Chapter 4
I needed to be more careful. I appreciated that now. As I sat down to my first class and registered the awed expressions of my classmates, I understood I had made another mistake.
I could hear them all mumbling amongst themselves – even the ones still out in the corridor. They were discussing the fact I had imbibed one of the most intoxicating drinks in the galaxy and that I was still standing.
I briefly considered faking some kind of illness but thought better of it. It would be worse – in my estimation – to end up drunk in the med bay on my first day than to endure rumors.
I lifted my chin and stared at the podium at the front of the hall, waiting for the lecture to begin. Before it could, someone sat next to me. This was unusual, as thus far every recruit had gone to extreme lengths to sit as far from me as they could.
“Hey, I thought you could use some company.” Elle Singh sat, somehow out of breath even though she’d only climbed ten steps to reach me.
I looked at her impassively, then quickly realized a rumor I was unfriendly and weird was also spreading, and I tried to smile.
I wasn’t used to smiling. I felt like I was hanging my cheeks up on nails.
If Elle noticed something strange, she didn’t say anything. “So, how was your first day yesterday? I decided not to go to any parties last night, and hit the books instead.”
I refrained from pointing out a wiser plan would have been to hit the track. If she did not increase her physical fitness, she would be expelled before her first test.
“What did you get up to?” She smiled. Her smile was natural, effortless.
I tried to copy her move but quickly gave up as the unnatural feeling spread through my cheeks. “I … walked.” It was true – after my incident at the party, I had walked, though I would have preferred to space jump – using my ability to open subspace pockets to dart from one point to another. It was a true pleasure – something my body was made for.
“That makes sense. I overheard this weird rumor that you downed a whole bottle of Caskcar. I didn’t believe it of course. Those recruits are all young and excitable – they make stuff up all the time.”
I refrained from pointing out she was also young and excitable.
“Anyhow, ignore them,” she continued to counsel me, “They’ll grow up soon enough. Just keep your head down and study – that’s what my mom says.”
I had not forgotten her mother was Admiral Singh. Elle was a dangerous cadet to associate with. If I was smart, I would politely excuse myself and sit somewhere else.
Despite my better judgment, I remained where I was.
…
Jason Singh
“It was the delivery.” Mason pressed his fingers together to emphasize his point. “With a totally blank expression, she told the whole room she was a professional drinker, then walked out. I’ve never seen anything like it. I’m telling you, she’s the coolest recruit to come along since that Hegar who could eat flies through his nose.”
I leaned against the window and tried to ignore Mason as he commanded center stage – as usual – filling in our assembled friends on last night’s antics.
“Wait, I can’t believe this. Sorry, but as if someone – even a Taskarian – could drink a whole bottle of Caskcar and walk out of anywhere.” Camit – a half-human half Bakarian – tipped her elegant head back and shook it incredulously.
“Well, lucky for you a whole party full of witnesses saw it.”
“Maybe it wasn’t really Caskcar,” Camit suggested.
“I smelt the stuff after some idiot tried to offer some to my sister. It almost burnt my brains out of my skull.” He stabbed a finger at his head. “It was Caskcar alright.”
“So what happened to her?” Nordan asked as he leaned in and looked interested.
“Fine,” Mason shrugged expressively, “She was totally fine. She came back and went to bed. My sister said she got up this morning and Em was already eating breakfast.”
I’d tried to look for Em last night, and I’d seen her, but I hadn’t managed to catch up. She’d walked off before I could call out to her.
I’d only met the woman yesterday, but she’d already taken up a fair chunk of my time and thoughts.
“I think she’s going to be a great inclusion into E club. Hell, I reckon they’ll be using her for missions before she has even graduated,” Mason predicted.
“Aren’t we jumping the gun?” I heard myself ask, finally turning from the window, “It’s only her second day. Sure, she is great on the track, but she may not be so great when it comes to studying.”
“Look at you being the voice of reason. I saw how impressed you were last night. Shut up, you totally agree with me – Cadet Em is going to be the new golden recruit of the Academy. Now, how long do you think we should wait until we ask her to join our group?”
