| Youth: First Half; Half of the story of Youth | |
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| Topic Started: Jun 10 2008, 08:19 PM (90 Views) | |
| Cre8ivemind2 | Jun 10 2008, 08:19 PM Post #1 |
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As the mortar rounds smashed into the ground overhead causing the earth to shake violently, Relant 1 sat on his cot reading the final pages of a book. The year was 2023 and the season was winter. Youth were no longer named at birth, they were called by their last name and the order in which they were born. Relant 1 was the firstborn in his family. His parents had given him up at birth, because of a bum left arm. The parents were in a car accident before the birth and his arm was damaged. It didn't work properly. Normally he would have been disposed of, but instead the board decided to place him in a shelter with other boys with similar physical defects, as they were called. Relant 1 called it a blessing. It kept him from doing hard labor. "Hey Relant." Relants roomate Froyd said. "Almost done with this chapter." Relant replied. "Do you think they'll make it this time? G-Y I mean." Froyd asked. "No." Relant said whle flipping to the next page. "No need to be so enthusiastic." Froyd said sarcastically. "Why be enthusiastic? Because I know that there are about a hundred Youth outside, dying, trying to free us. We can't even help them fight." Relant said. "I'm sorry." Froyd said."I didn't see it that way." "That's your problem." Relant said."You don't think before you speak." "I think before I speak." Froyd said."How else could I speak if I didn't think about doing it?" "Nevermind Froyd." Relant said angrily."Can I just finish this book in peace?" "We should go help them." Froyd said staring up at the concrete cieling of the bunker. "Why?" Relant asked."I'm perfectly content with living here." "I'm not." Froyd said."I don't know how you turn a deft ear and a blind eye toward what is going on outside the walls of the compound.I can't do it. I need to get out of here and help them." Relant had grown annoyed by his roommate. He was more annoyed by the fact that he was right. "I will reach the adult age in a few years. Then I am done with everything." Relant said. "Will you keep youth as slaves when you reach the age?" Froyd asked. "I don't want to." Relant answered while sitting up and shutting his book."But you know what they do when you reach the age. They empty your head of all of these memories. Then they brainwash you into thinking the way they do." "That doesn't answer my question." Froyd said. "I believe it answers your question just fine." Relant said before flopping back down on the bed and opening his book back up. "What are you reading anyways?" Froyd asked."You know books aren't allowed." "They're mine. I wrote this two years ago. I write them then read them later on." Relant said. "What's it about?" Froyd asked. "I'll let you read it when I'm finished." Relant said. "You've got yourself a deal." Froyd said. "Now shut up so I can finish reading it." Relant said. "You drive a hard bargain." Froyd said. Relant ignored him and continued reading his book. He couldn't stop thinking of what Froyd had told him. He knew he was turning a blind eye but there was nothing he could do about any of it. He couldn't wave a magic wand and make everything all better. He couldn't even fire a gun. Not with his left arm the way it was. There was nothing he could do. Outpost Hope sat on a man made island about a half mile off shore from Southern Africa's Cape of Good Hope. It was circular with a diameter of approximately one mile. The surface was dotted with satellite dishes, guard towers, tanks- with both 120mm and 30mm cannons-, and GTAMs. It was one of the most heavily fortified Outposts of the Cavalerian Empire. It was here that Master Sergeant Calvin Galeein kept track of the battlefields using both UAVs and drones that recorded video and relayed it via satellite. His job was to report on any changes in enemy position, whether it be advances or retreats. He slouched in his desk chair with his feet on the desk and read through a review of advancements from a year prior. He brought his coffee mug to his lips then pulled it away frowning. "Private Waters!" He shouted. "Yes sir?"Private Waters asked while peeking his head into the room. "Get me another cup of coffee." Galeein ordered. "Yes sir." Private Waters said while leaving. "Sergeant Galeein." Private Woodrow said over the intercomm."Please come to the conference room." Galeein sat up and pushed himself off from the chair. He limped to the door and pushed it open. "Is there a problem with your leg?" Private Waters asked as Galeein passed him. "Two sugar, two cream?" Galeein