Sonata in Orionis (Earth Song Book 2)

by Mark Wandrey

"Brown is the color of shit," the Chosen said and pushed a jumpsuit into the boy’s chest hard enough to shove him backwards onto his butt, "which is exactly what you are until the Trials are over. Now get the fuck out of my sight, bug."

  Each of them got a fabric-wrapped parcel tied with some hand spun cordage. Minu and her friends collected one each without comment. The Chosen took note of Minu and Cherise' impromptu clothing and grinned before turning to the next kid in line.

  Eventually all of the clothes were handed out. The room was full of the sounds of rustling fabric, snapping snaps and tearing velcro. Minu saw that the snaps were plastic, not a surprise considering how expensive metal snaps where, she made a mental note to be careful not to rely on them too much. Inside the package was three 'shit brown jumpsuits', three pairs of underwear shorts similar to boxers only smaller and stretchier, three pairs of wool socks, a simple linen backpack, and a wooden box. Also were one pair of very simple and inexpensive shoes similar to tennis shoes with thinner soles. With as much dignity as possible she quickly dressed, gratefully fixing the velcro tabs on the front. As she was closing the chest she realized the kit did not include a bra. Not having a large bust line worked to her advantage for once, Cherise would be another matter. As Minu finished dressing she glanced over and saw the other girl uncomfortably squeezing her much larger breasts into the jumpsuit and struggling close it. The velcro tabs only barely kept her bosom contained. Not only was she larger in the breast and hips, she was taller too. The jumpsuit legs were mid-calf on her. Together it created a very uncomfortable look.

  Minu took a minute to look around the room and noticed that the jumpsuits were not all in one size. There were short boys in way over long suits, and there were normal height boys in uniforms that barely came to their knees. The Trials were underway. Minu appraised her own jumpsuit and decided it was adequate. Even though the arms were a bit long, that could be useful in some situations. Her friend was different. Minu excused herself and got up to walk around. The shoes didn't fit at all so they were under her arm as she moved among the bunks. It only took a minute to find someone with a pair of shoes much too small.

  "Wanna trades shoes?" she asked and showed the boy the pair she'd been given which were several sizes too big.

  "Why should I?" he asked belligerently.

  "Fine, I'll find someone else."

  "Wait," he quickly reconsidered and held out his hand for the shoes. Minu handed them over and they were a good fit.

  "Now let me try yours?"

  "What if I don't want to?" he asked with a mischievous look.

  "Then I just might have to kick your ass," someone said behind him. He looked over his shoulder to see Gregg standing there looking down at him. Gregg easily was ten centimeters taller and the look on his face made it obvious he meant business. The boy handed over the shoes without further comment.

  "I didn't need your help," Minu mumbled as she tested the shoes fit.

  "Who said I was helping? Maybe I was just looking for a fight." He fell in behind Minu as she trolled the room. "What are you looking for? Your jumpsuit looks like a good fit." She glanced over her shoulder and saw him looking right at her butt. She cleared her throat and realized he'd been caught, turning bright red. "Sorry."

  "You boys," Minu said with a shake of her head. "Actually I'm looking for a better fit for Cherise, a girl I met in our group. She looks like a ham packed for shipping in that outfit." And then she saw what she was looking for. The boy was about Minu's size and build, sad for him, however the jumpsuit he wore was easily five centimeters too long, and the chest was quite baggy. There was little doubt it was made for a woman.

  "Excuse me, would you switch jumpsuits with my friend?" she asked him, "hers should match you perfectly." He shrugged and got up to follow Minu back to where Cherise was trying her shoes on. "I found you a better set of clothes," she told her.

  "That is wonderful," Cherise said as she grabbed the blanket to change.

  "No, I want to watch you change." The boy stood there with a bold faced smile.

  "Piss off, pervert," Cherise said and draped the blanket over her shoulder.

  "If I can't watch, you can forget it. This fits me well enough." He eyed her bulging chest and licked his lips, "you're the one with more to lose. What would it hurt letting me get a good look."

  “You didn't get enough earlier?” The boy just shrugged and wouldn't give in.

  "Listen jerk," Gregg said.

