The day on the town on Seventh Day was the only break the cadets received between quarters. They were up at five hundred hours as usual the next day and back into physical training, pushed just as hard as they had been before. After breakfast they were told to assemble on the parade grounds.
“Good morning, Cadets,” Major Peregrin greeted, “I hope you had an enjoyable day yesterday. I received positive reports from the captains and have decided to give you a second dance. Our schedule will revert to what it was at the beginning of last quarter. You will not have extra drills in the evening nor on Seventh day. The laundry schedule will remain intact, the recreation center will be open during your leisure time.
“That said, you should not expect anything to get easier. You have proven that you can handle the increased workload that you were given. Classes will be harder this quarter and be more demanding, your semester finals will consist of everything that you have learned during both quarters. Good Luck, cadets. Dismissed.”
As they walked to class Kiera noticed there were more security guards on campus. Every building had a pair standing outside of them and there were several patrols both walking through the campus and driving around in hover cars. The others noticed them as well; snippets of conversations ended when they passed any of the new guards.
“We’re still having study group, right?” Corbin asked as they left math class, “I swear I am not built to understand math.”
“I see no reason to disband,” Kiera said, “Besides we have Professor Selune to tutor us. I think I understood most of what Captain Nevis taught, it really builds on everything we did last quarter.”
“Hey Sol,” Eikire asked, zipping up to her, “Can Ollie and I get in on that study group?”
“Fletcher wants in, too,” Peter commented.
“As long as you want to study our material and not just Hailey and my anatomy,” Kiera answered, “The library has plenty of room.”
“As long as we don’t get tear gassed!” Corbin exclaimed.
-[]-
A month into classes they were called to assemble on the Parade grounds after classes. Kiera was worried that someone else had done something expulsion worthy and they were going back to the schedule that had them drilling all evening and spending all day in the Library; since they had time now they could actually go to the rec center and swim or play billiards with the guys. Sixth days also had club dancing which had quickly become their go to activity. Her worries were compounded when she saw Colonel Lazlo standing with their instructors.
“At ease, cadets,” Lazlo ordered once they were all gathered, “First I would like to congratulate you on a successful quarter, and apologize for the events that occurred during Midterms. No doubt you have noticed that we have increased security across campus, our other two sister campuses have also had this change. No doubt the presence of more security has caused some stress.” he paused watching for reactions. There were a few nods and murmurs of agreement.
“Admiral Blake has decided to continue the tradition of the DNOA Winter Formal in three weeks. The event will occur on the twentieth of this month and you will have both that day and the twenty-first off of classes. The ladies are free to wear a formal dress to the event, gentlemen you will be wearing your dress uniform. We also recognize that there is a discrepancy between the number of women and men we have attending the academy. For this event you may invite someone from outside the academy. Any questions?”
Hailey raised her hand, “Sir, will we be allowed to go into town on the twentieth for shopping, dinner and other preparations. What time does the formal begin?”
“Yes, you will have town passes on the twentieth. The formal will begin at twenty hundred hours and will end at zero hundred hours. There will be chaperones at the dance and refreshments. As you are adults there will be a limited selection of alcohol available. You will also be limited to two drinks.”
That news caused murmurs to rise from the cadets from astonishment to disbelief. Lazlo gave them a moment before calling them to order. There were no other questions after that and they were dismissed.
“Twenty chips you’re asked to the formal before we make it inside,” Hailey said, grinning at Kiera.
Kiera laughed, “My mother didn’t raise a fool! No bet! There are some already coming towards us, should we run?”
Hailey laughed, “I think Koda can outrun us!” she pointed to the bear moreau.
“Hey!” Corbin accompanied his shout with a loud clap of his hands. The air vibrated from the force he applied and caught everyone’s attention, several of the cadets jumped in alarm. Both security guards and two different patrols responded by raising their weapons at him. Their instructors and Colonel Lazlo turned at the sound, Sergeant Labradore had his ears covered.
“Stand down,” Major Peregrine called as unfazed as ever, “Cadet Malut did you need our attention?”
“Yes sir, sorry sir! I just wanted to say something to all the assembled men.”
“Go ahead.”
