Some hours earlier.
The alarm clock went off in his room, and his hand came down on it almost instantly. Even though the time was 4:30, Ravi had been waking up at this time for so long now that instinctively he was already awake before his alarm clock went off. He was out of his bed and already starting to make it so quickly that before 4:35 it would have been impossible for anyone to tell anyone had even slept in the bed without subjecting it to forensic tests.
Some people were described as disciplined, but to Ravi Shaw, discipline wasn't just a word. It wasn't even a thought; it was practically an obsession. His room and his possessions were always pristine and had been since he was a little boy. In his room, there were no posters of rock stars or movies, there were coloured schedules for what he was due to be doing and when, his week planned out to the minute. There was no television or video games console, but there was a computer desk set up, along with a bookcase full of reference books. There was nothing to indicate this room was anything other than a standard dorm room waiting on a new recruit, despite the fact he'd now been living on the site for months.
He went to his cupboard, looking out a tracksuit and putting it on, throwing his pyjamas into the laundry bin in the corner of his room, before checking which of the six routes he was scheduled to run today. He only allowed himself one rest day from his morning run, other than that it was ten miles before breakfast every day without fail except for that one time he'd needed to get his appendix out, and even then he'd probably have gone if the doctor would have agreed to unhook his drip to let him out of bed.
Ravi was driven, always in constant competition. With the world, with his family legacy, but most of all with himself. His family had been a military family for generations, long before the first of his ancestors set foot on American soil. One of his ancestors had immigrated to the United States and signed up almost the minute they arrived, even changing the family name to Shaw in order to sound more American, but even in those generations they had a long, proud and storied history in the Armed Forces. There had been a Shaw in at least one branch of the Armed Forces now for well over a century, and Ravi had no intention of being the one to break that tradition.
He didn't just want to live up to his family though, he wanted to make his own legend, so deserve his own pages in the annals of the Shaw family history. His most constant opponent in all of this was himself. He was always looking for perfection in every aspect of his life. When he'd graduated High School, he wanted to go back and do another year even though he had a 98% GPA across the board just because to him being anything less than 100 was a failure. It was only the insistence of his recruitment officer that stopped him going back to get those two extra points.
He excelled in virtually everything he did. Weapons training, Martial Arts, physical fitness, rules and regulations, history, sciences…people unironically called him "Robotic Ravi" because he was almost never seen switching off. He was always doing something to improve. When he had heard of the Ranger Initiative, he had signed up right away. His family had done pretty much everything in the Armed Forces, one of them had even been to the International Space Station, and so the only thing that was left was to become a Ranger. Of course, Ravi was also a perfectionist even in that. It had been almost twenty years since there had been a Ranger team on Earth, and so many his age had only heard of them as stories, but he was well-versed in history and already knew exactly what he was in for and had even set his sights on his goal. He didn't just want to be a Ranger, he wanted to be the Red Ranger! The leader, just like one of his idols, former President Carter Grayson had been.
After his run, he got showered and dressed, having his breakfast in his room while he brushed up on his required reading for the programme. He had already read everything cover-to-cover about six times, but to him, there was never a moment to be wasted. If he wanted to be a Ranger, he wanted more than anything to be the best possible Ranger and to lead by example. Other people could do what they wanted, it never bothered him when people talked about movies he had never heard of or laughed at him because he had no idea what the difference was between a Pokemon and a Digimon. That was what they wanted.
Hours later, he was the first in line at the sign-in desk for the Ranger program. The man at the desk wasn't even looking at him as he stepped up to the desk.
"Name?" The man asked. Ravi didn't say it out loud, instead shoving his acceptance letter over to the man. "I said name!"
Ravi just shoved the letter forward a little further. The man let out a sigh of exasperation, before looking to the letter. He read it, before going to the file next to him to find his induction pack.
"In here, you'll find your code of conduct, your dorm assignment a map of the complex…and who knows, maybe your voice." The man said sarcastically. Ravi just took the induction pack from him before wandering off. He didn't really need anything in it, he had been studying the code of conduct for weeks now, he'd been staying on the base long enough to know everywhere he had clearance to go like the back of his hand and he already had his dorm. He didn't appreciate the crack about his voice, but there was a reason he was trying not to say his name out loud. His mom had already warned him she was heading up the Ranger Initiative. Although he knew that far from being an advantage, if anything his mom would come down harder on him than anyone for any slip in performance, it was only human nature for people to cast aspersions, particularly when the cuts began. He had already resolved to do what he had done with everything else in his life, he'd just get scores so high they were beyond reproach so no one would question whether he deserved his position.
