Hi everyone! Sorry for the long absence, but I´m back. Thanks to all the readers who are engaging with the story. A big bear hug to you all! All reviews and comments are welcome. It would brighten my day to know what you fellows think of the story so far. I´m aware that the OCs are taking more screen time than I have planned, but bear with me; I promise we are going somewhere.

Disclaimer: There´re mentions of blood and swearing.

Chapter 6: Survivor

…

The road was quiet, no one follow us; it gave me time to think about what had happened. It all seems surreal and given the circumstances it was a lot.

At that moment it clicked to me, how was I supposed to explain all without not trusting anyone? And how was I supposed to infiltrate Tam without anyone noticing? Just thinking about the guards and the security system made me nauseous. I needed to think quickly, but time wasn't working in my favor. And in the worst-case scenario, maybe the bunker was already taken.

I looked at Tam, just to check on her. She was picking on her fingers, as a nervous person would. The brave woman that stood eye to eye with Van der ven was gone as if it was someone else.

"So, your name is Tam, shorter for Tamara?" I inquired.

"…no"

"So, it´s just Tam, or is it short for something else?" I know this sounded stupid at the moment, but I needed to form some kind of bond with her to trust me.

She bitted her lip "I´m… not… sure…"

"What do you mean?" You don't know your name?"

"...I don´t have one" she paused for a moment and let a small sigh escape while biting her bottom lip "She… gave me one" a small tear rolled down her cheek. I frowned. Amelia would be doing a better job than me.

I turned my attention to the road; We were almost at the bunker; I gulped and took a deep breath. This is it.

From outside all you could see was a big metal door immersed in a mountain, normally those doors were closed and could only be activated with a bottom in the vehicles, or with a special sensor that was given only to some Generals, but today they were wide open, and a lot of soldiers were out, all I could see was the movement of the lanterns. I approached the entrance and lit up the interior lights of the Humvee putting my hands on the steering wheel, right where they could see them. I didn't want another shooting.

As I got near the door, I notice that no one seem to care about the Humvee approaching, rather than that they were hurrying me inside, and I didn't hesitate on doing it. I parked near one of the platforms.

"Tam why don't you wait for me until I know it´s safe for you to come down" she gave me a faint nod.

Aside from the lanterns and some blinking emergency lights, everything was pitch dark. I got out of the Humvee and made my way to one soldier.

"Do you know what´s going on?" he looked confused at me as if I was out of my mind.

"Didn't you hear the explosion?!" he paused for a moment and shook his head "Nothing is working, the doors, the security, the radios, not a single thing. It´s as if something has messed up with any form of communication" he then hurried to some other officials. From far I could distinguish General Odie, running from computer to computer trying to identify what was going on.

Maybe this was not good for the resistance, but it was for me. If nothing was working and there was no power, this meant that neither the hand scanners nor the cameras were recording a single thing. This was my chance on infiltrating Tam. It was now or never. I return to the Humvee and open the back doors. Tam was all curled down on the floor, I touched her hand and made a gesture to be quiet.

"I need you to trust me on this and do as I say" I whispered and didn't wait for an answer. "I promised all will be okay" I then carried her in my arms, covering her face with a cap on one of the seats. Took a deep breath and hurry me to pass as fast as I could. The corridors were full of people running both ways, some of them were carrying promethium lights, but the only guide that I had were some exit lights. The absence of energy made the bunker feel like a freezer, and the concrete walls and the fact that all day was raining didn't help much.

I run through at least twenty or something doors until I saw the plastic curtain. The arena. The almost brand new addition to the bunker. It was still a work in progress and to my fortune the best place to hide Tam. A few months back, Onora told us about the plans for this area. A more proper battlefield to train, with more toys to try out, new dormitories, and a new security system that General Odie was working on. But given the recent circumstances, I highly doubt someone would pay attention to this place.

It was darker than the rest of the bunker, but for some strange reason, it felt warmer. We made our way directly to what it seems to be one of the dormitories, or at least the only one that was finished. The room was empty just with another door leading to a bathroom. I placed Tam on the ground. I couldn't see her, only heard the faint sound of her breathing and the small shivers. As soon as I let go of her, a sudden pain ran through my body, I sighed my arm. With all the commotion I´d forgotten about my wound. I felt Tams's hands trying to reach me, her gentle hand pressing through my face, they felt unusually warmer. She must have a fever. And how could she not, she only had that hospital gown, and the weather hasn't been the best to roam around just in that.

"Tam, I know this isn't the best place, but I promise I will be back, with warm clothes, food, and medicine" I took a deep breath. "You just have to stay here, no one will bother you, I can assure you that"

"don't…" her hands were trembling "leave…"

"I need to, or else…" I sighed while taking off my jacket and putting it above her legs. "I´ll be right back"

I stood up and made my way to the corridor. Grasping to the walls with the worst dizziness I´ve experienced in years. I needed to reach the infirmary before I´ll pass out.

