Pheonix : City of Flames

1 ~Day One Begins

The day my life began, was the day I finally received my letter. No, not one inviting me to Hogwarts, as much I would have liked it to be, but a letter informing me of my future post and whom I would serve as my Commander. I would fulfil my duties, rising in the military hierarchy from training to leading my soldiers in the heat of a battle many years from then. That day was the day I began my journey.

It's a miserable, hazy morning in mid-April. There are grey clouds looming over the tall, dark buildings of Phoenix, Arizona. The cold breeze is slowly moving the clouds so they conceal the sun's rays from the city. I find myself slumped on the edge of my ratty, old couch with our fawn Great Dane, Rogue's head laying on my lap. My older brother, Robb is in his cramped bedroom, sitting ruggedly on his bed with his laptop, messaging his Commander, enquiring about his new recruits as the next term of training is approaching. I can just hear the keys tapping as he concentrates hard on questioning his superior on his next group of beginners. I sigh, exhausted and glance at the time on the Military Advanced Unit on the wall. Another twelve minutes until our post arrives.

The Unit is a projected, smart display which we use to receive our orders and see where and when we have to meet up with our leaders if there is an emergency or if we are called out on a mission. It also shows basic stuff such as the time, temperature, weather forecast and a map of everyone we are affiliated with. The entire population of the city is tagged with a tracking, microchip when they are born. The unique code within the chip is immediately registered on the cities military database. Every soldier high up in the hierarchy gains access to the maps and tracking systems through the M.A.U. Regular soldiers have the Standard Unit which can only give orders and tell the time. Our Unit gets updated on a daily basis, never crashes or glitches, and it always tells the truth. Not something I am known for, however, my brother is honoured for having never withheld the truth from his superiors. Even when they taunt him about our past, as a test of will strength, he never hides a word. I don't thank him for that.

I'm happy for him, though, he worked so hard to get where he is now, Captain of a great number of recruits every few years. He trains them, teaches them and disciplines them so they are fit to be presented as soldiers to Commander Hale. She is the toughest, strictest Commander out there and she prides herself to be the most superior female in the Arizona Military. It is said that she passed her Trial with only two mistakes, she swore she would never make them again.  Commander Hale does not take her position lightly and jabs at anyone who doubts her word. Robb doesn't fear her although a great many do. She favours his truthfulness and trusts him to carry out her every order.

My head spins round when I hear the mail crashing to the doormat. Rogue's ears perk up. He stands up, shakes himself off and trots over to the front door. I jog after him, smiling like an idiot, waiting to find my name on an envelope for once. I kneel down and scoop up five envelopes. Four are for Robb but the last one I see is mine. I immediately know what its contents are and a grin spreads over my cheeks.

I shout through the flat to Robb, "Mails here!" I wait for a second. Silence. "Come on! Don't you want to know if I've been landed with you?" We would always joke and bet if Robb would get me as one of his new recruits as there was a 50% chance that would happen because we are siblings. He never wanted that to happen so I could be more independent, but he always said that it would mean he could keep an eye on me almost all the time. The only time he wouldn't see me was if he got called to a special meeting or if he had to go out on a quick mission.

I shout again, "Hurry up!" He groans and emerges from his zone of concentration. He appears through his door in a black tank top and burgundy sweatpants with his dark hair shaggy and unbrushed over his face, his hair hanging down over his scar. As soon as he is out of his room and lays eyes on me, he cracks a cocky lopsided smirk and laughs and tackles me on the sofa for a play-fight. Rogue barks and wags his tail with his tongue out, standing tall as though he could join in with the fun. I laugh and shove Robb off, desperate to read my letter.