"Damn, Capt. Giving newbie no breaks." Fletcher laughs. Kane smacks the back of his head. "Hey. You almost damaged the money maker." He whines shielding his face.

　　Kane mutters something about a miracle that Fletcher is still alive. He stalks off to the mats with Cole right behind him. We`ve been training since the morning run. All classes are canceled. Even our meal time has been reduced to short breaks in the mission room or arena. After dinner we run through formations until lights out. The captain`s urgency to align Cole with the rest of us means that`s all we`re doing, until we head out. I`ve had few interactions with him due to our packed schedule. He stays by Luce or Kane`s side for drills which is a small victory.

　　"He`s not going to spar with Kane." The captain says reviewing our schedule on Iva`s tablet. "Only squad recruits receive that honor."

　　I hold back a grunt. Some honor. I got my ass kicked. I`d actually love to see Kane take Cole to the mat. We watch Kane run through basic defensive moves we never learned at the academy. I hate to admit it, but Cole is a quick study.

　　"What`s everyone standing around for?" The captain barks out.

　　Our attention snaps to hers, except Luce, who`s focused on their training. Addy elbows her in the side. A bright red flush travels up her pale neck.

　　Fletcher lays his forearm on my shoulder and leans in. "Somethings been up with her."

　　"Yeah, FNG is what`s up?" She`s been acting weird since he showed up.

　　"Where did you learn that?" He laughs.

　　I shrug in response.

　　"That`s what we called you until a few days ago." He chuckles and strides over to the captain.

　　Has it only been a few days since Cole arrived? I join the rest of the team as the captain gives us our assignments. With my new specialty being close to Addy`s, I stick with her training. I don`t even get frustrated when I eventually lose her in the woods.

　　At lunch time, I head back inside knowing Addy is already there. I plan to skip lunch altogether. I hope Cole eats with the rest of the squad. But his grunting sigh lingers by the entry. My hands sweat and my breaths are mechanical, rhythmic, calming my powers before I`m even close. My face burns thinking of how he`s trained me for this physical response.

　　"You got big, Oren." He keeps his rough voice low, just for me. "Guess this is what three meals a day gets you."

　　His delivery is flat and detached instead of taunting. I walk past him not waiting for his vitriol about how Centrum is wasting food on a filthy traitor like me. I wonder if he`ll make a move in front of the others. I wonder what they`d do if he did. I wonder why I want him to. It wouldn`t matter, I`d somehow be blamed for anything he starts. He doesn`t follow and I walk straight through the arena towards the barracks.

　　***If you spot this tale on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation.

　　My stomach growls as I sit on my bed. I fill my lungs with deep soothing breaths. Cole`s right. Three meals a day changed me. I could last for days without a proper meal before. This hunger is a distraction and a liability. I remove the bottom drawer where I hid my rations and pull out a nutrient bar. Its flavorless cardboard compared to what the Centrum chefs cook up. I used to feel lucky to be able to eat one at the academy. Now I stare at it angrily as if it`s the bar`s fault I`m hiding away in my pod hungry. A knock at my door has me moving lightning fast. I throw the half-eaten bar under the bed and open the door.

　　"Hey, good thinking coming back here." Iva pushes through shoving a warm foil wrapped sandwich into my gut as he enters.

　　"So, I think we should head to the lab after lights out." He sits on top of my desk.

　　I sit on my bed and unwrap the sandwich. My mouth waters at the stack of warm roast beef between the buttered soft bun. I inhale the savory meat and soak up the fresh baked bread. I`ve gone soft over food.

　　"It`s just a sandwich bro, c`mon focus." Iva mutters through a mouthful.

　　I`m convinced his brain never stops. He lays out the plan for us to meet up outside the barracks an hour after lights out.

　　"How do we gain access to the bio section?" It`s the section where the goop is tested and stored and completely locked down.

　　"I know someone who can get me a security card." He says slowly.

　　"Jane? Do you trust her?" He can sweet talk Dr. Quinn`s assistant into anything.

　　"Jane? No." He shakes his head and then points to me.

　　"Me?" I blurt out. I`m confused. "No!" If he hasn`t been able to access the goop all this time, how will I?

　　"Yes, you." He wads up his wrapper before slam dunking it into my trash can. He stands up and walks to my dresser. "If you can steal from me, you can steal from anyone."

　　"But you caught me."

　　"Yeah, but not until after you had already done it." I`m too busy thinking about how to steal a security card to remember I left my food stash exposed.

　　"The cards are in Buckler`s office." Iva heads straight for my rations and hands me a water before grabbing one for himself.

　　"He keeps them in his middle drawer. You remember when you had to memorize your security clearance?" He takes huge gulps from his water.

　　I nod my head and twist the top off my bottle. His Adam`s apple moves up and down without pause. And I wait for him to accuse me of hoarding supplies. He finishes his water and chucks it into the trash can.

　　"So, we`ll have a little stop on the way to the lab." He wipes his mouth with the back of his hand and shrugs. "Easy."

　　"What . . . who . . . how did you know about my stash?"

　　"Oh." He scratches the back of his head looking at the pile of supplies. "Addy and Luce found it after your first night. They find a way into everything. If there`s anything you want to keep private, better use a place outside the barracks man."

　　"And you don`t find it odd that I have a stash of rations in my pod?" I want him to be angry about it, or upset.

　　"I don`t know. I guess."

　　"You guess?!" My voice is loud, I`m never loud but I can`t rein it in. "I`m a filthy traitor who`s stealing supplies and hoarding them in my room."

　　I`m panting now. My emotions slam into me too fast and too hard. Having Cole around is messing with my head. Iva is unaffected by my outburst. His steady is gaze on mine, silent, waiting. I uncurl my fists and drop my shoulders.

　　"You`re a warrior born. A warrior of the strongest founding family in our nation. Your ancestors saved us from the brink of extinction. And continued to keep this country safe throughout the centuries. One generation`s questionable actions, in a questionable situation, do not negate that or dictate who you are, Oren."

　　I can`t turn away. I`ve never let myself be angry at my classmates or the instructors because I deserved it. But everything he said sounds so reasonable, a caged liberty of truth. And I want to rage against what they put me through.

　　"You can hoard whatever the hell you want. But those bars, they got to go."

　　The laugh that erupts from me is more of a moan. Iva chuckles.

　　"You good?" His tone is serious.

　　"Yeah." I nod. I`m not. I`m stitched together control with frayed edges.

　　"Good, because I need your head in the game. We`re breaking into the lab tonight." He walks past me and I follow.