3 Chapter 3: Pandemonium

The events that later followed will always be nebulous. Sam nudged me to move forward. Patrick continued with the names of the Aiders. I started walking towards the stage with much dismay. My dad stood there emotionless. Being an ADM, the first rule for them to learn is to keep your feelings and grudge towards yourself.

I didn't had any idea that my name would be chosen today. How much prisoners are there? Why didn't dad at least inform me about this? I couldn't hear anything that was happening around me since my own thoughts and demanding questions were thundering everything.

I made my way through the seats and reached at the front row. To my utter surprise the front row was vacant. I counted the number of seats. There were seventeen of them. I looked at Patrick. He was still continuing with the names. Should I sit here or just wait for them to escort me to their office? Or wherever they are taking me to?

That's when someone walked past over me. I recognised him during my work but I didn't know his name. He sat on one of the vacant seats and started beckoning me to do the same. I followed his instruction and sat on the nearest seat.

The adrenaline rush I was feeling was not helping me at all. Later, I saw many other coders having their seats. I looked around for familiar faces among them. Sam poked me all of a sudden. I looked at him and he looked content with the choices of ADM.

"Just tell me that you are there too.", I asked him as I held his hands. He took the seat beside me and looked around. I waited for his response like a fool even though I just wanted to make sure that I wasn't left alone among these chaos.

"I guess I don't have any choice , Scar.", he laughed. The seventeen vacant seats and their temporary owners were chosen.

I looked at Patrick again. He folded the papers he was holding and stood at stand at ease.

"The Aiders has been chosen. Thank you for your cooperation. You may leave to your respective works now.", He turned away from the coders he was facing and climbed down to be with us. Following him was Arthur and some other ADM representatives.

Without lingering, he instructed us to stay alert for any mission the ADM's will provide us. He also promised us that no complaints shall be prosecuted about our service to the ADM'S.

"We generally sent you to Earth only under the order of the head of the Stellar X. Rumoured missions are not taken well and ensure yourself that you are sent to Earth under legal orders from the ADM and the head.", Patrick concluded. Throughout his instructions , I tried to grasp as much answers to my questions as fast as possible. But the information he provided us were still confidential.

He didn't say anything about the war or the number of prisoners captured by the AI back in Earth.

There was only way I could sort everything out. My dad.

The one thing I was uncertain was about the information regarding the head of Stellar X. I thought that the ADM'S were the paramount forces here.

My own thoughts are now culminating into disappointments now.

The ADM officers left the progression hall in haste. The rest of the chosen Aiders were looking at Patrick and the representatives which made me happy at one point. They were also clueless just like me.

"Your quarters are now shifted to the Hive. It will be your home now until everything is successful as planned.", said Patrick. Patrick's voice sounded husky now. That was comforting.

So, now we have to shift our belongings to the Hive. Hive is situated at the other side of the Stellar X. It's where the Aiders and the other representatives of each section of the categories of the civilians brainstorms to find new war strategy.

The Hive is constantly alert and it is because of them we are still fighting for our home. My dad lives there.

He rarely visits me. He would only take the initiative for meeting me when he has to come at this side of our habitat for some particular reasons which I will never know.

It's been months since I have seen my brother. He hasn't been promoted as an Aider yet. I can't wait to decode his reactions now. I am sure that he heard my name.

This day has been already too much for me. Everyone stood up and started leaving. I looked at Sam, he was smiling.

"Sam.", I said. He looked at me with admiration.

"Girl, your man is one hell of an ADM. Now I just have to follow his orders.", Sam said as he stood up. Was it really?

"I guess everyone who becomes an Aider goes there right?", I asked. "Maybe. Did you hear Neon talking about the Hive?", he asked trying to convince myself of the fact.

"No. She just said that she will go to Earth next week.", I said. As we were talking, Patrick came.

I rolled my eyes at Sam asking him for his help so that I don't mess up my first conversation with him.

Sam raised his eyebrows which clearly meant that our telepathy does need practice.

"Hi.", said Patrick as he held out his right hand for a greeting. I followed his request and gave him a handshake. I found myself struggling to speak a word.

"You're Fred Clark's and Katherine Clark's daughter right?", he asked. Out of the blue, Sam answered his question.

"Yes. She is.", said Sam as he narrowed his eyes towards me. That was how Sam made sure that he understood what I meant before. Patrick smiled softly. Did he realize something? Patrick continued.

