CHAPTER 1: OPENING ASSEMBLY
A gray Fox with brown hair and black-tipped ears sighed deeply as he looked toward a set of double doors that led into a large assembly hall. He glanced through the windows and nearly shuddered at the sight. I hate crowds ... Three thousand other cadets in this class and half of them are in that room waiting for the general to give the commencement speech. I guess there’s still time, but I shouldn’t linger any longer.
He walked to the doors and eased one open just enough to slip into the hall and tried to calm himself with a deep breath. I’d rather be in space on a ship than this ... His eyes began to wander about the assembly hall as he daydreamed about being back in the cockpit of a fighter as it hurtled through space, about the excitement and the purpose. I’ve got a goal and the path to it lies through this ... Then I can get off this planet and away from crowds. At least the ... less crowded greenspaces built into buildings make it more bearable. The trees are nice, but it’s not the same as a real forest outdoors.
His gaze wandered across the back wall where flags of the member worlds of the Corinthian Confederation decorated the towering thirty-foot wall. A giant yellow-and-black spotted Leopard slipped up quietly behind him and watched as he shifted to staring at one of the sidewalls that was nearly completely covered by rich dark-green ivy.
“Hm,” the Leopard muttered quietly.
Oblivious to his observer, the Fox’s mind drifted to one of his past experiences when he accompanied his father to a space station deep inside the area of space known as the Hub. A smile crept onto his face as he remembered the look of the drunk Kin captain who had imbibed more than the responsible amount of alcohol, waved his half-empty mug around while lecturing his father about the oddities of the Corinthians.
= = = = = = = = = = = =
“You ... You Corinthians don’t make any sense, you know that?” rambled the Kin as his fox-like ears tilted back. He glanced into his mug and shot his arm out toward the red-furred Fox sitting across from him. “We both look like the animals you call foxes, except you got—HIC—feet instead of paws ... Just like your son over there … Tarvin, was it? … And where was I going with this?”
Tarvin’s father smiled and leaned back in his chair as he sipped his own drink. “You were lecturing about how odd we Beast Humans were?”
“Oh yeah ... Heh.” The sand-colored Kin captain grinned. “You see ... You’re all the same race, right? But then there are so many different branches to it. You got Foxes, Wolves, Tigers ... Mice?” He scratched the side of his head and fur before running his hand up through his brown hair. “And the funny thing is, you don’t mix! Your wife is a Cat. Both your kids are Foxes. They’d either be one or the other ... unless you had something different in either of your lines ... one of them could have come out to be a Monkey even it it was five generations back!” The captain stared across at Tarvin’s father and slammed his mug onto the table.
“And there’s no way to predict what another child might turn out to be in advance if we decided to have another,” replied Tarvin’s father with a smile.
“Exactly!” yelled the Kin as he leaped out of his seat and raised his mug into the air, causing some of his drink to slosh out onto the table. “And that’s what makes your race the Party Favors of the Galaxy!”
Tarvin’s father shook his head and looked at the Kin. “I think you’ve had enough, you Broom Tail.”
The Kin stared unsteadily at Tarvin’s father as he put down his mug and pulled his slender tail around. He looked at the tuft of fur at its end and scoffed at Tarvin’s father. “What’s wrong with my tail?”
= = = = = = = = = = = =
Tarvin was suddenly drawn out of his thoughts by an unfamiliar female voice behind him. “Enjoying the view?”
Tarvin blinked and looked back. “Excuse me?” His eyes opened wide upon seeing a Leopard with deep red hair ... taller than any Beast Human he had ever seen in his life. As he tried to take in that he was looking up at someone who was at least eight feet tall, the only reply that he could manage was a confused, “Yes?”
The cadet settled into studying him right back as though she was contemplating something deeply before speaking. “Tarvin? Is that you? And what happened to your face?” She raised a hand toward his face as though she were going to trace her fingers down the long scar that ran from the inside of his left eye and down Tarvin’s snout.
She doesn’t remember me with a scar ... so she must be someone from beforehand. Probably someone from planetside which would mean that ... He glanced down and past her as he tried to put the pieces together, and his jaw dropped as he noticed the most massive tail he had ever seen in his life. It just seemed to go on ... and on as it floated behind her. Those are a lot of anti-grav rings holding that thing up ... His attention shifted to her somewhat oversized ears, to her unnatural golden amber eyes, and then realization sank in as he focused on her face as a whole. It was from when I was brought in for treatment ... “June? June Sue—Ack!”
A look of horrified shock had formed briefly on June’s face as Tarvin spoke. She plucked him up off the ground as though he were a leaf and locked him into a firm hug, making it impossible for him to finish speaking her name. Tarvin’s eyes widened, first in disbelief, and then even more in shock. His ears and tail went limp as it sank in that his face was practically buried in the Leopard’s ample bosom. A feeling of dizziness overcame him as though the room had become more distant and started to spin. The feeling, brought on by a profound feeling of embarrassment, only worsened as he heard the first snicker from the crowd.
June turned her head to the side and looked down at his shock-filled eyes. Tarvin attempted to open his mouth to say something but found that his muzzle was so firmly pressed into her chest that he could barely draw breath. All he could manage was a muffled “Mmmffff!” in protest.
“Oh, Tarvin! You remembered!” she said joyously. “It’s me, June Sterling from the youth retreat all those years ago! It was what? Eight years ago since you attended it last?”
Tarvin had yet to recover and he blinked at her. As his mind began to clear, Tarvin could detect the look of guilt hidden behind June’s excited eyes. She whispered “June Sterling” into his left ear and gently set him back on his own feet.
He glanced around at their fellow cadets as they covered their mouths or looked away in an attempt to hide their crooked grins and smiles. Tarvin let out a quivering breath and tried to regain his composure. Great … Things might be over before they could even start. He looked timidly up at her. “June ... Sterling?”
She nodded approvingly and smiled at him.
“What happened? How did you get so …”
“Large?” she replied critically while glancing down at her chest. She looked back at him with a restrained smirk and a bit of a mischievous twinkle in her eyes as she crossed her arms.
Tarvin’s eyes widened as his head began to swim with dizziness all over again. “Ummm…”
Tarvin’s jaw dropped and quivered slightly as his eyes darted back and forth as he searched for what to say. June showed no sign of letting him out of the situation. He shifted his right foot slightly and rubbed a hand through his dark brown hair. Something, somehow, had gone terribly wrong. It was only after he saw a smile begin to form on June’s face that he started to relax. He had just begun drawing in a breath to say something when an unexpected voice chimed in.
“How’s the weather up there?!” called the voice.
Both Tarvin and June looked around for the source of the voice and were confused when they found no one.
June glanced at Tarvin as her right ear dropped. “I know I heard someone.”
“Yeah,” mumbled Tarvin as he glanced behind him.
“Down here,” said the voice dryly from behind June.
