a single change of clothes at a time, she made sure to wash out what she had on and hang it up to dry before leaving to wander around. That left her in a spare tank top, dark blue with gray pants. She had a smart jacket with about ten pockets, temperature controlled lining, and a sleeve link to her watch but she left it in her room. She wouldn't be leaving the Legion's compound, and bare arms were hardly a problem within their patrolled walls.
She left Zander to edit video crops for the story she'd likely write later that night and went off in search of quotes from the legionnaires. Chatter wasn't hard to come by. Most of the men and women she came upon were friendly enough, but most clammed up as soon as they realized she was there. She'd smile and move on. There were no shortage of people to hit up, meanwhile.
She only caught snippets. Oddly, people were talking about one Legionnaire in particular almost as often as they spoke of Jacques Danjou or the refinery massacre. She remembered meeting him on the grounds earlier that day, and nothing noteworthy stood out in her memory.
"Can you tell me where to find Legionnaire Vanders?"
She asked in her most authoritative voice. Either the seriousness wasn't needed or nobody cared, because she was pointed his way promptly enough.
She knocked and let herself inside in time to hear Jared's question. Jared had this sad, distant look on his face. His company was a legionnaire that Lawrence immediately recognized from the refinery, although she didn't know his name. She noted the broken cast discarded on the floor, as well as the absence of one boot, and the fact he was walking quite smoothly.
"You look like you're feeling better."
She leaned on the door frame, letting her own thoughts go unsaid. Her eyes shifted back to Jared. "You remember me, right? We met earlier. Lawrence Monday. I keep hearing the strangest things, and oddly, they're all about you. Care to shed some light on that?"
She'd never been so happy to see Zander, her skinny intern, in all her life when he met her at the edge of Freetown. She even hugged him, although the intimacy made him duly uncomfortable afterward. During the ride through town she relayed the experience, including how she lost her sunglasses. Thankfully, everything they recorded was uploaded and safe. Zander had the rest of their equipment stored, so as soon as she was ready to write, the internet was waiting.
"First I need a change of clothes and a wash cloth."
She had no illusions about hot bubble baths. She could clean herself up fine enough with a sink and towel. Meanwhile, he explained the ride back to Freetown from the soldier's perspective. They'd all heard the very gunfire chasing down Lawrence and the children, but nobody turned to intercept it. He had video too. It was disturbing to watch, to say the least.
In Freetown's central district, the Legion let her and Zander past their checks. It seemed Jacques Danjou wanted some press, and given how few foreign reporters were on scene, Laurie was it. The strangeness of walking through an elaborate mansion stripped down to pure utilitarian functions was not lost on her as Zander showed her to the room they were given to share for the next few days. Or until they were kicked out. Considering the story she was thinking about writing, she mentally prepared herself to find new accommodations on a dime.
As she only had a single change of clothes at a time, she made sure to wash out what she had on and hang it up to dry before leaving to wander around. That left her in a spare tank top, dark blue with gray pants. She had a smart jacket with about ten pockets, temperature controlled lining, and a sleeve link to her watch but she left it in her room. She wouldn't be leaving the Legion's compound, and bare arms were hardly a problem within their patrolled walls.
She left Zander to edit video crops for the story she'd likely write later that night and went off in search of quotes from the legionnaires. Chatter wasn't hard to come by. Most of the men and women she came upon were friendly enough, but most clammed up as soon as they realized she was there. She'd smile and move on. There were no shortage of people to hit up, meanwhile.
She only caught snippets. Oddly, people were talking about one Legionnaire in particular almost as often as they spoke of Jacques Danjou or the refinery massacre. She remembered meeting him on the grounds earlier that day, and nothing noteworthy stood out in her memory.
"Can you tell me where to find Legionnaire Vanders?"
She asked in her most authoritative voice. Either the seriousness wasn't needed or nobody cared, because she was pointed his way promptly enough.
She knocked and let herself inside in time to hear Jared's question. Jared had this sad, distant look on his face. His company was a legionnaire that Lawrence immediately recognized from the refinery, although she didn't know his name. She noted the broken cast discarded on the floor, as well as the absence of one boot, and the fact he was walking quite smoothly.
"You look like you're feeling better."
She leaned on the door frame, letting her own thoughts go unsaid. Her eyes shifted back to Jared. "You remember me, right? We met earlier. Lawrence Monday. I keep hearing the strangest things, and oddly, they're all about you. Care to shed some light on that?"