Untitled - Chapter 17 - The Rightful Heir - Seg.4

{segment 4 of chapter 17 - Garn}1

I step off of the bus and head through the milling crowd a few streets down to the large, plain-looking building with windows tinted black. A sign above the large double glass doors says, ‘Military Training Facility 1’. There are actually nine training facilities, but this is the one I spent most of my childhood in. ‘Second home, second hell’ is what everyone used to call it. I originally trained with the other boys from the orphanage in a completely different facility made specifically for children, but when I was discovered as a possible spy, I was soon taken here. 2

I head through the doors and into the lobby, remembering how scared I was with the rest of my class being so much older than me. I was only ten years old and the rest of the potential spies were anywhere from fifteen to twenty. At first they had all teased me, but I was determined to prove my capability. After the first trip to the mountains, they stopped teasing me, and became either awed or wary of the boy with the watchful eyes.3

Sometimes I wonder if I’ve missed out on a childhood. But I’m not entirely sure what a childhood is, so how can I tell? Pulling my Insider necklace out from beneath my shirt as I approach the front desk, I flick it underneath the scanner and wait for the machine to beep acceptance. A thin, lanky youth sits behind the desk typing something on his computer, pausing only to nod back at me as I continue into the building.4

They usually have high school kids working on the front desk, though I’m not really sure what they do all day on those computers. Anything important is supervised by adults. But I suppose the military needs to look reasonably unsuspicious so that people don’t start thinking up conspiracies. Talk about an oxy-moron. The military has never been exactly family orientated. Few people are even aware that they decide all orphaned kids should be soldiers when they grow up.5

I head on through a cold, steel-walled corridor past a couple of young soldiers laughing together. I know the way by heart in spite of this maze-like structure, and it doesn’t take me long to arrive at the tracks. A vast indoor stadium spreads before me, the far wall covered with seats for when there are tests or competitions. In the middle of the huge running track, men check their times and heart rates on the machines or gather around their commanders to get told to do better. It seems like there a whole lot more trainees than usual today and the place is pretty crowded, but maybe I just don’t remember it so busy.6

This facility is where all the spies train, but there aren’t many qualified for the job and they spend most of their time Outside or spending their money anyway. This is why we’re basically outnumbered by normal soldiers and training units. Scanning the area, I don’t see anyone I know, so I head to the middle of the oval to set up a machine to monitor my warm-up.7

I attach the wireless monitors to my clothing wherever they need to go, pulling the bracelet with the timer on it around my wrist. From there, I take my shoes and socks off and leave them beneath the bench; I prefer to run barefoot. Flinging my jacket down beside them, I stretch hurriedly and head onto a free lane. I really feel like running. 8

Preparing to start, I slap the timer on my wrist and surge forward. Feet flying beneath me on the gripping rubber surface, I wonder how Avi’s doing.9

Finally slowing down after a good half-hour of sprinting, I head back to my machine, breathing heavily. A thin layer of sweat has formed on my brow, arms and shoulders; I always push myself as far as possible. Studying the results on the screen, I’m pretty satisfied. I’m not half as unfit as I expected.10

“Hey. Garn, right?”11

I look up, wiping my forehead with the back of my hand. It takes me a moment to remember the guy’s face. “Jonn. You were one of the guys who sent me out on my last mission.”12

“Yeah, that’s right,” he grins. “How’d it go? The fact that you made it back alive is certainly a plus.”13

“Hmm, pretty good I guess,” I reply, pulling off all the monitoring devices and throwing them in the little shoot beside the computer screen. All the equipment here gets washed after a person uses it. “It was successful, though there were a few close shaves and I think I’ve made some more enemies out there.”14

Another man, kind of short but not really stocky, comes up behind Jonn. “Sure, but they’re all enemies anyway, huh?” he says as he runs a hand through his dark brown hair. “Who’s your friend, Jonn?”15

The man laughs awkwardly. “Uh, this is Garn. I don’t know him that well, but I saw him off on his last mission.”16

“Garn,” he repeats, looking at me with new interest. “Really? I’ve heard of you. You’re a spy, right? I’m Mathieu; I’m in Jonn’s regiment.” He holds out a hand for me to shake, so I do so. This guy seems kind of weird. He takes a look at the numbers on my screen and nods approvingly. “Not bad.”17

“As if you could do better than that, Mat,” Jonn laughs. “That’s probably not even his best if he’s just come back from a mission.”18

“A mission…” Mathieu murmurs, as if only now realising what I do for a living. “What’s it like out there?” he blurts. “Is it what they say it’s like?”19

“What do they say it’s like?” I ask, raising an amused eyebrow.20

“They say they eat each other. The savages, I mean. Do they? Has anyone tried to eat you? How do they escape the rain? Does the rain really not affect them?”21

Jonn simply glances wryly from him to me. This Mathieu is definitely pretty weird. “No…” I say slowly, “The rain affects them the same way it affects us. When it rains, they usually just have to hope they’re near shelter. Plenty of them have died because they’ve had no way of escape.” I saw it happen once, and was only lucky that I could transform into a bird, in which case the rain wouldn’t affect me. An entire troop of forty or so was dissolved to death before my very eyes, and I could do nothing to help.22

“Garn,” Mathieu snaps his fingers in front of my face. I blink, realising that Jonn is frowning at me. Mathieu just keeps talking. “So as I was asking, do they really eat each other?”23

“Hmm,” I mumble. “Some of them do. But most of them are repulsed by the idea and hate anyone who’s a cannibal.”24

