Earth Warriors (Undergoing Revision)

Chapter 156 - A Promise

1 hour later. 

The first round was a mere skirmish. But the second one is certain to be a siege like no other. 

In one of the corners of the entrances of the Foxhole, loads of scrap metal and other broken equipment form the stylized barricades that shield the entrances, all with enough holes and also some defenses for the occupant of each one once they reach their position for battle. Especially when it comes to a sunrise, a sign where the element of surprise will be the most expected in battles like this one, especially in non-clandestine zones of war. 

Most of the soldiers behind the barricades are ones who wear a handful of blue vests around their chests, with ponchos and a handful of hats for extra measure. A handful are men of various skin tones, from fair-skinned, tanned-skinned, and dark-skinned, as well as women who also have those shared skin tones with the men. Most are middle-aged, with scars, wrinkles, and other physical signs that prove their age and experience to others. Others are youngsters that lack most of them aside from a few who wear eyepatches or bandages around their eyes, arms, or feet in any shape or form. 

Between each barricade is a building, even if they're the most derelict ones that can exist among Humanity, with all the cracked walls and windows around it, whether they're former houses or even office buildings expected from a former testing town. Most of them are also filled with soldiers and patrollers of the Foxhole, most likely the ones who carry the element of surprise to hold the enemy back. Most keep their expressions blank yet also tight, their fingers on point with the triggers of the M14 rifles or even Thompson machine guns. 

It's either all or nothing. 

On one of the floors of the building near the entrance, two peculiar individuals stand tall and firm near one of the cracked windows as the sun's rays radiate through the cracks, shining through their clothes yet not reaching their faces. One is a peculiar dark-skinned male, with a white coat, his fingers on a belt holding a set of chrome-colored cubes, with some beeping sounds heard in one part too. The other is a fair-skinned female, standing above a medium-sized locker, wearing a blue dress and a blue staff on the right hand, her eyes gazing on the outskirts. 

"Maybe... Maybe we wouldn't screw this one that badly, right?" Tany says while glancing at Seiner, who also gazes at the horizon in his sights. After a few seconds of silence, Seiner only sighs. 

"We only do what we must, Tany. If it goes well, it does, if it's not, then it does. Remember what we've seen," Seiner replies, slightly shaking his head with Tany's frowning in response to it. 

"But even so, we should get a break by now. Our besties need it, and so do you," Tany says, her hands clenching her staff while glancing at an unmoving Seiner. 

"It may be a long while, that's the only thing I see guaranteed." 

A sigh from Tany follows next, and she glances away after that. Ever since they arrived on the outskirts of LA, it's been nothing but one misfortune piled after another misfortune in consecutive and continually painful ways. Having it culminate through Logan and Amira's disappearances was one way to create the tip of the iceberg. The revelations from both Eron and Amanda didn't help matters either in regards to how they can recover from what they witnessed. 

Perhaps some time alone away from battle may answer that question that plagues them, but it's not guaranteed either. 

"But hey, maybe after this, we can get the peeps and us for another lovely vacation, don't ya think?" Tany asks, even slightly smiling. 

"Where to, you mean?" Seiner asks, still not glancing at Tany's direction. 

"I mean, the beach, a mall, or even back to the sauna."