Aboard the Jon Grissom Academy, Orbiting the Planet Elysium.

Year: 2185. 2100 Hours

-/\/7-

Jason was quiet on the way down to the next group of students. Their short stay with the Sentinels had barely eaten into their time, and the antics Emile had sown were wearing thin on both of the N7's patience. They had been preparing to have to convince students to sign up for a top secret training program only hours before; now it merely seemed like they were Hosts confirming dinner reservations for patrons. Ward did not like the game of chess Woolf was playing. Woolf wouldn't have gone to all of this trouble just for head games with Augustine.

In short, Ward had clearly had enough bullshit for the night. Dealing with a group of high energy teenagers with varying neuroses seemed more daunting than fighting Blood Raged Krogan.

As the two officers approached the Infiltrator's Common Hall, they heard the sounds of combat drills from their positions outside the room. Skeptically, Ward opened the door to find over two dozen students drilling hand to hand combat with each other. A stern looking African man was moving between the pairs of fighters, assessing stances and movements. Ward could tell from the way he carried himself and the tone of his voice that he was ex-Military.

The man made his way towards the two N7's and offered his hand. "Greetings First Lieutenant Thompson and Second Lieutenant Pitcairn. My name is Christian Unambe and I have been tasked with turning these young men and women into the Infiltrators that the Alliance needs. Given our, delicate situation so close to the Kite's Nest… you can understand my concerns. Now more than ever the Alliance will need excellent Snipers, Hackers, Spies and Close Quarters fighters. Allow me to show you some of my highest ranking students." Though accented, Unambe spoke with clear meaning and did not hesitate with any of his word choices.

"Here we Have Dustin Faris, a son of Shanxi and his sparring partner Theodora Dalton, a daughter of Brooklyn." A focused young man was attempting to place a hit on an acrobatic black girl. Both were trading quips and jokes during their sparring, which gave Ward a similar confidence to the Sentinels. The greater the cohesion between the students, the greater they would be in the field and the easier their training would become.

Ward watched as Dustin leveled a punch at Theodora's shoulder but found himself batting at air as Theodora slid underneath the hit and kicked out with her left leg, catching Dustin in the chin. Theodora then offered him a hand up, which Dustin humbly took.

The trio moved moved among the students, noting the proper attacks and forms as well as students who managed to exemplify themselves. As they moved towards the edge of the pairs they drew their attention towards a pair isolated from the others:

Jason's eyes widened as he watched two young men practically dance with each other. A tall, well -built Asian student was covered in sweat, tirelessly attempting to hit a shorter, leaner student. The Asian student delivered blow after blow in the direction of the student, who dodged the maneuvers effortlessly. They moved around each other, rolling under kicks, leaping over leg sweeps, twisting away from chops to counter with grabs, most unsuccessfully attempted.

"My top students. On the left is Kae-Song Park, who has been training with us for over three years now. He excels in most disciplines; however his Martial Arts seem to be slightly stronger than his other classes." As Unambe spoke, Kae-Song swung a fist neatly in the direction of the opposing student.

"He is a determined, if light hearted student. Should he ever apply for the N7 Division, he will make an excellent Shadow. But he will have to beat Casildo first."

As if on cue Casildo caught Kae-Song's fist with his right hand and twisted it one hundred and eighty degrees to his left. Kae grunted in pain and attempted to pull back, only to have Casildo move with the feint, delivering a harsh knee to Kae's stomach. Kae countered with a weak chop with his other hand. Casildo swatted it away coldly and delivered a palm strike to Kae's throat. Winded and wounded, Kae fell to his knees, massaging his throat, red eyed and beaten. Casildo neatly planted a roundhouse kick to his shoulder, sending the larger student sprawling on the practice mat.

Casildo held his leg in the air for the briefest of moments before reversing direction and stopping at tense standing position. He turned to face Unambe and nodded briefly. Casildo walked off towards an adjacent hallway, similar to those that Ward had seen in the other Common rooms. "Professor Unambe, I understand that this is a military facility and the need for expert tactics, but I cannot condone that level of physical damage in a mere sparring match. I need men and women who can fight, not be crippled to hospital beds."

Unambe scoffed "I concur, which is why only the best will pass. If Kae-Song had practiced harder he would not be in that predicament. What do you think Lieutenant Pitcairn? Was that too much for your sensibilities to bear?"

