Chapter Fifteen: The Detour

‘So everyone’s clear that Celeste is in Command until we get back. You are to follow her orders as you would mine or Jason’s’ Williams said.

‘Yes sir’ the soldiers shouted back.

‘They’re all yours’ Williams said, turning to Celeste, who nodded. Williams left the pavilion and Jason followed.

‘You don’t have a problem with me putting a civilian in charge, do you?’ Jason asked.

‘I have no problems with it. In fact I think it’s a great idea. In these uncertain times we need everyone to step up. We need to see what everyone’s made of. See who is leadership material and who is not, see-‘

‘Yeah, I get it, I get it’ Jason said, raising a hand.

‘I’m sure the people here will be fine’ Williams said.

‘I think we’re taking too many soldiers. We’re sending nearly three quarters of our force’ Jason said to Williams.

‘I know, but smaller numbers move faster. If there is an attack, I’d rather them be on it fast with a little less firepower than the other way round’ Williams replied.

‘Ok. You’re commander, it’s your decision’ Jason said.

‘Damn right it’s my decision. I don’t have a problem with you’re decisions. Like I said, I think it’s a great idea putting Celeste in charge, I don’t see why you feel the need to question mine’ Williams said, a little angrily.

‘I think there’s a Nexus spy’ Jason said without thinking.

‘A Nexus spy? Do you have any proof?’ Williams asked.

‘Well, not exactly, but if there is a spy and they know we’re undermanned, they’ll see that as opportunity to catch us at a disadvantage and take the Showgrounds’ Jason said.

‘I’m not pulling forces from our attack, on a theory Jason’ Williams said.

‘The Nexus knew exactly when we would pass through, on the way here’

‘It was Nexus territory. We knew there was a possibility that they would be patrolling the area,’ Williams replied, sighing. ‘Jason, I understand your concern. I have serious doubts myself. An attack is not what we need right now. Now if you can find proof to back up your theory then I will investigate it. Until then, we’re done here’ Williams said.

‘Sir!’ a soldier shouted, running out of the pavilion.

‘What is it, Corporeal?’ Williams asked.

‘Sensors picked up something and we checked it on satellite. You need to see this’ the soldier said. Williams and Jason followed him back into the pavilion.

‘Ok, so what is it?’ Williams said.

‘Bring it up’ Celeste said, and the soldier at a computer complied. A projector flicked on and a live video appeared on the wall across from them.

‘It’s the Nexus. They’re en route. A convoy of at least five trucks, carrying at least a hundred soldiers each’ Celeste told them.

‘Except they’re not coming here’ Williams said.

‘Then, where are they going?’ Jason asked.

‘The Tallentiri structure,’ Williams said, watching it closely.

‘Sir?’

‘Change of plans. I will take a small group of about three or four rovers out to meet them. The Structure can wait. Jason you stay here. If this doesn’t work and they come here, we need a strong leader and a good defence’ Williams said.

‘Understood’ Jason said.

‘Sir, we’ll be massacred out there’ another soldier said.

‘We don’t kill all of them, just enough to force them to retreat’ Williams replied.

‘Which is still around three hundred’

‘I have an idea, but we need to move fast. We leave now’ Williams said, taking at least twenty soldiers with him and leaving.

‘Out. Get up on the walls. Celeste and I will monitor from here’ Jason said.

‘Yes sir’ the Corporeal said and the remainder of the soldiers left.

‘Something’s not right’ Celeste said.

‘You feel it too?’ Jason asked.

‘Yeah. I don’t know what it is, but something just doesn’t feel right’ Celeste said.

‘I know’ Jason said. They watched Williams’ intercept convoy leave the Showgrounds.

‘We need to talk about… us’ Celeste said. Jason turned to her.

‘You’ve had two months to talk to me about it, why do you-‘

‘I’m pregnant’ Celeste cut across. Jason remained silent for a few moments.

‘You’re pregnant? Are you sure?’ He asked. Celeste nodded.

‘I got the test results back yesterday’

‘When did you see the medics?’ Jason said.

‘About a week ago. It’s yours, ours’ Celeste replied. Jason sighed.

‘A baby, in this place’ Jason thought out loud.

‘I’m keeping it’ Celeste said, sounding a little hurt.

‘No, I uh… I didn’t say you shouldn’t’ Jason said, almost apologetically.

‘Then what are you saying?’ Celeste asked.

