diff --git a/General Chapters.md b/General Chapters.md index 9425d4d..3ddfb9e 100644 --- a/General Chapters.md +++ b/General Chapters.md @@ -127,4 +127,644 @@ all fixed. Nice of you to offer." "Of course. It's common courtesy. Ah, that must be Idan! Come in!" -** +\~\~\~ + +Chapter II -- The New Cyber Kids + +'So, I'm standing there like an utter idiot, and all of a sudden the +syringe flies across the room and into my shoulder!' Adir was telling +several of his new coursemates, all huddled excitedly. + +'Into your* shoulder?*' Karin asked with silent awe. She always spoke +silently. + +'Still have a nasty mark,' he answered, 'Look'. He lowered the thick +green uniform to reveal a blackened old bruise. 'This is where it went +in', he gestured just below the neck. + +'And I though I had it bad', said Dennis. 'I still think I had it bad. +Bastards wouldn't let me out for a smoke. We sat there for hours'. + +'Well, you got in front of me in line. You have the bigger Personal +Number.' + +'That's Time Length!' Sharon excitedly pitched in. 'Nothing's more +important!' + +Adir found the whole concept of 'Time Length'* incredibly* stupid. + +'Alright, line up', Shani said from the now open classroom door, just +enough for them to hear. Adir has yet to decide his stance on the whole +constant shouting business, now that's it's over with. + +They lined up in front of the classroom, all forty two of them. + +'One minute to attention', Shani said coldly. 'Look nice for the Course +Commander'. + +'ONE MINUTE TO ATTENTION!' bellowed Roi. Well, maybe not entirely over +with. + +After much more than a minute, the CC showed up. + +'Alright, alright', he chuckled. 'Come on, get inside'. + +It was 11AM and Adir was fiercely struggling to stay awake. The CC was +vigorously instructing them on Operating System Internals, and Adir +realized that for the first time in all these months he is in real +jeopardy of dozing off. He stood up -- joining most of his coursemates +at this point. + +Much to his surprise, Re'em nudged his shoulder. He had fallen asleep. + +Adir suddenly felt a wave of despair. What else is he supposed to do? + +'Could I go?' he suddenly blurted out to the CC. + +The CC stopped mid-sentence, and everyone turned their fragile attention +to him. The officer was so surprised he did not even seem about to scold +him. + +'Go?' he asked, frowning. + +'Yea'. + +Silence fell, and eventually Adir realized the CC was expecting him to +say something else. + +'Pee, I mean'. + +Yotam, the course commander, did not expect this from Adir, who had +never piped up before. + +'Be a bit more, er, professional next time, please', he said, and +gestured at the door. Adir fuddled out with elation. + +'The key,' Yotam added. + +'Here man', mumbled Bar and tossed the keys at him. They hit him right +in the face and fell to his hands. + +The heavy metal door closed behind him. He stood at the small, empty +space outside, overlooking the muddy nothing with the few benches in +between. The other coursees in the other classrooms were all still +studying. + +He took a deep, exhausted breath. He felt the warm sun on his uniform. +He stretched lazily, joints cracking softly, feeling some strength +returning. + +He began rounding the small classroom towards the restrooms, very +slowly, humming to himself. + +He inserted the key in the door -- to his surprise, it was unlocked. + +A tall, red headed coursee opened the door. Behind him was another +squat, dark haired soldier. + +'What?' he demanded. + +Adir saw his stripithings. Black and white. These must be the new Cyber +coursees. + +Socially handicapped as he was, even Adir had managed to pick up on the +long lasting rivalry between the Computer Systems Infastructure Managers +and the Cyber Security Defense Specialists. He could not understand why +-- they do pretty much the same thing -- though he dared not utter this +aloud. This was a fact of this place, inherited one course cycle at a +time, and like everything else in his life right now he accepted it +offhandedly. + +He would not buy into this foolish affair, though. + +He would treat this person with utmost respect. + +'Pee', he answered diplomatically. + +The Cyberer sighed. + +'Don't make a mess', he reprimanded. 'We clean this up later'. + +'Everyone cleans this up later', he said. The Cyberer looked at him as +one might a deranged, fuming chimpanzee. + +He 'ugh'd and left. + +By the time he got back around the classroom, everyone was outside. How +long has it been? + +Naturally, he went to his desk for his three minutes of intense sleep. + +When he sat down in front of the computer, however, he did something +else -- and was not quite sure why. + +\~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~ + +'I don't understand why you would act like this', Commander Dan told +him. 