Subordinance

Chapter Eight

Chapter Eight

It’s later the next evening that our AirTram finally pulls into Kappa’s main station in the first Quadrant Wing. My stomach is a broiling mess, churning with two days’ worth of powdered meals and stale water. When the view through the window finally settles into a fixed image, I heave a heavy sigh of relief and relax against the foam-padded bench I’ve been stuck in for the past two days. It’s just past six o’clock in the evening, the greyish sky over the horizon shot through with bands of red and gold, turning the sunset into wildfire.

“Oh, thank Delta,” Rho mutters queasily, sagging against the bench and dragging a palm across her pale cheeks. The rest of the Subordinates on the train stumble forward as the doors slide open, bracing themselves against benches sporting various shades of the same pasty complexion. I make my way out of the AirTram, swaying on the station platform just slightly. A man with a rectangular face and a similar stocky build stands slightly in front of the platform, his back to the main lobby of the Quadrant Wing.

Stepping off of the train, I can already see the difference from Sigma. The aura of the room gives off a nervous, hectic kind of energy that seems to teeter on the precipice of order and chaos. The Subordinates rushing around wear one of two faces: a tired, slightly depressed look that screams they’ve given up, or a dutiful set to their features accompanied by a frantic light in their eyes that wordlessly communicates the burden they carry. The man in front of us, though, is an exception; he carries neither one alone but both, with a devoted expression and humorous eyes that hint at moments the same agitated light the others have. Once we are all gathered in front of him in a queasy and pasty pack, he cracks a wry sort of smile.

“Looks like you have all enjoyed your first exposure to ration packets,” he begins, his gaze sweeping over us. Our nauseated groan in response produces a chuckle. “That was on purpose, you know. Being a border Regiment, we too frequently have shortages in food and power, so those ration packets come in handy. As well, if you end up being stationed in a position like a Scout or a Foot Soldier, you absolutely need to be able to survive days on end on nothing but your ration packets.” The nausea that had just begun to subside now makes a return, churning in full swing at the thought of days of nothing but powdered meals.

“Nasty powders aside, I want to welcome you all to the Kappa Regiment and congratulate you on your final rankings, which you all did well on. In just a moment, you will be given your Quadrants and Sectors; although your Divisions will be determined by the positions you are ultimately assigned. For now, you can pick a random bunk on your Sector’s floor and crash there until it is decided.” Some weak fist-bumps are exchanged along with a few mediocre-looking high fives of those looking forward to rooming together. “Once you are assigned your Quadrants, your Quadrant Officers will be giving you a tour of your Quadrant Wing, although it is most likely near identical to what you are used to at your old Base.” A few nods here and there, another groan or two thrown in for fun. A girl not too far away from me holds a greenish pallor to her skin and looks as if she might spill at any moment. I try to subtlety sidle away from her, edging towards the inner ring of the group. The Quadrant Officer then produces a small screen from the inside of his pack, pulling up a file before clearing his throat. The Officers in the crowd ring out around him, forming a half-moon shape that encircles the group.

“Quadrant One with me, and these are your old coordinates, remember, is 2.Sigma.22.3.1.6, 2.Sigma.13.4.2.2, 2.Sigma.6.4.1.18, as well as…” he continues to rattle off the remaining names in his Quadrant, the numbers blurring together not too long after the seventh or eighth name and sounding like a long, jumbled number until he finishes on the final name. He hands off the screen and then steps back, pulling his new Quadrant along with him and turning around a corner to begin their tour. The next girl in the line of Officers steps forward, tugging at her auburn ponytail in a nervous gesture before beginning. She, once again, drones on in hesitant clips the coordinates of her Quadrant before taking them from the group and splitting off to do the tour in that Quadrant.