Tap Sapiens, page 11
part #1 of Reign of Sapiens' Evil Series
Several days had passed, they had been easily growing comfortable with each other and Brandi couldn’t explain how flawless it felt. The first few days in were simply strange. While the earned privacy was pretty much welcomed, having just one more person in the room with you was oddly intimate. Brandi felt irrationally restless that Sara would hear her thoughts late at night when the quietness settled, in those brief moments before sleep would take over. Yet by the end of first week, the silence was no more and Sara was easily breaking down Brandi’s barriers in addition to turning the unusual, forced intimacy into enjoyable, effortless trust. The nights became cherished moments for conversations to flow in the space between their two beds.
“I just think we should be allowed more books in here.” Brandi confessed during one of their late-night, heart-to-heart conversations.
“Why do you want so many books? Don’t you have enough already in those awfully boring lectures?”
“They’re not particularly good … they don’t really show us the real world, do they? We need more books here, other than just fictions.” Brandi timidly remarked, trying to keep her genuine thoughts on the present education system to herself. Then, she eagerly waited for Sara’s response.
“In a world like this one, fiction can be your best and only true friend.” she finally answered.
Brandi had noticed that although Sara never seemed to have a bad mood, the senior soldier tended to be quiet and reserved, usually slipping into a whimsical state of mind. Consequently, Brandi had almost instinctively developed the habit of trying to buoy Sara up as often and as authentically as possible. Because that bright smile of hers was a rare treasure that she considered herself lucky enough to witness, all the more reason to bring it out.
The two of them were spending time together beyond the four walls of their room as well. Upon graduating from boot camp, Brandi now had more freedom as well as more responsibilities. Trying to get used to the change of the new training schedule, Brandi had been placed under the care of Sara, who took it upon herself to guide Brandi through the process she had mastered. Being an avid student when she wanted to, Brandi was pushing herself to meet Sara’s rhythm, her strength and speed in every new round. When the second week of their time together was coming to a close, big news fell upon them.
“Good morning.” Sara greeted Brandi when the younger one had arrived at their room, “Hey, looks like you’ll get a chance at trying out your shiny new boots out there.”
Brandi took a couple of seconds to appreciate the smug grin on Sara’s face, roll her eyes at the comment and attempt to defend her footwear, when finally the meaning of Sara’s words hit her – they were going on a mission.
It was an obvious detail that Brandi had forgotten about this in the army. Now that she was available after boot camp graduation, she was obliged to serve full time on active duty and could be deployed at any time. What’s more, the first mission had just arrived at their doorstep in a frightening letter.
♠ ♥ ♣ ♦
Before the sun went down, Brandi found herself behind Sara and a driver in a jeep that was speeding towards the frontier of the Confederacy. In spite of the Supremo and company being seen as though they were controlling the entire world, in the grand scheme of things, even their reign had its limits. Those lines, Brandi had just noticed, were delimited by a real fence or wall in some places. They were reaching a particular spot where a large number of people from an adjacent town were struggling to climb over said fence. A pair of police officers of the Confederacy lay dead on the path there. It was chilling, the image of a crowd of people climbing over themselves to get out. Brandi had no idea until then, that the Confederacy had made it nearly impossible for civilians to acquire the legal requirements to leave. Apparently, people were already desperate enough. However, they probably didn’t expect the three jeeps full of armed soldiers and the large trucks that weren’t exactly going to take them back home.
Upon finding out Brandi’s pale face, Sara reached out to rest a hand on her shoulder and send her a smile. However, Sara also passed Brandi a gun, immediately taking away every ounce of the comfort the latter had brought with her. Brandi’s hesitation was noticed by the driver as well – a young man with beautiful blue eyes and a beam too bright for someone driving a military vehicle.
“They’re not real bullets but rubber. They won’t kill anybody, still they hurt like hell though.” he explained.
