Chereads / Before F.R.O.N.D.E.R: Epilogue / Chapter 64 - C248: Tribute To The Fallen

Chapter 64 - C248: Tribute To The Fallen

Chapter 248: Tribute To The Fallen

Sarah Hatano's perspective

United States of America - Washington DC - 8:44 AM

August 28th, 2060

...

...

...

...

"Urghh...? Yawn...". - I forgot that I just had dozed off

I open my eyes and see myself inside the black Limousine, escorting us. It is now moving, on the road to the White House as fast as possible.

I look around to see if I can find something. John, Shera and Reimi can be seen sitting on the seats forward to us. Commander is wrapping his wife, using his right hand to hug her back.

I see him staring at his wife deeply sometimes, as if he doesn't want to let her away. About Reimi, she avoids facing John. The atmosphere inside the car is very silent.

By the way, these two girls haven't gotten used to traveling by car yet. Earlier, they were holding back not to vomit... we stopped our car quite many times 'cause of it.

At last, the situation has now been better. Both of them are now wearing blue face masks, combined with drinking carsick pills on this journey.

Maybe I shouldn't talk more about them. I ignore the girls, I look out of the window to see the scenery of the road. Hmmm... from what I can tell, White House is on sight very clear to me. We'll be there in no time, to visit the fallen.

I later turn my head to the right, looking at my older sister in that dark corner. She's very odd. She wears a yellow hoodie with the hood on her face, sitting like that without saying.

I know my sis is a loner and silent person. She is also "crazy" sometimes, I'm very tired to see her be like that. However, when coming to this world, my sis becomes "peaceful" scarily. She sits on that corner, staying muted.

I don't know how to explain, she glances at me sometimes as if to check on me, making sure I am ok. I hope she won't mind if I ask her something.

"Sis...".

"?". - She looked at me

The hood has covered her face, the angle is also hard for me to conclude if she is looking at me directly or not. My sis goes silent, staring at me mysteriously. Did I just... disturb my older sister?

"Ummm... what are you doin' ? You're behavi-".

"Points... points...". - She slowly pointed to her right ear

I look closely, and spot an airpod attached to her ear. Currently, I am not wearing my SA. Instead, that device is being used by my sis for her private purposes.

"You are... listening to something, sis?".

"Nod". - She nodded, but did not open her mouth.  "Third World War... copied... pasted here... I am reading for her". - All of sudden, my SA spoke up on behalf of my sis

"Okay". - I later looked away, trying not to disturb my older sister's private moment

I got it a bit now. She might've... snapped the shots of the texts from the World War III book that we picked from the Colonel's office room. My sis put it on the device to let her read the book's details for her, I see.

I keep my eyes away from my older sister, and I see another thing in my view. The Limousine is now standing before the White House's gate. Lieutenant Seeley and Colonel Cawess are speaking to a guardsman. Hmmm... maybe.

It's hard to say what are they doing from this distance, since I'm sitting afar from the driver's seat. I don't even wear my SA, so I can't eavesdrop on them even if I want to do that privately.

After a short time of communicating, that guardsman finally sets the gate open. The wheels start rolling once again, and I wait till it parks somewhere to drop us off. Hmmmm... before going down, I must prepare something. Where is it...?

I cannot move freely because the seat belt is limiting my movement. I look around to search for the white bag. Inside it contains food, drinks, some beers, letters and stuff. They are the offerings that I bought, to offer to the fallen of war. I must find it!

In this dimension, the future is too modern and convenient. People don't use, or I should say hardly use paper currency anymore. Instead, crypto currency is now popularly used here, quite much if I should say honestly.

Last night, I decided to stay up late a bit. I asked Seeley to go out with me, purposing to go to some shops in the streets. Because I wanted to buy offerings to pay respect to the fallen, I decided to buy some.

But the problem was, I had no money at all.

Not just me, our group doesn't belong to this world. We came here suddenly, we were too strange and faced some struggle to get used to mostly everything in this new world.

