Defender of the Empire: Cadet #1

by Catherine Beery

  I THINK THE MAN IS FROM J’ARA. I’M IMPRESSED, EVEN SCARED OUT OF YOUR MIND YOU ARE VERY OBSERVANT. Luna said to me.

  OF COURSE SHE IS OBSERVANT. YOU NOTICE THINGS MORE WHEN YOU ARE SCARED. Scrae muttered back.

  What is J’ara? I thought to distract myself as Dr. Clayton settled in her seat. She indicated that I should sit, so I did.

  Luna answered in the meantime. J’ARA IS A HOT DESERT WORLD OF SAND, GOLD, SALT, AND FIRE. THE J’ARANS ARE THE GREATEST METAL WORKERS IN THE EMPIRE. THEY ALL TEND TO HAVE DARK COLORING WITH BRIGHT EYES.

  Luna didn’t get the chance to say anything more because Dr. Clayton looked up. Her smile was bright and beautiful when she guessed what I was looking at. “My family. Dev’shawn is my favorite little artist.” She said with such tenderness I wondered if my parents had ever thought of me that way. “My husband took him to J’ara to learn the Claytonar family trade.” She winked at me “They are probably just spoiling him rotten.” She sighed dramatically. I was dazzled at how much younger she looked talking about her family. Her joy was infectious and I found myself smiling a little.

  “Now, let us talk about the results of your exams as I know you have probably been worrying about it.” She said in a more businesslike manner, though her expression had softened. I, on the other hand, grew even tenser. The ax was about to fall…”We have found nothing abnormal.” She said and a puzzled frown wrinkled her brow. “I couldn’t believe it after seeing you last night, which is why it has taken me this long to talk to you.”

  I blinked at her. “So… nothing is wrong with me? I can stay at the Academy?” Hope was a growing ember in my chest.

  “We couldn’t find anything amiss, so yes you can stay at the Academy. But.” She said before I could stand up to thank her and leave. I froze. “I want you to report here regularly so we can keep an eye on you. I also want to program your Medi-Comp to keep tabs on you as well. Perhaps it could tell us what triggers these episodes. Since we don’t yet know what triggers these attacks, I want you to avoid using delicate machinery. I will inform your professors of this as well. That may well change when we know what is causing the seizures.”

  I nodded my understanding. The problem was, I already knew what was causing the seizures. She just wouldn’t believe me if I told her. So I kept it to myself and let her update the new instructions to M. Kit. I left Medical with a bounce in my step not five minutes later. I returned to the room to find that Lassie wasn’t glowering at me from her section of the room as she wasn’t there Still I couldn’t just sit in the room, so I picked up my books and headed for the lobby to study before going to meet Marius, Westley, and Jason for dinner.

  Michel was there as he said he would be. He nodded at me as I settled into the study area. After a few minutes when he must have finished whatever he was doing at the desk he came over to sit near me. I glanced at him distractedly before continuing to study the star chart of the Medrais System. “So you are staying, eh?” He asked in his soft voice.

  I grinned at him. “Yes. Nothing is wrong with me medically.”

  He smiled and leaned back in his chair. “That is good to hear.” His lips quirked “I’m sure going to enjoy seeing some people’s expressions when they learn the good news. Especially Lassie’s.”

  I laughed just imagining her face. She would just have to realize that I wasn’t going anywhere. I tilted my head at him and asked “So who is on your team for the competition?”

  Michel sighed. “It’s just me, myself, and I.” he replied. At my frown he continued. “I’m not participating in the competition. I have too much that I need to do already without adding in the stress of a competition.”

  “Well, I’m not as wise as you.” I said with a wry smile. Hearing that I was allowed to stay seemed to have released something because I couldn’t stop smiling. “I am joining the challenge with Jason and Marius and, possibly, Westley.”

  Michel’s dark hazel eyes turned thoughtful. “I thought Westley wasn’t a student.”

  “He isn’t, but he is talking to those in charge to see if he can participate. Our hope is that the professors will let him based on the fact that he has skills that 1st Cadets would have. He could also guide Jason and me in the things that we have no experience with yet.”

