Adjusting her duffle bag eighteen year old Simone stops as she enters the academy barracks or… dorm room? Unlike the media she watched while growing up, the room she stepped into wasn’t an open bay barracks. Rather a much more modest two-person living space like any other Terran university.
Someone probably told her to expect this at some point, but she has been so nervous of leaving her home and into the complete unknown that she’s a bit of a contained wreck. At least this arrangement gives her some reprieve from her overclocked nerves. She only has to deal with making a good impression on one person for now.
Running her hand through her buzzcut she steps right in seeing no one else or any other belongings.
“Guess I made it here first?” she says to herself as she looks over the two beds and desks, “And we won’t be fighting over a bunk bed… do I just choose a side?” she continues on, deciding to set her duffle bag upon the desk furthest from the entry door.
If her roommate wants this side then she can have it, but for the time being Simone has to make a choice. She’ll wait until her roommate arrives before unpacking in earnest.
Checking her academy provided Lens, she sees that it’s limited to the academy Net site and linked programs. No doubt all of her activity is tracked and monitored, so expect no fun from it.
Navigating to her personal schedule, it lists ‘Oath Ceremony’ on top of the orientation proceedings. That won’t be for another standard hour, and from the accessed info it seems to direct her to remain in her barrack until then.
“Someone gonna come get me for it?” Simone whispers in confusion and uncertainty. The last thing she wants is to fuck up on her first day by missing the most important event.
Well, unless directed otherwise, all she can do is sit at the foot of her bed and browse through the site to see if there’s anything in the realm of a ‘social club’ she’d be interested in.
After about ten standard minutes, she hears soft muffled voices just outside the door.
In a panic she stands up and presents herself to attention. Not having the salute down yet she clasps her hands behind her back and broadens her shoulders.
“-es here we are!” a man’s voice cheerily speaks as the door slides open. Leading a mutually middle aged woman and a partially hidden female cadet he freezes in place when he sees the accidentally menacing inhabitant.
“Oh… uhm… hello, sorry there might have been a mistake…” he utters in unease.
“Room One seventeen?” Simone replies to help, though she’s still oblivious to the stern face she’s making.
The man sighs in a chuckle as he shakes his head. Meanwhile the woman placed a hand on her chest in grand relief.
“No-no, that’s correct. Real sorry miss, for a moment there I thought you were a dude.” the man genuinely apologizes as he resumes on in, helping his apparent cadet daughter with her bag.
Setting it on the other bed he then steps up to the redhead and holds out his hand.
“Duke Sandy.” he introduced.
A little embarrassed but not particularly bothered by the mistake, Simone takes hold of his hand and easily matches his grip.
“Simone Thatch. Just got here a little bit ago.” she replies before the woman walks up and not-so-stealthily peeks at Simone’s bag and space.
“Jen.” she pleasantly says before shaking the redhead’s hand as well. Turning back her shoulders slouch when she notices that her daughter still nervously stands in the doorway, “Come on hun, meet your roommate.” she insists.
The cadet hesitantly walks in holding her elbows in her crossed hands. She’s lanky in proportions and already taller than her parents. She even has a few inches on Simone, which becomes very clear as she approaches. Her straight black hair is tied back in a neat well groomed bun, contrasting quite a bit with her pale skin.
“Hi. I’m Bree.” she greets in a small hushed voice, her blue eyes never looking up to meet with the redhead’s.
Seeing that her roommate for the foreseeable future is seemingly more nervous than she is, Simone relaxes her posture and puts her hands on her hips.
“Hey Bree, glad to meet’cha! I actually have a bit of an issue settling in and maybe you could give me your opinion?” she says, rubbing her chin as she looks around the room with an uncertain look.
“Uhm… okay.” Bree agreed shyly.
“Thanks. See, since walking in here I’ve been going back and forth on which side of the room I wanna settle in to. Both sides have their benefits to me. Like, the one closer to the door means being able to be the first one out. But then the further one might be a bit quieter to sleep in. I really can’t decide… being a colony brat and all I’m a bit out of my element either way.” she shrugs at the last sentence in contemplation, “If you have a strong preference for which side you’d prefer, it’d be a big help for my dumb-indesisive brain.” she chuckles as she scratches the back of her head.
