Magnus woke up to the slow creek of his door and the stabbing brightness accompanying it. He realized that he had slept for the first time in over twenty years.
Magnus thought to himself, "Maybe I can keep my humanity a little bit longer..."
The child then spoke to Magnus, "Geez, those adults are such worrywarts. Every single one of them asked me where I was going!"
Of course, the child had lied to the Administrators. He couldn't possibly tell the adults he was going into such a dangerous area.
The child continued, "So, Mr, you going to pick up from where you left off?"
Magnus yawned, "Where exactly was that?", as he had not yet remembered where in his story that was, still being groggy from sleeping from the first time in ages.
"How could you forget?! You were going off to basic training!", the child reminded him.
"Oh, yes. A great part of the story." Magnus began, "So, I was off to basic training with my buddy Anthony, as he had also gotten his notice in the mail."
Magnus and Anthony rode the bus full of strangers to camp. The drive took a total of 3 days, as they went to another part of the country.
At the camp, the two pals were taught how to use a gun and military discipline, receiving physical conditioning from the loudest drill sergeants you could ever meet.
One night, the two stood up talking.
"So, what do you think Europa is like?" asked Magnus.
"Kinda like here, but in a different language." replied Anthony.
"Well, I think it isn't at all like here. I think that the people there are much shorter and rude, because short people get so angry. Just look at Emmanuel."
Anthony chuckled under his breath at the stab Magnus just took at their short friend.
There was silence.
Magnus then said to Anthony, "I'll be going into the infantry. Do you know where you are going?"
Anthony replied, "Into the artillery. I'll probably live longer than you, haha!"
A loud shout was heard from outside, "Who's chit-chatting?!"
The next day, Magnus and Anthony almost died of heat-stroke as they ran an extra two miles.
The rest of basic training was filled with silent nights and grueling days. Magnus never interacted with anyone besides Anthony unless he needed to.
The last night of camp during dinner, Magnus came up in conversation.
The red-headed Paul, shipping out with Magnus into the same squad the next day, said, "Yeah, what's the deal with that guy? Always ignoring everyone. What, does he think he's better than us?"
Paul was the leader of one of the posses at the camp, and was sitting with them at a table when this conversation took place.
Mouth full of food, Ryan responded, "Nah, he probably just wants to be left alone, so he leaves us alone. Nothing wrong with that."
Ryan was actually quite fond of Magnus. Ryan tried sitting with Magnus during meals once or twice, but they sat there in silence, chewing, until Magnus left because he was done eating. The silence was not because neither of them talked, Magnus would just respond with one word, leaving the conversation at an awkward stand-still.
Paul responded, "I'm sure of it! He's looking down on us!", completely ignoring what Ryan said, hearing only what he wanted to hear.
Paul, who just so happened to be itching for a fight, shouted "Hey pretty boy! I wanna talk with you! Let's go outside!"
Magnus thoroughly ignored him, continuing to eat, until Paul took Magnus' tray and dumped its contents on Anthony's head, who just so happened to be eating alone but nearby. Magnus and Anthony preferred to eat separately because they couldn't stand how the other ate.
Magnus then got up and went outside.
Paul muttered to himself, "About time he listened.", and followed Magnus outside.
Magnus thought to himself, "What could this idiot want with me? I haven't done anything to offend him, have I?"
Magnus could never had known that this was his problem. That is, until Paul asked, "So, pretty boy, what's the deal with you ignoring everyone?"
The blonde, mildly attractive Magnus was visibly startled when Paul asked this. He responded with, "I prefer not to associate with those I don't know."
Paul, now understanding the situation, said, "Well why don't we change that?"
Magnus replied, "Well, since we're going to be in the same squad, why not?"
The two reached out to take the others hand. Their hands met, and clasped. Magnus then felt a strong tug on his arm. He looked up, Paul was smiling wildly, as if he had just trapped his prey.
Magnus staggered, and was now looking up at Paul.
"You really think I want to be friends with a creep like you?", Paul spat.
A punch directed at Magnus' stomach then connected with it's target square in the gut. Magnus had the wind thoroughly knocked out of him.
Magnus, could now only respond to Paul with gasps, backed up quickly and squared up while he recovered his breath.
Magnus, who could now breathe, retorted, "Why would anyone want to be friends with an oaf like you?"
Paul, now thoroughly provoked, struck back with, "Obviously you did!"
Paul rushed Magnus, a fist raised. That very same fist was thrown at Magnus' face.
The hit connected. Paul followed with another strong punch, and another, and another.
Magnus, who was also now angered, put his arms up to try to block the oncoming blows.
Paul shouted at Magnus, "Come on! Where's that cool guy act now?!"
Magnus then dodged the next punch and returned a kick to the shin. Paul then fell down, holding his leg. Magnus then grabbed Paul's collar and began to beat that red-headed face.
Magnus stopped after fifty-two blows connected with Paul's face. Those boxing Magnus and Paul into a make-shift arena were dumb-founded as their leader was being pummeled so vigorously.
Magnus then let go of Paul's collar, let him hit the ground, and stooped down to speak to him.
Paul only remembered from that night were the words, "That's for Anthony, you piece of garbage."
Paul's friends surrounding them let Magnus through, and went to see if Paul was OK, which he wasn't, as his nose was fractured.
Magnus then shipped out alone. "Off to Europa!" Magnus thought, unable to discern whether he was anxious or excited for his new life on the front lines. But what he did not know was that his new life was to be short-lived.