asked pointing at the coffee. "Yes." Waters said. "No," Galeein said while taking the cup."It's just asleep." "Master Sergeant Calvin Galeein to the conference room please." The computer said over the intercomm. "Gotta go." Galeein said after sipping his coffee. He limped down the hall, and once out of sight of Waters, removed a small metal flask from his pocket and poured some of it's contents into the coffee. Then he capped the flask and returned it to his pocket. "Hey Sergeant." Captain Reams said. "Captain." Galeein said while nodding in his direction. "How's the rehabilitation going?" Captain Reams asked. "Come again?" Galeein asked before sipping his coffee. "You're giving up drinking right?" Captain Reams asked. "Of course not, I'd die of dehydration." Galeein joked."I need to go." "Carry on." Captain Reams said. Galeein continued limping down the hall toward the conference room when he had another one of his attacks. He collapsed to the floor clutching his right thigh and gritting his teeth. His coffee flung from his hand and spilled. Galeein was originally an Infantry man. He fought on the frontlines. Up until his battalion was ordered to take Lowry hill. He led the charge up. Generation Youth had planted multiple Composition 4 charges and buried them in the hill. When the battalion was three fourths of the way up the charges began going off. Dozens of men were sent soaring through the air. Limbs were at flung fellow troops with lethal speed. Galeein and his men were forced to run down the hill. Half way down, a C-4 charge went off and fired a stick into Galeein's leg. He had nerve damage and since then he suffered from occasional muscle pains. "Master Sergeant Calvin Galeein report to the conference room please." The computer said again. Galeein layed on the floor for a few moments before forcing himself back up. He limped down the hall and burst through the conference room door. "Problem?" He asked. "Generation Youth has learned of this facility's location." Private Woodrow said. "How many?" Galeein asked. "Roughly one thousand marching across southern Africa. More will probably join them." Private Woodrow said. "Prepare the tanks and get the towers fully stocked." Galeein said. "It's one thousand people." Private Woodrow said. "No, it's one thousand rebels. Rebels are not people. This Outpost has been here for twenty two years. I'll be damned if it be taken by mere children. Ready the damn tanks." Galeein said. "Yes sir." Private Waters said. Galeein sat in a chair and watched the UAV images of the Youths' advancement. He was surprised by his mixed feelings of anxiety and reluctance. But he knew that this was all necessary. At least, he thought he knew. The Cavalerian Academy was a large underground bunker with an access point in a small toolshed at the Cape of Good Hope. The shed was surrounded by hidden Valmara-70 AT and AP mines. The Valmara-70, very similar the the Valmara-69, had a larger explosive payload and was a guaranteed K-kill(catastrophic kill) for a tank or vehicle. The AP version had less explosive within it to decrease the liklihood of one setting off another, a problem referred to by weapon engineers of the time as the Domino Effect. There was a trail that was eight and a half feet wide that contained no land mines. This was to allow the eight foot wide tanks clearance to the facility without having to remove some of the mines. The main purpose of the Cavalerian Academy was to house the Youth that were nearing the age of Ceremony. There were two hundred and seventy thousand youth within it. The Cavalerian Academy, or CavCad as referred to by Generation Youth, was a structure composed of over thirty floors that ran over a mile into the ground. It was nearly two miles long and extended under the Atlantic Ocean for a half a mile. The very last floor contained a Nuclear Fusion Hydrogen bomb with a design similar to the Teller-Ulam one. The payload was more than enough to destroy the compound and any city within close proximity. Brin 1 sat in his room and stared eagerly at the fish swimming by. He was one of the lucky thirty thousand with a room in the half mile ocean stretch of CavCad that was referred to as Aquadron. His friend and roommate Zock 2, soon to be Diedrich Zock, lay on his bed and flipped through a training manual that all of the Youth in CavCad were given only an hour ago. "You're actually reading that?" Brin asked. "Yeah." Zock said."I won't get out of serving my year in the army so I might as well read the manual that could save my life." "The Manual can't absorb a bullet." Brin said. "No, but it can tell you how to." Zock said smuggly. "Rumor has it that GY is marching down south Africa on their way here." Brin said trying to change