A Goode Life

Chapter 6

"Have you told your parents that we're not in regular class?" asked one of Grant's classmates.

"What good would that do?" Grant replied.

"You don't have an honest relationship with your parents? Don't you want them to help you out?" asked his classmate.

"Shut up, I'm trying to code here," Grant said. They resumed working on their gadget projects after the short break.

"You're here because you have been found guilty of accessing information you didn't have clearance for. Do you understand?" said the military teacher. "That's why you're here, consider it a responsibility and a privilege." Viewing the Views was apparently something limited to people with higher access. He didn't know at the time, but his gadgets have been coded with access-hacking technology. It was probably Brad's doing. But that's what allowed him to use the View in the first place. What he found was top secret. Odd, considering its wide use in the party.

"From this point forward you're all junior cadets and will not be doing normal coursework. Instead, you will hereby be under military training in reconnaissance and spyware. Are we clear?" said the military teacher. "To which you reply, 'Sir yes sir.'"

"Sir yes sir," the junior cadets said. Whatever this program was about, it was rooted in coding. That's what they've been doing all day since school began. There was no running or hiding. They had to learn to code or risk having the circumstances of their being there revealed to their parents. Right now, they had the privilege to tell their parents that they've been specially selected for an elite academic program. It was an elite program, so that part wasn't a lie. Grant heard that all the regular stream kids are just drawing right now.

It's not that he thinks that those kinds of activities are beneath him. He just knew there was so much work that they could be doing from the get-go. So, he was glad he broke the rules, though unknowingly. He had Brad to thank for the opportunity he unwittingly gave him. He would serve a purpose right out of his infancy.

"You really haven't said anything to your parents?" the same classmate asked.

"Yeah and you have?" asked Grant.

"I told them exactly what they said I could tell them," he said. "They're proud of me. I'm sure you'll get the same reaction too."

"I don't really care about that. I just want to be useful."

For a few hours every day, they were given free time on their gadgets to work on personal projects. Grant already had a bunch of personal projects lined up. From designing a website to creating subroutines, he had many computer projects in mind. He was probably the most knowledgeable in tech out of all the kids in his year. He had a bright future here. In fact, he saw himself becoming a master spy.

"The master sergeant would like to speak with you," said their military teacher. "Report to the main office."

"Master sergeant!"

"At ease, junior cadet," said the master sergeant. "I hear you're at the top of your class, and class has barely started."

"I don't know, I'm just doing what I'm asked, sir."

"Keep it up and we'll raise your rank in a few months."

"I won't let you down."

"Dismissed junior cadet."

He was beaming as he went back to class. He was grinning from ear to ear. He thought, 'Top of the class. Was he the only one taking this seriously? Or was he just that much more invested than everyone else?' He had never felt so special in his entire life. It became clear to Grant what his goal in life was now. He wanted to rise in rank and become key personnel. He had this feeling that drove him. It was a meaningful mix of confidence and pride that everyone should be able to feel at least once in their lives.