I Present - Nowhere to Run –
The Tale of Junior Company.
This fan fic follows the story of the children and teenagers of Junior Company, a centre where children are sent when they have lost one or both members of their family and their other members are unable to care for the child whilst they are fighting.
Here the children are schooled about the reality of the war surrounding them, giving them a little if somewhat programmed education and teaching them the essentials of combat. Junior Company is a glorified boot camp where the kids are put into groups and taught the importance of team work. Preparing them for when they reach an age where they will be sent to fight for the COG.
Nowhere to Run focuses on the shattered lives of the teenagers of Junior Company as the Locust invade the centre forcing them to flee their safe haven. Their journey leads them in search of Jacinto, unaware of the COG's plan to flood the city. Will this bunch of misfits ever make it to safety of the COG or are they destined to walk Sera as Stranded.
Prologue
One Month before the Sinking of Jacinto
"Here at Junior Company we treat our squads like family," Lieutenant Brewer recited to the apprehensive father sitting in the plastic chair opposite his desk. Brewer adjusted himself in his own executive chair, yes it was years old and he had bartered his wedding ring for it, but it was definitely worth it. "You have to understand that we've had children as young as a year old recruited into Junior Company; we've had to educate them to become adults in a world where their own COG employed parents cannot."
The father glanced down at his small son, sitting on the seat next to him quivering, he was a scrawny little thing anyway; wiry arms, an immense mop of thick black hair and stick like legs that looked like it would snap rather easily. Rationing had taken an impact on him when he should have benefitted from essential vitamins at a young age. He hated to see his son look so malnourished.
"I have to reiterate to you Mr. Croker, Junior Company won't see front line action, they are purely trained here on a protection or scavenging basis. The kids are all trained in weapon basics and are taught to hold their own, but the most action they have is night watch or general security. Our job is to train them ready for when they reach a suitable age for combatant purposes. We have many children here who have lost a mother or a father and their only remaining guardian is currently out fighting. We are the safest option for your child. Here he will get three decent meals, hot water for washing, good quality clothing and a safe family environment. He will grow to see his squad as a family unit. And you never know, perhaps the next time you see your child he'll be out in the battlefield with you."
"That's the one place I would rather not see my son," the father responded sharply, "Lieutenant you must understand I am doing this because I don't have any other option. Since we lost his mother last week I've come to the conclusion that I can't leave my son on his own. I mean what kind of father would I be if I left a defenceless child to fend for himself. You are not the best option for my son, but you are the only one."
Brewer glanced down at the child, almost in disapproval, the boy was a runt, tiny in all possible ways. He had girls in the company bigger than this little thing, they were probably more competent as well. But the kid had potential, he was only twelve after all, he had plenty of growing to do. And besides he was being paid a hefty amount for the care of this little scrap.
"Your son will be looked after here at Junior Company, I can assure you that,"
The father slipped off his seat and knelt down beside his son, gently taking his hands and holding them tightly.
"David, you have to stay here for a while, daddy has to go back and fight,"
"But why," the shaking little boy whimpered, "I want to go with you."
"Sweetheart where I am going, you can't follow," he spoke softly to his son, "you will be looked after here, plenty of children for you to be with. You will be safe here."
The boy's chestnut brown eyes filled with tears as he gripped his father's hands tighter, "Please daddy, I don't want to go, I want to stay with you."
Brewer pulled his eyes away from the scene, he had seen it so many times before, kids too scared to leave their parents to even understand that this was a safer option than leaving them on their own. If he had been more of a paternal man he probably would have knelt down and tried to reassure the boy, but there wasn't much he could say to the boy that would calm him. The truth was this may be the last time the kid may ever see his father, this was effectively the last goodbye. Most of the kids never saw their parents again after being turned over to his care. How could you even begin trying to explain that to a small twelve year old boy who had only just lost his mother. Instead he did the only thing that was expected of him, he rose to his feet slowly made his way towards father and son.
"I'll be waiting outside when you are ready,"
The father looked up at him, tears in his eyes and nodded, "Of course, I'm going to need a minute with him."
Brewer gave him a slight nod and continued out the door towards the courtyard, taking a seat outside. It was too early to hear any kids playing; the innocent sounds of them laughing and squealing. He could see the sleeping quarters from his position, no movement just yet, but it was only a matter of time. Did they see him as a father figure, or just some wannabe injured ex-soldier who had nothing better to do in his life than boss kids around from a young age? He glanced down at his prosthetic hand, his life had been destroyed the day those Indies had taken half his squad down, now all he had was some plastic hand and an orphanage. It wasn't as if he had any of his own children to pass his legacy down to, just some unwanted kids with issues.
"I think he's ready," the father's broken voice sounded behind him in the doorway, breaking him from his train of thought, "I've left him in your office. I just can't go back to him."
Tears streaked his face, as he wiped his reddened eyes, he glanced momentarily back down the corridor at the sounds of mournful crying. It broke his heart.
"Just promise me one thing," he said, "that you look after my son."
"Mr. Croker," Brewer responded, "I'll promise you that once we're done with your son, he won't need to be looked after."
The father slowly made his way down the steps into the courtyard, he took one last stuttered breath and walked away from him towards the rest of his life. Brewer watched as he disappeared around the building, the slumped figure of a broken man. He had seen so many of them, that he had stopped hurting each time now. Instead he returned to his office to the wreak of a child weeping his eyes out. The little boy looked up at him pleadingly, running his sleeve against his snotty nose, tears staining his cheeks.
"Please Mr, I want to be with my daddy," he sniffed
"Son, this is going to be tough for you for a while, but it will get easier." He said softly before reasserting himself, "We're going to send you to have a medical check, once the physician has cleared you we'll set you up with a squad. Welcome to the future kid."
Author's Notes-
Thanks for taking the time to read this labour of love. It has been an up and down struggle to actually get my point across and my writing has dramatically altered throughout. So I have opted to rewrite the entire piece. For those poor sods who have already read it I apologise in advance as there are a few developmental chapters that I have worked on to embellish characters. The good news. The story is in fact complete so once I have finished updating the current chapters those of you who have continued reading will at least have an ending.
If you're still reading this, thank you so much, at least I know my insane rambling isn't that bad.
