Chapter 36

Rod's POV

I looked down disgustingly at the mesh of worms. Ugh not this stuff again. I looked over at Nicky who gave the same sickened face. We had just woken up a couple of hours earlier and were now sitting down at our table staring out our food. James was eating hungrily next to me, while Nicky gagged across the table. Nicky and I were to begin the Data Selethicks today. I pray that the result is not the same as the one I took yesterday. My headache was just now wearing off.

"So…" James said, finishing his pile of worms. "When you guys have to take your injections?"

"It's like at nine or something," I said, spinning my fork around in the mush.

"Hmm, so in about an hour," he replied, taking his dishes over to the trash bin. I stopped and thought for a minute. Holy cow! He's right. I groaned not wanting to go. "Look I know I ate your food yesterday, but you really need to eat. Especially if your taking injections. You're going to want some food in there," James said, pointing to my stomach.

"I know," I said, bringing the utensil to my face. Closing my eyes, I shoved the worms into my mouth and swallowed. I started to gag, but forced them down. I shook my head in disgust.

"I know you hate it now, but in a couple more days, you're going to be begging for food," James said. "Trust me, I was just like you when I started."

I nodded. Trying to avoid thinking of the food, I asked James a question.

"So how much longer do you have?"

"Ha, I'm glad you brought it up," he said, smiling. "Two more days and I get outta here!"

James raised his arms in triumph, clearly excited to leave.

"What about you?" he asked, finishing his victory dance.

"I'm not sure," I answered, looking back down at the mush. "I've been out here a week and today I am starting the Data Selethicks."

"Nice," James responded, nodding. "So depending on how well you learn you could be outta here in a week."

"You think?" I asked, astonished. That's not far away!

"Oh yeah, that's how long it's taking me."

"So… how does it work?" I asked. "Like what's the schedule like."

"Well you take the first data injections, and wait the rest of the day. Following up the next morning you go down and take a test slash interview. They'll ask you a bunch of questions and if you get them all right you can move on. So that afternoon you take round two," James explained, motioning with his hands.

"And if not?" I asked, worried.

"Well no big deal, you just wait another day. The process continues until you pass the test with one hundred percent," he said. "If you pass the second round of Selethicks you go on to the third and final set. After that you go take three four days of physical training and your good to go."

"What's training like?" I asked, leaning forward.

"Oh it sucks balls," James answered without hesitation. "Especially if you get Groff. I think the guy is legitimately crazy!"

I gulped.

"So… what exactly do you have to do?"

"Well they'll explain it in detail, but basically you have to run around and push your body to the very limit. To the point where you think you're going to die. Of course, because of our technology you can do that without dying," he said, rolling his eyes. "Friggen medics surround the training field."

"Has anyone… died?"

"No, the Orange Terran are too reliant on reinforcements to allow that," James answered.

"Thank goodness," I said, sighing.

"Well I think if you look at it in a positive way, it'll be a lot easier," Nicky said, taking a bite of worms. "If you go in with that attitude it'll suck no matter what happens."

I huffed. "You sound like my mom."

"Eh, Nicky has a point man," James said, nodding in his direction. "Alright bros, Imma go shower; that way, after training I can shower again."

James slapped my shoulder as he walked by. I looked back down at my food and groaned. Nicky stood up and grabbed my tray of food. Before I could react he dumped it down the fire disposal.

"You're torturing yourself," he said, sitting back down. I shrugged, half pleased, half frustrated. I am never going to be able to eat that stuff. "So, I saw you starring at that girl the other day. "Are you going to talk to her today?"

"Heh, no bro, she has a boyfriend."

"Math test," Nicky responded. I gave him a confused look.

"What?"

"Oh, sorry I thought we were listing things she could cheat on."

I laughed, loudly. "Wwwhat? Did I just hear you right?"

After holding a serious face for only a couple seconds, he looked at the floor and started smiling.

"I just think you should at least try," Nicky said.

"Eh sorry man, there's no way she would fall for a guy like me," I responded.

"Well if you try, something might come of it."

"Oh what do you know?" I asked, motioning my hand outward.

"Hey, it wouldn't hurt."

"Pff, yeah it won't hurt until she slaps me across the face," I said, shaking my head.

"Yeah, well don't cry and wine about it if you won't give any effort."

"Oh and you're a chick magnet right?" I asked, sarcastically.

"I could get a girl if I wanted to," Nicky said, shrugging.

"Pff, well if you're so sure then let's bet on it," I said, not expecting him to agree. But to my dismay, he smiled and nodded.

"Alright you got yourself a deal," he said, sitting back in his chair. "If I win you have to do a fake announcement in front of the entire cafeteria."

I huffed. "Yeah okay, but if I win, you have to take these nasty worms and throw them in…" I looked around the room, to find the biggest meanest guys face. "His face."

I pointed across the room to a large muscular man with a tattoo of Zerg skull on his arm.

"Alright you got yourself a deal," Nicky said, holding his handout. "By tomorrow at lunch I'll have a girl in my arms."

I was still taken aback, thinking he would pull out at the last minute. I sat starring awkwardly at his outreached hand. Looking up at him, I waited for him to pull his hand back at the last second. I raised my eyebrows and glanced down at his hand. I shook my head and shrugged.

"Okay, but you'll regret it," I said, shaking his hand.

