Joel Adrian - A Shattered Future

He opened the door and turned back to her. “I’m glad to hear that you’ll be coming with us, Ms. Berg. I think having you there is going to be a tremendous asset. We meet our prisoner soldiers tomorrow, and then everything should be good.”

She stood and headed for the door.

“Do you want me to have one of the drill instructors give you as much of a crash course as they can muster? Perhaps some weapons training, basic self-defense…?”

She shook her head. “Not right now. But thanks.”

“Anytime. I should get some of this paperwork done. You able to find your way back to the science barracks okay?”

She pointed a thumb in the direction she’d come. “Just walk that way.”

He smirked. “You got it.”

Things were quiet the rest of the night. Wayne found Emersyn in the evening and showed her to the showers, where she was finally able to rid herself of the sweat and wash her greasy hair. She was concerned one of the scientists would walk in on her, but Wayne assured her they were all working. Afterward, she settled down on her bed and pulled out her cell phone.

Six more texts from Ollie. They gradually grew in concern, asking for her to contact him and consisting of him freaking out that she left him. She disregarded them; she didn’t have the energy to deal with another one of his freak-outs again.

Sleep claimed her quickly. She woke up in a sweating panic multiple times throughout the night, only to find her anxieties and worry transfer from the dreams to reality. The tugging of anxiousness at her stomach caused her to groan, and she’d roll onto her side and try to fall back into sleep’s grace.

The next day, she woke to a knock on the door.

Emersyn opened it to find Wayne Baron on the other side, dressed in a short-sleeve polo and a pair of black slacks. He offered her a kind smile and held up a tray of food. “Grabbed this from the mess for you.”

“Thank you.” She offered him a groggy smile.

“Thought you should know the prisoners are ‘bout to be finished processing.” He glanced around her room and folded his arms. “I’m hopin’ they’re no trouble, but with these kinds, one can never be too careful.”

She set the tray down on the desk in the room. “Are they in for minor crimes or serious criminals?”

His face formed a pinched expression. “Bit of both. Catalina Hernandez is no trouble. Stealing, used to have a drug problem. Been up for parole three times due to excellent behavior.” He frowned. “Joey Del Core is another story. A big-time mobster. He’s killed at least two dozen, ever’body knows. But officially, legally, he’s only in for dealing coke, though.”

The butterflies took to her stomach. Joey Del Core sounded like a bad type of person to mix into this operation.

Wayne noticed her expression. “Yeah, that’s how we all felt when his name hit Bravon’s desk. He’s not happy at all. Anywho, I’ll come get you when we need you, okay?”

She nodded, and Wayne Baron took his leave of her.

Emersyn ate quickly, stuffing the spoonfuls of eggs and pieces of imitation bacon into her mouth. It wasn’t anything like a home-cooked meal, but it held much more substance than the cheap, fast-food breakfast she’d eaten yesterday.

After eating her fill, she leaned back in her chair, a new swarm of worry taking over her mind. Catalina Hernandez sounded like a proper, reformed prisoner who should be on this mission. Joey Del Core sounded like a big-time mobster who pulled some strings to get himself attached to the mission.

She’d be worried he was going to attack them every moment.

You don’t know how this will play out, she reminded herself. The prisoners might not have guns or even weapons, and that reassured her.

She was hoping to see Mona again today. A series of questions crossed her mind, and though one-on-one time with herself was unlikely, she figured she could learn whatever she could in the limited amount of time they had together.

Picking up her phone, she checked her notifications. 22 missed texts from Ollie. She groaned. That boy just doesn’t know when to stop, she thought.

Without reading any of his texts, she opened a message to him and informed him she was working on something that was on a need-to-know basis and she would re-establish contact with him when she was done.

The text was cold, and she felt a pang of guilt for brushing him off. But everything going on at the base was more important, and she couldn’t lose sight of it for the same Ollie who’d refused to go out with her because it wasn’t a certain day of the week.

Emersyn debated texting her father. The two were growing further and further apart every year, down to a phone call a few times a year, and seeing one another for Thanksgiving and Christmas. He worked two jobs, and always told her he had to keep himself busy or he’d go mad. Even during holidays, she always got the feeling he’d rather be at work than spending the time with her.

She decided against sending him a text. It would only raise more questions, and from what Bravon Pearson had said, the quieter this was kept the better.

An hour later, Wayne Baron came for her. “They’re ready for you, child.”

She stood and followed the rotund man to the jeep outside. He drove her towards a large, central tent. It looked out of place amid all the buildings. Three other jeeps were parked outside the dark green canopy. Six soldiers, fully armored and armed with assault rifles, stood out front.

“Okay,” Wayne said as he brought the jeep to a stop next to the others. He turned to her and forced a smile. “Let’s go meet these prisoners, shall we?”

Emersyn had never seen so many guards in a small space. At least two dozen soldiers, all armed with handguns, stood inside the tent. They were divided among the two prisoners, and the leftover guards stood at the front.

Sergeant Major Bravon Pearson stood behind a folding table to the immediate left. There were diagrams and papers strewn about, and six other men standing next to him. Emersyn couldn’t hear what he was saying, but by looking at what he was pointing at, they appeared to be mapping out the activation site.

“Well, this is where I leave you,” Wayne said. He frowned and put a hand on her shoulder. “You’re a brave one for doing this. Lord knows I’d never be able to.”

She gave him a thankful smile, and he exited the tent.

“So, you must be the double, eh?”

Emersyn turned to see a soldier approaching her from behind. He was strikingly attractive, with bright hazel eyes and short blonde hair cropped at the sides. The man looked to be in his mid-30’s. He smiled, flashing a mouthful of shiny white teeth. He looked like a model from TV or a famous actor, not a down-and-dirty soldier.

It took Emersyn a moment to see his hand: she was too transfixed by his appearance. She glanced down and took it in a shake. She smiled weakly back at him but kept her eyes on his hand. “Emersyn.”

“Tanner Highwall. Specialist Tanner Highwall,” he said, emphasizing his rank. “No need to act like you’re not impressed. The ladies always are.”

She chuckled. He seemed brash, but she welcomed the off-putting humor. Everything had been so serious since she arrived.

“I hear we’ll be working together.” He pulled his hand back and nodded his head towards Sergeant Bravon Pearson. “Pops like me enough to let me tag along.”

She raised an eyebrow. “So, you’re going to be on the mission?”

“Damn skippy. Time travel and all that shit? I’d have signed up twice if they woulda let me. But then no-nonsense Naomi wouldn’t get to come.”

Emersyn shook her head, trying to follow what the cocky man was saying. “Sorry, no-nonsense what?”