“They actually eat each other,” the man says, screwing his face up. “That’s disgusting. They deserve the name savage. Has anyone else noticed how packed this place has been lately?” he asks suddenly. “Don’t these idiots know there are other training facilities?”25

“They’re all this crowded,” Jonn says thoughtfully. “We’ve been getting a flood of new recruits lately.” He looks around briefly and then turns to Mathieu. “Can you go ahead and set me up with a good gun, Mat? I’ll catch up with you.”26

“Oh, right, we have to go with the rest of the regiment,” he remembers. “The General won’t be happy if you’re late, Jonn.”27

“I’ll be right behind you,” he promises. Finally, the annoying little man moves away. When Mathieu has walked far enough, Jonn grins at me. “Sorry about that. Not many of the men will even speak to him, so he’s been following me around lately.”28

I nod. “Your regiment has a good reputation. What are you stuck with a guy like him for? He doesn’t strike me as someone very efficient.”29

“He’s a little overenthusiastic, but his aim is flawless. I should go catch up with him,” he says with a quick smile. “Besides, it looks like you have some more company.” 30

Frowning, I look around until I see who he’s talking about. A man followed closely by a teenage boy is heading straight for me. His straight dark hair, pulled back into a ponytail, has greyed a bit since last I saw him but he still looks strong and tall and he has the same cunning look in his eyes. “Casanna,” I greet. “Good to see you again.” I look back, but Jonn has already left.31

“Back from your last mission I see,” Casanna says smoothly. Everything he says is smooth. “You’ve changed since the last time I saw you,” he says.32

“So have you,” I smile. “And you have another apprentice.”33

“That I do,” he says, motioning for the boy to step forward. “He’s from an orphanage, like you.” Studying the boy, I could probably have guessed as much. His hard face is framed with cropped blonde hair. He’s thin, but pretty wiry-looking and his light eyes are constantly alert. Maybe that’s the difference between having a childhood or not. “This is Bairoh,” Casanna explains. “Bairoh, this is Garn.”34

The boy blinks up at me. “Garn? It’s an honour to meet another spy, one so reputable.” Bairoh doesn’t quite seem to have the same hopeless look as the other kids in my orphanage used to have though, I notice. There wasn’t much to look forward to; all the boys were sent to the military and the girls were given jobs in factories or as maids. Most of the hospitality industry has been taken over by mechs, but some people still like the human touch.35

“Good to meet you too, Bairoh,” I reply. Apprentices are only supposed to observe unless spoken to directly, so I try to figure out what sort of person he is by appearance.36

“He’s determined and hardworking,” Casanna says as if reading my mind, “though he has a bit of a temper and is too quick to jump into a fight.” Bairoh’s mouth tightens slightly.37

I nod. “Discipline can be taught, but I think he has promise.”38

“So do I,” Casanna grins wickedly. I picked him out myself just a few weeks ago. He reminded me of you, though you were always more calculating. Spirited, but indomitable.” Casanna was one of my commanders back when I was in training. He worked me harder than everyone else because he saw me as a child and wanted to weed out the ‘weak ones’. By the end of my course however, he was one of the first people to recommend me as an apprentice. Casanna came into the business young, too.39

“It looks like you’ve warmed up,” he observes. “Give me a quick lap, and I’ll train with you. Maybe we can give Bairoh an example.”40

“Sure,” I say, though Casanna has already begun clipping on his monitors. The man does ask, but then he assumes your answer will always be yes. I move my things out from beneath the bench and put them on. Soon Casanna sets off and I sit down, crossing my legs on the smooth metal floor. “Do you want to sit?” I ask Bairoh, and he immediately drops down beside me. Looks like old Cas has broken him in pretty quick.41

“You may speak to me,” I tell him. Unless it’s changed, that’s the order I was always given as an apprentice when I was allowed to relax and open my mouth more than just to answer questions. Bairoh whips his head around at me and grins.42

“Thanks. So you’re not as strict as my master, then?” He catches himself the moment he says it and pales slightly. An apprentice isn’t allowed to say anything critical of his master’s teaching methods. That was the first thing that came out of his mouth; Bairoh really does act before thinking.43

I can’t help but laugh. “I guess not.” The tension visibly leaves his expression. “If I had my own apprentice, maybe it’d be different. Then it’d be my responsibility.”44

The boy frowns. “If I can ask…” he begins slowly and carefully. “Why don’t you teach anyone? Have you ever had an apprentice?”45

“No,” I shake my head. 46

“Why not?”47

I laugh. “Guess I just don’t want to drag anyone else into my messes.” Actually, the truth is that I simply can’t have anyone with me on my missions. The ability to fly has got me out of impossible situations many times, and I wouldn’t be able to turn into a bird in front of an apprentice without raising a few questions. “So,” I say, leaning forward to rest my arms on my knees. “You’ve been with him for a few weeks? I suppose that means you’ll be having your first mission in five months or so.”48

“No, actually,” Bairoh replies. “Didn’t you hear? The Head of Defence is sending out every spy in the City as soon as he can. Including all the apprentices, even if it’s before they’re usually allowed to. Casanna is taking me Outside in just a couple of weeks.”49

I can hear the eagerness in his voice, but I don’t think this boy will think of the Outside so lightly when he returns. Brow furrowed, I try to think of why the Head of Defence would be doing this. Is it because of Rainstorm? Is the government that anxious? At least half of the spies sent out will die, now. Outsiders aren’t as stupid as the Insiders seem to believe.50