The Azophi Academy Complete Series Boxed Set: Unique Military Education

by TR Cameron

  He spent the interval working on getting his thoughts in some semblance of order. Now that he understood there had been a bigger picture to his assignment, it made far more sense. It also had the advantage of making him feel less like he’d been played for a fool and more like he’d been someone without the need to know. That doesn’t mean I have to like it, though. The fact that he’d done the same thing to Cia didn’t escape his notice.

  When the time came, he activated the device and attached it with a thin cable to his SF wristcomm. He used another to connect his earpiece to the machine. His superior’s voice was unexpectedly exuberant, an instant warning that she too was aware of the possibility of people listening in. She said, “Captain Reese, how’s your vacation going?”

  “Pretty good, Major.” He tried to match her overly casual tone. “How are things on your end? The new addition fitting in okay?”

  She laughed. “A perfect cog in a well-oiled machine, Jackson. So, what can I do for you?”

  He was willing to let the whole big-picture enemies-working-together thing rest since the Professor said she knew about it. He’d verify that once he returned to the Cronus and could speak to her in person. But he couldn’t allow the discovery of UCCA equipment where it shouldn’t have been found go unreported, and he wasn’t about to share that sensitive information with anyone he didn’t trust. “I just wanted to let you know that while I was out and about, I saw some familiar crates on a random space station. It was really weird seeing them out in the world, so I copied down a serial number for you. Figured you could see if there were shipping issues, or if it was some other problem. I’m sure it’s no big deal.”

  She sighed, sounding annoyed, and he was impressed by her acting abilities. “Go ahead and read it off. Wait, let me get something to write with. There’s a pen around here somewhere.” To become a major in the Special Forces required a wide variety of skills. One of the baseline talents was the ability to dissemble, to sneak, to infiltrate. That inevitably led to the development of a suspicious outlook on life, which ultimately resulted in the creation of shared codes for speaking in the open. He had them with each of his subordinates, and Anika Stephenson had them with each of hers. The mention of a pen meant he was to change the data by a number of units based on its location in the report. So, the first number was a one, and since it was in that spot, he would say “two.” Next up was the letter Z, and since it was in the second position, he would loop around and say “B.”

  The translation was pretty much automatic, and he recited the serial number he’d found on the rifle they’d escaped with. When he was done, she sighed again. “I’m sure this is a snipe hunt, but I’ll take a look all the same. Was there anything else, Captain?”

  He shook his head, then remembered they were on voice only, which allowed a higher level of encryption in the available bandwidth. “No, Major, that’s it. Is the timeframe we discussed still looking good?”

  “Affirmative. It’s all quiet, so we’re mainly training. Of course, you know how it is. Anything might be waiting around the next corner.”

  “Roger that, Major. Reese out.” She killed the channel without responding and he unhooked his equipment, confident he’d done all he could on that matter. He checked the time and announced to the empty room, “All right. Wonder what’s for dinner?”

  Chapter Twenty-Eight

  He’d met up with Cia at dinner, which turned out to be an unexpectedly light meal, and she had informed him it was a special evening at the Academy—the night of a monthly celebration that brought the whole place together for a party. She also told him he should improvise a costume reflecting his heritage, but he’d gotten close enough to her during their travels to tell she was lying, even though she did a decent job of hiding it.

  He showered again, dressed in a fresh uniform, and followed the directions on his wristcomm. He was surprised to discover that the area at the back of the castle had been covered with festive decorations and colored lights to push away the darkness as evening turned to night. Tables scattered seemingly at random were filled with the same food they got in the dining room, but the ambiance made it exceptionally enticing.

  He wandered from station to station, taking a little of each item that interested him. A small group over in the corner caught his attention, doubtless because of the presence of Doctor Juno Cray. Jax charted a circuitous route toward them that would put him in her line of sight, and she rewarded him with a smile and an invitation to join the crowd.

  He stepped next to her, facing the others in the group, several of whom he’d met at the trivia night. “So, what’s this all about?” He lifted his plate to indicate the surroundings.

  She replied, “The Professor is of the belief a little socializing helps bind the people who are part of the Academy together, which is useful in the long run. Plus, it gives those of us who work here a chance to see how the students interact in a social situation.”

  He laughed. “So, we’re rats in a maze, are we?”

  Juno replied, “I wouldn’t go that far, but you received fair warning that learning would happen anywhere and everywhere. Surely you didn’t think social events were off-limits?”

  Jax shook his head. “Surely not.” He smiled. “I wonder if the Professor watches the staff, or if the staff watches each other? Care to comment?”

  She mimed zipping her lips, and he laughed. Cia picked that moment to join them, banging into his side as she stepped into the circle. She said, “Hi, all. Doc. Jerkwad.”

  The doctor lifted one perfectly sculpted eyebrow. “Jerkwad?”

  Cia tilted her head toward him. “He calls me awesome. I call him jerkwad. Both are undeniably true observations. It’s a thing we have.” Everyone laughed. “Although sometimes I mix it up. He responds to Neanderthal, too.”

