Gospel Stars ch1

    The sound of military boots thudding against the floor broke him from his trance. Peering over vent grate he saw a group of four soldiers looking around . His brother had probably caused some chaos and then ditched the area in hopes of escaping the penalties. Search patrols had then been sent out around Trinity base to retrieve all three boys no doubt.
    Atrii had a choice here go with the soldiers and endure his share of the punishment or try and resume his exercises. He quickly ruled out the latter as he would need complete calm to train his, already superb, hearing. His lithe body dropped from the ceiling soundlessly behind the soldiers. Again he had a choice, go with the soldiers or cut to the chase and find Brice on his own which would be quicker. This time he went with the latter and began tracking his older brother, his face showing no emotion and his eyes seemingly empty.
     At fifteen, Jack knew he shouldn't smoke but he was a genius and enjoyed gleaning info from the older troops stationed at Trinity. As this was the case he could always gain the newest scuttle bug almost immediately, such was the situation when news of Brice's newest path of destruction came by. As soon as Jack heard about the three ruined Humvees he was already headed to the Doctor's office where he and his younger siblings would be scolded the given harsh training exercises.
      He couldn't help it! Those soldiers had left the keys right there in the humvee, knowing full-well how energetic he was. Although, they probably hadn't realized that Brice had been watching from above on the roof. Now here he was hiding underneath one of the many small lookout posts. Brice really hoped Jack wouldn't get angry at him, he didn't even give a thought to Atrii after all that kid wasn't called the Unemotional Ghost for nothing.
        Doctor Cross sat in her small office at her paper littered mahogany desk. She knew her comfortable recliner was about to become very uncomfortable shortly, her office was about to be over crowded; again. First came Jack, as always, shortly there after Atrii would lead a bound Brice into the office, then a couple dozen soldiers would crash into the room with nothing to report about ten minutes later. Such was the routine of weekly life on base and nothing was different this time either.
   Just as Cross had anticipated Jack walked into the room. With a ten minute wait ahead of them Cross opened a pack of cigarettes to pass the time. She was not oblivious to the look of torment that passed Jack's eyes, she as well as everyone else on base knew of Jack's addiction and she enjoyed his brief torment.
    The door opened to reveal Atrii and his older 'brother'. Atrii stepped in quickly his nickname being apparent in everything about him and it mad Cross shudder. Brice followed after knowing escape was futile now, he was greeted by two heated glares and an empty abyss that he couldn't stand to look at for long. All four waited patiently then three collective sighs came, and the door was thrown open by the patrol units followed by many collective sighs.
    Dr. Cross made a sign with her hand dismissing the patrols. Then settled her gaze upon her wards, the children she had been forced to augment under General Hill's orders. Her super soldiers, and gave a sigh of exasperation. " As you three are a team you must all be punished for the crime of one. Three Humvees were ruined today, your team being responsible for the damage. Jack as team leader have you anything to say?"
  " Only that I am sorry for our incompetence and that we will accept any punishment you deem fit."
   "Well that being said I sentence you three to five hours endurance training. Jack your going to the gym, I'm sure Captain Mark has several workouts planned, Brice head to the study room I'll be there shortly, Atrii.... Special covert ops training field, you going one on twenty if your spotted you start over, everyone understand?"
    Cross received three salutes as as a reply then dismissed them. Dr. Cross looked at a photo on her desk it showed a group of five men and herself from years ago. She looked intently at two of the men one in a normal military fatigue and standard weapons but Cross knew that Lan Fuetce had more intelligence than several doctors put together. The other man wore military cargos a black long sleeve shirt and a military vest his short cropped black hair was just long enough to cover his eyes, the man wore special gloves though you wouldn't know by just looking, and had two short swords on his mid-back.
    Cross looked intently at the second man, his resemblance to Atrii was uncanny but it couldn't be a family relationship between them. Atrii was only twelve and Hush had died almost fourteen years ago leaving behind his daughter and wife. Cross shook her head, it was just her imagination, she then stood and grabbed a physics book; time for Brice's punishment.