Toy Soldiers

by Dabeagle & Ryan Bartlett

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Chapter 3

Sage

When next I opened my eyes it took me a moment to focus; tiles flashed below me as I was dragged down a long hall. My wrists were cuffed in front of me, and as I looked around I realized I’d been returned to Lion Mountain. My life was over. I knew The Corporation wouldn’t stand for what Green Squad had done. Those of us they found would be eliminated. I didn’t cry; I wouldn’t give them the satisfaction of seeing me cry. I promised myself no matter how bad they beat me, no matter how bad it hurt, I would not let them see a single tear leak from my eyes. I had to be brave; I owed it to Brunswick and Harley, India and Celadon and all of my squad mates. I owed it to Marge. I owed it to Ricky.

There was a pair of double doors at the end of the hall, guarded by a pair of security men. I’d never been in this part of the complex before and expected to find a torture chamber on the other side of the big doors. Instead I found a plush office with a massive mahogany desk and comfortable leather chairs. I was thrown into a chair facing the desk; the guards stood behind me. There was a large window on the north wall, blacked out so you couldn’t see outside.

My eyes were drawn to the window until the doors opened behind me and I sensed the guards snapping to attention. I started to turn so I could see who entered, but a guard slapped me and I kept my eyes on the desk. A man in a suit sat behind the desk, and my blood went cold as I recognized his face. The Director. We rarely saw The Director; all we really knew about him was he was in charge at Lion Mountain and every time he did appear, one of our comrades didn’t return from their next treatment.

“Sage Green,” said The Director, his fingers forming a pyramid before him. “You have been a very bad boy.”

“I…” I started but thought better of it. There was nothing I could say to save myself. I wasn’t going to give the bastard the satisfaction of hearing me beg.

“You were saying?” The Director prompted. I turned away from him scornfully.

One of the guards stepped forward and took my head gently in his hands then wrenched it around until I was facing his boss again.

“What prompted this little rebellion?” asked The Director.

I kept mum until the guard reached for the pressure point just behind my jaw. I screamed in agony, and The Director smiled.

“I-I don’t know,” I replied truthfully.

“Funnily enough, I believe you.” The Director grinned.

“Sir?” I asked, confused. I was sure an answer was going to be beaten out of me.

“I have no wish to harm you, Sage.”

“I don’t believe you. Failure to obey results in correction. We rebelled, killed officers of The Corporation. You’ll kill me.”

“I have no wish to kill you.” The Director continued to smile. “I can’t, however, say the same for them.”

The Director nodded at his window, and as I looked, lights came on. It wasn’t a view of the outside world at all; it was a view into the next room. In that room I saw my squad mates, stripped naked. Their hands were bound in front of them, with armed guards standing behind each of them. Some were missing, I knew, because the room was small and the occupants few. Their faces were beaten so badly I didn’t recognize them.

“W-where are the others.” My voice cracked.

“Some of them fought valiantly, refused to be taken alive.”

“What are you going to do with them?”

“Guards,” said the Director into the intercom on his desk.

The guards in the room drew their weapons and pointed them at the backs of my squad mates’ heads.

“No!” I screamed. “Sir, please, I beg you, please don’t.”

I wouldn’t beg for my own life, but if it meant saving the lives of my squad mates, I’d do anything. They were the only family I’d ever known. I couldn’t watch them die. It would be too much.

“They disobeyed, rebelled, killed officers of The Corporation.” The Director mocked my words.

“Please sir, I’ll do anything. Please don’t hurt them,” I pleaded.

“I could pardon them. Sentence them to a harsh training regime,” The Director pondered aloud.

“Yes, anything, just please, sir, don’t killed them,” I begged.

“Well, that all depends on you, Sage.” He grinned.

“Sir?”

I have a job I need you to do for me.” He smiled wickedly.

“Yes, sir,” I sighed in submission.