  Michel nodded before asking, “Do you know who Marius is? I have never seen him before yesterday afternoon, and yet the computer says that he has been at the Academy for almost three years.”

  I raised an eyebrow at him. “You have an impressive memory if you know everyone who goes here. That has to be a couple thousand at least!”

  Michel grinned sheepishly. “I suppose it isn’t that good.” He became serious. “I guess what bothers me is that one day he isn’t here. The next he is. There is something off about him. Just be careful.”

  I opened my mouth to ask more, but the computer at the front desk beeped and Michel excused himself. I was about to press the issue, but I noticed that it was almost dinner time. I waved at him before returning my books back in my room. On the way to and from my room I wondered what that had all been about. I wasn’t the only one.

  THAT WAS STRANGE. Luna commented.

  It was. I agreed as I unlocked the door and put my stuff in the drawers below my bed. Do you think Michel is right? Should I be wary of Marius? Thinking a little more I remembered how old his eyes looked. There is something different about him. I got the sense that the Spectrals shared a glance, like there was something they knew and were trying to figure out if they should share it with me or not. I narrowed my eyes at the diamond patterned floor of the Diamond Wing. What? You guys had better tell me. I thought warningly.

  Scrae sighed and said in his small voice THERE MAY BE SOMETHING DIFFERENT ABOUT MARIUS. BUT INSTEAD OF AVOIDING HIM, I THINK YOU WOULD BE BETTER SERVED IN TRYING TO FIGURE OUT WHAT THAT DIFFERENCE IS… IT MAY JUST SAVE YOUR LIFE. The last was such a soft thought I almost didn’t get it. Scrae was talented at muttering things that I could barely make out in my own head. I admit, I found it very annoying.

  Being in my head, the Spectrals had advance warning to know when a loud thought storm was coming their way. Before it could strike Luna spoke up SHH, LITTLE PUP. FOLLOW YOUR INSTINCTS. THEY ARE GOOD AND THEY HAVE GOTTEN YOU THIS FAR. DON’T LET SOMEONE ELSE’S JUDGMENT CLOUD YOUR MIND. AS THE MOUSE SAID, DISCOVER WHO THOSE AROUND YOU ARE ON YOUR OWN.

  What about you? I asked silently as I waved to Michel on my way out of the barracks. What secrets do you keep from me?

  Luna sighed. ONLY YOU CAN LIVE YOUR LIFE. ALL WE CAN DO IS OFFER ADVICE. WE CAN ALSO HELP YOU IN TIMES OF GREAT NEED, BUT WE ARE NOT BOUND TO YOU. BECAUSE OF THAT AND TO KEEP OTHERS SAFE, WE CANNOT TELL YOU EVERYTHING WE MAY KNOW.

  ALL WE CAN SAY IS THAT WE SENSE NO DANGER FROM MARIUS. Scrae interjected.

  THAT SAID, ONLY YOU CAN DECIDE HOW YOU ARE GOING TO ACT.

  I snorted softly. Now they sounded like Aunt Sylvie. I decided that I would stop trying to get others to make my decisions for me when I could make the choice on my own. I also decided that when I had the time and gumption, I was going to write a book that set the record straight on Spectrals. They were not genies in the bottle or something along those lines. They were beings who seemed to know a lot, but had limitations and rules among their own kind. They gave advice and they were nice to have on your side in a tight spot, but they could also be annoying and cryptic and secretive.

  Scrae laughed. OH, LUNA, I CAN’T WAIT UNTIL KYLESST IS FREE. CAN YOU IMAGINE WHAT WILL HAPPEN THEN? AND SHE THINKS WE ARE BAD. I heard Luna, the nice one mind you, snigger. I groaned. Suddenly, I wasn’t looking forward to a certain someone being free. I knew he was cryptic from before, but it hadn’t been so bad because he wasn’t one of the constant voices always in my head. I shuddered to think what it would be like with him always there…Oh Lord, I’ll go insane for sure.

  ”Probably.” M. Kit so helpfully put in. The two Spectrals laughed even harder. Nice.

