Chapter Three

"Look who it is, sixty six, not dead yet. Whoohoo!" Farrow shouted, clapping from across the dining hall as the group entered.

Farrow and his team sat together at a long steel table, trays of food placed before each of them. "And their mascot!" he called, bursting into loud barking and howling sounds. The others at the table followed suit, banging their cups on the table and then they all burst out laughing. The other team seated in the dining hall looked on at the ruckus, some snickered, others carried on eating. Petra stiffened. She clenched her fist, and turned towards Farrow, ready to charge. She'd taken no more than two steps, and Ezra grabbed her vest, forcing her backwards. Anya, at the other end, was already on her feet. She was ready, as always, to take Petra on but it wasn't going to be necessary.

"Shut it Farrow" Ezra said, his voice low and threatening. He stood stiff, hands hanging at his sides, almost challenging, staring Farrow down. Silence filled the dining hall. Like a bad smell, it hung in the air, no one taking a breath, for fear they might inhale it. Farrow turned his gaze away first.

"Mac and cheese, good stuff" he said, shoveling a spoonful into his mouth. Satisfied with him yielding, Ezra ushered his team to the next table, standing between unit forty four and a fuming Petra. It was a running joke at the base. Petra was impulsive and aggressive, earning her jibes and sneers from the others who likened her to a dog. Forty four being the self proclaimed rivals of sixty six, enjoyed taunting her.

There were two other units appointed to New Alexandria. The Units had designated numbers according to the districts they patrolled. Twenty two was out, while eighty eight, the youngest, observed the ruckus.

Moments after they sat down, trays of food and water were brought to sixty six. Today as Farrow had announced, was Mac and Cheese on the menu. There was also steamed vegetables, and a cup of chocolate pudding. Their diets were very protein based, and rarely consisted of anything 'unhealthy'. Chocolate pudding was a rare treat.

The group began eating immediately. None of them wanting to say anything about what had happened only a moment ago. Petra scarfed down the food, avoiding eye contact with the others. She finished fast and rushed towards the dining hall doors without saying a word. She steered clear of Farrow and his group, not trusting him or herself. Anger still lingered in her veins, and only a shred of integrity kept her from running over and punching him in the face. If she stayed longer, someone was bound to say something and it would rile her back up. So she left before anyone could.

Ezra would find her though, she knew. He'd give her a long talk about taming her anger, keep calm and what-not. He'd tell her that Farrow was an idiot, and that she should let it go. How many times had he told her those same things, she wondered. Trying to get away as quick as possible, she walked right into Layla, leader of eighty eight. Layla was taller, with longish, brown hair and kind grey-blue eyes. "What's chasing you?" Layla grinned, shifting Petra to the side. Layla's hand was warm, just like her gaze. Petra shrugged, avoiding her eyes and carried on past. Layla watched her curiously, as she exited the building. Layla suspected it wasn't the food that had gotten Petra in such a mood. She motioned for her team to enter the dining hall, looking one last time at the closed doors. "Must be Farrow again" she murmured to no one in particular.

Petra wandered around the base aimless and serene. She felt much better now that she wasn't around Farrow and his team. It wasn't only his teasing that irked her, but just everything about him grated against her nerves. She didn't know why exactly, and she had no interest in finding out.

She walked, not wanting to be around the others for a while. If she went to the barracks, she was sure she'd have to listen to unnecessary chatter. She was also certain that everyone was talking about the earlier drama. Rehashing it would only serve to sour her improved mood.

The base was massive, with at least seven different buildings on the premises. There were two separate barracks for men and women. Some of the staffers used the facilities, while others lived in the city. There was a medical wing, research labs, a rec area, classrooms, along with the dining hall. Another building housed a gym, weapons depot, plus weapons development, and a communications and systems link up. The vehicles were quartered to a specific area, but there was no building used for them. Petra had many memories of this place. Of Only this place. It It was her home, and aside from New Alexandria, it was the only place she'd known.

She walked over to the familiar patch of bright green turf and lied down flat on her back. It scratched at the back of her neck making her itch. Petra watched puffs of white float by. She had no recollection of her early years. But she'd seen photos of her and the others in her file.

There had been a colourful swing set that they'd played on, and a jungle gym around this very area. The photos served in place of memory, and they gave her comfort. This was her home, and here she had a purpose.

She'd learnt about the way things were in the world before the change, and she was glad she didn't exist then. Greed was the order of the day. People back then were wasteful, selfish and they only lived for themselves. Things were simple here, clear cut with no complications. Everyone had a place, everyone had a purpose. And the world needed everyone to fulfill their purpose in order to work efficiently.

Petra lifted her arm over her face to block out the sun. Her arm was metal, but light enough for her to maneuver with no effort. If needed it could generate a jolt of electricity; enough to stun any opponent. Also, despite it being lightweight, it was strong. She had used it in many a scuffle and it had saved her many times. Petra enjoyed learning how it worked, and how to fix and adjust the mechanisms. With the help of Library Addison, and Addison from tech, she had enough know how to tweak it herself. At first, her arm had taken some getting used to. There was pain, but the memory of it was vague. The arm didn't annoy her as such, but it had felt different from her, separate. Now though, it was very much as part of her as her other arm.

Petra knew that their bionics made them different from other kids. She knew that there were stories that circulated about them in the city. Abominations, unnaturals, monstrosities, were words she'd heard whispered. The fear that lingered in people's eyes when they saw them. The way they pulled their children away, or out of the way. Beyond the city, she had no clue who cursed them or what the wider world thought. Here, people thought they were strange and not even human. When they needed protection, or help though, the Martinets were the first ones they called.

Petra didn't care much about any of that. She was what she was, and her arm was awesome.

Petra was comfortable on the turf, to the point of almost dozing off when she heard footsteps. She'd heard those footsteps since she could remember and would know them anywhere. A soft clip-clip moved towards her. She jolted up. Ezra had bionic legs, and even though their function was smooth and efficient, Petra picked up the subtle clank of metal when he walked.

"Come to lecture me mum?" she offered. She blinked multiple times, trying to clear away the blurry vision that came from staring into the sunlight. "Nah" Ezra winked, settling down next to her. He batted away an insect. "Not gonna tell me to control my anger?" she asked, pretending to hold onto something wild that was about to wrestle free. Ezra shook his head, laughing at her display. "Not gonna say, Farrow is an idiot, don't let him get to you?" Petra continued, mimicking Ezra's deep voice. "Well, he is an idiot" Ezra smiled, scratching at his temple. "Wow, no lecture, must be an off day for you" Petra laughed, nudging his shoulder. "Must be" he laughed, shoving her back. "Here, I snuck another pudding out for us" he told her, looking around to see if anyone else was there. He pulled out the two sealed plastic cups and handed her one. Petra clapped her hands together, and let out a little 'eeee' sound. "You're the best mum in the whole world!" she joked, already savouring the gooey chocolatey dessert.

"And you're the worst kid, ever" he mocked, fluffing her dark hair.