by LC Morgans
“Am I the last to finish?” she asked, and he nodded. “So, have I failed?” He didn’t answer. The Thrak simply opened the door and held it for her, and Kyra stepped slowly out into the hall. She forced her fear of failure away, and stood to salute him properly. “May I use the bathroom, sir?” she asked timidly.
“Of course. When you’re finished, you may go back to your room. Report back here at zero-eight-hundred hours tomorrow for the results.” He smiled again, but she didn’t feel put at ease by it. Kyra ran for the bathroom the second his back was turned, and proceeded to puke up the barely-there contents of her stomach. Bile stung her throat, and tears streamed down her cheeks. Was it over already? Had her dreams been stomped on at the first hurdle? Not knowing was agony, and she didn’t know if she could survive the wait until morning to find out.
When she finally made it out of the building, Kyra was shocked to find herself engulfed in darkness. She checked her watch, twenty-two-hundred. She’d been there all day, and her mind slowly caught up with the exhaustion in her body. Every step was with feet that dragged, and her mind was still fraught with her fears of failure. She took the quickest shower she could and fell into a heap in bed. Sleep washed over her in seconds, and it felt like only a minute had passed when her alarm chimed the next morning.
“Wow, you look like hell,” Brona said, watching as Kyra nursed her coffee with a scowl. She was in a bad mood, and understandably. It was all she could do not to curse at her, but none of this was Brona’s fault, so Kyra bit her tongue. “Did it really go that bad?”
“Worse than bad,” she replied. “I was last to finish, how did that happen? I’m screwed, I just know it. All this hard work and I’ll be stuck doing admin for the rest of my life.”
“Did you complete the tasks?” Brona asked as she tucked into her bowl of cereal.
“Yeah, and thought I’d done well. I used my own algorithms and codes, which I guess takes time, but not once did I think I’d be the last one there.” Kyra let her head fall onto the table before her with a small thud. “Ouch,” she groaned, and Brona laughed.
“That bad, huh?” Silas’s voice broke through her despair, and she lifted her head up to look at him as he took the seat beside her. Tears pricked at her eyes, and she wanted to slap herself for being such a girl. A nod was all the answer he needed, but he didn’t seem ready to give her a pity party just yet. “They told you so, or you felt like it went badly?” he asked, and Kyra guessed her empty expression must've said it all. “Stop feeling sorry for yourself. Walk in there, demand to know your score, and fight your corner if they dare tell you you’re not good enough.” Tears pricked at her eyes again, and she was almost about to throw her arms around him, but then thought better of it.
“Oh, Sgt. McDermott, you know all the right things to say,” she teased in her best attempt at a sarcastic retort. He was right, though. She hadn’t been told yes or no yet, and until she got her explanation or was offered the chance to appeal, wallowing in self-pity wasn’t getting her anywhere. Kyra finished off her drink and slammed the mug down on the table. “I did everything I could, and if it’s not good enough—so be it.” Her friends all nodded in agreement, and she silently thanked Silas for his little pep talk.
With more than twenty minutes to spare, Kyra headed straight for the Intelligence Division training building and took a seat in the waiting area. She forced herself not to fiddle or pace, and instead watched as the other trainees inside wandered around with happy smiles on their faces, and a clear sense of purpose. Each of them had gone through this ordeal, and they'd made it. She wanted it so much, and knew that was why she’d gotten so wound up about her lengthy time in the suite the day before. She hadn’t once doubted her skill before that, but knowing she’d taken longest was a real kick in the teeth, and she vowed to herself that she would never let it happen again.
“Corporal Millan, you're early,” a deep voice that seemed to bounce off the walls and shake the seat beneath her called. She looked up and found the same soldier from the night before peering down at her with a smile. Kyra felt like that little girl again, and it took her a second to force all thoughts of King Kronus and Invasion Day back out of her mind. Her neck ached with the effort it took to look into the huge Thrakorian man’s face, and she jumped to her feet and saluted him.
“I like to be punctual, sir,” she replied, still staring up at him despite standing. “And of course, I'm eager to get the results of my assessment.”
“I’m sure you are,” he told her with a smile that lifted her spirits. “Follow me.” Kyra did as she was told, and before long was ushered inside a huge doorway she assumed must’ve been installed by her gigantic superiors. She was ordered to sit on one side of a large table in what she now realized must be a meeting room, while three elite human officers and a Thrakorian Lorde stared across at her from the other side. She’d heard of the Thrak opposite, and knew he was the Intelligence Division’s formidable leader—Lorde Sharq.
The man in the center, whom she knew was called Capt. Carlton, perused her file for a moment before he spoke. He gave nothing away, and Kyra could feel herself starting to sweat.
“Eleven hours, that’s quite a lengthy timeframe. Care to tell us why you think it took you so long to complete your assessment, Corporal?” he asked, and his ice-blue eyes bore into hers.
“I prioritized getting it right over getting through in the fastest time, sir. Some of my methods take longer to implement than traditional counter-measures, but I believe that they work better at securing the systems and stopping the hackers from stealing any information.” Her voice was surprisingly calm, and she forced herself to sit upright in front of the assessors. If this was her last chance, she was going to go out with a bang.
