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Revised opener; started first chapter

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Baseline.md
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@@ -111,7 +111,7 @@ stationing.
***5. 15***^***th***^ ***AFB -Job Field Airbase***
**Nature's Dumbest Animal**
Nature's Dumbest Animal
The story reaches its' climax at Adir's final stationing, where all
faults are magnified, and all lessons are applied. Adir is friendlier,
@@ -121,7 +121,7 @@ of bad depression and recklessness.
Despite learning and maturing, Adir at times shows himself worse than
those he now fiercely hates.
***6. Release***
6\. Release
Though greatly anticipated, Adir is released at once and without
ceremony. The base closes down, leaving Adir alone to cope with a place

492
The_Difference_Between_an_Idiot_and_a_Moron.md
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@@ -1,14 +1,13 @@
The Difference Between an Idiot and a Moron
Adir sat alone in the waiting room. He could feel the receptionist\'s
eyes on him, and huddled nervously on a plain plastic chair.
eyes on him, and huddled nervously on a simple plastic chair.
He was in a small, light-beige colored room, the color almost identical
to his uniform, blending him in, swallowing him like an unmerciful
beast. Soft traces of strong noon daylight came through the milky glass
panels around the door.
to his uniform, blending him in, swallowing him. Traces of strong noon
daylight came through the milky glass panels around the door.
Upon it, a small plain plaque read 'Dedicated Personel Officer'.
A plain, small plaque read 'Dedicated Personnel Officer'.
The room was lit with harsh white halogen bulbs - Adir could scarcely
raise his head without instinctively reaching for his temples. Some
@@ -18,37 +17,39 @@ he felt it was a weak, false facade.
Adir had forgotten how uncomfortable the uniform is. The heavy black
boots, the rough unbreathing fabric, the shirt tucked into the pants,
the vile warm beret on his shoulder. It was the smallest touch he hated
the most -- the cold metal dogtag touching his heart. He always wore it
over his shirt against regulations, dreading the cold metal -- but he
could feel it seeping through the worn fabric.
the vile warm beret on his shoulder, yet of all those it was the
smallest touch he hated the most -- the cold metal dog-tag touching his
heart. He always wore it over his shirt, against regulations, dreading
the cold metal -- but he could still feel the cold seeping through the
worn fabric.
Though he had his phone, Adir could not bring himself to use it -- it
still felt unnatural to him, used as he was to spending his days away
from it. From the endless sea of information, entertainment and comforts
of the Internet, he could think of nothing to do, and so sat there
staring at his heavy black boots, adjusting his shirt, his socks or his
cuffs.
Adir could not even bring himself to use his phone, snugly tucked away
in his pocket. Having spent so much of his time cut off it still felt
unnatural to him, alien, even wrong. From the endless sea of
information, entertainment and comforts of the Internet, he could think
of nothing to do, and so sat there awkwardly staring at his heavy black
boots, adjusting his shirt, his socks or his cuffs and being generally
miserable.
The door suddenly opened and a pretty, middle aged woman stepped out
decisively.
with bold, confident movement.
Upon seeing him, she drew her notepad and searched it intently.
'Hello! Welcome! Good to have you here!' she said sweetly. Too sweetly,
Adir thought.
'Hello! Welcome! Good to have you here!' she said sweetly. Perhaps too
sweetly.
*Help has finally come*, he thought. *I shouldn't be so bitter.*
\'You are... Tom! Was it? I\'ll see you inside in just a minute, Tom.\'
'Adir', he croaked in response, surprised at how feeble his voice was.
'I see. There must be some mistake -- I was expecting a young man named
Tom. Rachel, when is Tom's appointment due?'
That took her aback. 'I see. There must be some mistake -- I was
expecting a young man named Tom. Rachel, when is Tom's appointment due?'
'10:30', the receptionist shot back without drawing breath.
'10:30', the receptionist shot back without so much as drawing breath.
