Kelli Kimble [Kimble - Repatriate Protocol Box Set

Repatriate Protocol

Kelli Kimble

Repatriate Protocol

Copyright 2016 by Kelli Kimble

Cover design by Victoria Cooper of Victoria CooperArt

Editing by Cu of Cuanam

Expatriates

Copyright 2016 by Kelli Kimble

Cover design by Victoria Cooper of Victoria CooperArt

Editing by Abigail Stefaniak of AbbeyEdits

Volunteers

Copyright 2016 by Kelli Kimble

Cover design by Victoria Cooper of Victoria CooperArt

Editing by Abigail Stefaniak of AbbeyEdits

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form or by any means, including photocopying, recording, or other electronic or mechanical methods, without the prior written permission of the publisher, except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical reviews and certain other noncommercial uses permitted by copyright law.

This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, businesses, places, events and incidents are either the products of the authors imagination or used in a fictitious manner. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, or actual events is purely coincidental.

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Contents

Prologue

Dart pushed his glasses up on his nose. He hadnt thought about how his report would be received but suddenly he felt like the council might be apt to shoot the messenger. He shuffled his feet and waited for the murmurs following his introduction by the chief scientist to die down.

Good morning, esteemed council members, he managed to say before pushing up his glasses again. Why was he suddenly so sweaty? As you know, I am here to give the quarterly external conditions report. My team has been monitoring the situation very closely. The lights dimmed and an image hovered over the table.

I want to first direct your attention to these images. You are all familiar with these, as they were taken a few months after winter onset.

Dart paused as the group looked up at the first image. He knew it well and didnt have to look himself. He advanced to the next and the next. They all showed the same near-blackness, the same sentence of death for everything it touched. He advanced the image again.

And here is the same location, two hundred years after winter onset.

A voice at the other end of the table spoke up. Weve seen these all before. We know all this. Is there something new to report? The rest of the council nodded and shifted in their seats.

Darts throat clenched. He sipped from the glass on the podium, then nodded.

Yes, I do have news. We believe the region is reaching stabilization. He fumbled to advance to the graph showing recent temperature data. You will note here that the temperatures are tracking within ten percent of pre-onset conditions. Hours of sunlight are even closer, at eight-point-two percent. Vegetation is

The President interrupted. Cut to it, please. Just tell the council what it means .

It means, Mr. President, stuttered Dart, that its time to initiate the Repatriate Protocol.

Chapter 1

Today is the last day of Level B. I know I did well, but Im still nervous as I get up and get dressed.

"Hillary!" called my mother. "Are you coming for breakfast?"

"Yes! Coming!" I rushed down the hallway. I roughly pushed my short dark hair back with a band. Glancing in the hall mirror, my eyes looked bright. Was it confidence or anticipation? Probably both.

I stopped halfway down the hall and ran back to my room to grab my tablet. Its encased in a purple plastic sleeve and is the only thing with personality in my room. The bed is a simple cot with a dull beige linen covering over a woolen blanket. A dented grey metal cabinet contained all of my clothing and a small table next to the bed held a lamp.

In the kitchen, I set my tablet down and sat at the table. Our apartment was small, like most apartments. It had two bedrooms, a kitchen and a sitting area. We shared a bathroom with the other seven apartments in our pod.

My mother offered me a mug of spiro. Usually, the bright green is cheering to me. Today, it turned my stomach. I took a few sips to please her and when she turned away I quietly set it down.

Todays a big day, she said as she shelved clean mugs. They made a jarring sound.

Yes, I said and ducked my head. I didnt really want to discuss it. She turned back towards me and ran a finger through my hair, right above my ear. I knew that she was trying to smooth my messy hair without criticizing.

Youve worked hard, Hillary. And well be proud of you whether youre promoted to Level C or not.

I know. I wrapped my hands around the mug. My movement drew her attention to it.

You need to eat more than that, she said, gesturing towards the mug.

I reluctantly took a few more sips and set it down. Im too nervous to eat.

She gave me a smile and dropped a quick kiss on my forehead. Then youd better be off.

It was rare to be dismissed from an unfinished meal and I grabbed the chance. I pushed away from the table and ran out the door, calling goodbye over my shoulder. I wanted to get this over with.

In the Level B schoolroom, the kids were all milling around. I took my seat in the circle. My best friend Eleanor sat down beside me.

This is taking forever. When are the results going to be ready? she said as her right knee bobbed up and down. Shed been a bundle of nerves for weeks.

You wouldnt think it would be so hard. It isnt like these evaluations havent been going on since the moment we were born. I said, rolling my eyes. It was still a few minutes before the official result time, but I knew the results had been decided long ago for most of us. Only a few students eluded evaluation. They were either undisciplined or lacked intelligence.

Then the lights in the evaluation booth came on. Each student would file in one at a time, confirm their identity, receive their result and leave by exiting the booth on the opposite side. An adult that I recognized only as an external researcher came in and stood next to the booth. He was heavier than the average person and what remained of his hair was salt and peppered. He clasped his hands in front of him and watched us, a knowing look on his face.

The students all took their seats. I could feel the nerves jangling around the room. The air seemed warm and dense and I smelled sweat.

The display panel on the booth lit up with an identification number. The matched student rose and entered the booth. After a few minutes, another number appeared. Slowly the students went in and the room emptied.

The evaluation booth lights went off.

I glanced sideways at Eleanor. She looked pale. Looking around the room I counted ten students leftfive boys and five girls including me. The researcher came over to the circle and cleared his throat.

Hello, students, he said, glancing around the circle. My name is Dart and Im here to give you your results personally. He smiled as if that was something we should be grateful for. Maybe it was? I had no idea.

Before we begin, I want to assure you that you all would have passed to Level C with flying colors. You come with high recommendation. And that is why youve been set aside for the opportunity I am about to outline.

A jolt of happiness went through me. I passed! But wait. Then, what was this?

Dart continued. Like I said, you have all shown that you are academically sound within your age group and thats great. However, I am in the market for other traits as well. Im looking for students who want adventure, who are persistent, resourceful, creative, driven and most of all, have an interest in the pursuit of the external.

I felt an increase in the tension of the room. The external? From the corner of my eye I could see Eleanor looking at me. She reached out for my hand and I clasped it. Hers was hot and mine felt cold against it.