TBntG-3 Chpt 31

=The Bull and the Genie=
==Chapter 31 - Book III - The Clan Invasion==
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==Interlude: Night==
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Kenji had gone to school, that day, like every other day. There had been rumors that the Clans had been driven back, that Theodore Kurita (who had built their new schools), had killed their leaders. 
 
But when they were brought to school, all the teachers were standing out in front of a pit. There were men around, with guns. They were herded from the busses to stand in front of the pit. 
 
"You have failed the Dragon!" a man screamed out. "The Coordinator was betrayed by his advisors, but we will return to the true path of the Dragon. You are undesirables, unworthy of the blood the Dragon has wasted on you! But how worse are those who have contributed to the failure! Who have filled your dreams with foolishness! Now, watch as the Dragon punishes them!"
 
And then they were brought forward to watch as the teachers were lead to the edge of the pit, and then shot. 
 
Lady Chan, who had complimented Kenji on his penmenship, spat at the man, and shook off the hands that were dragging her to the pit. "Shoot!" she commanded them. "I suppose an old woman is the best you cowards can do!" there was a shot, and she tumbled down into the pit, missing part of her head.
 
This is a nightmare. I have to be home, asleep. At the end of the week he'd been promised a trip to the city for his Birthday. 
 
Their coach, the man who commanded them to be tough like the Dragon was dragged to the edge, still pleading and telling the men he was loyal. 
 
And soon enough, all the teachers were down there, and then the students were marched and told to spit on them.
 
Kenji almost didn't, but then one of the upper grades refused and there was a shot, and his body toppled into the pit. 
 
Kenji spat. 
 
Then they were taken away, and all their books were taken. Some of the girls were led off to another car, and Kenji never saw them again. He just saw Ryoko's face, the cutest girl in the class looking terrified as they were driven off. Not all the girls. The rest stayed with the class. 
 
They were driven to a place far away from the village… and nobody asked why there were pillars of smoke rising from the valley. There were buildings there, and barbed wire, and other students from other villages, and they were driven in, kicked, and shouted at. The books were ripped from those who still had them, and thrown into a fire.
 
The next day, they were put to work, digging trenches. Every day they would go out and dig trenches. Michael asked when they would eat. 
 
When the soldiers finished beating him, the officer decided he couldn't work and so shot him.
 
"You are undersireables! You must earn the Mercy of the Dragon!" they shouted. "Respond!"
 
"Yes!" they all screamed in their ranks. 
 
That night, they got a rice ball and cup of water. Kenji ate it and licked his fingers.
 
The days merged together. Sometimes people came. Sometimes people were shot. Miko hit an officer and so they were lined up, each one given a club and beat him to death. Nobody refused. They were told to scream that he was unworthy of life, with every blow. 
 
Kenji almost didn't, but then looked at the officer, his hand on his sidearm. 
 
He screamed louder than anyone. 
 
They had sessions where they confessed all the terrible things they'd done against the dragon, and told someone all the things their parents had done. June, her once shiny hair, bedraggled, confessed that her parents were secret Christians, and they had led ceremonies where others came. 
 
She got two rice balls that night. 
 
Kenji envied her as his stomach growled. 
 
One rice ball in the morning, one at night. If you couldn't work, the doctor would come and decide whether or not you lived. Some people started out giving a little rice to their friends, but there wasn't enough, not even for them. So they stopped.
 
Kenji beat his best friend, tearing a little rice from his hands as he hammered him. He hated himself, but the rice tasted so good. 
 
There were rumors that the Combine was winning victory after victory and every day they led a three cheers for the brave Black Dragons who were driving the enemy back. But… Kenji didn't say it to anyone, because that was too dangerous, but he remembered from classes a year and a lifetime ago…
 
Each victory was closer to Luthien. 
 
And then, one day they were all informed that the glorious battle for the Combine was about to start, the one that would end in final victory—and the skies over Luthien blazed with fusion weapons and lasers, while towards the horizon, where they'd spent so much time digging trenches around the base, spears of light stabbed down. 
 
And then trucks arrived, with officers, and a table was set up, and on it were boxes. Not just rice, but rice and milk and cake and Kenji couldn't even remember the last time he'd eaten like that… 
 
"To those who will serve the Dragon!" The officer shouted, all shining uniform and samurai blade, "the Dragon gives much! Who will join us in our final glorious victory that shall see the Combine take it's place!" 
 
Kenji didn't care. None of them cared. They charged forward, pushing the weaker back, because the food was there. 
 
But there was enough for all, and they ate, and then officers were walking up The bigger kids got autorifles and helmets, the smaller ones got… packs that would let them destroy a mech, all they had to do was charge it and pull the pin. 
Wait but that… But Kenji was too busy eating to think of it. 
 
"For those who return victorious, forgiveness!" the officer shouted. "For the Dragon!" they all cheered, little bits of rice spraying out. 
 
And then Kenji and five others were brought forward. "For you, the Dragon has a special gift." The man said. He said things, things Kenji didn't understand, but they were carrying a Decaton Grenade. "For you must carry the spirit of the Dragon, and you will be remembered—and should you return in victory, you will be made Samurai!"
 
Visions of food dancing in his mind, Kenji cheered with the rest.
 
And then, they were driven away in trucks, but now the soldiers didn't scream at them; they led them in patriotic songs to praise the Dragon. A few days passed, but now they were hiding behind trees, the students with the rifles (that they had received an hours training on), told that they would protect those with bundles—and those with bundles would help Kenji and his fellows get to the largest mechs. 
 
They had no armor, and the officer had left, although there were men with machine guns in case their faith in the dragon failed. 
 
There were more explosions. But none here. Maybe they hadn't been noticed? Kenji didn't know. But then, coming over the plain in front of the hills where they were concealed were mighty titans, not a few. Dozens. Hundreds. Tanks and APCs rumbled with them. 
 
Where are our mechs? Kenji looked around. 
 
"Look!" Kyoko, said. "What are those?" 
 
Kenji stared and in front and around the Battlemechs were forms only a little bigger than humans, moving fast, and now he could see symbols on the mechs. A bull, a mailed fist, and a stylized galaxy. Kenji had liked astronomy, once. 
 
And then he realized. It had been just over a year since he'd gone to school. He giggled. Today was his birthday! 
 
And then there was a whistle. Everyone screamed, because it was dangerous not to seem enthusiastic, and there were the men with guns, and then Kenji and his fellows, all the boys and girls who had gone to school with him and the other villages, charged down the slope to repel their enemies.
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Book 3 - 31