The following day, word spread about the shower fight, in what came to be known as the: 'The Towel Inferno'.

  This new found fame had a positive effect on Fee, to the point where fear and doubt were cast aside. It even began to translate back to her previous disappointments.

  The light-hearted reaction of the lower ranks was felt by almost all but gangs themselves. Humiliated by just three girls, Crystal had become more active in her pursuit of Fee and anyone she was close to.

  Thanks to Tomoko's abilities, any Assassination attempts were met with a quick retaliation. One girl was pulled forcibly out of a crowd, and her hand crushed by Morag, forcing the would-be assassin to regret her life choices.

  It was not just disgruntled gang members who weary of Fee's celebrity status, the top brass regarded this distraction as an affront to everything the Galveston stood for, reducing the station to the Couch-chewing levels of 'Reality' television. Fee didn’t care, she felt as if some kind of inner strength had been kindled.

  A way to cast off everything that kept her in darkness, as she became more adept at finding the limits of her abilities, and surpassing it. Fee tried Poppelwell’s test again.

  Gripping either side, she propelled herself forward with a renewed vigour. Her vertigo had waned and was able to complete the test in under a minute.

  "Nicely done." Poppelwell said. "I heard about the little tussle in the showers. Whatever it did, I shook some talent." The Doctor checked the clipboard. "That means you are ready for the final exam."

  Poppelwell led her to room hidden behind the shiny obsidian wall. Inside were a circle white pods, which reminded Fee of toilets at a festival.

  "I've already been, thanks."

  The Doctor opened up the third door on the lower level.

  "Just get in there."

  Fee entered the brightly lit booth, which contained a gaming chair in front of a full-sized control deck or ‘Mock-pit’. On the right, hung a V.R headset with Haptic gloves, attached to thin rubber cables.

  Getting comfortable, it was soon time to activate the Sim. Twenty minutes past and she had fully settled into strafing photo-realistic aircraft and flak.

  Ever so slowly, top scores started to roll up on Poppelwell's screen, like numbers on an old petrol pump.Somewhat impressed, the Doctor decided to ramp the difficulty spike, by adding more foes with fewer safety protocols.

  A semi-realistic bullet storm swarmed out of nowhere, forcing Fee to go on the defensive, even more so than before. Once again, the AI was no match for her preternatural manoeuvres and quick reflexes.

  The pod blared and Fee remained seated, her face shined with perspiration.

  "Outstanding," Poppelwell said. "You have a natural talent for flying." She lifted a paper on the clipboard. "Congratulations Green, you got the first 'B' of the year."

  "That's great."

  "Yeah, everyone else has got an 'A'."

  "Oh." Fee said, crestfallen.

  "You lost points for machine-gunning the cockpits, when you could have gone for an easy kill with missiles."

  "I thought were no rules in battle?"

  "No rules but take it easy on the sadism, yeah?"

  "I will." Fee said. "What does the score mean?"

  "Well, the good news is you’re free and clear to join the Elite Squadron.”

  “And the bad news?”

  “Being branded a ‘Saw-Pig’, means you've got a date with the Rabbit."

  ***

  The Rabbitte Detention School was a base situated under the surface of a Shetland island, where the surrounding North Sea saw nothing until the coast of Canada. The base was a like any other, complete with fully functioning runway, allowing a multitude of Helix fighter planes and helicopters to come and go under the radar.

  Stepping off the transport ship, Fee’s body was blasted with the freezing bite of sea air. She heaved a large, green Duffel bag over her back and stood shivering in the mouth of the Hangar.

  A case of theft: this story is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation.

  "H-holy balls almighty." She said. "It's c-cold,"

  Tomoko somewhat unruffled by the drop in temperature soon followed carrying two Back packs.

  "Muckle Flugga." She said.

  "Y-you can say that again,"

  "The Lighthouse." Tomoko said "Brin told me to look out for it on patrol. I don't know if you've noticed, there's a bit of breeze coming through. Do you think this is character building?"

  Fee shot her a dark look, but was distracted when a Flight Lieutenant named Craig Abignail called them out.

  "Hey! Quit slapping your meat holsters and get in line!"

  Fee and Tomoko found the other Saw-Pigs standing to attention in front of one of a two-seater plane known as: ‘The Double-Helix’. Abignail pointed to the thirty new people lined up.

  "I want you turds in formation, hop to it!" He said. The doughty, middle-aged man straightened up and gave good eyeball. "Alright, welcome to Purgatory. From here on in, you will be known as 'Saw-Pigs'. You agents of chaos are the lowest of the low in terms of misdemeanours and this here is our version of the time-out corner. If you want redeem yourselves, I suggest you do not piss me off; then and only then will some of you have a hope of rejoining orbit. Or top eight as it is now, for it seems our hope for survival as a species lies in the amount it takes to fill a mini-van. I am not one to cast doubt on the tactics of our superiors so I won't, but still...if that don't cram spiders up my arse, I don't know what will."

