“Or maybe a near death experience.”
He waved a hand dismissively.
“I don’t consider fighting one alien a near death experience. Your gun and c-4 did most of the work.”
I laughed and smacked him. “Sure, next time we’ll trade. I’ll spy on the aliens and you can run and shoot for your life. Besides, it was my c-4 that sent me flying and gave me this headache.”
He shrugged and we walked down the stairs from the roof.
“What room is the general in?”
I shrugged. “Beats me. I can call him. I have his cell number.”
Phillip nodded and I did call him. He answered but seemed distracted.
“General, we are back. Yes, sir. But sir. Of course. We will be there.”
I sighed. “Great.”
“What’s up?”
“There’s been an emergency so everyone is convening in the conference room. We are to come ASAP.”
“But you are injured and carrying an m-16, an m-9 or two, a hunting knife, a sword, and God only knows what other weapons. I have a bag of weapons and my very expensive computer.”
“I know. But apparently this is a state of the art emergency.”
He nodded and sighed.
“Let’s go. If we are late everyone will turn and see us, and well you, looking entirely like shit.”
I smiled. “Oh, Phillip you are such a charmer.” I bolted down the sitars and he followed. I was not looking forward to this.
We arrived and - go figure - everyone was already there. We walked in and everyone turned to look. I was already aware that blood was smeared on my face and I was carrying enough weapons for an entire flight. However, I became even more aware of it after I was forced to face down a hundred or more students. I pushed my unease aside and reminded myself that my weapons were loaded. Phillip had backups, so I was fine.
“What the hell happened to you?”
Missy came running up and hugged me. I appreciated her concern, so instead of punching her for throwing me off balance, I hugged her back until I felt stable again.
“Nothing. I’m fine.” I rubbed my head, grabbed a piece of cloth out of my belt and put it against my once again bleeding head.
“You don’t look fine.”
I smiled at Nick. “This is the least of all the injuries I’ve ever had. Besides, the blood isn't all mine.” That was true. I had the blood of an innocent raped girl on me. I also had the blood of some of the bastards who had done that to her on me. Phillip put his arm around me and I leaned on him.
“Thanks. I’m feeling a bit woozy.” He nodded and parted my hair to look at my cut.
“You’re fine. Won't need stitches.”
I rolled my eyes. “I know that. If I had needed stitches I would have willingly gone to the hospital instead of calling the general and getting stuck here.”
Phillip smiled.
“It’s like you’re part of a circus act. Look at them stare. It’s like they have never seen blood. The military doesn't make soldiers like they used to.”
I laughed and hugged him with the one arm I had around him to help keep me on balance. Before anyone could respond to Phillip, and many looked like they had something to say, the general and other teachers walked in and told us all to take seats. I did so and very gladly. I needed to get this taken care of. Instead, I was here, with a piece of cloth on my head.
“Students, we have some grave news. It was debated whether or not we should tell you, but I believe it has everything to do with you and you need to know.”
That was General Hoocker for you. He was an equality kind of guy. Way too good for the military, in my opinion. Better to be a teacher. Or mentor, or a war protestor. Not that we actually had anyone protesting this war. But people were protesting the use of children for the new military.
The point of it, according to the military, was to train us from as early as possible because it’s easier to learn the younger you were. Then, when we were adults in our prime, they would send us out to die. At least that was what had been happening since the war started. Until now.
“Less than twenty-four hours ago the first military school in the chain was attacked and destroyed. According to our Intel, there were no survivors.”
Everyone gasped and looked horrified. Why not? Thousands of children were now dead, many relatives to people in this room. Our school could be next. The aliens, the enemy, had wiped out our future soldiers. The best next move strategically would be to wipe out those almost ready for battle. Some had already seen battle, like me. Oh, shit. I looked at Phillip and leaned closer.
“Phillip. Think strategically about this. Where would you strike next?”
“The battle academy.”
I nodded. “We have to do something. What if they attack during the ball? Minimal guards, no one would be prepared; they could hit us from ships and we couldn't do anything about it.”
“I know.”
He sounded sad. I understood. He was thinking about all those kids. Their families that would never see them again. I couldn't believe we hadn’t seen this coming. The aliens had seemed to want to wipe out the general population first. They had attacked towns and villages on the colony planets.
To get women. That was it. They had been after women. Now they had a force to be reckoned with. Now they had a full force that knew all about us. In breeding with us they had been able to study us and learn about us, as well as increase their army strength. Now they were prepared to attack the military.
That’s what this was. It was a scare tactic. They had just taken out our hope for future generations of military by attacking and destroying the colony planets; we had limited children to take the places of those lost in battle. Earth was going to hell. Pollution, over population, disease. Earth was barely livable, that’s why many had moved to the colonies. With one colony - my home world - completely destroyed and the other two having been culled by the aliens, we were defenseless. Except for those ready for battle already.
