The Uprising (The Julianna Rae Chronicles)

by Aral Bereux

  Julianna cringed. His objectivity isn’t objective enough, she thought. Caden’s intention of breaking their lines to breach the basement undetected didn’t convince her. Not with Bas on the center stage.

  Nothing more dangerous than an unhinged watcher, girlie. She thought. You said it, Hal. I think you’re right, old man.

  Caden moved from the map, unnerving her with his stare. Julianna squinted past the wooden boards to ignore him, counting the drones again, searching for a safe path in the open street.

  His body cast a shadow in the already dim light as he leaned against the boards she peered through. He cocked his head studying the drones, dancing and bobbing along the road

  ‘Hey,’ she said quietly. She stayed focused on the outside world, feigning her distractions, hoping he’d leave her alone.

  ‘You clear on what needs to be done?’

  She nodded. ‘Fall in with you.’ She glanced up and finally met his eyes. ‘I should be with them.’

  ‘I’m not sending you in the first wave. I’ve put too much effort into saving your sorry ass this week to risk it again.’

  ‘You’re not being objective.’ She justified her answer, nodding to the drones. ‘Those lines are impossible.’

  He glanced through the largest crack between the boards. ‘A year ago, if I’d mentioned at a certain camp that we shouldn’t break out, you would’ve left me there to rot.’

  ‘Your point being?’ he had her attention. She studied his lips, smiling ever so slightly.

  ‘So the odds of escaping that camp are about the same as getting in there undetected. Difficult yes, not impossible.’ He adjusted his lean to fold his arms. ‘So am I being subjective? It’s hard not to be, when they have my big brother in there. I don’t know his status for sure as Militia, he may even be dead; but if I thought for a second this couldn’t be done, I wouldn’t be doing it.’ His tone was low and certain. No one heard their conversation, but they were watching. She looked up at his tall stature before they both gazed back to the situation outside. The red beams continued to scan for movement.

  ‘What if we fail?’

  Caden considered her question. His sigh sent a shiver of doubt through her. They had Bas, they had Hal. There were a handful of other commanders out there, but no full-bloods. Just Isis, the general, and him.

  ‘We lose the war and a lot of people get killed.’

  ‘You really think that?’ she was careful to keep her voice down. ‘Are we really at such a turning point?’

  He nodded. ‘They catch the head of the new Council and the Seer – just quietly, what do you think will happen?’ he raised an eyebrow. ‘They have some key players. Who knows what intel has been passed on.’ He shrugged, shook his head and feigned his own distraction with the drones.

  A blind spot on their side of the building appeared and she took a second glance. A confused drone malfunctioned in its position, leaving a vulnerable gap close to the side entrance.

  ‘I saw it the moment we arrived,’ he gave her a wink. ‘I still stand firm with my recommendation for you as a Commander, if we get out of this.’

  ‘Wouldn’t pay as well as the dancing,’ she mumbled. ‘We need to move out before the lines get stronger.’

  ‘Agreed, Commander,’ he said. ‘We do.’

  * * *

  The basement was large and well lit. Julianna tailed Caden's large steps between the rows of storage compartments under the fluorescents hanging high in neat rows. The dysfunctional lines formed from the malfunctioning drones, wavered outside, unaware of their break-in.

  They left the others behind; Caden opted against her wishes to stay with them, preferring they move in alone. She’d listened to his argument that he didn’t want a crowd in Central Command; that it was too hard to remain invisible on the higher levels, and reluctantly agreed.

  Everyone else had their positions. Four groups of ten, each taking a corner of the basement. They were to work through the mapped positions, laying charges and detonators where needed, to blow the place sky high. If it worked, they’d take the war in-country, fight the east camp establishment, and then take out the west. The optimistic outcome was the least of her concern.

  Need to muddle through this one first.

  Julianna ran along a wall with her rifle ready, following close behind. The Summit started in an hour, and they needed to hold their position in the building next door for when it did. Caden told her they needed to reach the rear of the grand hall, where the Summit would take place. She trusted his judgment, though Caden’s familiarity with Central Command struck her as odd.

