Incipience

Chapter 16

The sky is bright with explosions.

Inovarian and Quinzentenian ships alike zoom through the air, firing projectile after projectile at one another. Much like the Quinzentenians themselves, their ships are smaller and more agile than the Inovarians', so they're able to seamlessly glide through the air. Even though they're grossly outnumbered, the Quinzentenian ships cause a significant amount of damage.

Vorem banks a corner, leading us into a dead end. He takes a step closer to one of already shuttered doors.

"Vorem, if we're trying to get into the building I think it's too late. Maybe if we—"

Vorem holds up a hand briefly to silence me as he starts punching a code into his holowatch. My expression contorts in irritation but I don't say anything. If he needed me to be quiet, he could've just asked.

A few moments pass before the door lets out a soft chime as it slides open. Vorem grabs my hand again and pulls me in behind him. The door slams and bolts behind us. We stand still in the pitch-black space, our labored breath the only sounds occupying the space.

A robotic voice breaks the silence, "Identify yourselves."

The two of us immediately respond.

"Junior Councilman Vorem Bagzah."

"Charlotte-Amalie Joseph, Cadet Num—oh."

The darkness is pierced by a series of bright red lights that scan us from head to toe.

"Identity confirmed. Junior Councilman and Xinxi Bagzah, you may enter."

The lights cut on to reveal a short walkway that leads to a set of stairs. Vorem hurries me down the stairs and through the metal door, nearly tripping me in his haste.

Dozens of terrified eyes meet ours. The room is full of mostly women and children desperately clinging to one another. I see toddlers being clutched to their mothers' chests, older kids gripping the hands of siblings and parents alike, teenagers whose jaws are clenched with tension, lone adults nervously bouncing their legs to release some of their nervous energy. 

A chill runs through my body as I recall the first time I was in this position. If I close my eyes I can still feel Johni shuddering against my back before the violent seizing overtook her body.  I'll never be able to forget the way she writhed on the ground desperately gasping for air, the sound of her mother's sobs, the screams of my classmates as more and more of our peers dropped to the floor... the anxiously murmured prayers from those of us too jarred to scream, holler, and cry.

There's a hand on the small of my back. "...alie?"

I blink and wipe the tear streaking down my cheek. I look to my left to see Vorem peering down at me in concern.

"Are you alright?" His eyes scan my face for signs of hurt, "You suddenly froze up and were momentarily unresponsive. Do you need me to get a medic?"

I nod my head, "Oh, yeah, no, I'm good."

His eyebrows draw together in confusion, "I do not understand. Do you or do you not require medical attention?"

"I'm fine, Vorem, thank you."

I flash him a smile that seems to only partially put him at ease. Vorem wisely decides not to comment on my blatant lie and opts to lead me to one of the cushions lining the wall. The two of us sit down on plush furniture.

"Why's the city under attack?" I ask him quietly. "What's going on? Rombag said the Quinzentenians haven't attacked Inova itself in over fifteen years. Why are they all of a sudden here?"