'Well, I shan't wait any further then. Adir, you're scheduled for...
11:30, was it?"
'Well, I shan't wait any further then - it\'s been long enough. Adir,
you're scheduled for... 11:45, was it?\"
"12:00"
@@ -56,11 +57,13 @@ Tom. Rachel, when is Tom's appointment due?'
"12:00"
"Well then, there's no need for you to be here so soon. You can go back
to the office in the meantime"
"Well then, there's certainly no need for you to be here so soon. You
can go back to your office in the meantime. We\'ll ring you up."
Adir stared at his feet, never meeting the officer's gaze. He made no
move to rise.
The receptionist stared murder at her.
Adir, in turn, stared at his feet. He made no move to rise, never
meeting the officer's gaze. She sighed deeply.
"\...Though I suppose I *could* push your appointment early", the
officer said, mild irritation slipping into her voice. "How about you
@@ -77,37 +80,47 @@ just thinking about.
"Adir?", the officer offered sweetly. "Come on inside".
The Dedicated Personel Officer's room was not large, but it felt
He shot one last frightened look at reception and stepped in.
The Dedicated Personnel Officer's room was not large, but it felt
spacious thanks to the grand floor-to-ceiling window overlooking the
entryway outside. Adir could just see the soldiers streaming in and out
of the building. The only furnishings were a simple, standard issue
wooden desk and three more simple plastic chairs against the wall,
facing ninety degrees from the desk. A few simple photos were on the
walls, as well as a small picture frame on the desk -- yet he could not
make out anything in them.
entryway outside -- Adir could just see the soldiers streaming in and
out of the luxurious building. The only furnishings were a simple,
standard issue wooden desk and three more simple plastic chairs lined
against the wall, facing ninety degrees from the desk. A few simple
photos were on the walls, as well as a small picture frame on the desk
-- he could not make out anything in them.
The officer made her way behind the desk, her back to the window, with
well adjusted movements.
"You can sit down, Adir. It's the same price", she said softly, and Adir
-- who had not realized he was still standing, sat down flustered and
huched on the middle chair. The officer watched him with observant eyes
but made no remark.
"You can sit down, Adir. Please do feel comfortable", she said softly.
He had not realized he was still standing, towering over her like some
big dumb golem - and so, flustered, he sat down hunched on the middle
chair. The officer watched him with observant eyes but made no remark.
"Adir, I am Tamara. I've been a psychologist here for just over fifteen
\"Hello, Adir.\"
\"Hi.\".
\"I am Tamara -- I've been a psychologist here for just over fifteen
years now. I am the head of the personnel department, and I do not
usually treat soldiers as they come in, aside from more severe cases.
However, I understand you've been waiting for some time -- a month or
so, was it?"
*However*, I understand you've been waiting for some time -- a month or
so, was it?\"
"Since December", Adir answered weakly.
"Since December."
"No, no, that cannot be. How long have you been waiting, Adir?"
"No, no, that can't be right. How long have you been waiting, Adir?"
"Since December", Adir said again, finally finding some fortitude in his
voice. "I've asked for an appointment in early November. It was
scheduled for December".
\"Are you certain?\"
He nodded.
"Adir, you're already here", Tamara said in a comforting voice. "I
understand how you feel, truly, but there's no need to make an
impression".
@@ -118,15 +131,18 @@ Adir said nothing.
Adir drew in a breath, and maintained his silence.
"Well never mind about that -- I can look into it later. Tell me about
yourself, Adir."
\"Well, that\'s interesting - never mind about that, I can look into it
later. Shall we begin?\"
\"Tell me about yourself, Adir.\"
"Not much to tell."
This time, Tamara maintened her silence.
This time, it was Tamara who maintained her silence.
"I was drafted in December, last year. One month of boot camp. Four
months of training. Five months in 108. And here since".
"I was drafted in December, last year\", Adir said after giving it some
thought. \"One month of boot camp. Four months of training. Five months
in 108. And here since".