  She watched him peer around a corner, checking their safety. Caden had left vital information out. She sensed it when Daniel asked about Central Head Quarters presence and Caden had abruptly ended their conversation, dragging her from the group. It left her restless.

  Meet at the west tunnels once the objectives are met, Caden ordered the squads of ten. He pulled her arm, pinching at her skin with his cold fingers, while barking his final order. The expression he exchanged with Daniel was antagonistic. Now she struggled with his sprint as they ran to a stairwell doorway.

  The door’s lock released and opened gently under his hovering hand. Julianna went first into the shoebox like space. The door closed behind Caden, dampening the barely there glow that shinned from the level above.

  She turned into him, stopping him from moving past her. ‘What exactly is it we’re doing?’

  Caden pushed past her gently, climbing the concrete stairs.

  ‘We’re meant to be helping with the explosives,’ she stated.

  Caden spied the door on the first landing. A huge number one painted in white, marked its level. His feet took the steps, two at a time. The door handle unlocked under his caress, as she reached the landing behind him.

  ‘Hunting and gathering,’ he whispered over his shoulder. ‘Hunting for Bas, gathering for intel in case we don’t get him, and anything else we get is a bonus.’

  I shouldn’t be doing this. ‘Okay then, so why the big secret?’ I shouldn’t be going out in the open at Central Command.

  His stare was longing and unforgiving. Chills ran down her spine as he opened the door, afraid he’d heard her thoughts. A bright stream of light hit her from the clean corridors outside. The narrow opening provided them with a clear sight to two officers in full dress uniform passing them; absorbed in mid-conversation. He latched the door quietly.

  She pressed against the wall with Caden beside her, and waited.

  Impossible. She mouthed to him.

  ‘Why are you so reluctant?’ He asked.

  ‘We’re not meant to be breaching Central like this. This wasn’t the plan. These aren’t our objectives.’

  ‘You protest too much for my liking.’

  He quizzed her for an answer and when she didn’t grant him the satisfaction, he opened the door into level one of Central Command.

  The hallway was brightly lit, immaculately furnished with wall hangings of past soldiers considered glorious, and she admired the ornate sofa for the tired, off-duty officers to rest upon. They ran, pressed against its clean white walls to the double doors at the end, unlocked and empty on the other side.

  Caden counted doors, stopping at the fifth and dragged her in behind it.

  It was a small office. Singular and dark, with one desk center of the room. Filing cabinets lined the walls to one side and book shelves to the other.

  ‘Look at this…’ he said to himself, breathless. He holstered his gun against his thigh to scan the file.

  ‘How do you know to look for this in here?’

  ‘I used to work here. This is my old HSD office.’ He tucked the file inside his shirt.

  ‘You never told me you were Militia!’ she snapped. ‘You never tell me anything!’

  ‘We haven’t had much time to talk, now have we?’ he said in a low whisper. He checked his watch. ‘Forty-five minutes. We need to move.’

  Caden looked quickly at the c
eiling and pointed to the ventilation unit above them.

  ‘You first, sweetheart.’

  She frowned. ‘For the record, Commander,’ she climbed onto the desk, underneath the grill and pushed it open. ‘This is the stupidest plan you’ve had yet.’

  ‘You got a better idea?’

  ‘Doesn’t mean it isn’t stupid.’

  He followed, stepping onto the desk and raising her through the hole. She climbed into the narrow space and watched Caden lift himself effortlessly beside her. A glance at the grate’s direction swung the door closed on its hinges.

  ‘You too could do that if you were trained,’ he whispered.

  ‘Don’t start with the initiation bullshit again,’ she grumbled in a low whisper. ‘I’ll follow.’

  Their maze wove endlessly ahead of them as they commando crawled in the metal tunnel. Caden’s boots threatened to kick her face with his shuffle forward.

  Daniel might detonate the charges while we’re stuck in this place!

