The Road to Masiaka

[Jacques]

Lt Folami was already frowning as Natalie approached. The other 'person of interest.' He was under orders to make sure she, especially, returned to the capital. The Interim President had an interest in a princess of the CCD. His plans had changed in light of how things in the capital had played out, but he was an adaptable person.

Jacques stopped as he saw her coming, and nodded slightly to her. He could tell where she had come from, and could easily surmise that she had realized at least part of what he was up to. He was juggling too many knives, and it was just a matter of time before one found its way into his foot. "Mademoiselle Grey. This is Lieutenant Folami. He is under orders from Interim President General Wallace-Johnson to secure this camp. I believe the Interim-President wishes for your people to relocate to the capital, where your services are direly needed."


Lt Folami growled at the choice of words, "Interim President General Wallace-Johnson does not WISH anything. This is our country, Mr Danjou, and the General is taking it back. Your people are not safe here, woman. The government of Sierra Leone entertains your presence here, and so you will do as you are told."


Jacques still had his back to the Lieutenant, and winced slightly at the man's poor choice of words, mostly to hint to Natalie that he was, in the end, still on her side. It was just a matter of practicality; there was little holding the government troops back from violently expelling Danjou and her people if they chose.

Of course, Jacques kept his ace-in-the-hole nearby. He wasn't sure how much of a difference Jared could make, but he had seen enough in Jeddah to guess that the man would certainly take more then his fair share if it came to violence. Which, if all went according to his plan, it would not.

The Lieutenant focused his gaze on the indignant princess, Natalie, "Now. Get your people out of my camp. I don't care if you have to walk, but you will go back to Freetown."


-----

Lt Kamenashi grit his teeth at Natalie's realization that one child was missing. He should have realized it; he had been in charge of the camp for days now, and had spoken to everyone in it. He had the nominal rolls, the head counts of everyone that had taken residence under his protection, and a quick count of the children realized one was indeed missing. A girl.

"Fuck. We have no time for this. Does anyone know where she is?"
His chosen team, Sierra Leonean men that were members of the Legion's auxiliary force, worked to round up the kids and the Red Cross staff were quickly trying to explain to them what was going on. Some were simply too young, and were on the verge of crying as they realized they were going to be taken away from the camp, from whatever families they had left.

Lt Kamenashi glanced at Carpenter and jerked his head at he nearest window, when one of the staff mentioned that the child, Ayo, might have still been with Azubuike, Natalie's friend. "Do you see a girl out there?"

[Natalie Grey]

Freetown's walls loomed as solid as a prison. She would be little more than a hostage there, with or without Legion Première's contracted protection. Danjou had apparently not chosen to take advantage of a mother willing to move mountains to save her daughter, but she would not guess the same of the new Interim-President.

Natalie felt Jay's absence keenly, though she had intended that he not follow. Right now, she did not want the association of Legion Première's protection to cloud the demands she had to make - which was why, after her initial address, she directed herself to Lt. Folami. She was not the Legion's piece to barter.

"We serve the people of Sierra Leone. All its people, lieutenant. We are not your enemy. And we are almost ready to leave."
She spoke flatly. The "almost" was for Jacques' benefit, not out of belligerence for the order. Any vitriol she swallowed down, though her temper was rising with increasing force. The measure of control she exerted deadened her expression, but Natalie had never been known for her warmth.

"This refinery is barely fit for habitation. The civilians living here have lost everything; they are in need of blankets, clothes, food. Medical supplies. If you will not let us administrate the care ourselves, at least allow us to facilitate extra supplies for this camp and others like it. The Interim-President controls the airport. He has the power to accept that aid."
Or deny it. The Temne camp leaders were still gathered around Folami, and if any of the reporters were doing the damn job they ought, the world's eye would bear witness to his answer. It was the best she could do, but she wanted that promise. At the very least.

The intensity of her gaze did not waver, though she was aware she was trampling on a fragile nerve, making demands she was in little position to enforce. She offered aid on their terms, capitulated when her heart railed against the defeat, but it was not without warning. The word civilians was a purposeful reminder; war crimes against them would be taken with due seriousness.

[Jared Vanders]

Jared kept his post next to Danjou and tried to figure out what was going on. He was bothered and didn't like where this was going. They were all needed at the capital? That didn't seem necessary to Jared, but he also understood they didn't have a choice.

Ms. Grey seemed very upset about the orders, anger seeming to be more present than sadness. Jared, on the other hand had placed his trust in Danjou - that he knew what he was doing. More and more he had the feeling that this had been set into place. Someone had planned for this, but he wasn't sure who. Maybe it was Danjou himself.

