As I emerged onto the main floor a line of militia was waiting for me. Here we go.

Grim stood at the end of the line as tenacious and angry as ever. I could tell a reprimanding was on the horizon. At first, I thought he wanted me to shamefully walk up to him with my head bowed and my tail hidden between my legs. I decided I would not give him the satisfaction. Instead I held my place at the end of the row. Grim tapped his foot vigorously. He soon realized what exactly I was doing.

With the fury of a raging tornado he was soon upon me. A thick, sinewy hand grabbed my collar and began dragging me down the hall. My legs still felt like gelatin so I was in no position to resist. Eventually he pulled me into the monitoring room and shoved me against the fragile drywall. Behind me I heard a crack as my shoulder blade dug into its dusty plaster surface.

“What in the hell do you think you’re doing?!” Grim roared over the drone of the computer monitors. The same bald, spectacled man from before appeared in the doorway behind him.

“Constable Grim, what is the meaning of this?”

“Shut the hell up Mica! I’m fixing our problem!”

I raised my hands to surrender. Grim’s bloodthirsty face turned back to me. There was murder in his eyes, I could tell.

“I’ll not have some lanky little fuck like him wasting our time, our resources, and our lives so that he can play therapist with one of those...things!”

Of course I didn’t know how to respond. For once, his rage was justified. I hadn’t delivered them any seriously useful information, all I had managed to do thus far was waste more of the already meager energy in the camp.

“Listen here you worthless little shit!” The ferocity of his screams shook the monitors on the wall. “You can either get us something we can use or you can get the hell out of this camp. We have no need for your kind here!”

“Constable Grim!” Mica interjected once more. He sidled up beside him and placed a knobbish hand on his shoulder.

All the while I was worried about protocol. Honestly, I don’t think I realized the danger I was in until later that night when I lay sleepless in my cot.

“W-w-where’s Constable Treble?” was all I could think to say. Grim’s face soured even more. Mica placed himself between the two of us, his arms outreached to distance us further.

“Look at him, quivering little whelp! You think you’re brave ‘cause you go in there with her. You’re just a fool, a stupid, naive little fool. Now I suggest you start doing what you’re supposed to do or we may just decide not to open that gate next time you’re in there. See how friendly that bitch is when she’s hungry…”

Grim turned and stormed off down the hall. Mica couldn’t look me in the eye. It was only my second visit and I already felt like I had failed them. I wished I could say more. Wished I could do more, but...it felt wrong. It felt like a lie.

Mica stepped over to the monitors and took a seat. Finally, he spoke:

“You took a great risk in there today...see that it doesn’t happen again. I can only protect you for so long…”

I bobbed my head. Pushed myself off the drywall and brushed some of its white dust from my soaked sleeves.

“I’m sorry, I just...need more time. I’m wearing her down I know it!”
Mica didn’t respond. Instead he was focused on the screens in front of him. His shoulders slouched and the chair he sat on creaked loudly.

“Where is Treble?” I then repeated. Mica scratched the back of his head before finally turning to me.

“Away, he’s out somewhere along the outer encampments, I don’t know why.”

“I see, well tell him that I’ll take extra time tomorrow. I’ll have something for him. I promise!”

“Alright, do you need an escort back to your tent?”

“No...I’ll be fine”

Time went on, as it always does. A new front from the north swept in and nearly blew our watchtowers down. The last foraging convoy rolled in and I...well I went and took a nap. Exciting I know. Unfortunately my sleep had been haunted by wild dreams the past few nights, keeping me up through the long dark hours of morning.

Later that evening, whilst finishing up in the mess hall, a group of militiamen approached me. There were five of them in total. The first three  were burly men who looked like they had been to hell and back. The last two, one a woman and the other a tall gangly man with wild spiked hair, trailed along behind them. The apparent leader of the pack, a six foot tall brute with a shaven head, slammed his fists on the table in front of me.

“So, you the guy?”

With a long, drawn out sigh I stood. “Yeah I suppose I’m the guy. You here to kick my ass?”

“Sounds about right…”

“I don’t know Deck, what if the CO sees?” croaked the lanky man from the back.

“Come on...we’s doin’ them a favor. Didnt’ you hear? Constable Grim’s said he’s liable to let that enormous bitch loose.”