“Oh… uhm…” the other cadet mumbles with a bit more life to her tone, “I know your bag’s already there… but if it’s okay… I suppose I’d like the far side?”
Nodding Simone picked up her single bag and held it behind her shoulder.
“Can do, thanks! Makes things so much easier.” she said before Bree’s father and her switched the bag locations.
“Oh so you’re from a colony then? Is that your only bag?” Jen questions, clearly trying to get a full read on her daughter’s roommate.
“Yep, I’m from a backwater rock out in the Lonth system, a joint colony with the Mikks. Mining is our main trade out there. I’ve never really had much personal belongings outside a few digital collections. Where y’all from?” Simone answers as she starts pulling out clothes to stow away.
“We’re from Ares. I’m a lead cataloger in the preservation department.” Duke boasts with a smirk.
“Oh the red high world? That’s real cool!” the redhead replies, not knowing too much about the famed catalogers of Ares, “Military family at all?”
“My father served as a Buzzer-812 engineer. It was actually through him and with Bree’s grades that she’s been enrolled. If you don’t mind me speculating, but you must come from military right?” Jen says.
“Well… yeah kinda. My mom was, but I never really knew her. My dad owned a gym and taught physical conditioning for low gravity. I’m here cuz… well he’s not around anymore either and the opportunity came. Why not right?” Simone brushed off, not wanting to think about it.
But despite trying to not bring the mood down, the three others are silent, giving each other looks that hold an entire unspoken conversation.
“Simone, was it? We were thinking about running by somewhere nearby for something to eat before orientation starts. Would you like to join us? It would be a great way to kick off your time here!” Jen offers.
“Uhhhmmm… thanks but I’m okay.” Simone responds.
“Oh you sure?” Jen presses.
“Yeah… I don’t really have the credits to drop. And I think they want me to stay here until the Oath ceremony.” the redhead replies with a nonchalant shrug.
“Oh don’t worry we can cover you, consider a bribe to continue to be nice to our daughter.” Jen jokes.
“Mom…” Bree whines under her breath.
“I’m only foolin’ sweetheart.” Jen assures before addressing Simone again, “I’m willing to bet they just want you here so you're not wandering the premises all alone in the meantime. Do you like T%^&s? We noticed a small place just outside the campus.”
Simone bit at her cheek, T%^&s did sound pretty amazing right now. They were probably even better than the one’s back at home.
“You know what, bribe accepted.”
-
“Very good. Cadet Thatch, please speak the Union Honor Oath.” the administrator orders as her turn came up.
It is simple and thankfully easy to remember, derived from a similar Oath of the Terran’s past. Though the old would be spoken after completing Basic Cadet Training, this is now part of the earliest initiation. Although the process takes a while with their group of thirty, each cadet is expected to recite the oath. All of whom did so more or less flawlessly. Even Bree, who Simone worried for, said it all without issue.
The redhead couldn’t help but glance over at a line of five seemingly high ranked individuals standing to the side. All but one had exposed stone-steady expressions, the exception being a woman with a simple metallic face-conforming mask. It’s a very strange sight, especially since Simone can’t think of the mask’s purpose. Maybe it’s a medical device of some kind? Or some obscure tradition of the ceremony? Guess it doesn’t really matter.
Stepping up once Simone assumes the salute, almost messing it up immediately but recovers to save face.
“I, Simone Thatch, will not lie, steal, or cheat. Nor will I tolerate anyone who does. Furthermore, I resolve to do my duty and to live honorably. I swear it on Earth’s memory, all who carried us to the present, and the Union’s future among the stars.” She vows, feeling a wave of pride as she does so.
After being officially inducted and shown around the academy grounds, they met back up with Bree’s parents for the family to say their farewells in their dorm.
Simone pretended to not watch as Bree hugged her folks for an extended length of time. Over and over making assurances that they will exchange vid-calls and such. A small but sharp part inside Simone can not but feel jealous. To see someone who still has her family is not the easiest thing to witness. But she knows it’s unfair to hold that against Bree.
Pulling away from his daughter Davis moved over to shake Simone’s hand once more.
“Take care, Simone. Hope you and Bree get along.” he says in goodbye.
