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General_Chapters.md

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+The Difference Between an Idiot
+
+and a Moron
+
+General Chapters
+
+To be Incorporated
+
+***Chapter ****\[****\]****-- Corporal Adir Levin***
+
+"Says here you're a, uhm, corporal?" said the NCO sitting across from
+Adir.
+
+"Yeah, I-" Adir began answering before being rudely interrupted by a
+takeoff. They were sitting in the Technical Division part of Air Base
+10, in the far north of the country. The building was absolutely
+disgusting, and unfortunately situated a spitting distance from the
+massive runway.
+
+Both sat there stupidly waiting for the plane to take off. Adir assumed
+it was big because it took much longer than usual. The NCO motioned him
+to continue with the booming sound of the engine still hung back, but
+Adir waited a bit longer. At last, the last wisps of the jet faded out.
+
+"Yeah, I've long lost track of whatever's written there. I have no idea
+what it says -- only that it's wildly inaccurate at this point."
+
+"That doesn't sound right to me. We air force guys, we keep track of
+things, don't we? Now, it says here you're from the headquarters."
+
+"I haven't been in months."
+
+The NCO cast a doubtful look at first, but seeing how Adir did not
+flinch he continued.
+
+"Before that, you were in, uh... Hm. Air base 30. You've gone around,
+haven't you?"
+
+"I've been there a grand total of six hours. Never stationed there."
+
+"Look, it says right here in your file..."
+
+"It also says I'm a first sergeant at that station, doesn't it?"
+
+The NCO chuckled. "Now, don't be -- What? How did you know?"
+
+"I told you so."
+
+"You've been serving just under 18 months at that point. That doesn't
+make any sense. No promotion could get you in this early."
+
+Adir eyed him smugly.
+
+"Where did you get this?" the NCO demanded, waving Adir's Ground
+Personnel file.
+
+"Where did *you* get *this*?"
+
+"What??"
+
+"I left mine in Hutspace. Well over a year ago. Whatever it is *you're
+*holding I've never seen in my life."
+
+The NCO sighed deeply.
+
+"This is some mess of paperwork for your commanders. Never mind. I'll
+send you back with the documents and your commanders can sort it out. HQ
+loves this stuff."
+
+Adir began to protest but was cut short. "But wait, you're not HQ now,
+you said?"
+
+"Nope. 15^th^ wing."
+
+"Fine. You'll give them the papers."
+
+The room fell silent.
+
+"Anyways, you're here for a Computer Network Manager course -- but I was
+told you came over from a computer profession already, something from
+the greens. Is that right?"
+
+"Yes. I'm a Computer Systems Infrastructure Manager."
+
+"Never heard of it."
+
+"It's from Communication Corps"
+
+"That explains it. Is that it's brooch pin?", he asked, pointing to the
+insignia on Adir's left breast pocket.
+
+"Yeah."
+
+"What's going on there? What is it?"
+
+"It's a computer in the middle. Around it is the radioactive sign, for
+some reason. All Computer Academy courses have it for some reason. And
+it's split in three for the three arms of the army we get assigned in --
+the green part for ground forces, the blue for navy and white for air
+force. And there's a square root, for some reason."
+
+"It's too busy."
+
+"It is."
+
+"So basically, you have to go through the whole course again. It's two
+months in here, Air base 10, and you'd be assigned alongside the
+privates. However, seeing as you're already familiar, we decided to
+offer you the same test they get at the end of the course -- if you know
+your stuff, it could save us all the trouble. How does that sound?"
+
+"Sounds great. I wouldn't have come up here otherwise."
+
+"Up to the building?"
+
+"No, up north."
+
+"You're a handful, aren't you?" the NCO remarked fondly. "But that's
+someone else's problem. Look, I've asked Idan -- my most senior course
+instructor, to swing by and ask you a few questions. If you're
+reasonably familiar, you can take the test. He should be here any
+moment."
+
+"Sure."
+
+"Would you like anything to drink in the meantime? Cold water? It's a
+hot day"
+
+"No, thank you kindly. I'm all good."
+
+"There's some disgusting coffee too, if that's your thing"
+
+"Not many other options in the military, are there? But thank you, I'm
+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.
+
+Chapter III -- Corporal Adir Levin
+
+Adir was woken up with a jolt by Ariel, who towered over him seeming
+mildly upset.
+
+The first thing he felt was a sharp pain in his temples, and he
+shuddered back with disgruntled revulsion.
+
+Everything came crashing back at once -- he had spent another night in
+the Pit, and was now paying the price for it. The headaches hurt him
+very often lately, which was understandable -- yet it was the worst when
+waking up in here. *No one should have to wake up without sunlight,
+without wind and fresh air*, he thought. But that didn't explain why
+Ariel was towering over him -- he was deemed problematic, and she had
+shunned him ever since. He didn't mind, of course, as he was shunning
+everyone else as well. What a bunch of bastards.
+
+But that *still* didn't explain why Ariel was towering over him. He
+sought answers.
+
+"Huh?" he asked eloquently.
+
+"Huh," Ariel replied with visible disgust. "Good morning."
+
+"I've had better."
+
+"Everyone else is cleaning."
+
+Great, he thought, Passive aggression for breakfast again.
+
+"OK"
+
+"Go help."
+
+"I'm really in pain."
+
+"Can't you even help?"
+
+"I don't know."
+
+Ariel kept staring him down, which was unusually aggressive for her. She
+was always quite cheerful and accepting, which Adir absolutely hated. Is
+he really that bad?
+
+"Go wash your face or something. You're a mess."
+
+"If you'd had a night like I had," he answered, "You'd be a mess too."
+
+"I've had plenty."
+
+"Good for you."
