The Program [COMPLETED]

Chapter Nineteen

"Where is all the fresh blood for this Unit?" Virgil complained. "I mean, fair enough, Maddox and Eden are gone now, but where are all the new recruits?" He propped his legs up on the table, shoveling a large forkful of grits into his mouth. 

"I agree. We could use a replacement for you, Virgil. There's an opening at the infer's table," Jayda offered, gesturing to the furthest table in the dining hall. She shoved Virgil's feet off the table. 

Aiden smiled and took a bite of his morning eggs. "Aw, lay off him, Jay. He hasn't had a girlfriend in ages."

Aiden and his friends sat together in the dining hall, eating their breakfast as they normally did on any average day. It had been a long two weeks of laying restlessly in the Medical Bay for Aiden. He'd known that the only way for him to heal quickly was to allow himself to accept the treatment from Dr. Bryden without protest. Now, nearly four and a half months later, he had fully returned to service, healthy and fit for duty. Zariah had just as equally healed from her injuries, and things seemed to be back in full swing in Second Unit. The cities affected by the nano-tech all those months ago were making full recoveries, and with the help of Consignment Days, it looked as thought they were cleaning up rather nicely. There had been no rebel activity in Second Unit's sector, and things were looking quiet for the soldiers of Second Unit. 

"It's agonizing, really," Virgil groaned dramatically, still on the topic of his relationship status.

"Hmm, maybe he's right," Zariah pointed her fork in Virgil's direction. "Obviously the boy must have some decent level of self control if he's been able to hold out this long."

"I think he's just more angry that you resisted his winning charm," Rania reminded her. Rania's emerald eyes were passive, polite. It wasn't much, but at least Rania's attitude was gradually improving towards Zariah. Baby steps, he supposed. Aiden smiled slightly.

"You'll never guess what I heard," Theo's eyes glittered with sudden interest. Jayda stopped playing with her butter knife and looked at him, while the rest of Aiden and his friends turned their attention to Theo in curiosity. 

"Xylem's back, again. He's never shown up this many times in a year before. Usually twice, if we're lucky, but he's visited five times now, and for pretty long periods of time. There are lots of rumors going around. People are saying something big is about to happen."

Aiden frowned. Something big? Like what? He remembered what Roman had said back in the Official Outpost, regarding the entire nation rising up. Tension clawed at Aiden's stomach. Was Creatan at risk of being thrown into all out war? It was impossible. The Program had been made to prevent wars, not start them. Roman had mentioned the massive strain in Creatan's government system, but was it so severe that it had to be settled in combat?

"I don't like it," Jayda muttered. "I don't like it one bit."

"Me neither," Aiden agreed. "But Xylem hasn't talked about why he's here exactly?"

"Nope," Theo replied uneasily. "Colonel Asphodel's nervous though. You can see it written all over her face." Virgil opened his mouth to say something, but was interrupted by an Official entering the dining hall. 

"Attentions, soldiers!" the Official shouted from the entrance of the hall. His uniform was neat and regal-looking, but Aiden thought it was a poor attempt at hiding his true intentions. "General Xylem has requested an important assembly in the Foyer at oh-ten-hundred hours today. This is a mandatory ceremony. All recruits must be in attendance. Those who fail to arrive will be punished under the highest severity offered by the Program. Act wisely, for a soldier who is not disciplined will never be capable of disciplining his enemy. That is all."