Time: 4:02 PM
Fort Maraga, Chrysoberyl Division Assault Brigade Base in Vesta Quarter, Eridu Defense Force
Wednesday, June 1, 2011
The afternoon is quiet, with only the sound of paper being heard. The dust particles can be seen from the rays of light coming in the windows, as the air cannot get hotter than a certain officer’s head. On the table is a desk nameplate, written with Major Gaston Ludwig.
The files have the names of the latest assigned soldiers for the Oxbow Company of Cat’s Eye Battalion within Chrysoberyl Division. Most of them are recent graduates of bootcamp from different forts, while some to be transfers from other divisions. As Major Ludwig scans the soldiers and their designations within the company, he stops on a profile with a different stamp at the top of the paper. An application through a specialized test, something normally done for military ensembles or secret service, he sees the picture of the enlisted soldier confirming the third reasoning of the stamp.
A child combatant.
Frowning, he grabs the telephone nearby and dials a number. After a short moment of bleeps and a clack, the line is picked up.
“This is Major Gaston Ludwig of Oxbow Company, is Lieutenant Colonel Guerville available?” he says.
“He’s still in the meeting, sir. Please express what you need sir, so I can forward it to the colonel,” says a female officer from the other line. Gaston takes a closer look once again at the dubious file.
“Lieutenant Reilly, correct?”
“Yes, Major.”
“Well, I’ve been reviewing the new assignees in this batch but I’m afraid there was something I’m not sure about this particular applicant. Did the Colonel informed you about it?”
A brief pause. “…As far as I remember, Colonel Guerville didn’t say anything to inform the executive officers, Major Ludwig.”
“I see. I think there was an error, and I thought of sending a mail about it. Are you certain the other XOs made any some report?”
“We didn’t receive anything a sort of complaint yet, Major.”
“I see. Please inform the colonel that we have a fourteen-year-old here in our company and do an action about it as soon as possible.”
A brief silence occurs as the other line picks up again.
“Will inform the colonel immediately, Major.”
Gaston sighs. “Alright… Thank you, Lieutenant Reilly.”
“Thank you for your support, Major Ludwig.”
Gaston drops the telephone and separates the file from the others. It is real that their division currently faces crisis, not just about their job description, but also about the internal politics within the Defense Force. Chrysoberyl Division has a clear decline in the number of recruits each year and seeing that different stamp is a warning that things are starting to get worse. Those people, he supposes, and that organization . With Eridu being one of the forefronts regarding the war against the Hollows, some are bound to walk the extreme roads, but it disgusts him whenever he gets a wind of that reality.
Gaston glances one more time at the file and stares at the picture attached to it.
Samantha Aran. Age 14. Position, sniper. Assignment, Corax Squad of Red Sparrow Platoon.
The phone suddenly rings.
The fortress overwhelms a young pair of orange eyes, as they reflect the sky above.
Samantha stares at the horizon for long, marveling at the view in front of her. It is not the first time she has visited a base of Defense Force, but the breeze and openness bring her seemingly to a new world.
Katya gets off the jeepney truck and slams the door close. She spots the awestruck girl, whose backpack is bigger than her. Samantha also wears a military uniform provided by the Defense Force, with her last name Aran stitched in the right breast pocket. Her sunny ponytail is hard not to notice as it is swayed by the wind.
“Good luck in your enlistment, Sam,” Katya says. Samantha seems unbothered and fixated at the scene before her. Katya then also stares at the horizon. “Well, this is where we’ll separate ways,” she adds, hoping to get her attention.
“Is it really necessary for Martin to send me here?” Samantha asks.
Katya, worried about her question, crouches down. “You feel anxious?”
Samantha looks away. Katya touches the young girl’s cheek.
“With a talent and merit like yours, you’ll do just fine,” Katya reassures. “We have talked about this last time, too, right?”
Samantha goes silent. A thought crosses her mind that her ‘teacher’ has something to do with this.
“Martin already told me where to go,” Samantha says.
Katya studies the young blonde’s face once more. She can tell that Samantha is merely putting on a tough front, at the same time, she also knows that this young kid has been forged by fire already with her skills. However, it does not change the fact of her being too young in this profession.
“Do your best, Sam. See you once again. Stay alive for as long as you can, so I can pick you up once your contract is over,” Katya says.
A small curt in her brows. Katya feigns to notice it.
Samantha nods. “See you, too, Katya.”
Katya stands up and watches Samantha walking away. With a yearning stare, she clenches her fists.
If there is only a different option other than this, Samantha will never have to become a weapon again.
Walt has told her that the military is strict, and Samantha gets a first-hand account after meeting the military personnel assigned during her specialized exam. Adapting will be a struggle, as Francisco says, but it sounds like a mere attempt to unsettle her. However, Samantha is also a mercenary like Walt and Francisco, and this profession has taught her enough lesson that the world is unkind no matter where a person will go.
No, this is something she has learned already when she is still under her teacher’s guidance.
