Axira Episode One: A Galactic Coalition Academy Series

by Odette C. Bell

  As soon as I did everyone erupted into cheers.

  I could have run all day and into the night, but I didn’t have to. As soon as I had made it another five laps, Ma’tovan marched onto the track and snapped at me to stop. The challenge was over, apparently, and I had passed.

  Everyone cheered.

  I had never been cheered before. I’d heard screams of terror and despair, but never anything like this.

  Elle ran up to me and looped her arms around my neck, even though she had to jump to reach.

  “Oh my god, thank you, thank you, thank you, I can’t believe you did that!” She screamed in my ear.

  It was lucky I was not human, otherwise her shrieks would have caused considerable pain.

  “Wow.” Jason walked up to me and handed me a water canister.

  Then the rest of the crowd flooded forward.

  I realized that I should not stand; a person undergoing my level of supposed exhaustion should collapse, so I made my way to my knees in an appropriately jerky fashion.

  Instantly Jason leaned forward and cupped my arm. “Steady there, don’t want to do yourself an injury. We should get a medical scanner out here,” he said louder.

  “Singh,” Ma’tovan stalked up behind him, “If you are finished giving orders to my recruits, I will take over from here.”

  “Ha, ah, sorry, Lieutenant.” Jason snapped a salute.

  “Medical scanner,” Ma’tovan roared, and his baritone voice shook twice as loud as Jason’s had.

  I sat there on the track until Ma’tovan ordered the rest of the recruits to back off and head to their dormitories for a tour. Though I could have joined them, I stayed there until a medical officer darted out to us, ran some scans, and declared I was fine.

  At that point, I was more than thankful for my subcutaneous device. Not only would it confuse all sensors into thinking I was a Taskarian, I could manipulate it to give the physical readings I chose. I could force it to show that my double Taskarian heart was beating at three times the usual pace, that my body was dehydrated, and that I was suffering from all the appropriate exhaustion symptoms. Nothing that would require intervention, but something appropriate for the situation.

  “For someone who has run for 4 hours in this heat,” the medical officer shuffled around in her case, “You are holding up fine. Taskarians must be hardier than I thought.” She grabbed up a device and pushed it against my neck. It released something into my system.

  My subcutaneous device would eliminate it immediately but would show the appropriate readings that it was working.

  “I … used to be a marathon runner,” I lied.

  “Oh.” The medical officer nodded. “That makes a lot of sense.”

  “Marathon runner, ha?” Jason Singh was still by my side. “We could use you on our track team.”

  “I’m so happy you’re okay.” Elle grabbed my wrist and shook it warmly.

  I reacted immediately. I jerked it back.

  It was automatic. Anything closing around my wrist reminded me of only one thing.

  I practically tugged her off her feet. Her brother had to rush forward to stop her from falling over.

  The medical officer doubled back, surprised.

  They all looked to me for an explanation.

  “I apologize … I have scars there, they are painful,” the admission was honest enough. When I had pulled my bracelets off almost four years ago, it had not been an easy task. They had been connected to me; tendrils had lodged through my skin, travelling up my arms and throughout the rest of my body.

  Pulling them out had been anguish and it had almost killed me.

  Though the rest of my body had healed, my wrists never would. Those tendrils had been lodged in them for 450 years. They had done their damage.

  Now I was left with scars that ran the diameter of my wrist, with deep pockmarks interspersed at even angles.

  I often wore long sleeves to hide them. I had, however, already come to terms with the fact I would not be able to hide them forever. They could be explained away anyway.

  I pulled back my sleeve and revealed them to the medical officer. “I sustained them in a subspace field accident. The matter around them is unstable, and cannot be healed,” I clarified quickly, before she could point out a simple dermal regeneration paste could fix them up, “The instability cannot spread, but I must live with the scars.”

  With that I rose to my feet.

  The medical officer followed, gaze locked on my wrist. “Sounds nasty. I’ve only treated a few subspace field injuries in the past, and it’s never turned out well.”

