CHAPTER 2 - THE COST
The first three weeks were difficult and Summer was not accustomed to the daily routine. At sunrise, the recruits were expected to be awake and had five minutes for hygiene before lining up for morning rack check. Breakfast, which tasted as bland as its color, was comprised of a liquid dietary supplement that offended just about every girl in the platoon.
Consuming the milky nourishment, the recruits were off to their classes followed by intense drill exercises. Once the grueling conditioning was completed, it was on to martial arts training. Techniques taught by the instructors were advanced close quarters hand to hand combat and small arms training.
The meal served at noon was every part as wholesome as breakfast, but had little substance itself; resembling a creamy paste that the girls struggled to consume. Fortunately, the cadets were promised better meals if their performance during the drills exceeded the instructor's pre-determined score averages.
The schedule would repeat itself into the afternoon with classes, drill and martial arts training. By the evening, Summer was exhausted. The years of training set up by her mother had been helpful, but by the end of the day she could feel the fatigue. After drinking dinner, the recruits would get ten minutes for hygiene before lining up for the evening rack check.
The last hour before lights out was free time, and Summer usually spent her moments sitting outside the barracks looking up at the stars and imagining what the next day would bring. Some nights, she would lie in her bunk and message her parents about her training exercises and daily accomplishments.
By week five, the recruits were subjected to more severe strength training and mental and physical breakdowns. Activities now included outdoor obstacle courses, heavy arms training and overnight hikes through difficult terrain.
In her electronic notes home, Summer would describe how her platoon would be transported by aircraft to remote locations for special exercises and drill instruction. In another series of correspondences, she described how her group was delivered by aircraft to an outlying coastline area for stealth infiltration and tactical weapons training. Summer further wrote about how the platoon would practice hours of sharp-shooting drills near the ocean, and the sounds of the waves would remind her of the pebbled beaches back home in Eastbourne.
Summer also mentioned in a private message to her mother that Instructor McGeady was always encouraging her a little more than the other recruits. In detail, Summer described how the Irish born Pandora supported and praised the young cadet while always reinforcing a strict sense of discipline during each field operation.
Concerned, Summer asked her mother why the instructor would risk showing such favoritism to a single recruit. She wanted to clarify just how close Maya McGeady was to her mother. Conveniently however, Satellizer's consistent messages back to her daughter suddenly and quite abruptly ceased completely.
Under the cover of night, the platoon was delivered to an abandoned settlement high in the northern mountains of Scotland.
The town constructed below the summit of one of the snow covered peaks, was actually nothing more than a simple settlement of shanty structures - the last remnants from a group of geologists that had occupied the remote village one hundred years earlier. Recently, the Genetics Affairs Committee of Europe purchased the land and erected a campus of training buildings for Pandora hopefuls to use. The intent was to train cadets in higher altitude, climate affected scenarios.
After exiting the aircraft, the girls formed into a line and listened to the drill instructors explain the rules and expectations of the mission. The goal of the evening exercise was for each recruit to work in teams of two and take turns clearing a staged training structure within a specified time limit. Though unarmed, the young cadets were expected to incapacitate any enemy combatants they would face within the interior of the building. Satisfactory completion of the mission was achieved after all the rooms were declared free from the designated opposition.
Most of the teams from Summer's platoon were averaging eighteen to twenty-two minutes to clear their stage.
Not by chance, Summer had been partnered with Millie Bunce for the training exercise. The young brunette figured that Instructor McGeady had manipulated the roster so that both of them would be forced to work together.
Summer was right. Maya's meddling turned out to actually be a good thing.
During the past several weeks of Basics, Millie had made a conscious effort to reconcile with Summer. Additionally, with some help from Maya, her old comrades Phoebe Kelly and Ellie Baker were separated into different platoons which provided Millie with unlimited opportunity to converse with Summer without the distraction of her two former teammates.
During class time, Millie would sit next to Summer and try to talk with her about their studies and coursework. At martial arts training, she would always attempt to be on the same team as Summer so that she could avoid having to spar with her. Even at meal time, Millie would sit nearby and share the table with Summer. Despite their regrettable introductions on the first day of Basics, Millie Bunce had made quite the effort to admit her guilt and seek forgiveness for her initial behavior. Summer softened as well, and started appreciating having Millie around. After a short while, the two girls became fast friends and were a formidable duo when they teamed up for drill exercises.
As they prepared for the assault on the training structure, Summer was quick to take the lead; poised like a runner at the starting line while Millie lined up behind and to the right.
"Okay Millie, on my six! Don't fall behind."
"Roger that!" She said, "You can count on me!"
At the sound of the electronic tone, both girls sprinted towards the building like a pair of Olympic runners competing for the Gold.
Early at their briefing, they discussed how they were going to clear all the rooms as a team before disabling the battle timer. As they feverishly ran up the grassy hill to the front entrance, Summer implemented her plan for clearing the stage.
"Millie," Summer commanded, "Smash and clear through the door." The lead cadet slowed her pace just enough to let partner pass, who bounded forward with all her weight and crashed straight through the flimsy door.
With Summer entering the room, she immediately side-stepped to the left as Mille rushed to the right.
No enemies in the main room.
"Clear!" Shouted both recruits as they hustled to the next room, only to find an obstacle that halted their forward progress.
