Squad X (a Nuzi Story)

Prologue

NORA'S POV

Prologues—because every tragic, goth heroine needs one, right? Something dramatic to kick things off. Except my story's prologue is about as thrilling as squad orientation. Welcome to my life.

I'm Nora Doorman-Elliot, eldest daughter of Uzi and N, commanders of the Copper 9 Defense Force. You'd think being the "eldest daughter" comes with all sorts of perks. It doesn't. Mostly, it's just people assuming I'm a gothic hardass who scares away potential lovers with sarcasm and bad eyeliner.

Case in point, I'm stuck in a lounge with my new squad, trying to pretend like I'm really here for the "bonding experience." Lessa, my cousin and the only person I actually know here, is lazily scrolling through her tablet, already checked out.

"So, this is it?" Yasmine, one of my new squadmates, says as she plops down into a chair. She's got that sharp look in her eyes, like she's already figuring out where she ranks in the group. "Where's the action?"

Katina snorts, lounging back in her seat like she's at a spa. "Action? More like gossip central. Come on, anyone here have a tragic love life to share? Spill."

I roll my eyes, leaning back against the couch. "You're looking at it. My love life is basically dead on arrival. Seriously, if I had a penny for every guy who turned out to be insufferable or a total moron... well, I'd have a lot of pennies."

Lessa grins, shooting me a look. "That's because you terrify most guys before they even get close. That 'gothic badass' thing you've got going on? Intimidating."

"Right," I say dryly. "Because 'intimidation' is my main goal."

Before I can fire off more sarcasm, the door to the lounge slides open, and in walks trouble on legs.

Tate. Tall, arrogant, with the kind of smirk that makes you want to either slap it off his face or... something else entirely. His eyes sweep the room before locking onto me, and he swaggers over like he's already the star of this whole situation.

"Well, well," Tate says, his voice dripping with confidence. "If it isn't the infamous Nora. I've heard about you."

I stare at him, trying my best not to show any reaction. "And I haven't heard about you, so I guess we're even."

He chuckles, leaning in a little closer than necessary, his smirk growing. "I'm Tate. Leader of Squad V3. Thought I'd come by and see what all the fuss was about."

"Fuss?" I raise an eyebrow, refusing to give him the satisfaction of seeing me flustered. "You're gonna have to try harder if you're trying to impress me."

"Oh, I'm not trying... yet." He winks, and before I can even come up with a witty comeback, he pulls something from his pocket—a small piece of paper. He holds it out to me, his eyes glinting with amusement. "My number. Just in case you need... backup."

I feel my face heat up. Damn it. Not now. Why do I have to blush? I snatch the paper from his hand, more flustered than I care to admit. "I think I can manage just fine without your help, thanks."

"Sure you can," Tate says, his smirk turning smug as he steps back. "But, you know... keep it. You never know when you'll need a real challenge."

I roll my eyes, stuffing the paper into my pocket, hoping no one notices how red my face is. "Thanks, but I don't need your help or your 'challenges.'"

Tate grins, clearly enjoying himself way too much. "We'll see. I'm sure we'll be seeing a lot of each other, Nora."

With one last look, he saunters out of the room, leaving me standing there—still red in the face, paper in my pocket, and my squadmates staring at me like I'm the latest episode of a soap opera.