As the General showed off his blackened nails, Gilbert just stared at him bewildered. Noticing his confusion the general continued
"After you become a Grand Knight, to evolve further, you are given another serum," he paused "Uhm, I shouldn't tell you this but oh well, its better to call it a higher concentration of the, Black Mind Virus. For those who survive it, become a Dread Marine," The General explained putting his gloves back on.
"Sir, I still don't understand how showing me painted nails will make me understand," Gilbert said, his brow furrowing.
The General gave a slight nod of acknowledgment. "I was going to get to that. After becoming a Dread Marine, each lineage has a certain range of mutations mostly cosmetic that they deem acceptable while also distinguishing each. Take the Dragons, for example, the most common mutation is the growth of scale-like formations growths on various parts of the body, As for Asuras, a telltale mutation is the blackening of the nails." The General paused glancing down at his gloved hands, "the painted nails you saw weren't painted they are mutations symbols of who I am."
"So why are you here, in the academy of the Dragon Legion?" Gilbert asked moving to sit in a chair.
General Beckett regarded Gilbert with a wistful look, as he seated himself across from him
"Just ask what you want to know young man," General Beckett said smiling lightly at him
Staring at him Gilbert's gaze hardened.
"Then why are you here? If you're loyal to the Asuras, why do you walk the halls of the Dragon Legion's Academy? And what of my father, why did he abandon me? Why did he die? Who is my mother?" Gilbert questioned his words tumbling out without pause.
The General paused. His gloved fingers drummed against the table as he collected his thoughts.
"I am here out of a matter of duty. As you know, when the Starfall happened, we lost two Legion Commanders—the Panther and your father, the Asura. However, unlike the Panther Legion, we Asuras came under direct attack from the other Legions, leaving our formations in disarray. Our headquarters, Titan V, remains missing to this day along with the First Division and their Major General. To ensure the survival of the legion, we made sacrifices. I was the Fifth Division Commander, and I chose to step down from my post to oversee The Rift for the Dragon Legion. That decision left our legion with only two Major Generals to watch over an entire force now reorganized into two divisions. Consequently, we were forced to relinquish our Mars assets and reassign our position to the Main Belt, thereby protecting the Federation's interests and fighting off the ongoing Styx challenges."
The General paused staring into space a wistful look on his face "Truth is didn't want another major fight plus while the legions fought the federation used this chance to absorb much of the assets lost by both legions." Gilbert sat there absorbing all; he was told while staring at the General patiently. General Beckett's face lost its smile as he continued
"I can't give you an answer as to why your father abandoned you, Gilbert. The truth is, the only reason I can recognize you is because I have your DNA. I was the one your father entrusted with delivering you to St. Mary's. One day, he came to me with a baby—his infant—and his only request was that I sneak back onto Earth and leave the child at that specific orphanage. At that time, I had no inkling that you were his child. Truth is I forgot about you. It wasn't until four years later, right before he commenced his attack, that he said the words, 'I have a son'— that is when I remembered the child he had me deliver." As for why he did what he did I don't know, truth is I have no idea who your mother is either. After I found out he had a child I searched the Asura Legion database while I still had access yet there was no information of you, hence I have been observing you since then and as fate would have it you came to my academy."
As Gilbert heard his words tears streamed down the side of his cheek. Wiping the tears from his eyes Gilbert took a deep breath and then looked General Beckett in the eye
"So why now? Why decide to train me now?" he asked
"Your father sent you to that orphanage for a reason, I know not the reason but he did, and I respected his wishes. As for why now, you are an Asura. You need to be trained as one and I owe that to the Commander." The General explained slowly tapping the desk
"Isn't that what the academy is for?" Gilbert asked brows furrowing further
"Yes, but the fighting techniques taught here are largely beneficial to those of the Dragon lineage. Their techniques are forceful built on sheer physical strength and they make extensive use of energy attacks. Asuras, on the other hand, excel at using weaponry but our main skill lies in being ambidextrous. Although the serum grants all troopers the capability to use both hands most develop a preference. We, however, lack that limitation some even suggest that we should be mutated to add more hands to our anatomy and they won't teach you how to use that to your full advantage here." the general explained.