They glanced down as a short Red Panda with reddish-brown fur stepped out from behind June and grinned proudly up at them as he swung his green duffel back and forth. He moved his white-striped fluffy tail lazily about and grinned like he had achieved some sort of victory in their confusion. Tarvin looked down at the roughly four-foot-tall cadet, at the white markings on his face that seemed to shift some when he grinned, and then looked back up at June. He couldn’t help but smirk at the almost humorous difference in their heights. The amused expression that formed on June’s face made it clear that the humor wasn’t lost on her either.
“Thanks for the … distraction there,” mumbled Tarvin.
“Don’t mention it. I’m glad I was able to find both of you before we split off into different groups,” said the Red Panda with a tinge of excitement in his voice. He sat his duffel down and held his hand out toward Tarvin. “My name is Timpt, by the way, and一”
“You were looking for us?” interrupted June with a touch of curiosity in her voice.
“Well, yes. I was on the lookout for interesting individuals that I might like to meet and ...” Timpt stopped himself to ponder his next words. “That wasn’t a good way to put it ...”
“I’ll say,” replied June with a restrained grin.
“Let me rephrase that. You see, I’d like to—” he began as the sound of yelling from the front of the assembly hall drew their attention.
A gruff and annoyed voice rose over the crowd with enough presence to cause everyone else to fall silent. “I couldn’t hear you! I asked if you would do me proud, cadet! Will you do me proud, cadet!?”
A younger female voice yelled back in response at the top of her lungs, “Sir, yes, sir!”
“Yes, sir, what!?”
“I will make you proud, SIR!”
Timpt leaned side to side in a vain effort to find some line of sight to the two individuals yelling, or at least to find some means of reaching a better vantage point. His profound desire to see what was going on only increased further as June, who had no issues seeing above the crowd at all, mused out loud, tilting her head slightly. “I think that’s General Firin. I don’t know who the cadet is that he’s grilling though.”
“General Firin?” uttered the Red Panda in surprise. “The head of the Space Infantry Command? I wish I could see this,” he said, trailing off into a mutter.
“Here, I’ll help,” said June in a cheerful manner as she plucked him off the ground and held him high enough to see above the crowd.
At first, Timpt was excited at being able to see over the crowd. That Wolverine is definitely General Firin ... And that ... His eyes widened. Another mod? That’s her! Wait ... If I can see them so easily, that means that ... His thoughts dissolved into a panic. I’m exposed! I’m exposed! I’m exposed! He had just turned his head to ask June to set him back down when a terrible realization sank in.
The loud exchange between the general and the cadet had stopped. A quick glance confirmed the worst of his fears. General Firin had noticed him suddenly pop up above the crowd and was now looking directly at him.
A mischievous look could be momentarily seen in the general’s eye as he took in a deep breath before yelling out, “Atten-shun! Sal-ute!”
The Red Panda instantly “stood" at attention and saluted even while still being held in the air and muttered, “Thanks, giant.”
June quickly lowered the Red Panda closer to the floor and dropped him the remaining distance before saluting as well. She whispered a mortified “Sorry” to the one she had “helped.”
When every cadet in the assembly hall had saluted, the general returned the salute and yelled out, “What do we have here!? A jack-in-the-box come to join the academy!?”
Timpt swallowed hard as he lowered his salute at the realization that not only had the general seen him, but he was also determined to make a very public spectacle about what happened. He fought every instinct he had to not find some form of concealment or escape route as he stood at attention. He wanted desperately to know what was going on, but at the same time, the expression on June’s face told him that he was better off not knowing.
The general stormed into the crowd without saying a word. Startled cadets quickly parted around him like a stream splitting around a concrete pillar. A few closed back in once he and his shadow passed or moved by to see what would happen, though most were frozen in place. General Firin’s relentless advance continued until he was standing directly in front of June, Tarvin, and Timpt.
All three stood at perfect attention and held their breaths as the general stared them down. They glanced for a moment, and Tarvin did a double take as the mod who was acting as the general’s shadow stepped out from behind him. She appeared to be of the Fox branch of the Human race as she had the typical fox-like tail, though her Kin-like pawed feet, unnatural light blue fur, and large white feathery wings left no doubt that she was a mod.
Timpt looked up at the general and straightened his posture even more. He looks more intimidating than in his pictures. He restrained a gulp as the general began inspecting each one of them in a way that made them feel like their very souls were being examined.
Suddenly, the general’s gaze fell back on June. She couldn’t help shifting her stance uneasily while looking into his piercing brown eyes. He spoke in a very serious and almost gruff tone, “Do you think this is a game, cadet?”
June’s voice almost quivered as she managed her answer. “Sir, no, sir.”
“Then what were you doing, cadet?”
“Helping my fellow cadet, sir.”
“I see,” replied General Firin in a gruff tone. “Good to see cadets look out for one another,” he added with a hint of satisfaction in his voice.
As June seemed to rediscover the ability to breathe, the general turned his attention to Timpt. “And what was she helping you to do, Shorty?”
“To see above the crowd, so I could see you in person, sir!” responded Timpt.
“You know who I am?”
“General Firin, sir! Leader of the Space Infantry Command, sir!”
The general cracked a cruel smile on his face as he looked at the crowd that had closed in behind him. “Do you hear that, maggots!? Which of you slabs of fresh meat will end up on my platter?! Raise your hand if you are!”
General Firin examined them in the way that a predator examines unsuspecting prey right before it pounces and then waved them off as he turned back to the other three. He looked up at June and asked, “What is your name and where do you hope to end up, cadet?”
“June Sterling, sir! Capital ship pilot in the Spaceborne Command!” bellowed June with the full power of her large lungs. She couldn’t help but loose a small smile at the general being mildly stunned at the force of her voice.
The general recovered very quickly and returned June’s smile for a moment. “Well, damn. Bet you’d do well in the SIC if you change your mind.” With that he turned his attention to Timpt. “And you, Shorty?”
“Timpt Sirin, sir! Intelligence and infiltration under Special Command!”
“Heh,” said the general with an obvious look of amusement. “They’d never see you coming.”
“That’s the idea, sir!” said Timpt rather enthusiastically.
General Firing glanced at the name patch situated under the rank insignia on Tarvin’s uniform. “Now, you, the mercenary,” growled the general, glaring at Tarvin. “The whole of Corinthian Command has heard of the Dracken family fleeing the Frontier! Tell me! What does a mercenary know about the duty and honor required to serve in the military?”
Tarvin cringed on the inside at his family being described as fleeing the Frontier but maintained his composure. “Plenty, sir!” he answered.
“You do, do you?!”
“Yes, sir. I—”
“Trolling through space, doing work for the highest bidder … Are you sure you can live up to the standards of the military?!”
“Yes, sir! My family were Sanctioned Mercenaries working under the guidelines and standards of the Corinthian Central Government, sir! They have also worked hand-in-hand with CCG forces on more than one occasion, sir!”
