Monday.
We are leaving for Compound 4 today.
I jump out of bed, pulling on my uniform with a struggle. Stumbling more than once, I zip the outfit up, shoving my feet into my boots. I run out of the bunks, past the sleepy faces of the soldiers I am about to send into our first attack in a decade.
"Good morning, Lieutenant General Austin," says Rivers as I exit the elevator at the HQ building. "You're early."
"Is President Kovach in?" I ask, brushing my hair back.
"No, I was just about to leave but figured you would be all confused when you got here and no one was in. We are meeting the captains and their squadrons out by the gates."
I swallow hard. We aren't wasting any time.
"Let's hurry, then," I mumble, jumping back in the elevator. He follows, humming under his breath. "Rivers, can I ask you a question in confidentiality?"
Rivers laughs.
"That's some big language," he says, "But yes. You can ask me anything."
"What do we keep in the Repository?"
Rivers turns to look at me, eyes going wide.
"How do you know about the Repository?"
"My best friend Lexi and I got in trouble a while back for scaling the wall," I answer, careful not to tell him we were there yesterday, "I saw the building, and since it's a storage building, I just wondered."
He looks away, staring at the metal elevator walls. A minute or two passes before he sighs.
"I can't tell you," he whispers, not looking at me, "It's not my information to share. You will know eventually, Quinn, when you're ready and General Kovach gives clearance to tell you. Until then, you need to leave that place alone."
"Why?"
"Nothing good is stored in the Repository. Death, despair, and filth."
His voice trails off as the doors open.
Deciding not to push it any further, I follow him back towards the bunks. They're empty now, but the trainees mill around in front with their captains, talking under their breaths. Rivers leads me around the crowds, towards the Ag Fields. I catch a glimpse of Lexi who is standing very still by herself. She reminds me of the girl I saw on the day of our IE, the vulnerable child afraid of failure. She knows what's coming, where we are going, and I can see that she's terrified by the way she chews on her lips, knotting her hands together.
The captains whistle as they catch sight of Rivers and I, and all at once, everyone starts following us, blanketed now in quiet.
At the gate, fifteen Compound 5 trucks wait. President Kovach is standing by the first one, her hands on her hips. She's changed out of her skirt and now wears a uniform just like the one I wear. I notice the medals and ribbons on her shoulder, medals that catch the sunlight like waves, sending it back towards us.
"Good morning, soldiers of Compound 5!" she says, throwing her voice over the crowd like she's holding a megaphone. I watch her chest rise with the effort, sucking in air to project it even further. Her face is still the same, stony and firm. I see the veins in her neck as she talks.
"This morning, we are launching a surprise attack on Compound 4, who has been sending us threats. Your captains have broken you into three different groups based upon your strengths. Squadron One, please step toward the first four trucks."
A bunch of soldiers young and old step forward. I don't recognize most faces. In the midst of them is Toby, chest all puffed out, head held high.
"You are responsible for breaking down the wall," Kovach continues, "Bombs placed at every thirty degrees around the wall will do enough damage to disarm their wall guards and allow us entry within the compound. Your greatest struggle will be to make it past their highly trained guards without getting shot.
YOU ARE READING
Selected (Book 2 of the Immune Series)
Science Fiction"As far back as I can remember, I've been surrounded by water. The salt in the air even now makes it hard to breath, forcing me to squint. Sand clings to every inch of me, caking my pants and shoes. The wind from the ocean picks my hair up, sending...
Smells and Sounds of Death
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