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intense. We have to be smarter, stronger, faster than them,” he continued to
eye each soldier’s body.

 
    He stood still.

 
    “Today, you will get
your cooler, take nourishment, and rest. Tomorrow we will begin,” he said as he
led the way inside.

 
    The soldiers made their
way in the base behind The Commander. Michelle and Aaron followed last in line.
To her relief it was cool in the base building.

 
    “What are cooler packs?”
Michelle whispered to Aaron while keeping an eye on The Commander in the front
of the line.

 
    “They are affixed to
your neck, removable but sturdy. They are made of a cooling gel. Your neck is
close to your brain so it tricks your body into thinking it is much cooler than
it actually is. It keeps your brain from overheating and causing brain damage,”
he explained in a quick whisper.

 
    Michelle nodded.

 
    “Next,” the nurse called
out.

 
    Michelle sat down as
the dark haired nurse affixed her cooling pack. She recognized her from the
cafeteria; she was one of the ones speaking at the table.

 
    Michelle held out her
wrist tentatively. All healthcare procedures were documented by the Earth Army.

 
    The nurse shook her
head. “No need for that here. We have to conserve power so we have to do things
the old fashioned way.”

 
    Michelle nodded. “Ah,
OK.”

 
    She watched as the
nurse opened a packet of disinfectant.

 
    “Put your head down,” the
nurse instructed.

 
    Michelle held her head
down as to expose the back of her neck. She felt the nurse pull a few wisps of
hair away from the back of her neck. Shortly after, she felt the familiar sting
of antiseptic.

 
    “Almost done,” the
nurse murmured.

 
    Michelle took a deep
breath in as she felt a pricking sensation on her neck and then a sudden blast
of coldness throughout her body. She watched as goosebumps formed on her arms. She felt the nurse press the pack against her neck harder
and she felt the coolness leave her body.

 
    “It will activate again
in the heat tomorrow,” the nurse kindly explained.

 
    “Thank you,” Michelle
replied as she slowly stretched her legs and rose to her feet.  

 
    Michelle made her way
from the clinic back down the hallway to the cafeteria. She couldn’t help but
feel anxious as she realized how large the base was but how few soldiers
occupied it. The base only had a small number of staff members and she wondered
how long they had been here. She thought she remembered mostly everyone from
the station. There were many unopened boxes covered in dust.

 
    I wonder if we were the only ones who made it through? What did the nurse mean we have to be old fashioned
and write everything down here? Where are we?

 
    Michelle followed the
sound of chatter into the cafeteria. The other soldiers sat in the make shift dining
area. There were no tables so most everyone huddled in groups and sat Indian
style on the concrete floor.

 
    Michelle took her
rations and looked down at her tray. It was no surprise that again they were
fed the gray, oatmeal-like substance and a lumpy protein shake.

 
    She lowered herself to
the floor slowly away from the others. Michelle counted the other soldiers in
the room, there were only ten.

 
    I wonder what happened to Kate.

 
    She sighed and tried
her best to eat the food in front of her. Her stomach groaned in protest at the
protein shake’s texture, but she ignored it and began to chug it. She started
on her oatmeal and tried to listen in to what the others were saying.

 
    Damn, I’m too far away. I can’t hear anything.

 
    “Soldiers,” The
Commander’s loud voice echoed off the walls as he stepped into the room.

 
    The commotion silenced
and all eyes looked towards him.

 
    “Finish eating and find
a bunk. You can shower tomorrow after we run. Remember we are on water ration here
on Redex, so no more than five minutes in the shower.”

 
    Michelle had expected
him to say more. Hell,