  Jax grunted. “Where club? Must squash small annoying animal.” Again, laughter ensued. The baseline camaraderie among them was as strong as any he’d experienced in the military, which was impressive since the Academy wasn’t specifically designed to create it, unlike bases and training. Still, he welcomed it and realized he missed his team more powerfully than he’d admitted to himself. It explained to some degree why those who left the Academy once they’d completed their studies stayed connected afterward. Which, of course, serves the Professor’s goals. He was confident Maarsen had wheels within wheels operating where the purposes of the school were concerned, and only he saw the entire picture.

  But for tonight, it didn’t matter. He hung out with the group until people started to move away, leaving him and Juno alone. She gestured at the roaring bonfire at the back of the area, and he nodded and walked toward it with her. They passed a table with kegs of beer, and he got them each a glass before they reached their destination. They stood side by side in companionable silence, watching the flames, until he asked, “So, come here often?”

  She laughed, and as always, he noted how pleasant it was to hear. “Listen, Jackson.”

  He raised a hand. “No sentence that starts out that way ever ends on a positive. I’m going to go now.” He pantomimed walking away, and she laughed again.

  “No, it’s not that. Well, it’s kind of that. I just want you to understand I would never get involved with a student during their first stint at the Academy. Not only is it against the rules, and rightfully so, but taking away essential focus at such a pivotal time would have the potential to do harm, and as you’ve mentioned in the past, I did take an oath forbidding that.”

  He put on an exaggerated thinking face. “So, what you’re saying is, I do have a chance to convince you to go out with me on a one-on-one basis, just not yet.”

  “Yes, with emphasis on ‘chance.’”

  Jax laughed. “I can accept that. In my life so far, all the things worth having required time and effort to achieve.”

  “Well put.” Her voice was flirty, as if with the ground rules set, she felt a little freer with him.

  “So, not to mix business with pleasure, bu
t what’s the plan for my prosthetics?”

  She looked around to be sure no others were near and pitched her voice lower. “You’re aware of the project the Professor is pursuing. The one your task was part of.” He nodded. “Well, let’s just say pieces of that particular puzzle might also fit in the solution to your cybernetics.”

  He sighed. “That would be good. Any idea on a timeframe?”

  Doctor Cray shook her head. “Not yet, but I am under the impression you’re going to be heading out to get another puzzle piece in the near future.” She refused to be drawn into conversation about it again and their discussion turned to other things, but two ideas kept popping into the back of Jax’s mind. First, that he was itching to get on with whatever the next mission turned out to be. And second, that he was looking forward to finishing up the first session even more than before, given the possibilities available when he returned.

  The next day’s class was an early one, and he followed the path shown on his wristcomm to find the room. When he did, it was a total blast from the past, a setup almost like his time at university, with tables sized for two students arranged in a semicircle. Sitting on a stool in the teaching position in the middle was a heavyset man with large jowls and an unkempt shock of white hair that stuck out in all directions. Jax pegged him as late fifties or early sixties, and not involved in a physical occupation.

  Cia was already there along with one other student, and in the moments that followed his entrance, two more came in to join them. He and the pilot shared a table, and the other three spread out to their own tables. Jax whispered, “Do you know what this is about?”

  She shook her head. “Nope. You’re the only person I recognize in here.”

  When the fifth of them found her seat, the man spoke. He had a thick Scottish accent Jax had to focus hard to understand. “Welcome, students. I’m Callan. I’m here to teach you a couple things today.” Probably local talent then. I wonder how often the Academy draws on the region around here? Maybe for gardeners and such, but for teachers? His train of thought was interrupted as Callan rose and set a black leather bag that brought to mind really old-time medical doctors on the stool. He withdrew a handful of objects and threw them at his students.

  Jax reflexively caught the pair of items tossed at him, downgrading their threat level as he saw they were decidedly non-harmful beanbags with bright plaid covers. Once they all had them, the man said, “All right, get up and move those damned tables and chairs out of the way. Who knows how to juggle?”

  As it turned out, two of them were competent, Cia and one of the men. The rest of them looked like children beside the pair as they practiced making the throws perfect until they could catch them without looking. Then the madman leading the class added a third beanbag into the mix for most of them and a fourth and fifth for the two who had come in with some skill. Jax found himself enjoying the game, but he didn’t think he’d be going beyond three simultaneously any time soon.

  When they had all achieved a level of proficiency where they weren’t dropping the bags too often, Callan paired them off, taking Cia for his partner. They modeled throwing as a team and made it look easy. “Go on, try it,” he instructed, and while they did indeed try, Jax and the woman he’d partnered with spent more time laughing than they did catching. After about ten minutes of flailing, Callan said, “Okay, hold up. Let’s do this properly.” He and Cia demonstrated slowly enough for them to see each nuance, and he spotted the key to the game right away. They didn’t look to make the catch; instead, they concentrated on their own throws with the sure knowledge that the other would hit them in the hand. Their gaze never left the middle distance. He sighed and said, “It’s about trusting your partner.”