Even using money. Yeah.

I had to use Lt. Seeley's card to buy food, drinks, and stuff to be offerings. The bag was given freely in the shop. Well... I wish I could buy more for the people. I wish I could.

I know dead people cannot eat or drink, they can't even feel pain or anything else. However, I want to follow the formal way. Even when the food I give before the memorial doesn't have anyone to eat, I hope... decent people will give it to the homeless people.

"But now is not the time to think...!". - I held back my voice, I was a bit frustrated when I couldn't find it

That's when someone raises their hand to my face, showing me the white bag. Feeling so happy, I snatch it and check everything inside the bag. Hmmm... it's good when everything is full.

Then I look at the person who gave me the bag. Turns out that is my sis - she returns to her seat, as if she sees nothing happened earlier. Hmmmm.

My older sister intentionally hid the bag? I wonder if she did that... how bad she was.

When I am trying to forgive my older sister, I sense something odd. The Limousine seems to have stopped moving, how strange. Hmmmm... the seat belts from everyone's seats get off automatically. Seems like the car is chosen to park here.

"Alright, people". - The Colonel turned to look at us.  "We will stop here and step down...". - He looked outside.  "This hour is quite empty, we can have more time at the memorial".

He later steps down from the Limousine through the door which had opened for him previously. I glance at others, noticing they are about to go out as well. I also think I should get out of here too.

Then I move to the door, I see my sis raising her hand to the car's door. Maybe she wants me to go out first. Thanks, sis.

I head out, my hand holding the white bag. I look up to check the sky and notice today is a very clear day, rise and shine. Hmmmm... then I return to look around. We are inside the yard, the Limousine strangely parked here.

"Well...". - I pointed my words to the Colonel.  "Why did we park our car here, Sir?".

"We just have little time here so that's why it's parked here, we have to hurry". - Later, he pulled out a cigarette.  "Follow me, people".  "The memorial is on the Ellipse side, we will visit 'em". - He started going

John, Shera and Reimi start following the Colonel's instructions. Only my sis and I stay here to watch the green yard scenery a little bit. Maybe we should keep up with them now. They are not far away yet.

I am about to step forward. However. I notice that Seeley isn't showing up in the group, she doesn't follow her superior to the memorial.

I start looking around to look for her. Then I learn that she is standing seriously before the Limousine, guarding it.

"Sir...?". - She kept her eyes straight, she called me with a cold voice

"Why don't join us?". - I approached her.  "You know... let's visit the heroes a bit".

"I am ordered to stay here and guard...". - She didn't care about my suggestion

"Ok...". - I tiredly looked away.  "By the way... thanks for letting me borrow your card".

"Hey...! What are you doin' ?!". - Surprisingly, Reimi called us

I look at the group's appearance from afar, notice that they are waiting for us. Feeling embarrassed for making them wait for me, I run at them. A bit rushed.

"Ahh...". - I reached my group.  "Sorry sorry... let's move".

The group returns walking to the southside. I follow them and then realize that my older sister doesn't follow us. Turns out she is following us from behind. But she walks slowly, doesn't keep up at all.

"By the way, Johnny". - I walked slowly to make sure my sis would keep up. Colonel spoke up at the same time.  "Have you talked to your people about it?". - Huh?

"Shakes head". - John replied to Col. Cawess

"You should hurry...". - Then he started smoking.  "Blows... blows... blows...". - The white smoke came out and flew around.  "Decide wisely before y'all do this". - He warned us.  "When all of you decide to go, there will be no going back, just forward".

"You said as if standing behind the frontline is dangerous...". - John started getting serious

"The place we're about to go to is safe... but I cannot sure if you and I would be thrown on the battlefield or not".  "Superiors are them, not me".

"John, what does he mean?". - Princess started questioning John worriedly

Reimi stays silent. But I know her mind is asking John the same question as Shera. Hmmm... my sis has come to us after a short time walking. She glances at Commander, same question. So do I.

