Ren Vespean 

“Hey Ren, could you take out the trash,” my coworker asked me as he cleaned the floor.

“Yeah, sure thing.”

My feet ached from eight hours of hard labor, and my auburn hair smelled of mozzarella sauce. After this, I can finally go home, I thought to myself while opening the back alley door. As I made my way to the bin, the hairs on the back of my neck stood up. I quickly turned behind me; nothing was there. I blinked my eyes, trying to wipe the tiredness from them. Still, there was nothing, but the feeling of being watched never escaped me. Even as a kid, I always felt that multiple people were watching me. 

I finished my last task and clocked out. Soldiers wearing standard gray armor were scattered around the place. As the walk continued, the feeling of being watched grew. The steps to my apartment were dimly lit by the street light. I rushed into the apartment. The front door was cluttered with shoes of different sizes. 

The apartment was dark besides the blue light coming from the living room. I walked to the kitchen, and on the counter were piles of envelopes, most of which came from the hospital and the landlord. 

“Ren, are you home?” A soft voice spoke from the living room. 

“Yeah, Where’s mom?” I asked as I rounded the corner. 

My sister was lying on the couch, looking at her phone. The tv was on mute but was on the news channel. Her dark red hair was put messily into a bun while her brown eyes flicked to me and back to her phone.

“She went to her second job,” she said, not taking her eyes off her phone. 

“If you are not watching tv, turn it off; electrical bills are going to sink us,” I told her as I picked up the remote. 

“Stop; I was watching the news. There was another monster attack in Norfolk,” She said, trying to grab the remote out of my hands. 

I raised my arm, so she was out of reach; I unmuted the tv to hear the reporter. Who was standing next to a park swarmed with police, paramedics, and Jager officers? 

“Three children injured and four adults dead as a monstrous wolf attacked several families during a Halloween event,” the reporter said.

“Maybe I should join Jager next year,” my sister said as the pictures of the deceased flashed onto the screen, “just so nothing like this happens to anyone else.” 

“Absolutely not; you are not risking your life to fight monsters,” I said, my voice stern.

“Oh, but you can? Stop being a hypocrite,” she said while laying back down on the couch, her face saddened. 

Guilt started growing inside me as I watched her; well, it’s true I signed up to join Jager. It was to help us from our unfortunate situation. 

“Cela, you know my reasons for joining,” I said softly.

“I know, but I agree with mom. There are so many more options to make money,” Celena said. 

“Well, Jager pays well, and I can send some money back so you can go to college,” I tried to comfort her.

“Fine, but if you die, I will bring you back and kill you again,” she said while snickering. 

“Deal”

The following day I woke up to the sounds of banging coming from the door. I opened it to find the landlord standing in front of me. His fat body blocked most of the door, and the smell of alcohol permeated through his sweat.

“Where’s my money Vespean?” he yelled. 

“First of all, no good morning. Second, we’ll get your money in all due time,” I responded. 

“You said last month, I don’t care if the old hag is in the hospital. Give me my money!”

“Like I said, you will get your money soon. I'm heading off to boot camp today, so you will get your money,” I said through a forceful smile, “also, don’t call my grandma a hag unless you want issues.” 

“Whatever you say, stick; just bring my money.” 

I closed the door, and Celena stepped out of her shared bedroom with our mom. Her hair was a sign of either restful sleep or a chaotic night. I felt myself calm down as I genuinely smiled at the sight of her. 

“Good morning, Cela. How did you sleep?” I greeted her. 

“For the most part, good. Are you heading to the airport?” Celena replied, taking out a bowl and a box of off-brand cereal. 

“Yeah, and like three hours, but I have to ensure everything is fine before I leave.”

I left for the airport, and my sister clung to my leg as I walked out the door. While waiting for my flight, my mother called me. 

“Ren, did you safely make it to the airport?” she asked softly. 

“Yes, mother, also. Cela wouldn’t let me leave,” I responded. 

“Good, I just wanted to say goodbye and be safe. Jager is a tough job,” she said through a  yawn.

“Go to sleep, mother. I will call when I make it to base,” I said before hanging up on her. 

I entered the plane and sat next to a girl about my age. She was light skin with green eyes and had a white streak down the right side of her hair. She was also wearing a boot camp jacket. 

“Are you also going to boot camp?” I ask, trying to make small talk.” 

She looked at me with jade-green eyes. 

“I am, but not for the reason you think.” She said to me. I just looked at her, tilting my head. 

“Okay, but what is your reason?” I continued to ask her. 

“I guess you’ll have to wait.” She responded in a playful tone and put on her headphones. I watched her speculation fill my mind as I took out a book. 

Roughly around 3:47 pm, the plane landed on an artificial island between America and England. I stepped off the plane; the ocean water and gunpowder smell filled my nose. My face crunched as I covered my nose and mouth with my hand. 

“What’s the matter, newbie?” A deep voice asked me. I turned around to see a man with a beard and dark brown hair. The man was about 6ft and 7in; he also had a scar over his lip.

 “Aren't you gonna answer me, newbie?” He asked with a thick Russian accent. 

I opened my mouth to respond, but a female voice came behind him before I could say anything. 