The interior door was intentionally made of thick metal that was extremely heavy to open. Millie tried the handle, but it didn't budge. "It's impossible to open!"
"Let me try." Said Summer calmly.
Millie looked on with curiosity as her teammate stepped up and slipped her hands through the rusty handle, tugging and pulling at the stubborn door with ease until it gave way and opened.
"Okay then," Millie joked, "I guess I wasn't strong enough." Tapping Summer on the shoulder, she signaled the rush into the next chamber.
"Clear!" shouted Millie as Summer followed her teammate into the dimly lit room. On the far wall was a small table with several folders, unlabeled documents and other pieces of computer equipment.
"Millie, over there." Ordered Summer, "Those papers could be important." The raven-haired girl nodded as she ran to the table, sliding aside the chair and stuffing the items into her field satchel.
Almost instantly, a door on the opposite side of the room burst open and three armed guards ran out shooting small caliber suppressive marker weapons. As caplets of neon paint peppered the walls near the recruits, Summer improvised by leaping forward, grabbing at the back of the small chair and hurling it at the closest guard.
The chair hit its mark, forcing the soldier to drop the weapon. Following up with a running spin kick, Summer landed a heel into the man's helmet, knocking her opponent unconscious.
Millie had engaged the second closest soldier by grappling for his weapon. Kicking out his knee, she brought the large man down while slamming his forearm with a strong right fist to free the automatic pistol from his grip. Recovering the firearm, she quickly discharged two paint caplets into the incoming third soldier's chest before shooting two more casings into the sprawled man at her feet.
"Clear!" Shouted the pair of Pandora hopefuls again.
Entering through the door from which the gunmen had emerged, they ran over to the touch display screen and tapped the disable button.
To the surprise of the other cadets, Summer El Bridget-Aoi and Millie Bunce had cleared the stage in a record-breaking sixteen minutes and twelve seconds, earning them top marks for successfully completing the offsite training mission. The dynamic pair had now accumulated enough points to become top ranked recruits in their platoon.
Back home at the barracks, free time was announced and everyone had an hour before lights out. Since returning, the cadets couldn't help but buzz about the fantastic accomplishment of the two girls who beat the structure interval in record time. The incredible story of triumph and achievement spread quickly through the dormitories, making its way to the other platoons, and to the unfortunate attention of Ellie Baker and Phoebe Kelly.
Summer was sitting outside admiring the stars that were partially visible through the overcast evening sky when she sensed someone approaching from behind. It was Millie Bunce in a crouched position, hoping to sneak up and surprise her friend with a poorly planned style of stealth.
"What do you want Millie?" Summer inquired, not taking her eyes from the stars. Astonished, Millie dropped her head and sighed as she came up and sat next to Summer.
"How did you know it was me? I was really careful not to draw attention to my positioning."
"You're too loud, plus your hygiene gives you away." She snickered for a brief moment, "I'm surprised McGeady hasn't suspected the shampoo you keep hidden in your duffel."
"Is it that noticeable?" Millie quickly stroked her hair in embarrassment?"
Summer just smiled. "Not really, a girl can't help herself if she wants to look and smell good in a place like this you know?" She turned to her friend. "So, what can I do for you tonight?"
"I…heard some disturbing news. In the next couple days, Ellie and Phoebe will finish their separate training and will be rejoining our platoon." Millie lowered her voice and leaned closer to Summer. "They're still up to their old ways." She knew that some of her peers in the platoon continued to communicate with Ellie and were never pleased that she had been separated from the original triad.
"So…using my secret stealthy skills," Millie elaborated, "I overheard from some of the other girls that those two are scheming to lure you out to the old aircraft hangar at the south end of the airfield." Millie looked over her shoulder, "They want to finish the fight they started back on the first day."
"Really? How predictable of them." Summer exhaled. "Listen Millie, if I were you, I would stay away from those two and don't go off and spy on the other cadets again." She gave her friend a long hard look. "As far as Ellie and Phoebe's abilities, those two have been average at best. You have potential to make it to Graduation Day and clinch a Genetics Academy spot."
Summer stood and paced the sidewalk. "Let those two make their own choices. If they continue on this frivolous path of seeking revenge, it most surely will end with their discharge from the program."
Millie followed her friend, becoming quite anxious. "True, but what about me? When they come back, they'll find out that I…sided with you. What if they already know? They're going to come after me."
"Just stay close to me and we'll get through this together." Summer smiled. "I'll protect you, and hopefully in the next two weeks, you and I could attend an Academy together."
"That…would be nice." Millie whispered.
"Millie, those two are fools if they think that they are going to get away with unsanctioned fighting – they'll be discharged for sure. Do they really want to risk it?" Summer looked passed her friend. "It's almost lights out. Let's turn in and figure something out tomorrow. Okay?"
Millie forced a smile. "Summer, thanks again for accepting me as your friend. Before I was adopted, I was always alone. My childhood was difficult, growing up in different foster homes. I always picked the wrong groups of friends and it usually ended badly for me. You, are the first person who made me feel like a true friend, that I'm...something of worth. I chose to enter the Pandora program because I wanted to make a difference in the world." The dark-haired girl spun in a circle with her arms outstretched, "Imagine a nobody like me," She teased, "Being a Guardian for mankind and protecting everyone."
