Fitting In

Jonah and the cadets had followed First Sergeant Castro down to the area where they would be living during their stay at Solitude. They passed a set of doors leading to the bathrooms and then entered a decent sized common room that had tables, chairs, couches, fireplace, and even a screen that was displaying some sort of weather channel and news. 

Everyone looked around for a moment at the size and commodities, the furniture pristine with white supports and grey cushions or tops. There were several plants in the corners and some in pots on a few of the tables. To the left and right there were sets of doors labeled with bunk room numbers. 

"As I'm sure you all are aware by now this is the common room. To the left are the female bunk rooms and two the right are the males. There will be no mixing of genders in the bunk rooms!" The First Sergeant directed and emphasized. 

"The common room shall be shared by all, and the bathrooms shall be kept cleaned and maintained by their respective genders. Store your things in your assigned room as indicated on your table and prepare to move out." He finished and motioned for the cadets to get moving.

Nina and the six other girls went to their side and looked at their tablets which appeared to have two assigned to each room. Brandon and his group were doing the same on the right, giving high fives as it appeared they all were lucky enough to have rooms assigned with each other. 

Jonah looked down at his tablet as Rylee was about to do the same, "Room M4" it stated as his room assignment. He carried his things and headed over to the room, there was a place to scan his ID badge, which he did, and the door swished open. 

"Looks like yer my roomie." Rylee said as he walked past Jonah and entered the room. Jonah thought it was weird how the rooms seemed to align with the little groups of friends that had formed, but perhaps it was just coincidence. He walked into the room and the door closed behind him, blocking out the noises of the others. 

Inside the room there were two beds, one on each side, with a desk and chair sitting next to each. A wardrobe stood on either side of the door for their clothes and belongings. It appeared their bags had made it from the aircraft as one sat on each bed, Jonah's on the left. 

"At least we don't have to hunt down our things." Jonah chuckled to Rylee as he placed his newly assigned clothes and items down on the bed. He however did keep his ID on him as he figured it would be required throughout the facility. 

Rylee sat down on his own bed and bounced on it a bit, "Comfy." He stated as he looked things over. "At least this won't be bad." He said to Jonah as he stood up and stepped over towards the door. 

Jonah gave a nod and looked at the door, "We better get back out there, I'm sure he is keeping track on who takes the longest." 

"Yer probably right." Rylee said as he opened the door, and both stepped back out into the common room. The others appeared to have already been in the common room or just stepping out as well, so at least they weren't the lasts ones. 

"Alright Cadets follow me to the mess hall. Everywhere we go you will form two lines and walk in step until instructed otherwise." The First Sergeant directed as he waited near the hallway leading back to the atrium. The cadet formed up into two lines, Rylee standing behind Jonah this time and Jonah leading their line. Jonah smirked to himself knowing Rylee had pulled a switch on him, so he wasn't in front this time. 

"Move out." The First Sergeant instructed as he stepped in front of the lines and walked down the hall, the two lines following, but far from being in step. The First Sergeant turned and walked backwards, looking at the feet of the cadets and then glared up at them. "You all must be ignorant or something. I said in step!" He shouted. "Left, Left, Left, Right, Left." He cadenced off.

A couple of the cadets almost tripped as they attempted to get their steps in line with the cadence. Jonah simply did a small skip and got his in line rather quickly. Pretty soon you could hear the sounds of a group of boots stepping in unison as they reached the end of the hall and entered the atrium. The tables from earlier had been removed and the atrium was open with others walking across to different destinations and the floors above. 

The First Sergeant continued directly across the atrium towards the next hall which had lettering above the entrance way that clearly stated Mess Hall. 

"At least things are easy to find so far." Jonah thought as he continued to walk in step with the First Sergeant and other cadets down the hall. The sound of other people eating and talking could be heard as they neared a set of doors that swished open for them to enter. 

The mess hall was a large square room that had rows of cafeteria type tables with bench seating. To the sides, there were circular and square tables with individual chairs. Directly across from where they entered there was a line of individuals going through to get their trays of food and then taking their seats to eat. 

Jonah noted that there was another group of cadets sitting at one of the long tables, but they were not talking to each other. They ate quietly and no one made any noise or even looked around. At the round tables you could see other cadets, but their uniforms were slightly different. The black and red color was still there, but each uniform had a different color shoulder cord on their left shoulder. Jonah was curious about that but kept walking in step past the long tables towards the line.