“Brandi, you don’t have to shoot them. When the noise begins, they’ll come down from the wall. We just have to scare them, okay?” What started out like a whisper Sara gave Brandi while leaning her entire body towards the latter, ended up in a holler, for fire had begun.
“We do our job and we’ll get out of here in no time, I promise!” she dispelled her fears loudly.
The rest was undoubtedly, a blur for Brandi. She shot her gun, sometimes aiming so far above the heads of the people that she must have looked woefully ridiculous to anyone who would watch her. Despite their best efforts, Sara had been wrong. The sound of gunshots and approaching ASC trucks did nothing but ignite further desperation in the crowd that rushed more aggressively to jump over the fence. These sorry souls of course, started falling one by one, being brought down by the bullets. Perhaps her gun wasn’t lethal, but definitely effective while she wasn’t the only one shooting in a state of nerves.
Step two was getting the unruly refugees into the trucks that would take them to places Brandi didn’t want to think about. She moved in a haze, almost on autopilot, imitating the soldiers around her, dragging screaming people into the empty trucks. Unfortunately, she caught a woman that didn’t give up easily and then, the stranger continued to put up a fight. When she held her, Brandi felt the ribs of the woman, clearly starving. When the stranger kicked, screamed and struggled until kneeing Brandi in her stomach, she then lost her breath and, for a split second, her grasp on reality even as she was kneeling in pain. Was she really in a position to punish the people that so closely resembled the person she had been just months ago? Her eyes, widely opened while catching the sight of an immense worry in Sara’s eyes as the seasoned soldier came to her aid and carried her all the way back to their jeep.
From that moment on, Brandi closed her eyes and refused to open them throughout the whole journey back to Fort SC1902. She did realize though, as she lay down at the back seat of the jeep, that her head wasn’t resting on the cold seat but on Sara’s lap instead. Amidst the terror that was tormenting her mind, Brandi would remember the careful fingers of Sara as they caressed her cheeks and her hair as well as certain whispered words of comfort – “everybody freaks out on their first mission”, “I know this isn’t easy, this isn’t pretty”, “you’ll be fine, I’m here … I’ll take care of you”.
By the time they reached their base, it was barely a couple of hours before dawn. They’d have the rest of the day, off-duty and probably sleep through most of it. Brandi got down from the jeep with Sara’s help. While already feeling much better physically and emotionally, she appreciated it when Sara didn’t leave her side as they reported to their superiors and was even grateful that they could make the trip to their bedroom together, side by side with Sara’s arm protectively resting on her shoulders, the conversation flowing effortlessly and Brandi’s head resting against Sara every once in a while.
“I’m too tired. I don’t think I can make it.” Brandi complained shortly before arriving at their room.
“Is that so?” Sara murmured her response. They were lighthearted with the sweet yet strange mixture of elation and exhaustion before sleep kicked in.
In one swift movement, Sara leaned down and picked Brandi up, prompting a series of giggles to escape the lips of the other girl. Sara confidently walked the rest of the deserted hallway, carrying the smaller woman in her arms, and into their bedroom where she carefully placed Brandi on her bed. Brandi’s giggles turned into a wide, honest grin that closely resembled the sentiment in the tender smile that took over Sara’s face. The silence was a comfortable blanket and their smiles didn’t fade away for a second and then for another and another as Sara remained there, her arms around Brandi and their faces so close to one another.
The hours between midnight and dawn were spellbinding indeed. Moreover, after recent grueling experience, the adrenaline left behind some remnants of unpleasant memory that kept all hearts throbbing with energy longer than usual. Then, there were Sara’s eyes, bright and alive even after their long and torturous day, that chocolate color was impossibly inviting and almost heavenly, while the intensity of her stare was the most earnest in nature. It would have been a crime not to follow Sara’s lead as she leaned in, eyes searching for something nameless and lips eager to meet another pair. All of a sudden, Brandi was interrupted by a certain something in her heart and mind that forbade the kiss to happen. She pulled back from Sara and slightly turned her head to the side. Her cheek was met with Sara’s sigh of disappointment.
