Back on the transport, I take the seat against the window to box myself in. Now Nugget has only one way to get to me. The dark sunglasses I picked off the transport team poke my hip from the front pocket of my pants. I don`t know what to expect when I arrive at Centrum. If my powers flare up, the sunglasses can help hide my eyes until I get control. I slide them on and slouch down as far as the stiff seat allows.

　　Leaning my head against the window, I close my eyes. Maybe I`ll get a few minutes to rest and recharge before Nugget comes on board. I spent more energy than I ever have today. I can`t afford to pass out again like I did in the arena.

　　Was it just this morning that I let the hope of going home to a Gate Guard assignment take root? My knee bounces up and down. I`m shaking the row of seats in front of me. I feel like a caged rat stuffed into this seat, stuffed into a corner, stuffed into this new assignment.

　　There`s still a chance to go home. Before my new post with the Elite Squad can become official, I have to pass their training and a final test. And I`m going to do everything I can to fail. I don`t have to worry about disappointing anyone or ruining my family name, too late for that.

　　I`ll fail. Because I have to get home. The entire Oren history and records are there. Inside are the answers to who my family really was. Are they the heroes that built this nation or the traitors that were stopped from tearing it down?

　　The answers have to be there. If I know them, I can figure out why I am like this, why I have these abilities. My mind goes back to that weird vortex that came over me in the tunnel, propelling me faster than I`ve ever moved before. These abilities are getting too familiar. Like the abilities we train against.

　　I have to find a way to get rid of them. They are growing stronger and harder to suppress. I feel the energy tearing away inside me, burning through my control. I can`t hurt others like they did. No. I grip my knees to still my thoughts and squeeze hard enough to make my eyes water.

　　Stop thinking and rest. I have no idea what I`m walking into in Centrum. I`m used to sleepless nights I learned to take advantage of quiet moments like this. I settle back against the window, remind myself there`s still a chance to get home, and count myself to sleep.

　　***

　　The transport jams my knees into the seat backs in front of me and I wake with a groan. I lift my head off the window, feeling the strain of being bent in half too long. I rise off the seat slowly, pushing power into my legs to help my abused knees heal.

　　The energy rushes through me like a soothing balm. I hold on to the overhead rack and step into the aisle. I shake one leg out after the other and peer out the windows. We`re pulling into Centrum Transport Station. Busy transport cars zip along wide paved roads from all directions. The center of our nation is unlike any village.

　　The outer regions live in harmony with their natural environment. Roads in my village, Hallow Point, are well-worn paths in the dirt or ancient cobblestone. We construct our houses and buildings from the nearby woods and stone.

　　Centrum is concrete, steel, and glass as far as I can see, and I can see far. The buildings rise so high they almost block out the sun.

　　The box in my chest squeezes hard, my powers alert. I`m tense and that`s enough of a trigger for my energy to push forward. The transport glides smoothly across the finished road slowing alongside an unloading platform. I breathe deep to calm down. This is it.

　　With my duffle in hand and the dark glasses put away, I walk to the exit. I clutch the handrail and wait for the door to slide open. Voices carry through the thick security glass, making me shudder. I`m used to the roar of the instructors` commands, and life at the academy was orderly. There`s too many people milling about.

　　The doors slide open and I stagger back as a tidal wave of smells, sounds, and vibrations wash over my heightened senses. My grip punishes the steel handrail, making it groan and squeak. I count my breaths for control and systematically pull back my senses, starting with my eyes. It`s too much. I`m glad I`m the only one on board.

　　It`s only then I realize Nugget never returned to the transport. I turn around and give the rows of seats a once over, then shake off the thoughts about what kept her from her trip. It`s none of my concern. She`s none of my concern. I should be glad I`ll never see her again.

　　"Oren!" My name echos loud across the station.The narrative has been illicitly obtained; should you discover it on Amazon, report the violation.

　　I cringe and inspect the crowd to see if I`ve drawn attention. I scour the mass of people to find the source before my name is shouted out again. A tall blonde warrior cups his hands on either side of his mouth and draws a deep breath. I plod down the steps to the concrete platform below.

　　"Warrior Oren!"

　　Clenching my jaw, I move as fast as I can. The press of bodies conceals my swift steps. He`s taller than me, but both of us are a head above the churning crowd. I can see his bright blue eyes scanning for me as I move closer. He`s hard to miss in the all-black Elite uniform. He still has his hands up around his mouth ready to call out again when I come up on him and give a salute.

　　His head jerks back at my sudden appearance and his hands drop. His eyes crinkle at the corners with an amused smirk as he sizes me up, slowly nodding. Instead of getting the usual scowl, he greets me with a wide smile full of blinding white teeth that radiate against his golden-tanned skin.

