Everyone cheers as they all fire their weapons into the air screaming in victory. Bodies on both sides of the battle were laid everywhere in pools of their own blood. They screamed into the air in victory. The sky filled with smoke as the several buildings and machinery caught on fire. Nakoma sits down with her back against the wall as all the rubble and debris surround her. She closed her eyes trying to catch her breath from the insane amount of running and adrenaline coursing in her veins. Chip was also exhausted as he collapses flat onto his back. The clinging sounds of brass can be heard as his body pushed the shells of the bullets away.

The man with the scar leans against the railing of the second floor they were on. He also bends down trying to catch his breath as well. He looks at Nakoma and gives a proud nod. She smiles weakly and thanks him. Rebecca walks past as she gives a remark towards them.

"Well, I'm surprise you actually kept your word. Even more surprised that you got nearly the entire camp to fight for us. What did you say to them that wanted them to fight?"

"I just told them the truth, exactly what they needed to hear. Being hopeful in a world like this is never bad though, don't you agree?"

"Hmm, yeah I suppose so... still doesn't change the way I feel about Jackson and his army. But all the same, thank you... Nakoma."

Nakoma's eyes widen with a surprised look and smiled. Rebecca just walked away as she rolled her eyes. The scar man looks at Rebecca quizzically as he walks towards Nakoma with a reached out hand.

" I should have told you about my name before all this started. I guess it slipped my mind. The name is Nate, it was an honor fighting beside you. I never thought to see the day that we would actually be free from this damn nightmare."

He looks down the balcony overlooking the lobby floor of the headquarters.

"You really are something you know that Nakoma."

"I did what I thought was right. All this torture and grim lifestyle, I couldn't just stand by and watch people die like that. It is hard knowing that I have to commit... things I'm not proud of doing... or watching."

"The price for freedom is never an easy road to walk down on. The fact you still are taking this path shows you are a genuine human being in a world full of hate and suffering. Who knows, maybe you will be the one to lead us in a new age of a utopia."

He smiles as he chuckles and taps her on the arm, teasing her. She blushes and folds her arms shying away.

"That's not funny, I don't think I can handle the task of managing the entirety of California. My goal coming to this place was to find out who I really am as a person and the world for what it really was. I don't know, maybe I bit off more than I could chew to be honest."

Nate scoffs playfully and puts a hand on her shoulder,

"You're a good kid, don't stop in what you believe in. I know you will make the right calls in the future, I'm sure of it."

Nakoma softly smiles and thanks him for his kind words of affirmation. Suddenly a loud commotion can be heard downstairs. They all looked down to see three survivors of the soldiers in Jacksons army. They pushed them forcing them to walk outside. Their hands raised above their head as people threw garbage and other unsanitary muck at them. Nakoma was worried what was happening and went outside to inspect the situation herself. They pushed the three soldiers outside forcing them to kneel on both knees facing the entrance of the building. Rebecca sat on the sandbags that was in front of the building as her legs were crossed over. She stared at them with a disgusted look.

"We found them in the basement hiding ma'am."

Said one soldier as he hands her his pistol. She stands up and walks towards the three as two of them looked at her with pure rage while one of them was petrified and nearly sobbing.

"Well... isn't this a predicament for you three. How does it feel to be the last ones left alive in a place like this?"

The two men stared at her as one of them spat on the ground in front of her. Rebecca did not react at all, but her loyalists did. With a quick strike, her guard hit the face of the solider with his weapon. The young soldier had tears finally bursting from his face as he watched them beat his comrade. Nakoma watched in shock seeing what was going to happen next. Her guards forced the man back up as he was very dazed from the beating.

"Have anything left to say? Words to get off your chest? Any regrets?"

The man tried his hardest to open his eyes but were swollen from the beating.

"Go... to hell... you fucking... cumrag..."

Rebecca squinted her eyes at the man in anger. She raises her pistol and places it directly against his forehead. With one quick and swift pull, he drops to the ground. Blood spraying all over the back of the ground around him. She goes to the second man and ask the same question as before. The man says nothing, all he did was stare back deep into her dark unsatisfied eyes. She raises the gun and places in against his forehead. He closes his eyes and waits for her to pull the trigger. With a quick pull he falls backwards as his legs slowly twitch around. The last soldier, a young teen, cries and sobs uncontrollably.

"Any last words kid?"

"Please don't...! I wasn't even a guard...! I just work in supply in this building, I'm new here...! I don't want to die!"

She was about to raise her gun until Nakoma finally stepped in and placed herself in front of Rebecca.

