by Jessica Cole
Tears of Glass
By
Jessica Cole
Tears of Glass
Copyright © 2015 by Jessica Cole
No reproduction without permission.
All rights reserved.
The right of Jessica Cole to be identified as the Author of the work has been asserted by him in accordance with the Copyright, Design and Patents Act 1998
This is a work of fiction. Names, character, places and incidents either are products of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously and any resemblance to actual events or locales or persons, living or dead is entirely coincidental.
Acknowledgements, Author’s Note
Tears of Glass is a book I originally wrote a decade ago. It’s come so very far, and grown into something I’m very proud of. Of course, there are certain people that made this book possible. I want to genuinely thank David Fisher for being so supportive and for all the help he’s given me. This also would not have happened without my friends who continually support my Patreon to allow me the time to work on my books. Thank you all so much, and I truly hope you enjoy the first installment in the Jana Darren Saga.
If you enjoy my work, I encourage you to check out my Patreon (www.patreon.com/nightelyn) where you can preview upcoming chapters and be involved in my writing process.
Contents
Prologue
01. The Test
02. Unfair Advantage
03. The Hearing
04. Family
05. Goodbyes
06. A Fresh Start
07. The Director
08. Never Enough Coffee
09. Hyperscope Components
10. Certification
11. A Redshirt and A Stormtrooper Walk Into A Party...
12. Assignment
13. A Rough Landing
14. You’ll Feel Better In The Morning
15. Trudging On
16. The Lagoon
17. Poison
18. Ready, Aim
19. Fire
20. Regroup
21. Rescue
22. Pick Your Poison
23. Under The Skin
24. Zephyr
25. The Awkward Outing
26. Drunk
27. Family Matters
28. Push
29. Breaking and Entering
30. Close
31. Never Been Kissed
32. Picture Perfect
33. Closer
34. Intimate
35. All Dolled Up
36. And Nowhere To Go
37. Glass Tears and Hand Grenades
38. Hostile Takeover
39. Love, and Leaving
Epilogue
Prologue
Her sneakers made no noise on the carpeting, and only silence greeted her as she passed doors, red lights glowing on almost all of them. No one home. Jana thought of all the soldiers sent on missions. She allowed her eyes to travel further on the left side. Blue light. Sure enough, there it was, glowing happily in the midst of red. Her pace quickened, her heart pounding in her chest. She reached the door, staring at the tiny blue light. Jana reached for the little black box welded onto the door, but before she could press the call button, the door opened from the other side.
"Hello."
01. The Test
The alarm went off at five, but Jana was wide awake, eyes red and bones aching for want of sleep. She cried out and shoved the foam pillow over her face, yelling into it and kicking her legs. You should have just taken something to help you sleep. You know this happens every time.
She had thirty minutes to report to the holodeck. No time to enjoy the view out the station windows, and certainly no time for coffee. The elevator to the lowest level took almost ten minutes because of frequent stops, even at this hour. She recognized a few of the communication officers heading to the elevator bank to start their shift, beautiful white coffee cups in their grasp. You were already awake. You should have just gone and gotten some, instead of lying in bed pretending you were going to do anything but stress about this stupid test.
Jana reached the holodeck with a few minutes to spare. There were three people ahead of her, who all exited the simulator looking rather glum--definitely not a good sign. When her turn came up, Jana hesitated a moment before she stepped into the room. This was the worst part. A bright white glow emitted from every wall, the floor and ceiling. She took the button-sized neural pad from a plastic case in her shirt pocket and placed it at the nape of her neck, and felt its warmth as it dug its tiny claws into her skin. At least I remembered to bring it. They were expensive to replace, and cadets were only issued two at the Academy.
A voice boomed from hidden speakers, echoing in the little room with nothing to muffle the sound. "Your mission is to retrieve the documents from the enemy stronghold. Here are your team members." Jana had studied the portfolio they'd given her the day before with all of the information on her team. Everything from their full names to embarrassing moments in the second grade was permanently engrained in her memory.
The room dimmed to black. When it re-lit, she was surrounded by buildings that rose up tall and sleek in the night, miles in each direction. She didn’t like the way the neural pad made her feel. Sometimes, the proctor would just let the walls fall away like sand or broken glass, revealing the test landscape behind it. The first time this happened, Jana had been so disoriented that she’d thrown up.
They used Academy cadets for these training exercises, to give them more experience with the simulator. For an exam like this, Jana knew only cadets in their fourth year would be used. Five of them had materialized with the rest of the cityscape when the lights came back up. It was dark, though.
Residential colonies were never this dark. There were lights on, some street lamps, but that was it. The main power grid must be offline. There were safety nets in place for things like that. Someone actively tampered with it.
"Team, stay under cover. Keep a lookout. Jennison, Kipnik watch the left. Casey and Smith take right. Danny, watch our tails. We're going to be heading due east." This was her chance. No matter how out of her depth she felt, she would give it her best go.