  "No," Cherise cut in and stepped closer to the boy. "You want to look at my breasts, sure.” In an instant she'd unsnapped and her large full breasts jumped out. She stripped completely and stood naked in front of him, her nipples level with his shoulders. "Is that what you wanted boy, to see your first pair of naked breasts. Have you seen my vagina, or do you have something to trade that would make that worthwhile?" Minu gaped and the boy's jaw dropped. He took a step away and unconsciously looked down at her thick patch of her pubic hair. He suddenly panted hard, grabbed his crotch and shook slightly. Cherise put a hand to her mouth to cover a laugh then barked at him again. "Where are you going? A deal is a deal? Take that jumpsuit off now." He was making a hasty retreat.

  He tried to run for it but Gregg was right there, and then Aaron suddenly at his side playing along. They grabbed the boy by both arms and Cherise stepped forward to strip him out of his jumpsuit. In a moment he was standing there as naked as she was, his hands went to cover his groin and Minu could see his pubic area was smeared with something wet. The boys all around started roaring with laughter. Gregg and Aaron shoved Cherise' old jumpsuits into his arms and set him free. He ran for the restrooms as fast as he could. “Can one of you nice guys go get the other jumpsuits from him,” Cherise asked Aaron and Gregg. They smiled and happily went off in pursuit

  "I don't understand," Minu started to ask Cherise. There was some sort of a joke she didn't comprehend, so she let it drop. It was always hard to be the odd one out in a joke everyone seemed to understand. Cherise held up her new jumpsuit like a victory trophy, then looked at it closer. A damp stain covered the crotch.

  "Good lord," she laughed and headed for the bathroom. Minu quickly followed.

  The bathroom gave her another pause. It was a large communal facility with toilets in the front and shower pedestals in the back. There were no dividers or privacy at all. Or toilet paper, for that matter. "Oh shit," she groaned.

  The boy from the earlier encounter was at a shower stall washing his groin. Cherise headed toward the showers and that made him cry out and grab his new jumpsuits and run past them for the door.

  "At least I had the good taste not to make a mess in those new clothes," Cherise yelled after him. Then they were alone. The other girl walked to the showers where she turned it on hot and began washing the jumpsuit.

  "Cherise, what happened?"

  "He made a fool of himself."

  "No, I mean, did he pee himself when you took your clothes off? I know men get all excited when they see us naked, I can't imagine getting so excited you piss yourself."

  "He didn't piss himself, dear, he came in his pants." Minu looked confused and Cherise turned from her cleaning to look at her. "You know, lost control?" More confused looks. Before Cherise could try again someone came in. "You here to look at me too?" Cherise growled. Minu turned to see who it was.

  "It's okay, he's a friend." It was Pip and soon he was followed by Aaron and Gregg. Pip smiled at her then noticed Cherise still naked as she cleaned the uniform. He turned red and looked away. Minu felt a flush of respect for the little guy, he'd been the first boy to look away when presented with a naked girl. He was a gentleman!

  "Is everything okay?" Pip asked toward the wall.

  "Yeah, we're fine," Minu answered. Gregg, obviously successful in his mission, brought over one of Cherise' clean uniforms and handed it to her, trying not to look at the naked girl and failing. At least he kept it to a quick look before turning to wait with the other guys.

  "I've been talking wit
h the others guys and we decided we need to work together," Aaron said.

  "I'm not interested in working with most of those boys," Cherise said, now wringing water from the cleaned garment.

  "Not all of them, just us. The five here now."

  "There is strength in numbers," Gregg pointed out.

  "I'm not sure if they want us cooperating," Cherise said.

  "I think there is little doubt," Minu countered, "they purposely gave us mismatched uniforms so we'd have to cooperate or go with poorly fitting clothes. Either that or they were just trying to cause trouble."

  "Maybe both," Gregg suggested. They all agreed there might be some truth to that. The Chosen were already trying to turn them against each other.

  "There is some risk in our becoming allies," Pip said, still facing away from Cherise. "They might try to use that against us later."