  The image of fire blazed along the ventilation unit, licking at their feet. She wiped it away, exchanging it for her more pleasant park to take its place – then that closed in with grey clouds and Hal’s nagging voice. It was useless, right now there was no safe haven, but for the man in front of her.

  Caden glanced over his shoulder. She caught his look – nodding for her to join him. She skirmished along, crawling into the narrow space between his shoulders and vent wall to look through a grate to a desk in a well lit room.

  Taris sat behind it, quietly discussing the security arrangements for the Summit over the comms. He stopped to look up in their direction.

  ‘Fuck,’ she whispered and pressed against Caden’s side.

  There’s no way he’s seen us. No way has he heard us. We’ve been careful.

  ‘Why is he sensing you?’ Caden whispered. ‘Something you’re not telling me?’

  Caden peered again. Taris was out of his seat and pacing his office with his radio in hand, calling for his security. When the office door opened, her name was the first thing mentioned.

  ‘You’re bound to him!’

  It wasn’t a question, wasn’t rhetoric at all. It was an accusation. Caden glared at her.

  ‘Like you said, no time to talk.’

  Caden slid silently away until they were staring at each other. He was about to open his mouth again – or his mind to let her have a blast, when Bastiaan’s voice cut into the vents, discussing Militia tactics. They both stopped, frozen in their positions to stare through the grate.

  ‘If you find her on your way out, keep her alive. Make sure your men understand that I need her alive.’

  ‘Yes, Sir. I understand. The drones are in place in Sector Two. I’ll be moving in for the attack, in the next hour. Do you want me to search the building until then?’

  Taris nodded. ‘She’s on this level. Secure all the exits,’ Taris smiled. ‘Do what you do best. You know your job. If you find her, great. If not, we have the safe house as our priority. Unless you can capture the General himself, Lieutenant, I don’t want survivors. Burn the place and its Rebellion rats to the ground. Make certain there aren’t any survivors.’

  Caden slid back for the closest grate away from the office. Julianna followed, not expecting Caden to quickly lower her into the richly, carpeted hallway. She glanced up at him leaning over the hole, readying to close it.

  ‘Aren’t you coming?’ she frowned.

  ‘Find Daniel’s crew and get back to the safe house. You need to warn them,’ he peered from the ventilation unit. ‘I’ll finish here. Once I’m done, I’ll move in for support.’

  ‘I can’t do this by myself!’ Julianna stared down at the door where Taris gave his final orders. The door was deliberating under the hand of the person edging out, moved back and forth while he talked.

  ‘You have no choice,’ he said. ‘Go on, Julianna. That’s an order.’

  Caden’s force lifted and threw her against the wall in the direction of the stairwell, winding her. She stood, cringing at her breathlessness and when she glanced up the vent was closed. The door at the end of the hallway opened and Bas ran towards her.

  Follow down, left then right, then right again. Hurry now.

  I’m going. She said. Did he hear her, she had no idea. Her heart pounded loudly – and with Bas calling her name softly, she struggled to hear herself.

  ‘Julianna,’ Bas sung quietly.

  She turned around. Bas was slowing his pace to an amble, with his hands behind his back.

  ‘Come on, Julianna. Don’t run, darlin’ we’re friends now, aren’t we?’

  Her feet betrayed her. She looked down at the floor, trying to move their concrete weight, refusing to lift in their heaviness from the spell Bas had cast. Bas had her well within his watcher grasp.

  He walked slowly, closing their space and smiling, with his hand reaching out. ‘That’s it,’ he beckoned. ‘Just stay where you are. No one’s getting hurt today.’

  She felt the beat of his voice. Her feet staggered forward, one after the other, pigeon toed, unable to be controlled in his trance. His thoughts sunk into her own mind, taking over her free will. There wasn’t a thing she could do to escape his intensity. He drowned her out; blocked her mind and closed her down.

  Caden, help me.

  ‘Hey now,’ Bas said in a soft voice. His hand brushed along her arm as his other fumbled with his handcuffs. ‘Now we can move along quietly. I’ll even find you a nice quiet room with a view.’

