Book 2 - Moon
Part 4
This thread is intended to be paired with The Hourglass (2.4)
Friday, February 10th, 2023
Ayuunay, Dabaab 22nd, 412
Late in the afternoon, there was a knock on the door of Yufraan’s cell - it was hard for them to think of it as anything else - and Yufraan jumped up, startled. Their hair was a mess, and they had been up for forty-four of the past forty-eight hours, planning for any possible line of questioning from Hawk. They had made a flowchart. Half of the issue that was causing them stress was having to deal with the bunker’s crappy internet, which they had tolerated for a full three hours before switching entirely to paper. The negative effects of this became especially apparent as they went to open the door for Talia when they pulled their thumb just the wrong way, causing a jolt of pain as their hand cramped up.
“Hey, Talia,” Yufraan said through a grimace.
“Mutj, I was just coming in to remind you that your audience with Colonel Hawk begins in two hours…” the young woman said as she scanned the Mutadiit up and down. “You look like hell. Are you okay?”
“Everything is finished, and I’m prepared to speak.”
“That isn’t what I asked. Where’s your father?” Yufraan shrugged. “Mutadiit alaalahiiya, being prepared is about more than just knowing what you need to.”
“I’ll be fine.” Talia looked at Yufraan for a second, before turning around as if to leave. Just as Yufraan was about to breathe a sigh of relief, they swung around to complete a 360 and flicked Yufraan in their still-cramped hand. “Ow! What was that for?”
“Making my point. You have two hours. Get a shower, I’ll bring you a meal. Not much we can do about the sleep… I can at least bring some concealer.”
"But - "
“No buts.” And with that, Talia walked away, closing the door in Yufraan’s face. Well, that was embarrassing, came the voice. Shut it, Yufraan replied.
Twenty minutes later, after a quick shower, Yufraan could almost have been described as clean. Then again, in a sprawling bunker underneath desert scrubland, very few things were ever truly clean. The water had been freezing, but at the very least the extreme temperature had woken Yufraan up a little. Not much… but any bit helped. They threw on their usual clothes - tan cargo pants and a forest camo military jacket, along with a t-shirt that had some sort of Norgsveltian saying on it. Of course, Yufraan didn’t actually speak Norgsveltian, so for all they knew it could’ve been extremely rude and offensive, but they had been assured by Furqan years ago that it was benign. In retrospect, that wasn’t the most positive sign, but it was the last clean shirt they had, so they just prayed to Ildarra that Saarkis Hawk did not speak Norgsveltian. He does not. Oh. Okay. It’s not that offensive, either. Well, at least there was that. After getting fully clothed, Yufraan once again sat down to review their notes. They briefly contemplated the notion that they were obsessed, which they laughed off. Of course they were! But there were far worse things to be obsessed with.
After a few more minutes, Talia returned with a sandwich and some tea, as well as some makeup. At first, Yufraan had worried that the makeup would throw them off, but then they had looked in the mirror and the extremely noticeable circles under their eyes had told them that the extra weight was probably worth it. Yufraan and Talia ate quickly, and as Talia began gently applying the caramel-toned concealer, the duo began running through scenarios and rehearsing exactly what Yufraan would say. They quickly refined any weak points in Yufraan’s argument, and before long the two hours were almost up. As they started walking towards the audience chamber, Talia asked,
“Are you ready, Mutj?” For some reason, Yufraan laughed. They really were tired.
“Ready as I’ll ever be.”
“Anything could happen in there.”
“Nothing I’m not prepared for.” As they reached the large metal door for what Yufraan knew would likely be the final time, they saw a familiar face.
“Raaj?”
“Arham, mutj. They reassigned me here after the banquet - I think they were worried about the guards conspiring. But hey, they also gave me a raise, so I’m not complaining. Hey, Yuf!” he blurted out as the door began to creak open. “Good luck in there.”
“Arham kaawlbak, Mutj Mutadiit al-Ildarra Alaalahiiya.” Hawk’s voice is loud and booming, carrying throughout the chamber.
“Well met, Colonel,” Yufraan says, giving a small bow. “I have come to seek assistance in the fight against our oppressors.”
“Very well. Make your case, once again.”
“Colonel, I admit, there are many reasons to doubt me.” Hawk raises his eyebrow, and Yufraan continues. "I acknowledge, too, that you are in a difficult position - a stranger comes into your home, claiming the power of Ildarra, and asks you to sacrifice the people you have been granted the privilege and responsibility of protecting. With them, they bring the promise of a plan, the hope that everything will turn out okay. But you have been on Urth long enough to remember the last time people had hope, and how poorly it went. In your judgment, this is the same. And wisely, you will not risk it again. But I am here to tell you that this time, it is different.
Starting with sheer numbers, the ADF - solely consisting of those in Mukarras, numbers at 225,000, with another 25,000 coming from the other republics in the hope of liberation, including warriors from Sayaduun. Meanwhile, our immediate opposition is scattered pockets of disillusioned and only moderately trained officers, numbering only a couple thousand. Once we strike, Mirhaime will send more - but we have garnered many allies, including those in Mirhaime themselves, to ensure a swift end. Of course, this is the situation in Mukarras, where we have already won once. But in Sayaduun, too, we can emerge victorious. Yes, our forces are smaller, and the enemy is larger, and more cohesive. Indeed, we also must contend with an entrenched Volunteer Guard, well trained as they are. But we have several things they do not. For one, we have the element of surprise to throw them into disarray. But more importantly, we have the hearts and minds of the people. And the people will be our strongest weapon, more forceful than gun or blade. There are millions in Sayaduun who will support us - even if only 1% of them decide to take up arms, they will easily overrun the contented WEGEC officials in many cities and factories, leaving us to focus on major areas - where the enemy will have already committed many of their forces to Mukarras. We will overrun them. We will succeed.
“But, Colonel Hawk, there is one last thing I leave you with, one final appeal. And that is you. Allow me to be candid - you couldn’t stop me, after all. You are a revolutionary without a revolution. A fighter, without a fight. You have led Alkhatawf for decades as Colonel, and seen less combat than some privates. Your soldiers are not here for you to protect them - they are here because they wanted to be the protectors, to help those of their siblings who could not help themselves. They came here, knowing they may die, hoping they may have the chance. Until now, they have been denied. Their lives, once full of spark and passion, have dulled with the years of being part of a Hook without a point. But now, we have a chance for all of it to be over. It won’t be easy, I will guarantee that. Some will die. Sacrifices will be made. But don’t you believe that there is no greater honor than to die saving one’s people from oppression. I do. And from what I’ve seen here… so do they. So now the only question is… do you?” And with that, the Mutadiit Yufraan stepped back and waited. And the room was silent, and the colonel was lost in thought.