"Well, I kind of knew it. Umm, your brother Jonathan was my mentor when I began my coding. I have seen you before at work but I never got the chance to properly introduce myself.", said Patrick as he waited for me to say something. Sam coughed.

I looked at him raising my eyebrows this time. He faked a smile and left. What? Seriously? Now is not the good time to really leave your best friend for God's sake.

"It's ok. There's lot of time for proper introductions here. I mean who are we kidding?", I tried to laugh. This is actually a nightmare and what I just said sounded way better inside my head.

"Of course. Welcome to the Hive Scarlett.", he said in a soft tone. Wow, he is a gentleman for his looks. I mean most of them would just boast around about how many girls love them and wanted to be with them.

He then turned and started leaving along with his representatives. I got to say something.

"You can call me Scar. See you around more.", I shouted as loud as possible. He's probably gonna remember my indiscipline attitudes.

He looked back at me and nodded.

That went good. Now I just need to find Sam.

I was the last one to leave the progression hall. I decided to get back to my room and pack my things. When I went out, there was hubbub of extreme confusions and faces of melancholy. I saw some people hugging each other while some of them were inscrutable. All of the coders were once again in one place. They didn't leave for their work.

I decided to ask someone about what was happening around now. I saw a blonde girl sitting alone. I thought it was best to ask her.

"Excuse me. Why are everyone still here?", I asked as I put my hand on her shoulder trying to be empathetic even though I didn't know what she was going through.

She raised her head up and looked at me. She seemed to be about five or six years older than me. She was brown skinned and her eyes seemed to be swollen and red. From her lamenting face, I understood that she was crying a while ago.

She might have stopped thinking it was pointless or there was nothing else she could do. She might have felt helpless.

I knelt down and looked at her waiting for her to say something.

She rolled her sleeves of her uniform and showed me her armlet that could show us the hologram. She gestured a movement with her hand on it and a small hologram screen appeared in front of me.

She selected some options and there she was Mariah.

"I am sorry that I have to inform you all about the tragic incident that took place on Earth. Marking the recent events, you might have all known about our mission to Earth a few months back. It was a secret mission and we selected some of the civilians unaware. The intention of the mission can't be explained.

Today, we received the message that the prisoners taken up by the AI are the only survivors left of the mission. The three spaceships that circulated the Earth and the military who continued their mission have been brutally killed.

So far we only have traced the TEL'S of the eight people who are assumed to be their prisoners. We haven't recorded any of their movements. The complete selection of Aiders was just deduced now so that they can help the battleships and add themselves to help the military left on Earth.

Strategies have been changed since we lost our fellow civilians and there is nothing left to move forward. I request every civilians to pay your respectful condolences for their souls."

I saw my hands shaking as the hologram logged off. My armlet buzzed at the same time. I couldn't gather up the energy to open whatever was waiting for me.

I heard that everyone's armlet buzzed. This meant that something awful was about to happen. Suddenly, the entire beep from everyone's armlet synchronised. It sounded like a warning now.

I walked impetuously back to the progression hall. My TEL beeped as I passed through the screening door.

I stopped as I walked few paces after entering the hall.

My armlet still buzzed. I rolled my sleeves slowly and clicked the button that would show me the reason why it buzzed.

My hologram appeared and it showed my brother's image on it. And below his image were these words.

"Jonathan Clark(TEL ID - CSTX7459) have been demised during the recent ambush from the AI. We are thankful for his bravery and all his selfless deeds for the survival of our human species. We will be commemorating his sacrifices and we will always remain indebted for your loss."

Jonathan's face flashed before my eyes. He is no longer alive. He is not coming back. He is not going to visit me again and remind me that I will be brave like mom one day. He will never mock me again when I try to act like him.

Our childhood at this habitat and all the things we have been through together played like a continuous loop inside my head. I am not prepared to miss him. I never imagined this situation in my life.

Voices screamed inside my head. I snatched the armlet off my wrist and threw it away. I could feel my tears flooding inside my eyes. It was uncontrollable.

I felt a piercing pain through my body. I couldn't possibly figure out what I was thinking and where I was now. My throat felt dry and even though I felt like to scream, nothing could come out. Absolute silence prevailed inside the progression hall.

I felt that my surroundings were moving and appearing to be blurry. The next thing I know complete blackness appeared right in front of my eyes.