“It ain’t right” another of the thugs added. It would seem I would need to defend myself verbally, otherwise I’d have to walk into my session tomorrow concussed, and that would only lead to bigger problems.

“Look guys, I’m just here to see what she knows, no one is getting released!”

“Yeah right, I heard about you two...real chummy am I right?”

“Are you kidding?” I quickly retorted when I noticed one of the men reach for something in his back pocket. The others locked onto me with ghastly stares. “That crazy bitch tried to kill me, like...twice just today. I’m with you guys I promise!”

It wasn’t the most convincing lie, but if I was to make it out of here in one piece I felt compelled to spit out something. The woman in the back grabbed Deck’s arm just as he was rearing back for a punch.

“Deck, he’s telling the truth” she muttered. “I was in the monitor room today, she almost crushed him in her hand!”

The oafish man’s anger waned. With a quick tug he freed his arm from the woman’s grasp and slammed it back onto the table. I jumped.

“Alright, but I’m watching you. None of us will stand by while you pander to that monstrosity.”

And with that, Deck and his retinue departed. It would seem I was making enemies everywhere now. As soon as they were out of sight I hastily gathered my things and bolted out to my tent.

A few hours later, while in my quarters, I slaved over what observations I had made so far. There must be something useful in there. Something I could make a case with. But, as I continued to pour over my records and notes, nothing really seemed to stand out.

I slumped back  onto one of my unstable camp-stools and began to chew the end of my pen. What was it that I had learned so far?

Vera claims that none of the giants were every like us? So they’ve always been the size they are now? What exactly did she mean?

There clearly seemed to be no organization or sense of unity amongst them. They are all very independent and, in many cases, territorial. Hostility between the giants was almost as common as their hostility towards humans. Except for those that trooped.

They speak our language well enough. Their own tongue is very similar. More or less a dialect of our own. So what does that say?

Vera seems reluctant to talk about her own violent history. Is it because of regret? Does she feel bad about the lives she has taken? No that wasn’t it. If anything she seemed eager to pass as being heartless. She wanted me to think that she had no problem killing me or the others.

And what was that about control? Everything comes back to control? Well I could’ve told her that. Every giant I have observed and studied suffer from some sort of god-complex. The power to make order or chaos. The power to rule or destroy. The power to let some live and others die. That’s what they seemed to get from it all.

Lastly, this disconnection with the humans stems from their inability to relate with us. They see us as...well insects. Sentient insects.

I groaned. The long hours of the night were beginning to take their toll on me. I would need to rest if I was going to do any better tomorrow. I flipped off my lantern and crawled onto my cot. As the night winds outside whipped and warped around the corners of my tent my hand crept up to the small handgun I kept on my nightstand. The handle was warm and its trigger was all too inviting.

Through the early hours of morning I shivered beneath the narrow sheets. An unnatural chill had drifted into our shriveled camp. Although it was late summer, there was little sunlight to soothe our brittle bones. Cold air found its way into every building, every structure. I awoke in a ball, with my blankets stuffed around my curled legs. I was quick to get dress.

On my way back to the mess hall I noticed an itchy spot on the back of my neck. Funny, there weren’t supposed to be any mosquitos out in this area. I decided it was nothing to worry about and simply continued on my way. As I rounded the corner of the northern quarter I saw a familiar, friendly face across the dirt road.

“Ellis?”

“Ah, Cyan, I thought that was you. It's been too long”

“I’ll say, you’ve been busy from what I hear.”

Cyan picked up the pace and managed to fall into step with me. As her name would suggest, she wore her typical turquoise scrubs. A surgeon’s mask hung from her neck. From the looks of it she had just been with a patient.

“You could say that…” I said with a light chuckle. I wanted to make it seem casual, but, much to my dismay, Cyan was more perceptive.

“Right...listen. I know you’ve been under a lot pressure lately but make sure to take care of yourself ok? You never did come back in for that other vaccination.”

To be honest, I purposely ‘forgot’ about that appointment. Something about needles really freaked me out. It was important to get my shots, I know, but sometimes...well nevermind.

“Oh yeah, I completely forgot about that!”

Cyan laughed. Her light-heartedness was a welcome break from the grave sea of people I had been wading through over the last few days.

“You’re a terrible liar, you know that right?”