Millie stepped away from Summer, "Okay partner, let's figure this all out tomorrow. I'll head back to my barracks." She waved goodbye, "Good night Summer."
"Good night, Millie."
Millie Bunce's walk back to her side of the barracks seem longer than usual. Her footsteps slow as she plodded along the sidewalk, probably due to the fact that she didn't think Summer really understood how severe the threats were to her.
Am I taking these warnings too seriously? Summer doesn't seem too concerned, but what if she's wrong?
The lights of her dormitory entrance flooded the street and walkway, casting a foreboding shadow across the quad. Suddenly, an odd sound from the bushes told her to pick up the pace as she made for the safety of the building.
Relief. She was almost inside, just the tapping of a few keystrokes on the security pad and the door would grant her access. She paused for a moment after inputting her code when she heard the sound again. Quickly she thought, Get into the building! She grasped at the handle, but it was too late. A violent hand wrapped around her mouth while another grabbed at her stomach, dragging the frightened cadet around to the side of the building where only darkness lingered.
Maya McGeady was busy doing her usual evening rack check when she came upon Summer. It always impressed the instructor that her favorite recruit maintained such a neat bunk.
"Very good cadet!" She exclaimed. "Listen up you pigs! You all should take a mental picture of GM870's perfect bunk area!"
She continued her walk up and down the rows, evaluating each of the cadet's bunks for the slightest evidence of something out of place. After she completed her inspection, McGeady gave the order for lights out. Immediately, the recruits got into their bunks and the lights in the room automatically dimmed.
On her way to the exit, Maya made her way back through the row near Summer's bed. Looking down, she noticed the young cadet was trying to get her attention. As the instructor stepped over, Summer spoke.
"Ma'am, permission to speak?"
Maya lowered her head and knelt down next to the bunk. "It's lights out, what could possibly be on your mind, soldier?" Summer sat up in her bed which gave McGeady the impression that something important was on this young girl's mind.
"Millie Bunce told me that Phoebe Kelly and Ellie Baker are to re-join the main platoon?" Maya's hesitation confirmed Summer's suspicions as the instructor remained quiet. "Tell me that you tried to keep that from happening?"
"Shut up and keep you voice down." Maya strained to keep her voice a whisper. "Listen, sometimes we do all that we can do, you know what I mean?" Maya looked away disgusted. "My superiors weren't pleased that I separated those two from you and GM866. They made the decision to assimilate them back into the main group despite my reservations."
"You know what this will mean for Millie?" Summer replied as Maya looked concerned. "They will target her first."
"Listen cadet, you're at Basics School. A Pandora hopeful can't make excuses and back away from a potential confrontation, it's not in our nature. Tomorrow is a new day. The two of you will continue your strength training and martial arts. Just keep an eye out for things okay?" Summer wasn't pleased, but warily accepted what the instructor was saying. "Just get some sleep soldier."
Maya left the barracks and returned to the main building, frustrated with herself for keeping the truth from her star pupil.
Of course Millie will be targeted first. What Summer doesn't know is that the girls were already re-assigned. My God, if Millie is severely injured, I don't know what Summer would do in retaliation.
Phoebe held Millie tightly around the neck and waist while Ellie stood back in the shadows and sized up this situation. The side of the building was dark and hid them all from sight.
"Little Millie," Ellie whispered in a mocking tone. "What business do you have talking with that bitch?"
"Let…go…of…me." Millie struggled but Phoebe's submission hold kept her secure. Her mind raced with fear as she responded to Ellie's questioning. "Business? I…warned her about…what you two are planning…"
"You warned her?" Phoebe squeezed harder, causing Millie to grimace through the pain.
"Y…Yes! Why…do you…care? Yeah I did. So… what? Let me…go."
"How kind of you to warn her about us." Ellie hissed. "Phoebe, I think we have a little rat on our hands."
Phoebe turned Millie around so that she faced her and pulled her in close. "Ellie I hope not! Nobody likes a rat! We were real good friends back in the day."
Phoebe shoved Millie at Ellie who caught her by the shirt, punched her in the stomach and drove her body into the ground. Millie tried to fight, but Ellie was too strong. With a knee on her back, she held her face down in the dirt until her victim appeared too exhausted to continue.
She whispered softly in her ear, "I am so disappointed with you. How could you betray us? You know, a few of the girls told us…" Ellie's face contorted into anger. "Told us how you tried to be her friend, how you worked as a team with her and completed training exercises with her. You…dirty little whore, you can't just quit us like that."
Millie crazily moved her body to break free, but Ellie lifted her head and repeatedly smashed it down into the ground until she heard the satisfying sounds of cartilage breaking in Millie's nose. "It doesn't matter, you gave me the perfect idea to lure Summer El Bridget-Aoi to our little rendezvous."
"What's the plan?" Phoebe asked. "It's lights out and we need to get back." She looked down, noticing that Millie's body was still. "Umm, she doesn't look too good."
"Help me out here." Ellie responded as she lifted up Millie's body. "We need to hide her for tonight so that we can take care of things tomorrow."
Millie felt paralyzed, the pain from the heavy beating had left her dazed and weak. Her limbs wouldn't obey her commands as she felt herself being dragged for what seemed like hours. Drowsy and delirious, she pleaded once again with her captors.
