Taken: Day 1

Word Count: 6,020

Summary of Events:

Mitchell was roused by one of the sailors and told that he'd be able to see the mainland if he went up on deck. Once convinced the sailor wasn't pulling his leg Mitchell went up and watched as the shore approached. He and his fellow airmen disembarked from the aircraft carrier and were taken to a nearby military base, where they were informed that the Mayor of Los Angeles wanted to celebrate their return, as one of the airmen who'd returned hailed from Los Angeles and was a well-known resident of the city. After freshening up at a hotel — where they were being accommodated for the night because the base had no room — they went to the party in their honour . . .

Excerpt of the Day:

“Now, if you will join me in welcoming seven of our finest, representing the Eighth Air Force!”

Wild applause, with whooping and whistling, erupted and the tuxedoed man opened the door. Major Bishop led the way out in single file.

They lined up behind chairs at a straight table set for a fancy dinner. The crowds gathered around round tables similarly appointed were on their feet applauding and cheering.

After a bit the crowd quietened down and retook their seats. A tuxedoed man behind a microphone positioned off to the side of the table — presumably the Mayor of Los Angeles — turned to look at the clean, yet still rather travel-wearied soldiers lined up along the table.

“Welcome home,” he said.

The crowd applauded again — although not too long, which Mitchell guessed was because their hands were tired of clapping.

“Now if Los Angeles’ own Perry Gay would come and introduce us to his fellow heroes,” the mayor said.

Perry left his place and went over to the microphone.

“I think I can speak for all of us when I say it is good to be back on our homeland soil,” Perry said. “And it is truly a treat to get this kind of recognition from you wonderful folks. I’ll start my introductions with our leader, haling from Arkansas, Major Newton Bishop.”

The crowd applauded and Major Bishop nodded. Perry went on down the line, with everyone nodding when their name was mentioned. Mitchell cringed inwardly as Perry introduced him as Mitchell Beaker, instead of Becker — even though Perry knew full well that it wasn’t Beaker.

“As wonderful as all of these men are, and as grateful as I am to have them with me here on this special night,” Perry said once the introductions were through. “I would be remiss if I did not mention a significant man who is not with us tonight.”

Mitchell gathered his brows subtly, who was Perry talking about?

“Hailing from Georgia, Technical Sergeant Keith Oster was a valued member of the Eighth,” Perry said. “Valiant, courageous, daring, and a good friend, he was one of the most central members of our unit, and was, unfortunately, claimed by the enemy in the last days of the war. Thankfully, we have had the opportunity to bring his body home to be interred where it belongs, but I would invite us all to have a moment of silence in his honour, lest he go forgotten in the heady air of victory tonight.”

The room fell silent — aside from the sniffles of people who likely knew someone that had died in the war and were moved to think of their loved one by Perry’s words — and Mitchell stared at Perry hard.

Sure, Perry and Keith had interacted a lot, but Mitchell had always gotten the sense that Perry hated Keith with a passion because Keith was so staunchly antiCommunist — not to mention he’d always succeeded in winning their debates — and he’d even had his suspicions that Perry might’ve actually been behind Keith’s demise; so where was this rhetoric coming from?