Jane was a UEC baby. For her, military service in the United Earth Coalition was not the best path for her - it was the only path. Her parents had both earned their UEC citizenship through service in the military; her father, a shock trooper for the UEC Space Command, came from the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth; her mother, hailing from the Kingdom of Norway, was a starship nurse. They met during their service and married afterwards. The two settled down in sleepy Vermont - where Jane was born and raised.

Now far away from home in the UEC Military Academy, Jane was only a day away from earning her stripes.

***

The gymnasium of the Academy buzzed with activity. Scores of people were training, sparring on the mats. It had been busier than usual. Tomorrow was to be graduation for the senior cadets of the Academy, meaning that the gymnasium would be closed.

Sitting at the bleachers was Senior Cadet Jane Napier. Her attire, while standard issue for the lady cadets in the academy, was also of her personal preference: black crop top tank top - the UEC’s insignia emblazoned the chest, form-fitting; her black shorts a few inches short of her knees, also form-fitting. Completing the attire was her dog tag, identifying her as a member of the UEC Army.

Jane’s outfit left little to the imagination, but the cadet was never the self-conscious type. Otherwise, she would not have earned her infamous nickname: ‘Sleepy Jane’.

Despite her attire, Jane had no intention of getting onto the sparring mat. How many times had she taken a nap on the mats of the gymnasium? She had honestly lost count, as had everyone else. No, she thought. Not time time.

Jane was not here for a spar. Rather, she intended to close this chapter in her book. The story of ‘Sleepy Jane’.

It began inconspicuosly enough. On the second month of her freshman year, Jane asked a male classmate to a spar. A combination of her overestimating herself and her partner underestimating himself led to a punch that sent her to dreamland. That was her first nap on the gymnasium mat.

As someone with five older brothers in her family, Jane should have known better; she never could defeat any of her brothers when roughhousing. But Jane was a stubborn one.

Always wanting to prove herself, Jane had intended to commit herself to the path of the combat specialist. That path required her to spend more time in the gymnasium than cadets of other paths.

That meant more spars… and more naps.

***

Fifth Month of Freshman Year

Jane woke up to the familiar ceiling of the gymnasium to the sound of laughter of her teammates; to say that she was groggy would have been a complete understatement. Yet another sparring mishap. How many times now? Four? Five? And how long did I last?

As if to answer her question, a cadet yelled out, “That’s a record, Jane - three seconds this time!”

Jane rolled her eyes, and smiled at the heckler - she knew that there was no malice behind his comment - just teasing. “At least I’m consistent,” she quipped.

***

It did not take long before people started to notice a pattern. Jane soon gained a reputation for frequently passing out during sparring. And the situation changed - from serious to comical.

The nicknames soon followed - Jane the Jobber, Napping Napier, and so on. But only one ultimately stuck throughout these years: Sleepy Jane.

It came from yet another spar, but there was no way Jane would forget this one. Whenever she looked back to that incident, she couldn’t help but blush.

***

Eight Month of Freshman Year

The gymnasium was busy with activity as cadets squared off in pairs. The sound of grunts and cheers permeated the auditorium-like room. Freshman Cadet Jane was still looking for a sparring partner - to the chagrin of her best friend and fellow Freshman Cadet Mina Mertens…

“I still don’t know why we can’t be sparring,” Mina said.

Jane responded, “Mina, you were my sparring partner last time. And we drew.”

“Exactly!” Mina shot back. “We’re evenly matched.”

“We are so not evenly matched!” Jane said. “I would have won, but the time ran out.”

Before Mina could respond, she and Jane caught sight of a male cadet. He was short, at least compared to his peers, as he looked to be a few inches taller than Jane.

And he was alone.

Jane smirked. “I have found my sparring partner.”

But a third voice interrupted, “I don’t think you’ll want that.” It was Lieutenant Hayes - the instructor who currently served as the homeroom teacher for Jane and Mina.

“Sir,” Jane and Mina cried.

“At ease, Cadets,” responded Hayes. He pointed to the male cadet. “That is Junior Cadet Francois Davis. You wouldn’t wanna take him on.”

Hayes proceeded to explain to the lady cadets that Hayes was a rising star in the Academy, and he was on the Path of the Commando.

And as Hayes listed off Davis’ accomplishments in the Academy and elsewhere, the two cadets couldn’t help but be amazed.

“Wow,” said Mina. “He sure is ambitious.”

Hayes remained impassive. “He’s the second son of the Davis-Bertans Clan. What do you expect?”

