Page 19 of Souls of Steel
“This is the dorm of the Grand Chimera Unit,” Pollux said. “That bed will be yours.”
As he spoke, he pointed to the bed closest to the right wall. The blanket on it was plain, but that was the least of my problems. Taken aback by this new, unexpected development, I couldn’t help but blurt out a stupid question. “Wait, does that mean we’ll share a room?”
Pollux shot me a look that suggested he had severe doubts about my level of intelligence. “Yes, of course. There isn’t a lot of space here at the academy and what we do have, we tend to use for training purposes. Each individual unit tends to be placed in the same barracks. We’re actually fortunate to only share living quarters with a few others. The Harpy Squad has eight tamers, but people who have yet to qualify for a chimera unit share dorms with up to twenty men.”
I tried to process how that was going to work, but I couldn’t fathom it. Settlements on Earth tended to be crowded too, because terra-forming was difficult and it took ages to return the ground to its previous state. Back at home, I’d shared an apartment with my mother, Louise, her mother and four other women.
But that was different from living with four men I didn’t know in a space that was completely alien to me. In my sleep, I’d be even more vulnerable than before. And how would I change? Where would I take care of my private needs? Where would I bathe?
“Is that a problem?” August asked. “Surely you must’ve realized that there aren’t any separate gender facilities at the academy.”
It honestly hadn’t occurred to me. Maybe it should have, but back at home, the female part of the city did have amenities for male guests, just in case. Obviously, the people at Tartarus Base didn’t care about such things.
“I didn’t have time to think about the particulars,” I replied. Taking a deep breath, I forced myself to calm down. “I’m sure it will be fine. I’ll adjust. What about the bathing facilities?”
“We share that with the Harpy Squad,” Pollux told me. “Leave your pack here and we’ll show you where it is.”
I obliged and left my bag on the bed. In hindsight, I should’ve known this would be a military installation. I couldn’t expect luxury or special treatment just because I was a woman.
This was a good thing. In fact, it was exactly what I’d wanted. They were treating me like another tamer, ignoring my gender. I might be embarrassed and uneasy, but what was a little discomfort compared to what I’d learn and see here?
Those thoughts didn’t anchor me for too long, because the bathroom was something right out of my worst nightmares. The toilet cubicles were sealed off, but the bathing area was open space.
“Water is in short supply here, so we all bathe at the same time,” Pollux explained. “If you skip that, you’re stuck with the sonic or UV versions. But that’s not recommended for tamers. Our brainwaves are more sensitive because of our connection with the mechas and sometimes, even a little thing like a shower can have unexpected consequences.”
That made sense. On Earth, most people tended to use sonic showers, but High Priestesses of Gaia didn’t, as it interfered with concentration and messed with their magic. Tartarus’s powers might be different, but they had that in common.
The concept would’ve been more reassuring if it hadn’t meant I’d have to shower with at least a dozen men. This was getting better and better.
“Showers are daily, before lights out,” Pollux finished. “We’re also required to go through a regular decontamination process whenever we go on missions. That won’t be necessary if you took a bath on the Venom.”
I had, although at the time, I’d deemed Brendan’s invitation to do so almost insulting. Whatever intentions Brendan might have toward me, he’d been honest when he’d given me that warning. “Yes, I did. Thank you.”
“Excellent.” August grinned, his eyes glinting with an unsettling light. “Now, since that’s out of the way, you should probably change. Not that you don’t look good in Terran clothes, but they’re just not appropriate. People could… assume.”
“I don’t actually have a uniform,” I replied, ignoring the more suggestive part of his comment.
August waved off my words. “Someone must’ve brought you what you need by now. Don’t worry about it.”
He was right. When we got back to the dorm room we would share, a tightly wrapped set of clothes was waiting for me on the bed. There was also a new locker, one where I presumably needed to place my things.
“We’ll step out to give you time to change,” Pollux offered. “When you’re ready, we’ll be waiting for you outside.”
If I was right, his attempt to respect my need for privacy would be useless in the long run. Still, I appreciated it. It meant that when August and Pollux left the room, I could collapse on my bed and allow myself a few moments of hyperventilating without them seeing me.
How was I supposed to handle something so crazy? I tried to imagine myself in the bath, with all those men, and wanted to scream. It was just wrong.
Oh, for Gaia’s sake. I couldn’t think like that. I just had to focus on the decision I’d made, on my dream to become a true tamer.
General Rhodes had said that in my current state, I was a danger to myself and others. He was right. I had to remember that.
Chimera Academy was not supposed to be a refuge or a comfortable home. It was an opportunity. In the future, I’d have to face far more than an invasion of privacy. I might have to go into battle against Sun-Dwellers. I could hardly do that if I fell apart at the mere idea of a man seeing me nude.
With that thought in mind, I dragged myself out of the bed and started to change. Shedding my old clothes and pulling on the Chimera Academy uniform felt weird, both alienating and cathartic. It was as if through this simple act, I was taking the last step into uncharted waters.
I was a simple girl, with no real talents beyond this strange connection with the Sphinx that had landed in my lap. Even so, I was well aware that the unknown was a double edged blade. It could hold many foes—like the aliens who’d come to hunt us down—or it could provide salvation—like the chimeras.
I zipped up my jumpsuit and swept my hand over the tight material, marveling at the perfect fit. Time would tell which category Chimera Academy belonged in. I’d just have to hope for the best and prepare for the worst.