  ***

  I met the guys fo
r dinner and managed to survive the celebratory hugs they gave me. Even Marius whom I didn’t even know that well. And something I can’t explain happened when he did. Okay two things happened. The first was that I thought I saw a golden eyed, starlit limed panther sitting next to his chair. The second, and in my mind, far more strange was the shock that accompanied his touch. No, it wasn’t attraction. Granted, I have no experience with that, but I’m pretty sure it wasn’t. It was more like feeling a static shock but more so. I am going to give up trying to explain the sensation in a second after this last try. It was like tripping and spilling a huge bucket of water parched ground that absorbed it so fast it was like the water had never been there.

  There, I am done.

  And I wasn’t the only one to feel it. Our hug was quick and his old eyes were wide when he released me. The entire episode made me wonder even more about the guy. What was he? And what was the panther I had seen? Was it possible that the panther was a Spectral? And was the cat with Marius? Or did she just happen to be sitting near his chair? And if the panther was with Marius was he then a Shade? And if he was what the hell was he doing here? With every subsequent question another followed on its heels. It made my head hurt.

  “So there is the first good news.” Jason commented once we were all seated before our dinners. “Now for the second.” He said turning an expectant gaze on Westley. Westley suddenly found himself the center of attention. Yes, it was true that we could participate in the challenge with only three in our group, but the preferred was four and we really needed Westley’s experience. After all, Jason and I hadn’t been part of the Fleet for a full week yet. All the experience we could get on our side would be amazing. There was also the simple fact that both Jason and I knew Westley better than we did our latest companion.

  Westley leaned back in his chair with a solemn look on his face. I noticed Jason sag in his seat. Based on Westley’s behavior he thought it was bad news. I, on the other hand, kept my focus on the oldest in the group. There was amusement in Westley’s eye that he couldn’t quite hide. He noticed my intent gaze and sighed. “I can’t fool you, can I?” He asked.

  I shook my head. “If you had bad news your eyes wouldn’t be laughing. You also wouldn’t keep us waiting if you were not allowed to participate.”

  “Huh, I didn’t know I did that.”

  I shrugged. “So why don’t you put Jason out of his misery and just say that you can participate?” I suggested. Poor Jason was looking between the two of us with an unsure expression on his face. Hopeful, but afraid to hope. It was kind of funny.

  Marius laughed before taking a swig of his Sherta juice. I had never heard of the Sherta fruit before, but it was a staple drink here in the capital. Its rich flavor was refreshing after a long day with a little fizz that tickled the nose. It reminded me of the fizzy waters on Lenti but with a stronger and nicer taste.

  “So can you or can you not participate?” Jason asked with a frown. He did not like being the only one to have fallen for Westley’s ruse.

  “I can,” Westley said with a nod, “and I entered our team into the registry. They actually let me do so early.”

  “When can everyone else register?” I asked.

  “Next weekend when they show up for the first challenge.”

  I frowned. “I’m glad that they let us register early, but why would they? Wouldn’t the other teams see it as unfair?” I asked looking at my teammates with worry.

  Marius shook his head. “Maybe, but it doesn’t matter. If they went to see the judges themselves like Westley did, they would also be able to register. It isn’t like there is a limit.” He shrugged. “Typically no one worries because not everyone participates. It is typically only those who have something to prove and are driven. The rest are just rich kids looking for some adventure in their lives. It’s deemed okay by their families because all has been quiet for at least a ten years. A few raids here and there, but nothing easily handled by the Fleet.”

  “Then why have the challenge?” I asked.

  Marius shrugged. “Why not?” After a moment he added, “Such competitions typically reveal the Fleet’s next leaders.”

  After a few silent moments while we ate Jason asked, “Westley, do you know what the first challenge is?”

  Westley shook his head. “That I was not told or allowed to know. But I think that it will probably be some kind of simulation here in the safety of the Academy. At least, that is how it always seems to go. There is a simulation to weed out most of the competition. Then there is some kind of ground challenge. Then the final challenge is an observer mission. As real as it can get while still having a safety net to fall back on in case things go bad quickly.

