Chapter 19
They order Amelia to return to the hospital and that I have to unite with my squad.
"Be careful. I'll see you when all this is over." Amelia blesses as she leans in for a small kiss.
"Of course." I say.
"Take care." Both me and Amelia say at the same time. I'm trapped in her eyes until somebody pulls me away from behind. I can no longer see her with the large group of people running around. The smell of sweat and metal passes my nose when everyone is roaming in front of me. I look behind me to see Olden dragging me through the crowd.
"That was enough fun." He chuckles.
"Yeah. Too short." I say.
"So we need to gather up in Command one for our Eagle." Olden informs.
"Where is it exactly?" I ask him.
"Right here." He says when we arrive at a location with about ten other soldiers.
The rest begin to emerge from the thick mob later on.
We wait there in the scorching sun for about thirty minutes before the first Eagle touches down in Command four. Then was nine and then us. Sterling comes running to me before I board the aircraft. He's holding something white in his hand and gives it to me when he reaches me.
"This will be your earpiece for the entire mission. I will be guiding you from here. Now this is our only way of communication out there so be careful with it." He says as I place it comfortably in my right ear. It's one of those curvy ones with the curly wire.
"We'll be the last to leave, safety matters. You have ten minutes to meditate or think and relax." He says.
"Can I see the tiger." I blur out.
Tiger. I forgot the gloves respond to that word. I immediately look down, then remembered I don't have them on yet. Sterling takes out his radio and tells Jules to bring out Axe.
"His name is not tiger, it's Axe." He laughs as a cage emerges from a large metal door at the end of the street.
"He almost killed you last time, why do you wanna-"
"Mother said that you need to spend time with a fear. In order to face bigger ones to come. In this case, it'll be physical." I tell Olden who I interrupted. Jules releases Axe in the middle of the street, the last of soldiers backing up a few feet.
When Axe is about ten feet away, I walk towards him slowly. I begin to sweep my hand over his wonderful fur. I smile when he looks at me.
"Be right back." I tell the group.
I walk with Axe to the top of the hill near where I took Amelia. The hot day quickly transitioning to an orange and purple evening. I start to see some tiny grass patches growing from the dry ground. Ellis told me before that Septimus was once in a nice and green place. With huge woods and trees that stood tall in the meadows, not a dry desert. Me and Axe stop at a small area with dried tall grass.
The few waves of sunlight are eaten by dark evil looking clouds. Great, we're going to fly in a storm. I turn on the earpiece and kneel down in front to Axe. He is so sublime and his gorgeous fur is so attracting to me. I start massaging the back of his neck. He is surprisingly quiet except for a few throaty growls.
"Are you going to chase me into a pool again." I recall with a small smile. He looks up and places his paw on my chest.
"Well. You have wonderful eyes you big cat." I say to him looking into his lovely brown-orange eyes that are staring at me with a strong affection. I move in to hug him. I love spending time with animals. I need something warm and furry to relieve all my stress and fear.
"I'm scared." I say staring back at him. I take his paw and just sit there on my knees. Thinking about just reuniting with my family and just getting this damn war over with. I feel a drop splash my hand, then my scalp. I try to "meditate" but the feeling of apprehension and worry make my stomach tingle. What will happen next? I don't stand a chance with the Alpha military. I'm just sixteen, a weak Asherman, a descendant of my rebellious grandfather.
"Commander Bovise. It's time." I hear Sterling say through the earpiece.
"I'm on my way." I speak into the microphone. I stand up and signal Axe to follow. He waits and points under him with his head. I go over to him and I see what looks like one of his tooth. I pick it up and attach it to my string I had in my pocket.
"Good luck necklace. Thanks." I thank Axe.
We jog down the hill, he rain seems to turn into bigger, heavier drops. I can hear the Eagle's engine and I stop in front of Jules when I return.
"Thank you. I, feel better." I say to Jules, Axe looking back at me when they take him in again.
"Here we go." I say out loud, boarding the stairs. Entering the cabin, and sitting down, waiting for the doors to lock after my soldiers.
Squad 1.
YOU ARE READING
Republic of Tactics
Science FictionBovise 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...
