The Azophi Academy Complete Series Boxed Set: Unique Military Education

by TR Cameron

  Cia ordered, “Listen to the man,” and handed the glasses to Marshall. “I’m going with him. It’ll be fine.”

  Jax wanted to argue but decided it wasn’t worth the effort. He pointed at Marshall. “Get it done.” The other man nodded, and they moved out under Athena’s direction. Sirenno supported Verrand with a shoulder under her arm, since she was still wobbly from the stun blast.

  Jax grabbed a pair of pistols from the deck and grinned at Cia. “You’re an idiot. You know that?”

  She answered as she collected her weapons. “Takes one to know one. I have your back.”

  Athena, they’ll expect us to go for the ship, so let’s make it look like we’re doing that. “All right, let’s move.”

  Jax ran through the corridors and slowed only at intersections. Athena’s access to the cameras let him maintain his speed, and he shouted and fired random shots to alert the enemy to his position. She confirmed that they were following and that the other group would face light opposition because of it. Let me know when they’re ready to launch.

  He stopped to let Cia catch her breath. “The others should be okay. But I’m starting to doubt that we’ll make it back to the ship.”

  She laughed. “I know that was never your objective. There was no way we’d manage it. I figured you were planning to steal a shuttle.”

  Jax nodded. “More or less, but you’re right.”

  “So, we’re going to use the backup-backup plan?”

  “Yeah, but not until the perfect moment.”

  Athena reported, “They’re closing on your position. Straight ahead will bring you toward the hangar.”

  Likelihood that we’ll be able to steal a shuttle?

  “Minimal.”

  Yeah, I figured. Okay, plot the airlocks for me. “Time to move, short stuff.”

  Cia snorted. “Whatever, meathead.”

  Jax dropped the stun pistols, which would be useless against the armored opposition, and handed his projectile pistol to Cia. With the baton he’d stolen in his right hand, he ran forward and turned, directly into the squad of four guards Athena had warned him about.

  They’d split into two rows, and the ones in front dropped suddenly so the ones in the back could fire. Athena shouted, “Down.” Clever. Jax slid feet-first into the frontmost one on the right. It knocked the man backward, and Jax wrenched himself over to bring the baton down at the other one. His target rolled forward to avoid the blow and came up in time to take Cia’s uppercut on the chin. Their helmets were more riot gear than true combat equipment and left that part of the face exposed underneath the plastic face shield. She’d done it right, transmitting all of her force into the punch like they’d practiced countless times together on the Grace.

  Jax clambered forward at the other two, then twisted into a pirouette as they fired at him. The stun blast caught him a glancing blow, and he stumbled. Icy strength filled his limbs as Athena pumped his adrenaline, and he lashed out with a left-handed punch that shattered the face shield of the one on that side, then continued to break bones in his face. Jax planted his foot and delivered a skipping sidekick to the one on the left that knocked him back against the wall, then took advantage of his distraction to slice the baton down on his knee and shatter the joint.

  By then, another squad had appeared down the long hallway. He turned, grabbed Cia, and ran back the way they’d come. Athena, status of the pods?

  She replied, “They’ll be ready to launch in ten seconds. They must be launched within forty to avoid enemy action.”

  He spoke out loud. “Okay, Athena, launch the pods as soon as they’re ready. Cia, fifteen seconds until the show.” They skidded to a stop and crouched.

  Athena announced, “Pods launching.”

  Jax nodded. “Blow it.”

  Cia sighed. “It was good knowing you, Jigsaw.” She tapped her comm, and the shock wave from their vessel’s detonation shook the walls around them and the floor underfoot despite the thick hull and corridors that separated them from it.

  “Alert Stephenson and find me an airlock. Now, Athena.” The pods had launched from the opposite side of the Tortuga from the explosion. He was fairly confident it would distract the ship’s authorities, and everyone else, from the small pods carrying his team to safety. Now, he had to manage the same secure exit for himself and Cia.