He was just turning around when he bumped into someone. She backed away from him a little quickly.
"Oh, sorry, I didn't…I wasn't paying attention…WOW, you are solid! Like walking into a wall or something!" The young woman before him said as she looked up to him.
"It's OK, the lobby is getting pretty crowded." Ravi told her. "Just try to pay more attention, people could be walking around with weapons soon enough."
"Say, do you…uh…" She pulled out a map and started looking at it. "I'm trying to find my dorm block; would you mind showing me how this map works? I can't make it out."
Ravi just stood beside her, and turned her so her back was to the door, before turning the map.
"The door is there, so this is the map the same orientation as the building." He told her. "So, your dorm is…just up that way. Up that corridor."
"Thanks." She replied as he started to make his way. "Say, uh…I didn't catch your name!"
"Ravi." He told her, biting his tongue so that he didn't also say his surname.
"Ravi huh?" She asked. "Is that short for anything?"
"No, just…just Ravi." He told her.
"Well, I'm Roxy." She said, introducing herself to him. Ravi was a little hesitant at first, pretty soon he'd be competing with her for potentially one of the spots on the team, but he did thing about all his studies into past Ranger teams. A Ranger was always courteous and respectful. He shook her hand.
"Pleased to meet you Roxy." He replied. "Now, I just want to do some reading before induction so…"
"Oh, yes, that's fine. Thanks for the directions!" She called out as she watched him go, her eyes straying up and down him as he left. "Oh, this…this could be interesting."
Later in the day, the cadets had started to assemble in the main hall, awaiting their induction into the Ranger Program. Although they were only looking for three Rangers, they had accepted a grand total of 500 candidates, and even that was from a much larger field. They were eager to know that Morph-X would be well protected, and as such were going to great lengths to ensure that whoever was finally chosen was not only the absolute best of the best available physically and mentally, but also that they would encompass everything that they were wanting to represent. The Rangers this time around would not only be responsible for their team, and the citizens of the world, but also for the protection of the most important resource ever discovered. They would have to operate at the highest levels of discretion, with access to some of the most important secrets going right to the heart of Government. In short, whoever was chosen would have to be just right.
Commander Shaw took to the stage, and greeted them.
"Good afternoon, Cadets. Soon, you're going to begin what without exaggeration will be the most difficult, gruelling and challenging job application of your lives. Every single one of you here today has excelled in various fields and has proven yourselves worthy of a place within Grid Battleforce. However, before we go any further, I will require you to turn your attention to the right arm-rest on your chair. There, you will find a plate. Before we begin, I require you all to acknowledge and abide by an extremely strict non-disclosure agreement by placing your right thumb on this plate."
She took a deep breath.
"Be warned, this is not just a non-disclosure agreement with financial penalties. You will have access to information classified to the highest levels of Government, and as such your commitment to signing to it means you will be subject to a classified information act. Regardless of what happens after this day, if you sign up and you ever speak of anything you see or hear within this building or in any form of training thereof, you will be subject to the most stringent penalties, up to and including a custodial sentence in a Military Prison for up to twenty five years. Believe me when I say if you sign up to this, you are signing your life away so consider very carefully if you want to put your finger on that plate. There will be no judgement if you decide to leave now."
There was a bit of a stir in the crowd. Zoey was a little startled by what she had heard. She knew that the military did not play around when it came to their secrets, but they were threatening a 25-year sentence if they even talked about what happened here? She saw quite a few people second-guessing their decision, and quite a few even decided to get up and leave. It wasn't hard to imagine why, without being able to talk about what they were doing, anyone signed up to the program would have a gap in their employment history they couldn't explain. She would have considered going herself, but the fact was without Grid Battleforce, a college education was simply out of the question for her. She put her thumb on the plate to acknowledge her agreement to the confidentiality clause as approximately thirty or so cadets walked out of the room, deciding that their journey on the Ranger Initiative was already over.
