WELCOME TO RAYVEN'S REIGN.

[♖ Helvetios]

Listen up troops, this is key information for this immediate put to duty. We're sorry to get you out of your vacations, but trust me on this one, we need as much as we can.

Sergeant Joseph LaFonte, you're in charge of your section for this operation. No ifs ands or buts, and don't worry. I'll pay for your vacation you took in the Bahamas. But enough sweet talk and down to business. Here's what we've got so far.

Intel has shown that there are terrorists hiding in London, England, but we don't know where. They are said to strike any minute. Britain has dispatched it's counter terrorist force across the UK, but they need help. They've called us Canadians. The CSOR and JTF2 where all called in.

It's been said they're striking in Liverpool, London, Leeds, Peterborough, even Edinburg, Scotland and a small village, on a Scottish Island, Scalloway. Sergeant Joseph LaFonte, you and your squad are to go in and get-......

Dave listened to the whole briefing up to it the point it had been cut off. Looking down, he watched the disaster unfold upon many of Great Britain's monumental structures. Yet, listening to his old friends' every word. Sergeant LaFonte, to whome he had served once before with in Afghanistan.

"We're under.... attack! contact! .... need back up! Who are these guys?" The radio buzzed with heavy static with the voice of a British accent just barely coming through.

"Alright! We're almost at the drop zone!" The pilot shouted.

"Okay, troops! Listen up! We've got to get evacuate every civilian as possible. Even if it means getting out hands dirty! Do you understand?" LaFonte asked.

"Yes, Sergeant!" The troops replied. Their mini briefing was cut short, though.

"Oh, Private Johnson. Good to see you again. Sorry you got dragged into this, I can't imagine how you must feel leaving her behind in L.A, but the Army said you're a fine soldier for this mission." LaFonte said to David.

"Thanks, Sergeant... " David said, holding a picture of his sweetheart, Derrin in his hands, he leaned forward, kissing the lips of Derrin on the photo before placing it in his shirt pocket.
"Well, good luck to ye," He said.

"Sergeant, look!" David pointed at a near by chopper, carrying another CSOR squad as it was hit by an RPG shell. The downed helicopter started spinning out of the control, CSOR members falling to their deaths as it did. Then the true horror struck as the helicopter started spinning it's way towards Joey's helicopter.

"Look out!" Private Laviolette said as the chopper crashed into the tail of theirs.

The helicopter spun out of control. Private David Johnson fell out into the river below. He watched the helicopter shrink into the distance as he fell into the canal.

Landing, he survived, making a swim for the surface. His head emerged from the water, making the sounds of everything around him more clearer. He began swimming towards one of the small boat docks, knowing that should he linger in that area any longer, he would end up dead.

Finally making it to the docks, he pulled himself up before checking his equipment and knows if he doesn't CLP it, his rifle's going to rust.

Two men came to the docks, each speaking a tongue separate from English, yet the language was familiar. "Proverʹtekanadskoĭ ostavshiĭsya v zhivykh!"

David ran behind a set of stairs, waiting as the Russians descended to check and see if David was still among the living. Watching, he aimed and fired three rounds his rifle, killing the two men and made his way towards the to find a friendly face... hopefully.

[♖ Kimi]

The taxi parked to a stop at the side of the apartment building before the driver swung his head round, snatching for money with his voice. Derrin, smiling unpleasantly, but handing the taxi driver his - possibly, undeserved payment - she slid out the yellow vehicle with a polite, "Thank you." The apartment building loomed over her as she straightened her suit and white shirt before glancing around.

Where the hell did he get to? her thoughts scattered as her eyes wandered anxiously to see if she could catch a glimpse of Jules. Derrin had just been promoted, yes, to a full time estate agent, yet she was nervous about her first day working on her own so Jules had promised to meet her and go through the steps.

She sighed a little, concluding that maybe he had already got inside the apartment she was instructed to display to customers today. Derrin had heard that it was being renovated - still a building site as such - and, just as she had keyed the door, her phone beeped with an unanswered call.

