Even The Strongest Can Crack

Saturday, June 6th

2027

10:35 AM

One Star News Network

Isa paced in her office, glancing at her watch every few seconds.

"It's almost showtime," she muttered to herself.

She took a deep breath, trying to calm her nerves.

Tonight would be her first big broadcast since the incident.

"You got this, you've been through worse just tell the truth, just do what you always do". she murmured to herself, trying to boost her confidence.

"Hey Isa" A voice comes from behind her

It's her Co-worker and friend, Kella is an older woman, who is quite short, she can also be intimidating, and isn't afraid to speak her mind. Kella has long black hair and brown eyes and can usually be found wearing her grey suits.

Kella looks concerned "Are you ok?"

"Yeah I'm fine..just nervous" Isa responds

"You'll be alright dear, just remember your training," she says trying to comfort the girl

Isa nods, then heads out to the studio

The room was quiet as they waited for the broadcast to begin, Jarvis and Kella both sitting in the background, ready to support her.

The Broadcaster motioned her to sit down at their table

This was her first time here, she was used to being an onsite reporter, and the idea of sitting inside with a comfy chair and a table always bored her, She was more of a hands-on reporter

Jarvis nodded slightly, giving her a small smile of encouragement.

Isa took a deep breath, trying to calm her nerves.

She looked out at the cameras, seeing the world watching her every move, nothing she wasn't used to, but this time felt… different somehow.

She could feel it in her bones.

Suddenly, the producer held up a hand

"We are going live in ten...nine...eight...seven...six...five...four...three...two...one...."

And just like that, they were off.

Isa smiled, looking into the camera with the practiced ease of someone who had been doing this for years.

The Broadcaster spoke "This is Jimmy Micheal's"

The other broadcaster cut in

"And Emila Smalls with One Star News Network coming to you tonight with a special report with one of our very own tonight. Isa Bellas, She and her crew have been covering the terrorist attack of June 5th from the ground, She has been able to witness everything firsthand, Tonight she will be joining us to talk about it"

Isa began speaking

"Thank you both for having me here tonight. This has been a difficult day for everyone and we want to make sure people get the information they need."

The broadcasters nodded.

"So what can you tell us about the attack?" the broadcaster asked.

"Well, as you know, there was a massive protest by the Quitianians Freedom Group at Kindle Square, one of the many that day. The situation turned violent when a group of humans blocked them as a form of counter-protest"

The broadcaster nodded.

"And what happened next?"

Isa sighed, her expression turning serious.

"It got bad fast, next thing we knew, shots were fired, police were involved, and people were getting hurt. It was chaos."

The broadcasters frowned.

"That's terrible," Jimmy replied. "And how are you holding up? I imagine it must've been scary being in the middle of all that."

Isa nodded, swallowing hard as she thought about what had happened.

"It was...I've never seen anything like it before. People were screaming and running in all directions. There was blood everywhere..."

She shook her head, taking a deep breath.

"But we'll get through it. We always do. Atlas is a tough place, and we're a tough people."

Suddenly a woman ran to Daniel

Isa watched as Daniel's face ran Pale

The assistant spoke over the earphones

"There's been an attack at a local police station, seems like it was for this morning's shooting"

Jimmy suddenly speaks cutting through the momentary silence the news brought

"I'm sorry folks, but we've just received some breaking news, it seems there's been an attack on a local police station in response to this morning's shooting, details are still coming in, but there appears to be multiple casualties. Again, we apologize for the interruption, but we'll be back with more information as soon as we can."

Suddenly people are rushing around the studio, it seems all hell is breaking loose

Suddenly another voice

"Seems like 15 Officers have been confirmed injured, Two dead. The suspects were 4…." The person on the earpiece pauses "Quitanians… They yelled about how it was revenge for Dillion…"

Jimmy nods and relays it to the camera

"The names of the two officers killed in the attack have not yet been released, but authorities are saying that the four suspects are confirmed Dead, and 15 other Officers have been injured in the attack."

Jimmy's expression is grave, he looks into the camera with a somber look

"This is a dark day for our city. These senseless acts of violence only serve to divide us further and make it harder for all of us to move forward together. We will be strong. We will rise above this. We will persevere. We will continue to fight for justice. And we will not let hate win."

