Revolution: 2198

Chapter 2: Ilumina

                                                                                        Melani

January 6, 2198

Ilumina City,

Planet of Metro,

My mind wandered as I look through the window of the transport bus. When was the last time I saw greenery of Metro?

I wasn't the only one re-assigned to Ilumina. Many soldiers are also assigned there. Why? Rumors said that Espian has been experimenting with new tech within the laboratories of the military base. Since the capital has everything scientists and inventors needed, they were all cramped within this land.

Many say that Espians are planning to use a mind-controlling device in a satellite to unite all people in Phillis and Espia. Others say that they plan to combine both galaxies. While others, they plan to destroy the universe so only their galaxy is left.

Such theories, I doubt such thing could happen. No matter how advanced our technologies are, breaking the natural law of the universe would be pure impossible. But messing with it, humans already did.

"Do you know? That being sent to Ilumina as a Lieutenant Colonel is like a demotion," a soldier spoke from the opposite seat of mine.

I gave him a glance, checking his batch to see his rank. Blue, with flags angled on both sides of his pin. A major in the navy. If I know better, he's lower than a lieutenant in the army.

"Isn't the same to you?" I retorted, averting my eyes back on the window.

I don't really care whether I get demoted or not. As long as I can continue to inform the revolutionary army of the Espian army's movements, that's all that matters.

"Really, for a Lieutenant Colonel like you to be demoted. You're the most devoted out of all the three Lieutenant Colonels present," the guy stated.

My fists tightened steadily in my lap. Calm down, there's no point in getting into an argument. Even if I am the most devoted to my position, Cesar and Benjamin are just the same. We all are but they rather let me shine in the light than they do.

In this world we live, women are still seen as inferior to men. As my friends, Cesar and Benjamin couldn't stand being the only ones to be acknowledged. For three years, we've been inseperable. From day one of boot camp to being promoted as lieutenant colonels in the city of Nozueq. The three of us are all together.

But even after so long of being together, I could never bring myself to tell them who I truly am. And where my loyalty stands between the two galaxies.

And now, I could never have a chance.

"It would be for the best," I whispered as I close my eyes to take a quick nap.

                                                                                            *****

My eyes blinked as a new scene played in front of me. Buildings swept across the window, and twice the amounth of billboards crisscrossed on the streets.

There were also a number of bullet trains going in different directions, surfing above us in full speed. The crowd is busy as ever, with people walking in haste, entering and exiting from shops and houses.

People wearing lab coats as well as trench coats loitered around the side path. Soldiers patrolled every block, street by street in squads. The city of Ilumina is much more heavily guarded than Nozueq. With soldiers carrying their guns in their arms, lumped and marching as one.

The transport bus stopped in the middle of a square. A building in architected in a cross, with four open spaces in each corners serving as parking lots. The building itself is located in the middle of the city, with a road circulating around it.

I've researched the place last night before I went to bed. Using the link the Colonel Roni has given me as a gift. Nothing much popped out from the web but it did told me that the military has its headquarters found in the center of the city in a city square.

The web also told me that there are different tunnels beneath the building, leading to different facilities the Espian government hold, like research facilities and underground military bases.

It was also rumored that there are secrer passages beneath the city leading to the Espian secrets that not even the military general knows.

A perfect place for me to spy on. If I could get huge information from here then it will be a big help to the Phillis Revolutionary Army.

We left the bus, carrying our bags in our back like in boot camp. Of course, soldiers offered me help since I'm a girl, many of them only mocked me. I don't care either way, I can handle myself on my own, without the help of any men.

The pavement leading to the building is wide, filled with blossoming bushes. The path is made of rocks and limestones. Multiple automatic glass doors lined in the entrance of the building.

From my estimation, the building is at least 50 floors tall. The outer wall made of glass and shimmering against the sunlight. No wonder they placed this building in the center of the city. It stands out more than the rest of the others.

Three people stood in the entrance way, welcoming us with delighted faces. One of them is recognizable because of his common appearance in the public. From his rank to his usual appearance on-screen, its undoubtedly impossible not to recognize him. Not to mention, his crazy blue hair stands out.

I can't believe that he, himself is the one escorting and welcoming us. He stood between two other higher-ups. Looking at their purple and red colored ranks, I knew right away that they're Lieutenant Generals.

And the person in the center of them is General Belmann, the infamous general who took brought the revolutionary in their knees and made them retreat.

