Author's Note

I'm going to be taking a break from this story, as I've been working on it for over 2 months. I have a sword art online fanfiction in the works and need to re-plan this story as I accidently deleted the 500 word plan. Anyway, enjoy!

Chapter 3

Alice

I woke up, suddenly, as the entire craft shook violently. "Don't panic" I heard the intercom crackle "It's just turbulence."

Looking around, I noticed, through the dishevelled faces and messed-up hair of my new friends, that we had all been woken up from sleep. Hannah got up from my lap and yawned, still half-asleep. She looked around slowly, seemingly a bit confused at where she was.

When she saw me and realised that she had had her head on my lap, she reddened, smiling sheepishly, and I smiled reassuringly. Her face brightened considerably and she hummed a fun melody as she busied herself with something in her bag.

It was because of this that I remembered about my bag, still across my shoulder, resting on the empty seat next to me. It's worn, leather exterior covered in scratches that contrast against the black of the bag, each scratch bringing a warm rush of nostalgia as good memories flood my mind.

Hannah's bag, on the other hand, was a winter white backpack, covered in colourful badges, seeming to denote various franchises. I recognised the names of several animes and noted that Hannah, along with me and Charlotte, also liked Owl City.

I was glad that we were going to go to the dorm after meeting because it meant we all had some of our bags with us. However, I had left most of my bags in a storage unit, so I only had a spare change of clothes, some stationary, my sketchbook, a drink and some snacks. My shoulder bag was bulging with the amount is was carrying and I silently hoped that I hadn't broken it, realising that this was all that remained of my possessions.

Soon, Blue Sky announced that we were going to land and pick up the others. After hearing this, we all strapped back into the seats and waited.

After going down, which is the same sickening experience as going up, the ramp descended and let us see the true extent of the destruction. The entire city seemed to be covered in flame; the smoke was so dense that, although it could only be midday, it blocked out the sun, leaving the city coated in a dancing, amber light from the fires. All you could hear was terrified screams and gunshots, alien and human alike.

"How are we meant to find them in all of this?" asked Charlotte, hanging her head. Hannah was frantically searching for them, obviously distressed at the thought of losing them too. I heard a faint shout and immediately perked up. Kat also seemed to hear it and seemed to zero in on the direction. I followed her gaze and saw some foggy silhouettes which I couldn't quite make out. However, Kat seemed to have much better vision than me and immediately stated "It's them! But they seem to have an extra person. Sky, do you see them?"

"Yes, I do! Hold on, I'm going to land for them!" Blue Sky replied, in his archetypical Australian accent.

I barely kept myself from falling out of the 'Skyranger' as we hurtled towards the ground and landed just ahead of the soldiers. As they clambered aboard, we inspected the fifth member of the group, who seemed to be another civilian. He looked shaken, like how I imagine we looked boarding and his long dark brown hair was covered in sweat and his chocolaty brown eyes were filled with fear. He sat down next to where I been sitting and strapped himself in. That reminded me to do that as well and I sat down again, just before we rapidly ascended and the ramp closed.

As they settled in, the soldiers talking amongst themselves putting as much space between us and then so we couldn't hear them. The boy, on the other hand, was forced closer to us due to the soldiers' desire for privacy. After a while, he seemed to calm down and looked increasingly uncomfortable. I, being next to him, asked "Claustrophobic?" He nodded. "Me and my sister are too. But, for me, I mainly get claustrophobic in crowds."

"Is she your sister?" He said quietly, pointing to Hannah, who was laughing with Charlotte and Kat.

"No, my sister is in America. She moved away a while ago. Why did you think she was my sister?" I responded, curious.

"The way you look at each other makes it seem like you are. You seem to be very close" He replied, as if it where obvious.

"I only met her today, about an hour before the attack." I informed him and then recounted the day. He was a good listener and didn't interrupt.

After I finished, he said "You're lucky." His face darkened as he said this and I immediately felt sorry for bringing the attack up.

"You don't have to tell me what happened if you aren't ready." I said, after a small silence.

He looked very grateful and replied "Thank you for understanding."

I was then tapped on the shoulder by Charlotte and I turned around to see the soldiers had turned back towards us, Hannah and Kat staring at them, their eyes filled with anticipation. "We will be arriving at the base soon. Please, stay close. We will be taking you through the complex to the commander's office to let him decide what to do with you."

All of a sudden, the whole craft lurched down as we descended. And, I heard the sound of the engines powering down as we landed.

The ramp opened and revealed a giant underground room, filled with people in uniforms running around, more crafts like the Skyranger on the many landing pads that littered the cavern and machines so high-tech that even I, someone who kept up to date with the newest technologies, only knew a few.

Overwhelmed by the shear enormity of the cavern, all five of us fell behind and ran to catch up with the soldiers who, under their professional demeanour, looked relieved to be here, as if they were returning home.

We passed through a set of smooth metal doors and continues to walk through a labyrinth of endless, metallic walls, occasionally passing labs, workshops and rooms I could only guess the function.

We eventually reached what looked like a lift. It was quite spacious but, having to accommodate all ten of us, we all had to squash together. There was an uncomfortable silence as the doors closed and the calming elevator music started to play. When we reached the top, we all but burst out of the lift, desperate to escape the cramped space. I looked over at the boy and felt sorry for him, remembering his claustrophobia, along with being squashed against nine complete strangers, and then I realised that I had never asked his name and never given him mine, I decided to ask after the meeting with the commander.

I looked around the room and noticed it was completely different to the rest of the base. It's walls looked like wood, though I guessed there was metal behind it. The furniture looked like it belonged in a rich man's study with giant leather armchairs and towering bookshelves filled with books. It was then that I noticed the commander, feet on the desk, smiling cheerfully at us. "I hope you don't mind the furniture. I didn't decorate it, my father did. But, anyway, take a seat and we you can explain what happened." Everyone looked surprised, most of all the soldiers and took a seat in the many armchairs in the room.

After an hour, we had finally finished recounting what had happened during the attack, first the soldiers then me with the others chiming in when appropriate. The commander turned to the boy, who looked very worried, and said "Don't worry, I understand." and turned back to address us. "From the captain's account, you four did well making a stand, something, truthfully, that I could us here. So, I would like to invite you to train to be the newest squad here. The training is tough but will train you to work together to fight the alien threat and help protect earth as it's first and last line of defence. You are free to join them, he said turning to the boy. What do you say?"

I turned to everyone else, who looked captivated by the commander's words and I knew what our answer was. "We'll do it!" I said, excited at this new opportunity.

"I will to!" said the boy and the commander looked satisfied.

"Then, captain, take them to their new living quarters and start their training tomorrow, you are in charge of them." The captain nodded and got up, along with the other soldiers.

We also got up and, as we walked away, I turned around and asked "Sir, what should we call you?"

He simply replied "the Commander... with a capital C. I'm sorry but I can't tell you my real name, comes with the job."

I walked into the lift with everyone else and, as the doors closed, I heard the Commander say "Welcome to XCOM!"