the subject. "Rumors are usually false." Zock said. "This one makes sense." Brin said."This facility holds thousands of Youth. If even half of them join GY, their numbers will more than triple." "I'm not joining." Zock said."I'm so close to Ceremony. Why would I go off and get myself killed for freedom when I'm so close to achieving it already?" "I think I would." Brin said."If the opportunity arose." Zock sat up and glanced around the room. "I'm telling you as a friend. Pray that opportunity never does." He whispered. "So, which service do you think you'll join?" Brin asked. "I don't know." Zock said."What are you thinking of?" "I'm thinking maybe the Elite Cavalerian Guard Service." Brin said. "For someone who doesn't want to join the Cavaliers you sure have a funny way of showing it. The Guard sees the most action." Zock said. "I think the knowledge could prove useful, if I do join GY." Brin said. "I'm not talking to you anymore." Zock joked. "Zock." Brin said. "I suggest you go to sleep. Training starts early tomorrow and I don't want to be tired for the first day." Zock said. Brin layed down on his bed and waited for the flourescent light overhead to turn off. When it finally did he drifted off into a deep sleep. The following day he woke to Zock shaking him madly. He pushed Zock away. "What?" He asked. "Your training starts in ten minutes." Zock said."Get up." Brin jumped out of bed and hastily threw his clothes on. Zock stood by the door waiting for him. When Brin was finished the two of them began running down the halls to the submarine pen where training was held. "Which service are you training for." Brin asked. "The Guard." Zock answered out of breath. "Really?" Brin asked skeptically. "Yeah. Someone's gotta look after you." Zock answered. They approached the door to the sub pen with only two minutes to spare. A man was standing guard at the enterance. He asked them what service they were going for. After they answered him he directed them to the south wall of the pen where the ECGS training was to be held. The two of them thanked him and ran to join the rest of the Youth that were there for the ECGS. "You are all here because you want to be in the ECGS." A man in a dark blue Cavalerian uniform said."I am Master Sergeant Calvin Galeein and I am here to give you a brief summary of what you'll be doing in the Guard. I have some brief information for you then we will begin the training. First off, you will all refer to me as Sir, is that clear?" "Yes sir!" Everyone shouted. "Secondly, you will all obey any order I give you, is that clear?" Sergeant Galeein asked. "Yes sir!" Everyone answered. "And finally, you will all be required to finish the obstacle course in under five minutes, or you will be rejected from the Guard, is that clear?" Sergeant Galeein said. "Yes sir." Everyone answered. "Excellent. Now you will be broken down into squadrons." Sergeant Galeein began counting off the number of people."Thiry. So there will be six squadrons. Alpha, Bravo, Charlie, Delta, Echo, and Foxtrot. You will all be appointed a squad leader. The squad leader will be the one who demonstrated the best skill. Any questions?" Nobody said anything. "Great. Here are the squadrons." Sergeant Galeein began reading the names from the list."Brin, Zock, Froville, Trent, and York. You will be Delta squad." Brin and Zock high fived. After everyone was broken down into their squadrons Sergeant Galeein ordered them to follow him. He led them out of the submarine pen and into the armory. Everyone lined up in rows according to squadron. Galeein pointed to a row of Light Machine Guns. "These are Squad Automatic Weapons." He said."They are used to provide suppressive fire for your squad.This is the FN Minimi. It origninated in Belgium in 1974. It has a two hundred round M27 disintegrating-link belt. Basically, the one who uses this in the squad is the one who everyone else will depend on to keep the enemy from firing accurately." He set the FN Minimi down and approached a shelf of rifles."These are M16A4s. It has a three round burst mode of fire and will be used by three of the other squad members. Most are equipped with a M5 RAS handguard that will allow you to attach a laser or a flashlight." He set the M16 down on the shelf and approached the last shelf."And this.." He paused a moment and gripped his leg tightly."This is the M24 SWS. It will be used by one member of the squad who will also carry an MP5 as a backup weapon. It has a five round internal magazine so make sure you got a shot before you take it." He gripped his leg tighter and gritted his teeth."These are the main weapons you will be using in your squad. Captain Reams will lead you to the firing range so we can test which weapon