Morning thoughts after waking up in Manticore
SUMMARY:
This is about Brin. Together with the title that says all, I think. Well, the title. A bit primitive, but I couldn't think of something else when I wrote this.
DISCLAIMER:
All characters who appear in this story belong to their respective
creators, including Cameron/Eglee Productions and 20th Century
Studios. No money is being made from the use of these characters.
Darkness.
Knocking at the door.
The lights went on. "Time to get up, soldier.", she told herself and sat up on her bunk, kicking the thin blanket away. She slept in her uniform every time. Firstly, because there was nothing else she could put on than these odd gowns, and secondly, after a day full of training she was too tired to change clothes.
Standing up, she first folded the blanket and smoothed the pillow,then her eyes scanned the cell for her boots- yes, she was still accommodated in a cell, they didn't seem to trust her enough to put her up in the barracks, with the others. She just didn't know WHY they didn't trust her. Only recently she had finished one of the most difficult assassination, others had failed there terribly. Brin had proven to be loyal, but... "Stop, 734 !", she kicked herself mentally. Command would know why they did the things they did. That had to be enough for a soldier. A soldier had to obey orders, had to fight, had to represent his unit. But in the state Brin was, she couldn't really manage the third. Her hair was a black mess, she looked like she had a hangover, her left eye was a little bit swollen, her back ached while she put on her boots and a long scratch shined on her right cheek.
While she brushed her hair and tied it to a tight knot, she looked in the little mirror she had and traced the red line in her face with her eyes.
"Damned 953 ", she cursed. Brin was a soldier, she had her dignity. And her dignity forbid to ran around with a scratch on her face, showing that she had lowered her defence too long. On the other side, that stupid blond-haired X5-953 hadn't got just one little piece of dignity. She preferred using her fingernails instead of fighting like they all had learned.
Brin opened the locker standing in the corner. Putting her hairbrush back there, she focused the words painted on the inside of its door.
DUTY
ORDER
SOLDIER
MISSION
Under these words, there were three of the main principles Lydecker had taught the X5.
KNOW YOUR ENEMY
DECEPTION IS A WEAPON
SURPRISE IS A TACTICAL ADVANTAGE
She smiled. They made sense. Finally, they made sense.
Hearing steps she turned around, her position stiffened. When the door opened, her right arm fell into a salute. It had become routine.
"X5-734 ready to commence training, sir !"