~ Chelsea Thomas ~
We got underway just as the sun’s rays were starting to brighten the eastern horizon. We travelled in two vehicles, ten in the Bushmaster and three in a large black 4WD. The little white-blond guy, Shorty, was driving the armoured personnel carrier again, with his girlfriend Aika beside him. I couldn’t believe it when we drove past the hospital and found her waiting out front with her thigh encased in bandages. I was even more surprised when Ethan let her join us without a word. I would have sent her back inside with instructions to stay put until she was discharged. Who were these people that paid no heed to their injuries?
Madison, Ethan and his wife, and the Specialists rode in the Bushmaster’s passenger compartment, four per side. I sat at the front beside Bhagya, opposite Ethan and Madison.
“You’re not using the normal route to Newhome, are you?” I asked Ethan.
“Why wouldn’t we?” he replied.
“If the Militia come after us, aren’t those the first roads they’ll check?”
Ethan smiled. “They know exactly where we are, Chelsea. Both vehicles and all of our phones are fitted with GPS trackers.”
“Can’t you disable them?”
“We can, but we can’t disable that.” He pointed up.
“Oh, the spy satellite.” I frowned. “But it’s not all seeing, right? Can’t you throw it off by taking a different route?”
“That might fool them for about an hour.”
“But–”
“Relax, Chelsea.” Madison reached across and patted my knee. “The colonel will use every trick at his disposal to hamper any efforts the council may make to send the Militia after us.”
“Besides, we’re not going to Newhome yet,” Ethan said.
“We’re not?”
“Of course not. We have to get your vehicle first. Imagine what would happen if the Custodians saw us drop you off?”
“It’s broken down,” Anna said.
“Don’t worry, David will get it going.”
I met Ethan’s unabashed gaze as he stared at me. From the tales of his exploits in fighting the Skel, I had subconsciously created an impression of him that was larger than life. Now that I’d met him, I wasn’t quite sure what to make of him. I didn’t think it was fair to say he was too full of himself – more a case of having been given so much leeway by his superiors that he’d come to believe that his perspective was the only one that mattered.
“Hey Jones, did you and Madison really save the chancellors life on the night the Rangers attacked the chancellery?” Anna asked suddenly.
Ethan nodded, and went on to explain in detail how he and Madison came back to Newhome in this very Bushmaster upon hearing the Rangers had gone there on a suicide mission to take out the chancellor and all of the Koreans.
“Why didn’t you kill the chancellor? Sounds like you had ample opportunity,” I said.
He looked at me squarely. “Could you gun him down in cold blood?”
“No,” I said.
“Nor could I – he has to stand trial for his crimes.”
“I would’ve done it. Without the slightest hesitation,” Bhagya said, staring at the floor. I glanced at her emotionless face and cold, dead eyes, and shuddered in spite of myself.
* * *
Shorty took us past the water purification plant and to the road where we had ditched our G-Wagon. I guess we shouldn’t have been surprised that it broke down, because the vehicle was over a hundred years old, even though almost every part had been replaced or repaired.
Still, I found it unnerving that they knew exactly where our car was, having watched us drive it here through their spy satellite. Having a monopoly on technology like that gave them an edge no one else could hope to match. I hoped Hamamachi didn’t have secret ulterior motives like the chancellor did.
True to Ethan’s claim, David opened the G-Wagon’s bonnet and with Ken’s help, soon had the engine going.
“Just some of corrosion on the cable clamps, easy cheese,” he said. “Now, who’s gonna drive?”
“All yours, mate,” Ethan said. “The Specialists need to stay with Madison and me so we can coordinate what to do when we get to Hamamachi.”
David’s face lit up at that suggestion.
The drive to Newhome resumed.
* * *
Shorty used lesser known roads and backstreets while driving through the city of Melbourne to ensure we didn’t accidently bump into any foragers. Entering town in a Hamamachi-converted Militia Bushmaster and 4WD plus a Custodian G-wagon would have destroyed any chance of avoiding suspicion.
