"It`s been two weeks, man." Fletcher moans. "Order something else, anything else."

　　His hands fly up and slam down on the table rattling the place settings.

　　"Fine." I say and his eyes widen as he sits up straight smiling.

　　Two weeks and I`m too tired to listen to him go on this morning. Too tired and too frustrated.

　　"Bacon and eggs please." I point to what Addy has and the server scribbles down my breakfast order before he rushes away.

　　I bite the inside of my cheek to keep from yawning. The only good thing about my lack of sleep is the fact that the energy from my powers is being spent just to stay upright. A cup of coffee on a saucer slides in from my right. Kane`s thick fingers tap the table next to the saucer twice. Guess I`m doing a poor job of hiding my exhaustion. I frown at the cup of dark liquid before picking it up.

　　"I think you`re even grumpier than when you first arrived." Fletcher says.

　　I don`t acknowledge him. But by now he should be used to it. The steam warms my lips as I take a big gulp. It`s so hot I fight to keep it inside. No way am I spewing it out with Luce sitting across from me. I swallow fast leaving a trail of raw seared flesh on my tongue and down my throat.

　　"Hot." I blow out as much heat as I can.

　　Why do people drink this? I look down into the cup. It`s not good.

　　"Duh, coffee is hot." Fletcher laughs.

　　I keep drinking hoping it will do its job. As private as the pods are in the barracks, the enclosed space does little to keep my senses from monitoring the squad. Every night I`m unable to block them out.

　　Kane`s roaring snores, which are odd since he`s a ghost during waking hours. Addy`s tossing and turning kicks in around midnight and doesn`t stop until an hour before we rise. She thumps to the ground every other night. Fletcher is as active as his twin. It`s the only time they mirror each other.

　　Iva mutters mathematics and theories all night. And Luce has nightmares. Not screaming nightmares, but there`s a slight saltiness that tinges the air and her breathing and heart rate spike. The only one who stays true is the captain. If it wasn`t for her steady heartbeat and sweet scent, I wouldn`t think she was ever in her pod.

　　And if it`s not the squad keeping me awake it`s the long hours in the library after lights out. Every night I research and explore Centrum while everyone sleeps. Yet I still haven`t found my family histories or the records from the night of the attacks in Hallow Point. I did discover all the other family books are in the shelves, none are empty like mine. I`m giving Buckler one more day and if he isn`t back from his assignment I`ll break into his office and search for his connection to my family.

　　The servers arrive with my food. The scent of savory bacon floats around me and my stomach growls. My mouth and throat are all better now. I`ve never been more grateful for fast healing as I am right now, staring at the crispy thick strips in front of me. Turns out mealtimes with the squad have become my favorite time of day, the most comfortable time of day. Everyone gets quiet and focused on their meals. The companionable solitude is familiar. Plus being required to eat three meals a day has helped my muscle mass.

　　"You`re at the finish line now, Oren." Everyone`s quiet except Fletcher.

　　He manages to hold conversations with both cheeks round with food. How he stays fit is a mystery.

　　"I know you crapped out of any kind of shooting skills between mine and Luce`s assessments, but you could have more boring skills like Iva." Fletcher ducks the muffin Iva chucks his way.

　　It took a lot to fail my assessments. With my eyesight and reflexes, missing the targets without looking completely incompetent was tricky. My days with Luce are like days with my old drill sergeant. The barest of direction, lots of yelling, and ordering around.

　　"Elites." The captain calls from the cafeteria entrance.

　　We`re all immediately on our feet cutting breakfast short. Something is up. Kane leads us away from the table in a loose version of the diamond combat formation we use during training. I take up the rear now since Addy has been moved to the center and Fletcher to her spot. We wind our way to the mission room and take our seats at the conference table.Unauthorized duplication: this narrative has been taken without consent. Report sightings.

　　"Sorry for cutting chow time short." The captain sits stiffly in her seat, hands folded on the table.

　　"I`ve got orders to prep for a mission next week." She looks to Kane, and they have their weird silent speak.

　　The squad turns to stare at me. Luce is pissed like this is somehow my fault, Fletcher tilts his head confused, Addy`s eyebrows are in her hairline with a hand over her mouth, and Iva is the most concerning of all. His wrist device is at his side and he`s giving me his full attention. I look back to the captain, her eyes are blazing green and trained on me too. I mask a bored uninterested expression, but they`re freaking me out.

