The outside of the grand auditorium was just as marvelous as the inside, maybe even better. The front was all the most beautiful mural made of stained glass, only thin gold metal supports between each stained piece since it was thick, bulletproof glass. The mural was of the first fighter, Antonio Carvisoi, standing over the dead bodies of the last inhabitants on our world, Camarins. Camarins were ugly creatures who were born with scar tissue and bulging eyes, oversized ears that split into two sharp points after the scapha. All of the Camarins would have been classified as TBR if they still remained, even their king and warlords, they were not born fighters, not a talented bone in their ten foot tall, disfigured bodies. Camarins were, though, a menace, they couldn't fight, but they knew how to use projectile weapons and it took everything Antonio had to take down their king and send them off to another Galaxy where hopefully they couldn't terrorize anyone.

  The rest of the mural told the story of the battles, smoking cities, the giant beasts standing over Antonio, weapons aimed at his head, and there was even a depiction of the ship of gargantuan terrors being shot into the stars. This was all thousands of years ago, though, so who knows how warped the story had become. Either way, it was one heck of a bedtime story and always left younger kids in awe, inspired to be the best they could.

I turned away from the building when I heard my name, sharp and commanding. I cleared my throat, attention now on Nathan as he stood there, the other fourteen recruits paying attention to him already. How embarrassing.

“As I was saying… first we'll take the HB to Brigade headquarters, where you'll all be assigned to your rooms, two people per room, with one recruit sharing a room with one of our senior recruits.” I was cringing already at the mention of HBs, I hated riding in hoverbuses, they were glorified tin cans that floated a foot and a half over the ground, if a hoverbus went over a well-sized rock, then it shot up into the  air and came back down hard, making you jump in your hard plastic seat and come back down in a crash worthy of the bruises it left.

“You'll have two hours of free time before dinner and your official introductions. You'll start your training tomorrow, along with wishing well to this year's graduating recruits, where they'll pick their assignments and planets. Any questions…??” Nathan had been pacing in front of them all while he spoke, hands clasped behind his back. He stopped now, looking them all in the eyes one by one, seeming to look for questions in their gazes.

“Oh, and you may not be rooming with someone your own gender. But we have strict rules about romance and training, read the manual on your pillows.” Nathan smirked as he said that, his voice squeaking slightly as if he was trying hard to force down a laugh, but his eyes gave it away as the recruits suddenly asked questions all at once. They'd never been allowed to sleep in the same room as the opposite sex, but I had never had these issues, I'd been allowed to do whatever I wanted, so I just shrugged slightly and waited for everyone to quiet down. Nathan's eyes landed on me, the only one who wasn't panicking about the breath of rules, and his laughing eyes narrowed slightly, the amusement turning to slight suspicion before he clapped his hands together.

“Alright, recruits, I was kidding.” Nathan paused for a moment before clarifying, though everyone had calmed down, assuming he was kidding about the boys and girls sharing rooms.

“You can't ask questions. Now get on the bus before you all get chores for a week!” He yelled, pointing at a dark gray HB with the word 'Brigade’ on the side behind him, and the recruits all complained and asked more questions. I wasn't stupid, I didn't want any chores, I would have run, but it would have been pathetic, so I casually walked to the HB and climbed in, finding myself a seat in the back. I glanced out the window and watched as Nathan slowly walked up to the bus, climbing in and standing next to the driver. As the rest of the recruits stepped on the bus, he pointed at them and shouted “Chores for you! And chores for you! And you!” He then looked back at me and gave me a pouty look, as if he wanted to give fifteen recruits chores instead of only fourteen. The first recruits came back and sat with me, apparently deciding that what I did was probably a good idea, we took up two rows of seats, the rest of the recruits more towards the front of the group. The short girl I had bumped into earlier spun in her seat to face me, a grin on her face. We hadn't gotten to talk after our brief exchange, Nathan had quickly ushered us all outside, wanting to leave so he could get people settled in. The girl held her hand out to me again.

“Sorry, Syke, I didn't get a chance to tell you my name! I'm Dally!” Dally’s energetic attitude was infectious, I grinned and shook her hand again, looking at the four other people sitting with us, the same people I had stood next to.

“I'm Pantxike Greis, it's nice to meet you all.” I smiled what I hoped to be a winning smile, not wanting to make enemies out of these people who could ruin me.

  The redhead introduced himself as Carter Slinnel, the blond haired boy was Trey Reynolds, the dark haired guy was Samuel Bran, and the blue haired girl was Matelyn. They started talking about the ceremony and how nervous or excited they were. I mostly only commented a little bit, letting them all chat it out and offering up my Patch ID so we could create a group chat for when we weren't close enough to talk out loud. I felt a little sick with all the bumps and jumps that the HB was doing, I had hoped hat sitting in the back would have been better, but no such luck.