Tiny flakes of snow drifted onto the ground as Alexis trudged through the thick blanket towards the Academy.
For a moment, she felt disorientated as she tried to adjust her mind and body with the new identity given.
There was tinge of green hue at the tip of her auburn hair and she was wearing a thick coat with black trousers. The boots she wore were heavily soaked which made it harder for her to march in the cold.
Shuddering briefly, she held onto her knapsack which was packed with some essential survivors kit which consisted of dried food and herbs meant to tend to her wounds should she find herself hurt in combat.
The side of her thigh was strapped with a Swiss knife.
Agent Maria Angela Marcus was the artistic sort, thought Alexis. There was a book filled with her thoughts written in ink which she found in the rucksack strapped on her back. This was strange as most would have found it easier to record their thoughts or type on their personalised monitors.
There were also pieces of sketches of makeshift tents and children, harboring underneath a bridge near the sea, frolicking in the waters.
There was a moment when she recalled two children in the infirmary receiving medical care after they had accidentally drank the sewer water which was polluted. Cramps and diarrhea accompanied them while she was attempting to recover the loss of her own memory at a quiet corner of the infirmary, observing them as she did so.
They had drunk the water because the water filters was temporarily broken, she later learned. For a few days, the rebels were rationed to three cups of diluted water until the filters were fixed. The children after briefly playing were dehydrated and decided to test their theory of being able to survive by drinking the dirty water. They knew of the consequences but out of desperation, they had tried it anyway.
Alexis and the rest of the agents never had to worry about food being rationed when they were training at the Academy. They worked hard during their training which deeply focused their emotional and state of mind to be alert of any imminent danger. She felt a sudden pang of sadness as she wanted the rebels whom she met then not to suffer any longer than they should. She pushed on using a map and compass in hand towards the Academy which marked with an X where the serum was located.
During her brief stay with Frank, she recalled the retching smell from patients who were in dire need of the precious serum. They were, she was told, were the unsuccessful batches of armies which Frank and his team had rescued from Elysium. A small band of five survived after being banished from the Kapitoll but without their daily dose, they were good as gone.
Suddenly, there was a sense of hesitation.
Somethings wrong, but what could it be she wondered.
She quickly forged ahead towards the towering crystal complex, where there was a strong smell of smoke and fires emanated from it with eruptions at certain parts of the structure, blasting away with the intense heat.
Even further away, she thought there were tiny figures flying out of the windows, plunging down to the hard earth.
She quickly ran towards it, hoping against hope that Natalie and Sean survived the attack.
The rebels hovercrafts armed with firearms were circling the building, firing lasers one after another. Alexis instinctively switched on her laser gun to deter any incoming enemies who attempted to kill her.
Remembering an intercom was on her arm, she adjusted for a signal and called out to the main centre. Mayday! Mayday! This is Agent Maria Angela Marcus. Im at the Academys main entrance. Whats happening here
Although there were scathing signals for a good ten minutes, a voice finally penetrated through with repeated directives.
Calling out to all agents! Assemble at the quarter immediately and prepare to defend the Kapitoll at all cost. The Rebels are on the move. This is not a drill. I repeat. This is not a drill!
It finally dawned on Alexis that Frank and his platoon had gone ahead with their plan a day earlier to retrieve the serum located in the underground laboratories. They were tearing the place apart with Josef controlling the aircrafts from above.
Upon reaching the gates, the skies were covered with grey ashes. A few medical humanoids clad in their blue uniform struggled to stand or drag themselves across the ground with their missing limbs or legs.
Next to them were plain cloth agents who apparently had jumped from the buildings and died upon impact. Alexis struggled on, keeping her hands closed to her face. There were cries of help a few meters away. It was too much to bear.
Laser beams suddenly ran passed her as she attempted to find cover. Once she found a spot behind a boulder, she squeezed the trigger tight and returned fire which landed a rebel down.
With each beams whizzing her way, she kept firing back and slipped a second gun when the long range laser ran down. The buildings mortar bricks chipped slightly which sent more dusts in her direction.
Damn it! Ive had enough of this nonsense! she shouted.
Breathing deeply in now, she flipped open a small mirror attached to her weapon to check for more rebels. There were two, waiting behind a self-made defense block.
