We squeeze into the elevator and go to the ground floor. There, we’re met by the general.
I grin. “Good morning, General.”
He smiles back, looking more rested today. “Good morning my extra-special cadets.”
Rand puffs out his chest. I grin. Today is a good day. A new beginning for all four of us.
“Are you here to see us off, General?” Our ceremony is at the prep school.
“No, I’m here to take you personally to your graduation ceremony.”
“We’re honored, sir.” My stomach twists as it hits me. We’re the first class graduating with this number of combined New China and New American Republic students.
“The Secretary was impressed with all of you last week. She’s making sure your graduation is televised and your stories are told across the nation.”
That does not help my nervous stomach.
“Th-thank you, sir?” I stutter out.
He laughs. “You thought you could just get away with what you did without public repercussions?”
I frown. “I was hoping to at least keep it semi-quiet, sir.”
“Well that’s one thing you did not succeed in doing. But at least the attention is positive. You helped prevent another border war, you helped your fellow citizens in the canyon, and you helped save the Tangs.”
I swallow. “Thank you for taking a chance on us. We couldn’t have pulled it off without you.”
His expression turns serious. “We made a good team. Let’s just say you owe me one now.” He shakes my hand and turns before I can say anything else.
Rand, Kai, Cam, and I follow him to a black SUV with the New American Republic logo painted on both sides. We load up and head out the main gates. The vehicle stops at the main road.
“Look, Anja!” Cam yells from the front.
Kai, Rand, and I look out the window. We all scramble out of the SUV. Lined up on both sides of the road, are tractors, combines, flatbeds, and food trucks.
I instantly start crying. They’re all waving at us, and I can see signs saying; ‘Good luck!’ and ‘Thank you!’ written on them.
Angel and Mrs. Baird have their trucks parked closest to us. I run over to them with Cam close on my heels.
Mrs. Baird wraps me in a huge bear hug. We’re both crying now.
“I’m going to miss you, Mrs. Baird.” I try to wipe away my tears and runny nose.
She hands me a tissue. “I’ll miss you too, Anja. We all will.” She gestures at the road full of trucks. “But we’re very thankful for what you did for us.”
I take a deep breath. “You taught me that we need to take care of each other. Your encouragement helped me get into the Academy. And your bossiness got the others to support me for the diversion last week.” I smile up at her, loving this woman so much.
“You just make us all proud up there.” She points to the sky. “And don’t worry about us none. The general and your friend’s parents,” she says as she points to Kai, who has joined Cam beside me, “have made sure we’re taken care of. You just show the rest of the world that good things can come out of the Borderlands.” She hugs me again, and then shoos me on.
I hug dozens more people. Angel, my teachers, the Mitchells, the farmers I worked for, and even our bus driver, all make sure Cam and I feel loved and proud of our accomplishments. These are times that will stick with me. Not only will I remember what my friends and I accomplished down here, but also the people who helped us along the way, and the people who were helped by us.
As our SUV passes the hundreds who’ve gathered to celebrate our graduation, my heart is full, and the struggles of the past are letting go of me. I will always miss my mom, but I know she’d be proud of me. I feel whole and loved and excited for my future.
Year One
1
Rand
I know why they did it now.
At the Border School, I couldn’t figure out why we were forced to run in the Idaho desert heat in our space suits. Because why would we ever do that in space?
“Last lap?” I ask Rand, barely able to gasp the words out.
His rugged face is stretched into a grimace, and sweat drenches his hair and gym uniform. He nods.
Behind us, most of our Year One class drops out and heads to the decompression chamber.
My lungs burn and my shoulders ache, but I keep up with him.
We wouldn’t ever run in spacesuits, but now I know they were just preparing us. Like all the other training we did at the Border School, there was a reason.
Built on the very top of the Earthlight Space Academy main building, this zero-G bubble is divided into two sections: the open zero-G space in the very middle and the special track around it we’re running on. The track was designed as a regular running track with five lanes across and a handrail at the far edge.
But they’ve boosted the temperature up to at least a hundred degrees.
I grit my teeth as we speed past the starting hatch again. Rand glances at me sideways as I let out a small growl. Guess that wasn’t the last lap.
“Not nice,” I wheeze.
The special backpack that keeps me weighed down onto what is the “ground” of the weightless track, cuts into my shoulders. Every strange habit they taught us at prep school was to prepare us for the next phase in our education. From the space suits without oxygen to the backpacks we wore all over the valley.
Crap. My legs burn, but I can’t stop now. There’s only one way out of here, and we just passed it.
Rand is built like the perfect athlete. Average height, strong muscles, and a lean body. This makes him the perfect space station candidate. And he’s my biggest competition, except for Kai.
I frown. I wish Kai were here.
Rand starts pulling ahead of me just as my muscles scream for me to stop.
The air fills with a staccato chime as Rand crosses the finish line a meter ahead of me. Lights flash yellow all around us, a signal to cool down and exit the track.
