After clearing the fort of the dead and waiting for the replacement team to arrive, both cadets and their instructors finally leave on the shuttle to head back to the main ship.
The shuttle’s ramp is closed shut as it starts humming at low frequency. The pebbles and small bits of debris scattered around the courtyard start to float off the ground as the shuttle starts to rise towards the sky.
Reaching a high enough altitude, the ship points itself up at the night sky and blasts off like a meteor in reverse. In just a few minutes the shuttle arrives at the vast stretch of darkness known as space, stopping in front of a starship that dwarfed the shuttle.
The large vessel, a carrier over 10 kilometers in length, looked more like a building than a space-faring vessel. It largely resembled a rectangle but other geometrical shapes also make up its figure.
Jutting out from its front is a large cannon serving as the ship’s main gun while numerous turrets can be found across the length of its body. Its armored shell is white with yellow accents, the logo of Arkham planted on both sides.
Unlike the shuttle, the starship had visible thrusters at its back and were currently turned off. However, small plumes of plasma emerge from the microthrusters along the body of the ship every now and then to allow it to turn slightly.
The dropship moves towards one of the open hangars at the side of the carrier, going through the electromagnetic barrier with ease. Guided by the instructions sent to his helmet, JC lands the shuttle where a medical team was waiting for them.
As the ramp went down, the traumatized foreigners ran out of the shuttle first and started kissing the ground or collapsed on it. The rest got up from their seats and walked out while talking amongst themselves.
Last to leave were the veteran agents and the two cadets that were incapacitated during the test.
Sal was bridal carrying the injured cadet while Chris carried the other one like he was a shopping bag on his left hand. As the engineer and the PA pilot hand over the cadets to the medics, Wu addresses the other recruits.
“Alright, back in formation guys! We aren’t done yet!”
As the order was given, the recruits all form a semi-circle in front of the cloaked agent and the shuttle pilot. When the cadets were finished placing themselves, Wu started talking again.
“So first off, congrats on not dying. The chances were pretty low in the first place but still. Give yourselves a pat on the back.”
Although getting a few raised eyebrows and confused tilts from some of the cadets, the few of them to the amusement of Sal and JC.
“I didn’t mean literally. Anyways, me and the other instructors will review the videos of your performance today. After that, it's up to the Spears to make the final decision based on our judgments.”
Many of the cadets became nervous after hearing the elites of Arkham being mentioned. Those that removed their helmets showed their anxiety on their faces while those that wore helmets visualized it through their body language.
Sal noticed their nervousness and decided to send them off in a light mood, or at least attempt to. Walking besides Wu, the engineer says a few words of kindness.
“C’mon now guys, there’s nothing to be afraid about. There were a few hiccups during the test but that’s just something that happens in life. You can’t account for everything that happens, that’ll just leave you crazy.”
“And even if you guys don’t make the cut, it's not the end. You guys can just redo it all over again or join the Cerulean Guard. They’re always looking for people to help them.”
The engineer’s words did well to uplift the spirits of many of the cadets present. Before Sal could say more, Wu walks in front of him and wraps things up.
“Alright, that’s enough optimism for today. When you’ve been approved of graduating, you’ll be sent a message on your email stating this along with other information.”
“Good luck to all of you and dismissed.”
Straightening their stance, they give a salute to their instructors and pilot before leaving.
“SIRS!”
Ensure your favorite authors get the support they deserve. Read this novel on Royal Road.
The agents return the salute, a sign that they were now officially let go. As the cadets head to the ship’s cafeteria to celebrate, Wu talks to the other agents on what to do next.
“I’m gonna go join the cadets in the cafeteria. Anyone wanna join me? JC?”
“I’ll join for a bit. What about you, Chris?”
“Later. Going to have a smoke first before I join. How about you, Sal?”
“I-”
Before he could give an answer, he noticed that Kasao was sitting by herself on one of the benches in the hangar instead of joining the other cadets.
“I’ll join you guys later. Still gotta report the mission and stuff.”
“Suit yourself.”
