Halo people, Mark again with another shorty. Three essays, two exams, and one near miss concerning a family member this week. I'll keep this up weekly, but these little bits might become the norm. Anyways, comment/criticize, hope you all enjoy, later.

The small sliver of moon in the sky barely casted a shred of light through the crowding clouds. Ana was dressed in an all black outfit, reminiscent of an urban ninja. She checked her tacpad one last time. 0130. Shouldn't be anyone up at this hour.

Ana slid up her dorm window and slung her lower body out. Securing herself with one hand, she used the other to slide the glass back down until there was only a minute opening. The small Spartan's dark figure was now dangling four stories above the Earth. With a stiff kick, she leapt off the window sill and spun until she faced away from the building. After her feet hit, Ana bent her knees until she was curled into a ball and rolled forward safely.

The young soldier quickly got to her feet and sprinted to the darkest side of the dorms. Ana followed the shadows until she reached the backside of the main building. She continued her pace right up to the base of the structure and ran up the wall. Catching a window sill, she scaled up to get footing on the slim ridge. From there, she crouched and performed a vertical jump of almost three meters, giving her more than enough room to catch the next ledge. Ana continued this process until she finally clambered over the slanted roof, placing her right next to the abandoned pool.

The girl took off her hood and revealed her snowy complexion. She scanned her surroundings. Not a soul in sight.

Ana ambled over to a wooden shack. It was a little storage room for the pool maintenance equipment. She pulled off two loose boards and removed a smooth stainless steel tube. Taking up a small stool in her other hand, she marched into the empty pool and over to the deep end.

Ana had been getting used to her secretive arrangement. Ever since her demotion from the Dance Team, she began resting after classes and coming up here at night. It was nice. She put in her earbuds and started her regular heavy metal mix.

The Spartan placed her stool next to the faded sapphire wall and sat down. She rolled up the black elastic band of her pants from her ankle to her thigh. Taking up the steel tube, Ana placed it in the knuckle of her knee and started dragging the metal across her shin. It flared the nerves between her dense flesh and carbide covered bone, creating a symphony of pain that blended well with her music choice.

Sure, it's barbaric, but what else gets me here faster? Her usual connection with reality began to fade as her mutated cerebrum placed her more savage mentality in charge. It brought forth the warrior's ingrained rage and she could feel the power course through her very blood.

I am superior.

I am matchless.

I. Am. Apex.

She gripped the steel tighter, pushed down harder, scraped the skin deeper. Her thoughts directed themselves to the Gamma student's first week of school. It was going relatively smoothly, even with that deer trying to incite action. It was after that first weekend when she was finally informed of her new position in the club.

Ana walked into Building 3 ready to get to work. She would be learning a new sequence today and wanted to master it by the end of the week. There would be nothing that would stop her from getting a spot on that stage.

Halfway to the changing room, Sheila spotted the pale girl and rushed over. "Hey Ana, we need to have a meeting in the office." There was a small somber quality to her current expression. It was obvious she knew something the other girl didn't.

"Roger that." Ana made her way to the side room.

When the door opened, Ana spotted Louis discussing something with a small Japanese Badger, a Peafowl, and a Pelican. Acting, Sound, Production, and the President. They were all standing closer to the window and turned to face the approaching Spartan. Legosi was also there, standing in the darker corner of the room. Lighting. Expecting Sheila to follow, Ana was surprised when the only thing that had her back was a closing door. Well this should be good.

"Afternoon Ana." Louis' voice razored through the air. It sounded like there was a gleeful grin behind it, but his face was the definition of indifferent. "I suppose Sheila let you know on your way in?"

"She only let me know to come here." Ana tried to catch Legosi's eyes, but they were firmly planted on his own two feet.

Louis walked over to his desk, closer towards Legosi. "Well, as you know, events last week have left the student body somewhat shaken and confused about their… sentiments towards Spartans."

The Pelican, not liking how the message was being conveyed, stepped in. "What I think Louis was trying to say, was that we understand how… complicated this new arrangement is for everyone. We don't want to put any more unnecessary stress on you than what has already presented itself. The wellbeing of a student comes first and foremost. So, we think that it is in everyone's best interest that you take on a supporting role with the Production Team, if only for a little while."

Alright then. Ana nodded slowly as if she were taking time to fully process what the president had just said. Her head then dipped ever so slightly towards the Pelican. "So you think that I'll snap and kill somebody because dance is too stressful?" Her venomous words brought on a whole new level of unease to the room. Even Legosi was now preparing himself to get involved.

"To put it bluntly, yes." Louis cut back in, helping to diffuse the situation.

I hate that fucker, but he doesn't beat around the bush. Ana straightened herself back up. "Understood. I'll do whatever it takes to help prepare our future events. The good of the club comes first." It's not your job to be successful. It's to be reliable and trustworthy.

The Pelican lightly touched his wings together nervously. "Good! Good." He turned to the Peafowl. "I'm sure that you already know by now, but this is Dom. He'll be your new Manager."

Ana turned to the aqua avian with her still looming intensity. "I look forward to working with you."

The memory infuriated the brooding Spartan. She slammed the rod down on her leg with a bit too much vigor. This made an obtuse bend in the steel, yet she didn't feel it. She did it again and again. Nothing. I am the best. How dare they demote me? I should RIP THOSE FURRY BASTARDS APART LIMB FROM FUCKING LI-

BEEP BEEP BEEP BEEP BEEP! The alarm cut off Ana's music and blared its own intruding noise.

She had almost gone too far.

Ana pulled out her smoother, lined it up with her neck, and pushed the plunger. The pale girl took a deep breath as the shooting pain of her lower body finally registered. Taking a moment to look, she saw the flaming surface of her shin. There were parts in the irritated area where the pipe had broken the skin, and maroon had begun slowly seeping down into her sock. It was time for her to head back.

The young soldier put her pipe and stool back in their place. The boards were put back in and loosely secured to the shed. She needed to get some sleep. PT was in three hours.