CHAPTER 99: WHERE WAS MAJOR ELIO?

It was a Saturday, but weekends no longer gave people the excitement of anticipating the two-day break from the normal routines of the weekdays. Every day was the same and that is why some people had stopped counting the days. They were simply existing.

Edgar Cobb was not one of those people. He was keeping track of the days and maintained a journal in which he faithfully recorded the happenings of the base daily.

While the residents were doing their morning jogging, he decided to remind them of the date and then share some gossip. "I heard one of the soldiers that were on duty last night say that the bird monster returned last night."

The woman next to him gasped. "Really! I fell asleep just after it flew away. I can’t believe that it returned. Do you think that there are others out there?"

Andrew Cobb, Edgar’s teenage son chimed in. "President Sunshine said that the watchers are harmless, but we should hear this straight from her mouth because Miss Nimo was the one that made this claim. I don’t know how anyone can claim that a bird that size is harmless."

They were not the only ones discussing the mutant bird. The resident’s lips were moving faster than their feet as they whispered proven and unproven facts about the mutant bird.

"It had eyes on its wings."

"It was as big as a mountain."

"It’s claws left marks on the wall outside."

"A bubble popped after being poked by its beak."

The resident bubble expert was missing from morning exercise. Not many had noticed this, but the soldiers and Lisha Quinn had taken note.

It was not like Major Elio to miss morning exercise. Even when he was exhausted after a night on self-assigned patrol, he usually made it out to the field and slept outside the first aid tent.

He made it clear that wherever his wife and daughter were, he wanted to be close at all times in case of an emergency. Lisha thought that perhaps the major was too exhausted to be present for once since he was always on night duty. If he was not sleeping, then maybe he had another stronger reason for not being present.

Whistles were blown simultaneously, declaring the exercise activity done. It was time to stretch and raise questions which would be answered by those in charge.

Sister Ana raised her hand very quickly there was a rumor at the base that she wanted to confirm or dismiss. "Is it true that Helena Drew was expelled from the base? She is not here today and there is an ongoing rumor about her being driven from the second wall. Some people are claiming that she was thrown out of the base."

Just before Lisha could say anything, Sunshine stepped forward, dragging her extra-large hammer on the ground. "That rumor is correct sister. Helena Drew....sorry Helena Montana was moved from the second wall to the third wall because she is now divorced from her husband.

Her behavior is hostile and abusive, so this was done to protect both of them from harming each other deliberately or accidentally." Sunshine smelt worry among the residents. " She was not thrown out into the acid rain, she is still on the base, but she will not be a resident here in future."

Murmurs rose up as people wondered what she meant. Did she mean that Helena was going to be kicked out? Were the rules that harsh that it was obedience or death?

Sunshine blew into a whistle to get their attention. "There is a nearby base that agreed to take her in. This will not be the fate of every couple that happens to divorce during this time of course. Helena Drew’s case is different. She is a troublemaker that has been causing unrest so we--the leaders of the base took a vote and decided to move her." She explained further.

Nimo chimed in quickly when she noticed some letting out sighs of relief for unknown reasons. "The same fate will fall upon anybody that will try to disturb the peace of the base in future. I cannot promise that you will be as lucky as Helena for another base to take you in. Hers was a trade so don’t cause trouble while assuming that even if you don’t live here, there are other options." Her warning came off more as a threat.

A hush fell over the field after Nimo’s warning and others that wanted to stand up for Helena withheld their words.

"Is the bird monster really gone?" Andrew asked.

Sunshine stepped in to explain about the watcher. "I cannot guarantee that it is gone but I know that it will not harm us. Do not be in a hurry to jump up for joy because there are other mutant monsters, dangerous ones. She paused and swallowed. "I hate to be the bearer of bad news but the fact that the watchers are here only confirms that the monsters will soon be among us.

Therefore, we have to prepare for a fight at any moment. Do not slack off on your training be it physical combat or arms training." She notified them of the danger like she always did any chance she got.

Some of these people were not training enough, they were too lax for individuals that had been thrust into an unknown world. She did not blame them because she had provided the security which made them comfortable. She hoped however that the arrival of the watcher would wake them up.

"Miss President Sunshine." Pico raised his thin arm to ask a question. "Do you think that the monsters have already attacked the others that are out there." The question came from a place of fear for his father Poncho’s safety.

Sunshine held her lips in a firm line, then exhaled softly. "I believe not but I cannot verify this. Hopefully, all our loved ones out there are still safe and we will unite with them in future."

Rosario hugged her son. "It will be okay." She whispered to him.

****

Ceasar Rommel had not yet noticed the watchers in the distance. Nobody in the white house had seen them in fact. They were too focused on the new superhuman and watching her train her powers to expand the field of rain which she could control.

Ceaser was preparing to visit the lab which exploded and capture Moon now that there was a way to move around safely.

At the Rainhounds mountain base, two watchers had visited them at around dawn. Moon was explaining what the watchers were to the people. She had deliberately rushed to release the information to the people rather than the pastor in private.

It helped her that the watchers were still outside, looking into the base. They were patrolling outside the wall like hired mercenaries.

As angry as Pastor Salem was that the information had not passed through him, he was more worried about the possibility of dying beneath one of those monsters.

He was hiding behind Zadok and other bodyguards. His behavior only made him appear weaker in the eyes of some of the believers.

Moon ignored the pastor and approached the believers, her hands touching their heads like she was giving them blessings. "There is nothing to fear of the watchers, I will tell you when the real monsters come." She assured them.

With hands folded, the believers began to offer their prayers to Moon.

"Save us oh prophetess of the most high." They said in unison.

Pastor Salem sneered, slowly he stealthily left the room. Zadok was right. Moon had to die.