The Lieutenant was referring to the family who owned the Davis-Bertans Enterprises, a conglomerate based in Newfoundland, Canada. It started as a small fishery business before it grew to be a large corporation - its main moneymaking enterprise was in the sale of weaponry, mainly to the UEC. The family tradition was that the firstborn would inherit the entire Davis-Bertans business while younger sons would be given a million credit upon adulthood to make something out of themselves - and nothing more.

Grinning, Jane began to walk towards Davis.

Hayes’ eyes widened. “No wait, Napier!”

The Lieutenant moved to stop Jane only to feel Mina’s hand on his shoulder. She shook her head. And nothing more needed to be said, both knew there was no talking her out of this.

Jane shouted, “Hey Davis! Or is it Davis-Bertans?”

Davis turned around, and soon found himself face-to-face with Jane. The two could not have looked more different. Jane was in-your-face, her long blonde hair, tied in a ponytail, was skirting the lines of regulations; her revealing attire, while equally striking, was at least regulations friendly. In contrast, Davis’ hair was short, borderline bald; his choice of attire was a long-sleeved black training shirt coupled with cargo pants - regulations friendly, of course.

Jane was sizing up her opponent. A consummate professional… how cute.

Davis smiled. “Greetings, Cadet.” He bowed respectfully. “How may I be of service?”

“I challenge you,” Jane responded, her open palm extended towards him.

“Excuse me?”

“You heard me.”

There was a brief pause… before Davis broke it. “I refuse.”

“Are you afraid?”

“No, I…”

Jane smirked. Gotcha. “What’s wrong? Is Francois Davis-Bertans, the seasoned grappler, the black-belt in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu, the ace hockey player of Newfoundland, the rising star of the Academy. That Francois Davis-Bertans… is he afraid of Cadet Jane?”

Whatever emotion Davis had was hidden behind his stone-cold face. “Fine. I’ll take you on. But I won’t hold back.”

The author's tale has been misappropriated; report any instances of this story on Amazon.

Jane responded, “I don’t expect you to.”

Ten minutes later, Cadet Jane found herself on the mat. Behind her was Davis, his arm snaking around her neck. The crowd, ever rowdy, started murmuring amongst themselves as Davis locked in a textbook rear-naked choke. Jane struggled, her hands clawing at his arm, but she was simply overpowered.

Hayes’ voice rang out, “Tap out, Jane!”

But Jane’s pride flared. She twisted, trying to break free, her breaths growing shallow. The edges of her vision blurred, her body betraying her. The fight drained from her muscles, and the last thing she registered was the murmured laughter of her peers before everything went dark.

*

When Jane’s eyes fluttered open, she was greeted by the faces of Lieutenant Hayes and Cadet Mina looking down on her. Hayes’ face betrayed concern, but Mina looked like she was suppressing a laughter.

Mina teased, “Welcome back to the land of the living, Cadet Jane.”

“More like Sleepy Jane," Hayes remarked.

The whole gymnasium gasped, utterly surprised that the stone-faced Lieutenant actually cracked a joke. Then, the cadets began laughing.

But not all the cadets. Davis cut in, frowning at the crowd. “I fail to see what’s funny.” He offered Jane a hand.

“Ah, that’s right,” Mina said. “You’re our senpai.” She put a hand on Davis’ shoulder. “Don’t worry, this happens all the time.”

“You mean often?”

“No, I mean all the time.”

Davis was silent - processing that answer - before he turned to Jane. “Regardless Cadet, that was a good fight.”

Jane’s cheeks turned red. “Uh, thanks.” She took Davis’ hand and got back on her feet. The next thing Jane knew, her head grew dizzy - but Davis caught her.

Hollers and whistles buzzed through the gymnasium, but Davis ignored them. “Are you okay?” he asked.

“I’m… fine,” responded Jane. “Ugh, how long was I out?’

Someone called from the sidelines, “One whole minute! New personal best for Sleepy Jane!”

More laughter.

Jane rolled her eyes, but she also grinned. “Great… another nickname to add to the list.”

“Hey,” Mina interjected, “you earned it. Next time, pick on someone your own weight class. I’m sick of seeing you sprawled on the mat”.

Hayes interjected, “Well Cadet Mina, you are taking the Nursing Path, are you not?”

