Iron Will

It's A Girl!

"Nicely done," General Locks said to the teams that past their tests. "You have all shown you've either excelled at your studies or your just damn lucky. For passing all your grades have been jumped to an A. Now you may all have some time off, well done."

Marcus quickly made it to the door to avoid Locks. If he came anywhere near Marcus who knows what would happen. The academy had a social area for students to get together hopefully he would lose him there. He wondered around for a few minutes until someone tapped his shoulder. Angel and the rest of the team.

"We were looking for you." Angel said. "All the teachers were congratulating us. Even your father was-"

"He's not my father." Marcus almost yelled but managed to keep his voice low. "Sorry we're not on good terms right now."

"Must be hard," Igor said. "Have a caretaker as a General in the army."

"It is," Marcus laughed. "But I can deal with it. Anyway I wanted to thank you all. Calvin you saved me from that sniper, and Angel you may have saved my life. If there's anyway I can do to repay you Angel just say it."

"For starters don't every run off alone onto the battle field even with a shield." Angel said. "You had me worried."

"Sorry about that." Marcus laughed.

"There you are." A voice called out.

Everyone turned to see Mason walking towards them. Marcus watched the man who he considered a brother coming at them with a warm smile. Does he know what General Locks, his father, had done?

"Marcus why'd you run off?"Mason asked. "Dad wanted to congratulate you himself, and you know how hard it is to just get a thank you out of him."

"Yeah," Marcus said. "I just needed time to myself. I just piloted my grandfather's Golem and I wonder if he's happy about me being a pilot."

"I'm sure he is." Locks said joining the group uninvited. "He was one damn good pilot in his prime. A war hero during the Flagon Uprising. I see his talent for piloting in you."

"Thanks." Marcus said trying to control his anger.

"Well I must get going." Locks said. "I've gotten word Colonel Takao is under attack by Union forces on the planet Ula. I'm to take my fleet and aid him and his forces."

"I'll get ready to leave sir." Mason said.

"No," Locks said. "After watching some of those pilots I've decided they need a good pilot to help teach them. You're to stay and aid Ms. Gear with her teaching."

"Understood sir." Mason said with a salute.

"Well," Locks said. "I best be on my way."

Everyone saluted the general and he left. Marcus watched him leave with his anger growing in his heart.

"Next time we met." Marcus said under his breath. "I'll make you pay."
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Marcus opened his eyes to the dark ceiling of his room. He couldn't sleep after seeing the holo recording of his grandfather's murder. Once his eyes had adjusted to the dark he made his way to the bathroom and then to the shower head. Marcus opened it and held the photo of him and his grandfather on Marcus's birthday.

"Anything new on decodings Tic?" Marcus asked.

"Only more and more government secret weapons." Tic said. "Nothing of real importance to your grandfather's case."

"Keep looking." Marcus said as a tear ran down his face on to the picture. "I have a feeling we don't know the whole story."

"I also have a feeling that if you keep digging into his murder you'll find something you wont like." Tic said.

"I didn't think robots had feelings." Marcus laughed. "Plus I know how the story ends. It ends with a guy named Locks shooting my grandfather."

"For starters I'm an advance AI who can learn and feel." Tic said.

"Okay, okay, I'm sorry. I was being a dick." Marcus said.

"Forgiven," Tic replied. "And second a story is never over unless you know it all. Until then you don't know the ending."

Suddenly there was a knock on Marcus's door. Marcus placed the photo back in its water proof bag and shoved it back in the shower head. After closing it he open the door to his room to see Angel.

"Are you okay?" Angel asked.

"Fine," Marcus said. "I'm fine why?"

"I thought I'd check up on you." Angel said. "You seemed distant today. Have you been crying."

Angel reached out and and moved Marcus's face from side to side. His eyes were red from crying so it was obvious he had been. Marcus grabbed Angel's hand and smiled.

"I'm fine," Marcus said. "Really I am. Go get back to bed before anyone sees you up pass lights out."

Angel nodded and left. At first Angel thought about asking him if he was really okay but decided to go back to bed. For some reason Angel wasn't feeling well. When Angel had left Marcus went back to bed as well, but then something kept him up. Even though they were close friends Marcus had never told Angel his room number so how could Angel have just come knocking on his door?
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The next day in Mr. Clay's class something was off. Marcus felt it the moment he got up for classes. Igor, Calvin, and Flare were all in class only Angel wasn't. Mr. Clay began roll call but stopped at Angels name after not hearing any reply.

"Anyone seen Angel?" Mr. Clay asked. "Is Angel sick?"

"I could go check the infirmary." Marcus said.

"Angel is on your team right?" Mr. Clay asked. "Fine go check and see."

"Thank you sir." Marcus said.

Marcus went to the infirmary only to fine Angel not there. Something was definitely wrong sense Angel would never skip a day. Marcus went to the principle and explained his concern. Finally after a minute of arguing he got Angel's room number and an access key, but he was to be escorted by Ms. Gear and Mason or Mr. Locks as he was to be called.

"You seem unsettled." Ms. Gear said.

"Angel doesn't skip class." Marcus said.

"Are you two close?" Mason asked. "Like keep each other warm at night naked close?"

"Angel is a Neither-sex." Marcus said.

"Ah," Mason said. "I remember a girl, well is now a girl, from my class who was a Neither-sex. She fell in love for a guy in class and thanks to a Neither-sex's strange locating powers over the one they love the guy could never hide from her. Could never play hide and seek with them ever again."

"Everything's one big joke to you." Marcus said.

"My drill Sergeant told me he would make sure I didn't have a sense of humor when he was done training me." Mason said.

"What did you say?" Gear asked.

"I told him 'Challenge Accepted'." Mason said with pride. "Had to run ten miles everyday for it, but I won."

They walked a little longer until they came to room 932. Hopefully Angel was inside, healthy, and okay. After knock with no reply they went inside. Marcus went inside to see Angel laying on the floor. Only something was different. After talking a closer look Marcus noticed what was different.

"Marcus," Mason said. "I think you should know, are it is now a she."