by Jesse Jordan
I get to my room and find Tammy sitting at her desk, also in her civvies still, leaning back and a silly little smile on her face. I close the door, and she looks over, giddy. “Wow.”
“Yeah, that's one way to say it,” I groan as I flop down in my chair. “Tell me you have some energy, because I'm pretty much boneless for the next twelve hours. In fact, remind me to e-mail our Plebes, no team leader time in the morning, I can't imagine getting up before six thirty.”
“Already told my Plebe the same thing,” Tammy says, biting her lip as memories run through her head. “I never thought... well, never mind. You look exhausted.”
“It's a happy exhausted, trust me. You look the same.”
Tammy smiles and leans forward, getting up and walking slowly to her footlocker, where she pulls out some PT gear. “I'm in love, Ash. Head over heels in love.”
“Wow. And her?” I ask, not pushing for a name. We don't need one.
“Yeah, it's mutual. Uhm, I know you can make guesses as to who, but we agreed to let that stay down low for a while. You mind?”
I shake my head, and open the drawer of my desk, pulling out a twenty I've had stashed in there under a DVD case for times like this. “Tell you what. You get changed, take this twenty, and go downstairs to get a bacon pizza that you share with your bestie. Bring it back, we sit down like a couple of goofy girls, and if you bring back one of those cherry Pepsis that they've had down there for a while, I'll even do your toe nails in that totally non-cadet pink that you have in the medicine cabinet.”
“Deal,” Tammy laughs, pushing her pants down and pulling on her PT shorts. “And you don't mind I don't say a name?”
“That's totally on you. You're my best friend, Tammy. That's what's important,” I tell her, sighing happily. I want to sit back and sing love songs, or at least hum them because even Tammy says my singing is pretty bad, but instead I sit up with a groan, heaving myself to my feet. “Guess I'll get changed too. It'll be nice next year when we can wear civvies more often. Then we can sit around and chill next year the whole damn time.”
Tammy laughs and pulls on her t-shirt, checking herself in the mirror. “Never worn sexy lingerie with PTs before. Kinda like it.”
“I bet. See you when you get back.”
I've barely gotten my shirt on when there's a knock on my door, and I turn, still a bit lost in romantic dilly dallying. “Just a second, changing!”
I check that my shorts are up and tuck my shirt in. “Come on in!”
The door opens, and a male cadet I've never seen before is standing in the doorway, in class uniform. He's compact and stern, and on his collar I see five bars and a black shield, he's a very high ranking Firstie. “Ashley Carlyle?”
“That's me. How can I help you? Come on in,” I say, sitting down at my desk again. I'm just too tired to stand up right now.
“I'm Keith Bennett, the Brigade Honor Captain. I'd like to say I'm just paying a social visit, but I'm here on duty business.”
A stab of fear goes through me, but I can't think of anything I've done to attract the attention of the Honor Committee. And after dating Simon for the past few months, I'm not as concerned about it like I was as a first semester Plebe. “What can I help you with, Keith? Have a seat. Oh, my roomie might be back in a bit with a pizza, is this something she can listen in on?”
“I'll be fast, if she's the girl I saw coming down hall when I came up, it'll be enough time. Last year, you were in French class with Cade Edwards, right?”
The memory of talking with my instructor about Cade comes back, and I understand. “Yes. Is this about the test?”
Keith nods. “Tell me what you saw, please. I've got the statements of the instructor, Cade, and another cadet, but since you're the one to make the first approach to an instructor, I need your point of view too.”
I re-tell my story, trying my best to stick to just what I remember. “Is there something coming from all this?”
Keith nods, and purses his lips. “Yes. The Supe's asked me to call a meeting of the Honor Committee. Cade's facing an Honor Hearing.”
I nod, not upset at all, and accept it. “So you're wanting me to testify as well.”
“Of course. The Hearing Officer will be in contact with an exact date,” Keith says, rubbing his hair. “I just notified him about it via e-mail.”
“May I ask who it is?” I ask, and Keith nods.