It was mid-afternoon when we reached the ruins of the old Melbourne Zoo. Once home to a menagerie of animals, now it was little more than a weed-overgrown ruin with crumbling red and ochre brick walls, home to mice, rats and birds. Shorty parked in the main car park, saying that the zoo was a good place for Jones’ unit to hole up for now since it was a stone’s throw from Newhome yet out of sight.
After hours cooped up in the vehicles, everyone spilled outside, rubbing numb behinds and stretching aching limbs.
“We go in first, right?” I said, remembering what we’d discussed on the trip here. “Through the front gate, as though we’ve completed our mission.”
“Correct. We’ll sneak into the town in a couple of days,” Ethan said.
“You going to tell us how you’re going to manage that?” I asked.
“Nope.” Ethan smiled.
“Don’t you trust us?” Anna asked.
“Not a matter of trust. People have a habit of letting things slip.”
“Fair enough. Well, we’d better get going,” Anna said before ordering Bhagya, Romy, Lucia, and me into the G-Wagon. After leaving the zoo, we drove the short trip to Newhome’s north-eastern gatehouse, the one that led directly into North End.
The sight of the town’s high, outwardly curving, razor-wire topped concrete walls instantly reminded me of my twin brother. Brandon had been the only silver lining in the dark clouds of my pitiful existence. Thinking of him invariably triggered bittersweet memories. His passing left me feeling like I was only half a person.
I recalled the unease I felt the first day he went to school when he was five. When I finished my chores, I spent the rest of the day in the lounge room, waiting for him to come home. When he finally did, I was at the door like a shot.
“Let him in the door, Eldest Daughter!” Mother shouted as she hurried towards us from the kitchen. After he stepped inside and dumped his schoolbag on the floor, she knelt in front of him and held his little shoulders, smiling with pride. “You’ve become such a big boy, haven’t you, Son? Your first day of school. How was it, did you learn a lot of new things?”
“It was boring,” he said.
“Really?” Mother exclaimed. “Well, I’m sure it will be more fun tomorrow.”
“I don’t like you going to school, Brandy – I’ve got no one to play with,” I whispered beneath Mother’s hearing range.
“I didn’t like it either. Father already taught me everything the teacher said. And besides, it was no fun without you there. I don’t get why they don’t let girls come to school.”
Coming to a stop in front of the north-eastern gatehouse, Anna identified herself and flashed her Specialists’ badge. The Custodians on duty opened the twelve-foot high steel gates and let us into town without hesitation. My heart raced in anticipation of what we came back to do. If we succeeded, girls would finally attend school alongside the boys.
As we drove through North End’s streets on the way to the lab, I realised I saw the town in a different light now. Previously, I found the paved roads, beautiful parks, and eye-catching architecture to be constant reminders of the massive gulf between the North Enders and those living in Newhome Proper, the division between the haves and have-nots. But now when I looked at North End, I rejoiced at the thought that the hated wall dividing the town into two classes could soon be coming down.
I also found myself think
ing of Ryan, of his square shoulders and strong jaw, of his powerful physique and unflappable inner strength, and of the affection he always showed me. I clenched my hands into fists and mentally begged General Cho to buy the lies we were about to feed him. I couldn’t wait to seek out Ryan after the debriefing so I could tell him the good news!
Upon reaching the lab, we were taken to the cramped, windowless debriefing room. There we waited thirty minutes for the general to return from the chancellery.
At last, he strode into the room, all business, as usual. He wasn’t the man we used to know – the Ranger assault on the chancellery that killed so many of his kin and left him with a permanent limp had changed him, and not in a good way. I suspected he was tormented equally by the need to carry out vengeance against the Japanese and by consuming guilt that he hadn’t been able to stop the Rangers. General Lee and Colonel Kim, the two top ranking Custodian officers who doubled as councillors, were killed under his watch.
“Take your seats, Specialists,” he said as he sat at the head of the oval table beneath an old interactive white-board.
