"You see that interview last night?" My buddy Jim asked as I chomped on my burger.
"Man, who hadn't?" I replied around a mouthful of fries.
"Gentlemen… Do either of you have a few minutes?" We looked up from our lunch to see a military police officer standing above us. I swallowed nervously.
"I guess officer, we were just having lunch…" I answered.
"Do you gentlemen want to have an interview with the marshal? He's visiting a few sites around the city speaking to the people…"
"Yeah, if he's got the time…"
"I mean, I don't really care."
The officer nodded and stepped away for a moment before a couple soldiers with a small handheld camera walked up and another with a microphone appeared. "Good morning gentlemen, what do you think the biggest issues facing the Union are?"
"Stoss, slow down… stop shoving the camera in their faces." A gruff, tired voice spoke up. I glanced at the newcomer and nearly gaped.
Dressed in full military uniform, a single medal pinned to his chest and golden braids on his shoulders was the Marshall himself. He gave us a small nod and held out his hand. "Andrew, and you are?"
"Jake… Jake Kistin."
"Jake, you look like you work for one of the hunting outfits. Is there a pressing issue facing your job or family I might be able to help with?" He asked.
"Yeah… I uh… I work with Zed Corporation down at Pendleton, hunting mutants for their crystals." I trialed off. What could the most powerful man in the Union help me with? The darn man commanded armies! His word moved the equivalent of thousands of Zed corporations.
"My daughter's been sick lately, and it's all I can do to keep up with the medical payments…" he frowned at that.
"You're paying for medical care? It's not free?" He asked.
"No sir, it's been costing me about two or three thousand a month. My wife's worried sick trying to keep our youngest in school." I said.
I revived a punch to my side. Jim started grousing. "Shit Jake. You should've said something, I would've helped pitch in."
"Are you a citizen or working on a green card?" The Marshal asked.
"I have my card on me…" I started fishing for my wallet but he shrugged, holding out his hand for me to stop.
"Alright, Jake. Go get your daughter, Fob Dominqez is a bit west of here, there's a hospital there, they'll help your daughter… Stoss, can you go with Jake, make sure he gets to the hospital?"
My eyes felt teary. The marshal put his hand on my shoulder. "Family's important. Go… talking to a politician doesn't mean shit. Go, be with your kid, get them treatment."
——————-
I smiled softly to myself. The late afternoon sun bathed the streets in a soft orange. I sat on the stoop, a small book in my hand as I watched my boys play with the other kids.
"Mama… can I play wit my bruders?" My little girl asked. I smiled at her, nodding encouragingly.
She unsteadily got to her feet, taking a few steps as she haltingly made her way into the street. She walked up to her oldest brother, who gave her a high five. I smiled as I watched, a warm fuzziness in my chest. A couple in uniform were walking down the road on the far side.
A truck turned I onto the road. The kids all moved to the sidewalk, watching the big military truck with fascinated eyes. I saw my little boys take my girl to the other side of the street. The truck began to pass me and I saw that man from earlier dash past the front, my girl in hand as the truck slammed to a stop.
I shot to my feet, my heart racing as I rushed over. My little girl was crying as the man tried soothing her, placing his cap on her head.
"This your little girl Ma'm?" He asked as I rushed over. I frantically nodded, reaching for her. He gently passed her over a sad twinkle in his eyes.
"Ma'm, other than just now have you had any issues with soldiers living in the barracks up the road?" He asked. I shook my head, soothing my little girl.
The big truck slowly eased forward, slowly heading up the road. That female soldier walked over. She had a star on her shoulder… my husband had mentioned something about that symbol being that of a general of some sort.
"Driver didn't expect the girl to run out…" she addressed the man.
"None of the other kids got hurt?" He asked. She shook his head. The man produced a small business card for me.
"Let me know if there's any trouble with the soldiers, my office number is on the card." The two of them walked off, continuing their earlier conversation.
I took my girl back inside, calming her down. She clutched onto the man's hat. Oh! His hat I raced to the window but he was gone. I looked down at the card in my hand.
Andrew Reichenbacher, C&C Soviet Military, office bldg TracPac Terminal, #402