"So I can use two hands? Big whoop," Gilbert replied lips twitching. The General's eyes narrowed looking at him,
"You have two hands, but can't simply use two hands, there's an art to it." Rising from his seat, he concluded, "Be here on time tomorrow. Your training begins."
As the general departed, Gilbert sat and watched him leave, his mind still churning with the words he just heard. Slowly, he pushed himself up and made his way through the citadel. The atmosphere was as lively as ever, knights and vehicles moved purposefully, their motions a reminder of the ceaseless life within the walls. Returning to his dorm, he found that every squad mate's room was locked, with a heavy sigh, he cleaned himself up and went to sleep, the echoes of the General's words bouncing off the walls of his mind.
The day blurred past Gilbert, so much so that he barely recalled what he had eaten or learned. During endurance training in their power armors, as the platoon marched around the citadel, Adam sidled up to him, nudging him lightly with his rifle.
"What is wrong," Adam asked
Gilbert startled out of his reverie, swiveled his head until he locked eyes with Adam.
"Oh Adam, nothing wrong I've just been distracted," Gilbert replied forcing a casual tone. Glancing at Adam he saw a small trinket of a bird hanging from his shoulder attached to a golden chain. Intrigued plus with the bonus of changing the topic he pointed at it
"What's that on your shoulder?" Gilbert questioned still staring at the ornament
"Weren't you listening to anything I was saying?" Anastasia asked cutting into the conversation nudging him in the back she continued
"After each battle, we mechanics were told that we were allowed to add approved decorations or non-offensive embellishment to our armor. I gave you one too in case you haven't noticed attached to your aiguillette." She gestured towards Gilbert's shoulder, where a red and purple raven-shaped ornament hung.
"Yes, that is how squads get their decors, aside from the ones won through honor. But what is wrong with you? And don't say nothing, where did you go yesterday?" Adam asked flatly, hitting him in the head.
"Fine, I found out information about my father, that is all I can tell you," Gilbert replied tersely barely hiding the tumult of thoughts inside him.
"Oh, I'm so sorry, Gilbert," said Anastasia gently rubbing his armor. Adam said nothing giving a slight fist bump on his pauldrons. For the rest of the day, Gilbert remains quiet.
Late at night Gilbert snuck out of his dorm room for his scheduled training with General Beckett. Arriving at the private training field the cool night air help quiet the storm of thoughts running through is mind. There in the center of the field was General Beckett- shirtless and shoeless, clad only in trousers and gloves, the General held a pair of staffs, one wooden and the other metallic.
"Get changed," He ordered as Gilbert entered the field. Quickly, Gilbert donned a compression vest, trousers stepping out barefooted as well, found himself standing infront of the general.
"Yesterday you claimed you could use both of your hands."the General said, his tone curt. "Today, you're going to show me how you use them." He pointed to the two staffs lying on the ground. "Hold them in the order you prefer, and we will see see if you can really use both hands." Gilbert hesitated slightly for a moment before picking up the staffs feeling the contrasting weights and textures.
Before he could fully gather himself the General attacked. With a swift motion he swung a staff overhead at Gilbert. Reflexively he blocked with both staffs. Using his other staff with one precise motion he swung the wooden staff a Gilbert's side; the impact left a bruise along his side.
"You said you could use both hands I'm not seeing it why not use one staff instead," General Beckett teased. Stumbling back, Gilbert countered with a swing of his metallic staff, aiming to force the general off balance. Yet the General anticipated the move: with a quick twist, he blocked the strike using his shin, then used the butt of his staff to deliver a punishing blow to his forehead. The strike left a vivid red mark, leaving Gilbert disoriented. Gilbert to buy himself time swung both staffs in his defense but it was once again blocked by the general's metal staff who gave him another hit to the forehead throwing him fully off balance. Stepping back the General gave him a chance to reorient himself.
"Stand up, we aren't done yet, not nearly." said General Beckett taking a deliberate stance holding both staffs.