"I will let y'all have time to decide, take your time...". - Col. Cawess walked away from us a bit.  "As a Fronder - fighting in the frontline is their duty to the last breath".

The space is soon filled with the five of us. Every one of us stares at John, questioning him by just only looking. Staying silent for a while, Commander starts looking at every one of us. He breathes.

"Actually...". - He was a bit hesitated.  "Cawess with go to Japan in day 29th, he has things to solve there, war". - John grinded his voice tone.  "This world is not in peace yet but still... at war with China".  "The Allied, FRONDER or something... will strike in Shanghai on the first day of September".  "Cawess joins there to command troops".

"Ummm... then...?". - Shera was a bit confused

"What is our purpose for going there?". - Reimi asked John doubtfully

"Fighting in there might be the duty the Goddess gave us".

"Might be?!". - Reimi confronted John

"How can I be sure a-".

"Please stop arguing...". - Princess stood between them, raising her hand to stop them from arguing

"In the previous time, I was sent here to fight".  "Well... that was her purpose for sending me here". - He glanced at every one of us.  "This go may have the same purpose too, that's why I think I should follow him".

"But you're about to bring us to warzone, Commander". - Honestly, now I am a bit frustrated

John should have told us about this issue from last night, but he skipped it till we found out about it. All of us are about to come to the warzone, huh? It's gonna be dangerous.

"You should've told us about this earlier, John". - His wife was also pissed off a little

"She said right, my Lord...". - Reimi also agreed.  "What are we gonna do...? We will have to head to the frontline?".

"No no, it's not". - John tried to explain.  "It's my fault for n-". - He suddenly stopped saying, I spotted him gazing at his wife's frustrated expression

"You hate me?".

"I don't". - Shera replied, she was trying to calm down.  "You should've told us about this when it was early...". - Then she grabbed his hand.  "All of us will have to go there? Is that the Goddess's intention?". - She came closer to her husband.  "Tell me".

"We will be safe, we will stay in the rear line". - John replied.  "But I... I asked him to escort me to the frontline when things in there are over, that's all".

"Why, Commander?". - I questioned John

"I believe I must find something there".

"What is it?". - I asked him again, I honestly want to know about the "thing" he wants to find

"I'm not clear about it...". - Later, John looked around.  "Not until I get there".

"Well...". - What should I say next?

"How can you find a thing when you don't know what you exactly want to find?". - Reimi talked to John, expressing her disagreement

"Wait, everyone". - Shera stepped out to protect her husband once again.  "This is not time to argue, we will talk about it further". - She looked at every one of us.  "Until we return to the hotel, alright?".

All of us gaze at John for a moment, then we decide to forget it. The argument ends, but we are now so silent. Maybe all the hatred is pointing to John. We just stand there, going silent.

"We must keep up...". - I spoke up, distracting them from the previous silence

I glance to the right side, seeing the Colonel waiting for us to come. My feet fastly approach him, purposing to head my group to the main objective of coming here. Arguing is now needless, that's why I am trying to calm the situation down.

I come before the Colonel, he's still holding the cigarette. He glances at me for a while, then points his look at John and others. Cawess is waiting.

I return to see the group. Princess is holding her husband's hand, she is comforting him while approaching us. Reimi goes before them, leading the way.

"We are all late...". - Col. Cawess reminded them

He walks away right after reminding us. I wait till my group keeps up with me, then I follow the Colonel to the location of the memorial.

I focus on the path I am going. Walking forward for a short time, before my eyes shows up to be a huge black slate. I feel curious, that's why I move up faster to go alongside the Colonel.

Alright. I see that the slate itself is huge and wide, in a rectangular shape. Someone... is standing before it, huh? Maybe that person is a tourist.

"I thought no one was here this time". - I heard Cawess whisper to himself

I notice the oddness in his talking way. So I look closely at the black slate location. Hmmmm... I can see a person wearing a dark blue coat standing before it. He or she is sobbing... sobbing, huh?