I had to snort. Not because I found it funny, but because this was ridiculous. “We don’t know anything about this woman. Maybe we should let her settle in before we demand she joins us.” I was speaking mostly for my own benefit. I’d barely had a conversation with Em – and though I burned to know her secrets – I should probably let her settle in before my interrogation could start.
“You’re being such a kill joy. Anyhow, aren’t you meant to be doing something today?” Mason leaned back and shot me a pointed look.
“I haven’t forgotten,” I replied dryly, “This is only the most important day of my career.”
“What do you think your mission will be, anyway?” Mason questioned.
Despite the conversational tone of his voice, I knew I had to be guarded. I also knew I had to lie. “I don’t know, something boring, knowing Forest.”
Mason snorted. “Yeah, sure, Admiral Forest is known for sending her favorite soldiers out on dull missions – she’s renowned for it in fact. She’s certainly not known as the hardest admiral in the Academy. What do you really think your mission is going to be?” Mason pried again.
I shot him a stiff-lipped smile. To be honest, Admiral Forest had already briefed me. She’d also let me know not to share details of my operation with anyone – which included my assembled friends.
“Just give it a rest,” Camit fobbed a hand at Mason. “He’s probably not allowed to tell us. Now can we please speak about something else?”
“Sure, I’m going to find out when Cadet Em will be training on the track again,” Mason began.
“Something else,” Camit snarled.
Mason lifted his hands in surrender.
I took the opportunity to say goodbye and leave.
Mason was right – I should probably be spending more time wondering what Forest would tell me today, and less on the curious Cadet Em.
…
Axira
“Combat class?” I looked at Elle. “Already? I have been told that does not begin until our third week.”
“The curriculum has changed. We’re going to start today. I’m soooo nervous. My brother has been trying to teach me, but I’m not a quick study – at least not when it comes to this kind of stuff.”
I looked at Elle, controlling my expression – which wasn’t hard, considering I had worn nothing but a blank expression for 450 years.
If an accomplished admiral and her equally accomplished son weren’t capable of training Cadet Elle Singh, perhaps she should take that as an indication she wasn’t suited for this program.
Again, I held my tongue.
We walked with the rest of our class toward the combat hall.
“Do you reckon they will be teaching us how to use TI objects?” One of our classmates asked their friend.
“Nah, that comes later. Plus, ever since some incident five years ago or so they really restricted their use in the cadet program. I heard from a mate who is in third year that the Barbarians and Kore have found ways to circumvent TI implants, they can even gain control of them. I doubt we’ll ever be taught at this rate,” his friend answered.
Fro
m what I understood, TI objects and TI implants were indeed being restricted. There were races and technologies out there that could now take advantage of them. I was one such example. If I wanted to – which would only happen under my master’s murderous influence – I could clamp a hand over some poor soul’s TI implant, send a subspace burst into it, corrupt it, and watch as every TI object in range crushed them.
It was a changing galaxy. Indeed, over the past four years ever since my escape from my master, it had been changing faster and faster, quickening toward a strange new future.
I began to draw in, concentrating on my thoughts. This was a habit of mine – of course it was – my thoughts, for 450 years, had been all I had control over.
It was still completely natural for me to turn off, stare at a wall, and draw inwards. I could not, however, do that while there was an excitable, chatting cadet by my side.
“You look tired? Are you tired?” Elle asked quickly.
“I am not tired,” I assured her.
“I suppose it wouldn’t matter with you, ha? I bet you’re really good at combat. You will be able to pass this class easily. You’ll probably get top marks. Me,” she patted a hand on her chest, and I noted it left a slightly sweaty imprint over the tight weave of her uniform, “I just want to pass.” She gesticulated wide. “Pass,” she emphasized.
“You will have to do more than that,” somebody growled from behind us. I recognized the voice and pitch as belonging to Lieutenant Ma’tovan. He stalked past us, his towering form casting a shadow over Elle and making her shrink toward me.
I held my ground but did not make eye contact.
“I’m so sorry, sir, of course I will try my hardest,” Elle said effusively.
I latched a hand on her arm and pulled her forward. Ravangs never liked platitudes. They didn’t want to hear that you would try your hardest.