“Simon Lancaster, your XO. His name was pulled from the group of Honor Rep Firsties randomly.”
I blink, shocked. “Uh... you might have a problem. Simon and I... well, he's my boyfriend. We've been dating for a few months now.”
“Not an issue. I already talked with the Commandant about that, it's known. Simon's totally levelheaded, and the hearing is nine people. He's going to have one vote on the board, that's it. Don't worry, I'll have your Cow rep come by and talk with you about it. On that note, I do have to ask you that you and Simon not discuss the hearing until after it happens. I've got your word on that?”
“You got my word,” I promise, and Keith grabs his hat.
“Okay. Sorry to screw with your Sunday night, to be honest I wish I'd have had a better Sunday night myself. Thanks for your time.”
Tammy comes in with a pizza just as Keith turns, and she steps back, surprised. “Hi.”
“Hi. Enjoy the pizza,” Keith says, moving past Tammy and leaving. Tammy looks out at him before setting the pizza and my cherry Pepsi on my desk, pulling over a chair.
“What was that?”
“Brigade Honor Captain. Seems they've called a hearing,” I say, opening the box and sniffing. “They want me to testify. And to top it off, guess who the Hearing Officer is.”
“Shut up,” Tammy says in wonder. “You scared?”
I think about it, and half shrug. “Nervous. But not scared. I just have to say what I saw. That's it. I'm more scared that I'll pass out from hunger before I get any of this pizza in me. You are sharing, right?”
“Damn straight,” Tammy says, pulling off a slice and handing it to me. “There, and who says I'm not a lady?”
I take the slice and chew slowly, relishing the cheap pizza. “So this is your secret. The good old pizza seduction trick.”
“Gotta use what I've got,” Tammy jokes, taking a slice for herself. “I don't have epically awesome boobs like you.”
“They're C cups, hardly epic,” I protest, chewing. “And why does everyone look at my tits and ignore my ass?”
“For West Point, C cups on an athletic body is epic. As for your ass... well, not everyone ignores it,” Tammy replies, smiling.
“Sexually harassed by my own roommate and bestie. Sheesh, what a life,” I sigh melodramatically, putting my hand on my forehead like a damsel in distress. “Oh, why can't some big strong man save me?”
“Because he wore you out over the weekend,” Tammy shoots back, “and because I'm too cute to be denied forever.”
I laugh, sitting forward. “Why, Tammy Price, I do believe that finding love has cracked that shell of shyness and insecurity you built around yourself. Good to see.”
Simon
Nininger Hall, the last remnant of the true “Old Corps” buildings in Cadet Area, isn't often used for Honor Hearings any longer. But, there's a mock trial going on in the law department today, so Nininger it is.
The room is somber, and it carries with it some of the heavy responsibility and tradition that comes with the Honor Code. I know that a lot of people, especially the witnesses and the accused, say that an Honor Hearing is scary. But, to be honest, I'm just as scared. I know that if I make a mistake today, I could change someone's life forever.
We start right at nine o'clock, and after some statements from both sides, we start with an audio testimony from Captain Gautier, the French instructor who made the formal accusation who's gone back to France and has to testify via telephone.
Cade is getting assistance from one of the JAG officers, and looks confident.
�
�So Captain, did you actually see Cadet Edwards using the supposed smart phone?” one of the board members asks.
“I believe the question was about a smart watch,” Captain Gautier answers, and his accent is no problem at all to me. “But no, I did not see it. The room was arranged in a standard U shape, and Cadet Edwards sat at a corner position.”
After Captain Gautier, Ashley is called. I've felt nervous about this the whole time. I appreciate Keith and the Commandant's vouching for my impartiality, but I'd still rather have had someone else in this chair.
Ashley's testimony starts with her repeating what she saw, and I have to suppress a smile as she faces up to the Board. Once her statement is completed, the Board starts questions. I lead off. “Cadet Carlyle, did you see Cadet Edwards actually manipulate his watch or any other device underneath his desk?”