"So it says in your file, Adir. Let's go over it, just in case. You
are... 20?"
@@ -135,25 +151,25 @@ are... 20?"
"Born late December, '97"
"Had birthday in boot camp", he chuckled nervously.
"Had 19 in boot camp", he chuckled.
"Both parents are well?"
"Have both parents?"
"Thankfully yes"
"Fortunately, yes"
"Do you have any siblings?"
"Any siblings? Brothers, sisters?"
"A younger sister, and a younger brother."
" I'll need you to fill in their details here, please". She handed him a
form and a pen on her notepad. He painstakingly scribbled them bit by
bit -- it took a surprisingly long time.
"Fill in their details here, please". She handed him a form and a pen on
her notepad. Adir painstakingly filled them -- it took a surprisingly
long time.
"Any of them in service?" she asked as he was slaving away.
"No."
"Isn't your sister of age?"
"Your sister - isn\'t she of age?"
"She is."
@@ -171,7 +187,7 @@ Tamara looked up and smiled widely. "That's lovely!"
"I'm really proud of her".
"How about your younger brother?"
"How about your brother?"
"He's fine. Good student."
@@ -185,7 +201,7 @@ Tamara looked up and smiled widely. "That's lovely!"
"Where does your father work?"
"Ministry of Defence"
"Ministry of Defense"
"Sounds interesting. What does he do?"
@@ -205,7 +221,7 @@ annoying".
"She is."
"What kind of lawyer?"
"Of what field?"
"Workspace law. I was the most well treated waiter on Earth."
@@ -233,34 +249,33 @@ Adir hesitated. "Whatever comes. I'll see."
"So, let's go over your service thus far, shall we?"
Adir vaguely gestured a 'go ahead'.
"What is your role called, again?"
"I am a Computing Systems Infastructure Manager".
"I am a Computing Systems Infrastructure Manager".
"Role number?" she asked, scribbling.
"1850".
"Never heard of it before"
"Never heard of it before."
"It's not air force. Communication corps"
"That explains it. What do you do?"
"Ah! that explains it. What do you do?"
"We're in charge of maintaining the military's operational data centers
and classified computing systems. Spread throughout the corps"
"Must be interesting".
Adir said nothing, and Tamara surveyed him cautiously.
Adir struggled for words, brows furrowed, and relented with a tense
silence. Tamara surveyed him cautiously.
"You went to boot camp at... Spring Buds rookie base?"
"Yes."
He nodded.
"December boot camp in the south. Hard introduction."
"December boot camp in the south. Hard introduction to military life."
"We heard jets and mortars at night."
@@ -270,18 +285,14 @@ Adir said nothing, and Tamara surveyed him cautiously.
"Must be hard."
"It was interesting. Didn't struggle especially."
"For those fighting, I'm sure. I can't say I struggled especially."
"Following that, you were stationed at the Cyber Defence Academy."
"Following that, you were stationed at the Cyber Defense Academy."
"Defense Forces Academy Of Computer Professions And Cyberspace Defense",
he intoned sarcastically.
"Defense Forces Academy Of Computer Professions And Cyberspace
Defense\", Adir recited out of habit. \"It's a mouthful."
"If you say so"
"It's a mouthful"
"What did you study?"
"What did you study there?"
"It's a very wide field. There's been a touch of everything. Some
Operating systems. Some databases. A bit of computer hardware. Some
@@ -293,25 +304,24 @@ programming."
"What's drawn you into computers?"
"Nothing at all."
"Nothing at all, really".
Tamara looked at him questioningly.
"It's a cold, dead field."
"It sounds like you've gone through some hardcore training. If that's
why you think -- why did you do it?"
\"Yet it sounds like you've gone through some hardcore training. Five
months is a *really* long time for basic training.\"
\"It was brutal. Studying nonstop from 7AM close to midnight.\"
\"Why go through all that, then?\"
"That's what they offered."
