Genesis : Knights of Salvation Series

“Tell me a story Uncle?” My small tired voice speaks up as my feet paddle to the glass paneling separating us. “A story? What kind of story?” He speaks through the metal mic above my small body. I curl up on top of my hospital bed, avoiding my injured side.

“About the little girl!” My small voice asks towards the glass.

“Once upon a time, the little girl faced a scary monster----”

My eyes open to Clare’s hand on my shoulder waking me up. I sit up looking about the room, the candles have been lit as the morning sky hasn’t brightened enough to provide efficient lighting to see. I climb out of bed pulling the uniform the team provided for us.

Both me and Clare have been given the same uniform as the team to keep us safe. I pull on the sleek black matte shirt, and the shirt immediately conforms to my body shape. It lay almost like a second skin as I roll down the long sleeves tucking my thumbs into the small hole designed to keep the shirt from riding up. The shirt is designed to keep us cool during the day and warm during the night as we travel. I reach down to my bed grabbing my top shirt. This one is designed for both movement and protection from the forsaken. The fabric of the shirt is just a little thicker, with two-layer sewn together. In between the two layers, it’s the lightweight breastplate.

The breastplate looks thin and slightly shines silver even covered by the thick fabric a small maroon shield with a black sparrow sits right above my heart, The insignia of team Sparrow. The breastplate run’s from the shoulders breaking up on my chest and sweeping under my arm’s protecting my sides. Although it does leave my stomach bare, most likely allowing movement to breathe. The rest of the breastplate reconnects on my back protecting my upper back and shoulders. All of that is hidden between the two fabrics, allowing me to look as if I’m wearing a tight shirt. That is until they catch glimpse of the sleeves. The sleeves are long and sit just like my bottom shirt but they have dark silvery titanium braces covering from my wrist to the beginning of my elbow. Another plate sights on my upper arm all the way up to the beginning of my shoulders. The braces don’t sit between the fabric but are on top and stitched in perfectly.

My pants are thicker and stretchier, reaching down to my ankles conforming to my skin as a second layer. Just like my shirt, the shiny guards lay aligned to my skin perfectly stitched into my pants all the way around to the back of my leg. Another pair of thigh guards protect my upper legs encircling them to protect me from behind. Once I have my uniform on I slip on my cotton black socks and combat boots tightening them as they reach up past my ankles. When I look in the mirror I can’t help but admire how good the uniform looks on me, It’s not bulky or heavy and easy to move in.

I pull my hair back into an easy bun. My skin is already a bit more tan from the week I’ve spent outside. Most of my body is still sore and aching from my combat training. I turn to Clare who wears the same exact sleek uniform as me, although she seemed to pull it off much easier than me. Unlike her, I wasn’t the biggest in the chest compartment although still modest-sized, easily shown in these uniforms.

“Ready?” I ask her. I watch as she tucks the black book into her pants pocket, securing it. She quickly reaches under her bed pulling out her pouch of a dozen vials. Quickly she tucks it into her black backpack, which holds all the necessities we may need. The whole team carries their own packs, but with our mission and the tasks at hand; Harrison will be carrying a larger pack for the supplies we need to bring back.

She looks towards me giving me a nod as we both grab our bags. We walk down the stairs where were welcomed with the view of the rest of the team all at the table sitting silently eating breakfast. I place my bag next to the door and grab a bowl of stew sitting beside Harrison.

We all eat in silence, no one breaking the comfortable stillness we found when suddenly Orion speaks up, “Everyone prepared?” He asks in his usual thought-out quizzical tone. Everyone nods or grunts in acknowledgment, when suddenly Clare speaks up, “The general will meet us at the gate to send us off.” In her matter-of-fact tone. My eyes shoot to her face looking for any sign of a lie. The general, if I wanted to see anyone before our departure it would be the general.

“What?” Enyo says and when I look around the table it’s like everyone was just told they had the virus with their pale faces. Clare obviously didn’t think much of her new information as she continues eating. “The general sent word yesterday during practice that he would like to see us off, he is very invested in the mission.” She reiterates her first information. Looking around the table foxglove is staring and for the first time I see fear in her eyes, talon’s spoon is basically stuck in his mouth, Harrison’s mouth is wide open halfway to the floor, Orion’s squinting as if he’s stuck on repeat, and Enyo.... he looks upset with a hint of irritation.

I can’t understand their fear of my uncle, he is a sweet and kind man. When I was in the hospital, he visited every day, while my father couldn’t be bothered.

“You didn’t think to inform us of this before today?” Enyo scowls at Clare.

Clare look’s up and then gives the room her full attention. “I didn’t think about telling you at all. I was informing Aspen of the general’s appearance. You knowing is simply a by-product.” She says nonchalantly. I watch Enyo, he seems far more agitated than the others. The others are more filled with fear over a superior showing up but Enyo is angrier than anything else. Does Enyo hate my uncle? Why?

“Why would Aspen need that information?” Orion speaks up pulling everyone’s attention toward me. Clare had asked me to keep who I am under wraps until the mission. For more security reasons than anything else. If people got word I was going to ground zero there would be a lot of questions and attention on a mission that probably won’t succeed. I think today is as good as any to spill the beans just a little.

“General Stone is my uncle.” I fill in for them taking the last bite from my stew. When I look at them all their eyes now lay on me in complete confusion. “I believe they need more information, Aspen,” Clare speaks up pushing her bowl to the side. I take a deep breathe and speak up.

“My full name is Aspen Mae Stone, niece of General Charles Stone,” I say slightly prouder than I meant to. My eyes fall on Enyo whose eyes are set on his food, he looked stuck in thought but I could feel his anger and irritation from here.

“Meaning your father is President Stone.” Orion fills in. The tables are quiet as they all try to come to grips with this new info. I don’t really see why it’s such a big deal what my last name is. It shouldn’t matter who my father is, It should only matter who I am... although I’m not the best either like most in my family, all except my uncle.

“That is also correct,” I say no longer feeling the pride I had before.

“I have so many questions,” Talon says from beside me.

“So... you really are a princess then?” Foxglove says looking totally freaked out.

Talon open’s his mouth to say something when Enyo suddenly stands up from his chair screeching behind him.

“Grab your stuff it’s time to go.” He suddenly says heading to the door and grabbing his bag as he heads outside. As if suddenly faced with their reality again they all grow quiet following behind him.

For about an hour we travel on horseback to the outer wall. Most of the way the team was silent each lost in their own thoughts. Enyo informed us before that our horses for the mission will be at the wall, as will our equipment already packed onto our horses. I’m truly excited to see my uncle. It’s been a few weeks since we had spent time together and this could be the very last time I see him. By the time we near the wall the sun has finally risen, just lighting the morning sky.