The New BlackWatch Recruits

(4) Idiots

I spent the last two days wholed up in my room, checking to see where on my body was the freaking thumb-drive. I tried making myself throw it up, but after a while, it proved useless to keep trying; plus, I was sick of the acid taste in my mouth, bleh.

So, in the afternoon--when I usually wake up--I sauntered into the mess hall for some very late brunch. I heaped my plate with mash potatoes, chicken, corn, and half a cheesecake for desert. Eagerly, I took to a table far in the back corner, ready to demolish all the food.

But then...

"Mother, she's over here."

I looked up to see a very fit brown-skinned woman with short black hair and a mark under her eye. Phara looked disapprovingly at my food, "That's what you're eating? Aren't you a combatant?" She said with a cross of her arms.

"Give me some slack, I haven't eaten well for the past week." I spat, forking some of the mash potatoes into my mouth. "Not everyone can look like some pop-star with your Beyonce body, alright?"

Ana came up next to her, greeting me with a warm smile. "I'm second guessing it..." Phara muttered to her.

"Nonsense," Ana scolded slightly. "Now go on and tell her."

Phara went stiff and gave a small bow, "Thank you for saving my mother."

I looked at her, completely uninterested as I rest my elbow on the table. "Your welcome. Now leave."

A vein seemed to pulse on Phara's hand, and I noticed her clenching her fist. Ana wasn't as affected since she knew the type of person I was. "You saved me out there. If you hadn't gone out and had Winston with you, I might have died."

I eyed her, brow arched. "What do you mean? You were just trapped under a couple of walls."

"The explosion was caused by a nuclear bomb. Had I stayed there any longer, I wouldn't have made it."

My forked dropped in the mash potatoes. "Nuclear..." And like that the events of the nuclear bomb that had fallen in Australia when I was just a little girl played in my head.

All I could hear was ringing. Some people were running, others were wounded on the ground. I could barely see since the air was so thick with smoke and fire... Something smelled weird--I didn't like it. I felt dizzy. My head was hurting. I felt like I was about to throw up. I can't see. I can't breathe. Where did everyone go? Where did--!

"Trix!" Phara barked, slamming her fist onto the table.

I was snapped back into the present. I realized the only reason she barked at me was because I had grabbed my fork and crushed it in my hands, the metal edges making my palms bleed. I blinked away the pain, and plastered my usual smile. "I tend to be messy sometimes.~" I sang, wrapping one of the napkins around my hand.

I looked to Ana to see she was giving me the skeptical eye. "Any side affects?" I asked.

She shook her head.

"And I'm guessing it's safe to assume Gerard and Winston are okay?"

She gave a quick nod.

"Then looks like this little program is actually turning me into a hero." I quipped sarcastically. "Woohoo." I said un-enthusiastically.

"Not a lot could be said about Jack, however." She said.

I'll admit, I couldn't help but let my suprise show. "What happened?"

"When HQ caught signs of the nuclear bombing, they sent out Morrison and his team to retrieve us and give us gas masks so it wouldn't have too much affect on us. However, since he thought you were still with HQ, monitoring us, he didn't bring enough for everyone. Sure, he had an extra in case one of them were damaged, but he gave that to Winston instead. He gave his to you."