‘We’re going to make this work, ok? We’re going to figure this out, and it’s going to be fine’ Jason said.

‘Jason, I understand if you’d rather have nothing to do with this, I wouldn’t blame you either. You’ve got to deal with being second-in-command-‘

‘Celeste, no. I aspire to be like my father on many things, but he missed the first six years of my life and then spent the next eleven years trying to make it upto me. I will not make the same mistake’ Jason replied.

‘What happened? Is it why Claire hates you?’ Celeste asked.

‘Not exactly’ Jason said, dismissively.

‘Then tell me, Jason. You’re going to be with me for the next eighteen years, you might as well tell me now’ Celeste said.

‘When he found out that my mum was pregnant, he ran. He walked out and that’s when he met Claire’s aunt. He didn’t learn from the first time. She fell pregnant too. But this time he had nowhere to run. Claire didn’t know, and neither my dad nor her aunt wanted the baby, so Claire’s mother opted to take it as if it were her own, as far as Claire was concerned, the baby was her sister’ Jason said.

‘What was the baby’s name?’ Celeste asked.

‘Jessica’ Jason replied.

‘So that’s why Claire hates you? Because your dad got her Aunt pregnant? That wasn’t your fault’ Celeste told him.

‘There’s more, when we all fourteen, I met Jessica. I didn’t know who she was at the time and, long story short, we formed a bit more then a just a friendly relationship’ Jason said.

‘You mean-‘

‘Yeah, that’s what I mean. Like I said, I didn’t know who she was at the time. We both agreed to end the relationship after we found out, but Claire never forgave. She felt betrayed by my family once and now she had second mistake to make us pay for, and for the next three years she did just that. She made my life hell. I lay down and took it because I didn’t need that story coming out’

‘What did she do?’

‘Let’s just say it went beyond a bad joke. She never stopped, not until the invasion. What Claire failed to realise was that Jessica onto me, not the other way round’

‘So that’s why Claire hates you?’ Celeste asked.

‘No. That happened eight years ago. It was an accident. Claire’s mum went to the Barracks to talk to my dad about Jessica. I was there, and being a nine year old kid curiosity got the better of me. Dad had left one of the rifles unattended and I grabbed it. I meant to fire a few shots down the range. Dad would sometimes let me, under his supervision. I didn’t the rifle was automatic and I lost control. Claire’s was hit in chest and killed,’ Jason said, looking down at the floor. ‘I killed Claire’s mother’

‘Jason, you were nine. Claire can’t blame you for that’

‘Believe me, she blames me. What you’ve been seeing of her treatment of me the last few days. That’s not Claire. She’s still being nasty, but agreeable because she hasn’t got a choice. Whether she likes it or night, I’m helping keep her alive’ Jason told her.

‘Ok. One last thing and I need you to promise me this, ok?’

‘Yeah, sure’ Jason said.

‘You’ll protect Sarah. Make sure nothing happens to her. She’s the only family I have left. Will you keep her safe?’ Celeste asked.

‘I will. I promise’ Jason said. Celeste kissed him on the cheek.

‘Thank you’ She said, as they both returned to watching the screen

Chapter Fourteen: The Plan

The days at the Showgrounds morphed into weeks. New arrivals had made their way there, defence teams manned the walls, motion sensor air defence turrets were erected on the walls at intersections. The gates remained closed and no one could enter or leave without the permission of Lieutenant Williams or Jason. No airstrike had occurred yet, and they were sleeping under any shelter they could find; for Jason, Claire, Celeste and Sarah, that was a small, brick and tile, building near the main gate . Access to the military network had allowed Claire to continue her work, in turn allowing them to know many things; the Nexus were indeed more powerful than the Military, winning stunning victories on small numbers. But Jason wasn’t concerned with the Nexus. What concerned Jason now was the extent of information that had been stolen from the network by another source. Someone had been stealing information from the military for at least eight months before the Tallentiri invasion.

‘Jason, we have no idea why that information isn’t there. For all we know the military might have deleted it’ Claire said.

‘For eight months, Claire? Really? It has to be a spy. Maybe some of those are deletions, but certainly not eight months worth’ Jason said.

‘What’s going on know?’ Celeste asked.

‘Jason is convinced there’s a Nexus spy’ Claire answered.

