Chapter 5: Becoming A Gear

Tyrus

Sheridan Army Base

Barracks #123

"Fenix ?" Barked an army sergeant right into Luke's face. "What is your sole purpose in this army. Home to COG's finest and natural born killers."

"I came to fight sir !" Replied Luke as he stood his guard but the sergeant lend forward. "Goddam it Fenix, you are a good dam genius ; that the most outstanding answer I ever heard. You must a have an IQ of a 160 you are goddam gifted Fenix."

The Sergeant moved on from Luke as he made his way berating the new recruits in two ranks present in the barracks. Luke found himself in a t-shirt, blue combat long pants, combat boots and a military haircut like the other recruits who signed up for the army.

It been a week since he put aside his plans to attend university to study as an engineer then a pilot instead he enlisted in the Army as a Gear. Leia and Marcus, on the other hand, were surprised and shocked about Luke's discussion to become a soldier. Even his adopted father wasn't too happy about it. Before he left for the army, he left letters to his entire family his goodbyes and why he wants to be a gear. He arrived at a local Army Base by bus three days later to begin his training.

"Do you maggots understand." Roared the drill sergeant.

"Yes drill sergeant." chorused the recruits and Luke.

"Move out! It PT time!"

Oracle Academy

Ephyra

Leia glanced uncomfortably at her room assigned to her in the academy; her room contains a two beds separate, a pair of desk and a closet even a bathroom with a shower plus a tv flat screen. She settles her luggage on her bed and then she turned to see another female cadet standing in the doorway , she was in her uniform with blonde yellow hair. Her dream of being a military officer was the beginning.

"You must be my new roommate." Said the cadet." My name is Anya Stroud."

" Leia Fenix." Said Leia with a simile on her face raising her arm and the two women shook hands.

"Wait, your dad is a weapon developer oh yes, my mother use to served under his command did you know."

"Yeah, and what do you know about my dad ? Yes you do my father served with you in the royal-"

" 26th royal tyran infantry." Finished Anya with a simile. "Looks like our folks fought together at Anvil Gate. And what is this ? A necklace and I never seen anything like it."

Leia stared at the snippet "It belongs to my mother, and there is no way to say this but I am adopted my entire life"

Anya's eyes widen up , "You are adopted?" As realization washed over her of what happened to Leia's real mother. "God I am so sorry, I never say." Said Anya with regret in her tone.

"Don't be my other father told me everything. It clear up. No need to worry" said, Leia, as she glanced at Anya's uniform. "I should get change."

"Don't worry I cover you." Said Anya with a simile."Always first class of the day starts at 9:00 on officers got an hour to be prepared. We should get our books first thing."

"Want to be friends?" Asked Leia returning the simile back.

"Friends," responded Anya.

Luke finally fell flat into his bunk bed on his back, boy it been a day first they had to do physical exercises from the hours' of pushups, sit-ups, jogging, marches and listening to the drill instructors war speeches. First day of training is hard.

He laid peacefully in his bunk while the rest of his unit mingling in the barrack talking or playing cards. He thought about his adopted father , his brother and sister back home or god knows what. He then thought about his real father and he wonders who he was with his mother. He missed Leia and Marcus real bad but Luke vow to see them again someday when he is finished with his training.

"Hey!"

Luke turned to see his friend Quinn and bunkmate standing by his bunk. " The guys were playing cards back there and there an extra spot open."

"No thanks Quinn, I am exhausted maybe next time." Said Luke and his expression seen to be tired. "I just want to go to sleep."

"It just the first day Skywalker." Said Quinn. "Sweet dreams man."

Luke closed his eyes as another dream abolished his thoughts.

Flashback

A young Luke and Leia running around the garden with Marcus chasing them. They laughed as Marcus spirt up to tackle them to the ground. They rolled on each other laughing too. Marcus who smiled at his newfound brother and sister. Then his eyes widen up with shock as he saw rocks from a flower bed slowly floating in mid air. The twins were surprise too.

Then the pair raised both hands in responds and then two rocks landed perfectly on their hands. Marcus sat there looking astonished. "I can have one?" He asked innocently.

"Sure thing big brother." Said Luke as he used his new found power to get a rock to land softly on Marcus's hands. Marcus broke into giggles holding the rock in his hands.

"I am so going to tell mom and dad on you." Mocked Marcus.

"No you wouldn't I love you big brother." Smirked Leia as the three fell flat on the grass staring at the skies.