As we sat and tried to meet his eyes, he examined us with a steely gaze that missed nothing, well aware that six went out and only five returned. At the certainty that he would see right through our lives, a feeling of terror fled through me. I had to grip my hands together tightly on my lap so he couldn’t see them shaking.
He fixed his eyes on Anna. “Report, Lieutenant Georgiou.”
“The mission was successful, sir. We hit both targets, as ordered.” Anna paused, her voice thick with emotion. “But not without loss. As we were withdrawing from the satellite ground station after laying the charges, we were attacked by a Militia patrol. Claire Hoffman was shot in the head and killed.”
“That’s a shame. She was a very capable girl. However, be comforted that she died serving the chancellor while striking a blow at our mortal enemies. Remember also that there are always casualties in war – every victory comes at a price.”
“We tried to retrieve her body, sir, but the enemy firepower was too strong and the charges were about to blow.”
“You made the correct choice, Lieutenant – you are to be commended for bringing back five members of your team.”
“Thank you, sir.”
“May I speak freely, sir?” I said.
General Cho raised an eyebrow.
“Why didn’t you tell us the nature of our mission? Blowing up the satellite ground station to deprive our enemy of their ability to communicate was one thing, but putting a biotoxin in their water supply that would result in thousands of deaths? And not just in Hamamachi, but the neighbouring towns as well?”
“Are you questioning the chancellor’s wisdom, Chelsea?”
“Not at all, sir. I know he is right in all of his ways and does only what is best for the people of Newhome, but surely there was another option. I…I wanted to drop by Hamamachi on the way back to see what affect it had. But the thought of seeing so many civilians dying as their organs started shutting down – I just couldn’t face it.”
“What civilians, Chelsea? Have you forgotten that every adult citizen of Hamamachi serves in the Militia one month a year? They are all our enemies, every last one of them. And before you protest, that includes the children, for they will one day join the Militia and follow in their parents’ footsteps against us.”
“But, sir–”
“They started this war, Chelsea, remember?”
“Yes, sir.”
“Good. Make sure you do.” He pushed back his chair and stood. “That concludes the oral debriefing. Go to your desk now and fill out a written report. I want to see them on my desk before the day is through.”
* * *
Thinking we had succeeded in our mission to take Hamamachi out of the picture, General Cho sent me back to work undercover in Newhome Proper’s secondary college. Not as a student though, since I had ‘graduated’ from year-twelve last year disguised as my brother, but as a cleaner. Wearing loose-fitting, filthy overalls and a sports cap, and with hands and face smudged with dirt, I certainly looked the part. All the same, I had to keep my head down and avoid eye contact as I moved inconspicuously around the school eavesdropping on conversations. I couldn’t risk anyone recognising me.
Walking through three stories of corridors filled with laughing, mocking, jostling teenage boys brought back many memories, some of which I would have preferred to have left buried. Jazza and Carver, members of the Underground Resistance Movement and my tormentors, were dead. Another member, Stefan, had been arrested, interrogated, and subsequently executed for the part he played in letting the Skel and Rangers into the town.
After leaving a discreet note in Ryan’s diary, I was already on the school roof when the bell rang to announce lunchbreak. The flat roof enclosed by chain-link fences was just as I remembered it. There were wooden benches hidden amongst potted bushes and plants; vines crawled their way up once-white trellises, and the massive air conditioning unit at the far end thrummed away rhythmically.
I heard Ryan mount the stairs before I saw him, but kept collecting discarded food wrappers and other rubbish rather than turn to meet him.
“Hey, mate, can you come back after lunch?” he said.
“I’m almost done. Can’t you wait five minutes?” I spoke an octave lower, imitating my twin brother’s voice.
“Chelsea? Girl, you’re getting good – I had no idea it was you,” he exclaimed, coming closer. “When did you get back?”
I turned and lifted my head so our eyes could meet. He looked tired, but mightily relieved to see me. He still dressed like a teacher, with his blue jeans and a V-neck knitted jumper. Still, his clothes couldn’t hide his impressive muscles. That thought brought back memories of working out with him at the gym. I really missed those days.
