"Can you walk?" Theo, Pooh Bear, asked.

I placed my feet on the ground, expecting to feel pins and needles but ended up with nothing. Now, slightly more motivated to stand, I pushed my body off the wheelchair. I cringed, expecting to fall to the ground, but I didn't. I was a little weak but I would manage. I took a few steps before nodding at him.

"Good, we need to get you your ID then."

"ID? What do I need one for?"

We began walking down halls, passing by other people who glared at me and others who didn't.

"So you're not as suspicious when you walk around. It'll basically tell people that you're part of project Reform."

"What, so they can hate me? I find this a bit contradictory."

"So they can keep an eye on you."

"Don't make it sound nicer than it seems, Pooh Bear."

We turned down another hall lined with desks and people behind them. Each person seemed occupied by papers they were scribbling away on.

"Could you not call me that?"

"Aren't you part of my squadron?"

"...yeah."

"If you're part of my squadron doesn't that mean I outrank you?"

"In the training department, yes. We're not in the training department, however."

"Yes we are. Office two said so."

"Officer two?"

"The nice officer who didn't beat me when I got taken here."

"Oh hi- Wait, they beat you?!"

"Officer one did. When I couldn't stand he kicked me and when I told him to hurry up he punched me."

"I'll talk to him about that."

"Don't worry about it, I'll just beat the shit out of him the next time I see him."

"You realized you're being watched, right?"

"And they can all keep watching while I beat the shit out of him."

He sighed. I heard him mumble, "I'll have to move officer Banks to another department."

We stopped at a desk with an older lady sitting behind it. Her gray wiry hair was pulled back into a not so neat bun. When Pooh Bear tapped on her desk she glared up at him.

"Can I help you?" Her voice was crackly and hoarse and her teeth were stained yellow.

"Yes, I have Shadow here to get her ID."

She looked at me, examining me up and down. With a grunt, she stood and walked away. When she came back, she held an old machine in her hands.

"Does the whole government break the law?"

"It's not breaking the law, we're-"

"Wait, let me guess, it's another experiment that the government is in the process of. They're trying to find other sources of power."

"How'd you know?"

"Seriously?" Truthfully it was just a guess.

"Look here." I looked at the old lady. A flash blinded me momentarily and I saw her messing with the other side of the machine. She went back to God knows where and came back holding a plastic ID. She handed it to me and I took a hold of it gently. This was the first picture that's ever been taken of me. My face looked a little pale but I wasn't sure it that was the cameras flash or the drug still in me.

"You know," I said as Pooh Bear led me to somewhere else, "Pooh Bears too long."

"Oh thank god. I don't know what I would've done if you kept calling me that."

"I'm gonna call you Fuzzy."

"Why!?"

"You know, like Fuzzy Wuzzy."

He sighed, once again.

Fuzzy was easier and shorter to say so I think I'll stick with that.

"Where're we going?"

"To meet your squadron."

"Already?"

"Yep. Now, remember that the reason most of the signed up for the money because they didn't actually think you'd join."

"What'd the rest of them sign up for?"

"Levi heard you were pretty."

"I like him already. So, where are they?"

I pinned the ID to my long sleeved navy blue shirt.

"The training rooms."

"How many of them are there?"

"Including me, five. That's the max amount of people allowed in a training squadron."

"Why?"

"Do you always talk this much?"

"No, I'm usually worse. So you'd better tell me before I get more annoying."

"Because it's easier for a commander, that's you, to take care of a smaller group of trainees, that's us. It'll be your job to make sure that we all get proper training in fighting. When we do missions in the field it'll be easier to keep track of us."

"You mean I'll be able to leave this place?"

"With us around, yeah."

"What happens if I go haywire and kill you all?"

"You have a tracking in your arm."

I won't mention the fact that I'm not afraid to tear up my own arm. I'll leave that for when I really need to leave.

Fuzzy stopped me at a door with a sign that read:

'Training Room

Enter with caution'

Ignoring the sign, Fuzzy opened the door. Maybe I would just stick with Theo, it was easier to say. I'd reserve Fuzzy, Pooh Bear, Cuddles, and all those fun names for when I really wanted to piss him off.

Leave it to the thief's eye to discover the expensive weapons first. The walls were lined with weapons with dulled edges, meant for training. They even had wooden weapons for beginners. No guns, of course. Immediately, I was drawn to the daggers, the perfect weapon for a thief. They could easily be strapped under clothes which made swift kills easy. When they were strapped to your calves, a kick with enough power could send them flying.