  “I was fortunate enough to sustain my injury on a Taskarian transport. My people are adept at dealing with these injuries.” I pulled my sleeve down.

  No one challenged me. They all, apart from Ma’tovan, looked sympathetic.

  “I’m so sorry for touching your wrist, I didn’t know.” Elle put her hands up and she crushed her bottom lip between her teeth. “I really hope I didn’t hurt you.”

  “It’s irrelevant.” I turned back to the medical officer. “Am I fit to leave?”

  “By the look of your scans, you're fit to run at least another two laps. But I really don’t suggest it, Recruit; you’ve got to leave some reserves for the rest of your training. If you ever have any trouble with your subspace injuries, come and see me and I’ll see what I can do.”

  “Actually, there is something.” I half turned from her to Ma’tovan. “I request leave, if it is possible, not to wear a wrist device. I would prefer something higher up the arm.”

  The medical officer responded first. She smiled through a laugh. “I reckon we could do that for you.”

  “It is not standard procedure,” Ma’tovan began.

  “The electromagnetic interference from our wrist devices would disrupt her injury. I’ll get your medical leave signed, and I’ll let the guys in the armory know you’ll need something different. Good luck, Recruit.” With that she walked off.

  Apparently the discussion was over, because Ma’tovan did not argue. He did, however, snap at Elle and me that we had to head to the 2nd Dormitory to be assigned our quarters immediately.

  He walked off.

  That had gone better than I had expected. No one, to my knowledge, suspected me of anything other than being a hardened Taskarian marathon runner with an old subspace injury.

  I went to jog to our next destination.

  Immediately Elle stepped in beside me and looped her arm carefully around my arm, careful not to touch my wrist.

  “You must be exhausted. Let me help you, it's the least I can do.” She smiled up at me.

  Her cheeks were still flushed. Her breathing had not yet fully returned to a calm rate. It had been over four hours since she had stopped exerting herself.

  And yet she had stepped to my side to offer me help.

  I did not understand her. Yet I let her help me towards the 2nd Dormitory.

  Chapter 3

  I looked at the snippet of view through my dormitory window. I was in my room, sitting on the corner of my bed, head tilted as I considered the clouds racing beyond.

  Outside in the main room of my apartment, my flat mate was having a party. Despite the sound-proof door and walls, I could hear every footstep, every word, and every breath.

  I’d been invited to join; I’d refused.

  I knew that I could not distance myself too much from my colleagues – I understood the Coalition valued comradeship – but it was unwise to socialize too soon. I was starting to realize I was not as prepared for Academy life as I’d hoped. My mistake this morning on the track was all the evidence I needed that I had to study harder – learn every quirk of soft-fleshed biology and behavior – to fit in.

  Yet rather than study, I was staring at the view.

  I wasn’t emotional – I couldn’t be. 450 years of internment had scraped every care from my body, leaving nothing but cold hard efficiency.

  Despite that fact, I couldn’t ignore
I was … feeling something. It was inside my chest somewhere, or up near my throat, or buried in my cheeks. I didn’t know what the feeling meant.

  I flicked my gaze down to my bare wrists, letting my eyes settle on my scars. Occasionally, when the light came in at a certain angle, you could see them glimmer. I hadn’t lied to the medical technician this morning – they were unstable. I hadn’t told the full story though – they were continually painful, like knives sticking into my hands.

  Ordinarily I wasn’t one to brood. I was one for action. So why was I sitting on this bed staring at the sky again?

  …

  Jason Singh

  I sipped at my drink, wondering why I was here. Okay, I knew: this was my best friend’s little sister’s welcoming party. Still, wasn’t I a little too old for this?

  I saw a recruit bounce in from the corridor. He looked fresh out of high school.

  I was way too old for this.

  I tried to sidle towards the windows to hide behind a large pot plant. It was the only cover I could find.

