The room felt different, everyone knew it. From a potential coffin to just being alive. Minutes ago, hours ago, days ago, weeks ago and even years ago all the soldiers within the room were merely extensions of the governments needs and therefore the internal authority. These needs were accomplished with no hesitation and not just, only by efficiency and order. Yet now they stand, scattered in a room and trying to understand. One solider turning his hands round and feeling up his arm as if it's the first time he has even seen or felt them, two more pace the room together discussing what they feel. Multiple clutching their hearts or heads as if hurt. "What is this? It feels so foreign?" One murmurs aloud almost rhetoric yet Dr Goult walks over softly. Gently raising his arm and resting it on the soldiers shoulder. "This is fear, fear what is unknown and yet to come. This is something you have never processed before, it may feel like a lot right now but you need to learn to control it." He responds gently squeezing his hand. A laugh breaks out round the room as all heads turn, everyone watches a solider stood by the wall with tears pooling on the floor. "Help us understand, please?" he begs. For the first time in his life he doesn't care about how it happens, just that he wants it to happen. "Let's begin then" Dr Goult announces as he gets everyone to pay attention. Slowly but surely hours pass and the uncertainty and rash emotions are understood bit by bit. However, in time exhaustion won over as a dawn crept through the windows.
One by one everyone gathered, not by an order, but by a want. Watching the soldiers it felt unbelievable that they can finally understand what we are meant to feel. Instead of complete silence like they would of known they are filling the silence with conversation, albeit awkward it is genuine. Feeling someone beside me I turn to see Will. Feeling myself smile we exchange mornings. "How are you?" I question gently as I grab his hand squeezing it gently. "Good, and yourself" he replies. Moving to fully face him I wrap my arms round him whispering good into his ear. Feeling his arms wrap around my body I notice he feels stiff. I understand why, the weight of the knowledge he now knows isn't small.
"I suppose we can start this ragtag meeting then" Dr Goult chuckles out as he continues "We have enough antidote for a few thousand however, to change the tide of the war we will need more." He finishes letting the words settle in, one solider leans in "Lets make more" he queries, although a valid solution, few know its not. "It's not the issue of making more, it's the issue of using it. We need an enclosed space to use it as gas and one to fit a full government army in, don't really exist." The room goes quiet again in contemplation. And then answers people start saying ideas, "Military base" or "Train station" are the more favoured ideas. "These won't do, military base is too exposed and he train station has the tunnels where the gas will disperse. We need somewhere where the entire army will be" Dr Goult states as Rose mutters with Will. "What about a checkpoint then, all soldiers pass through a checkpoint to get briefed in the government assembly hall, we just need to cause a big enough scene to cause a summon of the army." Rose states as people murmur in agreement "I totally agree, but the gas will work to quickly and the government will find out, we need to slow it down so there is roughly a week to let all soldiers go in." Will adds on. Rose leans into Will as the room bursts into discussion slowly closing her eyes as she begins to think to herself. Feeling Wills hand slowly rub her back gives her the comfort to sleep as she drifts off.
"It's been a while Mr Collin, are you ready to make a scene?" Dr Goult questions.