Whatever the reason. He didn't want to leave. His sixth sense said that leaving would cause more issues than it would solve. Jared waited, and when it seemed as if Danjou had a moment, Jared spoke. "Sir?"
Jared hesitated, the questions on his tongue halted. "Nevermind, sir.
Jared wasn't sure what he would have asked anyway. There were too many unanswered questions for his liking though.

[Jay Carpenter]

Jay hadn't realized one of the kids was missing right away. Hell they all looked alike and when they ran around faster than cats scampering out of the barn, he couldn't keep track of any single one for long. Given his recent history, he was extra motivated to keep his eyes angled lower to the ground lately too. He was trained better than this. Better than almost everyone Danjou brought out here today. Why was he having such trouble?

The folds of the blinds fell back together as he pulled his hand from the window. Kamenashi's question was met with a grim "No, sir."
Jay harbored no warm and fuzzy feelings for the lieutenant, but neither were they on anything but professional terms. It was his frustration with Natalie that kept his jaw clenched tight.

He turned to face him, "Miss Grey is out there with Mister Danjou at the moment. Would you like me to search the building interior, Lieutenant?"
She was just one small kid. She could be anywhere. The question is whether or not she was actually trying to hide or if she just hadn't been seen yet.

Kamenashi seemed to be taking the girl's disappearance personally and thusly agreed that their search needed to be quick and methodical.

"Anybody know where the last time anyone saw Azubuike?"
Head shakes were his answer. So Jay stepped out to seek either him or the kid.

[Natalie Grey]

NPC: Azubuike Timbo

Azubuike had listened to Jacques Danjou speak to the press with a singularly pensive frown. He'd fought back from the realm of politics his whole life, choosing God over men. But when it was men who threatened the carefully tended walls of his oasis, he listened carefully to those who painted themselves as leaders. His side amounted only to care of his school, entrusted by his father's hands, but he loved his county as well. It pained him, this brutality. And shamed him, the foreigner who sought to set the balance right.

When the trucks stormed through the perimeter, Azu instinctually sunk back. He was no soldier, nor a violent rebel, but his Temne blood was well known, and he was a man keen on a vision that did not always endear him to his fellows. He fought, not for control or power or greed, but for the slow changes that might bring about a better future for God's children. Forging against the old traditions did not always garner approval, even amongst his own people, though he was generally a man well-liked. Even so, he knew when to keep his head down.

He held his hands loose, buffeted freely by the flood of government troops, avoiding confrontational eye-contact. He had no weapon, but he was a solidly built man; broad and thick, incongruous with the pacifist of his spirit. Dark eyes blinked quickly to the offices Natalie had directed the children, forced suddenly to consider whether she'd had a purpose in doing so, but relieved for their protection. He murmured a prayer.

And as he retreated further, found Ayo.

She cowered over, in a tight and shivering ball, but looked up when he approached. The girl should have been safe with the other children, but her self-isolation these past days had not been an unusual occurrence.

Given her fragility, he'd not had the heart to explain everything. Tight on the heels of Ekene's... well, soon afterwards the town had erupted chaos. A handful of children - those in the camp now - had made it to the school gates before the fury of hell had unleashed, and found themselves stranded from kin. Azu's wounded forearms and head attested the savagery of his protection; the attack had mostly been centred on the town's garrison, but no few rebels had turned to inexplicably ransack the school. Legion Première soldiers had eased the brunt of it, evacuated who they could, but tore children from families in the process. Now those small ones remained under his protection and care.

A duty he took with the utmost seriousness.

But stared down by so many hollow rimmed eyes dependant on his wisdom, how could he have singled Ayo out to tell her that Kofi had died at the hands of his best friend? Speaking made the brutality real. The words had failed, choked in his chest, at first because he waited beyond hope to hear from Natalie. Then because the silence had grown impenetrable. He chose instead to protect her from the knowledge, for now at least, until he could take them all home and she might have the support of her family to cushion their grief.

"Hush, hush, child."


He moved to cup a hand over her head, but she flinched.

"Bloody hands."
The words bubbled and choked. "I saw your bloody hands! You killed my brother! Because... because we are Mende!"


Azu's chest sunk to suddenly comprehend what he had missed, the kernel of knowledge she had cradled to herself. The fear he had misinterpreted. A hurt frown crumpled his expression, then shored up with the severity of her accusation. "No, Ayo. No, you are wrong in this."



"Then who? Then who?"
His voice had been low and steady, but hers pierced with the frequency of a wounded animal, beyond reason or sense. The black pit of her gaze was desperate, but soon unhooked from his. She eyed the soldiers, began to cry.

