No, not him…
The commander strode through the archway with a smile gracing his lips and eyes half-closed. In an attempt to conceal her awareness of his presence, Tess swiftly averted her gaze, stealing a quick glimpse at the others in the room who were also pretending not to notice, except for Lanse.
Frustration surged within her as she observed Lanse's unwavering gaze fixed upon the commander. What was that jerk doing? She fumed in her head before shutting her eyes to reform her previous position with her legs propped up on the couch and her head buried into her knees. With her eyes hidden, she took a deep breath before opening them to use her eye ability, for a more steady view of the room.
Lanse stared at the commander making his way from the archway with one hand hidden behind him. Tess felt the slight vibration when the commander sat on the other end of her couch. Dammit!
Unbeknownst to the commander, Tess peered at him intently through her special vision, observing his every move. She took note as he nonchalantly leaned back into the couch, lifting one leg adorned with thick boots and forcefully slamming it down onto the table in front of him, causing the entire surface to tremble.
Tess concluded he didn't seem so tough. She plotted, they could knock him out and make a run for it. Thoughts of overpowering him and making a daring escape began to formulate in her mind as she continued her careful scrutiny.
However, before Tess could delve deeper into her plotting, her attention was abruptly diverted when the commander retrieved a six-pack of canned drinks, presumably what he had concealed behind his back upon entering. With a swift motion, he extracted one can from the pack, leaving the remaining sealed cans neatly arranged on the table.
Mesmerized by her heightened perception, Tess keenly observed every detail as the commander deftly pulled the metal tab on the lid, releasing a satisfying hiss of carbonation. In one seamless motion, he consumed the entire contents of the can, effortlessly crushing it in his grip before delicately placing the crumpled metal on the table.
Curiosity mingled with a tinge of unease as the commander took a deep inhalation, almost as if he were searching for a particular scent. His gaze traversed the room, sweeping over each of them. When his eyes met Lanse's defiant glare from across the room, the commander's gaze flickered momentarily before quickly looking away, as if deliberately ignoring his presence.
Tess's heart skipped a beat as the commander's gaze eventually settled upon her, seated beside him on the couch. Holding her breath, she maintained her link to the creepiness. But just as abruptly as his gaze had landed upon her, the commander averted his eyes, clearing his throat before speaking.
"I know this seems crazy," his voice resonated with a mixture of volume and tenderness, conveying a genuine sense of concern.
As the others in the room turned their attention to the commander, Tess swiftly shut her eyes, lifting her head to observe him through her normal vision. She was cautious not to contribute any further to the suspicion that Lanse's glare may have already stirred in the commander's mind. The last thing she wanted was to draw unnecessary attention to herself.
Zack shook his head vigorously with wide-opened eyes to give the impression he was shocked by the commander's presence. Tess thought he was convincing enough.
""But let me be clear, this is no illusion nor fabrication, and you have no other choice besides going along with it." The commander paused to think before adding, "Well, it's either you cooperate or I'll have to arrange for your immediate deaths."
Tess's heart skipped a beat, her eyes widening and her brows furrowing in response to the commander's brazen threat. Her gaze shifted away from the side of his head, which was adorned with close-cropped blond hair, to observe the reactions of her fellow recruits.
Zino's eyes were filled with sheer terror, the widest she had ever seen them. Zack and Lanse wore expressions of simmering anger, while Szedra appeared perplexed, her confusion evident in her countenance.
At that moment, a deep, still voice permeated the room, causing Tess to jolt slightly. "That was a joke."
No laughter escaped the lips of the recruits, and the commander's unchanging expression made it abundantly clear that he held no interest in their amusement. It seemed as though he had never intended for them to find his words amusing in the first place.
Leaning forward from the couch, the commander glanced at a device strapped around his wrist before directing his gaze to a particular spot on the wall. It was evident that his attention was focused on something beyond their immediate surroundings.
"It's now global curfew," he announced, his voice carrying a tone of authority. "How were you cadets planning to escape at this time of the day?"
Tess blinked, her eyes searching the darkness, hoping to avoid the commander's gaze. How could he have known? She cursed inwardly, realizing her plans had been discovered. Crap!
Every muscle that was stiff ready to rush into a fight response, relaxed at the realization she was not going anywhere.
"I strongly advise you to abandon those plans permanently," the commander admonished in a stern voice.
A palpable wave of disappointment washed over the recruits. Lanse bit his lip, his eyes shifting from glaring at the commander to a fixed point in the left corner of his vision. Zack lowered his gaze, fixating on the ground with an expression of grave seriousness. Szedra allowed one leg, previously folded over the other, to touch the floor as she placed both hands in her lap.
Zino was the same as before, just terrified.
Tess opened her eyes to her hands placed on her lap. She couldn't shake the feeling that the commander had seen through their futile escape plans from the very beginning. That meant the smile he came in with was cunning. The crushed can was a signal of warning to anyone who tried to escape. His foot that slammed onto the table was the judge's gavel, meaning the decision was the final judgment. He already had plans for their fate and they had to follow along.
"Rest assured," he reassured them, rising from the couch. "No harm will come to you under our watch." His piercing gaze met the eyes of each recruit, as if searching for any hint of doubt. "You can trust us."
He sounded believable, or perhaps he had experience with lying. With a gloved hand, he pinched the air, summoning a holographic screen before his face. The recruits' attention shifted towards him as he began to speak with an authoritative tone.
"Now that you've settled in, let's establish some basic rules," he declared, his hand gesturing towards the archway he had entered through. "Your rooms are located down the hallway on the left, up the stairs. Female quarters are on the right, while males occupy the left side."
Zack panicked, forgetting his notepad. He looked around confused by how uncaringly the others listened.
"Rule number one," he continued, his voice carrying an air of authority. "Females and males must adhere to their designated areas. Any breach will result in severe consequences. You'll notice the red tape—the one I bent down and taped down myself, separates both sections—in case you need a physical marker."
Tess couldn't help but detect a hint of sass in his final sentence, a subtle jab at their predicament.
"What if there's a fire and we need to cross the tape?" Zack's voice broke through the room, his concern evident. "Accidentally," he quickly added, sensing the commander's piercing gaze fixated on him through the hologram.
The commander's response was cryptic yet ominous. "I'll leave that to your imagination," he replied, a hint of dark amusement lacing his words. "After all, some lessons are best learned through pain."
Zack's eyes widened at the irrationality of the commander's answer. It was the worst kind of response, fueling anxiety rather than providing reassurance. How could they trust someone who relished in such twisted methods?
Tess shook her head, a mixture of disbelief and frustration swirling within her. Hadn't the commander just claimed that no harm would come to them? Or was that just another hollow promise, another joke meant to toy with their emotions?
"...As guardians of the planet and legal adults, you are solely responsible for cooking, chores, and maintaining your surroundings and bodies," the commander continued, dismissing the hologram screen with a swipe of his hand. His arms now rested behind him as he proceeded.
"One last thing to note for today," he announced, his voice carrying a tinge of weariness. "Training begins promptly at six a.m. every morning. Lateness is not an option," he emphasized, his tone filled with a mix of disappointment and resignation. "So please, refrain from any reckless endeavors tonight. Get a good night's sleep so you don't disappoint me tomorrow. I expect to see satisfactory results before granting you your first mission."
With a deliberate gesture, the commander lowered his hands to his sides. "I've also brought drinks. This briefing is now dismissed," he declared, striding purposefully towards the archway, leaving the recruits to absorb the weight of his words and the uncertainty that lingered in the air.