by Thomas Davis
Upon entering the training grounds Chase noticed a hastily constructed stage off to the side. It was a pretty shabby display, very obvious that command had it slapped together in just a few hours. Standing next to the stage were Captain Jake Takeda, Samantha Hawkins, and the Lhasa Titan David Assad. Assad looked drastically different than how he appeared on the battlefield. He had shed his load-out gear, and unlike everyone else milling about, he was completely out of uniform. David’s base Frame was a Sakamoto 9 pedestrian chassis that had been modified to interlock with his load-out gear. Without the gear David stood about 6’2”. He had glowing red eyes, his body was a shiny metallic blue, and instead of a mouth he had a yellow grid that would illuminate as he spoke. The grid seemed to be in the shape of a smile but that could’ve just been a coincidence. He was wearing red blazer with a white dress shirt and a thick purple tie. He also had on a straw boater hat and khakis.
Edith Deadeye Fafnir was curiously absent from the proceedings. No one on the base had spoken a word about seeing her since immediately after the battle. Chase was practically gawking at the Strike Team members from afar until Sam finally noticed him and waved the young man over. David glanced in Chase’s direction and acknowledged his approach with a polite waist high two-fingered wave of his hand. Captain Takeda didn’t look Chase’s direction at all. He was engrossed in a comic book that he held in his right hand. He was leaning against the shabby stage with his left hand. Chase waved as he approached the group as they were in conversation.
“Is Edith even going to attend?” Sam asked in an annoyed tone.
David shrugged his shoulders, “you know how Short-Stack is. She’s probably still in bed.”
“She should at least be interested in helping to pick a new teammate.”
“You’d think so.” David laughed.
“Hey,” It was the only word Chase could get out.
“Aw he’s so precious,” David sarcastically remarked.
“This is the kid I told you about, remember?”
“I have a cybernetic brain Princess Hawkins, I remember everything.”
“Princess?” Chase was surprised by Sam’s goofy nickname. He only knew her as Gunner Hawkins, the fiercest woman in uniform.
“I really wish there was a way to turn you off sometimes Tin-can.” Samantha said as she crossed her arms.
“You’re breaking my heart Princess.”
“You don’t have a heart Chrome Dome,” Sam looked to Jake who was reading his comic. “Are we boring you captain?”
“Only a little,” Jake grinned in response without looking away from his literature.
“Care to join us at the adult table Buttons?” David snidely remarked.
“This is hardly the adult’s table.” Jake glanced up from his comic and stared at Chase for a moment. He squinted his eyes at the boy then looked back down at the pages of his book.
The comic Jake was reading was a collection of an ongoing story called Mischief Knight. Most readers followed the story from week to week on their Navi’s but Jake preferred to wait for the volumes so he could get a physical copy in his hands. These volumes were hard to come by which meant Jake was months behind other readers. He was constantly on guard for spoilers whenever he stepped foot on a new colony or a base. He could easily get caught up with everyone else but he refused. It was yet another one of his many eccentricities. He had a habit of doing things in the most inconvenient ways possible.
The protagonist of the story Jake followed was typical of the Shonen genre, a young male who trained hard to achieve a near impossible goal. The Mischief Knight would face escalating challenges and get stronger while seeking Excalibur. He also had a latent power. The power was his trump card for beating the bad guy whenever the author wrote himself into a corner. These series were primarily aimed at a younger audience with very predictable plots where the good guys always won in the end. But that was almost the point of them. It was an escapist medium.
Jake looked at Chase once again, “Oh… Hey Shonen Boy.”
Chase was speechless. He assumed it was an insult of some kind but he didn’t get the reference. Sam couldn’t help but to let out a slight giggle while David on the other hand was hunched over in laughter.
“Oh! That was cold!” David laughed. “Even for you Buttons!”
Members of the command staff approached Jake. “Captain Takeda. If you’ll follow us to the stage we can get this exercise underway.”