I glare at Rand’s back as I slow my pace. He turns and grins back at me, so I deliberately turn away and look out the clear dome around us. It’s dark outside, and I watch several space stations moving across the stars.
“We’ll be up there soon enough.”
I look back down and find Rand stopped in front of me. We’re already at the exit hatch. I step to the side to avoid running into him since it’s hard to stop quickly in zero-G.
I adjust my pack. “I know, it just helps remind me why I’m doing all this.”
Rand steps off the track first. I glance back at a group of students lagging behind us before I follow behind Rand. I recognize two girls from the same big city prep school up north. The only time they’ve ever chosen to talk to me is when I’m with Rand. And even then, their eyes are glued on him.
“What’s wrong? Don’t like coming in second?” Rand waits for me inside the decompression room. He’s holding onto the straps of the soon-to-be heavy pack as sweat continues to dampen his shirt, showing the outlines of his well-defined muscles.
I swallow and turn toward him, holding my pack slightly away from my aching shoulders. He hits the green button, and soon we’re in full gravity and the second door opens. We step out into the corridor.
With gravity the packs are unbearably heavy. “Of course, I don’t like it. I’ll get you next time. I’m just still getting used to running on a flat surface.”
He lets out a deep rumble of a laugh, sending a shiver through my body. “I’m not so sure there will be a next time, shorty.” He ruffles my hair and turns down the corridor.
I turn quickly and catch up to Rand. “When Kai gets here, you won’t be so smug. You’ve always been able to outrun me, but Kai was top in our class.”
Rand tilts his head toward me. “That was before he was injured.”
I glare at him. “I know that. But he’ll be fine. That’s why the Commander let him take a few extra weeks to heal. He’ll be one hundred percent by the time he gets here.”
“Do you think he’ll be able to catch up in time?”
“He’s smart and strong. He’ll catch up. You’re just worried he’s going to knock you off the pedestal everyone has put you on.”
Rand elbows me, smirking. “You mean like how all the girls stare at me?” He laughs.
“Yes, you’re quite popular in that area.” I roll my eyes and elbow him back.
He puts out a hand to keep from hitting the wall. “You really want your boyfriend on that pedestal?”
I frown. “Of course not. I’m just saying he’ll beat you at running. Maybe several other tests.”
“We’ll see. I’m still class leader,” he says, smiling.
“Yes, and although I know you deserve that title, I’m still confused how your assistance saving our people and Kai from the attack helped get you that.” I wipe the sweat off my face with the small towel tucked into my pocket. “It’s not like you were being tested or watched.”
“Because the military appreciated my assistance.” His tone is a bit defensive.
I place a hand on his shoulder to get him to stop walking. “I know that. And believe me I’m grateful for your help. That Chinese Special Unit would’ve killed Kai. But I’m still confused how our military is connected to the space academies. They aren’t supposed to have any influence or connection to the prep schools or the academies. The space laws clearly state the New American Republic military are supposed to be separate from anything in space.”
Rand leans down to whisper in my ear, “If you haven’t noticed, we aren’t quite in space yet.” He grins and plants a kiss on my forehead.
I punch his arm as we start back down the corridor. “I know that. But we’re still a space academy. We’re bound by space law.”
We circle around the clear glass corridor. On the other side of the track is an amazing view of the stars. And if I look straight down in the daylight, I get a faint glimpse of land. Although our academy is built on land, the top of it extends into the lower atmosphere, therefore supplying this level with free zero-G. No anti-gravity machines needed.
Rand feigns hurt as he rubs his shoulder. “But we weren’t at school when all that went down.”
“Right, but you saw the Year Twos Commander Svell brought to help with rescuing Kai’s parents. They were from here.” I step closer to Rand and lower my voice. “I’ve seen them at lunchtime. They’re just as uptight here as they were on the mission. And remember that spaceship landing pad outside Gowen Base? It seems this academy has been helping the ground forces for some time.”
Rand turns down another corridor. “Remember what the commander said? We’re bound by both Earth and space laws here.”
Embedded into the corridor floors are colored strips of light. Different colors represent the different areas in the academy. We just need to follow them. Green leads to the greenhouse one level down from here. Blue leads to the residential levels, and yellow leads to the kitchen where all four hundred students can eat at one time.
There are also purple and white running lights, but Year Ones aren’t allowed in those areas. My first day here I tried, but once I stepped into the purple corridor, all the lights went dark. Unwilling to get lost in the academy maze, I turned around and went back to the main corridor.
“It’s also good practice for the Year Twos,” Rand continues. “Where else are they going to get real experience when we’re not quite in space, and not quite land-bound?”
I frown as I stare down at the blue light we’re following. “I know. I agree it would be good experience, I just find it disappointing that I still can’t get away from politics. I was really looking forward to living under the space laws, and only the space laws.”
“Anja, I understand you had it hard down there. But we only need to concentrate on what we’re doing here. There’s nothing we can do about the military presence.”
I glance at him. “That’s easy to say because you don’t have family down there who still has to worry about being caught in all political crap along the Dragon Wall.”