‘Ok. Ignore the eight months. The Nexus knew exactly where the envelope was. They might of already known about it being my dad’s quarters, but they failed then because Celeste I got there first. By the second time, they knew exactly where it was, and who had it’ Jason replied.

‘Alright, let’s take some time out. First of all Jason, what you have is not proof. It’s a theory. So let’s not jump the gun. You asked Claire to look into the envelope and she did that’ Celeste said.

‘Yes but-‘

‘Bababababa, I’m not done. Claire, just because you don’t believe it, doesn’t mean that a spy doesn’t exist’ Celeste said.

‘Where do you sit then? Do you think there’s a spy?’ Claire asked.

‘I think we need to be open to the possibility of a spy. If it was just the eight months, then I might think that there wasn’t. But it’s not only what Jason said. The Nexus knew when we’d be running searches for survivors, and they were waiting for us when we left the Barracks. Someone had to of tipped them off. It’s too suspicious’ Celeste said.

‘So you think he’s right. What a surprise. You know, you’re not the first girl he’s slept with’ Claire said.

‘Hey! That’s a little uncalled for’ Jason said. ‘And she already knew that’ Jason added, sighing. All three were silent for a moment.

‘Celeste, can you leave Jason and I alone for a minute?’ Claire asked. Celeste looked at Jason.

‘It’s ok. Go’ he said. Celeste unwillingly left.

‘Right. You and I need to have a talk’ Jason said sternly.

‘Yeah, we do’ Claire replied.

‘Ok, first off. My sex life, not up for discussion,’ Jason said. ‘And even if it was, you did not need to bring it up then’ Jason said.

‘Does she know what number she is?’ Claire asked.

‘I thought I said this wasn’t up for discussion’ Jason said.

‘So that’s a no then’

‘I told her she wasn’t the first and that’s all she needs to know’ Jason retorted.

‘Wow. Is that that how you treated Jess’ Claire asked.

‘Your sister Jessica came on to me and you know it. Besides, you and I both know why you hate me and we are not doing this now’ Jason asked.

‘Either you tell her the truth, or I will’ Claire asked.

‘You will not breathe a word about that to Celeste’ Jason told her, before walking out of the room. As he walked out onto the main road, Celeste caught up to him.

‘Do you really there could be a spy?’ she asked.

‘Yes, I do. If we’re right we have to find them, fast’ Jason replied.

‘Can I help?’

‘Make friends with the civilians and have them come to me if they see or hear anything suspicious. There are a lot of people here. Some of them have to have heard something’ Jason told her.

‘Where are you going?’

‘Williams has called a meeting to discuss battle strategies and what we’re going to do next’ Jason said, and without another word he headed towards the main pavilion in the centre of the showgrounds.

‘Right on time Jason’ Williams said as Jason entered.

‘I’m getting good at that’ Jason replied with a weak smile, walking over to him. There was a map of everything within a ten kilometre radius on the table.

‘Ok. So the stores and houses near by have been picked clean. If we ration the food ad water properly we have about a month worth of food and water. But we have bigger problems. Scouts have reported what appears to be a Tallentiri construction site, and the latest satellite images show that the centre of Perth has been demolished. The colony head to the Perth Arena never made it. They were destroyed by Tallentiri forces guarding the city. The construction site is located here,’ he circled an area on the map. ‘about four clicks from here. We can’t do anything about Perth just yet, but we can stop this. We’ll coordinate an assault on the site from two directions. Jason, you’ll lead a strike force through the site. The rest of us will circle the area, stopping anything from getting out. Any questions’ Williams said.

‘Yeah how are the Tallentiri inside the site?’ Jason asked.

‘Thermals tell us that the site is lightly defended. They probably don’t know that we know about it’ Williams said. ‘Any other questions?’. Nobody else said anything.

‘Good. We strike in two days. Prepare yourselves however you can. Dismissed’ Williams said. Slowly the soldiers filed out, one by one.

‘Who’s in command while we’re gone?’ Jason asked, watching them.

‘That is upto you’ Williams said, laughing as he slapped Jason on the back walking away. Jason knew who he was going to put in command.

Chapter Thirteen: The Journey

‘Come on! Get those weapons and ammunition to the Rovers. We leave in twenty minutes’ Lieutenant Williams said.

‘Jason, all four of us should go with you’ Celeste said, as she helped him carry a variety of weapons to the South Gate where two heavily armoured rovers and military truck were waiting.