  She held her hands out for him. The cold metal brushed against her wrists in preparation for its grasp, when Bas became preoccupied with the ventilation unit. His face contorted. The empty hallway confused him.

  ‘Me thinks we’re not alone,’ he said in a kindly voice.

  Run Julianna, run as fast as you can.

  The cuffs dropped into the thick carpet. Caden balanced on his haunches when Bas spun around in his place. His grasp left her to escape.

  ‘Get out of here!’ Caden ducked the first punch.

  Bas was thrown into the wall first before he pushed Caden into the one across from them. Taris swung the door open to the noise.

  Julianna’s feet carried her through the long hallway, turning the corners sharply, sprinting to the stairwell where the door was still ajar. She leaped down the stairs, two and three at a time, all the while with the constant weight of Taris laughing inside her mind.

  She exploded through the door and into the basement, bolting across the floor. The noise startled the teams into raising their sights from the explosives they were laying in the corner.

  ‘They have Caden!’ she yelled. ‘They’re ambushing the safe house in less than an hour!’ She looked over her shoulder. No one had followed.

  ‘Then go warn them. We’re almost done, we’ll follow,’ Daniel said.

  ‘What about Caden?’

  They were closing in, she sensed the urgency; she needed to leave the reach that Taris was grasping for.

  ‘Forget him, he’s my problem now. Just go, will you!’

  Daniel finished tying the last fuse. The others were crowding around him in a wave of curiosity and panic.

  ‘Which way is he?’ he stood.

  She pointed.

  ‘Right, now go.’

  Julianna did. She ran along the basement, through the opening where the malfunctioning drone still buzzed in confusion, to the street, in the direction of the tunnels. Her lungs seared with the early morning air that she gulped in, but she didn’t stop until the slippery ground in the tunnels tripped her into a puddle.

  She sat in the water, stunned.

  Her chest heaved as her body caught up and her mind spun in a daze to get its bearings on where she sat. Every wall looked the same. She’d run without taking notice. She looked at the stone walls surrounding her. Tears welled.

  Caden.

  Her mind begged for his answer. She called again, and again. Only the thickness of the water flowing into the nearby chann
els, responded.

  Caden, please, please, please, please, answer me. Please.

  ‘Please,’ she whispered through tears.

  Please be okay.

  A siren blared. She turned in its direction.

  The opening in the wall they had climbed through stared back at her, large and dark, beckoning at her, echoing the warning travelling from the safe house.

  She was too late. The attack had already started.

  CHAPTER 21

  6th May, 2018, 0930 hours.

  The Safe House, Sector #3

  The speaker blared, the alarm went off briefly again and everyone ran in slow motion around her, as she stood watching.

  What the hell are they doing? They should be running with this, she thought.

  She moved into the upper hallways, pushing against the crowds. She yelled. Everyone for the basement, get the intel and run. Her voice boomed over the alarm, and it registered. The crowds thickened around her in the chaos, slamming her against a wall, as she made her way to the stairwell. She needed to reach the rooftop with the others.

  The general was ahead of her on the first landing, barking orders and accepting the rifle being pushed into his hands. No one’s rank placed them above defending their strong hold. Everyone had their duty and the general was no exception. He gave her a nod to move along. She nodded back, she wasn’t an exception either.

  Her feet leapt over the steps, grabbing a scoped rifle from the supply room officer. He handed them out, to everyone passing – repeating the action until he exhausted the weapons supply. She checked the rifle for rounds as she continued her bound up the stairs. Voices yelled around her, footsteps against the stairs echoed along the thin area, guns cocked, prepared, or were loaded, and more yelling of orders. The panic was loud. They’d had many drills for this occasion, everyone knew their role. The day for the organized weekly ritual had become brutal reality.

  Julianna stopped at the closed rooftop door. Others waited and the general had disappeared.

  He must be out there, she thought.

  She looked around all eyes were on her, waiting for her. She sucked in a breath. The exposed roof line behind the door was an unknown situation.