"Please…don't…don't do this…to…me…"
Ellie pulled her along, reassuring her victim that all was going to be okay. "Don't worry, you're going to help us make everything happen Millie. Just you wait and see." They silently made their way toward the empty hangar at the far end of the airfield.
Maya McGeady was awakened earlier than normal when the door to her quarters was opened. Her usually neat, pinned up red hair was down and tousled from hours of sleeping. Rolling over, she noticed the silhouette filling the entryway.
"What…is…it?"
The traditional military soldier stood in the entry, fearful for awakening the formidable Pandora. "Ma'am…we have a…Code Seventeen. One of the cadets is missing and…"
Shaking off the sleepiness, she shot to her feet. "What did you say? We lost who? Say it again, and start from the beginning. What the hell is happening?"
At sunrise, Instructor McGeady quickly went through her morning rack and hygiene checks and stepped to the center of her barracks before the cadets could be dismissed to breakfast.
"Listen up you sad bunch of lazy shits! One of your very own is missing out of the East Barracks! Millie Bunce, GM866!" Several girls stole quick glances to each other before facing front again. "The sentries at each of the exits never reported seeing her, so she must still be on base somewhere. A search party was dispatched several hours ago so when they check in, we will hear more."
Maya rotated on her heel and strolled down the line, stopping in front of Summer El Bridget-Aoi. "After the noon meal, all your scheduled activities will be cancelled! We have been tasked with supplementing the BGS as additional search personnel for the afternoon rotation."
Summer's heart sank. Something happened last night! Oh God Millie, what did you get yourself into? This is my fault!
Even though the platoon was dismissed to go about their morning routines, Summer remained distracted as she numbly went about her duties. Through classes and martial arts, her thoughts centered around Millie's whereabouts and her own personal guilt.
It was early evening when McGeady pulled the search party detail off the grounds and escorted the Pandora hopefuls back to their barracks for the evening meal. "Cadets, you've earned some free time, but be warned, there'll be an additional rack check before the lights out. I don't want any of my little piggies going AWOL on my watch!"
During their free hour, most of the girls sat down and talked about what had happened to the missing girl. Summer on the other hand was feeling the anxiety all too well. She paced back and forth in the aisle across from her bunk, contemplating everything Millie had told her about what Phoebe and Ellie were planning.
She said something about an ambush for revenge… Think Summer, think!
Summer clenched her fists in disgust, angered that she couldn't remember every detail from her discussion with her friend. In frustration, she sat down on her bed, but as she did, she heard the distinct sound of paper crinkling under the sheet. Pulling back the covers, she found a folded piece of paper. As she read it, a knot formed in her stomach, and all her fears were confirmed.
If you read this before lights out tonight, there might be a chance for you to save Millie. Go to the empty aircraft hangar at the south end of the airfield. Show up alone.
Flexing her muscles, Summer crunched up the note and threw it to the ground. Tears of anger blurred her vision as she stormed out of the barracks and into the cool night air. Walking around the corner of the building, she looked over her shoulder, making sure that nobody noticed her breakaway. Satisfied that she escaped unseen, Summer burst into a full sprint and headed south along the inner fence toward the old airfield.
I have to save her…it's all up to me!
The sun had just disappeared below the horizon when Summer arrived at the nearest perimeter of the airfield. She had covered the distance in roughly seven minutes which gave her just twenty more minutes before her absence was discovered by the instructor.
Effortlessly scaling the fence, Summer dashed across the old runway to the far end of the airfield where the aircraft hanger stood. When she got to the side door, she grasped the handle and cautiously pulled back the heavy steel door. She slowly entered, noticing that there were several LED lanterns set up in a square around the center most part of the bay.
The hangar itself was enormous – roughly twenty meters tall in the center with a span just shy of one hundred meters. Unfortunately the lanterns were not adequate enough to illuminate the entire space, which left Summer hesitant to enter the darkened expanse. The building originally was used to house over a dozen attack aircraft which were on standby for the countless NOVA clashes from the past. With the threat of invasion over, aircraft hangars like these had become storage shelters or neglected empty buildings.
The sound of her footsteps echoed in the cavernous space. She knew they were here, watching and waiting. Checking her field chrono, it showed thirteen minutes remaining. Desperate, Summer called out to them. "Show yourselves cowards! Why would you make Millie suffer to get my attention? Just let her go!"
The hangar reverberated her bold words, and for a brief minute, there was an eerie silence.
"Cowards, you say?" Came a giggle from the darkness beyond the shadows cast by the lanterns. "Oh get real, things are just getting started." Turning to her left, Summer's heart melted, for out of the shadows strolled Phoebe Kelly, dragging the limp body of Millie Bunce.
Summer felt helpless, completely frozen in time. Her arms and feet were like lead weights that wouldn't move under her command. She tracked Phoebe's movements as she delivered the motionless body of her teammate to the center of the lighted space.
Keeping her attention trained on Phoebe, Summer cautiously approached Millie's body. Kneeling down, she used her fingers to feel for a pulse. Once she made out the faint heartbeat, she cried out.
"You bastards! Why? We have to get her to the hospital now!"