“Hm,” replied the general contemplatively before he gave a nod of approval. “Good. Your family did good work out there. You have a lot to live up to but making it in as a probational officer at only eighteen is a good start.”
“Thank you, sir?” Tarvin was dumbfounded and could do nothing more than stare blankly as the general did an about face and plowed his way back through the crowd as abruptly as he had come.
= = = = = = = = = = = =
The blue Fox mod shook her head and gave a long sigh while glancing back toward the departing general. After a moment she looked back. Tarvin was still stunned by his encounter, and the other two didn’t seem to fare much better. “I have to apologize for my father,” said the mod apologetically. “He was testing you and believes that if he doesn’t leave cadets a bit shell-shocked, he didn’t do something right.”
“What a pleasant fellow,” muttered June with an uncertain smile.
“I’ll say,” remarked Tarvin while he tried to work out just what the intent was behind the encounter.
“My name is—,” began the light-blue Fox, while holding out her free hand toward Tarvin.
Timpt cut in and pointed at her. “Cosmos Firin! Adopted daughter of General Firin. His forces rescued you in a raid on an illegal modding station, and he took you into his personal care.”
Cosmos crossed her arms and gave Timpt a look of concerned confusion. Her mouth opened slightly as she drew a sharp breath but closed to an expectant smirk as Timpt’s finger shifted to Tarvin.
Timpt grinned. “And you are Tarvin Dracken, the latest in a long line of mercenaries who believe it’s their mandate to do what they can to calm down The Frontier. It’s suspected that your family relocated to Corinth after some tragedy, as evidenced by your scar. While you haven’t gone on any missions, a raider attack during a training flight gave you enough experience to qualify for the rank of probational officer, rather than join as a regular cadet.
“And you,” Timpt added, while shifting his finger to June, “are June Sterling. It’s obvious for Cosmos, but it’s a bit of a mystery as to how you got in over concerns whether mods are compromised by Noroban or not. Your story at least says that your adopted parents got enough politicians on their side to convince the military to let you take the entrance exams, but that would take a lot of clout.”
Tarvin looked down at the grinning Red Panda in a complete and utter state of bewilderment. Just who is this little runt ... And he’s staring. Was that aimed at me? He glanced at Cosmos and June to see if they had any ideas as to what might be going on.
“How did you know all that?” asked Cosmos with a suspicious glare.
Timpt looked at Cosmos with a smile. “I’m an intelligence specialist, and I had the opportunity to review the list of incoming cadets. You three stood out as people I would like to meet.” He fixed his gaze squarely on Tarvin before continuing. “You in particular.”
Tarvin looked at him warily. “Why me?” His eyes narrowed, and his ears cocked back a bit as he spoke through slightly clenched teeth. “You aren’t one of those people who wants to dig for dirt on my family, or who hopes I’ll reveal the location of some great secret buried treasure, are you?”
“No!” replied Timpt with a laugh and a dismissive wave of his hands. He glanced up at the clock and said, “It isn’t anything like that. How about we meet back here after dinner and we can talk? Orientation is about to start.”
June smirked and placed her hands on her hips. “That was some serious salesmanship … But what for?”
Tarvin rubbed his lower jaw idly as he contemplated what the aim of it could be. “Something to do with me. That’s obvious …” He trailed off as movement at the front of the assembly hall caught his attention. “But an explanation will have to wait. After dinner, you said?” He glanced down at Timpt.
Timpt was suddenly beaming. “Sure!” He turned toward the front of the hall, and from his limited vantage point, he was just able to see the elevated podium mounted on the front wall high above the main doors. Timpt stared intently toward the podium with a distant look of satisfaction mixed with eagerness. If I judged him right based on his profile, he just might be interested.
= = = = = = = = = = = =
General Summers, a Canine of the Husky subset, climbed up the steep stairway to the podium and looked calmly out at the cadets. “Atten-shun!” he barked in a clear loud voice that didn’t need the aid of the hidden speakers in the ceiling to be heard by all.
The Husky studied the cadets before him. From his vantage point, they looked like a sea of uniform blue with faces peering out from under black-billed hats with a wide variety of ears showing through their tops. He allowed the weight of the silence to rest upon them for a bit longer before yelling out with a loud and forceful “Sa-lute!”
All of the cadets obeyed and held their salutes as the general studied how different members of the audience composed themselves. An interesting class this semester. His eyes wandered over the cadets as he studied how they held themselves. Eventually, he spotted the giant Leopard and blue Fox with wings. He squinted his eyes and focused his attention on the officer’s uniform next to them. Some more so than others.
With a slow, steady gesture, the Husky returned the salute, allowing the cadets to return to attention. He took a deep measured breath and began in a clear loud voice, “I am General Summers, Commandant of the Corinthian Central Academy. You are here because, out of all the applicants, each of you possesses some trait or talent that sets you above all the rest, and your results in admission testified that all of you are among the best of the best. That doesn’t mean that you can slack off. If, at any time, your performance falls below standards, another aspiring cadet from another academy may test in and take your place!
“If you slack, if you fail to commit, if you fail to give it your best, you will be sent to another academy! These are trying times that we live in, and the news reports are not an accurate representation of what is going on out there. Pirates and raiders were already emboldened by generations of inaction against them, but now that Bastard Cat is out building his Teresfall Empire. It stretches from Solaren’s Edge to the Median Trade Routes, and most of the pirates and raiders that didn’t get forced to join his army have fled to join the Blackthorn Pirates! This influx gave them enough might to force the assimilation of all other pirates in a territory that stretches all the way to the Telaren Gap!
“Between the two of them the Corinthian Confederation is nearly cut off from her friends, her allies, and her trading partners. All because criminals took root in the outer colonies and no one bothered to stop them. But that time ends now! The Corinthian Central Government has voted that now is the time to prepare for war before Noroban turns his sights on the Corinthian Confederation! Cadets, are you ready to rise to the challenge?”
The assembly hall was filled with an echoing chorus of over fifteen hundred cadets yelling out at once. “Sir, yes, sir!”
“Cadets, are you ready to take out the pirates and put Noroban in his place?”
Again the hall echoed, “Sir, yes, sir!”
“Cadets, are you going to follow in the footsteps of the Rangers and make them proud that they came from the planet Corinth?!”
Once more the hall echoed, “Sir, yes, sir!”
“Good! When you are dismissed, you are to head immediately to the barracks and stow your belongings. At 1100 hours your bunk captains will arrive and take you on a tour of where you will live for the next four years, that is, if you don’t foul out.”
General Summers looked over the crowd of cadets one last time before saying, “Dis-missed,” in a drawn-out fashion.
= = = = = = = = = = = =
Tarvin shifted his feet nervously, preparing to dart out ahead of the closing crowd of cadets, when June spoke, “I’m sorry for teasing you earlier ...” She smiled sheepishly. “I just couldn’t resist. Your expressions were too priceless.”