"They?"
"The army."
"It's a voluntary course."
"Had no other choice lined up. It sounded cool at the time, so I went
for it."
"I had no other choice lined up."
"Let's go over your education, Adir. Finished highschool?"
@@ -327,8 +337,9 @@ Adir straightened his slouch and looked at Tamara.
"Not me," he said.
Tamara caught his gaze and held it intently. This was the first time he
had seen her eyes.
Tamara caught his gaze and held it intently. That was the first time he
had seen her eyes. They seemed soft, but now they carried a fierce
intensity - something he had not seen in a good while.
"What did you study in highschool?"
@@ -345,8 +356,8 @@ distracted him greatly.
"I wasn't expecting it as an army job."
"It's funny. Many young men base their studies on their aspired military
role. Some earn their training in service."
"Funny you should say so. Many young men base their studies on their
aspired military role. Some even earn their training in service."
"Not me."
@@ -358,24 +369,37 @@ role. Some earn their training in service."
"I didn't choose."
"Many young soldiers are dissatisfied in service. But if everyone had a
choice, the army could not stay afloat," she questioned him pointedly,
"Would it?"
\"You could petition for a different role. It\'s not set in stone\"
"I don't care for that discussion. I was asked to serve, so I did."
\"I did not choose to serve.\"
"Adir, Many young soldiers are dissatisfied in service. But if everyone
had a choice, the army could not stay afloat," she questioned him
pointedly, "Could it?"
"I don't care for that discussion. Nor am I complaining. I was asked to
serve, so I did - still, it deserves acknowledgment."
"How do you feel about it?"
"There's no way to feel about it. It's a fact of life. So I just don't
bother."
\"About what?\"
"That's an interesting response, Adir. Most young men I meet here rage
against that 'fact', as you put it. They feel powerless since they
refuse to accept it, and struggle against it until they are released,
and some even well afterwards."
\"The lack of choice.\"
"There's no way to feel about it. It's a fact of life. I had no say. So
I just don't bother."
"That's an interesting response. Most of those I meet here rage against
that 'fact', as you put it. They feel powerless since they refuse to
accept it, and struggle against it until they are released - and some
even well afterwards."
"Can imagine. Not very useful, though."
"Would you say that's important to you? Acting useful?"
"That's a whole other discussion."
"So what's hurting you, Adir? You know where you stand. You knew this
was coming, from what I gather. Everything's fine at home. It sounds
like you lead a good life thus far."
@@ -388,7 +412,7 @@ ground.
Adir composed himself and stared back.
"I am depressed", he said. It still hurt admitting it, but it *was*
getting easier.
getting easier. He hated how it was getting easier.
"I wouldn't say it's up to you to decide; you hadn't visited a mental
health professional, as we've established. Or have you?"
@@ -406,14 +430,17 @@ present."
"What makes you think you're depressed, Adir?"
He took a deep breath and gathered his thoughts. Somehow, the question
never occurred to him. He just was depressed.
"It's the small things. It gets harder to get out of bed every day. My
head always hurts, and I can never concentrate anymore."
Tamara listened intently and said nothing.
"I just don't care about anything anymore. I don't bother seeing my
"I... I just don't care about anything anymore. I don't bother seeing my
friends, or doing anything for myself, or at all really. I feel hollow,
and cold. I'm always so, so tired."
and cold. And I'm always so, so tired."
Tamara remained silent.
@@ -421,25 +448,31 @@ Tamara remained silent.
a blank room, and everything's absolutely fine -- I'll just... get sad.
Just because."
Tamara nodded and thought. Adir said nothing.
Tamara nodded in thought. Adir said nothing.
"Why do you think you feel like that?"
"What is it do you think you think made you feel like that? Is there
something specific you can point out?"
