contain an overwatch facility with windows on all sides.
In the very center of the compound, where the inner walls seemed to all come together, was a flagpole with a United Nations flag flying above an American flag. This enraged both Ed and Nate. Someone is clearly trying to make a point about who is really in charge around here, they thought.
After the door had slid shut with a noisy cacophony of metallic sheet metal clangs and scrapes, they turned around to see that their escorts were gone. Turning back toward the building in the center of the gravel-covered square, they saw a door open on the upper level of the building, with three men exiting and climbing down a narrow retractable metal staircase.
The three men approached them, one of which was of African descent, while the other two were of European decent. One of the Anglo-looking men stepped out in front of the other two with a scowl on his face. The one difference that both Ed and Nate immediately noticed was that his uniform was embroidered with red stitching instead of yellow or white. The man said in a firm voice, “I’m the quad leader for quad two. You are now residents of quad two. The rules here are simple; do what you’re told, when you’re told, and everyone will treat you fairly. Step out of line, and you will be treated as a hostile threat and dealt with as such. If you try to escape, you will be shot. There are no blind spots here at Camp Twenty-one. When mealtime approaches, you will be led into the chow hall located in the center of the compound through that door,” he said as he pointed to the far right corner of the graveled square, behind the center building.
Quad two will eat together, sleep together, and shit together. There are no individuals here. If you have an altercation with another resident, the most recent addition to the quad of those involved will be relocated to one of the other quads. This, of course, will only happen once. You will be dealt with on another level if problems with discipline and good order persist beyond your relocation. During the day, weather permitting, you will spend the day out here in the courtyard. At night, you and your quad mates will be secured inside the quad barracks behind me,” he said gesturing to the lower level of the central building.
“When we open and close the quad door through which you just entered, all quad residents will be secured in the barracks until such time that I deem the quad secure. It’s pretty straightforward, really. Am I going to have a problem out of either of you?”
“No, sir,” replied Nate quickly before Ed could respond. He knew Ed’s penchant for getting under people’s skin wouldn’t serve them well here, as they had already seen.
“Good,” the quad leader said. He then motioned to the guard to his left who had a digital scanning device of some sort in his hand. The guard reached the device out to Ed’s left hand and waved it around until it beeped. He read something off of the scanner’s display, verified it against a computer printout, and then moved on to Nate, repeating the process. The guard nodded in the affirmative, and satisfied with the results, he turned and walked back toward the building, ascending the stairs to the upper level. Once he was topside, he signaled for the lower-level doors of the inner building to open.
Chapter Eleven: Mutual Acquaintances
As the sunlight shined through a gap in the curtains, Jason awoke to find himself on the sofa in Carl’s living room. Looking around, he saw Evan still sound asleep on a sleeping bag on the floor. He’s probably still knocked out from those pain pills Patricia gave him, he thought to himself. Oh well, his old butt needs the rest.
Smelling the mouthwatering scent of fresh eggs, Jason sat up and looked around. Seeing no one else in the living room, he stood up and stretched with a yawn. He walked over to the kitchen to see Patricia cooking up a large breakfast including eggs, some
In the very center of the compound, where the inner walls seemed to all come together, was a flagpole with a United Nations flag flying above an American flag. This enraged both Ed and Nate. Someone is clearly trying to make a point about who is really in charge around here, they thought.
After the door had slid shut with a noisy cacophony of metallic sheet metal clangs and scrapes, they turned around to see that their escorts were gone. Turning back toward the building in the center of the gravel-covered square, they saw a door open on the upper level of the building, with three men exiting and climbing down a narrow retractable metal staircase.
The three men approached them, one of which was of African descent, while the other two were of European decent. One of the Anglo-looking men stepped out in front of the other two with a scowl on his face. The one difference that both Ed and Nate immediately noticed was that his uniform was embroidered with red stitching instead of yellow or white. The man said in a firm voice, “I’m the quad leader for quad two. You are now residents of quad two. The rules here are simple; do what you’re told, when you’re told, and everyone will treat you fairly. Step out of line, and you will be treated as a hostile threat and dealt with as such. If you try to escape, you will be shot. There are no blind spots here at Camp Twenty-one. When mealtime approaches, you will be led into the chow hall located in the center of the compound through that door,” he said as he pointed to the far right corner of the graveled square, behind the center building.
Quad two will eat together, sleep together, and shit together. There are no individuals here. If you have an altercation with another resident, the most recent addition to the quad of those involved will be relocated to one of the other quads. This, of course, will only happen once. You will be dealt with on another level if problems with discipline and good order persist beyond your relocation. During the day, weather permitting, you will spend the day out here in the courtyard. At night, you and your quad mates will be secured inside the quad barracks behind me,” he said gesturing to the lower level of the central building.
“When we open and close the quad door through which you just entered, all quad residents will be secured in the barracks until such time that I deem the quad secure. It’s pretty straightforward, really. Am I going to have a problem out of either of you?”
“No, sir,” replied Nate quickly before Ed could respond. He knew Ed’s penchant for getting under people’s skin wouldn’t serve them well here, as they had already seen.
“Good,” the quad leader said. He then motioned to the guard to his left who had a digital scanning device of some sort in his hand. The guard reached the device out to Ed’s left hand and waved it around until it beeped. He read something off of the scanner’s display, verified it against a computer printout, and then moved on to Nate, repeating the process. The guard nodded in the affirmative, and satisfied with the results, he turned and walked back toward the building, ascending the stairs to the upper level. Once he was topside, he signaled for the lower-level doors of the inner building to open.
Chapter Eleven: Mutual Acquaintances
As the sunlight shined through a gap in the curtains, Jason awoke to find himself on the sofa in Carl’s living room. Looking around, he saw Evan still sound asleep on a sleeping bag on the floor. He’s probably still knocked out from those pain pills Patricia gave him, he thought to himself. Oh well, his old butt needs the rest.
Smelling the mouthwatering scent of fresh eggs, Jason sat up and looked around. Seeing no one else in the living room, he stood up and stretched with a yawn. He walked over to the kitchen to see Patricia cooking up a large breakfast including eggs, some
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