"Quite a few gone already huh?" She heard a voice next to her say. She had to look down a little, the cadet sitting next to her was quite a bit shorter than her. She had to do a bit of a double-take, she wasn't sure at first it wasn't a kid that had wandered in, but it was pretty clearly an adult sitting next to her. "That's not bad."
"I would not want to tell dad if we got cut in the first sweep." Another cadet agreed. He was a fair bit bigger than the other one, and a little overweight with it too. He looked to Zoey and smiled. "So, you're staying huh?"
"For the time being." Zoey whispered.
"Ben." He introduced himself. "My twin sister Betty."
"We're really excited to be here!" Betty chirped up. "Dad was so stoked when we got our acceptance letters!"
"Zoey." She introduced herself. "Yeah, mom was pretty happy I got in too."
"Alright, to those of you who remain, I warn you that as of this moment, everything you say and do will be assessed." Commander Shaw continued. "The responsibilities you will be chosen to perform if you are successful will extend beyond merely being a soldier. You will be expected to be beyond reproach in your daily lives, to lead by example in everything you say and do. If you at any time fall to below what we consider a suitable representation of the values of Grid Battleforce and the Ranger Initiative, you will be cut. Now, I trust you have all done the required reading?"
"Uh…required reading?" Zoey asked as everyone started rummaging around in their bags for books. She'd received the list, but she didn't know she'd have to have the books and read them before she even got to Grid Battleforce. Sure, she knew that most colleges and academies preferred it if people read up first, but she figured she'd at least have some time to see if she could source some second-hand copies from someone on the base or the local library before the assessments began.
"Yeah, from the reading list." Ben told her. "You didn't get it?"
"Yeah, but I was…I was meant to have all those books already?" She asked. It wasn't like it was a small list, there were about fifteen books on the required reading list, most of which carried a pretty heavy price tag. She started to feel a little self-conscious as she realised, she was the only one that didn't seem to have the books. She nervously put her hand up in the air.
"Yes, Miss…" Commander Shaw began, looking to her register. It had taken their biometric data from the fingerprint scanner, so she could tell who was in that seat. "…Reeves."
"Zoey." She replied. "Um…yeah…I…don't have the books."
"You don't have them with you?" Commander Shaw asked her. "Well, from now on I'd suggest you bring them to classes instead of leaving them in your dorm…"
"Actually, I just…uh…don't have them yet." Zoey said, sucking her teeth. There was a scoffing laugh from a few rows behind her. She looked up to see Blaze with his feet up on the chair in front of him, talking to some of the guys around him with the kind of smirk on his face she just wanted to go up and wipe straight off his face.
"Did you not get the required reading list?" Commander Shaw asked.
"I did, I just um…" Zoey already felt that all-too familiar judgemental look from all around her. She didn't want to admit that the reason she didn't have the books was because she couldn't afford them, that would only make the situation all the more embarrassing if that was at all possible. "I just…haven't found a place I can…"
"Well, this is hardly an inspiring start is it Zoey?" Commander Shaw said dryly. "Come and see me after. We can discuss where you can get your required materials. For now, if one of your fellow cadets would be so good as to share the books for now."
Betty tapped Zoey on the arm and slid her a book, before sharing with Ben. Zoey thanked her before turning her attention to the book. Commander Shaw pulled up a display on a large screen behind her.
"Now, welcome to the first day of training." She told them. "Now, pay attention."
After the induction, Zoey was heading to the front of the class. She was stopped by Roxy.
"Hey, some first day huh?" Roxy asked her.
"Yeah, it was really something." Zoey agreed. "I should really get to Commander Shaw, she…"
"Yeah, what was that about?" Roxy asked her.
"I just haven't gotten around to getting them yet." Zoey answered. Roxy looked to her completely unconvinced. Zoey didn't like it when people felt sorry for her or judged her for the fact, she didn't have the same advantages other people did. She'd been taught the hard way that life wasn't fair, and she didn't want to be accused of crying about it.
"Tell you what, how about I wait outside and after this I can take you to Riptide?" She asked. "Nothing helps with the frustrations of a trying first day than a good sweat, right?"
"Yeah, that sounds good." Zoey agreed. "I'll catch up."