"Hospital? It's too late for that…" Ellie replied as she walked out of the darkness and joined her accomplice. "After we dealt out her…punishment, we…kind of left her here all day, so she's beyond treatment."
"What the hell is this? What were you two thinking? She needs immediate treatment! If we delay any longer, her body could pass the recovery limits of the medical technology!" Gripping Millie tight in her arms, Summer tried lifting her up off the ground.
"No! It's too late for all of us!" There was an absolute tone to Ellie's statement. "Lights out is just minutes from now and they'll know that the three of us are unaccounted for. She's dead anyways, so you wouldn't make it in time." Summer's expression twisted when she heard the words. "I think she suffered too many blows to the head in my opinion."
Phoebe took a step closer. "I am so looking forward to this opportunity to beat your ass like we did to Millie."
Cradling Millie's body in her arms, Summer knew that she had no choice but to fight. Gently lowering Millie down to the ground, "I'm…so sorry, Millie." Taking off her glasses, she gently placed them in her friend's lifeless hand. The fierce anger started to swirl within her as she stepped away from Millie's body.
Summer raised her clenched hands in an offensive stance. Her mother's fighting spirit called to her as she squared up on her two opponents. She could feel her body swelling with energy, but she failed at keeping it focused and calm. Her emotions refused to cooperate, something deep down was violently trying to reach the surface - something so powerful, it acted primal; scratching and clawing its way out.
In a rage, Summer dashed at Phoebe and dropped a right elbow down to the top of her head as she swept her left leg, kicking Ellie across the shins. Both of her opponents blocked the strikes and rolled away from each other in defensive stances.
Ellie came across with a high kick followed by a left cross. Summer dodged both attacks, and using her opponent's momentum against her, slammed her opponent down onto the floor.
From behind, Phoebe grabbed Summer in a choke hold and violently pulled her off of Ellie. Summer tried to kick and struggle free, but Phoebe held on. Getting up, Ellie came over and landed two heavy punches squarely into Summer's abdomen. Wincing in pain, she struggled to break free of Phoebe's clutches, but this time, when Ellie attacked, she used her feet and legs to block the assault.
Successfully locking her legs around Ellie's neck, Summer used her weight to pull both her and Phoebe down to the ground. Rolling backwards and pushing up with her arms, she shot back to her feet to faced her attackers.
Holding up her closed palms, Summer dragged her foot slowly across the floor to bait Phoebe into engaging again. As the crazed girl rushed in, Summer successfully blocked her punches before delivering a quick back-handed smash to the side of her opponent's head.
Drill Instructor McGeady ran out the door of the barracks and informed her comrades that there was one additional girl missing from her building.
"Goddammit, GM Eight Seven Zero!"
Agreeing that there was now a total of four girls unaccounted for, she tapped her ear piece and ordered the facility be placed on the highest alert status, placing all the barracks into lock-down.
Exterior perimeter searchlights flooded light across the area while groups of active duty soldiers ran onto the fields continuing the hunt for the missing girls.
Maya remarked to herself. This is all my fault! I should have listened to Summer!
Quickly returning to her assigned barrack, Maya stormed through the door and ignored the other cadets as she made a line for Summer's bedding. Inspecting the tossed bed, she could tell that it was recently disturbed.
She always keeps a neat and tidy bunk. The blanket's been pulled aside and the sheet shows lots of creases. It almost looks like she messed up her bed for something…but what?
She placed the blanket back onto of the sheet and sat down. Feverishly irritated, she smashed her fist down onto the mattress, causing an explosion of dust to billow up around her. The moving air knocked various personal items of Summer's off the nearby shelf. Frustrated and embarrassed, the drill instructor bent down and gathered up the articles that had fallen. Scooping up the final trinket and picture frame, she paused.
"Eh, what's this? A crinkled note?"
She noticed the slip of folded paper under the bed, just visible near the opposite end of the bed frame. Opening the creased message, she began to read.
Instantly tapping her ear piece, she ordered all units to the aircraft hangar located south along the abandoned airfield - On the double!
Summer sustained another blow to the face but was successful in her attempt to drop Phoebe down to the ground again. The blood dripping from the laceration on her arm plus the swollen bruise around her left eye didn't matter, Summer was completely numb to the pain.
She turned back at Ellie who was guarding her mid-section and left side. "End this." Summer breathed, "I…have to get Millie to the…hospital, we can save her!"
"You're so stupid! Don't you get it? All three of us are going to get expelled. Why can't you…just stay admit it and stay down?" The injured girl turned to her equally wounded partner. "Phoebe, we need to work together and teach this goodie-goodie some respect."
Summer lunged at Ellie again and completed a two hit combo to her head and upper body. Twirling around to the right side, she connected a backwards right kick to her face which dropped the bloodied adversary down again.
In a flash, Phoebe rushed at Summer, intent on pushing her down to the ground. In a grapple and locking maneuver, the two fighters remained at a stalemate, but it was obvious to Phoebe that she held the definite weight advantage. She could feel Summer trying to escape; flexing her aching muscles in an attempt to tear her arms free, but Phoebe held on as best as she could.
"It's…over…Summer." Said Phoebe, "I've…got… you."
Suddenly, Phoebe noticed her adversary growing in strength. In another moment, she was surprisingly overwhelmed.
