Sixteen

[a_time_slip]

"Sit down. Record."

Janie stared at the older woman for a moment, not processing her words. This was a mission- she'd brought a crossbow. This would finally be her chance to prove herself to be a warrior, just like all of the other soldiers.

"Sit down." repeated the older woman. Janie's grandmother was tall and thin, dark and regal. Everyone knew who was in charge when she walked into a room.


"I don't want to." the teen stood with her shoulders back, wishing she could add inches to her five feet of height. "I'm just as good of a soldier as anyone else."

"SIT. DOWN." shouted the woman "We do not have time for you today, little one."

"If you're any louder, they will hear us."

"The vacuum is active, Omo. If you do not sit, you will return to the compound and peel potatoes. Afterward, you will clean."

"I'm not peeling anything, you bald giant." Janie mumbled, as she sat down. The 'bald giant' turned to the teenager and waiting until she had full attention.

"For that remark, you are. Tomorrow and the day after you are on full kitchen duty."

With that, her grandmother pressed a button on her machine and quickly ran to her spot. Janie began to write, describing everything around them, the positions of the sixteen soldiers, and a description of The Mark.

The Mark appeared to be a young man, who took a walk along a forest trail. Her grandmother told the soldiers that The Mark was a danger, a time traveler who would destroy everything in his path.

He had to be destroyed.

Janie frowned as she watched one of the soldiers take aim at the man. Something inside of her said that it was wrong, that they were about to kill an innocent. She set the computer down and stood quietly.

This was against protocol. It was against everything her Grandmother told her, but Janie rarely listened anyway.

She ran to the path, and pushed the man aside.

Just as quickly as that action was taken, the teen was whisked off to a room with earthen walls and stainless steel sinks. Piles of potatoes surrounded her and her stern grandmother.

"Peel and slice these. Clean up afterwards." The older woman fought hard to contain her rage. If Janie wasn't her granddaughter, and wasn't her favorite, then she wouldn't get off nearly as easily.

"He was innocent!"

"You know the rules, Omo."

"I don't care! I'm not going to watch anyone die!"

"Do not argue with me."

"Why can't I?"

The older woman didn't answer, as she vanished, leaving the teenager in the room full of potatoes.