Food and Rest

Everyone lined up for food. The drill sergeant made sure we were orderly, yelling at those who didn't stand directly behind.

The portions were small. Bread, milk and stew. Dolph sat alone, but Felix followed. So did Nanaba, Magnus, Dirk and Angela.

"Feel like this guy is crazy. Making us think we were gonna die. How can we trust each other knowing that we would panic?" Felix said.

"We just have to get through training and impress him enough. Then we can enjoy an easy life in the military police." Magnus said.

"I think it makes sense. It exposed our true nature. It **** us to look at who we are when danger strikes. Or maybe it was for him to assert his power over us, to humiliate us so that we're easier to control." Angela said.

"That's a little dark. I think he just wanted to teach us how we need to stay in shape. There's no way the government would support this training if it wasn't important." Dirk said. Angela looked at him condescendingly.

"Whatever the case is, you and Nanaba were great. If this had been real you would have saved most of us." Magnus said.

"I just yelled at people. Dolph was the one who carried Anna." Nanaba said.

Dolph felt hollow inside. "I feel sick."

"Can I have your bread then?" Felix said.

"You asshole" Magnus said. Dolph pushed his tray towards Felix. He walked towards the exit, where the drill sergeant stopped him.

"Where are you going?"

"I want to check on Anna."

"She's doing fine. The doctor said she should be fully healed in two weeks. I've prepared a military theory program so that she doesn't fall behind."

"I still want to see her."

He looked over at the tables.

"Go and finish your stew. Then I'll take you to her."

Dolph walked back. His stew was untouched but his bread was gone.

"I told you not to eat it" Magnus said.

"He said I could have it" Felix said.

"Are you okay?" Nanaba said.

"I'm fine. What were you talking about before I got here?" Dolph said.

"We were talking about why people joined the military. I told them I wanted to give back to the country" Dirk said.

"He's the oldest child of a noble family. His father wants him to toughen up." Angela said.

"He does, but I agreed to it. I want to make myself a better man, and to do my duty. Speaking of, I don't remember what your reason was." Dirk said.

"I wanted to join to understand. We have these two systems, the prison and the military. Both fundamentally work the same in breaking down the individual for the sake of a greater good. In order to fully understand this process, I had to study." Angela said.

"That's crazy. Prisons are to protect people from criminals, and the military is to protect people from titans." Dirk said. He seemed a little angry.

"Protect people from criminals is an interesting way to put it. Are criminals not people? You're dehumanizing them." Angela said.

"So you defend murderers, thieves and rapists then? What's your solution? To let them all run wild and destroy the country?" Dirk said, red in the face.

"They've been arguing about this forever. Both of you are crazy. Just shut up already. You're embarrassing yourselves" Felix said.

"Why did you join, Felix?" Dolph said.

"I just want an easy life in the capital. My Dad runs a bar and wants my older brother Diego to run it. If I want to live in luxury I have to join the military police. Otherwise I'll be working under that asshole."

Magnus looked at Felix. "I'm the same. I mean, I'm different. My family isn't rich. If I can get into the military police I can get a better life for them and my younger brothers and sisters."

"Now I feel like a jerk for fighting you in the wagon."

"All good, shrimp" he said. The two laughed.

"Dolph, you gotta hear why Nanaba joined. It's nuts." Felix said.

"It's not 'nuts'. I want to go beyond the wall. When I graduate I'll join the Survey Corps. I want to see what the world is really like." Nanaba said.

"More like survey corpse. You really want to join the most dangerous part of the army? It's pure nuts." Felix said.

"You impressed the drill sergeant. You should join the military police with us."

Nanaba sighed, looking for anyone understanding.

"I think it would be a shame if someone as beautiful as you were to die for no purpose. You have talent. Don't waste it." Dirk said.

Nanaba looked at Angela.

"I understand what you're saying. But please, don't join them. They have no future."

"I don't think it's nuts. You want to join the only part of the military that fights the titans, and you want to explore the world."

"The garrison fights the titans. Usually with cannons." Dirk said. Dolph rolled his eyes.

"Why did you want to join, Dolph?" Nanaba said.

"I worked with my father on our farm. But I couldn't take it. I had to leave, and find a place where I could be happy." Dolph said.

"Why would that be in the military?" Angela said. Dolph thought for a minute.

"I don't know. I guess I thought of the garrison and how they always drink and gamble. They get paid to do it."

"You idiot" Felix said.

"How am I an idiot?" Dolph said.

"The garrison isn't paid well. People see them drinking or gambling, but their other duties are terminally boring. Maintaining the wall, fixing equipment, watching supplies. The survey corps gets paid more for the increased danger, and the Military Police gets paid the most, including housing. Did you just hear complaints and think their job was easy?" Dirk said. Even Angela was nodding.

"Yeah, I idiot" Dolph said. He slurped down the rest of his stew, burped and got up.

"Nice one farm boy" Felix said. They laughed as he went to the drill sergeant.