[West City, Val Verde]

[Cafe Bleu]

[June 21, 2023]

[7:21 PM]

Bella smiled as she placed the simple mug onto the plate. “Obe!” she called out to the dining room.

An Omnic stood. She could never tell their genders apart. Wait… did they even have genders?

“Thank you,” the Omnic said and smiled, its mouth lighting up.

“You are welcome my dear,” Bella said as tried she to mask her slight disdain. It wasn’t because the customer was Omnic, but because the Omnic was wearing military fatigues. The pins showed it was an active serviceman.

For whatever reason, this Omnic decided to enter Second Service. The optional service to gain First Class citizenship.

While Bella was all for the immigrants to adhere to Val Verde’s culture, which was a good thing. What she did not see, was the purpose of being a First-Class citizen. She was a Second-Class citizen, and got along just fine!

She completed her degree in business. Opened her shop. Paid off her debts, and now made decent cash from the work she had put in. She did not need some fancy city councilman to oversee her life, no siree.

The only thing she was lacking was the right to hold public office, and the right to vote on federal issues. Not that there weren’t public polls for citizen opinions.

It was a lot of work for what seemed to be more useless prestige than anything else. It took a moment to register that her customer had yet to grab the coffee. It had not even moved since it reached the counter.

“Is it because I am Omnic?” the military man asked. It was using a neutral tone.

“No dear,” Bella said as she looked in the eyes. “Just wondering if I should have done more than the required First Service. Time versus Benefits, you see.”

“Ah!” its face lit up. “A divisive question! I too pondered on it, but I desire to represent all Omnics that got allowed in. I wish to showcase our goodwill and adherence to the belief of the Great Good. I also wish to prove how my people transition into service and present our combined future.”

Bella smiled. It was a good head on this robot's shoulders. She was not some colonial elite. Those fancy families were generally bragging rights. No natives existed on Val Verde before the first port town was established.

“Well then, I wish you good service!” Bella said with real cheer. While she didn’t see the need for her own Second Service, she would be damned if anyone spat on service in her store.

She was proud of the time served. First Service was mandatory. The Second Service… had cost her several classmates. The dark times' post-Zemo required many to trade lives for dollars to keep the country going.

She glanced at the plaque on the wall. It held only one name. Henry O’Mally, her son.

“While I am happy to serve, I understand many dislike Second Service. I would recommend therapy for when the government stabilizes the service. We currently have few specialists for the country as a whole. Many suffer from bad times and bad memories.”

Bella frowned. She knew she was biased against the government. She knew. She just didn’t know how else to deal with it. Maybe she should go to a shrink?

There was a therapy service being offered to all. Which was good. Getting an appointment on the other hand... was a nightmare from what she heard. They were training therapists, but just not fast enough.

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[Vreeeeeeeee!]

Bella froze. As did everyone else.

“A raid? Against us?” the Omnic said as it pulled out a smartphone. It quickly read the messages. It then raised its voice.

“Attention everyone. This is not a drill. Please head to a safety shelter. We have incoming invaders and the Navy has already engaged. This is not a drill. We are being invaded by foreign Omnics.”

Bella stared at the man. Or woman. She still couldn’t tell.

Obe downed the coffee in one go. Waste not, want not. The organic fuel system didn’t care about temperatures.

“Misses Bella O’Mally. Please head to the nearest shelter. We have a serious problem now,” Obe ordered as the very ground began to rumble.

Bella’s eyes widened as she realized what it was. The Sea Wall! If they were deploying it… her heart raced as she left with the other patrons.

Military vehicles were already zipping about, and blockades were already happening.

Bella could hear if she listened.

[boom]

The distant roar of cannons. A sound that peaked above the literal rumble of the massive shield rising in the distance.

Cafe Bleu was her son’s misspelled name. A son she lost during the reign of traitor Zemo.

Henry’s death was so senseless. So tragic. So painful. Now Val Verde was under attack again.

“Misses Bella O’Mally, please follow us as we guide everyone,” Obe said. He used slow, and soft movements to touch her shoulder. To turn her to move with the crowd.

The other three Omnics and two human servicemen were creating a flow of traffic. The streets were full of moving people.

“Why?” Bella whispered.

