"Enough!" came a feminine voice, followed by two sharp claps.
I removed my head screen, which had turned black anyway. The room was noisy, but how could it not be? Simulations were the best way to rile us up, exacerbating our competitive instincts.
Our new classroom was more spacious than the previous one, but we were still cramped there. One of the many constraints of living in a small outpost. I looked out the window at the wasteland. I could see Delta Oasis from here, I thought, if only it wasn't always so dark.
I noticed XX04, seated two rows ahead of me, turned around to give me the finger, which I gladly returned.
"Well done!" said XX02 beside me. "Great performance!"
"You too!" I said. We cheerfully hugged to celebrate our virtual victories.
"Hey! The twins, knock it off!" said our new instructor, referring to XX02 and me. We did look alike, with our somewhat average height and skinny bodies. But how could anyone not be scrawny on a sour shroom-exclusive diet anyway? The only one who managed to gain some weight was XX04, who strangely enjoyed the mushrooms' taste. Regardless, even though XX02's face vaguely resembled mine, it was clear we weren't twins. If we weren't from the same year, one might have thought we shared the same parents. We assumed we didn't, but we couldn't know for sure.
"I said enough!" the woman standing at the front of the class repeated. She was tall, standing straight with her head held high, exuding an air of pride. Like all of us students, she had a buzz cut, which was unusual. I had never met a woman with such short hair. She scanned the class, her sharp eyes stopping on each of us for a second before moving on to the next. She was younger than FR05, our previous instructor. She couldn't have been more than forty. She was more bottom-heavy too, I noted, as she paced back and forth in front of the desk. She wore a standard blue instructor's uniform with non-standard, military-grade shoes. She put on a facade of strength, but a subtle sense of unease was present. I sensed vulnerability in her demeanor.
"XX squadron, I am KS12. I will be taking over from FR05 as your new instructor."
I was going to miss FR05. She was gentle and patient. But after reaching the venerable age of 65, she was put to final sleep as per the tradition. The ceremony was touching, and thinking about her again made my heart ache.
"Today is no ordinary day," said KS12. "Not only have you been moved to a new wing, but it also marks the beginning of your 18th year of involvement in the training program. Eighteen years, from your birth to this moment, which will all retrospectively seem like leisure time compared to what's coming next. This upcoming year will be challenging, entirely devoted to molding all of you into proud contributors to the colony."
"For mankind!" we chanted in unison.
"Exactly, for mankind," said KS12, briefly smiling, which broke her tough exterior. I knew she was softer than she appeared. "Now, about the assignment... Does anyone already know what it is?"
"It's the ceremony where we get assigned as men or women!" said XX02.
"Yes! That's when you'll officially transition from asexual to sexually active. From students to trainees, to men and women. What happens to men? They become..."
"Fighters!" interjected XX04, along with a few others. "To exterminate the bugs!"
"Yes, fighters. For five years, men embark on their mandatory civil service and become fighters, exterminating Voraces and safeguarding the colony," said KS12, looking directly at me. I smiled. Someone had already taken notice of me.
"For mankind!" we all exclaimed.
"And what about women? What do women become?" KS12 expected an answer, but the room remained silent. "Carers, of course! During their mandatory civil service, women become carers, tending to the fighters."
"For mankind!" uttered XX30, alone, before turning red and melting into his desk.
"Exactly," said KS12. "However, the colony requires more than just fighters and carers, right? What else does the colony need?"
"Instructors," said XX02.
"Yes!" affirmed KS12. "Instructors, but also builders, mechanics, engineers, cooks, miners—"
"Toilet cleaners!" added XX07, provoking laughter in the room.
"Silence!" KS12 shouted, smacking the desk with her palm. "To clarify, fighters and carers are only transitional roles between your student life and your working life, where you'll have access to many career paths. I emphasize this because you have witnessed many women in your lives and have a good understanding of what a woman's life can be. My concern is: fighters have been portrayed as an ideal to you. And while they certainly are in many ways, they only represent a brief window into a man's life. Have any of you ever seen a man, I mean, a real one? Not in pictures or videos. Someone you've talked to?" The room fell silent once more. "Well, in this wing, you will occasionally interact with some. Don't be afraid. What do you know about them?"
"They're strong!"
"They guard the colony!"
"They're heroes!"
"Valid points," said KS12. "But the most crucial aspect of men is that they earn the privilege to walk beyond these walls and explore Astrilles. To traverse the wastelands in search of minerals. To combat and secure the oases jungles so we can gather sour mushrooms. Taking all the risks to ensure the safety of the colony."
"For mankind!" I shouted with my comrades.
I locked eyes with XX02 and saw a gleam of excitement, likely mirroring what was in my own eyes. I reached under the table, grabbed his hand, and gripped it tightly. "One day, we'll be out there together, brother," I whispered.
"You bet!" he replied, grinning. "Promise?"
"Promise!"
"Now," said KS12, raising her voice, "not everyone aspires to venture out. Some value the safety and comfort of an outpost, and that's perfectly fine. Fitting, for a woman's life, as women are not permitted to leave. Never, under any circumstances. Clear?"
"Bullshit," a deep voice echoed from the corridor through the open door.
KS12 gasped. "Attention, children!"
Everyone stood up, anxiously glancing at the door. Two giants entered. The first one was a monster. He was so tall he bowed a little when stepping through the door so he wouldn't hit his head in the doorframe. His salt-and-pepper short beard was enough to suggest he spent a long time around this outpost and outside too. From his left wrist ran horrible mutilations along his arm, disappearing above his elbow into his short sleeve. I had never seen such dramatic scars, yet his left arm didn't seem any weaker than his right one. Besides a standard form-fitting silver uniform, he wore an undistinguishable black short hat with five silver stars. He was a general.
"Sit down," commanded the first one.
KS12 awkwardly stepped back and stumbled, leaving center stage for the newcomers. I had never witnessed such dominance so effortlessly displayed. And for good reason. KS12, the tallest woman I had ever encountered, was much smaller than both. And much slimmer, except around her hips.
"General? KS13? What are you—" Both men fixed a stern gaze on KS12. "Of course, my apologies," she said, looking down. "Please welcome General HP07 and Machinist KS13."
"Men..." I whispered in awe. Now that's true strength! That's what I want to become! Each of these men's arms was thicker than KS12's legs. They both wore expressions of seriousness and confidence. As if nothing could faze them.
"Have you seen the breadth of those shoulders?" I whispered to XX02. "That's so unreal!"
The General pushed KS12 further aside and addressed the class.
"For mankind!" uttered XX30, alone, before turning red and melting into his desk.
I reached under the table, grabbed his hand, and gripped it tightly. "One day, we'll be out there together, brother," I whispered.
I was going to comment on how they were still asexual and thus not 'he/his/brother' however then I figured that while their s*x might still be unspecified their desired gender isn't and thus they may as well refer to each other by genders already.
Exactly!