Chapter Four

The Marshalls is an establishment were children of ages twelve to twenty three are taken to be trained skillful sword swingers and arm handlers before taking to the military if found worthy. It is the shortest route and the window to the Claudia Military popularly known as the KS MILITARY, CLAUDIA. When we arrived, mum gave us a hug and took us to the counter after putting down her information in a paper provided, she left.

For the first time in my life, I felt, alone. Walking into the reception hall, I looked up and I saw the picture of the president of Claudia and the next picture beside it had a blur face with no name tag but an abbreviation, KS. There is a giant writing of the name MARSHALL on the wall and on the three legs of the letter M was an anchor on each of them facing the west hand side. An anchor? Is this a fucking pirate school? I asked myself. I rubbed my eyes and exhaled not wanting to think about it that much or read unnecessary meaning into it so I looked away and my eyes landed on the Claudia flag and beside it is a kind of Latino writings that I could not comprehend. The writings looked very old like it was not touched upon the renovation of the Military. My head was spinning like I was having a hang over and I felt somehow like my skin was crawling, but I held myself and felt it's just a change of environment reaction.

"Hi, miss move over to the next que for further screening"

A lady soldier instructed. We went to the other que and received our first uniform, it was a thick white T-shirt and 2 pairs of turquoise green trousers, a boot and white socks with a white beret. 

We went to the notice board to look for our names and luckily, we were assigned the same room, our surname came first. So after Helion came Yuvonne according to the first letters of our name.

It was room 101.

"Okay, this is way better than the warehouse and am loving it!"

Yuvonne said as she was admiring the room. I smiled because it had been a while I saw my sister in that mood. The room was spacious and has its own toilet and bathroom built together. A wardrobe by the wall and a nightstand by the side of the bunk. Then a mirror facing the bunk.

" Let's change into this and join the others" 

I told Yuvonne already out of my home wear.

We wore our beret and the uniform and came out to join the rest of us at the hall.

I found out there were different colors of berets, but the white berets seemed to be us the new intakes and we dominated the hall. They called us the NULLS. There were the red berets, blue, green, black and yellow.

The silence was deafening as we waited for the  commander. I guess it is there training that had such impact on the decorum. Few minutes later

We noticed the oldies standing up at attention and we followed suit as a clique entered the hall. Then a lady in her early thirties took the stage.

Yuvonne looked at me and whispered;

" It is a she"

"Seems like" I replied in whispers.

We stood up for the National anthem and the Military anthem which was still new to us.

The woman in her full soldier regalia started to give her welcome speech as she picked the microphone;

"As you were Marshalls"

We all sat down and she continued;

"Good evening all, I am Commander Gal Mayer. I am happy to welcome our newest members today, the Nulls who will join us in taking Claudia Military to another level.

Untill my regime as the commander in chief of the armed forces, the oldies can testify that Claudia Military has never had this population in her history. Before, it was six Marshalls to one dormitory but now, it is two Marshalls to a spacious room. It use to be three bath houses for the female Marshalls and three bath houses for the male Marshalls, but now your bath house and restroom is installed in your various rooms and your privacy at it's peak. My mission is to make KS Military and the Marshalls your second home, a home away from home and I won't stop in my work until we are invincible and undefeated.

To my newest babies in the house, feel free to meet with the head of the BULLS, Julius Arms who will introduce himself when I'm out. Your orientation starts tomorrow. Welcome on board Comrades."

She dropped the microphone as we stood up at attention, she saluted and we all did as she left the stage with her clique. We sat down and waited for further instructions as the oldies left the hall for the refectory.

Yuvonne drew close to me and whispered;

" I hope there food is good, you know I don't play with my meals and I'm beginning to starve."

"Well, pray it is nutritious atleast" I replied.

Then a very huge six feet one guy on green beret took the stage as we all stood up at attention.

Yuvonne got a bit tense and whispered to me again;

" I hope this is not Julius Arms"

" Be quiet Vonne, you will put us in trouble" I told her.

"At ease Nulls," He said as we all sat down. His voice was very silky and deep, he doesn't need no microphone. He was looking so godly with his well trimmed mustache as he continued;

I am Bull, Julius Arms. 

"Oh no" I heard Yuvonne muttering to herself as she felt disappointed. Julius continued; " I am in charge of all the berets and tomorrow the other excos will introduce themselves.

You all are expected to be at the refectory now so, bon appetite and welcome again."

" Thank you sir!" We all said as we stood up at attention. He left the stage and we left for the refectory.

" How do we meet that guy if we have a problem. He doesn't look like one who will entertain problems" Yuvonne said

"Keep it low Vonne you don't refer to him as *guy. You should be mindful of your language, you don't want to get into trouble. It is his job, his looks doesn't define his personality" 

At the refectory:

The refectory is a very long hall and has a white wall paintings which I found absurd because who paints the dinning white?

The tables all had a leather sit installation and it was enough for us all.

We all sat down as they served us porridge yam.

The food was nutritious as I hoped but not so delicious. Yuvonne was not enjoying it but we had to eat it. A blue beret girl took the stage and rang a bell to die down the noise. When she got the audience she took the microphone and addressed us;

" Good evening everyone and welcome on board newest comrades. I am Lord, George Sky and beside me is my deputy, Alpha, Curry Linda. We are incharge of the refectory and we hope you enjoy your meal."

" Not even close" Yuvonne muttered as I tapped her laps to be calm. "Have a good night all." Then the deputy took the microphone and started;

"Good evening all and welcome Nulls. Please do well to wash off your plates when you are done. The sink is by that corner. Good night" After eating and washing our plates, we went to our room afterwards and lay down on our beds.

"A lot has happened today" Yuvonne said going up to her bed through the ladder by the bunk.

" I hope mum will be good" she continued.

"Mum has always been strong. she will be fine" I assured her.

"I never knew the Commander is a woman, the last I checked it was Commander Church Lucas." She said

"Church retired two years ago and Mayer took over from him because she was his deputy at the time."

"Hmm. You have been reading up lately haven't you?" she teased

I laughed and said;

"What do you know, Vonne"

"Night Hel"

She said as she turned off the light.