"Well, shit's going downhill fast" said Victor as he lightly tapped his cigarette over an ashtray located on the coffee table in the center of the living room.
"I wonder what happened during the people's protest for the president to declare martial law" added Andrei as he looked toward channel one to gain any more details on the situation. Just as Andrei finished speaking his wife, Cecilia, entered the living room and added on to the conversation.
"While you two were at the bar, I talked with Mrs. Tsiolkovsky from next door as I was returning from the grocery store. She mentioned her husband's worsening condition after taking the serum, so their son went to protest alongside other tenants on Lenina Street. Around thirty thousand people gathered and clashed with the politsiya. It got so bad that the local Rosgvardiya had to be called in to contain the protest. According to Mrs. Tsiolkovsky, the march became so chaotic that many people, including her son, were hospitalized" recalled Cecilia in a slightly worried tone.
"Thirty thousand?!" exclaimed Victor in a surprised voice before continuing, "Just imagine the scale of protesters in Voronezh or Moscow"
"Hey, check it out" said Andrei as he motioned the two to look towards the television screen. Focusing their attention towards the TV, both Victor and Cecilia found a scene of a man in his early twenties, with blonde hair neatly combed to the side, adorned with a blue suit paired with a red tie over a white shirt on the screen documenting the latest details of the protest that happened earlier in the day.
"Today at 14:24, a seemingly peaceful protest on Lenina Street erupted into chaos after protesters attacked the politsiya by throwing bricks, water bottles, and even trash bins. In response, the politsiya advanced and launched tear gas canisters, disrupting the crowd and arresting individuals on the spot. However, injuries occurred as protesters began jumping directly on officers in an attempt to fight back. Due to the escalating violence, the Rosgvardiya stationed outside of Kursk was called into action by Governor Alexander Mikhailov to restore order. Soon after, the conflict subsided, but it left an estimated twenty-seven dead and hundreds injured, with injuries ranging from minor to critical." soon after the news reporter finished speaking the screen switched to recorded footage of the protest earlier in the day.
Hovering hundreds of meters off the ground, a black AS350 B2 helicopter recorded the events below through an electronic news-gathering camera fitted with a gyroscopic stabilizer mounted on its nose. Circling above the mass of protesters, the camera provided viewers with detailed close-ups of individuals as it zoomed in on them. As the camera swept across the crowd, a news anchor narrated the unfolding events.
"Here we see the local politsiya and rosgvardiya working together to disperse the protesters and restore order to the city. At the forefront, the most intense fighting is visible even from afar, with protesters and law enforcement engaged in a fierce brawl" reported the news anchor.
The camera zoomed in on a group of protesters working together to overpower a riot shield officer. In other places, a group of officers was seen dragging protesters toward the arrest team at the rear, using their batons to deter others from approaching. Amidst the chaos, a deathly pale protester lunged at a distracted officer and bit his neck, spewing blood nearby. In response, nearby officers began to beat the pale protester senseless with their batons while dragging the injured officer to the rear.
Watching the recorded footage from earlier in the day, Cecilia couldn't help but feel disturbed, as she was unaccustomed to such acts of violence. In contrast, Victor and Andrei watched calmly, having seen and experienced much worse than what was occurring on screen.
"Seeing the city's public order deteriorating I think its best to head home. A shame I can't taste the dishes you prepared Cecilia" apologized Victor as he got up from the couch.
"You have nothing to apologize for, Victor. Maybe after Putin retracts the order of martial law, you can" assured Cecilia. Nodding in agreement, Victor began putting on his shoes while Andrei came from behind with the intention of seeing Victor out.
"I'll walk you out" said Andrei as Victor finished putting on his shoes. Soon after, both men left the apartment and entered the elevator, heading down to the lobby. Nearly half a minute later, the elevator doors opened, revealing an empty floor with only a security guard by the entrance - a stark contrast from when they first arrived.
Seeing two men heading for the entrance, the guard was quick to intercept them before relaying the orders given by his superiors.
"Forgive me sirs, but as you most probably heard from earlier both President Putin and Governor Mikhailov has ordered for martial law. As a result, a curfew has been ordered for all people of Kursk. No person is allowed to leave their residence before 10:00 and after 20:00 unless mentioned otherwise" pausing, the guard looked down at his watch before continuing "It's currently 21:36, so you two must return to your residence and wait until tomorrow if you want to leave" finished the guard.
Understanding that Victor wasn't able to leave, Andrei offered for him to stay the night at his apartment. Accepting the offer, both men walked back to the elevator and returned to Andrei's apartment.
Upon entering, the distinct sound of tableware being placed on the table and the rustling of chairs at the dining room table could be heard from the hallway. Cecilia, emerging from the dining room, was surprised to see Victor again, as he had said he would be leaving for the night. Seeing his wife's puzzled look, Andrei explained what had happened in the lobby to which she quickly understood.
"Let me grab another set of tableware for you, Victor. I only prepared for the three of us since I thought you were leaving" said Cecilia before she headed to the kitchen cabinets to fetch another set. Returning from the kitchen, Cecilia gently placed Victor's tableware on the dining table before calling for her daughter, Lucia, to join them for dinner. The hinges of a door could be heard opening from the direction of the living room, and a slightly pale girl, appearing to weigh around forty-six kilograms and standing no taller than 162 centimeters, timidly walked toward the dining room table.
Seeing his daughter join them, Andrei gestured to Victor to sit down, to which he complied, followed by the remaining members of the family. Placed in the middle of the table was a platter of Beef stroganoff, a large serving bowl of steaming Solyanka and several side dishes. Taking the lead, Cecilia, placed a variety of dishes on her daughters plate. Soon followed the clatter of cutlery, obnoxious sounds of chewing and topics over mundane matters filled the confines of the small apartment.
Nearly two hours after dinner, with everyone fast asleep, Victor laid on the couch in the living room, his back pressed against the cushion seats and his head resting between his interlocked hands, staring at the ceiling. Retired for nearly five years, Victor has struggled falling asleep, often taking hours to do so after lying down. The comfort and sense of security one typically desires at home was foreign to him. Missions, both domestic and overseas, have gradually taken a toll on his body, leaving behind scars, tears, and disfigurement. He was no longer the energetic man he was twenty years ago, now just a husk of his former self. Lost in his thoughts, Victor slowly drifted to sleep in the early hours of the morning.
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Politsiya - Russian Police
Rosgvardiya - Russian National Guard