Derrin frowned, opening the door with a push of her back, flicking open her mobile. "One Missed Call: Jules" proclaimed the screen of her phone. Furrowing her brow, she clicked Redial and was hit by a series of loud rings at his end of the call.

"Derrin?" A worried voice croaked through the receiver.

Derrin clutched her mobile then, hearing Jules' hoarse voice, filled with anxiety, through the small device. Fearing the worse - she didn't even know what that was yet - her voice called back, "Jules? What's wrong?"

Silence. Except for the rustling of paper and the occasional beep of the television on standby. Derrin was scared to say anything unless it made the situation worse, yet she spoke, "Jules? Why aren't you here? It's supposed to be my first day, reme-"

"It's David, Derrin."

Jules' voice stabbed the air. Derrin clutched her breath, her fingers ready to drop the mobile. She couldn't say anything, her voice drying up - whatever had happened, it couldn't be good. Jules would never stand her up on the one day that counted.

A flash of images - not memories, never memories - crashed through Derrin's mind. The image of David, telling her he had to leave - he didn't know for how long. The image of her hugging him; saying goodbye, always convinced he would come back. The image of him smiling at the twelve children he taught, promising he'd be back. The image of everything about him, and then suddenly it was lost, when Jules' voice trembled through the mobile.

"Derrin. I think he's- come over and I'll show you."

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

The news report that had been on replay for hours clawed through Jules' television screen one more time. It had been a recording - "amateur footage" as they called it - from someone's mobile phone. Derrin had sat there, staring at the screen, watching the figure get thrown into the River Thames. Her gaze was focused, trying to keep the tears from creeping through her eyes as she mumbled, "That's not him, is it?"

Jules' arms draped over hers as he tried to comfort her, muttering, "I don't know." before Derrin's own voice ripped through her doubts and whimpered, "He's dead, isn't he?"

That's when her eyes burst with tears and she didn't stop crying until Jules' shirt was soaked, pouring herself out onto his shoulder. When she eventually fell asleep, Jules' carefully placed her on his sofa before wiping her tear stained cheeks and ready to make that hot chocolate he figured she'd need when she woke up.

[♖ Helvetios]

Day 1- Surviving Hell

Death missed once again, it's scythe directed towards David. Once again he laughs at death in the face, deep in the heart of Britain's largest battlefield. He was holding out with a group of civilians, a bank manager, a butcher, a coffee shop manager and farmer. Each of them have managed to of acquired weapons from the dead of allied and enemy soldiers through out the battle.

He was currently stationed at the window of a corner town house store, which before was turned into a blackened mess was a trinket store. A C6 general purpose machine gun was found in the wreckage, saying there was a fire fight between Canadian troops and armed terrorists.

"Enemy incoming, across the bridge! Johnson, prepare to defend!"

"Copy, out!" David replied, as he pulled the C6s cocking handle back, chambering a 7.62 NATO round. Aiming towards the bridge he saw them and waited for them to get closer... closer... closer. As they got closer, he cried out a native war cry before open firing upon the terrorists.

The terrorists fell like dominos to the power of the large rounds. Blood squirting from the holes induced by the bullets that pierced the skin. Near by, such scenes where caught on tape to show on the news across the world. The battle. Although David's face wasn't shown, only the green black and beige of his combat uniform.

"More coming over the bridge! George, Fredrick, and Clive, get into positions!"

Three untrained militia with AKs and one trained soldier with a C6 machine gun and C7 rifle verse wave upon waves of armed men. A group of people trying to prove a point through violence. Causing David to leave the one he loves ever so dearly. His picture of her was still in his pocket. Dried for now.

Aiming down the sight of his C6 machine gun, he fired at the charging gun men, prompting the other three to fire.



American News:

Anchorwoman in Britain, "Shocking videos have been uploaded and sent to our news station just now from the situation in London."

