Chapter 2 of Taco Stand Love Story

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Chapter 2 
The crowd stood in silence as the video finished. Tamp bite his lip as he walked back to the podium to speak. 

"This video came in about half an hour ago. I know many of us had friends and family in the Fourth Legion. This is a terrible day for the Imperial Republic. Our military has been halved in the war. I hope this only strengthens your resolve graduates as you go forth to defend and avenge those whom we lost. If you'll all excuse me, I have some important business I must attend to." 

Tamp walked briskly off stage and out of the room accompanied by two Imperial Guards. His light demeanor changed and now focused on the tasks that lay before him. Balin turned towards his mother, watching silently as slowly tears welled up in her eyes as well as his sister's. He stepped closer pulling both close to him and hugging the remains of his family. Balin's thoughts centered on his father, a man, despite being there for a large portion and the reason he was a Sentinel, Balin knew little about personally. His life to was to know him the best way he could, which Balin believed would be a career in the Legions. Shifting back to the last visit with his father, the two of them went out privately to get some food and drinks and discuss school, military, and life. At the restaurant, both of them ordered their traditional dinner, a meat stew for his father and fried brushbird for Balin. His father told Balin that this tour in Tor would be his last. The complexities of the caste system prevented him from moving his family from merchants to warrior caste. However, once Balin graduated it would be certain to change all their castes. Balin's father gave some advice to Balin before the end of the meal. He informed Balin that people in the Legions care more about their personal glory and less about fate of the Imperial Republic. Those people he said also forgot it was for the glory of Deskota they are fighting for. When the father was pressed for some more explanation, he became very silent. 

Balin came back to the present. The room was in hysteria; people sobbing on the floor, others yelling and thrashing about, and still more trying to get out to find out if loved ones would be among the died. Holding his mother and sister close, Balin took a deep breathe. The shock was just barely begin to wear off from the news. He still had little idea what would happen now. With the Fourth Legion gone, Torra would be quickly swept over by the Host. He frowned at thought. He held his mother and sister closer, he worried for them. His family just owned a small business inside the third ring of Imperial city. They sold groceries and other small items locally in the community. Business generally tended to stay steady and the family made money. Having enlisted in the military, Balin's tuition came at a reduced cost due to his father's position in the Legion's and his family's lower caste status. He worried that this war would cause them untold grief, having already lost their father; now with him going into an even more threatening positions, they stood to lose even more. Balin's eyes started to water up as he stood thinking of what terrible news lay in front of his family now. 

"Balin, I don't want you to take this news that there is no hope. As long as you keep enduring to the end of all things, you will discover that there is always hope to be found." 

"Thanks mom." He bent down and gently kissed the top of her head, "you and Rital better get going home. The mag train has a lot of stops before the third ring. You give me a call when you get home?"

"We will Bal. What you going to do? Stay at the party some more?"

"I will probably find Vai and talk to him. We all have to report for duty early for our assignments. I was hoping for the Fourth Legion so I could possibly see dad, but," Balin trailed off as his eyes zoned out on the screen with the image frozen on the words end transmission. 

His sister stepped closer and squeezed him hard. "Please be safe in all that you do. I love you my kiz'julo." 

With that his mother and sister turned and walked through the crowd towards the door. Balin watched silently as they passed through the exit, hoping that they will be ok in the coming days after the news. It had been almost ten minutes since the announcement had been made regarding the video. Balin hurried out of the ceremony room to find a news terminal to see the what they said about it. Within several minutes he located one in a break room full of other graduates and their families. Recognizing no one, he stood back to the wall as the new report began to air. 

The news anchor, an attractive woman with red hair and shard emerald green eyes, introduced the piece as the latest news from the front. She cautioned that the video while not graphic is still a difficult image to see, anyone who may not want to see it should look away or change the channel. The bar on the lower half of the screen said breaking news as the video report aired. Balin and the rest in the room remained completely enthralled with the video and the images. The video was a taste for Balin of the mess he was about to wade into. The news stopped on the burning image of Tor and showed another image of the city before the attack. The anchor continued to speak about the horrors, before calling in a military advisor to discuss the ramifications of the loss of the city. Balin left the room at this point. He already knew the ramifications of the loss of the city and the Fourth Legion. 

The night air was warm as some rain silently fell all around him. The armor, while for this purpose was ceremonial, was fully operational and had a micro weave fiber in it to help absorb heat and regulate temperatures for the wearer. Taking a stroll into the garden's of the academy, he stopped in front of a large lushberry tree. During his years at the academy, this tree had been his friend and a place of solace. Balin knew this would be the last time he would get to see this spot. Lying on the grass, he moaned of the future to come for him and the rest of his fellow graduates. Wishing things could be simple again, he thought back to his youth before the whole war started. His sister was just born and his father's place in the Legion seemed safe and comfortable. Playing ball with his friends in the backyard of the apartment building where the family lived, Balin was safe and happy. Balin was naive and carefree about the concerns of the outside world. His life centered around school, family and his games. When the war started, it seemed foreign and remote to the his world. He did remember his parents watching the television for days after the initial message and attack on Forge. Being young, the news mattered little to him; now, he was a constant consumer. 

