WE'VE GOT 100,000 VIEWS ON GF!
I honestly screeched happily when I saw this!
Chapters will be updated slowly since I've just moved into a new house and there's still a bit more shit – good and bad – that happens from the intruders.
Enjoy!
As Issy loudly cheered with her faction and family for Cody's brave actions, Cody's blush deepened and Issy couldn't keep herself from laughing until her ribs hurt.
After the funeral, Kayden guided back to the infirmary much to Issy's annoyance. She had hoped that Kayden would lose her in the crowds so that she could make her escape back to her apartment. Unfortunately for her, Kayden stuck to her side like glue. When they entered the infirmary, Vex was immediately in front of them and was checking Issy over before demanding she return to the room she had been staying in.
Vex only kept her in there for two more days, mostly because Issy bugged him every chance she got. It was a miracle Vex didn't drug her like he had threatened her he would… Though, by the end of those two days, Issy personally though Vex might have strangled her if she had to stay any longer.
Vex grimaced at her as she walked towards the doors out to the rest of the compound with her torn jacket in hand. Issy grimaced back as she took in his tense posture.
"Harrison wants to see you immediately. I've already sent the message that you're out of the infirmary, so he'll be expecting you soon." Vex says and Issy sighs loudly, closing her eyes in frustration.
She just wanted to get home and relax…
"Yes sir." Issy snaps. She shouldn't be complaining… Issy knew what she signed up for taking on the role of squad captain, especially after transferring to the Front… She blows out a breath, knowing that that was uncalled for. "Look, I'm sorry." Vex's expression of surprise was almost comical. "You've been put through the blender just like the rest of us and somehow you put up with my shit throughout all of this." Her mouth twitches into a small smile. "No idea how you didn't punch me for it."
Vex loosens up and lets out a small chuckle. "One more hour and I would have decked you."
"Ouch." Issy grins. "Gotta go, thanks Vex!"
xXx
As Issy walks towards the Leadership floor, there's a constant loop of Max's voice going through the PA system with the same message every half hour. Issy and the rest of the patients and staff could hear echoes of it all the way from the infirmary from the past two days.
Max allowed the faction to mourn on the day of the funeral. After that, it was back to business and back into the warzone Dauntless was left in, and that was when the message was put on air.
Anyone withholding information about the traitors and the rebellions' movements or any knowledge of their plans before the attack, then you will be held as equally guilty for the deaths of innocents. If you come forward now, the charges will be revoked and punishment depending on involvement discussed with Leadership.
Issy shakes off the tremble in her arms as she listens to Max's firm tone. She still can't believe an attack happened on home territory – so much that the thought of it distracts her from her surroundings and Issy walks straight into someone.
"Watch it there Beta!" Large hands hold her shoulders and help keep Issy from falling over.
Issy steadies her feet and looks up to see Brandon grinning down at her. "Hey!" Issy said in surprise. "Shouldn't you be on the Front?"
Brandon shrugged. "Boss man called me in to go over the next steps of the situation. After that, I'll be heading back to keep things under control." He looked around the hallway before he turned back to Issy. "So where you heading Beta?"
"Leadership." She answers. "Harrison wants to meet with me."
Brandon snickers. "Uh Issy? The lifts are back that way…"
Issy pauses. She takes notice of her surroundings and realises that she is indeed two hallways past the lifts up. "I knew that…"
He laughs and shakes his head. "No matter. Let's take the journey up together." Brandon guides her back down to the lifts.
They chatter easily about any news on the Front and what's happening in the Oblivion. Brandon mentioned about a handful of desk officers Harrison was evaluating to replace him as they walk out onto the Leadership floor. Issy frowns and pulls him to the side.
"What do you mean replace you?"
Brandon sighed. "Technically, my position as commanding officer on the Front is temporary since Harrison's man died on a mission. I still belong in Eric's unit as one of his Commanders, but the longer I'm on the Front, the more I don't want to leave." He and Issy stopped at one of the conference rooms, and Issy guessed that was Brandon's destination. "At the end of the day, it's Harrison's decision to make. It is his department after all." Brandon smiles slightly as he reaches out for the door knob. "Hopefully, I'll see you back on the Front soon. If not, I'll see you around Beta."
"I hope it's the Front." Issy says quietly. "If not, you'll be missed."
"Thanks Beta."
Issy smiles, inclining her head, before walking down the rest of the hallway towards Harrison's office. Kayden was right. There were assistants running back and forth with piles of reports or folders. All of the Leaders' office doors and completely open and sometimes one of them will step out to shout questions or findings to the other Leaders.
She leaned in the doorway of Harrison's office and knocked.
Harrison's head popped up from the fort made of folders. He smiled and gestured for her to enter and take a seat. She sat down in one of the chairs and laid her jacket across her lap. "Ah, Issy. it's good to see you despite the circumstances."
Issy laughed quietly as he moved the piles around the desk so they could see each other. "I'm surprised you have the time for a meeting with me. Surely you have more important things to be doing?"
"Nobody is insignificant." Harrison says brightly. "Now, I wanted to let you know while you've been in the infirmary, your squad has been helping clear the hallways but even though you up and walking around, I want 226 to stay in the compound for a little bit longer. A week at most."
Well…
That's not what Issy was expecting…
At the very least, she was expecting Harrison to ask what the earliest convenience 226 could leave for the Front.
"Can I ask why?" Issy says slowly, her head titled in confusion.
"I'm aware of 187's decision to transfer to the Front. Duncan came to me earlier about the transfer and I've signed it off. Duncan and I made the decision to be immediately transferred onto the missions to help increase our footholds in the Oblivion. In light of this, I think the best decision for squadron 187 is to train under 226.