A look of sorrow ripples across Rand’s face, and I immediately regret what I said. He turns away and wipes his face with his towel. “I know you’re worried about your little brother. But at least you have him to worry about still,” he says softly.
My stomach twists. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean it like that.”
“I know you didn’t. But remember I was down there when our camp got attacked. Your brother and I distracted those men so you could get to Kai.”
“I know.” I bump his shoulder with mine.
Rand laughs and grabs me in for a side hug. We turn down another corridor, and Rand stops in his tracks.
I glance up at his face, and his expression is hard. “Rand?” I whisper.
He doesn’t answer. I look forward and find a group of our classmates walking toward us. I recognize them from my classes, but I haven’t learned their names yet. Especially since no one wants to talk to us.
Rand pushes me next to the wall. He walks right beside me as the group approaches. The two guys at the front of the pack wear black uniforms, signifying they’re a part of the security group we have at the school. Usually security trainees end up at the Space Intelligence Academy, but we have at least another year to decide on our permanent careers. In the meantime, we can try out different roles every quarter.
The two don’t show any sign of moving over, and Rand is still walking in the middle of the corridor. I frown as their expressions are as hard as Rand’s. I speed up so I’m ahead of Rand and slip past the two guys easily. I wave and smile at the girls, who are, of course, staring at Rand. They don’t even notice me.
Frowning, I continue walking until I’m past the group.
I turn as Rand bumps shoulders with the guy walking closest to him. Not lightly like I just did to him, but a full shoulder slam. But the group keeps going, laughing among themselves. The boy he bumped just glares at Rand before he turns back around.
I study him as he walks toward me. His hands are balled into fists, and he keeps glancing back over his shoulder. His expression is so angry I shiver.
“Did you make enemies already?” I whisper.
He relaxes his shoulders. “Apparently, the dark-haired one thought he was going to be class leader. Josh Archer.”
“Seriously? That’s why testosterone was raging back there? Because of a leadership position?”
He gives me a dark stare. “It looks good on my transcripts. Anyway, that whole group is from up north. Their border school is in an affluent area. Unlike ours.”
I shrug. “So, they have more money than us. Doesn’t mean he’s going to be a better leader than you.” I try to keep my tone light, so Rand stays calm. I haven’t seen him this upset since his first day of prep school.
“His family spent a lot of money on private tutors to train him. The other one is Alex O’Neil. His father is one of the station commanders. SIA. Space Intelligence Agency.”
We turn down another corridor. This one soon splits and branches off in four directions. Two entrances are to the girls’ dorms, two are for the boys’ dorms. We stop in the middle so we can keep talking.
“Still doesn’t mean he’ll automatically get a leadership position. He has to earn it just like you did.”
“Well, he thinks he deserves it more than I do. Our first day here he trapped me in the bathroom to show me how unhappy he was that I stole his leadership position. And make sure I knew that he’ll do anything to get it back.”
“Rand!” I cover my mouth with my hand. “Did you tell Commander Svell?”
“No.” Rand looks away. “I’m not going to be a snitch my first week. Besides I can handle him,” he says gruffly.
“Yes, I know you can handle him. But that’s not what leaders do. You need to find a way to make peace with him. Otherwise, the academy is going to be a miserable place for you.” I step toward Rand. “In orientation they did say leadership positions are chosen every quarter.”
I grin and place a hand on his shoulder. “Those guys don’t know you, Rand. They don’t know what you did to deserve this leadership spot.”
“Yes, they do.” His blue eyes pierce me to the spot.
I swallow and drop my hand.
“Right. Anyway, they aren’t the only ones in competition for leadership around here.” I step back out of his reach and grin.
“Hey, now that’s really not helping. You’re supposed to be on my side.”
“I am. I’m also on my side. You and I didn’t have the same opportunities most of the other students here had. We’ve just got to work harder and smarter than them.” I bump shoulders with him as I head toward the far-left door.
Rand laughs. “All right, Anja. It’s on.” He grins and winks at me.
My heart skips a beat. I hate how easy it is for him to do that to me. I squeeze the straps on my pack and walk backward. “See you tomorrow morning.”
He nods, still grinning, and strides across the common area. He is completely aware of the effect he has on girls. I watch, amused, as he skirts the fluffy tan couches meant to make this space an inviting gathering area. He quickly disappears through the far door.
I frown and look around the room. Only one way into the dorms.
I need to make sure not to get caught here by myself.
Thinking about our classmates trapping Rand in the bathroom makes goose bumps stand up on my arms and I turn toward my dorm.
2
Kai
I place my hand on the bio-pad next to the door and it whooshes open. My room is down the corridor, past the common bathroom. I hurry to it and slide it open to reveal the small room. My weighted pack slides off easily and onto the floor with a thud. Quickly, I grab clean clothes out of the narrow cubby above the bed. I’m about to hurry out the door to the showers when my desk comm pings.
Earthlight Space Academy Boxset Page 20