  Athena instructed, “End of the corridor, left, third right, and it’ll be on your left.” His mind stored the instructions, and he ran for all he was worth along the path she’d set. They encountered a couple more enemy squads along the way, and Jax waded in without any concern for how much damage he would inflict. It had come to the point where Cia’s survival and Athena’s survival, plus of course his continued existence, were an absolute priority.

  They ran into the airlock, and he finally caught a break. A row of vacuum suits hung from hooks, with helmets on shelves above them. He dogged the hatch closed behind them and peeled off his gear. “Get dressed, fast.” Cia was already doing so, and if anything was faster at it than he was. Pounding on the door when he was halfway into his signaled problems. “Athena, start the purge.” He wasn’t ready for it, but the failsafe would prevent the door from being opened. He squeezed the pendant around his neck to signal Stephenson and sealed up his suit.

  “Affirmative.” With a slow whoosh, the atmosphere began to leech from the room. He started to feel a little lightheaded before he got the headwear latched onto his suit’s collar.

  He turned to Cia and grinned. “So, done a lot of spacewalking?”

  She shrugged. “No, but you have, so it can’t be that hard.”

  Jax laughed. “Well then, this should be fun. Come over here and hug me.”

  She obeyed, but as she wrapped her arms around his neck, she quipped, “I’m totally telling Juno, you tramp.”

  “Shut up and wrap your legs around my waist.” He waited until she’d settled, then ran for the open hatch and leapt out into space. The view was impressive since the Jigsaw’s destruction had set off a cascade of ship activity, some drifting because they’d taken damage, others trying to get back into position after fleeing from the unexpected explosion.

  They spun lazily around their long axis, and Cia gripped him tighter. She observed, “This is amazing.”

  “Yeah. It is. Hey, by the way, thanks for sticking with me.”

  “You know it. Just a random question, totally not important, but how much air do these suits have?”

  He chuckled. “Enough. Take a look back toward the ship.” A UCCA shuttle was inbound, its black skin noticeable against the dull grey of the Tortuga. “It’s good to have friends.”

  She punched him on the shoulder. “It definitely is. And you owe me a replacement for the Jigsaw.”

  He snorted. “Your parents could replace that bucket out of petty cash.”

  “Okay, if that’s how you want to play it. But you have to be the one to convince them to. And that means dealing with my siblings.”

  “Hmm. Maybe I’ll ask Maarsen instead.”

  She laughed. “Good plan, soldier boy.”

  “Thanks, fly girl.”

  Chapter Thirty-Two

  Jax hadn’t expected that Stephenson would bring the Cronus along to rescue him but was beyond pleased to have the opportunity to introduce his teams to one another. He entrusted the others to Beatrice O’Leary and joined Stephenson in her quarters with a promise to join them for drinks.

  She handed him a tumbler full of whiskey as he sat at her table, and he took a deep, satisfying drink. “Thank you. For the alcohol, and the rescue.”

  He received a grin in reply, then she stated, “Okay, time to work,” and tapped her comm.

  Maarsen’s voice emanated from it. “Jackson. What did you find?”

  He laughed inwardly. We’re fine, Professor, thanks for asking.

  Athena growled, “You’re fine. I’m annoyed.”

  Is this the first time you’ve been unable to own a system you’ve tried to breach?


  “Yes.”

  It’s a temporary failure. Look at it as an opportunity for growth. She hissed static and faded into silence. “We know who’s leaking information, although it’s probably a code name rather than a real one. But there seems to be little question that the person is connected to the Intelligence Division, based on all the data Athena has parsed so far.”

  Maarsen sounded angry again. Seems like that’s happening more and more often. “Apparently, trying to accomplish our objectives while staying out of direct conflict with Arlox and his people is no longer a viable approach.” Steel entered his voice, sharper and harder than Jax would have thought him capable of. “Fine. It’s time to bring this long-standing cold war to a close. Jackson, Anika, I’ll expect to see you back at the Academy as soon as possible.”

  Jax chuckled. “Well, since I’m officially dead, I don’t think that will be a problem for me. The major might have a few complications, though.”

