Nighttime in Manticore was cold and bleak almost seeing your own breath in
the air. They designed us to resist against the coldness but our bodies can
take so much and eventually you'll die of hypothermia. My advice is, if you
don't think about it, you'll live longer. I mean the mind does control the
body.
I don't sleep mostly at night, but neither does Max and Johndy. Sometimes we huddle on one of our beds together, to keep warm and tell each other stories, about life in Manticore, fantasy worlds, and brave prince and princesses. The anomaly stories we keep to Ben sense he was good at it. The first time I heard or any stories for that matter, I thought they were dumb and insufficient of becoming a soldier. Soldiers weren't breed for telling stories, there built for war. When I told Ben that line, he eyes grew furious, hands tighten, balled up in a fist at his side, approaching me slowly, getting in my face. He was taller then me so I look up, no fear in my eyes, standing by my judgement. He didn't like it and neither did the others, as Zack my C.O. didn't say anything.
"Take it back," He abruptly reply, about to hit me if I say otherwise. From my prospective, Ben was an angry soldier that needed discipline fast or he'll destroy himself. Even though he's seven and I'm four making him superior to me, that rule went out the window when he challenge me and doing that means I have permission to defend myself if he attacks. "Take it back." He demands again.
I don't say nothing, not afraid to take him on. He grabs my shoulder, clinging on to my night cammies. I eye him for a good second and head butt him, hard as he lets go of me. He steps back holding his nose feeling that blow as it start to bleed. Everybody eyes widen surprised. I only had a few weeks of hand-to-hand combat training as he had three years of it, but I learn to quick and to fast. I maximize my speed in an instant, as I quickly disable him, by karate chopping him in the throat then back legging his right leg, making him fall to the ground. Before he could get up, I grab his arm, putting my bare foot on his chest. He looks up at me as while as the others in amazement. Zack's concern but curious eyes watch me.
Ben looks at me as I watch the blood smear around his nose, dripping on his cloths. Bet he won't try to do that stunt again unless ordered by Lydecker. My eyes turn towards the door, hearing a footstep and wheeling a mop bucket on the ground, approaching towards the door. I let go of Ben arm. Strangely how the others look at me not hearing the noise until a minute later. They all look at each other and get to there beds quick as I to mine across from Max.
The door opens. Everybody was quiet as a spider, closed eyes, pretending to be asleep. The genitor put his stuff away in the clean up room next to the door. He pause to look at us, getting jitters as we look like dangerous monsters that can kill without a second thought. Make most of the staff at Manticore more alert around us. He closes the door.
Heads poke up but I don't. Not ashamed, more afraid of the next day feed back from my little stunt. It felt weird ever sense I started living with my new unit, customizing my lifestyle with there's but they were more afraid of me. That I was stronger, faster and can think quick like a super computer, connecting with its functions at the speed of light. I can't explain why but Zack cared more then the others about the differences between them and me. He was afraid I might take his place and that Lydecker would favor me then him. Max and Johndy thought it was cool, somebody better then big brother, made those two my favorite sisters out of the unit.
*** Wake up call is at 0600 hours but Zack make us get up at 0550 hours. Very paranoid about being late, on breakfast, mission briefing, stuff like that. He just needs to relax because trying to hard will accomplish nothing but failure.
Making my bed nice and neat, perfection is my motivation, not a half- preformed job's like some of my brothers and sisters. I watch John making his next to mine. His performance levels are not like the others but like mine as while as Vince and Dan. When I spar against those three, they become more of a challenge. Unfortunately they beat me all the time but in due time that'll change.
Max jump on my bed, lying down. A grin comes on her face like it's joy as day.
"Can you get off my bed. I just made it up." as I whisper.
"What your gonna hit me too." teasing me back.
I give her an evil eye, not into human sarcasm and didn't have a good come back. "Why do you bother me?"
"Do I bother you?" Max gets up off my bed. Vigorously starring at me as I fix my bed, straightening it. "You don't like us, do you?"
I eye John first, hesitating, but her innocent look couldn't make me tell the truth. John patiently awaits my answer as while.
"Come on. Zack wants us in line."
Max face confuse, didn't hear that from Zack mouth but John was more surprised as if I knew what Zack was thinking.
Zack step in the middle of the floor listening to our conversation, getting doubts about me as he always does. He looks at the others. "Soldiers fall in!" We follow orders getting in line by size. I stand morally in front next to Jace because were the smallest. "Right face. Forward march!"
