“At least the food is good,” Kayla announced as she wolfed down sausage and potato.

At the start of the course, many girls had hesitated to finish their plates, until injuries became more common. The instructors reminded the class that undereating meant damaged muscles, which meant more accidents and injuries. Now, recruits piled their plates with as much food as they could, and ate as quickly as possible, although some managed this more efficiently than others.

“The highlight of the day, indeed,” Christie said. “After sleep.”

She wiped a smudge of something wet from her cheek that had passed through the chaotic region of Kayla’s mouth, like a comet sling-shotting around a star. “Madam, are you aware that you eat like an angry chimpanzee?”

Kayla stopped to swallow. “If I’m so grotesque, then why do you hang around with me?”

Christie smiled sweetly. “I find you to be a fascinating character study of the frontier peasant mindset.”

“That’s very touching.”

“What fascinates you about my mindset?” Thandi asked.

Christie thought for a moment, then shrugged. “Nothing really.”

Thandi and Kayla exchanged sympathetic glances, then turned their heads as a commotion broke out in the canteen. Tyra Swanson had knocked over Rose’s tray.

Rose jumped to her feet. “You did that on purpose!” she snapped. “You’re even worse than Kayla—at least she has the sense to avoid me!”

Tyra smirked at Rose and walked away.

Kayla raised an eyebrow. “Hmm, we should hang out with Tyra more often.”

“Uh-uh, don’t be like that,” Thandi said. “Pranks are all good fun, but this group ostracism stuff has to end. Everyone is trying to get through this, and it’s really bad for morale. I know Rose can be a problem, but you don’t have to make it worse.”

“Oh, come on,” Kayla complained. “See that hoodie she’s wearing? That’s an instructor hoodie. I have no idea how she got a hold of it, but she clearly feels the need to elevate herself above everyone else.”

Christie raised a finger. “Or she got it because she knew it would get under your skin. At what point do both of you decide to stop acting like children and realize we are training to be part of a professional team?”

“Hold on a second?” Thandi said. “Did you just agree with me?”

Christie’s eyelids fluttered. “Don’t be ridiculous.”

“Rose will drop out,” Kayla said. “She’s only here because she can’t let me beat her at something.”

“That’s amazing,” Thandi said. “So, you’re the center of her whole universe, huh?”

Kayla took a deep breath and rubbed her temples. “You remember I told you that I met Urtiga when I was attacked by a monster?”

They nodded and watched her with interest.

Kayla stopped herself, conscious that years had passed since the last time she had talked about what had really happened that night. The act felt wrong, like she was committing a crime. “What I didn’t tell you,” she said slowly, “was that my father was killed during that attack. Trying to save me.” She blinked away a tear.

“I’m so sorry,” Thandi said gravely. “That must have been awful.” She put a hand on Kayla’s shoulder. “Anything you need, just ask.”

Kayla nodded gratefully.

Christie cleared her throat. “Kayla I must apologize.” She spoke stiffly and looked embarrassed. “I have been condescending and insensitive, when you have clearly had a great burden to bear.”

Kayla was taken aback by the candor. “I appreciate that, Christie, but I’m not a fragile sculpture. I can handle the back and forth.”

Thandi tipped her head in acknowledgement. “You’re way too grimy to be in an art gallery.”

Kayla laughed raucously.

Christie turned bright red and covered her eyes with her hand. “Now I feel like even more of a fool. Good lord, I’m not sure why I open my mouth sometimes.”

Kayla rubbed her shoulder. “Breathe slowly. The ego burns, but it’ll subside with time.”

Christie nodded. “Your father sounds like he was a brave man. I’m sorry for your loss.”

Kayla felt a flush of pride. She had never been sure if Christie actually was a Helvet, but now she didn’t care.

“But what does this have to do with Rose?” Thandi asked.

“Well, I told Rose about what happened,” Kayla replied. “Then, after she got together with her Helvet friends, she accused me of lying about it for attention. They said the colonists were exaggerating the attacks to prove how uncaring Helvets were.”

“What a senselessly cruel group of people,” Christie said with a shake of her head.

