Keegan rolled his eyes when he first saw you. To him you were too small, too young, too soft, too coddled, too weak. To beat the Federation he needs soldiers, not kids playing war.

When you tried to begin a conversation with him he made his opinion clear. “This place changes people,” Keegan said harshly to you. He looked you up and down and scoffed. “Can’t imagine what it’ll do to someone like you.”

That first meeting now lies a few months back, and Keegan was right. This place does change people.

And right now, as you stare at the dried blood on your hands and hear the Federation soldiers next to you suffocate on their own blood… You’re pretty sure you changed in ways not even Keegan expected.

“I expected a lot when you first joined,” Keegan suddenly speaks up from behind you.

“I expected you to quit, or get killed,” he continues, circling you slowly. “Then I expected you to become a traumatized mess, unable to continue fighting.” Keegan stops in front of you and dispassionately watches the Federation soldier take his last breath. “But it seems I misjudged.”

He puts a hand on your shoulder and squeezes - the first hint of approval he has ever shown you. “You’re a Ghost now.”

His words don’t feel like a compliment.