“Mine is so tight,” Karli said adjusting her uniform. “I should have tried it on before but I didn’t want to jinx anything.”
Sarah realized everyone in the class had the same fears about not making it. Sarah couldn’t think of anyone who didn’t make it through training but Sergeant Wolf made it seem like others hadn’t. This might have been to make it so the cadets take their training seriously. Evan showed up and joked that he could get more of the whiskey for after the ceremony. Sarah almost threw up with the thought of another night of drinking. Aaron showed up and she could tell he was nervous. People from other classes were arriving. Everyone made sure that each other were looking their best. When Ian showed he up looked stressed.
“I almost couldn’t find you all. There is a lot more people graduation than I thought there would be.” He said fixing his uniform jacket.
Sarah realized how grown up Ian looked, standing there in his dress uniform. Ian avoided Sarah’s gaze and he only looked at her when she finally spoke to him.
“That uniform looks good on you.” She said and he blushed.
“Th-thank you.” He said and started bouncing on the souls of his feet.
Corporal Clearwater found them and she was wearing her dress uniform also. She made them all lineup and inspected them. “You all are my unit, I want to make sure that all of you are looking your best.”
She fixed some of their uniforms, but she said she was pleased with how they were looking. The classes were then lined up and marched backstage. The ceremony was very simple. Senator Powell, General Wilkins, and several other ranking officers sat on stage. Sarah wasn’t familiar with the others that were present. Senator Powell gave a speech to the audience which filled the large auditorium. After the speech, General Wilkins introduced the classes. Each class marched out in front of the stage. They would stop and salute the officers on stage and then face the audience. General Wilkins then said, “Our new soldiers of the Democratic Insurgence”. They saluted the audience, who would clap and they would march to the other side. Sarah and Nolan’s class were the last class to march. They waited for the others class to join them when they did everyone saluted one last time before marching backstage. As soon as the curtain was down the classes were all cheering and hugging each other. They were all given champagne and Senator Powell came backstage. The Senator stood before them with a glass. He raised it up and the room went silent.
“I cannot begin to tell you all how proud I am. It is an honor to have you join us in our fight against President Marshal and this government. Together we can build one that is for us instead of against us,” He paused for a moment and looked around trying to catch the eye of every person in the room. “To many returns.” He then raised his glass higher and everyone followed.
It took everything in Sarah to keep down the champagne. Corporal Clearwater then announced that the graduating classes are given a small feast. They were led to the gymnasium where music was playing and tables had been set up for the classes. Sarah and Nolan’s class were shown to their table where the food was waiting for them. As soon as everyone was sat they were told they could start eating. The food was so tasty and it wasn’t until that moment did Sarah realized how hungry she was. She couldn’t help but look around at how happy everyone was. The makeshift party ended early when the Sergeants were telling everyone.
“We aren’t responsible if you all are late to your first days. So let’s get moving.”
Sergeant Wolf came over and shook each one of their hands before telling them they had to head to bed. Sarah hadn’t realized it was later than they normally stayed up till. Sarah was leaving the room and walked slowly. She waited for Nolan to finish his conversation with Karli when Ian came up to her.
“I hope you have a good first day.” He said to her and Sarah could tell he was nervous.
“Thank you. I hope you do too.” She said and he stood for a moment smiling at her before clearing his throat.
“I will talk to you later then.” Ian then rushed from the room.
Sarah was watching as Nolan and Karli exchanged an awkward handshake then hug. She knew her brother was never that great at talking to girls. Nolan walked up to her with a large smile on his face.
“What are you smiling about?” She asked.
“Nothing,” He said and walked past her. Sarah could tell he was trying to hide his smile.
The elevator door opened on their floor and walking down the hall was Steven. Sarah’s stomach turned a bit seeing him but it stopped when she saw the look on his face.
“We have some news on your father,” Steven said stopping in front of them.
“What news?” Sarah asks.
“You both better come with me. We need to get you two into civilian clothes. We are going on a trip.” Steven said walking past them and heading back into the elevator.
“Where are we going?” Nolan asked.
Steven hit the button for the ground floor before speaking, “back to Chicago.”
Hundreds of miles away on the side of a flowing river there stood an octagon prison. Neil wasn’t sure how big the prison was because if he left his cell his head was covered. The room he slept in was cold. It was almost like it was designed to have a constant breeze going through it. When he first arrived he tried to keep track of the days which was hard to do considering his room had no window. They controlled the lights in his room, at times he would get hours of light followed by short periods of darkness then it would change. He would get what felt like (and probably was) days of darkness or the opposite. This lack of normal sleep schedule was taking a toll on Neil. His room was slightly bigger than a closet. His bed was a concrete slab that a thin mattress lay on. Neil’s ‘mattress’ if you could even call it that, considering how thin it was basically only made it so he wasn’t as cold when he slept. He often reminded himself how lucky he was to have it. If he didn’t he would have to deal with the cold air and the cold concrete. He did have a blanket, but it was more of a sheet. Most nights when he tried to sleep, he would lay curled up in a ball trying to stay warm. Everything he ‘needed’ was in this room. He had a toilet, small sink which only worked for a few minutes after he flushed the toilet. He had a suspicion that the water from the sink was somehow linked to the toilet. He didn’t think it was the water he flushed, but he still didn’t take the chance of drinking the water. The guards would bring his meals to him through an opening in the door. With the lights messing with his perception of time he wasn’t sure if the food came on a schedule or if it had any sort of organization. When he thought he had it down it would seem to change on him.