Takeda closed the small comic then slid it into his back pocket. “Yes sirs.” He said with minimum enthusiasm.
Chase’s confidence had sunk down into his feet. He finally met his hero only to be brutally mocked by him.
David patted Chase on the shoulder a bit too hard throwing the boy’s balance off slightly. “Good luck kid. I’m looking forward to seeing what you got.” He walked over to the stage steps.
“Pick that chin up off the ground soldier.” Sam Hawkins told Chase. “A horrible nickname is a good sign coming from the Captain.” She looked him in the eyes with a confident smile, “you think I enjoy being called Princess?”
Sam’s words were like a shot of adrenalin to Chase. He cracked his knuckles and marched towards the training grounds. Determined. He turned and looked back at her, “Why are you helping me?”
Sam looked to the sky. It took her a while to answer, “When I first enlisted in the military no one believed in me. And because of how I look, no one would take me seriously. I had to fight so hard to get here. I had to be the strongest person on the battlefield just to be respected.” She gave a Chase a warm glance. “You got a lot of potential Chase. Nurturing that potential just feels right.”
She’s so direct, so honest. Chase thought. “Thank you, Sam.”
“Don’t thank me.” She turned and started towards the stage steps, “This is just the starting line. You’re the one who has to run the race.” Show them what you’re made of kid.
***
David and Jake were seated on the stage during the first stage of the trial. They watched as the competitors ran the obstacle course or at least David watched. Jake was engrossed in his book with little interest in the proceedings. David leaned over in his chair, “alright… What’s been eating at you?”
“I don’t know what you’re on about.” Jake answered.
“Do I really have to drag it outta ya? You’ve been moping around all day. What’s got you all funked up?”
Jake realized he was just prolonging the inevitable. Once David got a clue it was impossible to shut him down. He shut the book and set it down onto his lap. “All of this just has me thinking about Everett.”
“Yeah… It stinks.”
“Yeah.”
“No. I mean it stinks like Everett around here. We didn’t call him Brown Shorts for nothing.”
Jake giggled at the inappropriate joke. “He loved this life. He was really broken up about leaving it all behind but…”
“But losing his liver and half his stomach says otherwise.” David looked back out at the competition. “Everett is tough, one of the toughest SOB’s around. He’ll figure it out.
“Yeah.”
“But we have to figure it out too.” David said. “There’s only one way to move.”
“Forward.” Jake looked out to the field at the competitors. Chase was in the lead deftly leaping and ducking his way through the course like a man possessed. His determination was palpable even from this far away. There was something familiar about the kid that nagged at the back of Jake’s consciousness. He reminded Jake of someone from his past. Someone dangerous.
7. Expectations
Bethlehem Colony
Gordon Square was an exclusive luxury apartment complex. Many performers, professional athletes, and Politian’s call Gordon Square home. An elderly man walked down the long hallway of a luxury apartment carrying a stack of decorative plates. Based upon his large build he was obviously athletic in his younger years. Time had robbed him of a good deal of his strength but not
his spirit. As he entered into the kitchen he stumbled and one plate slid from the top of the stack and shattered upon the floor. His wife rushed over and admonished him as he set the remaining plates down on the kitchen counter. She was a short woman with reddish brown hair.
“Brian, why didn’t you just bring the whole box?” She snapped.
“It’s just one plate honey. It’ll be fine,” Brian rolled his eyes.
“Fine I’ll bring the box. Otherwise we won’t have any plates left.”
“Kimberly.” Brian called as he picked the broken plate pieces from the floor. “Woman, you are going to be the death of me,” he muttered beneath his breath.
“What was that?’ Kim asked from halfway down the hall. She had the keenest ears in the cosmos.
“Nothing dear.”
