"You shouldn't have come."
He repeats nervously.
"They lied to you Dylan. The kidnapped the Captain instead of killing him" Kaleb adds.
More hopeful he continues, "I do know where they're taking him."
I give him a look to continue, and Kaleb smiles proudly at his achievement.
"They're taking him back to a warehouse down that way. Once everything calms down they're taking him to a vessel for interrogation" he explains.
Changing my stance I stare at him suspiciously.
"How did you manage to find this out exactly?"
That's when a grin appears across his face.
"Tapped into her comlink to overhear the conversation. The best part is that they're not expecting trouble." He boasts
I think carefully about this. Even if we did manage to infiltrate the warehouse how do we faced armed Insurrectionists? I'm not sure where to even start.
"Dylan, we have to rescue him!" Eddie urges, and I nod.
"I know. How?" I ask hoping for ideas.
I almost consider using the Hornet, but it would risk drawing attention to us. They'll kill him pretty quickly. We move heading towards the warehouse, and I can feel excitement in my chest. A mission. Our first mission.
By the time we get there it's broad daylight. The sun is shining, and it makes our task a little harder because they can see us better. I stop them with a fist before we reach the warehouse grounds. I crouch then with my hand flat wave it side to side.
Another signal to spread out.
It gives me a little more time to think. Not only that, but we don't know where the Captain is currently.
Meanwhile
After the disappearance of four cadets the Drill Sergeants were provided with extra hands. On the side note the head of ONI was alerted.
"What did the datapad say? How the hell did Cadet Dylan acquire one?" Margret Parangosky yells sharply at both men.
"We aren't sure yet ma'am, but as for how he obtained it the only possible way is if he stole it. We're running identification to see if one's missing." The Colonel assures her. Luckily in that moment an officer steps in to hand off the datapad to the Colonel. The man reads for a little while.then glances up.
"According to the information here Cadet Dylan organized an assassination against a Captain, but doesn't say which one. However, we do know the location."
"Whe-"
"-If I may ma'am, but I've known Dylan since he was left under my care, and I can promise one thing. Dylan didn't write this. His cadets were taken at a younger age meaning Dylan can't spell, or write period."
"Are you sure Sergeant?" Margaret asks.
"Positive. None of those cadets have even been enrolled in school. I believe that one of the Insurrectionists involved may have used this as an attempt to frame him." Mèndez insists.
"I see. That doesn't however ignore the fact that your cadet gained intelligence about this." She began, sitting upright in her seat, she continued, "I will deploy ODSTs to investigate, and if possible retrieve them."
Both men nod in agreement.
The Warehouse
"I have an idea. Follow my lead" Sylvia nudges me excitedly.
She waves eagerly at us to follow. Sylvia takes us to the front of the land area thing. Like before we reach the actual building. We take cover behind a dumpster, and we crawl under a fence to get to the building. Sylvia grabs someone who was walking around the building. She wraps her arms around his neck then drags him to the ground for a sleep hold. Proudly she faces us, and crosses her arms.
"I learned it a while back. I'm starting to get really good a close quarters combat" she brags. I shake my head then we disarm him.
"You can have the fighting, but me? I wish that I could fly a big ship. Bigger than a pelican, and a Hornet. Déjà told us that there are ones that can hold many pelicans" Eddie insists. Next we drag him out of sight, but I leave Sylvia to "putting him down" if you know what I mean. Sometimes I used to think she was crazy.
He only has two weapons, and Eddie didn't want one, so I got the short straw. Just like we did at the mall years ago we climb a ladder to the ceiling. I lay down to stare inside through a glass ceiling part. Cupping my hands to block part of the sun I can see two floors below, but not the captain.
Must be in a room somewhere.
"Okay. We need to search every room. Shoot to kill, but only if you can't sneak pass them" I tell them.
Part of me wants revenge against Kesha for lying except the other part thinks that it's not reasonable enough. Revenge is only good in the moment because that anger, and hate dies out. You're left with nothing because it doesn't make any difference, and that person is still gone forever. There's just one less person in the universe.
Below us are beams that stretch across the ceiling, and there are bars that connect a walkway to the support beams. We use these to climb down to the walkway. There are guards walking around, but not many in order to decrease suspicion from the outside. I recognize maybe one, or two of them.
We lay down on the floor to hide, and I crawl across the walkway to the other side then remain still. The more people we kill the more weapons, and ammo we have.
The closer we are to victory.
I crawl slower as I near a corner, and I creep behind a pole. Waiting I curl my knees to seem smaller. Patiently I watch the guard make his rounds, but I can see the light blazing from his cigarette.
It gives me a hint on which direction he's facing. Bad move.
I make a break for him, and leap onto his back before covering his mouth. Using a small size as an advantage I kick the grenades off his waist.
After that I climb over his shoulder to throw the rifle to the floor, and then the knife. I grab the knife to plunge it into his collar.
Stabbing twice I freeze when he falls to the floor.
Is he? Did I just?
Yes. Dylan, he is dead. You killed someone.
Wow. I didn't know I could. What do I do now?
In shock I sit on my feet. Rubbing my fingers together I can feel the warm blood. Curiously I smell it.
Does all blood smell like that?
Hello?
Anyone there?
Where did you go?
I didn't get an answer then a I realize something I haven't noticed before. I've been talking to someone inside of my head.
Part of me begins to wonder if I've gone insane. This... voice has been here since I got attacked by the mean guard.
I think it's been guiding me.
Partly
Correct?