Explosions are erupting all over. Helicopters that was in the sky yesterday was scattered across the cities of London and Liverpool. The two cities that soldiers where air lifted in. The city crawls of fire fights between Canadian, British soldiers and the large terrorist organization. Many falling down dead.

"This is said to be the largest and bloodiest battle of modern times, since Stalingrad in Russia, 1942." The anchorwoman explained, as the video of David (Though his facial features aren't visible) and the British militia shooting at terrorists running across the Waterloo Bridge.

The anchorwoman's life, though was cut short by a bomb going off near her and static replaces the picture shown on the television followed by a multicoloured screen saying, "Link Not Found".

[♖ Kimi]

When Derrin woke up, she was back in her own apartment. A note lay beside her scrawled with Jules' handwriting, whispering out, "Derrie, I took you home because I had to go to work. By the way, you don't have to go to work for a few days; I talked to the boss. J x"

The dark bedroom filled with light as Derrin stood up and slowly opened the blinds, the bright sun burning her tired and tear scarred eyes. She noticed she was still in her work clothes, now crumpled while she slept, and, as she slipped off her creased trousers, Derrin opened the door to her open plan living and dining area. She noticed then the shirt still lying on the back of the couch - she'd 'borrowed' it from David as a reminder of him while he was away.

Derrin sighed, feeling tears form again, as she removed the rest of her work clothes and, smelling David's scent on the shirt, she slowly slips the material over her body.

Flashing images of what she had seen yesterday on Jules' television screen crashed through her mind, the absolute possibility - even guarantee - that David was no longer alive after the attacks she'd seen in London. Derrin felt her knees go weak, causing her body to slump over as she pressed her watering eyes against her arms and falling into the couch.

The phone rang five times before Derrin had the energy to stand up and answer it. The voice on the other end crawled onto voicemail before she had a chance however, and Derrin listened to the quiet mutterings of an excited French accent. She recognised the voice - it was of one of oldest children David had adopted those few years ago to bring over to LA.

Oh crap - the children. How was she ever going to tell them? Crumbling, Derrin thread her fingers through her messy, brunette hair, sighing in broken hiccups.

David; he'd been just fine when he'd left, confident he'd be just fine. He'd promised her that everything would be fine and he'd come home safe. She'd felt his lips on her forehead before he'd said goodbye - Derrin had thought he was telling the truth. How could he be so wrong? How could he not know he could... no, would die?

Standing up on limp legs, Derrin grabbed her jacket, calling a cab, ready to take her to see the children. Someone had to look after them at the very least. How she was going to break it to them; that was another matter.

[♖ Helvetios]

Worse a battlefield than Afghanistan. Worse a hell. Like the second level into the depths of the sixteen floors. "Hey, Canadian! How are you holdin', lad?" Clive asked, firing his AK. Dave replying back with a thumbs up. The only thing he wants to do is to see his one true love in LA, once more. He was scared for his life, when he was flung from the helicopter,

He remembered Joey went down in the chopper. Fears his friend has been killed in the crash. David never the less continued firing until terrorists crossed no more. "Clive! George! Get on the C6 and cover me! Fredrick, on me!" David commanded as he began moving across the street. He has to get to the FOB. The Forward Operation Base set in Muswell Hill North London.

The amateur videos continued to be uploaded as the sight of would could be World War 3 unfold in front of the worlds eyes. The country was now slip between terrorists against British civilian militia, the British Army and the Canadian Special Forces. Moving out, his rifle in front of him, he looked both ways down the street as he crouched behind a Volvo station wagon.

"Right. Fredrick. Cover me as I make it for that building over there, do understand?"

"Yes, Private," The man said as he peered over the truck, seeing a terrorist soldier marching down the street.

"Right... 3... 2... 1... Go!" David said as he ran across the street. What he never foresaw in this event was the truck behind him blowing up from a rocket, killing Fredrick instantly. Looking back at the body of Fredrick, he peered to the side at the terrorist. Leaning over, he aimed his rifle and fired, shooting him down.

A CBS news helicopter flew over them, shooting everything, letting the world know what's going on in the capitol of England.

