Chapter 1.2

“That has changed as well. You will be joining the civilians at Alet Academy. All Menhits are being integrated into the general population after they’ve been decommissioned.”

            “Are we all being decommissioned, Sir?” Nyla had only met one other Menhit before, but she knew of at least half a dozen.

            “All juvenile Menhits, yes. The adults’ fates are still being determined.”

            They were interrupted by a knock on the door. A nurse poked her head in and announced, “General, the family is here to pick her up.” Stepping inside, she placed a folded pile of clothes on the chair next to Nyla’s bed before hurrying out.

            “Good, good. Get dressed and come out. I’ll wait for you.” The General hurried out of the room without a backward glance.

            Nyla rose and pulled on the clothing. She didn’t have a mirror, but she could tell they didn’t fit well on her tall frame; they were a bit too tight and too short. Shrugging, she walked over to the bed and made it with military corners. She always left her barracks organized, and she would do the same for this small hospital room.

            When she exited the General was waiting for her. “Follow me,” he directed. White trailing behind him, Nyla memorized the route they were taking. She was forbidden from leaving her sick room without an escort, so her knowledge of the hospital was virtually nonexistent. The only place she knew how to get to was the testing site in the basement. When they reached the waiting room, they haulted.

            A man and a woman approached them. Nyla instinctively analyzed them. Dressed in a three-piece suit and taller than Nyla herself, who often towered over others, the man was an imposing figure. The woman was dumpy and barely reached Nyla’s shoulders. Both had ebony hair, the woman’s cascading down like a waterfall and the man’s swept back. Warmth radiated from the woman, but a cold aloofness seemed to surround the man.

            “Menhit, the Bruans are your host family. Let me introduce Veronica and Edmond.”

            Veronica rushed forward and engulfed Nyla in a bone-crushing hug. She froze. Even while wearing the ring, she knew she had the strength to break free from the woman’s tight embrace, but she didn’t think that the General would like that. Besides, her superiors had always forbidden her from hurting civilians whenever possible. Before she had to make a decision, Veronica released her.

            Her husband grabbed Veronica’s arm and pulled her back. “Dear, restrain yourself, please,” he hissed from between his teeth. The smile plastered on his face never faltered.

            “I’m just so excited,” she squealed. Her high-pitched voice was at odds with her rotund figure.         

“Nyla, I am Governor Bruan from the Fifth District,” Edmond said. His voice was still void of any warmth. He reminded Nyla of the Major’s second in command, Sergeant Ryans. “As Governor, I have a certain image that needs to be maintained. Our committee selected you for my family based on your performance as a soldier. You will need to be on your best behavior at all times. Do you understand?”

            This, Nyla could do. “Yes, sir!”

            Veronica cut in. “There’s no need to call him sir, honey. Edmond is fine, or Mr. Braun if you're more comfortable with that.”

            Nyla stared at the woman. Didn’t she know it was against her training to speak so casually?

            But you aren’t in the military anymore, she reminded herself. Do what they say, the voice in the back of her head commanded.

            “Yes, of course, ma’am.”

            Veronica smiled brightly. “Please call me Veronica.”

            “Yes, Veronica,” Nyla forced the name off her tongue. She didn’t like the way it felt.

            “We had better get going, dear,” Veronica said while beckoning Nyla closer.

            “Yes. Thank you for everything, General,” Edmond told the older man. “You’ll have my first report in the next week or so.”

            Nyla turned to her superior. There was an odd tightness in her chest making it hard to breathe. Executing the appropriate salute, she said, “I take my leave, sir.”

            “Make them happy. Goodbye, solider.”

            With Veronica’s hand clasped firmly on Nyla’s arm, she allowed the woman to herd her out of the hospital and to the awaiting hovercar. The driver opened the door for them and all three figures slipped into the back of the vehicle. Once the doors closed, Nyla felt the car rise into the air.

            “I’m glad we managed to keep this whole operation to ourselves,” Edmond said. He sighed and let his cold mask slip away slightly. Nyla thought he looked more human. “Eventually the news will get out, but I already have a plan in place.”

            Patting Nyla’s leg, Veronica smiled warmly up at her. “Since we’re going to be family, why don’t you tell us about yourself, dear?”

            Robotically Nyla repeated the words that the military had drilled into her head. “I am soldier M4654. Age 17. Rank: Menhit. Security clearance 7.”

            A silence permeated the car as both Veronica and Edmond stared at her. “That’s a high-security clearance for a Menhit, Nyla,” Edmond said, breaking the silence.

            “The Major insisted I receive it. I was needed for classified operations.”

            “I see.” Edmond frowned at her. “I didn’t realize you were special ops, Nyla. You have your ring on, correct?”

            Nyla glanced down at her rebandaged hands. “Yes.”

            “Good. Make sure you always wear it,” Edmond directed with his frown still in place.

            Veronica eyed the wrappings on her hands. “The doctors said you were all healed, Nyla. You can take those off,” Veronica encouraged.

            “As you wish.” Nyla heard an intake of breath from both Brauns as the fabric fell away, exposing her mangled hands. The gold band nestled tightly on her finger glinted softly.

            “Do they, do they hurt?” Veronica whispered. Her face grew pale.

            Nyla shook her head no.

            “Well then. Now that we’ve settled that,” Veronica carefully said. “I meant a moment ago, would you please tell us about yourself, not your position in the military.”

            Nyla gazed at Veronica blankly. What other facts could she give her? All Nyla knew was military information.

            Sensing the struggle Nyla was under, Veronica kindly changed the subject. “Where are your bags, Nyla?”

            “Bags?” Nyla echoed blankly. “What bags?”

            “The bags with all your belongings, dear,” Veronica supplied.

            “Personal belongings weren’t allowed. No Menhits have any belongings.”

            “What about clothing?”

            “I wore the uniform provided to me every day. This,” she plucked at the shirt she was wearing, “was given to me at the hospital.”

            Addressing her husband, Veronica said, “This just won’t do, Edmond. I’ll need to go get her some clothing after we drop her off at home. I think taking her out might be a bit overwhelming.”

            “Do whatever you want,” Edmond said while his eyes were glued to his phone. Unlike regular phones which projected the screen into the air above it for more comfortable use, this phone’s screen stayed hidden, much like an old fashioned ‘smart’ phone. Nyla had to keep her eyes from straying towards it; the older technology fascinated her.

            Veronica babbled on about their house, filling up the empty space with her cheerfully delivered information throughout the rest of the car ride. Nyla committed everything to memory.