Finished another chapter

General_Chapters.md

@@ -6,7 +6,7 @@ General Chapters
 
 To be Incorporated
 
-***Chapter ****\[****\]****-- Corporal Adir Levin***
+***Chapter** **\[\]-- Corporal Adir Levin***
 
 "Says here you're a, uhm, corporal?" said the NCO sitting across from
 Adir.
@@ -58,8 +58,8 @@ Personnel file.
 
 "What??"
 
-"I left mine in Hutspace. Well over a year ago. Whatever it is *you're
-*holding I've never seen in my life."
+"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.
 
@@ -334,8 +334,6 @@ 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.
 
@@ -967,3 +965,150 @@ 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?"
 
 \~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~
+
+Ram spread his arms and looked about the room with ecstasy.
+
+"How great it is to gather with good news for a change!" he declared
+proudly, and a wave of clapping went through the room.
+
+"Ah, there's no need for much introduction, is there? We all know each
+other. We all work together. And we all watched these fine young men and
+women, standing here before us, grow empowered as they shape the next
+generation of the defense of our country. Those on the outside may be
+mistaken as to think these are quiet times, but if only I could tell you
+what goes on in the shadows! The threats nowadays are much more severe
+than most care to think. It is only via our..."
+
+At this point, the Horizon commander went into the omnipresent rant
+about the air force's crucial air superiority, the threats from the
+north, the technological advantage which the air force has gathered and
+the increasing reliance on it, all delivered with a confident,
+deliberate speech.
+
+Adir, who had heard this speech dozens of times since joining the air
+force (do they gather monthly and rehearse these things? They\'re so
+alike!), naturally drifted away skillfully. He was a person of
+incredible mental will, a trait which manifested itself very helpfully
+in these situations -- once he decided he does not want to hear, then he
+will not commit so much as a syllable further into memory, and looking
+into his rigid stance and attentive eyes you would never see it.
+
+Now, however, he was exhausted -- and in his fatigued mentality,
+something managed to slip through the cracks.
+
+Ram approached each of his coursemates in order. As if through a haze,
+he could see each receiving their rank. Daniel, ever the happy-go-lucky,
+saluted each of the commanders proudly and stood facing the crowd as
+they sewn in his rank, one sleeve each. Each gave him a loud pat on the
+back, and he thanked them with his clear, ringing voice.
+
+Dennis stood casually, but with a smug air, and received his after
+respectfully shaking the commander's hands rather than going for the
+pat. Karin thanked them each in her quiet, shy voice, with eyes downcast
+as her rank was sown. Roni, ever the energy blast, often blurted out
+amazed excerpts - 'I can't believe this is finally happening!', 'Thanks
+so much for this! That's awesome'. Arrogant as ever, Tom gave each
+commanders a strong handshake after a small, satisfied chuckle, and then
+of course prompted them to give him a 'worthwhile' pat on the back.
+Omer, always in neutral, merely went with a 'yeah, cool', and shook
+hands as if with buddies from highschool. Dana screeched with excitement
+and giggled with glee, never managing to gather her feelings into a
+coherent word, let alone a sentence. Reasonable Chen addressed the two
+commanders as of dealing with two respected colleagues, Thanking them
+humbly with an official, reserved greeting and a friendly air.
+
+Each of them were praised as they received their rank -- how they had
+solved this and that malfunction, how funny it was when this and that
+happened to them, how much so and so trait help the team and make
+everyone happy. Adir had not been there for nearly all of the events
+described, recent arrival as he was, and could not relate -- yet even
+through the haze, the words hurt him. He felt envious of the standing
+his coursemates made for themselves -- knowing full well from their own
+words they were unhappy. It was a facade, he know, but he could not help
+but feel strong misgivings, pangs of regret and solitude -- perhaps if
+he had powered through at Hutspace, he could attain that ever-off
+acclimation he so desired, and be left alone in peace.
+
+But why should I wait to be left alone in peace, if I can force the
+others to acknowledge I am alone, in peace? He thought, and with that
+took a deep breath, feeling himself washed away, and shut himself down
+from the rest of the room through sheer determination. It always works.
+
+This time, however, it backfired magnificently.
+
+When he next opened his eyes, every single person in the room was
+staring at him -- some with unveiled curiosity, some with open contempt,
+others with confusion and some even with a shred of pity. He had no idea
+what was going on, and was suddenly growing aware of his sorry state. He
+felt his eyelids droop, the heavy black circles around the eyes
+throbbing, the wrinkles around his eyes and forehead dry and stiff, the
+skin greasy.
+
+Amit was suddenly at his side.
+
+"Come up, Adir. Why did you even stand out here? Come on!"
+
+Adir furrowed his brow, and stared Amit down for an answer.
+
+"You're getting your rank, Adir! It's your turn. Come up! Everyone's
+waiting"
+
+Then it suddenly registered.
+
+They're granting **me** a rank? He wondered, stunned.
+
+They're granting **ME** a rank!? He thought, indignant. What a fucking
+charade!
+
+Amit motioned John to come over, and he promptly surged through the
+crowd parting for him until he was at Adir's side as well. He grasped
+his arm, trying to lead him up, eyes towards Ram. Amit put a hand
+between his shoulder blades. "Go on, it's okay. Go and receive your rank
+like the rest of your friends."
+
+What happened next was profoundly idiotic, on Adir's part, and he was
+well aware of it beforehand. Adir realized very early on he could not
+fight every affront thrown his way by the military -- hell, he could not
+consider even 5% of them. He had to pick his battles, so he may have the
+strength to stand his ground where it mattered. These stupid affronts,
+he would have to take. He would have to stand there like an idiot, no
+one knowing him, no one saying one positive thing about him, and receive
+these two stupid stripes that declared him as slightly less a piece of
+shit than everyone else.
+
+"No," he said. His voice rang surprisingly loud in the silence.
+
+John turned to stare at him, alarmed.
+
+"Are you missing your markings?" Amit asked. "It's okay -- I had some
+brought for you. Here -" he handed Adir a set of two Corporal markings.
+"You'll need to bring the other sets afterwards from HQ. Now -"
+
+"I'm not going", he said again, and was surprised to hear how feeble his
+voice sounded. He was shaking, he realized suddenly -- with fear, anger,
+stress or sadness he could not even tell.
+
+In the Pit, things stay very constant. The lights are always on, and the
+temperature is always fifteen degrees Celsius. There's always the hum of
+servers and fans in the background, and every ten minutes or so a short
+alarm or announcement is sound. Under such static conditions, Adir's
+emotions stabilized as well -- growing more timid with each passing day
+until, finally, dying out completely. He had felt nearly nothing for
+well other two months now; nothing upset him greatly. Nothing brought
+him joy. Nothing went beyond irritating him, and being tired was just
+another state of being.
+
+But now, now he was flooded. He was quivering with anger, tearful with
+sadness, breath heaving with stress and panic coursing through every
+vein in his body. He was proud, he was assertive, and he was deeply
+hurt.
+
+He could see Ram, from the corner of his eye, considering the situation
+awkwardly. The man who'd just been so eloquent and precise now seemed at
+a loss for words.
+
+John stared him down severely. Adir thought he could see a brief flash
+of sympathy in his eyes, which was quickly gone.
+
+'We'll talk about this later', he said quietly, and motioned Ram to
+continue.