Jason shrugged "I know that most slavers will be a hell of a lot meaner than your little dervish was, but First Lieutenant Thompson has a pretty clear point. I'd rather have intact men to work with, especially infiltrators."

"Then you have grown soft. Casildo is strong as he needs to be. If Kae-Song wishes to be better than Casildo than he must earn that right. He cannot merely stride into a sparring match and expect to win without committing his full focus and energy."

Ward and Jason gave Unambe skeptical looks but were interrupted before they could press further. A bright eyed girl with long black hair paced towards the fallen Kae-Song and helped him off of the practice mat. As she opened her Omni-tool and began to administer Medi-gel to Kae-Song's throat and wrist Unambe called out to her "Rosalind! Do not help Mr. Park up, or you will spar with Casildo first thing tomorrow morning!"

Rosalind wheeled around to face Unambe, her face a mask of fury. "At once sir, I will refuse to administer medical aid to a student in dire need of assistance. Should I break his wrist instead?" Kae moaned in disapproval, trying to sit up from the mat.

"That would be the sensible thing, yes." Unambe turned to face the rest of the room who were staring at the events with interest. "Students, you will witness a valuable lesson here: On the mats as you are now, you are not friends, you are not compatriots in training. You are enemies, and if you do not treat each other as such you will fail when the true test comes. When you are facing down a Blood Pack Vorcha in the Terminus, will he spare your life should he come to defeat you? I do not think so. Would a hungry Varren entreat you with life should he best you? Unlikely. Will the Batarian Horde think twice in giving you mercy as they jam receivers into your necks and turn you into slaves for their twisted empire? No, they will not. In combat there is no middle ground, no parlay, and no diplomacy. Only life and death are the paths you will encounter, and you will either tread down one, or the other."

The room silently watched on, any sense of playfulness and ease gone from their earlier practice. "You are dismissed. Marksmanship and stealth tests will be administered at 7000 hours tomorrow morning. Failure will result in punishments more arduous than you can imagine." The students calmly left the Common room and towards their Dormitories, none so much as whispering behind the back of their Instructor.

Unambe, satisfied in his teaching looked back upon a livid Rosalind and a recovering Kae-Song. "Let that be your only forewarning little girl, challenge me again and you will meet a far less inviting fate. Dismissed."

"Professor Unambe, we wish to have a word with your students." Unambe eyed Ward skeptically. "Permission granted. You have ten minutes, afterwards they will be unavailable. You can expect my best to sign up tomorrow morning." Unambe excused himself to his quarters, leaving Rosalind, Kae-Song and the N7's as the only individuals left in the Hall.

"What a prick." Rosalind murmured before allowing Kae-Song to lean on her shoulder. "I need to get him some proper treatment, if you will cut straight to the point Lieutenant."

"We need to speak about the training for tomorrow. How much has Emile told you?"

Rosalind looked between the two Lieutenants rapidly. "Preparation for something a lot bigger than Pirates and Petty criminals. I've already recruited the other candidates, I just don't think…" Rosalind sighed. "Look, I need to get him to bed. Drills are going to be strenuous tomorrow, and I just need to go. Is that okay? Can I go?" The ferocity Rosalind earlier showed to Unambe had melted away to reveal an overtaxed girl. Ward sympathized but thought she needed to hold composure.

"So long as the required students show up tomorrow for the signups, then yes you may. Oh and Neil sends his regards." Ward added hastily. Rosalind made a faint smile. "He's quite a hound, but a big lovable hound nonetheless. All right First Lieutenant, they'll be there. Have a good night."

"You as well Rosalind." Ward told her. "And First Lieutenant? It's Roz. You can drop the military formalities around the students. It might make you guys seem a little more… personable?" Roz looked in no shape to debate word choices and merely blew the two young men kisses before hauling a nearly unconscious Kae-Song off to the Dormitories.

Another fairly short chapter for you guys. If it's a little obvious who gets cool backstories and who doesn't, well that is kind of the point. The mixture literally hits both ends of the spectrum. Casildo is a badass, and fro those of you who speak/know Arabic his name is a spoiler for later. No, he isn't an homage to Castiel, the name just fit with what he will be doing later. And if you like your silent, nija-esque badasses with dysfunctional childhoods... then you will love him to pieces.

Thanks for reading, and please review. Your feedback is greatly appreciated! :D