‘I already said no. you’re coming with me. Claire and Sarah will go with Lieutenant Williams. We need them there, to push him if we don’t get an answer’ Jason said, looking around to make sure there were no eavesdroppers.

‘Fine. We also need to talk about-‘

‘I know, but not now ok?’ Jason interrupted.

‘Yes ok’ Celeste said, as they threw the bag full if weapons in the back of a Rover. Slowly the other civilians piled into the truck with a small squad of soldiers. Jason got behind the wheel of the second Rover and Celeste got in next to him. Four civilians and two soldiers took the remaining seats in the back. Jason watched Williams get into his Rover and they left the Barracks. Celeste nodded at Jason as she held the radio in front of his mouth.

‘Williams, I was thinking. Wouldn’t it be easier to order an airstrike on the Nexus headquarters? That would finish them, leaving the Tallentiri to fight us’ Jason said.

‘We could except the Nexus control the airfields. Even if we did have control of the airfields, we have no idea where the Nexus headquarters is’ Williams replied. Jason and Celeste looked at each other.

‘Ok. It was just an idea, Jason out’ Jason said. They drove a little longer through devastated, suburban streets. Eventually they stopped and Williams signalled for Jason to pull up along side them.

‘Can you sense them?’ he asked.

‘Yeah. This place is crawling with them’ Jason replied.

‘Crawling with what?’ Celeste asked.

‘Nexus forces. They’re expecting us’ one of the soldiers behind Celeste said.

‘Someone must’ve tipped them off’ another soldier said.

‘Regardless of how they know about our presence we have to deal with them now. Someone has to lead to a scout, find a safe passage for the other group to pass through’ Williams said.

‘I’ll do it’ Jason said. Williams chuckled a little.

‘I appreciate the enthusiasm, but you’re not trained for this. Plus I have more soldiers-‘

‘Which is exactly why it should be us and not you; less soldiers to draw attention. Plus, should we fail to protect you, you stand a better chance of defending yourselves’ Jason told him.

‘Fine. Stay on radio. Engage them only when necessary’ Williams told him.

‘Got it. Wait for my call. We’ll cover you from buildings’ Jason said.

‘We have a long range weapon. Once we’re out of the area, we’ll set it up on that hill about a kilometre from here. It won’t kill many of them, but it should distract them long enough to allow you to get out and join us’ Williams said.

‘Alright. Everyone out’ Jason said. They all piled out and Williams drove his rover to the other side of the street and waited.

‘Alright,’ Jason said, opening the bag full of weapons. ‘Take one rifle and one pistol each. Fire only when you have to, once that ammo’s gone, it is gone’ Jason said.

‘Got it Jason, just go. The faster we get them out of here, the faster we get out of here’ Celeste said,

‘Alright. You and you,’ Jason said, pointing at two soldiers. ‘You’re with me. The rest of you stay here, guard the Rover’ he added. Jason and the two soldiers crept around the corner and moved up the street. The houses in this area looked relatively in tact. Jason concluded that the Tallentiri mustn’t have bombed this far out.

‘We’re never going to see anything from ground level, sir’ One of the soldiers said.

‘I’m a civilian. You don’t have to call me sir’ Jason said.

‘Actually, sir we do. You are effectively our commanding officer’ The other one said.

‘Ok, here’s what I’m going to do. I order both of you, to not refer to me as “sir”. Understand?’ Jason said.

‘Yes sir, I mean no sir, I mean… yes’ they both stammered.

‘Good. Now as soon as we find a decent vantage point we’ll do what we need to do to get out of here’

‘Jason, we need guidance here’ Williams said.

‘We’re in the process of…’ Jason stopped talking. There was a huge ship approaching them from the north. It was like a large, ovular, brown house.

‘In, get in’ Jason said, kicking in the door to a house.

‘Say again Jason, you were cut off’ Williams said.

‘Williams, the situation has changed. We’ve got Tallentiri out here.

‘Understood. Williams out’

‘Barricade the door!’ Jason yelled. The soldiers began moving furniture in front of the doors.

‘How do you know they’re Tallentiri?’ one of the soldiers asked.

‘It’s an educated guess. The ship obviously wasn’t Human’ Jason replied. A Tallentiri swiped at the door, cutting a huge chunk out of it.

‘Open fire’ Jason ordered. The sound of bullets filled the confined space of the house. Three more tried to enter, destroying the door and breaking the barricade. They were killed before they even made it halfway across the room.