Baring her teeth, Summer began pushing Phoebe backward – lifting and shoving the larger opponent until the two of them crashed straight through the side of the aircraft hangar. Chunks of insulation, construction material and bent pieces of old metal siding littered the grass as the two combatants spilled out onto the ground outside.
McGeady was ahead of them, using her enhanced abilities to sprint down to the airfield. Leaping over the double chain-link fence in one effortless bound, she rolled out of the landing and continued accelerating passed the runway and up to the side of the derelict building. The squad of soldiers behind her barely kept up in their personnel transports. The two commanders riding in the lead vehicle remarked to themselves about the instructor's incredible speed and agility as they witnessed her incredible vault over the two meter tall fence.
Maya had just rounded the corner of the building when she saw two young people crash through the weak wall section of the building.
"Summer!" she called out to them as she ran up.
It didn't look good. Maya arrived to find both recruits sprawled on the wet grass; most of their limbs slashed mercilessly by the sharp aluminum protrusions from the damaged wall.
Despite the excruciating pain, Summer got up off the ground and grabbed her enemy. Holding a handful of Phoebe's hair, she looked her adversary in the eye. Unfortunately, nothing stared back at her - the unconscious body of Phoebe Kelly just swayed in Summer's strong grip.
Summer then turned to see Maya approaching, the look on the Pandora's face explained how much trouble she was in. Nonetheless, she was still relieved to see a friendly face.
"Summer, what happened?"
"It's…Millie." Summer's hands shook as she released the limp and unconscious form of Phoebe Kelly. "Millie is severely injured, you have to get the medic team here as fast as you can."
Maya nodded as she tapped her earpiece to alert the med staff who was already en route.
"Hold on, let me help you." Summer groaned as the tall instructor hoisted her up. "That's it…just a little more…"
Crashing through the opening, Ellie Baker tackled the two women, knocking Maya aside and crushing Summer to the ground. Landing on top of the defenseless recruit, she continued her assault by pummeling Summer's face. Her attacks were relentless as she held Summer down with a knee to her chest while she brutally delivered her punishment.
Screaming in pain, she tried to break her grip but Ellie just laughed. "I have you now you weak little bitch! How does it feel?" She put her face close to Summer's. She could smell the sweat and blood on her defeated opponent's face. Laughing once again, "…Your mother's hope for you to become a Pandora…ends tonight!"
Never lose, don't ever quit and keep fighting.
Maya McGeady stayed back and watched. She knew Summer could do it. "Fight back…" She encouraged. "Don't give up!"
Seething through the pain, Summer re-positioned her body and struck Ellie in the sensitive kidney area that she had protected previously from their battle. Surprised by the counter-attack, Ellie lost her focus and Summer was able to push her off. Both girls then rolled over and tried to get up, but Ellie was quicker and caught Summer in a stranglehold before the beaten cadet could stand.
A squad of soldiers arrived and surrounded the grappling adversaries, training their passive electrical devices on them.
"Summer!" Maya screamed.
Noticing the men pointing their weapons at her, Summer felt a greater surge of power from within.
"No…I'm…not…done…with…her…yet…" She snarled to the soldiers as the air escaped her lungs.
Never give up, don't back down… Never lose…
"Hold your fire!" Maya ordered, holding up a hand to cease the soldier's assault. Perplexed, the soldiers lowered their weapons and looked at her. Then the commander responded, "Ma'am are you sure? She could use our help."
"I said stand down soldier! GM870 has this under control!" Watching Summer succeed through her training and drills, she knew the kind of warrior she was becoming. This young woman was the daughter of one of the most elite Pandora ever. She knew that Summer El Bridget-Aoi would be victorious.
"GM Eight Seven Zero, stand up! Stand up and defeat your enemy! That's an order soldier! Finish this! It's time go back home!"
Home… Summer imagined, I can hear the waves crashing on the shore. The sun reflecting over the water. The voice of my mother and father telling me that they love me. Calling to me to come home…
It was a longing she had endured during her weeks at GBS. It had always been difficult to let go. In the beginning, she never really wanted to be a Pandora, but her unusual skills made her a formidable candidate for the program and it made her mother proud that she had chosen to serve.
Struggling to stand, she mustered all the strength she had remaining; willing herself into performing one last attack. Using her heel, she stomped down hard on the bridge of Ellie's foot, causing her to shout in pain. Loosening her grip for a split-second, Ellie was unable to block Summer's head from slamming directly into her face, crushing her nose.
Immediately releasing her victim, Ellie covered her face with her hands and stumbled backwards. Summer turned and drove her open palm into Ellie's chest, cracking several of her ribs. Ellie grabbed for her stomach as she fell to her knees. Summer followed with a left kick across her temple which slammed her down on her back.
Straddling her fallen adversary, Summer drove home one last blow to her face, shattering her jaw.
The blood was seeping from Ellie's nose, mouth and forehead. Her swollen eyes were filled with dread from what just happened. As she gazed at the Pandora hopeful kneeling above her, all she could see was a slight blue glow around her eyes.
Utilizing all the rage in her heart, Summer clenched her hands together, ready to bring down the final, fatal blow.
"NO!" Maya yelled as she ran up next to her. "Don't waste anymore energy on this piece of trash!" Maya grabbed at Summer's arms and held them from crashing down on her defeated opponent. "Millie! You have to save Millie!"
