"What a fucking asshole!!!!" Maria yelled as she turned the corner away from Hein's office. Aki was relieved that Maria didn't like Hein either. She laughed softly at Maria's outburst. Maria stopped and looked back at Aki. Maria smiled and started to laugh too. The two women laughed for a while, then Maria said, "Welcome to HMA!" Aki slowly recovered her composure. It was good to laugh. She couldn't wait to see Devon in Hein's office. That thought made Aki start laughing again.
Maria reached out for a handshake, which Aki took it eagerly. "Sorry I didn't shake you hand back there. But rule #1: When Hein is in the room – it's all about Hein! Don't do anything unless he gives you the okay or asks you a question."
"First thing we've got to do is get you out of that dress. With those legs, you're going to attract more attention than a dead possum on a hot day. I'll take you down to supply, and get y'all fixed up."
Aki followed Maria down the hall to supply. Aki was issued 5 pairs of trousers, 12 t-shirts, 2 jackets, a white lab coat, 2 pairs of shoes, 5 pairs of running shorts, 12 pair of white socks and a pair of running shoes: All were in same color – dark blue with the initials "USMF" stenciled on each. Aki tried to explain to Maria that she had most of this stuff, but Maria just explained that Major Hein wants everyone the same, right down to the socks we wear. As the women waited for Aki's name to be printed on her t-shirts and her nametag made, Maria started to ask Aki some questions.
"So, why are YOU volunteering for this?" Maria asked.
"Just want to help, I guess."
"Just wanna help? Girl, judging from your appearance – you don't look like the field technician type."
"What type do I look like?"
"Hummm…. Like the type that knows all the answers to the test and blows the bell curve." Maria laughed. Aki laughed too, since she had done it a couple of times. "Ah ha! I was right! You're a thinker! So, really why are you here?"
"Like I said, just want to help." Aki replied shrugging her shoulders. "Alright, alright. I'll lay off." Maria looked at her watch "Dinner will be served in a few minutes. Wish this damn machine would work faster. I'm starved!"
"Me, too. You wouldn't believe the flight I had to take to get here."
HMA – Galley – 1800 hours
The galley was always a flurry of activity, dinner especially. This was the only place, other than their barracks, that the cadets could relax. Well, the senior cadets could relax at least; the plebes were tense all the time since they never knew when the next bout of abuse was due. They waited the longest, did the most work, and and got the least respect. Gray understood this as a "tradition," since he too had to go through the rigors of being a plebe. He understood it also "weeded" out those cadets who just weren't going to cut it. As senior cadet leader, no one was better placed than Gray to dish out the abuse. He rarely did so however, leaving it up to the seniors, and reining them in as necessary (which was often). He took little joy in this particular tradition. He didn't like them abusing them though. He'd be a victim of it himself when he was a plebe. He hadn't stayed a victim for long though. Gray had stoically put up with what he had to, but he had also known just when and how to push back without inciting further abuse. In time, his proficiency as a squad leader, and his obvious martial talents earned him a great deal of respect, and his seniors stopped hazing on him.
Gray scanned the galley casually as he ate. The seniors were allowed to choose were they sat, while the lower cadets had assigned seats. They sat at large round tables with 5 high backed padded chairs; the lower cadets sat at long rectangular tables with benches, crammed in shoulder to shoulder. The med techs were not under military rules, and kept to them selves in the senior cadet area. Although many of the senior cadets liked and acknowledged many of the med techs as the passed, everyone knew the rules: "Stick your own kind." The med techs, 22 males and 5 females, sat together in the corner of the galley, occasionally a laugh would be heard from that area, further signifying the major differences between the cadets and the medical trainees. None of the cadets EVER laughed in public places.
Gray always thought that the "divide" made it somewhat difficult to form a cohesive mission team. And he voiced his concerns to many of the professors and senior academy officials. He was sure that Major Hein had heard his "complaints." Gray tried to act nonchalant about Hein, but he knew he would need the recommendation of the HMA CO to be assigned to the DEEP EYES. Gray didn't want to jeopardize that at all.
Two med techs were assigned to each senior cadet team. Thanks to Hein's regulations forbidding informal contact between cadets and med techs, the two groups only really got the chance to know one another during missions. Friendships were commonly formed then, only to be reluctantly set aside upon return to the academy. Gray liked the med techs. They were in general a focused and competent bunch. They were friendly too, and some of them would even try to maintain friendships with the cadets outside of mission assignments, to hell with the regulations. The cadets tended to be a bit more cautious, as they answered directly to Hein, and stood to lose more if his displeasure was incurred.
It hadn't always been this way. Before Hein, things had been rather more relaxed at the HMA. Then he of the evil eye, widow's peak and long leather coat had waddled along, and the entire academy found itself with a rod up its ass. Gray missed their old CO, Major Baldwin. He had been a fair and sensible soldier, tragically killed 2 months ago on a mission Gray had helped plan. Even now, Gray still questioned the wisdom of the decisions he had made then in the planning room. Though the academy review board, which included Major Hein, had since absolved him of any fault, Gray still felt guilty.