Jarvis was in the control room watching

Kella was next to him, they both had serious expressions, Jarvis was shocked by the attack

"The Mayor has a meeting stationed at one-thirty this afternoon at Atlas City Hall, She has a statement that will be made, We will be going live at 12 to catch the statement… "

Daniel motions to Isa and mouths

"Go."

"Well thank you for having me but I have to go" Isa interjects as she rushes off

Jarvis quickly gets up

He goes over to Isa

"Daniel got us some protective gear for the meeting. He said just in case with the massive rise of attacks"

He gave her a helmet with the large words 'PRESS' written in white on the front, as well as a Kevlar vest.

"This was nice…" she said her voice weary

Suddenly another assistant ran to Jarvis with a duffel bag

"Your gear"

"Thank you"

"You two stay safe alright?"

Jarvis smiles at the assistant's kind words

"Will do"

Isa stood, lost in thought as Jarvis fixed the bag on his shoulder, it containing his camera and a drone, he had to be ready for anything today

"You ok?"

Isa suddenly snaps out of her thoughts

"Yeah… let's go...we gotta hurry if we wanna get to the mayor in time"

Jarvis nods

They leave the building and get into the Van

And begin driving to the meeting

On the way there they passed by masses of police all armed to the teeth with high-power rifles and shotguns.

"Man you'd think we were being invaded or something with how many cops are around here..." Isa said with a half-hearted chuckle.

She couldn't shake the feeling of dread that hung in the air, though.

It was like everyone could sense that something bad was coming.

The mood of the city had changed overnight, no longer was it full of hope and optimism.

Now there was a palpable fear among the citizens.

People walking down the street were huddled close together, keeping their eyes peeled for any sign of trouble, Humans grabbed their children close as they saw Quitanians pass, and The Quitanians did the same with their kids.

Everyone was on edge.

And it was only going to get worse from here.

Isa sighed, trying to ignore the knot of anxiety in her stomach.

She wasn't sure if she was ready for whatever came next.

Isa swallowed hard, pushing her fears to the back of her mind.

"We're almost there," Jarvis said, forcing a smile.

He gripped the wheel tightly, tapping rapidly as the traffic built up, seemed like people trying to get home, some going to protest, others just staying away from the dangers of the city, but either way, people were moving

As they pulled up to Atlas City Hall, they saw crowds of people already there, both humans and Quitianians

Both standing across each other

There were protesters and counterprotesters, shouting slurs and insults at each other, trying to incite violence.

A mixture of National Guard and Police created a blockade between the two, With a small checkpoint for press and officials to come Through

"Holy shit," Isa muttered, "This is nuts."

She looked around in awe as the van approached the gate.

The chaos unfolding around them was unlike anything she'd ever seen before.

"Welcome to the warzone," Jarvis said wryly, pulling the van up to the gate.

He showed his press credentials.

The National Guard soldier looked at him wearily, his grip tightening on his rifle.

"You ain't with them QFG folks are you?"

Isa peaked her head from the other seat "Excuse me?"

The soldier scoffed, rolling his eyes "Figures, another fucking liberal..."

Isa narrowed her eyes but kept her composure.

She wasn't about to let this guy get under her skin.

Jarvis cut in

"We're with One Star News Network, we're here for the Press conference with Mayor Gina," he said cooly, shooting Isa a glance to keep quiet.

The soldier stared at them for a moment, sizing them up.

"Fine, go ahead. But make it quick, we don't need your kind stirring up more trouble around here."

Isa bit back a sharp retort, biting her tongue to stay professional.

She knew it wasn't worth it, not right now anyway.

As the van pulled forward into the lot of news vans and police she let her tongue go

"Can you believe that guy?!" Isa fumed

Jarvis sighed, rubbing his temples as he felt a headache coming on.

"Just Ignore them."

As they drove past the protesters, they heard chants of "Peace for Atlas!" and "No More Violence!" mixing with the shouts of "Go Back Home!" and "Get Out of Our Country!"

Isa shook her head in disgust, a dark look coming across her face.

"Unbelievable..."

She had never seen such hatred and division in the city before.

She wondered what it would take for people to come together again.

Jarvis sighed, looking out at the crowd, he didn't have much hope for peace in this city right now

He parked the Van and Isa got out, heading toward the entrance of the building, Jarvis following close behind

They entered the building and made their way through to the conference room, Armed Guards and Police stood in between every corridor and room.

