The End of Her World

Chapter Six

The soldiers clothed in black surrounded Jason and led him to a near building, crumpled into a pile of ash-colored bricks from the explosion. They leapt smoothly over the wall, and with only soft thumps landed. Jason had found it hard to walk over, now how was he supposed to vault over the wall? His pride refused to let him jump into the arms of one of the troopers, or jump and hurt himself further.

Jason lowered himself down the edge, cutting the length in half. His arm muscles bulged as he attempted to keep himself aloft with one arm. Jason gritted his teeth; he'd been through worse in Marine training.

He let go, and he slammed heavily into his good leg. He put his shoulder down and rolled. With effort he looked up. The soldier offered a hand. Jason nodded to the trooper, and hoisted himself up. The trooper ducked down and tapped a brick. The brick wall slid back to reveal a stealth chopper, painted black, and with an array of missiles and guns affixed to it.

Jason's mouth dropped open in awe. He had never seen a helicopter like this, not even in his span in the Marines. The rotors were huge, and a pilot sat in the cockpit, navigating the controls with a holographic touch screen.

"How could you afford this?" He said, turning in askance to Michelle.

"I bought it and adapted it," she explained. "You see we were also funded by the military and US Government, as they don't feel like wasting troops on it, so they give us all of their hand-me-downs."

"You said 'were funded'. Why not anymore?" asked Jason, his curiosity getting the better of him.

"We defected against the Government after it became clear that they were trying to wipe us out." Michelle told him. "What type of weapons would you like?"

"Army issue grenades, a Berretta M9, ammo, an updated M4A1 rifle, a knife and a backpack."

"Copy that," a trooper to Jason's right said, snapped a salute and left the room.

"Let's get you to medical center," Michelle ordered Boggs, who nodded and took Jason's arm and helped him to his room. The steel door slammed behind them.