I drew in a deep breath as I entered the briefing room to find Colonel Hitchen still sat at the head of the oval-like table. Staring me down. Analyzing me.

"Sir?"

He said nothing and gestured with his hand to an empty seat at his side. It made me feel a little at ease to sat beside him rather than at the opposite end of the table where our gazes would be forced to lock. I know I'm not in any trouble.

"Anything on the scout route you took her on?"

"Nothing. Just a basic tour of the route."

I prayed he didn't hear the gunshot that Cadet Bones had fired at that damn rabbit.

"Good."

We both sat silently for a moment before I decided to break it.

"What have I missed?"

"Not much. I was informing the others of Private Bane's replacement. Sergeant Collins still hasn't found one yet. We need another force member. And soon. It can't just be you and Liutenant Davis doing all the heavy lifting while Private Riley is taking it easy to allow that wound of his to heal properly."

"What about yourself and Sergeant Collins? Can't one of you step in for once?"

I didn't need an answer. I knew what role those two claim to play here.

"You know damn well that Sergeant Collins is working hard to train your scouts, the Cadets, and new recruits. I have other military bases and forces to run and maintain. We can't afford to help you with your duties or upcoming assignments and missions."

Lies. All of it. Sergeant Collins are training the lower ranks to be pawns to their sick and twisted games. Colonel Hitchen doesn't know when to heel and yield. We as a force aren't enough to stop this rebellion. To stop this pandemic. It's inevitable. I fear if we continue to fight then some of us won't be as lucky as Private Riley.

"Right..." I whispered under my breath as my fears do sink in further. Either way, we lose and fail.

"I'll give you a new assignment. Cadet Bones. She has so much spirit, so much desire to join our side. I think if trained properly, she'd be a good asset."

I frown at his order. I am in no position to run drills or train somebody.

"What? Isn't that Sergeant Collins' job?"

He simply shook his head. "Sergeant Collins runs over the basics again and again and again. Cadet Bones seems confident enough to aim higher than that. I really think she can easily get to Private Riley's level and possibly even a little better."

I hesitated for a moment. I have only trained scouts to go along the trails and report back to myself and Lieutenant Davis. I don't know how I can teach someone to shoot, fight in combat, and help memorize formations and protocols. That type of training takes years. The last part took the 6 of us 4 years to master. Adding a new person into the mix to replace Rin is another set up for failure, she will never meet the level we need her to be at in the small time frame that this rebellion is uprising worse and worse. An order is an order. I have to obey. I must obey.

"Very well... on top of Private Bane's replacement... what else did you inform the others of?"

"The rebellion itself. We are starting to squalor. Our resources are near to nothing. Be careful with how many bullets you fire. How many bombs you use. Our gas. I have informed those on kitchen duty to be resourceful with our food supplies as well. However, to be very careful. Langply seems to be spreading nearer and nearer to our location somehow."
I lowered my head and nodded softly.

"Right... Train Cadet Bones, reduce the use of resources, and reduce food intake... how much longer can we stand our front... if nothing changes soon- if we don't turn the tables around... we are all good as dead"

He shot me a piercing glare, his tone became deep, stern.

"Then don't fail in training our newest Cadet. Since Private Bane's death, everything has been turning to shit. Replace her, and things might work out again."

I know that's a lie. Having an extra member. A green member. Will not change a thing. What difference can one person make that will help us bring this rebellion down? The 3 of us know that Rin isn't dead, and what she is capable of doing. Her motive, however, still puzzles me.

"Yes sir, I won't let you down."

"Oh... I know you won't" He spoke sternly with a cold hard stare. It felt like he was threatening me without a proper delivery. I didn't want to imagine what he would do to me if I were to let him down. However, I will succeed in training our newest Cadet. But I will not let her be used as a pawn in these twisted games that Colonel Hitchen is playing at. Maybe, just maybe I could have her work under my wing to bring him down. Although, what would Sergent Collins, Lieutenant Davis, and Private Riley think? Would they side with me? Or would they see me as we see Rin? It is a risk I will take if it means no one else is sent on death sentences. I know the military is supposed to be risky. We put our lives on the line day and night weather we are at base or beyond it. But it shouldn't be like this where every mission, every assignment, every order could send us to our ends. I will not abandon my own. I will not go beyond the base knowing I am fighting a losing battle. I will not let another person I care about get hurt. This I swear on my own life.

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I found Cadet Bane gathered around a small fire pit that she had made herself. On this little fire she had a small pot filled with water that is slowly rising to a boil. While she was waiting for those bubbles to rise and roll, she had gotten started on skinning and gutting the rabbit before throwing it into the pot followed by a mixture of different vegetables which I also assume was from our pantry. However, she didn't seem to take much, just a stalk of celery, a carrot, and a very small onion. Slowly, I approached her and took a seat beside her.

"You know... fires are prohibited here. If the rebellion sees the smoke clouds, we're not only compromised but it could bring unwanted trouble."

Cadet Bones only let out a breathy chuckle. "Liuetenant, trust me. No one is around for miles. The rebellion seem to have vehicles, they would need to travel a very long distance to get here. The smoke clouds are out of their eye shot."

I frown for a moment. I know that's a bit of a white lie. Out on the watch towers I can see journeys that can take us up to three days to cross on foot. With convoy it may only take a couple hours. I really don't feel safe knowing that the rebellion could come straight to our base because Cadet Bones gave our location away.

"Put it out. We have a kitchen for a reason."

Her eyes then darted up to mine, and she clicked her tongue.

"Your kitchens still release smoke and steam. You're already giving yourselves away. You have two options Lieutenant. Stay and be quiet. Or fuck off. Pick your poison."

"You can't talk to me like that Cadet."

She only smirked up at me before returning to cooking up a meal.

"Why not? I take my orders from the Colonel, the Sergeant, and Lieutenant Davis as he is trying to climb the ranks to be a Sergeant from what I heard."

I frown at that information. I was never made aware that Lieutenant Davis was trying to climb the ranks. I thought I was. That's why Colonel Hitchen assigned me to train this brat of a Cadet. If Lieutenant Davis does become a Sergeant, he will become another prick barking orders and setting us up for more failure and near-death sentences before we do finally meet that end.

"How the fuck do you know that?"

She gestured with her head to the training grounds where Lieutenant Davis is shadowing Sergeant Collins as his assistant. I couldn't believe my eyes, he really is trying to climb the ranks.

"And you're not joining them for drills?"
She shook her head.

"Sergeant told me that you were going to train me to be a fucking scout where I'll show you what I can already do when a real threat apporaches. Not just go out there to hunt the wildlife and provide for your force. Well... our force. I am one of you after all."

I rolled my eyes at her and sighed. I had already taken her on one trail. I am not about to show her the other two. It isn't safe. Route Two leads up a mountain where we have our little out-post, however I had been going up there for days now. Simply keeping my eyes out from above for any threats. I know she won't last climbing up those steep hills as this route takes me day and night to get there. Route Three is the route that Private Riley suffered his near death incident. I had refused to send anyone down that path. I haven't even been down there myself since that day. It's just a reminder of how lucky Private Riley was, myself or anyone else that I send down there most likely will not be so lucky. Not against Rin.

"Fine. Eat. Rest. But at dusk. I will have something ready on Route One that will test your skills. Gear up and don't be late."

She only rolled her eyes at me and returned to cooking as if that was a sign that she has proven enough about her skills already.

On a real battle field, rabbits should be the least of her concern.