Dobby popped back in. "Master Birdy must calm down or magic will bring ministry" he said. Evan knew Dobby was right. He had to calm down. Evan began immediately with the basics – breathing. In and out. Meditation came next – clearing his mind. Mu-Shin – just being in the moment. The pain he felt at Sirius' death was very sharp, but with the meditation it was just barely manageable. He could see his anger at Sirius, his feelings of betrayal were gone. Similarly, his feelings towards the rest of his former friends. He felt no need to reconnect with any of them, but he no longer 'hated' them. Haragei – expanding out his senses. Little by little he added the other exercises he typically did every morning and evening. After half an hour he felt calm and was totally back in control of himself. He was going on a mission today. That would have to be his focus.
June 18, 1996. 08:00am, Beauxbatons Académie de Magik. Hermione just finished reading the newspaper. She was so sad that Sirius had been killed – she knew Evan would be devastated. She was also worried for Evan – there would be a lot of pressure to find him. Hermione picked up her communicator and gave him a short call. Afterwards, she met up with Susan Bones to go to class.
June 18, 1996. 08:00am, Grimmauld Place. Remus was slumped in a chair. Sirius was gone. Harry was gone. What was he going to do now?
June 18, 1996. 08:00am, Hogwarts Great Hall. Ginny, Ron, and Neville were sitting at the Gryffindor table, slackjawed. Tears were running down Ginny's cheeks. Sirius was gone. Harry was gone. Hermione was gone. Luna Lovegood and Susan Bones were conspicuously absent. Voldemort was officially back. Where was their hope?
June 18, 1996. 08:00am. Paris. Madam Bones put down The Prophet. She sighed sadly – Sirius had been innocent all along. Imprisoned illegally by a corrupt government; escaped to save his godson, who himself had been railroaded, magic bound, and obliviated by the same corrupt government; and now dead. She had tried and tried to get Fudge to listen, but he had not. The British government had not yet acted (to her knowledge) regarding the dismantling of the Magna Carta – it was only a matter of time before the s#*t hit the fan. The only fighting force she knew of that had fought successfully, ruthlessly and efficiently against the Death Eaters were the Royal Marines she had met. She pondered the idea of contacting the Commander and offering her services.
.....
June 18, 1996. 12:00pm (noon), Bosnia – Royal Marines command post. Evan was waiting with the rest of his squad for a last briefing before the mission started. Their mission, escort a VIP to a meeting 200 km into Serbia, behind cease-fire lines for secret talks. They were going to fly in by helicopter, secure and maintain the area during the talks, and then return said VIP. They were supposed to be back by 18:00 (6:00pm).
At 13:00 they stacked up around their VIP and boarded the helicopter. Evan sat across from the VIP – a woman dressed in traditional Muslim garb. She was reviewing her notes. After confirming his gear and he were secure, Evan began meditating; Haragei and Mu-Shin.
June 18, 1996. 15:00 (3:00pm), 200km behind armistice lines. The talks had just finished. The niceties performed. As Evan, his team and their VIP package approached the helicopter for their return flight, Evan sensed danger from the dense trees to the right. "Duck & Cover! Tangos to the right – dense trees, 50 meters out!" he yelled as he grabbed the VIP, tossed her to the ground while bringing his weapon to bear. Bullets and RPG fire erupted from the trees. The team commander took over command. "Fenix, McCormick! Covering fire. Cross, Tristan, Xavier! Take the Ambassador to the chopper! Bremmer – contact HQ, emergency channel, code word "Sparrow". Go, Now!" Evan and his team mate, McCormick continued providing covering fire. As the rest of the team and the Ambassador approached the helicopter, an RPG flew past them. The helicopter exploded, sending shrapnel and hot metal parts everywhere. Evan and McCormick were flattened by the blast wave. Evan glanced over his shoulder after the blast to see the team and the Ambassador all on their backs. "McCormick – cover fire! Team's hit! I'm falling back a few meters and will provide cover fire for you! Moving back in five!" After his count, Evan popped up, retreated five meters, found cover in a shallow ditch, and opened fire. "McCormick! Fall back five meters behind me and provide cover fire!" Little by little they made their way to the rest of the team. He pulled them one-by-one behind the remains of the helicopter to provide cover while McCormick was providing covering fire. He then provided covering fire for McCormick to retreat behind the smoldering chopper.
The team commander, LT Jake Boxer, and Cross were hit – shrapnel wounds to the chest and side. The wounds were oozing blood. Bremmer was unconscious – the transmitter had blocked a piece of shrapnel from penetrating his body, knocking his breath out. The Ambassador's upper right arm was sliced open and bleeding. Tristan and Xavier both were on their backs, out of breath, with a broken arm each. Overall, five wounded, two of them moderately serious. They were taking fire now from two directions – one of those directions from the compound they had recently left! They had been betrayed. Evan sensed no mounting danger from either the trees or the compound.
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