Charged~ Electric Book One
Chapter Twelve~ Choice

It takes less than aweek for us to get really comfortable with our surroundings. Brie and Jaredhave begun working in the garden that helps provide food for everyone here. Ispend a few hours each day doing laundry and Mason trains to help evacuate thecamp if the need ever arises. Even though the work is hard, it’s nice to feeluseful—like I’m accomplishing something.

Captain Jenningsmanages to get a safe message to Dr. Ford through his channels. He also washappy to inform us that our party has been moved safely to the Columbuslocation. I’m glad they were able to convince Jack and Mariette to get outbefore it was too late. Becky and Nate are safely there with them.

I climb the steps up tothe high wall to look for Mason so we can go to lunch together. I don’t getstopped at all at this point. The other soldiers are used to me trekking uphere for him. He stands, staring east. I join him and we watch the soldiersleave the safety of the walls and head towards the metallic fog. They’ve beenkeeping it back so far. I wonder if Dr. Ford has managed to make my energystronger yet. I remember that the nanobots were able to overpower it if it’s insmall doses.

Lost in our ownthoughts, we don’t say much as we head to the food tent. Mason squeezes myhand, instantly making me feel better. No matter what happens, at least we’retogether.

Baby bear has beenspending his days with Brie and Jared at the garden. He seems to enjoy beingoutside all day, which makes sense. He’s still getting bigger. In fact, onlythe guys are able to carry him now. Luckily, he’s getting faster on his own.He’s loyal, and stays by Brie or myself whenever possible.

We just finish ourlunch when a soldier approaches us. “If you’ll please excuse me, CaptainJennings has requested your presence immediately.”

This isn’t the firsttime that the Captain has had someone hunt me down, so it’s not as intimidatingas it was the first time it happened. Although it does make me worry instantly,these meetings rarely end in good news.

Since we’re alltogether, the four of us and Baby bear follow the soldier to Captain Jennings’office. When we arrive, he’s on the phone. He holds up a finger before hangingup and turning to us solemnly.

“We have a problem. I’msorry to do this to you. For the safety of everyone here, I have no choice.”

Mason and Jaredimmediately take on a defensive posture. Brie and I roll our eyes at each otherbehind their backs. It’s not as though something’s going to bust through thedoor and attack us. I prefer to hear out the Captain before I freak out.

“The infection isspreading closer to us than ever before. Even with our new weapons, we don’tseem to have enough to hold it back.” He looks at me with sympathy in his eyes.“Kat, I have to send you out there. I’m so sorry, but I don’t see any otherchoice.”

“No!” Mason protests.“It’s too dangerous.”

“We have no choice.This is our last resort. Either Kat is able to push the infection back, or wehave to evacuate. With all of the people we have and the citizens who have gonerogue in all of this mayhem, it’s not safe for us to relocate everyone. Thechances of all of us making it to the next compound are slim.”

Maybe it’s the fear Isee in Brie’s eyes or all of the friends we’ve made here, but I can’t say no. Ithink of everything done so far and the lives taken by my hands. Howeverinadvertently, this chance to help can be the beginning of my path ofredemption. “I’ll do it.” I say quietly, and the look of betrayal on Mason’sface is forever burned in my memory.

“Katno, please.” He pleads with me.

“Mason,I have to. How can I not?”

Masonstands so abruptly that his chair flips back to the floor with a clatter. Hestorms out of the room. Understanding cover’s Brie’s features as she grabsJared’s hand and the two of them head off after Mason. Baby bear lumbers behindthem. He stops by the door Brie holds open and looks at me.

“It’sokay, B; go with Brie.” He reluctantly hangs his head and follows Brie out thedoor.

I turnto the Captain expectantly. Immediately, he is all business, “I’m sending youout with a team I fully trust. They have all been briefed and understand thenecessity to be discreet. I’ve fully explained that if you cooperate, it’ssolely your decision and they need to treat you with the utmost respect. Youwill leave within the hour. All of my men will be armed with our new weapons,plus another for backup. My hope is that between you and them, you’ll be ableto push the infection back to a safe distance.”

I nod.Going out there doesn’t scare me. Rather, it’s the idea of failing that turnsmy blood cold. All of these people: dependent on me. I swallow hard, and thetrepidation almost closes my throat.

“Weshould get going, Kat.” The Captain says, rising. I follow him down a fewcorridors, until he points me into a room. “We’ve got you a field uniform;you’ll replace everything you need in there. Get changed quickly. When you’re doneyou and the team will get moving.”

Ichange quickly—my mind jumping from the task at hand, to Mason, and back again.I wish I could see him before I go. Just in case.

I openthe door. A small part of me deflates when I realize he’s not here. My resolvewavers slightly but not enough to change my decision. I follow the captainthrough another maze of hallways, each just as generic as the one before it.

We getoutside and a group of soldiers stands in a half circle around an armoredvehicle. They stand at attention, until Captain Jennings gives the ‘at ease’order. Now they all turn to me: some hiding their curiosity better than others.

I hearshouting and a commotion at the gate next to us. I turn to see Mason at thesame time the captain does. “Let him through!” The captain orders, and thesoldiers blocking Mason’s path move quickly out of his way.

Masonruns up to me, short of breath and red faced. I can see the concern in hiseyes. “I couldn’t let you go without saying goodbye. They won’t let me go withyou.” He wraps his arms around me and buries his face in my hair. “I’m sorryfor before. I understand why you’re doing it. I just wish I could make youchange your mind.”

“I’msorry too, Mason. I have to do thisthough. I promise you, I’ll be back soon.” I say quietly, into his chest.