The same person who burned my city planet down the ground. My home was once called the Riverbend because of the long and wide river flowing in the middle of the city. It was my home before it was destroyed by the Espian Army and turned into an industrial city of factories.

They call it Gysap nowadays and the river that once flowed from the city to the sea is now blocked off by how much oil and trash they dumped in the river.

My fists curled against the strap of my bag, my anger rising up my face. Stay calm, Melani, you have to remain calm if you want to exact revenge against the one who broke your life.

"Welcome, soldiers, it is a pleasure to have you here in the capital city of Metro," General Belmann greeted. "Surely an introduction isn't needed for me but perhaps my co-higher-ups do."

They all wore the same uniform as us, their hands clasped around their back and their backs straightened.

"Welcome soldiers, I am Lieutenant General Calvin,"

"And I am Lieutenant General Clarence,"

We all saluted without saying a word. We lined ourselves accordingly by rank, me being the one in the very front. Looks like I'm the only high-ranking officer to be assigned here this year.

Their eyes skimmed through us with contentment, remembering our faces as though we would commit a serious act against the law. They're cautious, probably checking to see if one of us is an agent or a spy of their enemy.

Unfortunately for them, I'm good at acting and hiding. And quite good in the realm of poker face.

I remained standing with a neutral expression, not daring to loiter my eyes around. I would love to scan the area but I'm afraid people are more cautious here than on Nozueq.

General Belmann's eyes met mine and it widened. For a second, I thought he realized that I'm a spy. Instead, his eyes lit from recognition.

"If I'm correct, you're Lieutenant Colonel Melani, right?" he asked in full excitement.

"Yes sir!" I affirmed, meeting his gaze.

"I can't believe it! To think the famous female lieutenant colonel is now here in our headquarters. It's such an honor!" he mused.

By his tone, I can't tell if he's mocking me or he's actually praising me. Whatever the case, I sure know he recognizes me as one of the people that lived in Gysap. After all, he is the person who nearly killed me before. Before a soldier saved me and brought me to my uncle where I became part of the Revolutionary Army.

"It is also an honor to be of service to you and the capital, General Belmann," I smiled, keeping up with him.

If there's one thing the army should know about me, it's that I don't go down without a fight. And I keep my head held high whenever I need to.

The general approached me. His feet skidding through the pebbled path, stopping a meter away from me. I looked at him intently without breaking away. My hands clenched behind me, controlling the urge to punch his face. I would gladly do so if I could.

I feel his glowing smirk in his lips. He leaned forward, putting his face on my ears. "Are you here to kill me?" he wondered.

"I cannot remember having a grudge on a general such as you, General Belmann," I stated, glancing my eyes towards him.

He's trying to provoke me, I see. Don't worry, his life won't be long. His life is not for me to take.

He stared at me, reading my intentions. I bore my eyes blankly, keeping even the tiniest emotion in check. Emotionless, blank, empty. That is what I do best.

He moved away, still having that smirk in his face. Though this time, alert is written all over it. He bore his dark eyes at me,with his chin held high to signify his rank.

They began their tour around the building,showing us the different facilities within the cross building. It took us almost a near two-hours before we finish the tour wihin the building.

Offices and halls are found within the first 30 floors of the building. The other 20 have laboratories for scientific purposes as well as higher-up offices. We weren't toured in yhat area because of privacy purposes. I suppose there are secrets even in the highest levels of this building.

We then are sent below the building and into the underground passageways. I thought they would be like human-size tunnels leading to different rooms but I was wrong.

The undergound tunnels are large and spacious. Different vehicles pass through the road below, guarded by soldiers in every entrance and exit. There are four different directions to go to, creating a crossing in the middle of the tunnel.

There were four ways to go in total, each leading to a different sector of the city. The north leads to the military base that can be found both underground and in the surface. That side is mostly where the heavy equipment and transports are located, along with the military vehicles such as planes and tanks.

The south leads to the research facilities where the experiments of discoveries are being tested and proven. A place where inventors and scientists hangs out most of the time.

Then there's the east where the training grounds are located. Most recruits and sergeants are sent there. It is also where the dorm rooms of the soldiers are located. And yes, unlike Nozueq, here in Ilumina, I have my own room within the radius of the headquarters.

And lastly the west, the place where most of the secrets are kept. Whatever plans they have that only a few knows about. The generals included. For us though, it is a f*******n place that we cannot enter.

