The sun was literally cooking me alive and it wasn't even noon yet. Standing in front of me was Isa, her expression betrayed no emotion. It might have been worse than the sun itself.

I gulped.

She spoke:

"So what is your answer fresh meat?"

"I am going to stay sir!"

Isa scanned me from head to toe, like I was an unexpected garbage dump on her front lawn.

"Alright, go change into a set of casual clothes; we are meeting here in 5 minutes. Training is cancelled for today."

"Wait, where are we going today? Sir?" I quickly added at the end narrowly avoiding being snapped at.

"We're going to pick up a few supplies at the mall. Dress casual and don't make a fuss about it."

"Yes sir!" I saluted, then quickly ran back and changed into a pair of jeans, socks, white T-shirt and brown leather jacket. By the time I got back in the courtyard in my changed set of clothes, Isa was already waiting in her jeep.

​"Too slow! You lazy meat!"

​"Yes sir!" I replied hastily climbing into the passenger seat.

Next thing I knew, we were set for the city.

***

Dang.

I felt like a peasant entering the city, everything felt so alien. It was hard for me to believe that two weeks ago I was lounging here sipping some New Stardelight Smores Frappuccino. That just seemed to be a lifetime ago. Too much had changed these past two weeks: from giant robots attacking the city, to the loss of my left arm, to Pingu(s) robbing the Stardelight, then all of a sudden being thrown into military training and capturing a flaming weasel on my first mission.
"We're here. Don't talk, just follow me fresh meat." she said quickly sliping her car into a parking spot before the guy in the red truck could get it.

"Yes sir!" I instinctively replied while exiting the vehicle.

I followed her to the elevator and watched her press the up key. She set us for floor 8.

Silence.

I suddenly realized that it had taken me this long to notice that Isa wasn't wearing her regular army clothes. She wore a pair of sand-brown short-shorts, combat boots, a dark green tank top that showed off most of her belly and a mini camo vest to go with it. As I guy I had to admit, I was a little jealous of those abs.

When we arrived at our floor a wave of nostalgia hit me. I had been to this mall before with a couple of my friends, but now...It felt like a lifetime ago.

"What are you looking at lazy meat?" Isa hustled.

"Nothing...wait, that wasn't there before." I pointed out, and then quickly added: "sir."

"You mean the security check?"

"Yes sir."

​Isa looked at the checkpoint for a moment, then shrugged and walked on.

"This shouldn't be too much of a problem," she said.

"Wait, what do you mean too much of a problem sir?" I asked following her.

"Be quiet, just watch."

"Yes...sir." I said pausing about 10 meters behind her.

Isa didn't seem to acknowledge the security check as she almost walked straight right past it, until one of the guards caught her by the shoulder.

"Excuse me lady, you can't just go by like that. I am sorry but could you please put your backpack through the X-Ray machine, and step over here for a body scan?"

Isa looked as if she was about to perform a back shoulder flip, but in the end she simply shrugged off his hand turned to him and said:

"This." She held out something.

For a moment the guard seemed fazed, but a few seconds later some sort of realization seemed to hit him in the head like a bat.

"I am sorry ma'am, go on with your day."

"It's sir." She corrected, just as she was about to pass she turned back all of sudden.

"He's with me, let him pass too." she pointed at me, and then continued on.

"Yes, ma'am, I mean yes sir." The guard hurriedly replied as he let me pass by without checking me.

Curious about just happened I hurried to catch up to Isa and asked, "What did you show him anyways sir?"

"My badge."

"What kind of badge sir?"

She shot me a look, it was probably something secretive and I shouldn't have asked, but I just couldn't hold my curiosity back. I was praying that she wouldn't beat me senseless for asking when her expression softened and she replied, "My Iron Justice badge."

"Ah I see...Wait you mean the Iron Justice, sir?"

"What other Iron Justice is there?" she asked with a hint of frustration.

Iron Justice, a world organization made up of the world's best MS pilots founded by Rhir Bloodrazor. There were less than three hundred active today, and most of them were fighting on peacekeeping missions and causes around the globe. Of course most retired members of the Iron Justice choose to teach and train future MS pilots in armies. Active or Ex members were both well respected around the world and in certain countries active members are even granted special privileges and authority.

Dang.

Everything seemed so surreal for a moment. When I looked at her then, there seemed to be this aura of light surrounding her, the aura of a hero that draws kids in. it pulled me in to because deep down I was still a kid. My whole life, I dreamed one day I would be surrounded in that kind of aura, the one that attracts the appreciation and admiration of people. The thought of the responsibility was just crushing; one mistake could cost the lives of many people. Their training pushed the body, senses and mind beyond their maximum capacity. And to be willing to lay down your life if necessary, it was just all too great for me. I was nowhere near great.

Silence.

Isa didn't seem to mind the blank response, as she lead me into the store.

"First we need to get you a new survival knife fresh meat. The barrack only supplies a single standard army knife."

"Yes sir." I said as she led me further into the store.

She paused at one isle, and then held a knife in front of me to see.

"This is a double-edged spearhead blade it is more suited for combat than wilderness survival."

She handed it to me, then picked up another one.

"This here is a Tanto, they are technically fighting knives, but they are more suited for wilderness survival than the double-edged spearhead blade."

She handed it to me again as she picked up another knife.

"This knife here is a Bowie survival knife. It's good for skinning prey, but it has a lower compatibility when it comes to prying to chopping."

She handed the knife again, and I had a feeling she could go on forever.

"Ah, my favorite knife!" her voice was filled with passion like an ordinary high school girl buying her favorite clothes. She held the knife in her hand, after carefully studying it for a few seconds, she swung it around a couple of times, nearly decapitating me several times in the process.

"The drop point blade has a straight back edge, perfect for batoning. It has a strong, sharp tip, useful for stabbing, prying, delicate carving, notching..." before she even finished her sentence, she was already right behind me with knife at my throat.

"And more..." It wasn't the sleek dark length, nor did the sharpness and iciness of the blade terrify me. Her voice was a physical imitation of fear. Like a boa constrictor slowly squeezing the life and hope out of its prey. That was what terrified me.

"S...sirrr? I...I I don'ttt wan..ntt toototoo diedieee..." my voice couldn't help but tremble like a earth quake.
"In the wild, all is permitted." she whispered into my ear. "The strong may live, the weak will die..."

I knew she was referring to the laws of nature. But because of the fear she installed in me, my mind barely registered her words.

That's when the first wave of glass shattered below.

Q: What is your favourite type of knife?