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Chapter Six (Cedrik)

[CEDRIK]

November 3rd, 2059

"If you're not outraged, you're not paying attention."

Author Unknown

"I questioned him, but he wouldn't budge. He's crazy, Cedrik. And then – then Richter just went in there and crushed him." He shook his head. "You should have seen him. Kid doesn't even talk anymore."

"Bern, look, I don't care about some rebellious brat. I have my own problems, okay?"

Bern stared at me, and something flashed in his eyes. But then he turned away and sighed.

“I mean, Quinn still won’t get off of my back about that idiotic course and I still have all of these speeches to go over with the professor, and apparently now the rebellion somehow hijacked the supply train again and all the new supplies will be a day late. And since we ran out of coffee yesterday, I won’t have any for two days.” Just the thought made my head ache.

“Yeah, that must be real tough,” Bern said.

“It is!” I said, throwing my arms in the air. “Can’t believe what I have to deal with sometimes.” I kicked at the floor. “Your rebellion brat has it easier. All he has to do is lay around in bed all day. I’ve seen him there in the wing. He never leaves.” I shook my head, disgusted. “Anyway, I have to get going. Extra training.”

I didn’t wait around to see if Bern responded; instead, I ran down the hallway towards the port where the special lift was docked. But then, suddenly, I heard a loud explosion somewhere on the other side of the building. I felt the floor shudder and I almost lost my balance, but thanks for my excessive practice on the beams, I managed to stay standing. “Bern? Bern, what the hell was that?”

He came running towards me, his eyes wide. “I have no idea, let’s go report.”

Several other Agents and Officers ran through the hallways with us, all towards the control room. A few moved towards the explosion. They were trained specially in the defense of the building.

Suddenly, we saw Commander Kaiser Striding down the hallway, Richter right behind him. We all snapped to attention up against the wall. Kaiser went right up to Bern.

“Officer Jacobs.”

“Yes sir!”

“Come with me. Richter!”

“Sir!”

“Take the rest to the site.”

“Yes sir.”

The Commander saluted all of us and walked away with Bern hot on his heels. Not pausing to worry, I turned to follow Richter, but then he saw me. “Not you, Cavy,” he said. “You’re to report to the bunk.”

He turned away from me and the rest of the men followed him to go assist in – well, whatever it was. I clenched my fists, shaking. I knew the Commander intended me to go help. I knew it in my core. But Richter –

I spun around and punched the wall, but that didn’t help.

I couldn’t go to the bunk, I knew that. Couldn’t just sit around.

I decided to get out.

I made my way to the special lift dock.

Ever since we’d gone out to the obstacle course, I’d made it my mission to get better. I couldn’t stand my failure, so I’d been training extra every single day so the next time I was put up against the others, I’d hold my own. Now it was becoming a sort of sanctuary for me. I went there when I couldn’t stand things back home – cause I supposed that’s what the Agents were – and now was one of those times.