I was. Especially with her. She was one of the few people on base who never seemed to be secretly judging you. It made bluffing nearly impossible.

“Well, I’ve never really been much for lies.”

“Well, you’re one of the first.”

It was painful how, after only being here a few short days, I already knew exactly what she meant. We walked along for a while in silence. It wasn’t uncomfortable silence though. It was relaxed, almost rectifying.

Eventually, when the mess hall came into sight, Cyan handed me a small hand-made pouch. I took it without question. No sooner had my fingers grasped the leather parcel that she began to rattle on about its contents.

“Its just a few things I put together for ya. It’ll help you sleep. I know you’ve had some problems with that. And well, there’ some other stuff in there...for your...other ailment. There’s an instruction sheet inside, its pretty straightforward.”

“Thanks Cy”

“No problem, well this is where I leave you. I’ve actually got to go see a family about a potential pregnancy. Good luck today!”

Just like that she was gone. The first truly friendly face in a long time. Well except for Vera...kind of. Was it friendly? Ah, I couldn’t tell. If anything I seemed to keep her amused and that was good enough. For now at least.

The mess hall was the usual drab collection of wandering souls who had the strength the drag themselves out of bed early in the morning. All their faces were familiar, though I didn’t know a single one of their names.

I got my food, sat down, and waited. For what? I don’t know. I just sat there, staring at the disgusting gobs of oats that sat on the tiny elliptical platter. Most would probably complain about the horrible food and dreadful living conditions. I, on the other hand, didn’t mind it all. Such awful surroundings made it that much easier to focus on my work. There was much to do today. I thought it would be best to get to Vera earlier, so that I could have more time talking. Hundreds of questions whirled about inside of me. So much to learn, so little time.

As I sat idle, the same troop of militiamen who had threatened me the night before entered. Out of the corner of my eye I watched them take their places around a long rectangular table just across from me. I did my best to act like I hadn’t noticed them. Their leader, the square-cut watchmen called Deck, snarled like wild dog. He said something to his comrades and collectively they began to laugh. Perhaps it was best that I leave before a row started up.

Upon getting to my feet I noticed Deck a his two larger companions likewise rise. I exited in a hurry. I didn’t make it twenty feet outside the tent when I felt two meaty pairs of hands lock onto my arms. I don’t think I have to tell you the rest.

When they were done with me I was left in the streets. Already I could feel the bruises on my stomach forming, probably in the shape of their bootprints. No one else was around to help me to my feet. They hadn’t touched my bag. That much was good. Aside from a busted lip and a swollen black eye no one would’ve have even been able to tell I was just assaulted. It was nothing...right?

The weight of my attackers’ feet still pounded on my limbs as I limped to the main facility. As I drew nearer the sentries walking the perimeter stopped and stared at me. No one said a word. I knew it would take time but my strength was returning to me. No petty aggression from some misguided soldiers was going to deter me. Besides, I understood why they acted. They were scared. I mean, we all were. All that fear, bottled up inside for so long...tends to have some negative side effects. Anyway, enough about them, there were more pressing matters to attend to.

When I got to the monitor room I found Treble and Mica waiting. They took one look at me and their faces fell. Mica cautiously approached and helped me into a chair. Treble, on the other hand, didn’t even flinch. The stony expression on his face soon returned. An emotionless drone erupted from his mouth as he began his usual greeting.

“And how are we today Ellis?”

As if he didn’t already know. I gently pushed Mica’s hand off of me and opened my bag. After a few seconds digging around I pulled out my latest profile and handed it to him. Mica passed it along to Treble, who, after staring at it wistfully for ten seconds, opened it and began perusing its contents. Mica finally spoke up.

“Ellis, are you alright?”

“Yes, I’m fine, had a little run in with a few of your men. Nothing to concern yourself with.”

“What are their names? I’ll have them court martialed!”

“No really its fine. It wasn’t so bad.”

Mica grumbled under his breath. I’d never seen him get angry before, it was...strange.

“No doubt Grim put them up to it!”

I wanted to interject but Treble beat me to it.

“Of course he did. But young Ellis is right, we have other things we need to worry about. I presume you came to get an early start?”

Pain shot through my head as I nodded.

“Perhaps it would be best if you put it off for now!” Mica cried. “It’s not advisable to send you in there like this! Perhaps in a few hours, after you’ve recovered.”

