I jump awake in pain. My whole body feels like it's on fire.

"Glad you're awake.", said Triela cleaning her SIG-Sauer P230.

"What are you doing here?"

"Echo put me in charge of watching you."

"Did she."

"I wouldn't lie to you."

"I didn't say I didn't believe you."

"Well I wouldn't."

"Can I ask you something."

"Anything."

"Am I the first boy you ever talked to, your age?"

Triela freezes, then blushes, "Yeah."

"Damn that's sad."

Just before Triela can say something, someone knocks on the door.

"Come in.", I said.

"Good morning Zero.", said a girl with long black hair and glasses.

"Who are you?"

"Forgive me, I'm Claes.", sitting down.

She puts down 3 trays of food on a table placed in my room.

"Can you move?"

"Yeah, give a second."

I pull myself out of my bed. I notice Echo took of my shirt. Scars from my past mistakes are visible. Triela and Claes notice instantly. I cover them with a shirt and take a seat.

"Back at my agency, they punish you if you disobey orders."

"We're sorry if we upset you."

"Don't worry, it's in the past."

"Mind if I ask you how you got them?", asked Triela.

"I didn't kill a little girl during a mission. She screamed and alerted the insurgents. She was about 5 years old. I almost got all of us killed."

"I'm sorry."

"Don't be. I won't lie to you either."

"Don't you have a name?", asked Claes.

"Zero is my name. Last time someone was given a 'name' was punished."

"Why?"

"We aren't allowed to ask questions like that."

"How long have you been there?", asked Triela.

"I was born there."

"I thought we had it bad. You are raised to kill, not given a chance in the real world."

Another knock at the door.

"Come in.", I said.

"Here's your shot Zero.", said Echo.

She sticks the needle in my arm.

"Feeling better?"

"Better than ever.", getting up with ease.

"Finish up then meet me at the range."

"Got it."

"Thanks girls."

"No problem.", said Triela and Claes in unison.

After I finish my breakfast, I head to the range. Echo hands me a silenced Spas 12.

"Covert mission."

"Correct."

"What's the plan."

"We infiltrate the compound at 8:00 P.M."

"We can't be caught."

"Not exactly, we'll be in an urban enviroment with civilians present."

"Got it."

"Do whatever you want until 8:00."

"Ok."

"And Zero."

"What do you need?"

"Be careful what you tell the cyborgs here."

"I will."

The thought of killing a civilian runs through my mind.