A mass of people dressed in a mix of black and camouflaged clothing circled around a white marble court house marred with graffiti and scorch marks kept at bay with a long chain linked fence. Shouts rang out from the crowd chanting insults, invoking the names of people killed by police, and promises of no peace without justice. Hoods, face masks, and umbrellas obscured the identify of the individuals pressing into the fence line shaking and rocking the barricade further back and forth with each passing moment. Roman candles and fire crackers tossed over the barricade snap and explode against the boarded up windows and doors of the court house leaving trails of sulfuric smoke drifting into the night sky.
After a large concentrated effort from the mob the fence line teeters before a segment falls over, the weight dragging down the adjacent sections and clearing a path to the courthouse for the cheering crowd. As the assembled protesters pushed through the opening the doors to the court house opened as a line of riot gear dressed federal agents rushed outside to meet the group that had breached the perimeter. Canisters of tear gas and flash bangs are shot towards the trespassers as a voice from a loud speaker declares the protest an illegal gathering and orders them to disperse. Some of the non lethal ordnance launched at the masses are deflected by the umbrellas while members within the mob use leaf blowers to push back the smoke from grenades that got through towards the federal officers.
Forming into a shield wall the federal agents moved towards the breech as a unit, pushing away and lashing out with batons at any protester that didn?t fall back away from the building. As members of the gathering were struck and shoved by the officers the group fell back away from the building moving back across the street reforming in the park. The federal agents well outnumbered halted their advance just outside the breech in the fence line continuing to launch tear gas and flash bangs while members of their team struggled to erect the downed section of barricade. The effort proved useless as the linked segments only weighted each other down and would have to be cut loose before they could be returned up right and secured again.
In the park the masses were surging and a barrage of fire works were launched at the shield wall protecting the officers attempting to reestablish the barricade. The chanting of no justice no peace grew louder as the protesters had driven back the majority of the smoke with their leaf blowers and reformed into a cohesive group. Lifting signs, umbrellas, home made shields, and throwing water bottles the mob made ready to advance back towards the officers. Abandoning their efforts with the fence line the federal officers retreated back inside the court house and secured the building at the entrances leaving the streets and walls in possession of the crowd.
Collin watched the screen on his school notepad silently and with a mix of emotions ranging from anxiety, anger, and relief as the interaction played out on his media browser. The thirteen year old fox raccoon hybrid had been struggling through the miserable year as best he could despite the many disruptions setting everyone at greater unease with each passing month. Being home schooled left a lot of unstructured time and the kit had found watching reports on the news fascinating and terrorizing but at least a good way to pass the time once his online lessons concluded. His father had agreed to allow him to read and watch reports but not engage in discussion on social media because of his age.
The restriction was mildly irritating and somewhat insulting but Collin had yet convinced his father to let him on Twitter or Facebook. Limited to texting between his friends, family, and teachers fit well with the restrictions of his school issued note book and what apps were allowed there. But the kit was granted access to a private tablet that allowed access to YouTube with all comments turned off, Google, games, and telegram as long as anyone Collin added to his contacts also was added to his fathers as well. It was a chance for the boy to prove himself trust worthy and responsible with access to the online world will exposed to it in a safe manner as his father had put it.
It also felt somewhat hypocritical as Collin had seen his father Andrew earn the ire of his partner Trent more then a number of times by getting overly excited and worked up when reading and posting on social media. Especially with all the protests happening and his father getting to go to them and reporting what he saw for his work and getting to share with others. Collin knew it was important because his father was so excited and adamant about it all, having hushed and heated arguments with Trent about it more and more. Collin wasn?t stupid, he knew how worried and angry Trent was getting that his dad kept going to the protests despite how much his father insisted the ones in Wisconsin weren?t that dangerous.
Conversations between his fathers Collin wanted to be part of as he was starved for interaction on the important matters of the day as well as the wanting to be part something important. Andrew had taken the usual approach when the kit brought up questions returning with inquires of his own to see what Collin thought about the issue or knew why certain things happened as they did letting the boy think hard on what he was asking about and reason his own way through it as best he can. Trent was far more reserved on the particular issue of the protests, making sure Collin knew how best to not get into altercations and what to do if they did happen. But it was always guarded as if both his dads were uneasy how best to approach the topic and how much to give out an anxiety that only frustrated the boy even more.
