Happy New Years! Hope you like the chapter. Had to drop something for the break! :)
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1600 hours, June 2545
Lee Riu walked next to Jake and the other leaders ahead of the group at the ready. In his hands was an assault rifle perfect for close quarters. In the weapons, to all the kids surprise, were real bullets. A realization hit all of them as soon as they saw that. Real danger. And because of this Lee was even more anxious, though he didn't let it show like some other leaders.
Lee scanned the forest in their immediate area and saw no danger. They were in the midst of a group of birch trees tangled together. The white bark with black tinges stood out from the green background of the overgrown forest. The trainees were attempting to steer clear of the overgrown bushes. They would have to go through this one. Lee could also hear the twittering of birds in the distance, a sound rarely heard at the Camp. Lee sneezed as he took a deeper breath, the forest not helping his sinuses much.
"Bless you commander," Khan said in a mock tone of seriousness.
Lee just wiped his nose as he ignored his immature brother's jokes. The kid would not be quiet for longer than ten minutes as usual. Rebecca laughed at the two as Jake led the way through the bushes taking point.
Lee looked back and saw the other trainees were getting tired. The mixed colors were an eye sore in the jungle regardless of the Camp staff's attempt at trying to fade out there fatigues. We'll get a break after this forest brush, he thought.
As Lee stepped through the opening the other leaders left behind them. They heard an unnatural roar echo in the valley. Seconds later shots were fired, a lot of them. It was to the upper right of them. Lee quickly sprinted not waiting for anyone. There he saw the scouting party with Ian in it.
Ricky was standing over a huge reptilian like creature that the kids all had nightmares about. Something they knew well yet didn't know at all.
"An Elite," Was all Lee could say. Ricky nodded and the others that were a part of the scouting party all had wide eyes.
"Is everyone okay?" Mary asked as she came up behind Lee and stopped dead in her tracks. The Elite was lying on the ground weaponless and with thin armor. There were multiple gun wounds in its chest and head, purple blood all over the forest floor. The other leaders and kids came by and all were shocked.
"They haven't found our planet right unless I was mistaken in class," Kingston asked.
"No they haven't but then what is this?" Jake said truly puzzled.
"I have no idea." Lee replied although a small thought entered his mind but he refused to follow it until he could think out the situation.
"Well we have to keep moving and be more cautious. Scouting parties will stay closer to us as they lead the way," Alexia said snapping everybody back to reality. This will shake a lot of kids, Lee thought as he saw a few of them with wide eyes still.
"Alright back into formation people we got to get to that river before nightfall." Lee said getting everyone on the move.
After a while of walking Lee allowed himself back to his thoughts. Is it possible that they were placed here on purpose? If they were really invading everyone on Earth would be aware. But there's no way our trainers would put us in this much harm. Lee did not like this situation at all. Can't wait to get out of this hellhole.
Leven Rodriguez wished he was back in the garage at Camp. Its way simpler than making a mad dash across a lonely forest fighting freaking monsters! Lost in his thoughts. He had no idea why an Elite was here and he really didn't want to find out.
He walked with Sara Lowenstein a girl he talked to sometimes that was also in the Fighters Cabin. They were having a great conversation about cars- her dad was a grease monkey- before the Elite was killed by the scouts. Now they walked in silence tense and ready for anything. He had an M7 SMG, a gun he loved for its lightweight design but still had the power to whip the biggest monsters. As he held the weapon it shook slightly. He lowered it quickly. She was one of the few people that actually talked to him and he did not want to ruin that by being a baby.
He looked around to see the sun was slowly going down and he couldn't hear or smell a river anywhere. He just saw the same green forest with the same trees. Leven needed some answers. He went up to Rebecca who was with the leadership team and pulled her aside.
When they were a few meters from the leadership they began talking. "So where did that Elite come from?" Leven asked.
"We don't know," Rebecca replied she looked exhausted. Leven looked around to see everyone was. The trip was taking its toll already.
"Well you guys gotta have some idea!"
"We don't know okay I've been thinking out every single possibility but I got nothing!" She raised her voice, the stress was getting to her.
"Okay okay sorry for pushing you. We've all had a tough time. We've been walking all day. I don't think making it to the river is more important than our sanity." Leven said for once being serious.
Rebecca nodded and caught up to the leadership. They all talked a bit and she came back. "We'll stop here for today." She seemed instantly livelier. She went and told the other kids and they all brightened up.
Soon the trainees were able to make rudimentary shelters for groups of five to sleep in. Those survival classes really helped! Leven thought.
Leven woke up the next day refreshed but very hungry. He ate a little of the rations they were each given, for once not being greedy with food. He looked around and saw everyone else was waking up. The leaders were already up and talking. Leven sat down nearby where he didn't interfere but could still hear.
"So what's our next move?" Kingston asked.
"Keep moving to the river." Lee answered. He looked a mess to Leven, probably didn't sleep much.
"No I meant after that." He replied. They were all silent as they looked at their maps.
"Well I see there is a rocky outcrop that seems like a good checkpoint." Mary said.
"That seems pretty good but we also need more ammo." Damien said. Leven was puzzled the Ricky kid didn't even use a full clip on the alien. He continued to listen.
"Why is that?" Alexia asked breaking her observant silence.
"Well if there was one Elite there has to be more they wouldn't let one of their men out alone. Don't you guys remember in class they praise honor as much as they do their god? If there is more than one they'll be coming for us also and they'll be coming for blood."
And with that Damien paused for what felt like a year. If what he said was true then we're in real danger. We could die.
As Leven thought this he went back to his lean-to where Sara was and he sat next to her, trying to forget what he heard.
Connor Parker's mind raced with thoughts at hearing what Damien said. But why are they here? How did they get here? Why us? His mind was reeling.
"Okay I agree with Damien the scout parties need to stay ahead of us regardless of the dangers. We gotta find more depots." Lee said.
Connor looked at Kingston to see what his opinion was. Kingston's baggy eyes nodded, agreeing with the idea.
Before the group went to sleep last night, Kingston called Connor away from the group. He looked as if he wanted to tell him something that laid heavy on his mind.
"I can't do this," was all Kingston could say. Connor couldn't compute what Kingston just said.
"I can't stop thinking about if those freakin monsters get us, if I'm leading you guys the right way, if I'm even worthy of leading the Cabin when I react to situations this way. I can't do it." Kingston was so distressed he looked as if he was about to cry.
"Well I know what you mean. I think the same but, you have to ignore that feeling, push it deep inside of you and use it as motivation. The others cannot see that their leaders are worried, it only causes death." Connor replied truly worried about his leader. During their stay at Camp, Kingston and Connor had become the best of friends. They had each other's back no matter what. Some would even say those two together were the best pairing in the camp. For Connor to see his friend this way almost broke him.
Connor could clearly remembered a time when his father on the Reserve found Connor in the corner of their house. Connor was crying because a few kids bullied him about his mother being white.
"You cannot show that you are weak Connor. It only provokes them if they see this. If you do not show emotion…"
Connor did not want to think of what his father said next in his memory, emotions about to boil over. He focused back on Kingston.
"Can you lead for me? I just can't do it man." Kingston replied. Connor could see deep in his eyes and tell Kingston was really worried. Without a doubt Connor would do it for him.
"I'll do it but the others can't know about it. Not now. It'll kill them. You have to stay with leadership and I'll cover you. Don't worry about it." Connor would not let down Kingston.
"Thank you, thank you," was all Kingston could say.
Connor couldn't help but think about the reasoning behind this challenge the marines gave them. Why do they want to put us through so much? What did we do to deserve this? Connor thought this as he looked up to the stars holding a necklace he always kept with him.
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