  I’d stick around for a few more minutes, then make a discreet exit.

  “How’s she for company?” Someone asked.

  I turned to see Mason – my best mate – sidle up with a smile painted over his face.

  “Ah, who are you talking about?”

  “Your date in the corner there.” He gestured towards the pot plant beside me with a shrug of his broad shoulders.

  “Can you please not say the word date in here?” I coughed into my drink. “I’ve suddenly realized how young everyone is. Why did I agree to come here again?”

  “Because it’s my sister's first day at the Academy, and this is her first party – and I want to shoot any potential suitors a real clear warning that if they break her heart, I’ll break theirs.”

  “You mean you’ll date them, string them along until they think it’s serious, and dump them?”

  “Ha, ha. Now shut up, drink your drink, and look menacing.”

  I rolled my eyes and laughed as I took another sip. “Don’t drag me into this. You can do all the menacing on your own. Do I really need to be here?”

  “Yeah, Mandy wants you here. By the way, she has a crush on you,” Mason pointed out with a casual shrug, which he followed up immediately with a stiff waggle of his finger, “But if you—”

  I spread my arms wide in surrender. “Dude, she’s your little sister. That’s never going to happen.”

  “That’s a good answer – I like that answer. Now return to your drink, and start looking menacing already. I know you have it in you – I’ve seen you take on Kore assassins. A couple of upstart spotty recruits shouldn’t be too hard.”

  I shook my head and wondered when I’d be getting out of here.

  Before I could sidle back to the comfort of my plant, Mandy bounced up, playfully hitting Mason on the shoulder then shooting me a red-cheeked smile. “I’m glad you could both make it. It’s so exciting. I mean, I know it gets serious tomorrow when the classes start, but it’s great to get a chance to meet everyone today.”

  “Yes it is,” Mason agreed as he shot a tall young recruit a warning look as the guy walked up to Mandy with a drink in his hand. The recruit – clearly smarter than he looked – quickly turned and gave the drink to someone else.

  Mandy turned her red-cheeked smile on me, and I found myself sinking further towards the plant.

  Realizing I couldn’t stand there in silence, I cleared my throat. “Ah, how are you settling in? How’s your flat mate?”

  Mandy’s broad smile faltered. She shot the closed door on the opposite side of the room a quick look, before leaning in and whispering, “She is so weird.”

  “What do you mean?” Mason asked protectively.

  “She wouldn’t come out for the party.”

  “Maybe she’s just shy,” I offered. “What race is she?”

  “Taskarian.”

  I paused, drink halfway to my lips. “The woman from the track this morning? The one who ran for four goddamn hours in 30 degree heat? Her?”

  “I wasn’t at the track this morning, but a few of my friends were. Yeah, it’s her.”

  “Wow,” Mason looked interested, “I heard about that. Damn, I want to meet this woman.” He looked excitedly over his shoulder at Em’s door.

  I remembered her name – Em. You don’t forget someone like that. News of her exploits this morning had already spread halfway around the Academy. By this time tomorrow morning the whole track team would be lined up outside her door begging her to join.

  “Go and get her to come out,” Mason encouraged his sister. “Jason is probably right, and she’s just shy.”

  “Nah,” Mandy refused. “She’s … weird. Her reactions aren’t normal. It’s like she doesn’t know what you’re saying half the time. She always tilts her head at you in this weird way.”

  I knew that head tilt – I’d seen it this morning.

  “Mandy, this is a big wide galaxy, full of many, many aliens. Not everyone is like you. And the first lesson you need to learn at the Academy is how to get along with people from other species and cultures. Now go ask her to come out so I can meet her.”

  “No way am I going in there,” his sister resisted.

  Maybe I would stick around this party for a little longer. I wanted a chance to talk to Em and thank her for what she’d done for Elle. Without Em’s incredible efforts on the track, Elle would have been cut already.

  Before I could go and do something brave like actually knock on her door, she came out on her own.