you will be using in the guard. I need to use the restroom." He limped down the hall and out of sight. "All right, just follow me." Captain Reams said. Brin wasn't entirely sure if he wanted to work in the ECGS. He thought the information might help him on the battlefield when he does join GY, but he wasn't even sure he was going to join. He thought he wanted to. He thought. In downtown Los Angeles a computer in the basement of an old abandoned library clicked on and relayed a message to Outpost Hope. It was a simple audio file that was only thirty seconds in length but the message was clear. "This is the leader of Generation Youth." The recording began."We know of the location of your facility and we are coming for you. We will soon be over thirty thousand strong and we are coming for you. You're outpost will be overrun and destroyed. Then we will destroy the leader of the Cavalierian Empire. We are coming for you." That was the message that was played through the speakers in the conference room of Outpost Hope. That was the warning. Relant lay in his bed trying desperately to sleep. Outside his room he heard boots shuffling across the tile floor. Guards were being sent somewhere. But for what reason. He slid out from under the covers and tiptoed to the door. "What are you doing?" Froyd whispered. "They're sending guards somewhere." Relant answered. "Go back to bed." Froyd demanded. "I want to check it out." Relant said. He slid out the door and into the darkness of the hall. Froyd threw his covers aside and followed him. "If we get caught." Froyd whispered. "We'll run for the door." Relant said. "This is a bad idea." Froyd said. Relant ignored his protests and continued tip-toeing down the hall toward the direction that the guards went. He rounded a corner and nearly ran into the back of one of the guards. He almost cried out in fear. The man stood completely still. Relant removed a coin from his pocket and threw it down the hall. The man remained still. Relant reached out, slowly, and tapped the man on the shoulder. With a loud clatter, the knife in the man's neck released from the wall and the man's body tumbled to the ground. Relant stumbled backwards and tripped over Froyd's leg. "What was that?" Someone said. Relant looked around but couldn't see anyone. It took him a moment to realize it came from the dead man's radio. "They're at the door." Another person said. "Get ready." The first man said. Down the hall there was a deafening explosion. Gunfire echoed through the compound. "There's too many of them." One man said in a terrified voice. Relant and Froyd ran down the hall toward the sound of the shots. Up ahead, barely visible in the dark corridors, they could see several guards running. They slowed down a bit to increase their distance but continued on their path. They saw the muzzle flashes up ahead and stopped in their tracks. Men were screaming in both agony and fear. The gunshots grew louder. "Let's go back." Relant said to Froyd. Froyd didn't respond. "Froyd?" Relant whispered. He glanced behind him and saw Froyd leaning against the wall clutching his stomach. He ran to Froyd and knelt before him. "Is...is..is it bad." Froyd asked obviously in pain. Relant lifted Froyd's hand and looked at the wound. He couldn't tell how bad it was. There was an incredible amount of blood. Relant put Froyd's hand back over the wound. "No."Relant said."You'll be fine." Froyd laughed."You're a terrible liar." He said. More footsteps apprached from down the hall then stopped at them. "Is he okay?" Someone asked. Relant looked back and saw several Youth cluttered around him with weapons in their hands. "Generation Youth?" Relant asked. "Yes." One of them answered."I'm Pablo Huyser. The founder of GY." "He was shot in the stomach." Relant answered. Pablo looked worried. "We need to take the rest of the guards out so we can capture this facility." He said. "What about Froyd?" Relant asked. Pablo bent down and whispered into Relant's ear."There's nothing we can do." Relant looked at Froyd. Tears were forming in his eyes. He reached into his pocket and removed one of the books he had written long ago. He placed it into Froyd's empty hand. Froyd gripped it then looked at Relant. "That bad?" He asked. Relant repied with a nod. "Can you tell them to turn the lights on, so I can read it?" Froyd joked. Relant laughed. He wiped a tear from his eye and hugged Froyd until he stopped breathing, which only took a few moments. Pablo removed something from his waist and held it out. It was a pistol. Relant took it and got to his feet. "Ready?"Pablo asked him. Relant walked past him and down the hall toward the battle taking place. He was angry. Angry at the Cavaliers for killing Froyd. Angry