One Breath, One Bullet (The Borders War #1)

Part 1: The Early Years

September 2539

Merq Grayson's 16th Year

The People's Republic of Singapore-The Outposts

I pressed my eyes tightly closed, anticipating the sting of contaminated saltwater even though I wore goggles. I slowly released the air out of my lungs, a line of fine bubbles issuing from my lips, as I allowed gravity and the weights on my suit to drag me toward the ocean floor. The currents twisted lazily at first, then more insistently as I dropped deeper, the tides sweeping pockets of acidic water past me that bit at the tips of my exposed fingers and lips. I knew I would be emerging from the water with minor but tangible chemical burns in both places. Which meant I was going to complete this module as fast as I could, despite the trainers' insistence that this exercise would be repeated until I was finally broken of my habit to use my natural speed before my brain.

My rash nature would be my downfall.

At least that's what they told me.

I saw my instinct to strike fast as more of an asset than a detriment. Unfortunately, the two Peacemakers in charge of Lim2-Limitation Elimination training-didn't agree. And I didn't give a shit. It was the president, not my instructors, who would finally decide if I was fit for active duty as a Peacemaker. I had one, maybe two years of training remaining before that determination was made. Time that I believed was being wasted with me in classes instead of on the battlefield.

I, and my training class of seventeen students, had two more months of Lim2 in the Outposts of The People's Republic of Singapore, then we would head back to the States' capital for a year with Psychological Health Agents-otherwise known as PsychHAgs. For now, this island-less than a mile from north shore to south shore-was our base of operations. And it wasn't as if we were flying in and out within a day or two... Our entire Lim2 training-four months' worth-was happening here in enemy territory.

We were on an island technically within the boundaries of Singapore's vast reach, yet on the cusp of States' control. It was a risk for any Continental States soldier to be on Singaporean soil while the Borders War still raged, but that was the entire demented point of this facet of our training-to negate what we saw as boundaries. If we were discovered, we would have to fight. Regardless of the fact that none of us were officially soldiers yet and regardless that most of the trainees were sixteen years old, just like me.

While some trainees struggled with the pull between the supposed innocence of youth and being forced into adulthood in the midst of active combat, I'd never had an issue with putting childish considerations to the side. The Borders War had been my bedtime story. The sonicrifle my playtime companion.

I knew from the stories my fellow trainees told that their childhoods had been considerably different from mine. But I had no quarrel with my upbringing. The president had given me every opportunity to succeed with a goal my parents had set for me before birth. My parents were no longer a part of my life, but their expectations were a palpable weight on my shoulders, as if from thousands of miles away I could feel the touch of their hands urging me forward. But even as the thought came I realized how insane it was. I couldn't remember my parents ever hugging or touching me, let alone providing words of encouragement or strength. And the president had never taken on that role in my life either. I'd obviously been listening to the other trainees' homesick stories for much too long.

I finally opened my eyes as I descended farther into the blackness of the nighttime ocean. I'd made the mistake of diving into the water head first without any gear when we'd landed on the island, and it had been a painful error I wouldn't repeat again. Which, I supposed, was another point of Lim2. Ingraining within us the drive to act, or not act, without thought or hesitation, based solely on someone else's orders.