They encountered no resistance for the first few minutes. They passed apartment complexes and parks, office buildings and shops, all bathed in deep shadows. Jana began to think the proctor was going easy on her. It wouldn't be the first time she'd been shown favoritism. Her father probably had something to do with that, and Jana hated it.
The streets were devoid of people. Colonies put into lockdown were literally sealed by the computer system after a five minute alarm. Anyone left out was to be considered hostile. The grid had ways of knowing where any insurgents were. Disabled security systems and inconsistencies in the grid were an easy way to tell where the problem centered. The Heads-Up Display in Jana's view popped up a digital alert to identify the enemy base.
"Enemy sighted, three count at our five o'clock."
"Danny, you keep an eye on them. There are probably more. We have to keep moving. Casey, Danny, take them out if you can get a clear shot." She looked back and spotted them. "They haven't engaged yet, which either means they don't know we're here or they're trying to herd us into a trap. We don't know how many more are out here, and we don't need them all on top of us," Jana said.
"Affirmative."
"I see the base.” The hostiles had taken up residence at a school, but that made things much easier for her team. Unlike the military stations, colonies kept normal hours. With the lockdown and time of day, the streets were completely empty. The city looked abandoned, eerie, and surreal.
Jana signaled them
into position. It was eerily silent, even for a lockdown. She peered around the corner. The school had hostiles stationed on the roof and in the entryway.
"Oh shit! Lieutenant, I think Casey's been shot! Oh shit, oh shit. What the hell am I going to do?!"
"Danny, listen to me. It's okay. Calm down a second." For a moment, Jana forgot these weren't real people, that they didn't exist and were just holograms. Right now, they were real and they needed her.
"How the hell do you expect me to calm down?"
"Danny, CALM DOWN. Listen to me! You have to calm down. Don't get yourself worked up. Your asthma is going to kick in and then we'll have to transport both of you out of here."
"Okay, okay..."
"Danny, where is he shot?" Jana asked as she darted behind a tree to avoid the gunfire peppering the area.
"It's...um...I think he's been shot in the side."
Jana leaned over and quickly took stock of the situation, ducking out of the way as a shot zipped past her head. "You think? You'd better be sure."
"Yeah, it's...it's his side."
"How bad is it?" She couldn't even look around the corner anymore, the guards were on alert and now there was a hail of fire and a lot of shouting.
"Shit, I don't know. There's blood everywhere. I'm not a goddamn doctor, Lieutenant!" he screamed into the com.
"Pull yourself together!" She was losing patience with him, but forced herself to take a deep breath. "Danny, do you remember that time when your brother broke his leg? You were scared then, weren't you?" She poked around the corner to return fire, then ducked back down.
"Yeah..."
"But you pulled through and went and got help."
"Yeah..."
"You've always wanted to be a hero, ever since you were little. Now is your chance. Move Casey to safety. I want you to stay with him, is that clear?"
"Yes, ma'am."
With that taken care of, Jana moved with Kipnik to another point of cover closer to the building. "Okay, Jennison, Smith, what's your status?"
"We're pinned by enemy fire. We can barely move."
"We'll be right there," said Jana, as she and Kipnik moved toward their comrades' position. Together they carefully took out the assailants. Rallied, she took stock of the surroundings. "We've got to get moving. You all heard Danny. Casey's wounded and we're not sure how bad it is. We've got to finish this soon." She led them around the block, around the back side of the school and through a side door. They found an empty command center in the auditorium. As Jennison grabbed the case with the documents and rejoined them, a round hit Jana squarely in the chest. Her vest crackled with electricity for a moment and it felt like she'd been punched. She immediately dropped between a row of seats and examined herself. No blood.
"Holy shit! Did you see that? Where the hell is the gunman?"
"Stay down. We make a move and they'll shoot," shouted Jana.
This wasn't going to end well.
02. Unfair Advantage
"Miss Darren?"
Jana turned to face the proctor, shifting aside to let the others pass.
"Yes, sir?" All she wanted to do was get out of there. Today was already a nightmare.
"Would you hold on a moment? I'd like to speak with you."
"Yes, sir." Those passing from their way out of their own simulation chambers were giving her odd looks. When the last straggler disappeared out of sight on their way to the elevator, the proctor explained.
"I'd like to talk to you about your performance today."
"Sir, I apologize for--"
He held up a hand to stop her. "Lieutenant, I'd like to congratulate you."
"I--what?"
"I'm talking about your simulator exercise."
Jana couldn't look more surprised if she'd tried. "If you'll allow me to speak frankly sir, I believe it was a near disaster."
"None of your team died," he said carefully.
"Three were wounded," Jana countered.
"You acquired the objective."
"Barely. Sir, you and I both know my performance was nothing to shout about, at least not in a nice way. My performance was far from the best it could be."
"No, it wasn't the best," he admitted.
Get to the point! "So why am I here, then?"
"The grading is done by a computer that rates you and your team."
"Sir?" What is he getting at?