“We will sacrifice,” I said simply.
That’s what a Ravang wanted to hear – that you would give up everything, from your mental well-being to your physical strength to your very life. Everything to them, from battle to simple training, was a test of determination.
The lieutenant looked placated, at least mildly, and marched off to harass some other new cadets.
“You seem to know how to deal with him, how do you do that?” Elle turned to me, an excited expression reddening her cheeks.
“You need to study the Ravang,” I suggested.
“I have. I read everything about his race that I can. And I thought I was doing a good job.”
“Books will teach you nothing. You must meet them and learn from your mistakes.”
“Wow,” Elle shot me another impressed look, “How much have you traveled? It sounds like you’ve been all over the galaxy. The Ravang home world is close to the Borderlands, isn’t it? Have you ever been there?”
Yes. I’d been there. I’d plundered it several times. I’d also met countless Ravang in battle. I wasn’t about to share that detail, though.
“You know, I don’t know much about you, other than the fact you used to be a marathon runner and you are like the only friend I have here,” Elle admitted.
Friend? That word threw me.
It was wrong. Patently wrong. I was not her friend. I had just met her, and to-date our interactions had revolved around me saving her.
Before I could point out the error in her reasoning, we arrived in the combat hall, and Ma’tovan bellowed at every cadet to shut up.
I had to be careful. Of course I had to be careful. While every other cadet in this hall would try their hardest to impress Ma’tovan, I couldn’t possibly try my hardest. My hardest would involve a subspace blade and the ability to jump from point to point, let alone display strength far, far above anything a human could produce, even when assisted with armor.
I needed to calculate exactly how much effort to put in. I could not afford another mistake like yesterday; I was starting to realize that running for four hours in high humidity at the pace I’d managed to achieve was startling.
No more startling anyone today, I concluded firmly.
“What do you think this will involve?” Elle leaned toward me, trying to keep her voice low.
It wasn’t low enough. The lieutenant spotted her and growled in our direction. “I see we have some more volunteers. Cadet Singh and Em, please come to the front of the class.”
Elle groaned.
It seemed the more I allowed this human to hang out with me, the more I was drawn into her troubles. As we approached the lieutenant, I made a firm determination this time to abandon her once we were finished here.
“The galaxy is changing,” the lieutenant turned from us to growl at the assembled cadets, “It’s not the same place it was five years ago. Our battles and enemies have changed. And they continue to change, racing toward a future we can’t allow them to create. We – the Coalition – are the only force that stands in the way of the Barbarians, the Kore, the spacers, you name it. Every scumbag in the Milky Way who rejects our principles, tramples on freedom, and oppresses the weak.”
I didn’t move. Not even a twitch. At the mention of my race – the spacers – I stiffened my face as if I’d passed it through concrete.
“There was a time when we could churn out recruits who could get by with simple combat skills. That time isn’t now. The reality is, once you get out there,” he pointed one stiff finger up to the ceiling, indicating space beyond, “You will be expected to fight. It may not happen in your first week, or your first month, or even your first year, but your ship or your planet or your station will be attacked. Maybe it will be the Barbarians, maybe it will be Kore assassins, maybe it will be some enemy we haven’t even met yet, but unless you learn now,” he pointed his stiff finger at the ground, “Here, today, you won’t be able to rise to the challenge.”
The assembled cadets puffed their chests out, clearly thinking that they were up for the challenge.
Elle, however, knotted her hands together and let her shoulders hunch in.
I was now surer than ever that she wasn’t suited to be here. As much as I didn’t agree with the patriotic tone of the lieutenant’s speech, the content was accurate. The Milky Way certainly was changing. And he was right: in the past five years, the Coalition had faced more enemies than it had in the past 20.
My master had referred to it as the quickening. A time when history seems pushed through a funnel, pushed toward some future like a boulder gathering speed.
He would never tell me what that future was, but I knew it would involve him in some insidious, murderous capacity.