"I... don't know. I've always been resilient. Nothing really happened
and I just... broke down."\
"I... don't know. I've always been resilient". He paused. "Nothing
*really* happened, and I just... broke down."\
"How have you been coping?"
"I haven't, really. Back during training, I could still function.
Nowadays, I'm utterly useless."
"I don't feel like I did at all. Back during training, I could still
somehow function. But I remember feeling like there's a stone in my
chest, and every day it got a little bigger. It gets harder and harder
to breath. Nowadays, I'm utterly useless."
"Surely you're not utterly useless."
"I haven't been working a good several months now. Nobody bothers."
"I haven't been working a good several months now. Nobody bothers with
me."
"What do you mean?"
"Nobody... bother with you? What do you mean?"
"They kicked me out. I know my job, and I know it damn well. But they
thought I wasn't worth it. And I've been idle ever since."
"They kicked me out. I know my job, and I know it damn well -- whatever
else they may say about me, none has said otherwise. But apparently,
they thought I wasn't worth it. I was kicked out. And I've been idle
ever since."
"Adir, nobody thinks you're 'not worth it'. You are here, getting
treatment, aren't you?"
@@ -448,7 +481,7 @@ treatment, aren't you?"
"Let's not go to such harsh tones! I'm here to help, Adir"
"You see," he said passionately, "I'm sure you are. And my commanders
"You see," he said passionately, \"I'm sure you are. And my commanders
have been saying the same thing since boot camp. But at the end of the
day, those are all just big words that don't amount to anything. I've
been struggling for... eighteen months now. And I've yet to see anyone
@@ -457,7 +490,7 @@ lift a finger.
I'm not saying this against you -- I know how it sounds, but I'm not,
really.
But I've lost faith. I'll believe it when I see it."
But I've lost faith. I'll believe it when I see it.\"
"I'm sorry you feel that way," she said.
@@ -471,14 +504,14 @@ wet towel."
"How so?"
"Training is supposed to be another four months over the Communication
\"Training is supposed to be another four months over the Communication
corp training. I've already done it in Hutspace. I had the same role.
But they insisted I go through it again.
Fine. I did. It took me two weeks -- and they just said I should wait
until I get enrolled into shifts. That never happened. They 'didn't like
my energy'. When I came to ask them what's that all about, I was
berated."
berated.\"
"What did they tell you?"
@@ -533,13 +566,13 @@ doesn't".
Tamara sighed.
"I'll tell you what, Adir. I think you're just a little misplaced. Many
\"I'll tell you what, Adir. I think you're just a little misplaced. Many
young men have trouble adapting to their new roles, especially those
that grasp themselves as resilient -- like you. I think we can have a
long talk with your new commanding officer, get you reinstated, and keep
talking from there.
How does that sound?"
How does that sound?\"
"The new commanding officer," Adir said, "Is from Hutspace, and
witnessed the whole spectacle I threw to get myself out of there. She's
@@ -580,7 +613,7 @@ emails?"
"Adir, it just can't be. I'm sorry, but I don't accept this"
"And I do? It's degrading. I've never been so humiliated in my life.
\"And I do? It's degrading. I've never been so humiliated in my life.
But let's go down to the Pit -- to where I'm supposedly stationed. You
can see my Gatekeeper card get rejected, because it hasn't been in use
@@ -591,18 +624,18 @@ included -- no one's seen me with the beard. I didn't have it when I
left! That's how long I've been gone. If so much as a private recognizes
me, I'll withdraw and never bother you again.
All I ask is we come and take a look."
All I ask is we come and take a look.\"
Tamara drew a tense, long breath.
"So what do you want, Adir?"
"I signed up. I did whatever they asked me to. I pulled through that
\"I signed up. I did whatever they asked me to. I pulled through that
vicious course. And as soon as I struggled, I was tossed away like hot
garbage. They kept telling us, from the second we're drafted, how needed
we are, but I guess that's not so.