  Stephenson shook her head. “I’ll find the time, Nikolai. I agree, the Intelligence Division has become a cancer eating at the heart of the Alliance. Official channels have failed us, despite many attempts to work through the system and wasting most of the favors I had outstanding.”

  The Professor’s voice turned thoughtful, the ferocity banked but still noticeable. “We’ll need to do it in a way that we’re not running obviously afoul of the law.”

  Jax repeated, “Well, since I’m officially dead, I don’t think that will be a problem for me, either, if necessary.”

  Stephenson nodded. “Whatever it takes. I’m in.”

  Jax agreed. “Me too.”

  Maarsen stated, “All right. Time for the endgame to begin.”

  The connection dropped, and Jax urged, “Come out for a drink with us, boss. If ever there was a moment for it, now is the time.”

  She hesitated for a minute, then nodded. “We’ll have a proper wake. For your ‘death’ and the imminent demise of both our careers. Damn, Jackson, sometimes it sucks to be one of the good guys.”

  He laughed. “You know it, Major.”

  For once, Athena didn’t ruin the moment with a snarky reply. He asked, concerned, You okay in there?

  “I will be, as soon as we smash Zavian Arlox and all his people into dust.”

  Right on. I love the way you think. He rose and headed for the door with a broad grin. “Let’s go celebrate how awesome we were.”

  A substantial distance away from both Earth and the Cronus, Zavian Arlox scowled at the underling who had brought him the news. “On the Tortuga, you said?”

  “Yes, sir.” The man was tall, thin, pale, and obviously scared of his boss’s potential anger.

  “And we have absolute confirmation it was Reese?”

  “No sir, but enough indicators point in that direction that the analysts give it a ninety-eight percent probability.”

  “Damn the man. I didn’t think he was dead, but I had hoped for it. And damn Maarsen, too. Damn them all.”

  He shook his head. “Okay. First off, have the agent killed so the trail can’t lead definitively back to us. Make it look like the Confederacy assassinated him. Maybe the politicians can make some hay with that.” He sneered the word as if politics were utterly beneath him. “Then, get me two hunter teams. It’s time to take Jackson Reese and his friends off the board. Go.” He waved his hand, and his subordinate fled.

  He leaned back in his chair and closed his eyes. After all these years, Nikolai, you’ve finally pushed me to where I have to eliminate you. Unfortunate. I’ve enjoyed our game. But there can only be one winner, and I guarantee it’s not going to be you.

  Author Notes - TR Cameron

  September 2, 2020

  Three Azophi Academy books in, one more to go! Thank you for reading, and for continuing on to the author notes. I hope that you found this particular story delightfully twisty and turny.

  Until I actually wrote the chapter, I thought it was going to be Marshall who turned out to be the traitor. One of the coolest things about the whole writing gig is that it’s as much about discovery as it is about planned creation, at least the way I do it. I’m a plotter, but things always seem to take strange turns.

  My kid has moved on from facetime to full-on Nintendo Switch Fortnite voice chat mania. I can’t imagine being in that party based on the screaming and yelling and oft-repeated, “Help me! Fine. I’m dead.” It’s also become the best way to do voice chat, so even computer Roblox needs the Switch now. I’m pretty sure there will soon be a battle for control of the device as my wife’s access to Animal Crossing diminishes.

  I’m prepping to play the Star Trek Tabletop Role Playing Game, and am really impressed with its dedication to putting the story ahead of the mechanics. Even the gameplay elements are wrapped around the idea of telling a story. I’m looking forward to breaking it out, although given my schedule that’s probably a month away at best.

  Plus, the Avengers videogame just came out for those of us who preordered, and that’s sucking away some significant time. My kid is playing too, so that’s a fun bonding experience, anyway. Minecraft dungeons did us wrong. After 40+ levels, one of our characters vanished. Come on, Microsoft and Mojang, get your stuff together.

  I don’t know about you, but I’m finding media to be the only thing that’s keeping me from losing my mind in the current world situation. I’m rewatching comfortable things, and taking some risks on stuff I wouldn’t normally try out. I’m looking forward to the new Lovecraft show on HBO, and to the return of The Mandalorian on Disney+.