+
+Ariel finally disengaged. Adir rose from his office chair -- how he ever
+fell asleep in that thing he could not tell for the life of him -- put
+away his book, tossed aside his coat and went towards the bathroom.
+Looking around, he was dumbstruck by the amount of people in the room.
+There were well over four dozen people in Operation today, which was
+significant, and they were all running around with great vigor.
+
+He had to dodge several officers on the way out, all of which eyed him
+suspiciously -- some with open animosity, though he did not know them.
+
+He was glad to put Operation's big metal doors behind him, and started
+the endless trek through the hall to the bathrooms, praying no one else
+was there. He creeped on the floating tiles with hard won mastery -- if
+even one of them bangs again today his head would literally explode --
+and reached the bathroom.
+
+He stood in front of one of the sinks in the long, disgusting row,
+keeping his eyes lowered and doing his utmost to ignore his
+surroundings. He reached in his pockets and was glad to find his
+toothbrush, toothpaste and a bar of soap each wrapped neatly in plastic
+sandwich bags -- at last a success in these troubling times. He brushed
+his teeth, lathered the soap and carefully washed his face with frigid,
+mildly yellow water. When he felt mildly more refreshed, he finally
+gathered some loose wisps of courage and met his image on the mirror.
+
+His reflection gazed back, amazed and horrified.
+
+The image he saw was very far from how he remembered himself, and the
+dissonance jarred him.
+
+He was gaunt, and there were great dark gray circles around his eyes. He
+had far too much stubble for a single night, and his faced looked
+wrinkled and greasy even after washing. And the eyes... the eyes felt...
+wrong. Too cold. Too lifeless. He quickly looked away, realizing he was
+breathing uneasily.
+
+Slinking back he found everyone putting away the cleaning supplies, but
+against his expectations the frenzy did not slow down -- it even
+magnified, which was disconcerting. Nothing good can come out of this.
+
+Unhelpfully, the first person he ran into was Keren.
+
+From the second he stepped into Headquarters, Keren absolutely despised
+Adir -- and this time, he could not figure out why. It was something
+else -- a raw, seething hatred, a hatred of great velocity, intensified
+with each time they met. In a way, it was refreshing to be hated so
+intensely -- and while Adir did mildly dislike her for it, he did not
+hate her back nearly as much, which sort of made him the winner in this
+transaction.
+
+"Ariel, he finally bothered showing up", she muttered back into the
+Operations Chamber staring at him yet never addressing him. To her, he
+was some animal unworthy of engaging in conversation, and if that was a
+mean to attain the peace Adir so desperately sought he took it without
+hesitation.
+
+Ariel scurried towards them from much further back in the chamber with a
+speed that greatly concerned him. This was not good.
+
+"Where have you been?? it's been twenty minutes!"
+
+"I-"
+
+"Ugh, never mind. Just go back and get in line." She surveyed him
+carefully. "And put on all of your badges, Why would you even take them
+off?"
+
+"I-"
+
+"Never mind. Your problem. Model yourself and get in line. The
+commander's coming any minute."
+
+With that, they both scattered. Adir stood there dazed and confused for
+a few seconds until Karin passed nearby.
+
+"Hi, Adir"
+
+Adir admired Karin greatly. She always seemed peaceful, and always
+treated him with respect.
+
+"Hi, Karin. What's happening?"
+
+"The unit commander is coming any second to grant our ranks." she
+replied without a hint of judgment. "The grant is scheduled for 10:00"
+
+"The grant?"
+
+"Yes, we're getting our corporals!" Karin told, beaming. "You didn't
+know?"
+
+"I had no idea. It's been ten months already?"
+
+"Would you believe it?" Dennis chimed in from behind. "We've been stuck
+here a while!"
+
+"See you," said Karin and went further into the chamber.
+
+Adir sat down in his spot and pondered all these new findings when
+officers flooded the room, put on their berets and rose suddenly. A
+bunch of random people stood around Adir, all with eyes towards the back
+of the room where Adir's eight coursemates stood proud and motionless.
+Grateful for the anonymity, Adir stood like the rest and gazed ahead
+with purpose.
+
+The Horizon commander, Secondary Champion Ram Halabi, stepped into the
+room after an escort of officers from PR. He walked around the room
+casually greeting anyone he came across with an easygoing, friendly
+manner as he made his way towards the back. Adir was again grateful for
+his tactical remote location, far away from the passageway. The
+department commander, John, quickly appeared at his side.
+
+"Hello, everyone. Officers, NCO's, soldiers. How happy I am to be here!
+What a happy day!"
+
+A murmur of agreement came from the crowd.
+
+"Hello, Ram, happy to have you here as always", said John with atypical
+enthusiasm. "So, as you may or may not know", he said cheerfully, "We've
+gathered to grant these great soldiers, cycle 38 of Computing Systems
+Infrastructure Management, the rank of Corporals. In the Greens, and in
+other units of the force, it's not the custom to make it a ceremony;
+Certainly not with the unit commander -- When I was a corporal a million
+years ago, I was handed the rank and told to sow it on!"
+
+That was a killer, apparently; An audible chuckle went through the
+crowd.
+
+"But here, in the Horizon unit, we treat our people with the respect
+they deserve. The are skilled professionals, devoted soldiers, and
+they've worked hard to earn their rank. Corporal is said to be an
+automatic rank -- stay ten months, and you have it, but that's not true.
+A rank is earned, not bestowed! I've seen people remain Privates
+throughout their service, some even rookies, and I hope never to come
+across that again! Here are people who worked hard, and so we wanted to
+do them the honors, bring Ram here to show them how much we appreciate
+them -- and grant their rank from the unit commander, personally. Ram?"
+
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