X5-878 shivered against the frozen air and pulled his knees closer to his chin. Only hours ago he had been ready to conquer the world. Zack had well prepared them emotionally for the escape and all of them had been completely sure of their success. And it had been a success, Cole thought bitterly. A complete success if you didn't count Jace and him.
Cole had seen the guards closing in on two of the younger girls of their unit, Lu and Tinga, and had purposely drawn attention to himself in order to give them a chance to get over the fence. What he hadn't done on purpose was have five instead of two guards turn in his direction and all fire their tasers instantaneously. Cole had collapsed to the ground in a fit of seizures. The last thing he could remember before losing consciousness completely was seeing the only family he had ever known disappearing into the thick woods. Away from the rules, away from the tests, away from the pain...
And here he was. Sitting pathetically huddled up like a scared a little boy, praying to Ben's Blue Lady to take him away too. Cole had woken up here, wherever here was, and hadn't seen a living sole for nearly four hours. He supposed he should be glad though. For X5-878 wasn't stupid. He knew exactly what was in store him once Lydecker decided it was his turn.
As much as he hated it, Cole could feel a tear sliding slowly down his cold cheek as he thought of what his brothers and sisters were doing at that moment. Tinga, Jondy, Zack, Krit, Syl, Max, Zane, Ben, Seth, Rox, Kira, and Lu. Were they out at this very moment enjoying the new splendors of the world or were they simply marveling at the sense of freedom that Cole had been so sure he'd feel by this time tonight? Would they stay together or would they separate like him and Zack had told them? Would he ever see any of them again?
Would they even know he hadn't made it?
Cole was shaken rudely out of his reverie by a harsh light that suddenly entered the room as the door swung open. He jumped to his feet as Lydecker came into view. Even though X5-878's head screamed at him to stand at attention and salute, Cole refused to betray the others. He looked defiantly into his most hated enemy's eyes and waited.
Lydecker frowned at his soldier's lack of respect but didn't immediately call in the guards. Cole would have to go through intensive re-indoctrination most definitely but Lydecker wasn't going to decide just how intensive until he gave him a chance to defend himself.
"Explain your actions tonight, soldier!" Lydecker barked. He received no reply.
"Do you realize what you've done, X5-878? You've assisted in allowing your unit to expose themselves to a world that will never accept them. They'll never last! In all likelihood they're on their way to their demise as I speak. Do you understand, 878? Answer me!"
"No."
"What?!"
"I said no," Cole retorted quietly, "The only thing I've assisted in is allowing my unit a chance to expose themselves to freedom. And in all due respect, you've concentrated the majority of our training thus far on espionage and survival skills. I believe they will do fine."
Lydecker, who had turned a dark shade of red, shouted as he turned around, "Guards, take X5-878 to the re-indoctrination wing. Inform the doctors that he and any others that were aware of the escape beforehand should receive the highest level."
As Cole was dragged roughly from the cold, stone room and down the hallway, he could almost hear Zack's last words to them before they'd broken for the fence.
Remember, concentrate on yourself and your partner. And don't look back under any circumstances! Once you're over the fence scatter and run. Remember, soldiers, this is escape and evade operation. Do not try to be the hero! That'll get you nowhere but back where you started. Wait for my signal...
Cole had seen the guards closing in on two of the younger girls of their unit, Lu and Tinga, and had purposely drawn attention to himself in order to give them a chance to get over the fence. What he hadn't done on purpose was have five instead of two guards turn in his direction and all fire their tasers instantaneously. Cole had collapsed to the ground in a fit of seizures. The last thing he could remember before losing consciousness completely was seeing the only family he had ever known disappearing into the thick woods. Away from the rules, away from the tests, away from the pain...
And here he was. Sitting pathetically huddled up like a scared a little boy, praying to Ben's Blue Lady to take him away too. Cole had woken up here, wherever here was, and hadn't seen a living sole for nearly four hours. He supposed he should be glad though. For X5-878 wasn't stupid. He knew exactly what was in store him once Lydecker decided it was his turn.
As much as he hated it, Cole could feel a tear sliding slowly down his cold cheek as he thought of what his brothers and sisters were doing at that moment. Tinga, Jondy, Zack, Krit, Syl, Max, Zane, Ben, Seth, Rox, Kira, and Lu. Were they out at this very moment enjoying the new splendors of the world or were they simply marveling at the sense of freedom that Cole had been so sure he'd feel by this time tonight? Would they stay together or would they separate like him and Zack had told them? Would he ever see any of them again?
Would they even know he hadn't made it?
Cole was shaken rudely out of his reverie by a harsh light that suddenly entered the room as the door swung open. He jumped to his feet as Lydecker came into view. Even though X5-878's head screamed at him to stand at attention and salute, Cole refused to betray the others. He looked defiantly into his most hated enemy's eyes and waited.
Lydecker frowned at his soldier's lack of respect but didn't immediately call in the guards. Cole would have to go through intensive re-indoctrination most definitely but Lydecker wasn't going to decide just how intensive until he gave him a chance to defend himself.
"Explain your actions tonight, soldier!" Lydecker barked. He received no reply.
"Do you realize what you've done, X5-878? You've assisted in allowing your unit to expose themselves to a world that will never accept them. They'll never last! In all likelihood they're on their way to their demise as I speak. Do you understand, 878? Answer me!"
"No."
"What?!"
"I said no," Cole retorted quietly, "The only thing I've assisted in is allowing my unit a chance to expose themselves to freedom. And in all due respect, you've concentrated the majority of our training thus far on espionage and survival skills. I believe they will do fine."
Lydecker, who had turned a dark shade of red, shouted as he turned around, "Guards, take X5-878 to the re-indoctrination wing. Inform the doctors that he and any others that were aware of the escape beforehand should receive the highest level."
As Cole was dragged roughly from the cold, stone room and down the hallway, he could almost hear Zack's last words to them before they'd broken for the fence.
Remember, concentrate on yourself and your partner. And don't look back under any circumstances! Once you're over the fence scatter and run. Remember, soldiers, this is escape and evade operation. Do not try to be the hero! That'll get you nowhere but back where you started. Wait for my signal...