User:Spartan 501/A Life Stolen/Chapter 3

0530 Hours, September 24, 2517 (Military Calendar)/ Epsilon Eridani System, Reach Military Complex planet Reach

"Wake up!"

Leonid's dream of a cool summer rain evaporated with such abruptness that he gasped and sat straight up in the small cot. Leonid blinked his eyes, and the blurriness vanished from his vision. Leonid looked around the room, but his eyes had not yet adjusted to the sudden light; he had to keep blinking and squinting. Apparently, whoever had roused him from his sleep didn't want him to stay in one place. Something exploded on Leonid's back, and his breath left him. He gasped as he tried to breathe and jumped out of his bead screaming.

A man in a camouflage uniform much like the one from the night before towered over him, a silver baton held in his hand. Electricity ran up and down it's length; a stun baton, he dimly recalled from an old book he had read. Someone yelled something behind Leonid, and he swung around to face whoever was the source of the noise. The man from the night before stood next to the cot of a boy with brown hair and freckles, holding a baton of his own in one hand.

"I am Chief Petty Officer Mendez!" he shouted, "The rest of these men are your instructors. You will do exactly as we tell you at al times."

Mendez pointed to the far end of the building, and spoke again. "Showers are aft. You will all wash then return here to dress."

The instructor near Leonid opened up a trunk at the foot of Leonid's cot, and withdrew a pair of matching grey sweats. Stenciled on the shirt was Leonid-144.

"No slacking. On the double!" bellowed Mendez and Leonid sprinted for the showers. He stripped off his nightclothes quickly and strode onto a conveyor belt. Lukewarm water mixed with soap flowed over Leonid, momentarily leaving him comfortable...and then his comfort evaporated as the water turned to an icy cold spray that pelted his tiny body.

Leonid stepped off the conveyor, and sprinted to his bunk. He dressed quickly, faster than he had ever dressed. Everything seemed to fit him perfectly.

"Triple Time Trainees, MARCH!" cried Mendez, and Leonid scrambled onto a deserted strip of grass.

Leonid scanned his surroundings. Numerous concrete barracks surrounded the field, but no one else was in sight. In the distance, a staccato metallic crackling sound could be heard. Leonid looked up and squinted as a pair of fighter jets howled over the field, then rolled upwards and vanished into the still dark sky.

"You will make five equal length rows." said Mendez as he stepped onto the field, and Leonid stepped into a line.

As Mendez yelled some more, Leonid thought about what was happening. Last night he had been so sure that he was in control, and now everything had changed. Still, he had to admire Mendez's ability to get the children moving.

"Jumping Jacks!" shouted Mendez "Count off to one-hundred. Ready, GO!"

Leonid decided he was tired of being bossed around, and defiantly didn't jump. For a moment, he thought he had won the argument, then he saw one of the Instructors descend on him. The burly man swung the baton into Leonid's gut, and he crumpled to the ground in a heap. Every part of his body seemed to be on fire, but he knew if he didn't move he would only get the baton once more. Leonid uncurled his body from the ball he hadn't realized it was in and began jumping.

Leonid did more jumping jacks than he had ever done in his life. Every muscle in his body burned, and his bones ached as he jumped up and down. Sweat trickled off of every part of his body, and he saw spots of black in his vision. Moments after the jumping jacks were done, Mendez ordered them to do sit ups.

A variety of physical exercises then followed, and Leonid collapsed twice, only to have to roll over and continue or else get the baton. By the time Mendez ordered leg lifts, he couldn't get up. He struggled to rise, but couldn't. He curled once more into a ball and waited for the baton, but it never came.

"Rest. Trainers, get the water." said Mendez, and the assorted instructors wheeled out carts of water bottles.

Leonid grabbed one with a sluggish hand and chugged it down in two huge gulps. It was salty, warm, and it was the best water he'd ever had. The sun slowly rose into the sky, and it's warmth washed over Leonid. It was an unwelcome addition; the cool morning air had been a blessing. Leonid didn't get up off of the ground, but rotated his head to scan the other children. Their clothing was soaked with sweat, and no one talked. Leonid had known before, but he now confirmed that no one from his old life was here. It was helpful to know for sure.

Leonid wondered what Mendez would do next. He had a vision of more exercises, until he finally died from shock. But Mendez was not that cruel. Well, maybe, in a different way.

"A good start trainees," Mendez called "Now, we run. On your feet!"

Leonid rolled into a sit, then stood up. His legs were shaky and felt like they were made of goo. The trainers herded the trainees onto a path, and they ran for a long time. Past barracks, beside a river, a even next to a VTOL aircraft base. Leonid thought of what was happening, and tried to figure out what was going on. Obviously, it was something the lady had thought of, and obviously, it was something secret. Now if only he could figure out what it was.

After a long time, they finally came to a halt in front of a marble building. The flag of the UNSC flew in the wind off to the right, and the words Officer Naval Academy were printed at the top of the building. Pillars lined the front, reminding Leonid of ancient greek architecture that he had seen in some of his books. A woman in a toga stepped forward, but Leonid saw quickly that she wasn't real; a hologram, and therefore most likely an AI. She beckoned to them, and Leonid and the other bound up the marble stairs to where she stood.