ExtremeCircumstances Read Free

little startled. That’s all.”
    “You and me both.” Gates sat down on the rock shelf before
sliding into the pond. “I was just trying to work off some stress before the
fun starts again tomorrow.” It made sense but Gates’ voice sounded a little
unsure. It was as if he was nervous about what tomorrow might bring. And for
the first time Julian wondered if he wasn’t the only one on this mission faking
it. Instead of making him concerned, though, the thought comforted him. He might
not be alone. And if the commander was nervous, Julian might just be closer to
normal that he originally suspected.
    “I get it. It’s only been one day and I’m already antsy as
hell. Every valley we hike through could be an ambush and every hill we crest
could be a trap.”
    Gates stood in the chest-deep water and studied him for a
moment. “I’m glad you’re aware of the risks. Missions on unfamiliar planets
always carry an inherent danger. A little fear is a smart thing. But you can’t
let your fears get the better of you. You were chosen for this mission because
you’re the best.”
    It sounded rehearsed enough that Julian wondered how often
Gates told himself the same words of comfort. “Back at ya, Commander.” Julian
winked at Gates. If life with his perfectionistic father had given him nothing
else, it was the ability to read people and situations. Which turned out to be
a pretty useful talent at times.
    Gates’ rich laugher swelled through Julian and warmed him to
his toes. “I see what you did there. Turned my words back on me.”
    “Knew you were a smart one,” Julian said with a smile of his
own.
    “You know what, rookie, I’m glad they put you on this
mission. I think you’ll fit in with the rest of us just fine.”
    The weight of the mission came rushing back to him at Gates’
praise. If only Julian was as certain. “Thanks. I didn’t really know what to
expect with my first mission.” He ran his fingers through his hair as he took a
deep breath. “I mean, I know I said I knew what I was getting into when I
signed up for all this back on the shuttle but…” He couldn’t bring himself to
finish the sentence.
    “But you were trying to fit in.” Gates nodded. “Everybody
else appears to have their shit together so you don’t want to be the odd man
out?”
    “Something like that.”
    “First missions are hard. Second missions too. It takes some
time to adjust. But we’ve all been where you are.”
    Julian snorted in disbelief. He couldn’t imagine Gates ever
being where he currently was—filled with indecision and self-doubt.
    “You don’t believe me? Okay. Let me see if I can convince
you.” Gates paused for a second. “For me it was the intensity that ate at me.
Everything was so immediate. And I couldn’t let things go. I had to react—to
everything.”
    That was one way to describe it. Maybe Gates had gone through
some of what Julian was. “Yeah. Kind of like being thrown into an ocean and
told to swim. But as soon as you take your first stroke, they tie your hands.
You know, just for fun.” Julian’s gaze snapped back to Gates. “Don’t get me
wrong, I appreciate everything they did for me. But it would’ve been nice to
know the drawbacks.” The doctors had told him he’d be faster, smarter and would
heal quicker. But none of them had told him that with the extra speed came
extra adrenaline or that the accelerated healing meant enduring days of
agonizing pain.
    Gates laughed as he nodded. “It gets easier to deal with.”
    “So I’ve been told.”
    “It does. You expect the positives, so you can’t see them as
well as you do the negatives that you weren’t told about. But that eases with
time. Things will eventually level out.”
    Emotion tightened his throat. “Thanks. It’s nice to talk to
someone who’s been through it.”
    “Being modified is one of those things a person can’t
understand until he’s lived it. But now you’re with soldiers who’ve