Tarvin glanced at the crowd and then looked at June with a smirk. “It’s alright. And to think, I used to call you short.” He looked around again as the crowd began to thicken around them. “I’ll meet up with you later!” he uttered as he started to step back toward the doors.
“Don’t forget about our meeting!” yelled Timpt above the noise of the crowd. He was just barely able to make out Tarvin waving before he vanished from view.
CHAPTER 2: A NEW HOME
June was in no hurry as she strolled toward the doors. Occasionally she could feel a fellow cadet brush against her massive fourteen-foot-long tail as it floated behind her in a corkscrew-like fashion. She would normally follow the usual rules of hallway etiquette and walk near the right wall when going slower than the flow of traffic but didn’t see the point when everyone was going in the same direction.
She glanced down at them and took some small pride in the thought that if any cadet did try to force her out of their way, she was akin to an immovable object. A smile crept onto her face as she toyed with the thought of plowing through the crowds like an over-five-hundred-pound freight train. The smile quickly faded as her mind took to more serious matters.
Other than Cosmos, I might be the only obvious mod in the entire academy system. I guess it’s comforting … June’s ear twitched at hearing deliberately soft, padded footsteps. ... and amusing that she thinks she can sneak along behind me. She glanced back at Cosmos, who was deliberating on the best way to navigate around such a massive tail without running into anyone. June carefully shifted her tail out of Cosmos’ path.
“Going my way?” asked Cosmos over the din of the crowd as she got up beside June. “I thought it would be best if we mods stick together as much as we can. We could be each other’s only source of support until we make some more friends. Where are you headed?”
“My schedule says Barracks G, Bunk 2, Room 1.”
“Well, that’s convenient. We’re roommates.”
“It looks like sticking together won’t be very difficult then. I guess they decided you need a larger bunk to accommodate those wings of yours,” mused June.
“I take it they gave us one of the bunks reserved for Rhynos exchange cadets?” Cosmos smirked. “I don’t see you fitting on anything else.”
June chuckled. “I imagine so. I can’t think of another race that’s close to my size.”
“Well, then. I’ll take the top bunk, if you don’t mind. I don’t want to wake up every morning to that hanging down in my face,” Cosmos said with a glance at the coil of June’s tail behind them.
June grinned. “That’s a good idea, or I might accidentally coil my tail up on the lower bunk.”
Cosmos put on a malicious smirk. “Watch it, I bite … Then again, it might be nice to snuggle with on those cold, cold nights.” She held her arms against her chest and made a mock shiver.
June tensed and glanced at Cosmos with a raised eyebrow. “I’ll take that lower bunk.”
Cosmos had just begun to laugh when the sound of someone clearing their throat loudly behind them caught their attention.
“Don’t you know how to walk, sideshows? You’re holding things up,” snapped a brown-and-orange-furred tabby Feline condescendingly.
June and Cosmos glanced off distantly for a moment as what they just heard sank in. Well, thought June, I’m used to being stared at curiously, gawked at, or having a barrage of questions thrown at me ... But this? At least most people are polite enough to act like they aren’t looking ...
Cosmos glanced back at the Cat and her group of fellow-feline followers with a pleasant, yet slightly frightening smile. “There’s plenty of room to go around.”
June did her best to smile good naturedly as she looked back over her shoulder at the individual.
“I thought you freaks were supposed to be in side-shows to entertain people and not in the military,” spat the Cat as her brown eyes locked onto June’s.
Despite her smaller than normal stature, the tabby-patterned Cat stared up at June as though her appearance would somehow frighten the giant. Around her stood three other female Cats who were using their glares to bolster the presence of their leader while the crowd continued to part around them.
Cosmos studied the clique of Cats and looked unimpressed as a smile slowly formed on her face. “Well, it’s only fitting that we would be here,” she said in the sarcastic way that an adult may answer an annoying child who asks too many questions.
“Oh? And why’s that?” challenged the Cat.
Cosmos held up her hands in front of her chest and brought them together while her smile turned into a full grin. “Mods like us were altered to be living weapons and can do allll sorts of things to annoying people that say rude things to us. Going into the military is a natural fit.”
June couldn’t help but grin in an almost stupidly happy manner at the sudden change in the expressions of the Cats. All at once, they lost their nerve, and their defiant looks changed to almost petrified fear as the tabby bolted into the crowd.
Her grin gave way to a mild laugh as she watched the other Cats dart into the crowd after their leader. “Wow! I’ll have to remember that for the next time I encounter someone like that,” she said, with a touch of envy in her voice.
“Well, let’s get walking before that happens again,” stated Cosmos before grinning and adding, “I’m fighting the sudden urge to stretch my wings out.”
June laughed as they continued their leisurely pace and drifted into pleasant conversation, as much as they could amidst the noise. Then, without warning, June slowed to a stop while looking out above the crowd curiously.
Cosmos came to a stop as well and looked up at June. “What’s going on?” she asked.
June said nothing but let the answer speak for itself as the clique of Cats came into Cosmos’s view. They fought against the flow of cadets headed toward the elevators to reach them just as desperately as they had escaped into it. The struggle continued until they found themselves standing before the two mods, neither of which knew what to think of the panicked expressions of the four Cats.
“I’m sooo sorry for how I acted. I mean, it’s not like you chose to be altered. You’re victims in that, and I shouldn’t attack you for it. Please forgive me?” pleaded the tabby-colored Cat as the other three nodded profusely in agreement.
The two mods shared a vacant look with one another before they turned their attention back to the Cats. Their brains attempted to process what was going on but could find nothing that would explain it. June felt no animosity or anger toward them despite their previous behavior, and as she looked at their desperate eyes, the only thing she felt was a strange sense of pity.
“It’s … okay,” she said in the most reassuring tone she could manage in her confused state.
Cosmos nodded in agreement, and a sudden look of relief swept over the Cats as though some prison sentence had just been commuted. Without saying anything further, they bolted into the crowd once more and fought past the lines for the nearest elevators in their drive to escape.
Cosmos held up a questioning finger and looked up at June for confirmation as she asked, “I didn’t frighten them that much, did I?”
“If so, I don’t think they deserve to be in the military. It must have been something else ...” June shook her head and tried to bring her mind around to other matters. “So, what do you think of Tarvin and Timpt planning to meet?”
Cosmos grinned as they started walking again. “I can’t wait to see what he’s up to. That little sneak has got me curious ... and I’d like to see just what he knows about me. I got the feeling there were some things he left out. What about you? You know Tarvin, right?”
June nodded and glanced off with a distant expression. “It’s been years though ... Not since ... Well, I was a lot shorter then.” She grinned.
Cosmos gave June a sarcastic smirk. “You short? I can’t picture it.”
“And with a normal tail too!”
