“Eep, eeeep, eeeep!” Marion chirped, bouncing around the room like a pogo stick. Levi wondered if this creature would be more or less annoying with proper gravity.
“Shhhhh, it’s alright,” Levi cooed. He bent down to help clean up the mess on the floor and noticed something out of place amongst the orange pieces. The art had been some sort of hollowed out blown glass, and when he picked up a large piece of debris, he saw a photograph stuffed inside of it. He picked it up and turned it over, shocked at what he saw. A younger Bale stood smiling next to a younger Pila. They looked to be teenagers, carefree and happy.
Levi stared in disbelief that this photo had been hidden away in an ugly hanging art sculpture. Bale obviously knew Pila from many years ago. Levi remembered Bale growing quiet when Bockie mentioned him not having a child. Could Bale be Talon’s father? From looking at the picture, and the love shared between him and Pila, it did not appear to be an implausible scenario.
“What happened here?” Bale’s voice sounded behind Levi. “Marion, sheshan namay fi tulee,” he soothed in a musical sounding dialect.
He was a Sydces. The creature calmed down almost instantly. Bale looked at Levi and the photograph in his hand but said nothing.
“What is this, Bale?” Levi asked frowning. “Are you Talon’s father?”
Bale sighed dramatically, knowing he had been cornered. “No. I am Talon’s uncle…Pila was my sister.”
Silence fell over the room. Even Marion sat quietly chewing his foot.
“You’re a Sydces,” Levi stated.
His eyes shot wide. “I wasn’t aware that anyone in your family knew Pila and Talon’s race. You must have seen Talon recently.”
“Yes, last night. So you are the uncle that’s giving her a place to stay right now? She thinks you are back on Dedrake. Why are you lying to her? She needs family right now.”
“Because she is not supposed to be involved, per her mother’s wishes,” Bale explained. “And I would like it if you kept her out of this.”
“She is already in it. And do you blame her? She is trying to find out why her mother was killed. A better question is, why are you in it?” Levi asked.
“Pila left me a voicemail the morning she was killed. She was acting very strange,” Bale began. “She said if anything were to happen to her that I look after Talon and your family. When she was murdered I offered Talon a safe place to stay, and as for your family, representing your mom is the best way I can help her. It was just as much a surprise to me that Axella was arrested. I still don’t understand how your mother is involved in any of it, but I do not want to make Talon known to my presence until it’s settled.” Bale stood in thought for several moments. “Can you think of any more leads?”
He knew about a connection Bale didn’t...Pila wrote that note. If Bale knew the truth, he would never let Talon and Levi go talk to Utpal at the Revolution Lounge, seeing as Bale had to keep a dead mother’s wish to keep Talon safe. Talon deserved this lead more than Bale and the two of them could do just as good a job as Bale’s so-called ‘team.’
“No.”
10 OHmani academy high
Levi promised himself that as soon as he and Talon were done talking to Utpal, he would fill Bale in on the lead. One day wouldn’t make or break the case. He heard his phone ding. It was Fletch.
What’s up? Are you coming to school today?
Crap, he had forgotten spring break was over. How could he go gamboling off to school when his mom was in OSP custody? He didn’t have the time nor the emotional capacity for school right now. Axella would probably want him to go but he couldn’t help her from behind a desk, and Bockie was too scatter-brained to remember. Ding. It was Bockie.
Go to school.
Damn that woman and her athletic neurons. He began to type back to Fletch.
Yes, I’ll be there.
Ok, cool. I’ll meet you out front by the flag. You can’t miss it.
