“You give me too much credit,” Brent said. “I knew we had potential, but I never imagined this. Plus, you can blame Cain for letting the word out.”
“He certainly is a unique person, sir,” Dante said, taking the free seat next to Brent. “He acts like an idiot, but it’s clear he is more knowledgeable than he lets on.”
“I’d agree with the unique part, but knowledgeable?” Cassandra let out a laugh. “All he knows is how to work a crowd to make a few credits.”
“I haven’t had the pleasure. What was your name again?”
“I’m the ripe tomato about to explode, remember?” She huffed in irritation.
“I see. So am I right to assume she is your girlfriend, sir?”
Cassandra flashed red and started coughing.
“That’s none of your business!” she shouted. “Keep your assumptions to yourself!”
“Would you keep it down; this party is loud enough as it is.” Angela slumped into the free seat next to Cassandra.
Angela was covering her ears with an expression of slight pain on her face. Cassandra stiffened uneasily.
“You all right?” Brent asked, keeping his voice low.
“How can you ask that? Isn’t this killing you? So many emotions all at once . . .”
He nudged Dante to stand. Cassandra almost bolted to take his old seat. When Brent shrugged, Dante took Cassandra’s old seat next to Angela. Angela watched in confusion.
“Dante, would you do me a favor?” Brent asked.
“What do you need, sir?”
“Would you mind covering her ears and doing that foggy thing you do?”
Dante stared hard at him. His face slowly turned into a smile as he realized Brent’s intention.
“Would you mind removing your hands for just a moment?” Dante asked Angela.
Angela exchanged concerned glances at the troopers at the table. Hesitantly, she removed her hands, wincing in pain. Dante covered her ears. As he covered them, a cold fog enshrouded his emotions. Angela’s eyes widened.
“What are you up to?” Cassandra asked.
“Just helping her relax,” He said with a smile.
Angela’s hands wrapped around his, a look of surprise and contentment on her face.
“Better?” Dante asked the Weaver.
“How are you doing that?”
“That’s a secret.” He winked at her. “I apologize for calling you a tomato. I didn’t mean to offend you.”
“Ripe tomato,” Cassandra corrected. “I’m just giving you a hard time. Cain’s called me infinitely worse names in the past. It doesn’t bother me anymore.”
“Would you look at that, a quartet of love birds,” Erin said as she leaned between Brent and Cassandra.
Angela’s eyes were closed as she rested in Dante’s hands, completely ignoring Erin. Cassandra pretended to ignore her as well.
“Jealous?” Brent asked with a wink.
“Need I remind you that you asked me to do this, sir?” Dante said defensively. “No offense, Angela.”
Angela didn’t stir from her reverie. Erin let out a loud laugh and returned to the party. Abruptly, a sweaty Cain drug a chair to the table edge, creating a loud grating sound.
“I’m beat,” Cain said as he wiped his brow. “That Humphrey sure is a lousy dancer.”
“You’re one to talk.” Cassandra rolled her eyes.
“What’s up with them?” Cain asked, gesturing to Angela who was snuggled up to Dante.
“I’m helping her enjoy the party; she needed a rest,” he said.
“Really? You’ll have to teach me that trick someday.”
“I’m sure you’ve got plenty of tricks up your sleeve already,” Dante said in a frosty tone.
“Could always use one more.” Cain chuckled to himself. “Who knows? Might be fun to do something other than irritate her once in a while.”
“Good luck with that.” Cassandra snickered. “I doubt anyone could teach you how not to be annoying.”
“Now you’ve got to help me. She’s thrown down the challenge now.”
“Challenge?” Dante asked, surprised.
“Of course. What’s the wager?” Cain asked Cassandra.
“Normally I can’t stand your nonsense, but this time I’ll play long. If he can teach you to be a decent person, I’ll pay for your meals for a week.”
“Need something a little more definite than ‘decent person.’”
“Fine. One whole day of not pissing off Angela.”
“You’ve got yourself a deal!”
Cain and Cassandra shook hands.
“What just happened, sir?” Dante asked, confused.
“You’ve just agreed to be Cain’s etiquette teacher,” Brent answered with a chuckle.
Cain immediately started studying Dante’s behavior, even going so far as taking notes on his pad. The party went on for hours. The only indications of time were the two short breaks when the troopers rested to eat their lunch and dinner meals that the bookies smuggled in, for a small markup of course. Brent tried to remain along the sidelines as much as possible. The praise of the troopers was overbearing. He hadn’t selected the scenario for fame or glory, just to get the squad to work as a team. Ronald was faced with the impossible task of keeping Tyra calm as they were bombarded with a constant deluge of troopers asking for autographs and to shake her hand. After being on the losing side for so long, Tyra wasn’t sure how to take it all.
A couple of times an instructor or two had tried to break up the party. However, once they found out why the troopers were celebrating, they joined the party themselves. The accomplishment of Tyra’s squad would thrust the academy into the attention of the Commonwealth. That meant better recruits, increased funding, and a whole host of other benefits the instructors had been dreaming about.
As evening descended, the party started to thin out. As early as proper, Ronald escorted Tyra back to her quarters. Angela had left hours before; being scrutinized by Cain had irritated her to the point she didn’t want to be on the same side of the station he was. Reluctantly, Dante had been tutoring Cain ever since. Cain was determined to win his bet. Cassandra had disappeared not long after Cain started taking notes.