“Today, we’re going to learn simple combat techniques. I expect you to master them by the time we leave this class,” he stated flatly, “Because tomorrow, we move on to harder stuff. And the next day, harder stuff again. If you can’t keep up, you will be left behind.” The lieutenant’s gaze darted to Elle and lingered there until she shifted back awkwardly. “So now I’m going to demonstrate what you have to do.”
I was hardly paying attention now. The lieutenant’s words were affecting me, pushing me back into my memories.
I hadn’t been kidding when I’d said I was good at distracting myself. 450 years of being locked inside my own consciousness had made me very comfortable with my thoughts.
As I stood there in the front of the class, eyes locked on some innocuous patch of dirt on the ground before me, I thought again about how I could help change the future.
That’s why I was here.
To guide the Coalition against my master, to take him down before he could do more damage.
Before I was aware of it, Lieutenant Ma’tovan reached in, clapped a hand on my shoulder, and shoved hard.
His muscles strained, his feet skidding against the floor, but he couldn’t push me over.
In a second, I snapped back to reality, my body taking control as all those years of training snapped through my muscles.
I dropped the shoulder he was shoving, twisting to his side
just at the right moment and letting his momentum pull him forward.
He stumbled.
I was half a second from snapping toward him – from attacking.
Then I stopped myself.
In fact, I stopped myself when the lieutenant straightened up and shot me a challenging look. “It seems Cadet Em here already has some combat training. Well, that may be the case with some more of you,” he turned toward the assembled crowd, “But you’re going to have to forget what you learned and learn to do it the Coalition way. The correct method of deterring such an attack,” he whirled on his boot and addressed me once more, “Is this.” He demonstrated by ducking forward, rounding his shoulder, then shoving hard.
It was a waste of energy. My move was more efficient. I kept that fact to myself as I looked past his left shoulder and mimicked his move.
He straightened up and nodded toward Elle. “Push her,” he said simply.
I turned and tried to calculate how hard I could push Elle without shoving her right through the floor.
She cowered away from me, wincing, but eventually nodding. “I’m ready.”
I shoved her.
She fell over. Hard.
I’d used approximately the same force I would use to open a door.
I moved down to help her up, but the lieutenant growled at me that she had to learn to get up on her own.
As the lesson continued, I tried hard to control myself. I took cues from the cadets around me, imitating their behavior, even their reactions as they failed.
The lieutenant kept teaching us moves, and while some of them made sense, others didn’t. I was reminded of the failings I’d witnessed in Coalition soldiers – failings I’d once capitalized on to overcome them.
I tried to keep myself contained, and aside from my initial mistake with the lieutenant, I did. I measured my performance based on the average of the other recruits around me. By the end of the class, I was neither the best nor the worst. I was considered competent enough.
That didn’t stop the lieutenant from pulling me aside as everyone else was leaving. “Why do I get the feeling, Cadet, that you were holding yourself back during that class?” He crossed his enormous arms in front of his chest, the muscles practically bulging through the fabric of his uniform.
I considered him in what I hoped was a non-challenging way, ensuring my gaze was directed at the floor by his feet.
“You resisted my initial throw like a professional, Cadet. You clearly have experience with combat techniques,” he continued. “I saw your feat of endurance on the track yesterday too. Do you know what I hate more than a cadet who tries hard but fails?”
I didn’t shift my gaze.
“One that won’t try hard at all. You may think you can breeze through this Academy course. You may think your past life – whatever it involved – has set you up to get through the next five years without a challenge, but I’m here to tell you that isn’t the case. I will learn whatever your limits are, and I will push you beyond them. Now, never do that again. Never show up to one of my classes and hold back. Do you understand that?”
I offered a sharp salute.
Ma’tovan glowered into my eyes and dismissed me with a snarl.
I turned and walked out, containing the frown that wanted to spread across my face. I was starting to learn that Academy life was far more complex than I’d envisioned. Rather than do a subspace jump and flee my new life, I resolved to try harder.
The lieutenant was right, and I had held back, but he was wrong too. He would not find out my limits and push me beyond them. I would increase my efforts enough to get him off my back, but I would never show him or anyone else at the Academy my full potential, not until the day I had Master in my sights. Not until the day I could finally dispose of him and his wretched legacy against my people.