Descent into the Abyss

Chapter 36

"You want me to do what?" Blake asked, his eyes wide in surprise.

Surely he misheard...

"I want you to train this newest class of recruits," Leo asked with a smile. "Are you going to force me to make that an order?"

"Why me, sir? I haven't trained anyone in over a decade," Blake tried to reason, but the General waved it away.

Leo pointed straight at him, "You're one of the few pure humans left that served before the apocalypse. You have legitimate training against active threats and that matters. I've seen it... Kids thinking that because they can make a fireball, they're invincible; only to be shot and drop like a sack of potatoes."

Blake lowered his head, taking a deep breath, "Sir..."

"They need the training, Blake. If we're to hold off Detroit until we can set up a alliance with another colony, they need to be able to think under fire and hold their own," The General explained, fear creeping into his words.

"An alliance?" Blake inquired, Leo nodding in reply.

"We were considering Columbus, but they're far too infantile in their development. Michael or Kyle could walk in there singlehandedly and destroy them," He paused, reaching for his glass, grasping it and running his thumb over the condensation. "Minneapolis is probably our best bet, but they're... According to our scouts... Further developed than Chicago and Detroit put together. Something is going on in that city and now with info about the vehicles."

Blake looked up, "You think Detroit beat Chicago to the deal? An alliance with Minneapolis?"

Leo shook his head, "I don't know. We don't have any other intel about new vehicles. It's safe to presume they're the culprits, but how valuable is their alliance to Detroit compared to one with us? It depends on what kind of government they have within their walls."

"Has there been accounts of Minneapolis attacking other colonies? Surely a refugee from one would've reported it," Blake proposed, but the General shook his head yet again.

"Nothing. Either they don't leave survivors to tell the tale, or they're legitimate. Either way, Chicago needs soldiers to defend her, especially now with Detroit's retaliation on the horizon. An attack against Michael and the armory won't go unnoticed," Leo theorized, gazing back at Blake.

"And you want me to train those new soldiers?" Blake asked again.

Leo nodded, "To give our colony the best chance of survival? Yes."

With a sigh of resignation, Blake met his superior's gaze, "For the future of the colony, I'll train them. I can't promise they'll pass though."

A smile stretched across the General's face, "Now, that's the kind of good news I want to hear. Give 'em hell to prepare them for that world out there."

Blake smiled and looked at his last couple bites of dried fruit. Reaching for it, a thought crossed his mind.

"Am I heading back to my old sleeping quarters then?" He asked.

Leo shook his head as he fumbled around in the desk drawer.

"No, I'm moving you over to the Tower," Leo replied. "I keep all my important people there. Afterall, it is the strongest and tallest building in the United States."

With a chuckle, Blake rose to his feet, lifting his trash as well.

"If you don't care, sir, I'd rather catch some good sleep right now and talk about the rest of your plans tomorrow?"

Leo rose to his feet, straightening his shirt and adjusting his belt. Image meant everything to him, Blake began to realize. The clean, minimalistic approach to the office and even the pristine glasses for his rare liquor. Not to mention the 'Tower', formerly known as Sear's Tower, second tallest building in the world. The two of them turned towards the door, Leo taking the lead and stepping up to the door first. With a quick adjustment of his shirt collar, Leo grabbed the door handle and pulled it open, flooding the office with electrical light.