“We intend to send a sweeper team to exterminate any of the enemy remaining. Until we get more information all we can do is stay alert and continue on with life. I’m sorry for those of you that had friends or family there. It is a great loss. There were many brave men and women there. We will avenge their deaths. You are all dismissed.”
I stood, grabbed Phillip’s sleeve, and pulled him into a corner. People filed out of the room. Missy and Nick stayed where we had left them sitting. I told Phillip my theory before he could even open his mouth to protest. When I had finished he sank to the floor.
“But how? How could we not see this coming?”
I grabbed his hanging head and pulled his face up to look him in the eyes. “Phillip, look at me. I need you to contact Jane and Gabe, and let them know. Maybe they can get their organizations to help. We need to band together if this is true. We need to get the military and everyone else to work together. Can you do that? Phillip!”
He looked me in the eyes and nodded.
“Yeah, I can do that. It’s just… I didn’t expect… They’ve been toying with us for so long; I didn’t see the big picture. I’m trained to see patterns and the whole picture with a microscopic piece. I didn’t see it, Helen. I didn’t. So many people are dying, are going to die.”
“Not if we can help it. I didn’t see it either, Phillip.”
He nodded, got up and ran from the room. Probably to the roof. Better reception and more privacy. I stayed sitting for a moment.
“Did he have family there?”
I looked up at Missy and Nick’s questioning faces. I shook my head.
“No. Both of us lost everything to the enemy years ago. We have nothing left.” I stood and ran towards where the teachers were all gathered, arguing about the wisdom of telling us.
“General, I need to speak with you, sir. Please, it’s very important.”
They all looked over at me.
“What is it, soldier?”
“I have reason to
believe that the next attack will in fact be the battle academy.”
All eyebrows rose and heads snapped up. Every voice hushed and everyone stared at me like I had grown another head.
“Why is that? Has it got anything to do with your mission?”
“Yes, sir. I can't go into detail. The classification goes higher than any normal general can get to, unless given specific clearance. But it’s true, sir. Phillip and I have gone over it and we are both certain that our school is next, sir. Phillip is contacting our handlers to ask them to cooperate with the military. But it’ll be you and these children doing the fighting. You need to cancel the graduation and prepare everyone for battle, before it’s too late.”
“I’m sorry young lady, but we can't cancel the graduation. Kids have worked very hard to graduate and canceling would be putting their hard work to waste. How would that affect morale?”
I turned to the man who obviously didn’t have a lick of sense. “How will a mass slaughter affect morale, do you think?”
“That’s enough, soldier!”
As the general was a higher rank than me, he technically could order me around should I pull rank in this little spat. Which I was about ready to do.
“If you have proof of this impending attack I myself will take it to the Galaxy General and demand help in this matter. However, as all you can tell us is a bad feeling you have, we can't possibly cancel an event this big. If you have more to say on the matter you may call me and we can meet down here. Don’t waste my time with anything less than proof, understand soldier?”
“Yes, sir.” I turned and walked away. Phillip walked through the door at the same time that I picked up a chair and threw it at the wall. The teachers and officers stared at me, but I was guessing they preferred a metal folding chair to their heads being what I threw into the wall, because I wasn't reprimanded.
Missy and Nick were still in the room. They approached but I ignored them as I waited for Phillip to come tell me the bad news. I knew it was bad because of the look on his face.
“Not sure I want to tell you what I have to right now. I’d hate to have my head crushed into a wall.”
“What did they say?”
Missy and Nick just stood there, trying to follow what we were talking about.
“They said it sounded tangible enough. That being said, we are being pulled out. You are already a general. Jane is fine with your star. I don’t need this training; I'm not in the military, that’s what Gabe said. So, as of our return to school, we will pack our things and take a plane back to headquarters.”
“What did you tell them?”
He shrugged. He hadn’t protested. “You didn’t protest.” I wanted to hit him. To scream and rage, but I wasn't sure I had it in me.
“They are in charge of our lives. If they don’t want us involved, there isn't much we can say or do about it. You know that, Helen. You have lived this life long enough to know that. We aren't free to make our own choices. They are our bosses.”
“Jane isn't my only boss! I belong to the military as well!”
“And what exactly did they say, Helen? Because a chair in the wall doesn't seem promising.”
He put his hands in his pockets and turned towards the door.
“We have our orders, Helen. Start packing. Jane is sending for us before this trip is done. I did protest and that’s what it resulted in. Us leaving earlier. Come to my room and I’ll fix up your head.”
He walked out of the room and I stormed out as well. Nick and Missy followed me.
“What's going on?”
I sighed and stopped walking. I didn’t turn around though. I couldn't face them now. “I can't tell you everything. All I know is that everyone at the school could be dead by the end of the week, and neither the military nor my organization, or anyone is willing to listen and do anything about it.”
“We aren't defenseless. We can fight, you know.”
I turned to look at Nick. “None of you, not even the graduates, are ready for what is out there. You’ll be killing not only the enemy but some of us as well. Well, partially us. You’ll be committing genocide. Can you honestly not feel bad or angry that you are being forced to kill? The rules of warfare mean nothing. You do whatever you must do to survive. Even if that means killing one of your own because they are in the way of your survival. Can you do that?”