‘Jason I’m coming to get you, just hold on’ Williams said.

‘Copy that’ Jason replied. ‘Alright, let’s move. Stay under cover’ Jason said to the soldiers. The house exploded behind them as soon as they reached the veranda of the house, pushing them out, onto the road. The Tallentiri ship had fired on the house. Jason rolled onto his back and saw the ship floating there.

‘Don’t move,’ he said. ‘It’s watching us. If we remain still enough, it might think we’re dead and move on’ he added. Seconds seemed to meld into minutes, then stretch into what felt like hours.

‘How did it know we were in there?’ one of the soldiers asked.

‘They must be tracing the radio signals. If it saw us go in, it would’ve fired as soon as we entered’ Jason answered. The ship eventually turned and left and Williams arrived seconds later.

‘Get in’ he said, stopping the Rover in the middle of the street. They all got up and climbed into the Rover.

‘Where’s everyone else?’ Jason asked.

‘As soon as the Tallentiri arrived, the Nexus bolted. I led everyone out of the area, and told them to go to the Showgrounds while came back to get you. They should be there by now’ Williams replied. They took off the street. They reached the showgrounds, undisturbed, an hour later.

Chapter Twelve: Revelations

Jason awoke to the sight of Claire’s and Sarah’s faces looking down at him, shocked. Jason gave an enquiring look and Claire’s eyes told him where to look: down. When he looked he saw Celeste’s head resting on his bare chest. Jason looked back and Claire and Sarah.

‘It’s not what it looks like’ he said.

‘Sure it isn’t’ Claire said, barely concealing her smirk. Jason noticed something in Sarah’s hand.

‘What’s that?’ Jason asked, changing the subject

‘A letter from General Carson’ Sarah replied.

‘There’s also a map with it’ Claire asked. Jason stopped for a second.

‘Map’ he whispered, then he thought about it.

‘Jason?’

‘Sarah, pass me the envelope’ Jason said. Sarah passed him the envelope.

‘Jason, you can’t decrypt those papers without a computer’ Claire said.

‘Well, I don’t think they were encrypted to begin with’ Jason said, pulling the papers out of it.

‘What do you mean?’ Claire asked.

‘They’re map coordinates’ Jason said.

‘Leading where?’ Sarah asked.

‘That’s what I want Claire to figure out’ Jason said.

‘Oh yes, sure, no problem commander’ Claire snapped.

‘What’s that supposed to mean?’ Jason retorted.

‘It means you are not in charge of us, for now’ Claire replied.

‘What is she talking about?’ Jason asked Sarah.

‘You should read the letter’ Sarah said. Jason carefully rolled Celeste off him, sat up, and took the letter out of Sarah’s hand. When he opened it, he saw half a page of writing.

‘This is closer to a note, but thank you’ Jason said.

‘Just read it’ Claire said. Jason read it.

‘Apart from Williams being promoted to Lieutenant, and us leaving the Barracks, what does that have to do with me?’ Jason asked.

‘We’re all on Lieutenant Williams’ party and General Carson gave Williams you as his second-in-command’ Sarah told him.

‘We’ll leave you to get dressed’ Claire said nastily.

‘At least the old Claire’s back. I wondered where she’d gone’ Jason said. Claire gave him the finger before walking off with Sarah. Jason got out of bed and quickly got dressed. Jason walked out the door.

‘Didn’t take you long, did it?’ Claire asked.

‘I didn’t plan for that to happen. And, just for your information, she started it’ Jason asked.

‘Like father like son’ Claire snarled, stepping forward.

‘I’m not apologising for last night, or for what happened eight years ago. So get over it’ Jason replied, just as angrily.

‘Take this’ Claire said, sighing, holding out a radio. Jason took it and walked off. He heard Claire yell something but ignored her and kept walking. Jason switched on the radio.

‘Lieutenant Williams’ he said.

‘Jason is that you?’ Williams said.

‘Yeah, it’s me. Where are you?’ Jason asked.

‘Mess. Where are you?’ Williams replied.

‘I’m on my way’ Jason said as he headed towards the Mess Hall.

When Jason stepped inside, General Carson was talking.

‘Nice of you to join us, Mr Blake’ Carson said.

‘Sorry I’m late,’ Jason said. ‘I just found out’ Williams signalled for Jason to sit next to him, and Jason awkwardly made his over.

