Silent and Deadly ((~ A Semi- Advanced Sci-Fi Roleplay~)) discussion

So, this is actually based on a book I'm writing, just for fun of course, and I'm going to be posting it! You can comment and suggest as you wish.

Chapter One

If you’re reading this, then congratulations. You survived the end of the world. Most people didn’t, that’s because we weren’t prepared. It was a Titanic situation. We thought we were impenetrable by now, so we lacked on defenses. They trickled in, like a leaking dam. Very slowly, very carefully, until they were all over, and could do nothing to stop them. They have no name, no official one. Not named by us anyways. We had no time to name them, those creatures took over too quickly. At camp Fortis, the work “camp” I was put in, they are widely known as Changelings, like the myth. Some of us refuse to call them anything at all, which is stupid. It's as if they think that not acknowledging the Changelings will stop them from listening in on us or watching us. As if it will bring back all the people that are gone. Ignorance is truly a bliss, isn’t it?

Prisoners at the camps aren’t always killed. They’re driven to submission, insanity, or completely have given up. I don’t know what happens, but those people are as gone as the dead. They have a name too, broken. With the skeletal figures, and the hollow and distant eyes. The people who have lost their will and have every intention for this to be over as soon as possible. Broken is the best name for them because that’s what they are.

The camps are sorted in a certain way, as far as I know, which admittedly, isn't a lot, but I know more than the majority. Camp Justa is for the kids and infants. There is the camp for those who can be easily swayed to trust the Changelings. It’s the one where you can interact and talk, not knowing the horrors outside the cage. If you refuse, or act badly, you’re sent to camp Fortis, for the more resilient of us. The strong and fit. Useful.

Camp Todes is for the elderly and disabled. Expendable to them, for the ones that they have no need of. If you go there, you know that you're dead. Of course, that just means you escape quicker.

When you first see Fortis, it looks like a school, because it was one. Freshly mowed grass, with trees surrounding the building. One story with gray walls and cracked sidewalks that the younger kids liked to walk on, and always fail on balancing full time. When you walk in everything changes. It’s not necessarily the barren and crumbling walls or the eerie silence. Not the strange presence of guns and knives scattered everywhere. It’s the looks that everyone gives you. The ones that differ from “poor kid” to “oh great, another one” to the pure looks of hatred from the ones that should support and teach you. Everything is wrong. But at the time, I had no idea how wrong it was. None of us did. It was a sneak attack, an ambush from inside our defenses. Then the truth came out. We looked around and saw ages all over the place, which was strange enough. At the time, all I knew was my family was taken, I don’t know where they are, and that everything is wrong. It has changed though. Now it has been transformed into a huge work camp, barbed wire fences and small stone structures called Cells that are half the size of an elementary school classroom. The only life is us, but we barely hang on. The recruits run the country, but we are in their control.

“Thacher! Report!” Sergeant Collins states.

“The tenth camp is almost finished, though the interior still needs some work. And it doesn't look like a schoolhouse anymore." Collins just stares, making Julius clearly uncomfortable.

“Urbis!” Collins turns to me with a swift turn of her heels. “Training?” She demands. She stares at me expectantly. Despite her small appearance, she unnerves me every time. The combination of short blonde hair, piercing green eyes, and fair skin makes her beautiful, which makes her seem more intimidating. But I suppose that’s the point.

Changelings have no actual appearance. They don’t steal them either. Whatever planet they travel to, their bodies adapt and take the form of the superior species and it looks as if they were born here.

“The new recruits are adjusting but seem to be fit to start working soon.” I answer. At Fortis, each recruit is assigned a job. One of three. Re-building, which is remodeling, and yard work if your backyard was the entire planet. There are multiple of each camp in every country, so that of course makes it easier. Government, which is to help organize and bring everything back in order. Most work as police figure’s, or leaders. Then, Training, for the more advanced recruits, which is mentoring the younger trainers. Most are assigned re-building or government because the world isn’t currently in its best form.

Each camp Fortis has three people who oversee each section. Julius is head of Re-building, and is the stereotypical stocky, confident male, with tan skin that’s faded over the years in Fortis, shaggy brown hair and blue eyes. He looks like he’s in his twenties, when he’s only seventeen.

