Trisha walked along behind the keeper, head up, shoulders square. She refused to allow the fear churning inside her to seep out for the warriors walking behind her to see. This was the moment she trained her whole life for. She just wished she felt better about it.

 

When the siren sounded, and the order to wake the soldiers from their chambers came, she was hoping it was another false alarm, but she knew it wasn’t. It was the first time in fifteen years she was ordered to wake them all.

 

The keeper kept a steady pace across the barren desert land as they made their way to the battlefield of Andella. Trisha stopped just before emerging into the large open area. Mountains stood in front of them with only a small passageway to step through. It was not what she would consider an ideal spot, but this is where they ordered her to go.

 

“Shall I have the soldiers prepare for battle?” The keeper stood tall at her side, staring forward. He never looked at her, which was a little disturbing. The helmet covered his face, leaving only his eyes visible. It felt as if he were hidden behind his armor.

 

She shook her head. “No. Have them set up camp on this side of the mountain. I don’t like how this looks, it doesn’t feel right.” She stepped forward towards the small opening, half expecting an enemy soldier to come running through, guns blazing.

 

The uneasy feeling tugged at her like a child trying to get its mother’s attention. She forced her eyes away from the battlefield and returned her focus to the soldiers under her command as they shrugged off packs and set up tents.

 

They were efficient and quick, just like robotic clones should be. More robot than human, that's what the scientist always said, but Trisha wasn't so sure. The way they conversed with each other, laughing and joking, it's not what she expected from a robot with no emotions.

 

The keeper approached her again. A soldier with a communications device strapped to his back followed on his heels.

 

“Ma’am. The command is calling.” He pulled the little screen from its holder and pushed the button as he handed it over to her.

 

“This is Trish.”

 

“Orders are to proceed into the battlefield.” The static voice on the other side of the device sent her heart pounding. No strategy. Just walk out and hope for the best.

 

“Yes, sir. Do we know what kind of numbers they have?”

 

A long pause followed, and she thought there would be no answer. A crackle came through the speaker. “Ten to twenty thousand.”

 

Fear swallowed her voice. She had five hundred loyal soldiers. They would be slaughtered if she sent them through that opening. “I… I can’t,” she stammered.

 

“You have your orders. Follow them. The soldiers are expendable.” A click signified the conversation was over.

 

She handed the device back to the keeper, who placed it in its spot and sent the soldier away. He turned to face her, looking right into her eyes.

 

“Should I… Should I give the order?” A sadness filled his eyes, and not for the first time, she wondered what was hiding under those masks.

 

“Take off your helmet.”

 

“It is forbidden. Only the makers may see the face of any soldier.” He took a step back and turned away from her, his posture becoming ridged. “I will give the order to advance through the passageway.”

 

“No!” Duty and loyalty played tug of war with the compassion growing inside her. There were too many rules, too many forbidden things. She had been training for this moment, but it didn’t feel right anymore. She had too many questions about the soldiers and not enough answers. “I am the master in command. I'm giving you the order to take off your helmet.”

 

The keeper sighed and unstrapped the helmet that covered his head. Slowly he lifted it until there was nothing to hide his pale features. Trisha’s hand flew to her mouth, and a gasp escaped her lips. “You’re so human.” The words came out in a whisper.

 

He shook his head. “No. We are clones. Made to fight a war that never happened. We are no longer useful, so the command is getting rid of us.”

 

She drew her eyebrows together as anger flamed through her. How could the people she had sworn to serve be so cruel?

She turned her back on the keeper. “Take the soldiers and leave.”

 

“They will kill you for disobeying. Then they will come for us.”

 

“I would rather die than order innocent people to their death.”

 

“We are not people, not human. We are only clones.”

 

Trisha turned to face him. Was that really what they were told? They weren’t important. They didn’t matter, simply because they were clones. “You are as human as anyone else.”

 

He nodded his head. “You are our master in command. You must come with us. Lead us."

 

She needed to stay. Face the consequences of her actions. The pleading look on the keeper's face almost made her change her mind. She shook her head. "You can lead them. I have to stay. I'll give you as much time as I can."

 

Reluctantly the keeper turned away, replacing his helmet as he went. She watched as he gave directions and the soldiers scrambled to do as he commanded.

 

When the last soldier was out of sight, she took a deep breath and stepped through the opening.

 

A loud voice echoed off the mountains. "Where are the soldiers?"

 

"They are gone. They deserved to live."

 

"How dare you disobey an order."

 

The charging of weapons reached her ears seconds before the first shot blasted into her, knocking her off her feet. Pain encompassed her body, and yet she felt at peace. For the first time in her life, something felt right.