‘As I was saying, before Mr Blake decided to show up, all of your locations are secure, as of last Wednesday’s recon. You all leave in two hours for your prospective destinations. Any questions?’ Carson asked. One of the soldiers raised their hands.

‘These locations are past Nexus controlled territory. In order to get there, we’ll have to go through that territory’

‘Lieutenant, I understand what you’re saying, but the Nexus will not be expecting us to move. The paths through will lightly guarded, if guarded at all. Add to that they suffered heavier casualties compared to us, they’re not going to want to fight’ Carson replied.

‘Then why move at all?’ someone else called out.

‘The safety of the Barracks has been compromised. A small force will remain here to defend the barracks from any stray attacks, but our main objective is save as many lives as possible’ Carson answered.

‘If you wanted to save lives, you’d have two military in command. Civilians don’t know anything about defensive strategies’ a soldier called out.

‘Colonel, we’ve been through this before. The civilian leaders are they’re to run the civil side of the new colonies. The military officer will have full control of all defensive operations, when necessary’ Carson told him. Then Williams spoke.

‘What about the civilians like Jason, sir? Those who have some military training, but aren’t officers?’

‘If required, they run both the civil and military sides. All civilian leaders, will have the order power. When they are put in command, all military personnel are to follow their orders, like they would if their commanding officer had given the order. Is that clear?’ Carson said.

‘Yes sir’ the soldiers replied.

‘Dismissed’ Carson said. They made their way out of the Mess Hall and once outside, Jason spoke to Williams.

‘Congratulations on the promotion’ Jason said.

‘I only got it because Spire was killed in the Nexus incursion’ Williams said. ‘But thank you’ he added.

‘So why did Carson civilians as second-in-command?’ Jason asked.

‘He doesn’t want it to look a military dictatorship. We leave for the Claremont Showgrounds in two hours, go and get your things ready then ring them to one of the rovers waiting by the South gate’ Williams said.

‘The showgrounds are east of here’ Jason said.

‘I know, just go’ Williams said. Jason nodded and left.

‘Pack your stuff. Take it to the South Gate’ Jason said.

‘Jason you need to see this’ Sarah said.

‘You were right. They’re map coordinates. One of the locations is the Claremont Showgrounds’ Claire said.

‘Yeah that’s where we’re going’ Jason said.

‘But they’re not colonial destinations’ Celeste said.

‘Then what are they?’ Jason asked.

‘Airstrike coordinates’ Sarah said.

‘We also found three others; The Convention centre, Perth Arena and Subiaco Oval. All airstrike targets’ Claire said.

‘There has to be a mistake. Check again then re-check’ Jason said.

‘Already did. They’re air strike targets Jason’ Sarah said.

‘What do you want to do?’ Celeste said. Jason thought about it, pacing around the room.

‘Pack your things. We’re still going. I’ll see if I can get anything out of Williams on the way there. Just keep quiet about it for now, ok’ Jason said.

‘Alright’ they all replied in unison.

Chapter Eleven: The First Play

They ran to the North Gate. Somehow, Nexus forces were moving through the Bastion shield. The soldiers at the Barracks, were cutting them down, leaving piles of dead soldiers on the ground, but more coming through than could be killed. Jason ran for it. He had a feeling that he knew who was after the envelope now. He banged on the door to his quarters.

‘It’s me, Jason open up!’ he yelled. Celeste opened the door.

‘What’s going on?’ she asked.

‘We’re moving. Now. Grab the envelope and follow me’ Jason said as he waited for them.

‘Where are we going?’ Celeste asked.

‘Third floor of the research lab’ Jason answered.

‘Why?’ Claire asked.

‘Because I know who’s after the envelope. It’s the Nexus. They’re private military attacking the Barracks right now’ Jason replied, rounding a corner. Jason fired as a Nexus soldier appeared at the other end of the corridor. The soldier fell back before he even saw Jason.

‘Celeste, take his weapon’ Jason said. Celeste obeyed, picking up the soldier’s RX-15 Assault Rifle.

‘The military doesn’t even have those yet’ Jason told them. They continued to move along the corridor, and managed to reach the research lab, relatively easily. Once they entered, Claire locked the door behind them. Together they then entered the lift and went up to the third floor. Everyone had left, prior to the attack, so they were alone. They looked out the window. The courtyard that had been empty a minutes ago, was now an all-out battlefield. Nexus and Campbell forces, were engaged in a fierce battle, and people lay dead in almost every un-occupied space.

