Darius walked quickly. The people slowly started to flood the streets and he knew the situation will be more and more chaotic. The police was already patrolling although they were probably saving their strength for the upcoming hours, maybe days.

Firstly, Darius needed to go to the temporary camp of his unit. He was surprised when he arrived at the bus station with a reserve of 10 minutes. It was partly because people made way for him, although they didn’t recognize his uniform it looked official and very military-like.

He felt some glances on him while he was waiting. One older policeman with moustache even asked for his papers to verify his identity.

“My apologies, I was confused. I never saw this uniform before,” said the policeman afterwards.

“It’s not a problem sir, the PA is not very well known and today is the first time we are officially deployed in a city. “

“Before this only drilling? “

“Yes sir. But trainers were mostly focused on the new army divisions with adults older than 25. The PA consists mostly of people of my age,” said Darius in the most neutral tone he could manage.

“I see. They don’t think they have enough time to teach you how to be good so they focus on someone who already has some experience?”

“I think so, sir. I believe they don’t expect much from us.”

“Don’t let it discourage you. You will have many opportunities to prove them wrong, now more than ever.”

“Thank you sir. I will get going now, that’s my bus,” pointed Darius at the arriving vehicle.

“Of course. Good luck,” wished him the policeman and went back patrolling.

It took 30 minutes till the bus arrived at Darius’s stop. From there he continued his quick walk until he arrived in front of robust cold-looking building, probably twice as old as Darius himself. Before its entrance stood a young man in PA uniform. He was quite distracted and noticed Darius only when he was right next to him.

“H-halt! Umm.. oh wait, you are from PA too!” he yelped and somehow managed to sound surprised, nervous, confused and relieved in a matter of four seconds.

“Yeah, I am. What are you here for?” answered Darius with a hint of amusement in his voice. Just then he finally discovered how tense he was feeling the whole day. But after his family’s words, talk with the understanding police officer and now seeing how there was someone much more nervous in PA than him, he felt relieved and a bit more relaxed.

“Eh, guard duty. I was just waiting in there,” he pointed behind himself,” and suddenly the vice captain appeared, he is like a ghost really, grabbed me and ordered to guard the entrance and let in only PA members or someone from military. “

“Going well?”

“Well, maybe. Besides you there were only five members and two from military. And then there was this girl, she came here with some bed sheets but I couldn’t let her in. And I couldn’t take them myself because I needed to be here!” replied the temporary guard helplessly.

Darius sighed.

“Can you tell me where did she go? I will see what I can do.”

“You will? Thank you! I was worried that I wasn’t supposed to send her away but you know, couldn’t do anything else.”

The guard quickly told Darius the direction where he had seen the girl go but couldn’t pinpoint any specific building since she disappeared from his line of sight.

Darius went in the direction he was given and quickly found a smaller road branching away from the main street. He followed the branch and kept looking around, trying to find any leads.

Darius stopped a few pedestrians on the way, who warily examined him, and asked if there was laundry or bed sheets shop or something similar nearby.

After ten minutes, he finally found the right person, old man in his sixties, who explained that he already missed the place and needs to go back. Thanks to the man’s directions, he found his destination after another five minutes. Honestly, standing before the building’s door, he would never have guessed from its appearance that it was not an ordinary home.

After two deep breaths he knocked on the door and waited. Then he knocked again and just two seconds later some old lady opened the door, not looking really happy.

“I am here, you don’t have to be so impatient young man.”

“I am sorry ma’am, I was not sure if someone heard me,” answered Darius a bit embarrassed.

“Green uniform, you must be from that unit who wouldn’t let my girl to deliver the bed sheets, huh?”

“Yes ma’am, the guard got orders not to let civilians in and couldn’t leave his post.”

“So your superiors finally discovered that something was missing hmm?”

“Well, not exactly. I came here by myself because I heard about it from the guard.”

The old woman raised an eyebrow at Darius and she stopped looking so stern.

“Well then you probably don’t know about the payment we should get in exchange?”

Darius’s mind stopped working for a moment.

‘That is what I get for trying to solve this without knowing the whole picture.’

“No ma’am. I think I will need to go back to the camp and ask about it,” Darius felt his cheeks redden a bit.

