“You’ve had these dreams before?” she said with a scowl beginning to form on her face.
“I didn’t think much of it before,” I said before looking back at my food. “Then my dream had the headmaster fighting with someone,” I said before looking up in worry. They frowned at me before looking to one another. The silence lasted only a moment longer before the door to the infirmary opened and the headmaster walked in.
Madam Matron was behind him and so were my sisters. I paused and did a double take before my eyes widened and I smiled widely. They were finally back from their tour! “Tulip! Daisy!” I said excitedly, moving my tray to my side.
“Bulb!” they both said at the same time, moving past Madam Matron and the headmaster. I heard a shriek and jumped, looking to Silver, who was now beginning to scream and shake Leatre.
“It’s the Galaxy Girls! It’s the Galaxy Girls!” she cried. I frowned for a moment before remembering that they were famous and settling back. Leatre looked to Tulip and Daisy before beginning to cry and I looked to Lollipop for help. Lollipop was vibrating in her seat so I abandoned the notion of help from her and looked to Eagalia. She was biting her lip and grinning like a lunatic so I meekly looked to Gypsy, who just looked confused.
“Who are the Galaxy Girls?” she asked lowly. Lollipop looked to her before laughing and standing, pointing to my now frozen sisters.
“The Galaxy Girls are the greatest rock pop duo from all time. The only person who beats them out is Amelia Galaxy herself!” Lollipop said before turning to them and grinning. “Hi! I’m Lisa!” she said with a bright smile. Tulip and Daisy snapped out of their stupor and gave her a smile before looking to me.
“Bulb!” Tulip cried before heading over and giving me a tight hug. I hugged her back before pulling away and giving her a small smile.
“Madam Matron called us and told us about you collapsing! We hurried here as quickly as possible,” Daisy said as she walked over and hugged me as well. I hugged her back before looking to the others. Silver and Leatre were still having a melt down and Gypsy just looked confused. Lollipop and Eagalia seemed to be attempting to play it cool and I looked to Tulip then Daisy. They were identical twins with dark brown eyes and short brown hair. They were dressed in tight black pants, black boots, and designer red leather jackets.
“Are you related to Rosie?” Gypsy asked curiously. They looked to her briefly before nodding curtly.
“We’re her older sisters,” Tulip said before frowning and looking down at me. “We’re sorry about mom and pop. We spoke to them for a little, but mom didn’t seem like she wanted to talk. Pop sounded sad though so that’s something,” she said before running a hand through her hair. I frowned deeply before moving back a bit when Daisy ran her hand through my hair.
“Whoa, wicked streak Bulb. When did you dye it in?” she asked with a grin. I blinked before fingering the greying streak in my hair.
“Uh it just started to appear,” I said awkwardly while Tulip and Daisy began to talk about something. I rolled my eyes at them before looking to Headmaster Rockefeller. He was speaking to Madam Matron and I quickly slipped from bed.
“Careful Rosie,” Lollipop said softly while Gypsy gently grabbed my arm to keep me steady. I tossed her a thankful smile before gathering my bearing and walking over to the headmaster. He stopped talking to Madam Matron and looked down at me with a frown on his face.
“I’m sorry for putting so much pressure on you Rosie,” he said lowly, but I shook my head. That really was moot and point now.
“It’s alright, but I’ve been having some dreams that are concerning,” I began. He frowned and I swallowed before looking down. “I have weird dreams about…..different lives I guess you could say. Sometimes I’m a woman named Betty Joe and I’m some kind of space biker. In other dreams I’m a military man by the name of Sylvester. I’ve been going through different dreams and they’re confusing. Do you know what’s going on?” I asked. He looked surprised and disturbed, but nodded to me slightly.
“My old teacher, the man you dreamt of, told me he could see his mother’s life through his eyes. Neutral Navigators aren’t just created Rosie. They’re genetic,” he said softly. I frowned before looking at him in confusion.
“My dad never had a mother. He grew up in an orphanage,” I said softly. The headmaster nodded before looking down at me with a somber expression.
