Mist

Training pays off

I’m shaken repeatedly and told to get up. I stand and growl at them. They’re both astonished and one of them says, “It’s time for orientation.” I glare at him, then nod and walk with them to the north side of the base. We make our way through a hanger where huge aircrafts dot the room, but most of the room is empty space where aircrafts used to sit. Off to get a better life, I guess.

I’m lead into a room where a whole crowd of people I sorta recognize are all sitting in a circle. I find a place and join them. A woman dressed in a red general coat walks out, metal lining her chest and arms as well as a huge knife at her side. She looks around and gives a boring speech that doesn’t give me any inspiration but people cheer still. She ends saying, “Welcome to the Redcoat training. You have all met the physical and emotional requirements, so you're ready for training. Good luck, I'll meet you in the hanger tomorrow.” I clap with everyone else and we start to leave the building.

I am slightly sad I won't be able to have the sleeping schedule I had as a “civilian”, but as I’m walking outside a man stops me. The same man who spoke to all the civilians when I got to the base, He is good looking man with a nice smile and kind eyes. He shakes my hand and tells me “Hey bud, I am your sargent to help you to kick these butts my name is Amicus, dont worry I will give more inspirational speeches then that general.” He pats me on the back and does a very obvious fake laugh. “See you when the sun of mist is about the shine.”

    The next day, right at dawn, me and 200 nervous soldiers-to-be wait patiently for orders. We’re told to report to our Sergeants, so I find Amicus talking with eight other men. He gives us a relatively easy workout, but the workout keeps going. It didn't stop, oh lord it does not stop. Amicus looks at us and I can tell he doesn't want to say, “Do it again,” because he isn't cruel, the Redcoat boot camp curriculum is.

After we were dead from exhaustion, he lead us into a room. “This week, I got word from my superior that I'm in charge of 200 soldiers, and I'm supposed to teach you both Redcoat techniques and simple battle training.” Two types of training. I don't think my little heart can take it. He continues, “Now, we know each of your skill sets from the initial simulation. According to Redcoat policy... none of you can join. The highest score in this room didn't even qualify. But we don't need a Redcoat soldier, we need a soldier with Redcoat techniques.”

I take a moment to look around the room. Red armor lines the walls. Strange guns and equipment fill the gaps. A sole red tank has the word “HELIOS” spread across it. I focus back on Amicus. “After every battle you take part in, you should see a White Room. They will take those war jitters out, and if you are wounded or poisoned or um get a disease, just know that almost anything can be treated on the battlefield, so long as you make it back to the infirmary. So, yeah... I'm done you guys can go to lunch.“ his inspirational speeches has been lacking.

    Training is not a beautiful thing. It’s only simulations and aggressive workouts.. After training, Amicus has us play a game of hide and seek in the pitch dark. I’m the worst seeker.

    I’ve trained for three months at the base no battles, no reinforcements just a group of people who only know Amicus. Mist is still under invasion and space is still being fought over. The Vendettas have been sighted on the eastern side of the planet. Today is normal. I train with the squad, we go through a simulation, and suddenly I get logged out. I wake up look around. Amicus is yelling inaudibly in my face. I realize what he’s saying:

“Oh sweet god almighty! Listen to me! Vendettas and Unity are attacking each other and we are right in the middle. They both hate humans. Get to your feet and follow me!” I listen and follow him. The ground shakes and dust falls. The lights are off as we sprint down a white hallway. He shows me to a room where the door says