at Generation Youth for getting there too late. And angry at god for taking Froyd away. He was mostly angry that Froyd was the one that wanted to join GY, not him. He was doing what Froyd had hoped to do. And that made him angry. "Master Sergeant Calvin Galeein, please report to Outpost Hope conference room three." A computerized voice said over the intercomm. Galeein pulled himself from his chair and limped out the door toward the tram. The tram was a system of underground tunnels that led to different outposts around the Cavalerian Empire. There were three differet destinations from the Academy. Outpost Hope, The Disabled Child Administration, and the Cavalerian Forces Administration. Outpost hope had eleven set destination from it. One of which was Remnant, the capital building. To take the tram to Remnant two keycards, two passcodes, and authorization with Remnant Guard were all neccessary. Without authorization the blast doors in the tram tunnel wouldn't open and the tram would crash at speeds in excess of three hundred miles per hour. Galeein slid his keycard into the tram consol and pressed the button labeled OH:Tram Enterance. Almost immediately, the tram's locks were disengaged and the tram began accelerating toward Outpost Hope. "Hello Sergeant Galeein." Another computer voice said. "Hello TIA." Galeein said. TIA stands for Tram Informational Assistance. "Do you require anything during your trip to Outpost Hope?"TIA asked. "Open a communication link to Outpost Hope CR3."Galeein ordered. "Of course Sergeant." TIA said. In front of Galeein, the glass wall of the tram turned a blackish color and then Captain Reams showed up on screen. "Is there a problem?"Galeein asked. "GY has attacked the DCA." Reams said. "Charge the SD device. Contact Relings at Remnant and get confirmation then set it off." Galeein ordered. "Yes sir." Captain Reams said. The screen dissolved back into glass. "Commlink closed."TIA said."Do you need anything else?" "No TIA that will be all." Galeein said. The tram began slowing on it's arrival to the far side of Outpost Hope. "Here we go." Galeein said. The tram snapped to a stop as it was locked in place. Galeein nearly tumbled forward to the floor. "Destination reached."TIA said. The tram doors slid open. Galeein stepped out onto the hard metal floor. His boots clacked as he limped to the elevator. Once inside he removed the flask from his pocket and took a quick swig. He wiped his lips and tucked the flask back into his pocket. Then he popped a cough drop into his mouth. The elevator dinged and opened up onto the third level of Outpost Hope. Galeein stepped out and walked down the blue halls toward conference room three. As the doors swung open Galeein was bombarded by people asking question. "Sergeant what should we do about the DCA?" Private Waters asked. "Generation Youth have taken it. We can assume that anyone who is still there is either dead or have joined them." Galeein said."We need to initiate the SD countdown." "We contacted Relings and he gave us the go ahead." Reams said. "Then do it. Jesus why'd you wait for me?" Galeein asked. "Commence emergency SD device countdown." Reams ordered. "For which station?" the computer asked. "Disabled Child Administration." Reams said. "Verification code required." the computer said. "Alpha seven seven Tango Zulu Whiskey." Reams said loud and clear. "Please reiterate." the computer ordered. "Alpha seven seven Tango Zulu Whiskey." Reams repeated. "Verification code accepted." the computer said."SD device countdown, initiated." "Why's there a countdown?" Galeein asked. "There is whenever we trigger an SD device from outside the compound." Reams explained."That way, if the youth capture one facility they can't use the SD device to destroy the rest. The other facilities would be able to disengage it." "Stupid and smart at the same time." Galeein said. "Master Sergeant Calvin Galeein is requested in the sub pen of the Aquadron for training day two." the computer said. "Gotta go." Galeein said. Galeein limped away from the conference room and back down to the tram. The tram ride back took two minutes. Which left eight until the DCA was destroyed. Along with anyone within two hundred feet of the compound. "Today is obstacle course day." Sergeant Galeein said."We'll start with Brin and Zock." Brin and Zock stepped up to the white line on the floor. "You have five minutes." Galeein reminded them."Go!" Brin and Zock dashed from the starting line. A large clock on the wall began counting down from five minutes. Little did Brin know, another clock only a mile away was counting down from five minutes as well. Brin and Zock climbed up a wall using ropes. Once on the other side they rapelled and began running