The Program [COMPLETED]

Chapter Twenty

Aiden still hadn't grown accustomed to his new bunk.

The bed was oddly firm, the bathroom was empty and spacious, the closet was far too big and when he breathed in, the air smelled of chemical cleaners and soap. He even had a balcony overlooking the forest surrounding Second Unit. Despite all the new space and luxury he found himself in, Aiden missed the cramped quarters of his old bunk. He wasn't used to all this extra space. His new bunk made him feel small in comparison. His former living quarters had offered him just the right amount of space he needed to complete his day to day activities. He hadn't needed anything more than that.

When he'd first entered his new bunk, it took him a moment to adjust. It was huge in comparison to the other bunks he'd been in, and had ornate furnishing rather than the Program standard furniture supplied in the other recruit's bunks. A brand new Colonel's uniform was folded neatly on the snowy white blankets of his bed, the deep navy color starkly contrasting with the rest of his bunk. The move had been easy. Aiden didn't have many personal belongings other than his toiletries and some clothes. He noticed after sorting through the closet drawers and beginning the organizational process in his new bunk that Xylem had even gone as far as to provide him with new clothes, that were durable, yet comfortable. It was the only gift of his promotion that he truly appreciated. Aiden didn't mind settling for what he had before. His new home made him feel almost... lonely.

Aiden changed into fresh nightclothes and crawled into his bed. He tossed and turned for a while, fighting to find a comfortable position. He sighed in frustration, giving up and staring blankly at the ceiling. His old bed had been slept in for nearly twelve years straight. His new one was rigid and not yet worn, making Aiden's sleep restless and uncomfortable. He flopped onto his stomach in agitation.

He chose to take his mind off of his discomfort by reminiscing in the day's events. Following Xylem's assembly, Aiden, Virgil, Theo, Jayda, Rania and Zariah had decided to celebrate his and Virgil's promotions by helping them move into their new bunks. Colonel Asphodel had cleared all of their schedules for the rest of the day so that they could focus on spending it as they pleased. Aiden was grateful for Colonel Asphodel's generosity. She may have been a close associate of Xylem, but Aiden knew the woman was an honest soldier. He wasn't sure what Asphodel's opinions of Xylem were, exactly, but Aiden strongly believed that she was a good person.

Once Aiden and Virgil had been settled into their new quarters, the six of them had gathered in Virgil's bunk for their own little party. They'd shared stories and discussed old memories about how they met each other and the small practical jokes they'd played on each other in the past. Zariah laughed at all the appropriate times, and even added in her own witty comments when the opportunity arose. Aiden was happy for her. It seemed that she had finally settled into her new home, and was becoming more and more confident in being an active member in their group. They spent the day snacking on food items they'd stolen from the dining hall, which Aiden had initially objected to.

"Lighten up, Aiden," Virgil had grinned. "We're Colonels now. We're allowed to have a little bit of fun!"

Rania, as it turned out, was a remarkable thief. She was small enough to squeeze her way through other soldiers and sneak food out of the dining hall undetected. Aiden enjoyed spending the full day with his friends, and it felt good to be around them. Sometimes, all six of them were so busy that they rarely had time to see one another during the day. Aiden didn't have any recollection of his previous life, but he figured that even if he did, his friends were the closest thing he really had to a family now. He would do whatever it took to protect his friends, even if it meant sacrificing himself to ensure their safety.

Aiden allowed himself to fall asleep on that happy note. His bed still refused to be comfortable, but he didn't care. He closed his eyes, submitting to a night of restless, dreamless slumber.