The matter finally came to a head at dinner after Collin?s dad got a phone call from his guard post and pulled out his duffle bag packing in his uniform unexpectedly well before week end drill. Sitting down the trio ate quietly over the ham and scalloped potatoes as the tension thickened in the kitchen. Trent slowly picked at his plate, the hare frowning long ears stiff down his back as he chewed slowly through his meal glancing over at his partner with clear irritation. Andrew ate diligently savoring the meal trying to show appreciation to his partners efforts with little calming effect.
``They calling you up to go to Kenosha aren't they?'' Trent asked tersely the hare glaring in frustration and anxiety, ``Why else would they call tonight?''
``Yes,'' Andrew stated evenly with the certainty and resolve of one already committed to a path, ``We can talk about it after supper. It shouldn't be for to long. Don't worry.''
``When you transferred to the guard you promised this kind of deployment wouldn't happen again.'' Trent said accusingly tapping the floor with his foot nervously.
``No, I said I wouldn't be deployed over seas again.'' Andrew said looking pointedly at his partner, ``This isn't the same thing. This isn't as dangerous. Don't worry.''
``You know what happened in Kenosha,'' Trent snapped indignantly, ``What's still happening. It's getting out of control. You shouldn't have to be doing this. You could have got out on a medical a long time ago. You should have.''
``After dinner.'' Andrew spoke with frustration and a little bite before relenting at the anxiety in his partners eyes, ``Please.''
Collin sat transfixed not touching his plate as his fathers argued over his service, a disturbing change to the normally prideful history it had been. The kit hadn't been adopted yet when Andrew lost a leg in Iraq and only had limited detail about that war, but he knew Kenosha was only a couple hours away from their house. That something dangerous enough was happening there that his father was being called into uniform to handle it was unsettling. Watching Trent relent after glancing at him from across the table only solidified the worry growing in the kit's stomach.
``What's happening in Kenosha?'' Collin asked pointedly looking between his dads trying not to sound frightened. ``I thought you said it was alright for people to protest. You've been to marches with them.''
Andrew sighed closing his amber eyes and rubbing his face tiredly as he collected his thoughts on the matter. Trent glancing over apologetically but still with a disapproving air caught with the responsibility of exposing the conflict at home and out in the city.
``Protesting is alright but not everyone is protesting,'' Trent started to explain, pausing to try and frame it right, ``Some are breaking the law and making it dangerous for anyone to be out there even the protesters.''
``So you're going to go to Kenosha and chase away the protesters?'' Collin asked disapprovingly recalling the videos of the Portland protests he had just watched, ``You're going to tear gas the crowds even after you marched with them?''
``Collin your dad is not going to tear gas anyone,'' Trent defending his partner sensing the outrage building in the kit, ``He's going to make sure no one else gets hurt. He's going to make it safer for everyone that lives there as well as the protesters.''
``By beating them up?'' Collin accused his dad confused and anger how he could turn his back on the people he so vigorously supported. ``You said the police aren't soldiers. That they have to be held accountable for when they make a mistake or break the law. That the laws don't do that. That's why you're protesting right?''
``Collin you don't understand,'' Trent tried to interject, ``It's more complicated then that. Your dad still supports the protests. But the protests have to be done the right way. If they don't they only make it worse for everyone.''
``You're going to do to them what they did to the ones in Portland.'' the kit barked angerly indignant on behalf of the protesters, ``How can you do that?''
The kitchen went quiet for a long minute while Collin waited for an answer, Trent stunned and worried while Andrew sat eyes closed struggling to compose the right response. Finally he looked up sadden and sickened by what he was required to do, but prepared to explain it to his son.
``Do you know why the police in Portland used tear gas on the protesters?'' The ferret asked patiently falling into his responsibility to educate his son.
``Because they tore down the fence.'' Collin said sullenly vividly remembering the video.
``And why did they have to have a fence up?'' Andrew asked his son taking his time and making the kit think it through.
``Because they didn't want them getting into the building.'' Collin said being rational about the reason.