"What are you doing? Get out of the way..."

"No! This has gone far enough! He's just a kid, like he said, he's new and only work in supply. He did nothing to us."

"He works for Jackson and works in the harshest labor camp there is. He already done enough to landed himself here in this place. Now move or I'll just shoot through you!"

Nakoma refused and stood with her arms wide open blocking her from the teen boy. The armed guards slowly ready their weapons about to aim at her. While the other half also raised theirs and sided with Nakoma. Aiming their guns at her guards. Rebecca looked at her with an annoyed look while Nakoma stared back with a determined look. After an intense stare down while no one backing down on either side, Rebecca sighed and lowered her weapon to everyone's surprise.

"Whatever, I'm tired anyways. I rather save my bullet for when I really need it."

She holsters her weapon as the others lowered theirs as well. She walks away as her loyalists follow her. Some of the other workers followed her as well while the majority sat and rested. She exhaled in pure relief as she turns and kneels in front of the teen boy.

Stolen from Royal Road, this story should be reported if encountered on Amazon.

"Hey are you alri-"

"THANK YOU, OH GOD THANK YOU SO MUCH! I LOVE YOU! YOU SAVED ME! I OWE YOU MY LIFE! I'M SO GRATEFUL I...I... I-I..."

He lunged at Nakoma as he hugged her tightly. He couldn't keep his words together as he fell apart. He broke down in tears as he buried his face in her shirt, bawling his eyes out. Nakoma was startled but calmed down, feeling a maternal instinct as she brought him closer to hug him and embrace him. She gently head pats him as he continues to bawl his eyes, out not letting go of her.

Later on in the night, everyone from the entirety of the camp gathered in a very large building that was the cafeteria for the soldiers. They all sat on the benches and were laughing and having a good time with each other. They got meals for everyone that was in the supply depot. Feeding them real food instead of that mysterious pig slob they were eating. Some kids were eating and smiling brighter than ever before. Some were a little timid still in the same fear mindset mode as they were before. They were all laughing and messing around, ecstatic about finally being free. Nakoma looks around feeling a sense of pride seeing everyone smiling once again.

"How are you holding up?"

She turns to see Chip lean against the wall next to her as he places his hands in his hoodie.

"Honestly, I really don't know what to feel. These past few days have been an emotional ride for me. I say, good? Yeah, let's go with good for now."

Chip chuckles after hearing her say that.

"What's going to happen to all these people now?"

"Well the way I see it; they look like they will be going back to their families. Some of them might even join with Rebeccas group."

"And what about you?"

"Me? Well... I need to find my friends. They are out there somewhere, and I need to find them before it's too late."

Chip looks down and blushes as he kicks a rock from his feet.

"Listen, if it's not too much trouble... do you think I could... I don't know, join you on this crusade of yours?"

"You want to join with me? Finding my friends and toppling Jackson's reign?"

"Please, I really have nowhere else to go! After that battle I feel so pumped and could take on the entire world by your side!"

Chip became really enthusiastic as he gave the biggest puppy eyes to her in existence. Nakoma was a little thrown off by how eager he was, but she couldn't say no. The fact that he literally has nowhere to go since the passing of his parents, the "safer" option would be to take him in until things did settle down. With no other option she cautiously agrees. He jumps with joy as he's excited to fight alongside her. He quickly hops away as he cheers with pure enthusiasm. She smiles at his playfulness and looks at the crowd once more. She notices and doesn't see the young teen from before.

She walks around the whole cafeteria lounge, squeezing by the overjoyed workers and Rebeccas guards in their celebration. She steps outside and sees the teen boy laying down next the wall, slouched very far on his back. A burning fire pit that was surrounded made from the rocks of the rubble stood in front of him keeping him warm in the night. He had a plate of food, but it wasn't the same fully cooked meals the rest were having. It was the same slop that the workers were used to eating before their revolt. He scooped a piece of the slop and slowly tried to bring it too his mouth. A group of Rebeccas loyalists passed by as they bumped his plate from the ground.

"Oh shit, my bad you little turd. Here, allow me."

The man scooped up the plate from the ground, now covered in dirt and trash. He snorted for a long time and spat on the teen boy's food and handed it to him. The group laughed as they walked back into the cafeteria. The teen sighed and gently placed his plate next to him, losing his appetite. He stared at the burning fire pit as he shivered from the cold. She walks up to the teen slowly and cautiously. He looks to see who was standing over him, when he realizes it was the girl who had saved him, he stands up straight, rubbing his eyes quickly.

"Oh... hello there. What can I do for you?"

