Saving Earth.

Chapter 3

Training started the next morning with Marcus and Auggie meeting in the hallway outside the forbidden zone, or “the zone” as it was known to all. Located on the far end of the dome access was limited to few. Many stories about what took place back there were widely spread throught the community. Some said it was a private dwelling for the ruling class and kept “secret” to protect their lavish way of life. Others believed it was an experimental laboratory where humans were brought. Yet others thought it was a laboratory where experiments were carried out on their own kind. Marcus knew the truth and had never heard rumors of work on weapons before.

“What do you think it'll be like?” Marcus asked Auggie.

“How would I know?” He still wasn't as happy as Marcus about the new developments.

“You need to relax a little. I'm not going to spend the next thirty or forty years listening to you gripe and whine.” Auggie straighten up and stepped closer to Marcus. While he was shorter than Marcus he was stockier, thicker,  stronger.

“You'll listen to me for as long as I say you'll listen to me, understand?” said Auggie through gritted teeth.  Marcus was in no mood for Auggie today he was too excited about the adventure that was coming.

“Lets get this straightened out right now. I'm not taking orders from you, understand.” Auggie inched closer.

“You will take orders from me, I'm senior.”

“You're one year older I'm not going to listen to you try and boss me around because some quirk of fate allowing you to be born first.” They stood toe to toe both glaring into the eyes of the others. Neither of them was going to back down. The warrior blood boiled in both of them, hands curled into fists.

“That's enough boys.” A slight built man was standing just outside the sliding door that led to the zone. Auggies's blood was on fire and he wasn't ready to end the feud.

“And who might you be little man?” Auggie turned and stood nose to nose with the intruder.

“I am your teacher, young man and I will thank you to take a step back.”

“And if I don't?” The slender teacher, using only his right index finger, poked Auggie in the chest. Auggie let out a puff of air as though he'd been hit with a hammer. As Auggie bent at his waist the man poked him behind the left ear. Auggie screamed in pain and dropped to his knees.

“There I think our first lesson went well don't you boys?” Marcus nodded his head as though it were attached to a swivel. He'd never seen anything like it. This small, almost petite, man had defeated one of the strongest boys in the community with his one finger.  “Mr. Augustine do you have any questions?”

Auggie was still trying to catch his breath and deal with the pain he simply nodded his head.

“My name is Optimus Magister. But you may call me Mr. Magister.”

“Yes sir,” Auggie managed to squeak out, Marcus just nodded again.

“Lets go inside and get to work then.” They walked through the doors and both boys stopped to look around.  The hallways were cut lined with rock that was the outer shell for their dome. The floors were polished but nothing more than rock also. It was exactly like were they lived.

“Ah, I see that you were expecting something more, lets say ornate? Something special?”

“It's just like the halls that we walk in.” Said Marcus.

“And why did you think it would be some special?” Asked Mr. Magister.

“Because it's shut off from the rest of the population. It's special back here, but its not.” Marcus couldn't keep the disappointment out of his voice.