18 - Cadets Evacuating

When Terrence escorts the technician to the 10th floor, four 3rd year students arrive in the back entrance of the North Tower. They are the ones ordered by the Captain to split up from the Base and join the ones in the Tower.

"Huh? Where are the seniors paired up with you? Shouldn't you guys be at the base and guard the citizens?" A senior approaches them.

"The Captain told us to come here and relay a new command." One of the juniors said urgently.

A junior approaches. "Why can't she relay through Arrow?"

"The Base is being moved and there's news that many terrorists are coming here soon. She wants you to move inside the Tower for protection."

The junior and senior receiving the news jolts in surprise. "W-What?! More—"

Before the two could scream, the others cover their mouth. "Shh!"

"The captain wants to keep this between the cadets. She doesn't want to cause panic among the rescued citizens here."

The five of them looked over to the citizens who are sitting on the ground with the other cadets. The wounded cadets have various injuries from light to heavy. None of the are severe, but the heavy wounds would be their handicap if there are more battles. They cannot fight.

The senior understands the intensity of the situation. He asks everyone to gather for a quick briefing near the wounded cadets.

The cadets' are horrified at the news, but the seniors try their best to stay calm and even calm their juniors who are crying and looking very terrified.

"I can't do this. I'm going to die…" One of the juniors frantically said. A senior holds him tightly before he can run away. "Let me go! I want to go!"

"Listen! Everyone's scared! But we can't run away! The enemies are closing in already, and if you somehow you run into them, you'll be dead sooner! Stay here together and defend. That's the best option to survive!" The senior yell at him.

The junior being yelled at slumps down, looking dejected.

"We must find a place to hide. We can't set up defense in the open like this. We're sitting duck." One of the seniors said.

"Captain told us to move inside the Tower. We can ask the workers if there's a room big enough for us to hide."

"Doesn't that make us more like sitting ducks?!" Another senior yells.

"Shh!! Quiet down! You'll make the citizens panic!" A senior scolded.

"A-Are you kids alright there…? Is there a problem?" A male citizen asked.

"W-We're discussing a strategy. P-Please wait." One of the female seniors nervously replies. "I don't want to join in any of this. You guys decide and I'll go with it. I'll calm the citizens." She then leaves to talk to the rescued citizens.

The others resume their discussions. Then a female junior asked.

"U-Um… What about the ones with the police? Are they coming back here to help us…?"

When the back entrance were finally breached, the Go Team had called the police to help nearby. Since they cannot enter the Tower and have to be in certain radius for unknown reason, two pairs from the Go Team drove the academy's trooper truck to transport the rescued citizens from the lower floors and the subdued terrorists to the police. It was also the command from the HQ, so that the citizens would immediately be treated.

"Then we can come with them to the police, and we will all be saved!" A junior said.

"What? And leave the others inside the Tower to the mob?! Are you heartless?!" A senior slaps his head.

"But then what should we do…?" The junior rubs his head.

At that time, more workers and cadets arrive. They are the ones saved by Terrence in the 9th floor. Patrick, Jake, and Amy are also there.

"What are you guys discussing?" Jake asked.

"More enemies are coming."

The ones who just arrived jolts in surprise, even the wounded respond the new update with grim expression.

"What?! But the other Go Team groups are still up there! There are citizens we haven't rescue too!" Jake said.

"It's not up to us, man! We have to decide what to do now!" A senior replies.

"When are they going to arrive?" One of the wounded asked.

"We don't know. The Captain didn't say. The Base should be contacting us soon, they were just adjusting the computers' setting." A junior said.

Then one of the seniors receives a call. "It's the transporter team." He picks it up. "Hello?"

"Hey! We heard from HQ. They want us to pick up all of you. More enemies are approaching." Ulek, the male senior in the transporter team said quickly.

The juniors' eyes sparkle. They are the ones who have high hopes of being rescued.

"What about the ones still in the Tower? Are we waiting for them?" Patrick asked.

"I-I don't know man… They said to rescue those who can be rescued." Ulek answered hesitantly.

Hearing that, the junior cadets are confused while the seniors' expression darkens. They're not used to leave their fellow cadets behind. But even Ulek's tone shows that that he's also disappointed by the new command. But none of them could do anything since it's from HQ.

"We understand. Get here as fast as you can." The senior whom Ulek called replied.

"Hang on, guys. Ulek out." The other line closes the call.

"What does he mean by—" A junior wanted to ask, but he was cut short by another.

"What are we going to do now? HQ wants all of us to retreat but Captain wants us to hide in the Tower." A junior looks very confused.

The juniors are looking at their seniors for a decision, but even the seniors are looking at each other for the same thing.

Seeing no one dares to make one, Jake steps up.

"I think those of you here should leave with the truck." The others look at him. He continues. "Prioritize the citizens and the wounded. I'm sure they will bring back stretchers too and medics. So all of you should leave."

"What about you?" A senior asked.

"I'll go up there to help the rest." He said. He could go with them to rescue himself, but he suddenly remembers the junior he's partnered up with. Whilst the situation clearly shows that the junior no longer need supervision, he doesn't feel good leaving the kid behind. Besides, no one knows what are the upcoming enemies want. So having more people is better to tilt the bar in the cadets' favor.

"How about these terrorists?" A junior asked.

"Leave them. Now prepare to tell the citizens and help these three." Jake was referring to the new injured cadets he just brought.

"Good luck, Jake." The seniors wish him good luck.

Jake thanks them. When he goes back in though, someone catches up to him. "Patrick? What are you doing here?"

"Did you forget? I'm your hovercraft rider. Without me, you can't activate the hovercraft." He said.

Jake smirks. "What nonsense are you talking about? All of us can use the hovercraft. You just want to stay behind."

Patrick smiles. "True. Besides, we still got one more citizen to rescue before the truck gets here."

Jake knows. It's the worker who went with his junior partner.

"After I pick him up, I will stay for a while at the entrance. You guys upstairs would want to know the situation down here later." Patrick said.

"Man, you're smart. No wonder Natalie pays attention to you." Jake said.

Patrick blushes. "She does not!"

"Give me a tip or two about flirting ladies, will you?" Jake asked as they enter the emergency stairs area.

"It depends if we can survive today's mission. Come on! Up we go!"

They hop on the hovercraft and it brings both of them up to the 10th floor.