Brent would catch a glimpse of her every now and then, chatting with old friends from the FF and the like. He had even spotted her dancing alongside Hiroko and a few other girls at one point. Her face was a deep red, but she seemed to be enjoying herself regardless. As the last few troopers were leaving, Brent stood up and stretched. He had spent the last hour of the party hiding in the corner of the observation room proper with Mr. Springate.
Although, Brent couldn’t be sure if Mr. Springate was hiding from the attention, or just a quiet stealthy man in general. They were showing replays of the squad’s performance in the canyon. Frank had spotted several areas in which the squad could use some work. With the observation room deserted, save for a handful of men in the gray uniform of maintenance cleaning up the leftover mess, Brent felt it was safe to return to his bunk.
It wasn’t likely he’d be mobbed this late. As he made his way to the exit, he made sure to greet the maintenance workers. Just because their job was menial didn’t mean they didn’t deserve to be treated with respect. As the doorway opened for him, he spotted a form resting against the wall of the hallway. As he inspected the passed out trooper, he realized it was Cassandra. She didn’t have the reek of an intoxicated trooper, but why else would anyone sleep out in the hallway? Shaking her gently didn’t wake her.
Checking the hallways, Brent confirmed they were all alone. He couldn’t very well leave her out in the hallway all night. Straining, he tried to lift Cassandra to her feet. She was considerably heavier than he had thought she’d be. As he steadied her, he wondered if it had something to do with her coming from a heavy gravity world. Carefully, Brent let her fall on his back. Leaning forward and grabbing her legs, he managed to carry her off toward the SW’s common room piggyback style. She was heavy, and his p
rogress was slow, but he was making clear progress. Suddenly, he felt her hands wrap around his midsection.
“Am I a burden to you?” Cassandra asked drowsily.
“That’s what my back is telling me.”
“Meanie. You’re not supposed to make fun of a lady’s weight.”
“Don’t blame me; my back’s the one with a big mouth.”
Cassandra’s voice was low and a bit slurred. Brent couldn’t be sure if she was really awake or not. When she didn’t respond, he assumed she had fallen back asleep. The trip was a long one, but they eventually made it back. The common room was completely empty. He had no idea what time it was, but given the vacant state of the room, it had be very late or very early. As he made his way down the rows of bunks in their alcoves, he watched the other troopers, already fast asleep in their bunks. Every bunk was taken. Of course, their bunks would be the last ones. With Brent lifting such a weight, it would have been too easy to have a bunk near the archway. Finally, he reached the last two bunks. As he was about to lower Cassandra, her hands tightened again.
“Am I a burden to you?” she asked again.
“Didn’t you ask that before?”
“You didn’t answer.”
“Well, I’ve carried lighter things, if that’s what you’re asking.”
“I don’t mean it like that. Does it bother you when people see us together?”
“Is this about what Dante said?”
Her arms tightened around him.
“So that’s why you were avoiding me at the party.”
Brent sat on the edge of the bunk, dumping her off his back. As he stretched, he felt her tug his arm. He struggled to maintain his balance as she pulled him closer. In the darkness it was hard to make out details, but he could tell they were face to face.
“Answer me.” Despite the force in her voice, he could feel her hand trembling.
“Dummy. Only you would get so worked up over nothing.”
“Nothing? So I am a burden to you.”
“I didn’t say that.”
“But . . .”
Brent put his finger to her mouth to quiet her.
“You are not a burden to me. You are my friend, and I cherish every moment we spend together. Don’t let Dante whip you up into a frenzy so easily.”
“Your friend? Is that all?” The disappointment was apparent in her voice.
“There you go, jumping to conclusions. I’ve already told you this once. Try listening this time.”
“Told me what?”
“I’m a one marshmallow man.”
“Meanie.”
“Dummy.”
She pulled him close and embraced him tightly. He could feel the moisture from her eyes on his cheek. He held her tightly until her soft crying ended. In the dark of the night he wiped away the tears and kissed her. As she wrapped her arms around him, he could feel her gentle warmth enveloping him. His eyes closed as he basked in the wonderful feeling. He had endured a great deal in his short time on the academy, and there was no doubt much more waiting for him. However, as he held the apple red girl and drifted off to dreams of auburn skies, Brent was thankful for all he had been through. Whatever might be waiting for him didn’t matter. As long as he had her by his side, he could accomplish anything. The future looked bright.
###
Other Works
Available now:
A Lighter Touch
The Ninth - Invasion
Coming soon:
The Ninth - Reavers
About the Author
Benjamin Schramm grew up in a mountain community in the dark times before the internet. There wasn’t a great deal to do on the hill and weekly trips down the mountain to procure supplies were just a fact of life. To expose him and his sister to the outside world, his mother made a point to treat them to a movie when time and money allowed. Films led to novels and before long the works of the great masters of science fiction changed his perspective on life.
While not the original path he imagined for himself, Benjamin Schramm now spends his hours translating the worlds and people his imagination dreams up to the written page. His one hope in life is that others find the same enjoyment in his works as he found the first time he was introduced to the universes of those that first paved the path of science fiction.
Connect with the Author
I hope you enjoyed reading my book as much as I had creating it. If you want to find me online, or hear about future works, you can:
Friend me on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/benjamin.schramm.12
Follow me on Twitter: https://twitter.com/Darktalonus
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