The proctor turned around, leaned over his desk, and pushed a button. The room flooded with sound. Danny, remember that time when your brother broke his leg? He clicked it off. "How did you know what to say?"
"I read their files. It was all there, as you know."
"Well actually..." he began, avoiding her gaze, "When I read it, I passed right over their backgrounds prior to their military qualifications. Not once, in the years I've been here have I encountered someone who took the time to memorize all of that, things most people don't even notice. You knew exactly what to say to motivate, and you work exceptionally well under pressure."
"Thanks..."
"As you well know, this test was a gateway to a leadership role in the CHAOS team at S-311M. You've gotten the green light from our division, and at 1800 hours you're to report to hearing room number four, in the administration wing upstairs. You'll be interviewed and they will determine whether you are a good fit for this position. Good luck."
"Thank you, sir." She turned to leave.
"One more thing...it would be best to keep a low profile until you are given their decision."
"Sir?"
"Well, the computer only recognizes direct commands, damages, dead and injured, time lapsed, that sort of thing. It's entirely mathematically based. Our decision was based off factors outside of this scope. As far as the computer is concerned, you didn't get the highest score. Understood?" The computer failed me, but they pushed me through anyway.
"Yes, sir."
03. The Hearing
Jana Darren had the rather unfortunate habit of unintentionally sabotaging herself. Today was no exception. Five years of painstaking work finally convinced her superiors to take her seriously and grant her this promotion hearing, and now she was late. Taking the stairs two at a time, she tripped halfway up the flight and slammed her shin into the steel. Pain shot through her leg, and she gasped from the initial shock and bit back the urge to cry out. No time for petty injuries. If a freak accident along the way that left her limbless, Jana would still find a way to drag herself to this meeting.
Two minutes and one hundred seventy-six stairs later, she was breathing raggedly outside the door. Hearing Room 4. Her collar itched. The sterile hallway was too warm for comfort. Maybe it was just her. Jana inhaled deeply, lungs burning, and exhaled slowly to steady her breathing. Giving herself a quick once-over, mercilessly picking the specks of lint off the dark fabric of her blazer. When she bent down, the tight waistline of the uniform pants cut off her ability to breathe. Damn these dress uniforms! If she was going to be late anyway, there was no harm in looking presentable, at least. No matter how lax the military had become in the five hundred years since the Fall, that casualness did not extend to sloppiness. All pomp and ceremony, no bite.
"It's no big deal. Don't worry. You've got this," she repeated in a half-hearted attempt to calm her nerves. Jana wrapped her clammy hand around the cool metal handle. With one last, loud exhale, she turned the knob and entered the room beyond. The click of the door latch echoed throughout the room briefly, but it was with finality.
Jana's eyes didn’t immediately adjust to the stark contrast of this room from the bright hallway. There was a spotlight trained on a plain metal chair in the otherwise dim space. Darkness huddled in corners and stretched up the walls, clinging to them so Jana couldn't discern what the room itself actually looked like.
Is this what being in a cave is like? The heels of her shoes clicked rhythmically on the floor as Jana marched with fake confidence to her place. The hairs on her arms stood on end from the chilly air, but Jana was hit
by a blast of hot air as she reached the steel chair. Heart racing, she stood in front of it at attention and saluted crisply.
"Lieutenant Jana Darren, serial number 2-2-7-8-4-3-6, reporting as ordered." After a long period of silence, her heart sank. Nausea clutched at her.
"Take your seat, Lieutenant." Though she couldn't see his face, Jana knew from the gentle but firm voice that it was Major Davis speaking. Hearings required five board members, and Jana now knew at least one of them would be on her side. Dropping the salute, Jana took her seat with feet flat on the floor. Keep your back straight. Don't let it touch the chair. Chin up, eyes straight ahead...don't look around, don't slouch, don't fidget. Stupid light. She did her best not to squint. Her brown eyes watered from the too-bright light beating down on her. Jana's nose began to wrinkle in discomfort. Not very professional.
"Miss Darren, you are four minutes and twenty-two seconds late." Was that disappointment she detected in his voice?
"No excuse, sir." Jana struggled to keep an even tone.
"Well, Lieutenant, as you know we are here to determine your eligibility for transfer to S-311M to be trained as a special team member." Lt. Colonel Buchannan had a voice like a broken whistle. Eleven years ago when Jana herself was a cadet, the woman was just a squad commander at the Academy.
Jana never forgot a person, even if she wanted to.
"Yes ma'am," said Jana more confidently than she felt.
"Why the desire to transfer?" It was another voice, and Jana was unfamiliar with the rock-grinding rasp of his tone.
"I wish to become a member of the S-311M CHAOS Team."
"The CHAOS Team? Excuse me Lieutenant, but as I was told, you are already part of the humanities agency here at S-17M. Why should we transfer you to 311?"
Beads of sweat formed at the nape of her neck from the heat of the spotlight, sticky and uncomfortable. Only inches away the respite of wonderful, cool darkness waited. Torture.
