This was waayy too easy. I thought as we hurried down the warm hallways. Ariah was adjusting the temperature of the hallways that we went through to match the average body temperature of the other Arkites, so that the heat sensors didn't notice anything amiss. 

How is it that we are managing to sneak twenty-six people out of a super-fortified top secret lab? This makes absolutely zero sense.

And then we turned the corner and ran into forty armed guards.

Okay yeah, this seems much more likely.

"Sergeant! You're in on this too?" Said the man in front. It was my commanding officer, Joseph Walker. 

"Sir," I said, careful to be as respectful as I could. Bea would GET me later if she ever found out that I was anything less than totally polite. Her wrath was a terrifying thing. "These are people too. We shouldn't treat them as anything less. And we certainly shouldn't experiment on them, especially against their will. It's just not right."

Walker sighed. "I know, Sutton. But it's our job. We have to." 

"No we don't! If this is what the government wants, then the government needs Jesus!"

"Sutton, you're right. But what are ya gonna do?" He shrugged. "We're just a couple of men. We're nothing special, people won't listen to us." 

"Well," I say, glancing behind me pointedly, "Maybe we can start by taking care of the people around us."

Walker seemed lost in thought for a while. Then he turned to the other soldiers. "Well boys, it seems that we have a choice now. What kind of person are you going to be?" He turned and smiled at me. "I think my decision has already been made. This job requires a certain level of brutality that we should never, ever become accustomed to, and it means that you often don't get to choose where to draw the line. But now, we can. Are we gonna be proper soldiers, and follow our orders, regardless of our personal feelings? Or are we gonna treat people like people, and do right by them? I think I know what most of you will choose, and for those that take the opposite route, I wish you luck."

('Cuz of course we need a dramatic, movie-type speech that has a very thinly veiled message that's kinda trite!)

Walker came over and whacked me on the back. 

"Aack!" 

He smirked a little. "Sorry, Sutton."

"You are not, but whatever."

One by one, the other soldiers either came over and helped the older Arkites stand up straight, or the hurting ones relax and feel a little better, or they would leave the hall and head back to the barracks. 

By the time the last soldier had left the hall, about twenty-five were standing by our sides. Walker gave me another grin. "A start's a start, Sutton. Now, let's head to your girlfriend's house and get these kiddos home." 

I could feel my face turn red. "Bea isn't my girlfriend!" I protested.

Walker laughed. "Not yet, but she will. Look forward to the wedding, Sutton."

".....How did you know that she was mixed up in this?"

"Ben, you never go anywhere without that girl."

----------------------------------------------------

Yes! Another chapter down! What do y'all think?

Also, apparently a friend of mine who has been reading the books is partially a Sofitz shipper. But, thankfully, he told me that his feelings on Sofitz are constantly changing, especially now that he is on Legacy, so I'm not technically betraying my SoKeefe Oath by hanging out with him. 

And I definitely got either a high B or a low A on that history test. Clearly, I need to work harder. 

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Love y'all,

                                                                    G.