Graduates

"Ladies and Gentleman, I present you, the graduates of Echo Company. These are your new profound war fighters of the 4th Battalion, 3rd Regiment serving as Infantry or Archangel defenders against they enemy forces who we call, Kaiju's. They have trained, and shown the capabilities to kill a Kaiju, they will defend their people, family, and nation. Now, please applause for these new pilots as they have become fierce warriors." The First Sergeant had given a speech as we graduate, after that, we never saw him again.

And the top 10 graduates who were chosen or chose which unit to go.

Henry - Hotel Company

Payton - Hotel Company

Ku - Hotel Company

Me - Hotel Company

Conley - Hotel Company

Damon - Hotel Company 

Martinez - Kilo Company

Rincon- Hotel Company

Taylor - Kilo Company

William - Kilo Company

And Whalen, though didn't make it to top 10, was chosen to go to Kilo company. Thanks to Henry at least, you don't get much choice here in the Corp. 

We were bussed to North Carolina, most people slept during the ride. But I stood awake, once again thinking about my little brother. I'm not as worried as before, but I do always think something bad might happen, which made me nervous.

"You excited?" Whale asked.

"Yeah, I just wished.. It's just, I wish I joined at the right time" I replied.

"What do you mean by that?" 

"My little brother, he's alone at home, and doesn't have his mom or dad with him. I just hope I don't go to a front line company" 

"Oh.. I see. Hey man, but you know, it'll be alright. We're Archangels now, we can kill these things!" he said.

"Oh yeah? You didn't make it to the top 60" I joked.

"Fuck that shit man, that don't mean shit, my Mech wasn't properly maintained, you know how those gay ass POGs operate." 

"Ay Whalen what the fuck are you talkin about, you could never kill a Kaiju with your slow ass" Damon shouted from the back of the bus.

"Don't worry I will, and maybe one day I'll go to Africa and kill some Kaiju and your people will worshipping me like god haha!" said Whalen.

"Whalen nobody would worship your baby-face ass" said Conley.

"Conley you can't be talking, with your crack-head ass, they'll think you're a Kaiju as well" said Rincon.

"Shut the fuck up Rincon!" "Rincon I hope a Kaiju fucking rapes your ass" "Rincon go suck a Kaiju's dick retard!" said everyone on the bus. And throughout the bus trip, it was either gay jokes or making fun of Rincon the whole day. It was mostly gay jokes.

As the ride ends, we're told to get off and unpack our stuff. We made it to the fleet, a lot different from boot camp and schooling. But the rules were simple, do your job and you don't get fucked up. But what comes around, goes around. Break a rule, own it up.

We stayed in dorms instead of squad bays, the rooms weren't too bad, but they were 50 years old. And about 20 of us graduates from Echo company come here, Taylor was chosen to go to Kilo Company which was the next building to ours, so it wasn't all too bad.

We were briefed at the companies main head quarter, I've never seen so much officers, and I've never greeted so much before. Each time an officer walked back and fourth, "Good morning, sir" was the speech of the day.

In the "classroom", there was Corporal Murphy and Sergeant Ryder. These two were also part of Hotel Company.

"My names Corporal Murphy, I'm a squad leader for Heavy platoon and I've been here for 6 years"

"Names Sergeant Ryder, section leader for Hornet platoon, I'd like to welcome you guys into the company. I notice that most of you guys were the top 10, I'm glad you guys chose this company, especially considering we're a front line company"

Front line company? You have to be shitting me...

Rules were established, where to go, and what to do and not to go. The first thing for tomorrow morning, physical exercise. We were also told that we would be deploying early, Japan was invaded not too long ago, we weren't told other things until further notice. But what's crazier is that we had to work on a non working day - Saturday. 

That morning, I remember just how out of shape I was. During schooling, we didn't do much PT. We focused on how to pilot a Archangel, studied Kaiju and their nature. Though we had little training with rifles and basic Infantry, it wasn't enough.

A 3 mile in the morning, I was never a good runner. Even Henry was breathing like a motherfucker. Whalen was at the very back, and I tried to catch up to Henry. Damon was struggling as well, Payton and Conley looked like they were about to drop.

"Holy fucking shit, I have never seen such weak pussies. 5 months of training, and you can't even run 3 miles?" said Lance Corporal Southerner. 

After finishing the 3 mile, we were all pretty dead. Henry was the only who seemed pretty focus though. Maybe it was his discipline, or was it strength. 

"Obviously you guys did not train enough, I'm not sure what they had you go through, but this is not acceptable, you got that?" said Lance Corporal Southerner.

"Yes, Lance Corporal" we all said.

"Whalen, I'm not sure what the hell is up with you, but holy shit man you gotta get it straight. I know we're pilots, but we also have to meet the standards. I don't want my men who can fight big ass monster not run a 3 mile"

"Aye, Corporal" we all said again.

"Everyone is dismissed, shower and shit, lounge in a hour and go play with your dick" he said.

We all started heading back to our dorm, "man fuck that shit, on a Saturday morning too?" I said.

"It's whatever, they always do this gay shit" said Henry.

"You look like you're note even sweating though" 

"Yeah well, I've always ran my entire life" Henry replied.

"Well good for you man, if only we all enjoyed running as much as you"

"No I mean.. I wasn't always strong, not to brag or anything. My parents never really talked to me, and I got picked on a lot, but you know, sometimes you have to fight for yourself. Life can be hard on you, and you gotta be hard back at it" said Henry.

Henry surprised me, he may look frightening but he was nice to everyone. And I got to know him little by little as we worked our way in the Corp. I mean he was the type to get the girls but also hang out with losers.