Walking Ghost Phase by D. C. Daugherty

available weaponry. In the ACES, you will implement what you have learned. Doing so can mean the difference between success and failure.” The four soldiers carelessly ran into the street amidst a hail of gunfire. One by one, bullets sliced through their flesh, and they fell in a pool of their own blood. “Now you are dead.”
    The screen faded to black.
    “Not only will these four soldiers feel the effects of their wounds, they will do so in silence, blinded until the ACES ends. If you fail miserably like our unfortunate quartet, expect a long night. If you achieve any portion of your objective, the waiting decreases. But if your squad completes the entire objective, the ACES module ends for your entire team, even the dead members. You are then free to do whatever you want for the rest of the night, be it sleep, eat or read—anything you enjoy. Questions?”
    Damon 's hand shot in the air. “What time tomorrow?”
    “ Nineteen-hundred hours. The elevators to the underground Sim complex are located in the Northwest wing.” Moore glanced around the auditorium. “Does anyone else have a question?” He waited a few seconds, but no one else spoke. “Value your life in the ACES module. I'll now turn the room over to Major Rogers. Good luck, privates.”
    A murmur of whispering soldiers broke th e silence, and Emily's eyes wandered. The faces of the soldiers near her appeared a shade paler, as if the summer sun had never come and gone, and a girl in the center row leaned against her knees. The sound of dry coughs reverberated across the room. Emily's stomach answered the sickly heaves with a high-pitched squeal. Sweat condensed on her forehead.
    An of ficer marched toward the podium and thumped his baton against the microphone. Sound blared from the speakers, silencing the whispers. “Listen up, maggots.” He paused. “On your feet when I'm speaking.”
    Before anyone else moved, Emily was out of her seat. Way out of her seat. Her momentum continued forward. She reached for the chair-back but missed by a foot. Matt grabbed her shirt and pulled her upright. “This is getting old,” she said.
    “ Better,” Rogers said. “Now, maggots, lucky for you this isn't the real Army, and you aren't real privates, although you will answer to that rank. The commanders have graciously decided to give you wastes-of-oxygen more freedom. We don't have a basic training regimen. No one is going to tell you when to sleep. If you aren't required to be somewhere, you can wander the base at will.” Rogers shook his head. “That makes me sick. But we still have rules. If you abuse, break or even think about bending them—well, I'll leave the rest to the imagination.” He grinned. “Do I make myself clear?”
    “ Yes, sir,” everyone replied in unison.
    “ Regulations. Address officers as sir or ma'am. Never skip meals. My favorite part of the day is when I get to force-feed an insubordinate soldier. If you can't live without mommy or daddy, mail is in the south wing. If you're drug dependent, get your meds at the pharmacy.”
    Emily rubbed the outline of the empty inhaler in her pocket.
    “And don't be late, not to class, not to Sim training, not to meals, not ever. Your instructors might take it easy on you, but I won't if I find out later.” Rogers walked to the exit and threw open the door. “Assemble in the mess hall for chow, maggots. Dismissed.”
    Emily readied to leave, but Sarah stayed motionless. Her skin dulled to almost pure white. “Are you okay?” Emily asked.
    Sarah glanced up and seemed to force the smile against the wishes of her rattling teeth. “I was contemplating how much fun this place is going to be.” She slowly stood, swaying back and forth in a nauseating motion. “I can't wait to see the crap they feed us today.”
    On the way to the mess hall , Matt and Emily steadied Sarah, but she stumbled ahead, twice almost knocking herself out against the wall and once against a stray soldier. Matt had to