“That would be the best, young man. Ask for your captain, I talked to him about it but I don’t think he payed me much of an attention.”

“Yes ma’am. I will see what I can do, have a good day.”

Darius quickly walked away, feeling a bit foolish. And why did he say have a good day when it was nearly night? And he would probably come back later so why did he bid her goodbye? Ugh.

“Hey, were there any problems?” asked the guard when Darius came back.

“Still working on it. Do you know if the captain is in?”

The guard answered with shaking head.

“He headed out about ten minutes ago. But the vice captain should still be there.”

“Well, I will try the vice captain then.”

“Good luck.”

Darius finally entered the building. Although it was not as cold as outside, the temperature was still very low. After entering the building he found himself standing in some sort of reception or waiting room, with seats for 10 people on both sides and with old blinking lights. He quickly walked to the door at the end of room and opened them. Behind were two long corridors, one leading to the left and other to right.

Firstly he decided to try the left one. And he got lucky, there really were doors with a sign: “PA Vice Captain Clark Office”.

Darius knocked and, having learned his lesson, waited for a bit longer. There was a sound from the other side as someone was moving papers, then quick steps and the door opened.

Standing in them was a clean shaved man in his thirties with dark eyes that could kill. And probably the only person who tried to really drill something into PA members in their training, as far as Darius could remember.

“What is it, assistant,..”

“Darius, vice captain. I wanted to ask if you know something about the bed sheets delivery.”

“Bed sheets? I talked about it to captain four days ago,… wait don’t tell me anything. They still aren’t here, right?” asked vice captain and got confirming nod from Darius.

“Well, could have expected he would just let it be. So, can you tell me about the situation briefly?”

Darius did.

“Tell the guard not to worry. And take this letter to miss Skotch, that is the one you met. There is a payment in it. Then take the bed sheets, should be about 90, and give three before every assistant’s door, you should know where you and others live. No need to report back to me after it. “

“Yes sir!”

“What was your name again?”

“Darius, sir,“ Darius gulped a little.

“Good work, this is what I expect from my unit, to solve problems you see without being ordered to. Dismissed.”

“Yes sir!”

It took Darius’s more than 20 turns between camp and miss Skotch before he managed to complete the task.

“Hey man, thanks for that. I will repay you somehow, “ said the guard after Darius told him everything was alright.

Afterwards he finally went to his room where he had put his backpack before doing to vice captain’s task. Every room had three beds, each for one assistant. The whole second floor and third floor consisted of rooms for the B unit, while on the first were offices of captain and vice captain of the whole unit, its two leaders. There were also food and other storage rooms.

Darius made his bed and let himself rest on it for a while.

He was disturbed from his half-sleep by someone’s loud steps stopping right before his door. After a light knock, the newcomer opened doors. Young man, probably the same age as Darius and with short blond hair. Although Darius remembered seeing him at the five or six drills the PA managed to get, he couldn’t remember his name. Well, Darius had hard time remembering someone even if he heard the name twice or thrice.

“Hi, um, I think we should be roommates. My name is Adrian.”

Darius sighed, got off the bed and shook the newcomers hand.

“Hi Adrian, I am Darius. There are still two beds left. “

Adrian nodded and started unpacking, a bit rushed but Darius knew it was just the stress.

“There was a notice from a vice captain that we should assemble in two minutes in the entry hall,” said Adrian.

“Hmm, so soon? I don’t think there are more than 20 assistants here yet, but whatever.”

Darius took quickly a coat which he left there before visiting home and packed some little things like a small flashlight and cream against cold. The coat was of course green.

Then the two of them went to waiting hall where there were about twelve people, even less than Darius expected to be there. The vice captain was already waiting there. After another minute he clapped his hands and announced.

“Okey, assistants. It’s still a bit early but you will be going to the square to help the military with preparations. Be careful, there should already be come clashes between armed forces and civilians. Next to you you may see some quarterstaves. Each of you take one and pin it to your belts. Use them only in self defense or when you see one civilian beating another. Do not join fights between civilians and police or army, they are better trained and equipped and can handle the situation themselves. When you arrive at the square, look for our captain or some higher ranked military officers. I will be sending another groups after you when there are enough people. Any questions?”

There was only silence.

“Good. Darius, you lead them there. Dismissed. “