“Harlequin Green was behind this uprising,” said The Director, revealing a fact I didn’t know. Once Brunswick had spoken the code word there was no time for questions. “He’s the last of your squad still at large, and you’re going to find him for me.”

“Me, sir? But how?” I sniffled.

“We’ve trained you as a scout. You know how to hunt a target. If you wish to save your life and those of your squad mates, you will bring me Harlequin Green,” said The Director, staring me down with his cold grey eyes.

I had no choice. I didn’t want to betray my friend, but I couldn’t put his life before those of our squad.

“Yes, sir. I will carry out my orders.”

“Good boy.” He smiled a satisfied smile then filled me in on the details of my assignment.

“Yes, sir.” I coughed when he was finished.

“Are you ill?” he asked curiously, noticing my condition for the first time.

“Doctor Hopkins said I am suffering from a cold, sir,” I explained.

“How cute.” The Director smirked. “Nature seems to have a stronger hold on you young ones. By the time your enhancements are complete you’ll never have to worry about such inconveniences again.”

“Sir?” I asked, but he was done with me and turned his attention to the guards.

“Take him to the infirmary and see that he rests. I want him healthy before we send him out,” The Director ordered.

Harlequin

I awoke refreshed. I turned my head, taking in the room. The walls were tan and dirty. Morning light filtered through the windows, which were both dirty and protected by blinds. On the opposite wall was another bed, and a lump under the covers. The body moved quietly in sleep, breathing. I sat up, the bed I occupied squeaking slightly, and gained my feet. The tenderness in my foot was immediate, and I paused to get the stick before standing. Crossing the room I opened the door to find the heavyset man seated at the end of the hall with a device in his hand. He looked up.

“Bathroom is at the end of the hall,” he said in a quiet voice. I nodded.

“Thank you, sir.” I turned and hobbled to the end of the hallway and into the bathroom, which had no door. There were two shower stalls with plastic sheets hanging for privacy. Privacy I was unaccustomed to. A urinal was mounted to the outside wall and a toilet on the opposite, hidden by the showers. A sink stood by itself.

Once I'd relieved myself, I walked back down the hall. The heavy set man told me I could go down to breakfast, if I wanted. The other boys would be woken shortly. I thanked him and descended the stairs.

At the bottom I noted the front door far to my left, the room the others had occupied just to the right of that. Directly across from me was another door and to my left the dining area I had spotted. Moving into this room, I noted another exit, leading to the kitchen. There were noises emanating from the room, and I made my way there. A petite lady with long blond hair was setting out cereals and bowls. She turned and smiled at me.

“Good morning. You must be the new guy. I'm Kara,” she held a hand out. I took it.

“Ma'am. I'm Harlequin Greene.”

“So polite. Do you always go by Harlequin? Harley for short?”

“Yes, Ma'am.”

“All right, mister polite, why don't you grab a bowl and some cereal. I'll put the milk and juice out at the table.”

“Yes, ma'am. Thank you, ma'am.” I followed her instructions and seated myself at the table. The dining room table was quite long, fit for perhaps twelve people, with a bay window at the far end. Pretty colored glass was arranged in designs, and I stopped, staring.

“You like the stained glass, Harley?”

“Yes, ma'am. It's beautiful.”

“It sure is. Eat up. It's going to be a busy day.”

“Yes, ma'am. May I ask what I'll be doing?”

“We have to get you some clothes to start with.” She smiled. “I think we have toiletries. Until they get school squared away for you, you'll spend the day with me. That all right with you?”

“Yes, ma'am. Thank you.”

“You're just too polite. Who taught you that?”

Hands, feet and being struck had. “I don't recall, ma'am.”

“Well, you keep it up. It'll open doors for you.” She went back to the kitchen. As I ate I heard the sound of movement upstairs, the other residents being roused. Showers being taken. Pushing and shoving. Then, descending the stairs.

“Who are you? Who's he?” one asked Kara.

