Page 31 of Beyond The Maples
"I'll see you around," he taunts as he passes me.
I roll my eyes, too pissed off to tamp it down.
Adrenaline fades quickly once they’re out of eyesight, and an achy anxiety starts to take its place. I turn to see Farra reluctantly checking on Leo. He rubs his neck casually.
"It is so cute how protective you two are of me. Really know how to make a guy feel special."
My smile comes off more like a grimace.
"I'm glad to see you're fine. If you weren't able to make inappropriate jokes, I'd worry."
Farra scowls toward the two goons who are long gone at this point.
"Cowards. Cornering someone two on one when no one else is around."
She surprises me once again.
I see a professor out of the corner of my eye, and I wince. I didn't realize how much of an audience we'd gathered. I hope he only just joined us in the hall. It wouldn't help me if they thought I was picking fights on the first day of training.
Leo puts his arms around Farra and I as he says,"please ladies, I'm too weak to walk. I need assistance."
Farra shucks his arm off her, the cool mask of indifference sliding securely back over her face.
"No, thanks," she mutters, turning her back to us as she storms off.
Leo and I lock eyes, and I mouthdon't push. He half rolls his eyes, but nods in understanding as we walkoutside.
Cadets are all gathered in the courtyard, being called up in groups of five. It seems we're being put in the crews that we would train, eat, and develop skills with over the coming weeks. I eye the crowd, hoping I'll be put with a decent group. Anxiety creeps up my throat as I imagine all the different ways I could get screwed over here.
I'm called to a group of two men. Farra is called next, and the tension in my shoulders loosens slightly. I grin at her; I don't care what she says, it's good they're at least putting roommates together.
Another two are called to our group, and they stand off to the side. I watch the rest of the groups get put together as we wait silently before we can start introductions.
I hear Leo's name called and watch in horror as he's put in a crew with the jerk from earlier, Dex. I glance over at Farra, who's caught it too, and her lips form a tight line.
Farra steps forward and I'm terrified for a moment that she's about to confront the Captain and demand he change Leo's group, but before she has a chance, a professor comes forward. I recognize him from the assessments and from the hallway earlier. He was definitely the one watching us earlier. He spends a moment quietly whispering to the Captain, who nods, his lip curling in disgust as he listens.
"Got it, ok." He looks out over the crowd. "Solana, I'm going to have you switch with..." He looks over the crowd, and the professor leans in again, whispering something else in his ear. "I'll have you switch with Kiprick."
The first man from our team jogs over and trades with Leo, who is grinning from ear to ear now.
"I should have mentioned this earlier, but there is zero tolerance for internal cadet altercations. I am not a fucking babysitter. I shouldn't have to tell you to keep your hands and your bullshit away from one another. If any trainee is caught instigating fights, they're out, and their contracts are terminated. You'll be booted out of the city without so much as a ride. Am I clear?" Hescans the crowd, who all offer scattered confirmations. "I said am I clear? I need a yes, sir." He spits. The cadets all respond in a feverish echo ofyes,sir.
Finally, all the cadets are placed in crews and are given a moment for introductions. I turn to my crew as the first man introduces himself.
"Berkley Choser. Friends call me Berk. I'm 39, I..." He pauses, his eyebrows scrunching up as a look of utter confusion passes over features. He shakes his head, as if shaking off a bad memory, and wipes his hand over his face with a tired sigh, "Sorry, been traveling awhile. I have two kids and a wife. Here, out of desperation, I'm sure, like most of you."
His greying beard looks unkempt, his long greasy hair slicked back. The same look of exhaustion I see on most faces is etched a little harsher on him.
The next guy clears his throat, barely giving us a moment to register Berkley.
"I'm Tarius Rigby, 26, no kids or anything else of importance. Here because I had nowhere else to go."
He shrugs. It's only then that I notice how tall he is; his dark skin looks smooth and oddly unweathered. Like the dust has yet to beat him up like the rest of us. His curly black hair is cropped short. Despite his height, there isn't an ounce of muscle on him. He looks like he belongs in a lab or hospital with Linden, not here.
Leo clears his throat.
"Leo Solana, 19, middle child of five. My favourite colour is violet, and I like puzzles."