Summer snapped out of her trance and looked into Maya's eyes. Immediately, she leapt up and sprinted into the hangar, seemingly unaffected by her injuries and skidded to a stop next to Millie's body.
With a raised eyebrow, Maya remarked to herself how Summer was able to recover enough to rush over to her teammate's body. "Millie!" Summer screamed. "No, no, no! I'm sorry! Millie! Oh God, I took too long!"
Easily lifting her friend off the ground, Summer carried her outside the building and onto the waiting med cot from the medical staff. Within seconds, they sprung into action – feverishly working to stabilize Millie Bunce's vital functions.
Due to the repeated blows to the head, they determined that Millie's brain had collided with her skull more than once. The field doctors did their best, but shook their heads to Maya who was waiting alongside Summer. The prognosis was grim and death was inevitable.
"S...Sum…Summer…" Millie was in and out of consciousness as she whispered her name. She slightly opened one eye, but the retina had detached from the nerve so even with her eye open, she was unable to look for her friend.
Stopping their treatments, the lead doctor allowed Summer to come closer. "I'm here Millie." She said, "Please don't talk. We're all here, Instructor McGeady, the whole medical staff…everyone."
Summer gently held her hand. "Millie?" Summer asked, feeling her friend trembling. "I am so sorry. I failed to save you. I wasn't…fast enough." The stream of tears down her face moistened the drying blood. As she wiped the drops away, she gently stroked Millie's mottled hair.
Summer never had to deal with death before. Despite her mother always reminding her about the fallen heroes left behind on the battlefield, it never actually made sense until today.
This time, things were very different. Summer wasn't a powerful Pandora fighting for mankind and this wasn't a torn battlefield of fallen NOVA. The enemy were just human beings, and their victim was her friend.
"N…no…n, don't…be sorry. It's...okay…It's okay…Summer…tha…nk y…ou…"
Millie managed a little smile as she exhaled her last breath. The blinking white LEDs on the square devices attached to her forehead turned to a steady shade of crimson as Millie Bunce passed away.
Maya motioned quickly to the medical staff to take Millie's body back to the Medical Ward for further examination.
"Summer, its over. Let them take her back." McGeady then gestured to the soldiers who were guarding Ellie and Phoebe. "Once those two are stabilized, escort them directly to the brig."
Summer couldn't believe her eyes. A Pandora recruit had died by her side. "If…only she had gotten treatment sooner!" Summer was blind with rage. "How can this happen?" She turned to Ellie and Phoebe who were being placed on portable medical cots. "You…you killed her!"
She started to walk towards them. With each step, her anger multiplied a hundred times. She was red with anger – the hate flooding every corner of her being at the thought Millie's suffering. Ellie Baker and Phoebe Kelly were barely conscious as the fuming brunette came closer.
Summer wanted to wrap her fingers around their necks and listen to them take their final breaths. The lust from within was driving her desire to mercilessly end the two cadets.
"Stand down, recruit!" Maya ordered. "GM Eight Seven Zero, that is a direct order! You will obey and stand down immediately!"
Summer ignored her.
Frustrated, she grabbed onto Summer's torn sleeve and stood between her and the two incapacitated assailants. "You will back down immediately GM Eight Seven Zero!" Maya took a step closer, seeing the pain and agony in her eyes. "You are my top soldier, don't end it like this!"
Those eyes…what the hell is going on with her? "Summer, I've seen death on the battlefield; I've seen sacrifices and endured pain beyond your comprehension. We will get through this!"
Summer bristled with hostility. It seemed to flow out of her in waves which Maya herself could sense. "Don't do this! Focus your anger and back down!" Maya repeated, feeling another tinge of power affect her Stigmata.
"Men!" McGeady barked to her soldiers as she stood eye to eye with her top-ranked recruit. "Order One Five Zero! But hold on my mark!"
Without hesitation, each of the men raised their weapons and trained them on Summer El Bridget-Aoi; the order given was to switch their firearms from passive to lethal rounds. Thin beams of red light painted dots on the young girl's upper torso and forehead while Maya kept her arm raised with an open hand, staying the men from opening fire.
"A Pandora's job is to protect the weak and serve humanity." The instructor lectured, "What you want to do right now is unacceptable. Bury those raw emotions deep down!" As she took another careful step, Maya could feel a strange perception of intense heat emanating from her distraught recruit. "Summer listen to me, think of your parents. They are so proud of you, don't do this to them. Come with me, let's walk away from here."
The two cadets Summer severely immobilized remained quiet on their medical cots. The look of dread on their faces was enough to convince the instructor, the medical professionals and the military that this situation had to deescalate immediately.
Nodding to her squad, some of the soldiers silently stepped around behind Summer and re-trained their weapons. This was it Maya concluded. Summer was totally surrounded – the trained soldiers had their orders and all the instructor had to do was signal the execution. The tense scene outside the abandoned aircraft hanger left everyone frozen in the moment.
"Please, I don't want to put you down right here." Maya warned. "Volt Weapon, equip!"
With a flash, a double-bladed sword materialized in her hand. The wide, perfect edges reflected the glow of the search lights trained on their position. Holding it steady in a passive stance, she tried again to get her top cadet to calm down.