The black slate is away from us not too far. Instead of walking along with the Colonel, I head straight to it. That's it. I am now standing before the giant black slate.

I am surprised to see the hugeness of the black slate. It's wide, tall, huge and... has a special "aura" from its color. Its surface has many writings, written in yellow. I look closely, then I realize those words are names of people.

This must be the memorial? My mind talked to myself.

I later tiptoe, looking from this side to another side, looking above. The yellow name lines are very long, even far above... "thousands of names must've been written in this slate", I think.

This is just the front side of the memorial. I wonder what its backside looks like. Hmmmm... I tilt my head to peek at that side. But I think I should walk there fast.

"Oh...!". - I was walking to the backside, and my feet hit something

I look down. There is a white bag being placed before the memorial, I peek inside it. Hmmmm... some cigarettes, chocolate boxes... and uhh... some photos. That's all I found in the odd bag.

"Aunt...!". - All of sudden, Cawess' voice came up behind me, making me surprised

I look back. I see the aged man approaching the blue-coated person - who happens to be an old lady. That's when I notice John and others have finally kept up with us.

But they seem to keep their distance from the old lady. Hmmm... she is a stranger to me after all. But I spot that she keeps sobbing, even the Colonel is hugging her.

"I'm sorry...". - She let her hands off Cawess.  "Sorry...". - She started wiping her tears.  "You came here to visit 'em too, son?". - She asked him

"Nod".  "With my...". - He glanced at us a bit.  "Friends". - He answered her while staring at her

"Thank God". - She started walking away.  "I'm sorry, but I have to go". - She walked backwardly, looking at the Colonel.  "You rarely come here, please give my nephew and others my regards... I hope they're all happy in the high heaven".  "Sobs... sobs...". - She walked away, focusing on the road and started sobbing once again

The old lady walks away under our sight. A long silence occurs till her appearance fades away from our view.

"Who is she?". - Commander immediately asked Cawess

"Jim's aunt...". - The Colonel said, heading to the slate.  "Don't worry, his parents and she is fine". - He crouched down, pulling out a new cigarette.  "She comes here mostly every day, I think...". - He put that cigarette on the grass, before the slate

"Why cigarette?". - I curiously asked the Colonel

"He loved smoking...". - He stood before the memorial, opposing his back to us

"What are you doing, John?". - Shera curiously questioned her husband

I notice that John is gazing at a space. To be more exact, he's staring at the location the aunt used to go away.

"Nothing". - John replied, walking till he reached the memorial

The rest of us also stand before the slate. I put the white bag on an empty side before going back to my sis. From what I saw, the grass before the memorial... was full of offerings, flowers being put there. That's the way for us to tribute to the heroes.

"This is a memorial of World War III built outside of the White House". - The Colonel told us.  "We had to burn 'em all, no place to burry 'em...". - His pacing was a bit slow. 

"But they remain here, names are filled here". - He put his hand on the slate's surface.  "They will all be remembered, they are heroes, not us...".

"I see quite many names written on in". - Reimi walked around while asking us.  "How many died, Sir...?". - Then she walked to the backside.  "Wait... a statue?". - She was surprised to see the thing on that other side

"424 million people have died in the war". - Wait... that many?! How terrible it was

"What?!". - Shera was quite shocked to know that

"Millions of people...?! Hundreds of millions?!". - Reimi rushed to us as she heard the answer

"90 million of Americans died in the war". - Cawess pressed his hand on the slate's surface tighter than ever.  "Soldiers are written in here... some are unnamed... some didn't have the chance to be on it...". - The Colonel lowered his face, showing both his sorrow and his disappointment

"How many sacrifices...". - Shera and Reimi said out a same quote, they later went silent as if they were too shocked to say anything else

"I understand how you feel, Sir... I'm sorry to hear that". - Somehow, I felt bad for him.  "Men who fought alongside Commander are now on the slate too?". - I pointed my look at John

"Nod... sigh...". - John sighed.  "Sulivan, Pambo... and Haris".