  “In the meantime, Marius and I need to get the two of you prepared. Both here,” he said tapping his temple, “and here” he said with a fist over his heart. “Captain Wingstar has a saying I’ve always liked. Now, this may be just a competition; but it is still valid for both it and real life. ‘You can have all the knowledge in the Empire in your head, but it doesn’t do you a damn bit of good if you don’t know how to apply it.”

  Chapter 15 – Playing Catch Up

  I had wondered how long the peace would last before someone attempted to physically inform me that I was worthless. I guess they got tired of having me not reacting to their little snide comments or exile from a table I had never been allowed to sit at. I don’t think they understood that I didn’t want to sit there. I guess they finally realized that I wasn’t leaving the Academy anytime soon because they now were surrounding me in a narrow hall. I glanced at them before smiling. My nerves were only allowed to surface in clutching my bag. I figured that any sign of fear would only egg them on at this point.

  “Good afternoon.” I said with a smile.

  “It won’t be for you soon.” Someone in the crowd muttered.

  One of the girls sneered at me. “How dare you think that you are equal to any of us? Scum.”

  “Now, if you were more social like I advised…” M. Kit began in my head. I had to marvel at her ability to sound both wary and smug.

  It wouldn’t have mattered. I thought back to her. I am the Colonist who dares to dirty their esteemed presence. Until something happens that convinces them that I will not leave they will keep trying to force me out.

  “So, let me see if I understand you all correctly.” I said calmly. “All of you believe that I do not belong here?” There were numerous nods and verbal affirmatives. I tilted my head and asked them, “Tell me then, how did I get in?” They went still as a group. I saw several of them glance at who I guessed to be the leaders of this inquisition. I could just see the conundrums chasing each other in their heads. First, they would think that I somehow tricked the system. But that would be impossible because I was a stupid colonist. How could I possibly have enough wit to trick a Citizen system? That left the idea that I had gotten in legitimately. Which meant someone in the higher ranks thought that I belonged. Which didn’t make any sense because I that stupid, poor, worthless colonist. I dared not laugh, but I really wanted to.

  “What an amazing future the Legion Fleet can look forward too.” Marius said dryly from behind the mob. I was amazed that no necks broke considering how fast some of those heads turned. Marius leaned against the wall with an eyebrow raised over his old green eyes. He shook his head slightly. “How dare you call yourselves Recruits of the Legion Fleet? The future Defenders of the Spectral Empire? How can you defend your empire and home from threats when you cannot honor one of your own?”

  “But she’s…” One of the leaders attempted to rally the group who was beginning to shift from foot to foot in shame.

  The brow rose higher. “But… what? I don’t see why it matters where she is from or not. She is, like all colonists and citizens, part of the empire. And as the Legion Fleet we serve and protect the empire. Am I the only one who remembers hearing that?”

  Most of the crowd scurried away after the uncomfortable silence that follow
ed Marius’s question. I sighed when they were all gone. “Thanks for the back up.” I said.

  Marius smiled at me after glaring after the last of the mob. He shrugged. “I was wondering why you were taking so long to show up in the practice yard. I should have known the idiots were causing trouble. I think the only time they feel important is when they can push other people around.” He mused as we walked.

  I smiled. “Can you imagine how scandalized they would be to know that gangs do the same thing all the time in the colonies?”

  Marius laughed. “Next time they corner you let’s tell them. Remind me to have a camera rolling. Then we could put it all over the hyper net.”

  The glee in his eyes made me shake my head. “You’re just bad.” I said.

  The imp winked at me. “You don’t even know the half of it.” And I really didn’t. For the next two hours Marius proved his worth on the team as he instructed me in the use of weapons. He told me that all of what I was learning would do me good both in the competition and in real life. He hadn’t needed to explain his reasoning to me. I knew well enough the worth of the goldmine he was handing me. What fascinated me was everything he showed me. In a survey-like class, after which he promised to go in more depth, he introduced me to ship weapon consoles, the basic details of each, as well as ranged and hand to hand weapons. The last was what surprised me most. I hadn’t expected knives and staff weapons to be part of the training.