Cosmos gasped. “You mean you didn’t always look giant and intimidating?!”
June laughed as they got in line for the elevator. “No, I used to look small and normal.” She looked up at the ceiling and smiled. “That didn’t last too long.”
“What, sometime after you and Tarvin met? Where was it?”
“I don’t think he would mind my telling it, but how about we wait until we get to our room?”
“Alright,” said Cosmos as she glanced at the elevators. “It looks like they set all the cars to express-up. I can hear the empty cars racing back around in the auxiliary shafts as fast as they depart.”
“It won’t be too long of a wait,” replied June as she watched the four elevator doors. She pressed a button on her watch and glanced at its display. “Looks like this next one on the left will be ours.”
When the elevator doors opened, June made her way to the side of the car and uncoiled her tail, positioning it so it ran a bit to the left and then up the wall along the ceiling of the car. Cosmos tucked her wings tightly against her back and looked up at June’s tail with an amused expression.
June couldn’t help but notice the looks of the other cadets as they crowded in around her and Cosmos. She smiled as one blinked rapidly at them and then politely looked away while trying to steal a glance. Another stared blankly as she traced June’s tail with her eyes. One simply stared at Cosmos’ wings, while another stared angrily at June’s tail as though it were responsible for how crowded the elevator had become. Hm. Gawker and an angry stare. I don’t often get two of those at once.
Everyone in the car could feel their stomachs shift slightly as they rocketed up past the floors. Displays above the doors listed the current floor and each destination floor before the car shifted to another shaft and began its journey down.
“Looks like we’ve got the third stop,” muttered June as she felt a hand press against her tail. She glanced at the cadet who immediately looked away in an attempt to hide a guilty expression.
When they arrived at their stop, June wasted no time in slipping out through the exit doors at the rear of the elevator and just barely managed to get her tail clear before the doors closed. She moved to the side of the hall as people went by and carefully brought her tail back into its usual corkscrew orientation to make it more compact.
“That was close,” said Cosmos with a smirk. “Have you ever gotten your tail caught in a door?”
“More times than I’d like to count,” mumbled June. She started walking at a brisk pace down the hall. She glanced at the signs on the walls that indicated which barracks the two flanking doors would lead into. “Let’s get to the barracks. I’d like to see what our room is like.”
Cosmos grinned. “Are you excited? It’s not that special.”
“Well, I know. But it’s like the start of a new life. I’ve been looking forward to something like this for years.”
“Something like what?”
“Being useful ... I have all these skills and talents ... And size ... They have to be good for something, right? They’re certainly not a good fit for civilian life.”
“You mean it’s too dull, don’t you?” Cosmos grinned. “I can relate.”
“Hm,” uttered June thoughtfully.
Cosmos fell silent and glanced off quietly as they continued to walk.
= = = = = = = = = = = =
June looked ahead at the wall situated between two doors. “G2.” She grinned. “This is it, and since this academy was built to accommodate even Rhynos exchange students, I don’t even have to duck through doorways.”
“You’re adorable,” remarked Cosmos with an amused smile. “Trust me. Military barracks are nothing special.”
June shrugged as she strolled toward the door labeled “Enter” and went quickly through as soon as it opened. She walked down the hallway and stopped when she reached an open common area with tables, chairs, and rows of doors down each side. A smile formed on her face as she examined the monitors along the front wall and turned to face the greenspace situated between the exit and entrance hallways. “Hm. Do you think other races find it strange that we build these into everything?”
Cosmos shrugged. “Probably not. It’s the only way most have to get the vitamin D they need to stay healthy and diminish the symptoms of certain diseases on a planet that’s so crowded. Besides, most long-voyage ships have something like them no matter what race built them.” A knowing smirk formed on her face. “I don’t think anyone would give them much thought unless they’re not used to living in a place that has them.”
“Um ... Hey,” blurted June. “Shouldn’t we get unpacked before the bunk captain comes in? I’ve heard something about it being a good idea to do that.”
Cosmos chuckled as June darted off eagerly toward their room. Cosmos had to restrain herself to avoid laughing out loud at how June seemed to do a double-take once she opened the door. She walked over to June, making no effort to hide her smug grin, and peeked in past June. “Not what you’re used to?”
“No, ugh ...” June coughed and quickly walked in.
Cosmos laughed. “Just be glad we’re in an academy for officer training. Groups of forty cadets get crammed into rooms the size of the common area in boot camps. Their living quarters aren’t much better when they’re in the service, come to think of it.”
June’s ears shot forward and her eyes widened as she stared back into the common area. She shook her head and blinked. “Let’s get unpacked.”
CHAPTER 3: CADENCE RUN
Cosmos couldn’t help but feel amused whenever she glanced at June trying to figure out how to fit all of her belongings snugly into just one locker, a dresser, a deep drawer under their bunk, and her small desk. When June was done, Cosmos looked expectantly at her. “Not used to working with less storage?”
June glanced at her. “No, not really …”
Cosmos smirked. “So, now that you are all unpacked, how do you know Tarvin?”
June paused as she put her last pair of socks into the top drawer of her dresser. “I guess I shouldn’t tell you ... But then I’m guessing that Timpt knows already, somehow ...”
“Sooo?”
June sighed as she silently deliberated. “I guess he wouldn’t mind if I told you. Just don’t share it.”
Cosmos leaned toward June as an eager smile formed on her face. “I promise.”
“At the Angel Foundation.”
Cosmos blinked and seemed genuinely shocked. “The Angel Foundation? You mean that he’s a rescued mod?”
“No, not rescued. His mother was ... and there were complications. His genetics were a bit messed up, and they had to rush him in for treatment.”
“Oh ... So other than that, he’s normal?”
June smirked slightly. “That isn’t my place to tell whether he is or not. All that I’ll confirm is that he is a modified individual.”
“Well, hey! You don’t get off that easy! You just can’t—”
Cosmos’ protest was cut off suddenly by the sound of someone yelling in the common room. “Atten-shun! You have five minutes left to finish stowing your belongings and then get out here on the double!”
Cosmos grumbled. “And that would be the bunk captain. She sounds charming, doesn’t she?”
“You heard the orders! We’d better get out there!” said June quickly before walking out the door.
Cosmos sighed and followed without a word.
= = = = = = = = = = = =
The bunk captain, a brown Fox, looked around the room and noticed immediately when the giant Leopard and the light blue Fox entered. She looked at them with narrowed eyes as a slight and almost menacing smile formed on her face. Ah, the mods I’ve been briefed about. I wonder if they can live up to what I’ve been told. “In approximately ten minutes I will begin checking bunks!” she bellowed. The blue one looks confident, but the giant doesn’t seem to know what to think of me. She smirked. It must be my kind demeanor. “You two! Front and center!”
“Definitely charming,” whispered Cosmos as she glanced at the Fox. “It’ll be just like home!”
“I question what your home must have been like,” mumbled June as they began walking.