  Minu nodded and spoke. "Then we'll agree that if it involves passing of failing, we do what we have to do." They all looked at Minu and considered. Minu knew it was a harsh statement, but it was the only way it would work. She liked these people but she wouldn't sacrifice her chance of being Chosen for them.

  "I guess that's a good arrangement," Cherise agreed. Everyone chimed in and they were a team.

  Cherise had already put on some underwear and a clean jumpsuit and was just closing the velcro. Minu eyed the fit and nodded with approval. Her breasts were still too large for the top, but at least it didn't strain the fabric and the legs reached her ankles. She grabbed the still wet pair and the other clean set and walked with Minu to the toilets.

  “If we're going to be allies,” Minu told the boys, “will you watch while we go to the bathroom?”

  “Certainly,” Aaron said right away. The others agreed too and went to guard the door. Though Pip was less than intimidating, Gregg's bulk and Aaron's steely stare more than made up for that. There weren't many other functioning alliances yet. The three boys were a formidable force. Minu and Cherise quickly urinated and met their friends by the door.

  It turned out there was toilet paper after all. A grand total of two rolls for almost a hundred kids. About enough for one good crap each. Minu and her friends made sure they got the use before it ran out. As part of their new arrangement Pip, Aaron and Gregg continued to stand guard when the girls needed to use the bathroom. Minu's heart burned with thanks for the three boys.

  Back out in the barracks, now much more relieved and comfortably dressed, Minu hopped onto her lower bunk and took the bundle of materials she'd been given. She lay each item on her bed and considered. This was probably all they would be given during the Trials. She knew from what little Jovich and her father said that they would have to find most of what they needed as they went. With that in mind she considered everything of value. She wound of the cord and stuffed it in a pocket then examined the fabric everything was wrapped in. It wasn't just a wrapping, that was quickly apparent. There were plastic grommets and snaps in places and it wasn't a perfect square or triangle. The material itself felt like it was coated with plastic on one side.

  "Cherise, look at this," she said toward the upper bunk and her friends head appeared over the edge a second later. "I think this is more than just a wrapping."

  "I was looking at mine too. The wooden box is a mystery as well." Minu hadn't gotten to that yet.

  "Is there a garbage can in here?" she wondered aloud.

  "Why?"

  "Just a suspicion." She got up and walked toward the only exit. There was a large moliplas barrel of the type commonly used for garbage all over the planet. She leaned over and looked inside. There were at least twenty of the discarded wrappers and twice that man bundles of cord. Cherise followed her and looked as well.

  "Amazing," she said. The two girls quickly collected all the 'garbage' and headed back to their bunk. One or two other candidates looked at them curiously and one laughed. Back at their bunks they began examining the other discarded wrappers and quickly found four distinct shapes. The four didn't seem to go together into any one shape, and they would hook smoothly together in two or even three.

  After fifteen minutes of experimenting one of the shapes created by combining two pieces struck a chord with Cherise. "It's a tent half!" she said suddenly. She sorted through the pile and found two more, assembled them and joined that half to the first. The result was a modified triangular tent complete with a fly and ground cloth. And it was big enough for two.

  "I'll be damned," Minu laughed as they spread it out next to their bunks. A dozen boys were watching now with wide eyed amazement. In an instant the amazement turned to horror.

  "Oh shit," one said and ran for the garbage can. It only took moments for the panic to spread across the entire room. Minu jumped lightly onto the top bunk and looked across the barracks. She could only see two other groups assembling shelters as well. It wasn't a wide spread realization. She suspected they'd just earned their first 'victory' in the Trials.

  "You got those from the garbage," a red faced boy said, running up to their bunks. Minu quickly jumped down with Cherise between the boy and the pile of parts on the bed.

  "Very observant of you," Cherise said with a wry smile.

  "Too bad those powers of observation weren't working when you threw away your shelter," Minu added.

  "Give it back, you little bitch."

  "Screw you," Cherise said, her voice low and threatening.

  "I'd love to," another boy said. Many more where now joining the others and Minu started to get scared.

  "Look,” Minu explained, “we found them fair-and-square. Others have been getting them from the garbage, so unless you can prove-"

  "Fuck this," one of them said and moved to dive between the two girls. All he got for his effort was Cherise' knee under his chin. He yelped in pain and hit the floor hard, his hands going to his injured chin. A second later a large group charged them and Minu was in her first real fight.

