The room is quiet, clothes strewn along the floor. A boy lays on his bed, his arms to his side and his legs straight. The boy doesn't move, his chest remaining still, no sign of life present. His skin is cold to the touch, like a body at a funeral. A barely audible noise comes form under the boy's bed, a rustling noise that is too soft to be an animal. Suddenly, a small poppet drags a shoe out, using all it's energy to accomplish this task before putting it's hands on it's hips triumphantly and collapsing to the ground. The boy's eyes shoot open as he gasps for air, as if he has been resuscitated. The boy's name is Luke. He looks down at the shoe, and then at it's partner that already resides on his foot. "I knew it was under there...!" He said to himself as he ties the recovered shoe, a triumphant. Suddenly an announcement rings out through the base, a list of names of those expected to report to Miller's office, Luke's included.
He made his way through the halls, giving a small wave to those as he passes by, the small poppet dangling from Luke's hand. Those that didn't know him would consider this childish, but Luke wouldn't go anywhere without it. He always told people that "I never know when I'll get into a situation I need to be tiny for, and there aren't many of these around," but most assumed that either he was A: Just lazy and would rather use that form to accomplish minute tasks, or B: He had some attachment to the doll, like a toddler to their teddy bear. He didn't mind these things though as the people who were his friends understood, their opinion was the only opinion that mattered.
Luke arrived at the office, knocking first before entering. He saw a red-haired girl speaking with Miller, who had a strange meek presence about her. Then Miller began to speak, talking about an end to the war and missions with this group. He silently slid the puppet into his pocket, and rocked back and forth on his heels. The red-haired girl was apparently supposed to be their leader, but who exactly was she? Why should any of them listen to her? But then again, why should anyone listen to anyone? Luke pushed the doubt from his mind, but Gaius seemed concerned about something else. Gaius was right about the numbers, but Luke said nothing and waited to see how Miller would respond.