An hour later, he was standing below the Ohmani flag, which was striped blue, green, and brown to represent the colors shared by Earth and Dedrake. Students were pouring out of floating school buses and personal vehicles to Levi’s left. Others were riding up the sidewalk on hover-boards and bikes, or walking and chatting excitedly in groups. The students had uniforms, which consisted of brown close-toed shoes, a brown and green plaid skirt for the girls or a pair of brown slacks for the boys; and a navy blue collared shirt. The boys wore green ties but the girl’s uniform was just left unbuttoned at the neck. Levi had never worn a uniform, always dressed in the most relaxed beach clothes, and was not looking forward to it. One particular clique of girls passed Levi, whispering excitedly, and Levi doubted they were meeting dress code. They had hemmed their skirts a whole two-inches shorter and undone an extra couple of buttons on their blouses.
“Hey Levi!” he heard Fletch calling. “Over here!”
Levi turned and saw Fletch’s long neck sticking up over a group of boys that looked to be freshman. He walked over to them.
“Hey,” Levi greeted him.
“Levi, meet Aivan, Sieran, Tim, and Hayvik. They will be in some of your classes.”
“You all are seniors?” Levi asked surprised. These boys couldn’t grow facial hair if they started taking steroids.
“Yes. We are in the accelerated program,” the boy named Hayvik replied.
More geniuses. Couldn’t Levi just meet an eighteen-year-old senior that was also satisfied with mediocrity?
“I’ll show you around campus a little bit before the bell rings and then we have to go to the front office to get you registered,” Fletch suggested. “Follow me.”
As they walked up the stairs to the front entrance of the school Fletch broached the dreaded subject of this mother.
“So, are you nervous for her preliminary trial on Wednesday? Don’t worry, I won’t tell anyone about your mom,” Fletch assured him.
“Actually it’s rescheduled for the following Wednesday, and one of the murder charges was dropped.”
“Wow, that’s great news. I think…” Fletch added, after sensing Levi’s tense demeanor.
Levi filled Fletch in on the news of yesterday…all of it. He trusted Fletch with the details. His new alien friend had a good heart like Marco. Plus, Fletch could help them find this Revolution Lounge since he knew the city so well.
“I can’t believe that happened. I don’t understand how your mom has anything to do with this other than being Pila’s best friend and having her name on a piece of paper.”
“That’s the mystery I have to solve by next Wednesday.”
“Well, I think this Utpal guy is a good place to start. The problem is, Utpal could be a bad guy. What if he was the bomber…or the murderer? His name did come before the word bomb on that list after all.”
“I have to take the chance for my mom.”
“Can’t Bale’s team take the chance for you?” Fletch asked.
“I trust Talon and myself as a team more than Bale’s minions,” Levi verbalized, and it was true. Levi had already texted Talon about meeting up later tonight, but he hadn’t filled her in on the fact that her uncle was in fact his mom’s lawyer. That was something to do in person.
As they walked and talked, Levi took in Ohmani Academy High. It was a large campus-style school with lavish courtyards decorated with water features, lush gardens and statues of founders. The buildings had a sharp architecture, with corners cut at weird angles and unnecessary projections jutting out of the roofs. The walls of each building were made mostly of black glass, giving them an open, yet mysterious impression. Suddenly, the bell rang and students began hurrying to their classes. A Barbie-pink android flew past Levi.
“Whoa.” Levi stumbled in surprise. Then he saw another and another. “Those are Extensions, right?”
“Yeah, privately owned from someone either on Dedrake or Earth. It costs a lot of money to board here if you’re not local, but even more to extend here for school. Most of the kids in those Extensions are
on scholarship or have very rich parents,” Fletch explained. “Kind of weird not knowing what they look like in real life, right?”
“Yes, when I first met you at the spaceport I thought you were an Indian boy, not an alien, remember?” Levi reminded him.
Fletch smiled. “But I am an Indian boy.”
They walked into the front office and into the guidance area. The administrative assistant was engrossed in a book that had a scantily clad couple on the front cover. Fletch cleared his throat to get her attention and she looked up from her novel.
“Well, if it isn’t the senior class president. What can I help you with, Mr. Fletch Hemingway?” she enquired enthusiastically with an unwavering smile.
“You’re class president?” Levi asked surprised.
