Author’s Note:

  This episode is published here up to the 75% mark.

  The remaining chapters—including the climax and aftermath—are available in the complete episode on Amazon.

  https://www.royalroad.com/amazon/B0GKQTTBXX

  Thank you for reading and supporting the series.

  ###

  Beau sat just outside the edge of the war tent, elbows on his knees, his back to the canvas. The moonlight inside Dome 101 washed everything in shades of soft silver. He hadn’t spoken much since their failed attempt to destroy the mantids in battle. He kept repeating the thoughts inside his head. How could he have believed that their forces—and his dumb electrical trap—was enough to stop the mantid horde? The mantids were far more effective in combat than Beau ever imagined. But still, they had to fight them. As far as he could tell, based on the intel gathered by their scouts, there was no other clear way to leave Dr. Gerben’s mansion. If they wanted true freedom, greater access to the outside world, they had to destroy the mantid fortress and escape into the backyard.

  A voice cut through the air behind him. It was a girl. She sounded hoarse and angry. “You cost us eighteen lives, Beau.”

  Beau turned.

  Rena Thatcher limped forward out of the shadows, one arm bandaged, a jagged crimson gash still drying along her temple. She had short black hair, half buzzed since she joined the militia and ranked up to Sergeant. She was eighteen, like he was, but more capable in some ways. Until that moment, they hardly ever spoke. She had recently graduated as a police officer and already had thirteen arrests under her belt. But recently, Rena picked up a woodcutter’s axe and joined the militia when she wasn’t assisting with constructing barricades. Because of her prior experience, she led a squad of five men who fought with the other Black Birds in Dr. Gerben’s mansion against the mantids.

  “Rena?” Beau asked. “What do you want?”

  “I want to know why my friends had to die for a plan that barely dented the mantid swarm. There were hundreds more of them than we ever anticipated. We were so outnumbered it would almost be funny if the battle hadn’t ended with tragedy.”

  Beau didn’t answer. How could he respond to that?

  Rena stepped closer, breath sharp. “I held Tom’s throat together with my bare hands while he drowned in his own blood. You know what he said before he died? ‘I thought we had a shot.’ That’s it. ‘I thought we had a shot.’” She scoffed, eyes glassy. “You gave him hope that we would escape this place. You made everyone think we would reach the outside world. And now, we’re more trapped than ever against an enemy far more powerful than we ever knew.”

  “I’m sorry for your loss, Rena. Really, I am. Beat me up all you want,” Beau said, rising. “It was my plan. I know it failed. I failed you. I’m sorry.”

  “I’m the one that’s sorry, I should have said something sooner. You and I are just kids playing war. We’re leading soldiers into battle against sentient insects. It’s not a good idea.” Rena stepped forward again, toe to toe with Beau. “I know that the rest of us are basically your personal army ever since you were voted in as commander. You should know, I voted against it.”

  “You did? Why?”

  “You’re only eighteen years old. You shouldn’t be leading grown men and women into combat. Most of the adults have enlisted. They could all die under a kid’s command. Does that sit right with you?”

  The narrative has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the infringement.

  “The rules of the game are set,” Beau said. “Real people are dying, I know that, but I’m in a position where I can’t only think in terms of lives lost. I have to think about the continuation of the colony and our escape. I have to think about lives saved. We’re going to lose battles. But we’re going to win some, too. There are going to be hundreds of more battles in our future, especially the longer we’re trapped inside Dr. Gerben’s mansion. Rena—if the dead and dying aren’t something you can handle—you should resign now and I’ll reassign you to barricade duty.”

  “Oh—I didn’t—I know—uh—”

  Beau stepped toward her. “Why are you here, Rena? Are you just here to tell me people have died? I know that. I haven’t even had time to grieve before you came storming in here telling me how badly I failed. How do you think that makes me feel? I know I messed up and you’re not giving me enough time to live with it and learn from it.”

  Rena exhaled deeply.

  Beau took a breath. He let the moment sit.

  “I know people die in combat,” Rena said. “I guess I’m a kid too, and I’m just coping with that fact. But I might be coping the wrong way. You have a stressful position. Especially as a kid. Maybe that’s how it’s going to be from now on. I’m not resigning, sir. I can handle my post. I’m sorry, sir.”

  Beau rubbed her arm to comfort her. “Things are tense right now—for all of us—we lost our first major battle with the mantids. But Rena, we haven’t lost the war. I need strong soldiers like you, voicing your opinion and leading troopers into combat, even if that means some of them will die. And more will die, Rena. Can’t you understand that? It’s something we both have to live with. It’s our new reality.”

  “You’re right, commander. Just…please…we need a better attack plan than an electric trash can trap this time. We need something that can kill them in one big blow.”

  Beau was going to respond, but he was stopped when he spotted Tessa entering the tent. She froze when she saw them. “Sorry, am I interrupting something?”

  “No, Commander Lorne,” Rena said.

  “You did well out there today,” Tessa said. “Despite the circumstances.”

  Rena stared at her for a moment. She didn’t argue with Tessa, only acknowledging her by responding with a curt, “Yes, commander.”

  Then, Rena saluted them both and walked out of the tent.

  Beau’s heart thudded. He didn’t move. He felt…hollow. Then he felt a momentary tug at his heart. For a brief moment, he felt pings of emotion which were laced with sorrow.

  “She’s upset about the loss,” Beau said. “This whole week has been a blur. She came here to tell me how badly we messed up.”

  Tessa exhaled and rubbed her face. “Sorry. I shouldn’t have—”

  “No,” Beau muttered. “You’re a commander now, like I am. You deserve to know what’s going on, even all the crap.”

  “I’m a commander in title, but I don’t feel it. I don’t lead the troops like you can. I serve more administratively than anything.”

  “That doesn’t matter, we all have our roles to play. Besides, we’re only kids.” Beau rubbed his forehead. “Rena was right.”

  Tessa blinked. “Beau—”

  “She’s right.” He clenched his fists. “I’m supposed to lead and make better decisions. Their lives hinge on the choices I make. If I keep treating this like a game of strategy instead of what it really is, chaos with too many unknown variables—then yeah, we might be doomed.”

  “Beau, you’re doing your best.”

  A long moment passed.

  “Sorry, Tessa, I’m just venting. You clearly came here for a reason.”

  Tessa perked up. “Yes—I have something that can help us. It’s something we can use to deal with General Karakis and the Scythians. It’s something big.”

  “Finally, some good news. Lead the way.”