_______

American News:

"There's chaos all over the streets of London and across England, as fire fights continue, gun fire echoing all across a once proud nation, that now shivers under this horrendous attack. It is said many monuments have already collapsed from bombs and it's thousands of people have already been killed.

It is also said that British civilians have taken up arms dropped by the terrorists to fight against the terrorists, forming a militia group known as the Queens Light Footmen."

A loud bang was soon heard as the helicopter went down, spinning out of control prompting the anchorwoman in the studio to say, "It has been announced that we aren't sending any more news cast to England due to the dangers it holds for our staff. CBS and Fox already lost 12 reporters so far..." She began naming them out, before the news hour ended.

[♖ Kimi]

Derrin's hand shook as it hovered over the door handle to the residence David had renovated for all the children he had adopted. Her other hand gripped onto a plastic bag, the handles digging into the skin of her sweating palm. Derrin had decided she should buy the children treats before - no, if - she broke the news to them. The shop assistant had stared at her strangely - she did, afterall, have only pyjamas on; well, not even that.

She had played over all the scenarios of reactions that could possibly happen while she had ascended the residence. In almost all the scenarios, they were crying or shouting or throwing things. None of them were good.

Wiping her eyes from the tears that had swollen her eyes, Derrin placed a smile on her lips before turning the handle and walking bristly in and announcing she was here.

The building the strangely quiet except for the sound of her footsteps and her breathing, her breathe caught in the air into condensation. Derrin glanced her eyes to the heater, furrowing her brows to feel that it wasn't on. Switching on she thought, 'what are these guys doing with no heating on?'

Walking slowly through the building, her footsteps clicking against the wooden floorboards. The sound of muffled voices and televised explosions creepedinto Derrin's hearing as she walked further. She stepped into the living room so see all twelve children, eyes glued to the large television with the image of a battlescene in London exploding through it's screen. Derrin could hear her heartbeat as she caught glimpse of the news flashing horrid images of the war that might have killed Savid. The thought of losing him, the one she loved so much, destroyed her senses, her everything - images of that day when they'd shared their first kiss in France flickered into her mind's eye. Even though she couldn't remember the feelings or the emotions, she still knew it had been beautiful.

Escaping her mind from the images, Derrin stepped forward, switching off the television and asking, brightly, "What are you guys watching that for, huh?" She smiled abnormally to the group of children as they're eyes welcomed her.

Not knowing what to say, Derrin sat beside the children and said, "I have some news about David."

Their eyes lightened up at the sound of the name of their adopted father. Sighing, Derrin knew she couldn't tell them - not yet anyway - as her hands shook and she glanced down at her bare knees. She forced away anymore tears and said, "He's... Just going to be away for a bot linger than expected."

[♖ Helvetios]

The death of Fredrick was devastating but what happened afterwards was even more- The building with the others blew up from several RPG rockets. The blast killed everyone there. David hid behind the rubble of London as the building toppled over, imploding on itself. Stuff going everywhere. While hiding, he took out a picture of Derrin, wondering about what's going on at home.

As soon as the ground stopped shaking from the building crushing down, he got up, standing, looking at the downed building, the bodies of his recent comrades hanging, limply on the side. He wondered then where he was in London.

Looking around, there was no terrorists around, at the moment, prompting him to find a place. A place to settle for a bit and hopefully get some sleep for at least a while.

Leaving his current position he walked towards a near by building. A small townhouse store, he sat in the back room, his rifle aiming down an aisle, just in case, as he drifted off, only to be woken up by an explosion. He ran, looking out, to see a fighter/bomber jet bombing an area and coming towards him. Running into the washroom, he hid as the explosions erupted all around him, destroying the buildings around him, he being the luckiest of people.

[♘ FierceOcelot]

England was taking a hit, part of the plan. He didn't expect the terrorists to accomplish much, though, besides provoke the UK. When this ordeal was over and done with, they'd find some if not most of the terrorists were Russian. Maybe it would prompt further investigation, maybe not.