“Thanks. I think we will, safe travels to ya both.” the redhead replies, giving Jen a nod and wave as well. From all the looks and exchanges, even Simone picks up that they are genuinely concerned for their daughter. Specifically over something that wasn’t just about how scary Simone initially came off as. But the redhead internally promises to keep an eye out for her roommate otherwise. She’s incredibly shy, but clearly wants to be here.
By the time the two cadets are finally alone, it’s immediately awkwardly silent.
Sitting on their mutual beds both cadets seem to ponder over what to say, if anything.
“So… have any friends back home?” Bree manages to ask.
“Yeah a few… but I used to be their school bully so it’s a little weird.” Simone admits with a shrug.
“Mmmm is it bad that was the initial vibe I got from you? You know, the cliche schoolyard bully?” Bree giggles a bit guilty.
“Nah, I know.” Simone huffs in amusement, “My dad helped me sort through my issues though.”
“Sorry for asking... But you really have no other family back home?” Bree ventures as she grabs a pillow to hug.
Simone shakes her head.
“Nope. Close family friends, many of which looked after me after dad died, but it was just me and him. Mom was out the moment I was born. No clue of who her family is, and I think my dad mentioned that he was an orphan. I do have a girlfriend though! She’s actually attending this academy too, I’m hoping that we track each other down soon.”
Bree sits in silence for a short moment.
“Why not right now?” she says.
The redhead looks to her roommate with surprise.
“Wait, really? How?”
“Well… assuming she has a Lens and is in the system like we are, we can look her up and send her a direct message. The messaging isn’t private though so you have to be careful with what you say. Try to be sneaky about it.” Bree explains with a dorky shrug.
“You’re my hero, Bree…” Simone praises in excitement as she attempts to navigate the Lens to the cadet messaging program.
Looking up Sam, she quickly makes up a message to send.
“Okay, how does this sound; ‘Hey Sam, how was your day? Did your oath ceremony go well? Well after being settled in One Seventeen I can confidently say I’m excited to be here!’?”
“That… is the opposite of sneaky…” Bree informed, “Maybe try something that isn’t so obvious? Like… instead of outright saying the room number you work the numbers into the message. Do you think she would pick up on that?”
“Right… She’s a hell of a lot smarter than me… so it’s worth a shot.” Simone concedes before re-typing the message, “Okay, how's this; ‘Hey Sam, did your oath ceremony go well? I can’t believe how big this place is, you take one step in the wrong direction and I swear you could end up in seventeen different rooms.”
The author's narrative has been misappropriated; report any instances of this story on Amazon.
Bree looks at Simone almost as if wanting to interject her opinion again, but doesn’t have the heart to.
“It’s… better!” she says.
“Sent.” Simone relays immediately.
A few tense minutes go by, before there’s a response. Bree can tell when it happens when the redhead rockets up in an upright sitting position.
“Sooo… What did she say?” Bree asks, now almost as invested as Simone.
“‘It all went really well and I agree! If my music is ever too loud, don’t be afraid to drop by next door to let me know. Cool?’” Simone reads, her eyes getting more and more wide. Before she finished speaking she was up and moving to the door. Upon opening it there are immediate arms wrapping themselves around her and pressing back into the room.
Sam locked lips with Simone, her hands caressing the meathead’s face and shoulders as if they haven’t touched in ages. Pulling away with a devious smile, the blond eyes her girlfriend with a teasing look.
“You big beautiful moronic dork…” she jests.
“How was I supposed to know!?” Simone laughs in response.
“Well I came by knowing you were gonna be cooped up in here, but you didn’t answer the door… I peeked into private records and everything. Imagine the whiplash of realizing we’d be right next to each other only to have you not there… ” Sam says as she makes a fake pouty lip.
“Oh… uuhm… well I was bribed to leave for free T%^&s… so…” Simone explains as her face flushed.
Lifting her eye tufts, Sam tilts her head to get a view of the third cadet in the room.
“T%^&s huh? Trying to steal my woman with delicious food? How clever…” Sam says in jest.
Bree seems to reset to a shy nervous state, but now accompanied by a red face partially buried in her pillow.
“It… was my mom’s idea…” she replies in defense.
“Hm… alright, you’re off the hook for now.” Sam grants before kissing the side of the redhead’s face, “You two wanna watch a movie or three?”
Simone sighs as she rolls her eyes, knowing exactly what movies Sam is referring to.