‘Start firing’ Jason said. As soon as the Nexus forces heard Jason and Celeste’s shots, they moved to the cover of roves, but the Campbell forces now had them pinned.

‘What they even doing here?’ Celeste yelled over the sound of gunfire.

‘It’s a play for the envelope. It’s a failed attempt, they’ll find that out soon enough’ Jason said. Then they heard an explosion from below.

‘They’re inside’ Sarah said. Jason said.

‘Celeste, take Sarah and Claire and hide. They can not get that envelope, understand?’ Jason said.

‘Yes, but what about-‘

‘You let me worry about them’ Jason said. He watched them takes the stairs down and then he crouched down behind a desk, close to the window. As soon as the lift doors opened, six Nexus soldiers stepped out and opened fire. Jason peered around the corner of the desk and spotted a pressurised gas tank near the elevator. Jason moved his head back behind the desk, inhaling deeply. He then aimed carefully and fired one shot at the tank, leaning around the corner of the desk. The explosion forced the soldiers to forget about him as they moved out of the way. In that time, Jason had leapt out of the window and ran across the roof. As he dropped himself off the roof to the ground below, he noticed Nexus forces retreating, towards the North Gate, but some of them were still firing. Jason noticed three soldiers advancing on Celeste, who was out of ammo. They didn’t seem to want to shoot her though. They wanted her to hand over the envelope. Jason fired on them while moving forward. Two of them ran, but one stayed, holding a pistol to Celeste’s head.

‘Stop’ he said, confidently. ‘Stop, or I’ll put a bullet so deep in her head, they’ll never find it’ Jason obeyed.

‘Ok’ Jason said.

‘Drop your weapon, hold your hands above your head’ the soldier said. Jason dropped the weapon and held his hand in the air.

‘Give me the envelope’ the soldier told Celeste.

‘Do it Celeste’ Jason told her, sighing slightly. Begrudgingly, Celeste handed over the envelope. The soldier smiled as he took the envelope, and walked away. As he passed Jason, in one swift movement, broke the bridge of the soldier’s nose and then pushed it up, into the soldier’s brain, killing him instantly. Jason sighed, closing his eyes.

‘If I can avoid killing people I will, but that was necessary’ he said.

‘Thank you’ Celeste said.

‘For what?’ Jason asked.

‘Well that’s the second time you’ve saved my life’

‘I’m sorry, are we not here too?’ Sarah said.

‘Ok. You saved their lives too’ Celeste said. Jason smiled.

‘The Nexus have left. I want you,’ Jason picked up the envelope, which had somehow avoided the blood, and handed it back to them ‘To take the envelope back to our quarters. Celeste and I will meet you there’ Jason added. Claire nodded and headed off with Sarah. Jason turned and Celeste followed. They went to the courtyard, where the other soldiers had gathered.

‘Military personnel only. No exceptions I’m afraid’ Sergeant Williams said walking over to them.

‘Can you tell me how many we lost?’ Jason asked.

‘Twenty-eight people were people, ten of those were civilians. We also have fifty-four people injured’ Williams said.

‘So what are with the bodies?’ Celeste asked.

‘We’re discussing that now, but we can’t tell you. You should return to your quarters. Everyone will be informed shortly’ Lieutenant Spire interjected, walking over. Jason hesitated, but then nodded.

‘Alright’ he said, and they gradually made their way back.

It was near midnight. Claire and Sarah had fallen asleep, but Jason and Celeste were still awake. Celeste was drinking water, Jason was examining the contents of the envelope again and neither of them could sleep. The military had decided to bury the dead Campbell Soldiers and Civilians on the beach. The Nexus soldiers would be taken out ten kilometers from the shore and dumped in the ocean. They both thought it was unceremonious, but by the same token, those people had tried to kill them, as far as Jason and Celeste were concerned, dumping them in ocean was much nicer than leaving them on the land.

‘Kiss me’ Celeste said. Jason said nothing for a moment.

‘What?’

‘Today, I could’ve have died, and I haven’t even been kissed yet. I want to experience it before I die. So kiss me,’ Celeste said. ‘Please’ she added. Jason hesitated but eventually moved himself over to her and two of them embraced each other. Almost involuntarily, the tongues danced around each other, before they pulled away. The two of them smiled at each other, before they kissed again.