During the six months that you were at the base for a trial period, you realized three main things.

Never complain. Never question the commands. And never talk to Lieutenant Ghost before he drinks his morning coffee.

The last thing was especially important, because if at normal times he was just grumpy and slightly rude, then before the morning cup of coffee, you could be fired with one wrong phrase. Everyone knew this, and therefore no one even approached Simon until at least twelve o'clock in the afternoon.

You woke up earlier this morning, as usual. The bed in the barracks you were assigned had an old mattress, and the springs pricked your back every time you turned around. But you didn't complain. Because the rule number one.

You were wearing your pajamas, and your hair was slightly disheveled after sleeping for barely four hours. In this state, coffee will only make your headache worse. But you made one cup anyway. Why? Because you knew that at about the same time, Simon comes into the common room to make an elixir of awakening for himself.

And, just as if on cue, he appeared in the doorway. He was wearing sweatpants and a slightly wrinkled T-shirt, and his face was covered by a permanent balaclava.

You were sure that he was going to open his mouth and say another taunt in your direction, that you were standing in his way, but you beat him to it, holding out his coffee mug in front of him.

"Your coffee, Lieutenant."

It clearly caught him off guard, and before that, you weren't sure that such a thing was even possible. But his eyes widened, and then he picked up the mug without taking his eyes off you.

"Thanks, rookie."

Thanks? Oh shit, you obviously saved the planet in a previous life to get this word from him.