Stormtrooper

3

"Rift, you're up."

I look up from my datapad as Hertz walks in, removing his helmet. "What?"

"Don't play dumb, it's your shift so get out there." I flash him a grin before donning my helmet. I pick up my blaster rifle along the way out, quickly checking the charge.

It's been two weeks since the final exam. We passed, and just last week we were assigned to the 35th Infantry.

It's been a long week of hasty introductions, but I think I'm finally getting to know everyone.

I head out to the sniper nest up on the wall, where my partner is waiting. Tonight, it's Nat, I think.

Nat is one of the few females in the entire battalion, and made fast friends with Jean. Otherwise, I think we'll have to earn her friendship.

As I approach, my HUD confirms that it is Nat, reading off her uniform. I drop in wordlessly beside her.

"So you're fresh outta boot, eh?" I grimace, but nod. That's how we'll be known, I guess. "Rift, if you remember."

She merely nods and returns to scan the treeline. I heft my rifle up beside her and start doing the same thing.

"So how old are you?" I ask to pass the time. She snorts. "Take a guess."

"Somewhere around sixty, I bet." She lets out a sharp bark of laughter. "You're a funny one. The last funny guy we had got himself killed three months ago."

I don't know how to respond to that, so I keep quiet. She sighs softly. "I'm twenty-two, and I don't mind funny guys. Just stay alive, will you?"

"Sure can do, ma'am." I turn and mock salute her. She chuckles softly. "Keep yourself around and I might just get used to you."

I chuckle and return to scanning the treeline. It's a start, at least.

The rest of my watch passes uneventfully, the Rebels seem content to give us some time to adjust. I'm just grateful for the break.

There were two other veterans we met that week. There was Nemo, who damaged his voice fighting Rebels. He stutters a lot, it makes him bitter and resentful. Then there'sCiv, who, I hear, is one of the original clones who founded the Stormtrooper Corps.

Out of all of us, Civ was definitely the most senior. He seemed content to let others take the lead, however, and had been fairly friendly to us newbies. Nemo, on the other hand, had been pretty much outright hostile. He resented our presence and made it known.

There's a light tap on my shoulder, and I look up to see Doc. "Your shift's over, get some sleep," he rumbled. I nod, half-drowsy.

I encountered nary a soul as I trudged back to the barracks. Even as I changed and got ready to sleep, it was deathly silent.

My mind was half asleep by the time I got under the covers, and I dropped off to sleep almost immediately.

*********

"Get up, Rift. We're being rotated out of here."

I open my bleary eyes to Chaffy shaking my shoulder. He's already fully dressed, his helmet gripped in his other hand.

I groan and shrug him off. "I'm awake, I'm awake," I say as I sit up and dangle my feet over the side of the bed.

"Well it's about time. Get ready, the CO wants us for briefing at oh six hundred." With that, he turns and leaves the room.

I glance at the clock on the wall, I barely have half an hour. I bet everyone else is ready to go, which means I better hurry.

Twenty minutes later, here I am, fully dressed and ready to roll. And I was right, by the way.

I was the last one out of bed this morning.

The others, luckily for me, are exactly where I guessed they would be. And so is...

"TK-254, how lucky of you to join us," drawled a voice behind me.

I turn to face our another stormtrooper, several inches taller than I am. The orange pauldron on his shoulder told me exactly how much trouble I was in.

"Sir, reporting for duty!"

I snap to attention and salute the captain, who chuckles darkly. I can feel the eyes of my squadmates boring a hole in my back. Especially Chaffy's.

"Get back in line," he snaps. Its tempting, but I bite back  a response. Instead, I nod and march smartly into my position in the ranks.

There is a time and place for picking fights. Picking one in front of the entire battalion is definitely not the smartest idea.

"Alright, moving on. The 35th is being called in to assist in the recapture of Sullust. We will be working alongside multiple other legions so be on your best behaviour."

I roll my eyes at that, but as if he can sense it, his eyes flicker towards me. On the bright side, I'll get to see some real action. That's all I need to know.

For the rest of his magnanimous speech, I just tune out. As far as I can tell, it's the same old crap Lamar was spewing two weeks ago, so no harm done.

In my mind, I can just imagine what battling on the frontlines'll be like. Mind you, I didn't join the Stormtrooper Corps because of some loyalty to the Empire. I joined for the ride, and because there was no way my marks were ever going to take me anywhere.

"TK-254, would you like to elaborate on that?"