A Soldier's Secret

Part 10

I woke in a barracks with a headache that could kill someone. I remembered running in the woods, but not coming back. It felt like a hangover, a super bad hangover. I groaned and looked for a glass of water, and I knew it would take time to recover from my midnight trip. 

I stumbled through my day, groggy and deprived of sleep. Rex and Error seemed depressed until I came into the room. They tried to talk to me, but I grumbled and slowly sipped water, watching the weather outside turn sour and cold. I shivered, and once my cup was empty, walked out to sleep again.

I wanted to climb, but someone had locked the doors and still hadn't unlocked them. The vents had been bolted tight, stopping me from going through there. It was like they had me-proofed the building. Or cat-proofed, since Snowball was nowhere to be seen either.

The barracks were empty, thankfully. I turned out the lights and crawled into my bunk, hoping the headache would subside. My eyes were closed, and my breathing slowed, but still, I didn't drift off.

"Are you sure?" Error said. 

"Nearly. The only thing I don't have is blood testing, but I doubt he'll just let me test this theory" Furn said

"True. But, Furn" Error said "He nearly shifted last night. All the signs"

"But they couldn't have replicated the effect of the panther gene!" Furn nearly shouted

"Shh!" Error hissed "I know. But of what you think is right..."

"Then he's in for more surprises" Furn finished. Who were they talking about? I don't care. I just need sleep. Just as I was drifting...My armour chafed against me, and I scowled. I hate this stuff. I know many clones sleep in their blacks, but I can't. Not unless I come out, and I don't know what happens then.

After my not-so-nap, I was posted on guard duty. I was in a position with Curry, who spent most of the time talking. Not with me, just yapping his head off to no one in particular. The guard stations had roofs, so we weren't drenched, but the rain brought bitter-cold winds and a sense of dampness that lingered. I hated it, but Curry seemed fine.

My eyes were fixed on the tree line, waiting. I had a bad feeling about today, and soon, the air went silent. Eerily silent. 

"Curry. Sound the alarm" I said "CURRY!"

"Why?" He was already sounding it. I took a potshot at the ground and ducked as four more came back at me

"BECAUSE THE UMBARANS ARE ATTACKING, YOU NITWIT!" I screamed and fired more shots over the wall as the Umbarans charged forward

"I'M NOT A NITWIT!" Curry defended himself, then fired shots over too

"Yes, you are." I snarled, and I heard reinforcements coming

"How'd you know?" He asked

"Please. The wind stopped moving the trees and shrubs. Like someone was stopping them from moving" I said, then fired more "If you'd stop yapping and listen, you'd be surprised about what you hear"

"Fair," Curry said, then fired as well. Hardcase and a few others were rushing to get to the defence positions while I couldn't even aim without getting hit. Curry rolled a bomb over to me, and I lobbed it over the wall and into their ranks. He threw one after that, and then the reinforcements started firing. It was decided after that, and they retreated quickly. Error took command, and I scowled and slinked into the back of the ranks. Curry accepted the favour of being the one to notice the attack, but he shot a glance at me before continuing to nod and talk.

Did he suspect?

I didn't change my voice

Dammit

Does he know?

I need to talk to the mute clone.

I scanned the crowd and caught a glimpse of his blue and yellow armour- next to Error. I scowled, then waited. He can't avoid me forever, I thought. 

He managed to avoid me. My first strategy was the vents, but they were still bolted. And I couldn't just stalk him, that would be weird. So I waited. I know he's partial to a specific kind of fish that comes through the kitchens, so I'll just cook some for myself and bribe him. Easy.

I slinked into the kitchen and found the fillet. Cod, from an outer rim planet. I fired it with lemon. Lots of lemons, and made sure to waft the scent everywhere. He came through the door quickly, as I dug a fork into it

"Hello," I said, then crammed the forkful into my mouth

"Give. Me. The. Fish" He said

"I'll trade you" I took another forkful "You tell me who knows about my gender, you get the fish"

"Error and Furn knew from the day they met you, I found out from our tree fight. Danger and Fox know... can't say why though, Furn knows the details with those two. Rex is dense as hell so he still doesn't know. Snowball knows, and possibly Elmar, depending on if he's still connected with the force in that way." I said, "Fish now," I handed him the plate, and he didn't even bother with a fork. He just crammed it into his mouth like a savage.

"Have a good day. And remember what I said about snitching!" I grinned, then put my helmet back on and went to the door.

"So good," He moaned "Better than Bly's. Thanks for the fish!"

I doubt he heard me. Whatever. Now I need to threaten everyone else who knows!