Chapter 13
There are about forty to fifty members in each group. The other Elites are all distinguished by their different colored uniforms. Red, orange, blue, brown, yellow, green and beige, but they're warm color shades. The front of the shirt has the number corresponding to the Elite they originate from. The only ones missing is six and three, as Penelope said those two were destroyed.
"Well, you must be Mr. Bovise Asherman." A man from Elite 2 says, color red.
"Yes sir." I respond.
"No need for a 'sir', we're all soldiers." The man says. There's an awkward silence until a woman from Elite 8 (yellow) speaks up.
"We are about five-hundred soldiers here altogether. But there's about five-hundred more who were assigned special attack so they couldn't come over." She says. The engines from the five hovercrafts are turned on and they lift off at the same time. Then switch engines and rise.
"Oh I'm so rude. I'm Sterling, leader of Elite two." He says.
"I'm Jules, eight." She introduces. The other leaders introduce themselves as well.
Lowen from 4. Branock from 5. Payne from 7. Barton from 9. And Ivory from 10.
"Where's leader Ellis?" Payne asks. I shake my head. They know what I mean right away.
"Well! Why don't we enjoy our last training day together!" Ivory suggests, breaking the depression over Ellis' death.
The Elites split up and wander around the rubble and explore these streets of Septimus while chattering.
I see Penelope's daughter come out of the lobby. Which I now consider calling it a "hospital".
"Hey soldier." She says.
"Oh- hey." I quavered not knowing what to say but ask her name.
"You are?...."
"Amelia Kelvin." She says. I am hypnotized in her outstanding green-bluish eyes. Her hair is perfectly styled and richly light brown, maybe oak-brown.
"Um, hey, are you okay?" She asks.
"Uh, yeah. Is that your mom?" I nod at Penelope.
"Yeah. My father died six years ago." Amelia tells me.
"I'm sorry." I say.
"Thanks. I'm sixteen too you know." She addresses.
"Oh, I'm fifteen." I sound foolish that I have to look away to think of something more sophisticated to say.
"You're sixteen too. I know, where you're from your not allowed to speak of your age. Here, you're free." She says.
"How do you?-"
"You're an Asherman, everyone here knows your age. Besides, your brother over there talked a lot 'bout when you weren't here yet." Amelia acknowledged, pointing over at Olden who is mingling with soldiers from Elite 5.
"Are you gonna fight in battle too?" I ask her.
"No. I'm am excellent doctor for these people. They're making me stay." She says.
"Amelia! We need help!" Penelope yells from the "hospital".
"See you around." Amelia says with a wink and she turns quickly, her hair inches from slapping my face. It smells like a type of citrus fruit or something.
Minutes later, when I'm in the middle of talking to the Elite 4 leader Lowen, the three ring alarm goes off. Indicating its training time for all soldiers. This won't be any regular training like the ones in the past. This was my last training before battle. Which is nerve wrecking and fearful at the same time.
"Let's go. To the practice range everyone!" A fellow soldier from Septimus commands. I can identify him in the colorful crowd because of Septimus' uniforms. All Elites race to the practice range immediately.
YOU ARE READING
Republic of Tactics
Ficção CientíficaBovise Asherman. That's me. The last name I inherited from my tyrant grandfather who's actions got many killed. Which is another reason lots of people feel abomination towards me. Dertus is a "city" ushered by oblivion. Where no resident is allowed...