“No,” Ash says evenly. “The angle of our desks, I could not see that area. I was merely suspicious.”
“And you didn't approach for clarification from Cadet Edwards why?” one of the Cows asks, and Ashley sits back, resting her arms on the sides of her chair.
“I was a Plebe, the day after Recognition, and Cadet Edwards and I had studied together. I felt uncomfortable in approaching, so I talked with Captain Gautier.”
Cade indicates that he'd like to ask a question, and I nod. “Cadet Edwards?”
“Thank you. Cadet Carlyle, if you would, tell the Board about the nature of you coming to my room to study.”
Ashley looks perplexed, then at the Board. “I don't see how that's germane. The Honor Code states that an approach for clarification is recommended, it is not required.”
“Point taken. Cadet Edwards, what is the point of this question?” I ask, trying to give him some slack. Maybe I'm giving him a little too much leeway, but I can't be sure.
“I'd like to show the Board that the base of this accusation is not grounded in merit, but rather in the jilted feelings of a Plebe who was trying to garner an advantage and to break the rules with me,” Cade says, and I have to restrain the urge to jump across the room and choke his fucking neck.
“I am not jilted in any way,” Ashley says before I can reply. “And as for the study session, you asked me to your room. When you hit on me, I left. That's all.”
“Really?” Cade asks, and I can see what he's doing. He's casting doubt, and as I look at the Board, I can see the doubt creeping in. They don't know Ashley the way I do, she'd take me to task about breaking the rules if she felt it was needed. A hysterical, hormonally driven Plebe female pissed about a handsome upperclassman who rejects her. It's outlandish, it's sexist as hell, and it can work.
Ashley sees the trap though, and shuts up, looking to the Board. “I saw what I saw. I approached Captain Gautier. That is it.”
The Board however, isn't so satisfied. “Cadet Carlyle, are you certain you saw what you say you saw?”
Ashley nods, convinced. “First off, I'm not a person who goes into hysterics or gets jealous or jilted. Second, I saw his hands under the desk. Like I told the Board, I don't know what he was doing under the desk, but he had his hands there. And I saw a large faced watch, I thought it looked like a smart watch. That's all.”
The Board seems satisfied, but I can tell they don't quite believe Ashley's story. However, another cadet came to Keith the other day and said he wanted to testify as well. “The Board calls Cadet Benjamin Richards.”
Cade looks surprised, and raises his hand. “Excuse me, but I was not informed about Cadet Richards' testimony.”
“It was in the hearing packet you were given. You may take a moment to discuss this with your JAG rep if you'd like.”
Cade whispers with the JAG officer, who tells him what I checked with Keith when he sent me the update last night. This is totally within the standards of the Honor Committee, as Ben Richards had been interviewed earlier and had been on a potential witness list. Finally, he turns back, and gives us a surly nod. “I'm ready.”
Ben Richards sits down, and after stating his name, begins his testimony. “Second semester last year, I was Cade's roommate. We lived in the second floor of Bradley Barracks, and for the most part got along well. But when the committee came to me to ask about the events in question, I grew angry.”
“Why?” one of the Board members asked, and Ben nods.
“Because when I heard the story, I immediately thought of my smart watch. It was a gift from my grandparents, who thought that I could use it. They didn't quite get the fact that living in Bradley, you can't get a signal outside of the USMA WiFi signal, and that it was basically useless to me except as a toy until I got off post. I didn't even set it up with a carrier, it's no good to me,” Richards says.
“Did you talk with Cadet Edwards about your thoughts?” I ask, and Richards shakes his head. “Why?”
“Because I didn't know, and I didn't want to pile on. The days Cade had French that semester, I had DPE in the mornings second period, and then mech engineering fourth period. Honestly, I usually left the watch in my room most days anyway. But, after I heard about the hearing, I had to know for sure. I feel like crap honestly, not just doing this earlier, and I talked with my TAC about it and my company Honor Rep, I don't know if this is a toleration offense or not. But, Sunday afternoon I checked my watch.”