again. Next they climbed up a rock wall. At the top was a zip line that they slid down. The two of them were neck and neck. Up until the pool section began. Brin dove in and was able to begin his swimming immediately. Zock tripped and stumbled in. Brin swam through a series of three concentric tunnels underwater and climbed out before Zock was through the first one. Brin shot a glance at the clock. One minute left. He swung desperately across the monkey bars and climbed up a vertical section of pipe. The vertical pipe eventually turned horizontal and he had to shimmy along it. He shot another glance at the clock. Thirty seconds left. Brin dropped off the end of the pipe and dove to the ground. He then crawled under rounds of live ammunition. Once he was past the bullets he jumped to his feet and sprinted full speed to the finish. "Time." Galeein said as Brin passed."Four minutes forty eight seconds." Brin collapsed tiredly to the floor. Zock crossed the finish after a few more seconds. "Five minutes two seconds." Galeein said. Brin glanced at Zock. He was out of breath and despite the look of anguish he could tell he was afraid. "That's good." Galeein said. Zock grinned. He stood up straight. In the blink of an eye Galeein unholstered his pistol and fired once. The bullet entered throught the forehead and took half of the skull with it when it exited. "But not good enough." Galeein said. He holstered his pistol and called two more people to the starting line. Brin crawled to Zocks dead body. He layed his hand on Zocks chest, over his heart. "I'll get them for you." Brin whispered."I'll get them all." Two more people were killed before the obstacle course was done. "Gather round." Galeein said."Our next weapon of study is quite unreliable but still favored by Generation Youth. I am speaking of the infamous Molotov Cocktail. In it's simplest form, the molotov is petrol fuel in a glass bottle with a rag stuffed in the top. A little fun fact, it was named after Viacheslav Molotov. The molotov can be converted to napalm with the addition of a thickening agent. The most popular are sugar, tar, and motor oil. Though it is ineffective of destroying a tanks armor, it can still damage one. The napalm version of it can leak through the radiator cover of the tank and destroy the cooling equipment. The molotov can kill an entire squadron quickly. So, the job of the squadron sniper is to shoot the molotov before it leaves the GY's hand." Galeein pulled out his pistol and shot a Molotov Cocktail that was on the floor about forty yards away."That breaks the glass. The petrol fuel vapor leaks out and is ignited by the flaming rag causing it to detonate in the enemy's hands. I want the sniper from every squadron to practice firing at the Molotovs." "Our sniper is dead." A member of Alpha squad said. "Then you're screwed on the field." Galeein said. A man handed Brin a rifle. Brin snatched it and went prone. He scoped in on the Molotov and fired once. The glass shattered and the Molotov exploded in a fireball. Brin longed to leave the seemingly stifling sector of the Aquadron. He wanted to flee the Academy. An idea came mind. A way he could break free from the compound and join Generation Youth. It would have to wait. Wait until the next time they went to the armory. As Relant made his way down the seemingly endless halls of the DCA a red light began flashing. "SD device activated. Ten minutes to self destruct." A computer said via the intercomm. "How far to the surface?" Pablo asked one of the other members of GY. "Roughly five hundred feet." The Youth answered. "We need to get out of here now." Pablo said."Welk, hack into DCA's hard drive. Pull up some blueprints to the compound." "Yes sir." Welk said while removing his laptop. "Everyone else, form a defensive perimeter around Welk." Pablo ordered. Everyone spread out and pointed their guns in different direction. Relant aimed down the nearest corridor. "Four coming my way!" Someone said. "Take them out!" Pablo ordered. The Youth started firing his MP5 down the hall in short burst. There was an explosion. "Damn!" Pablo said."Their suicide bombers! Tridder take them out!" The Youth named Tridder continued spraying his sub-machine gun down the hall. One of the bombers got close enough for the concussion to knock Tridder to the ground. Relant dashed to Tridder and scooped up his MP5. Then he began spraying the clip down the hall. "Got it." Welk said excitedly. "Where do we go from here?" Pablo asked. The MP5 stopped firing. Pablo tossed a clip to Relant. He reloaded and continued firing down the hall. "Theres an elevator down the hall." Welk said."That would take us to the surface." "Those CavBombers are blocking our route." Pablo said."We