We Three Kings (Jack)

We Three Kings

Tyren Orca - District Two - Eighteen

The morning bus is slow. The trees by the road skim past like stones, however. Alex and I have plenty of time to talk. "Did you hear mum and dad last night?" I eye him curiously as he poses the question. "No, god no! They were arguing." He confirms, and rightly so. I was beginning to think something awful and I am glad he stopped me from jumping to conclusions, despite his ability to bring me to those conclusions. "What about?" I probe. I don't hear anything when I go to bed anymore, I have to get to bed quickly so that I'm not ill. "Oh... Um, I'm not sure I was just wondering if you'd heard." He's lying. He has that little glint in his eyes as he takes a sip from his Pepsi can. The one riddled with Peacekeeper advertising and very little information about the actual product. That's the usual. "Have you got one for me?" Alex laughs a little. "Is my name Alexander?" He raises a brow, fetching from his backpack - yes, he has one... - an ice cool can of Pepsi. It's such a refreshing feeling, pouring the cold liquid down. I wish I could have more. I end up drinking about half of it in one big gulp, or five. "Christ, you were thirsty then?" I nod at him, my mouth implanted on the can.

The bus ride is a little bumpy. Bumpier than I expect from usual times, maybe the road had been dug up by wind or something. I'm not sure. Either way, we're coming into the Academy gates now. "Next stop, anarchy." I say, chuckling to myself. Alex laughs along with me, mainly to cover up what I had said though. Imagine if anybody important had heard? We leave the bus, my eyes looking around as though it were my first day. That's how it feels. I feel like a different person. I think my eyes are still burning from the weekend's news. It's not a miracle that I'm still here. I am here because I have been told to resume life as though nothing was the matter; as though I was normal. I am normal. Statistically, around 99% of me is completely healthy, or something. I made that statistic up. Alex would be the better man to figure that one out. "You sure you're ready for this?" He asks me, putting a hand on my shoulder. "I may as well be, any other day would be worse." I say that half because I'm not going to be in higher spirits any other day. I wonder if I will be treated differently, and whether anybody else has found out? I have only told my parents, Alex and those who came with me to the hospital. I don't want my other family friends to find out from somebody else. It has to be me.

Our uniforms are tip-top shape. Nothing wrong with them. I'm more casual looking that Alex. I have short sleeves, Alex has long - as usual. I have shorts on for the weather, Alex doesn't - as usual. It's a normal day. I need to ensure myself that it is still just that. We go straight to first lesson.

"Tactics." The female teacher starts. "What do we know about tactics?" She quizzes, looking around the classroom.

"You need tactics to get out of complex situations." Answers one brain-box. I subtly roll my eyes, but feel no need to express anything publically. "Right. Somebody name me a movement." She means tactically. I know one. Somebody raises their hand, it's the same brain-box. Alex looks at me from my side as we sit in the class, a dimly lit room with a holographic table that is showing a tactical battlefield. She looks right at me; fuck. "Cadet Orca." Alex answers her back, though. I give him a smirk. "The pincer movement." Now she rolls her eyes. She accepts the answer, clearly being outwitted. "Right..."

The table lights up, and she explains the tactic. It was apparently used by a rebel against an Old Empire to beat an army 10 - 1. That's pretty impressive, but I know the movement well. I've ran the simulations myself. Put the cavalry at the back after retreating in order to pincer the enemy like a jaw.

Now the lesson finishes.

I take straight to the mess hall. Hopefully I won't get approached by any stupid new recruits. I'm about as done with this place as it is with me. I may have brutal scars, tattoos and a decent physique but it doesn't mean I want to be in the military. I wonder who will come over, though. Alex, of course, by my side.