You're All Soldiers Now 2
"I told them the same thing."
Ace looked around and, even after scanning the place thoroughly, couldn't spot an exit. There were countless opened doors in both walls of the massive chamber, but it would take a whole day to find out which one led outside, even if the thousands of armored guards allowed him to walk freely, which he didn't want to test.
"When do you think they'll let us leave?" Ace blurted.
Mira cackled and gave him a look that told him he was way off the mark. Ace pursed his lips and got the message instantly, not needing her to say anything. In all honesty, he already knew the answer.
He noticed that everyone with their sleeves rolled up had the same countdown on their arm as he did. That meant the military had rounded up thousands of individuals with the ability to teleport to a strange world that could grant superpowers. Why would they let go of that?
After about fifteen minutes, a group of soldiers formed in the middle, erecting a wooden platform made of the various tables lying around. An extremely well-built individual, dressed in an ordinary military uniform, was ordering the guards to stack the tables on top of each other.
One would think he was just a common soldier from his outfit, which was nothing special compared to the rough-looking black armor of the guards. But everyone could see the guards' staunch demeanor disappear, replaced with kitten like behavior whenever the man passed by them.
What most people didn't notice but Ace immediately discerned, was the tension surrounding the man. Despite feeling invincible in front of most people, Ace would hate it if he had to approach the man. A primal instinct inside his brain told him to stay away, as if he was a viscous predator that could rip him to shreds.
When the pile was twenty feet high, the man squatted slightly, and under everyone's shocked eyes, launched high into the air, jumping straight onto the improvised platform.
But of all the people in the room, Ace's shock ran the deepest, as he realized he himself couldn't do that even with his enhanced body.
A shocked murmur traveled to his ear, and he saw Mira mumble something that made him understand he knew nothing about the world, "Genetically enhanced soldiers."
Only now did he understand where the apprehension towards the man originated. He had hoped that his body was mistaken in fearing him, but his hopes were dashed when he heard Mira's whisper.
Before the crowd could recover from their shock, a loud voice boomed through the large indoor plaza, "I am Colonel Biran, the commander of this base and research facility. From the moment you stepped through the front door, you became cadets, subject to military law."
The loud voice stopped there, but his powerful echo continued to reverberate in everyone's minds. Were they soldiers now? When did they enlist, and who gave this man the right to order them around?
The room, previously awash with voices, exploded as many began voicing their distress. They had first been yanked to another world, then kidnapped at gunpoint and brought here. They didn't even know where "here" was, and now they were expected to become soldiers.
Someone close to the commander shouted, "You can't keep us here. It's against the law to kidnap someone. I want to leave right now!"
Many around the person who said this couldn't help but agree, having voiced the opinion of most of the people present.
"Silence!"
The commander boomed again, this time so loud that many felt their ears ringing. Seeing the commotion die down, the colonel smiled and looked at the person who shouted at him.
"You wish to leave?"
The man who had spoken, seeing himself stared down by someone who had jumped higher than a tiger, suddenly turned meek, bowing his head to avoid eye contact with Colonel Biran.
The colonel smiled and nodded, satisfied with the lack of a response. "Under military law, desertion is punished with utmost severity. Let me show you what happens if you desert your post."
He waved to a guard standing to the side, and one of them threw him a three-foot-wide square of concrete, reinforced with steel bars.
When the colonel caught it, the whole improvised stage creaked as if it was about to collapse. Ace squinted when he saw this. The guard who threw it was dressed no differently than the rest. He estimated the piece of concrete to weigh at least two hundred pounds and for someone to throw that kind of weight like it was nothing...
He suddenly had a thought and looked around at the thousands of guards interspersed throughout the crowd. A chill ran down his back at the thought that they might all be enhanced.
Even with the commander being so strong, he thought he could at least run away if something happened. But if thousands of enhanced humans stood in his way, would he still dare?
"Pay attention to what happens to deserters," the colonel shouted, and a guard below pointed his long and blocky rifle at the concrete, that the colonel was now holding off to the side of himself in midair.
Boom!
Boom!
Boom!
Boom!
Boom!
Boom!
Boom!
Loud and rhythmic thunderclaps filled the large cavern as fist-sized chunks of concrete disappeared from the square. A rain of small chunks pelted the crowd on the other side of the tall stage, and everyone felt their innards tremble with each shot.
The fire rate wasn't high, but the power was unlike any rifle they had ever imagined. Calling it small arms fire was laughable, and many thought that kind of projectile would work on armored vehicles.
Ace looked at the rifle, bellowing fire and smoke, and knew that even he would have trouble holding it steady.
The colonel held the plate of concrete until it had all but disintegrated, then lobbed the small piece left in his hands at the man who demanded to be released.
"Now, does anybody have anything left to say?"
Seeing the fifteen thousand cadets quiet as newborn deer, he nodded. "Good. Let's begin!"