Kiera lay in medical, the painkiller Lieutenant Dinran gave her was finally starting to take effect. The welts would be gone by morning thanks to her nymph heritage. She didn’t scar or get blemishes, bruises and welts were always gone the next day. Aside from the occasional beauty mark, nymphs skin was completely flawless. Kiera’s star shaped birthmark was an outlier among nymphs.
Hailey had stayed with her until an order came over their PUCs for all the cadets with the exception of Kiera to head to the parade grounds. Kiera didn’t care what was going on; she was seriously considering requesting a transfer into the Navy. She could learn to fly a starfighter, it would still be piloting. Maybe join the ASF; they would probably love to have someone that could operate a mecha attached to them.
“How are you feeling, Kiera?” Lieutenant Dinran asked, walking over with a commpad in hand.
“The pain is going down, the swelling, too. I’m not sure if that’s the painkillers or being a nymph,” she replied. There was no need to hide her species at the academy; the officers already knew and everyone else would soon enough if they didn’t already. She had told Hailey already, “Thanks Lieutenant.”
“Call me Aleta. I know it’s not protocol, but nurses are more relaxed than other medical personnel. Major Peregrine just sent me a message, he’d like you to attend the assembly remotely. The last cadets have arrived.” She handed Kiera a commpad.
Major Peregrine stood at the front of the assembly with the captains and sergeants that had been teaching them. Kiera didn’t see Major Farosh among them, then realized that he was likely holding the other commpad so she could attend. She would have to thank him later. He was a kind and patient man that had a perpetual smile on his face. Hailey thought it was a smirk, but either way he was the least intimidating of their instructors.
Their officers scrutinized each recruit, there was obvious anger in the Knight-Captain’s eyes but, as usual, the major looked nonplussed. Colonel Lazlo was with the officers, all of them were in their red and black. Minutes ticked by but no one dared move, a pregnant silence settled over them.
“You cadets have been at this institution for one week,” the major said. His tone sharp enough to behead everyone standing in front of him, “Over the course of that week there has been no outward signs of contempt for misogyny except for under the breath complaints, and a singular superfluous formal complaint.
“Yet today, a day that we had set aside for you cadets to get some rest due to the intense nature of our program, shows me that there is a discipline problem. That you have been given far too much time on your hands, and you lack the basic respect for your fellow cadets. As I said on the first day that in order to be a mecha pilot you had to possess very specific traits: dependability, reliability, trustworthiness, adaptability, and discipline. I also made our expectations transparently clear including respect for your fellow classmates. Brett Troy, Roy Barton, Caleb Stone, come forward.”
The three cadets walked forward, they weren’t dressed in the paintball equipment but they hadn’t changed from their paint stained clothes, either. They came to attention; Kiera could tell all three were nervous just by looking at them. Crooked Nose looked like he was going to wet himself.
“This is not a secondary school, a boarding school, or an institution where pranks are tolerated. I have been informed that these three cadets stole laundry and then dumped it out the dormitory windows. We have two women who attend this academy because they proved themselves capable. This was an attack on them. Captain Nevis gave them the punishment to attend to the laundry of the dormitory. In addition to this these three are suspended for two weeks and confined to quarters with the exception of any task Sergeant Rhone decides to administer. You will report to him immediately following this assembly. Dismissed.”
Peregrine waited until the three cadets returned to their places, and let silence settle around them again. He took a step backwards, Colonel Lazlo took his place. Sergeants Labradore and Ransing retrieved a projector screen and placed it next to the Colonel. Once it was set up Lazlo pressed a button on his PUC. The screen showed an empty hallway and then four cadets entered the hallway all wearing paintball gear, their faces hidden. A block of text appeared above each one of them a moment later identifying them as T. Roberts, A. Davidson, C. Meyers, and K. Patar. They arranged themselves so Roberts and Davidson were to the right of Kiera’s room, Patar was to the left and Meyers was standing in front of the door.
Meyers knocked on the door and then retreated down the hallway, and ducked into his room. Another camera appeared showing the hallway pointing at Kiera’s door. Kiera watched herself open the door and then the four boys opened fire on her, Meyers running up so they were all within ten feet. The door to one hundred and three opened and S. Collins stepped into the hallway. Davidson, Roberts and Patar fled. Meyers ducked back into his room.
“What in the Void do you assholes think you’re doing!?” He shouted, tapping his emergency call button on his PUC. Hailey caught Kiera as she started to fall, collateral from the assault on her face and shirt.
The camera changed views showing K. Oso approaching the doors as the three others ran out. Oso grabbed Patar, stopping him in his tracks and then threw him into Davidson, leaving them both to crash to the ground. Roberts fell over the other two. Rhone left the building looking equal parts furious and bewildered. The camera feed ended.
“Stealing clothing and using them to decorate a tree is vandalism. But this? This is assault. I know that you attempted to spin a tale that would make Master Bard Ekos Vrahn proud. Going back to the dorm to property clean the equipment, accidental discharge. Cadet Oso attacked without provocation and he must be rabid. My favorite was telling Major Peregrine that it was just a prank and the rec center civilian staff gave you the wrong equipment. That you were just going to go around the dorms and pelt people who didn’t go to the rec center with marshmallows as a gag,” Lazlo said.
The narrative has been illicitly obtained; should you discover it on Amazon, report the violation.
“We don’t get too many hooligans in the MCC. Most of those types tend to go Army since they can’t hack ASF. We see a few egos in the Navy especially among the NSF pilots who think they’re Aces. But this, I’m not even sure I’m looking at Mecha hopefuls. I would like you cadets to take a good look around. You will notice that those four are no longer with us. They have both been expelled and are awaiting a shuttle to take them to Fort Brixton where they will be sentenced for assault.”