Thandi thought for a moment. “And how old were you when this happened?”

“Nine,” Kayla said.

“And by Rose’s Helvet friends, you mean her parents, and teachers, and all the other people she obeys and respects?”

Kayla rolled her eyes. What happened to ‘anything you need’?

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“As painful an experience as that must have been,” Thandi continued, “I don’t think you need me to tell you why you shouldn’t be holding that accusation against her.”

Kayla clenched her jaw as the darkness rolled over her eyes. Why did it have to be so painful to be an adult? And why did it seem so much easier for everyone else? “Yeah,” she managed, “well, she’s only here to continue her people’s tradition of proving they are better than colonists.”

“Listen, you don’t give her enough credit,” Thandi said. “No one cares so much about you to put themselves through this course. Take it from me, and please note, I say that with love.”

“Fine. When she stops being so nasty, I’ll reach out to her.”

Christie leaned forward. “I don’t think that’s how it works, unfortunately.”

Kayla sank back in her chair and tightly crossed her arms. “Well, my mood is down the toilet. Why do I hang out with either of you?”

“You’re enthralled by my dark African beauty,” Thandi said. “And you hang out with Christie because you need someone to feel superior to.”

Christie grabbed an apple off Thandi’s plate.

“Oh, will you stop doing that!” Thandi snapped. “I’m not even joking Chris—don’t touch my food!”

Christie took a deep bite of the fruit, eating as though nothing could bring her greater pleasure.

Thandi closed her eyes and inhaled sharply. “Lord, give me strength with these two.”

A few days later, Kayla was walking to breakfast when she heard whispering around the side of a cabin. She moved to the corner and stopped when she realized she was listening to Rose.

“I can’t stand her anymore, Abby,” Rose said. “She’s got to go. Kayla I can deal with—everyone hates her already. But if Tyra disrespects me like that—”

“Rose, are you sure about this? If they find out—” The voice of Abeni Zabu said.

“What? You’re not going to rat on me, are you?”

“I wouldn’t need to,” Abeni said sharply. “Everyone saw your confrontation in the canteen.”

Rose laughed. “They won’t suspect sweet little me. If anything, they’ll think it’s Kayla.”

Kayla balled her fists but stayed silent. If was Rose going to try something, maybe she could stop her.

“What are you going to do?” Abeni asked.

“Tyra’s the only vegetarian left. Did you get some bleach like I asked? I’ll add just enough to her patties to put her in the hospital—I’m sure they have great medical care here. She’ll just get rolled into another class.”

Kayla absorbed this with anger. She crept away from the cabin, mind racing. She had to stop Rose from poisoning Tyra. On the other hand, if she could catch her in the act…

Kayla smiled, enticed by the gleeful thought that she could get Rose kicked out for good.

Later that night, Kayla waited in the shadows by the cafeteria until she saw a hooded figure slip inside the building. Kayla approached quietly, opened a window, and climbed in. She followed the figure into the kitchen and waited until she had opened the freezer door. While the woman was opening a food box, Kayla strode forward and grabbed her by the shoulder.

“Caught you red-hand—” Kayla started, but didn’t get further because an elbow smashed into her ribcage, followed instantly by a punch to the head. She collapsed onto her back, stunned. For a moment, she had no idea what had happened or where she was. When she raised her head, she saw Instructor Reyes staring at her, a horrified look on her face. In her confused state, Kayla wanted to giggle. So that’s what a Valkyrie could do.

“Barnes?” Reyes said. “What are you doing here? You shouldn’t be outside your cabin at night.” She dropped to Kayla’s side and checked her for injuries. “I’m sorry I hit you,” she said. “You startled me and, well, I have some ingrained reflexes. You’ll be okay, though; take it easy.”

Kayla tried to speak, but the air had been driven out of her lungs. She forced herself to breathe until she was gasping and coughing. “I-I thought you were Rose,” she managed eventually.

“Rose?” Reyes brow furrowed. “What are you talking about? I come out here regularly to steal ice cream from the recruit rations. To be honest, I’m kind of glad you caught me, because Mckinnon will probably send me back to a unit. Honestly, I hate teaching.”