Sara retreated from Brandi’s space and slowly left the bed, leaving behind a piece of her heart. Standing up, she straightened her back and stretched her muscles to then rub her face for trying to dump the feelings of frustration and of something that tasted a lot like pangs of conscience.
“It’s fine, it’s fine … it’s gonna be fine.” Sara groaned and barely looked at Brandi as she let out some words for obvious interruption when the latter tried to apologize. “I’m gonna take a shower now.”
When Sara promptly left the room, Brandi promised herself that she would wait for her and attempt to right their situation before things could get beyond repair. She didn’t anticipate that lying down as she was, sleep would eventually claim her jumbled mind for a handful of blissful hours that would extract only one fraction of the unspeakable memories she had endured during the past twenty four hours.
♠ ♥ ♣ ♦
Nearing the end of the morning, with bodies and minds somewhat rested but not entirely calm yet, Brandi and Sara got up and prepared for their day regardless. Their paths almost didn’t clash, considering Sara woke up earlier while Brandi stayed too long in the bathroom. Yet Brandi still managed to catch Sara before the latter was ready to leave the room.
“Hey.” Brandi greeted. “Can we talk?”
“No.” Sara answered curtly and maintained the façade for a second enough to make Brandi frown, then allowed a small laugh to dispel the awkwardness of the situation. “I’m kidding, Brandi. But really, there’s no need to talk.”
Despite Sara’s voice being soft, comforting and seemingly honest, still Brandi couldn’t risk jeopardizing their friendship.
“But I need to explain. And apologize. I’m sorry because … I don’t … I shouldn’t …”
“Nothing, Brandi … literally, nothing happened.” Sara reiterated dourly while receiving no response from Brandi, she then winked at the shorter one and was about to leave the room.
“Wait! So, we’re fine?” Brandi spontaneously shouted at her, perhaps unnecessarily too loud for only the two of them, still in their tiny room.
“Yes, Brandi.” Sara replied almost unenthusiastically.
“Friends?” Brandi just never let up.
“Yes, Brandi.” Sara answered patiently in a lighthearted tone now, brightening Brandi’s eyes. That was until Brandi opened her mouth again and Sara interrupted her right away, “Hey, seriously … don’t worry at all. That was a naive little mistake for us both, wasn’t it? It’s all good. Now would you please let me leave the room? I need to go elsewhere, acting all heartbroken or something.”
Sara’s witty humor managed to genuinely bring a smile to Brandi’s cute face. She stood there, frozen for a moment after Sara had left the room. She looked around the room, smiling at the pile of fiction books, the neat bed, the beloved mountain of letters from home and more than a few badges from previous missions, essentially all her things.
However an instant later, the door opened again and Sara’s face reemerged, she was smirking genially.
“Besides, don’t flatter yourself too much. You’re not one hundred per cent my type. And remember, I’m still your superior … Second Lieutenant Perry.” Sara said, emphasizing the word “second”.
♠ ♥ ♣ ♦
Maybe after the emotional events of the previous night, Brandi should have been more delicate with her methods and waited a little longer before holding an important talk with Sara. But she had no time to lose, for she felt alive and vibrant with defiant energy. Her mind was already devising plans, for plotting and for crafting metaphorical – or not – weapons against the Confederacy. Everything was fueled by the images of her first mission that she would never forget. Weak bodies desperate for freedom and a chance to live beyond the border, they literally were driven to escape from their homes but were caught and punished for their actions. The feeling of touching the ribs of a starving woman, the sound of her gun terrifying masses of people that feared their government more than death itself, these all gave Brandi goosebumps every other minute and standing still just wasn’t an option.