With adrenaline kicking in, she slowly moved away from her current position and kept firing laser beams at them. When a rebel fell, leaving the other alive and fleeing for his life, she threw away her gun aside.
Reaching for a knife, she took careful aim which finally landed neatly onto the Rebels back.
Now, there was none.
She stared again at the mega structure which had served as her first home with the other soldiers. The triangulate which was made from crystal with its skeleton framework were now simply shards hanging at the edge of the building. She then heard from the corner nearby a moan underneath a concrete block. She rushed over and saw Sean slowly trying to ease his way out. He held his stomach which was cut deeply by the laser beams. He was slowly ebbing away but the instincts to survive would not let him surrender easily.
Sean, stop moving, she said. Youll hurt more. Let me lift it off you.
His face was paler by the second. Looking around, Alexis found the tool she needed a piece of steel which she could as leverage.
Using her strength, she lifted the boulder slowly in case it would crush any other parts of Seans body.
After a few attempts, she finally succeeded but the hovercrafts deafening attacks were increasing.
Sean! she screamed. Lean on me. Lets get you to the sick bay now!
Her eyes caught a crushed bone in his right leg which may leave him wheelchair bound. But, she was not a coroner or a physician to determine his condition. Retrieving a small med kit, she took out a bandage and hastily made a tourniquet to stop the bleeding.
Heaving his torn body onto her shoulder, she quickly assessed the situation. Truth be told, finding shelter seemed bleak until a whirring sound landed beside them a few feet apart.
Maria! Get in here right now!
It was Josef at the hovercrafts cockpit while two more agents helped them into it.
As they lifted off, a booming sound hit the ground where Alexis and Sean stood earlier. Josef nearly lost control when the bombardment hit the academy again.
A mere seconds away from death, Alexis thought.
A humanoid doctor immediately checked Seans vital signs. He was still breathing but in agony. She silently prayed that he would last the journey to their next base.
As she looked out the horrifying scenes below her, she wondered if there were any survivors in the facility.
Josef seemed to read her mind. There are a few of us still alive in the Kapitolls rescue station. President Cole and her men are there. Best see her once weve landed, Maria, he called out.
She nodded while looking forlornly at her comrade. He was now breathing through an oxygen mask and seemed rested.
Sean Sean, dont you dare leave me, she cried softly while her head rested on his shoulders. Be strong. Youll be fine.
As her hand touched his temple, she was shocked to hear his voice in her mind.
Alexis, I know its you. Dont worry, I wont tell.
Now, leave me be.
As they flew above the clouds, all remained silence saved for the breathing masks which each agent wore on their faces. There were five of them now.
The rest were left to perish in the cold with the wounded laying still in the snow.
In the gymnasium below, five children aged between four and seven-years-old, huddled in the corner underneath several trampolines which they had used to shield against the walls shattering from all sides.
As several sharp edges of broken glasses dropped to the floor they hunched deeper into a hole as the academys triangulate tip started to collapse from above.
The youngest, Jeremy, started to cry along with the others except for Keisha, the captain of her small squad.
Sshh shhh.. now someones bound to rescue us, she said in a soothing voice, stroking Jeremys hair. If only they could hear her heart beating like a drum, terrified with each impact of the missiles fired towards the building with the ground shaking beneath them.
With the air duct now shut down, leaving them not only perspiring and soaked with their own sweat in their uniforms. Their lungs felt as if they were burning.
It hurts here, said Clarence, a dark-hair girl with green eyes which seemed to dim in the dark. She pointed towards her chest, clenching it tightly.
Keisha rushed to hug her followed by the others. With each missile launched, the shrapnels was falling from the roof top dangerously closer to the children.
They did not have any equipment to help them breathe or any weapons to defend themselves. The bombardments came upon them without notice during their own free time training amongst themselves when a sudden blast blew a hole from one side of the wall, exposing them to the cold outside.
More loose rocks and shrapnels falling from the roof. They kept close to each other, clutching each others hands or shoulders tighter and tighter. It seemed like an eternity.
With the lack of oxygen and the sheer coldness exposed to them, finally, they began to slouch with their eyes closed. They were slowly dying from asphyxiation which started to set into their fragile bodies.