My mind was going wild with everything at the moment, this morning felt so distant. Like if I had experienced a jump in time. Nothing made sense. I was risking my life for a girl that I barely knew. Bringing someone to the Resistance without the approval of the council was asking for a death wish. Adding to the fact that I´m doing it while we´re under attack, was a whole other level. And to top it all, I was probably the only one that knew Dr. Brielka Reznikov sacrificed herself for said girl. Not forgetting to mention that Van Der Ven is certainly dead thanks to the same girl. Who the heck is she?!

The train of thought suddenly stopped when I ran into the infirmary. I slide the door and make my way trying to focus my sight on the faint lights. Think Milo where do they put the medical kits? Olivia always brags about suggesting the best idea to place them. But what was the phrase she kept saying? Think Milo, think. The waves of pain coming from my right arm were getting worse with each minute that passed. That´s it! Always look to your right in case of emergency. And they then were, at the bottom of the table to my right. I´ll make a mental note to thank Olivia later for this, well… If I get to see her again. I shocked my head; this wasn't the moment to dilute those thoughts. I grabbed the kit and was making my way to the door when suddenly it opened and the lights came back. Damn it!

"Carter?!" Onora asked. I could see she was out of words, but her big brown eyes were rather full of them.

I had a mix of emotions; I was relieved for seeing her, but this only made everything worse, and she was not alone. Right behind her was General Atlanta, holding her arm trying to cover a fine thread of blood.

"Carter!" she hurried and fold me into an embrace "My boy, thanks to the Fates you´re alive" I hugged her back. "Look at you, you´re covered in blood, what happened?" Onora gave me a damp cloth. I turned to see my reflection on one of the glass doors. Blood was all over my face, probably the remains of the patting Tam did.

"It´s good to know you are alright soldier, your whole crew was worried about you," General Atlanta said while making her way to one of the stretchers, she gave me a faint smile. I could see she was tired and also wounded. I nodded, "Thank you, General Black".

"Drop the formalities, I´ve never liked the title". She waved her hand "you can just call me Atlanta". From the 'all mighty seven' she´s been always the one with whom I empathized the most. The more approachable one.

"You know that if they hear you-" Onora was staring but Atlanta interrupted her midway.

"Last time I checked it was only the three of us Onora," she said while pretending to move her head to look for something in the room. "If you do not tell, I promise to not tell either" she winked at us.

Onora was already going to protest when I asked. "Wait, you mention my crew" I paused "does that mean, everyone turned back safely?"

"We still waiting for signs of Thurman and the rest of the A7S5" Onora took a deep breath. "Aside from that you and Felix were the other ones missing, but I´m relief that you both-"

Shit

"Felix was with them" I stated. I felt a frightening chill running through my body.

"But you were both together, I send you…"

"We bump into them after we enter the building, Thurman suggested one of us should search with them. That was the last time I saw Felix". The images of the building crumbling down flooded my mind.

"So where were you?" Atlanta asked. "And why are you covered in blood" her whole posture changed. She was defiant. I couldn't blame her; my reaction would be the same if I was in her position.

At this moment I only had two choices. Either tell the truth line by line, trusting them and probably condemning Tam and myself, or giving bits and pieces until I figured out what was going on. In other words, lying. I could feel both piercing stares. Damn it! I´m screwed. I took a deep breath and clear my throat.

"To be honest I´m not 100% sure" lies, I was taking the road of lies. "About the first part, of course." I could sense them watching me with incredulity; Onora raised an eyebrow. I moved my arm to clean myself but immediately flinched from the pain, covering my wound. "The blood is mine".

Onora approached to examine the wound I had. "So, I wasn't the only one who peeked too close to a window," Atlanta said. "I don't think this is the work of broken glass" Onora rested her hand on my shoulder and looked directly into my eyes.

"Who shoot you?"

I gulped. "He was full in military gear, way taller than me, and with a mad look on his face". That wasn't technically a lie, but neither was the whole truth.

Onora gave me a disapproving look. "That narrows it to nothing Milo" she sighed "The person you´re describing could be anyone, you have to be more precise on details" her tone was serious. I could only hope it was because she was focusing on looking for a needle she was planning to stitch me with, and not because she will lecture me.

I took another deep breath. I was already doomed, might as well end with this sooner.

"That´s the reason I said I wasn't sure" I exhaled "Everything happen so suddenly, I´m still trying to process the situation" lies again. "A dimmer blue light appeared on the wall, and I was in some other place, like a different part of the building."

The last sentence I said seemed to trigger something in Atlanta. She stood up at the moment and in a split of a second was in front of me.

"That dimmer blue light you´re talking about was it like-" she paused. Her gaze was lost as if she was looking for the right words to say. "- like a swirling circle on the wall?"

"Again" I exhaled "I´m not sure, I wasn't able to see, but I pass through a concrete wall thanks to it". And those last words were the ones she was expecting to hear. A huge grin appeared on her face.

"You just gained yourself a golden ticket to THE Headquarters, Milo" she then turned to Onora.

"Prepared everything, he is speaking with Jay"