The Program [COMPLETED]

Chapter Four

Training felt more brutal than normal today. Aiden felt every punch, as if he'd swallowed glass, and it was scraping his insides. It had been a week and a half since Consignment Day, where they'd been attacked by rebel forces in the square. He, Virgil and Zariah were holding up well, although Aiden remained unsettled about their interrogation with General Xylem when they returned.

"Peculiar day to launch an attack," Xylem had remarked, unfazed as usual. There was no sense of tragedy in this man. Aiden found his calm and tactical demeanor unnerving. Virgil and Zariah stood by Aiden's side, all three of them standing before the General in his ornate office just a hallway down from the Foyer. They had just arrived from Abree City following the attack, and all three of them had looked as if they'd just fought a war single handedly. Then again, once Aiden thought about it, that hadn't been far from the truth.

"You said that rebels attacked the radio tower?" the General had questioned.

"Yes, sir," Aiden had reported. "They managed to obtain C4 explosive materials in which they used on the Abree City radio tower, as well as heavy guns that were used in the attack on my comrades and I. The explosion nearly killed Lieutenant Aeriona and myself, and nearly left Lieutenant Blanche completely debilitated." He swallowed the growing lump in his throat. "I didn't even think we supplied the cities with weaponry of any fashion. How is it that they might have acquired the weaponry used in the attack?"

"They're rebels, Lieutenant. They have methods of obtaining illegal substances that leave even us Programmers completely clueless. That's part of why we're here. To put an end to the illegal activities, and keep the peace." Xylem leaned back in his chair, his dark eyes murky and emotionless. "Now then, you mentioned that Lieutenant Blanche was the one who alerted Second Unit of the situation?"

"Affirmative, sir," Zariah confirmed. "The city initially seemed too quiet. When the city representatives were late to pick up their supplies, we became suspicious. Then the attack happened. Under the cover of Lieutenant Lycroft and Lieutenant Aeriona, I was able to successfully infiltrate the city's radio tower and signal for help. The rebels blocked our radio waves, and we were therefore unable to use our radios to alert Second Unit. This lead to us manually transmitting the distress signal from the tower, and how it was eventually destroyed."

"I see," Xylem had concluded. "Lieutenants, you must feel very grateful towards Lieutenant Blanche for saving your lives."

Aiden and Virgil nodded. "We are deeply indebted to Lieutenant Blanche for her quick actions," Virgil agreed. Zariah dipped her head in acknowledgement.

"Any further comments?" the General adjusted his suit, peering at his soldiers expectantly.

"None, sir," Aiden replied. Xylem cleared his throat, fixing the papers on his desk.

"Very well then," he waved dismissively. "Return to your duties, and get some rest. You three seem to have had quite the eventful day."

"Sir, if I may," Aiden protested. "Are we seriously not going to take any type of action against this rebel threat? They were a formidable force for a 'typical band of radicals'. There could be a more sinister plot behind this attack."

Xylem pressed his lips together to form a tight line. Zariah flashed Aiden a warning look. "Until these rebels pose an immediate threat to Creatan, I see no reason to launch a mission solely based on one outlying attack on three young Lieutenants. I have faith in you. Based on your report, you informed me that you had neutralized all hostiles in the area. This makes me confident that, until I have received multiple reports of similar incidents happening in other cities, you three handled the situation rather professionally. After all, you are the only Programmers to have experienced an attack today. If there is a threat, it is not widespread."