Sang the Stray (Completed)

40. Voltzach

It has been almost two kaone, or a month Earth time, since I met with Second Squad at Uncles Café. The days are starting to blend together. I am on a four-kai cycle schedule. I spend a kai doing conditioning with Nathan, sometimes a few of the other guys will join. Either we are in the Stairs Room or the pool or just in one of the random training rooms where I practice a lot of falling and ducking and dodging. The next day is spent doing combat training with Fourth Squad, mostly. After the enhancement test with Second Squad went well, I have done a couple Combat Training sessions with them, too. Marc healed quickly with the help of the nanotechnology, though I still see him favoring that leg after the training exercises. Third kai is back to MedBay, where they only poke and prod me if something interesting happened during training/enhancement testing. Their definition of interesting is very broad though, so the poking and prodding is more frequent than I would like. Most of these days Ista Green is on duty and drags me around as his assistant. I am constantly amazed at the wonders of nanotechnology and I am learning quite a bit. Seeing all the injuries that Setari come back with from missions only highlights exactly how dangerous their job is though, and I worry when Fourth Squad goes out on rotations. Those are usually on the fourth kai of this cycle, when I am supposed to rest and do school. The boys insisted we have another party when I graduated from what I would consider elementary school to middle school. Well, actually Luke insisted and only North somewhat opposed the suggestion.

Today, I am going with Fourth Squad on an actual combat rotation. North wasn't very happy. He has been especially protective of me since that meeting with Second Squad. The day we did the enhancement testing with Second Squad, Tsee Blackbourne ordered him out of the room because he was glowering and hovering too close even though the Second Squad Setari were being very professional and brief when touching my shoulder to enhance. Even when North moved to the observation room, I could see him through the glass blast window clenching his fist and glaring down at everyone. I think he almost punched Raven when the North Kolarian asked if he needed help cooling off.

Kota and I were last to arrive at the Gate Lock. He needed to replace some poison antidote in his mission pack. 

"This is Lights Rotation. You'll see why we call it that during the second space. You've done really well in the Ena training rotations. You'll be fine today," he said to reassure me as we made our way to join the others.

I rubbed the single pink chevron stripe on my arm. I still felt like an imposter Setari. I had received many questioning looks when I first wore it, particularly from the Kalrani, however, only one person had made any sort of negative comment: Jade Williams, from Fifth Squad when we had passed them in the training hall recently.  I didn't hear exactly what she said, but Victor, who was beside me at the time and heard more clearly, had angry eyes crackling with lightning the rest of the way back to the residential hall. 

"Don't listen to her, Princess," he had said.  The stormy expressions on the others' faces when we returned let me know that he had reported the incident.  I can't help but think that whatever she said must be partially true.  I certainly didn't feel like I deserved to wear any badge of honor.  All the Setari had earned that right in blood and sweat over the years of training and combat.

Once we joined the others inside the metal containment box, Tsee Blackbourne briefed us, well mostly me, on what to expect during the rotation and then we were off.  The first space was very high on a mountain, even above the cloud layer.  Before entering, Kota ordered, "Griffin enhance and enter with me and Tsee Blackbourne, then  I will take left, Griffin break right.  Morgan follow unenhanced.  Wait for my signal then Coleman and Green escort in Sorenson.  The rest  follow immediately.  Take Star Formation, just as we've practiced."

As soon as Kota and Tsee Blackbourne entered and dove to the left, something flashed right after them.  Nathan followed in a rush, quickly diving right with flame ignited in one hand.  Victor waited a beat then sped through, lightning whip cracking.  We stood, tense and prepared until Kota signaled for us to come through the Gate.  Gabriel made a sort of hop-step levitation to get us through  and my gaze was immediately drawn upward.