The point here being that now Alexei could move to the next step: Targeting the Russians. They'd likely deny any involvement(if they actually had any, that would help), but an attack on their soil could be seen as retaliation. Thereby increasing the chances of a new war.

In any case, it was time to stop speculating. He still had other plans to tend to... Alexei silently observed the firefights, the helicopters, heard gunshots, some nearby. He couldn't stay and coordinate the next few attacks from here. It was time to leave the UK; he had minor affiliations with the terrorists currently attacking, in fact most of them didn't know him. The only involvement he had was in the initial attack, supplying the terrorists with explosives and targeting the monuments. After that, Alexei planned to leave the country.

He stood in an unoccupied apartment, the residents of which had evacuated already. The vest he wore clung snugly to his torso, not too tight or too loose. It was a simple camo design, distinguishing him from the terrorists. Underneath that he wore a dark green BDU.

He wasn't alone, though; two of his companions stood by with him, Sylvia Reinhart and Akira Yamaguchi, both dressed in casual wear. He figured that they'd have the easiest time, judging by their powers. The other members were holding down a place in the U.S., in Florida, standing by.

"Yamaguchi, Reinhart, let's move. We're done here." He turned to face them briefly before walking to the apartment door exit, heading down the stairs and out into the street. This one seemed clear for the moment. His two comrades followed not too far behind him.

Akira's skin took on the familiar sheen that came from using her power; she wasn't taking chances, in fact none of the three were. Sylvia kept alert, looking for any possible hiding spots for combatants with an eye trained and honed by centuries of practice. Of course Alexei wasn't aware of her true age...

"I'll scout ahead, you two keep together." Alexei drew his 10mm automatic pistol from a holster on his person, then switched on his active camouflage with a mental thought, his body quickly fading from view.

A building in the distance collapsed, followed by a fighter jet roaring past as it dropped bombs. Alexei frowned, the explosions that ensued hurting his ears slightly; they'd need to get moving, fast, before they got turned to dust. Well, him; Akira and Sylvia, given their powers, would likely survive.

This post has been edited by FierceOcelot on Dec 3 2011, 08:01 PM

[♖ Kimi]

The building soon heated up, warm and cosy for the children as Derrin distracted her thoughts by piling up a large plate with toast for the children's breakfast. Her hands shook despite the warmth of the building now that she'd put the heaters on.

"Derrin?" A small, french accented voice peaked from behind her. Derrin glanced around, placing her last
slices of bread in the toaster before turning around to see the child gazing up at her. She knew for a fact that little boy stood in front of her was the youngest and always the one to be happy.

Derrin sighed to herself, wishing her mind would relax and smile like that little child. Listening to the boy's words, she smiled, encouraging him to continue.

"Are you going to stay with us until Sensei comes back?"

The innocence in the boy's voice made Derrin break and she didn't know what to say, averting her gaze from the boy's joyful eyes. The toaster announced it was finished with burning the bread and so Derrin distracted her thoughts again by taking the new toast out, buttering it and cutting it into triangles before topping it off on her prepared large plate of toast.

Derrin took the plate in her hands, turning back around and smiling to the boy before taking the toast to the others.

The next words fell from her lips as she placed the plate on the table in the middle of the circle of kids, "Yeah, I'm here to make sure you all behave."

Smiling brightly as if nothing was wrong, she watched as the children gobbled up the toast happily, her thoughts wondering on how she was going to be able to stay with them without any clothes but what she was wearing.

Sighing, she slipped into David's office, seeing the computer was on standby and she pressed the screen button to see a game paused on the screen. Laughing a little, knowing the kids had been taking advantage of their teacher's absence, Derrin minimized the game, and pulled up the internet, typing in her email.

Slowly, she logged onto her account.

1 New Mail! the screen announced. Dragging her pointer to her inbox she glanced at the new mail only to see it was a message from work;

"Dear Miss Derrin Nyx,

I heard about your tragic loss from Jules and we all here at the office are thinking of you.

Take care and look after yourself with your days off.