Brandi’s friends were well aware of the wonderful woman that was Sara Clark – First Lieutenant, sarcastic yet kind-hearted, nostalgic, skillful and impressive in every aspect of her being – all according to Brandi’s descriptions. Naturally, they didn’t bat an eyelash when Brandi had commented she wanted to include Sara in her plans. They didn’t even complain when Brandi had brought them to her room before the day ended, ready to share all she had to share about the woman who had her mind occupied the entire day.
As soon as Sara walked into the room, she stopped to survey the unusual situation. Brandi clearly had company over. There was a cute girl with short, wavy brown hair sitting beside Brandi on her bed. Another girl was seated atop Brandi’s desk, scribbling something on a piece of paper and unaffected by the curtain of hair that separated her from the world. Then of course, there was the one and only Cate Williams comfortably lying down on Sara’s own bed, playing with a lighter, throwing it in the air and catching it in order to repeat the process all over again.
Sara raised an unimpressed eyebrow and without hesitation, she entered and caught Cate’s lighter in mid-air.
“Where did you get this?” she asked nicely.
“I stole it.” Cate replied in a slapdash fashion as she pulled up herself into a seated position and received a heartfelt hug from Sara.
Brandi could only watch wordlessly as she remembered they had been friends long before she met either of them. Her heart was struggling a little to comprehend this complex relation that she didn’t share.
Once Sara settled down on her bed after Cate had snatched the lighter into her possession again, the former then addressed Brandi.
“Roommate, care to explain why wasn’t I invited to this cool party in my own room?”
Sara’s wit never failed to make Brandi smile gleefully. Once the introductions of Abby, Mary and Sara were made, Brandi was to begin a serious discussion as everybody just stared, waiting for the inevitable string of sentences that so obviously was the one true motivation for the meeting. Brandi was apparently nervous by proceeding with a rambling, meaningless argument on why their t-shirts shouldn’t be all white when Abby decided to politely interrupt her.
“Brandi? Honey, you know I’m the most patient woman in this room and even I’m getting all worked up, waiting for you to talk about the real stuff. Your girl Sara over there is growing a mop of gray hair as we speak.” Abby soothed Brandi’s crestfallen face by patting her leg consolingly.
“I think I age four years every time you talk, Brandi … no offence.” Mary commented.
Without opening her eyes or easing her frown, Cate intervened as well, “I’ll be kind enough not to share my current emotions out loud. I’m asleep.”
“Brandi?” Sara finished with a beam that could have extracted any type of information out of Brandi’s lips.
She filled her lungs with a deep breath, but Brandi suddenly felt rather silly for a moment there. Who was she to stand in front of these people who not long ago were virtually strangers to her and convince them to participate in a treacherous war? Was she capable of producing yet another heroic speech and would that be pretentious or just the first of many more to come? She didn’t consider herself bad with words, so by the time she let out the breath she had been holding, while still unable to quash the lingering doubts in her mind, Brandi started talking with an open heart.
“I never wanted to join the army. My presence here is something along the lines of an infiltration. I was a nobody, I lived in a town that was half-dead and when I got a glimpse of a chance for a different life, I didn’t feel envy but rage. I can’t tolerate injustice and certainly can’t put up with the hypocrisy of the Confederacy and the Supremo any longer. Maybe one of my brain cells went haywire, but the point is I decided that I would do something about this. I’m already here, I’m making tiny steps in the right direction and the goals are beginning to take shape. The army is the Confederacy’s greatest pride, or so I’ve heard. This means we are indisputably their number one weakness. I’ve come to the conclusion that the army is the Confederacy’s most obedient weapon, and if I can disrupt that compliance, if I can sow confusion and indignation from within, the Confederacy will crumble for sure. I want them scumbags to pay for what they have been doing to the innocent people out there. And I most probably won’t be able to do it alone. I’ve met a brilliant mind with eccentric tendencies. A brave and unyielding heart whom I’d trust with my life. And there’s Cate … annoyingly, the most audacious soldier that should never bow to a corrupt system. This probably seems like a lot to drop on you all at once, but I was hoping to count you all in?”