Samantha is told by Martin that she must wait around a bench area, and someone from the 2nd Assault Brigade of Chrysoberyl Division will pick her up. She has been briefed beforehand about basic etiquettes while as an enlisted soldier, which she finds troublesome, but there is nothing she can complain about. If she can perform her duties like in Fenrir, a great future awaits her.
While waiting on a bench, Samantha unwraps another red bean bun. She has been waiting for half an hour already, and she merely entertains herself by looking around. Vehicles are entering and leaving the base, and soldiers are sparse doing different things. Sometimes people look at her, appearing bewildered or confused.
Samantha hears footsteps approaching in her direction.
“Private Samantha Aran, I suppose?”
A man with a dress uniform. Parrish written on his right breast pocket. Two stars on his badge.
Samantha stands and salutes—forgetting to take away the food in her hand. Her eyes widen with her own error and salutes again.
“Yes, Lieutenant.”
Lieutenant Parrish raises a brow.
“Follow me,” he says then turns around. Samantha picks up her belongings and follows.
The halls of the Defense Force are muted with their white greyish color in the walls. There are boards with announcements and recruitment posters, and Samantha cannot help but observe anything that passes on to her sight.
“Martin Sanchez was your former employer, correct?” Lieutenant Parrish asks.
Samantha focuses her eyes on him.
“Yes, sir.”
“How long have you worked for him?”
“Four years, sir.”
A slight flinch. The brief pause also brings her to stop, still maintaining a distance away from him. Their stride resumes shortly after but with a radio silence.
The drills outside grab her attention once more, seeing the cadets scorched under the sun. The drill instructor’s voice sounds like a bomb, carrying enough power to push the cadets to their limits. Samantha cannot imagine herself being there—as her trance halts to focus on the lieutenant’s trail.
It does not take long until they reach their destination.
The lieutenant opens the door, and the hot air blasts on them. There is a large fan on the corner, yet the humidity remains sticky on the skin.
Samantha spots a nameplate written with ‘Major Gaston Ludwig’ as her sight moves to the man himself. Flat hair and thick eyebrows, darkened eyes with a serious but amicable face. His squared jaw is clean of any facial hair but looks old enough to warrant such position.
Lieutenant Parrish pays a salute. “Here is the young recruit, Major Ludwig.”
“Thank you, Lieutenant Roland.” Major Gaston pays attention to the young girl. “You’re the one from Martin Sanchez’ company?”
Samantha nods. “Yes, sir.”
Major Gaston scrutinizes her a bit. The young kid's eyes look unfazed, yet there is something more than that straight façade.
“You will be assigned to Red Sparrow Platoon of Oxbow Company, under Staff Sergeant Dane’s Corax Squad. Lieutenant Roland Parrish would guide you to your quarters. I believed you were oriented already before coming here, so you can go now.”
Lieutenant Parrish beckons Samantha and escorts her outside. Major Gaston’s eyes linger towards the door, hands clenched then loosened, before releasing a sigh.
The Eridu Defense Force consists of several divisions, each with specific functions. There are three well-known departments that take the forefront of today’s climate—Obsidian Division, handling void containment of the Hollows. Diamond Division, responsible for city defense from external threats. And lastly, Chrysoberyl Division for securing newly reclaimed areas. They are formed with years of adapting from the danger of Hollows and learning how to keep their civilization from disappearing. Eridu is part of the existing settlements that survive after the raging of Hollows on the planet, and this military organization has existed to fight these catastrophes.
Meeting in a balcony in one of the base’s buildings, Samantha meets her squad leader, Staff Sergeant Dane, who is a tan man and appears to be along the age same as Katya. The staff sergeant has a long scar on the left side of his face, like a result from a violent encounter with an animal, which starts from his forehead, crossing down to his chin. His eyes are small but sharp, yet his overall presence exudes to be warm and gentle.
Lieutenant Parrish finishes introducing each to another, as Staff Sergeant Dane uses this moment to weigh more attention towards his new subordinate.
“A young warrior, huh? But I believe I should not be surprised,” Dane says. He lifts his left arm, guarding his upper body, and smiles at the kid. “Try hitting my arm with your best kick,” he instructs.
Samantha can tell that his muscles are rock solid, which reminds her of Walt on how sturdy they look. She lowers her stance, focuses her energy on her right foot, and suddenly spins around.
A clean landing, Samantha notices that Dane’s arms are both raised.
He chuckles.
“That’s a good kick, even you didn’t put your bag down,” he says. “Can I know what you’re trained with?”
“Hand-to-hand, CQB, and…knife.”
Dane nods.
“You’ll join the training tomorrow with the rest of the Red Sparrow Platoon. As about your squadmates… There are just only two, but they are sent on a mission in the Plutarch Mountains, so you won’t be able to meet them by now.”
“Didn’t you have another assigned soldier under your squad today, Sergeant Dane?” Parrish asks.
Dane opens his mouth. “Oh right, I was too occupied with my tasks, I forgot…” He looks at the young soldier. “I won’t say her name for now, and perhaps you’ll see her when Lieutenant Parrish sends you to the dorms. Welcome again in Corax Squad, Private Aran.”
Parrish seems not to be taking Dane’s lightheartedness at this one.