Lots of thoughts,

Mr A. Simmons"

Derrin read over the email from her boss slowly, taking it in, sinking in that she had lost David, the only man she really loved. Closing her eyes and covering her face with her hands, she hoped that the computer would not beep again for any new messages that would crash her heart again.

[♖ Helvetios]

Coming out of the rubble of a crumpled what seemed to be a dollar store, he peered around, himself being exhausted and tired from the battle that has just started, and hopes that it'll just end so he can get back to LA with the children and Derrin who he was wanting to marry before this all happened. He even has the ring in his pocket for when he gets home. Although... That is if he ever gets home in one piece.

Slowly night was about to fall. Looking around he found on the ground a bag, seemingly unscathed of the fog of war. Taking it, he took a look inside, seeing there was a laptop. A truck soon pulled over beside him, turning and stopping beside him and the door opened. "Sir! Sir!" The absence of voices interrupted his thought. Turning around he saw a newscast from CBC, Canadian Broadcast Corporation, with a camera. Not CBS, though...

"Don't call me sir, I'm not an officer, also I'm not a gentleman and I don't intend to be," He said, giving out his speech, once more.

"Sorry... Private, but you're the only friendly face we've seen in a while. We're heading North to the makeshift Forward Operations Base, under command of the British and Canadian Officers and picking up stragglers on the way.

"Thank you," He said climbing into the van. Pulling out the laptop, he was relieved it didn't need a password- Must've been a student's laptop. Finding it had MSN and YAHOO, he got exciting. He took out his Cellphone which had coverage in this area and had four bars. Attaching it to his laptop, giving him access to the internet through the cellphone.

"You're a clever one, aren't you?" The anchorwoman said.

"Huh?" He looked up.

"Being able to do that, get internet through phone," She said.

"Yea, I'm clever," He turned back to the laptop and logged into his account, going over to compose messages, he typed in Derrin's email at the top and in the box, he typed...

Derrin. I am alright. I've found a laptop and I'm getting internet through my cellphone. I'm sending this email to you to tell you I'm still alive and that I love you. I'll try to send you an email every day I'm here to follow up on what's happening... Even though it always feels like my life's about to meet it's end, I won't give up without to see you once more.

P.S. I have a surprise for you when I get home.

P.P.S I love you <3

P.P.P.S I miss you <3

P.P.P.P.S How are the kids, are they doing good in school? They alright? Lilly, the young girl likes it when you read Thomas the Tank Engine to her before she sleeps, please do that for me. Make sure Jack doesn't get into trouble at school because knowing him, he will. No, scratch that, make sure they all don't get in trouble. and tell them I'm safe.

P.P.P.P.P.S. I still got my hair. :D Can you believe it? they actually allowed me to keep my hair. ^^

This post has been edited by Helvetios on Dec 5 2011, 11:06 AM

[♖ Kimi]

"Just when I asked it not to," Derrin groaned, hearing the computer beep with a new message. Her cheeks were bruised with tears that she dared not show the children, and the sleeves of jacket were damp from leaning her head against them, along the desk.

Blinking away the tears that had become trapped in her eyelashes, Derrin rubbed her cheeks, lifting her head up so the brightness of the screen burnt her eyes.

The screen popped up with a box, proclaiming she had another new message and the writing was blurry through Derrin's tears. Sighing, she was reluctant to open the message but she placed her hand on the mouse, moving the cursor to open the message when a voice whispered beside her.

"Derrin," the little girl looked up at Derrin with big, sleepy eyes. Her nose was running slightly and she wore her Thomas and the Tank Engine pajamas. "When's he coming back for us?"

Standing up abruptly, Derrin hugged the girl tightly, hoping she wasn't about to cry. It wasn't the right time to tell them - any of them - of their teacher and adopted father's death.

"He'll be back as soon as possible, I promise," she whispered into Lily's ear. This girl wasn't at the nearest girly but her little hands wrapped around Derrin's shoulders as Derrin picked her up, sitting back on the office chair, Lily on her knee.

