His instincts also told him he would eventually be able to trust Major Russo, but he couldn’t completely confide in her, yet. He answered her question carefully with another.
“Are you familiar with the circumstances that led to Chamberlain’s departure from the Earth,” he asked.
“I have read the history books,” Russo replied. “And, I have read accounts of the events in the newspaper archives.”
“But have you ever talked to anyone who knew Chamberlain personally or had dealings with him,” Teacher inquired.
“No,” Russo replied.
Teacher asked one last question. He tried not to sound accusatory or seem smug. He didn’t want to put Russo on the defensive.
“Isn’t it possible that what you have heard so far is only one side of the story,” he asked. “Did you ever stop to think you were getting your information about Chamberlain from people who had nothing to gain by giving him the benefit of the doubt?”
Russo was becoming weary of talking about Chamberlain.
“I still don’t know what this conversation has to do with you or Morning Grass,” she stated firmly. “I need for you to get to the point.”
“Understood, Major,” Teacher said. “I will tell you what I know.”
Teacher watched Russo play with her lunch for a while and then take a tentative bite of her breaded steak. He decided to have another mouthful of his salad before proceeding. He could tell by the way Major Russo was avoiding his glance she was digesting his allusion to her blind acceptance of what her government was saying about Chamberlain along with her lunch.
Teacher thought back to the first time he had ever laid eyes on Morning Grass and tried to think of the best place to start his account.
“I was among the third group of felines to be born from the incubators on the Ark,” he said. “Morning Grass told me she was in the fifth group, and she had a serial number for that year, but she seemed to be at the same level of development as the fourth group. She was even moved from primary education to boot camp and tactical training along with them.”
“I don’t understand what you mean by primary education,” Russo asked.
“We felines were engineered to grow out of childhood quite rapidly compared to full humans,” Teacher explained. “We reach adolescence by the middle of our fifth year and full adulthood by the start of our seventh. We were kept in nurseries until our third birthday and then sent to primary school to learn the basic skills until we reached our sixth year. Then we were turned over to the defense force by the keepers for our military training.”
“Keepers,” Russo asked.
“Those who saw us through our childhoods,” Teacher replied. He smiled as if a fond memory were coming to him.
“We stayed in barracks in the compound while the keepers schooled and tended to us,” he continued, almost laughing. “They were called keepers, but they didn’t ‘keep’ us like animals in a zoo, although I must admit the barracks were often quite like a zoo…”
Russo smiled with Teacher. She wondered what it must have been like to watch over a barracks full of feline children.
“The keepers were mostly civilian colonists,” Teacher told her. “They watched over us and treated us as if we were their children. We had to stay in the barracks because there were so many of us and so few of them, but when we needed any special attention, we received it. I can’t say I know what it is like to have parents, but I would be disappointed to find they are not as kind and loving as the keepers were.”
Russo was taken by Teacher’s fond recollection of his childhood. She had assumed from all the talk of how cruel the creators were and how happy the felines were to be free of them that his upbringing could not have been pleasant.
“So what do you think could be the issue with Morning Grass,” she asked Teacher. “Was her upbringing like yours? If feline children were treated so well, why would she be so distrustful?”
“I can’t tell you,” he said. “Even though I would have been in the compound during much of the same time period that Morning Grass was there, I never met her until she came to boot camp. I know it was strange that she arrived a year early. Like I said before she told me she was a fifth group, but she was at the same physical level of a fourth. I checked her serial number myself and it was a fifth group code.”
“How did you check,” Russo asked. “Why do you think that is significant?”
Teacher looked around to see if there was anyone watching the two of them. When he was certain that nobody was paying attention, he quickly pulled up his pant leg and took the boot and sock off his left foot. He put his foot up on the bench where Russo sat so she could see the thirteen-character tattoo and an accompanying barcode that was on the inside of his leg, just above the ankle.
“Ah,” she said as Teacher pulled his sock and boot back on.
“My serial is red and has the code for the third-year group,” he said. “Hers was blue and clearly had the fifth group code. It is significant because she was as large and mature as any of the Group Fours. There were a few fourth years that remembered her from the compound and talked to her, but she didn’t seem to know them at all. She couldn’t remember anything from her childhood and she got angry when anyone pressed her to try. I don’t know why I thought it, but I had the suspicion she might have been tagged incorrectly.”
“Do you mean that somebody might have wanted everyone, or maybe just Morning Grass, to believe she was from the fifth group, even though she was actually a four,” Russo asked.
Teacher mulled the question over.
“That is an interesting theory,” he said. “But, I actually meant I thought it was an accounting error of some type.”
“You say she couldn’t remember her childhood,” Major Russo asked, following up on the thought. “But, did she remember anything at all before she showed up at boot camp?”
“Just that she had come there directly from the Ark,” Teacher said. “She couldn’t tell me anything about why she was there. She doesn’t remember anything in her life that happened before waking up on the Ark the morning she boarded a drop shuttle to head for basic training. Does that give you something useful?”
Russo shrugged.
