Imperium: Volume 2
Chapter 13.

I walked close to him as we reached the back of the base. His hands in his pockets and his head looking to the ground as we walked. We made our way around, and we could see a group of some of the new recruits conversing. Of course that wasn't something that would have bothered me, but as we walked by I heard Sarah's name fall from one of their lips.

Cam.

I stopped in place and heard him talking about the most ubseen things about her. He was gloating in the fact, that he got a rise out of the others, all for the sake of a laugh and at the expense of her feelings. Raeve hadn't realised I had stopped and turned back to face me. He looked to the direction I was looking at and immediately sensed the anger that took over my facial expression.

"June."

My feet were already moving to the crowd of men. "Wait here." I said.

Cam still bashing my friends name, and his laugh was starting to really piss me off.

"Hello boys." I said as I stood behind him. He turned around with a smile on his face. That is until he'd seen mine. I looked at the others and, I could tell no one really knew who I was. Which was fine. I only needed the one to know.

"What are you talking about?" I asked. My look was all but interested....it was more like...I dare you.

"June." He said surprised. "What are you doing here?" He sounded nervous. He had every right to be.

I saw the other men straighten themselves up with the mention of my name. They all looked to the ground in silence, and couldn't bring themselves to look up.

"I was just out for a walk, and I couldn't help but overhear the laughter. It must have been a really funny joke Cam." He was nervous but he wasn't backing down. "Did I ever mention, that I really like jokes?"

"N...no you never mentioned it." He said.

"Excellent! Well! Let's hear it then, I could use a really good laugh." I stood there with my arms crossed over my chest and a half ass smile.

He looked at the others for help, but they gave none. He was on his own at this point.

"Ahaha oh it was nothing honestly, just a bunch of guys talking about the good ole days. You know?" He asked.

I stood there silently".....No....enlighten me."

His expression immediately changed from nervousness to humiliation. He grabbed my arm and led me a few feet away from the others.

"Listen June.....I don't know what the fuck she told you, but she's bat shit crazy. I didn't do anything to her, and as much as she doesn't admit it, she wishes she could be with me. But I don't have room in my life for someone as weak as her."

I was getting angry and I stepped back. He let out a small chuckle as he watched me do it.

"What.....you gonna kick my ass now?"

"Cam...man come on...lets just go." One of the men behind him called out.

"No...no...no, he said to him." He turned back to me and used his taller stature to intimidate me. "You think you can take me June? Just remember your father trained me...so I know every move you got."

I looked up to him. "See that's where your wrong."

"Hu?"

I moved back my head and I lunged it into his face, hitting him square in the nose. The forceful impact sending him to the ground.

"That one I learned on my own." He lay there with his hand on his nose.

"You broke my fucking nose!" He yelled as the blood girgled in his throat.

"I hear you mention her name one more time, it'll be more then a broken nose next time." And with that I quickly glanced at the others who stood silently behind him.

"Pick him up and get him inside." I told them, and they didn't question me.

I walked back to where Raeve was standing and he followed me in. I didn't say anything, I was still fuming and I hadn't realised how fast I was making my way through the crowd of people.

"That had to be...the hottest thing I've ever seen." Raeve said to me as he followed me.

I looked over to him. "Then how about you take me back to our room." I motioned to him.

He looked at me with a grin. "Yes mam!"

..................

Another week had gone by, and still no word from Sarah or the others. They said it would be a few weeks, but as each day passed and with no word, my anxiety was getting the best of me. I made sure to check up on Anja each day, as she too seemed to be in the same place as I was.

I had to be stronger for the both of us. I had to.

I also checked in with Jay each day. Everyday I went in, and all he did was give me a nod. That's all he had to do to tell me he hasn't heard anything yet.

It's been a month now since Delta, and I felt fully restored. The energy could be felt running like a freight train through my veins, and I felt more one with it since Rowen took the paddles to me. I couldnt explain why, but the energy that fully depleated from my body, felt like it was replaced with something more powerful.....more in tune.

I made sure I continued with my training. It took less and less attempts to get the surge to bend how I wanted it to, and the impactful force that sent me into the trees a week ago, was no longer an obstacle. I was getting stronger, and I wasnt sure if I feared it....or if I relished in it.

I was currently making my way to a training session with some of the new Imperium recruits. While leaving I could see Cam giving me a glare from across the isle. His eyes black and blue, and had a nice little bandage that covered his nose. Hmm. I should have hit him harder.

I saw Grayson out front. He too was fully healed, and wore a set of ear plugs to tame down the noise of the environment. These days seemed to be getting busier, as we were prepping for our next move. We just had to wait for the reconnaissance team.

So we layed low, until we had word. The training session was to the side of the building, and Grayson and I headed over to watch. There had to been about 10 new Imperiums all lined up in 2 rows of five. I leaned myself up the side of the building, making sure they didn't pay any attention to me.

I pulled down Raeve's hat, and I stood and watched. It was a good mix of men and woman, and the instructor had them do their physical training first. Then he formed them in a circle, to demonstrate their abilities. One by one they each took a turn. I serveyed the recruits and as my eyes gazed on each one, I noticed a woman quickly put her head down. She had a hat on, and she quickly looked up to meet my gaze before looking back down again. I pushed myself off the wall and studied her.

Then I made my way over. I pushed my way through the circle and grabbed her by the back of the coat from the other side.

"Sorry to interrupt." I just gave a nod to the instructor and he didn't put up a fight.

