Chapter five – the mission part one
What if, in the escape of '09, Max hadn't escaped with the others? What if Jondy had tried to save her when she fell in the ice, but in the end they both got caught?
…
'10
When Max was woken up one morning, three weeks after the arrival of the Beta X-5's, she was surprised to see that there wasn't as much light coming in from the window as there usually was. Wondering why, she got up and followed the guard into the bathroom. Instead of leaving, like they usually did, the guards waited at the door for the girls to finish. It was then that Max remembered that they were going on a training mission that day, and had to be out in the second training yard straight after wake up call, which was changed to dawn for the day.
Looking around at the other girls, she saw that some of them were just as puzzled as she had been. She quickly made a hand signal, reminding the others that they were going on a mission. She saw recognition on their faces, and went back to dressing. It was only once she had finished that she realised that there were only 16 girls present, instead of 18 like there should be. Before she could ask anyone about it though, the guards ordered them to march to the second training yard.
Once there, the girls were ordered to fall into line with the boys, who had also just arrived. They waited there, under the watchful eye of the guards for five minutes before they saw that the Colonel was coming, and quickly stood at attention, and saluted him. He returned their salute, and stood in front of them, just looking at them for a minute, until he called a guard over, and began talking softly to him. Max could just hear what they were saying, because she was in the front row.
"There's only 32. Where are the other two?" the Colonel asked.
"X-5 728 and X-5 567 are in the infirmary sir."
"Why, might I ask, are two of my soldiers in the infirmary without my knowing of it?"
"Sir, the guard assigned to wake them up took them in this morning."
"Why?"
"X-5 728 was suffering from a broken bone, and X-5 567 appears to have concussion sir."
"A broken bone, and concussion. How did this happen?"
"I do not know sir."
"Then find out and report to me."
"Yes sir."
The Colonel turned back to the troops. He cast a quick eye over them, before pacing along the lines.
"Alright soldiers, you have your first training mission as a full group today. You will be split into four groups of eight, and will stay in those teams for the whole day. Team one will be lead by 598, team two by 601, team three by 001 and team four by 002. Team leaders, you will follow me for debriefing on the mission. The rest of you will be placed in the teams assigned by the guards."
Max watched as 598, Sef, Trix and Jules followed the Colonel back into the barracks. Standing at attention, she waited patiently for the guard to call out her designation.
"You heard the Colonel soldiers, now when I call your designation you will go to the area assigned to you team. Team one will proceed to the first training yard, team two will proceed to the fifth training yard, team three will proceed to the seventh training yard, and team four will proceed to the third training yard. You will wait at your post until your team leader comes and instructs you on what you are to do. Understood?"
"Sir, yes sir!"
"Ok. The following soldiers are team one; 337, 252, 494, 452, 210, 453 and 211. Team two will..."
Max stifled a groan when she heard whose team she was in. She didn't want to be anywhere near 494, let alone in his team. And 598 was their leader. She didn't like 598 at all. But she marched over to the first training yard with the rest of her team, hiding what she thought behind her soldier mask. When they reached the first training yard, they were ordered to stand at attention until their leader came. It was at least ten minutes later when 598 walked over to them, carrying a map, and a tracking device. When he reached them, he placed the equipment on the ground at his feet, before facing the rest of them.
"At ease soldiers," he ordered, before continuing with the mission. "The Colonel will be releasing a criminal in ten minutes, and it is our mission to track him down. When we find him, we are to discreetly place a tracking device on him, and track his movements for the rest of the day. We are also to map where he goes, where and for how long he stops. If he comes into contact with another team's criminal, we are to terminate. If he reaches the perimeter fence, we are to terminate. If he is still alive at the end of the day, however, we are to capture him and bring him back to base by 1900 today. If we have to terminate him, we are to stay in the field until 1900, before returning. Do you understand?"
"Yes sir."
"Alright. I want you to pair up. 494 with 452, 252 with 453, 337 with 211, and 210 will come with me. You will fan out, and begin the search for the criminal once the Colonel gives the begin signal. If you find him, make the discovery signal, and all other pairs are to make their way to you. If the criminal moves while you are waiting for the others to come, then follow and keep signaling, so that the others know where you are. I will give you further orders then. Now, the criminal is being released within this section of the forest. He will have a dark blue cross on the right hand side of his shirt. I want 494 and 452 to take the left hand end of the forest, while 337 and 211 take the left side of the middle section, 210 and I will take the right side of the middle section, and 252 and 453 are to take the right hand end. Ready soldiers?"
"Yes sir!"
"Then get into position."
Max and Alec walked over to the left hand side of the forest, to wait for the begin signal. Max tried to keep as far away from Alec as was possible. She could have killed 598 right then, for partnering her with Alec. She hated Alec with a passion, had done so ever since the night she had named him. Until now, she hadn't had to go anywhere near him.
While Max was thinking, Alec had crept over to her, and silently lifted his hand and waved it in front of her face. When she didn't respond, he flicked her nose.
Max jumped, startled, and then pulled Alec into a headlock. "What'd you do that for, idiot?"
"I felt like it."
"Well feel this!" Max cried as she twirled him out of the headlock, and kicked him in the stomach. He grabbed her foot, and turned it, making Max fall onto the ground. Max swept his feet out from under him. To her horror, he landed right on top of her, pinning her down. She tried to flip him off, but he pinned her arms and legs, making it impossible to move. Reaching down, he ran a hand over her head, making her furious.
"Nobody touches my hair!" Max cried, desperately trying to get out from under him.
"Oh, so sorry. Did I upset poor little Max? Will you go running to Jondy for help?"
"I don't need Jondy to fight you."
"Oh. Is that why you're the one pinned on the ground?"
"Shut up."
"Make me."
Max was just about to reply, when she heard a shrill whistle.
"The begin signal!" she cried. "Alec get off me, we have to go."
"But I was having so much fun," Alec pretended to pout as he got off Max. He held out a hand to her, which she brushed away. "Fine, don't accept my apology. Anyway, we better get going."
"Good. Then let's go." Max got up, and followed Alec into the forest.