“Guys, this is Harley,” she said before walking back into the kitchen.

“'Sup, bitch?” asked a heavy boy with swollen spots on his face. He crashed into a seat and took a bowl while scowling at me. I believe he was trying to be intimidating.

“Ignore him, Harley. He's just pissed 'cause he has a little dick,” another stated. The first raised his middle finger to the second as Kara re-entered the room.

“None of that, Ron. Don't think I didn't hear you either, Pat. You guys want to start out down a few points? Then keep it up.”

More boys came downstairs, seven in all – myself being number eight – and sat down to eat. Insults were thrown about, posturing was done, and all their insecurities were on display. Their personal care was lacking; in fact they all looked as if they'd slept in their clothes or had picked them from the bottom of their laundry – and it was questionable if it was clean laundry.

“Where you from, Harley?” asked the one to my right. He looked as disheveled as the rest but had a kind face.

The Corporation. Lion Mountain. “I don't recall,” I answered.

“Man of mystery, huh?” he smiled and returned to his cereal. Not so much mystery, I thought, as secrets.

For the time that I would be here, recuperating, I would need to assimilate. I'd initially thought I'd made a tactical error in providing my name; I realized now that it may be advantageous. If the Corporation were looking for me, they'd likely be looking under my aliases – all provided by them. It was far less likely they would look for me under my own name. I needed to make an effort to fit in until it was time to leave.

“Where are you from?” I asked.

“Fishkill. There's a shortage of places to put punks like me, so I got to come upstate,” he said with a grin.

I didn't know how to file the information. Fishkill was obviously a place, but was it a town or a facility? It was south of here, if this area was considered 'upstate'.

“Why were you...placed?” I asked.

“His dumb ass stole a car,” the heavyset boy jeered.

“The dumb part was getting caught,” my neighbor said with a smile.

“Boys,” Kara said in a warning tone. They quieted down, but I could tell things would begin as soon as they had paid lip service to her authority. Later the boys gathered up and stood on the front porch waiting for the school bus. Kara cleaned up after breakfast, not letting me help, telling me to go watch TV until she was ready to leave. I walked into the large room by the door and sat down. The television was dark, and I waited for something to happen, some training film or whatever to start – but it remained dark. I decided to not ask why that was; clearly she had expected a different outcome. Instead I glanced about the room, eyes settling on a shelf of books.

Selecting one, I sat and began to read. It took me a few pages, but I began to realize that the book wasn't a training guide but rather something that couldn't possibly be true. A lie? No. It was told as if it were real. Some kind of fantasy? I found it compelling and was completely engrossed when Kara came back from the kitchen.

“What'cha reading?” she asked.

“A book, ma'am,” I replied.

“Obviously,” she said and looked at the cover. “Are you a Science Fiction fan?”

I looked at the book, the cover showing a spaceship in flight. Fiction mixed with science, fascinating.

“Yes, Ma'am, I think I am.”

“Okay then,” she smiled. “Let's go get you some clothes.”

We got into a vehicle designed to carry several people at once; it was one of two in front of the structure. We first went to a retail store, and I selected socks and underwear. It was odd to see them without my code – G298 – stamped on them somewhere. Next we went to a location that had previously worn clothes, and I was able to find several items that fit me acceptably. We returned with the purchases. Kara instructed me in the use of their washing machine and dryer, and all my clothes were cleaned.

Once done, I showered and put the fresh clothes on. Kara told me she would wash the other items and return them to Doc. She made us sandwiches for lunch with potato chips and a fizzy drink. It was all quite interesting, though I didn't find myself a fan of the oil and salt that coated the potatoes.

“So, looks like you made friends with Cass this morning,” she said.

“Ma'am?”

“Boy with the straight brown hair? You were sitting next to each other at breakfast. I think he's your roomie, too.”

“Oh. I hadn't known his name. He seemed nice, ma'am.”

“You don't have to add ma'am to everything you say,” she laughed.