“His mother, Brenda, was a brilliant soul and it was tragic when she passed. Neutral Navigators don’t last long, they usually live to earlier thirties, early forties if their lucky,” he said before shaking his head.
“You knew pop’s mom?” I said lowly. He nodded before sighing sadly, his white eyes meeting mine and his hand touching my shoulder.
“I’ve realized that I’ve been done nothing, but put pressure on you. I’m very sorry for that. Was there anything else you saw in your dreams?” he asked. I frowned before touching my chest and looking to him with a frown.
“I saw myself…..someone…..die. I was in some kind of room and you were fighting with this man. He had black hair and black eyes. He smiled at me,” I said before looking to the now pale headmaster.
“Hector,” he growled out before straightening out. “Don’t worry about him. He’s gone and he can’t ever come back, please try to get some rest,” he said before turning and leaving quickly. I frowned after him and looked to the others, who looked to me warily.
Chapter 10
The Challenge
I laughed along with Silver while Gypsy performed some kind of awkward dance, Eagalia looking at her in confusion. “Are you some kind of human chicken?” she asked desperately, looking to the timer then groaning when it went off. Gypsy groaned as well before stomping her foot and glaring at Eagalia in anger.
“I was an enraged bull!” she snapped before stomping over to my bed and taking a seat. She glared at Eagalia, who stuck her forked tongue out at her then pouted. I patted her lap in sympathy before waving Silver to perform her routine so I could figure out what she was. Leatre and Lollipop were talking about my sister’s coming concert and I hummed softly as I leaned against Gypsy. In the two weeks after my talk with the headmaster, my dreams had calmed down and now they were the unusual things they had once been. I was sitting with my friends more and it seemed to offend Shasha, which was a plus in my books. I laughed as Silver began to make unusual symbols with her hands, urging me to start guessing.
“Uhhhhh dog?” I tossed out. She shook her head before beginning to make the shape of a rabbit. I raised an eyebrow when she made an eating motion with her hands. I hummed in thought before grinning widely and pointing at her. “Eating rabbit!” I said, laughing when she nodded and skipped over to my spot.
“Cheaters!” Gypsy cried before flopping back. I squeaked and fell over, landing on her stomach before squirming when Silver began to tickle me. I began to laugh and tried to shove Silver away while Gypsy began to help her.
“Help your leader!” I cried to Eagalia. She just tossed me a bored look before snickering and beginning to tickle Gypsy. I managed to get away from Silver and calm down before pausing when I heard someone knock on the door. I frowned and headed over and opened it, jumping when something was shoved into my face. I hesitantly took the paper from the person in front of me before looking up at a smug looking Shasha. Her group was behind her and I looked down at the paper curiously. It was a flyer for something called the War Games so I looked back at her in confusion. “What’s this for?” I asked. Her smug look grew deeper before she pushed her way into the room and shot my team a sneer.
“The War Games. Navigators have rank here in the school and we fight to either go higher or lower on the scale. The first week of October begins our little school’s competition and it lasts until the end of the school year. All new students start on level one well all except you. You tested into level two. That means that you can be challenged by another level two. That’s why I’m here. I’m here to challenge you,” she said before pointi
ng at the paper in my hands. “The first war games of the year. You and me fight it out,” she said. I frowned and was about to refuse, but Lollipop moved ahead of me and nodded with a grin on her face.
“Boss accepts! Let’s play another game. A game of bets,” she proposed with a glee filled smile. I looked at her in horror and then to Shasha, who now looked curious.
“What do you propose?” she asked curiously. Lollipop smirked before nodding to the door and winking at me.
“I’ll talk to you outside,” she said before tugging her out of the room. Ranger, Ruter, N, Tem and Liornia stood awkwardly in my room for a few moments before Shasha and Lollipop returned. Shasha was beaming and looked to me in excitement before extending her hand out.