“I just hope you’re not slacking off with the tasks you mentioned.”
Dane chuckles. “I’m doing my best, LT. I believe you could also ease up your shoulders to make it not look too straight. I believe you are also younger than me.”
Parrish sighs. “Well, I hope indeed that’s the case.” He looks at Samantha. “Private Aran, follow me.”
Samantha nods.
It is a quick interaction per se, but Samantha can tell what kind of person her squad leader is.
The dorms are divided into battalion areas, as this garrison consists of ten battalions. Fort Maraga is one of the larger bases of Chrysoberyl Division, enough to have a different section for recruits. There are plenty of areas left to explore and a day will not be enough for it.
Parrish points out the important buildings and open spaces while on their way towards the dorms and briefs her about the rules and schedules she must follow as an active-duty soldier. Samantha makes sure to remember—the mess hall, the training grounds, artillery buildings, and certain prohibited areas.
They reach Cat’s Eye Battalion area and stop in front of Corax Squad’s dorm.
“Here are the keys of your dorm and locker. Make sure not to lose it, otherwise, report it to your squad leader so you can be issued another one,” Parrish instructs. “Half of Red Sparrow Platoon is sent to a mission, so in case you need something, and Sergeant Dane is not available to assist you, never hesitate to contact me till your own lieutenant returns. Answer me if you understand everything I said.”
“Yes, sir.”
“Good. Have a nice day ahead.”
Parrish leaves the young private alone. Samantha stares at her two keys, one is larger than the other, but the smaller one has a tag with number four in it. She uses the larger one to open the door, only to recall that probably the other assigned soldier is already here. She knocks first to see if the room is occupied yet merely meets with no response.
Samantha pushes the door open. Unsurprisingly, the room is empty.
She spots two bunk beds, with the pair on the right side seem to already belong to others. The room is spacious enough to have a cabinet inside, even with a table and a chair as well. She is also surprised to see a bathroom; unlike the old stories she has heard both from Martin and Walt.
Samantha walks to her locker, situated at the end of the room. Finding locker number four quickly, she opens it and loads her belongings from her bag to it—when she hears a creak from the door.
“Oh, it’s already open?”
Samantha turns around, seeing a young woman with shoulder-length curly hair who appears to be in her twenties. A short stack with youthful face, Samantha flinches a bit when their eyes unexpectedly met.
The woman tilts her head in confusion.
“…What are you doing here, little kid?”
The remark bothers the ‘kid’ a bit, but it does not stop her from observing the trespasser. Military uniform, a huge backpack… By the looks of it, Samantha assumes that this may be the person Staff Sergeant Dane is talking about.
And then there is the nametag—Rhodes.
“Are you…part of Corax Squad, too?” Samantha asks.
The young woman nods.
“Yes.” She suddenly frowns and notices late that Samantha is also wearing a military uniform. “I’m certain there are no reports of a kid joining Chrysoberyl Division, unless I’m not curious enough to dig deeper. Whose kid are you? I can bring you back to your parents. I know where the officers live. My name is Myrna Rhodes. You can trust me.”
“I don’t have parents. I’m an orphan.”
The air turns cold. Myrna is left of words to speak.
Then panic.
“Woah, what are you doing here, then?!” Myrna acts hysterically—both figuratively and literally. “You’re a runaway! I need to report this—”
“I’m your teammate. We’re just the same…” Samantha says.
“Eh?” Myrna raises her brows. “Did you say something? Sorry I didn’t catch that.”
Samantha frowns and averts her gaze, proceeding with loading her clothes to the locker.
“Hey, don’t ignore me, cheeky kid!” Myrna goes beside her. “I was only joking about bootcamp, there’s no way Chrysoberyl—” she stops, seeing Samantha wearing a dog tag, “wait a minute. There’s no way a kid like you is a soldier, aren’t you?”
Samantha breathes deeply. “I’m…Samantha, not kid. P-Private Samantha Aran. Don’t call me kid…”
“Oh.” Myrna pauses. “You got words. But hey, I’m just surprised. You’re not kidding me, right?”
Samantha finishes organizing her belongings and shuts the locker. Without any more talking, she climbs onto the upper bed of the left bunk to get some sleep. She faces the wall and closes her eyes.
And Myrna is only left to watch her.
Still all confused, Myrna only stares at her small form. This is her first official assignment after graduating from the military job school, and if what the kid has said is true, it is not something she expects with her career in an adult warranted field.
I…gotta deal with this, I guess.
Myrna walks to her locker while scratching her head. Life is full of surprises, but she finds this situation…absurd. As she loads her belongings to her designated cabinet, Myrna smells a familiar scent and ends up looking at the kid’s bag.
Samantha feels the comfort of silence again, and it is a matter of time before she can totally drift to dreamscape. With the lull dragging her deeply, a question cuts off her drowsiness.
“Do you want red bean bun?”
Without a hitch, Samantha rolls to the side, seeing Myrna climb up on the ladder. Myrna’s hand is stretched out as Samantha’s further movement rubs her cheek with something. A rustle from the wrapper, Samantha knows that scent.
Myrna grins.
“I think I know now what interests you!”