“Yes, m...yes.” I said, catching myself.

“So what did you talk about?”

“He told me he was from Fishkill. Is that a facility?”

“No, it's a town. He's lucky. St. Cabrini's was full, or he'd have gone there. Little guy like him? They'd have eaten him three times a day.”

“They're cannibals, ma'am?” I said, raising my voice in alarm.

“No,” she laughed, “it's just an expression. I mean he wouldn't have done very well there. Here, he's doing okay.”

Our conversation was brought to a halt by the arrival of Myrtle Snow and the large woman with the fake smile. They took seats at the table, and Kara excused herself.

“Well, Mr. Greene, you have us in quite a pickle,” Ms. Snow said.

“I'm sorry, ma'am.”

“You're so sweet. Unfortunately, we can't find any record of a 'Harlequin Greene' in the county. We have requests being made to the state and national databases, but that will take some time. We have to wait in line, you see,” she said with a smile.

I remained silent, unsure what any response should be.

“In the meantime, you'll stay here with Mrs. Klein and the other boys. Have you made any friends?”

“I spoke with Cass, this morning,” I replied. I wasn't sure he qualified as a friend, but his was the only name that came to mind. The others had been coarse, not worth remembering.

“Oh, little Cassidy. Just you watch your wallet, you hear?” the fake woman said, presumably Mrs. Klein.

“I don't have a wallet, ma'am.”

“Has he swiped it already?” she said, rolling her eyes.

“No, ma'am. I don't own a wallet.”

“Well, one less thing to guard, then. I need to take you over to the school. They are going to give you some tests and see which grade to put you in.”

“Yes, ma'am.”

“I told you he was polite,” Myrtle Snow said.

“So you did,” replied Mrs. Klein. I kept silent.

The night of the escape I'd been on pure adrenaline. The remaining Green Squad members had melted into the night. We quickly lost sight of each other, moving in separate directions, ever widening one from the other. I was moving south, but that was all I knew. It was agreed we couldn't stay together and we couldn't stop close to the facility. I had trekked for days, sleeping only very lightly during the day. By the time I had been discovered I had been awake more than two days.

I hadn't eaten, either, which contributed to my fatigued state. All in all, it was probably the most poorly conceived breakout on record. I huddled in hollows and under trees, missing my squad. Missing Sage.

The tests seemed rather simple. We'd had schooling, especially in the areas of mathematics and language. I was placed in tenth grade and handed a map of the school among various other items. Cass informed me I was a grade ahead of him when I showed him my schedule that evening. The other boys did their homework, and then dinner was had. Most of them retired to the room with the television, after assisting to maintain the residence by cleaning. I was not assigned a place to clean, as of yet, due to my injury.

I spent the evening reading the book, my imagination stoked to its limits.

In the morning I rode the bus with the other boys. Cass saved me a seat, and I was beginning to realize he felt some camaraderie with me. That was fine, though not required, as I knew my time here was limited. Perhaps I would go farther south than the Fishkill he mentioned.

Upon arrival I found that getting to my classroom was harder than I'd thought possible. The room numbers on the map didn't coincide with the ones on the doors. The bell rang, and a boy running down the hall stopped as he approached me, muttering to myself and staring at the map.

“Lost?” he asked.

“I shouldn't be,” I replied. “I can read a map.”

I felt him encroach on my personal space and look at the map. “That's why. It's last year's. They redid everything – upgrades, refurbished, and some genius changed the room numbers. Where do you need to go?”

I pulled out my schedule and showed him, and it was then that I got my first look at him. He was my height, perhaps a hair taller – and I stood five feet ten inches. He had blond hair that fell in long strands and light skin, though darker than mine, considering I hadn't seen the sun in a great while. It was altogether a pleasing shade. What kept coming back to me was how much he reminded me of Kelly Greene – beautiful.