HMA – MEDICAL TECHICIAN BARRACKS
Aki had to admit to herself she was in way over her head. She hadn't the slightest idea how she was going to make it here for 6 months. Maria informed her that she was going to leave in a few weeks, further deepening Aki's concern.
"Don't worry, there are a couple of other females here. Not all a charming and interesting as me, but at least someone you can talk to." Maria helped Aki with her bags down the long corridor, far away from the main cadet building.
"Yeah, they keep us out here in the 'wasteland.' Hein says its better that way. We used to be in with the senior cadets. Now there was a fun place."
"Fun? Didn't think that they had even heard of such a concept here." Aki replied.
"Well, it was fun after hours. We got to hang out and talk with the seniors. We'd play card games – Have you ever heard of the poker?" Maria asked. Aki shook her head "no." "Oh well, I'll teach ya. Anyhow, when Hein took over- it was all over. If it wasn't in the book, then it wasn't in, period. You should've heard that speech of his. I still remember it. 'I have taken steps to expeditiously remove all unnecessary frivolity'. What a load of shit. Not to mention syllables." Maria screwed up her face to look like Hein. Aki chuckled at Maria's antics, but suddenly she saw something that really made her smile. Devon was walking down the corridor towards them. He was with another med tech, his "spotter" she could only assume. She tried not to stare, but she did – and her smile got wider.
"Hey, Maria. New recruit?" the tall dark-haired med tech asked.
"Yeah, Mark. Just arrived. I had to go save her from Hein. Oh, I'm sorry – Mark, this is Aki Ross. Aki this is Mark Sutton." Mark shook Aki's hand, then "introduced" Aki and Devon. Devon shook Aki's hand vigorously, "Devon is the name and endocrinology is my game." Aki chuckled at Devon's usual exuberance, at the same time wondering how it would fare in this place. Maria and Mark just winced. It'd take them a few days at least to get used to his one-liners.
"Isn't endocrinology the science of hormone glands?" Maria asked suspiciously.
"Yeah. You bet I am! There's a lot of potential to be had in the field. I still don't understand why no one has already done what I'm trying to do now." Devon's whole expression changed, and his gesturing acquired a certain forcefulness, or even fervor. His voice raised a half octave. He was talking about 'his baby' now. "If we could regulate, control hormone levels in soldiers, we could probably boost their combat performance. That's my research. Reactive hormone control, which aims to optimize combat performance by regulating hormonal levels by the second. A sort of temporary, artificial homeostasis if you may. I'm working both on the necessary drugs and the monitoring and drug-administration systems." His gaze was locked on Aki as he said his piece. She had never seen eye-to-eye with Devon on this; it had already caused many a heated debate at the institute in Atlanta. Devon was daring her to argue with him. She couldn't take the bait though. She had to act like they had never met before.
"I would love to discuss your 'theory'" Aki replied. Devon smiled knowing Aki had to have the last word. "It's date." Devon smiled, winked, and continued on with Mark.
"Boy, you haven't even been here 1 day and already guys are interested. Not bad – but be warned don't try anything. If you get caught you'll be in deep shit." Maria replied as the reached Aki's barracks room.
Compared to the cadets, the med tech had downright luxury accommodations. They were each given a separate room and bathroom, while the senior cadets had 2 to each room, the 3rd and 2nd year cadets had 6 to a room, and the plebes were quartered in large dormitory style halls housing 80 to 100 men each. All the cadets had to use a community shower on each floor. There was a ranking system even for the showers, which meat that the plebes always got the cold one. Aki typed in a code for the lock, she always used the same one, her mother's birthday, and walked into her room. The area was sparsely furnished and aesthetic. There was a twin made-up bed against the wall with a nightstand and lamp. A computer and desk sat opposite the bed also with a lamp, with entrance to the bathroom to the right and the closet to the left.
"Don't move any of the furniture without approval, okay. I found out about that the hard way." Maria replied as she put Aki's bags in the closet. "Keep your door closed at all times. Make your bed every morning – just like it is now," Maria pointed towards the bed, "Keep your room tidy and uncluttered and you should be okay." Aki walked into the bathroom to look at herself in the mirror. She looked tired.
"Oh, med techs have a weekly barracks inspection on Wednesday. Make sure your bathroom is clean and stuff. Major Hein personally checks it himself." Aki rolled her eyes at the mention the Hein's name. She didn't like the idea of Hein rummaging through her personal belongings.
"Why don't you change into the clothes we got you? Then we can go to dinner, I'm sure that's were Mark and Devon were going. And I'm starving!" Maria handed Aki a pair of pants, t-shirt, jacket, socks and shoes. "You won't draw so much attention in these." Aki was so tired she really didn't want to go to dinner, but she wanted to see Devon and the others people she would be living with for the next 6 months. She also wanted to see the cadets, so far she had seen only Scruggs, and he wasn't very impressive.