“I don’t know,” she said. “I was looking for insight into her personality so I could treat the whole being, not just the obvious injuries. I was hoping to be able to relate to her better. Something is telling me now that Morning Grass may have deeper issues than just her amputated limbs.”
“Do you think you can reach her, Major,” Teacher asked. He then looked around as if he were searching for just the right words to express what was on his mind. “Because,” he said. “She is important to me.”
He thought a while longer and continued.
“But,” he said. “So is my belief the future of the felines is greatly dependent upon our cooperation and friendship with humans. I would prefer it if I didn’t have to make a choice between the two.”
“I don’t believe it will ever come to that, Sergeant,” Russo told Teacher, as reassuringly as possible. “I think that Morning Grass may already trust me a little.”
“I hope so,” Teacher replied. “After my orientation, I will be leaving to go to the surface for Special Forces training. I have decided to volunteer for the reconnaissance mission to the orange sun. I don’t want her to take it as a betrayal.”
“Interesting, Sergeant,” Russo replied. “When do you leave?”
“I will be here when Morning Grass emerges from the tank,” he said. “But not long after that, I must go to the surface for three months training. The mission leaves orbit directly after that. I will miss most of Morning Grass’ physical therapy and I am sorry for that. I know she will need my support.”
Russo smiled at the feline. The more she talked with him, the more she liked him.
“As long as you make certain that Morning Grass knows how you feel about her before you leave,” she told him. “I will be able to get her through the PT.”
“So,” Teacher inquired. “If I was to ask whether or not I should leave at such a time to join Special Forces, your answer would be, ‘Yes’?”
“My answer,” Russo told him. “Would be to follow your heart, or instincts, or whatever you use for a moral compass and trust that things will work out for the best. If you are asking me if it is a bad time for you to be leaving Morning Grass alone, it isn’t ideal. But, if you believe that following this course of action is the best thing for you both, then it must ultimately be to her advantage for you to go. I will give her all the support I can while you are away, both as a doctor and a friend. Just make sure you come back in one piece, Sergeant.”
Part III - Black Bear
Chapter 14
30-Nov-2192
“Gold-Five-Niner-Seven-Two-Alpha, report,” ordered Black Leader from the transport hidden among the large rocks two kilometers to the west of the city. “Give me numbers and locations.”
“Alpha here, Black Leader,” he replied. “I just entered through the northwest gate. No hostiles in the towers or on the walls. I don’t understand it.”
“Blue-Six-Five-Six-Two-Tango. What do you see,” Black Leader asked.
“Tango here, Black Leader. I see two inside the inner gate due south of Alpha’s position. They’re on the move, Black Leader. Should I follow?”
“This is Alpha, Tango. Do not follow. Close on my position.”
“Roger that, Alpha.”
It had been almost a year since the creators sent the felines into the Terra Novan cities to rid them of the inhabitants. The creators had ordered the felines to kill every human. They searched every square millimeter of each city and exterminated anyone they found.
Once the sweeps were over, the creators put together an expedition to explore this westernmost city. Much to their surprise, they found it crawling with activity. There were heavy guns in the towers that rose next to each gate and armed soldiers stationed almost shoulder to shoulder along the tops of the walls. The expedition took fire and many were injured or killed. The survivors barely escaped with their lives.
“Black Leader, this is Orange-Seven-Seven-Niner-Five-Kilo,” another feline reported. “I think I picked up Tango’s hostiles. They just showed up at the base of the northwest tower and entered the doorway. Making my way along the inside wall to Alpha’s position.”
“This is Alpha, Black Leader. Confirm Kilo’s report. The hostiles just passed me.”
As Tango and Kilo made their way to Alpha’s hiding place the three remaining feline commandos stealthily entered the city through multiple unguarded gates.
The team’s original orders were to take up positions in the rocks outside walls and gather intelligence so a larger force could be sent in under cover of darkness to capture the city. But, when the team got there, they found the gates wide open and unwatched.
From what the team could tell, the Terra Novans were unconcerned about the possibility of a surprise attack. There were armed soldiers running around the city, covering technicians who seemed to be performing repairs, but the guns in the towers were unmanned and nobody was walking the walls or watching the gates. None of the felines had been spotted so far, even though the second sun was up and there was only sparse cover as they made their way from the rocks to the gates.
“Black Leader,” another feline commando said quietly into her headset. “This is Green-Zero-One-Zero-Three-Foxtrot. I’m inside the northeast gate. There are no hostiles here. Making my way along the northern wall to Alpha’s position.”
“Foxtrot, this is Black Leader. Roger that. All remaining units report in and close on Alpha.”
“Black Leader, this is Red-Eight-Triple-Five-Sierra,” spoke another feline male. “I’m at the main southern gate. No hostile activity to report here either. Closing on Alpha.”
“White-Niner-Four-Two-Two-Charlie here, Black Leader,” the final feline whispered. “I am at city center now, closing on Alpha’s position. I have hostiles between me and the rendezvous point. I currently count six with weapons also closing on Alpha’s position.”
“Charlie, this is Alpha. Observe, but do not engage. Other units. This is Alpha. If you see hostiles, observe, but do not engage. I repeat. Observe, but do not engage.”