Hearing the door unlock was a terrifying moment for Neil. This meant only one thing; he was going to be “questioned”. At first, it was simply that; questions. As time went on and Neil denied them answers the questioning became more intense. He would be in the room and he could hear ringing in his ears. If the person questioning him heard it too they did a good job of hiding it. Sometimes they would tie up his hands and feet in the chair and leave him in the room in front of the guard’s food, or they would leave in tied up for hours until he soiled himself. He would be left there for another hour until he was ‘cleaned’ off. Which meant people would come in with fire hoses and spray him while he was tied up. They would also sit him in chairs where he would get electrocuted periodically during the questioning. It wasn’t always as a result of wrong answers either. It would happen during the questioning and would continue until it was constant. Neil would cry and squirm in pain.
Once he was locked in a dark room handcuffed to his chair. Neil could hear the rattling of a snake, he would try and get his feet off the ground for fear of being bitten. Neil couldn’t move his feet because of the restraints on him. Eventually, the rattling stopped and they dragged him back to his room and left him there. That time he wasn’t even asked any questions.
Today the door unlocked and before he knew it he was being beaten with clubs and the usual bag was put over his head. Neil figured the
guards were in a good mood today. None of them kicked him in the chest or stomach before dragging him from the room. He tried to keep track of how he got to the interrogation rooms but he never seemed to be able too. If he struggled at all while being dragged they would stop and beat him. Today he was thrown into the room. He slid across the floor and hit the table. He took the bag off of his head and standing in front of him was Major Fulton. Over the last what he thought was several months he has had many conversations with the Major. Major Fulton was in charge of the prison. Along with what he suspected was the enforcement of laws in what Neil assumed was the Midwest. Neil only assumed this because after his capture in Chicago the Major was the first one who he talked to.
“Neil I am sorry it has been so long since our last talk.” Major Fulton said.
Neil stayed on the ground. He had taken to just not answering anything. He couldn’t even remember the last time he had spoken. Neil looked into Major Fulton’s eyes not speaking.
“I am sure you haven’t been too busy. I was wondering though if anything had clicked yet about where the Democratic Insurgency’s base is. If you recall I had been asking about it.”
“Of course I recall. You piece of shit. That is the only thing you ever ask about.” Neil thought to himself.
“Judging by that look on your face I would say you remember me asking. If you give me some information I will give you a present.” He smiled and went into his inside jacket pulling out a picture frame. “This had been sitting on my desk for some time now. I must say that it will take a lot out of me to give it up but,” he paused for effect. “It will be worth it.” Major Fulton then turned the picture around.
Neil knew right away who was in the picture. He knew his wife anywhere, and that picture had been hanging in their restaurant ever since she died. Neil used to stare at it when he missed her. “That son of a bitch didn’t deserve to look at it.” Neil not even thinking about what he was doing dove for the picture. His time in the prison must have made him slow because something felt like he was getting hit by a car. Major Fulton had pulled out a baton and hit Neil across the face with it. Neil could pain rip through his face, and he could taste blood in his mouth.
“That is not how things work here, Neil. You know this. You give me answers. You get the picture. If you don’t then I get to keep looking at this beautiful woman.” Major Fulton said kicking Neil over so he could see his face.
Neil was holding his mouth and glaring at the Major. Rage was flowing through his body. So much so that Neil was shaking.
“I mean I know I hurt your jaw there but that doesn’t mean you can’t tell me where it is. Come on, Neil. The answers are there.”
Major Fulton stood looking at Neil, bloody and in a ball on the floor before shaking his head. “I guess this is my treat. I really wasn’t ready to part with this yet.” Major Fulton said looking at the picture and giving it a little kiss.
This was too much for Neil. He charged again at the Major but once again the Major was too fast for him. He stepped out of the way and Neil collided with the wall. Neil felt a pain in his back where Major Fulton hit him with the baton. Guards came into the room put the bag over his head and dragged him by his feet to his room. His room was different, though. They took off the bag and Neil was on the ground in his room and he took his first breath. The room was hot and the air felt dense in his throat. Neil was sweating immediately. He crawled into bed and closed his eyes. He tried to catch his breath but the air was so thick now. He closed his eyes and in his head pictured Kathleen. He had seen that picture, he could never forget it but now he forced his mind to remember everything about it. The lights in the room turned off and there was darkness.