A silence occurs as John finishes speaking. The silence we make, is for showing our respect toward the heroes. They died protecting their homeland, the United States. Even though I wasn't born in this world... this place... looks similar to where I was born.

"Hmmm...". - Cawess glanced at each of us.  "Now... who first? Y'all want to say something to them, right?".

"Ummm...". - Shera was bewildered.  "Should we...?". - She and Reimi looked at each other, thinking.  ".........".

"I'm sorry, Sir Cawess". - She apologized to the Colonel.  "We have nothing with these fallen men... we are not from this country or even have any relationship".  "So...". - She lowered her voice.  "We will be praying, we hope all of them are happy up there".

"Commander?". - I asked him

"I want to say to them later, not now...". - Commander wants to have private moments to confess to the fallen heroes?

"We are here... praying for all of you... heading to the realm of Goddess". - All of sudden, I heard something.  "Despite the differences between our world, our gender, our culture, our nationality and everything else...". 

I look back to see who are speaking... or praying. Somehow, turns out they are Reimi and Princess. Both of them kneeling on the ground, putting their hands together, praying for the passed away.

"Despite the difference... door to heaven always opens with those who sacrificed for their sacred homeland...".

All of sudden, I was hearing their praying then a shadow passed me. That was my sis. She comes before the memorial, then stands straightly, making a serious military salute.

"All of you... fought for your families... your happiness... your birthplace... everything". - She spoke very slowly, but kept saluting.  "Rest in peace, all ways lead to nothingness".  "But heaven comes to you".

Finishing her tribute, my sis silently heads to the backside of the memorial. I see Reimi and Princess are still praying. Maybe I should let them keep doing that. Then I come to the black slate, staring above.

"Ummm...". - I stayed silent for a moment.  "Ummm... well". - Now I am quite hesitated

I think I should speak to the brothers-in-arms who fought alongside John first. After that, I will also speak to other heroes. I hope all of them are now happy up there.

"To the brothers who fought alongside my Commander". - I spoke before the World War III memorial respectfully.  "Thank you for protecting him, being beside him when we were losing him". - I put my hand together, lowering them

"Ummm... I wasn't born in this world, I never go through a world war".  "I never met y'all in my life... but I know all of you deserve to be named here, as the great heroes".

"This world isn't mine... but this place is the United States".  "Different world, but the same country... this can also be considered my homeland".  "You protected your homeland, you fought and died for the country...".

"Please rest in peace...". - Hmmm, I shouldn't make myself tense.  "The offerings I brought here... if y'all can taste them... please enjoy".

Alright. Now I will say something before this memorial, before all American heroes of war.

"I know nothing more to say... all of you are heroes". - Slowly, my right hand started raising.  "You died protecting your country... your families, your descendants and...".

"Ummm...". - I stopped saying.  "I'm sorry... confessing before millions of heroes... is difficult...". - I lowered my face to think what should say next

"I wish the world in the future is a better place... all peace". - I slowly raised my hand.  "War destroyed us but... it taught us... precious things".  "Thanks... for... creating peace, for the future".

"Rest in peace...". - I started making a military salute

I salute before the memorial with my discipline to respect all of the heroes. The moment I do that lasts very short. However... I can feel that those who fought in war, are now in heaven. May God takes them to a good place.

I put my hand down slowly after saluting. The silence before the memorial is still there, we appreciate what those heroes sacrificed for.

"That's enough...". - John from behind put his hand on my right shoulder.  "Both of us need a moment... can you?". - He put it off

John is ordering his wife, Reimi and me not to disturb his private moment. We don't reply to him, but only nod to take the order. Then, I silently walk to the memorial's backside to find my older sister. She is there.

I glance behind and learn that Princess and Reimi are following me. They respect Commander, they want to give him private time to stay in the war memorial alongside his old friend.