I have my own goals in life. My time is precious. I - "
I have my own goals in life. My time is precious. I - \"
"And why is that? What exactly do you do that's superior to serving your
country?"
@@ -611,7 +644,7 @@ country?"
"Why did you, really? Why was so important?"
"Because I signed up for university!", Adir said, heatedly. "Because if
"Because I signed up for university!", Adir said, heatedly. \"Because if
I wouldn't get out of there instead of sitting like some kind of idiot,
I would've rotted there and no one would have twitched.
@@ -619,7 +652,7 @@ I'm not needed? That's fine and dandy. We all gave it a shot. No hard
feelings. But if that's the case, I want my life back. I want to wake up
early in the morning, like I always used to. I want to be passionate
about what I do. I want to feel loved, and respected. I'd like to do
something worthwhile with my time."
something worthwhile with my time.\"
"So aside from these grand statements - what exactly do you want?"
@@ -634,9 +667,9 @@ drawers, strode up to Adir and handed it to him.
"What's this?"
"It's a book," she said, "describing mental illnesses.
"It's a book," she said, \"describing mental illnesses.
Pick one, or get out."
Pick one, or get out.\"
It hurt him to hear those words. He saw them coming, but it hurt all the
same.
@@ -662,3 +695,208 @@ Only this time, he drew a deep breath, and a resolution formed in his
heart. A decision was made, and he will stick to it.
He got out.
Chapter I
Private Adir Levin was just shy of 19 years of age when he was drafted.
Unlike many, he had had the privilege of knowing his date well in
advance -- upwards of a year. It has been six months since he graduated
highschool without too much of a struggle, and began working at a big
city coffee shop shortly afterwards, aiming to overcome his social
awkwardness.
Though hesitant and neurotic at first, Adir quickly grasped the nuances
of working in the rush -- operating the register, sending out the
orders, and even making recommendations and casual chatting with the
customers coming in. He had been the youngest to ever work there, and
rarely came across anyone near his age -- yet he seldom felt out of
place. It was exhausting, physical work -- and Adir worked fairly often,
well long after he felt his goal was achieved. But he was happy, and
fulfilled.
Two weeks before his draft date, though, even Adir put in the towel --
and went off to get a buzzcut and olive green T-shirts, like everyone
else told him he should. Adir was never a confrontational character, so
he did.
He sought, above all, a moderate life. A life of purpose, achievement,
sure -- but without tribulations, without drama. Certainly without
conflict. Generally speaking, Adir simply did not like having much on
his plate. Hand him exactly one to three things going on in his life --
however big or difficult -- and he would cruise along gently. Anymore
than that, however, he would get intensely uncomfortable, and his mind
got the better of him.
Though moderate and unassuming, Adir was not humble nor meek. He knew
his ability and especially his unrelenting determination will get him
wherever he should desire, so long as he should truly desire it enough.
It was this blend of determination and non-confrontational, moderate
policy that somehow led him to be a Computing Systems Infrastructure
Management coursee, under the Communications Corps. Widely considered to
be one of the best occupations in the army (so he heard), CSIM
candidates go through a grueling screening process, and those successful
later undergo extensive training at the Defense Forces Academy of
Computer Professions and Cyberspace defense, where Adir now found
himself.
"What would you like to do in the military?" the Officer who is Not a
Commander (why not? He remembers wondering) had asked him at early 16,
when he was first summoned to the Recruitment Center.
"I don't really mind", he said.
"You probably heard of something. Know someone. What caught your
interest?"
"I never really thought about it. I'm fine with whatever, really"
"Everyone comes by with such specific requests -- I've had someone tell
me the exact squad he wanted to serve in today! You've never heard of
anything?"
Adir was lost in thought.
"Listen, this isn't about your stats. Let's pretend this was a perfect
world -- you could pick absolutely whatever and you get stationed doing
it immediately. What do you pick?"
"Well, I... why do I have to pick? The army picks whatever it needs.
Doesn't it?"
