July 26th 2076

Charon

The punching bag is starting to split at the seams. I am not sure how long I have been here but it is a place I can think and relieve some anger. Anna. Her name dances around my head causing such emotions that I cannot think clearly.

Rage. She is not trust worthy, she belittled me.

Confusion. She knows too much that cannot be explained. She said my name in such a way that I must mean something to her.

I huff a breath and continue slamming my fists into the tough leather.


Anna

I am brought back into the same area I was previously in but now it is dark and the cold is much harsher. I shiver furiously and try to wrap my arms around myself. I stumble to the tent that looks remotely familiar and stop as I hear a repetitive thumping.

Looking in I see Charon. His body is filled with such tension that I yearn just to reach out and hold him. Instead I slowly walk up behind him, trying to shiver silently. He is so absorbed in his exercise he doesn't notice me. I gently place my hand on his forearm which causes him to jump ever so slightly.

He looks down at me and for a brief second I think I am about to be attacked.

"What ?" He spits.

"I'm sorry."

He opens his mouth to speak but closes it once more. I wonder what he was about to say. A involuntary chatter runs its way through my body .

"You're cold" he observes I nod quickly teeth clenched "yeah well, Welcome to Alaska."

I don't know what look I portrayed but he sighs and heads to the corner of the tent grabbing a blanket which he flings over my shoulders.

"This is warm for Anchorage. So if you don't like it leave for winter."

"It gets colder ?" I am blown away. I have never been so cold in my life and this supposedly is 'warm'.

Charon genuinely laughs at my statement "you really aren't from around here are you ?"

"Not at all."

"You disappeared for a day. Where were you ?"

"Nowhere." It's true. A few minutes ago I was talking to him in the same tent.

He judges my answer but rolls his eyes. Apparently he knows he is going to get no answers out of me.

"Go get a uniform. If you're apparently checking the armour you'll need to be kept warm. It's kept outside but of course you would have already known that."

"Of course." I smile, I head from the tent once again into the sharp cold and try to find an area that looks remotely like it would hold uniforms. Luckily I hit out first try and a cranky man behind a desk is my only trouble.

"Don't you have any extra smalls ?"

"Nope."

"A shorter leg length ?"

"Nope."

"Great."

I end up with a green shirt that reaches my thighs and combat trousers that are rolled up 3 times. I find boots that fit with 2 pairs of thick socks and a jacket that weighs probably the same as me. I use an elastic band to keep my hair away from my face. I look like a child playing dress up.

I approach cranky man once more "where can I get something to eat here ?"

"The cafeteria tent" I wait for further answers and none come. Dick. I follow the scent of food to a large tent with a lot of noise. When I enter there is a brief silence, a few wolf whistles and then the noise of conversation continues. Food is on display in small containers. I have no idea what anything is. Did they have yao guai or dog in the past ? Did they eat it ?

A stern looking chef who is the fattest person I have ever seen , malnourishment clearly isn't a problem here, waits for my order.

"What's that ?"

He snorts "mashed potato."

"Can I have that" I smile, pretending I know what I'm doing.


Charon

She is ordering food and she has no idea what she is doing. Who doesn't know how to order food ?

The rest of the table has followed my eyes to her. Cadet Smith and Nairn discuss her ass.

"If you can grab it. You can have my dessert." Nairn is an idiot he will fall for anything and I sit back ready to watch this spectacle take place.

I am nudged by Cadet Smith "what's her name ?" He whispers.

"Anna."

He waves and shouts her over. I smirk in anticipation. She comes over confused but smiles slightly when she sees me. Her uniform is far too big for her. She looks like army Barbie but someone shrunk the Barbie.

I see Cadet Nairn's hand reach out and Anna's face change to shock.

"Hey sweet cheeks."

I cringe on his behalf. Anna looks at him furiously. She grabs the back of his head quickly and shoves his face into his dinner. The table erupts in laughter. Cadet Nairn looks at me , covered in food, as if to reprimand her actions.

"Sergeant ?"

"You saying you didn't deserve that ?"

"No sir."

"Go clean yourself up."

Nairn leaves creating an empty space at the table I gesture it to Anna, who stands with a red face.

"Nicely done" I comment.

Anna shrugs "I've dealt with boys who think they're sly many times."

She looks down at the bland meal and holds the fork awkwardly. I take her distracted moment to assess her. If Mrs Nale does not see her as a threat to her husband then I do not. However there is something very odd about the girl who appears and disappears and I feel the only way to get answers is to befriend her.

"You eat it. You don't play with it." I comment to her annoyance.

"I know ! I've just never ate anything like this..."

I almost laugh at her choices "Mashed potato, peas and carrots. Do you like vegetables ?"

She laughs quietly "I don't know."

"This is something else you're not going to tell me."

She sits up straight with a blush "no, no it's just where I grew up the food was a bit processed and just add water. Then after I left food I could get wasn't very fresh."

I am surprised at her honest response "homeless ?"

"Something like that."

This situation is something I can related to. I have always been without a home. I was apparently found on the street barely a toddler. Something my creators repeatedly remind of. No family to care for me. Nobody that bothered to look for me.

"If you don't eat that I will."

"I will !"

She still continues to play with it so I grab my fork and shove a scoop into my mouth.

"Hey !" She laughs and slaps my arms.

"I told you I would !"

The more I can get her to relax the more I find out about her. She quickly shoves a forkful of potato into her mouth. I laugh as her expression goes from triumph to sheer disgust.

"It tastes so plain."

Cadet Smith holds up a gravy sachet to her "add this !"

"What is it ?"

He laughs loudly "where are you from ? A vault ? I thought they weren't populated yet."

He's joking but I notice the discreet change in her face.

"They have vaults ?"

Cadet Smith doesn't joke anymore "seriously where have you been ? They've been all over the news."

It's a question that I aim to find out the answer to. Where is she from ?