I noted two of my cohorts from the Science Wing and waved. They ignored me, which was what I would’ve done a few months ago. What had spending time with Dax and Vega done to me? Had I become too social? Depending on others for validation of my worth?
No, I knew I was worth something. At least my brain was. The rest of me could be replicated in a genetics lab with a few properly chosen strings of DNA.
It was break time, and I could decide on my next activity. My stomach rotated and squeezed. Definitely going to eat first... No, I was going to find Dax and see if he would like to eat with me.
I did a quick calculation on how long it would take to locate him, return to the mess hall, socialize, then return to my quarters. I'd only fit in an hour, maybe two of review. Nanami certainly wasn't out looking for cute boys.
But if the Lazarus had taught me anything, it was that Dax and I were better together. Even though intelligence was probably the essential ingredient for success, sometimes it took cooperation to succeed.
And sometimes even friendship and comfort.
If I had to sacrifice a few minutes of study, then I would. Dax gave me the room to be me without disapproval, and that was stellar.
I’d decided.
I would locate Dax, and we would dine together. My first class in the morning was target practice. I couldn't study for that.
The other cadets worked out in gym pods, flew flight simulators, and crowded study rooms.
Everyone here was serious, talented, and brilliant. Maybe I should have gone back to my bunk and powered through a few chapters of aeronautics?
No. No. After the last few days, I needed to downshift and breathe. It would have been even better if we could’ve connected with Vega as well, but she had a date with her Jess. I'd never really thought of him as a flesh and blood person that I might someday meet. I'd always kind of pictured Vega with Ethan. Even though he'd lied, I understood his reason. It was orders. And he had helped us in the end. I didn't care who she chose to spend time with, but I hoped it made her happy and maybe a little less bossy, if possible.
“Location for Dax Smith.”
My wristlet purred in a cute chibi voice I'd programmed, “Cadet Smith assigned to engineering, Lower deck 5. Take lift 2...”
“Stop,” I ordered.
I knew where I was going now. The map of the entire station sprawled in my brain. I had to concentrate on holding it, or I'd be staring into space for hours lost in the details. The entire Mil-station, which had thousands of substations and satellites, was enormous.
The lift had no openings to allow in the last natural light of the evening. I was going to one of the oldest parts of the station. Two other recruits shared the ride, wearing the same outfit I had on but with two stars on their left front breast. They were second years.
I shifted and tensed. Older cadets could haze the first years. I'd been unscathed so far, but from the shifty side-eyes I was getting, I figured my luck just ran out.
“What's a gen-mod doing at the Academy? Don't you just dress up and go to parties? What are you going to do when one of those aliens grabs you? Pretty it to death?”
The boy was not a gen-mod, with a narrow face and an overbite that made his chin disappear, and his friend wasn’t much better. But appearances weren’t everything. No matter what my parents thought.
“I survived a tour on the Lazarus, so I’m not concerned.” I didn’t want to interact with them.
The lift languidly moved between the floors. I’d been on auto sidewalks that moved faster.
I willed the floors to tick down faster.
“You saw some action? We should go to the rec lounge, grab a Hub whiskey, and you can tell me all about it.”
“No.” I refused to look at him now. I’m sure Vega would have told me that not meeting his eyes was a sign of submission and that he would now look at me as prey. Honestly, many studies would have confirmed—
He touched my arm, wrapping his fingers tightly just above my elbow. A sick feeling coated my innards. I was still sore from the combat lesson, and he wasn’t helping. I attempted to jerk away, but he tightened his grip.
“Come on. Be nice. Now that you’re in the Academy, you know you have to do whatever the upperclassmen tell you.” He leaned in close to my ear, his hot breath against my cheek. “Whatever we tell you.” His friend chuckled and leered, moving in closer.
Chapter Thirty-One
Amelie
A shiver ran through me, then fear. I didn’t want to know what the slug meant by that. I searched back in my head for the time Vega had forced me to stop studying and given me a self-defense lesson. Of course, I remembered every detail down to the light smell of pears on her breath.
It was the application that was hard.
“Act. Don’t think,” she’d said. “Hit them in these vulnerable parts.” She pointed to her solar plexus and allowed me a mock hit. I tapped her, and she’d smiled. “Good. Much harder if they’re attacking you. The nose, eyes, and groin are all options.”
I was at a bad angle for the solar plexus, but a quick upward strike would hit his nose. But what if I was wrong? He was a superior officer. What if I was misreading the situation like I always did?
He swiveled me around to face him. His skin was flushed, face angry. He captured my other arm now, and a low-grade panic seized me. The places that I’d bruised earlier ignited again, and I struggled to pull my arms free.
“Be nice, and I won’t report you for insubordination. You know Galileo here might have to testify that I gave you orders that you ignored...” I stopped wiggling.
No. That wasn’t right, but they might believe him over me.
Three floors to go.
I had no idea what they could do in that amount of time or what they could do after we stopped.
This would not happen. I would not allow it.
If I’d wanted to be a plaything, I would’ve stayed on the flipping Sat. I would defend myself, no matter the consequences.
