All of the new recruits burst out of the aircraft as soldiers barked orders in their faces. Fear and confusion washed over the group as they were herded toward the front of the encampment and forced into straight lines. For the moment, they clung to one another—familiar faces in an unfamiliar nightmare.
Multiple soldiers stood at the front, with three important-looking officials arranged before a long workstation. One by one, recruits were called forward. After a short exchange, each was led into the main building.
"This is insane," Britney whispered. "I didn't know they'd greet us like this."
"Be quiet," Rodney hissed. "Last thing we need is attention on day one."
A few rows ahead, one exhausted rookie bent over to massage his legs. A soldier noticed, crossed the distance in seconds, and slammed a fist into the boy's stomach. The rookie collapsed with a gasp.
"Did we tell you to move?" the soldier roared. "You don't move unless we say. You don't breathe unless we say. Now get up and stand in formation!"
Britney flinched. "I can't watch this…"
"Don't think about it," Richard whispered. "Think about something that makes you happy and hold onto it."
He tried, letting his thoughts drift to Manuel, the training grounds, Quintin's endless lectures. By the time he returned to reality, the line had moved. Only one recruit remained in front of him.
Richard finally saw the process clearly. The boy stepped to the desk, held out his arm on command, and an official attached a mana bar to him. The kid lowered his arm, assuming he was finished—only to be smacked on the back of the head.
"Who told you to move?" the official snapped. "You wait for orders."
The boy broke down crying. The official sighed, ripped the mana bar off, and gestured to a soldier.
"Back of the line. Maybe you'll understand instructions on your second try."
Richard swallowed. When the official beckoned him forward, he didn't hesitate. He stood rigid, silent, barely daring to breathe.
"Left arm," the official said.
Richard extended it. The mana bar clicked into place, followed by a soft vibration. Its wide display began collecting data. His arm grew heavy from holding it up, but he refused to show strain.
The display lit. The bar filled. Then it began emptying… draining… until only a blinking word remained:
ZERO.
"It appears you have no mana or energy," the official said. "Tell me, boy, have you unlocked your power yet?"
"No," Richard replied quietly.
"No what?" The man leaned closer. "When addressing a superior, you add sir."
"No sir!" Richard corrected, louder.
"Better." The official tapped his device. "Proceed to Group E. Await your squad leader. Your new name is now Zero."
Richard didn't argue. He hurried inside the building. Large flags hung from the rafters, each marked with a letter. He found E and joined the small cluster of recruits beneath it.
"You can talk in here," a boy said. "Name's Nate."
"Apparently mine's Zero," Richard muttered, shaking his hand.
"Yup. He gave me 'Shameless.' Perfect, right?"
Richard sighed. "Fantastic. Wonder how long we're stuck with these."
"So you haven't unlocked your power either?"
"No," Richard whispered. "They told me they'd figure mine out here."
Around them, students cautiously formed alliances. The strong gravitated to the strong. The weak to the weak. Across the room, Britney and Rodney watched him anxiously. He waved; they waved back.
"Oh," Nate said, "you know them from home?"
"No. Met them on the flight."
They talked quietly to calm their nerves. Then the doors slammed, echoing like thunder. The official strode in.
"We are finished organizing the new arrivals," he began. "I am General Talis. I command your first and second-year training. Follow my instructions and your lives will be considerably easier.
"First: I am not your father. I am not your friend. I am your commanding officer. I have assigned each of you a name. That is your name until you earn the right to reclaim your given one. If I hear any unassigned names, you'll spend the night in the box.
"Second: address all superior officers as 'sir.'
"Third: you will follow every order the moment it is given.
"Lastly: I don't care about your petty disputes. If you have an issue with someone of equal rank, handle it yourselves. Do not bring your whining to me."
He scanned the room.
"Are we understood?"
The room mumbled agreement.
He rubbed his temples. "I asked, are we understood?"
"Yes sir!" Richard shouted first. The rest followed.
"Much better."
"Rookies!" a voice barked behind them. A boy wearing standard armor with a single stripe stepped forward. "Form a line, now."
They scrambled into formation.
"I am Private E2 Sebastian. I am your squad leader. Each of you is a Private E1, but you will be referred to as Rookies. Know your rank so you don't make deadly mistakes later.
"You begin specialized training at first light. I will take you to your bunks. You are free to meet other rookies tonight, but come morning, you will speak only when ordered. Your bodies move only when I command. Understood?"
"Yes sir!"
"Follow me!"
They filed after him through the massive barracks: rows upon rows of bunk beds, lines on the floor dividing squads. They found their beds in the E-section, and were left sitting in confusion as Sebastian departed.
Richard scanned the large barracks, attempting to find the faces of Britney and Rodney, but the pace was too large with too many people. It would be impossible to indentify them from here.
Richard sighed, the reality of what the next year would bring was weighing on his heavily, and it was too late to turn back now. A vision of his family, his bedroom, his normal life flashed in his mind for a brief moment, before he decided that it would be best not to dwell on it.
"This isn't going to be fun," Nate muttered.
"I think that's the understatement of the year," Richard said.