Colony One: A Space Colonization Adventure (The Elderon Chronicles Book 1) by Benner Tarah

Author:Benner, Tarah
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Blue Sky Studio, LLC
Published: 2018-04-22T00:00:00+00:00

18

Jonah

The next day when I get to the training center, my entire squad is already waiting — everyone except the new girl.

Ping and Davis are stretching. Kholi and Casey just look nervous. I’d been expecting two more new recruits, but after meeting Maggie Jones, I received a notification that my roster was full. It’s a good thing, too — I’m going to have my hands full.

When the privates see me, they all jump in line and stand at attention. I give them a quick “as you were” and turn my attention to the large clock hanging over the door.

New Girl runs in a minute before six, and I can tell that she thinks she’s late. I let her stew for a moment as she lines up with the others. She seems nervous — almost self-conscious — and she keeps messing with her uniform.

As I watch her, I get this bizarre sense of déjà vu — almost as though I’ve seen her before. It’s something about her eyes, which are this Dead Sea–shade of blue green. They’re bright, curious, and full of trouble.

“Jones! You’re late,” I call, shutting down my own uneasiness with something familiar.

New Girl’s eyes widen in horror, and she turns beet red from the sudden attention. She’s breathing hard and fast as if she ran here. She’s clearly wondering if she got the time wrong.

“Would anyone care to share our policy with Jones?” I ask, glancing down the line.

Davis and Casey exchange nervous looks.

“Anyone?”

Nobody answers.

“Maybe twenty push-ups will help jog your memory,” I say savagely. “Go!”

Everyone drops down except for the new girl.

“Drop and give me twenty, Jones!” I yell.

A look of terror flashes across her face, and she throws herself to the ground so fast that I think she might bust her chin on the way down. She props herself up on her hands and feet and shivers down into the most pathetic push-up I’ve ever seen in my life.

Oh boy. It’s like day one all over again.

“Twenty push-ups, Jones — not twenty of whatever the hell that is!”

She lets out an exasperated puff of air, and her arms tremble as she struggles down to a ninety-degree angle.

“Jesus,” I groan, walking over to her and resting my boot along the center of her back. I apply gentle pressure until she sinks down all the way, and I feel her muscles wobble under the added weight.

“That’s one!” I bark.

New Girl pushes herself back up, but I keep my boot firmly in position. She struggles through four push-ups, and when she goes down for number five, I know her arms are about to give out.

“Keep going!” I yell to Ping and Casey, who’ve already finished their set.

Jones’s form really starts to fall apart on push-up number seven, and I call the others off and send them to run laps.

“Get up, private,” I mutter, watching her pathetic little arms wobble through push-up number ten. “Go run with the others — six laps.”

“Yessir.” She gets to her feet but keeps her head down.

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