I brought up my knee, hard and fast, and connected with his groin. He released me instantly, doubling over and coughing. I took my shot at his nose but didn’t get a proper angle. He still went down. But now his friend loomed.
But it wouldn't matter because we'd be on Dax's floor in seconds, and then I could get help.
His friend stepped away from me, and I almost slumped in relief.
Except, he reached out to touch the emergency button. The downward motion of the lift stopped. My heart shuddered in my chest. I didn't have the element of surprise, and he was much bigger than me and shaped like a humbleball forward.
He wasn't quite as unattractive as his friend, but he had a broad plain face, and his lips were pulled back in what may have been some semblance of a smile. More likely an evolutionary throwback to an animalistic intimidation tactic.
I shook myself and pushed back into the far corner. No time to analyze. He gathered for an attack. I needed another method of defense, but my brain, as usual, failed me when I needed it most. Stepping forward over his still moaning friend, the cadet dug his hands into my arms hard. I yelped.
“That wasn't nice. Gerold was just trying to be friendly.”
My pinned hands quivered. My heart revved in my chest caused by another adrenaline dump. My instincts all screamed for me to break his hold and flee, but where? I was locked in this box.
“Don't worry. Maintenance is coming.” A voice sounded over the com.
“Help!” I yelled, hoping they’d realize more than the elevator was in jeopardy.
“Maintenance is coming,” the speaker repeated.
By the fiery moons of Heres, I should've been smarter than that. “I'm being attacked—”
The boy's plate sided hand covered my mouth and chin. My words came out a muffled mess mixed with screaming.
I'd gotten used to having Vega or Dax around to step in and help. I should've been more prepared. He smashed my head against the back of the wall.
“Is there trouble d
own there?”
“Another word and I'll smash your face,” he whispered in a sweet tone.
I stopped yelling.
“Just a girl who's gotten a bit hysterical. We're fine.”
The lift's com light died. My heart twisted in my chest. Every self-defense vid-clip and class that I'd ever taken flashed in pops of information in my mind.
His friend drunkenly recovered his feet.
“Not sure how much time we have, but I think we can still have some fun. What do you think, Gerold?
“No fun. Hurt her. No Sat-Deb is going to bruise my junk.”
All thought blanked. His hand cut off my air, and I gasped through his sausage-link fingers, the scent of rotten meat and sweat coating them. I was only breath and heart and relentless pressure on my face, crushing force. He removed his hand, and I sucked in air.
Were they going to let me go after all?
Then his grip moved to my shoulders.
Calm came over me like a glass of ice water poured on my head. I had to treat this like any other mathematical or logic problem. The world slowed down as the big guy threw me back against the lift wall.
Overpowering them wasn't an option. I didn't have the physical strength. They would be expecting an attack, but what if I tried something they didn't expect?
What did I have to combat them? My brain.
Pictures and manuals and diagrams flooded my mind, but I focused this time. Lifts only. The military station only. I narrowed the search.
The boy rolled his hands into fists, roughly the size of my face.
I'd been in bad situations before, almost died, but this was different. The fear I felt was primal and made me want to shut down and hide and cry for my nannybot.
My weakness rankled. There had to be a way out.
Vega had shown me that time and again.
The schematics for the lift filtered into my attention again, and I almost shooed it off like an annoying auto-pollinator, but this time I examined it more thoughtfully. Ah, there it was.
I acted resigned. Head bowed, and shoulders slumped.
He drew back.
I'd only have a second.
He lashed out at me. Springing forward, my hand connected with the emergency stop button. I compressed and twisted three times hard to the right. The cable moaned, and our downward motion started again but faster.
“What did you do?” The big one grabbed me from behind, fingers like claws.
The lift jerked and slammed to a stop so hard it broke the boys hold on me and knocked them both to the floor. The doors separated.
A group of gray-clad cadets and two members of the repair team crowded the exit.
With adrenaline-fueled strength, I yanked away and stumbled into the hall. All eyes fell on me.
My hair had fallen from its bun, and my face still had moisture from my angry tears. Why did I always cry when I was furious? I felt numb and took a few steps into the hall and leaned heavily against one of the curved walls.
Movement was happening around me. Someone asked me what happened. I think it was security. The lift techs had detained the two boys.
I was taken to a small white room. I gave a monotone description of what happened.
“The situation will be dealt with,” the female officer said. “From your account, you were defending yourself. Don’t worry. They won’t bother you again.”
“I'm not worried,” I said in a dry tone. “They should be worried.”
She nodded, and our eyes met.
“We’re required to keep you for observation,” the medic said. “Lie down on the table and relax. You’ll be released soon.”
I snorted and threw myself down on one of the half dozen cots. Cold and alone, my heart ached for comfort. My heart ached for Dax.
Chapter Thirty-Two
Dax
The Engineering Barrack was hot. Like hotter than the Hub, hotter than Sol, hotter than Hell, if there was one.
My mental state slid downward, and I didn't know how to stop it. Just three days at the Academy, and I'd struggled and failed at every trial. Only engineering class had gone well. But what did that qualify me for? Being a mechanic. I’d be sentenced to these super-heated depths to keep the station running. Even if I got assigned on a star cruiser, my life would be in the engine room or on the flight deck, watching from the sidelines, taking readings, and tinkering with gadgets.