Isa saw the mayor and her people getting ready

"There's the Mayor" Jarvis points

Isa walks over to the mayor

"Hey, I'm Isa from One Star News Network...I want to ask you some questions"

The Mayor looks annoyed

"Ms….." he read her name tag "Bellas" Now isn't a good time for interviews...there are more important things going on at the moment"

Isa frowned, trying to stay calm.

"I know, that's why we need to talk, the people deserve answers, they're scared"

The mayor rolled her eyes, clearly not impressed.

"There is a time for interviews, now's not that time"

"I understand but-"

The mayor cut her off

"Look, I'm dealing with a million things right now, I'm sorry I can't handle this interview"

"But-"

Before Isa could finish, the mayor turned away and walked into the conference room.

Isa sighed in frustration, wanting to scream.

"Dammit..."

She couldn't believe how dismissive the mayor was being, especially given the circumstances.

Jarvis went up to Isa

"It's alright, we'll figure something else out."

She nodded, taking a deep breath.

Suddenly a man walks up behind Isa and taps her on the shoulder

"You two here for the press conference?" A security guard said, looking at them

Isa looks back at him and nods

"Come with me." He motioned for them to follow.

They followed the guard down a hallway until they reached a door that said "Press Room".

He opened the door and they entered.

The room was crowded with r

eporters from all over the city, and even some from out of town.

The security guard led them to a place where they could stand.

"Now don't make any trouble alright? behave yourselves."

Isa and Jarvis both nodded.

"Good, I'll be back soon."

With that, the guard left the room.

Isa and Jarvis looked around at the other reporters, many of them were talking amongst themselves or checking their phones.

Some had worried looks on their faces, while others seemed completely unfazed by the events of the day.

A few of them shot curious looks in their direction, but most ignored them.

Isa sighed, feeling overwhelmed.

She glanced at her watch, seeing they had about 10 minutes until the meeting began.

She took a deep breath, trying to calm her nerves.

She didn't know what to expect from the mayor, but she knew it wouldn't be good.

The mayor was known for being tough on crime and not taking any shit from anyone.

And after what had happened today, it was likely he would be even more ruthless than usual.

As she waited, Isa wondered what kind of statement the mayor would make.

Would she condemn the violence?

Would she blame the protesters?

Or would he try to use the attack to further her agenda?

She wasn't sure, but whatever she said, she knew it wouldn't be good.

"This is gonna suck," Isa muttered under her breath.

"No doubt about it," Jarvis replied.

He looked as nervous as she felt, but there was also a determination in his eyes.

They were gonna get through this, no matter what.

Finally, the mayor came to the podium

There was silence in the room as the mayor took her place, everyone waiting anxiously for her to begin.

She cleared her throat and began speaking

"I'm sorry for the late hour, I know a lot of you have families to get home to, but this was the only time that worked for both of us."

She paused, looking around the room before continuing.

"These last two days have been extremely difficult for our city, the loss of life has been astronomical...but we must persevere.

We cannot let these acts of violence and terrorism tear us apart."

She took a deep breath before continuing.

"The actions of a few cannot be allowed to destroy the progress we've made over the years. I know things seem bleak, but I promise you that together we can overcome any challenge thrown our way."

She paused again, her expression becoming grim.

"But I am afraid that I have some bad news."

"What is it?" Someone called out, the anxiety in the room building as they waited for the mayor to continue.

"There have been several more attacks on police stations around the city."

A murmur ran through the crowd, everyone shocked and dismayed by this news.

"These attacks have led to the deaths of another eight officers and the injuries of over thirty-two more. The suspects are confirmed dead, but their identities have not yet been released."

A wave of fear and anger swept through the room.

Isa could see the rage on the faces of the reporters, all wanting answers from the mayor.

"Were they Quitanian?" One reporter yelled out.

The Mayor cringed at the question, knowing how bad it would sound.

"Yes"

"Was this an organized attack by the QFG?"

"We don't know for sure, but it's possible."

"Is this part of a bigger plot?" Another reporter shouted.

"We don't know that either, but it is certainly possible."

"What's your plan for stopping this madness?" A different reporter asked.

The mayor sighed, her expression growing tired.

"That is something I will discuss with my advisors and the governor. But right now we need to focus on healing. We must come together as a city and work towards a solution. This violence cannot go on any longer."