　　"Not at all what I expected, but an interesting choice." He`s a loud talker, like he wants all eyes on him.

　　His smile goes impossibly wider. In my experience, a smile always comes before bruising pain. I take a large step back.

　　"And no doubt an entertaining choice." He chuckles, noticing my movement. "At ease, man." He waves off my salute.

　　"I`m Warrior Fletcher."

　　His tone is light, as if he`s on the verge of laughing. His hand extends for me to shake. It`s what people do, but never when meeting me. I stand still. My eyes fixed on his hand.

　　"Not the friendly type?" He leans his head in close. "I`ll change that. You can count on it." His roar of a laugh causes some heads to turn our way and I want to fold back into the crowd.

　　Fletcher slaps my shoulder hard with the unshaken outstretched hand and winks before releasing me and standing back. Bullies I can handle. This friendly act is something new.

　　"I`m here to take our warriors back to the barracks."

　　Fletcher`s blue gaze moves behind me, scanning the crowd and the transport I departed.

　　"Huh?" He says and rubs his chin. "Guess it`s just me and you then."

　　He pulls a key ring from his black uniform pants and turns for me to follow. I catch the red Elite Squad sword and wings emblem on his shoulder. He`s taller and has more muscle mass than I do. And the way he navigates the crowd lets me know he`s spry. I fall back and put more distance between us.

　　I expected a member of the guard or someone from the transport team to take me to my new assignment, not a member of the Elite Squad.

　　"It`s your lucky day, Oren." Fletcher calls over his shoulder as we leave the crowd and enter the parking lot. "We were all eager to welcome you in, but you got the best."

　　He motions to himself with a thumb and another cheesy smile over his shoulder. I have no doubt each Elite was eager to get to me first. I grip the handles of my duffle tighter.

　　"You caught us by surprise, too. Did you know there`s not an open squad position until Kane retires? And that`s still fifteen years away." Fletcher spins the key ring around his middle finger.

　　"I`m not supposed to be on the squad." I accidentally voice my thoughts and clench my teeth. Never let them know what you`re thinking.

　　"Nope." He pops the p` as he turns to face me. "Naturally, we`re wondering why." His eyes go over me again, from top to bottom.

　　"You`re not that impressive as far as muscle mass. I`m way prettier and definitely more charming." He trails off in thought, spinning the key ring around his finger again.

　　One of Fletcher`s shoulders shrugs up as he dismisses me and walks away. I stay where I am. His easy gait sides up to a black four-door all-terrain vehicle a few feet away. It`s a sleek shiny metal vehicle with blackout windows and the Centrum Building gold seal on the doors and hood.

　　A jerk of his head beckons me to follow and I walk to the passenger side, keeping my eyes on him as he unlocks the doors.

　　"It`s going to be so much fun discovering why you`re here." He smiles so wide I can see his molars before he ducks into the driver`s seat.

　　I lower myself beside him and buckle in. My head aches and my right eye starts to twitch. Fletcher`s revelation adds more panic to my already churning stomach. But even with questions bombarding my mind, I can`t stop myself from swiveling in my seat to peer out the window when Centrum City comes into view.

　　"Want a tour of the city?" Fletcher asks with one hand on the wheel and his other arm hanging halfway out of his open window.

　　"No." I say.

　　I don`t want to be alone with him for longer than necessary. He`s probably tasked with leaving me somewhere in the city far from the barracks.

　　"Really?" He responds in surprise. "Ever been here?"

　　"I`ve never been anywhere." I say before turning back to my window.

　　"I know." My head jerks his way at his comment. "We took a look at your file." He says with a shrug of one shoulder again. "I told you we were curious."

　　My history, who my family was, and all the disciplinary write-ups from the academy must have given them an impressive picture, I`m sure.

　　"You entered the academy one year earlier than normal and still managed to graduate Primus." His voice turns hard. "Either you`re more badass than you look," the bright blue of his eyes cloud over and the smile that seems permanently etched into his sharp jaw turns flat.

　　"Or . . . your academy sucks big time." His laugh comes out like a bark, causing me to flinch back against the window.

　　He elbows my arm hard before gripping the wheel with both hands.

　　"They sucked, right?"

　　I press my lips together to keep back an unexpected grin. Fletcher happily chats on about how he was Primus and all the records he broke in his academy days. He doesn`t wait for my reply or needs me to contribute to keep the conversation going. I think he prefers it this way. This good guy act is unexpected. Will the rest of the squad be as tricky?

　　"Well, let me at least point out some cool places you can check out during leave." He says. "If we ever get leave."

　　Fletcher doesn`t notice my lack of interest in him playing tour guide. And even though I try to feign boredom, so he`ll hurry to the barracks, I`m cataloging everything.