Fletch shrugged. “I’ve got a new senior student, Eela. Meet Levi Avondale from California.”
“California, eh? I heard the wine there is peachy and the swells are swell,” she bubbled so energetically that Levi was sure she was a puppet on strings.
“Well, I can’t speak much for the wine, but the surfing is good, yes.”
“Well then, you must love the law here about being able to drink at eighteen? None of that silly…” she started wagging her finger and making a funny face meant to be a scolding parent. Then she filled the office suite with an obnoxious high-pitched laugh.
“Err, actually Levi is a Delayed. Transferring GPA is…,” Fletch gave a thumbs down.
“Oh,” She winced animatedly. “Yes, I remember your mom registered you already online. It was the other new Californian who had the high GPA. A girl named Kierra, I believe.”
Was there no confidentiality about grades here? Levi was getting tired of Ohmani making him feel like a child because he didn’t choose to be a nerd. With the incentive Ohmani gives students, however, he might actually start sticking his nose in a few books. The incredibly annoying receptionist led them back to a scheduling counselor, who was a Hamza man with a reverse goatee. Fletch said hello to the man sitting behind his desk and waited outside.
“Hello Levi, my name is Progg and I’ll be helping you out with getting your schedule today. Take a seat. Welcome to Ohmani Academy High. Now I’m sure you’ve heard about the rigorousness of this school?”
“Yes, I know, I have a horrible GPA,” Levi said exasperatedly.
“Your transfer grade point average will not affect any choices you have in this school. I was going to tell you that it is a good thing for your future that you are here. The opportunities of Academy graduates are greater, so no matter what your GPA is, you will be better off for having been here.”
“The school year ends in the beginning of June, right? That’s only a couple of months away so I’m not sure how I can really add being here on my resume.”
Progg smiled. “We do not have the same schedule as your school in California. This school is set-up to be a twelve-month year that begins in January and ends in December. Therefore, we are only a few months into the school year and you have plenty of time. We also offer an optional thirteenth year where students can take college credits and/or have an opportunity to take an extended Careers in the Cosmos class. Now, tell me what you want to do with your life?”
“Do with my life?” Levi asked, taken aback by the question.
“Yes. I can’t very well help you if I don’t know what your career goals are. Don’t you have dreams and aspirations?”
“Everyone has dreams and aspirations, I just…” Levi paused, “never voiced them to a school counselor before.”
Progg sighed, leaning back in his chair. “That makes me sad to hear. We have a certain philosophy here at the Academy that every person is treated as an individual because, well, you are one. Our graduates typically outrank those from other schools because our students’ interests are fostered to help better prepare them for their careers. We do have our core classes, but each student’s schedule is individualized to help prepare them for their futures. You are going to have a future, aren’t you?”
If Utpal doesn’t kill me tonight. “Yes.”
“Ok then, tell me what your ideal future looks like.”
Levi looked around the room to make sure no one else was in earshot. “I want to be a professional surfer. I love the ocean.” Levi was half-expecting the counselor to protest.
“Ok then, pro-surfer it is,” Progg exclaimed instead. “Why do you want to be a pro-surfer?”
Was this therapy or a high school scheduling office?
“Because I love it.”
Progg didn’t say anything. He sat back in his chair, crossed his arms, and waited for Levi to keep speaking.
Levi sighed and continued openly, hoping there was some sort of privacy clause that would keep what he was about to say from leaving the room. “My father left our family when I was eight, and I haven’t heard from him since. I started surfing soon after to help me deal with all of it. I’ve just grown to love the ocean. I love surfing and teaching people about its powers for the inner and outer self. It can improve you.”
“That’s better. I can envision many careers based on the information you just shared. You love surfing, so the obvious choice is to be a professional surfer. But you also get satisfaction in sharing and teaching people about it. Would you enjoy surfing without this element?”
“I suppose, but I guess I would really want both.”
“Have you ever thought about being a teacher or a therapist?”