“Deal. Shake my hand now,” she demanded. I frowned and reluctantly took her hand before shaking it and watching as she moved back and grinned at me darkly. “I’ll see you at the games,” she said with a sneer. Her and her group marched out of the room and I looked to Lollipop with a glare.
“What did you promise her?” I asked. She just grinned at me before looking to Gypsy.
“Nothing just relax and win the War Games,” she said before shaking her head. I sighed and rubbed my head before heading for the door.
“I’m going to go talk to Headmaster Rockefeller about this okay?” I said before running off.
“I’m very excited for you to be partaking in this year’s War Games! It’s a good thing that you and Shasha will be dueling this year. I will be notifying the council so they can observe! Madam Matron will be crafting your uniforms and the other Navigators will be coming down to observe you in action as well!” he gushed, beginning to fluttered about his office. I scowled slightly and sank in my seat as he rushed passed me then cleared my throat to catch his attention. He paused before stopping and looking at me, his eyes widening before he walked over. “We’ll also call your sisters so they can watch too! Don’t worry Rosie! I’ll take care of everything!” he said with a smile while I sighed before rubbing my forehead and scowling at him.
“Sir. I don’t know what the War Games even intel,” I said lowly. He stopped before groaning and rubbing his face.
“Of course! I didn’t think you were going to try to join in so I never thought of tell you about them!” he said as he marched over to Henny. He turned her on before waving his hand over her sensors and bringing up the school’s stadium.
“Good afternoon Gregory! How are you and Rosie?” the machine asked in a cheery voice.
“Hello Henny. I need you to explain the War Games to Rosie while I handle some things,” he said before rushing out of the room.
“Right’o! Good afternoon Rosie! The War Games are just as its name suggest! War Games is a sport that the school takes very seriously because this is how the students growth and progress is measured! The War Games pits one student against another and their objective is to “arrest” the other team! Students are assigned a pistol and baton as well as a specialty item,” Henny said before growing quiet. I frowned deeply before heading over to her and waving my hand over her sensors.
“I was wondering something,” I began, trailing off as I tried to think about how to phrase my thoughts. I shook my head after a moment before frowning at Henny and tapping my finger on part of her surface. “Do you know anything about a Chaotic Navigator by the name of Hector?” I asked. Henny let out a whine before her lights flashed then dulled.
“Wh-Why do you want to know about him?” she asked nervously. I frowned before looking away and running a hand through my hair.
“He appeared in my dreams once…….something about him seems familiar and I don’t think it’s because of the memory dreams I was having,” I said. Henny whined lightly again before releasing a robotic sigh and lighting up again. A holographic image of a man appeared and I took a moment to examine it. He had black eyes and a crazy looking crooked looking smile. His hair was wild and messy around his face and his face looked long and hollow.
“Hector Gomez was one of the greatest True Chaotic Navigators on the roster before he first encountered the Hive Queen. He saved several planets from total annihilation before disappearing for two years and returning to a celebration for the True Navigators. He brought with him a piece of the Hive Queen and caused a revolt within the True Chaotic Navigator ranks. The group attempted to branch off and away from the Alien Space Council. In a panic, the council ordered the execution of over three hundred True Chaotic Navigators and their families. The death toll was well over the thousands. Hector continued to try to destroy the remaining True Navigators and succeeded for a brief moment. He killed almost all of the True Navigators, sparing True Chaotic Navigator Heather Bridges, Twin True Lawful Navigators Henry and Honey Lawrence, and True Lawful Navigator Gregory Rockefeller.” Henny said before falling silent.
“What happened to True Neutral Navigator Brenda?” I asked. Henny sighed sadly before another face appeared and I was surprised with how closely I looked to the woman. She looked tired, dark circles under her grey eyes and her black hair was long. It had a grey streak through it and she was wearing a red VISOR.
“True Neutral Navigator Brenda Williams was on a mission with both Gregory and Hector when Hector betrayed them both. At the time they didn’t know about Hector’s involvement with the Chaotic uprising so it surprised them both. Brenda was the first and only casualty. Gregory managed to restrain and knock Hector unconscious while Brenda bled out,” she said lowly.
