2065 - The Academy

Two weeks after that evening in General Howard’s classroom, Victor and David were back there again. This time, though, it was during the day, and they were alone.

David sat in one of the uncomfortable chairs staring at the brown-bag lunch before him, while Victor sat cross-legged atop a nearby desk eating a sandwich. He paused, though, and cast a glance in David’s direction.

“You’re not hungry?” he asked, nodding toward the untouched bag.

David shook his head. “I’m too tired to know if I’m hungry or not.”

“Howard’s really starting to get on your nerves, isn’t he?”

“That’s an understatement,” David replied as he emptied the bag and inspected the contents—a sparse offering of a sandwich identical to Victor’s and several condiments. “Thanks for bringing me lunch, by the way. You didn’t have to do that.”

Victor shrugged. “You’ll never be done cleaning if he gets his way, so I figured I’d help.”

“I don’t know how much longer I can deal with him,” David said. “I agreed to be his assistant, but this is getting ridiculous.”

“It’s just for the rest of the year. Then, someday, you won’t have to take his orders anymore.”

“God, I can’t wait for that.”

Victor shrugged again. “It’s your fault anyway, so you’ve got no right to complain. You were the only one who had the opportunity to leave, but you chose to stay, remember?”

David sighed. “Yes, I know.”

He picked at his food as they sat there in silence. After a while, though, he frowned. “You pissed him off more than I did, so why is it that you never seem to have as much work as I do?”

“Because I was smart enough to volunteer to grade his papers,” Victor replied. “That task has a finite limit, but there’s no end to the cleaning.” He set the sandwich down and wiped his hands with a napkin. “At this rate, I half expect him to make you scrub the floor with a toothbrush.”

“Don’t say that in here. He’s probably out there eavesdropping again. You’ll give him ideas.”

“That’s a brilliant idea,” General Howard’s voice came from behind them.

“Dammit,” David whispered.

They both turned to see Howard strolling toward them.

“Are you two wasting your time, or are you being productive?” he asked.

“No, Sir,” David said as he scrambled to tidy the desk, then stood at attention. “I mean . . . yes. We’re taking a quick break for lunch, then we’ll get back to work.”

“Good.” Howard stopped a few feet away.

There was a tense pause, and Victor frowned. “Do you need anything, Sir?” he asked.

Howard shook his head. “No, but it seems you boys could do with a bit of supervision. There’s far too much chatter taking place here, and we’ve all seen the unruly pursuits which inevitably follow.”

David nodded and remained silent, but Victor regarded him with a dark stare.

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“What’s that look for?” Howard asked.

Victor hesitated. “It’s nothing, Sir,” he replied, although his tone indicated otherwise.

“Young man, I’d like you to speak your mind,” Howard said. “You’ve got an exceptional knack for digging your own grave, and Lord knows, I won’t deny you the opportunity.”

Victor appeared to be taking this offer into consideration, and Howard motioned in his direction.

“Go on, then.”

Victor paused, then shrugged. “Fine. Why are you such an ass?”

“Victor!” David hissed.

“I mean it,” he continued. “You bury us in busywork, you admit you can’t handle your job, you’re drunk, and nobody likes you. What’s the point of becoming an officer, if this is all we’ve got to look forward to?”

David inhaled sharply and cast a nervous glance in General Howard’s direction. They stood there for several long, uncomfortable seconds, but then Howard’s shoulders began shaking with silent laughter.

“He just can’t help himself, can he?” he said. “If you’re trying to get yourself expelled, young man, you’re doing a fantastic job. Got anything else you’d like to add?”

Victor’s expression was rife with contempt, but he hesitated, then shook his head.

“Well, for once, you’re smart enough to act in your own self-interest,” Howard said. “Ordinarily I’d be a bit more upset, but in your case, I don’t think my expectations can go any lower.”

Victor merely shrugged at this, and Howard scrutinized him carefully. “You don’t have to hide the degree of contempt you hold toward me—trust me, I’m well aware. It’s refreshing, in a way; I almost admire the honesty. What I don’t understand, though, is why you’re content to waste your time here if you don’t see a future in it.” He took a long, thoughtful pause. “I’m going to hazard a guess that you were rejected from quite a few other military institutes, weren’t you? Our school always strives for excellence, but there’s better out there, and everyone knows it, which means sometimes, we’re stuck with the likes of you. The only reason you haven’t dropped out voluntarily is because no one else will have you, isn’t it?”

Victor didn’t respond, and Howard nodded with a self-satisfied grin. “It’s abundantly clear we were your last choice, and you resent us for it, so it might bring you some consolation to know we’re not incredibly fond of you either.”

With these words, his smile disappeared, and he drew closer and looked directly into Victor’s eyes. “I knew within a few seconds of interacting with you that you were the worst sort of person, and everything that’s happened since has only served to confirm it. You think you’re God’s gift to humankind, but in reality, all you’ll ever do is squander your potential while blaming everyone else for it. And that’s a shame, really, because you could achieve so much if you’d simply put your arrogance aside and allow yourself a dose of humility. For all your pigheadedness, you possess certain talents, and I see that confident attitude and fiercely competitive drive within you. But success requires more than that, and the critical element that seems to be lacking here is the resilience for it, because fragile egos have no place in a position of leadership.”

Victor had no response.

Howard remained there for a while, but after a moment he leaned back, averted his gaze, and let out a deep, halting sigh. “And on that note, I’ve got no problem admitting my personal failings. You’re not entirely wrong, there. I doubt it ever occurred to you, though, that I’ve come to the place I’m at after many years of selfless sacrifice and losses deeper than you can imagine. But you?” He met Victor’s eyes again. “You’re entering the Academy that way as a cadet, demanding all the respect befitting an officer while accepting none of the responsibility. It’s disgusting, this sense of entitlement you have. If your grades weren’t what they are, you’d already be gone, and indeed, you seem perfectly content with the possibility, given the disrespect you’ve shown. So consider this to be your final warning. If I have to speak to you this way again, then a disciplinary hearing will follow, and it won’t end in your favor. Do you understand?”

Victor grudgingly nodded, and Howard stared at him through the ponderous silence that followed. After a few seconds, though, he looked away, and his voice took on a more sympathetic tone.

“And the reason I’m being so hard on you, David, is because I know you can do better. He can’t, but you can. It’s high time you reevaluated your friendships and asked yourself what path they’re setting you on. I think I know exactly what’s influenced your behavior recently, and why your grades are slipping. Now, lunch is over for you both. Victor, leave my classroom immediately. And David, you’re to complete every single item on the list I’ve given you. I’ll be inspecting it when you’re done, and only then will you be allowed to leave. Are we clear?”

David nodded. “Yes, Sir.”

Howard gave an affirming nod in return, then cast a harsh scowl in Victor’s direction—one that left no room for argument.

Victor stared back, then slid from the top of the desk, retrieved his bag, and started toward the door. Howard moved as if to follow, but slowed down and shot a parting glance behind him.

“I expect better things from you,” he said. Then he turned and followed Victor out.