“Hey wait a minute,” Kayla said. “Maybe no-one needs to know—”

“Oh no, recruit Barnes! It’s pretty obvious what’s going on here, and I still have a job to do. You and Rose need to be dealt with. Come with me.”

A pit opened in Kayla’s stomach. She would certainly be punished. Even worse, everyone would know that Rose had tricked her.

Reyes took her straight to Mckinnon’s office, where she waited under the chief instructor’s silent glare while Rose was summoned. She followed Reyes into the office and grinned when she saw Kayla, a glint of evil in her eye.

Mckinnon inspected the two recruits. “I see the slow-burning rivalry has escalated into something more severe,” she intoned and turned to Kayla. “Well?”

“Um,” Kayla said, as the words refused to come. She swallowed. “Well, I overheard Rose planning something with another recruit, and I waited… uh, I waited—” Kayla silently cursed herself for not having thought to follow Rose from her cabin. But how could she have guessed that the fashion model would have so much cunning?

“I’m guessing,” Reyes said, “that recruit Djallen found out about my nighttime excursions and came up with a clever scheme. Good job, Rose.”

Mckinnon glared at Reyes, then turned back to the recruits. “Ladies, it is no secret that the two of you have a rivalry, and we are now at the point that it is becoming a distraction to the rest of the class. There are seventy recruits here, struggling through an extremely demanding course. I would obviously be negligent in my duty if some of those recruits who have made it so far quit because they have the wrong impression about what kind of behavior we expect from our soldiers.”

She thought for a moment. “Here’s what I’m going to do. If either one of you conducts any more pranks or jokes, I will send you both home immediately. Do I make myself clear?”

Kayla rolled her eyes. “Ma-am please, she—”

“Do I make myself clear, Barnes?” Mckinnon never raised her voice. She didn’t need to. Now her tone was as sharp as a splinter of ice.

Kayla felt the world drop from beneath her. She glanced to her side and saw that Rose was also looking horrified.

“Yes, ma’am,” Rose said. “There will be no more pranks on my part.”

“Yes, ma’am,” Kayla said.

“Mark my words, ladies,” Mckinnon continued. “If you want to see the end of this course, and be a part of this organization, your attitude needs to change. Neither one of you is even remotely living up to the standards we set.”

Kayla nodded meekly.

“Recruit Djallen, don’t think we are through with you, either. It is obvious that your galaxy-wide notoriety has attracted to you a clique of followers who seem to think they are a class apart. I doubt that any of those recruits have the right idea about how we do things, so tomorrow we will give them a reminder.”

Rose blanched but remained silent.

Mckinnon dismissed them both, then turned back to Reyes with a stern expression.

As Kayla stepped through the office door, she reached to close it behind her.

“Oh no,” Reyes was saying sarcastically. “Now I have to go back to doing a real job.”

Kayla turned to see Rose staring at her with an air of superiority. Not wanting to be lectured again, Kayla pushed past her and headed back to the cabins.

Rose hurried to keep up with her. “We found out Instructor Reyes was taking ice cream,” she said smugly. “I just had to get hold of a hoody and make sure you overheard us.”

“Whatever.”

“Hey!” Rose grabbed Kayla’s arm and spun her round. “You thought that I’d actually hurt one of the girls over some social status nonsense? I know I like to play dirty sometimes, but that’s messed up, Kayla.”

Kayla jabbed a finger into Rose’s chest. “And what about you? Turning this course into some kind of high-school drama?”

“I don’t…” Rose paused, searching for words. “People like me, and I like being surrounded by people that like me.”

“You’re such an idiot!” Kayla snarled. “They don’t like you. They like the attention and respect they get from being associated with you.”

“Oh please! You’re just jealous because you can’t master basic social etiquette!”

“Yeah? You watch what the instructors do tomorrow and see how many ‘friends’ you have left.”

Rose stared back, openmouthed. Kayla stalked away. When she got back into her cabin, she pummeled her pillow until Thandi tackled her to the ground.

“Remember to breathe, my dear!” Christie called from her bed.