Marine Cadet (The Human Legion Book 1)

Marine Cadet (The Human Legion Book 1) by Tim C. Taylor Page A

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Authors: Tim C. Taylor
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plunging into his injuries. Arun grunted but did not cry out. At the deepest point, when his legs changed from slowing his fall into beginning his ascent, those blades grew jagged edges and jerked around in his wound. Arun gasped before executing a perfect jump.
    Determined not to give Rekka the satisfaction of hearing him scream, Arun willed his jaw to clamp firmly shut and stay closed.
    I will not scream. I will NOT scream.
    The second landing was even worse. The imaginary blades stabbing into his leg grew red hot.
    I will not scream. I… I will not scream.
    The blades exuded agonizing venom, which spread to his right leg.
    I will not scream!
    Arun’s world became a foggy battlefield where pain fought against Arun’s iron will for control of his body. He could even imagine the crump, crump, crump from a far-off artillery battery.
    Then he realized that what he thought was incoming shellfire was actually the sound of Instructor Rekka’s walking stick thumping the deck in front of him.
    “I said stop!” She was shouting. “You’ve made 24 jumps. I only wanted 20. Can’t you count?”
    Arun decided he’d better not answer.
    She narrowed her eyes. “I suppose there’s something you want to ask me?”
    “Yes, ma’am. This cadet requests permission to seek medical attention.”
    Rekka made a point of chewing over his request before replying. “Yes, I noticed your leg looks sore. You may get it patched after inspection.”
    Not bothering to inspect Zug or Cristina, Rekka turned and walked away. When she reached the door, she looked back at the cadets. “I’m disappointed in you. You were not fit for inspection and your performance in the tunnels today has made us the laughing stock of Detroit. The handover to your veteran NCOs began this week and already you have let us down. Badly. McEwan with his lewd display worst of all. Do not expect this to be the end of the matter. There will be repercussions. Mark my words.”
    After fixing them all with her baleful stare, Rekka dismissed them and stalked out.
    Arun looked down at his leg. His fatigue pants were glued to his leg with sticky blood, but the blood flow had slowed or stopped.
    “Hey, hero,” said Osman. “Do you want me to help you get to the medical room?”
    Arun grabbed his stick and took a few test paces. “No, I’m good. Thanks, man.”
    He wasn’t, but he didn’t want to get his comrades into trouble. In theory they all had until First Sleep at 25:00 hours to do what they liked – training usually – but Arun knew he was toxic right now. He wanted his buddies to keep a safe distance.
    As he limped out of the dorm, he was met by a variety of reactions from his squadmates. Pity he’d expected, and the concern he saw on Springer’s face, but he also saw contempt and even anger from Brandt and Madge. He only half-cared, though. As he hobbled away to the med-center he kept thinking about what Rekka had said.
    There will be repercussions.

—— Chapter 06 ——
    “Rekka is purest evil,” said Arun. “Just because she got her legs blown off, she’s jealous of anyone still whole. What kind of instructor makes their cadets jump up and down on a wounded leg? Those squat jumps she made me do earlier – she could have saved us all the bother and just shot me in the leg. End result would’ve been the same.”
    “Too right, man,” said Osman. “She was just worried about looking bad in front of Shlappo. And the senior instructor’s no better. She made Brandt section leader and chose Alistair LaSalle to lead the company against the Trogs. What a pair of dwonks!”
    Arun, Osman and Zug were sitting around the dorm room table. Zug was listening but saying nothing, as normal.
    Cristina and Madge came over to join them. “Are you badmouthing Senior Instructor Nhlappo again?” asked Cristina.
    “Osman’s just speaking the truth,” replied Arun, “because this is the only place we can say it. They’re not supposed to listen in on us in the dorm

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