Reboot
Chapter 21

Rourke was standing in front of his people. He stood on an overturned bucket. The mood was somber. It was raining and that’s how he wanted it. Sad and wet. He looked at them all for a few seconds without saying anything. Let them soak a bit. He wanted them to remember this day with appalling sadness. As he looked over each one of them one by one, he was reminded of a prisoner of war camp scene from a WWII movie.

“It’s going to be impossible to forget what happened here three days ago. So let’s not even try. Instead let’s remember that these were good people.” Rourke was quiet for a bit after that and many people nodded. “These were people who were desperate and hurt. They had no choice. We would have done the same thing in their place. Let’s not try to forget them, instead I think we should erect a memorial for them and for all those poor bastards, our friends and neighbors, Americans, lost out there.”

The crowd shouted approval.

“Brigit here will take care of it. So expect her to come around and discuss it with some of you. I want your ideas. Just please… There was nothing we could do. I’d like us to take a minute now if you don’t mind. Just give em a think for sixty seconds; give them your respect.” He bowed his head, and everyone in the group followed suit.

But thirty seconds into it, a man ran up on the dais and whispered in Rourke’s ear. Everyone looked up at the two of them and waited anxiously.

“EVERYONE AT YOUR POSTS. DEFENSES UP. NOW!” Rourke yelled and ran down. Everyone immediately dispersed as practiced. There hadn’t been time to ring the bell.