“I do not know the mind of these invaders. I do know my mind, however,” Obe said and Bella turned to stare at him.

“I… what?”

“I will defend my home. Our home. Third service if need be,” Obe stated with a soft tone.

Bella nodded. Right. That was what Henry believed in as well, right? The sovereignty of Val Verde.

For the first time in years, she thought of the Supreme Leader. The current Supreme Leader. An oaf. A fool. A waste of human resources.

So many disliked him. He provided for the people. Food, shelter, energy. Yet he focused so heavily on the military. Whispers spoke and pointed to yet another Hydra sympathizer.

She prayed to him now. May her family be safe. May her husband be safe. My her surviving girl, currently working downtown, be safe.

She shuffled along with the others. Obe ensured that no one was left behind. Someone threw a coffee can at him. It hit with a ding and she looked up angrily, but there was no one standing still long enough to be the culprit.

“It matters not. Omnic invaders mean that I am also a potential problem. Omnic discrimination is easy,” Obe said with a smile. “I believe the joke is, damned Omnics, they ruined the Omnic image!” Obe even shook its fist.

The two humans were furious however as they tried to identify who threw the can.

Bella glared with the others. Obe had been nothing but supportive in all of this.

[Boooom!]

An explosion rocked the building somewhere behind them. A plume of smoke rose into the air. As did the hysteria.

“Safety shelter is 458 meters up the street. The subway station had medics and guards waiting!” Obe screeched out from his loudspeaker function. A great tool that made any sergeants instantly jealous.

Some people were glaring now. But the humans at his side placed a hand on their service weapons. SMGs. A warning to those who might have been too impulsive.

While it was a citizen's right to carry arms, they generally had handguns only. Anything heavier meant active servicemen.

[Vroooom!] [Vroooom!]

Two things flew overhead. Machinegun fire rattled off as they engaged in a dog fight. One is a simple chrome-steel and the other is painted green. Val Verde green.

People started screaming.

“Safety shelter is 458 meters up the street!” Obe yelled out once more.

“Seargent, orders incoming,” another Onmnic said as orders were now trickling in.

Obe nodded. The team turned around and began to march away from them. Towards the Sea Wall. Towards the explosions and the battlefield.

Bella shivered as she moved with the crowd. The safety shelter was what dominated her mind.

It was with relief that she got ushered in. Soldiers guarded the entrance. Military vehicles blockaded the major streets leading up to it.

The blue skies were quickly dominated by cracks of booms of weapons.

Once she stepped in, she found the silence oppressive.

"Please, take these and find a place to rest," an Omnic serviceman said. The soldier stepped up with towels and water in hand.

Bella clutched at her new possessions and found a place to settle down. She prayed that her friends and family were safe.

—

[Cafe Bleu]

[June 21, 2024]

Bella smiled as she buffed the remembrance plaque.

Oh, how she was terrified that day. She never saw Obe or any of that team again. At least not in person.

The Hero’s List after the battle showed his name. Along with the rest of his team.

She had carved his name below Henry’s. Beside the plaque was a photo of Rough Rider’s Fireteam 6. Obe’s team.

The shrinks that checked up on her within that year helped. They were heroes. Not just sacrifices.

Val Verde was not weak. Like the Supreme Leader said that day.

Bella smiled as her daughter, Lena, walked in with her grandchild in her arms. The darling baby gurgled at the sight of grandma!

Henry looked up with his brown eyes and smiled. Chubby cheeks jiggled as he laughed. A sound that brought a smile to the seven servicemen in the room.

Cafe Bleu had become something of a servicemen's joint. Not that Bella had any complaints. If another raid did happen, she pitied the poor fools who riles up these proud soldiers.

Bella smiled back. Lena had given birth safely, and her husband, a military man, had been on cloud 9 ever since.

Bella hoped that young Henry would one day sign up for Second Service. Val Verde was strong and would remain strong.

Obe didn’t die for her. Not precisely.

Obe, just like her Henry, had died for young Henry. To give him a future where he could grow up in peace.

When Henry grew up and served, he would be ensuring a future for his child. A cycle that she now hoped would continue forever. Peace and stability required sacrifice.

This she now understood.

————

Chapter 63 - The Western Front