“That’s true, Lieutenant,” Mina said, smirking. “Maybe observing Sleepy Jane can get me extra credit…”

Jane rolled her eyes once more. Still in the arms of Davis, she was being taken to the nurse’s office. “Sleepy Jane,” she muttered to herself, “I guess it’s better than Jane the Jobber…”

***

Two years and many more naps later, the nickname Sleepy Jane became one that stuck to Cadet Jane Napier. Yet she could not hate that name. After all it was how she met the now Lieutenant Francois Davis, a commando for the UEC’s 9th Independent Military Group - perhaps one of the most elite legionary units in Earth Space… other than the legendary 13th. More importantly, Lieutenant Davis was Jane’s boyfriend, as the two kindled a relationship about a few months after that incident.

But much had changed since then - and not just her love life. For one thing, she was no longer on the path of the combat specialist. Instead, she had found a better path - one that suited her talents like a glove. And it began around her sophomore year.

***

Sixth Month of Sophomore Year

As was tradition, the gymnasium had been turned into an advanced room of virtual reality for wargaming. Taking center stage was Senior Cadet Francois Davis and his team as they took on another team of senior cadets. Sitting on the bleachers, Sophomore Cadet Jane Napier was cheering for Davis.

Unfortunately, his team was losing… really badly.

Sweating and with a look of resignation on his face, Davis was ready to concede. He had been searching for a way out, but he could not find it. Yet before he pulled the trigger, he heard Jane’s voice - so loud that it pierced through the crowd’s:

“Davis! Don’t you dare give up! Fight ‘till the every end! I know you, if there’s anyone who can find a way out of this, it’s you. You hear me? This is your girlfriend talking!”

Jane’s voice shook Davis out of his rumination; he resolved to fight until the bitter end. Davis restarted his fight with a delaying action until what seemed to be a miracle in the virtual reality kicked in, allowing Davis’ team to reverse the situation and emerged victoriously.

And when asked by the reporters about his stunning victory, Davis credited Jane - her encouragement - for inspiring him to never give up.

***

For so long, Jane saw her stubbornness as a weakness. “If only you would just tap out”, she had been told - both by Mina and by Lieutenant Hayes.

They were right, but not completely. Many times she should have tapped out, her many naps on the mats of the gymnasium was proof enough of that. Yet her refusal to give up did not have to be a weakness - it could be a strength.

Thus, she made the fateful decision to change her path. No longer was she taking the path of the combat specialist. Instead, she was now taking the path of the communications officer and navigator. A support role, far from the bruises and chaos of direct combat, but no less important in UEC military operations.

Admitting that she was not cut out for combat turned out to be easier than she thought. Her sparring record was undeniable evidence that close-quarters combat was not her strong suit. Her marksmanship was passable at best, nowhere near good enough to make up for her poor CQC.

And so, Jane was content to watch her fellow cadets sparring from the bleachers. After all, it had been a while since she laid unconscious on the gymnasium mats. How long has it been? Regardless, definitely a personal best, she thought.

She was ready to close the chapter of her life known as Sleepy Jane, and it was going to be without incident. Or so she thought.

“Hey Jane,” a familiar voice called. It was Mina; she grinned mischievously. The lady cadet was clad in her standard issue-training gear; though unlike Jane’s her tank top was not cropped; and her pants, cargo rather than form-fitting, reached past her knees. She had a warm energy about her - the kind that made her dream of being a nurse to be a natural fit.

Jane raised an eyebrow. “Mina? What’s with the look?”

“For old time’s sake,” Mina said, gesturing to the mat. “Let’s have one more spar. Let’s see if ‘Sleepy Jane’ can finally stay awake.”

Jane wanted to point out their history of sparring - of how in the five times they had sparred one another, they had drawn all five encounters. She wanted to point out that ‘Sleepy Jane’ had stayed awake… against ‘Nurse Mina’. Yet she decided against that, and instead focused on the future rather than the past…

“Mina, you’re going to be a nurse. What are you even doing challenging me?”

Mine shrugged, her grin widened. “Exactly. You should be able to win. Unless you’re scared?”

A smattering of laughter rippled through the peanut gallery of cadets nearby. Jane’s pride flared. “Scared? Of you? Not a chance,” she shot back, stepping out of the bleachers.

***

Jane and Mina soon squared against one another. The air between them was one of camaraderie, but also competitiveness. I’m not losing to a nurse, Jane thought. She couldn’t help but smirk. I can win this, I know I can.

The first few moments of the spar were playful, almost tentative. Mina moved with surprising agility, yet her footwork was off - clumsy. Clearly, she was not destined for a combat role.

