Legend

June is once again in the dean secretary’s office while her classmates crowd outside, waiting to hear what “[t]he Republic’s favorite little prodigy” did this time. The secretary, Arisna Whitaker, scolds June: June may think she’s smart and special, but nobody in the military is going to put up with her antics. June nods, but she also knows she’s smart. In addition to scoring a perfect 1500 on her Trial, she was admitted to Drake, the Republic’s top college, at age 12. She knows she has great genes, which will make her a better soldier and lead the Republic to victory against the Colonies. So, June feels like it’s her responsibility to teach herself to climb tall buildings with big guns strapped to her back. Day can scale buildings in an instant, and they have to catch him to win.

A few minutes later, June’s older brother, Captain Metias Iparis, arrives. He promises to speak to June about her antics and marches her out of the school. As they climb in their jeep outside, Metias scolds June, and June tries to catch the driver Thomas’s eye—but he’s so disciplined that he probably also disapproves. They drive out of the central Batalla sector, discussing that June won’t be allowed on missions until she graduates and is assigned formally to missions. Then, finally, Metias expresses approval for what June did: climbed 14 stories in six minutes and 44 seconds. Thomas primly notes that with the Iparises’ parents gone, Metias has a responsibility to encourage June to behave well. June doesn’t remember her parents much. Metias has been her parent for years.

Thomas stops the jeep at June and Metias’s Ruby sector apartment, and June considers trying to date him in a few years once Metias loosens up. Metias leaves June at the door: he’ll be at the lab at the nearby hospital until late, and June needs to stay home and not sneak out. He says they have things to talk about when he gets back, kisses her on the forehead, and leaves.