need an alternative." "There's another elevator down that hallway," Welk said while pointing to the left."But I'm not sure if it ascends or descends." "Doesn't matter." Pablo said."We need to get out of these corridors." Pablo jogged past Relant. The last Youth to pass, which was Welk, patted Relant on the shoulder. Relant turned around and began running with the group. The hall forked in two seperate directions. "Which way?" Pablo asked. "Right!" Welk yelled. There was another explosion. This time a piece of shrapnel buried itself in Tridder's leg. He collapsed and started screaming. Though the wound had happened only moments ago, a pool of blood began to form. "Leave him!" Pablo ordered. Relant continued running, for fear of being left behind. He felt sorry for Tridder but if they stopped they would all be dead. A round buried itself in the wall near Pablo's right shoulder. Relant turned around and saw Tridder firing at them. Then he saw the CavBomber come up behind him. Within milliseconds Tridder, as a whole, existed no more. "There it is!" Welk said while pointing up ahead. Pablo pushed the button and they crowded either side of the hall waiting for the elevator to come. "Here they come!" Pablo shouted. The group began firing down the hall at the approaching suicide bombers. One after another they died. One after another the bombs on their backs went off killing the ones close to them aswell. The elevator dinged and the doors slid open. The group backed up, never ceasing fire on the approacing crowd until the doors were finally closed. "What the hell were those?" Relant asked. "We call them CavBombers." Pablo said."All of the people diagnosed with autism, schizophrenia, and almost any other mental disease are brought to a camp and brainwashed. Then they strap bombs to their backs and send them out to unleash hell." "That's horrible." Relant said. "That's a part of why we fight." Pablo said. Then a thought struck Relant."What about the rest of the Youth that are here?" Pablo glanced down for a moment."There's nothing we can do." He said after a long, silent pause."Casualties of war." "They weren't at war though." Relant said."They were perfectly fine until you guys came to 'free' them. Now they're all going to die." "That's not my fault." Pablo said. "You keep telling yourself that." Relant said. The group stood in silence. Then Welk decided to say the one thing everyone noticed but didn't think twice about."We're descending." He said. "Pull up the blueprints." Pablo ordered."Find out a way for us to get the hell out of here. And how much time is left." "Five minutes." Relant said."We have five more minutes." Welk typed on his computer."There's a submarine pen on the last floor." He said. "Won't work." Pablo said."We need something within ten floors or we won't make it in time." "Tram station." Welk said."But when the explosion goes off the tunnel could collapse." "It's better than staying here waiting for the explosion." Relant said. Suddenly there was a loud thump on the top of the elevator followed by an explosion. The elevator lurched a little. "Which floor?" Pablo asked. "Five more down." Welk answered. There was another thud and explosion. The elevator rocked more violently. "What is that?" Relant asked while gripping the handrails tightly. "CavBombers." Pablo explained."They pried the elevator door open and are jumping down on top of us." "How many more explosions can this elevator take?" Another Youth named Hebrin asked. "I'm surprised it's lasted this long." Welk answered. There was another explosion and the elevator began it's unhindered fall toward the final floor of the DCA. The elevators brakes locked in place and it came to a screeching halt. More CavBombers landed on the top and exploded but the elevator didn't budge. "What floor are we on?" Pablo asked Welk. "We're between ten and eleven." Welk answered. "We need to pry open the elevator." Pablo said. "No!" Hebrin demanded."We could all die." "All right." Pablo said."What do you propose we do? If we stay here we die. If we open the elevator we could all die. I like could more than definately." Pablo stabbed his combat knife into the crack between the elevator doors and slowly forced them apart. There was about a foot an a half wide slit where they could crawl through onto floor ten. "We need to crawl through." Pablo explained."I'll go first to make sure it's clear. Then Welk, then Hebrin, then Gort, then Relant." "No," Hebrin said."I'm going last. I'm not going to die because the CavBombers decide to come from that floor. You guys go and make sure its all clear then I'll come out last." "You're call." Pablo said. He slid his gun through the opening then pulled himself through. A momen later his hand