HMA – Galley – 1815 hours
Maria and Aki walked through the doors of the galley. The room was fairly quiet, with a faint rumble of 300 whispering voices. As Aki walked with Maria towards the line, a loud altercation, from Aki's observation, erupted between 2 cadets. One of cadet was screaming at another cadet about moving aside or something. The obviously senior cadet was the same one who had "helped" her check in this morning. Fontaine pushed his terrified looking junior, a plebe from the looks of it, causing him to drop his food tray. Aki shook her head, but continued to walk. Just as she was about to establish that all the cadets were Neanderthals, a tall cadet with dark hair stood up, dropping his napkin on the table, and began striding towards the two cadets. Both Fontaine and the junior cadet snapped to attention at his arrival. "Obviously a senior cadet," Aki thought. The broad-shouldered cadet addressed the Fontaine first. Aki could not hear his voice, but he did not look very happy. Fontaine merely scowled back, then pivoted around and returned to his place among the 3rd year cadets. The senior cadet then turned toward the terrified plebe, which hadn't moved a muscle since saluting, knelt down and picked up the food tray. He handed it back to the nervous plebe, put his hand the young man's shoulder and spoke to him. The senior cadet's entire demeanor was different with this cadet and from all appearances seemed to give him a few words of encouragement before indicating for him to get himself more food.
"That's the senior cadet leader, Gray Edwards." Maria stated as Aki watched him walk back to him seat.
"I can see why he is cadet leader." Aki responded. Maria didn't respond back, but continued moving forward in the line.
The food selection was not bad; Aki had expected a lot worse if she was to judge by what she had seen so far. Aki choose to eat light, some vegetables and some dish vaguely resembling chicken casserole. Aki was skeptical to say the least.
"Don't worry, it tastes better than it looks." Maria stated. Aki was reaching without looking for a bottle of water on the shelf, when she felt another hand on the bottle she had been blindly reaching for. They both grabbed for the same one. Aki looked up to the owner, it was Gray Edwards.
"I'm sorry," Gray replied picking up the bottle and handing it to Aki, "Excuse me. I wasn't looking were I was going." Gray half smiled at Aki stunned expression. Gray grabbed another bottle, tossing lightly into his other hand.
"You're new here? Med tech?" It was a stupid question Gray knew, but he just couldn't walk away without saying something else.
Aki nodded, then said, "Yes. I just checked in this afternoon." Aki looked to Maria; Maria was already ushering them away. "Bye." Aki moved after Maria, trying to catch up with her.
"Okay, first off, don't talk to the cadets. If you do have to talk to a cadet, do it only on official business, nothing more."
"I didn't mean…" Aki stammered
"Second, Edwards is our division's commanding officer, since he is senior cadet leader. I think you're okay talking to him this time, but remember the rule: 'Stick to your own kind'."
As Aki and Maria passed by the senior cadet's tables some of the seniors nodded in acknowledgement to Maria and glanced speculatively at Aki. Aki looked straight ahead, she didn't like to be stared at. Especially by a hundred or so guys who hadn't seen a new female in few months. Aki spotted Devon and Mark up ahead; Aki felt a sweep of relief go through her as she sat down with "her own kind."
Gray returned to his seat with the others, after he delivered a new bottle of water to the cadet Fontaine had been terrorizing. Gray knew he was going to have to "talk" to Fontaine about his behavior. Gray knew Fontaine had aspirations of being senior cadet leader next year; he also knew that Fontaine would never get it if kept this up. Gray would have to give him some "friendly" advice. Gray smiled at the thought of that confrontation.
"What the hell was all that about?" asked Mark as Gray sat down. "Nothing." Gray responded.
"That are new med tech over there?" Mark asked as he indicated towards Aki and Maria who just sitting down at their table. "Yeah. Apparently we got 2 new ones this morning, according to the new roster I received." Gray answered as he picked up his fork to continue eating.
"What their stats?"
"The male is Devon Stratfordshire. Came from the Las Vegas barrier city #21. Got some theory about controlling hormone levels to make soldiers meaner than we already are, or something like that."
"Ahh, hormones – interesting." Mark smirked. "What about the female?"
"Aki Ross. Came from Atlanta Bioethrics Institute. Wasn't much info on her in the file." Gray comment nonchalantly. "Not much info in her file! I know that's a load. Everyone minute of everyday of your life is inside your file. You just want me to have a chance with her, don't ya." Mark nudged Gray good-naturedly. Everyone knew Mark pushed the envelope when it came to the females at HMA. Since Hein took over it and the new rules instated, Mark's conquests have been severely limited. And it was the precise reason Gray didn't want Mark to know much about her. He didn't want to see Mark or her get expelled because of Mark's libido.
"Fancy her for yourself, huh, Gray?" Mark kept playfully shoving Gray. Gray chuckled at Mark antics.
"Nope. I just don't want you getting any ideas. We're out of here in 6 months. Don't screw it up." Gray was deadly serious as jabbed his fork at Mark. Mark understood Gray's concern. Major Hein was a jerk and a tyrant to boot. Everyone knew that HMA was just a stepping-stone for Hein; Hein wanted the big prize – to be the general of the DEEP EYES.