  Several mingling recruits scurried out of her way as her statuesque form cut between them. She was less like a body and more like a scythe slicing through the air.

  Without a word or a smile she walked towards the doors, as if in a daze. No, daze wasn’t the right word – she didn’t look confused, just focused.

  “Go make an effort; she’s your flat mate. And bring her over here,” Mason demanded as he pushed his sister forward.

  Mandy reached Em before she could walk through the doors.

  I walked closer to hear their conversation, Mason at my side.

  “Ah, don’t leave – you should join us,” Mandy offered awkwardly as she gave an uncomfortable, toothy smile.

  Em looked at Mandy blankly, as if she had no idea what to do next.

  “Ah, have a drink.” Mandy gestured to a full bottle of Caskcar – one of the most intoxicating drinks in the galaxy.

  Mason had confiscated it after an idiot recruit had offered Mandy a shot.

  Em gave the bottle a quizzical look, returned her gaze to Mandy briefly, then tilted her head at the bottle. Without a word, she reached forward, plucked it up, and poured it down her throat.

  Without flinching.

  Without gurgling.

  Without choking.

  Without passing out.

  The whole party went silent, several people dropping their drinks. Mandy made a wheezing sound as she sucked in a long breath of air.

  Em finished, without spilling a drop, and returned the empty bottle to the counter. “I’ve finished your drink. I have enjoyed this party. We should do it again sometime. Goodbye.” She turned and walked for the door.

  Mandy stood there with her mouth wide open. “Y-you weren’t meant to finish the drink. T-that’s really alcoholic.”

  Em paused. She tilted her head. “I apologize. You offered it to me. I misunderstood. If you require compensation, I will oblige.”

  “No, I mean are you okay? You just drank a whole bottle of Caskcar.”

  Em’s expression changed. Slightly. You had to be looking at her as closely as I was to even pick it up. Her gaze quickly darted over the shocked, awed crowd. “I am fine. Do not worry about me, I used to … drink professionally.”

  “You … what?”

  “I am fine. I should leave now. Enjoy the rest of your party.” With that, Em walked away, shot the empty bottle a calculating look, then promptly exited through the stunned crowd
and into the hall.

  Mason leaned close to me. “Holy shit,” his voice shook, “Who the hell is that woman? Did you see that?”

  I saw it alright.

  “How can she be standing? I mean, I know Taskars are different to humans, but dammit, Caskcar is some of the most lethal shit this side of engine plasma. Do you think we should go and check on her to make sure she’ll be fine?”

  “I’ll do it,” I offered bravely, moving through the party before Mason had a chance to go in my place.

  I left Mandy standing in a sea of her friends, all madly discussing what Em had just done.

  Wow, the woman had only been here for a day, and she was already the talk of the Academy.

  What would she get up to tomorrow?

  Chapter 4

  I needed to be more careful. I appreciated that now. As I sat down to my first class and registered the awed expressions of my classmates, I understood I had made another mistake.

  I could hear them all mumbling amongst themselves – even the ones still out in the corridor. They were discussing the fact I had imbibed one of the most intoxicating drinks in the galaxy and that I was still standing.

  I briefly considered faking some kind of illness, but thought better of it. It would be worse – in my estimation – to end up drunk in the med bay on my first day than to endure rumors.

  I lifted my chin and stared at the podium at the front of the hall, waiting for the lecture to begin. Before it could, someone sat next to me. This was unusual, as thus far every recruit had gone to extreme lengths to sit as far from me as they could.

  “Hey, I thought you could use some company.” Elle Singh sat, somehow out of breath even though she’d only climbed ten steps to reach me.

  I looked at her impassively, then quickly realized a rumor I was unfriendly and weird was also spreading, and I tried to smile.

  I wasn’t used to smiling. I felt like I was hanging my cheeks up on nails.

  If Elle noticed something strange, she didn’t say anything. “So, how was your first day yesterday? I decided not to go to any parties last night, and hit the books instead.”