Meeting

“I should’ve figured you were here.”, I mutter to myself as I finally find Ingrid looking over the crops.

As I am about to greet the taller teen I notice Sarah Garcia is talking with her. Instead I keep silent and find a place to hide so I can observe the two discreetly.

“I presume the mayor already told you.”, Sarah says with that melodious voice devoid of emotion, “There’s been strange things going on with the marauders around here.”

“He did mention something when we talked for a little bit.”, Ingrid says her voice is oddly stoic.

“He probably didn’t share this though.”, Sarah says, “They’re organizing into a real army. Ran into a squad of theirs before I got here. Took’em all out too except the leader. That’s who I brought in when I got here.” Ingrid mutters something in response before the tan woman responds, “Yuuuuuuuuuup.”

I shift to find a more comfortable position as my legs begin to ache a little from kneeling. I really need to improve my fitness.

Sarah continues on, “Magic is a tool. Just because most people can’t use it they fear it. But it lets us do amazing things that give us more opportunities to help others.” Something feels off about her little speech. Wait! She can use magic like Ingrid? If so, why has she been allowed to come and go from here for a few years now? Is it similar to Ingrid’s magic?

“When did you get here?”, Ingrid knocks me out of the malaise of my own racing thoughts. Apparently Sarah left at some point as well.

“I-I”, I try to stammer out as I rise to my feet, “Not long ago.” The taller girl eyes me for a moment before she speaks.

“Riiiiiight.”, Her voice is eerily calm as if she could see right through me.

“I’ve been looking for you before I headed to the clinic.”, I say as I collect myself once again. “I wanted to make sure you were alright.”, I quickly add.

“I’m fine.”, She rolls her eyes as annoyance enters her voice.

“I’m just trying to make sure you’re okay.”, I say meeting her annoyance with my own.

“I’ve told you before.”, Ingrid grumbles, “I only have some twitching from time to time. And that hasn’t even happened for a few days now.” I understand her annoyance but she needs to be more careful. She nearly died multiple times. Once from her own doing.

“I-”, I begin trying to formulate my thoughts.

“I am not some helpless pup or baby you need to watch every moment!”, She cuts me off letting out a torrent of anger she has apparently been holding in for some time.

“I know that!”, I yell back as a wave of my own fury begins to match hers. “I’m just concerned because you’ve nearly died! Twice!”, I add.

“But I didn’t!”, The other teen counters with her arms raised in exasperation, “I’m stronger for it too!”

“Are you though!?”, I inquire. “You’ve had multiple comas in less than a month! That doesn’t make a person stronger!”, I yell before she can try to argue about that.

A heavy silence weighs on the two of us. But before either of us can speak Ingrid huffs in rage and walks off. I want to follow her and try to clear things up but I decide to leave her be instead. That is when I remember that I need to head to the clinic for work.

-- -- --

“I understand.”, I hear the doctor say as I step into the clinic. “Ah, there she is!”, He says as I notice a security officer standing in front of the desk.

“Um.”, I soberly start.

“We’re having a meeting at the base.”, Doctor Conti says as he walks out from behind the desk.

“We were just waiting for you.”, The security officer says with a gentle voice as she heads towards the door. Why is it that every other officer but the chief can sound reassuring? He should really learn from his subordinates on how to make people feel alright. “Are you alright?”, The woman asks me stopping in her tracks and resting a hand on my shoulder.

“I-I’ll be fine.”, I manage to sputter. Instead of saying anything she simply nods and walks out.

“What happened?”, The silence between the doctor and I is broken by his question.

“I said I’ll be fine.”, I answer as I look up at the ceiling. Thankfully he does not inquire further and simply lets out a sigh. He probably already figured out what I am trying to keep to myself. He is like a father to me after all.

“We’d best be off then.”, He says with a reassuring smile.

-- -- --

Why am I here? I look around the meeting room. There is no way I should be in a meeting with the mayor, the city council, chief of security, the other higher ups in security, the doctor, and Sarah Garcia. I eye Sarah as she rather indifferently sits on a window sill, what was she doing here as well? Did this have to do with the raiders? A wave of anxiety and fear crashes into me.

“We’ve been trying to keep this under wraps for sometime now.”, Security chief begins. “But the raiders around here have been organizing for some time now.”, He continues as he stands up and walks over to a map of New Yuma and its surrounding area on the wall.

“Thanks to Miss Garcia here.”, The mayor adds as the woman gives a quick wave. “We know that they plan to attack us very soon.”

“How did she find this out?”, Doctor Conti inquires looking at the mayor.

“When she returned a few days ago she brought in an injured raider.”, Chief Benterro answers, “We questioned him and learned all of this.”

“I see.”, The doctor says as he looks at Benterro. I do not have the heart to ask what happened to the raider after his questioning. I also assume everyone else is either not bothered by it or not comfortable asking.

“We know they are coming from the northwest.”, Benterro says as he points at that area on the map. “Thanks to our walls we’ll be alright. If they didn’t have some kind of magical weapon that is.”, He continues.

“Do we know what kind of magical weapon?”, One of the council members asks.

“No, unfortunately.”, The security head that was at the clinic answers with a frown, “He succumbed to his injuries before we could get anymore info.” The doctor and I look at the table solemnly. It is always a melancholic thing when someone, even a raider, passes away.

“What we do know is that it’s going to be problematic.”, Sarah states as she stoically breaks the moment of silence. She stands up to her feet as she continues, “It’s probably some kind of siege weapon.”

“That does cause some problems.”, The mayor says with a hint of gloom. “We only have one way in and out of the town.”, He continues. The council members each let out a concerned gasp.

“We’ll have to have all the noncombatants here in the base.”, Benterro says trying to alleviate their fear. I do no think it truly helps. It most certainly does not help mine.

“If I may ask.”, Conti begins as he meets the chief’s gaze. “I understand why the council and the security heads are here.”, He continues looking at each of them. “And even Miss Garcia.”, He adds as he looks over at the beautiful tanned woman. “But why are Lawson and I here?”, He finally asks his question as his gaze lands on the mayor.

“You two are here because we will need the medical team with the defenders of the town.”, The mayor answers with a stern and controlled voice. My eyes go wide in terror.

How is possibly losing their only medical staff going to be of help? And why is it that I always have to be dragged into these things?

My mind reels with even more questions and fears.

“Kelly?”, The kind voice of the doctor knocks me back to reality. “The meeting is over.”, He says as he pushes away from the table and stands up.

“Ri-right.”, I manage to sputter before I look around the room collecting myself.

-- -- --

“I know it’s terrifying.”, The doctor says as we walk away from the base back to the clinic finally breaking the stillness that was between us. “But it’s what we’ve trained for after all.”, He continues.

“Is it?”, I ask as I turn my head to look at the tall man.

“We’ll just be doing what we always do. Taking care of the injured.”, He answers with a subtle shake in his voice. I am not sure if he is saying this more to help me or to prepare himself for the coming fight. I look forward again as we walk side by side in silence. Despite my doubts and fears, I still hope it is as simple as he puts it.