  Callan caught the bags, breaking the pattern, and nodded. “Good eye, lad. Yes, that’s what it’s about. Now, with that in mind, see if you can do better. And before you begin, let me just tell you I’ve seen children master this in the amount of time we have today, so hopefully you can break through the crust in your brains and do the same. And not old children. Wee ones.” He held up a thumb and index finger spaced slightly apart to demonstrate. The taunting was simultaneously funny and annoying, but in it, he heard echoes of prior military instructors. Sometimes a mean word was what it took. Hell, he’d done it himself.

  He looked at his partner and shrugged. “All right. How about we start really slow and simply concentrate on putting the bags where our hands naturally go?” She nodded, and they pantomimed it at first so they could figure out the targets they needed to hit. Once they had it down, they tried it with one bag, then two, and eventually managed to keep three going at a pretty consistent clip, albeit with the occasional beanbag to the face, followed by a laughter-filled apology. Right about the time they had it solidly down, the white-haired bastard shouted, “All right, people, switch partners,” and he had to relearn it with another person, and another after that, until everyone had worked with everyone.

  Finally their teacher called the session to a halt and congratulated them. “Good work, people. You are at least as accomplished as the children I mentioned earlier.” He followed it up with a smile. “Seriously, well done. This is an old dog, new tricks kind of thing, and you did it well. Now, our time together as teacher and students is finished. However, the lovely Alicia has shared the heavenly news that there is a bar in the basement of this place, and if you want to join me there, I’ll spring for the first round.”

  One of the other two men said, “But it’s only three in the afternoon.”

  Callan laughed. “Right. I’m getting started a little later than usual, but I think I can make up for lost time if I work hard enough at it. Now, who’s with me?”

  Chapter Twenty-Nine

  Midway through the evening, after they’d been hanging out in the bar listening to Callan share stories about his life as a stage entertainer for several hours, Jax’s comm pinged, and he saw he’d gotten a new message and missed an earlier one. The most recent communication was from Major Stephenson, just a time again, but one only thirty minutes in the future. The other was an appointment for the following morning in a room that when he checked his map, proved to be in a part of the castle he hadn’t previously had access to. Moving up in the world. Well, the Academy.

  He made his excuses and headed back to his quarters, where he repeated the ritual of hard-wiring the communication components together so there was no chance of the wireless signal being hijacked locally. Sure, it was unlikely, but good tradecraft was never a waste of time. At the appointed moment, the line clicked on, and Anika said, “Reese?”

  “Present, Major.”

  “How’s the vacation?” Her voice sounded normal and lacked the forced energy of their previous interaction.

  “It continues, with no clear end in sight. Unless you know something I don’t.”

  She chuckled. “There’s no knowing with that man.” She was clearly referring to Maarsen. “In any case, I’m calling with a purpose.” The phrasing was code that the next piece of information was the opposite of the truth. “When we tracked back the serial number you gave us, we found nothing useful. Everything is aboveboard. You can let it go.” She stopped talking, which indicated the end of the coded portion.

  Jax replied, “Well, that’s a relief.”

  “Yep. Thought you’d want to know. Oh, and Reese?”

  “Yes, Major?”

  “You probably shouldn’t plan on more than another week of R&R, tops. Your team will need to move to a training rotation as scheduled, and you should be here for it.”

  “Of course. I’ll give you a shout when details firm up, or you can give me one when I’m almost out of time.”

  “Good deal. Be careful, Jackson. I hear sometimes vacationing can be hazardous to your health. Don’t underestimate it.”

  No risk of that, Major. I’m more worried by the minute if I’m honest. He forced a laugh. “Got it. No need to worry. I’ll be as cautious as ever.”

  She snorted, sai
d, “That’s what concerns me,” and killed the connection. He put the gear away and took another long shower, one of the luxuries at the Academy he truly enjoyed. Could still use a hot tub, though. Maybe Juno would want to join me for a dip. He crawled into bed, thinking that if today had brought juggling, heaven only knew what the mystery meeting tomorrow was going to entail.

  When the path provided by his wristcomm took him straight toward a wall, Jax’s first thought was that someone was screwing with him. That notion was quickly proved false as the surface before him retracted and slid aside to reveal a staircase leading down. It was brightly lit and well maintained, and it appeared to be an original part of the castle, based on its stonework. He walked carefully down steps that had been smoothed by countless feet over the centuries.

  At the bottom of the stairs, the old gave way to the new. The same sterile ambiance he’d seen in the medical lab was present here, the walls and floor some strange amalgam of plastic and metal. It was warm, comfortable, and seemingly empty. His path led down to where the hall took a ninety-degree turn to the right. As he neared it, he thought he heard voices, and as he reached it, he identified one of them as Cia’s. Just beyond the turn, a set of open doors revealed a huge room. He walked into it to find that all the people who’d been present for the juggling class the day before, minus the instructor, were standing around looking as confused as he felt.

  Professor Maarsen strode out from a side door Jax hadn’t noticed and greeted them as a group. “Good morning, ladies and gentlemen. You’ve been selected for a special assignment for the Academy. You’ll need to depart tonight to make it work, so there’s very little time for you to get to know one another. I do not overstate the case to say that success will require contributions from each of you, so you have the next four hours to become familiar with each other.”