“Can you?”
I sighed and turned back around. “I already have.” I walked towards the stairs. I needed to shower and get my head fixed. After a shower and some first aid I could think better, straight and with a clear head. Then I would call Jane and argue my point.
“I need a shower. I need some first aid. I need to calm down and clear my head.”
I said it over and over like a mantra. Amazingly, it worked. My headache calmed and I felt more stable. I was used to being on my own. I was used to relying on no one but myself. If I had to stay against orders, I would. Maybe Phillip would stay as well. We could make a dent in their army, maybe save the majority of the child army. We could get them out when the time came. Maybe we could convince enough of them to fight. I doubted we would survive, but maybe, with enough planning, they wouldn’t either.
I showered and put on some comfortable workout clothes. This place had a great gym and, after Phillip fixed my head; I’d go a few rounds with a punching bag. It’d help me think of an argument to give Jane.
I went to grab my first aid kit and then thought better of it. Phillip would have one. I did grab my brush. He was gentler; with this cut on my head I’d rather have him get the tangles out and braid it for me, so it would stay out of the way while I worked out.
“Phillip, you wanna patch me up and braid my hair? I want to… what are you two doing here?” Missy and Nick sat in Phillip’s room. I should have figured, since they hadn’t been in mine and Missy’s room.
“They want to know what's going on. I’ve been trying to tell them I don’t know what they mean but they aren't exactly in the mood to believe me.”
I shrugged. “I know the feeling. You want to patch me up and braid my hair. I want to go a few rounds with the punching bag and you know how it gets in the way.”
“Sure have a seat. I’ll patch you up first. I can bobby pin stray pieces in after I braid it.”
I almost asked what a bobby pin was but then I remembered this one time Jane had made me dress up and get my hair all done up. The stylist had used bobby pins to make sure it wouldn’t escape during the big conference thing I had been forced into. Something about looking professional. Who could look like a professional bounty hunter while all dressed in a formal suit with a ninety-dollar hair do? No one. At least not anyone I want watching my back. I had mentioned this to Jane and she had laughed and said I still had to dress up. A great argument wasted. I’d have to do better this time.
I sat patiently as Phillip smeared my head with some miracle goo. Then he brushed my hair around it and used his fingers to get the pieces near my cut into place.
“Honey some of your bangs and hair on the side is burnt really short. They are going to stick out unless I put hair spray in. Which considering this cut I wouldn’t. It would hurt like a bitch. However it should be short enough not to bother you. As long as you don’t care what it looks like.”
“Have I ever?” I turned my head to squint at him. The lamp right behind him was bright. But he had needed it for dealing with my wound. He smiled.
“Good point. Well the good news is the bleeding has stopped. It should heal cleanly.”
“Good. Am I well enough for a date with a punching bag?”
“Should be. If you get dizzy, rest and drink plenty of water so you stay hydrated.”
I nodded. Nick and Missy listened like they were waiting for us to say something important. We had strayed off topic though. They seemed to get the hint that we weren’t going to say anything because they started to look annoyed and mad.
“You aren't going to tell us anything either, are you?”
I looked at Missy. “There’s nothing to tell.”
“Bullshit!”
I looked over at Nick. He had always had good control over his temper. He must be mad.
“What do you want me to say? It’s top secret, higher than classified and I’ve been ordered by my superiors not to say a word more without proof. All I have, all we have, is a theory.”
I waved my hand between Phillip and me to emphasize my point.
“Why are you leaving the school then?”
“Well, if my theory is correct, Jane’s plan to put me through so I can get to a four star and eventually take over as Galaxy General will no longer be important.”
“That was really her plan? Gabe told me, but I didn’t believe you’d actually go for it. You’d rather do things by yourself.”
I laughed. Phillip was right. My motto was if you want something done right, you gotta do it yourself. The less people there are getting in the way the better.
“Almost done? Or are you going to play with my hair all night?”
“As much as I would like that, I am actually taking so long because I’m trying to be more careful since you are injured. I don’t want to pull on your scalp, it could hurt more or stretch the wound so you would need stitches.”
“Take your time. I hate stitches.” I briefly shivered. I didn’t fear the pain or the actual stitches. I just didn’t like foreign objects in my head, or anywhere in my body. We weren’t born with stitches, so they fell under that category.
“So, you are really going to just leave us? We have no idea what's going on and thus no idea how to prepare. You’re okay with that?”
I sighed. “I have my orders, soldier. Sometimes in war you do things that you don’t believe to be right. That’s part of being a soldier.” I looked him in the eye. Nick didn’t realize what he had gotten himself into when he had signed up. None of these kids did. “If you can't take it, quit. It’s the way of the world. This is how it works. You follow orders whether they are right or wrong. I’ve been ordered by both my handler and the military to let it go.”
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