"Hello, I just wanted to check to see how you were doing."

"I'm doing fine, I appreciate your concern for me. It's unnecessary though."

She sits down next to him relaxing by the fire as well.

"Oh it's no trouble at all. You look like you can use the company out here. Why are you out here though? I'm pretty upset that those guys treated you like that."

"It's okay, I don't mind. After all, I was their enemy just a day ago. I can see their anger towards me pretty easily. It's only natural for that type of reaction."

Nakoma looks at him with a worry expression. She tries to say something but was caught off by his response again.

"I am very thankful for you saving me. You stood up for me when I pleaded for my life when no one else would. I honestly thought I was going to be a dead man for sure. But you came in and saved me. I owe you my life, thank you...from the bottom of my heart."

He looked at her and gave her the biggest smile as he had tears streaming down his face. Nakoma's eyes began to water. He had the most innocent and sweetest face ever. She looked at him once more as he turned away in embarrassment as he wiped his face with his sleeve.

"Sorry if I just got all sappy... I was never really good at hiding my emotions. I just get really overwhelmed sometimes."

She softly chuckles as he chuckles as well.

"How did you even become a soldier in the first place? It doesn't look like you even wanted to be here in the first place."

"Hehe, that's because I didn't. I was selected for draft. Out of everyone in my apartment complex, I was chosen to be signed up for the armed forces. If I didn't sign up, then I would be branded as a terrorist and rebel and be thrown in jail. I had no other option, I actually just arrived here two days ago for the supply depot. I handed out food cans, rations and weapons. I assumed this was just a regular labor camp. I honestly didn't know about the beatings and... other things."

He huddled to himself as he was ashamed to be in this uniform. She scoots closer to comfort him but begins to turn red.

"Don't worry, you didn't know. I know it wasn't your fault, but it takes time. These people have been through a lot, but if you show your support and prove to them you're not like the others, I'm positive they would have a change of heart soon."

The teen looks over at her with teary eyes and a big smile on his face. He nods, thanking her again for the kind words once more.

"Hold on just a second, I'll be right back really quickly."

"Oh umm... alright then."

Nakoma giggles as she quickly jumped up to her feet and quickly went into the cafeteria lounge. He waited patiently as he poked the fire pit with a small metal rod from an unknow piece of equipment. After a brief moment of silence and the crackling of the firepit, Nakoma returns with something as she is hiding behind her back.

"Here, try this. It may taste funky, but it's really delicious."

She hands him a small square plastic sealed bag. It had the large words of M.R.E written in big bold letters on the bag. He looked at it with a confused looked.

"What is this thing?"

"It's food, here I'll show you how to cook it. You just open the bag place this smaller bag inside here. Add the water to the pouch let it heat up, and presto! You got some quick homemade food."

He opens the small little pouch and inside it was chicken alfredo with fettucine pasta. He gasps as the smell of the food hit his nose with an intense pleasure. He quickly got the spork that was inside the bag and quickly scarfed the food down his gullet. He looks up into the stary night sky with tears in his eyes once more.

"So goooood!"

He continues to cry as he eats the food, satisfying his hungry tastebuds. Nakoma giggles as she rests her back against the wall looking at the stary night sky as well. The teen boy finishes his meal and praises her again thanking her for the meal he just had. She accepts his thank you and gives him a big smile. Some time has past and they talked of several things about their lives, on how Nakoma came from the far North or how the teen boy was challenged to swim in a trash dirty stream once in a canal. They both laugh and soon the boy's face became serious but very shy.

"Miss Nakoma, may I ask you something?"

"Hm? Of course, what do you want to know?"

"Well you see... well... I... please let me tag alongside with you!"

He turns quickly towards her as he bowed his head hitting the ground hard with his forehead. Nakoma was startled on his reaction like that.

"Please! I can't go back to being a soldier after today, not after the kindness and generosity you have shown me! You have saved me from a brutal fate, I need to repay you! No! I must repay you! Allow me to be by your side! I will fight for you with my life! I will be your guardian for as long as I live! So please, I beg of you!"

He clenches his fist as dirt piles up in his hands. Nakoma now has another person begging to join her and swore to protect her. She wants to deny him so he can live a peaceful life, but his tears in his eyes says he won't be happy until his debt of his life is paid for her. She looks worried but soon smiles softly and lifts his head up wiping his tears away and agrees. His eyes, shining with happiness and hope, smiles big once more.

"Thank you! I promise I won't let you down! I swear on my name, Ellis Hugo, will uphold my life to you! I swear it!"