Chapter Twelve
Eagle Watching
Nolan was in a small bathroom changing out of his military uniform, into some clothes that Steven had given him. The pants were tight on his waist but other than that they fit fine. His shirt was at least one size too large. He came out of the bathroom and Steven was looking at him for a moment before messing up his hair a little bit.
“You can’t look so neat. It might draw attention.” Steven said looking at the expression on Nolan’s face when his hair was ruffled.
“The fact that I am practically swimming in this shirt won’t?” Nolan said. He held out his arms so Steven could see.
“It will have to do for now. We can find new clothes when we get to Chicago.” Steven walked over to the other bathroom and knocked hard on the door. “We don’t have all day. Let’s get moving.”
“It is easier for guys to change than me. Give me a break!” Sarah yelled from the bathroom. Sarah exited the bathroom and her shirt seemed tight on her but her pants seemed to fit her form perfectly. Sarah started trying to stretch the shirt so it didn’t cling too much to her.
“Good, let’s get moving the plane should be ready by now,” Steven said.
He was walking so fast it was hard to keep up with him. Nolan looked back at Sarah and she was almost running to keep up with them. They entered the hanger and a large SUV was waiting for them. Captain Underwood stood looking at his watch.
When Captain Underwood saw them enter he opened up the back door to the car and said in a loud voice, “Let’s get moving. We might miss our flight if we don’t leave now.”
They piled into the SUV and the Captain got in the driver seat and sped out of the hanger. They were tight in the SUV. Their whole team was there, Sergeant Mary Underwood was sitting up front with the Captain. In the far back seat sat Corporal Orson. He was studying some notes with a small flashlight. He nodded his head when they got into the car but didn’t speak. He was clearly concentrating on whatever he was reading. Steven made Sarah sit in the back next to Orson and Nolan was next to Steven. The drive to the airport this time seemed to be much faster this time than it was when they first arrived.
As if reading Nolan’s mind Captain Underwood spoke, “I will explain everything on the plane. I have everything set up and we will have a full briefing.”
This wasn’t satisfying to Nolan but he kept quiet anyway. He was on his first mission and already his training was kicking in. He wasn’t going to question Captain Underwood. “Follow your commander’s orders. They will keep you alive,” was going through his head as they drove. They arrived at the airport and before Nolan knew it they were taking off on their way back to Chicago. As soon as the plane finished its ascent Captain Underwood stood up.
“First thing is first,” Captain Underwood started “We are now undercover. Nolan, Sarah I know this is your first mission so let’s get some things clear. I will not be referred to as Captain. You both will call me Will or Wilson. Obviously, this is because if we are heard talking to each other by rank it will seem suspicious. Second, when we arrive we will head to a safe house. We will be on high alert there. I will be sending a message to our informant. This means it could be intercepted by the USSB. If that happens we will be in a situation which will require us to fight. We haven’t heard from this informant or any from this area since the takeover.”
“Any reason for that?” Steven asked.
“I am hoping to find out when we arrive,” Wilson continued. “We got a message earlier tonight and when we decoded it we rushed to get you and to head back.”
“What was the message?” Sarah asked.
“It said Cyclone has been spotted,” Wilson said and he looked at the confused looks on Nolan and Sarah’s faces. “That was your father’s code name. It seems we might have a location on him. This is good news. This is the most we have gotten in a long time. Now, the safe house in on the West Side of the city and the neighborhood isn’t the greatest. This will help and hurt us. People in this area keep to themselves. On the other hand, we might have more police activity. Which means while we are in the safe house we will need to be quiet and not have any lights on. The house is unoccupied which means when we leave and arrive we’ll have to make sure we aren’t seen.”
Everyone nodded their heads in unde
rstanding. Wilson then explained that when they arrive at the airport they will make their way to the train station, from there they will head to the safe house. Wilson gave them some maps and pointed out where they had to go. He instructed them to memorize where the safe house was. He didn’t want the maps to be found. Everyone knew what they had to do. They would be arriving late in the city when they did they would have to be fast in order to catch the train. If they didn’t make the train they would have to use some other form of transportation. The rest of the flight was the team talking about “what to do in the event of…” and then discussions would start. Most of the discussion was small talk considering the information they had was minimal. Wilson liked the discussion, He said, “it keeps the mind working." He was right. By the time the plane was touching down Nolan was ready to stop discussing possibilities and take action.
Before leaving the plane Wilson handed each of them a backpack that had necessary items. It included money, gun, cell phone, and extra clothes. The bags were a little heavy.
“Why are we given money?” Nolan asked.
“In case you get separated. This is enough to get you by until you can find your team or try and get back.” Wilson said handing the bag to Nolan and left the plane.
Wilson was leading the way to the train station. Nolan felt strange being back home. This wasn’t the neighborhood he grew up in but he knew he was close to where he lived. He wondered for what seemed like the first time what had happened to their old apartment. He imagined USSB agents searching everything in their apartment. They probably went through his stuff to find clues. He had lived in the city his entire life. This made Nolan comfortable with the fact that if he did lose his team for some reason. He was familiar enough with where he was to get back or stay out of trouble.
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