“Wonderful,” replied Cosmos with a wide grin.
“I’m sure it was,” sighed June.
“You are Cosmos Firin and June Sterling. The first two rescued mods to make it into an academy, and you’re both mine!” With darn fine records. “You’re both fresh meat that is going to be tenderized, pounded, and prepared into fine fighting machines!” This one looks like she could bench press a tank, and the other could probably hijack it. “Is that clear?!”
“Ma’am, yes, ma’am!” answered both Cosmos and June as they snapped to attention.
“Good! I trust both of you have stowed all your belongings?”
“Ma’am, yes, ma’am!” they repeated.
The brown Fox studied both of them and smiled glibly. “Good. I guess you two are ahead of the curve then.”
“I always aim to please, ma’am!” replied Cosmos while giving the brown Fox a salute and a mischievous grin.
The brown Fox returned the salute quickly. “I’m sure you do,” remarked the bunk captain glibly before looking down the center of the room and bellowing, “Alright, maggots! I decided to start inspecting your bunks early! I hope you’re ready!”
June’s sensitive ears picked up the sound of muffled cursing from various bunk rooms as she watched their bunk captain storm off toward the first room. June leaned toward Cosmos and whispered, “I don’t think they’re ready.”
Cosmos glanced off toward another room. “They’re really panicking in that one,” she whispered.
The bunk captain’s voice could be heard clearly through the closed door. “Do you think this is a summer camp, cadets?!”
“Ma’am, no, ma’am!” answered the two cadets assigned to the room.
“Are you sure?! Because if you think it is, I can make the call, and you’ll be replaced by someone who doesn’t! Now get moving and stow your gear!”
June glanced toward the room that Cosmos was looking at and swiveled her large ears to focus on it. “They’re not making that much noise ... You couldn’t have heard that.”
Cosmos grinned and looked up at June’s large ears. “No, but you can. You’ve got some good ears.”
The brown Fox stormed out of the room and into another one two doors down. A repeat performance, with a few variations in language, played out again. Other cadets began rushing out to join Cosmos and June rather than face the same wrath. Two more rooms fell victim to the same scrutiny before all cadets were standing in the common area.
The brown Fox walked over and took her place in front of the presentation system at the front of the room. “Atten-shun, ladies! The fun starts now! By that, I mean mine does! I am Second Lieutenant Camilla Langston, and you Flits are my chance to work out all my frustration from when I was in your place!” She paused for a moment and noticed a few confused expressions. “I see some of you may not be from Corinth, judging by the stupid looks on your faces! In case you aren’t aware, flits are little creatures that look like animal foxes with dragonfly wings! They’re colorful, fun to watch, but they are harmless little pests that are attracted by all things shiny because they don’t know any better!
“That’s what all of you are! Harmless, undisciplined, flits who are prone to staring at any shiny military hardware with your jaws hanging open! If you want to be called by anything else, you’ll have to earn it!
“Now, I’ll start things off by inspecting each and every one of your rooms and anyone who didn’t square theirs away according to military standards will fix them and then do twenty push-ups!”
Camilla went directly into Room One. June gulped and wondered if their room would pass inspection. Only a few moments later, their bunk captain emerged from the room again.
“Perfect! That’s what I expect every room to be like!” bellowed Camilla as she opened the door to the next. “Why are the sheets still folded on the bed, Flits?! Do you think there is room service?! Get over here, now!”
Two petrified cadets dashed over and stood in front of the fuming brown Fox as she continued. “Did you think I was going to be like your mommy and make your bed for you?”
June and Cosmos watched as Camilla marched out of the room carrying two sets of folded sheets and placed them on the nearest table. The beleaguered cadets rushed over and stood next to her as they awaited judgment. Their ears drooped and their tails were slightly tucked.
“Now!” declared Camilla. “I want the both of you to ask for your sheets back!”
The cadets hastily answered, “May I have my sheets back, ma’am?”
“Pretty please with sugar on top?!”
“Pretty please with sugar on top!” repeated the cadets.
“Get your sheets and get to it! The rest of you, if you left your beds in that state, you’d better get to it now!”
No cadets moved, but the sound of some snickering could be heard. Camilla’s ears swiveled, and she quickly locked onto the offenders. She pointed at them, “You two! Front and center! I want twenty push-ups for thinking you could get away with laughing! I’m not doing things for your amusement!”
= = = = = = = = = = = =
When all of the rooms had passed inspection, and all cadets completed their punishments, Camilla looked at all of them critically. “Alright. That’s already taken longer than I would have expected! Are you sure you all passed your exams to qualify for officer training, or do I need to send some of you back to school?! Maybe to work at a hotel where you can learn how to make beds properly and get lots of practice!
“Line up in a two-by-two line in front of the door!” As cadets started moving to follow her orders, Camilla suddenly pointed out June and Cosmos as she barked out further instructions, “You two mods! I want you at the back of the line!”
June sighed as she glanced back at her tail. She could only imagine trying to stay in a line properly with a cadet walking close behind her. For Cosmos, being at the back of the line meant she wouldn’t have to keep her wings tucked so tightly against her back, and she seemed to relax as she moved behind the forming line of cadets.
As soon as the cadets had lined up, Camilla walked to the midpoint of the line to address them. “We are in Building A of the academy! This building contains admissions and administration offices, residences, library, primary cafeteria, and more! It is where you will call home for the next four years! You should already be familiar with the rules of the academy, but there are some that are specific to each building! Under no circumstances is a male cadet to enter the female barracks, and under no circumstances is any female cadet to enter the male barracks! There is also no fraternization between cadets!
“You have signed up with the understanding that you will fulfill your service obligation and that your service will remain your top priority! All the men in this academy should be considered your brothers, and the service does not condone relations between siblings! Make sure you understand the rules! Failure to follow them will result in your expulsion! Is that clear?!”
The cadets answered in unison, “Ma’am, yes, ma’am!”
“Good! Now let’s get this tour moving!”
Camilla led them swiftly to the nearest elevator quad, and they easily fit into one of the large fifty-person-capacity cars. Each cadet’s datapad beeped when they entered as the car checked their destination floors, and it began moving immediately as soon as the doors closed.
Camilla placed her back against the exit doors and looked at all the cadets. “All of you should have parked at the Wayland C. Dormak Memorial Stadium Complex and gone through the tunnel to the shopping center, so we’ll skip those! And, unless you have the memories of gnats, there’s no need to show you the assembly hall! We’ll start with Section 2, which contains staff offices! It is also where you will get your first taste of a proud military tradition! The Cadence!”
Second Lieutenant Langston grinned as the elevator doors opened. Now it’s my chance to get back at some of the staff for what they put me through. I’m so glad I get to participate in this rivalry between the administrative and the teaching staff. “Now, Flits, keep in step and repeat each line after me!”
