Rise Against the Faultless Read Online Free PDF

were no other options.  I used the time to adjust
during the ceremony but told myself that I would get it together by the time it
was over so that when I was questioned I wouldn’t seem like a complete idiot. I
was halfway listening just enough to know how much time I had left to freak
out.
    I did tune in enough to know
that Adrian’s placement was indeed Technology. I gave him a smile as he came
back to our seats, beaming with pride.  He lucked up more than Glyn Steed, my
concerns had been validated; her diabetes left her to a fate of being in the
Service sector.  I saw a flash of disappointment on Glyn’s face, but she
quickly composed herself and walked with her head up while making her way back
to her seat.  It was such a waste, Glyn was brilliant. I spotted Glyn’s parents
in the audience a few rows behind where the students’ seating was, her mother
looked heartbroken for her, Glyn’s father had his arm around her mother with a
smile to try to console them both. Dione’s placement was no great shock, he was
in Combat with Lo, and he even had the same Master Chief as her.  He better
hope for his sake that he doesn’t cause her any trouble.
    I forced myself to concentrate
on everything that I knew about Command so that when I was asked questions I wouldn’t
sound like I had been completely taken off guard. Command was different than
all the other sectors in a few ways. First of all, it was considered the most
prestigious of the sectors, and being chosen for it was like winning a lottery,
anyone qualified.  No one knew where they stood when it came to Command. With
other sectors, you had a good idea for how you did in them, but Command was a
wild card and also depended heavily on the psychological evaluations and
opinions of the evaluation team.  We were carefully studied from childhood by
the evaluation team for this day, to be placed in a position to best serve our
country.
    With sectors like Combat or
Service, you could wind up becoming a construction worker or a chef after your
service is complete, but with Command you are almost guaranteed a spot as a
State Leader, eventually. Being chosen for Command wasn’t just a duty
assignment for the next three years, it was a career path for the rest of your
life. The first year of your service, you spend a good deal of your time
training with the other inductees. You will train by leading other inductees in
simulations chosen by your Master Chief.  Through these simulations and the
determination by your Master Chief, your Command strength will be determined, so
you could wind up being a leader in any sector.
    I heard Mr. Hargrove conclude
the ceremony and congratulate all of us on our advancement. We all politely
clapped and I braced myself for the flood of inquiries. Lo’s father was the
first to reach us since he had apparently arrived in a much more timely fashion
than we had and snagged a seat closer than we had. I was grateful that I barely
registered on his radar, the one thing on his mind was that his only daughter
had been chosen for Combat. Lo’s father had to be six foot four, he towered
above the three of us. This was the second time that I had seen Lo’s father in
a state of depression.  Lo’s mother passed away three years ago in a routine
transportation accident. Lo had not been the same since that day, but still
carried herself well. Mr. Avery said nothing, he just embraced Lo for what had
to be at least a minute.
    Mr. Avery had the mannerisms of
someone who had been in the military for years. He walked with his shoulders
back and his back straight. Every move he made was made with confidence.  He
had dark skin and deep set brown eyes.  He was a handsome man, but was aged by
the last few years full of worries. His voice broke, but only somewhat, when he
finally spoke, “I feel bad for everyone else in your training sessions, baby
girl.” Lo smiled up at him, a trait he very obviously passed on to her. He
regained his statuesque stance