Chapter 111: Assisting the Survivors - II

By early afternoon, most of the marked containers were gone.

The convoy turned toward Route One with the remaining allocation.

Those supplies belonged to the fourteen survivors recovered during the original sweep.

The two Pillboxes tracked the Guardian APC as it approached Ramp Four. Both weapons returned toward the road after recognizing the convoy.

The convoy passed through Ramp Four.

Priya stepped out once the vehicles stopped near the receiving station.

The family of three remained there.

The woman could now stand without help, though the bandage around her ankle remained. Her husband carried several folded blankets from the warehouse while their daughter followed behind him.

The girl noticed Priya beside the supply vehicle.

"You came back."

Priya lifted one of the smaller containers.

"We said we would."

The girl looked toward the boxes.

"Did they take them?"

"Most did."

"Are they coming here?"

"Not yet."

The girl accepted the answer without pressing further.

Soldiers began unloading the portion marked for Route One.

Food went toward the warehouse.

Medicine remained with the Medics.

Clothing and hygiene supplies were placed beside the receiving station, where the survivors could collect what they needed without entering the military storage areas.

Three people entered through the smaller Gate while the unloading continued.

Priya recognized the agents immediately.

Agent Johannes walked in front, the scar running from his jaw toward his cheek. Evelyn followed several steps behind him, while Marcus remained quiet and watched the vehicles more than the people around them.

One of the guards addressed the first man.

"Agent Johannes."

"Is the Commander here?"

"No. He left for Site Three."

Johannes looked through Ramp Four toward the road deeper into Westgate.

"I see. The man has become difficult to find lately."

"You walked all this way to discover that?" Evelyn asked.

"We needed the exercise."

Evelyn gave him a flat look.

Marcus ignored both of them and approached the nearest stack of containers. His eyes moved across the labels attached to their sides.

"Food. Medicine. Civilian clothing."

Johannes stopped beside him.

"For the survivors?"

"Yes, sir," one Army Soldier answered. "Some were delivered to the groups remaining inside Westgate. These are for the civilians sheltered here."

Evelyn watched another box disappear into the receiving station.

"Even the people who refused evacuation received supplies?"

"Those willing to accept them."

The soldier continued working.

Evelyn turned toward Johannes.

"I expected more patrols and another military position. Not this."

"So did I," Johannes shook his head.

"You called him humanitarian before."

"He called himself that."

"And you believed him?"

Johannes watched Priya and the other soldiers unload the remaining food.

"More now than I did then."

Marcus looked toward him but said nothing.

Evelyn folded her arms.

"He is more helpful than I expected."

Johannes’s mouth curved slightly.

"That makes two of us."

....

Priya lifted another box from the vehicle.

The three visitors remained beside the receiving station, close enough that their conversation carried across the unloading area.

Johannes stepped aside when Priya approached.

"Where does that one go?"

She looked at the label.

"Receiving station."

Johannes took the box from her before she could move past him.

It had taken both of Priya’s arms to carry.

He held it against one side without effort. Evelyn stared at him.

"You came here to find Hans."

"He is not here."

"That does not mean you have to start carrying boxes."

Johannes continued toward the receiving station.

"It would be rude to stand around," he turned to Priya. "Shouldn’t be a problem if we helped?"

Priya nodded.

With the confirmation, Marcus took another container from the vehicle without saying anything. Evelyn looked between both men.

Neither stopped.

She released a quiet breath before picking up a stack of folded clothes from beside the truck.

Priya watched them for a moment.

Every soldier in the army knew the three agents by now. Their names and faces were included in the briefings given to newly trained units.

Agent Johannes.

Evelyn.

Marcus.

They were usually found around the main base, sometimes alongside Kimmy and Yunera, though none of them carried Hans’s insignia or answered through the same chain of command.

Johannes returned after placing the container near the receiving station.

"Is there another one?"

Priya pointed toward the second vehicle.

"Medicine stays with the Medics. The rest can go beside the clothing."

"That, I can manage."

He moved toward the marked stack.

Marcus had already lifted another box before Johannes reached him. Evelyn remained beside the folded clothes, carrying more than Priya expected from someone who had complained only a moment earlier.

The young girl approached again.

She stayed close to her father at first, then moved several steps toward Priya once the adults continued unloading.

"Who are they?" she asked.

"The three people?"

The girl nodded.

"They are friends with the Commander."

"Are they soldiers?"

"Sort of."

The girl looked toward Johannes as he carried another container with one arm.

"He looks strong."

"He is."

Johannes heard her.

His mouth curved faintly, though he continued walking without commenting.

Evelyn noticed.

"Do not encourage him."

"I said nothing," Johannes replied.

"You did not need to."

Marcus placed his container beside the receiving station. "She has a point."

Johannes looked toward him. "You too?"

Marcus returned to the vehicle without answering.

Priya lowered her head slightly, hiding the small smile that formed.

The unloading continued.

With the three agents helping, the remaining containers disappeared from the vehicles faster than expected. Food entered the warehouse. Clothing and hygiene supplies stayed beside the receiving station, while the Medics took charge of anything marked for treatment.

Once the final box was removed, Priya checked the empty cargo section.

Nothing remained except the straps that had held everything in place.

The delivery run was complete.

"Escort teams, mount up."

Priya climbed into the Guardian APC with the other Scouts.

Outside, the supply vehicles closed their empty cargo sections. The Medics carried the last sealed containers into the receiving station while the fourteen survivors returned to their rooms or remained near the warehouse.

The young girl stood beside her father.

She raised one hand toward Priya before the rear ramp began to close.

Priya returned the gesture.

Johannes approached the platoon leader.

"Where are you returning?"

"To the FOB."

Johannes looked toward the road, then nodded. "We’ll find him later."