“The council was quick to sentence Hector to death, but as a mercy for his deeds before his insanity…they changed his sentencing to banishment. He’s alive, but can never return,” I heard. I jumped and spun around, staring at Gabrielle in shock. She looked tired and almost glided into the room, stopping at Henny’s side and gently running her finger over the machine’s side. Henny buzzed to life and a gleeful sound came from her.
“Gabby?! Is it really you?!” she squealed. Gabrielle chuckled before gently patting her and nodding.
“Yes. I’ve been busy the last few centuries and I’m sorry I haven’t come to visit you,” she said lowly before looking at me. I nervously looked away and began to pick at my pants leg while she sighed.
“What are you doing asking Henny about Hector anyway?” I heard Gabrielle ask. I hesitantly scratched at my cheek before shrugging.
“I was having funny dreams about things and his name came up,” I said before looking to her. She was frowning, but shook her head before walking over to a chair and taking a seat.
“Well then, just ignore me,” she said before waving me off. I waved to her awkwardly before looking back at Henny and rubbing my chin in thought. I remembered my first nightmare and frowned before leaning towards Henny.
“Henny do you think Navigators have some kind of psychic link or something?” I asked. Henny hummed then paused before laughing.
“Not really. They can sense one another when they’re close by, but other than that they don’t have some kind of psychic link…..well other than the reincarnation thing with the neutrals,” she said. I heard coughing and looked back at Gabrielle, who was coughing into her hand and looking at Henny in a disturbed manner.
“Reincarnation?” she said lowly before getting up and walking over. “What do you mean by reincarnation?” Gabrielle demanded.
“Neutrals share the ability with their children and pass it on. They pass on their memories,” I heard. I looked up and at the door where Headmaster Rockefeller stood. Gabrielle spun around and marched over to him before stabbing him in the chest with her finger.
“You told me that Betty Joe was gone! You told me I was crazy when I kept telling you my bond with her was still their! You made me believe I was insane!” she spat before waving to me. “Now I’m barely finding out that my love is in her!” she snarled. I flushed and looked away before awkwardly moving for the door.
“Well I should go,” I began before yelping when Gabrielle turned to me. Her eyes were filled with tears and some were streaming down
her face while her hands were clenched at her sides.
“Sit your ass down,” she hissed. I quickly took a seat while Gabrielle rounded on the headmaster and began to yell at him. I awkwardly fiddled with my pants leg again while they argued and sighed before looking to Henny and frowning. Something about Hector didn’t sit well with me. Just the part with him never returning from the far reaches of space.
I shook my head before turning back and watching as Gabrielle puffed up, her wings shifting on her back. “I’m not through with you Gregory!” she snarled before looking to me and frowning slightly. A sad look appeared on her face before she spun on her heel and stomped off. Headmaster Rockefeller sighed heavily before walking over to his desk and taking a seat, rubbing his face before frowning at me.
“Everything is set up. What were you talking to Henny about?” he asked. I shifted in place before looking down and mumbling out what I had asked her. The room fell silent and I looked to him nervously. He was frowning deeply and gently tapping out a rhythm on his desk while I looked to Henny.
“Sir…Gabrielle said that Hector’s gone, but is he really?” I asked, looking back to Headmaster Rockefeller. Headmaster Rockefeller sighed before shaking his head and frowning.
“Hector is crafty and he is devious, but you are safe,” he said gently before reaching over and grabbing my hand. I nodded and he gave me a gentle smile before moving back. “Now! Let’s get talking about your first War Games!”
Chapter 11
War Games
I stood in front of the full length mirror and examined my combat uniform more closely, smoothing my hand over the material. The black full body suit was snug and the white metal armor on my chest was thinnish. The white metal shoulder pads were curved to my body and the white metal bicep armor moved with my motions. The white metal armor was on my right forearm while the transparent blue brace was on the other.
Starstream Academy (The Navigators Book 1) Page 8