“Thank you, sir. Listen up idiots! We have the two loveliest women in the entire academy in our uh, section? On our campus? Okay, yeah. We have the two loveliest women in the entire academy on our campus. Instead of rushing them immediately, nobody approaches them until tomorrow at dinner. They probably already have a fella they might want to invite so give them a chance to make a call tomorrow.” Corbin looked around at the others.
Hailey and Kiera gave each other a look, “Is he being sweet or clearing a way for him to ask one of us first?” Hailey asked with a smirk.
“I could blow all their minds and invite my girlfriend,” Kiera said, “If she can get a pass to come here. She’s at Sleipnir.”
“Or go together! Of course that might be a little mean.”
“Just a little,” Kiera grinned.
-[]-
Surprisingly, Kiera and Hailey were left alone at breakfast and at lunch. No one approached them while at the rec center or knocked on their door before dinner. Kiera called Gargax to ask him to be her date but didn’t get a response. She called Isaac to see if she would have better luck. To her delight he answered.
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“Hey, Kara! How’re classes,” Isaac greeted. He looked and sounded tired.
“Hey Zac, they’re intense but they’re going well. I’ve made some friends and have a great study group. How’ve you been? Are you guys allowed to go to the Winter Formal?”
“I’ve been good, our classes are intense, too. We started Power Armor training this quarter. We are; Colonel Langley looked angry the entire time that he gave us the news. I guess he disagreed but was outvoted and ordered to let us attend.” He tilted his head, “You’re not calling to ask me to go with you, are you?”
Kiera winced, “Would it be a bitch move if I said no, and I’ve been trying to get hold of Gax to ask him?”
Isaac shook his head, “Nah, especially since I still have problems looking at you. Gax is super busy. He’s been taking a lot of extra classes to catch up. Our fireteams taking good care of him and helping him out a lot, and he’s got a tutor and an advocate that are both helping him. Some of the guys think it’s favoritism, but Captain Speirs did the same thing that sergeant at the test did and they shut up.”
“I’m glad to hear it. If he’s going to focus on classes then I won’t bother him. Would you tell him that I said Hi and give him a hug for me? I’ll save you a dance if you’d like.”
“Hugging Gax is going to get a huge laugh out of Dax and Vale, but yes. That would be great, Kara. I’ve got to go, we’re heading to the shooting range. Thanks for calling, nice hearing from you.”
“Bye Zac, tell Gargax to give you a hug for me!” she closed the call, “Looks like I’m still eligible to be someone’s date.”
“He was cute,” Hailey said, “Gargax is your ork boyfriend, right? What about your other one, or your girlfriend? I don’t know how you could have so many! I don’t know if I could keep up.”
“It can be tricky, but we make it work. Yes, Gargax is my ork. Kinsley can’t make it, I called her this morning. Zax thought it would be weird since he’s older than us. I’ll introduce you to both Gax and Zac at the dance. Poor Zac was so overwhelmed by my glow-up that he has a hard time being around me. Now that I’m a lot better with my soothing I’m hoping that changes. It’s the only reason that most guys here can talk to me!”
“Speaking of, shall we go get dinner and brave the wolves?” Hailey asked.
“Let’s come up with a plan first,” Kiera said, “Which guys will you say ‘Yes’ to?”
“Our study group, Cody Barett, and Jake Baxter. You?”
“Our study group, Ben Parker, and…” Kiera quirked her mouth, “Andy Khalud. Yuri won’t ask us, and Eddings got weird during midterms when he asked me during PT if I was wearing underwear. If Captain Feren hadn’t taken us shopping I would have worn my swimming suit under my clothes for PT. First choice of our study group. Knowing Corbin he’s going to strongarm them into letting us ask them.”
“Jin,” Hailey said after a moment, “Wait, no. Sam. He was in our bathroom the other day and that boy is cut. Those spots go all the way to his ankles. You?”
Kiera grinned, “He is super cute. Koda. He’s a sweetheart, gives great hugs and we’ve been flirting relentlessly for weeks. He showed me his tail after the library attack…and the rest of his backside.”
“Is it cute?” Hailey asked, standing up.
“Yeah, I also showed him mine, I figured it was only fair,” Kiera admitted.