It was there after eight hours at nightfall when Natalie found them. She was strapped with a long chord as the hovercraft steadily held her.
Using the infra-red binoculars, she unlatched herself and started to pace quickly towards the children who were too lethargic to respond.
Keisha was the first to wake up. She whimpered slightly when she saw the agent.
Ssshh dont worry. Im here to help you, said Natalie. Come on, wake your other comrades before the rebels attack again.
Each one was either drowsy or too cold but felt calmer seeing their own agents rescuing them.
See this chord Natalie told them. They slowly nodded. Ill strap it onto you one by one. Lets move everyone.
Seeing them off to the hovercraft with the co-pilot helping them despite being in the dark overwhelmed them. Natalie continue to sooth each children until the last one reached safely into the co-pilots arms.
Natalie and several storm troopers were sent on a search and rescue mission after the rebels attacked the academy.
It was slightly after midnight when they finally life forms in the complex when the rebels ceased firing. The sight of the children, covered in dust, helpless for once only enforced her mind that the rebels were more than defectors. They were cowards.
A sense of rage filled her mind but she kept her thoughts to herself. With her laser gun held on, she kept a lookout until the last child was lifted to safety.
Agent Natalie, your turn now, said the pilot through her intercom.
As she latched herself, all of a sudden out of nowhere, a shot passed through her stomach. The pilot, upon hearing a fire shot through her intercom, quickly pulled her up. Natalie was pale, crouching slightly in agonising pain.
Like the children, she slumbered too lost in her own consciousness.
******************************
President Cole and the entire team of generals were in the war room assessing the damage done at the Academy.
When an entire fleet was shown on the white screen, she attempted to remain calm until the final hovercraft smashed its way into the building. The Kapitolls defense team was locked in combat with the Rebels on the ground. Their training was not in vain, she thought quietly. They had fought to the best of their capabilities, showing their strength in spite of the surprise attack launched against them.
She examined the Rebels closely on the screen. Their features were similar to their own soldiers but were dressed in a grey uniform with their slanted shaped eyes.
All of the entire defense team fell back to another commanding station which was built for the sole purpose of an eventual attack from any foes. They were fully equipped above ground with oxygen, water and food rations.
They were an army, all right, but todays attack caught them by surprise.
She turned to the generals, her expression grim.
What is the latest casualty report, General Conrad she asked.
Decked in several medals and a navy blue uniform, he took out a sheet of paper.
1,600,540 soldiers have been gunned down including our medical team. However, we managed to evacuate the 5,000 scientists to this facility, maam, he replied.
And the serum Do we have any left to sustain for the rest of the regiment she asked the clinical programmes chief Dr. Tan.
Indeed we do, maam. Theyre safely packed with the instruments in the make-shift laboratory underneath this facility. As were speaking, more are being harvested as fast as we can to remedy the situation with the soldiers
However, the rebels managed to pillage the new 1,000 batches before we could stop them. The scientists were gunned down before they could place those batches in another storage facility, she replied.
The president finally threw down the reports across the large oblong table.
Weve definitely underestimated the Rebels with this outdated information. How could we allow this to happen she asked those around her.
The entire team stared down, not knowing how to answer their leader.
The war rooms double door suddenly opened with Alexis standing in the middle while being escorted by Josef. On her shoulder was his hand, a small reassuring gesture.
We managed to save five more agents before our last departure, Madam President, Josef said calmly. But, before I begin replying to your question, allow me some latitude to express myself freely.
President Cole nodded. Carry on, Guardian.
Josef braced himself before he uttered the words which playing in everyones minds.
We have a traitor in our midst, he said. We must hunt every single of them down, starting with those in this room.
Every single high ranking individual stood up immediately. How dare you accuse us as traitors, Guardian Your slanderous words can only mean your death! cried one.
Yes! Death to you and your kin! cried another with the others rallying along until the president halted them to stop.
Everyone, please leave this room and let me speak with Josef privately, she commanded them.
As each one passed Josef, they deliberately shoved his shoulders with one whispered in his ears Youll pay for this, coward.
Alexis also left the room and walked quickly towards the medical room to see Sean and search for Natalie.
