on the walls may not leave this room, but they will help you with your study. The computers are also available for your use. Your login information is available in your packet. Any questions?"
Austin shrugged. "I don't think so."
"Good." He looked at his watch. "Chow's in fifteen minutes. That time is yours." He pointed out the front door. "Chow hall is just outside to the left of the Grand Lawn."
"That's the circle of grass in front of Terminus?"
"Yes." He offered his hand. "It's a pleasure to have you here, recruit."
"Thank you, sir."
Nubern turned and marched down the hall, his footsteps echoing in the common area. Austin stared at the ceiling and then strolled along the bookshelves, studying the different titles and authors. He sat in front of one of the computers and logged in using the information in his packet.
A browser opened and a red screen flashed with a white font, warning all Internet activity is recorded on campus. He clicked "I understand" and logged into his personal email.
Hey Kadyn,
How's it going? You enjoying Savannah?
I'm getting situated here at my new school. I'm not too far from you. Only a couple hours. Not sure when we get a break here, but I'll let you know. It's a weird place, seems very serious and full of rules, but at least I made it to college. That's all I ever wanted. I don't think they have a baseball team. HA!
et me know how classes are going when you get a chance. It would be great to hear from you.
Pretty crazy to think this time last year we were seniors. Time flies.
Anyway, I have to get going to make sure I have time for dinner. Take care of you.
Austin
*****
Voices droned on the other side of the green door.
Austin opened the mess hall door. Four long tables sat side-by-side the length of the hall, each filled with students downing food as they spoke. One student near the door laughed as the guy next to him shot milk out of his nose. The students at the table nearest the door glanced at his approach. Austin looked away, but soon all eyes in the room fell on him.
He offered a smile before strolling across the room to the buffet line. Clouds of steam erupted from the kitchen door as staff dumped food onto a massive buffet. Austin grabbed a roll, some green beans, and a hot dog before he rushed back to an empty table near the front of the room.
Staring at his food, Austin ate in silence as the room around him buzzed with conversation.
"You ready for that test next week?" one student called to another.
"It's the first one. How hard could it be?"
"Sterling will be out of here by Christmas."
With zingers flying across the room like paper airplanes and spitballs, it didn't seem much different than the cafeteria at his high school. He felt the tension ease from his shoulders as he finished the last bite of the hot dog and washed it down with some milk.
"Attention!"
A hush fell over the mess hall.
Austin glanced around. A man in a sleek business suit stood at the doorway, flanked by Chief Sharkey and another security officer Austin hadn't met. The broad shouldered newcomer with a tight flat top marched into the mess hall. He studied the room with confidence, surveying each table as he rubbed a graying goatee. When his eyes fell on Austin, the man clapped his hands once.
"Now that we are all finally here," he announced in a solid, booming voice, "we can begin."
Several students nearest Austin looked at him with widened eyes.
"The rest of you have been here three days now. I hope you are getting acclimated to the Tizona culture." The man clasped his hands behind his back and strolled between the tables. "My name is Lovick Pierce and I am the president of this institution. It is my duty to ensure you all receive the best education in order to prepare you for what's to come. Only the best and the brightest graduate from Tizona. I want you to look around this room."
Austin raised his eyes from the empty plate. A girl stared at him from another table. Her eyes darted
Austin shrugged. "I don't think so."
"Good." He looked at his watch. "Chow's in fifteen minutes. That time is yours." He pointed out the front door. "Chow hall is just outside to the left of the Grand Lawn."
"That's the circle of grass in front of Terminus?"
"Yes." He offered his hand. "It's a pleasure to have you here, recruit."
"Thank you, sir."
Nubern turned and marched down the hall, his footsteps echoing in the common area. Austin stared at the ceiling and then strolled along the bookshelves, studying the different titles and authors. He sat in front of one of the computers and logged in using the information in his packet.
A browser opened and a red screen flashed with a white font, warning all Internet activity is recorded on campus. He clicked "I understand" and logged into his personal email.
Hey Kadyn,
How's it going? You enjoying Savannah?
I'm getting situated here at my new school. I'm not too far from you. Only a couple hours. Not sure when we get a break here, but I'll let you know. It's a weird place, seems very serious and full of rules, but at least I made it to college. That's all I ever wanted. I don't think they have a baseball team. HA!
et me know how classes are going when you get a chance. It would be great to hear from you.
Pretty crazy to think this time last year we were seniors. Time flies.
Anyway, I have to get going to make sure I have time for dinner. Take care of you.
Austin
*****
Voices droned on the other side of the green door.
Austin opened the mess hall door. Four long tables sat side-by-side the length of the hall, each filled with students downing food as they spoke. One student near the door laughed as the guy next to him shot milk out of his nose. The students at the table nearest the door glanced at his approach. Austin looked away, but soon all eyes in the room fell on him.
He offered a smile before strolling across the room to the buffet line. Clouds of steam erupted from the kitchen door as staff dumped food onto a massive buffet. Austin grabbed a roll, some green beans, and a hot dog before he rushed back to an empty table near the front of the room.
Staring at his food, Austin ate in silence as the room around him buzzed with conversation.
"You ready for that test next week?" one student called to another.
"It's the first one. How hard could it be?"
"Sterling will be out of here by Christmas."
With zingers flying across the room like paper airplanes and spitballs, it didn't seem much different than the cafeteria at his high school. He felt the tension ease from his shoulders as he finished the last bite of the hot dog and washed it down with some milk.
"Attention!"
A hush fell over the mess hall.
Austin glanced around. A man in a sleek business suit stood at the doorway, flanked by Chief Sharkey and another security officer Austin hadn't met. The broad shouldered newcomer with a tight flat top marched into the mess hall. He studied the room with confidence, surveying each table as he rubbed a graying goatee. When his eyes fell on Austin, the man clapped his hands once.
"Now that we are all finally here," he announced in a solid, booming voice, "we can begin."
Several students nearest Austin looked at him with widened eyes.
"The rest of you have been here three days now. I hope you are getting acclimated to the Tizona culture." The man clasped his hands behind his back and strolled between the tables. "My name is Lovick Pierce and I am the president of this institution. It is my duty to ensure you all receive the best education in order to prepare you for what's to come. Only the best and the brightest graduate from Tizona. I want you to look around this room."
Austin raised his eyes from the empty plate. A girl stared at him from another table. Her eyes darted
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