A large grin formed on Camilla’s face as she began leading her cadets through the halls on their first cadence run:
“CorCent! CorCent!
Top of the class!
Top of the mark!
Best of the Best,
Wherever we’re at!
Sniping, fighting,
And piloting too!
CorCent! CorCent!
Hey-yoh!”
= = = = = = = = = = = =
June took awkwardly small steps as she ran in sync with the other cadets and swiveled her ears and focused her hearing on the noises beyond her group. Behind the closed doors and blind-covered windows, she could make out occasional muffled cursing and a wide variety of radio stations turning on. She soon lost track of how many times they’d sung the cadence and which hallways they’d gone down as Camilla led them about in no particular pattern.
Just as June was beginning to debate whether anyone would notice if she stopped repeating the cadence, they turned down a hallway where windows were still uncovered and radios hadn’t been turned on to drown out the noise of singing cadets. About halfway down the hall, Camilla brought them to a halt and quit singing.
Camilla glanced from one door to another further down the hall with a gleeful grin and drew a deep breath. “Flits! Stop singing and come to a halt!” She looked between the two doors again as she stopped. “Professor Zander and Command Sergeant Major Thomas! Please report to the hallway for new cadet orientation, sirs!”
Shortly after Camilla called out, a nearby door was flung open and a rather irritated looking Bobcat stormed out to greet her. The orientation group looked at the brown-and-black-furred Bobcat as he seemed to be staring through Camilla with his sharp green eyes. “Is there some kind of joke, Lieutenant, that you march all over the halls yelling while I’m trying to do work?!”
Camilla bellowed back. “Sir, no, sir! Sergeant Major Thomas, sir! I’m giving my Flits a tour of the academy and wanted to introduce them to one of the best, most badass and skilled combat pilots the service has ever known, sir!”
Command Sergeant Major Thomas straightened his posture proudly. “Is that so, cadet? What makes you think it’s worth introducing them? What makes you think that any of them are good enough to cross the threshold into my classroom?!” He turned to look at the cadets and noticed another door opening down the hallway as he went on. “Do any of you think you have what it takes to enroll in Advanced Fighter Tactics?”
An aged Ferret began making his way slowly down the hall as the interrogation of the cadets went on. He paused for a moment when he reached June’s tail as it drifted off, blocking the hallway to her right. The Ferret smiled up at her as it shifted back out of the way. So, these are the two mods I’ve heard about? Interesting that they should be put in the same group. Then again, I guess it makes sense. The Ferret walked alongside the group and reached the front as the Bobcat concluded his performance.
He smiled at the Bobcat. “Giving the cadets a hard time again, Sergeant Thomas?”
Sergeant Major Thomas turned to face the brown Ferret. He seems to be gaining more and more flecks of white in his brown fur with each passing year. “Professor Zanders! Only giving them a taste of what they’ll experience in some classrooms, that’s all.”
Professor Zander gave a wry smile as he responded, “I do believe you are being more disruptive in this display than the lieutenant was in her scheme.” He then turned his attention to Camilla. “And what is your reason for calling us out?”
Lt. Camilla Langston grinned widely and looked into the Ferret’s gray eyes, “So I could introduce them to two of the best instructors this academy has to offer!” She turned her attention back to her cadets. “This man is Professor Zanders and will probably be one of your history professors!”
“He’s been here long enough that he might have taught some of your grandparents!” Sergeant Major Thomas interjected.
“And this hard-ass, as I already mentioned, is Sergeant Major Thomas! He was such a good pilot that they took him out of serving in the Frontier to teach scrubs like you in hopes that you might be more like him! Now, if you both would shake each and every one of their hands, they would be most appreciative, sirs!”
Sergeant Major Thomas puffed out his chest. “I think I can accommodate that.” Without delay, he began walking down between the two lines of cadets while shaking their hands in rapid succession. When he reached the end of the line, he first shook hands with June and stared up into her eyes. That’s some grip she has. Kind of looks unsure about things though.
He turned to face Cosmos and shook her hand. Cosmos stood straight and flexed her wings proudly. Sergeant Major Thomas smirked and found himself restraining a chuckle at how much more expressiveness they provided Cosmos. She looks ready to take on the world. I wonder if she’ll end up in my class. After releasing Cosmos’ hand, he returned to the front of the line where Camilla was looking impatiently at Professor Zanders.
The Ferret looked at Camilla calmly. “I didn’t want to make them feel crowded.” He strolled up to the first cadets in the line and smiled at the one on his left as he held out his hand. “How are you doing this fine day?”
Camilla cringed as it began to sink in what the longest-serving professor in the history of the academy system intended to do. She clenched her teeth as Professor Zanders proceeded to have a short conversation with each cadet and showed no concern for how much time was passing.
Sergeant Major Thomas smirked and talked quietly out of the side of his mouth to Camilla. “I think you’ve been had.”
The brown Fox grumbled under her breath and cut the sergeant a sharp look. She tilted her head to the side as she listened to a voice in her hidden earpiece. “Should have known better than to pull one on him. He has more patience than anyone.”
Camilla muttered under her breath in response. “You’re not helping.”
The Bobcat overheard Camilla’s side of the conversation and glanced at her. “The orientation planners giving you a hard time? They shouldn’t.” He grinned. “This is wonderful.”
Camilla restrained a moan. She gave a sigh of relief when Professor Zanders finally reached June and Cosmos.
The Ferret took extra time talking with the two as he honestly inquired as to whether they had been given proper accommodations to fit their individual needs. When he was satisfied, he returned to the head of the line and smiled at Camilla, cordially. “You have a fine group of cadets, Lieutenant.”
Camilla gave him a begrudging grin and spoke through partly clenched teeth. “Thank you, sir.” She recovered her composure and looked from one instructor to the other. “Thank you very much for your time, sirs, but we must be going now. I’ve been informed that we’re now running behind schedule.”
“Aw, that’s too bad,” quipped Sergeant Major Thomas. “I was just considering visiting with the cadets before you left.” He laughed at the momentary look of shock on the brown Fox’s face. “Only joking.”
Camilla composed herself and looked at her cadets. “Atten-shun! About face! Fahwr-ward march! Everyone back to the elevators! We’re running late now, so move it, ladies! Move it! Move it! Move it!”
Sergeant Major Thomas watched as Camilla led her cadets in a tight turn toward the elevators and grinned. He waited just a few moments until the front of the group was nearly even with the back of the group. Then, in his most commanding voice, he yelled out, “Atten-shun! About face!”
Sergeant Major Thomas grinned widely as the cadets nearly ran into one another as they spun around. He watched with a sense of expectation as June and Cosmos began to turn around. The expectation didn’t last as both were careful not to hit anyone as they turned to face him. “Sal-ute!” he commanded with a smirk.