After spending considerable staring at the branches and leaves of the lushberry tree, Balin stood and went back to the dorm room. Vai was still out with Nami and most likely wouldn't be home until much later that evening. Tired of the all the activities and the recent news, Balin quietly took off the armor. For normal Legionnaires, armor went back to the armory. Seninel armor was specially fitted to each soldier and because of that, they were allowed to keep them within their rooms. Placing it on the stand designed for it, Balin made sure each piece was there. After finishing the long arduous process of the armor, he quickly threw on his sleeping clothes, just a simple shirt and some shorts. He brushed his teeth and slipped under the covers of the bed, checking the alarm for the correct time and finally turning on some music to sleep to. He stared at the ceiling wondering what his assignment could possibly be. It left two Legions to be placed into, though possibly he had heard of some placed in more special units and assignments. His breathing slowed as the outside world faded and dreams began to take over. Within minutes, Balin was asleep.

Upon waking up, he dressed as Vai was facedown on the ground next to his bed. Laughing silently to himself, he kicked Vai, whom still was fully armored, in the side to wake him. Groaning from the impact, Vai sat up and blinked several times at Balin. 

"Time to get up for our assignments?"

"Yeah. You should clean your armor a bit. You've got vomit all over the front it."

Vai peered down the front of his armor. After examining the light yellowish stain with small chunks of food remained glued onto the chest plate, Vai said, "You're right. I doubt the Praetor will like it will I come hungover and vomit covered. What did I eat yesterday?" 

"You're guess is as good as mine. Better hurry, got ten minutes to before we need to catch the mag." 

Vai slowly dragged himself up and trudged quietly to the washroom to try to clean the onyx armor. Balin combed his hair and then quickly ruffled it to achieve his out of bed look he so desired. He quickly check his mail on his infotab. Picking up the small book sized tablet, he quickly entered his password. Balin looked disappointed, he had hoped for some sort of news on his father but received no new messages regarding his fate. Vai came back from the washroom with his armor's breastplate shining from being clean. Vai sat next to Balin, wrapped his arm around his friend's shoulder, "Your father was a great Legionnaire. I'm sure he is ok and they aren't sending data to so the bastards can't find their positions. Come on, we need to get going." Balin peered into his Vai's eyes, only to quickly look away. He stood, setting the tablet back on the table. After the assignments were issued to the Sentinels, they were given 3 hours to report to their commanding officer or to the local military base, Fort Scutum for transportation. He didn't have possess many belongings, so the three hours with one being for packing, would be sufficient for Balin.
The morning was bright as the remains of several thunderclouds clung desperately to the sky in an attempt to survive the day. Balin and Vai marched to the train where they were given sets in the front, due to their unique positions as Sentinels. Over the ride, Balin stared out at the mag's windows at the  cityscape passing by. Vai talked about his what he did after the announcement and the party. Balin, nodded to acknowledge Vai's story. His thoughts were focused elsewhere, mostly on the possible fate of his father. Vai continued his story, unaware of Balin's internal thought. He told Balin how that night, Nami and him found some Legionnaires to party. The mag slowed as it reached the stop, the Tower of the Legions. The reflective glass of the concrete and marbled tower shone brightly in the morning sun. The three supporting pillars dwarfed many of the adjacent buildings. The white grantie of the steps leading up to the gates of the building were flanked with Imperial Crusaders, special branch of the Legions for ceremony and defense of key areas. Balin and Vai, awestruck and dumbfound, proceeded up the long flight of steps. 

Upon reaching the gates, the two greeted the Crusaders guarding the gate. Their eyes darted to each other then back at the men before them before opening the gates to the interior of the building. The white floor reflected the sun and lit the room up with a fountain as a fountain in the middle glistened. As the friends continued farther, two more Crusaders stopped them.
"Identification and purpose sirs." 
Both pulled out their military ids and their papers to hand to the guards. After a quick inspection, which consisted of staring at the ids and the two Sentinels and a thorough reading of the papers, the guards shoved the items back.
"Up the elevator, to the 15th floor. Second door on the left. Praetor Morno is expecting both of you." 
The guards continued past. Balin found the nearest elevator and lead Vai there. It ascended the building silently with its occupants silent in nervous contemplation. The ride took no more than a minute to reach the final floor and opened to revel a long carpetted hallway. As they took one step out of the elevator, another guard greeted them and requested their paperwork. He took his time before pointing to a bench out and motioning Vai to seat and for Balin to proceed into room. He stepped into Praetor's office and was amazed at the impressive sight.The large pillared room stretched back and in the middle sat the hardteak wood desk with the Praetor behind it.Books, awards, commendations, and several antique weapons were positioned all throughout the room. The wall had an ancient weathered map of the Imperial Republic of Deskota from the first years of the Unification Wars. Balin went to the front of the desk next to the chair positioned directly in front of the desk where the old woman glared at Balin. She had grey hair down to her shoulders with her ceremonial battle armor on as well a scowl.
"Sit Lieutenant. I'm here to give you first assignment. I have been reviewing your record for the morning. Tell Lt. Balin, where do you expect you will be stationed at?"
"Maim, I have no idea where I will be needed or stationed. Where ever the Imperial Republic needs me the most." 
"Good. I'm glad you think that way. You're being sent to Tyro in Shain to lead the garrison there.You will be reporting to me, as I am the Praetor of the Imperial Legion of Deskota's Second Commend. In such case, you are now a Lieutenant, first grade. Congratulations on your promotion, not many get one their first day."
She slid over a tablet with his orders on it and directions. 
"Here are the orders lieutenant. Head to Thyro and meet with Sergeant Am'had. You and him are both to lead the garrison of approximately 500. Typically, we would have someone of higher rank do this but constrains of the war have made that not a luxury we are able to afford. Serve with distinction lieutenant, dismissed."
Balin stood, saluted the Praetor, and walked out the door back into the hall.