Chapter 13

Outskirts of Camp Pendleton, California

8:24 AM

Isaac Hillaire breathed in the fresh air, watching the small clouds roll on in the almost perfectly blue California skies above. He exited the very well-maintained Ford Fordor, placing his rucksack on the dusty ground as the other two occupants in the vehicle followed suit.

“Thanks for dropping me off, Mister Kuribayashi.” He replied in a tone that might have come off as unintentionally childish if the look on Sheena’s face was anything to go by. At least she was still pleasant to look at despite her cold expressions.

The older Mr. Kuribayashi didn’t comment on it, however.

He instead said “You’re more than welcome, taking responsibility like this is admirable. Although I personally doubt I’d have done the same if I was in your exact position.”

Isaac nodded slowly, more than a little aware of the circumstances American citizens of Japanese descent found themselves under during the Second World War.

Still...

“It is what it is. I really can’t thank you enough for not telling my folks.”

Mr. Kuribayashi only raised his hand as if in understanding. Isaac noted Sheena didn’t exactly seem to agree with the sentiment, but he wasn’t about to complain.

He instead said, with a full smile, “Be safe, and good luck.”

Sheena only groaned, “Papa really is the kind of man who will break the law.”

“Kare ga atode anata no mendōwomiru kara dakedesu.”

Then, turning to Isaac, “Plenty of boys did this back in the day. Just follow your COs, don’t try to be a hero, and remember to watch your back before watching others’. You can’t protect anyone if you’re out of commission.”

“Y-yes, sir!”

Isaac ignored Sheena’s eye roll, her father only patting his shoulder before turning around and whispering something in his daughter’s ear.

She huffed but didn’t say anything, waiting for the World War II veteran to get back in the car. She remained silent, eyeing Isaac up and down as if she was about to say something, but no words came.

Isaac sighed, saying “Come on. If you have something to say-”

“You’re a pipsqueak who’s in way over his head and I don’t want you to die.”

Isaac winced at the words, but she wasn’t done.

“This isn’t school... I can’t just go looking for you and beat up the guys bothering you. Even if I was, Dad wouldn’t be there making sure neither of us get in trouble for all that. And your dad won’t kick your ass for getting in a fight.”

Isaac nodded slowly, adding a childish “Uh-huh” for emphasis.

“Hey...” she growled.

“I mean it! I won’t get into fights! I’ll be taking pictures and avoiding scuffles.”

She huffed again, now adding “I also don’t care what role they give you, you’re going to essentially be on your own for a while and you’ll have to act the part.”

“Hey, I got training, I can pull it off.”

“Your dad trained you not to get into pointless fights, but to hit hard if you were forced to. Yet how many times did I have to bail you out because you couldn’t keep your mouth shut at some hicks or Mexicans that were just a touch stronger than you?”

Isaac grinned at the memories, saying “Bullies don’t count.”

“In tenth grade, maybe, but out where they’ll send you? They’ll be armed, Isaac! This... this isn’t a field trip no matter how dad puts it.” she said, darkness lining her words as she scowled at him.

He fell silent, smile vanishing.

With yet another groan, Sheena reached into her skirt’s pocket, shutting her eyes tight as her face reddened somewhat.

“So... here... come back. In one piece. And I’ll want it back!”

Isaac stared at her school photo. Her ever-serious expression was replaced with a deceptive smile that appeared sweet, her hair combed over and straightened as opposed to her ponytail, a bow adorning her head instead of her usual pink hair band.

He took the picture, looked it over, and said “Wish you’d look like this more often.”

“What was that?”

“I-I meant the smile!”

She glared at him, face red before she finally said “Come back in one piece, as yourself-”

“Myself?”

“You know what I mean.”

Neither spoke for a moment. The sound of an aircraft overhead, a different car driving past them, and the soft breeze filled the silent void for a moment.

Isaac pursed his lips, nodding once again.

He finally said “Yeah... I’ll come back. I’ll stick with the Marines, I’ll send my family money, and save some up. I’ll take care of both of us and you can go to college and-”

“Don’t make promises you can’t keep.” She said quietly.

“I’m not. I... I really mean it.”

“I know. But you have to come back first.”

“I will.”

“You better. I will be waiting, and I will be taking that back, understood?”

He nodded.

“So... come back... as yourself.”

“I will.”

She didn’t hug him or kiss him goodbye with added promises of waiting. She awkwardly shifted in place, moving one leg behind the other before slowly turning around, pausing once she was facing away from him. Slowly, she opened the car door.

Then she turned to look at him.

He waved, smiling slightly.

She managed a weak smile, then got in the car.

Mr. Kuribayashi did wave back, Sheena sinking into the chair before the car drove off, leaving only tire tracks and exhaust in its wake.

Isaac nodded to himself then, glancing at the black and white photo.

He pocketed it, picked up his rucksack, turned to look at the base and, perhaps louder than intended, said “Hoo-rah, Marine...”

Then he strode into the base without a second thought. The guard outside didn’t react to him approaching.

“Hey, Isaac Hillaire, with the Headquarters and Support Battalion. Uh... you guys got a jeep or something?”

“Nope. No car, walk it, kid.”

“Aye, corporal...”

Hoo-rah, Marine...

9:10 AM

The long march to his barracks was fairly uneventful, the occasional CH-46 flying overhead, which was always nice to see. Inside the barracks of the deceptively named “Camp” Pendleton, because a camp had to be the size of a town, the atmosphere was very different from the peaceful California lands outside. The barracks were relatively quiet, so dropping off his rucksack, he headed over to the Headquarters building.

Organized chaos was perhaps the modus operandi of the United States Marine Corps but Isaac was not entirely certain of the exact order behind some of the men running from one end of the base to another, some carrying office supplies, others arguing while looking over some papers as they went from one hall to the next. He heard phones ring and men answer before inarticulate yelling that could only belong to veteran officers was heard.

He ignored it all, heading to where he needed to.

“Hilaire!”

He turned around, seeing a familiar face walking toward him. Just above the breast pocket, the name “Miloradovic” had been stenciled into the uniform.

Isaac called “Milo! Hell’s going on? Looks like rush hour in Little-”

“Stow it, we have orders.”

“Orders?”

He only replied by handing him a paper and ushering him forward, Isaac nearly bumping into a man storming out of a room.

“Yeah. Much as I would like to ask about LA, we gotta move. That thing in Dallas is causing all sorts of trouble...” Milo muttered as they pushed on.

“You don’t say?”

“I mean it. MEB’s deploying to Texas, God only knows who else. Army’s already there, and now I hear Navy planes are being moved into place, too.”

Isaac almost stopped in his tracks at the words. Oh, some Marines being deployed could be anticipated, but an entire Expeditionary Brigade? His mind quickly surmised that this was probably what all the ongoing chaos was about.

“So... we’re going? Through that portal I mean?”

Milo only shrugged.

“Oh, come on, man, can’t you spill some details?”

“We’re going to be briefed, I just know the basic gist of it.”

“Oh. But we are deploying, right?”

Miloradovic didn’t reply.

“We’re deploying, right, Milo?”

No reply.

“Hmm. You’re right, Milo, I’m sure they’ll tell us at the briefing.” then switching to a deeper voice “Wow, Hillaire, you’re so smart and likable, I wish I was just like you.”

He didn’t complain when Milo’s hand slapped the back of his head.