Again, I was ready to protest when Treble swooped in.

“Normally I’d agree with you Constable Mica, however Ellis still needs to fulfill his end of our bargain.”

“But sir!”

“No it must be done…”

“He’s right” I finally managed to say. “I’ll go, I’m not that bad. I’m ready. But I do have one request.”

The two uniformed men waited patiently for me to continue. All the while I weighed my options in my head. Neither would go for it, I knew that much. Time, I just need more time.

“I...will need an extension.”

Nothing.

“Its just that, she’s tougher than I thought she’d be. She’s somehow been answering all my questions yet still has managed to avoid true scrutiny.”

Again, nothing. My ankles wobbled. My arms shook. Finally, I stood again. Treble strode closer, his arms folded behind his back.

“We can discuss this after you return…”

Well, that’s all I was going to get from them now. Typical.

Half and hour later, I stood on the threshold of the inner atrium. No one was there today. It took me a solid ten minutes to figure out how to open the damn door, but when I did, I could feel the dewy air flooding in over my body. It was nice.

Blood still trickled into my mouth, leaving a horrible metallic taste on my tongue. By now the pills I had taken were starting to take their effect and I could feel the nerves beneath my skin reverting to their normal state. The sting in my brain was gone too. Now I could go to work.

Vera lay on her side facing the entryway. Her legs folded over one another and her arms sat in front of her, tossed lazily aside as she tumbled around in her sleep. Most of her hair, now finally dried, shrouded her face. I could see only her eyes through the matrix of chestnut tress. They were closed.

Hmmm, now how was I to wake her? Should I wait? No doubt she would be furious. I had woken enough people in my lifetime to know the usual consequences. Perhaps it was best I gave her time. Taking a seat at my usual spot I unclasped the latch on my satchel and began to read through my notes. Ok, maybe not read, more like stare. I didn’t have anything else to do...and I’d gone over everything in my possession at least a dozen times already.

Then the intercom crackled to life. At first I was relieved. I had grown to hate waiting at this camp. It felt like all I ever did anymore! That relief, however, quickly gave way to fear when I noticed Vera stirring. The voice was as loud and nonsensical as ever. It was Mica’s voice this time, that was all I could distinguish. He said something long and formal, which I paid little attention to. As his speech went on Vera seemed to grow more restless. Beneath her eyelids I saw movement. Her breath quickened. Then her legs began to shuffle.

Finally, she flopped onto her back and let out a long, ferocious, but fatigued groan. The walls and floor shuttered. The intercom finally died and I, still shaken from both my beating and the sudden thunderous outcry, could not move. Vera’s eyes shot open. For a while she just lay there, blinking amid the sparse morning daylight that seeped through the translucent wall.

Should I say something? Wait for her to say something? God dammit why did this always happen to me. I grew worried that I’d never warm up to her. I had a friend who always said that:

“Getting used to people was one of the hardest things we will ever have to do.” Naturally I’d ask him why and he’s say:

“Because, no one is ever the same. Just as soon as you think you’re used to one person someone comes charging into your life and messes everything up. Screws with your expectations…”

I don’t think I ever believed him till now. He was adamant about up until the day he died. Put a bullet through his temple a year after the invasion started. I guess he never did get used to the new guys.

Anyway, Vera finally turned back on her side. She rested her head on her arm and stared at me with sleepy eyes. Then let out another groan.

“...Good Morning…” I yelled over to her.

No reply. At first I thought she had fallen back to sleep but then she raised her right hand up in front of me, just as she had the day before. Oddly enough, I didn’t hesitate this time. The journey from solid ground to the palm of her hand was much easier. The transition almost brought a sense of calm. That is, until she actually moved me closer. The rush of air and horrible inertia knocked me on my back. I felt like I was going to puke. It was over in a matter of seconds though. Her hand tilted underneath me and I began to roll off. The slope of her palm was gentle so I didn’t crash onto the white floor with too much force. The spinning however, only added to my nausea. I gagged and gasped. Thank god I didn’t actually eat breakfast.

My sickness passed. Overhead I felt Vera’s breathe on me. Spinning around I saw that I sat on the ground just thirty feet from her head. To my right her titanic arm remained still. Honestly, it was like seeing the Grand Canyon for the first time. The majesty of it all. Stretching far down to my left was the rest of her body, which from this angle seemed so...unreal. There were no words for it. It was terrifying, awe-inspiring, and thought provoking all at once.