popped in and wave Welk up. Welk pulled himself through quickly. Then Gort, then Relant. The four of them stood in the hall with their guns aimed at whatever could be approaching. Hebrin slid his arms through when the elevator began to slide again. It dropped nearly an eighth of an inch. "Hurry!" Pablo shouted. Hebrin slid his head and chest through then the elevator fell taking his legs and half his torso with it. The rest lay bleeding on the tile floor. He spewed blood from his mouth and died. Pablo kicked the body into the shaft and slid the door shut. "Then there were four." He said."Which way do we go?" Welk sat still. Pablo tapped him on the shoulder and he snapped back to reality. "What?" He asked. "Where do we go?" Pablo repeated. "I don't know." Welk snapped. "Use the damn laptop retard." Pablo said."Jesus." Welk flipped the laptop open and glanced at the screen. "There should be a staircase nearby." Welk said."Down that hall and to the right." "You mean the darkest hall of the three?" Gort asked. "Yeah." Welk said. "Man, sometimes I wonder why I joined GY." Gort joked. "Let's go." Pablo ordered."How much time do we have." "Three minutes." Relant answered. The four of them sprinted down the hall toward the staircase. An explosion ahead lit up the halls. "Was that a CavBomber?" Relant asked. "No." Pablo answered."Too big of a boom." They continued runnning ahead. Toward the scene of the explosion. Toward the fire that spread light out into the dark corridors. "Dammit!" Pablo yelled. "What?" Relant asked. Pablo broke ahead of the group. He came to a halt near the blaze. "What?" Relant asked again. "It was the stairwell." Pablo said."Someone blew up the stairwell." Relant glanced over Pablo's shoulder and through the hot fire at the staiwell that once existed. Now it was missing an entire flight. "Is there an alternate route?" Gort asked. "No time." Pablo said. "Two minutes." Relant said. Pablo glanced at the fire. Then behind him. He took a few steps back. "What are you doing?" Relant asked. Without answering Pablo sprinted forward and leapt over the gap. He landed on a ledge further down. "Come on!" He yelled. Welk looked at Relant and shook his head. Then he jumped across the gap and landed next to Pablo. After Welk made it safely Relant jumped across. He landed next to Pablo and Welk. Pablo began dashing down the stairs. He leapt across another gap and kicked open a door to floor eleven. "Come on!" Relant shouted to Gort. "You crazy." Gort said."I can't make that." "I did." Relant said. Gort pondered this. Or at least seemed to ponder it. Within the next few seconds a CavBomber appeared out of nowhere and exploded next to Gort. He was flung forward into the fire. Except for his arm. His arm made it across the gap and landed at Relant's feet. Relant purged himself and began running to catch up with Pablo and Welk. "There it is." Pablo said."The tram. Welk go hack it. Me, Relant, and Gort will cover you." "Gort's dead." Relant said from behind Pablo. Pablo shook his head. Welk set his laptop down on the inside of the tram and plug something into the USB port. Then he slid the other end of a cord into the keycard slot. He typed in something on his computer and the tram's locks disengaged. The tram crept out of the station and began to accelerate toward the tunnel enterance. "How much time is left?" Pablo asked Relant. "Thirty seconds." Relant answered. The tram left the DCA and entered the tunnels. "You've got to bo kidding me." Pablo said. "What the hell?" Welk said."It's glass. The whole damn tunnel is glass." "Welk, how fast are we going?" Pablo asked. "Three twenty." Welk answered after looking at his laptop. "Crank it up to four if possible. I want to try to outrun this explosion." Pablo said. "It's glass." Relant said."The explosion will shatter it." "If we can get close enough to the destination before the explosion goes off we can make it."Pablo explained."The destinations have gate that they can close. We can make it." "How much time do we have?" Welk asked this time. "None." Relant answered. The SD device went off. It destroyed the last ten floors including the sub pen almost instantaneously. The ocean water that leaked in was super heated past boiling point. It flooded the remainder boiling those who weren't killed by the initial explosion. As the compound collapsed into itself the tunnel broke and water began flooding it at an alarming rate. Relant looked overhead in time to see the glass cracking. The cracks were following them. He looked behind the tram and saw the water surging down the tunnel toward them. It was then that he knew they weren't going to make it to the destination. |
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7:52 PM Nov 29