-
“Six whole weeks and BCT is now slam-dunked!” Sam cheers with a lifted cup as the three sit in Simone’s bed to watch movies to celebrate their completion of Basic Cadet Training.
The actor in the movie screamed out as he kicked a helmet.
“H-hey, did you know-” Sam starts in a snicker before the other two interject simultaneously.
“Yes!”
Falling into a laughing fit, Sam nearly spills her drink on the others she sat between.
Simone shakes her head at her girlfriend before returning her focus to the movie, but something has been eating away at her since coming to this academy. She isn’t sure if it’s just the general ‘BCT’ experience, but-
“Hey… Sam?” Simone asks.
“What’s up buttercup?”
Simone opens her mouth, but… she finds out that she doesn’t know what to ask specifically.
“You look good.” she ends up saying, “Despite the lack of sleep, you’re doing stellar in your courses. How do you do it hun?”
“I get enough sleep! It’s just that I'm good with my time management.” she replies before poking Simone in the forehead, “Plus I want to exceed what’s expected of me. You know? I want to be involved with things that matter. To be in a position to make a difference. Don’t you?”
Simone shrugs.
“I donno… I came here to figure that out. Not sure who I am or what I want.” she admits freely.
“That’s fair.” Sam grants as she looks to the now befriended roommate, “And you Bree? Got big plans?”
“Kinda… Nothing like storming fortifications or anything like that. I’m not really cut out for that. But I’m in a similar boat, seeing where I end up. Let my opportunities take me to who knows where. I’m not the bravest person but… I guess like these movies I still crave that adventure.” Bree replies, giving the two others a glance.
“Adventure, huh? You know what… yeah… you both are kinda right… We’re young, and still have all the time to experiment with our lives. Find out who we are, and make mistakes while we still can.” Sam says, a new considering expression crossing her face.
Leaning into Simone’s ear, she begins to whisper a request.
The redhead’s emerald eyes expanded at what she’s asked. Her face starting to flush with vibrant red.
“That’s… uhm… wow… I don’t know Sam… I mean… that’s not really my thing. Like, I don’t want things to get weird, you know? I don’t even know how to ask her something like that.” she responds.
“I already did… and she’s totally for it. And she’s not looking for anything serious, just casual. It’s okay if you don’t want to, but you only live once, right? Might as well try it.” Sam responds.
Simone bites at her cheek, her heart and mind now racing to sort out her own thoughts on the idea.
“I guess…” Simone shrugs.
“Again, you can say no.” Sam reminds.
“Is… this something you really, really want?” the redhead asks.
“Kinda. But only if you’re cool with it too. I want you there, always.”
-
Simone wakes up, the juvenile memories of her youth still very much fresh in her mind. Clasping her hands to her face she grunts in exhaustion.
“So she was always a…” she trails off to herself.
“Simone? I’m here.” Chak’s voice perks up, “Are you alright? Did you have another vision?”
The redhead removed her hands and hugged the princess standing by.
“Yeah… about my first threeway.” Simone answers with a voice that sounds half jest and relief.
“Oh. Uhm… okay? A… pleasant experience?” Chak replies, caught a bit off guard unsure if it’s a joke or not.
“It actually was, but… thinking back on it with what I know now? Kinda sours it.” Simone says, still holding on to the Cali.
Chak is torn on what to say. The topic is very left field, and she ponders why her fiance even admitted it. Even for Simone, she expected an immediate ‘Thank goodness you’re okay!’ or something along those lines.
But then the Cali realized the grip around her was Simone saying such without the need for words. There is something else troubling her Terran at this moment.
It clicks.
Sam, and these other similar cyborg monstrosities. It’s all striking at Simone where she’s at her most scarred.
“Come, let’s get you out of here.” Chak insists as she hugs the Terran back with all the love in her two hearts.
“Yeah… how’s everyone else? I mean… how long have I been out for? I wasn’t hurt that bad.” Simone asks as she moves her legs to the ground, her head sluggish on recalling what happened right before she fell asleep.
“You haven’t been out long at all. Nodrin and Meeki are still undergoing treatment for their injuries, Brandy and Troy will wait here until they are ready to be released. You seem to have dozed off in the non-urgent recovery ward.” Chak teases a little as she hooks her two side arms with Simone’s single.
