Socket 2 - The Training of Socket Greeny Read Online Free

appear more than ready for your
Realization Trial.”
    I hesitated. “I feel prepared.”
    It was my standard answer. Look confident.
Sound it, too. But it wasn’t an honest answer. Prepared for
what?
    Com turned his shoulders slightly, sensing
tension ripple around me. “What is your question, cadet?”
    No hiding it, now. It was nearly impossible
to hide any thought from a guy like that. So how’d he miss those
chilly images?
    “I would be able to answer your question with
greater confidence,” I said, “if I knew what the Realization Trial
was about. Pon hasn’t given me any objectives. I don’t know if I’m
swimming across an ocean or jumping out of a spaceship. Tell me
what exactly I’m training to do and I believe I can answer you more
truthfully.”
    Com laughed, heartily, and the Commander
smiled. The two assassins had yet to blink. “Yes,” Com said, “the
Realization Trial is frustrating. Let’s just say Pon will have you
ready for whatever comes your way, yes?”
    I nodded, frustration clenching inside
me.
    “Another question?” he said.
    I was doing a horrible job of controlling my
thoughts. I minced them quietly, considering if I was pushing too
much. My frustration was too visible. He would only tolerate it so
long. Enough is enough, control your mind, cadet. But these
were my thoughts and, to be honest, I already knew the answers. In
fact, the question was ludicrous. I didn’t want to say it out loud,
so I just allowed the thoughts to crystallize for him to see my
doubts.
    [Why are we training so hard? We haven’t
seen or heard of a duplicate in a year. They’ve been conquered.
Shouldn’t we be doing something besides preparing for a
non-existent war?]
    Like I said, I already knew the answers.
Intelligence suggested that duplicates would have a backup plan,
that they would blend into the population until they were ready to
strike. After all, they were undetectable. One could be standing
right in front of you and you wouldn’t know the difference, even if
you cut its head off. It’s the predator you don’t see that you
should worry about .
    Thank you, Pon.
    Com saw my question. He also saw the answer
in my mind. There was no reason, but instead he said, “Keep your
enemies closer than your allies, cadet. That way you always know
what they’re doing.”
    “Yes, sir.”
    He stared a bit longer, judging my stance, my
psychic arrangement, my physical conditioning. No need for
conversation when you can look directly at one’s soul. It cuts out
all the words and personal agenda.
    “I am anticipating record attendance at your
Realization Trial.” He leaned closer. His breath puffed in my eyes.
“I will be present along with every commander in the Paladin
Nation.”
    “I look forward to it.”
    “I have commended your Commander for bringing
a prodigy such as you to the great Paladin Nation. It is efforts
like his that will make this world a better place.” A subtle
tension vibrated in the air like electrical currents. He was hiding
something. Perhaps it was bitterness or contempt. After all, he
wasn’t accustomed to travelling outside his facility to see star
pupils. They came to him, not the Commander. This was a first.
    But the energy around us felt tight, almost
menacing. I did not adjust my stance, did not want to appear
aggressive or tip them off, but instead took notice of the space
between us, estimated the range of motion and possible responses to
an attack.
    “I would argue that you could not find a
better Commander,” I said.
    “High praise, indeed.” Half-smile for me.
Half-smile for the Commander. “Very well, then. I will not take up
more of your time. I understand you have been given leave for the
evening and I sense you’re anxious.” He nodded, said in a lower
tone, “We expect great things from you, cadet.”
    “Yes, sir.”
    My heels were still on the edge; I shifted my
balance to the front of my feet.
    Com started for the exit, the Commander
beside him. The