I look behind sometimes to check on John. He is standing beside the Colonel, straightly standing before the slate. They look like father and son somehow. Especially when their faces look similar, though they have some differences due to aging.

I come to the memorial's backside, and see my sis standing before a statue. That's a soldier statue, with a green color. According to me, its height might be 10 meters (or 32,8 feet if I count out).

He is a US soldier, wielding an assault rifle. A "dead" soldier.

That GI makes a straight pose, wearing a gasmask. He looks forward, seems to be gazing at something far away, endlessly. His military helmet is lowered to the right. It covers his eyes completely, so I cannot see.

His feet look feeble. They are holding the ground, as if those feet are trying to stand still. Not yet. His right hand - which is holding the rifle, lowers till the rifle's barrel itself reaches the ground.

It shows me as if this US soldier is completely exhausted, he has no more strength to fight. But with his endless willingness power, he does his best, for the country.

The statue also shows me how much wounded and battered this soldier has. His combat uniform is torn out quite much, scratched due to colliding, fighting and falling. His rifle seems to be quite rusty, old. One of his hands loses one glove, he loses one little finger and is bleeding.

While staring at the soldier statue, I notice that someone is crouching down. I look down, and turns out Princess is doing that, I wonder why. Instead of asking her, I observe her a bit. Interesting.

Below of the statue has a blackboard. Princess has already covered the board, so I basically cannot read it. Maybe that board has the intel about the statue that I wanna know. I hope she reads it out for me to listen to.

Somehow I don't see Reimi following her. I look back, checking... and I see Reimi standing behind to guard.

"Those who want peace...". - Princess suddenly spoke up.  "That's the statue's name". - She looked back.  "Is that a too strange name for a statue?". - She asked me curiously

"Maybe not, Princess...". - Done hearing, she turned her head back to watch the board

"This statue was built by William Granddess - an ... ex Third World War... vet?". - She was bewildered in the last line.  "Ex-vet?".

"Veteran". - I answered her

"Okay". - Shera later returned to read the next followings

"This statue was built on day 11th of December, 2044".  "And finished in Fourth of July, 2045". - She stared at other following lines.  "In the first years of the war, many combatants who died were the young".  "They were left behind the battlefield, their "parents of war", those who were supposed to stay to assist them... left them".

"At that time, B28 was unbeatable... no way to cheat death when you inhaled it". - Reading for a while, she looked at me.  "B28...?".

"Cawess told me that was a chemical weapon of war".

"?".

"I mean... you inhale it, you will surely die, no exception".

"It is more like a horrible disease...". - Reimi approached me, wondering.  "Die instantly? From inhaling it?".

"I dunno...". - I need to experience it to know how terrible that weapon was

Despite having an unclear answer, Princess keeps crouching there. She looks carefully at the followings.

"That weapon had caused much pain".  "Soldiers deployed to the battlefield, some died before they could run away, some before they could shoot...".  "Instant death was the thing all of them had to face, anytime, anywhere".  "All of them were just kids, dragged to the military, some volunteered... but no one truly wanted to go". - Then Shera stopped speaking, but read the followings silently

"These heroes died protecting their country... this statue... shows their greatness".  "From the beginning to the last, without them, this nation would never remain on earth this long".

"The fallen fought to bring us the "true peace"... may you all rest in peace". - The blackboard's details ended there, showing nothing more

Shera stands up after reading the paragraphs. She looks above, staring at the statue's battered face, thinking.

"He looks... sad?". - She spoke to herself

"You said it right, my Highness...". - Reimi passed me, approaching Shera.  "Young... but had to die for a useless war". - She put her hands on both of her biceps, focused on the statue's face

I later walk to the right side to peek a little bit. I want to see how John and the Colonel are doing before the memorial. Somehow my eyes catch the scene of my sis. It surprised me a little bit. I almost forgot my older sister was here.

"Give them... time...". - She told me

Done saying, my older sister walks past me and goes around the statue. She stares at every part of the soldier, from the outside to the inside literally if I have to say so.