“Why must you come so early?” she spoke through her veil of hair. Though to her it was but a whisper, the volume of her voice was enough to knock me onto my back. As I cautiously leaned back up I saw her eyes remained shut.

“Sorry, just thought we’d get a little extra time today. Possible do two sessions…”

She shifted her weight a bit. I, in turn, braced myself for the tremors and awaited her response.

“Mmmmm, must you call them that?”

“What would you call them?”

“uuuuuhh I don’t know. It wouldn’t kill you to try and have a little fun with these…”

“It might…”

That got her attention. Her eyes opened a bit wider. The stare was still groggy but she seemed interested now.

“Oh really?”

“Yes”

“Hmph...well you’re no good to me then. Come back when you decide to loosen up a bit…” Before I could voice my response she flipped over onto her other side, leaving her back to me.

“Vera wait!” I cried out. My voice was growing hoarse.

Stillness.

“Vera come on! Look, I have my job you know that! I played your game now its time to really get down to it!”

Nothing. I needed something to coax her back out. Something I could lead with. Something I could use to squirm my way into her head.

“Vera look at what they did to me!”

The ground shook. Her torso tilted back towards me for a second. Then her head followed.

“Ok, you probably can’t see but they beat me! They did! Because I wasn’t...doing what I was supposed to. If I go back out there without any useful information I don’t know what they’ll do”

Ok so I stretched the truth a bit. I mean, I wasn’t wrong! The delivery wasn’t bad. I tried using the best groveling, teary voice I could. I knew that’d get her attention. If she thought that my fate was dependent on her she would surely respond.

Sure enough she flipped back over to face me. This time she was more attentive. With one hand placed flat on the ground dangerously close to me, she leaned in to inspect my wounds. At first I thought they were too minor for her to notice. Then, after concluding her observations, her head retreated.

“Black eye?”

“And more…”

“Sorry.”

“Its ok, you needn’t be sorry.”

“So tell me then Ellis. What kinds of things do you want to know.”

“Where you came from, what you want, anything you know that could help us against the...others”

She looked away. For a while her eyes floated along the edges of her prison.

“Ellis” she said with sigh.

“Yes?”

“Remember when I said I liked you...and I ask you to not screw it up?”

“Yes…”

“Well, that’s kind of what you’re doing right now”

“I know but…”

“Listen!” she groaned. I shut up. “I will cooperate, but I don’t want these to become so formal.” She brought her head down and leaned it up against the wall. It looked rather uncomfortable.

“If you just play along with me I’ll answer what you want. But lets not make this an interrogation. Ok? In fact…I wanted to hear more about you.”

Hmm. This was...different. A change in her profile? So far she didn’t seem that interested in my personal history. Maybe she was just getting used to me.

“Such as what?”

“Well, where are you from?”

“I’m from a town called Ashland”

“I don’t know where that is…”

“Ohio?”

“Nope, sorry”

“That’s ok, my hometown is...was nothing special”

“Lemme guess, a troop came in and leveled it?”
The memories started to well up inside of me, halting my speech. The strain mounted. My spine started to tremble. Vera noticed and rolled her eyes.

“Alright calm down! I’m sorry” she said with little sincerity.

“Ok well...what..about you?” I asked in a croaking voice. The mental pain had been diverted for now.

“Well, its hard to explain…”

“Oh? Why’s that?”

“No reason, really...I mean. It didn’t really have a name.”

“You didn’t call it anything?”

Again she groaned. Wearily she rolled onto her back. Both arms crossed over her abdomen. Guess she hadn’t quite woken up all the way yet. Eventually she brushed her hair back behind her left ear and waited. Was I supposed to say something else?

“Well, I’ve called it a few different things. Mostly just ‘home’ but…”

“What about your home...country? State? errr troop?”

“Don’t interrupt I’m thinking!” she spat.

What followed was the first comfortable silence the two of us ever shared. The air sat heavy on us both, like thick quilts shielding us from the cold outside. I, for once, felt calm in her presence. It would seem her subtle malicious undertones were starting to flake away. Then again, maybe this would have happened sooner had I just listened to her in the first place.