Two months had passed since Joe received his new eye. Honestly, Joe was disappointed with how long it took him to get used to the new eye, but he felt confident he’d learned all he needed to for now.
“Don’t look too confident, Joe,” said Dr. Cajo Tehinjhm. “You still have a lot to learn.”
Joe and Cajo walked along the streets of Gefunden. The weather was comfortable with spotty clouds overhead occasionally blocking the shining sun. Joe constantly looked around at the beings hurrying about through the streets to get their shopping done before the new work week started. He saw young ones pestering parents to visit stores, sports fanatics arguing about their team’s success, and a few drunks stumbling out of bars even at this hour.
Joe focused with his right eye on one of the bars across the street and looked through the wall to see Uzair behind a busy counter. Joe silently thanked him for his help after Joe had fled the military’s dispossession relocation program.
“Don’t get me wrong, though. You’ve made remarkable progress,” continued Cajo before they saw where Joe was looking before adding, “That’s where I first met you. You’re so much happier now than you were then.”
Joe smirked at Cajo. “The new eye helped a lot,” said Joe.
“I’m glad.”
Up ahead, Joe heard some hissing approaching from around the building. Again, Joe looked through objects ahead of him. First, he saw through Cajo and the thick implants in their body, and then Joe saw through the two walls that formed the corner of the building they were walking by. Joe could make out the stumbling form of a Szeckxs around the corner that struggled to stay balanced. Joe slowed his pace, but Cajo kept walking ahead toward the corner, oblivious to what was coming up ahead.
“Still, I think it’s too early for…where’d you go?” said Cajo as they realized Joe wasn’t next to them anymore.
Cajo continued forward, but turned their head back to look for Joe. In moments, Cajo and the Szeckxs would walk into each other at the corner. Swiftly, Joe moved back to Cajo’s side and guided the doctor a step back and closer to the building. The Szeckxs soon came around the corner and barely avoided plowing over Joe and the doctor. The Szeckxs tripped to the side away from Joe and surprisingly regained his balance. The reptilian being hissed something that sounded rude as he continued along.
“What were you saying?” said Joe sarcastically.
“I said not to get me wrong,” said Cajo to defend themselves with a laugh. “And thank you for that.”
On the next street over, Joe’s destination came into view. A Human military recruitment office had banners and posters hanging up all over the building to encourage enlistment. Each poster showed a different occupation any Human could picture themselves in if they joined.
Joe and Cajo stopped half a block away and looked at the office. Joe’s gaze scanned the posters several times before he took a deep breath. The next step for his dream would begin soon.
“I wish you luck, Joe,” said Cajo to break the silence. “You’ll achieve everything you seek to accomplish.”
“I owe you, Cajo,” said Joe. “I’ll never forget what you did for me. And I’ll never lose sight of our dream. We’ll stand together in utopia again. I promise you.”
“I look forward to it, Joe,” said Cajo with a smile. “If you ever need something, reach out to me. I move frequently, but you’ll find me if you need to.”
“Thanks,” said Joe.
Joe held out his hand, and the doctor soon grasped it in a firm handshake. Joe and Cajo both smiled and nodded at each other before going their separate ways. Joe turned back to the recruitment office, checked both sides of the street for any traffic, and hurried across. He only looked forward.
Three other Humans stood inside of the recruitment office as Joe entered. Two were a little older than Joe and stood in line in front of a counter. The third one stood behind the counter in uniform looking down at a tablet as he flipped through reports. Joe recognized the recruiter from the times he tried to join before at this office. Greene, was it? Would he recognize Joe? Joe wasn’t sure how this would go now.
“Everything appears to be in order,” said Greene. He set the tablet down, held out his hand, and the first person in line shook it. “Welcome to the military.”
“Thank you, sir,” said the new enlistee.
“Please go through the door for your physical,” said Greene with a wave to the door to his right.
“Yes, sir,” said the new enlistee before he started for the door.
“Next,” said Greene.
As the next person stepped forward, Joe moved behind him in line. Joe had trouble focusing on what the two said to each other as his heart began to beat faster. This was it. This was it! Months of hard work was about to pay off.
“Age?” asked Greene.
“Eighteen, sir,” said the hopeful enlistee.
Maybe it wouldn’t pay off, thought Joe. He was still underage. The eye was an easy reason to deny him all those times before, but that was no longer an issue. Would Greene believe Joe was eighteen? Joe decided he wouldn’t let that stop him now. He had to join!
“Everything appears to be in order. Welcome to the military. Please go through the door for your physical,” said Greene.
“Yes, sir. Thank you, sir,” said the newest enlistee as he shook Greene’s hand.
“Next.”
Joe stepped forward. Greene looked at Joe, and Joe looked back as confidently as he could.
“I’m here to enlist,” said Joe.
“Excellent,” said Greene, who didn’t seem to recognize Joe. Greene then looked down at his tablet and clicked around before saying, “Name?”
“Steel, Joe.”
“Age?”
“Eighteen.”
The recruiter paused and looked up from the tablet. Greene’s eyes locked with Joe’s eyes, and Joe fought to show no hesitation in being scrutinized by the recruiter. Joe needed this. He would pass. He believed no other options were available to him at this moment.
“Eighteen,” echoed Greene.
“Yes, sir,” said Joe.
Greene grunted as he looked back at his tablet. He clicked around some more and then looked up. “With everything going on with the Birnsteins and Kelkers right now, we could use all the help we can get.”
Joe didn’t say anything.
“Everything appears to be in order,” said Greene before extending his hand. “Welcome to the military.”
“Happy to serve,” said Joe as he reached out and shook the recruiter’s hand.
“Perfect. Please go through the door for your physical.”