Before Derrin had a chance to talk to Lily, Lily's fingers reached for the mouse and announced, "You have a new message!" Her index finger clicked open the message and Derrin widened her eyes suddenly, letting out a gasp and feeling the tears begin to roll down again.

But this time it was because of happiness.

"Look, he mentioned me!" Lily pointed to the screen and giggled, waving at the email and saying, "I love you" to David through the computer screen.

Without a second thought, Derrin clicked "Reply" and began typing back.

"I want to say something!" Lily grinned before continuing the email. Once it was finished, it read.

"David! I was so worried, are you sure you're alright? I've missed you so-

Hello!! Get back home soon!! Derrin made us toast this morning! It was good! Why don't you ever make toast like that? I miss you! Although the boys stink so they probably don't. hahahaha. Lots of love and stink bombs, Lily.

Sorry, Lily took over for a minute. I'm so glad you're okay. I can't wait to see you again.

Love you so much!

Derrin

xxxxxxx"

[♖ Helvetios]

A few minutes afterwards, he finally received an email back from her as fast. He started typing a reply to her, with enough time to do so...

I'm about to go to a safe place. I'm in London England, in a terrorist attack. I'm suppose to be helping civilians but my helicopter got shot down and I round up in the canal. Tell the kids I love them and..."

He stopped, hearing, "Watch out!" He quickly pressed enter, sending an incomplete email, just as the truck crashed into a wall. He found himself catching the anchorwoman as she was flung from her seat towards him. He pushed her off him before opening the back door to find himself in a hotspot but near the FOB. Remembering the running password, he told the news people to run as he covered them. The camera man, though didn't make it.

David ran as soon as the rest of the crew was safe. Running, he said as fast as he could, the running password- "I'm here for the gang bang! I'm here for the gang bang!"

He laughed inside at the password. It was on Joseph LaFonte made for the group. Entering the FOB, a street with numerous houses under control by British and Canadian soldiers. He began to wonder where the Americans are. Then he figured, that Americans are bound to come near the end of this attack and claim themselves to be victorious.

"What's your name, Soldier?" asked a British Sergeant.

"Private David Johnson, Canadian Army, is Sergeant LaFonte here?" David asked.

"No, we think he may of been killed when your chopper went down. I'm surprised you survived, Private, that was quite a fall. Right... For now I'm promoting you to Corporal. Starting tomorrow, you'll be leading Private Olness, Private Odjik, and Private Henderson on rescue missions. In the meantime, go rest up," The Sergeant said.

"Yes, Sergeant. And you are, Sergeant?" The now Corporal Johnson asked.

"Sergeant Fin, British Royal Army. By the way, we're glad to have you aboard, Corporal, we heard about your deeds in Afghanistan," Fin said.

[♖ Kimi]

An email returned back quickly by the time Lily had run back into the room with the others. Derrin swallowed a bit, worried at the fact that it wasn't finished but she was thankful - no, greater than thankful; she was relieved, ecstatic, exhausted - that he was still alive. All she wanted to do was hug him close and protect him from anything else that could pull him away from her.

She reached for her pocket for her mobile yet remembering she wasn't wearing her jeans, Derrin groaned, having to email Jules as soon as possible instead of texting.

"Jules! It's okay! He's alive!" was all she put first, wanting to send it as soon as she'd typed it so she knew, but, directing it to his work account, she knew she had to explain.

Quickly, Derrin typed in how she'd got an email from David, telling her he was just fine and that she was at his house with the children.

"Oh, if you're going out for your lunch break, can you possibly go to my place and pick up some clothes of mine. I'm staying with the kids and all I'm wearing is Dave's shirt."

Derrin laughed a little, surprised at her own happiness that was peeking through her previous depression. Pressing send, she stood up, logging off her account in case any of the children had an urge to send some prank emails to all in her address book.

Slipping back through from David's office, she sneaked into his cupboard and found a family playing game there before pulling it out and returning to the kids - it was Saturday after all, and they had no school. Lifting up the game, she announced, "Anyone wanna play twister?"

