SA-2614

SA-2614 is a genetically modified weapon of war. A soldier—a super soldier— whose sole purpose in life is carrying out orders and achieving the objective. Anyone who stands in her way is just another casualty in her unending war with whoever her superiors deem as enemies of the colony. And one such casualty lies prone in front of her, writhing in pain and shock of the 15000 volts delivered from her shock stick. He was a civilian, just a civilian. But she would do whatever it takes to achieve the mission. Even if she needs to take out a citizen of the colony.

"This is Alpha-4, civilian is neutralized," she said on her comms. She heard chuckles from all 3 of her Team mates as a reply.

"I hope you didn't hurt him too much," said Alpha 1 gruffly, trying hard to hide the amusement in his voice and failing.

"He'll live," SA-2614 said as she glanced briefly at the body in front of her before.

"Heads up!" Was all she heard Alpha 2 say in her comms. She looked up.

The 8 EGA Marines are still moving at tremendous speed and closing in fast. Were it not for the thick foliage that the civilian picked as a sniper hide and the thermocamo suit she wore, they would have been found long ago. 200 meters and closing.

Without thought, she picked the unconscious civilian up in a fireman's carry, along with this strange, old rifle he was about to use on the Marines and she ran.

SA-2614 can run really fast. Behind her, she can hear the Marines just barely making it into the tree line and scanning for signs of their enemy; tracks, gear, disturbed vegetation. They would find the civilian's gear that she left in a hurry but they wouldn't find anything else. No tracks. She was careful that way. As quick as a deer would be on Old Earth, she moved swiftly and gracefully; keeping in mind to not disturb the foliage and creating little to no telltale signs for the Marines. The body she carried on her back seems to weigh nothing to her genetically modified one.

She was made for this moment. From the moment she came out of the cloning chamber, she was bred for war. Had she been a normal human being, you would say her heart was pounding in excitement and anticipation. But she was born without emotions. The modifications made sure of that. And her training all throughout her life drove whatever doubt there was that she was incapable of feelings. She is cold, calculating and nearly a machine; she is SA-2614.

She slowed to a stop. And again, without thought, she unslung the body she carried and gently place it on the forest floor. She then proceeded to face the direction of the EGA Marines.

"Permission to engage," she asked on her comms. A hint of anticipation and excitement in her voice. Just a hint. That is impossible, of course, since she is incapable of emotions.

"Stand down, Alpha-4. We are here only to observe and report enemy activity. Do not engage," Alpha-1 said in his best fatherly voice. That tone he used on her a few years ago when he was about to impart some knowledge on a young SA-2614. A smidge of annoyance crept in her head. Just a smidge.

They meant well, Alphas 1 to 3. They were practically her fathers since they were the ones that trained her in all forms of warfare from the moment that she can walk. They were the elite Naval Special Warfare Group of the Kalayaan Colony. Baki, they called themselves. Or "frog" in the ancient Kalayaan dialect. The best of the best. And they were the only people she knew and was close to. Close enough to trust in combat; and for anyone that has seen combat, that's very close. She would die for them; as she was sure they would die for her. But they can be very patronizing at times. Had she been a normal teenage girl, she would have given a huff. But she is not. She is SA-2614 and she is incapable of teenage emotions.

She had taken a risk going so far forward from the rest earlier to grab the civilian but she managed to get out of there just in time. She glanced at her data pad on her left wrist, and saw the positions of each of her Alpha Teammates: 500 meters to the west—to her left and slightly in front of her—is Alpha-1. Her right, 200 meters to the east, is Alpha-2. To the south, is the ever quiet Alpha-3, providing rear security. All of them in position and ready to converge at anyone else's if there is a need to. If the EGA Marines decided to push further into the woods, she and the rest are ready. But it wouldn't come to that. The marines would know that if they bring their power armors deeper in, their size would put them at a disadvantage. Doesn't matter how big and strong and fast they are, the trees and vines and vegetation would close in on them. They'd give up their search eventually. If not, well, then Alpha Team would handle 8 power-armored Marines as they saw fit.

A faint groan broke her concentration. The civilian is coming to. She looked away from the data pad and finally gave the civilian she "rescued" a good look. If SA-2614 was capable of surprise, no one would have known it. But at that moment, she threw her head back slightly as she finally saw who she carried with her. He was young; as young as she was. There was youthfulness in him. A hardness was also there in his face, creeping at the sides, hinting on his days spent under the Tau Ceti sun. A farmer's son, no doubt. This planet is purely an agricultural one after all. Strange, really. How could a farmer carry with him a rifle as old and as strange as the one he did? And one so young, willing to give his life so stupidly.

Still, there's something about this boy. Something that nagged on SA-2614's head. And just when the boy slowly opened his eyes and came to, she quickly looked away. And scanned the woods up ahead.

"What happened," the boy mumbled. SA-2614 did not reply. She looked on hard, straight ahead to where she'd expect the marines would come out.

"You're rangers, aren't you!” he exclaimed.

"I can help. I can fight! I can—"

Before he could say any more, SA-2614 pulled her hood down, went to him and cupped a hand over his mouth. In that moment, shafts of sunlight that passed through the forest canopy framed SA-2614's face as clear as day. She saw the look in his eyes. There was amazement there and... something else. She does not know what it is. Awe? Fear? She cannot say. For a moment, she saw him breathless and out of words. She wanted silence and got it. That would have to do.

Satisfied that the boy understood her need for silence, SA-2614 slowly dropped her hand. The boy was not a complete idiot, after all. With Kalayaan Ranger hand signals, she gestured:

8 Marines, Armored, north, that way, 300 meters.

Whether or not he understood was of no consequence. He nodded anyway. Slowly and gingerly, he grabbed for his ancient rifle. He check to see if his chambered round was still there and fiddle with his scope knob without making a sound. He knew how to be silent at least. That would be enough for now. To make sure he knew what was about, she made him face her and she gestured once more.

Do not fire until I fire.

The boy responded with his own Kalayaan Ranger hand signal.

Copy. Do not fire.

SA-2614 looked at him, cocked her head to one side, then nodded her approval. The boy really was not that stupid after all. If SA-2614 could be impressed, she would be. But she is SA-2614 and she is incapable of being impressed.

Her comms came alive again with Alpha-1's gruff voice. "Bad news, boys and girls. They sent four marines in. Get ready, Alpha-4. They're coming to you."

"Hold tight, Alpha-4," Alpha-2 said in the comms. "I'm collapsing to your pos."

SA-2614 heard two, long clicks on her comms. That was a sign that Alpha-3 from the rear is coming to her aid as well. It's about to go down very soon. But 2 and 3 would take a while to get to where she is. She signaled to the boy.

Get ready.

The boy nodded and gotten himself as low to the ground as he could get, rifle facing out towards where the enemy would be. The vegetation and the twisted roots has swallowed him whole.

"100 meters, you'd be able to see them soon," Alpha-1 said.

SA-2614 nodded as if Alpha-1 was there with her. And with that, she took a breath, pulled her hood back up and readied herself for a jump.

SA-2614 is a genetically modified weapon of war and she can jump really high.