'You've been a good soldier so far. Where is this coming from?' + +Adir was vaguely aware of the situation. They were sitting around one of +the tables outside, after Dan pulled him out from class. He suddenly +felt cold. + +Adir did not answer, because he genuinely did not know what this is +about. Why can't he hold on to thoughts lately? + +Dan did that thing where he sits and stares until Adir blurts something +out to break the silence. Every single soldier ever trained for command +used this tactic liberally, certain all the enlisted would break under +their steely gaze. + +It never worked on Adir, and he quite liked seeing confusion creeping up +their faces. + +Dan was a bit proud for that, though. 'You skipped out on the CC's +lesson,' he continued, 'And now you write this nonsense on the course +forum. You're one of the better soldiers here. Why? Why would you spoil +it by acting out like that?' + +Adir's poem burst out from the great nothing, and he was supremely proud +of it. It read thus: + +The New Cyberers / Pooshellu + +The Man Bar hands me the key, + +Methinks to meself, make water I shall + +And just when the hand reaches out for the trousers + +Into the room enter the new Cyberees. + +The first's eyes fall to my stripthings + +Purple is great, yet he did not see it thus + +His nose rising just shy of his brows + +'What, do you have a bathroom key too?' he asks + +The restrooms are for all coursees, says I + +Yet Cybereeno remains unimpressed + +*Do me a favor, he begs with a look of plea* + +Don't thrash the bathroom + +Wer'e cleaning it later. + +'I thought it was funny', he stated. + +'And you came here to laugh?', Dan inquired. + +He stared Adir down again. Adir mulled the question over. + +'I know things are difficult', Dan finally gave out, 'But get a grip. +You've been given a great privilege. Act like it'. He left. + +The others were just pouring out, and as soon as Dan was out of sight +many they flocked to Adir. + +* * + +'You're an idiot,' Yogev thoughtfully stated. Even Karin seemed to +agree. + +'What else is there to be?' + +\~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~ + +Chapter II -- The Feline, Or The Language? + +Commander Kim gracefully turned away from the blackboard. He surveyed +the class calmly with a proud smirk, and was content to see no confused +faces. + +'And that is it,' he said. 'That was a good introduction to case +statements. Does anyone have any further questions?' + +'No', the others piped smugly, which Adir found kind of annoying. + +He raised his hand. Commander Kim looked at him, offended and +bewildered. 'Yes?' + +'Permission to speak, commander'. + +'Adir,' he said, 'You don't need to ask for permission to speak anymore. +This is not boot camp'. + +'I understand, commander'. + +'And you don't have to call me commander', he added benevolently. 'This +is not boot camp'. + +'I understand, Kim'. + +'Adir,' he admonished, 'You can't just call me by my name. I'm not your +mate from boot camp'. + +'I understand, commander'. + +'And you don't have to call me commander', he said sternly. 'This is not +boot camp'. + +Adir simply stared at him, relinquishing control of the situation. Kim +stared back with futile anticipation of a response. + +'You had a question,' he prompted after a billion years. + +'Yes...' + +'...' + +'...' + +'Commander Kim,' said Commander Kim. + +'Commander Kim,' said Adir. + +'I have a question about case statements, Commander Kim' + +'Yes, Adir -- you had a question about case statements' + +'Yes' + +'Well?' + +The guy did not even twitch. It's almost midnight, for god's sake. What +do they do to these people? *What happens in INBA city?* + +'I don't understand'. + +'\...You don't understand?' asked Commander Kim + +'I don't understand', said Adir. + +'You don't understand case statements?' Commander Kim cleverly deducted. + +'Commander Kim, I think Adir does not understand case statements', +Re'em, Adir's desk mate, helpfully pitched in. + +'Commander, I don't think I understand case statements', Adir admitted. + +'What,' inquired Commander Kim, 'About case statements don't you +understand?' + +'The case statements, commander', Adir stated. 'I lost you a good 50 +minutes ago'. + +'We've only been on case statements for the last 30 minutes' + +'Yes.' + +'Well, then, why didn't you say anything earlier?' + +'Commander Kim, Adir did say something earlier', Re'em pitched in. + +'I did say something earlier, Commander Kim', confirmed Adir. + +'I'm sorry,' said Commander Kim, who was not at all sorry. 'I can't +quite recall. Could you repeat your question?' + +'When we just started,' he said, 'You explained what case statements +were, and I said I did not understand'. + +'I told you to see me after class if you don't understand', Commander +Kim recalled. + +'Yes.' + +'I answered your question, then' + +'I suppose you did at that' + +'But you did not come to me after class' + +'Class has yet to end. Commander.' + +'Commander Kim.' + +'Commander Kim.' + +'Okay,' said Kim, who was clearly going for something else. 