Armored Tears by Mark Kalina Read Free Book Online Page B

orbital
period is so short, but then they use their local 'years' as months, more or
less, since their orbital period isn't that much longer than an Earth lunar
period. But their day is somewhat longer, if I recall."
    "I
think we're getting close," Ulla said abruptly, and indeed, the train
seemed to be slowing.  
    "Ah,
well," Aran said, "let's try to stay together. The screening and
security on this side are... thorough."

 
 

6.

 
    Calvin
Piper stood at attention and did his best not to scowl. In his hands was a
sheet of print-film with his scores for the Armored Corps. Failing scores.
    It
wasn't his fault, he thought. Not his fault at all. If he'd been able to get
enough sleep, he knew he could have passed. The driving test at least.
    Of
course, the reason he didn't have enough sleep... even now that was enough to
raise a blush on his features. He'd heard silly stories about recruits who lost
their virginity after they'd been inducted, but he hadn't really believed them.
He certainly hadn't expected to have it actually happen to him. But it had.
    He
wasn't sure if he should be upset at it or not. Reiko had been... wild,
enthusiastic, eager... or maybe desperate. Cal never thought of himself as the
sort of guy a girl would be desperate for, but Reiko had... well, had ridden
him, all night, muffling her cries by biting her pillow and waking him every
time he'd fallen asleep... sometimes with a whisper... other times with her
hands... or her mouth. All night.
    If
it hadn't been the night before the evaluation tests, he'd have still been
grinning at the memory. As it was, he had... the memory of her; the feel of her
lithe, compact body, and smell and taste of her, and of her ecstasy. And his.
    And
he had a failing score from his evaluation for service in the Armored Corps. He
honestly wasn't sure if it was a good trade or not. If he'd been talking with
his friends from school, he'd have said it had definitely been worth it, losing
his virginity to a lustful, eager, pretty girl. But now, he was looking at two
years of service in the Infantry Corps, and he wasn't at all sure it had been
worth it.
    Cal
stood at attention while the assignments sergeant read out names and told
recruits which Corps would be their home for the next two years. And tried not
to cry.

 
    ***

 
    "This
is the M39 Infantry Combat Rifle!" shouted the instructor-corporal,
holding up a huge, heavy looking rifle. "It is the primary weapon of the
Infantry Corps. Which means it is the primary weapon of the Defense Force. And
that means that it is the weapon which keeps Arcadia free!"
    Five
weeks of basic induction training meant that standing at attention was no
longer anything new to Cal Piper. Neither were daily ten kilometer runs, or
hundred push-up punishment details.
    There
was no doubt that Cal was in the best shape of his life, now. And since he was
still sleeping, now and then, with the lovely Reiko, he couldn't really count
his life as being all bad. Well, some of the time with Reiko was spend
sleeping, anyway.
    The
Defense Force, he had found, was tough, but not —for the most part—
sadistic. Excuses were not tolerated, but neither did the instructors try to
micromanage the lives of the recruits. He had no doubt the instructor-corporals
knew about him and Reiko, but so long as nothing inappropriate was done during
training, what the two recruits did in their —very limited— spare
time was no business of the Defense Force. Or so it seemed; no one had actually
told him anything one way or the other. Unless he counted the lecture all the
Infantry Corps troops had gotten about taking the initiative. In which case, he
thought a grin, he was actually following their instructions when it came to
him and Reiko.
    "Is
there something funny, recruit?" snapped the instructor-corporal. "A
joke you want to share with your comrades? Everyone loves a good laugh, recruit!"
    "No,
sir, Instructor-corporal!" shouted Cal.
    "Then
pay attention!"   the