Wow guys, I'm sorry, I really suck at updating this story (although, in my defense, I've been gone for over a week). Anyway, here you go, sorry it's super late.

A week later. they have their decision, and I've been called back in. This time, I'm escorted back to the same tower room by some officer I've never even seen before.

I salute to General Marsh and he picks up a piece of paper.

"Here we have the official ruling of the USIF in regard to your position." I go cold in what might be fear. Or excitement. Or nervousness. It's hard to tell, really.

"Since you have less than a month left in Middle Company, you'll just proceed to Upper with the rest of your class. However, you will start advanced combat training. and after three to four months, if you perform sufficiently, you will act as a substitute combatant." At that sentence, the excitement wins out, bubbling up inside of me so that it's one of the hardest fights of my life to keep a straight face.

"You won't be fighting in every battle, but we can put you in place of one of the combatants that need a day's break. Assuming you complete your Upper Company classes with the required grades, you will then be advanced to Camelot Company." He sets down the paper.
"No personal offense meant, Kaynes, but the USIF is getting desperate. We're losing, giving up more assets to the Russo-Chinese almost daily, That's why we're willing to take a chance on you, because you don't need to be taught to fly . You can be ready faster. So work hard, Kaynes. The Intrasolar Forces need a miracle." But no pressure. And then it sinks in. I'm going to get to do what every trainee that comes to the Spire dreams of doing. I will get to fight. When I'm dismissed, I get the feeling that I've only had a few other times before. I feel like I'm flying.

I try to hide the ridiculous grin on my far as I practically bounce into lunch. I might as well be floating on air as I grab my food and plop down in my seat at the Machiavelli female table.

"What's got you so worked up?" Trina Vale, one of the Upper Company trainees asks me.

"Nothing," I say quickly.

"Such lies, Sky," Heather Akron teases. "You gonna tell us or what?"

"Alright. You guys have beaten it out of me. Ok, so," I pause for a second to try and calm down a little, "I might get to be a Combatant!"

Trina waves her fork at me. "Congrats," she says, through a mouthful of food.

I wave my fork back. "Thanks."

"So how's that going to work?" Heather asks. "I mean, we're still in Middle Company."

"Basically, once we move up I'll technically still be in Upper Company, but I'll fight with CamCo. I'll still do the regular upper classes and everything, but if they're desperate enough they might start putting me in battles."

Heather laughs at the last part, but there's not much humor in the sound, and when she congratulates me it doesn't feel particularly genuine either. And even though I don't have much ability to read emotions, it's obvious she's jealous.

"So I turn to her. "Hey, if I do get in, I bet you're next, right? I'll try to get whoever sponsors me to pick you up, too."

"Cool," she says with a half smile. Then I'm sucked into a sea of questions about who might sponsor me, and if I've chosen a call sign, and when I start battle training. In the middle of it all, I look over and Heather's just picking at her food. I feel a surge of anger. She's one of my best friends; can't she even try to be happy for me? It's not like I asked for this.

But eventually my worries are lost in the hope that I'm finally going to get to do something real.

Thanks for reading, hope you liked this chapter. However, since it was a bit of a filler and since I was horribly late posting it, I'm going to try to post the next one tomorrow, especially since it's pretty exciting. That's all for today, please review!