'What else +don't you understand?' + +'The whole thing -- you were talking about case statements' + +'And?' + +'I do not understand case statements' + +'Come see me after class', Commander Kim commanded. + +'Does anyone have any further questions?' + +'No', everyone else piped smugly + +'Good. Class is over. Adir, will you come see me, please?' + +Adir came to see him. Everyone else left besides Re'em, who was never +tired because he eats so many coffee beans. Re'em left when Commander +Kim demanded that he leave. + +'Do I really have to leave, Commander Kim?' he insisted. 'I kinda wanna +see this'. + +'You can go back to the hostel with the other soldiers,' Commander Kim +said. + +'Yes, but -' + +'Don't you ever yesbut me. I'm not your mate from boot camp'. Re'em +sulkily crunched a coffee bean. + +'Now go'. + +With that, they were two. + +'Adir,' Commander Kim said with everlasting patience, 'What don't you +understand about case statements?' + +'Well-' + +'If you don't understand case statements,' demanded Commander Kim, 'Why +don't you stay after class to study it?' + +'Because it is 11P.M. Commander' + +'Stop calling me commander' + +'I'm sorry, commander' + +'Why don't you stay after class?' + +'We start at 7AM' + +'That you do' + +'You must see some fault here' + +'I do,' he said poignantly. ' I do see a fault here. You're giving up on +yourself'. + +Adir thought that was a rather exaggerated statement. 'I think that is a +rather exaggerated statement', he said. + +'When I was a coursee here,' Kim lectured him, 'I did not understand +case statements. So I stayed late every day, until I understood case +statements. Do you understand?' + +'You had also studied programming throughout highschool with +excellence', Adir said. He knew this because Commander Kim often told +them he had studied programming throughout highschool, with excellence. + +'The course requires no prior programming knowledge', Kim reiterated yet +again. + +'And yet, Everyone here has extensive prior programming knowledge' + +'Pele does not, either' + +'It doesn't matter, because Pele is getting released in a month' + +'How did you come to that conclusion?' + +'It's true,' Adir insisted, 'he told me.' + +They sat at their tent together, in the Spring Buds Rookie Base Har'el +Division Tent Area B. It was cold and damp and there was fuel on the +floor as always. + +'You mark my words, Adir', said Pele, who says very little. This sudden +outburst alarmed Adir. 'If I am still in the military in three months', +he proudly intoned, 'then I am a god damned whoreson'. + +'Don't be silly', Adir had told him. 'We just got in' + +'I'm not going through with this. It's just not for me. + +You mark my words, Adir. Should I still be drafted three months from +now, I am a stupid, spineless whoreson.' Adir did mark his words, and +could not help but admire his perseverance. There's a man who knows what +he's after. + +'What are you on about?' asked Kim. + +'Look,' he said. 'I could obviously sit here and grind water for many +sleepless nights until I understand case statements' + +'Good,' Kim said, 'We've reached a solution.' + +'However', Adir put in, 'We study for 15 hours everyday' + +'And?' + +'And I am a smooth brain. My brain is smooth.' + +'You're getting off track here.' + +'I cannot study any more than 15 hours.' + +'See? You're giving up on yourself." + +'I do just dandy at everything else, and I need to work very hard to do +so, because I'm not supposed to be here. I have only so many hours, and +I choose to use them to surmount the challenges I can' + +'You can do whatever you want if you study hard enough.' + +'I have limited time and energy and I choose to spend them thus. If +you'd like to help, Commander, I'd be grateful. But I just don't have +the patience to grind through this alone' + +'Ask your coursemates.' + +'Hey, can you help me with variable type declaration?' Adir had asked +Tom, who was the best programmer in the course. + +'Sure Adir,' said Tom, 'I'm the best programmer in the course. What +don't you understand about variable declarations?' + +'The variable declarations', said Adir. + +Tom had gathered the course's finest with a solemn mission -- to teach +Adir variable declarations. They sat with Adir for about four late +nights before declaring him unteachable. + +'We're sorry, Adir', they had told him, 'But maybe you should ask +Commander Kim'. + +'Do you guys wanna get ice cream or something?' + +'It's midnight', said Nitzan. + +'Oh, right,' Adir replied. + +'What are you on about?' said Kim, finally losing his patience. 