Roxy headed outside, at which Zoey approached Commander Shaw, hanging back a little to make sure the other students left the room first.
"Ms Reeves, do I need to explain the meaning of 'required reading' to you?" Commander Shaw asked.
"No, I know I need to read that stuff, it's just…" Zoey shuffled a little uncomfortably. "I'm having a little trouble getting the books."
"They're all available at the book shop…"
"Well, I was hoping I could find something second-hand." Zoey said as she looked a little sheepish. "Or, even better, the library?"
"Zoey, many of the books on that list were only released this year." Commander Shaw told her. Zoey wasn't able to look her in the eye as she said this. Commander Shaw looked to her thoughtfully for a moment. "Is there something you're not telling me Ms. Reeves?"
Zoey looked around to make sure no one else was in the room, before moving a little closer. She muttered something that Commander Shaw barely heard.
"I'm sorry, can you say that again?" She asked.
"I…can't afford them." Zoey told her. Commander Shaw just looked to her a little thoughtfully.
"Well, you need those materials." Commander Shaw told her. "So, what do you intend to do to get them? I'm afraid we're not a charity here."
"I don't mind working." Zoey told her. "I've never asked for anything to be handed to me and I don't intend to start now."
Commander Shaw just started writing something down on a piece of paper. Zoey just rolled her eyes.
"Please, don't cut me!" Zoey begged her. "I'll…I'll do anything!"
"Here." Commander Shaw responded, offering her the paper. Zoey took it, her stomach churning as she accepted it. She was terrified that she had already blown it. She was a little surprised when she saw that she had instead written a note and signed it. "What's this?"
"Report to the laundry tomorrow at 4AM." She told her. "Give him that note, tell him to put you to work."
"Commander Shaw…"
"It's not going to be easy balancing your work there and your studies, but if you're serious about how much you want this, then you'll make this work." Commander Shaw told her.
"I…I…I will! I promise I will!" Zoey rushed out, beaming brightly. "I won't let you down! I swear I won't!"
"I have a feeling you won't." Commander Shaw said with a smile. Zoey just ran out of the lecture theatre. As she did so, General Burke arrived, watching her go.
"So, how did the induction go?" He asked.
"It had its moments." Commander Shaw told him. "Nothing I couldn't handle."
"I'm sure that's the case." General Burke replied. "Who was that?"
"One of the cadets." Commander Shaw told him. "Zoey Reeves."
"Being held after class on the first day? That doesn't really speak well now does it?" He asked her.
"Oh, I seem to remember someone not too far from here that was almost never out of the Provost Sargent's office back in the day." She teased him.
"Yes, well…youthful indirections are one thing, but if the girl isn't suitable…"
"What would make you think that?" Commander Shaw asked him. He showed her a file on his tablet. "What am I looking at?"
"Her biometric scan showed up something a little…troubling…about her background." General Burke told her. He pointed something out to her.
"Muriel Reeves?" Commander Shaw asked him. "Her mother is Muriel Reeves?"
"I'm sure you can understand how having someone with a direct connection to the press could be seen as causing a little bit of concern." General Burke pressed on. Commander Shaw could see what he was thinking, but she was already starting to get a bit of a bearing on who Zoey was as a person. Sure, there were some rough edges, but no one seemed to be more willing to work on them than Zoey herself. It was the kind of thing that many mentors took a long time to inspire in someone, so when they found it in a person from the word go, it was something they were reluctant to lose.
"Well, yes, but she's signed up to the classified intel agreement just the same as everyone else." Commander Shaw protested. "I really think we should give her the benefit of the doubt."
"So, what was she here for?" He asked. Commander Shaw just sighed.
"She's having a little financial trouble." Commander Shaw informed him. "I assigned her to the laundry."
"I see. Yes, yes, that's a good idea." General Burke agreed. "Of course, she will still need to pass her assessments like all the other cadets, that's only fair."
He stepped a little closer.
"And if she should…wash out on her own, well…that's just one of those things isn't it?" He said with a shrug. Commander Shaw just blinked.
"I thought you said I was in charge of the selection process…"
"Of course, of course you are!" He responded. "Just…a thought. I'll leave you to it."
With that, he left the room, leaving Commander Shaw to ponder what he had said.