Chapter 17
Axira
I didn’t know what to expect. What would the Academy do with me? A lot had slipped about my past during the altercation with Hendra. They’d know I’d come from the Kore Empire, know I’d been forced to serve one of the Sect Masters.
So what now?
I didn’t have to wait long for my answer. I was taken straight to a briefing room. Both Admirals Forest and Singh were there, as was Jason.
They sat me down in a chair.
Admiral Singh was seated behind a desk, her expression looking a measure of calm. I knew it was forced, though – her daughter had almost died.
“A lot just happened, Cadet,” Singh said as she nodded gravely my way.
I stiffened.
I was ready to flee if I had to. But I didn’t want to.
Despite the fact a few hours ago I’d been the pariah of the Academy, I now felt more connected to it than ever.
To Elle, to Jason, to the lot of them.
Because I’d protected them.
I almost broke eye contact with the Admiral to stare at my hands.
“The first thing I want to know is how much you knew about the security leak.” Admiral Singh looked directly at me.
I could pretend I knew nothing, that Hendra had accused me of being the spy because I was an easy target. That would of course raise the question of why I’d agreed to have a “Session” with her.
I lifted my chin. “When I fought that intelligence team, I realized they were stealing Academy secrets – there would be no other reason for them to be here. I also realized based on… previous experience that they must be receiving their information telepathically. The cybernetic assassin was from a telepathic race. It was also outfitted with certain information circuits that would strengthen its abilities and allow it to receive telepathic input from relatively far distances. Far enough that Hendra would be able to communicate with it from safe within Academy grounds. I surmised Hendra must be the leak, as she’s the strongest telepath at the Academy. I went to her office this evening to look for evidence.”
“Why didn’t you bring these suspicions to us, Cadet?” Admiral Singh leaned forward in her chair.
“I… have a past,” I answered. “I used to be… I have a past. The kind of past where I know how to identify a Kore intelligence team. The kind of past where I know how to flush out a telepath. The kind of past I thought would get me kicked out of the Academy if it ever came to light.”
Admiral Singh shared a look with Admiral Forest.
“We surmised you had a past, as you call it. No one joins the Academy with your skills without… previous experience. You should have still come to us.”
“Aren’t you going to ask me what I used to do?” I challenged. I wanted to know right now what they planned on doing with me.
“This is a conversation for later, Cadet,” Forest answered. “You will be asked to divulge the details of your previous life. For now, you should return to class.”
I blinked in surprise, incapable of controlling my genuine shock. Really? They were going to let me go back to class? “I… I thought—”
“Without your assistance, we would not have found out about this security leak. You should have come to us sooner, granted – and we will note that in your file,” Admiral Singh continued, “Right along with your commendation for bringing down a Kore intelligence team on your own, incapacitating Hendra, and saving my daughter.” The admiral’s lips twitched.
“These are strange times,” Forest added, “Now more than ever we need to keep the Academy and the Coalition safe. We need people who can do that.”
Forest’s implication hung in the air.
I straightened my back and stared at them both.
“You have a lot to learn, Cadet,” Forest continued, “And we’re going to make sure you learn it.”
I was confused. Shocked. Maybe the interrogation would come later. Maybe they’d change their minds and stick me in prison. Or maybe, just maybe, they’d accept me back into the Academy.
I couldn’t stop my gaze from darting around. It settled on Jason. He was standing by the door, his arms crossed. Before I could worry that he was still angry at me, he let them drop as he shot me a warm smile. “Don’t worry; there’s plenty of us here to help teach you. And I reckon you could help teach us a thing or two as well.”
Us, or him?
I snapped my gaze back to the admirals. “Is this… it?”
“We do want to know what you used to be,” Singh admitted, “But don’t think you’re the only person to come to this Academy with a dark history. And don’t think you’re the first person to use that history and experience to save lives. From the sound of Hendra’s taunting, you used to be indentured to a Kore Empire Sect. We know the Empire has powerful methods to control their indentured. You aren’t the first indentured who works for the Academy, either. Ma’tovan is one example.”
“There’s a place for you here at the Academy,” Forest added. “If you want it.”
A silence spread through the room. All eyes were on me.
Did I want to stay?
….
Yes. I did.
I saluted. I let that be my answer.
Singh and Forest exchanged relieved looks, and Jason looked as if he could barely contain his enthusiasm.
“Dismissed, Cadet. You will be given private quarters while this mess is sorted out. I imagine the last thing you want to do right now is answer the thousands of questions the other cadets are going to throw at you. Lieutenant Singh here will take you to your room.” Admiral Forest nodded at Jason.
Jason straightened up.
I stood. “What happens next?”
Admiral Singh consulted the computer embedded into her desk. “Your next class it tomorrow – Introduction to Engineering, I believe.”
I smiled at her answer and left with Jason.
By the time we made it out into the corridor, he couldn’t contain himself anymore.
“I am so sorry,” he blurted as the doors closed behind us. “I can’t believe I fell for Hendra’s lie.”
“… It’s okay.”
“No, it isn’t. If Elle hadn’t come found me to convince me to look into things, I would have left you to rot. I… I just can’t emphasize how sorry I am. I’ll understand if you don’t want to have anything else to do with me.”
I considered him.
I could walk away, tell him to leave me alone, pretend his lack of faith had been more injurious than it had been. Those weren’t the first words to come to my lips. “How is Elle? You have a… curious sister.”
“Ha, curious is one word for it.”
“You know, you aren’t at all alike,” I pointed out.
Jason’s expression stiffened. “I’m sorry for not believing you,” he repeated, clearly thinking my observation had been an attack. “Elle may not be the best recruit, but we could all learn something from her about loyalty.”
“That’s not what I meant. I mean your sister is… at first, I thought she was weak. I thought she’d be cut, and I believed it would be for the best. Now I realize I was wrong. She sees things others don’t see.”
“Yes, she does,” he agreed more somberly. “She has a habit of telling me off when I can’t see what’s right in front of me. If she hadn’t convinced me that Hendra was trying to use you as a scapegoat for her own spying, I don’t know what would have happened.” He sighed expressively. “Hendra might still be out there. It was only when Elle confronted Hendra that Hendra snapped.”
I paused. “How did Elle know Hendra was using me as a scapegoat?”
Jason looked surprised. “Elle says you told her. She says Hendra told you all about her plan before she left her office…. Right?”
I thought quickly.
I forced a nod. “Sorry, yes. Today has been… unusually busy. I briefly forgot. To be honest, most of the past few hours is a blur.”
He smiled at me, understanding and commiserat
ion smoothing his brow. “I’ll bet. Now let’s get you to your quarters. You want to rest up before you resume classes tomorrow.”
I returned his smile and followed.
There were a lot of questions running through my mind.
How had Elle known those things?
What story should I concoct for Admiral Forest when she questioned me on my past? … Or should I tell the truth?
Was it safe to stay at the Academy?
All those questions and more swirled through my mind as I walked with Jason.
“I can bet you’re probably ruminating over what happened,” he observed as we reached my door. “My advice is to just wait and see what happens tomorrow. Oh,” he paused as he opened the door for me, “And know you can count on your friends.”
I stopped.
Friends?
….
Yes, maybe he was right.
“Good night, Lieutenant.”
“See you tomorrow, Em.”
The end of Episode One. The rest of this four-episode series is currently available. You can buy Axira: The Complete Series for a reduced price.
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Axira (Miniseries #3 of the Galactic Coalition Academy Series)
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Fractured Mind (Miniseries #4 of the Galactic Coalition Academy Series)
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