Republic of Tactics

Republic of Tactics: Chapter 6

Chapter 6

At first, it sounded like growls penetrating through the silent air. Septimus at night was more divergent. Peaceful and like a different world. The growls slowly turned to roars. Animal roars that were unfamiliar in my ears since the only animals back in Dertus were sheep, chickens, and birds.

I stand up and stroll over to the edge of the balcony. Resting my hands on the stone railing, looking over at the arena. It's empty, for a few seconds. Without warning, I see a tiger roam the arena grounds. I can still see it under the poor lighting. I've never seen a tiger this close.

First of all, what is it doing here? He roars a few more times until he turns and stares straight at me. His marvelous gaze kept me in a trance for more than a minute. Such a majestic beauty that I can't keep my eyes off him, or her. Suddenly, thunder claps rumble in the distance. I look at the mountains, trying to judge the weather. There's not so many tall buildings here in Septimus. The tallest building may be no more than ten stories tall.

I look down at the arena, where the tiger is gone. I feel raindrops fall on my head, I look up to the dark clouds. The soothing cold wind cooling me down and diminishing my melancholy over the fact that I'm miles away from my loved ones. Unknowing of their self being. The certitude that they are all helpless and have no idea of what is occurring. They might even think I'm dead. I say "lights off" from my bed, and fall straight asleep.

At dawn, I have to report to the dining room in the C building with Olden. I'm not used to this schedule because in Dertus I would have recruit time for gun practice on Thursday, (today).

"Just smile at these people and I'll do all the talking." Olden crowed with joy. The door is guarded by a man. We pass him by and enter the room. Everybody was eating, and they looked up at me fascinated. I fell awkward but welcomed. I am handed a bowl of warm oatmeal from a woman wearing an apron.

"Thank you." I whisper. I catch a glimpse of her name tag, it reads, Penelope.

"No problem soldier." She says and returns to a small kitchen at the far end of the room.

"Attention please, you all know Bovise Asherman." Olden begins. I shove a spoonful of oatmeal into my mouth. Savoring it all. They stare at me all at once when my mouth is full of oatmeal. I feel a little embarrassed. Although they chuckle and giggle a little.

"He is our special recipient. And our squad's guest." He emphasized 'guest'. I continue with the oatmeal.

"His training shall begin today." He looks at me and I nod. People start to clap and cheer and others follow as well. I mouth thank you and smile. After his presenting speech, Penelope tells me good luck and reclaims my cup. I find her a bit attractive, but I'm afraid she's a little to old for my age. Moments later, me and Olden exit the place.

"Where's Sargent Wolace?" I finally ask Olden.

"You'll see him and Ellis in the training range." Olden sounds surmised.

"How will I know my family is safe during the battle?" I found the courage to ask. We're outside, walking in the streets in the early morning sun. Cement areas still wet from last nights rain.

"Well get em' out before the actual attack begins. You are very special, being the last offspring of an Asherman, and because of your father's death, YOU are our endurance, Bovise." He adds, the energy from bus voice disappears when he says father. I can't let these people down now. I WILL fight.

We enter a two story building. I take a set of uniform clothing from a locker. I change behind a curtain and Olden leads me to a larger room where other trainees cheer before me. Sweat and hot air fills the air.

"Thank you. You may proceed." I'm sounding like a commander already. They won't mind, they love me. I can see Ellis approach me, but I can't find Sgt. Wolace.

"Morning commander Bovise," He says, I guess I was right with the commander part, "so, Olden, whenever he's ready." Ellis continues.

I fidget with my uniform and stretch over on the mats located on a lower platform from the lockers.

"Well well well." Says Olden surprised when I go for the sword.

"It was always my favorite." I smirk. There is an unused practice dummy to my left and I go swing a few shots at it.

"Guns versus swords." I joke sarcastically when Olden nears me.

"We are all gonna use ammunition. This is only just your own prepping." Olden explains.

Later on. I went over to a group who was working on martial arts maneuvers and one to one combat. I was flipped and tossed over the mat. Olden showed me guidelines on how to improve my self defense skills. Kicking and punching. Situations involving multiple attackers. I was improving, and I owe it all to Olden. I was very weak and incapable of such situations back in Dertus where I would wrestle with Koppe.

I was lead to a wide and prolonged hallway with a dead end. I wasn't aware that Olden was not behind me. Am I a prisoner now? What's going on? Is this a security procedure? These questions pop in my head. I feel terrified and agitated. A larger metal door replaces the other one.

Suddenly the metal door opens quickly and the tiger I saw last night was staring at me. Not charging, but just solemnly studying me. I froze. Was I supposed to kill it or something? I asked myself.

"Remember code red Bovise." I hear Olden say muffled. Code read is a code I was taught by Olden for a clash defense.

The giant cat then races towards me. I have no weapon! I turn around and run all the way to the dead end. Okay, I say. I clench my fists and the next thing I know is that the tiger knocked me off my feet and I fell. I fell into the dead end wall that at the last minute seemed to open up and reveal a hidden way.

I stumbled and I fell in a lake. Not to deep but the tiger is still with me, not doing anything, but his claws are uncomfortably attached to my torso. I manage to push him away from me and he tries to grip me with his mouth, until I reach the surface of the lake. It's a room. There's walls on all four sides and it is cold. I see the orange and white and black stripped beauty pierce the water. I swim to the latter and the tiger is fished out in a net.

For me, the latter leads to a few more feet of cold titanium flooring until it turns in to another a platform. It lifts like an elevator. Only without any walls, and carries me to a terrace with an open gate for me to step in. There Olden places a towel over me, the cold water is preventing me of speaking. I want to scream and rage at everyone in my sight, but they clap and congratulate me. Olden and I walk back to the practice range room. My dry warm clothes waiting for me in the lockers. Now THAT, was something.