  *Did he just?*. Tomoko thought.

  *I believe so.*. Fee agreed.

  "It appears we are on the brink of war with an enemy who are not just invisible, but inconceivable. Actual aliens. Never mind what those Milk-drinkers say, war is in our nature and war is who we ARE. You come in peace; you leave in pieces, that’s us in a nutshell. Bottom line: We have no idea what kind of tech they have, but we have stockpiled enough of ours to make it RAIN DOWN ON ALL OF THEM!" Everyone but Fee burst into applause.

  "Any questions?" Abignail asked. Fee tentatively raised a hand. "Yes you, Numpty Dumpty."

  “What if the attack takes place on the other side of the world?"

  "Then consider this world a taco shell and us humans the sweet, sweet ground up beef." Abignail said. It was meant to reassure, but just made everyone hungry for Tacos. "In all seriousness, we have people stationed everywhere. In some places so remote, they are practically indigenous. If you are unlucky or dampen my cheery nature, you might end up there yourself in some hellish, waking nightmare. Trust me, there's no highway to that danger zone."

  Tomoko gave a minuscule nod.

  Fee frowned. *Why are you agreeing with him?*

  *It's only because I got the reference."

  *Have you been eating crayons or something?*

  "Anything else?" Abignail said, looking at the line of blank stares. "Nothing, huh? Let's get to it then. Observe." He led the Saw-Pigs to a modern looking Jet Fighter. It was a far cry from the one she unearthed in the abandoned Hangar. "Say hello to the HP4/7 series fighter, commonly known as the 'The Troublemaker’. This bird is the pride of the skies, capable of pinpoint manoeuvres, so sharp will it bleed the clouds themselves. This here is a top-tier fighting craft reserved for our best and brightest."

  Fee didn’t mind the sales pitch; she had seen enough Sim time to know that in the right hands she could have a lot of fun with this machine. Unfortunately, Abignail was not finished. "Since you pansy-asses screwed the pooch and got kicked to the naughty step, you'll be potty-trained in some other warbird. It's old but gets the job done.”

  A truck towed away the Jet Fighter, to reveal a sadder-looking aircraft.

  It had an oversized canopy, too big in proportion to its hull and looked straight out of barn. Fee took an instant dislike to it.

  It’s turd with wings.

  "Feast your eyes on 'Little Sparrow'." Abignail said. "A simple but effective starter plane, with no firing capabilities except for trainee lasers, because apparently giving yellow cards like yourselves access to devastating ordinance is tantamount to a waste of resources. Don't worry; there are enough to go round, so you lucky people will all get a turn in the barrel. Any questions? Alright, take fifteen to familiarise yourself with the base, come back at oh-six-hundred for scrubbing duties." He looked at the hollowed eyed expressions. "By your reaction, I take it no-one told you. Saw-pigs don't fly first time out; you gotta earn your wings." He folded his hands behind his back. "Welcome to the front line of the Apocalypse. Dismissed."

  As the ranks dispersed, Fee felt someone barge past her shoulder. To her surprise, it turned out to be Lex. An icy smile unpeeled across the girl’s sharp features.

  "Pardon me." She said. "We are all in a hurry to be somewhere."

  Fee strained to keep the exasperation out her tone.

  "Oh balls, what are you doing here?" She said. "You weren't even fighting."

  "Funny thing. When Crystal was hospitalised, she wanted to send a couple of hatchet people to make sure your accidents looked convincing. I talked her round and suggested you could be an effective agent, if persuaded. Naturally, I volunteered as a mediator to keep her sweet and give you two a chance to see sense. Y'know? In case you thought the Neo-Nine couldn't reach all the way down here. Also you seemed to be one person short."

  "Brin was moved to the turrets, special detail."

  "Your mother has a new pet, it would seem."

  "Where are Erin and Lindsay?" Fee said, looking around. "I don't see them anywhere."

  "They have only just been cleared by the Infirmary. We were very impressed with the unrelenting violence you inflicted upon them. Which is why you are still up and about, we think you have potential."

  “For the last time, I am not joining your clique of douche-whores.”

  “Maybe, once you’ve calmed down and see what we’re offering.”

  Fee folded her arms. "Isn't there a Jellyfish you could be hugging right now?"

  "We will find a use for you. Be sure of that.”

  Lex heard Paula call her name and was away with the crowd, before Fee could react.

  "What a bunch of crap." Tomoko said, bitterly. "Hospitalised. Yeah right, Crystal is just laughing at us from her comfy bed."

  "So let her," Fee said. "Sending her crew down means I got under her skin. She’s not going to let that go.”

  "I'm sure once you do something amazing, you will earn her grudging respect."

  Fee shook her head. "Not this time, Tommi."

  Lex turned around to fire off a limp salute in their direction.

  "She's totally your Iceman." Tomoko whispered unhelpfully.