You’d think a nurse would have better control of her own body. Emboldened, Jane pressed forward aggressively.

She feinted left, then darted in close, aiming to secure Mina in a chokehold. Jane’s arms locked around her friend’s neck.

The peanut gallery erupted in cheers and jeers. The crowd roared, “Sleepy Jane’s going to win! Sleepy Jane’s going to win!”

Victory seemed inevitable.

But Mina wasn’t done.

With a sudden burst of determination, Mina shifted her weight, slipping free of Jane’s grasp. Before Jane could react, Mina’s arm looped around her neck, her legs tangling with Jane’s to pull her off balance. In a fluid, unexpected reversal, Mina had Jane in a chokehold of her own.

Jane thrashed against Mina’s grip, her hands clawing at her friend’s arm. The crowd roared with encouragement, egging them on. “Sleepy Jane’s in trouble! Finish her!” someone shouted.

“Come on, Jane!” another shouted. “Don’t let her put you to sleep!”

Jane gritted her teeth, her lungs burning as she struggled. This was not how she had envisioned this fight. Jane had scores of naps under her belt, but this was surely to be her most embarrassing yet. It was one thing to lose to trained combat specialists above her weight class. But Mina’s shorter than her, and less athletic. I’m not losing to Mina! I’m not losing to Mina!

I’m going to lose to Mina…

Having swallowed her pride, Jane slowly hovered her hand near Mina’s arm; she was going to tap out.

But the choke was too strong. Her vision blurred, her movements slowed, and despite her resolve, she felt herself slipping away. As the all too familiar sensation of blacking out was overwhelming her, her thoughts were of disbelief and resignation: I can’t believe I’m losing to a nurse.

And then, everything went dark.

***

Jane woke to a chorus of laughter and teasing. Her head rested on someone’s folded jacket, and Mina knelt beside her, a concerned yet amused expression on her face.

“There she is!” Mina said, patting Jane’s shoulder. “You almost had me, but ‘Sleepy Jane’ strikes again!”

The peanut gallery erupted in laughter.

One cadet cried, "That was crazy! I thought for sure Sleepy Jane was going to win."

"I don't know," another cadet responded, "Nurse Mina got her good with that choke."

Yet another cadet chimed in, teasing Jane, “You didn’t even get to tap out!”

“I was about to tap out,” Jane groaned, sitting up and rubbing her neck. “I swear I was this close.” She held up two fingers for emphasis, earning more laughter.

Mina grinned, offering a hand to help Jane up. “Maybe, but you still went out cold. I’m adding this one to your highlight reel.”

Jane sighed, her cheeks flushing, but the warmth of the camaraderie around her made it impossible to be upset. One last nap for Sleepy Jane… I guess it’s only fitting.

***

As Jane dusted herself off and listened to the teasing, she couldn’t help but reflect on the fight. She had gone in with confidence, convinced she could win because Mina was following a non-combat path. But Mina’s determination and unexpected reversal had proven her wrong.

It was humbling. But more importantly, it was clarifying.

That fight, like so many others, was proof that combat wasn’t her strength. She wasn’t made for direct confrontation, but that didn’t mean she wasn’t strong. Her strength lied in her resilience, her refusal to give up even when the odds were against her. It lied in her ability to adapt, to find another way to contribute.

And now, she knew with absolute certainty that her decision to become a Communications Officer was the right one.

***

Later that night, Jane was packing up her belongings. After graduation, she would return to her family in Vermont - where she would stay until she received her deployment assignment from the UEC.

Her dorm was now spacious as boxes dominated the view. Looking outside the window, she could see the waters of the South Atlantic raging below and around the sea platforms of Meridian - the UEC’s Sovereign Military Territory. It’s getting late, time for some shut-eye. A real one.

As Jane was lying down on her bed, she thought about the nickname that had followed her through the academy. ‘Sleepy Jane’ wasn’t just a jab at her sparring mishaps - it was a symbol of her perseverance, her refusal to give up even when the odds were stacked against her.

Mina’s victory earlier today wasn’t just another loss for Jane. It was a lesson, a final nudge that reaffirmed her path.

Tomorrow, she would graduate with her head held high, ready to take on her role as the voice that kept her team steady in the chaos. And though she was far from a combat ace, Jane knew she’d leave her mark in her own unique, unyielding way.

As she turned off her lights, Jane smiled to herself. “Sleepy Jane,” she murmured. “That’s me—and I wouldn’t have it any other way."