Theo stepped forward.
"Then let's see if your fists can back your mouth this time," he said evenly, voice like steel.
A whistle suddenly cut through the air.
"Stand down!" barked a commanding voice.
A Class 2 AMS officer stepped in between them, followed by a couple of Class 3 enforcers. The officer's eyes scanned both of them with cool authority.
"What's going on here?" he asked sternly.
Ben pointed accusingly. "He's provoking me!"
The officer turned to Theo. "You?"
Theo simply shook his head. "I stood up. He started shouting."
Beatrice stood up and seconded, "It's true, Sir. Ben is the one who started it."
The officer narrowed his eyes. "I heard enough. You-" he pointed at Ben, "-are on probation. If you want to throw punches, do it during sanctioned combat training, not in the damn mess hall. One more stunt and you're out of the program."
Ben's face turned red, fists clenched.
"Understood?" the officer barked.
"…Yeah," Ben muttered bitterly, backing down.
