Fight To Live

Chapter 6

][=][ Archer Shepherd's POV ][=][

"What the hell did you do, Damian?" I asked as we rushed back to the truck.

The man didn't answer as he limped in pain, his leg bleeding where it had been shot. Devin had offered to help him walk but the captain had refused and started heading to the truck. Despite his injury, he was in the lead as we reached the truck, where Robert was waiting to drive us back home.

"Everyone in," Damian ordered as he climbed up the ladder into the back of the troop transport truck we had come out on our supply run. "We have to get back and prepare for war."

"We wouldn't be at war had you not killed that man!" I shouted as I climbed in as well.

Devin, Martinez, and Lee followed. We all strapped in, and Robert stepped on the gas, immediately heading back to the base. Devin sat next to me, while Lee and Martinez sat on either side of Damian.

"Archer, you have no clue what you're talking about. You're only here because your brother went and got himself bitten and your family had to fill their spot in the drafted militia. Shut up and sit down," Damian ordered as he stared at me while Lee started to treat the wound in the captain's leg.

"Drop it, Archer," Devin muttered next to me. "Please. I promised your brother I would keep you safe."

I glared at the injured man before me but sighed and leaned back, not wanting to cause more problems for Devin than he already had.

"Once we get back I need the entire militia summoned to the dining hall," Damian said as he looked over at Martinez. "Do you think you can handle that Lieutenant Martinez?"

"Of course sir," Martinez said as he saluted the man. "I'll get them immediately."

"Good," Damian said as he looked back at me and Devin. "As for you Lieutenant Matthews, I need you to get this one to Talia. Tell her I need him punished for questioning me and my actions and would do it myself if I didn't have a war to handle."

"Yes sir," Devin said as he scowled.

Soon we were pulling up to the outer gate, people shouted, and then the gate began to open. Robert drove through and I watched it shut behind us as the inner gate opened in front of us. We parked just on the inside of the second gate as people rushed over to help unload the supplies. Damian, Lee, and Martinez all instantly got out and headed to the dining hall.

"Help me get this stuff unloaded so that the supply staff can get it inventoried and stored," Devin said as he glanced at me and got up. "After that, we'll go see Talia."

I nodded and helped him get all the supplies to the waiting transporters that would get them to the supply manager. Soon everything was unloaded and on the way and the two of us headed to Talia's house.

"You have to be careful with Damian, Archer," Devin said as we walked. "He's a dangerous man... always was, but now that he's the highest ranked among us he's worse. He won't hesitate to hurt you... Please, just be more careful with what you say to him."

"But I'm right," I complained as we reached Talia's door. "He started this war. He wanted their supplies, and he wanted us to go along blindly with stealing them. When he didn't get his way he went down there, instigated violence, and then came up and shot that man in cold blood. He should not be in charge!"