The Last Embrace

At that time Jagger was cooking something in the tiny kitchenette adjacent to the living room and his eyes grow brighter upon seeing his two favorite people in the world.

"Wow, I"m just lucky today!" he grinned, he waved at them to join him in the kitchen.

Roden and Jessy walked towards the kitchenette.

"Wow, I smell something delicious!" Jessy exclaimed, feeling hungry all of a sudden.

"What that horrible smell, brother?" Roden looked at the stuff his brother was cooking in the electric stove, his nose crinkled.

"Ah, just some vegetable stew mixed with bits of pork meat and cooked it with oysters sauce. I saw how it"s cooked on one of the videos on the internet. I craved eating this thing so I decided to cook it on my own," Jagger elaborated. He added some spices and herbs and a little bit of salt to taste.

"It looks delicious," Jessy murmured.

"Wanna taste it?" Jagger gives the ladle to her.

"Sure..." Jessy tasted the dish. "It"s perfect already! Do you have cooked rice?"

"Yeah. You should eat with me, Jess, just like old times," he suggested, he was missing eating with her just like they always did in the forest.

"Of course, let"s eat together, just like old times," Jessy beamed and went to the tiny rice cooker and scooped rice into the platter and arranged plates, pork and tablespoon in the table nearby.

Finally, the vegetable was already cooked and ready to serve.

Jagger put the appetizing dish in the platter and he joined Jessy in the table. He looked at his brother. "Wanna join us, bro?"

Roden smiled and shook his head. "Nah, enjoy your food guys. I will just wait for you here in the living room," he said and went to the sofa and reached for the remote control ad power on the television.

Back in the table, Jessy and Roden were enjoying eating the delicious and healthy dish.

Jessy looked at Jagger in the eyes. "They will send you to Kuwait because the Iraqi forces invaded Kuwait. Coalition forces from 35 countries will join hand in hand to liberate Kuwait from the Iraqi invasion. There"s going to be lots of blood spilled in the ground, ma.s.sive loss of infrastructure and great damage after the war. If all these can be avoided, that would be great," she informed him.

"And what you want me to do?" Jagger asked in a serious tone.

"Simple," Jessy replied. "Go for the leader of the Iraqi invaders. Make him surrender so that peace can be obtained without war. I pity the soldiers" lives that are going to be wasted in this war and the innocent people who will suffer greatly just because of one man"s greed and evilness. If you can get him to surrender, the coalition forces won"t attack and there will be no war and no life will be lost on both sides. Got it?"

"And if he won"t surrender?"

"You know what to do," Jessy said fiercely. "One person"s life compared to many are nothing."

"I got it, Jess. Rest a.s.sured I will do my best," he responded.

"Do you know how to make a barrier and shield around your body so that you won"t be harm by bullets or any weapons?" she asked.

"Yeah, sort of. Why? Are you going to make me a shield?" he asked.

"Yes," she answered.

"Why?"

"Because I want to see my friend back alive after the Gulf War," she said seriously.

Jagger smiled. "Thanks for your concern, Jess."

Jessy freezes him instantly and placed her hands above his head. A golden glow enveloped Jagger"s whole body from head to toe.

A few minutes later, Jessy finished wrapping Jagger"s body with the same shield she put around her body that would prevent any types of weapon from penetrating his skin. "Done," she said and unfreeze Jagger.

"Eh? You have done something to me?" he asked in puzzlement.

"Yeah. Just a gift from me. I made you a body shield so that you can return home safe and alive," she answered.

Jagger grinned, basking in her enduring kindness, he felt profound happiness surging in his soul. Even if Jessy didn"t love him she did care for his safety and it"s something that he always cherishes. "Thank you for your friendship, Jess," he said softly.

"Don"t mention it," Jessy replied.

A few minutes later, they were done eating. Roden stood up and took a soda from the fridge and handed one can to Jessy.

"Thank you," she accepted the refreshing drink.

After finishing the soda, she helped Jagger cleaned the table and washed the dishes in the sink.

Done in the kitchen.

They joined Roden in the living room and the next few hours they were discussing animatedly the government"s offer of clemency.

Roden was amazed. "I"m willing to volunteer, Jess, on your behalf," he eagerly said.

Jessy smiled feeling grateful for Roden"s offer. She can use his offer one day. But not right now. Roden"s skill can be used in the Facility and Habitat just in case things will get messy in the future. "You belong in the Facility and Habitat, Roden. We need as many capable individuals there that would protect out fortress just in case something goes wrong when I"m not around," she explained. Beside Mahlia and the kids needed their father"s presence. While she has got nothing to lose.

"Ah, okay. I got it. Just in case you change your mind don"t hesitate to tell me," Roden said.

The brothers catch up and discuss family matters and other things while Jessy watched randoms show on TV.

Half an hour later, Jessy and Roden bid goodbye to Jagger.

"By the way, Jagger. Did you buy all these appliances here?" she asked while roaming her eyes around the pad.

"Nah. The appliances and furniture were already here before I come. All I brought here was my personal belongings and other stuff, the rest are not mine," he said.

"Good. I will come back tomorrow afternoon to fetch you because I"m going to bring you to the military camp. Just get ready and packed some of your stuff in a bag, okay?" she instructed him.

"Yes, Ma"am," he gave her a hand salute.

Jessy smiled back at him. "Good! We"re leaving now."

The brothers parted after a warm hug to each other.

Within a minute, Roden and Jessy vanished from the room.

***

Authors Note:

This chapter is dedicated to all who died in the Gulf War between 1990-1991, the year when Iraqi soldiers under the command of their leader invaded Kuwait. Based on my research on the Gulf War dubbed as Operation Desert Storm in WikiPedia, an estimated 25,000 up to 50,000 Iraqi soldiers were killed during the war. This goes to show that when great power was abused by one greedy leader who refused to surrender, it can lead to ma.s.sive lose of lives of his follower.

A modern war real life tragedy, due to greed, power grab and invasion of another country.

So...Tragic and Sad.

Rest in Peace to all soldiers and civilians who perished on the Gulf War 1990~1991.