The door chime echoed throughout the apartment. Kim and Brian looked to each other and smiled. They weren't expecting any visitors; they didn't know anyone on Bethlehem yet. They assumed only one person would drop by unannounced. Kim waited for Brian to finish tossing the broken dish pieces into the recycling unit so they could answer the door together. Brian walked as fast as his old knees would carry him down the hall. He took his lovely wife by the hand and they proceeded towards the door. Brian activated the door panel sliding it open. Both of their faces lit up when they saw Catherine Fisher waiting on the other side. Simon Morrissey stood several feet behind her.
"Mom. Dad. Welcome to Bethlehem." Catherine said with her arms spread.
“Cat, I thought you’d be too busy to see us today!” Kim beamed and hugged her daughter.
“Get over here!” Brian wrapped his large arms around them both.
Kim looked her up and down, “You look gorgeous dear.”
“Stop it mom.” Catherine knew she looked stunning. She had no flair for fashion or hair but her stylist did. She was paying an arm and a leg to look her best.
They all eventually found their way beyond the unopened boxes in the hallway and onto the couch in the living room. Catherine looked around the room at the many boxes and her face scrunched in annoyance. “I told the movers to unpack you also.” She raised her left arm to call the moving company on her Navi. “This won’t stand.”
Brian stopped her, “Hold on sweetie. We told them it was okay because we didn’t want a bunch of strangers going through our things.”
“They did a great job,” Kim interjected. “Got most of the boxes to the right rooms.”
An open box marked “kitchen” on the living room floor preoccupied Catherine. She fixated on it out of the corner of her view. It was out of place and nagged at her. Simon smiled at Kim and Brian as he picked up the box and carried it away. “You don’t have to.” Kim tried to say.
Simon cut her off, “It’s no trouble. Please?” He walked down the hallway to the kitchen.
Kim grabbed Catherine by the arm and whispered, “he’s a handsome fellow and polite. Are you two together?”
“Mom, Simon is my assistant,” Catherine’s posture collapsed for a moment and she resembled a teenage girl. “Our relationship is purely professional.” She readjusted her posture.
“I’m just asking an innocent question.”
“Leave the girl alone honey,” Brian finally piped in. “How’s your new job going Cat?”
Thank Shangri-La dad came to the rescue, Catherine thought. She proceeded to go into great detail about her new position and responsibilities. Simon had returned to the room without being noticed. Catherine continued to wax poetic about her fancy new job until Kim clumsily interjected herself back into the conversation.
“So, are you seeing anyone Cat?” She was a dog with a bone.
“I… No,” Catherine’s ego deflated.
“You’re an attractive woman, successful. Men should be beating down your door.”
A relationship was the last thing Catherine wanted. The mask she was forced to wear in public spaces was draining enough. Having to wear that mask in her private hours would be torture. She craved solitude in her personal time. Having to entertain yet another person when she was off the clock would drain her of her sanity.
Simon could see that Catherine was fading, retreating into her own mind. Others couldn’t detect when she entered autopilot but Simon was tuned in to her moods and mannerisms. He watched her closely without being too obvious about it. She wasn’t engaging with her parents on a real level. She was pretending to be the person she thought they wanted her to be and it wouldn’t be long before they noticed something was off. There was darkness to Catherine that she felt she needed to keep hidden from her parents. Simon was all too familiar with that darkness. It was what drew him to her, the reason why she was the only person he felt he could confide in. Catherine was still unaware just how deep that dark vein ran. She was silently screaming for an exit from the situation, so Simon began to facilitate one. He tapped at his data pad pantomiming urgency. He approached Catherine on the coach with her parents. “Madam Governor?”
“What is it Simon?”
“You’re needed back at the Municipal plaza.”
“It can’t wait?” Catherine did an amazing job of feigning disappointment.
“I’m afraid not.”
“I’m sorry guys,” Catherine sadly said to her parents as she stood from the coach. “Duty calls.”
“No, it’s fine kiddo,” Brian said
“Yes. you’re doing important work,” Kim rubbed Catherine’s arm. Catherine followed Simon towards the door with her parents close behind. “Don’t be stranger okay?”
