Chapter One: Recruitment
The sergeant eyed the boy in front of him. "You stood at the rack and didn't select a weapon. Why?"
"They didn't feel right," he replied.
"They didn't feel right?"
"Yes. I remember your lecture. I looked at all of em in the intro class. But none felt right," the boy glanced back at the weapons.
"Sgt. Viktor says you've no talent as a psionic. And Lt. Josef said you're not even close to an adept as a pilot. You've talent, boy, but what is it?"
"I don't know." He ducked his head, then looked up to stare back at the rack.
Sgt. Naman thought for a moment and glanced back at the boy. Those bright eyes had strength and wisdom, but why was this boy such a cipher? He passed through the gates of Gothenstan Recruiting Station, and only one cleared by the Recruiters to train here was admitted by the guards. Ciphers don't sit well here, he thought.
"Well, boy, we'll find your place. Tell me about this. What didn't feel right?" Naman said as he picked up a rifle and handed it to the boy.
Rob held the weapon loosely in his hands, feeling the balance, examining its features. He sighted along the barrel, shook his head and returned it to the rack.
"No," he said. "It doesn't feel right. None of the guns do."
"Guns," Naman muttered. "What doesn't feel right to you?
The boy stared at an C-14 Impaler, reached out and ran his fingers across the long barrel. " There's no control," he said, tapping the metal. "Mechanical. Cold metal and fire. Doesn't seem right. And you've no control over it, really."
Naman pursed his lips. "Afraid of hurting yourself?"
No," said the boy. "Just no control. The same with the flame-throwers. The weapon seems to control you, not it."
"So it's control you seek," thought Naman. Aloud he asked the boy this.
"No. It's the same with all the weapons. The canister rifle, the Goliaths, the Vultures and all. All burn, fire or are easily turned back at me. I don't like that."
A light flickered in Naman's head. "You'd not cause harm. Would you give care, instead?"
The boy tilted his head to the side, contemplating. "I'd like that. I always helped my Mother care for my sisters and brother."
Naman waved to Lt. Marius and pointed at the boy.
"Well, you'll be surrounded by women," Naman said with a smile, "but I've a place for you after all. A Medic you will be."