Bag. The backpack was light, but it only had the nonperishables in it. I’d done a few patrols for Gilpatrick over the winter, visiting some of the settlements that were a little further afield, while many of the students were taking Christmas off. I’d also used it for my fitness test.

I set it on the table in the center of the room. Something to weigh when I was done getting outfitted. For now, I just needed it out of my locker. The bag took up the bottom half, the armor took up the upper half.

Outfit change. I couldn’t go out in a skirt and body armor. I had some self respect. The pants in my locker were part of an emergency change of clothes, heavier fabric intended for winter and trips to Bet when the weather was bad.

I hadn’t put the pants through the wash since having to shovel snow over the winter, but I hadn’t worn them much either. There was still salt crusting the heels, white against black fabric. I walked over to the sink and rinsed the worst of the salt off, then rolled up the cuffs a bit so I wouldn’t have wet pants slapping against my ankle.

I kicked off my shoes and hiked up the pants so they were under my skirt, then unfastened the skirt.

“Victoria,” Gilpatrick said, behind me, a deep male voice in the girl’s change room. I jumped a little. “Are you free to talk?”

I turned my head. There wasn’t a door to the girl’s changing room, but there was a solid wall blocking the view. I could see the edge of Gilpatrick’s arm—he stood with his back to the wall and the changing room.

Camisola was in the room too, unpacking and repacking her kits for her bag. She met my eyes.

“I’ll step out,” she said.

“Thank you, Cami,” Gilpatrick said. I pulled my shoes back on and laced them as Cami left the room.

Belt. Holster. I threaded the belt through my belt loops, careful to position the holster.

Cami was apparently out of earshot, because Gil spoke again. “Thank you, Victoria.”

“Give me Jasper,” I said. “For my squad.”

“Jasper?” he asked. “Why?”

Well, that said a lot, didn’t it?

“Because I’m paranoid,” I said. Paranoid on more than one front, but I wouldn’t tell Gilpatrick that. I had suspicions and his willingness to give me Jasper would tell me things. “Is anyone else standing outside the door?”

“This conversation is just you and me.”

“Okay. I know Jasper, and I’m honestly more worried about the attitudes of the people you gave me than I am about the protest or whatever it is people are going to pull with Bad Apple.”

“Jasper’s attitude isn’t great.”