1.6.1

Day One

The group returned to their supper. After a time, Tenya tried to pull Astrid into a conversation about their daily routine, but she participated only half-heartedly.

Already, she found her new world bizarre and chaotic, though they’d yet leave Endra. Her mind couldn’t help but make comparisons to her usual mealtime with her Sanctuary brethren. Instead of mundane chatter, conversation simmered with fresh furor, probing questions, and the tingle of excitement in those around.

When Astrid would normally be reading the youngsters to sleep, she instead visited with the thorough medical professional in the lab, resigned to be the Static’s new pet project. Only by remembering Opal, and Maya, Finn, and Terrell, was Astrid able to stay her wavering nerves.

Better that she be exposed to this new treacherous balance than they, she reasoned.

The thought of the crew’s apprehension, or judgement, aimed at them instead, strengthened her resolve.

She could serve them no better than to make herself a shield. She could take it. She willfully assured herself.

~~~

The Channeler encountered trouble finding sleep. She wanted to accredit the discomfort to her drastic shift in scenery, but it was all the things that came with it that kept her staring at the bottom of her above bunk for hours before slumber finally claimed her.

She awoke to the rapid tapping of a bright-eyed Tenya.

“Come on, Kitten! Rise and shine! The rest of your life awaits!”

Astrid swatted away drowsiness and the wild mane that nearly suffocated her in her pillow.

“Wow, and I thought my hair was a nightmare,” Tenya joked as Astrid rose in a mass of pink static.

Tight little cracks resisted Astrid’s fingers when she attempted to tame the cling of floating strands.

“What, those glorious tight curls?”

“Girl, please, you know this takes an hour and an entire case of product each morning.” Tenya bounced on her hip.

Astrid gave a wry smile and swung her legs over the edge of the bed. “Fortunately, I just need a wet hairbrush.”

“And these!”

With a grand motion, Tenya presented a neatly folded stack of grey material. Tanks, T-shirts, and charcoal camouflage fatigues, all pressed and clean.

“Regs on uniforms have seriously opened up the last few decades. We have a catalogue we order from now. You can find almost anything as long as it’s the proper colors, pattern, and through proper channels.”

Astrid grasped the cloth in her hands, staggered.

“What?” Tenya prodded the girl’s dazed expression. “Is it okay? I mean, I didn’t know what you’d like, but if you’re up for suggestions—”

“I… no, it’s not that.” Astrid blinked as she thumbed the camo. “It’s just that I’ve never worn anything but… this.”

She looked down to her plain Channeler uniform. It hadn’t bothered her to wear the same thing for so long, as everyone else did as well. It lay beneath her notice for years.

“Pretty weird, huh?” Astrid added thoughtfully. “I guess it just hit me how much that life is over.”

Tenya’s brightness dithered at Astrid’s shift in mood, but then the woman determinedly reached for the pile of clothes and withdrew a few select pieces.

“Then you just need to get into something you like, and you’ll feel like a new woman! Personally, I like these for you!”

Tenya’s hands retrieved a soft pale-grey tank, and canvas camo leggings. She shook them out before Astrid’s face to show her the pockets at front and sides, and how the material tapered to a tighter fit down the legs and calves.

“Toss on your high-top combat boots and watch ‘em drool!” Tenya nodded decisively and threw the garments on the bed. Behind her, she revealed a selection of dark boots of varying heights and styles, all in the same charcoal tone and sturdy leather.

“You know what?” Astrid gambled. “I’m clueless. Whatever you pick, I’ll try.”

“Yes!” Tenya cheered. “Ugh, I wish my sisters were so agreeable!”

She seized the remaining clothing from Astrid’s arms and deposited them on the overhead bunk unceremoniously.

“You have sisters?”

“Three! And two brothers.”

“Wow.” Astrid watched the woman work as Tenya moved reinforced boots to the foot of the bed to match. “What is that like?”

“Loud, just the way I like it. It’s always a big deal when I return from tour. We used to fight a lot as kids, but now that we’re all in the teens and over, it’s kind of like a big party all the time.”

“You all get on then?”

“Well, not all day every day. But we know what subjects to avoid, and I’m pretty sure we’d all kill for each other. It’s why I like this team so much. It’s like home.”

Astrid couldn’t help but look off to where Rue’s bed lay empty.

“I don’t know if everyone agrees.”

“Don’t worry about Rue,” Tenya dismissed. “She’s a bit of a cactus. Tough to get close to. She really shines in the field though. When we’re running ops, I never have to worry about whether or not she’ll get the job done. That’s priceless in this line of work.

“Now, up. We have to get you presentable for your first day!”

~~~

The soldier in question remained scarce by the time the pair arrived at the mess hall for breakfast. With Tenya at her side, Astrid found it easier to fall into step retrieving her morning meal.

The cook grinned to see Astrid slid her tray next to Tenya’s, and she made sure to thank him.

“Wait!” Sugar spooned a second helping of eggs, an extra dollop of hashbrowns, and added an additional piece of toast. “Double rations today! I hear you’re starting training. You’ll need it!”

As far as Astrid was concerned, she didn't need another reason to stick out. But she smiled kindly and followed Tenya to their table.

She discreetly slid the excess toast onto her friend’s plate after they sat.

“I saw that.”

“Shh,” Astrid hushed under her breath.

One by one the others, save Rue, appeared for breakfast, and Karth gracefully steered the conversation toward the tasks of the day.

Astrid ate her fill but nudged her plate closer to her friends as discussion ensued. She felt gratified that they proved comfortable enough to share her excess with her.

But more than once she caught her reflection in fern-green eyes across the table.

“So, Astrid, Captain says you’re trained in hand-to-hand?” Romo asked as they neared the end of their communal meal.

“Something like that. ‘Fatigued Channelers are docile Channelers’.”

“Doesn’t sound like there’s any resentment there,” Tenya ribbed.

“Good,” Romo decided. “Then that’s where we’ll begin. I look forward to seeing what you can do.”

Tenya pouted. “Damn, I told the Captain I’d rotate the arsenal this morning!”

“I’d like to watch.” Anders looked to Romo. “I mean, if that’s okay with you two. I’d like to see where she’s at so I can get a better feel for where she’ll fit in the ground team.”

“I have no problem with it if Astrid doesn’t.”

“Sure.” She was unused to an audience, but neither was she familiar with working in a squad. It couldn’t hurt.

Tenya insisted, “I want to hear all about it!”

“With the way scuttlebutt flies around here, you’ll probably hear about it before Romo,” Karth quipped.

Tenya sighed dejectedly and collected her tray. “Fiiiine. But if you don’t give him hell, Astrid, I’ll be disappointed.”

“Great,” Astrid uttered to herself as the chief sashayed away. “No pressure.”

After breakfast, Romo led Astrid to the cargo hold, with Anders in tow. Once arrived, however, the lieutenant loitered a respectable distance from their work.

“So, what style of martial art did you learn at the Sanctuary?” Romo wondered.

“It was developed for us by an independent contracted stylist.” Astrid tailed him to the center of the room. “All Channelers are taught it but it’s almost entirely defensive. Meant to subdue or redirect rather than brutalize. Closest to aikido, I guess.”

“I’m going to need to see it.”

Romo rolled his shoulders, and like a cat, adjusted his stance with ease.

“You… you want me to fight you?”

“You spar, right?”

“Rarely.”

Astrid reached into her pocket for a hair tie borrowed from Tenya. A few quick tugs restricted her locks into a ponytail.

“I have faith in you.”

A smirk spread across Romo’s narrow face. His dark eyes glinted, as if he craved challenge, and Astrid knew at once he would not hold back.