“Of course not,” Catherine smiled. Brian and Kimberly waved as the door slid shut.
Catherine let out a sigh as the false warmth faded from her face. She was quiet as Simon and she walked down the hallway to the lift. Simon could ascertain that she was upset with herself for having to bail on her parents. It was the reason she didn’t want to see them initially. Not because she didn’t love them but because of her own insecurities and constantly feeling that she wasn’t good enough. She had achieved so much but still couldn’t shake that feeling. Seeing her parents and how compatible they were with each other always reminded Catherine of how odd she was. “Thank you, Simon.” She said as they stopped in front of the lift.
“It is my task to anticipate your needs.” Simon said as he touched the panel to summon the lift.
“Your work is impeccable,” she touched his elbow.
Gazing into her eyes, Simon unintentionally let a smile slip from his lips. It wasn’t his usual constructed smile. There was warmth to it, genuineness, and honesty. He quickly broke the gaze and turned towards the lift door is it beeped. “The lift has arrived Madam Governor.” They stepped inside then the door slid closed behind them. They rode the lift in silence for a brief period before Simon pressed a button on the panel to halt its descent. “I got your message.”
“What are talking about Simon?”
“The unregistered Navi in your desk drawer.”
“How did you?”
“You left it open. I assumed you wanted me to investigate.”
Catherine crossed her arms and looked towards the wall with a perturbed expression. “Why are you bringing this up? You know our arrangement. You’re supposed to resolve these issues quietly.”
“This current issue is a tad more complicated.”
“You know I don’t like to be privy to your methods Simon.”
“I have exhausted my leads. This blackmailer has gone to great efforts to remain invisible.”
“That coward.”
“I need you to set up a meeting. It’s the only way to flush him out.”
Catherine shuddered at the thought of being a participant in Simon’s work. She was well aware of his vocation and some of what it entailed. Keeping her distance from it allowed her conscience to remain undisturbed. But to facilitate his work, to line up his prey, it would be akin to slaughtering the lamb herself. “There must be another way.”
Simon stood before her then leaned in
until his mouth was near her ear. “I promise you. If there was any other way, I would not involve you like this,” he whispered. Simon slowly extended his open left hand to her. Catherine looked down at it for a short while before placing her hand onto his. She pulled the unregistered Navi device from his open palm. He watched her as she starred down at the small device in her grasp. His work was lonely. He didn’t lie about needing her help but a part of him felt delighted that Catherine would be there with him. His heart beat slightly faster as he watched her. She had recently confided in him about what happened with Louis Johnston back on Lhasa. He knew that deep down she had a taste for it.
The door of the lift slid open. “Go ahead and summon the transport,” she ordered. “I need a moment.”
“Yes ma’am.” Simon left the lift to carry out her order.
Catherine slowly walked out of the lift after him then toward the main entrance of the building as she pondered her situation. What happens from this point forward isn’t on me, she thought. She convinced herself of the justice of her actions. When the blackmailer loses his life, it would be his own fault. Her survival, the life she had built for herself and her family was paramount. Any threat to what she held dear had to be dealt with without hesitation or mercy.
8. Final Phase
Amarillo Outpost
It was the third and final stage of the trials. Command wasn’t too creative with their implementation of the competition. The first stage was the obstacle course. Chase crossed the finish line in third place. He was hot on the heels of Pamela Alvarez until the final stretch when he lost his momentum due to overexerting himself earlier in the course. Any competitor who finished under 16th place in the event was instantly eliminated.
Those 16 remaining soldiers were split into 2 teams of 8 and engaged in a mock battle simulation. The two winners of the first event were appointed as team captains and chose whom they wanted on their squads. Pamela chose Chase as her first pick which he found odd. They had long been rivals but it was a smart move on her part. If she wanted to win and advance to the finals, she needed someone as skilled as Chase on her team or she needed to make sure someone as skilled as Chase wasn’t on the opposing team.