[Jacques]

Lt Folami allowed Natalie her defiant rant, one hand resting dangerously on his holstered pistol. Such weapons carried with them a cultural intimidation. Rifles were weapons of war, but pistols? They were much like machetes. Those were used for executions, for murder. In war, there was some chance of fighting back. But everyone knew of people that were forced to their knees and shot. Of course, to someone born of the CCD, pistols were not so terrifying a thing.

Jacques of course wore a pistol, and was well aware of the stigma around such things, but unlike people like Folami, he had no interest in using such a thing to make himself look the 'big man.' The gesture on Folami's part was all show; there was no chance the man would dare bring any harm to Natalie. Interim-President General Wallace-Johnson needed her in his court, after all.

"You shall serve the Mende people from the safety of Freetown. Interim-President General Wallace-Johnson will open the airport again once he is certain of your cooperation, princess."
Not the cooperation of the Red Cross; they were a humanitarian organization. Their cooperation was all but assured, so long as they were given the chance to do their thing. The General wanted Natalie Grey in his pocket; her family ties, as sullied as they may have become, would still lend him a direct link to the CCD, and with it a sense of legitimacy to his presidency.

Jacques turned slightly when Jared moved to speak to him. The man was concerned, and had every right to be. Every second it became more and more evident that things at the refinery were not likely to end well. His men could see it. Their hired auxiliaries had been disarmed. The Legion and the Red Cross were both being ordered out, along with the reporters. And there was nothing he could do about it. "Victory belongs to the most persevering. Back straight. Chin up."


He had been quoting Napolean Bonaparte often since the events of Jeddah. But, for all the vilification the man had received in the centuries since his attempted conquest of Europe, the man had been an apt politician and general. And had had a way with words.

Both Jacques, and Lt Folami turned towards the newest commotion to plague the refinery yard. Jacques' gaze was drawn towards Azubuike and the child with whom he knelt. His gaze hardened as he gained at least an inkling of understanding of what was transpiring between them. For all the man's moral character and limited fame, he was Temne. A fact Jacques knew only thanks to Lt Kamenashi's report on the rescue operation in Masiaka. The child's screams of accusation and anger were far more dangerous for the aid worker then the child could realize, surely. And once more, there was little he could do about it.

Lt Folami cast an angry glance at Jacques and Natalie, "Get your people out of here. Now. If you are not loading into your vehicles in five minutes, there will be repercussions."
And then the government officer began walking towards Azubuike and Ayo, his enterourage following him. Perhaps it was some small shred of luck, but the distraction once more distracted the army troops from searching the offices where Jay and Lt Kamenashi occupied with the children.

Jacques' gaze locked briefly on the back of the departing Lt Folami, then he addressed Natalie without looking at her, his voice near devoid of emotion. "We have bought all the time we can. My men cannot wait for that girl. Get your people out of here, Miss Grey. They haven't the protection that you do."
He would not apologize or ask forgiveness; he was no miracle worker, no matter how he may try otherwise. Lt Folami wouldn't openly harm her, but the man was stupid enough that he would willingly make an example of her friends to 'encourage' her to cooperate.

He caught Jay's attention as the man emerged from the offices, and shook his head slightly. Lt Kamenashi and his chosen men had to get the other children out of the facility without Ayo; there was simply no chance now to get the girl away quietly and unnoticed. There was no time for it.

[Jared Vanders]

At Danjou's words, Jared straightened. He took the words as an order and kept following. He had to trust his commander, but it didn't mean he liked the situation any more than he had before.

As he walked he noticed the reporter Monday leaning against a vehicle. She didn't seem to be filming anymore, so perhaps he had been instructed to turn ofd her recording devices. Now that she wasn't being the reporter and badgering him with questions, he noticed that she was an attractive woman. Pity she had gotten under his skin already.

He gave her a nod as he continued to follow Danjou. Soon they would be back in Freetown. Unless any other issues came up.

[Natalie Grey]

The lieutenant made her position clear. And her value. The precision of his words steeled her spine for war, the minute play of fingers against his pistol deepening the fissure of anger behind ice-pale eyes. She was not a pawn. Her stare was defiant, but her lips sewn shut. His use of the word Mende in place of people - all people - completely unhinged any hope of docile cooperation, but he still had her hand twisted behind her back. Beneath the stillness of her expression, her jaw twitched, but she swallowed an honest reaction in favour of peace. A thin mask of it, anyway. She understood the threat.

