Rift by Andreas Christensen

Author:Andreas Christensen
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: military science fiction, dystopian, dystopian fiction, dystopian future society, dystopian science fiction, dystopian earth, dystopian thrillers, dystopian sci fi, dystopian book series, dystopian future fiction
Publisher: Andreas Christensen

Chapter 8

SUE

The next day, while Tac Hordvik led them through contact drills, fine-tuning their moves, making them act like a single organism, Sub Meridian Hoston came over. He stood there for a moment, watching them practice, before he waved them over. They lined up beside the tacticus.

“Tacticus Hordvik, it is time for the transfer.” Hordvik straightened, and the sub meridian continued to read their new placements from an infopad. Sue was to go to the Westfold Brigade with Julian and Keisha, while Quinn was being sent east to the coast, to join the Kosmopol Brigade.

They ended practice at lunchtime, and after eating, Sue went to pack her belongings. She was happy about the outcome. She got to stay with her friends, and although she got along well enough with Quinn these days, she wouldn’t consider him a friend. She would miss the tacticus, though. After getting to know him better, and having listened to him at Survivor Night, she had grown to respect him even more.

When she entered the barracks, she started. Tac Hordvik stood by her bunk, waiting.

“Susan,” he said, and she walked in. She didn’t know what to say, so she just waited for him to speak.

“The Westfold Brigade is a good unit. And you will do well there,” he said.

“Sure,” she said. She had no idea whether the Westfold Brigade was a good unit or not. “Actually, I’m not even sure where it is, Westfold.”

He smiled.

“Westfold is the westernmost part of the northern borderlands of the Covenant. In fact, if you go south from Westfold, you will reach Warden territory. As far as I know, our people don’t have much to do with them, though, even out in Westfold. But I’m sure I don’t know half of what happens out there,” he said. Then he looked at his watch.

“I have to go now. Counselor Novak made me realize something about myself, and I have accepted a placement with the Strategos Command back in Legacy. I might be back later, though, if it gets too boring.” Sue smiled back at him and realized this might be the last time she saw him. Tac Hordvik had taught her everything she knew, and now they were both going in their separate directions. She straightened and slammed her fist to her chest.

“It’s been an honor, sir,” she said. He did the same, a bit more slowly, before he spoke.

“The honor is all mine, Atlas.” Then he smiled again before he turned and walked away.

Sue didn’t waste much time packing. She didn’t have much to pack, anyway.

Five minutes later, she was on her way to the train platform with Julian and Keisha. It was strange, the last time she had gone by train had been with a friend, as well, but this time there was none of the uncertainty. Sure, she felt the excitement and wondered how her new unit would be, what kind of commander she would get, and what sort of tasks she would be assigned. And there was always the uncertainty of knowing that, at any time, she could be sent on a mission that ended badly.

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