'You +know what? When you put in some *real* effort, I may consider helping +you. I'll see you tomorrow' he said and left. + +Adir left the cold, dead classroom and sat outside, even though he could +go home. He wished he had some coffee beans. Programming, the feline +cat, jumped to his lap. They were best buds, even though he was allergic +to feline cats. And they say he can't pull through. + +The next day, Commander Idan spoke to him just before lunch, robbing his +precious free minutes. Adir mentally bade his sweet, sweet desk goodbye, +and silently mourned the three minutes he had lost. + +They sat outside just within sight and out of earshot of everyone else. +Commander Idan, while a skilled adversary at military mind chess, still +fell short of Adir, who has learned to anticipate his moves quite +easily. First, the admonishment. + +'Adir, why were you late this morning?' + +'Life finds a way, Commander'. + +'Do you think,' he said, 'When you're on duty, life will find a way?' + +'That is very much a possibility, I'm afraid'. + +Then, there is the steely gaze. + +Commander Idan gazed at him, steely. Adir did nothing in response +because he was so tired. + +Then, the merciful change of subject. + +'Commander Kim told me you've been struggling with case statements', he +said. + +'I have been, commander' + +'Yet you do not stay late and ask for help from your coursemates' + +'I do not, commander' + +'Why are you giving up on yourself?' Idan demanded fiercely. + +'I think that is a rather exaggerated statement.' + +'Look, you've got it in you.' Idan said, inspired. 'Otherwise you would +not have been here' + +'I am not supposed to be here', Adir stated. + +'How are you so certain?' + +'Because I am a smooth brain. My brain is smooth." + +'Why do you think you are a smooth brain? How do you know your brain is +smooth?' + +'I turned half my test in empty' + +'If you are here', Idan intoned poignantly, 'You should be here. Look, +you got it in you. Wouldn't you like to be a Computer Systems +Infrastructure Manager?' + +'That would be nice', he said + +'Don't you feel it burning in your soul?' + +'I think that is a rather exaggerated statement.' + +'Look, you've got it in you, Adir. What happens if you fail +Programming?' + +'The feline, or the language?' + +'What are you on about?' + +'The feline, or the language?' + +'What if you fail the feline, Programming?' Idan asked, dumbstruck. + +'I would be greatly upset. We have a special bond' + +'So why do you struggle with case statements?' + +'What does that have anything to do with the cat?' + +'What cat?' + +'So the language' + +'The programming language, yes' + +'Oh. Not the feline cat' + +'Don't joke around with me,' said Commander Idan. 'I'm not your mate +from boot camp. You know, you shouldn't even touch it'. + +'The language?' + +'No, the feline cat. It's prohibited by martial law' + +'Because I think I shouldn't touch the language either'. + +There was silence. + +'The language should also be prohibited by martial law'. + +'\...' + +'I'm also severely allergic' + +Idan tried the steely gaze again. It was ineffective. + +'If I touch my face now,' Adir mused, petting Programming, 'It will be +so, so bad'. + +'If you fail Programming -- *the language*, you will fail the course. +What will you do if you fail the course?' + +'Whatever the country needs me to!' Adir declared patriotically. + +'Wouldn't you like to be a Computer Systems Infrastructure Manager?' + +'That would be nice' + +'Don't you feel it burning in your soul?' + +Adir was not listening, because he was so tired, and Programming's fur +was sooooo soft. + +'Don't give up on your self,' Commander Idan preached, 'It says a lot +about character'. + +That got to him. 'I honestly don't understand,' he said, 'Why is it +considered so awful when I set my own priorities. I'm good at a few of +the other fields. An hour spent there will help me much, much more that +an hour of futile programming. I could grind away coding, sure -- but +I'd like to be good at a few things I already have a grip on, rather +than a mediocre programmer. Is that so bad?' + +'Don't make excuses. We're good at everything'. + +'It doesn't work like that' + +'Life finds a way. Don't give up on yourself,' he said. 'Now go eat +lunch. I don't want to be having this conversation again'. + +Yogev walked up to him. 'I think you're absolutely amazing with +Programming,' he said in his usual cold, cynicism soaked drone. + +'The language?' + +'Don't be an idiot', Yogev said. 'The feline cat, of course. Things that +matter'. + +Commander Shilo swung by from somewhere. 'Go! Run!' he told them. +'There's PE! The Communications commander is here!' + +'Yes Commander!' Yogev spat back and took off with a frenzy. + +'You too, Adir! Get up! *Why* are you giving up on yourself?' + +Adir was so, so tired, and Programming was purring softly, which Adir +loved because he'd never had a cat before, much less a feline cat. + +'I'm not running', he tossed back, annoyed.