Flashback ended

Luke's eyes snapped up as the drill instructor kicked the door of his barracks shouting for their morning PT. Luke signed as he stretched his limb as he joined the rushing hour of recruits out the door . It is another day in the army.

Leia and Anya both in their officers dress uniforms marching in formation in the courtyard of the academy. A company of 24 officers cadets marching back and forth with arms swinging in perfect swings. A drill officer bark a command

"Company ten hut."

The officer paused and stomp lighting on their feet before saluting with their right arms. Then another drill officer marching forward staring at the cadets with her eagle eye looking for any flaws in the formation.

Another hours of marching , class lectures about duties to military tactics and inspections, Leia and Anya returned to their Dom room for rest. Anya was showing in the bath room while Leia patiently waited , She sat on her bed looking a photo of her brothers Luke and Marcus even herself along with Dom and Carlos smiling at the camera.

Week past with the same routine, both Leia and Anya were at the library at night reading textbooks. They were in the leisure area on couch , coffee were on the table with books and paperwork spread out. Leia lend forward with her hand on her mouth as she was in deep thought.

"You okay?" Asked a curious Anya looking over her shoulder. "Can't stop thing about your brothers or you are technically homesick."

"Both or not Anya , I mean..." Leia sighed " Why do I always have a bad feeling about everything? I told Marcus not to join the army then Luke .Whats the point they didn't bloody listen and I am here already."

"You worry too much but you still homesick I get only thing that is making sense is me." Reassured Anya placing a hand on her shoulder before hugging her.

But Leia was only worrying about the future which will come for the worse or the best.

A line of Gears outside at mess hall , sitting in tables while they put together the parts to assemble the rifle and their drill sergeant walking back and forth listening to the sounds of parts clipping. Luke was almost done with his rifle as he quickly pick up the piece to fit the gun together. Luke placed the magazine into the rifle and then pull the pin before placing the rifle on the table . At the same time , he call to his sergeant.

"Done Drill sergeant !"

"Private Fenix !" Boom his drill sergeant rushing to his table. Looking surprise on how Luke completed his task ahead. "Why did you put your weapon so quickly?" Demanded the sergeant

"You told me to sir!" Answered Luke firmly with a calm tone in his voice. He did not look the sergeant in the eye.

"Jesus Christ," cursed the sergeant looking at the pocket watch."This is a new company record. If you haven't been a fine enlisted man, you are truly gifted Fenix. I recommend you for OSC private. You are going to be a general someday."

"Disassemble your weapon and continue Fenix." Ordered the sergeant before storm off to oversee the recruits.

A simile plastered on Luke's face and knew this was the best life discussion that he made when he joined the Army to become a gear. Something made himself love himself more.

It just the force and was a gifted Luke had no idea about.

In the next day was combat exercise, Luke and his unit were outside now in battle COG armour, fatigues and rifles in their hands. Next, they were rushing across a makeshift battlefield with echoes of mocking gunfire , smoke bombs thrown and non lethal explosions pepper around.

Luke grinned his teeth as he crawled across the mud through and under razor wire , Luke flinched as an blast of wet mud from a explosive plant on the ground. He was scared as the grim images of combat pictured right in front him . Luke scrambled on his feet before taking cover behind sandbags emplacement .

Two signs represent enemy soldiers were reduced to scrap from a burst fired by Luke's rifle , Luke rose from the sandbags and dove for the cover of a concrete wall. He watched as the other recruits charging forward , taking cover or reloading and shouting. Luke just lend beside the wall and froze for a second. He suddenly felt the overwhelming anxiety, fear and confusion around him.

"Come on man!" cried Quinn nudging his shoulder "Lets go !" Luke rushed forward with Quinn right behind him towards the finish line. His final breath was a war cry as he cross the finish line. Week after week , Luke successes every single drill , firearm and every combat exercise ; he unexpectedly win the respect of his unit and his drill sergeant.

After five months of training , Luke was finally a gear for good this time , he and his sister were able to attend Dom's wedding when he learn that Dom and his girlfriend Maria were engaged after getting Maria pregnant. They were glad to see Marcus , Carlos and Dom in their dress uniforms and the long term friends prided each other so coming so far. Then Luke was assigned to C company of the 26 Royal Tyran Infantry and scheduled for deployment soon.

But the future of Sera seen to be uncertain but only the beginning for the twins,