  Two of our cats, the oldest and youngest, have suddenly become best buddies. They sit on chairs together, chase each other around the house, and lay on the opposite ends of couches together. It’s so unexpected and hopeful; always gives me a smile.

  Pretty soon it’ll be time to introduce the kid to Bill and Ted. I’ve heard that the third movie is resoundingly hopeful. (See, there’s a theme emerging here)

  Once we finish up the Azophi Academy series, I’m headed back into Oriceran. I’m re-energized for Urban Fantasy, and have a great idea for the next series. I think I needed this brief return to Science Fiction to knock out the cobwebs and to stretch a few different creative muscles. That will make my next series all the better, and I hope you’ll join me!

  If you enjoyed this book, you might like my other science fiction series, and maybe even my Urban Fantasy. It’s all filled with action, snark, and villains who think they’re heroes. Drop by www.trcameron.com and take a look.

  Until next time, Joys upon joys to you and yours – so may it be.

  PS: If you’d like to chat with me, here’s the place. I check in daily or more: https://www.facebook.com/AuthorTRCameron. Often I put up interesting and/or silly content there, as well. For more info on my books, and to join my reader’s group, please visit www.trcameron.com.

  Author Notes - Martha Carr

  September 29, 2020

  There’s a mindfulness movement these days that is blowing my mind, one area of my life at a time. I started this with money a long time ago. I had trouble spending a dollar. Yep, just a dollar. It didn’t help that I was a journalist and single mother and was perpetually short of cash. Finding a five dollar bill in my purse was manna from heaven. A twenty dollar bill would have felt like winning something.

  But a mentor taught me to ask myself, “Will keeping this dollar change your life?” I would stand in front of the shelves in a store, looking at the thing I wanted to buy, and ask that question. The answer was always, no.

  That left open the door for me to ask myself all kinds of questions. To start with, if I am more purposely going to spend money, what would I choose to buy. Now, I should also include another story. Same mentor found out I had three gift cards that I had been carrying around for a while, unwilling to spend them on myself. She gave me thirty days, and I could only buy things for me.

  I bought underwear on sale at Marshall’s and then cried my heart out in the parking lot. Somewhere along
the way I had really bought into the idea that if I took care of me, all of hell would find me. Like most lies, this one took practice of actually doing the opposite for me to see, nothing bad happened. Not only that, life got better.

  And here’s the mindfulness part. By letting go of some outward lie I was told, I left room to get to know me. I started to ask myself, do you want the nicer wallet? Pick the one you like and get it. I still remember getting a pink wallet from Target and floating out of there. I kept it for years.

  Past couple of years, I finally got around to applying mindfulness to food. Decades of dieting had short circuited my inner voice. I didn’t ask myself, do you really like how this tastes? Are you hungry? Are you full? I went by the diet and if it said, eat this brown, dry thing, I ate it. And if something was forbidden, I ate it fast. But in mindfulness, nothing is forbidden and I’m the one I can trust the most. So, if I want it, I eat it. Sounds crazy, but the longer I’ve done it, the less I’ve wanted what was previously forbidden and the more I’ve noticed, most of it isn’t worth it anyway.

  I started listening to me, in yet another area. But weirdly, I didn’t notice that I was still listening way too much to others when it came to exercise. I mean, work harder, longer is pretty much the general motto for exercise, right? No wonder most of us dread it.

  But then, I found a new trainer who said, what do you like to do? Let’s create this long list that you can choose from and let’s make sure you’re having fun. Of course, I tried to do the opposite at first. I wanted to prove something. Run that mile, lose that weight, feel those muscles.

  The trainer, Laura Weiner, was on board. I mean, after all, this was my choice. At the same time, she was suggesting listening and following that inner guidance. And I half-listened to that suggestion. But after twelve weeks, I found I was slowing down, doing less and feeling resentful and bored. But, fortunately, I also told Laura how I felt and that I was exercising less.