Sunday, October 16th, 4:38 P.M.
Sam was just stopped at a checkpoint before going
into Trebyer. Rinoa and I were a bit
apprehensive as we were approaching it, but Sam told us this was a normal part
of business in Trebyer. This fact didn't
seem to calm Rinoa at all. The
checkpoint was staffed by these military types.
I say types because I didn't see any of them carrying guns. Uniforms, rank insignias, saluting, but no
guns. Weird. Also, these military types were wearing
helmets. Not camouflage helmets or shiny
black helmets, sky blue helmets, the color of which could be easily seem over a
mile away. Weird.
When Sam stopped at the checkpoint, the blue
helmeted soldiers ordered everyone out of the truck. Sam seemed okay with it, but I asked for an
explanation. The low level blue helmeted
soldier tasked with manning the checkpoint told me that they had to search the
truck and everyone in it for weapons before they're allowed into Trebyer. The same soldier also told me that this was
nothing personal, everyone goes through this screening process.
Everyone got out of the truck and the blue helmeted
soldiers went to work. They swept the
truck with mirrors, bomb sniffing dogs, and a intricate visual inspection. The soldiers took a similar approach to the
people that occupied the truck. This
involved everyone getting manually swept by invasive, stone faced military
officers. This inspection made me feel
uncomfortable. I can't imagine how
violated Rinoa feels right now.
Finally, we all were cleared and allowed to go into
Trebyer. Once we all got settled back
into our places, I asked the person sitting next to me, "Rinoa, are you
okay?"
At first she didn't respond, then Rinoa said,
"I don't know what that was supposed to prove."
I took a second and said, "I don't think it was
supposed to prove anything. I think
those screenings are meant to keep everyone safe."
Rinoa exploded.
"As if those impotent International League motherfuckers can do
anything! Those morons can't protect
shit from shit."
The anger and the vitriol that Rinoa expressed
caused me to end the conversation and sit silent as Sam began navigating his
way through Trebyer.
Later.
Hato Shurtleff
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