***
The mobile diner had taken Jayson near the tutors’ housing district. He jumped out of the slow moving tin can with Richard, who took off in the direction of the hangar to search for Val, the third and final pilot that the Academy possessed.
Other than the siren, the area was quiet and calm. The tutors’ houses were simple, single person cabins, just enough to offer privacy at the end of the day from the throngs of children. Several tutors emerged and pulled on clothes. They all had weapons at the ready, most carried high calibre rifles designed as multi-purpose tools, they could be used as mid-to-long range personnel snipers and even shoot down enemy aircraft with enough direct hits. Many favoured a sword or knife if it came to close combat.
The armed tutors rounded up the oldest students and either sent them to the armoury or handed over spare weapons and sent them up to the surface of the island. A handful of the younger tutors jogged toward the largest body of students to herd them back to their rooms. Jayson could see the stream of kids returning from the weapons range in the distance. Shouts of panic echoed along the giant cavern. Jayson turned the other away, heading for the auditorium.
I really don’t want to be here, Jayson thought when he arrived. Curious students and even a few of the younger tutors filed into the auditorium behind him. They shouldn’t be here either. They’re all going to die.
Casey walked in with them; the childish enthusiasm Jayson had witnessed earlier had vanished. He strode right up to Jayson. His physical presence and years of experience nearly caused Jayson to cower where he stood. Casey was a bulky bear of a man, but Jayson, like almost everyone at the Academy, had seen him in action at least once, and knew better than to try outdoing him.
Casey jabbed a finger into his chest, breaking Jayson’s train of thought. ‘What happened to the supplies? You didn’t bring them did ya? And ya got two students killed.’ His Texan accent grated on Jayson’s fried nerves.
‘Really, that’s what you lead with - the supplies?’ he snapped back. ‘That’s what is more important to you. Matt and Zoe were just footnotes, an afterthought?’
Casey lowered the pitch of his voice further, as if that were possible. ‘Don’t question me boy. I’m lookin out for all of us, not just those livin here. The supplies could have changed our entire position in this underground war.’
‘A weapon?’ Jayson asked.
‘Weapons. Those assassins that attacked you are growin in number. Whaddaya think they were trainin you for in Washington? Mouldin your mind to their way of thinking... You would have been one of them.’ Casey sighed and eased a fraction. ‘Look, I know yer on our side, whether you know it as well, or not. But ya messed up on this one. Now there’s a rumour they’re starting another trainin camp in Australia. We’re finished without a new strategy. New weapons.’
Jayson couldn’t believe what he was hearing. He couldn’t process it. More training camps like the one in DC? Training kids to become killers... but how different is the Academy? ‘They didn’t kill Matt straight away,’ he said.
‘Then he told them everythin,’ Casey growled.
‘You don’t know that.’
‘Everyone breaks, kid. The Confederacy is comin. This isn’t the only information that confirms it. Why do ya think I sounded the alarm?’
Just then a student came up to Casey and began arguing in Japanese. Jayson heard the name “Fletcher” being dropped. Casey seemed to be denying the Japanese kid’s accusations.
That was the name of the assassin who attacked us, Jayson thought. Sarah assumed that he is the one in charge. Were they training me to become like him? Or do they just want a good pilot too?
‘Two of the assassins used crossbows,’ Jayson spoke up. ‘I’ve never seen Confederates use them before.’
‘That doesn’t prove they’re not Confederates,’ Casey said.
Richard and Val arrived and stepped in line with Jayson. ‘We’re ready when you need us Casey. Right guys?’ Richard said.
‘Da,’ said Val.
‘Yeah… yeah, sure Richard,’ Jayson said, distracted by the thoughts swirling through his head. Matt and Zoe, sent to die for a bunch of weapons… another move in a game of chess.
Jayson barely registered the new kid, Joshua, coming into the auditorium and arguing with Casey as well. He seemed to be winning, because he began a speech aimed at everyone else.
Jayson wasn’t listening. How different is the Academy? Zoe and Matt, pawns being thrown away in a larger game between the Academy and the Confederacy, and now a possible third party. The Academy used them up just the same as those they claimed to oppose.
I’ve been on my own before. This place has just been a crutch. I need to get the hell out of here before I get caught in the middle of their war.
Joshua paused in his speech. Casey had disappeared. Richard stepped forward at something Joshua had said, and Jayson took a step forward out of reflex, following his friend’s example.
‘Jayson, Val, I need you to stay here,’ Joshua said.
What? Jayson’s jaw dropped. No way was he staying here to get caught in the crossfire. Joshua said something to Val and shook her hand, so Jayson stepped up next. He smiled as they exchanged their goodbyes, but Jayson didn’t care what Joshua wanted. Captain Jayson Georgiou was going to run.