The children's eyes lit up, making Derrin's heart warm, drying all the tears she'd cried earlier that day.

[♖ Helvetios]

Up all night. Under constant attack, not a wink of sleep could be foreseen and he knew this experience from Afghanistan. He was crouched behind bags of sand. On his knee for three hours now, at a barbed fence, only recently been set up by British combat engineer reservists. David sat there, his rifle aiming forward.

"Idti! Idti!" He heard in the distance. A Russian, followed by the sound of people charging in an unorganized fashioned.

"1800! We've got enemy activity! Range! 80 meters!" Corporal Kent, aiming his rifle down the road, the dark soon being fought off by a bright spot light.

"With 30 round magazine, 3 round bursts! Open fire!" Sergeant Fin commanded, from a house, he is using as a guardhouse, the soldiers repeating, as the terrorists charging came into view and started firing.

The soldiers, stationed at the fence return fired, killing any terrorists that got too close. The sound of rifle fire, echoing across the night sky of London. David fired, three round burst, shooting at anything with any muzzle flashes in the distance, hitting a few. The spot light running over them as they fall from David's bullets.

"Enemy activity from, 3600! range, 75 meters! Request permission to fire!" A voice called out from the other end of the FOB.

"Rifles, with 30 round magazine, 3 round burst, open fire!"

"We've got enemy activity, 8000/0! Range, 100!" Another voice called from the North side of the FOB.

"Light machine guns! 5 round bursts, open fire!"

A flair soon shot out into the sky, lighting up the entire area, allowing, though, time limited visibility,

"Range! 400! From the old church! GPMG! Open fire!"

Behind them was the CBC camera crew, taping it all, like a war correspondent in World War 2, sending the footage back to Canada, before it gets lost or destroyed. Fox and CBS soon picked up the tapes before long and spread news of the everlasting Battle of Britain, 2014 version.

[♖ Kimi]

"And Thomas went to sleep and had wonderful dreams and-" Derrin yawned then, blinking with tired eyes, she glanced over at Lily who was curled up under her covers, her own eyes drifted off into a deep sleep. Closing the Thomas the Tank Engine book slowly, Derrin whispered a little, "Goodnight Lily" before kissing her forehead and slipping out the room.

Rubbing her own eyes - it was tiring saying goodnight to all thirteen children individually - Derrin let out another yawn, covering her mouth with the back of her hand before slipping off back towards the living room.

A boy sat on the couch, his eyes fixed to the screen, body in superman pajamas, slouched forward, leaning his head on his two up righted arms that rested their elbow on his thighs.

"Theo, off to bed," Derrin said in a groggy voice. She had sworn she'd counted thirteen children but, at such a time of night, perhaps her mathematics skills were lacking. Derrin walked over to Theo, placing her hand on his shoulder and gently prompting him forward to go to bed.

"But Derrin, look," He pointed to the screen, glancing up at her before gluing his eyes to the television once again. Bewildered, Derrin took a look at what Theo was watching to see a news report on the goings on in Britain. Her eyebrows furrowed, walking to sit on the couch, her eyes still stuck on the screen as she said, "Go to bed now, Theo."

She could hear him sulk and slouch off to his bedroom, but Derrin was too focused on the television screen. The words that were spoken in the studio were just a blur for her as the clips of London kept reappearing and replaying. He was there, she saw him, his long hair hidden under his helmet, but she recognised him the moment she saw him. Oh, she'd missed seeing David's face and even to see that he was alive, after that email. But it was the context he was in that was making her cling onto the edge of the couch, worried sick for him. It had just ringed 9pm on the clock and Derrin figured the footage must have been shot only a couple of hours previous, maybe 3am, as the sky was dark in the footage.

Derrin kept the television on all night, not able to sleep until the report was finished and it seemed to be replaying every hour with new footage at every available time. Slowly, the screen became blurry and Derrin drifted off to another empty sleep, curling up on the couch.