"I have my Volt weapon activated and I'll kill you right here if you don't comply."
Summer's attention slowly turned toward the glistening Volt weapon. She analyzed its features, curves and sharp edges. She wanted so much to touch it; just a gentle caress, to feel the power created from the Stigmata tablets implanted within her instructor's body. Cautiously, she stepped backward blinking her eyes.
"I'm…sorry."
Turning away, she slumped heavily to the ground, crying for her lost friend. Maya dematerialized her weapon and helped console the troubled cadet. "Soldier, you are quite impressive indeed. The desire to kill and destroy is not an easy thing to turn away from, now get up young lady!"
Maya took Summer by the hand and led her away from the soldiers who still hadn't lowered their weapons. The instructor assisted the injured brunette across the field and toward one of the three transport vehicles that was waiting along the fence. Helping the girl up the ramp, she sat her down in the small area near the cockpit.
Leaving tiny drips of blood on the floor of the transport, Summer place her head in her hands. "I don't want to feel like that ever again. What…happened to me?" Maya remained quiet as she applied an analgesic to a soft-weave prep pad.
"You…definitely weren't yourself."
"How did this happen?"
"Hold out an arm." Maya instructed.
As Summer obeyed, McGeady studied her blood-encrusted limb. To her surprise, it showed barely any signs of damage – nothing close to resembling the deep cuts and gashes she received from bursting through a wall of corrugated metal siding. As Summer continued her silent lamenting, Maya finally understood Satellizer's odd request to her from three years ago.
"Ma'am, I should have never left her alone! I just can't believe this happened! I…promised her…and now she's dead. Why instructor, why?"
McGeady sadly shook her head, because she knew she couldn't answer the young girl's question.
The governing body that oversees Great Britain's GBS, ruled that Millie Bunce's death was intentional and premeditated. The information gathered by the military and medical personnel was enough to convict Phoebe Kelly and Ellie Baker.
Fortunately, Maya McGeady and Summer El Bridget-Aoi were not required to attend the Summary Appeal Court, because the Judge Advocate was satisfied with the evidence presented.
Due to the ages of the two criminal defendants, a court martial was waived. After being found guilty, the two girls were discharged and sentenced to three years in juvenile detention. It was determined that once the terms of their detention was completed, the two would stand before the High Court Judge for final sentencing as adults.
Millie Bunce's memorial plaque was added to the main building's short list of cadets who didn't survive the eight weeks of basic training. The monument, dedicated to the honor of those fallen recruits, was centered on a four meter square patch of grass and surrounded by freshly planted annuals and other colorful flora.
Summer briefly met Millie's foster parents who had come to the dedication ceremony. The mother had held Summer's hand and thanked her for being Millie's friend. The father on the other hand, was too overcome with grief and anger, and refused to speak with the young girl in any capacity.
Summer felt conflicting emotions after seeing Millie's family. She thought a lot about her own parents, and what they must have felt receiving the news of the incident. She could only imagine what her mother and father were thinking - were they upset, angry or concerned? What did it mean for her future as a Pandora?
Kazuya and Satellizer arrived by private helicopter in the late morning and were escorted into the conference room where Summer and Instructor McGeady were already waiting. Satellizer looked very concerned for her daughter while Summer's father Kazuya, directed his deep disappointment to Maya directly.
The four of them sat at the table for an hour as Maya recounted the events of the evening. Summer was embarrassed that her parents were notified and had traveled the short distance north to hear what happened. Summer remained quiet during the entire debriefing and it wasn't until after the instructor completed her accounts, when she finally spoke.
"I…tried to save her."
Satellizer could feel the anguish in her daughter's voice. "Dearest, according to this report, her injuries were left untreated for an extended period of time. The doctors have technology and use techniques to mend a person's physiology, but only if the professionals can get to the victim in time. It just didn't happen in this case."
Summer remembered her mother's stories of brave Pandora who died on the battlefield because their bodies weren't able to be recovered. "Stifling a sniffle, Summer lowered her head in shame.
Kazuya Aoi went over the details of his daughter's actions with Instructor McGeady. Maya clearly explained that Summer had handled the situation well and that she played a key role in the capture of the assailants.
"Your daughter," She said, "Fought valiantly and defeated both girls single-handedly."
Kazuya never liked violence, but felt honored that his daughter did her best and assisted in the apprehension of those former cadets.
Summer nervously looked over at her father – knowing full well how hard it was to please him, especially when it came to solving problems with fighting. To her surprise, it was quite the relief to discover the smile on his face as he beamed with pride over her actions.
The last weeks leading to graduation remained unchanged. Every recruit awakened at sunrise and used their five minutes for hygiene before lining up for morning rack check inspection. The unsavory meals were still comprised of a protein and calcium shake and the mid morning and afternoon schedules included classroom sessions, strength training drills and martial arts training.
To each of the cadets, this was normal.
However, Summer El Bridget-Aoi was the exception to that ordinary. To keep herself occupied, she participated in extra drills, combat practice, and special weapons training, all in the hopes of compromising her time as much as possible to stay away from her peers and help prepare for her final assessment.
If she wasn't busy with instruction, Summer would spend her time at Millie Bunce's memorial, silently facing the glossy plaque, and finding comfort in the social detachment it offered.