Delta Force

Vol 3

Vol.3
"Subzero"

The next day had arrived. I woke up on Bruno's sofa, he was still fast asleep on the floor. Residue from the cookies and snacks we had the previous day layed on the table. As I stood up, crumbs tumbled from my shirt and I looked at the time. Six in the morning. Three hours until the mission. I also have a notification, surprisingly, from Stela. After probably three hundred of my text messages saying goodnight, she had replied to me. However, I noticed the message was sent very late at night. "That girl needs to sleep earlier." I sigh, then taking into consideration how much she must be studying. I pick up all the rubbish from off the table and initially try to clear the crumbs off the floor but it's too difficult for my hands. I dump the crumbs and mess in a bin and head out into the streets. Somehow, it was sunny as if it were a summer's day. They don't seem to follow the seasons anymore. A couple days ago, it was winter, yesterday it was like autumn and now it's like summer. The first train rolled along the track above me making a deafening sound which surely would wake anyone nearby up. A lot of vehicles were on the road and it was a busy rush hour morning. So busy, the usually peaceful walk to and from Bruno's house was now loud and irritating. I stepped into the sandwich store that just opened round the corner and bought some 'breakfast' for my walk back. Military work doesn't really pay off too much anymore so things are a bit pricey for me now, a small sandwich is the best I can do for now. God knows I'll be out of that damn apartment soon too, unless we successfully complete this mission. I tidy myself up and decide to head to Stela's house instead to check up on her before the mission. I walk into the apartment block, up the stairs, I enter her apartment. She gave me a key when she first moved in as it was a spare she found. I'm only supposed to use it for emergencies but I didn't want to rush her or wake her up, so I entered and walked around. I creep into her room and find her asleep on her desk, using a stack of books as a pillow. "I know I said I didn't want to wake her up but...that's gonna hurt, surely." I nudge her a little bit and she wakes up smiling at me. "Morning" I say quietly so as to not ruin her silent, just awake, mood. "What did I say about that key?" She punched me in the stomach and stumbled backwards. "Good to know you're still alive." She got up and turned her back to me. "Yeah," Stela barked, "and I don't need you here to check on me. I'm not a kid." I tilt my head and laugh. "Well..." she shushes me and pulls me up off the ground, in a lighter tone she asks me "have you eaten yet?" I nod while my eye is caught by the tidy environment around me. She smiles at my reply and begins making her own breakfast. "Only a couple hours until the mission." I bring up, "you nervous?" She swallows the cereal that had sat in the milk on her spoon. "Nah." She rolled her eyes, "why would I be nervous. Tch." Same old Stela, so stubborn with a fearless act - she doesn't have a flair for the dramatic, anyone can see through her. "By the way, just curious, what college are you joining?" She continues to eat her cereal and then sets the spoon down. "None of your concern, just a hobby." She begins to turn red, "that's all." I sigh and sit by the table with my head held in my palm and then ask her something just for confirmation. Not that I don't trust Bruno, I just want extra confirmation. "You won't be leaving the team though, right?" Stela dumps her bowl in the sink and fills it with water. "Meh, maybe. Who cares what I do anyway." I look down to the ground and feel a sense of sadness. "Oh...I care..."

9:00am. We board the ship and prepare for take off. I sit down in my usual seat and Stela sits purposely opposite me. Clearly to show off her new Flashcards she skims through everywhere we go. It doesn't matter how many times you tell that girl you're proud, she'll always want to throw it in your face. Bellerose loiters near the rear end of the ship, I hear talking meaning she is probably discussing plans or talking to her bosses. Madeleine and Bruno fire up the engines and our shuttle lifts up the ground (as well as all other 14 ships following behind us.) Our mission is to infiltrate and destroy a Nilphil camp, the day to end the war. A large issue is that Nilphils are built to survive harsh conditions and we're going to a planet blanketed in ice and seasoned with snow. Odds are not in our favour but if I pull through and prove myself, me and my time will be seen as a success and we will move on to become respected warriors of the New Earth race. Unless, today becomes a bloodbath - I've not fought a Nilphil before so I don't know what to expect. Anxiously, I sit and await the mission that will take action in a few minutes. As we approach the planet, I watch outside as the ships follow behind us. The environment Fades from an eerie darkness to a harsh, white atmosphere. The clouds were so intense, we couldn't see at all. We may have chosen a poor time for the mission. "These conditions are too dangerous." Madeleine said, "we should turn back and pick another time to do this." Bellerose marched into the room, towards Bruno and Madeleine. "No." She said coldly, "there is not another time; follow your damn orders." She turns to me and gives me a death stare. "Follow your orders and we'll think of a promotion." This lightens the moods of the room despite it being targeted at me. "You egotistical bastard." She muttered under her breath.