The Matriarch

Chapter 3 Enlisted

“Here is your personal Badge, I.D. and you should be able to get your uniform from the supplies officer on section three,” the soldier in worn-out fatigue politely placed the card along with the metallic pin on his hand, even saluting after to give his respects.

Chris knew the man was only doing this because he didn’t know the truth about him, still thinking that he was still one of them, one of those special ones.

Chris winced, seeing the large letter in bold font on his card with a picture of him smiling and a barcode below. Along with the symbol of what seemed to be an eye.

“Thank you,” he could not help but bow down, ashamed of the respect being given to him, knowing that his title was all just fake.

Rank F was the category given to Chris, a secret level type given to special cases such as him.

Though he heard there were three others besides him, that didn’t make him feel any better nor did it changed the fact that he was still felt helpless and worthless. He actually thought that he’d be able to be of some use, finally being able to at least bring pride to his family after being enlisted, but all of that just went down the drain after his results.

During the time that he took the exam and he was tagged as a ‘possible’, it made his parents and siblings so happy and proud, that they even celebrated his acceptance to the ‘United Front of the East’.

His father was even finally able to boast and lambast those people who looked down on him before, his old man even went so far as to say that he was going to be of great help to their country as he was tagged as a possible power user.

Chris couldn't help but feel so low, remembering how happy his father was, that meant so much for him finally getting the acceptance he always wanted. He really thought he’d be able to at least back it off somehow. Any power would have been good for him, as long as it would be of use. But all he ended up becoming was a research specimen, paid and kept within the confines of the barracks for studying purposes, nothing more.

Unable to take the weight off his chest he decides to face the polite soldier that was smiling while looking at him.

“You know, you don’t really have to give salutations to me, since we basically have the same rank, me being ‘F’ and all,” he tries to laugh it off, not wanting to impose himself on others.

“But your a power user, sir, your I.D. card proves it, sir, that means you are special,” the soldier's eyes were somewhat twinkling in amazement as he mentioned those words.

It was already expected, ever since the so-called power users came out, they’ve been deemed as special. People who were the next stage into the evolution of man. As such they were regarded as very valued individuals, being given several privileges, but at that same time, they were usually recruited and use within the army, since after the ‘all giving light’ appeared, it seems the conflict between other countries intensified, giving rise to a new kind of war. One in which power users were the new secret weapon.

“Thank you...Uhm, what’s your name?” Chris asks.

Not wanting to be impolite with the respect and admiration that was being given by the soldier, somehow he wanted to at least make amends in his own way.

That made the man smile even wider. “Kently sir! Private Oliver Kently at your service!” he saluted once more with full enthusiasm.

“Thank you, Oliver.” Chris tried to smile as well but was only able to let out a half-hearted one when he noticed how young the soldier was.

He’d say the man was around ten years younger than he was but he had managed to pass the extreme and rigorous training, making him feel both amazed and envious.

“It’s an honor sir,” Oliver nodded with pure admiration.

Their conversation was cut short when their attention was caught by a parade of soldiers, dawning a flag with the symbol of a sun with a shield up front which was the one being used by the ‘United Front of the East’, but what truly caught their eyes was the huge truck that was with the platoon. It was hauling something behind it, covered by a black tarpaulin, though the things were completely hidden, some parts seemed to be sticking out from the area where the truck and the cover were meeting, showing what looked like a huge claw.

“What is that?” Chris could not help but stare at the thing since he wasn’t able to make out what was in it. But he was sure that it was not an animal seeing the size of it.

All the other soldiers and bystanders that were there seemed also curious as to what was underneath the covers, trying to take the slightest peak that they can without bothering the marching platoon.

“You think it's one of those new super-powered beings that they keep talking about,” Oliver asks, as he too was curious about what was underneath it.

“I’m not sure, though I did hear that there have been more lately, some were even able to conjure

monsters out of their shadows while others were able to transform,” Chris rubbed his chin as he started thinking of the possibility.

It was one of the things that were the talk of the town lately when apparently a lot more power users had started to show up. It seems more and more unique people were being discovered besides those who were body enhancers and elemental manipulators.

“Whoa! Maybe it's one of those conjured things,” Oliver says with a very exciting shriek as if it was something that was yet to be discovered.

“I’m not sure about that yet, since there’s not much information about it, but it seems that thing, is a trophy of some kind since our esteemed general is the one who’s in front of the men,” It wasn’t that hard for Chris to not notice, seeing the man that was marching upfront.

Brandishing a full metal plate armor and a long sword on his back, it wasn’t that hard to tell who it was since there was only one person who wore that kind of outfit while riding a horse like that.

The whole thing seemed to be like a victory parade and the creature being hauled was the prize of the battle. Everyone watched in awe, some were even cheering and shouting as if they had won something.

But Chris could not take off his eyes on the truck, his curiosity was pulling him to know what the thing that was being kept hidden from everyone. And why the soldiers were carrying it towards the laboratory.