“This is Kilo. Roger that Alpha.”
“Foxtrot here. Roger that Alpha.”
“Alpha, this is Sierra. Roger that.”
Two more soldiers remained on the transport with Black Leader. One was human and the other feline. The three exchanged concerned looks. Black leader opened her microphone.
“Alpha, Black Leader here. Advise that you withdraw.”
“Negative, Black Leader,” Alpha replied. “I have multiple hostiles closing in on the northwest tower from throughout the city. I think we may have found a major ingress-egress. I want to check this out.”
Black Leader turned once more to the human sitting behind her in the shuttle. The human still looked concerned but nodded in agreement.
“Black Leader here, Alpha. We concur. Observe only. Do not engage hostiles.”
“Understood, Black Leader,” Alpha replied.
The felines watched the doors of the observation tower overlooking the northwestern gate for close to an hour. Dozens of Terra Novans entered the doors during that time, but very few exited. The team saw none of the natives report to the guns at the top of the tower, and none took up positions out on the wall.
“They have to be going somewhere,” Alpha told himself. “That area is too small to contain that large a crowd.”
“Black Leader, this is Alpha. I want to take a look inside that tower.”
The human in the shuttle shook his head vehemently.
“Negative Alpha,” Black Leader warned. “Pull back.”
“This is what we trained for, Black Leader,” Alpha said. “My people can take care of themselves. We may not get another opportunity like this.”
Black Leader looked once more to the human sitting behind her in the shuttle.
“Well, shit,” the human said. “I guess if he doesn’t know what the Hell he’s doing by now, it’s my own damned fault. Tell him to leave his mic open.”
“Exercise extreme caution, Alpha,” Black Leader said. “Hands-free on all headsets. Status every sixty.”
“Roger that, Black Leader.”
“Kilo. Sierra,” Alpha whispered. “Cover us. The rest of you, follow me.”
The four felines made their way for the tower entrance doors. Once at the doors, Alpha poked a curious head inside and looked around. He disappeared inside and the others followed quickly.
Seconds after Alpha’s team entered the tower, sirens and claxons came to life all over the city. Kilo and Sierra watched in horror as the machinery that operated the gates engaged and the gates rapidly closed.
“Think we can make it,” Sierra asked, pointing toward the gate.
“Too late,” Kilo said. “This way.”
Kilo motioned for Sierra to follow her and ran for the tower entrance where the rest of the team had disappeared. The two of them entered the doors and rolled from right to left until both had their backs up against the wall with weapons drawn and ready to fire.
After giving their eyes time to adjust to the darkness, Sierra made his way along the wall to his right, searching for evidence of Alpha’s team or a place to conceal Kilo and himself.
“Over here. What’s this,” he asked, motioning for Kilo to come and look.
Kilo signaled for him to wait on her. She found a stairwell to their left and climbed stealthily up to the first landing to see if she could tell what was going on a level above them. Once she had looked, she made her way back down and toward Sierra.
“Where do you think that door leads,” Sierra asked.
“I don’t know, but we need to find somewhere to hide,” Kilo replied.
Before the two could start through the door, Alpha’s voice came loudly over the headsets.
“Kilo. Sierra,” he yell
ed. “Pull out, now. Do not wait for us.”
The door in front of Kilo and Sierra burst open and the three members of Alpha’s team came through quickly followed by Alpha, who stayed at the door and fired a couple of blasts from his phase rifle down the stairwell on the other side.
“Up the tower stairs or out in the open,” Kilo asked. “It’s your choice, but I suggest making it up to the top of the wall. They closed the gates on us.”
“That’s no good,” Alpha replied. “Too high to jump and we don’t have any rope. If we can’t open the gates we’ll need to gain control of some open space inside the walls so Black Leader can drop in for a pickup.”
Kilo frowned, but nodded in agreement. She went to the double doors of the entrance and opened one of them just enough to look outside.
The second sun was only one-third as bright as the primary, but its light still stung her feline eyes and she was having trouble picking shapes out of the glare. Her eyes quickly adjusted to the sunlight and she swept the area again without detecting any natives.
She motioned for the rest to follow her out of the tower. One by one the team members rolled out of the dark interior of the tower and flattened themselves against the wall until their eyes adjusted to the light.
Alpha stood at the door with his weapon ready to fire, watching for the Terra Novans who had chased the team back up the stairs.
“What happened down there,” Kilo asked. “Right after you entered the tower, the alarms sounded.”
“About a hundred were waiting at the bottom of the stairs with weapons drawn,” Alpha answered. “I dropped a flash-bang in the middle of them and we backed out of there as fast as we could.”
When he was sure that no natives were following, Alpha gave the order to retreat to their previous position and take cover. As soon as they started to move across the open area between the tower and their hiding place, they heard explosions to the right and left of them. A large amount of dirt was thrown into the air and mixed with the smoke of the explosions. Before they could avoid it, a large net dropped over them and each felt instantly disoriented and weak.
Chamberlain's Folly (The Terra Nova Chronicles) Page 13