We march out the barracks, stomping left, right, left, right in rhythm saying here we come and move out the way.
I don't sleep mostly at night, but neither does Max and Johndy. Sometimes we huddle on one of our beds together, to keep warm and tell each other stories, about life in Manticore, fantasy worlds, and brave prince and princesses. The anomaly stories we keep to Ben sense he was good at it. The first time I heard or any stories for that matter, I thought they were dumb and insufficient of becoming a soldier. Soldiers weren't breed for telling stories, there built for war. When I told Ben that line, he eyes grew furious, hands tighten, balled up in a fist at his side, approaching me slowly, getting in my face. He was taller then me so I look up, no fear in my eyes, standing by my judgement. He didn't like it and neither did the others, as Zack my C.O. didn't say anything.
"Take it back," He abruptly reply, about to hit me if I say otherwise. From my prospective, Ben was an angry soldier that needed discipline fast or he'll destroy himself. Even though he's seven and I'm four making him superior to me, that rule went out the window when he challenge me and doing that means I have permission to defend myself if he attacks. "Take it back." He demands again.
I don't say nothing, not afraid to take him on. He grabs my shoulder, clinging on to my night cammies. I eye him for a good second and head butt him, hard as he lets go of me. He steps back holding his nose feeling that blow as it start to bleed. Everybody eyes widen surprised. I only had a few weeks of hand-to-hand combat training as he had three years of it, but I learn to quick and to fast. I maximize my speed in an instant, as I quickly disable him, by karate chopping him in the throat then back legging his right leg, making him fall to the ground. Before he could get up, I grab his arm, putting my bare foot on his chest. He looks up at me as while as the others in amazement. Zack's concern but curious eyes watch me.
Ben looks at me as I watch the blood smear around his nose, dripping on his cloths. Bet he won't try to do that stunt again unless ordered by Lydecker. My eyes turn towards the door, hearing a footstep and wheeling a mop bucket on the ground, approaching towards the door. I let go of Ben arm. Strangely how the others look at me not hearing the noise until a minute later. They all look at each other and get to there beds quick as I to mine across from Max.
The door opens. Everybody was quiet as a spider, closed eyes, pretending to be asleep. The genitor put his stuff away in the clean up room next to the door. He pause to look at us, getting jitters as we look like dangerous monsters that can kill without a second thought. Make most of the staff at Manticore more alert around us. He closes the door.
Heads poke up but I don't. Not ashamed, more afraid of the next day feed back from my little stunt. It felt weird ever sense I started living with my new unit, customizing my lifestyle with there's but they were more afraid of me. That I was stronger, faster and can think quick like a super computer, connecting with its functions at the speed of light. I can't explain why but Zack cared more then the others about the differences between them and me. He was afraid I might take his place and that Lydecker would favor me then him. Max and Johndy thought it was cool, somebody better then big brother, made those two my favorite sisters out of the unit.
*** Wake up call is at 0600 hours but Zack make us get up at 0550 hours. Very paranoid about being late, on breakfast, mission briefing, stuff like that. He just needs to relax because trying to hard will accomplish nothing but failure.
Making my bed nice and neat, perfection is my motivation, not a half- preformed job's like some of my brothers and sisters. I watch John making his next to mine. His performance levels are not like the others but like mine as while as Vince and Dan. When I spar against those three, they become more of a challenge. Unfortunately they beat me all the time but in due time that'll change.
Max jump on my bed, lying down. A grin comes on her face like it's joy as day.
"Can you get off my bed. I just made it up." as I whisper.
"What your gonna hit me too." teasing me back.
I give her an evil eye, not into human sarcasm and didn't have a good come back. "Why do you bother me?"
"Do I bother you?" Max gets up off my bed. Vigorously starring at me as I fix my bed, straightening it. "You don't like us, do you?"
I eye John first, hesitating, but her innocent look couldn't make me tell the truth. John patiently awaits my answer as while.
"Come on. Zack wants us in line."
Max face confuse, didn't hear that from Zack mouth but John was more surprised as if I knew what Zack was thinking.
Zack step in the middle of the floor listening to our conversation, getting doubts about me as he always does. He looks at the others. "Soldiers fall in!" We follow orders getting in line by size. I stand morally in front next to Jace because were the smallest. "Right face. Forward march!"
We march out the barracks, stomping left, right, left, right in rhythm saying here we come and move out the way.