In a way. I, I am a friend, but I carry no name.
Unsure how to respond I bite my mouth until I taste blood.
I am here because I was needed, but no worries. I hardly mean harm.
Hardly! I can't sleep because of you! I wake up covered in sweat because of you, and I get humiliated because of you!
I grow angry then shake my head.
Focus Dylan. The Captain still needs rescuing.
Why should I trust you?
I have helped before, and besides I'm not going anywhere.
Sighing in defeat I get up to check on my teamates. Thankfully they were occupied on the other side to see my "issue."
We regroup with the weapons, and ambush the guards who tried to come into this room. We take his gear too.
The guards are wearing some sort of bullet protection. No reason to be vulnerable. That, and they have ammo too.
We move out of the big room into the halls. Stopping at every room we kill the guards, and search for the Captain.
"Are you sure he's here?" I ask Kaleb who nods.
By no we've been discovered, and guards surround both ends of the hall. Firing we force them to take cover, and when they think they're clear we shoot them.
Searching we move around the warehouse until we find their command post. We wait outside for a moment to make sure that we don't get caught.
I open the door with a the panel on the side of the door, and we surprise the men inside. We found him.
We found the Captain.
I motion to my teamates to spread out. I grip the assualt rifle then aim it at someone. Not one move buddy.
No one says anything at first, and I decided to pick up the pace.
"Him. Now." I snap fiercely staring at the man. Some of the other people look at each other unsure of the situation.
I can sense the uncertainty. I remember that Sergeant Alex said that a soldier should be firm, and precise. They should be dedicated, but observant.
Seeing as he didn't move I grab the barrel of the rifle to swing it as hard as I could. Being a kid I couldn't do too much damage.
Well enough that there was a mark.
"Alright, alright!" He yells then moves toward the man sitting on the floor. The Captain is untied, and I let Eddie escort him out. Unfinished I can feel the anger boiling up.
"A message for Kesha" I began, then shoot the guy in the back of his head, "I hate being stabbed in the back."
We shoot the rest of them.
A shame. I wanted her to show her face.
We joined Eddie then left the warehouse with little resistance. He seems stunned, and bruised, but otherwise okay. Leaving the weapons, we begin the trip back to the ONI tower.
When we made it Marines were waiting for us, and hours later we were on a pelican back to the base.
The rest of the day was much like hell week, but I had the support of my friends. It didn't go bad really because John was nicer to me.
Mendez
In the years to come we learned that this was only the begining because training was coming to an end.
It was like one morning we woke up to find John, and his spartans missing. There was no more bootcamp because for the next couple of years they prepared us for the trip.
Mèndez wouldn't tell us anything except that we'll be fighting a different battle. I wish I didn't find out. We heard about it. About the death, and wounded.
Fourty-two, and twelve.
Out of sevendy-five.
Augmentations.
When we found out Déjà tried to tell us that we would be okay. She said that they were better now. That we would be better, and stronger, and faster.
No.
How could they do this?! How do you murder so mamy, and walk through the base like the world is the same place?
"What will happen to us?" I whine as we wait. They've locked us in here until we are to be transported. I panic, and start to pace.
Some of my cadets argue, but I won't stop them. Let them fight while they live to. We've been in here about an hour before Mathew loses control.
I watch him flip beds over, and pillows begin to scatter the floor. My cadets turn the room upside down while I do nothing.
I don't want to speak. I don't even want to lay down. We're tools for them. Not people. No one can be trusted because everyone I'e met has used me, beaten me down, and hurt me.
No one can touch me anymore..I won't allow it. I don't want pain. I'm tired. I just- I just want to disappear. Is that what we are to everyone?!
It would seem so.
I grab my head, and scream except nothing escapes me. I fall in defeat to the floor, and just lay there. I sob curling tighter, and tighter until I can't anymore.
I dig my nails into my skin then rub my eyes with my knees. Weakness takes over, and I let it. Too tired to fight anymore.
I've lost myself.
I guess that's what brings a team together. Weakness because as a team you see everyone at their worst, and if you were really on their side then you accept it.
You don't try to change them because it's hard. Wounds don't heal in a day, but they can be made in one.
I bite my arm.
Go away from me.
I can see something shrouded in nothing. Something is hiding. Something is creeping up.
I am just Creature. I am friend.
No. No more. People are evil.
I know, but I'm not a people. I am you. I am here inside your mind. I can't make it go away, but I can make it better.
I trace the tiles on the floor. I'm fighting a battle Sergeant. I don't want another one. I lift my head to hear silence as some of the cadets are spread around the room.
Am I crazy, or are you really here? In my head?
You are suffering from something I can't quite understand. I'm sure it has a name. I only know what you know, but I am here.
I stare at the floor again, and rest my head in my knees.
Anna, and Sophie are sleeping now. Mathew is facing a wall, and Kaleb sits on a pillow. Sylvia, and Eddie are together with Ian between them. Hailey, Tiffany, and Destiny are talking.
Creature?
I wait for an answer then ask again for him.
Yes?
Please don't leave me. Don't go.
Thought you hated me.
I do, but I need someone to talk to.
It takes about another hour before Sergeant opens the door.
"Get up."
Eyes focus on me, and I swallow unsure.
Creature? What do I do?
Fight the pain.
I remain laying on the floor, and shake my head.
"No" I whisper.
Sergeant nods.
"Okay."
He uses a com to call for backup I assume then orders us again.
I refuse again.
Climbing to my feet I face him.