　　"What`s the mission?" I ask.

　　It must be about me. Is it the mission to get rid of me? Is my time finally up?

　　"I haven`t been debriefed on the details yet." The captain says balling her hands into tight fists before releasing them to lay flat on the table. "However, it must be of great importance to risk the squad during transition."

　　"We always have a month to train any new member." Fletcher shakes his head as if we can refuse the mission.

　　"We can`t go into the field with training incomplete." Addy adds.

　　"We haven`t even had one combat session with his specialty designation to see how we work together." Luce says.

　　"And we won`t get to." Kane cuts in.

　　"This puts us all at risk, not just the newest member." Iva says pointing to me.

　　I want to put their minds at ease. To tell them I won`t pass their final test. I won`t be going on the mission or be a risk to their safety, but I can`t admit failing on purpose. I breathe out calmly and sit back in my chair. They`ll be fine once I`m gone. They won`t have to cover a new member or worry about any weak spots while in the field.

　　"Elites, we are the best warriors in the nation with the best graduate any academy has ever had. We are more than capable of whatever they throw at us." The captain meets the eyes of each of her warriors.

　　Her words work to ease their minds. It`s admirable how quickly she can gain their confidence and focus their attention.

　　"But we have no time to waste." She turns to Kane. "I need a report on Oren`s assessments so far."

　　Kane clears his throat and shifts in his seat. "Oren, uh. Well, his combat skills are on the level with yours and mine, captain."

　　"I know that. Where else does he excel?"

　　Kane shifts again. "He has gone through scout, sniper, and weapons assessment. And uh . . ." Kane rubs the back of his neck and I squirm in my seat.

　　"He sucks." Luce finishes for him gaining every one`s attention.

　　"He sucks." The captain repeats slowly.

　　Her eyes dart to Kane for confirmation, but he`s looking at the table. I try not to fidget but it`s hard for me to take. I didn`t mean to throw my game off so bad. Especially since the captain thought I was capable enough to encourage the team. My shoulders drop and guilt burns my insides. But I had to suck. I have to go home.

　　"I want a full account from each of you, now." The captains voice takes on an officer`s authority making us all sit up straighter. "Addy you were first, go."

　　"Oren follows instructions very well, and has extreme focus, most of the time."

　　"Explain." The captain`s nostrils flare with a deep inhale.

　　"He follows orders but loses awareness of the objective frequently. When met with a challenge, his focus becomes singular. He abandons spatial awareness and team well-being."

　　"I see." The captain slides her tablet in front of her and starts typing away. "How about scouting skills?"

　　"He is quick to locate enemy targets, but has no aptitude for stealth maneuvers or mapping terrain.

　　"Thank you, Addy. Fletcher, proceed."

　　"Oren can spot targets quick. Quicker than I did a couple of times. But his shooting, positioning, and timing is not there. I believe with some time he could be....uh..if . . ."

　　"Thank you, Fletcher that`s exactly what I need."

　　He gives me a small smile. And for the first time since I`ve been here, shame settles in gut deep.

　　"Luce." The captain prompts.

　　"No skills for the schematics, mechanics, or weapon requirements for combat situations. He`s a sharp shot, when he isn`t holding back."

　　"Holding back?" The captain asks, halting her typing to turn to Luce.

　　"Yes, captain. He holds back more than I could catch."

　　I keep my face perfectly still. Luce is too damn observant. I had to make my shots wide but I tried to keep as many as I could true.

　　"I suspect he`s held out on more than just your assessment." The captain adds.

　　All this effort, and they`ve been on to me the whole time. Her eyes narrow at me before returning to her tablet.

　　"Iva, you`re with Oren for the next two days. You`re in charge of tech and traps training."

　　Iva nods still studying me.

　　"Oren, you will skip demon studies to spend extra time in weapons with Luce." The captain stands up. "I want Oren familiar with our mission load out. We`re moving up his final test immediately following training time with Iva. Get to it squad. Dismissed."

　　I`m slow to rise, expecting the captain to want to speak with me, but she`s the first one out the door.

　　"Dude." Fletcher pats my shoulder. "That was brutal. Just listening to it made me cringe and it wasn`t even about me."

　　Disappointment and pity fill the air as they each exit the room. A hollow sickness grows as I watch them leave. I can`t do anything but stew in it for the next two days. Until I fail my test and go home. But right now, I shake my limbs and shake it off because tonight, I break into Buckler`s office.