“We noticed that,” Capt. Carlton continued. “In the final trial you successfully stopped not only the hack, but also ensured no data was leaked. Well done.”
Kyra went to thank him, but was instantly bombarded with questions from the others. They wanted to know how she’d come up with her algorithms, and why she’d used certain codes when typically a set standard would be used. Every second of her challenge was picked apart and criticized, and she felt utterly drained by the time the human officers had finished their questioning.
“Why do you want to join the Intelligence Division?” Lorde Sharq asked at last, and they all looked at Kyra for her answer.
“Because I know I’m good enough, and I’ve wanted it my entire life. I believe I can use my skills most effectively in serving the Intelligence Division, and what I demonstrated yesterday is just the beginning of what I know I’m capable of. My brain naturally works like a computer. I have the ability to see things differently to others, I always have, and when something is out of place I often notice it right away,” she said, talking from her heart rather than with any prepared speech she guessed he would find insincere.
“A natural code-breaker,” Sharq replied, and she nodded.
“It says in your file, you successfully led a team away from an ambush in your final primary exercise based on a system of symbols you found, and where no others had done before you?” Capt. Carlton said, and she nodded again. They each looked at each other and then at Lorde Sharq, and Kyra knew his decision must be final.
He fiddled with his papers for a few minutes, and it was agonizing. All Kyra could hear was the thud-thump of her heart in her ears, and her stomach ached with the tension she knew she was holding tightly. Sharq looked back up at her, to the others, and down at the page in front of him, and she wanted to scream.
“Welcome to the Intelligence Division, Corporal Millan,” he finally informed her, after what felt like an hour had passed, and she wanted to scream. Kyra felt light-headed at the realization she’d made it after all. She wanted to ask him why, how, and all the things her brain was going crazy picking apart from her interrogation-style assessment, but he didn’t give her the opportunity to ask. Sharq signed the top piece of paper in his pile, which he handed
to Capt. Carlton. He then wrote on another form, which he held out for Kyra to take. “I expect nothing but great things from you, Corporal. I assume you're planning on trying out for the elite course at the end of your secondary training?” he asked, and Kyra nodded. “Well then, you’ll require three personal recommendations. Here’s your first,” he added as he let go of the paper, and she could do nothing but stare at him open-mouthed.
Chapter
Ten
Brona had gotten through her assessment with an acceptance into the Medical Division, as had all their other friends from Lima Platoon with their chosen fields. They celebrated their victory with a contraband bottle of booze in the block, and after just two shots, Kyra was already feeling fuzzy. She declined any more, and fell into bed with a satisfied sigh. She’d done it, and was already on the right path to completing not only her secondary phase training, but also the potential of an elite position in the division she’d dreamed of joining for years. Most soldiers peaked in the secondary phase, and slowly moved up the ranks as far as possible whilst in their chosen career. Elite training was offered only to those who showed expert potential, and if she passed the training she knew she’d be on the right path to becoming a Captain by the time she hit her thirties.
Kyra wished Silas could be with her to share in the celebrations, or at least spending the night wrapped in his arms would be the perfect prize. He’d managed a few hours, but was called away after dinner by his new platoon. She’d watched that cute ass of his all the way to the door, and hoped they'd get some proper alone time soon.
Sleep claimed her quickly, and it was the dawn light that roused her before the alarm the following morning. Kyra showered and changed, and went for an early breakfast in the canteen. Inside, she spotted Lt. Psy talking to some of the higher-ranking soldier’s in his front office team, and greeted them all politely. He beckoned her closer, and she smiled respectfully while internally freaking out.
“Can’t sleep?” he asked. His voice was stern, but somehow gentler than she’d ever heard, and it was a surprise.
“Something like that, Commander,” she replied with a smile.
“You certainly made an impression, Corporal. Keep up the good work, and you’ll find out what wondrous possibilities await you,” he told her. “Finish secondary training in the top-five, and I’ll recommend you for elite myself,” he added, and she was taken aback. The Lieutenant had been an impenetrable wall of hard-ass and strict mentor, but she was starting to understand why Silas spoke so highly of him. He’d provided the pep talk in her primary training that’d given her hope, and a reason to work hard, and now he’d simply moved that goal post.
“Thank you so much, sir,” she replied, and was unable to hide her smile. Lt. Psy simply nodded and walked away, and she guessed he wasn’t much for the soppy side of the human psyche. She promised herself she wouldn’t let him down, or herself. She would get that place, and her recommendation, even if she had to work around the clock to achieve it.
Once her Computer and Technological Science training began, time lost all meaning, and was soon nothing but routine and studying. Physical training became just a regular part of their week, rather than for hours or even days on end like before, and Kyra enjoyed the break from working on the computers or in the codex labs. She was pushing herself so hard in lessons and their regular assessments, that it was a welcome escape to run a few miles or work out in the simulated environments of the training center, and found she needed the balance.