Wu and JC walk in the same direction the cadets went, giving a hello to the small cadet before continuing on their way. Chris went in a different direction, heading to the opposite end of the hangar.
With his team nowhere in sight, the engineer approaches the lone cadet who was busy typing on her console.
“Excuse me, is this seat taken?”
The cadet looks to her right to see Sal standing near the edge of the table, giving a small wave to her. She scoots over to the side so let the veteran sit down.
“No sir.”
“Thanks. I need a bit of rest after what happened in that fort.”
Sal sits down and cracks his neck before slumping and resting his arms on his legs.
“Also, you don’t have to call me sir anymore. Call me Sal, since you and I are on the same level now.”
Kasao was surprised by what the agent had said. Was what he said a confirmation that she passed? Agent or not, she wasn’t going to let it get to her head.
“No offense si- Sal but you’re a veteran and I’m not even an official agent yet.”
“Ha! Being a vet just means I’ve been shot at more than you. Besides, I’m confident you and the others will become agents. Well... except for the four cadets that didn’t join the assault at the fort.”
Sal then sits up straight, asking her the question that got him to approach her in the first place.
“Speaking of cadets though, why aren’t you with the rest of your platoon at the cafeteria?”
Kasao returns the question with one of her own.
“Why aren’t you with your teammates? Sir.”
*chuckle* “I still need to do the report on today’s events before I join them. Now that I’ve answered your question, what about you?”
“...I’m waiting for the ship to arrive at Tellus so I can get off.”
“...You do know that you have to wait 3 hours before the ship returns to Tellus, right?”
“I know.”
“...Why not wait it out with the others?”
“...”
“...So you're going to wait for three whole hours inside the hangar until the ship starts moving?”
“Correct.”
“What if you get hungry?”
“I wo-.”
The stomach of the small woman betrays her as it growls for sustenance. Sal opens one of his larger pouches to pull out a sandwich inside a ziplock back. He then offers it to Kasao, who seemed shocked or unresponsive of the action.
“Here, have it. It’s grilled cheese. It's still warm thanks to the heater inside the pouch.”
Kasao looks at the sandwich, then to the agent beside her. Not wanting to be rude, she takes the sandwich.
“...Thank you.”
“You’re welcome.”
Kasao places the sandwich on her lap before taking off her helmet and placing it between her and Sal. The cadet had neck-length blonde hair, pale skin and dark blue eyes.
She pulls out the sandwich and takes a bite. As she enjoys the snack, the intercoms inside the hangar activate as a robotic female voice gives a surprise announcement.
[INTERCOM: Fireteam GAS, please report to meeting room number 08 as soon as possible. I repeat, Fireteam GAS, please report to meeting room number 08 as soon as possible.”]
After the announcement ended, Sal stared at the speaker while contacting the other members of his team. Joining their private call, It seemed that all three had the same question in mind.
[CHRIS, SAL, WU: Alright, what did you two do?”]
[SAL, WU: What? I should be asking that question!”]
[CHRIS: I’m in the lounge having a smoke.”]
[WU: At the cafeteria with JC. He can’t talk right now, he’s too busy hotboxing inside his helmet.”]
[SAL: And I haven’t even left the hangar yet so it's definitely not me.”]
[CHRIS: Then why are we being called then?”]
[WU: Why are you asking us? If you don’t know, what makes you think we would?”]
[SAL: Look, it's pretty obvious the only way we’ll know is by going to the meeting room ourselves.”]
[WU: *groan* I’d rather not go in there without knowing why.”]
[SAL: We don’t exactly have a choice here, dude. I’ll meet you guys there. Out.”]
Ending the call, Sal looks towards Kasao who had already finished the sandwich.
“Hey, I gotta go now. Did you like the sandwich?”
“Yes. Thank you again.”
“Good to hear. Well, I gotta go now. It's been nice working with you, miss Kasao.”
“And same with you si- Sal.”
Standing up from his seat, he gives a wave goodbye to the cadet before heading deeper inside the ship towards the designated area the intercoms mentioned.