"We'll see," Nicky said, letting go of my hand.

I sat staring at the wall, waiting for the doctor to come in. Ugh, I am not excited for this. After a couple more minutes the man finally arrived.

"Alright sit here please," the doctor said pointing to a seat closer to the machine. I complied. The man grabbed the taser device and plugged it into the machine. I lifted my arm, allowing him access to my side. I tensed remembering the shocking feeling. He pushed the object against my skin and hit the button. A surge of energy jolted threw my body. I jumped and clenched my fists. The doctor removed the taser and set it on the counter. "Okay so now that I have finally given you the data injections random information should start flying through your brain. Most people get the first bit within a couple hours."

"Okay," I said, rubbing my side. "Is that it?"

"Yes, tomorrow morning you'll check up with Doctor Bourgous. Depending on what he says will depend on whether you move on."

I nodded.

"Kay you're free to go," he said, motioning toward the door. I nodded and headed out. I took a deep breath. Thank heavens. That was easy. I brushed off my shoulders and raised my eyebrows. Hmm, yeah that was really easy. I shrugged and walked out into the hall. Nicky stood waiting.

"Hey that was quick," he said, stepping forward.

"Yeah I know, I'll wait for ya here," I replied, pointing across the hall. He nodded and headed in. I leaned against the wall and yawned. I turned my head down the corridor hearing someone approach. I jumped back in surprise seeing my blonde crush. My eyes dropped out of their sockets as she flipped her hair to the side. I took a deep breath, watching her pass. She caught my eye and stopped.

"What is your deal?" the girl asked, stepping into my face. A large wave of perfume almost knocked me out. I recovered slowly and shook my head.

"Uh, nothing," I said, in a panic. "I didn't know there was a problem."

She huffed. "You didn't know there was a problem. Well, why is it that at every corner I turn you are always there staring?"

"Uh, maybe it's just a coincidence," I said, feeling the wall press against my back.

"Look if you're really that attracted to me, go grow some muscles, self-esteem and little more backbone, then come talk to me," she said, stepping backward. "And until then, get some shades so I don't have to see you staring at me."

Before I could say anything else she turned and marched off. Nicky walked out of the Doctors room rubbing his side. I stood against the wall, still recovering from shock.

"What happened to you?" he asked, giving me a confused look. I let out a long sigh and smiled. "You okay?"

"I can still smell her perfume," I said, sliding down the wall, until I sat on the ground. I'm sure I still had a really dumb grin on my face, but I didn't really care. She had finally talked to me.

"Um, okay… let's get you back to our room," he said, grabbing my arm and lifting me from the ground. 'Then you can tell me all about it."

By the time we had gotten to the sleeping quarters, I had regained full consciousness.

"So, what happened?" Nicky asked, jumping onto his bed.

"You know the one girl I was talking about earlier… well, uh we talked," I said, rocking back and forth.

"Oh that's cool! Did you ask her out?" he asked, leaning forward. I rolled my eyes.

"Nicky sorry to break it to you, but if you don't recall, we are in a training camp."

"Pff, that's no excuse. You could go riding vultures again," he responded folding his arms.

"Oh yeah, cause that was a great idea," I said, sarcastically. "I'm never doing that again. Man I thought Baker was going to kill me."

A loud beep went off and a voice spoke up.

"Incoming transmission, permission to allow contact?" the Adjutant said. I jumped.

"Uh, permission granted," I responded, confused. A holographic image of Tenny came up in front of me. Just as I was about to say something, I was interrupted by someone in the room.

"Hey take the call outside. We just finished training and are really tired."

I mumbled a sorry and ran out of the room, Nicky on my heels.

"Hey Tenny what up!" I said, excited.

"Yo, how's it comin'?" he responded.

"Eh, pretty good. We're both still alive," I said, pointing to me and Nicky.

"Huh, I'm glad. When is your training gonna end?" he asked, jumping right into things.

"Well we just started the Data Selethicks today," Nicky said.

"Dang, just started?" he replied, disappointed. "Well let's hope you learn the stuff fast."

"Why?" I asked. "People usually get out in a couple weeks; doesn't seem too bad to me."

"Eh, well I've finally got a chance to regroup our team. It'd be nice if I could get you guys first," he said.

"Why's that?" I questioned, curiously.

"Look don't worry about it. I'll check up on you guys later okay?"

"Yeah sure. When'll you call?" I asked.

"Eh, I don't know, when I get a minute to myself. It's a mess out here," Tenny said.

"Okay talk to you then," I said, as he ended the transmission.

"Hmm, that was kind of unexpected," Nicky said, suspiciously. "And really fast too."

"Yeah," I responded, heading down the hall. "Do you think everything's okay?"

"I don't know," Nicky replied, folding his arms. We sat thinking in silence. After a minute I finally spoke up.

"You know what, it's Tenny. If there was something wrong he would have said something," I responded, relaxing my shoulders. "Come on it's almost lunch time. I want to get something to eat."

Okay, now before anyone says ANYTHING. I do in fact have an excuse. (note: never said it was a good one) After two and a half years... I finally bought Skyrim. So you can all guess what I have been doing. And we have to consider this passed week I have missed three days of school because I got an ear infection. All I've been doing is watching movies... yeah... HOPE YOU ENJOY! :D:D:D:D:D:D