Ichor

Commander (Part I)

Year 13 - Commander
Planet Primae

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"Commander! Commander Ichor!" Mason shouted. "Wait up!"

Percy had been Commander for about two years now, but it had been thirteen years since he first arrived on Planet Primae. Mason Feal had been his bunkmate (briefly), then his roommate (less briefly), and was now his second in command as general of the Alpha (A) Division.

There were twenty-four divisions, one for each letter of the Greek alphabet. The order didn't matter much because all soldiers were randomly assigned, except for the A Division and the Omega (Ω) Division. The former was always under the direct command of the Chaos Commander—if there was one—and their second. The Commander oversaw the entire army and worked closely with the other division generals as well as Chaos. The latter division always housed the medics of the army. They were the last line in battle but the first line after it. Their healing skills would either mean your death or your survival. Needless to say, you didn't mess with the Ω Division unless you wanted to die.

General Mason Feal was Percy's right-hand man. They survived through many battles together, won many wars together. Mason was from Planet Em, proudly known for their empaths. The people on that planet trained their natural abilities to sense emotions. Most could only tune into one emotion and were able to detect the degree of its presence or lack thereof in a person or group of people. Mason was unique in that he could sense three quite easily—anxiety, confusion, and fear. Mason practiced his hand in curbing those emotions. He was able to reduce anxiety, pinpoint confusion, and taper fear. Technically, he could curb them the other way too, but to do so on Em was punishable by death. Plus, Mason felt it morally wrong to participate in such manipulation. These qualities made him a great leader.

"What is it Feal?" Percy answered, not faltering in his step. "I'm trying to find Faren. He told me he chose his second."

"That's what I came to tell you. Andrew is in the General's Lounge waiting with the new major. Marissa and Darleen are there too. So is Derek."

Percy stopped walking when he realized he was headed the wrong way.

"Derek? As in Major Lance?"

"The one and only," Mason replied with an audacious grin. "But I hear he's putting in a transfer request to the strategy department."

"Why?" Percy wondered uninterestedly as they changed directions and headed towards the General's Lounge.

Mason donned an unimpressed look. "'Why?' Seriously? Because you practically embarrassed him in front of all of his superiors."

Percy scoffed. "He wasn't made to be a warrior. He's a clever man, but can't wield a weapon to save his life. And it's not just his life on the line when he leads his soldiers. How'd he even pass training?"

Mason shook his head in resignation. "He was never as bad as you say. You just don't like him because he's egotistical."

"Well, his ego almost got an entire platoon killed. Excuse me for not wanting someone like that calling the shots."

"I'm not saying I disagree," Mason amended. "I was merely pointing out that it wasn't just his below standard—your extremely high standard, mind you—fighting ability."