The mayor looked around the room, taking in the angry and frustrated faces of the reporters.

"I know that many of you feel powerless and scared, but I ask you to remain strong. We will get through this, I promise you."

Isa finally cleared her throat and interjected

"With all due respect Ms.Mayor, It seems like the city is falling apart. The violence is getting worse, people are afraid to leave their houses, and there is talk of martial law...we have a right to know what you're planning."

The mayor's eyes narrowed and her jaw tightened.

"Ms.Bellas, I appreciate your concern, but this is a complex situation and there are things that need to be handled in private."

Isa frowned, her frustration building.

"How can you expect us to help when we don't know what you're doing?"

The mayor sighed, clearly annoyed by Isa's attitude.

"Look, I understand your concerns, but right now we are working on a plan to stop these attacks. That is all I can tell you."

Isa was about to speak up again, but Jarvis placed a hand on her shoulder, shaking his head.

Isa glared at him before reluctantly backing off.

Jarvis knew that Isa was only trying to do her job, but she needed to calm down before she made things worse and got them kicked out.

The mayor continued speaking, addressing the reporters

"As I said before, I urge everyone to remain calm. We will get through this together, as a city, a nation. But No I will not be inciting Martial Law, but I will be putting a 10:30 PM curfew in place, and The National Guard is only temporary at the moment to help stop these terrorists who attack our brave officers. I'll also have some of my men patrolling the streets at night to help keep order and catch any suspicious activity."

She paused, taking a deep breath.

But then Isa popped up with a question

"Who are you considering the terrorists Mayor?"

The room went silent as everyone stared at Isa

Then to the mayor to a reaction

The mayor was taken aback by Isa's question, not expecting such a bold challenge from the young reporter.

She took a moment to collect herself before responding.

"We will be looking at all angles and suspects Ms Bellas, But for now we are just focused on keeping the city safe."

Isa knew the mayor was dodging her question.

"Are you attempting to dodge my question?"

The mayor gave her a stern look.

"I am not dodging anything. I simply do not have an answer for you yet."

"You have to have some idea," Isa pressed. "From the shooting from Humans on June 5th, You can only assume the violence in retaliation, So who's to blame, The Human Workers Federation, the QFG, or the Officer who shot Dillion?"

This time the mayor had a response.

"That is enough Ma'am, you have crossed the line. This is a place for professionalism and your constant interruptions are getting us nowhere. If you cannot behave yourself, then I will ask security to escort you out."

Isa opened her mouth to protest, but Jarvis tugged on her arm.

Jarvis whispered in a low voice "C'mon Isa, let it go."

Isa glared at him, but he kept a firm grip on her.

"Fine..."

The reporters began to uproar at the Mayor's Reaction, she was clearly upset by Isa's questioning

The mayor continued, trying to calm the crowd.

"I understand that many of you have questions, and I promise that I will do my best to answer them. But right now, I need you to focus on the task at hand. We must work together to stop this madness before it destroys everything we've worked so hard for."

"What about the rumors of the riots planned by the QFG, and the Human Workers Federation groups?" One reporter asked, breaking through the commotion.

The mayor sighed, running her hand through her hair.

"As of right now, there is no evidence of such plans. We are working closely with the Atlas Police Department to keep an eye out for any suspicious activity. If any such groups are planning something, we will take every step necessary to stop them."

Jarvis leaned over to Isa.

"This is gonna get ugly."

"No doubt about it," she replied.

"Do you have a plan in case things get worse?" A different reporter asked, raising their voice to be heard over the noise.

The mayor paused, thinking before speaking again

"If things escalate, we may have to consider Martial Law, And as I said before No, I am not taking action on the matter just yet...We must continue to focus on keeping the peace and doing everything we can to prevent this tragedy from happening again."

"But what if the violence continues to spread?" Another reporter yelled out. "How will you handle it then?"

The mayor frowned, shaking her head.

"I do not wish to speculate on such matters. We will cross that bridge when we come to it. Now, if you'll excuse me, I need to finish preparing for tomorrow's events. Thank you all for your time, and please remember that I am here for you. If you have any concerns or questions, feel free to contact my office."

With that, she stepped away from the podium and exited the room, followed by her security guards.

A wave of discontent ran through the crowd, everyone looking around in confusion.

There was still so much left unanswered.