“Iknow. Be safe, okay?” He pulls back enough to see my face. “Don’t risk yourselfto be the hero, promise?”

“Ipromise.” We hold onto each other for a few more seconds before we break apart.I can feel the reluctance as Mason releases me. At the captain’s orders, weload into the armored vehicle. The last thing I see as the door shuts isMason’s face.

Itturns out that it is quite annoying and disorienting riding sideways in avehicle with no windows. Before long, my sense of direction is lost. Even timeseems to lapse without any indication of how fast we’re moving or far we’vegone. Some of the soldiers still eye me curiously; others double check theirweapons and equipment. Finally, one of the soldiers stands and addresses all ofus.

“We’llbe dropping in a few moments. This is strictly a push back situation. I don’twant to see any heroics. When your primary weapon runs out, you fall back andguard your team with your backup. Kat, here,” he motions, making me feelincredibly self-conscious, “is our priority. Keep her covered, but don’t gettoo close. If she says fall back, we fall back. Understood?”

Theyall nod in unison. Before I can react, we screech to a halt. I jolt sidewaysinto the soldier next to me. All of them apparently know how to bracethemselves, but nobody gives me any warning. I shift off of the soldier thatstops me, mumbling an embarrassed apology.

Brightlight filters in when the door opens, and warm moist air fills the space. Thesoldiers file out the door in a well-practiced formation, the soldier whoaddressed us keeping a hand on my arm until they’re all outside. “You ready forthis?” He asks.

“Ithink so.” I answer. No use in lying. Besides, the nanobots can’t seem toinfect me. This makes it far more dangerous for him and his team than me.

“Alright,it’s now or never.” He goes through the door. I take a deep, calming breath andfollow.

Thismust be as close as they dare to get to the metallic fog. It stands maybetwo-hundred yards from us and appears thicker than usual—with a new movementand flow to it that I haven’t seen before. I watch it shrinks back and almostcower as the soldiers unleash their weapons into it. I look at the soldier incharge.

“Youneed to call them back. They’re just wasting their weapons right now. Let me gofirst!” I have to yell over the noise around us.

Hecalls one command and they all fall back around us. I turn back to thecommanding soldier. “You need to stay here no matter what, you understand? Ifanything happens, just wait a bit and you should be able to get to me safely.”

Hiseyes widen. I have a feeling this goes against his orders, but he doesn’t arguewith me. The wall of soldiers parts for me as I walk forward. I see somethingnew in their eyes that replaces the earlier curiosity. I could be wrong, but Ithink it might be respect.

Iventure much closer to the fog than they dare. Wisps of it shoot out closer tome, then retreat—almost as if it recognizes me. With all I learned from Dr.Ford, this wouldn’t surprise me. When the fog is maybe twenty feet away from meI stop and plant my feet. Mustering up all of my pent up energy, I charge thesphere in my hands. I sure hope the doctor told these guys about theaftershock: otherwise, they’re in for a hell of a surprise.

Throwingthe sphere as far as possible, I hit the ground immediately and feel the earthmove. A blinding flash is seen, even behind my closed lids. When it’s over, Ipeek out from under my arm and assess the effectiveness of the sphere. What Isee amazes me. The fog is gone. So is pretty much everything else: trees andgrass still smoldering and charred. I look behind me to replace a rare sight—everysingle soldier staring at me open-mouthed.

Thenext thing I notice is my energy level. It’s still surprisingly high,considering the amount I used on that last sphere. I think the lightningincident has more of an effect on me than I first thought, although it doesn’tseem to be a bad one.

I turnback to eviscerated land before me. All signs of the infection are gone. I hatethat I decimate the landscape, even if it’s necessary to save us. A hand on myshoulder makes me jump.

“Ithink we’re done here.” The soldier in charge tells me.

I peeroff into the distance both ways, and make sure there is no fog to be seenbefore I agree to return to camp. The ride back is as disorienting as the rideout. At the end of this ride Mason’s embrace is my reward. Brie and Jaredsurround me also, and Baby bear attaches himself to my leg.

Ourreunion is short lived, because it’s only a few moments before the captainushers us into his office. He seems anxious. Something that warns me thismeeting may not bode well for us.

“Katthat was some good work out there. I think you’ve earned the respect of all ofthe soldiers with you.”

I knowthat it’s not that simple. “But,” I prompt him.

Hefrowns. “Well, please don’t take this as an ungrateful statement, but from whatDr. Ford had told me, I anticipated that you would need assistance. Have yougained power?”

Briejumps in. “There was an incident with lightning, a short time before you foundus.”

Masonlooks at her sharply. I place a hand on his leg in an effort to calm him. Itrust Dr. Ford, and the captain has given us no reason to think he’suntrustworthy, either. “Yeah, since then it’s been easier. I don’t get asdrained.”

Thecaptain seems to contemplate this. “It will to be hard, but I’m going to tryand replace a way to get the good doctor out here. You all have to lay low the dayhe arrives. I’m sure the General will insist that he’s accompanied by her bestmen. Once here, they’ll be under my orders, though I don’t think we should takeany chances.”

“Thenwhy is it important?” Mason counters. “Why take the risk at all?”

“Becausethis new information could help us finally beat these things.” The captainthrows back at him.

Noneof us can argue with that. I have to admit it would be nice to work with Dr.Ford again and do what I can to help. I’m getting tired of destroying things;I’d like to help make things better for a change.

“Callhim in.” I say when I stand. Although not tired, I’m hungry and these clothesare getting uncomfortable.

“I’llkeep you all posted.” The captain says as he rises and walks us to the door.