The Dragon's Son

*Chapter 9*

The night passed with overwhelming speed. It had felt as if the moment sleep finally found me, I was being torn from it by a horrendous blaring noise. I was up and crouching on the top of my bunk with my sword drawn almost as soon as my eyes were open. My heart pounding like a jackrabbit as if sprinted from its prey. A snarl on my lips as my eyes fell on the slightly older male in the doorway, teeth bared. The weird metal and plastic contraption dropped to the floor at my answer growl and the man jolted backward. It clanked against the wood with a rattle, as if something small and metal was held inside. 

Jack appeared in front of my bunk seconds later, his eyes still glazed with sleep. His body blocking my view of the offending instrument and the male as he snatched it up and departed. The door closing just as another muffled blast from the thing sounded across the hall. "J, relax," he gruffly slurred, sleep still thick in his voice, "The officer was just waking us up. The thing he used is harmless, it just makes a really loud sound is all. It's called an air horn." 

It took a few more moments of coaxing before I sheathed my sword again, lightly dropping to the cold wood floor. "Toldo Nas nust wake mu? zu'u rather hear aan shade scream over tol!" I snapped, annoyed, and slightly flustered at how I reacted. My ignorance of the mundane was beginning to grow more and more obvious. Jack gave a puzzled look at my word before I shook my head. "Why do they wake us in such a manner? That's a good way to find teeth or claws in your throat." 

There was a tired chuckle from the Delta's side of the room, "Maybe where you're from," Mason said, rubbing his eyes as he crouched, pulling a chest out from beneath his bunk. With a look cast about at the others, I found they had produced similar chests. From them, they produced uniforms, not unlike the one I had been given on the transport here the day before. The only difference was that they had patches on their shoulders and breast pockets. They looked like an upside-down horseshoe. "But for most of us, we tend to be heavy sleepers." 

I huffed at that response, knowing that meant I wouldn't be escaping that air horn anytime soon. I rubbed the back of my neck as I turned back to my desk and knelt down. I found a similar chest between the wall and one of the legs of the desk itself. Pulling it free, I found several pairs of identical uniforms. All with the horseshoe symbol. The thick black fabric was rough to the touch, but that made them durable. I changed into the uniform swiftly, taking my time to remember how the ladies on the transport had shown me. I didn't button the jacket, leaving it undone over the dark forest colored shirt. 

Once done, I finally tore into the brown box, inside was a two strapped black bag, what looked like charcoal sticks, blank lined books, a small black thing that they others wrapped around their wrists, a paper covered in the human script, and finally a small black rectangle made of plastic. Madison was the one to slip over and help me. Showing me how to open the 'backpack' and one of the blank books, the actual books, the card, the paper, and some of the pencils into it. She showed me how to close it and then how to put on the 'watch' as she called it. 

Once the others were ready, we all headed out of the barracks. According to the paper, Jack said we were going to be briefed in the auditorium and there we would meet our instructor for the duration of Phase One. A recruit from one of the earlier volunteer groups led us to our designated auditorium within the third tower. This tower was the one that I knew the least about, seeing as how it wasn't the one belching smog or the central tower. Once inside we were directed to the seats facing a slightly raised dais. There were at least two other barrack groups other than ours. Meaning six separate teams. Thirty recruits in total. There were six higher officers standing at the back of the dais, each wearing similar uniforms to our own, except for their patches. They wore a Y on their breast pockets and shoulders. 

Two others stood between them and us on the stage. The two men could pass for one another had it not been for the dyed sections in their hair. They were identical twins, standing at 6 feet with chestnut hair that was just long enough to dye the ends. Their eyes were a stormy grey, but the personalities they portrayed were clear. The one on the left, with the blue pigmented ends, stood in an 'at ease' position. His feet shoulder length apart with his hands clasped behind his back. He had a more calm and relaxing aura about him. While his red counterpart stood with his arms crossed across his chest and a wide grin and dancing eyes. They were twins in only appearance alone. 

The meeting started almost as soon as the others and I settled into our section. We had been the last to arrive. The two brothers on the stage glanced one to another before the blue twin stepped forward. "Good morning, I hope you all slept well," he greeted, receiving a few wary good mornings in return. The hesitance seemed to amuse him because he smiles slightly. "I am Beta Blake Carter, and this is my twin, Regulus. Though you may call us Beta Blue and Red. We will be the ones in charge of this entire room. We will be the ones to grade your performances and tests through the duration of Phase 1 as well as cater to any special needs that may arise during your stay." 

At those words, I found Beta Blue pausing on me. His smile growing a fraction before they continued to pan over the rest of the recruits. "As you may have noticed, there are six higher rank officials behind us. These Upsilons will be your instructors for the duration of your stay. They will be the ones training you. Both in education and the physical realm. One instructor will be placed over each team. That instructor will be your main teacher. They will be who you train with, and who's demands you will have to answer. Their word is law and only ours is higher," Beta Red said, his voice harder than his twins, but not cruel. "Starting from today forward, you will be Omega of the Blood Dragon Armies. But with time, you will rise through the ranks and find a place among the other classes and specializations. Your progress depends on you." 

Blue motioned the six Upsilons forward. "You're instructor already knows who they will be training. So as we call your team, your instructor will come to stand in front of your sections. As soon as that is finished, you will be dismissed into your instructor's care," Red continued, one of the Upsilon gave him a clipboard.  And one by one the teams were called. 

Delta was one of the first to be called. A tall, dark-skinned man took his place in front of our section. He was built like a bull, but his hair was nearly white and cut short to his skull. He stood at about 6'2 and his eyes were a deep blue in color. He had been introduced as Upsilon Devon Chrisco. Our team wasn't called till the very end. It was then that I finally learned our team name. Shadow. 

Our instructor was almost the exact opposite of Devon. She stood at 5'4, lean in build. She had ebony hair that was shaved on the sides, while the middle was longer, brushed to one side. She had an olive tone to her skin. She was frowning as she looked over our group. Though, when she met my eyes, I didn't falter. I stared back with the boredom clear in my features. But my confidence was shattered by the suddenly loud grumble that arose from my stomach. My eyes widened and my ears flushed scarlet at the reminder that I hadn't eaten since breakfast the previous morning. I saw the instructor's mouth twitch upward as laughter erupted from those close enough to hear. I growled lowly in response to the acknowledgment, my face reddening as well. My eyes dropping to the floor. 

"Carmicheal, let's get our men some food before we start anything this morning. Seems a few forewent eating last night," Upsilon Devon mused, with a slight chuckle. I didn't bother looking up to see the exchange or the faces of those still giggling. 

"Alright, come on, pups. Let's get you some food," the woman's voice sounded, ushering all of us into movement once more.