They were met with a line of twelve guys at their normal table. The guys in the study group were sitting around and ignoring them. Dandelion and his followers weren’t at the table, thankfully. Tim Engleton was; he hung out with Dandelion at the beginning of last quarter, but after the paintball incident he made sure to stay away. He was in the other class and Kiera didn’t know him other than that. She and Hailey got their food and sat down. Dean Anderson was the first one in line and kept looking between Corbin and Kiera. Eddings and Paul Wallace were also in the line. She didn’t recognize anyone else.
“Did you tell them that you guys got first dibs to ask us?” Kiera teased when she sat down.
“I am disinclined to answer that question,” Corbin answered, “Besides who would you rather go with? One of these guys that you don’t know or one of the people you’ve been studying with for over a quarter.”
“Fair,” Hailey said, “So, did you guys draw straws to determine who gets to ask us first?”
“Koda said that none of us should ask you,” Peter replied, “He said that you should ask one of us if you wanted to go. It would be debasing you as our friends if we drew lots.”
“What is with this line!?” Sergeant Labradore barked, walking into the cafeteria, “Do not tell me you mangy mongrels are lining up to pester these girls about going to that dance with you? Major Peregrine had put some thought into the discrepancy and since you lot are all here I will inform you of a decision he has made.” Head the attention of the cafeteria, “No one is to ask Cadets Sol and Selune to the dance. If they wish to go with someone they will have to ask. Now disperse this line!”
“That’s not fair!” Dean Anderson protested, “I’ve been waiting for an hour! That midget made me wait until dinner and then said I couldn’t ask her until she ate!”
“He said you had to wait to be rejected until she was ready,” Jin idly corrected, earning a glare from Anderson.
“Did you just tell me that Major’s orders weren’t fair?” Labradore growled, “Hope you haven’t eaten yet, Cadet. Fifty laps from here to the gymnasium and back! Think about your thoughts about orders!”
Anderson groaned and walked to the entrance, the others had already dispersed.
“Sarge,” Kiera began, “Did Major Peregrine actually say that, or were you sparing Hailey and I some grief?”
“Would I fabricate an order just to disperse a line of horny teenagers from bothering two of our top cadets?” Labradore asked with a smirk.
Both Kiera and Hailey were grinning, “No sir, you are a man of too much integrity to do that. Thank you.” Kiera said.
“Oh, and Reed. Captain Feren says she’s flattered, but that would consider fraternization and she already has a date. Carry on.” He walked over to the line. No one knew why the Sergeant preferred to eat in the cadets cafeteria and the only person who had asked him was given laps.
“You asked Captain Feren?” Hailey asked.
“What? She’s a beautiful woman and I figured that no one else would think to ask her. Perhaps she’ll save me a dance.”
Kiera shook her head, “I’ll save each of you a dance, if there are that many slow ones. Five hours, there might be one every half an hour which means ten slow dances, twenty if they do one every fifteen minutes.”
“Same,” Hailey said.
They finished eating and dispersed to enjoy the rest of their Seventh Day. Asking one of them in front of everyone seemed to be rude and would likely result in hurt feelings. Hailey must have thought the same thing because she didn’t ask anyone either. Kiera waited until the next morning when Koda walked into the girls bathroom for his shower. He was whistling when he walked in and went up to the stall next to Kiera’s. His silhouette was obvious through the translucent glass.
“Aren’t we bold, showering while I’m still in the shower,” Kiera teased, “What would Rhone say?”
“He doesn’t give a frack as long as I don’t knock up you or Hails,” Koda replied.
“Shower sex? That sounds dangerous,” Kiera said after a moment, “Anyway, do you have anyone that you’re going to ask to the dance, Koda? A girlfriend back home?”
“Nah,” Koda replied, “Not a lot of bears where I’m from and most human girls got weird when I talked to them. Meros may have been where the experiments happened but there’s still a lot of prejudice about us, even there. Especially there.”
“Racism in a system spanning Empire,” Kiera said as her water stopped and the dryer began, “I don’t understand it. Since you don’t have a date, would you like to be mine?”
“I would be a fool to say no, and the only fool my papa raised was my idiot older brother. I would love to go to the dance with you.”