I'd never lead or fly or fight.
There were worse things. The small logical spot in my brain told me. I could be like my parents. But I'd never let that happen. A job in engineering was better than anything I could have gotten in the Hub. It was secure and steady and easy, but I kind of hated it. I'd tasted another life now, and this was way too mundane.
Rising from the slab the Mil-station called a bunk, I paced to work off my tension. I'd have dinner and come back to get some rest. There had been some commotion with the lift, so I'd taken the stairs.
I'd had high hopes for the food in the mess at the Academy, but my hopes crashed the moment I crossed the threshold.
Same globs, different plate.
I searched for a sign of Amelie or Vega but settled on the kid from class. Or should I say work? I'd learned nothing in those pits besides how to be a grunt when the bots couldn't do something.
“You’d think the Academy would have better food than the ships.”
“You were on a ship? Which one? Man, I’d love to get out there. Was it stellar?” He fired questions at me.
“I did a tour on the Lazarus.” That answer avoided mentioning my Hub background and tilted the conversation in a way I could control. I scooped in a bit of glob that didn't even need chewing and waited for the next barrage.
“Oye, by Sol mate, you’ve been on a battlecruiser. Did you get to pilot? Why are you back? The Lazarus isn't even in port.”
I held up a hand. I was already tired from the day, and that was way too many questions to answer.
I missed Vega and Amelie. Am liked to talk, but she was always sharing interesting things, and Vega made me laugh. I scanned the group again and remembered that V had said something about a friend, so maybe she'd been diverted, but Am... She should be here by now.
A bit of unease crept up in my belly, and it wasn't from the glob that tasted like mashed potatoes and meat puree.
“I got to fly a bit. We were chosen to come back to the Academy to train to be officers.” A fat lot of good that did.
But I was out of harm's way and still with my friends. It wasn't like me to dwell on negative things.
I had to shake it off.
The kid had forgotten his food as he leaned forward over the long table. “You have to tell me everything. Who did you come with?”
Chewing quickly, I swallowed and let the room's general din smooth my unease. Am had probably already eaten or was eating in her cabin so she could study.
Maybe I'd check on her after. “I came with a planetborn girl, Vega, and another girl named Amelie from the EDU.” I almost mentioned Ethan. He'd been a part of our team for so long it felt strange leaving him out. But he was an officer already, a trainer now. That was another story Vega owed me.
“That's strange. Amelie?”
The weird tension ramped up.
“Yes.” Maybe he just wanted to figure out if he knew them. But something in his expression shifted, and his face took on a pallor.
“Earlier, when I was waiting for the lift, a girl was attacked right on our floor. I thought they called her Amelie, but I could...”
I stood up and dropped my spoon. “What did she look like?” It couldn't have been my Amelie. What would she be doing on engineering levels? Plus, only a handful of people had gen-mod looks here.
“She was mega pretty with blond hair. It looked like she had it long.”
I didn't say goodbye. I ran, taking the stairs down. The sprint didn't affect me, as I reached my floor and bolted to the security desk.
The man behind the desk's head popped up at
my approach.
“Amelie. Is Amelie Dupree here? Is she okay?” My words came out breathless. The harsh piston of my heart drummed blood in my ears.
Be okay. Be okay. Be okay.
“That is not the proper way to interact with a superior officer, squab.” He rose, pushing back. I was bigger than him, but he puffed out his chest as if the tiny star on it meant anything.
I ground my teeth together to maintain my temper. “I'm looking for Cadet Amelie Dupree. I was told she was attacked and may be here.”
I failed to keep the disgust off of my face. My lip twitched like I'd smelled something rancid. His need for power when someone was obviously worried and frantic was disgusting. I'd run across a lot of officers that had the same notions that taking training classes and passing tests made you more worthy than someone else.
In my mind, it didn't make you anything. Your actions toward others meant a lot more. But what did I know? I'd let Am fall into danger—again.
The man pulled up a holo display and ran a finger down it. He snorted. “She's in the infirmary on this floor. Do you have a pass?”
“I'm off duty.”
One of his overly bushy eyebrows rose.
I opened my wrist com and flashed the display that read in large red letters, Off Duty. He sniffed and waved me away as if I were a trash gnat looking for dinner. If we'd met on the Hub, I very well might have punched him, but here I had to salute him. It seemed five kinds of wrong.
I about-faced and let my wrist map guide me to the room. Every piece of me prayed to Sol and the Corp Gods and my ancestors that Amelie would be okay.
The portal was closed. I turned the handle and pulled open the heavy round door. The room was small, just an ancillary for the large infirmary on the main level.
Two people occupied the area. A female officer in a white coat with a hover clipboard and a cadet lying down on a hover cot with golden hair spilling over the edge. Amelie.
“Am,” I said in a hoarse whisper and shambled forward, then stopped, then moved forward again. What if she didn't want to see me?
Cadet: Star Defenders Book Two: Space Opera Adventure Page 16