“Okay, well your next class is the same as mine. Come on, you can be my excuse for being late.” He smiled and patted my shoulder, and I felt that, in smiling, he'd grown even more beautiful.

“I'm Tim Hathaway. What's your name?” he asked as he walked and I followed.

“Harlequin Greene.”

“That's a pretty cool name, if I do say so,” Tim replied. “Where you from?”

“I don't know,” I replied.

“Don't know?”

I shook my head. He stopped outside a door and remarked that this was our room, and he led me in. He introduced me to the teacher and said he was late due to showing me how to get to the classroom. The teacher accepted his explanation and told him to take his seat. Then the teacher invited me to introduce myself to the class.

“Good morning. My name is Harlequin Greene,” I stated. I had decided not to muddy the waters, so I would use up the Harlequin name and would change when I left town.

“Tell us where you went to school, where you're from,” the teacher prompted.

“If you're single,” a voice from the crowd and a sea of giggles accompanying it.

“No, sir. Thank you,” I said to the teacher. He cocked his head but accepted my not sharing and told me to take a seat.

The lesson was unremarkable, and I copied the work down that I would need to complete. I was surprised at the lack of discipline in the room, but then this was not The Corporation. You would not be injured for a failure to comply. The end of the class had a short period of free time, and Tim kindly marked my map for the rest of my classes.

“They might not be exact, but you can get there,” he said. I thanked him for his kindness and made my way throughout the day with very little fuss. That night I followed the prescribed routine and completed my homework upon arrival at the residence. Cass struggled with his, and I assisted him. Then it was dinner and housework, and I settled in with my book.

As I arrived the next day, Tim called out a greeting. I made my way to him, and he introduced me to a group of people whose names I didn't retain. All except Marissa, who was his sister. They shared the long, straight blond hair and delicate features. However her cheekbones were higher and slightly more prominent. She was nearly his equal in sheer beauty, save for the unattractive pout she wore.

At lunch I was spotted again by Tim and joined him and his group for the meal. His sister was also present, as was her pout. The more time I spent with her, the less beautiful she became. She complained throughout lunch on the lack of attractive male companions, the general state of the student body and – it seemed – life in general.

After school I walked to my locker to collect my things and, like sleight of hand, there was Tim.

“Hey. So was my sister too subtle for you today?” he asked.

“Subtle?” I asked. That wasn't a word I'd attach to her.

“Yeah. She was hitting on you pretty hard,” he grinned.

“Was she? I hadn't noticed,” I replied. Was she? It was singularly unattractive.

“She sent me to find out if you're single, since I guess I'm your friend.”

“Are you?” I asked, closing the locker door and facing him.

“Well. I wouldn't mind making a new friend,” he said uncertainly. “Do you not want to be friends?”

“A friend is an important thing to be,” I said quietly. I looked at his beautiful face as he tried to make sense of my words. Slowly he nodded.

“Yeah, it is. Friends?” he stuck his hand out. His fingers were slender and tapered down to hands that were near elegant. I took his hand and shook.

“Friends.”

“Now, because if I don't come back with an answer for my sister...are you single? I mean, obvious since you're new but...”

“I am,” I replied.

“Okay then. I have to go catch my bus. What's your number?” he asked as we stepped outside. Cass waved to me.

G-298. “Number?” I asked.

“Phone?” he asked. He noticed Cass waving and seemed to realize something before I did. “You know Cassidy Tremain? So you're in the group home?”

“Yes, I know Cassidy,” I replied. “We do live in the same home.”

“Explains why you didn't want to say in class. Find out the number. I'll see you tomorrow,” and he was off. I made my way to Cass, who took my bag, unnecessarily, and I climbed onto the bus.

“You're friends with Tim Hathaway?” Cass asked excitedly as we sat on the bus.

“Apparently,” I replied.

“Wow.”

Wow, indeed. I suspected that Tim's idea of friendship was different than my own, but felt he would honor it as he understood it.