Once everyone left, President Cole turned towards the windows where she could see the Academy burning down in flames.
You believe one them is a traitor, Josef What prompted you to think this is a fact Or is this just one of your theories again she demanded.
He stood still despite feeling the wariness running through his body. It had been a long day saving and retrieving every single agent while the generals sat back safely in the facility. Despite this, he forced himself to focus on the matter at hand.
With all due respect, Cole, but you were right when you mentioned earlier that the intelligence gathered is out-dated.
You know right down in your heart that any one of them in willing to bring down this establishment at any cost. Even if it means war with those who had defected from the Academy.
The degenerates abandoned us, Cole countered. Those ungrateful slugs, even after all weve done for them theyre still adamant to call themselves rebels.
Josef sighed. And so they should call themselves as such. They were created to protect the peace they helped to gain after the last galactic war which we won by the skin of our teeth! Or have you forgotten that, Cole he pounced.
Thats why they existed, he continued. We lost lives that day, our hearts still bleeding with the lost of our families, friends and comrades.
But now, these agents have attained a level of consciousness where theyve seen others hurt on their account. Yes, they were created to kill, but their human essence still beats strongly in them.
Youve failed to see all this because youre surrounded by these idiots! Josef spread his arms around the room filled with empty seats.
At that last statement, Cole turned to face Josef squarely.
That is the reason behind the Academys downfall today, isnt it You knew about their plans and refused to let us know about it! she screamed.
Josef thumped his fist onto the marble table. How dare you accuse me of such action he raged.
Your sympathy is noted, Josef. You were always keen to protect them but theyve declared war as for it is now.
They want their precious little serum Hah! They want to be as equal as us A lovely notion but theyll never get it, theyll never obtain that liquid which immortalises them because they deserted us, believing that theyre entitled to become as compatible as the rest of humanity whereas weve struggle so long to withstand any bastion from foreign attacks.
Cole slowly toned down. No, Josef, they will not get the serum. They will be hunted down like the pathetic dogs when they were first created and we shall build an entire new army to our liking.
Is that understood, Guardian she hissed.
Josef held both of his own hands together, nodded, feeling the bane of his existence tying tightly against his throat.
Cole had long gone from being a reasonable person during the early years when they had both together fought in combat against the Sentinels which they had on with their relentless continued attacks. Although they were both soldiers in their own right, he always found her to be the better dealer when it came to matters related to life and death.
He left the room, perplexed at the same time thinking of Coles indifference nature.
He was right in choosing to save the lives and future of the Rebels existence away from her.
Now, he went in search of Alexis because she held the key to everything.
********
The ward was filled to the brim with the wounded crying out their last breath or help. Both doctors and nurses were running back and forth with some of their coats covered in blood.
I walked towards the childrens ward. There are so few of us now that only five young cadets were saved. Despite their training, they were still afraid of the situation which they had just endured.
One reached out to hold my hand. Im scared, he said.
His name, Jeremy, was pinned on his lapel with his blood type.
He started to hug me, crying as he did so. The others started to gravitate towards me, wanting to be comforted too.
They found us in the gymnasium, said Amelia, an agent who sat next to me. The walls were crushing down but they saved us. They shot the instructor though, she added. An eye patch covered her right eye.
How did they look like I asked.
I remember! exclaimed Eric excitedly. They slid down with the chords. They looked like us with the tattoos on their neck. But, they were wearing grey clothes. Like jumpsuits.
Then, they carried us on their backs towards a tunnel. They told us to run quickly until we reached the end. The other agents saw us and we flew with them in the hovercrafts. It was exciting!
Why are the Rebels attacking us What did we do to them Jeremy asked in a whispered tone.
I stroke his cut cheeks gently and let him sat on my lap while the others surrounded us. For a single moment, they were quiet and one by one began drifted off to sleep.
I lifted each one into their cubicles and kissed their foreheads. Their future now lay in my hands. They did not need to know the word suffer yet but today they did.
Although I did not know how to answer Jeremys hard questions, I decided then it was best left unanswered.
I hated the fact that the Kapitoll had forced the Rebels hands into submission. But, these little ones did not need to know that.
All I needed to know was that the last of the genetically-engineered children soldiers were safe.