Lucky West is the eighteen-year-old head of Government. Dark skin and curly black hair, she’s one of the smartest people I've met, so obviously she got the job. Mastering every task, they threw at her, and handling them with ease. I'm a little jealous. Lucky’s sophisticated look is on point, tall and neat, knowing everything and anything, but never coming across as snobby or rude. I'm head of Training, which is mentoring the new recruits, and making sure they don’t pull anything stupid. Collins nods, and dismisses us to our room.

In America there are twenty of each camp located, each with about four hundred recruits, Lucky once told me. I had asked why there were so few people, seeing as that would only add up to about twenty-four thousand.

“During the takeover, lots of people died, but in the camps, more and more people are dying every day. They're thinking of making a new camp and send the teenagers and adults there. Part of the reason they do that is because they didn’t engage interaction, so the population died out in their former planets.” She answered darkly.

“Why would they- oh" I said realizing what she meant. I still feel disgusted thinking about it today. It horrifies me to no end, and part of me thinks that they would never do that, that, but then I think back to my parent’s mutilated bodies, and my sliver of hope vanishes.

I live in the main part of Fortis, Section One, which has twenty Cells. Each Cell holds five people. I share with Lucky, Farah Johnsen, a brown-haired girl and had just moved from India when the invasions started, but she learns quickly and speaks English almost better than me. But when she gets mad, none of us can understand her, but I'm pretty sure she would make our ears bleed if we could. She just got out of training, and being the one overseeing her, I can say she won’t be going to Todes any time soon. Farah’s only thirteen but is adjusting well, considering her life has been turned upside down. She works in Re-building, because she has an eye for things that most don’t have. She knows when something won’t work out or can catch the slightest misplacement. I wouldn’t be surprised if she takes over Re-Buildng someday.

Amanda Sherwall, quiet, fifteen, often hides behind her long blonde hair. No one knows much about her, but is amazing with a gun, so she was put in Government. Emily Smalls, fourteen, licorice black hair, pale as a ghost. Very friendly, works in Re-building.

“So, how was the meeting?” Em asks us.

“Same as always. Juluis opened his smart-ass mouth, Collins shut it, we reported recent events, and left." I say shortly. Nobody talks. I stare at the cold metal walls. The cells consist of five twin beds, a small bathroom, and a small space for each of us to put our few personal belongings.
“Are we allowed to date?” Farah bursts out randomly. We turn and give her strange looks.

“What? I just thought that Rachel was kinda cute” she blushes.

“Rachel Aarons?” Lucky asks. Farah nods, looking down.

“Um, to answer your question, yes. The Changelings encourage any kind of romantic relationships.” I glance at Lucky, who looks back at me. I internally shudder.

Em smiles at Farah encouragingly. “I think Rachel likes you too.”

“I don’t even know if she likes girls.” Farah says rolling her eyes, not falling for Em’s consolations. Em shrugs, with a slight smirk on her face. If I wasn’t stupid, I would have noticed the sadness behind her expression.

“What do you think, Chase?” Em turns to me and gives a look. She's three years younger than me, but I trust her when it comes to people stuff. I’m not the best in a conversation.

“I think she’d be stupid not to like you,” I answer. Farah smiles.

Collins comes by to announce lights out. I pull the thin blanket over me, and go to sleep, though I'm not sure which I prefer. Awake and helping these bastards, or asleep, and not caring at all.

Chapter Two

The horn is blaring outside the Cell, in the middle of Section One. Everyone has ten minutes to hurry up and get ready, or they get to spend the day in Section 5. Recruits live in one of four sections, but Section Five is where they go to be punished. People who haven’t been there relied on the rumors on what's Section Five is like. Some say it's one big Cell, a torture chamber, to physically abuse the recruits. Others say it’s a simulation room, to fill them with insanity and longing. I don’t know and hope I never do.

The girls are rushing around, and Farah and Lucky are fighting to get into the bathroom, but Amanda sneaks in while they’re not looking, and I smile. I discreetly undress, and quickly get into my uniform. A gray shirt, with a tan army jacket over it. Tan cargo shorts: my long brown hair put up in a bun.