Somewhere ahead, commotion broke the tension. The heat in her blood ran suddenly cold as her eyes set on Azu. And Ayo. Folami's words were almost lost to the sinking feeling in her chest as he strode away. Behind her, Jacques Danjou spoke logic and sense. Except it wasn't Ayo she was concerned for. Natalie had only left the offices in order to give Kamenashi more time to get clear of the compound, not truly to find the missing child before they left. She understood the urgency, and also believed the girl would be safe with Azubuike despite the infiltration of the camp. Or had.

But Ayo cowered now, tears streaming down her face, and Azu's expression crumpled. The whites of his eyes flashed fear as the lieutenant's attention bore down. She didn't hear what was said, but she witnessed enough.

"Don't wait, then. Get them out of here. My colleagues are ready to leave. They were ready when I left."
The words were calm, though her heart was beating a violent torrent. Her gaze didn't turn back to Jacques. Her feet didn't shift. As a child she'd had a recurring dream. Of blood-soaked hands, palms still warm, a fragile body beneath them. It wasn't the death that had always strangled her suddenly awake and shivering with a complex knot of fear and regret. It was the sure knowledge of complicity, however unintentional. Of inadvertent actions bringing an end to another. And she felt that sickness now, a hollow pit in her stomach, before defiance rippled to something electric across her skin.

Endless grasping became the warm embrace of a sun. The world shifted, enlivened into stronger focus. It urged something foolish, but she reigned back, remembering the brute force of the hospital. Still, she was reckless enough to do this her own way. When her boot plucked off the ground, it was to follow Folami, not Jacques.

[Jay Carpenter]

As soon as Jay heard the yelling, he ran toward it. Well. Not so much running as hobbling like a dick. He stopped just far enough away to take in the entire scene. He took it all in with one sweep.

Natalie and Jacques exchanged words Jay could not hear. She did not look happy. Jay would be a little worried for Jacques if it weren't for the asswipe lieutenant stalking away. Jay didn't need to hear what happened. But he guessed as much. That guy was in for a world of hurt.

The main attraction was on stage for everyone to see. Ayo and Azu. That little girl looked like she was about to punch the brains out of Azu. Damn, kid.

His gaze snapped behind him. Jay was on some kind of invisible threshold. Behind him, women and children were literally escaping for their lives. Ahead, another innocent guy and yet another child were sitting in the middle of a firing range. By the looks on the lieutenant's - and every other soldier's face - the squad was starting to take notice.

Natalie was hot on the lieutenant's heels. Not to mention the guy's little entourage. And Jay was probably going to regret this later, but she was throwing herself into the pit for Azu and Ayo. Which meant one thing. He had to jump in first.

He got to them before the government's men. Azu looked like a broken doll. The set to Jay's jaw was deadly serious. Even when his gaze flashed to the little girl. She cowered even further, but Jay couldn't think about it at the moment.

"Shut up and listen fast. Both of you are going to be lucky to get out of here alive unless you do exactly what I say."
He stared hard at the girl. If she thought she was getting a free pass because she was Mende, she was sorely wrong. Jay had seen all too many times exactly what happened to someone her age in times like this.

He yanked both from where they were standing and pushed each forward - away from the approaching men wanting to kill them. Jay kept talking as they moved. Incidentally, their direction was away from the offices. He could practically feel the lieutenant's aim on the middle of his back.


Edited by Jay Carpenter, Feb 11 2015, 10:05 PM.

[Natalie Grey]

NPC: Azubuike Timbo

"Oh, sweet child."
His insides burned to ash, the pain a furrow in his brow. The sides of his mouth drooped with the weight of a mistake realised too late. Azubuike did not try to touch her again, but he did fix her with a steady stare, slightly stooped to meet her reluctant gaze. "I did not harm Kofi, I promise you, and I will explain what you saw. But you must trust me a while longer, Ayo. We cannot talk about this now."
His gaze moved up cautiously, then startled to realise the lieutenant had taken notice of Ayo's outburst and had angled himself like a fatal bullet in their direction. Ayo looked dangerously like she might bolt, her face tear-streaked distraught. It took a moment more to realise her wide gaze had turned to a legionnaire Azu now realised ran awkwardly towards them. Natalie's legionnaire.

The man hooked a grip on Azu's bicep, shunted both he and the girl forward. For a step or two Azu followed, carried on the urgent current. But the thud of his footsteps quickly stopped. "This folly will get us both killed, Legionnaire Carpenter. That man is of the government, and if he wishes to speak to me, then I must comply. You understand?"
There was a flash of fear, but also a gravity of acceptance. There was nowhere to hide. Nowhere to run. Why the young man had broken away from his comrades Azubuike could not fathom, but the gesture would only land him in trouble. He turned, careful to keep an eye on Folami's approach. His voice lowered. A deep rumble. "I am an innocent man. I trust to my god. You cannot help me."