“Yesterday afternoon,” I said.
“I always worry when you go out of town.”
“Why? You know I can look after myself. Besides, we’ve seen neither hide nor hair of the Skel for months.”
“It’s not the Skel I’m afraid of. Didn’t it occur to you to slip off to Ballarat to see if your sister and the other escapees are there?”
“Every minute I’m out there.”
“So why don’t you go?”
“Because I won’t leave this place until we’ve overthrown the chancellor and stopped him releasing the virus.”
He seemed crestfallen. “Those are the only reasons?”
I gave him a playful punch on the arm. “There may be one or two more.”
“Really? What are they?”
“Well, there’s my father and my mother–”
“Chelsea!”
“And my sisters in the lab. I’d be lost without them, especially Bhagya and Romy.”
“And…”
“And what?”
“Aren’t you missing a reason?”
“Can’t think of it.”
“Think a little harder.” His strong hands reached out and gently lifted my chin so that I was looking up into his face. His eyes sparkled with amusement. I wished time would freeze so I could enjoy this moment forever.
“Oh, that’s right. There is one more reason.” I gave him my best winning smile.
“I’m last on your list of reasons to come back?”
“I left the best till last.” I didn’t need a mirror to know I was blushing as only redheads can.
“Good save.” He laughed.
“Also…” My voiced faded away, embarrassed. When it came to talking about matters of the heart, I felt completely out of my depth.
“Go on,” he prompted, smiling.
“You know how you keep talking about us being able to get together one day?”
“Yes?”
“Well, that day may actually be around the corner.”
“Really? How?”
“We met Ethan Jones and Madison Taylor outside Hamamachi and they signed up to help us take down the chancellor and stop the vi
rus from being released.”
“Ethan and Madison? Together? That’s fantastic news. When do you think they might come?”
“They’re outside the town right now with an elite combat unit.”
“How are they going to get in? Not through force of arms, right? ‘Cause there’s no way that will work.”
“Ethan says he has a way in, but wouldn’t tell me what it is.”
“Wait – did you say an elite combat unit? They’re not planning on assassinating the chancellor and making a quick exit, are they? Leaving us to deal with the repercussions?”
I quickly explained how Ethan and his unit wanted to help us instigate a town-wide revolution while working with the Freehome and Underground movements.
Glancing over his shoulder to make sure no one else was coming up the stairs, Ryan took my right hand in his. “I have to say this is the most exciting news I’ve heard in a long time, Chelsea. I can’t believe we can stop planning and waiting and get this show on the road.”
“Me too, though I have this horrible feeling that this revolution’s going to be a costly and bloody affair.”
Ryan sobered somewhat. “Depends how organised we are and who we can get on our side. And if we can pull this off, you’re right. We may be able to get together sooner than I anticipated.”
I nodded, but butterflies were running amuck in my stomach. I had never seriously believed we could get married. Not with me being biologically engineered, a convicted criminal, and having a father who’d been in prison and my own career as a Specialist. But now, there was a chance we could get married, and that made me nervous. What did I know about marriage and romance?
“Hey, I’ll let Mal Li know you’re here. Can you ‘clean’ his office after school? He’ll need to hear your news first hand.”
“Sure.”
Chapter Ten
~ Ethan Jones ~
We despatched the five girls to Newhome in their repaired G-Wagon and waited for nightfall. After that, we dropped Aika and Ken off at a twelve-story apartment block in Ascot Vale that afforded a commanding view of Newhome. It was from this very building that the Ranger sniper terrorized the town all those months ago. Shorty and Ken were both experienced spotters for Aika, but I needed the little guy with us when we got into Newhome. He knew the town like the back of his hand and could scale the sides of buildings like a gecko. I also figured that Ken was the better choice to lug Aika’s big sniper rifle, Javelin missile launcher, and their bags up twelve flights of stairs. Normally she would carry her own things, but because of her leg wound, she was temporarily crippled.
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