"It does, sure, but it's not just a machine. It's in the military's best
interest that you like your role as well -- makes you more productive.
That's no promise, of course, but there is some attempt."
"I really don't care for all that. I'll do whatever the country needs me
to. I have no preference whatsoever."
"Really?" she said, raising an eyebrow.
"Yeah."
"What if they put you in a tank?"
"Then I guess I'll be in a tank."
"And what if you get stationed as a combat ready soldier on the
frontline?"
"Then I'll go, of course."
"What if they ask you to be a pilot?"
"I really don't think they'll ask *me* to be a pilot."
"Yes, but what if they do?" she asked, somewhat irritated.
"Then I'll go be a pilot."
She sighed deeply, and massaged her temples. Adir could not figure out
why she was so upset.
"Okay, let's talk about you for a bit. What do you like to do?"
Adir considered this.
"I like... playing the guitar."
"Would you say you're a good player?"
"I'm decent. Nothing staggering, though, it's just a hobby"
"How long have you been playing?"
"About five, six years now"
"And that's it? You play the guitar all day?"
"No, that would be a little crazy. I do other things."
"What other things?"
"I cook sometimes. I like reading a lot. I read *a lot*. Uh..."
The ONC considered this with blatant disinterest.
"I like computer games too."
"Computers?"
"Yeah. Yeah, I like computers."
"So you're a programmer?"
"Oh, no no no. I suck at programming. Absolutely terrible. I'm a
hardware monkey."
"A *what?*"
"A hardware monkey."
"What on earth is a hardware monkey?"
"Some people write the code for the computers, because they've got
something that I really really don't. And others, who have something
else, take care of the computers themselves. The code monkeys and the
hardware monkeys."
"So you... *take care* of computers?"
"I assemble them, yeah. I built a good dozen by now. It's really
interesting."
"What if the army asks you to build computers?"
"Oh, they have that? I had no idea! That'd be swell!"
"They have that, sure, sure. Would you mind if I list that as your
preference?"
"No, not at all".
The CNO hunched over a flowery pink notebook. Using a bright pink pen
with a big pink pom-pom on top, she scribbled in it with small, cursive
handwriting.
He could just make it out -
*Computers*.
She then abruptly stood up and surveyed Adir quickly.
"Good luck," she said and left.
And now he was here.
The Academy was nothing like he had envisioned a military base to be --
not that he did much envisioning at all, but still. Spring Buds, where
he went through boot camp, had been *exactly* what he had envisioned --
stuck in the middle of nowhere and chock full of big, ugly green tents
and ancient structures and guard posts and lots of dirty empty space and
being generally repulsive. It was so alike everything he had seen in old
movies that at times he started wondering whether that really took place
or was it his vivid imagination.
This place, however, was a strange mix of that classic vision and a
shmancy high-tech office space. Adir's classroom was in a structure that
was clearly meant to be temporary -- positioned in a big dusty patch of
bare earth in a strange angle -- yet their commander's offices, and the
units stationed in the base, sat in a trio of rather small but quite
modern buildings, surrounding a paved cobblestone courtyard. It was well
kept and had lots of emblems and flags protruding from the upper floors,
and had a million passages to and from it -- as if it was the beating
heart of the base, and the soldiers flowing into it it's lifeblood.
However, the base was *ridiculously* small -- Adir could circle it
leisurely in just under eight minutes. Also unlike Spring Buds -- which
was huge -- was the fact that they were right in the middle of the city,
perhaps a 15 minute bus ride from his house. The base was elevated from
the street, which was a good 2-3 meters lower, and was surrounded by a
tall barbed wire fence covered with thick opaque fabric to keep prying
eyes away. It resembled, perhaps, an overly protective neighborhood
school much more than a full blown, top secret army base.
Yet an army base it was, and Adir would not soon forget it. He and his
peers waltzed in from the city, sure, but after coming in through the
old-school guard post, it was army alright.