Together

Chapter 22★Amy

The voyage only lasts for another month. This ship was faster than the IF anticipated. The crew opens up some port-side window shutters and allow us to watch the docking procedure. I see long metal arms extending, reaching up to grab our ship and set us down safely. Eros has enhanced gravity, this was stated in the logs I read before leaving Battle School. I'm so caught up watching the machinery that I don't register much information about the surface, or the fact that almost everyone else left fifteen minutes into the procedure. Tom, Bean, Wolf, and Hot Soup are still standing at nearby windows, watching the surface just as intently as I was watching the docking machinery.

I turn my attention to the surface, and note that all of Eros' city is underground, except for the ports and docking equipment. Not many people are wandering around either, but this is due to high surface temperatures from the nearby star and low levels of surface oxygen. The crew informed us of this before docking commenced. The Formics built the underground city of Eros, humans killed them and made the tunnels their home and forward station for attacking the Formics.

★★★

The crew show us to a gym, and tell us to wait here for further orders. Ten minutes later, a major walks in. One of his aides calls for attention on deck. We all pull to attention and the major surveys us.

"At ease," he calls after two or three minutes of silence. A loud thump resounds around the room as we all relax.

"My name is Major Jameson. I'm in charge of your overall studies until your commander..." he trails off, thinking carefully about his next words. "Arrives," he decides aloud. "Now, where are the "toon," as I believe they were called, toon leaders?" Petra, Bean, and all of the others step forward. All in all, there are three dozen. Many that I don't recognize. They must have come in the first launch, and entered the gym when Major Jameson did.

"Very good. You lot," Jameson gestures to the toon leaders, "will be trained on a different schedule than the rest of you. Follow Colonel Rackham." A shadowed figure steps out. Mazer Rackham. Legendary pilot who won the Second Formic War. The toon leaders follow him in various states of shock and awe.

"The rest of you will begin studies tomorrow. Use your desks to map your route. Schedules will be assigned tonight. Dismissed."

"Sir, yes sir!" One of Jameson's aides steps forward.

"I'll take you to the bunkrooms. After that you're on your own." She turns and struts off down the hall. Those of us near the front jog in a pathetic attempt to keep up with her. She leads us around several corners, and down some corridors before arriving at a large bunkroom.

"This is for the boys. Bathrooms are down the hall, to your left, first door on your left." They nod and start choosing bunks. Wu, the aide's name badge reads, turns sharply on her heel and strides off down the corridor. The few girls there are race to keep up with her twists and turns, until Wu stops abruptly and we almost run into her.

A much smaller bunkroom lies to our left, and a bathroom to our right. Wu nods, and takes off down the hall. Wolf and I look at each other, and then at the other three girls here, then begin choosing bunks.