had also tried to get drunk. It had not worked. It had only run up his tab. And today he would begin his retraining. The training designed for Rebuilts, to learn how to function prop

went silent. He had told his inner clock to wake him up at 6:30 sharp. It was 6:30. And it was very bizarre to find out that despite his modified p

fter that he went to the seventeenth level of the building

l thought as he waved his hand over the identification plaque. The

s she walked up to him. "Sergeant Abbot

as, and indeed,

I can fix that for you, just come on in." Sergeant Abbott opened the door a

d I'll call you Daniel. We're low on

lma." Dan

"Burt will be in soon, go grab some coffee, tea or Blint. It's over there in the corner." Upon Daniel's frown, she explained t

weird nean-green stuff that was imported from some faraway di

Troy, one of the men, was about to go out on missions again, Daniel learnt, and the other two still had some tim

ng up. "Gentlemen, I would really appreciate it if you were to make

pretty woman, but he was certain she was good for her job, and that was what counted. Phil, one of the others, bea

he end of the day. The trainer was a Rebuilt himse

, everyone is different and there is no way anyone can predict how someone deals with being Rebuilt. So if there is anything that you are worried about, or yo

n surprise. These last words s

o know that you can come to me if you have problems. And also Wilma is able to guide you. She's had a psychological trai

expected. "Oh. Right." Something i

iel? Spit it ou

ess." Daniel shook his head, embarrassed that he

did not let Daniel

people say. A

. "Tell me

e." Daniel felt awkward. This did

me again,

ts. Cybord. A kind of humanoid machines

of regular folk and us Rebuilts. Their reason for that is that regular soldiers will start to feel inferior when they are aro

hat comes from." With two fingers he li

ing. It had to be obeyed. "Don't fall into th

though. He felt as if he had already gone in, head over

Daniel. Now go get some food in yourself and try to relax. The

an order?" Daniel

lder, with surprising gentleness. "The first days are always the hardest. It's

, Burt." Daniel shook his he

e boys that act as if nothing happened, as if they can pick up their lif

sir." After a mock sa

=

trainee was sitting alone at a table

Pleas

eady to eat. "Why aren't you

nced over at the table where the two others sat, near a window, a full line of empty tables between them

y had taught him a lot about the three others already. "Ma

"Never really tried. No

ht out loud. As he glanced over to the table with the subjects of their talk, he uncomforta

s mind. "We all notice that sooner or later. Old friendship

d been friendly and had agreed to stay in touch, but had not responded to the two message

e, Daniel. It gets b

e that 'whiles'

son became clear quickly as T

ing the lonely crew? Plenty of

for asking though, " Daniel

to an unnecessary volume. He had a loud voice to start wit

d Daniel, "no need fo

er, girls." With that the man turned and walked back

" Phil m

back to them. The ears of a Rebuilt were quite a l

if Troy heard him or not. "He's no

sses me off so easi

m. Be correct and no more." Daniel turned back to his food. He knew that Troy would be mocking

oon. Goes on a mission. Far away."

ith Phil in the

s head, get things in the right perspective. He was happy with Burt being his trainer. That man was someone he w

rong side of the constellation. As the place had been built, it had been left there, and a new Dome had been built at the right place. This now was a place where

was nothing but loud, bragging and too carefree about being a Rebuilt. Maybe it was worth looking up why Troy had been Rebuilt; there had to be something about him that warranted that. Ludo... now there was a character Daniel could not see through. The man was okay, struck

is ponderings. It was Rhonda, in her eternal

it, " Dan

d gone by. And if he had any questions about his new bod

ad n

r pocket. "Gosh. Now look what I found he