Imperium: Volume 2

June's P.O.V.

We have gone and liberated 6 camps thus far including the one today. This was the first one where I felt like I exerted the most energy. The other ones, we didnt have to use the tremor, because they were smaller and less guarded.

I reached our room which was based out of a small outlet store towards the back of the mall. It gave Raeve and I a little privacy and, if there was a chance I couldn't control a micro surge, it was far enough not to harm anyone.

I went over to the bathroom, to splash some water on my face. I looked at my reflection, and to me it looked a little paler than usual. I poured myself a glass of water, and downed it, hoping it would bring back some colour if I rehydrated.

I walked back towards our bed and went to lay down, but a sudden drop in my stomach had me running back to the bathroom. I instantly threw up, as I reached the sink, and what came up wasn't just water. I could also see a hint of blood.

This happened before. After training to do the tremor. It didn't happen right away, but as we kept trying to perfect it, the constant building and releasing of energy was taking a toll on my body more than I ever would have expected. This was now the second time.

I quickly cleaned up the sink and went to lay down. A warm feeling now coming over my body. I took a few deep breathes and just hoped a nap would settle things. From what I know Jay had us going in a few days to Camp Delta, and I wasn't sure if I would be able to do it. I made a mental note to go talk to him after, but now I needed rest.

Meanwhile Raeve's P.O.V.

After we left the shack, we had about a 15 minute trek back to base camp. I could see Rowen was choking from the sulfuric smell, and almost wanted to hurl. I wasn't going to lie. It took awhile for us to get used to it aswell, but June and Richard couldn't have picked out a more perfect spot. There were actually several compounds located within hours from our base, and this was the last place anyone would have thought of.

I had to put faith in Sarah. What she told me seemed to good to be true, but so far he hasn't tried to make a run for it. Sure we could let him go, but would he run back to The Dominion? I couldn't put full trust in him like Sarah did. Even though she could read his intentions. I've put my faith into others before, and that will never happen again. I played with the dog tags in my hand and rubbed the two plates together.

Never again.

"What is this place?" He asked me.

"Your looking at the resistance." I stopped and stood in front of him and held out my hand. "I'm Raeve, by the way."

He looked at it, then looked at me before taking way to long to shake it. I shot him though, so I guess it's fair.

"Com'on, not much further."

I lead him and we approached the back of Lingham, then made our way around. The place was packed with resistance fighters and all the people that we freed from the clasp of The Dominion. It was a step closer towards our future, one that I couldnt wait to share with June.

I watched as he looked around and had his eyes explore every inch of the place. We had used every outlet for anything and everything we needed. Medical aid room, beds, kitchen, weapons storage. We even used the outside for more tents and outdoor field tents. There were people of many backgrounds. Cooks, engineers, instructors, care givers, you name it we had it.

"What do you think?" I asked him as we continued walking.

He just looked in silence. He received quite a few looks himself. Some from the refugees that were at the compound he overwatched, and some from others. Mostly because he was soaked in his own blood and still walking, and breathing.

"This way. You need to meet someone." I told him and I walked him over to the mission station.

We had it in the back, and had it sectioned off so only Jay and the rest of the infiltrating teams had access. Aswell as others who helped plan, and put missions together. I moved the heavy plastic curtain, out of the way and let him inside first. Right away I could see him eyeing the maps on the walls and tables.

For a place such as this, it was a pretty big operation, and we didnt leave it to chance. We were well equipped with every peice of equipment that would help us win this fight, and easily dispatch and receive information at a moment's notice. That is, if I wasn't here.

"Raeve!" Jay yelled as he walked over. These days he looked older, as the stress of running such an operation was taking a toll on his physique.

"Is this him?" He looked to me then Rowen.

Rowen just had a confused look on his face.

"Rowen, this is Jay. He's lead on this operation."

"Nice to meet you Rowen. Sarah's filled me in on your situation. I can't imagine the position your in, but I want to assure you, nothing bad will happen to you here." Jay said.

Just as he finished I saw him eyeing Rowens blood soaked shirt, then he looked at me.

"You didn't Raeve." I just looked elsewhere trying to avoid the glooming stare he gave me.

"Sorry." Rowen said. "Can someone please explain to me what the fuck is going on?"

"Isn't it obvious?" Jay said. He was cut off before his attention went back to the plastic curtain. "Here she is."

Rowens P.O.V

I'm so confused these guys are just letting me around in their operations station. A recent soldier of The Dominion.