I also start gazing at the green soldier statue. I start thinking about the young who fought in the war. They were young. They did not deserve to be away from the world just because of a war like this.

"World is wonderful... but why we keep...".

"What... all of them?". - Suddenly, I heard footsteps and voices coming toward us

I look back, and see John and Cawess heading to us from the front side of the slate. They talk while walking together, seems to be important. I wonder what are they chatting about.

Both of them keep talking till they reach the location of the soldier statue. John pauses, then slowly looks above. Colonel also does the same, lightly tapping John's right shoulder.

"They must be proud to see the future you made, Caw". - John said to the Colonel with his tired voice.  "They are resting in peace, don't worry". - He tapped Cawess' shoulder twice before getting off him

John later comes close to the soldier statue. His wife follows him and holds his hand, seeming to be asking him to check if he is fine or not. Reimi just keeps silent, and prays lowly.

All of us keep up with John, we come before the statue and see it. Cawess gives a military toward the statue, shortly we follow the same thing as he did previously.

All of us, standing before the statue, saluting. We show all of our respect to those who died in the war, the heroes. The sun goes high when we are saluting. It lights up the statue, making the soldier becomes great and powerful.

"Rest in peace...".

...

...

...

...

...

...

...

...

...

...

...

...

We were supposed to be escorted back to the hotel. However, no. After visiting the World War III memorial, Colonel suggested we do something else. Preparing for our "new lives" in this world.

We temporarily decided to follow Commander to Japan to join the invasion of Shanghai alongside the Allied named FRONDER. However, this decision may be reconsidered as we return to the hotel and have more comfortable moments.

Above all, this is a "No going back" decision. We need to think about it wisely and carefully, from all steps. Although we won't join the frontline, joining the operation itself is dangerous.

"Just take your time and decide this entire night, ok?". - Col. Cawess said back to us

He is now sitting in the driver's seat, alongside his secretary - Lieutenant Seeley. They are escorting us to places that they say "important to head to" to prepare ourselves. So tiring.

On the contrary, all of us are sitting on the backside of the Limousine. Right at this time, we're making a "mini important meeting" in this car to decide more further.

"But where are you takin' us to exactly?". - Commander asked Cawess

"Many things need to be done, y'all cannot follow me to Japan together".  "Using flight for civilians is the only way". - Colonel unpleasantly explained to us, his mouth sometimes blew out the smoke.  "Many shits".

"But why, Sir?". - Shera spoke up

"Military laws...".  "Ah, y'all also need fake dossiers".  "Sigh... why do I have to bring shit to my own?". - His head popped up, then he sighed out the smoke tiredly

"Your IDs, vaccines shit, passports, COVID stuff...". - Then he looked back.  "To sum up everything... we need to finish it in only today". - Colonel returned to smoking, staring at the car's screen

"IDs?". - Reimi was bewildered

"Uhhh... that can be considered to be citizen card". - I explained to her lowly

"Still have vaccines for COVID in the future, Caw? What the hell?". - John was quite confused

"Not just COVID...".  "Blows". - Maybe I should say the smoke from his cigarette is covering the entire inside of the car.  "You may get diseases from my world, so do I when I am among "you ancients"... ok?".  "Uhhh... getting vaccinated will make things better". - Cawess stared at Princess and Reimi

"What's about CDC...? Nevermind...". - He changed his decision as he saw John glaring

"Ahhh... fuck". - Colonel frustratedly swore.  "You guys will surely depend on me if things keep going like this...".

"I'm sure will be handing 'em watches and accounts, Sir". - Lt. Seeley eased Colonel

"Yeah, you're a reliable one".  "Make sure to guide them to use UAC, its valuation is also different from each country". - UAC? Some kind of the future's currency? Or else?

However, all of us decide to keep silent. We may find out things we need to know ourselves instead of keeping asking John's old friend.

We later go on relaxed, easing our minds. We start enjoying the motion of the Limousine moving on the wide road.