I dragged her to the side of the building, and leaned her up against the wall, flicking the hat off her head.

"Oaken! Want to explain to me, what in the hell your doing here?" I said angrily.

Oaken was one of my students before and after Project Midnight went down. She had the ability to see perfectly in any condition. Perfect night vision, through fog, you name it and she was a perfect set of eyes.

"Oh please June! Don't send me back!" She put her hands up begging. "I...I know I shouldn't have done it, but we had been hearing about you and I wanted t-"

"Your seventeen! I cut her off. "Your to young to be taking full part in this. You know that!"

"But you started younger!" She pleaded.

"I had no choice Oaken." I turned down the volume as I had realised I was raising my voice. I pinched the bridge of my nose in frustration. "At least tell me your parents know."

She kept silent. Her eyes widening gave the answer I was looking for.

"Oaken!" I grunted and took her by the back of her coat and pushed her out in front of me. "Get going."

She quickly whipped around. "Please don't take me to Jay. He'll be mad and send me back home. June please."

"I'm not taking you to Jay. First things first. We're going to find Raeve and have him teleport back to the hanger base to notify your parents that your here." I saw her shoulders drop in relief. "Then we're going to see Jay."

We made our way back in, and had my hand on her back to guide her in the direction of Raeve.

"This isn't fair." She pouted.

"Ya, ya......life isn't fair. Tell me something I don't know." I told her.

"Well......there's someone running towards us." She said.

"Hu?" I looked over her shoulder and recognized him to be one of the messengers from Jays office.

"June." He was panting. "Jay needs to see you right away."

I went in front of Oaken to get her attention. "This isn't over, so you better not go to far. I better be able to find you later!" I yelled as I ran off.

I ran as fast as my feet could take me till I reached the plastic curtain. "Anything?" I said as I walked in.

Jay was scrambling around the room, quickly jotting down. on his stack of papers.

"Yes." He said without looking up. "Just now actually. We received a transmission via Morse code about 5 minutes ago. From the sounds of it they'll be returning by early morning tomorrow."

"So early?" I asked.

"Yes, which means one of two things. Either they found something. Or something went wrong. However they won't relay any info over the risk of it getting leaked."

"I see. What about the team. Are they alright?" I asked.

"Nothing was mentioned about the status of the team, but I would take that as a good sign." He reassured.

"K." I felt myself pacing back and forth throughout the room.

"Just give them a little longer June. They'll be here in the morning." He ensured.

I took what he gave me, and left without any further details. I ended up finding Raeve to relay the good news, and asked that he quickly go over to Oaken's family to notify them that she was safely here.

Then I went to Anja and let her know that Kipsky and the others would be here in the morning. A sense of relief cascaded over her body and all the tension that was built up for weeks suddenly let go. She could breathe again.

Now we just had to wait.

..................

After tossing and turning all night, I looked over to the clock. It was only 2:30 but I was restless and couldn't take looking at the ceiling any more. I got dressed and went down to the food court and made myself a cup of coffee.

The whole vicinity was quite as everyone was asleep, aside from the few night owls. I soon found myself waiting outside impatiently waiting for their truck to peer around the corner.

My nerves were shot, and I barely touched my coffee that sat next to me. The steam no longer rising. I looked at my watch. 3:30.

They should be arriving soon.

"Your out here early." A gentle voice said from behind. I looked around bit couldn't see anyone.

"Up here." They said.

I looked up and it was Oaken. She was up top on the roof.

"What are you doing up there?" I asked. It was pitch black out and I could barely make out her features.

"Just keeping an eye out." She said.

What she said put a smile to my face. I see she was already putting herself to use. As much as I didn't want her here, her ability did allow her to make the perfect look out. We didn't need any special spotlight to see the enemy, we just needed her.

"June!" She quickly grabbed my attention. "Are we expecting anybody?" She asked me as she stood up quickly. Did she spot them?

"Yes, a small truck....do you see one?" I replied.

"No......it's a smaller vehicle....no headlights.....two people sitting in the front. There is movement in the back." She replied.

"Shit! stay here." I told her before running towards the road.

I ran down the dirt road till I could hear the engine of the car in the distance. I waited till they got a little closer, and build up my surge to allow the glow in my eyes to blind them. They quickly came to a stop as I stood there before them.

•~ June! •~

Sarah. I quickly dimmed down the glow as someone made there way out the car. It was Kipsky. I took a deep breath and a sense of relief finally came over me.

"You okay?" I asked him. "Sarah?"

"She's ok June." He looked back to the vehicle and motioned them to continue driving.

I looked back to Oaken and gave her the thumbs up to let her know all was good.

I watched as the car slowly drove past us. I couldn't quite see what was going on inside as it was dark, but I coukd make out the silhouette of Sarah, which made me relax much further.

Kipsky walked back with me getting the most important question out first.

"Anja? She okay?"

"She's knows you are arriving Kipsky. I'm not going to lie, we've both been a bag of nerves but she's good. We're both glad your back." I looked to him and he had a small grin on that grizzly face.

"Did you find anything?" I asked him.

He stopped in his tracks, we were only 100 feet from where the others parked the car. I looked as Sarah made her way out and immediatley walked into the mall. I saw Rowen behind her trying to get her attention but she ignored him. I noticed his arm in a sling, and blood staining his shoulder. I looked at Kipsky confused.

He sighed. "Come on June, let's go talk to Jay."

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