MARIEL

5~ Confused ~

The lights in the warehouse seemed extremely bright today. The illumination screamed into her eyes and caused her head to throb. Her eyelids felt heavy, her body felt weak and sore, and her patience was running thin.

Tira Arcelin could no longer deny that she felt exhausted. This dulled her heightened senses. Her sight. Smell. Hearing. Quick processing and decision making skills. Just as Agent 4 needed nutritious foods and intense exercise, she needed sleep. She needed a recovered body... a focused mind.

And, Agent 4 needed to stop thinking about Esther Caravan.

Last night's events sprinted through her mind, merged with thoughts of work and duty, and swirled like a hurricane. It was dizzying. Tira knew that she needed time to dissect each thought, approach each one with a logical view and solution. However, right now, it was necessary to focus on the ten recruits that squatted in the isometric hold she'd demanded them to do. It was very hard, however, because three specific thoughts continued to yank Agent 4 from her normal element of clarity.

Why was it a kill chip?

Had she just committed treason for an idiotic American woman named Esther Caravan?

Also, why couldn't Tira stop fantasizing about fucking that breathtaking, but annoying, woman against her bedroom door?

'Help me forget about... loving him.'

As she paced back and forth, eyeing the recruits, Tira winced at the memory. The reaction was unexpected, and it only intensified her fatigue-related moodiness. Agent 4 missed the days when she could understand the thoughts in her mind with organized and concise clarity. Everything about Esther Caravan confused her now, and she despised the feeling of confusion.

Tira stopped before Recruit Thompson. His large body quivered from the squat position in which he sat, sweat rolled over his determined face, and he turned his eyes to meet Tira's.

"Recruit Thompson," Tira said, slowly. "Did I order you to look at me?"

Thompson stared at her with hateful eyes.

With a hiss, Tira raised her leg and slammed her boot against the center of his chest.

"Umph!" The force sent him flying backwards as he gasped for air. Landing on his back, he groaned, and his body slid across the turf.

"Get up," Tira said, calmly, and then turned to face the other recruits. "I was going to release you from this position. However, Recruit Thompson decided against it, so you will remain in perfect form while I disclose some important information regarding the last month of your education here. Understood?"

"Yes, ma'am."

"Excellent." Tira returned her steely, green eyes to Recruit Thompson. "Oh, it's alright, Thompson, please take your time returning to formation."

The recruit staggered back, his face red, and returned to the squat position next to his comrades. As he placed his hands behind his head and lowered his body, he stared fiercely past Tira's intimidating stature. His upper lip quivered.

Again, Tira walked down the line, assessing everyone's form. She stopped before Recruit Eric Carter, eyed him, and then pushed him lower. She stopped before Recruit Gregory Abbots, assessed his pale, boyish face, and then roughly adjusted his shoulders so that they were straight.

"You have one more month before graduation and assignment," Tira snapped, adjusting the hips of Recruit Jennifer Chavez, popping Chavez on the cheek when the recruit dared to look at her. "You are all messy." Tira moved to the next recruit and straightened the uniform. "Distracted."