Lazlo let the words settle before he continued speaking. “If anyone else was involved in this I advise you to step forward now.” Minutes passed. Silence reigned, the colonel down the line of cadets, “No one? They decided to do this on their own? “No one tried to stop them? Cadet Snowden?”
“All I know is that Stone and Troy were late to our paintball game and then they along with Barton were pulled from the game. When they got back Stone was complaining about a punishment detail,” Dandelion said, “Sir.” There was an underlay of smugness in his words.
“Brantley? Engleton?” the colonel asked.
“Perhaps they blamed Sol for costing them the game since they didn’t have Stone with them,” Engleton said. Brantley remained quiet.
“Before any of you who were friends with those four get it into your idea that there needs to be retribution and Cadet Sol chose to press charges let me assure you of two things. The Astrian Military is pressing the assault charges, Cadet Sol doesn’t get a choice in the matter. This behavior will not be tolerated. There will not be another incident like this. Am I understood?”
“Yes, Sir!” the cadets replied.
Colonel Lazlo stepped back into the line of officers letting Major Peregrine take his place. “I cannot think of another time where I have been more disappointed in a group as I am right now. As of this moment your free time no longer exists. When you are not in a class, physical training, drills, or dismissed to the mess, you are confined to the dormitory. Sergeant Green, Captain Feren. Instill some discipline into these cadets.”
The viewscreen deactivated.Kiera handed it back to Aleta and moved to sit up, “I should go join them.”
“You’ll do no such thing,” Aleta said, “You’re staying right there until I dismiss you. Dr. Farosh wants me to monitor those welts and your pain. When I’m satisfied you’ll return to your dorm to rest.”
“Yes ma’am.”
-[]-
“Thank you for the escort, Dr. Farosh, you didn’t need to do that,” Kiera said as they reached the dormitory, “Thank you again for filming the dressing down so I was kept in the loop.”
“You’re most welcome,” Farosh said with that ever present smile, “I admit the escort was killing two larions with one spear throw. I’ll be filling in for Sergeant Rhone for a few days. Once you’ve unwound please come knock the door. The officer’s bathing chamber has a tub, a good soak is just what you’ll need for the inevitable muscle aches.”
Kiera gave him a small smile, his wording was a bit odd but she decided not to comment on it, “Thank you,” she walked to her dorm just wanting to put today behind her. The bath did sound pretty nice.
Koda was waiting for her outside of her room. They were in the same class but she didn’t know him well. He was a moreau, a descendent of a human-animal hybrid program that was illegally conducted forty years prior. Koda had shaggy brown hair, a pair of bear ears, a snout with a triangle shaped nose and long claws on the ends of his fingers. From a distance he could pass for a human. She slowed down, looking at him warily.
“Officers wouldn’t let me come escort you back, wanted to see how you were doing,” he said, his words slightly growled, “I also haven’t done my laundry yet, if you’d like I could toss a load in for you. I’ve got some special shampoo my sister uses to keep her hair silky, it’s really good to get lots of gunk out of it. Thought I’d offer it to you,” Koda said.
“Kiera’s back!” Corbin’s voice came down the hallway. Kiera heard footsteps approaching.
“That is really sweet of you,” Kiera said, taking off her t-shirt and shorts and holding them out, “I’m okay on the shampoo.”
“Kiera! What are you doing?” Corbin said, his cheeks flushing.
“What? It's just underwear, you’d see more skin if I put on a bikini,” Kiera said, “Thanks, Koda.” She opened her door.
“Hey Sol, do…you want a big bear hug? You look like you could use one,” Koda said. It was followed by an admonishment from Corbin.
Kiera paused, “Raincheck? I don’t want to get paint on you.”
Koda pulled her into a hug anyway. He was really strong and warm, “It’s okay. I’ve got some special shampoo. Besides, Bear Hugs fix everything.”
-[]-
Soft footsteps announced the arrival of Errol Denarian into the private study of a man who went by the name of Belial. He looked up from the datapad he was studying at the other man’s approach.
“You have news, Errol?” Belial asked, his tone cordial. Errol was his most valuable and trusted ally. Belial had stopped thinking of him as a servant years ago.
“A duke of Dalimar seeks Princess Kiera Sol, it seems he intends on making her his, enslaving and marrying her,” errol reported.
“He must be obsessed after that display during the pointless celebration two months ago,” Belial scoffed, “Is there a reason why the desires of—” he stopped as realization dawned on him, “He would be furious about that, maybe even enough to attack unprovoked for the insult, and it would be a monumental insult. Grallgar would be quick to call him on the Accords. He could lose his power, or position. Where is she?”
“The Danelar Naval Officer’s Academy,” Errol said, “Delivering her from that institution to Dalimar quietly would be a very difficult endeavor.”
Belial nodded in agreement. Difficult endeavor was an understatement, it would be nearly impossible. He looked at the long range communication device on his desk. There had been rumors that an organization that specialized in the possible still existed in the galaxy, despite all attempts to destroy them.
“Errol, have you found anything that confirmed the existence of the Black Hole Society?” Belial asked, turning his attention to the elderly man. As the question left his lips a red light began to blink on the communication device.
“I have taken the liberty of contacting them, Master Belial.”
Belial pressed the button to accept the request. Actions like that one was the reason Belial valued Errol so much; the man anticipated and met his desires like no one else ever could. Several minutes passed as the signal was encrypted. Source Unknown appeared on the screen. The light turned red signally the channel was open.
<<”Greetings, Belial,”>> a smooth voice answered, <<”What can the Black Hole Society do for you?”>>