  She found out two things very quickly. The first was the she wasn't very good at fighting. She didn't really want to hurt anyone so instead of swinging a fist at the first boy she just slapped his across the face as hard as she could. It really didn't stop him, it make him as mad as hell. The second thing she found out was that Cherise was good at fighting; furthermore she really seemed to enjoy it.

  Cherise kicked, punched, chopped and generally abused anyone who got within reach of her. She seemed to use hands, feet, knees and elbows with equal ease. Minu for her part ended up rolling on the floor with the same boy she'd slapped trying to keep him from pinning her under him. In desperation she put a hand down and punched, aiming for his stomach. She contacted something squishy over bone and he let out a cry of pain and released her. She jumped up and left him holding his crotch and curling into a fetal position.

  Minu was worried they were about to be overwhelmed by a tide of boys when Gregg, Aaron and Pip swooped in like an old Earth cavalry. Gregg picked up one kid and threw him into an advancing trio like a sack of laundry while Aaron swung a leg into the side of a head with enough force to knock the boy out cold. While Pip seemed just as unschooled in fighting as Minu, he didn't lack for courage. He simply used his body as a battering ram, head low, arms held in front, he attacked over and over again like a raging bull.

  Then the Chosen trainers appeared out of nowhere and started yanking them off each other. As the hostilities wound down, the fight ended with a Chosen holding Cherise off the ground by the back of her jumpsuit, the girl spitting and kicking in rage. Minu was in no small amount of awe of the other girl.

  "You kids never fail to disappoint," he laughed while keeping Cherise' feet and fists from his face. He didn't try to sort it out, he didn't accuse anyone of starting it, and he didn't give the girls a chance to explain the circumstances. Everyone who was involved in the fracas got a drag for their efforts. When he'd finally left Minu once again sat with her friend on their bed, now with seven tent parts. The rest were lost in the heat of battle. Still, it was more than most now had.
And a few were destroyed in the battle as well.

  They were all left alone for a time. Their male friends traded bunk space so they were all now next to each other. It wasn't difficult, many of their former neighbors now sported black eyes, bruises, and drags. Minu wasn't sure they would have time to get comfortable. Cherise was still mad and didn't want to talk about the incident, despite her numerous bruises as evidence.

  It was night and the Chosen announced he was turning off the lights. No meal was offered, no one complained. Minu climbed between the thin sheets of her bunk, part of the shelter halves were under her head as a pillow, the rest shared among the others. After the fracas, none of them felt much like trusting their fellow candidates. And with no more ceremony, the lights were turned off and they were plunged into darkness, ending the first day of the Trials.

  Chapter 6

  Julast 5th, 514 AE

  Chosen Headquarters, Steven’s Pass

  Minu felt like she'd just fallen asleep. The world drifted away into the smoky haze of half formed dreams in the subconscious minds attempt to help the conscious mind deal with the trials and tribulations of the previous day. A Chosen does not need a full night’s sleep. One must be always alert, aware, and ready to respond to any situation. A one hundred milligram charge of high explosives was detonated in the empty garbage cans. The sound was, well, like a bomb in a garbage can.

  Screams and yells of outrage filled the room as smoke billowed from the scattered moliplas fragments which had once been the garbage cans. Minu was pretty sure she hadn't screamed and she had no idea how she got under her bunk, lying on the ice cold floor. Or for that matter, how Cherise got down there with her? As it was, their hiding location turned out to be a good move. Their Chosen made an appearance and he'd brought along a fire hose just to be sure there was no danger to the candidates. As a way to ensure no further fires broke out, he levered open the valve and begun spraying the stunned kids with high pressure, ice cold water.

  "Nonstop fun, this trial thing," Cherise yawned. Minu was about to agree when the water stream crossed the floor just in front of their bed, drenching them with an icy spray of water. They both squealed and gasped from the cold. Others running for cover got it much worse as the Chosen used his fire hose like a weapon, bowling kids off their feet and turning over entire bunks.