Camilla’s right ear twitched and she made an effort to hide her agitation as she, and her cadets, raised their right hands to their foreheads in salute. Sergeant Major Thomas raised his hand very slowly to return the salute and even contemplated reversing its movement, just to savor the excruciating look of frustration on Camilla’s face a little longer.
When he had completed the salute, Camilla wasted no time in rushing her cadets off to the elevators. After the cadets were no longer within sight, the sergeant allowed himself a smug grin. “Those last two were something, weren’t they?” he said in a distant voice.
Professor Zander looked at him curiously. “You have issues with mods?”
“Me?” replied the sergeant quizzically. “Nah, I’ve got no problem with them. I just ran into plenty out in the Frontier ... Most of them were in pretty bad shape …” he said as his voice trailed off, and he seemed to become distant.
The professor was only able to manage a “Hm” before the Bobcat continued, “Besides, it’s not like they asked to be like that.”
“I suppose not but—” began the professor before being cut off again.
“Well, I got work to do,” said Sergeant Major Thomas as he did an about face and went into his office and closed the door behind him.
The old Ferret could only watch quietly while pondering the sergeant’s sudden change of mood.
CHAPTER 4: ASPIRATIONS
After a few rushed stops in an attempt to make up for lost time, the group arrived at one of Camilla’s favorite places in the academy. Once all forty of her cadets had filed around through the departure hallways behind the elevators and reformed into their lines, Camilla bellowed, “Alright! Now listen up! As far as you are concerned, where we are standing, here on the first floor of Section 8, should almost be considered holy ground!”
June was particularly confused by their bunk captain’s statement and glanced down at Cosmos in the hopes of receiving some visual cues about what to expect. Instead, all she received was an eager smile before all attention became fixated on Camilla. “Barracks in this section are exclusive! If you want the luxury of being in one of these smaller and more private barracks, you must earn it! You must not only become a member of a team for the Grand Tournament Games, but your team must excel on skill tests to even be considered for such a room! Those cadets who achieve this are given the privilege of, under the guidance of a chosen bunk captain, operating as a special unit rather than as part of a larger barracks like the one you’re in!”
That statement immediately caught June’s attention as her mind drifted to memories of televised broadcasts of the Grand Tournament Games, a tournament in which teams of cadets from throughout the Corinthian military academy system fought against each other in simulated battles. Even though no recognition was given to the individual members of teams, and no monetary consideration was ever given, June couldn’t help but feel excited at the prospect of joining a team and testing her capabilities.
An elbow jabbing her on the hip was enough to draw her out of her daydream and back to reality, though not fully enough to hear Camilla as she continued her speech. She looked down at Cosmos and her gaze was met with an eager grin, which was all that was needed to plant the mental image of them, the only two obvious mods in the system, joining a team together and obliterating the competition.
A particularly emphasized “Alright!” from Camilla captured June’s attention in time to hear the remainder of the speech. “And know that not one of you will be able to set foot on this floor again! Not unless you manage to find a team that will take you, or you manage to put one together yourself! Now back to the elevators! You’ve all soiled this floor long enough!”
= = = = = = = = = = = =
Camilla led them out and across a long skybridge that stretched over the large courtyard far below. June looked up and smiled at the feeling of sunlight on her face. She glanced around with particular curiosity at the lounge chairs situated on either side of the wide hallway in place of the usual planters. After another quick elevator ride, they arrived on the seventy-fifth floor of Building B.
“Alright, Flits! Now we find ourselves in Section 8 of Building B that contains the engineering bays! The huge bays on either side of these large hallways are where some of our technology is developed and prepared for field testing! The professor approaching us now will tell you all more about it for a proper tour!” She mumbled softly. If he doesn’t go on forever ... Camilla eyed the gray Mouse for a moment before smiling at him.
“Thank you,” replied the Mouse as he lightly wrung his hands together. “I am Professor Matthews, and I will now give you a tour of some of these engineering bays and discuss the practical applications of the technology that is developed and tested here.”
June’s eyes widened as Professor Matthews, who at first seemed to be a calm and collected individual, lit up with excitement the instant they reached the first engineering bay. The gray Mouse began excitedly rambling on and on about the various technical aspects of this and that. Gone was the initial impression that his plain appearance, slightly messily combed hair, and lab coat indicated a calm and easy-going personality. June’s eyes began to glaze over as the professor tried to fit an entire lecture in about everything his wandering mind touched.
He went on about how paired photons connected by bridges are used create PROCA networks that allow for near instant transmission of data regardless of distance, how repulsor systems worked and their application in daily life, how excited energy particles were harnessed in the place of projectiles or lasers for weapons, and even how the anti-grav rings held up June’s massive tail.
In the end, it took Camilla five attempts at politely interrupting to get the professor to halt long enough to dismiss them. June was still in a state of mental overload from their previous stops and found herself dreading what would come next as they got off the elevators for their next stop.
Camilla seemed to be nearly vibrating with frustration as they departed the elevator for their next stop. Much to her chagrin, the professor who gave the tour of Section 7 and the laboratory spaces was long winded, but unlike Professor Matthews, their tour guide wrapped up quickly after some coaxing. Like before, Camilla wasted no time in racing her cadets through the halls to make up for lost time.
= = = = = = = = = = = =
“And now we come to Section 6, the Medical Bay and Training Center! This is where you will go to get patched up, checked out, and psycho-analyzed!” Camilla gestured ahead at a slender black-furred Weasel as she came out through an office door. “This here is one of the docs who will do all the poking, prodding, and scanning to help you recover if you ever get sick!” announced Camilla.
“Well, I thank you for that … introduction, Lieutenant,” she said as she pursed her lips and laid a finger over them. She tilted her head to her right, causing her long black hair to cover one of her vibrant hazel eyes. One of her short ears twitched slightly as she studied the expressions of the cadets before her. “Ah!” she declared with a sudden jolt of realization while pointing toward the ceiling and looking up, “All of you must have had Professor Matthews! And no, you may not have pain relievers for headaches!”
The joke elicited some minor chuckles and smiles as she went on in a voice just loud enough for everyone to hear. “I am Doctor Sadey Tylers. I understand you went a little long in some of your previous stop, so I’ll make this brief. Most of you are not interested in becoming doctors, and I know even fewer of you have what it takes to be surgeons, but there isn’t anyone who couldn’t benefit from at least having a little medical training. Things like how to apply a tourniquet, perform CPR, or field dress wounds caused by a blaster are critical for all officers and even regular enlisted soldiers to know.
“For that reason, taking at least the basic course is mandatory for all cadets, and I’ll probably see many of you in one of my classes at one point or another. I’ll use that chance to cover the importance of more advanced medical training then. All of you are dismissed.”
“Thank you!” exclaimed Camilla as she gave the professor an excited salute.
Doctor Tylers laughed as she returned the salute. “Go on. You have time to make up.”
“Alright, this way, you Flits! Now we get to the fun part!” declared Camilla as she led them hastily back toward the elevators.
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