Intentions

.8

Intentions

The thunderous pounding of the front door echoed through the tiny home. Soon the sound of a baby crying could be heard adding to the symphony of noises disturbing the normally peaceful morning hours. Just beyond the door a detachment of riot soldiers awaited a response to their persistent knocking. Soon the sound of the lock on the door being disengaged and the battered wooden door slowly cracked open. A young woman holstering a baby boy in her arms finally answered the knocks.

“WHAT IS WRONG WITH YOU ALL!”

The mother shouted at the soldiers; some would be taken aback by her nerve to shout at them while others were unphased by her fiery nature.

“I HAVE CHILDREN STILL TRYING TO SLEEP I DON’T NEED YOU GUYS WAKING THEM UP! WHAT DO YOU GUYS WANT?”

“Move aside, the colony is now under New Aurora occupation, and the building needs to be searched, you and your children can wait outside while we conduct our search.”

The captain of the detachment commanded escorting the young woman out of the doorway allowing his men to enter the home. Coming out moments later with a young boy and girl half asleep, one clutching a blanket and the other a stuffed animal. Their mother rushed to snatch up her children from the soldiers, taking a good look at the scene unfolding around her neighborhood. One by one each house on the road was being raided by armed forces and residents thrown out of their own homes into the streets. Some of the residents that tried to defy the soldiers and fight back were swiftly beaten down. Thrown into one of the many patrol vehicles that lined the road.
Moments later soldiers would reemerge from the tiny home in the northside district of Coastal Garden.

“Nothing here sir, we are all green.”

“You searched the whole house top to bottom, correct? Nothing showed up on the thermal scanner neither?”

The detachment leader questioned his subordinate.

“Not a trace just some small rodents nothing significant.”

“MY HOUSE DON’T HAVE NO RATS!”

She interrupted the conversation between the two men. Who only looked at her for a moment before continuing with their conversation.

“Any tech?”

“No sir, all green.”

The soldier reported to his leader who only nodded and had his soldiers release the young woman and her children so that they could return to their home. The home the soldiers did an excellent job of trashing in search of Deathwatch or any contraband that could be found.

“The nerve I keep a clean house how dare you say I have rats.”

She continued to complain as she ushered her family back inside, slamming the door closed behind her. Despite the chaos going on around them the kids seemed oblivious to everything and only asked their mother if breakfast was ready. She let out a heavy sigh, flabbergasted by the oblivious nature of children.

“Give me a minute guys and I will get something whipped up for you ok. In the meantime, go down to poppa’s hideout and hangout with Uncle Lenny.”

The once tired and lost looks on the children’s faces quickly changed to that of excitement when they learned that they could go into their father’s hideout but also that their favorite Uncle awaited them down there.

“We can deactivate the thermal cloaks now they are gone.”

Seth pressed a button on a small device he had attached to his waist. Soon after the rest of the group followed suit as the bulkhead to the hidden basement opened and the young boy tumbled down the stairs in excitement, his sister a little more reserved close behind.

“Uncle Lenny!”

The two kids rushed Lorenzo barely giving him enough time to put his cigarette out and reciprocate the kid’s excitement to see them. Shima lightly chuckled at the scene unfolding, even the often-detached Keyon cracked a smile at the siblings. A smile that disappeared as quickly as it appeared. Shima, who was the sole witness to the phenomenon, only frowned watching his beautiful smile be replaced by his normal demeanor. A demeanor that her sensory abilities could easily see through. But for reasons of her own she chose to stay silent. After Lorenzo was done entertaining his nephew and niece, he called for everyone to gather around as he went over the next part of his plan with the team.

“We should be good to leave in a few moments. So, I feel that it’s a good time to explain things going forward. From here we will traverse through the northside’s rooftop gardens. The foliage will provide us with cover from the drones they are bound to have flying around. As well as keeping us out the sight of the search parties on the streets below.”

He went on to explain, despite the kids around them playing around with their father’s collectibles.

“Near the secondary entrance there is a spot we can use and hop the wall and end up on the outskirts of the colony. A few miles away tucked away in the jungles is a small little village there I have a vehicle we can use to make our way to Busaya. Once we are clear of the colony, we should be good to use our passports and go through the checkpoints without no issues.

“I’ve already started creating loops of the drones’ feeds from the area, so we won’t show up on the drone’s surveillance footage. At least not for a while it won’t be long before someone from the tech division discovers the seams in the loop.

Seth informed the group as he continued to punch away at his PCD with his fingertips.

“Even better, we shouldn’t let that window of opportunity escape us. If you folks have any rations this would be the time to indulge in them as it might be a while before we get another chance to rest up.”

Taking Lorenzo’s advice Keyon and the others went about going through their respective travel bag looking for something to supplement their reserves.

“Bruno, can I talk to you for a moment.”

Lorenzo called Bruno to the side as he wanted to have a private conversation with his towering giant of a friend.

“Your part in the operation ends here my friend, thank you for your assistance but I can take it from here. Plus, you have another job to complete before the chaos calms down.”

Bruno nodded his head, aware of what his role was. He passed a glance over the members of Deathwatch. Bruno again looked at his long-time friend having unwavering faith in his abilities.

“You just be careful with these guys ok, and I will take care of the rest.”

“Just don’t let Axel and the others get out of hand with the smash and grab. I could lose that connection within the Ox organization if things get too messy.”

He explained out of earshot of the others as the basement bulkhead swung open. The young Mother descended the staircase, looking for her children

.“Come on you bunch of junk yard dogs, breakfast is ready.”

The mother called out wrestling her young children back upstairs and away from the group of dangerous criminals.

