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