“Leave the poor boy alone, Ivan,” the voice told the giant man. I turned to see the girl from the plane, her hair flowing in the wind. Ivan immediately salutes the girl. While I

look around, trying to figure out what the hell was happening. 

“Sorry, ma’am, your sister is waiting for you in Barracks 3,” Ivan told the girl. 

She walked past him, patting him on the back. 

“At ease, officer. Take care of him; he’s special.” She told him before waving goodbye to us. “

“What just happened?” I asked, looking back and forth between the plane and Ivan. 

Ivan and I walked towards the barracks, and he was pointing at buildings explaining what they did. The base is a training facility for American and European recruits. That can hold up to 5,000 people and an area for weapons and physical training with a giant building in the middle. 

The island also has multiple scanners for underwater and air. All over the island, 18-inch guns, AA guns, and torpedoes for underwater threats. While walking, I look at Ivan and ask, “who was she anyway?” 

“Oooh, you're talking about Ms.Wallace; her family is a big deal in Jäger, so don’t get on her bad side.” He answered while opening the door to one of the barracks. 

“This is your living space for the next couple of years if you make it that long,” Ivan explained before walking off. 

“What do you mean by that?!” I shouted at him, but he didn’t respond. 

I walked into the barracks with a bed off to the side and a desk in the middle. My sister was sitting at the desk reading and signing papers. Her black hair neatly rested on her shoulder while her Auburn eyes glared at some documents.

“Excuse me, sis, I’m here to discuss the transfer of the weapon,” I asked her. She looked up, amusement fading from her face at that moment. 

“Come sit, Racheal; we need to talk.” She responded. I sat in front of her, “Dad believes it’s best to wait and see before transferring you the weapon.”

“But, sis, I was told the moment I joined Jäger, I would have it, and plus, your eyesight is-” I rebutted before being cut off. 

“Listen closely here. Father's words are absolutely, and so are mine while we are currently on this base. You will not have the weapon until you prove you can handle it. Do you understand me?” She scolded me in a stern and snappy tone. 

I looked down at the ground, “yes, Ma’am.” 

“Good now, leave and get some rest. We are training first thing in the morning.” She ordered. 

I left the barracks, slamming the door behind me. My eyes started to tear up as I clenched my hands. “Fine, I will prove myself.” 

I was woken up by sirens; everyone in my bunk quickly rushed outside in their pajamas. Once out, I saw everyone lined up outside as the sirens stopped. 

“Good morning, recruits.” A voice said. I looked to see a woman who looked similar to Ms.Wallace but had a lighter complexion. 

“I’m General Elizabeth Wallace, in charge of you for the next four years.” She announced to everyone while wearing a coat; underneath it was a suit of armor with black material underneath a dull silver breastplate. 

“Today, you're getting fitted for your Xcom suit,” she continued, “I have Dr.Kirk here to explain the suits to y’all.” 

A skinny white man emerges behind her, holding a tablet and wearing glasses. He wore a lab coat over a suit of similar armor that General Wallace wore.

“Thank you, Ms.Wallace, so the xcom suit is designed to help produce an energy force called mana,” he explained, “but the amount of mana produced depends on your body, and how much it can handle, so we are going to figure your basic output before training.” 

The other recruits and I stood outside with the suits on. The armor was made from the corpses of the insects that attacked Europe 70 years ago. Mixed with carbon fiber and carbon plates to make it lightweight. 

I saw people being examined by the Doctor and the General. Most of their outputs were between 15 and 20 percent. 

“Alright, next, Rachell Wallace, please come up.” The doctor said over the intercom. 

Rachell confidently walked up to the platform; everyone looked at her as she got hooked up with tubes. 

“Release maximum output now.” The doctor told her. 

Waves of green energy started to burst around her. Some other recruits started to cheer while others looked away, either envious or sick from the energy being released. 

“Output 45 percent,” the doctor announced before putting restrictions on the suit. Rachell walked away towards three others who also got about 40 percent output.

 “Ren Vespean, next up.” Dr.Kirk announced. 

I walked up onto a steel platform with dozens of small wires connected to larger wires, which led to Dr.Kirk’s computer set up to read the output. 

“Ready? Go ahead.” Dr.Kirk said. 

I breathed in and felt something poke the back of my neck and spine. A moment later, a rush of energy flooded my body as red and black waves poured out, filling the entire area. My

 focus was heightened, and I felt like I was full of caffeine. Elizabeth and Dr.Kirk look at each other, eyes wide as they read the output before putting restraints on my armor. I look over, waiting for my results. 

“50 percent; please head over there.” Dr.Kirk said, pointing to Rachell and the other three recruits. 

I stepped down from the platform, and after suppressing my output, my body wanted to crash to the ground. It was like coming down from a sugar crash. The others stared at me wide-eyed like the general and the scientist. 

 “Hello, my name is….” I tried introducing myself before being interrupted. 

“We know who you are, and how do you already have 50 percent mana output?” Rachell asked me. 

I just shrugged my shoulders as I didn’t know the reason for my high output. Soon Elizabeth walked over to us; her smile glowed as Ivan followed.  

“The five of you have the highest output on the base, so I will be training you today.” She told us while walking past. “Now hurry up. I’m quite impatient.” She commanded.