3 2780-Space station (424011) -SpaceHousing 03
The military was like sports teams in this era. You could post footage of some battles, and military training drills, to create your own story of heroism. Money could fall like rainfall if you survived and had many fans.
The average military man needed a mixture of calm dedication, a sharp mind, and a hint of un-imitable charm.
The dedication pertaining to the amount bullheaded patriotism you showed to the human race, the sharp mind meaning your ability to stay alive while doing crazy shit, and charm amounting to your looks and personality.
Of course, jobs in the military still came with their prerequisites of secrecy. But things like the personal military accomplishment and things that wouldn't reveal interstellar coordinate were okay. Some people even initiated duals between squadrons of spacecraft to get the people spirits burning.
A lifetime of harrowing adventures and daring military accomplishments for the taken.
But, only if you were capable enough.
The military terrain training network was one of the many reasons Zatland wanted to join the fight for humanity since childhood. It was a masterwork of propaganda, it showed the more playful side of the military and promised to be only the tip of the iceberg.
it was also funny that his father was the person who introduced him to this channel.
….
Zatland after a mentally exhausting day staggered down on to the couch and watched television.
The next day after getting up, he went to school.
He got dressed in the house that he would part with later that day.
He had no breakfast, no light, and pretty much-used none of the appliances in his home.
He just walked out.
….
Zatland looked a little rough when he arrived at school, but he had an excuse for that. He walked through the halls and the stairs, and through the herd of curious gazes and whispers before arriving in class.
He lowered his heavy body onto the school desk, and rested his head on the table, he hadn't had much sleep last night. His head was racing with or without the television on, so he just watched television all night till his body gave out.
Weirdly enough he still woke up on time for school. The perk of a strong body.
Not long after being in class, a burly youth came to his desk hurriedly.
"hey (youth), how are you feeling?" he said with an empathetic look, his usually booming voice now lowered into calming reverberation.
(youth) Was a slang term, people used to call their best friend whenever there was a slight age difference. Whenever your best friend was older than you, it was a set rule among your peers that they call you (youth) as an endearing term, like the word brother.
It was one of those established rules; that children made amongst each other, and caught on amongst even young adults below the age of thirty.
saying this you could imagine who this bulky redhead was to Zatland.
"you feeling sad? ( Zoo)," he continued "am sorry about what happened to your dad."
Zatland shifted uncomfortably, looking up at his friend's eyes.
"Am alright Zion, it was bound to happen someday; I just got it early that all," he spoke with a lump in his throat.
Showing empathy back to his friend by hiding his emotions. Zatland wondered why it was, that to have a proper response to compassion you had to show it again.
He was the one that was sad. Instead, he had to feel worse has everybody consoled him. Reminding him of the things he wanted to forget, and hide away from the world like a secret. It was just a little awkward.
But Zatland understood his friend was worried about him; Zion didn't even have the same classes as him in the mornings, so he coming over here this early to console him was going out of his way.
He was sure there would be others trying to get closer to him now that his father was dead, and he was 'rich.'
But Zion wasn't one of them. Zion had been with him from the beginning before money ever had an established importance to them.
Zatland didn't need a trust fund because he was getting close to enlistment age. Which was 16.
He could make decisions for himself now. Even if they were terrible ones. People trusted his proper judgment, any judge would treat him as emancipated. So his father's inheritance was under his full control.
"so (Zoo), you still joining the military school with me? or are you going to take a break?" he asked anxiously.
Zatland looked at him incredulously "Of course Zion, why wouldn't I." Zatland responded softly and a little harshly, he felt insulted that Zion would believe he couldn't control his grief. But he restrained himself. Pulling a Strang of his hair below his eyes.
"haha, that good (youth), me and you got to watch each other's back. Were like real brothers you understand that." Zion laughed.
Zatland wondered if the fatty was just scared he wouldn't be there to save his ass if they didn't form a unit. One of the reasons Zion decided to join the military was because Zatland told him about it all their lives.
Zatland cocked his head upwards to make eye contact with his pal, Zion wore a nervous half-smile looking down at his buddy Zatland. His eyes squinted together to make him look more like a lumbering teddy bear with red hair.
looking at Zion's eyes, Zatland could tell his friend was worrying for him.
Zatland lowered his head and closed his eyes for a moment.
He slowly calmed down.
He wished he hadn't seen that...seeing his friend's genuine worry and he knew he was being rough, this big fatty was his friend for life; they had each other's backs even in tough times.
…...
A couple of girls came up to him trying to get in his good graces, hoping he would spend some money on them.
Zatland took down their numbers; partying with a gold digger could be fun sometimes, where his thoughts.
He had some lobster pasta for lunch but didn't enjoy it, Chewing was tiring today for some reason, and he could taste how fake the lobster was.
He decided to go home. He met the moving company and had his stuff moved over to his new apartment.
It was small, but he wouldn't live here long. He turned off the light and went to sleep.
…
…
…
Shatter!
There was suddenly the sound of plates breaking; a person was moving around in the kitchen.
Zatland's heart suddenly impacted his chest. He got up and went to the living room to get a view and possibly a weapon.
The place was small, so he only had one bedroom and a living room kitchen attachment.
As he opened the door he turned his phone on, ready to call for help.
He crouched low, bringing his head away from full view and squeezed out the door carefully.
Who was in his house? He wondered, and why now of all times?
phuwwwww
Zatland exhaled air from his lungs slowly, he let out the coldest breath that he every felt up his esophageal pathways.
He thought he'd be more daring during times like this, but he hesitated to explore further in. Feeling like a gun was pointed at his head.
His heart shivered.
The moment he found the other person, there could countless way in which the situation would resolve itself.
Unknown Location-observation Room
A man watches over what seems to be a direct feed of Zatland's room, His every movement on replay since finding his Father's body.
In the room there were countless screens projected, each watching the underaged boy from every angle.
Everything from burying his father till today attending the classes, to even now, of him sleeping peacefully on the couch. It was all recorded and put on playback.
It was a very creepy setting that could cause any one's heart to lurch and question their sight.
An unprecedented invasion of privacy.
The footage of the boy coming home to see his father hang, his panic struggles to support the body up as if there was hope of revival, his progression through anger, depression, acceptance and all other form of emotional sequences after the death of a loved one.
The worst days of Zatland's life were on constant replay. As if searching for something. Even the tears he shed were being studied for clues.
Scenes of him in the shower, on the toilet and more. They were not missing anything.
Yet weirdly it was still missing some footage, his simulated strangulation was not shown, and neither was his current predicament being broadcast.
A man turned his chair towards a woman in a particular support uniform.
Man: If the boy does anything strange, make sure am aware of it.
(man leaves the room.)
Woman: Yes Sir.