It seems as well that General Belmann's office is also located here. I guess he's someone important to their hideous plans. He has the answers I'm looking for. Answers I'd have a hard time getting.

"And that concludes our tour, we will be assigning your rooms now. Lucky for the lieutenants and above, they'll have their own rooms compared to sergeants who'll share a room with another," Lieutenant General Clarence explained.

"Quite lucky for Lieutenant Colonel Melani, isn't it?" General Belmann remarked.

"It is. Though I'd also be fine with sharing a room with someone," I replied.

"Then, we'll be assigning your rooms. Tomorrow, your day here will officially start. I hope your higher-ups have already informed you where and which you are assigned?" Lieutenant General Calvin.

"Yes sir!" We saluted.

"All of you are now dismissed. Your day will start tomorrow at seven," they announced before we all dispersed.

They called out our names one by one, giving us our room number and key before we head into one of the transpirt prepared for us and be sent to the underground dorms. Most of the facilities here in the capital are found underground.

I thought that kind of fashion is only found in the planet of Cordial. Looks like I'm wrong. Though, in this case, the facilities are found underground and not just within mountains and hills.

General Belmann handed me down my key telling me my room number. He also said something else to me befkre I walk away, "I do hope you don't plan to backstab all of us because of what I did." He smiled at me and patted my shoulders before he lightly push me away.

I trailed an eye at him and left without speaking a word.

                                                                                         *****

It took almost an hour to get to the dormitories. Lights continue to flicker in every block we pass. Ceiling lights glued to the wall filled with biohazard lights in hues of yellow and orange. It lit the tunnels to life, burning it up ablaze.

Even so, the tunnels are still dark even with them. We were told that the light are solar panneled, meaning they are powered by the solar light or energy from the sun.

Which also meant that this place is pitch black at night. Darkness will purge the road and the only thing that gives you light are the dimly lit lampshades that are powered by a generator.

The dormitories are a different case. I thought buildings would be impossible to build below the city, especially because of how unstable the land would get from above and beneath. And again, I was wrong.

From a distance, I could see the swarm of 3-story buildings piled and lined up on each side of the road. The walls were painted in cream-colored, terraces arched on the second to third floor and one window one each rooms.

The transport dropped us off into one of the buildings on the long road, leaving us on the waiting shed. Looks like we're on our own here.

I dragged my feet along the ground. I was told that my dorm is on the 6th street, 1st block, lot 4. I pulled my key out from my pocket, checking the room number inscribed in it. Room 163.

I clutch my key back on my pocket and headed to where my dorm is located. Thanks to the help of a GPS installed on my military link, I searched the dorm building's location.

I turned to a street minutes after walking. The words 6th Street written on a sign hanging in one of the polls in every corner. Streetlights beamed in every block, standing in a line one after another.

I stopped in the building's doorsteps, checking the address to see if I have the right place. Without knocking, I turned the knob open and stepped inside and walked my way to my room.

I didn't bother greeting the people loitering in the halls. Knowing who they are is none if my business at the moment. I have other business to attend.

I slipped my key out of my pocket, inserting it on the door and pushing myself in. I took in a quick eye of the room, looking at the space.

The room is tidied up, a rectangular window placed on the wall next to the white bed. Despite the wide space of the room, it only has a few pieces of furniture inside. The bathroom was installed on the left side of the room.

On the right is where the bed is located, with two bedside cabinets placed on both sides of it. A wooden cabinet set on the opposite side of the bed and an oval rug centered in the room.

I began searching every inch and corner of the room, searching for hidden cameras or voice recorders placed by the military. If I want to do my job as a spy, I must first make sure no one would know of it.  

Alas, they did placed a hidden camera in the room. I found it on top of the mirror vanity. I took it out from its hiding place and tossed it into bin, not caring if I get scolded because of it or not. I also found a hacking bug beneath my bed. Plenty of it in fact. Are they being cautious of their own soldiers or is this just a precaution?

Like the hidden camera, I tossed the bugs aside as well, shooting it down the trash bin. Who cares, as long as I get rid of them.

I flopped down on my bed and sighed. I already miss Nozueq. The mission is rubbing to my senses. Maybe this is for the best; my relationships I've built there is getting in the way of my motives and objectives.

"Maybe its time for me to get serious," I said. "After all, this is the perfect opportunity for me."

                                                                                         *****

                                                                                  End of Chapter