“Teachers stand in classrooms and therapists sit in chairs.”
“No, that might be the majority but you can do whatever you want. That’s the awesome thing about your future and your ideas. Come on, I know it’s there. Tell me what your dream job is without the stereotypes and the boxes.”
Levi thought hard about what Progg was getting at. He also thought about what Marco had said to him on the beach – ‘dreams, relationships and attitudes are the few things no government, alien race or media outlet can control.’ An idea popped into Levi’s head. “Well, back in Fort Bragg I liked to give lessons to people who were on the wrong path like I was and help them. I would love a job as a Juvenile or At-Risk Counselor, but not in an office or a correctional facility. I would take them out surfing and make the sand and the ocean my ‘couch.’”
“How wonderful! I think that is an amazing idea. Now hold onto it, because there’s going to be a bit of delayed gratification involved. I have the perfect Careers in the Cosmos to get you started. How would you like to get involved in an after-school program with kids? Maybe take them out surfing?”
“How am I going to do that as a class if it’s after school?”
“No, no, it will not be here on Ohmani. You can either extend to Earth or to Dedrake.”
“Extend? Like in a robot? How am I supposed to teach kids how to surf in a robot?” he asked. Could he teach from the sand like Bockie had taught him? It seemed to have worked.
“It will be a first, just like your career choice,” Progg revealed a smile. “Unfortunately, it will take me a few days to organize your internship with an after-program supervisor. In the meantime, Fletch will show you around school and help you get used to extending. Since you are a senior you have a double block of CC. That leaves six classes. Luckily, you have most of your cores done so that leaves a little room to have fun. I think in light of your career goals you should take Psychology, Sociology, Introduction to Law…EMT Basics since the kids might be getting hurt in the ocean…and how about Water Sports?
“Um, yes please!” That was a class?
Progg chuckled, seeming to enjoy Levi’s enthusiasm. “Okay, Water Sports it is. And your last class must be a math…Statistics I.”
“But I was taking calculus back home.”
“Do you want to take calculus?”
“Not really.”
“Statistics is the most important math because you use it every day. It’s the basis of all scientific legitimacy and should be understood and applied to almost every life decision
you make. I don’t know why high schools on the ground push calculus. Every high school student should take at least two years of statistics in my opinion. Okay, I think we’re done here. Let me print out your schedule.” Progg handed it to Levi.
Levi took the slip of paper and looked it over. For the first time in…forever, he was actually excited about school. For the past twelve years he felt like he had been walking in a long educational tunnel with no light at the end of it. Now he could see it. No more being thrown into classes he wasn’t interested in or that wouldn’t benefit his future. He looked up at Progg and said in his most sincere voice. “Thank you.”
“You’re welcome,” he replied just as sincerely. “Wouldn’t the world be a better place if everyone did what they loved? My dream job is helping other people get to theirs.”
“Well, you accomplished that today.” Levi stood from his chair and shook Progg’s hand. Outside the office Fletch was talking with Eela, whose laugh still made him cringe at a thirty-foot distance.
“You just been Progged,” Fletch observed, noticing the giant grin on Levi’s face.
Levi laughed. “Yes, I think I did. Here’s my schedule.”
Fletch looked it over. “We have a few of the same classes…just Careers in the Cosmos later today. You’re supposed to be in Sociology right now, but I’ll show you around and you can go to stats for second period.
“You can just walk all over school and not get in trouble?” Levi asked.
“Class president.” Fletch winked. “Plus I have a 102% or something in my Political Science class.”
They left the front office and spent the next hour getting Levi’s uniform and walking around the school grounds until Levi was comfortable with the layout. Levi was beyond impressed with everything about the Academy, but he doubted he would be a student for very long. As soon as Axella was cleared of any wrong-doing – at least that was what he was going to believe for now – she would probably want to leave this place.
Journey to Ohmani (Across the Infinite Void Book 1) Page 14