At the square tables it appeared there sat regular officers and enlisted soldiers who were not cadets. Jonah quickly picked up that there was a seating system for sure. 

"Halt!" First Seargeant Castro shouted, causing Jonah and the rest to stop and stand at ease with their hands clasped behind their back and feet slightly spread at shoulder width. 

"You will dine at the long tables only. There will be no talking, no noise, and no gawking about. You are to be a ghost while you dine here. You get the food that is given to you, eat, and then wait for permission to depart. Is that understood?" 

"Yes, First Sergeant!" Jonah and the rest of the cadets shouted back. No one in the mess hall seemed to pay them any attention, as if they were indeed ghosts. The First Sergeant stepped off to the side and motioned the line next to him, led by Nina again, to step forward first into the food line. Jonah's line followed at the end of Nina's line which unfortunately ended with Brandon. 

"He better just keep quiet." Jonah thought to himself as he stood behind Brandon and took a step forward each time the line moved. The last thing he wanted was to draw attention to himself at all. 

Jonah reached the point of grabbing a tray and moving down the line. Kitchen workers used large serving spoons and tongs to load his tray with mash potatoes, peas, and what appeared to be some sort of salsbury steak. The last kitchen worker placed a bottle of water on his tray and silverware and that was it. 

Jonah turned and looked to where the others had headed and saw Brandon sitting down at the long table down from cadet group that was already there. Jonah walked over and placed his tray on the other side of the table across from Nina so he didn't have to sit next to Brandon and to start his line on the empty bench to fill the table equally. 

The First Sergeant walked to the end of the table and tapped on it, stopping those from eating who had already begun and obtaining the attention of everyone in their group. He put his hands together to signal a prayer and then bowed his head. Jonah looked across at the other cadets and to Rylee who all seemed to follow suit, so Jonah did the same. 

The First Sergeant didn't say anything for a few moments, but "Amen" when he was finished and everyone raised their heads and looked at him. The First Sergeant placed a finger to his lips, "Remember, silence." He said as he turned and left the mess hall. 

Jonah and the rest of the cadets all looked at each for a moment and started to eat. "What was that all about?" Jonah wondered. He knew prayer was a big part of many individuals' lives, but it wasn't something he did personally that often. Perhaps it was a military thing? 

They all remained and ate quietly as instructed, taking their trays back up to be washed when done and then retaking their seats. Those who were finished waited quietly for the rest to finish. However, some took occasional looks around the mess hall even though they were instructed not to. 

Once all were finished eating the First Sergeant returned, "Let's move out." He instructed as the cadets formed lines again and this time made sure they were in step with each other. They returned to the atrium where the First Sergeant stopped them and instructed them to form into three lines of five facing him. 

"These lines are called ranks. When I instruct you cadets to form up or form ranks, this is what I mean!" The First Sergeant stated as he stood facing them. Jonah and Rylee were once again in the front row while Brandon and his group took the back. Jonah had a feeling though that it didn't matter which row you stood in; the First Sergeant was aware of you. 

"You all know from school what at ease and attention are. You also know how to march in step now. From this point forward there will be no excuses permitted or exceptions made for not knowing these basics. Failure to comply will have results that I can guarantee you will not enjoy." First Sergeant Castro stated.

"During lunch some of you broke my instructions and were gawking, IE looking around. I instructed you not to do so. You will find that as a group, when one acts out, you all act out. When one receives consequences, you all will receive consequences." The First Sergeant smiled, "I suggest you all hurry and get your PT clothes. Move out!"

"Go figure!" Jonah shouted in his head as the cadets scrambled to get to their barracks as quickly as possible and switch into their PT clothes. Rylee looked at him when they entered their room and gave a sigh, "Go figure Brandon and his group didn't listen and just had to look around during lunch." He stated with frustration as he changed his clothes. 

Jonah nodded and took off his uniform and began to put his PT clothing on which was a t-shirt and shorts with socks and running shoes. 

"I have a feeling we better all get used to doing things like this. After all the military is big on physical fitness and structure." Jonah stated to Rylee as he tied his shoes. 

Rylee chuckled, "Guess we all going to be big buff fighting machines when we are done here."