“Hurry up Em, we’re going to be late!” I shout over my shoulder, and she comes barreling out of the room, hastily tying up her black hair. Rushing, I walk into the bathroom to splash my face. No matter how horrid they are, Changelings respect neatness and beauty. Unfortunately, most can only just barely accomplish the neat part. My brown hair is a scraggily mess, and pimples pop up around my face. Heavy bags hang under my dark blue eyes, and my skin is rough and pale. I sigh and run to join my cellmates.

* * *

“Hey, C!” Julius shout from behind. I turn around, annoyed, because at time, I'm teaching one of the new recruits, Jeremy, to shoot a gun, since he’s being placed in government.

“What is it Thatcher, I'm busy,”

“Help me, please.” Julius walks over to me, with a pleading look on his face. “The Changelings took my sister, Alice.” That got my attention.

“Alice? Why? She’s in perfect health.” I answer. I had seen her just yesterday, when she left to go on her trip to Georgia, Rome. Apparently, there had been an escape from the Judas there.

“During the chase in Rome, there was a mix up, and she got shot in the leg. She’s alive, but the doctors couldn’t do much about it. The Changelings don’t have many resources. Or at least, that’s their excuse. I got a message that says she was taken to the Judas in Cincinatti,” Julius looks more worried by the second.

“Well, what am I supposed to do? It's not like I can walk on out of Fortis! And neither can you,” I add.

“I can’t sit around and do nothing!” He shouts.

“Keep your voice down!” I shoot Julius a glare, and glace around cautiously.

“Chase, please. Don’t be the reason I lose my sister. You get it. You couldn’t save Helen, but this is my chance to save Alice.” A wave of anger and regret shoots through, and I slap him.

“Shut up. " Shaking furiously, I say “My cabin, midnight, make sure no one see’s you. Come alone.”

Julius marches away, and I turn back to Jeremy. “No, no, you use two hands to hold the gun!” Jeremy looks at me. “It looks cooler to do it with one hand, yes, but if you want to be able be a decent shot, use both hands.” I say, exasperated. Jeremy is extremely overconfident, especially for a twelve-year-old who just came out of Judas.

“Whatever.” He remarks and rolls his eyes.
“HEY! I am your superior, and I do not take disrespect lightly. I have been here ever since I was your age, six years ago, when the invasion started, so if you think you can do better, be my guest! When you’re in a situation like this, you must command respect, and show respect, or no one will take you seriously.” Jeremy looks down.

“Okay then. Resume.”

* * *

“I need to tell you guys something.” I announce to my friends. “But you have to swear not to tell a single soul.” They smile at this. Who would they tell? The only time we can socialize is when we eat (the Cells sit together) and at night. We don’t have many friends outside of each other.

“Julius’s sister was taken. He wants my help. I don’t know how or why, but he does. He's coming in two hours, and you must help us be as discreet as we can.” They all agree in the end, but Lucky’s confused, because she knows exactly how much I dislike Julius, but she also doesn’t know what he does. About Helen.

“Lights out!” Collins yells, and I lie down, but refrain from falling asleep.

***

A knock. The girls shift on their beds, ready to cover for us, or act if were caught. I quietly, but quickly walk over to the door and open it. But instead of Julius, it was Sergeant Collins and Red. Behind them, I see a Government officer with Julius beside him. But he’s not tied up. He is standing tall, not smiling, but not seeming guilty either. Red is one of the nicer Sergeants, but even he looks down on me, disappointed.

“What's going on?” Em asks from her bed. Lucky shushes her, and whispers for her to be quiet.

“We have been informed that you have willingly agreed to help a recruit escape, to help another escape of all things. He has agreed to deceive you in order to save his sister and prove his loyalty to us.” Farah whimpers behind me. I glance back but fail to be reassuring. Then I look at Julius.

“You little bi-” I start out, hating him more than I ever have.

“I did what I had to do to save Alice. I told you that this was my chance to do that. And you agreed to help. Well, you did. And I thank you for that, Chase.” Julius smiles coldly.

“I’m afraid you are all being transported to Section Five. Permanently"