"Sorry, Can someone please explain to me what the fuck is going on?" I asked them.

"Isn't it obvious?" Jay said. He looked like he was going to give me an answer but all of a sudden his gaze went towards someone walking in.

It was a young woman, with long dark hair. I recognised her as being the one I first woke up to at the compound. And she was the one that gave me the wicked concussion. Weird.....she looked paler from before.

She walked over to us, and completely ignored that I was present. She went to Jay.

"Can I talk to you please?" She asked.

I kept looking at her. My years of medical practise, could tell she was under distress, and she was trying real hard to hide it. Jay was now talking to her and saw her glance over at me then back to him. I could tell I was making her feel uncomfortable, so I tried to look elsewhere, but my attention was back on her.

"What!?" She said to me.

I was caught off gaurd..I didn't know what to say.

"Nothing, sorry." I looked over at Raeve who had a little grin on his face. Jeez, she seems feisty I thought.

"I'll come back later." She said as she walked off.

"June!" Yelled Jay.

"Don't worry about it Jay, she's having a hard time after this one." Raeve told him.

"What happened?" Jay asked.

Raeve was quite for little bit before answering. "She couldn't save the little boy."

I looked up to him, and this time I saw the sympathetic look on his face. Was he talking about Remmy?

"Perhaps you should go check on her." Jay said, and Raeve gave me a nod before leaving.

It was just Jay and I. He turned to me with a concerned look on his face. I could tell this whole thing was taking a toll on everybody. I didn't need to be part of the resistance to know that. Just human.

"Rowen, we understand this is a very peculiar position to be in, but we are going to give you a choice. We have alot of people who could use your care, and since your in a position where The Dominion will imprison you if they find out, you can stay here or........."

"Kill me." I stated.

"Well from the sounds of it, you can't die, so what's the alternative?"

He was asking me? I had to think about it. I know I couldn't go home, as it was essentially over run with soldiers and turned into a base. Or go on my own. Although I had no idea where I was.

"Can you give me a few days? then I can give you my answer." I told him.

He stuck his hand out, and I shook it. I really had no options given the present time.

"I'll have someone meet you outside, so you can get some new clothes, shower and a bed." He said before having me walk to the plastic.

"What do you mean in my care?" I lastly said to him.

"You went to medical school, did you not?" He asked.

"Do you have a file on me or something?" I asked.

He just laughed and led me out.

I made my way out and wasn't standing there long before someone came up to me. He was one of the refugees at the compound. I couldn't even look at him, I felt so ashamed.

Then I felt his embrace. I just stood there utterly shocked and not knowing what to do.

"I saw what you did for Remmy." He said.

I looked at him, and saw the tears in his eyes.

"We all knew how you felt about him and cared for him. We're glad you made it out."

I couldn't help but have tears of my own. He looked at me one last time before he left. I quickly wiped them away.

"Rowen?" A soft gentle voice called to me behind me. I turned around and saw the blonde woman that was in the room during my interrogation. "You ok?" She asked.

The picture The Dominion gave us of the ruthless fighters of the resistance was not at all what stood in front of me. How can someone so gentle be that kind of person.

"Yes." I answered.

"I'm Sarah." She said. "I'm here to get you situated."

I nodded. Now that I saw her face better, Raeve wasn't bullshitting when he said she was pretty. She took me back through a couple outlets, to get some clothes, food and couple things that could help me get cleaned up.

She lead me to a bigger shop that had rows and rows of beds, layed out every inch of the floor. A majority of them being taken. Were all these people from camps I thought to myself.

"These are all free people now. Some ordinary people, and some Imperium." She said.

Imperium. I'm gonna have to get use to that.

"Is there more .....Imperiums I mean?" I asked.

"Yes. There's quite a few of us here." She answered.

She was one too?

"Yes." She said.

I quickly looked at her. Did I say that outloud?

"No." She said.

What the hell?

She looked at me without uttering a word from her mouth but her voice filled my head.

~▪ I hope you find your bed comfortable Rowen, find me if you need anything •~

Holy fucking shit!!.........wait did she hear that too?

"Yep."

"Sorry." I said.

I watched as she walked away, and looked around the big open space. Now it made sense as to how they knew everything about me.

This was alot of people to look at. All the faces were different however. They had smiles, and I even heard laughter coming from them. I couldn't help it.

This place made me smile.