Issy's mouth opened in surprise. "But – but we've literally only just finished training ourselves… Surely –"
"I know." Harrison nodded, completely calm even as Issy stared at him like his had lost his marbles. "I also know that 226 took to the Front like ducks on water, exceeding expectations of a lot of people. For this week, just get them ready to be thrown straight into the deep end. Be blunt with what they're gonna face. 226 and 187 are already familiar with each other and how the other works. I think it would be ineffective to place them under a different squadron."
While Issy could see Harrison's reasonings, the Leader had just unknowingly thrown 226 into the deep end. Training soldiers for a place on the squad is different than training them to march into the Oblivion… Back when Issy had her own program set up, she was just training them for the patrols – all of which have little to no activity. Now, if 226 doesn't prepare 187 enough, it could cost one of them their lives.
"But –"
"I trust your squadron to train them right. That's all, Issy."
Even as Harrison had dismissed her, Issy stayed sat in front of his desk. She fiddled with the fraying edges of the rip in her jacket. "Are you replacing Brandon?"
Harrison's head snapped up from where he had gone back to scanning reports. "Pardon?"
"There's been some rumours…" Issy worded carefully, not wanting to throw Brandon in the shit. "That Brandon's going to be replaced by officers that have no experience in the field."
Harrison sighed and leaned back into his chair. "You know, you're the fifth soldier from the Front asking me not to replace him."
"That's because Brandon is respected since he's been out into the field, gone out into the Oblivion on missions and seen the shit we squaddies have to deal with. Yeah, I get that Brandon is technically stepping in and a part of Eric's squadron, but missions are a part of Eric's squadron too."
"Did Eric –"
Issy's lips curl into a small snarl. "Eric didn't ask me to do anything. I'm here because Brandon's damn good at his job. He keeps us focused while keeping our spirits up with well-placed humour. No one's gonna respect some newbie leaving the desk for the first time."
Harrison hold his hand up and Issy stops speaking. "The decision stands with myself and Eric. Thank you for your opinion on Brandon's position. That will be all." His words leave no room for argument and Issy stands up, gripping her jacket in her hands.
"Thank you for meeting with me." She says quietly before leaving Harrisons office without a backwards glance.
xXx
Issy sends the news of the squad's new task for the next week into their group chat before also sending an email to Duncan, captain of 187, regarding the plan for the next week. Today would be for planning a very rushed timetable for the next week.
Her phone, cracked and freshly charged, quickly blew up with messages from her squaddies. Disbelief, shock and confusion fills the group chat at Harrison's orders, but they took it better regarding the fact that they were all friends with 187 after Amity – apart from Lani of course.
Red and BD quickly threw a plan together with ideas from the rest of the squad as Issy strode through the Pit. She climbed the stairs and walked into Christina's workshop to find the woman in question staring wide-eyed at Tris.
Christina sees Issy standing at the door and waves her in. "Hey Issy! Heard you just got out of the infirmary, how are you?"
Issy grins and rolls her now healed shoulder. "I'm good. Shoulder still twinges if I move it suddenly, but it's getting there." Issy places her jacket on the work table between them. "I was wondering if you'd be able to fix this up?"
Christina picks up the jacket and holds the rip to the overhead lights. "Gunshot wound?"
"Called it."
"That'll be no problem. I can get it done for you in an hour."
Issy grins brightly and nods her head. "That's great, thanks!" Issy turns slightly to see Tris frowning down at the counter. "You okay there Tris?"
Tris exhales a long sigh and shrugs. "Been a long few days I guess."
"That's a mood." Issy agrees with a nod but Christina mumbles something under her breath as she starts to work on Issy's jacket and Tris shoots her a hard look, one that plainly reads shut up. Issy looks between them cautiously. If Issy had caught them in the midst of an argument, she'd like to leave without being dragged into it.
Before Issy can say anything else, Tris speaks up. "Four turned down Leadership."
"What?" Issy gasped quietly. An opening in Leadership had just opened up since Kim's betrayal to the Faction and she was aware that Max was looking to fill the gap in the chainmail. "He turned – was it because he'd have to work with Eric?"
Tris shrugs again. "I don't know. He didn't even tell me that he'd been offered the promotion. I found out through Zeke – by accident – and even then Four won't give his reasoning up, other than apparently he's not the right man for the job."
"Damn." Issy whispers. While Issy enjoys annoying Four immensely, she does respect him. He's shown Leadership qualities through the job of taking control of the control room. According to Josh, the control room was a mess with no real order to it before Four took up the role of Team Leader. Maybe he didn't want to leave his current position… "Maybe it was just too much after everything that's happened?"
"That's what I said!" Christina says. "After all, the systems went down causing the control room to go blind, you were nearly taken from Dauntless if Zeke hadn't seen the commotion on the cameras. Ed and Lyra died – two people that helped Four deal with Amar's death. There's probably a lot going on in his head."
"But he won't share it with me. We're meant to be partners and he's just bottling it all up."
Christina raises an eyebrow. "Have you asked?"
"Yes!" Tris yells and threads her fingers through her hair.
Issy's head switches between Christina and Tris, realising that this could quickly turn into an argument. "Hey, hey!" She raises her hands up and steps between them. "Whatever Four's reasonings, maybe he's just trying to sort through it before he says anything, yeah?"
Tris backs up a step. "Yeah, maybe."
Christina frowns but thankfully keeps her mouth shut and carries on working on Issy's jacket.