Time with Silas was few and far between, but somehow they were managing to make it work. Stolen moments were no longer necessary, as everyone seemed to know they were a couple without actually asking or making a fuss about it, and she was pleased. They sat together every mealtime if they could, and she would sneak into his block when it’d emptied out, or he’d bribed his fellow Sergeants for some privacy. It wasn’t perfect, but when the training was over and they could apply for a house of their own to live in, it would all fall into place, she knew it.
“If you go elite, you’ll spend another few years in training,” he told Kyra one night, peering down at her in the dim light of his room. She snuggled deeper into his embrace, but couldn't let herself worry about how long it might take for her to reach her peak. If she got the recommendations, she’d go no matter how long it took. “I want you to know, I’ll support whatever route you decide,” he added, and it was exactly what she needed to hear. The prospect of having a row with him over it had actually been worrying her the past few months, and it was a relief knowing he supported her. Elite training would take her to a dedicated Intelligence Division base in Alaska, whereas Silas seemed to be staying in Death Valley for the foreseeable future. Like her, he wanted to proceed, but his chosen path was here, and it was inevitable that they’d be separated at some point.
“We’re meant to be, Silas. We’ll make it work,” she replied.
“Yeah, we’ll find a way. I won’t lose you, little lady. I couldn't live without you,” he told her, and kissed her tenderly before turning out the light.
***
“Today you will be starting an element of training that contains classified information, so be warned and remember to keep your mouths closed regarding what you’ve seen,” the Course Commander, Captain Quinn said as she stood at the head of the class and watched them all with her usual hardened stare. She took no prisoners when it came to her teaching methods, and had so far covered the entire course content single-handedly and with apparent ease. It was almost the end of the year, and in that time they'd learned a tremendous amount under her guidance. They’d fit in more than Kyra had ever thought possible before dedicating every waking moment to her training, but she was always ready to learn more.
Quinn began firing questions at the students, asking what they knew, or thought they knew, about the superior race who governed theirs.
“They’re all very tall,” one soldier said, and was met with a nod.
“They don’t mix with humans socially, nor do they train or study with us,” said another.
“True, and why is that?” Capt. Quinn asked, but was met with blank stares. Kyra guessed everyone was thinking the same, but didn’t want to say it, so she raised her hand.
“Why should they?” she asked in answer, and was met with a booming laugh from the back of the class.
“That’s exactly right, Corporal,” the Thrakorian soldier she’d met during her assessment replied, and she jumped, not having realized he was there. “Thraks did not come here to make friends, we came here to lead.” He walked through them towards the front of the class. “Humans in the lower-class sectors serve all of us. Middle-class humans still serve, but by hard work and provision to the King. Upper-class humans also operate for the same purpose. Above your human class system is none of your concern, and why?” he asked, staring at them all with an intimidating look.
“Because we are grateful to King Kronus for liberating the humans from our lives of excess and greed?” one recruit asked, and it earned him a snicker.
“Rehearsed propaganda is for the lower-classes, you know better than that!” he replied. “Don’t give me your practiced lines, give me your gut response. You’re in the Intelligence Division now, act intelligent…”
“We aren’t important enough to know,” one soldier asked, and the Thrak nodded.
“We only know what we have to in order to do our jobs,” Kyra added, and he gave her a wink.
“Absolutely right. Now we’re getting somewhere. Does that annoy you? Do you feel like a pawn in a game where none of your teammates could possibly win? Or do you accept your position and readily move on?” he asked, pacing the small room. Stunned silence met his words, and they all seemed unsure how to respond. “If you want to question your place in our society, then you need to walk out of here right now and join the rebels. You are the clever ones, the geeks and the nerds. You are a precious commodity, but only while you serve King Kronus. If you don’t want that, go now…” He paus
ed for effect, and Kyra was pleased to see that none of her classmates left the room.
After his explosive entrance, the Thrakorian soldier then took them through various details of their race. There was a lot she didn’t know, despite having had some insider knowledge from Samia in their school days. She’d known that their people all stood far above the humans in Earth’s new reign, but never dreamed there were so many levels in their triangular government that led all the way to its one leader, King Kronus. “So, at the bottom we have convicts. They are tried and sentenced by the Lawbringer. He is an appointed Thrak who oversees the judicial system, and whose say is final. Convicts are brought to train and work in the lowest level of the army, and ninety-nine percent of them stay there. Then we have the lower, middle and upper-class humans, or soldier, officer and elite members of the Human Royal Armed Forces. Between them and the mixed-heritage sector is the Gentry. They are handpicked humans who are specialists, or have performed extraordinarily in service to his majesty. They are given a higher status, wealth and position than other humans, but still no higher standing than any Thrakorian.”
Kyra was writing notes furiously, and was surprised she’d never heard more about the how’s and why’s of becoming a Gentry officer before. Part of her remembered how Silas had described his family before, and knew the McDermott’s were prime examples of humans of such high standing. The title also explained their wealth and power in an otherwise dictatorially ruled existence. “Next you have the mixed-breeds, then Thrakorian civilians, and the Thrak army. Above that is the King’s Guard Service, and then King Kronus himself.” He paused just long enough to watch their hands moving furiously over their notepads with a satisfied smile. “Do any of you know where the planet Thrakor is?” Every soldier shook his or her head. “Or how about why we came here?”