``And because they have to be able to get in and out of the building at will to preform their duties and in case of a fire,'' Andrew stated leading into his next question, ``If the building started on fire or someone got sick inside and needed an ambulance would they be able to get people in and out safely with that many people in the way?''
``No.'' Collin admitted softly, ``But they could have moved if they were asked.''
``Did anyone ask them to move away from the building after the fence was pulled down?'' Andrew asked pointedly as Trent watched on pensively.
``Yes.'' The kit confirmed feeling heated and pressured.
``And did they move away?'' Andrew asked patiently and softly trying to keep the edge off his voice.
``No.'' Collin stated frustrated and disappointed.
``What did they do to the police trying to put the fence back up?'' Andrew asked knowing the answer.
``They threw bottles and fireworks at them,'' Collin said miserably, ``But it's because they got tear gassed and beat up by the police!''
``They would not have been tear gassed if they hadn't pulled down the fence,'' Andrew explained to his son, ``When they did that they stopped being protesters and became hostile antagonists. They could stand on the other side of the fence and say whatever they wanted. But once they pulled it down they went to far.''
``So that's what your going to go do,'' Collin asked stubbornly, ``Wait until they pull down a fence and then chase them off?''
``People have started a lot of fires, and are robbing stores,'' Andrew informed his son while Trent watched wondering if all the danger would be brought to light and if it was a good idea to do so, ``I'm going to help keep the streets clear for the fire trucks and ambulances to get where they need to go. I?m going to prevent people from starting more fires, or rob stores. I will not be arresting anyone because I'm not a police officer.''
``Will you have to shoot anyone?'' Collin asked bitterly his own anxiety and sense of injustice warring in his mind.
``Collin that's enough,'' Trent snapped knowing well enough that armed vigilantes as well as armed protesters had been reported in the news, ``You don't know what your talking about.''
``Because you won't talk to me about it!'' Collin yelled tearing up looking at his dad while gripping his chair tightly in both hands, ``You won't let me talk to anyone about it! But I'm not stupid. You let me read the news. I know people have gotten shot. Will you have to shoot anyone?''
Andrew looked wounded and Trent in a near panic as Collin grit his teeth as he waited for an answer he already suspected the truth of. A tear rolled down from his emerald eye as the boy fought hard not to break down angry and afraid and not sure who to aim it all at.
``Come here,'' Andrew said softly pushing away from the table and holding out a hand, ``Collin come here.''
Collin whined as he pushed back his chair and approached his father slowly hating how he felt and his inability to control it. Pulling his son into his arms Andrew held him close feeling a shudder and a sob escape the boy as he tried to reassure him with his warmth. Trent reached out a hand and rubbed Collin's back as he rested his head in his father's chest.
``No one is going to try and shoot at us,'' Andrew said with as much as he could muster confidence, ``We won't have to shoot anyone. No one sticks around once the Guard is called out.''
``It could happen,'' Collin whined muffled in his father?s shirt, ``I don't want you to have to shoot someone. I don't want you to get shot.''
``I know kiddo,'' Andrew said stroking his son's hair, ``I don?t want to ether. I promise we're going to do everything we can to make sure everyone gets home.''
``How long do you have to do it?'' Collin asked pulling away a little to look up at his fathers eyes.
``Once people stop setting fires and robbing stores,'' Andrew said wiping away the tears, ``We really do want people to be able to gather peacefully. There's a lot that needs to be fixed. But they can't do it safely if peoples homes and shops are burning down. You understand right?''
Collin nodded and took a deep breath feeling more certain of things despite his fears. His appetite ruined the kit looked to be excused.
``I want to lay down for a bit.'' Collin stated with a sniffle.
``Go ahead upstairs and changed for bed,'' Trent said giving the kit?s shoulder a squeeze, ``If you feel better later you can heat it back up.''
Collin nodded and moved upstairs leaving his dads alone in the kitchen. The kit pulled on his night gown and curled up in bed leaving the door of his room open to hear when his father left. Hugging his pillow the boy struggled to reconcile his fears and anger, wishing the conflict would go away but unwilling to abandon his convictions. Downstairs Andrew sat quietly with Trent promising this would be the last time, and that everything would be o.k.