"Shadow?"

I turned towards Theo who looked like he was trying to get my attention.

"You okay?"

"Just admiring the weapons."

"You can't kill anyone with those, you know. They're dulled down."

"I realize that maybe you can't. But, do you realize that I can kill a person with just about anything?"

He gave me a suspicious look from the corner of his eye.

"Don't worry, I won't." I have my own reasons for needing to be here. "So, who am I working with?"

"Theo!"

A little black haired girl made her way over to us. She was short, maybe five feet tall with innocent brown eyes. She was way too sweet to be a soldier. She looked at my ID and her eyes widened. She took a defensive step back.

"Right, Mila this is...just call her Shadow. Shadow, this is Mila, she'll be on your squadron."

I gave her a gentle smile that seemed to surprise her. I needed to get her to like me before I could drill fighting into her. That and if I was gonna be stuck with her I didn't want her as an enemy.

"Did you need something, Mila?"

"Oh, right, I shot a bullseye!"

Shot? She either worked with throwing knives or bow and arrows. I could imagine her with a bow and arrow, she wouldn't have to see all the carnage as close up.

"Good job." Theo patted her head and she smiled happily. So she responded well to praise? It was good for now. Then again being proud over a single bullseye was pathetic for an archer.

"Come on, Shadow, I'll show you more of your squadron."

He led me to a sparring dummy where a redhead was practicing stances with a bladeless staff. His attacks were powerful and each hit made a firm thump, his stance however could easily be broken.

"Levi!"

The man, Levi, came over, staff held at his side. First, he looked at Theo and then his eyes shifted over to me. His hazel eyes looked me up and down, barely skimming over my ID before he took my hand in his. He gently kissed the back of my hand. And I say again, I like him already.

"It's a pleasure to work with you, Shadow."

"Okay, first rule, no kissing, though I am very flattered."

"So I can do anything but kissing?"

I smiled at him, one eyebrow quirked. "Second rule, no touching unless it's sparing."

With a smile, he let go of my hand.

"Levi's a bit...chivalrous." Theo was looking for a good way to explain the flirt. "Come on, why don't we go meet the other two."

I happily walked away with Theo.

"I'll see you later, my beautiful Shadow."

"I can't wait to kick his ass."

Theo laughed at me, the first time he hasn't taken my threats even a little seriously. The next two people seemed to working with daggers, they'd have it the worst if I was teaching them. I was very skilled with daggers which also made me a strict teacher. Speaking of, I don't think I've ever really taught anyone. This would be interesting.

"Mercy! Bryce! Get over here."

The girl, Mercy, came over. I looked at her for a second, in a bit of shock. She reminded me of someone who was long dead. Someone I was close to. Even the name was the same. I shook it off as impossible.

Bryce, to my surprise, was Collin. When I looked at him, he gave me a smirk that made made me want to plunge my dagger into his neck.

"This is Shadow. Shadow, this is Mercy and Bryce, you knew him as Collin."

"You should've stuck with Collin. Your throwing sucks, by the way."

I hadn't even looked at the target. I honestly just wanted to piss him off. And it worked too. Wait a second, how was he practicing? I stabbed him in the stomach when we fought. Was stabbing him a drug induced dream?

Testing my theory, I landed a quick tap on his stomach, nothing that could get me in real trouble, and he flinched. Okay, it wasn't a dream he was just stubborn. I'd have to take note of that. I gave a small smirk as I took a step back, showing them that I meant no real harm.

"I bet you couldn't do any better." Though he tried to be tough, I could see him biting back a grunt.

The dagger that was strapped to my leg was begging to be used.

Smiling, I gently moved Mercy out of the way and took about ten steps back. With my right foot, I took a single step and then, in one swift motion, I lashed out with my left. The force sent the dagger flying. Just like it should've, it landed directly in the center of the target.

"And I did that with my foot."

I smiled at the silence that fell over the full room. I'd earned the attention of everyone, even the ones that weren't in my squad.

"Alright, let me show you to Squadron Five's room," Theo said quickly, pushing me by the shoulders.

He hurried me out, away from the terrified eyes of the trainees. When we left the room, we walked at a slower pace.

"You could've killed me the whole time." He said it, almost like a thanks or a realization.

I smiled.

"I could've killed a lot of people."