Chapter 4

Unexpected Surprises

Rojas walked into the little room. "It's good to see you Daze. How you been?" His long black hair was pulled up in two long braids that hung down over his shoulders.

"Not good," Daze replied, "the orphanage got hit today. Everyone's dead that we know of."

"I'm very sorry to hear that."

Rojas's ancestors had been the Old people. The ones who had lived for hundreds, if not thousands, of years before modern civilization had come to this particular part of Sera. He took great pride in his history.

He looked around the room. "Who are these guys?" He asked, pointing to Holly and the twins.

"We met them today on the way to the fortress." Daze added. "We were going to bring them back to the house when it was attacked."

"What are you going to do now?" Rojas asked.

"We came here to get some ammo incase we were attacked again." Daze answered cautiously.

"We were just getting ready to leave when one of us saw you coming down the road."

"Are you ready to go?"

Daze looked around. Everyone had been standing still until Clara grabbed a couple more clips and a silencer for her Reaper Type-9 LMP(Light Machine Pistol). Jordan tightened the straps on his armor. Susan racked the slide of her pistol. Everyone else nodded.

"We're ready." Daze gave the thumbs up.

"Then you'd better let my men in so they can reload."

"No problem." Daze led the others out the door.

They waited in the outside room as the men loaded up. They could hear an angry voice arguing with Rojas.

"They're stranded," the voice nearly shouted, "one quick burst and we'll be done with em."

"That would bring every locust within earshot right here," Rojas answered coolly, "besides, his father was a close friend of mine until he died."

"Well their stranded now so who gives a S," the voice said a little quieter this time, "why on Fing earth are we going to let some mongrel kids take our ammo."

"There's enough here." came a deep voice from in the room.

"Well la dee Fing da!" his voice rose. "When I want an opinion I'll ask."

"Careful Damon," the other one said again, "I reckon I don't like you very much on a good day."

"Am I supposed to give a d?" Baird asked, "I say we shoot em."

There was a small scuffle and then a dull slam as something hit the wall so hard dust fell from the ceiling. Daze saw Clara smile.

"You say one more thing before we get outside, Baird," came the deep voice again, "and I'll throw you through this wall."

"Enough." Rojas ordered sternly.

They talked in lower tones while they finished up.

After a little while they all filed out. First came Rojas.

"Sorry about that." Rojas apologized.

Next came a blond haired man rubbing his neck. He looked at the ground as he walked to one side of the room. And after him came the biggest man Daze had ever seen. The man stood at least a head higher than any of the others and had to turn sideways just to fit through the door.. Daze wondered if he could rip a locust in half with his bare hands, hll, his arms were bigger than Daze's waist. The mans armor was almost the same as the others except that it was red instead of blue. Daze wondered if it was blood. As he came through the door the big man tipped an imaginary hat as he made a slight bow to Clara, who hadn't been able to stop staring at him since he entered the room.

"Little lady." he said in the same deep voice they had heard from the room.

"Hello." she said shyly.

They were all out now. Besides the ones Daze had noticed, there was a big black man and four cogs in standard issue armor and helmet.

"I'd like you to meet Alpha squad. This is Damon Baird," Rojas pointed to the blond man who just grunted, "and next to him is Augustus Cole.

"Sup baby!"

"That's my second in command, Cather." he pointed to the big man.

"How do you do." It was more of a statement than a question.

"To the left are Carlos Verdas, Greg Lantle, and Eric Lewis of Victor squad. Over to the right is Capt Nick Hastings."

Rojas explained that there was a plan to end the war with the locust, and that Victor squad had been temporarily merged with Alpha squad for extra support.

"What are you planning to do?" Rojas asked Daze.

"I'm not sure," Daze looked at the others, "I think we'll try to make it to the fortress."

"Might as well go F yourselves." Baird said sullenly from the corner.

"Enough!" Rojas shot him a hard look. "He's got a point though. Even if you do make it, there's little chance of welcome."

"If that happens than we'll head for a stranded camp or make our own."

"Hmm..." Rojas paced the room, "You can follow us for a while, be our scout group. Your gonna be going the same way as us so we might as well stick together while we can."

"It's a plan," Daze looked around, "Jack, Holly and Jet with me. We got front."

"If we run into anything I want Clara to get up high and snipe." Rojas said. "Alpha has gone too long without a sniper."

"No problem," Clara smiled, "I'm looking forward popping these sons of btches."

"Don't. It gets old fast. And make sure you don't choke." Rojas said solemnly, "Here, take this radio earpiece and give the other to Daze. I want to be able to contact both of you incase we get separated. Channel 2. If you need me I'm on channel 5."

"Got it." Clara put in the earpiece then tossed the other to Daze.

"Lets go."

Daze stepped out into the bright afternoon sun. The heat was really picking up and the humidity hung over him in a dull cloud, sweat had already started to bead up on his forehead. This was gonna be a long day.

Jet ran up ahead to scout the area.

"Clear." he said as he moved on up the road.

Daze relayed it to the people behind him as he, Jack and Holly moved to join Jet.

"Daze?" Rojas' voice crackled through the earpiece. "I need you to turn left at the next street."

"Understood," Daze motioned for the others to follow, "How far?"

"Till I say. I'll make sure you don't get to far ahead."

"Roger." Daze muted his mic. "You guys move through the alleys and houses. I got the roofs."

"What?" Holly looked incredulous, "how do you plan to get up there?"

Daze put the Rifle on his back and set the holding strength to full, and handed his lancer to Jet.

"Like this." He said as he ran towards a small alley, planted a foot and jumped off the wall of the house to his left, landed on the wall, then pushed off with his right foot and made a jump for a window sill on the first house. He pulled himself up and then jumped for the square roof of the house opposite.

"Don't look so surprised," Daze laughed at the expressions on their faces, "We've been doing this for years. Now lets get going, we have to scout for Rojas."