Chapter 2: August 3
Have you ever wondered what birds feel as they fly through the open sky?
Typically, people say peace, love, hope, and other clichés.
I don't think that's it…
I think those birds are trying hard… Too hard to attain something and failing at it…
What is it, you ask? Freedom… The birds want freedom. Soaring as high as they can in the open sky, trying to reach the heaven that lies just above those clouds.
But it's not enough so they try and try.
Flapping their wings over and over again.
Travelling from one place to another.
They try so hard to reach such great altitudes but it's not enough.
Maybe that's why heaven is still beyond our reach…
For we lack the proper wings to soar higher.
Those thoughts kept on raising on the me of 1940 as I lie under that big Molave tree.
Every time I remember those questions, those vague answers, and, most important, her…
After retiring from the military in 1938, 24-year-old me decided to take a degree in law at the University of Vasel.
1940. It was the start of another semester and boy was it rough.
During the 1935 invasion, most of the University's records were destroyed and even after 5 years, the Administration still struggled with the records and this caused many problems to the students and, even, staff.
Obviously, everyone wasn't happy about the lack of action done by the Administration. This caused several students to protest every semester over the next few years.
Due to my past as a Gallia Militiaman and Infantryman in 1935 and 1937 respectively, my own adviser, the dean of the College of Law, forced me to join the University Watch.
Which is like a town watch actually and I hated the idea of joining since it brought back painful memories. Due to our adaptive nature as humans, I, surprisingly, managed to adjust and make some really good friends.
And so here I was in the opening days of August 1940 in what would be later known as "The Vasel Incident"
"Same shit, Different Day" I lazily said, standing near a group of protesters in front of the Administration Building.
"Come on, Denzel" my friend, Jake Keller, said "Where's your sense of duty?"
Jake Keller. I wouldn't have asked for a greater friend than him. Tall, thick beard, but relatively short hair. You'd think he's 30-years-old or something but he's actually around my age.
He was our bona fide leader and despite the prejudice against my race, he still managed to set all that aside and work together with us. And yes. I'm a Darcsen if the name hasn't already tipped you off. And boy was it a painful existence. But it fills me with joy and hope that there are still people out there like Jake.
Anyway, it was another routine patrol.
That time, me and Jake were on duty.
"Aren't you getting tired of all this?" I asked "I mean, it's the same damn 'mission' every time, mostly at the start of the sem!"
"Repetitive. Yes. But it's our duty as JSOC. Isn't that enough?"
"In case you forgot, the dean forced me into this"
"But you liked it in the end, right?"
I couldn't respond to that.
Yes. I admit that I hated it at first and eventually grew to like it.
Also if you noticed, Jake went to the liberty of renaming the University Watch into the Joint Selected Operations Command or JSOC for short.
"Anyway" I said, looking at my pocket watch "We've been here for 4 hours now. Can we just go? I could use some refreshments"
Jake was quick to reply. "No can-"
My friend was cut off by the sound of gunfire
"Shit…" My friend muttered as we nodded at one another "Let's go!"
It didn't take long for the 2 of us to reach the scene, which was around the small park we called the University Square.
"Shooters!" I said pointing to the 5 armed gunmen
The situation escalated quickly as 5 individuals began to open fire on the students.
"Denzel!" My partner yelled as he checks on the injuries of a University Police Officer "Get me the trauma kit!"
"Right!" I responded as I hand over the kit and tended to the wounds of another police officer
As we treated the two downed officers, the shooters turned their sights on us.
We quickly carried both officers into the relative safety of the Physical Sciences Building.
"Why are they shooting us?" I asked
"No clue. But if they're willing to attack two first responders, let alone students, then these guys are out for blood"
As the sound of gunfire drew closer, I noticed one of the officer's holstered pistol.
I stared at Jake, who had the same idea as me and with a nod we grabbed the officers' guns and placed them at the care of the frightened faculty.
"You ready?" Jake asked as we stood by the wall
"Yeah!" I replied as we broke cover and opened fire
Thanks to my military history and Jake's military enthusiasm, we skillfully utilized our 45 caliber pistols against the enemies armed with submachineguns
"Do we all go lethal?" I asked
"Only if you have to! Incapacitate them!"
"Copy!"
As I took a peek, I noticed the attackers were headed somewhere else
"Jake! They're headed towards the Registrar's office!"
"There?! Are they after the Cashier's office nearby?!"
We didn't have time to ponder on what the attackers' motives were. So the two of us quickly made our way across the street.
Of course, our adversaries spotted us almost immediately and we soon found ourselves being hailed with bullets.
We both instinctively dived to the nearest cover. I used the statue in the middle of the park while Jake went a bit further and got inside the Humanities Building.
We were pinned down for a good 5 minutes before the University Police came.
They quickly took positions around the park.
Me and Jake then retreated and proceeded to request for better firearms. I took an old Gallian S rifle while Jake took EW2-era mags submachinegun.
We then quickly made our way back to the battlefield.
The attackers had already entrenched themselves inside the building by the time we got by the back entrance.
"Should we wait for the others from JSOC?" I asked
"No time. Besides, we can handle any situation without any problems, right?"
"That is true… Let's go then"
With no hesitation, the two of us entered the building and made our way to the Registrar's office, checking room after room just in case.
Surprisingly, we managed to get behind the enemy.
"This is almost too easy…" I muttered as I fired a shot, aimed at one of the shooters' shoulders.
That was when I came face-to-face with him…
"Alright…" he said "… Who didn't check the back?"
A tall but young looking man, armed with the newest model of the mags series, emerges from the Registrar's office.
"Shit!" Jake said as he recognizes the man
"What? Who's that?"
"That's Him! One of Gallia's most wanted criminals, the one we talked about a few hours ago!"
"Fuck… So he's the leader…"
Yes. We came face-to-face with an infamous criminal. At the time, I didn't know what he was doing or why. All I knew was that he wanted something from that office.
"Somebody keep these kids at bay…" the criminal said as he fires several bursts at us
The armed men then turned their sights on us.
Although, unlike before, me and Jake managed to hold our ground pretty well but our enemies were also well trained as we both had a hard time landing bullets at one another.
"Aren't those the latest models of Gallian submachineguns and rifles?!" I said, noticing their weapons
"What the hell… They're better equipped than the University Police? He's as crafty as reports said…"
I forgot how long it took but eventually, the leader emerged from the office, carrying a bag. His subordinates then take several other bags and began to make their way towards their escape vehicle, parked nearby.
Of course, we followed them but once they reached the vehicle, we knew that we couldn't get close as the car had several mounted MGs which prevented us from even breaking cover which allowed the criminals to escape…
Later that night, everyone from JSOC gathered at our HQ, near the Grandia Hall.
"What did they steal?" Marvin, our resident Darcsen mechanic, asked
"Bags of money" our adviser, the head of University Security, said "Worth around thirty thousand Ducat and several files from the University"
"Why would the attackers target Registrar?" Nancy Lyons, our resident Nursing student, wondered "Money aside, why take University documents?"
"We're still investigating on the motives behind this incident…" our adviser answered "Jake. Denzel. You two were there when the shooting began. What can you tell us?"
Jake answered first
"The attacks looked unorganized at first but we soon found out that this group was more organized than we thought"
"But" I added "We may have identified the group's leader"
"Really?" everyone said
I was bit nervous in saying it maybe it was because me and Jake came so close to one of Gallia's most infamous murderers. But I worked up the courage to say his name…
"Desmond Crocker…"
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