“Checked it for what?” another board member asks, and Richards sighs.
“I checked the browser history. From up in the DFL classrooms, I know you can get a cell signal, I've seen instructors use cell phones up there. And my watch was sent to me unlocked, my grandparents said they didn't know what provider USMA uses. They're a bit... technically behind. I'd on a whim for a trip to New York set it up with some prepaid data and minutes. It'd been months before, but there was still plenty of data on the plan, I guess. The browser was used during the time of the test, accessing Google Translate.”
“Objection! Calls for conjecture!” Cade shouts, but he shuts up when Ben takes out his watch and stands up. He brings it over to the Board and hands it to me. “Objection!”
“Noted,” I reply, turning on the watch. Out of the corner of my eye, I see Ashley looking on, content, and I shut it off. “Cadet Edwards, the Board will have this verified by the Goldcoats computer experts, but I'd like to give you a chance to question Cadet Richards at this time.”
Cade talks with his JAG rep, who whispers strongly to him. Cade and him argue for a moment, then Cade cuts him off. “Fuck off, it's my only choice!”
Cade turns back to the Board and stands up, putting his hands on the table. “I'd like to change my initial status from contested to admitted. I admit to using the smart watch, I took it from Ben's desk and used it to cheat on the test. I ask for the Board's mercy.”
I look around, willing to take Cade's words at face value, but down on the end, one of the other Firsties, Elise Stuckey, interjects. “And of your statement about Cadet Carylyle? About her being a jilted Plebe that you dumped on? That statement's already been called into question by Cadet Carlyle herself.”
Cade turns red, then looks down. “I hit on her. Cadet Carlyle never violated regulations with me.”
“That had to be hard,” Cara comments as I sit in her room, rubbing at my temples. I'd talk with Ashley, but she's got fifth and sixth period classes right now. I know we'll talk later, but I need to destress right now. “How'd you handle it?”
“We'll see what the Comm and Supe say, but after his more or less lying about Ashley, the Board wasn't feeling very merciful. They recommended separation.”
Cara hums, nodding. “I bet. You never knew Cade Edwards, did you?”
“I'd seen him around DFL, we're both foreign language majors,” I reply, “but our languages didn't overlap. I'm focusing on French and Russian, while he's in Chinese, and I guess French was his secondary language.”
“Then you don't really know how he operates. He and I were in the same battalion as Plebes and Yuks. He made a lot of enemies, not that anyone would really say it to his fac
e. He had that year of prior service, and the TACs loved the guy. I mean, look at him. He's a goddamn recruiting poster brought to life, with that build and everything. But... fuck Simon, he's one of those types who have the up front charisma to work his way into your confidence, but I'd heard from people, he'd use what he learned against you. Never directly, but a lot of people who tried to oppose him got hamstrung when their backs were turned. He tried to come after me at one point when he figured out about my.... never mind.”
I nod, and sit up, sighing. “Either way, it's in the hands above us now. You would have been so proud of Ash, Cara. She sat there and never once blinked. I don't think I had balls that big when I was a first semester Yuk.”
“Not what I've heard, big boy,” Cara teases, then shakes her head. “Jesus, how do you do it?”
“What?” I ask. “Talk about my balls so much?”
“No, you idiot. You realize when I was First Sergeant, the last person I wanted to be buddies with was you? I knew your rep, like I said you tagged Ronnie Mitchell. I've had my fill of players in my life. But now here I am, and you're one of my favorite Firsties in the company. How'd you pull that off?”
“You can thank Ash for that, I think,” I reply honestly. “She's special like that. Kinda like Tammy is, I bet.”
Cara looks over, giving me a measured look, then nods slowly. “Maybe. Either way, I'd say you can spend the rest of today not worrying about the Honor Board, but just be a good boyfriend. Hey, mind if I ask you a personal question on that?”
“Fire for effect, go.”
“You love her?” Cara asks quietly after a moment. “I mean, are you in love with her?”