“As for the rest of you, get the hell out of my house and please for the love of all things holy use the backdoor so the soldiers don’t see your stupid asses.”

“Mommy used a bad word.”

“Junior, don’t you get smart with me, or your father will find out about your little mishap in school the other day and I know you don’t want that now do you.”

The Mother’s threat sent vibrations through Lorenzo and the others so one could only imagine what Junior was feeling at this moment in time. With the children rushing upstairs and the group finishing their own meals of lesser quality, Lorenzo led the group of criminals out of the basement and toward the house’s backdoor. Thanking the woman for her hospitality before making his exit. Lorenzo was berated for bringing people like that to her home and endangering her family. She assured her husband was going to hear about this when he got back. Knowing full well it was probably her husband’s idea in the first place. Lorenzo continued to be chewed out by the woman all the way out the backdoor nearly hitting the mafioso with the door as she slammed it behind him.

“Well she is a fiery one huh, old friend or something Lorenzo?”

Roland questioned his guide as he watched him light another cigarette and taking a light puff to ignite the cherry.

“Nothing of the sorts, more like my stubborn sister-in-law. But enough about the unimportant things we still have a long road ahead of us and we can’t waste our time talking family ties.”

“I agree, the sooner we can get out of this deathtrap the better.”

Keyon interjected looking upward toward the rooftops and the next part of their escape from the colony. Not waiting for the others, Keyon wandered over toward the fire escape that connected the rooftops to ground level and started to make his way upward.

“Looks like we got ourselves an eager beaver. It is all business with this one.”

Lorenzo commented, Roland and Seth laughed at Lorenzo’s observation of Keyon.

“You get used to it after a while.”

Roland said putting his hand on Lorenzo’s shoulder and shaking his head.

“Come on tour guide lead the way I didn’t give up that passport for nothing now did I.”

Taking his hand from Lorenzo’s shoulder, the leader of deathwatch stuffed his hands in his pockets and made his way through the alleyway to the fire escape Keyon and Shima had already started to ascend. Seth walked stride for stride alongside Roland following his lead, leaving Lorenzo and Bruno behind. The two saying their parting words of encouragement as they went off to complete their respective assignments.

“See you in a month Bruno I hope to hear good things.”

He took a quick moment to watch his towering friend walk off leaving him behind to finish his part of the plan. Reaching the top of the roof Keyon laid eyes on the inside of the northsides beautiful rooftop gardens. A sight that could be seen from all around Coastal Garden and even beyond its outer wall. Diverse types of flowers and fruit trees littered the rooftops. The sweet scent of the plant life tickled the group’s noses one by one as they made landfall on the rooftop. Shima couldn’t help but indulge in her feminine spirit and marvel at and take in the beautiful arrangements of colors and aromas.

Taking the lead once again, Lorenzo ushered the group forward, leading them through the various shortcuts only a native of Coastal Garden would know about. Calmly, the group passed by gardeners unphased by the occupation let alone the presents of the group. Concerning themselves strictly with the care of the plants they provided for.

“doesn’t it remind you of the garden back home Keyon?”

Shima picked up her pace, walking along Keyon, folding her hands behind her back. The two of them were walking behind Lorenzo, but a few paces ahead of Roland and Seth who made up the rear of the group.

“I was thinking the same thing, but it just doesn’t have that same feel to it.”

Shima smiled a bit, fixating her gaze on him, not expecting the out of character response. Maybe the slight glimpse of a smile she witnessed earlier wasn’t a fluke. She wanted to believe that, but Keyon repeatedly had shown her that expressing any type of emotion was seen as a weakness to him. A fatal flaw in her eyes, a flaw she wanted to bring to his attention more than anything else.
Following Lorenzo over catwalks covered in vines that stretched across the rooftops connecting one to another. Keyon and Shima’s conversation ceased for a moment before Keyon finally broke the silence between the two.

“I promise we will return to the village once everything is all said and done.”

She turned away, as he looked in her direction, unable to look him in his burgundy eyes. Lorenzo smiled as he eavesdropped on the conversation enjoying the tail end of another cigarette. After some time, the group arrived at the last stretch of rooftops that paved the way to the wall surrounding the colony. Leading everyone through a thicket of plants, Lorenzo and company were greeted by one of Lorenzo’s soldiers who patiently awaited his boss’s arrival, ladder resting by his feet. Looking over the edge of the rooftop and over the outer wall of the colony. Lorenzo took a moment to absorb it all in before turning around to face the rest of the group.

“This is it folks the point of no return.”

He announced, taking the last drag of his cigarette and smiling at the group of misfits. All the while Lorenzo’s soldier lowered the ladder down the wall of the colony and held it steady for Lorenzo and the members of Deathwatch. climbing down the ladder and touching down in the jungles just outside of the colony. Out of the view of any New Aurora soldiers that may have been on patrol in the area. Once everyone was on the ground below the soldier slowly raised the ladder back up the wall and onto the rooftops concealing the groups escape route and preventing them from regaining access to the colony.

“That wasn’t so bad thanks to Seth’s tech and Lorenzo’s quick thinking to take shelter in his sister’s house.”

“Don’t remind me I won’t hear the end of that one.”

Lorenzo retorted to Shima’s comment before waving the group to follow him onward toward their next stop, a small village that he had developed connections with.

Hidden in the thick foliage of the jungle Salamance was at a loss for words as the prey he had been hunting for months on end had finally shown themselves before him. Salis and Gama grinned, their goal in sight. But they knew they had to play it smartly and keep their distance. Cautious of Shima and her abilities, it was important that the hunters always stayed outside of her search radius and waited for the perfect moment to catch the duo off guard and capture them.