“Heh… oh, sorry. I don’t even remember falling asleep.” Simone replies as she lets the Princess guide her out of the medical facility and out to a brand new shuttlecraft.
Surprisingly, they don’t exchange a single word until they walk into the new apartment. It is almost perfectly identical to the last unit, except it is mirrored and sports a general orange hue to everything.
Devin sat at the center circular couch with a whipped together setup of electronics and data pads.
“Great work out there.” he says in greeting.
Simone wastes no time moving up to the sitting man from behind and wrapping him in grateful arms. He grunts from a bit of soreness but allows it.
“Thanks Devin.” the redhead says in earnest.
“Princess did just as much. Saved my ass during the whole thing. She did real good.” he replies with a roll of his eyes.
“Still. Thanks for being there.” Simone acknowledged with a hugging squeeze before releasing the poor man, “I’m gonna lay down for a bit. Anything on Thorn yet?”
“Nope.” Devin reports with a nod, “Rest up. You did good too. I’ll order some food in for when the others come crawling in.”
“Thanks man.”
Chak accompanies Simone to their new room, once again identical but mirrored.
“Hopefully we can actually use-” Simone starts to comment before she feels the power suit of the Cali pull her down to sit on the bed, “Wow… the danger high is really getting you goin’ huh?” she says, a bit surprised as the Princess helps remove her boots and the exterior parts of her uniform.
“Lay down please.” Chak directs with gentle authority.
Mentally working herself up to perform Simone complies as she takes off her pants.
“Yes ma’am-” she says, but only now realizes the neutral expression on her fiance’s face. This… isn’t going where she assumed it is.
Chak disrobed as well but kept a single layer on before crawling up next to Simone. Taking hold of her dear beloved’s head she gently brushes through the redhead fur in comforting rhythms.
“I know we all experienced a perilous and uncertain moment of danger. There’s much that needs to be discussed about it. But before all that, whatever is troubling you right now, I’d like to hear it. We have the time.” the Cali says soothingly.
The redhead’s first instinct is to brush it off as it wasn’t really important to everything else going on. But even as she mentally attempts to, the feelings don’t just wipe away. She stares up at the ceiling for a good long while, her mind organizing itself enough to put it into words.
“I think… on some level my brain is still panicking. Like in the background as a white noise. I’m expecting a panic attack to just hit me, and I kinda wish it would rather than sitting in anticipation. But there’s more… bothering me... Seeing things that could have once been my dearest friends… like Sam… it… uhm I’m realizing that maybe she… wasn’t the person I thought she was… like, for even longer than I thought. You know?” Simone says.
“Yes, I understand.” Chak whispers, rubbing her head lovingly against Simone’s.
“I… Back in my early days of the academy… I didn’t see it at the time but Sam was just pulling me along for herself and just whatever she wanted. If she would’ve talked to be about… things beforehand and not on the spot… she knew I’d do anything for her, but she also knew how to push me in any way she wanted. She was selfish… everything she did was for herself and what she wanted. I was just a means to get it. I understand now… why she ended up the way she did.” the redhead says, tears of anger and relief break free from her eyes, “I never would’ve had a good future with her… because she was always using me! For sex, for her career and for her goddamn delusional fantasy!”
Simone turns to bury her face into her fiance, who accepts it without question.
Chak continues to brush the back of the Terran’s head as it shakes from silent sobs. In fact she does so for a while, allowing her love to vent for as long as is needed.
When Simone does calm, her arms come up and gently hold her unsuited Cali.
“Thanks… Chak…” she says,
“Simone?” the Cali says in a still concerned tone.
“Yeah?”
“Do I push you like that sometimes? Please be honest, and don’t spare my feelings. I’ll still love you without a single crack in the chitin. But if I’m doing something that hurts you, I wish to correct it.” Chak questions firmly.
Simone pulls her face away to look at the princess utterly bewildered.
“No. Of course not. What do you mean? You’re nothing like her.” she stammers in assurance.
“Do I not push you in similar ways? The ‘big eye’ trick when we first met, the way I pushed myself onto you after admitting how I felt… maybe I’ve been just as-” Chak explains before tender Terran paws brace the sides of her face.
“The difference is you actually love me, and despite everything I’ve been through you’ve convinced me of that fact. Chak I’m not angry because she knew how to push my buttons, it’s because of why she was doing it. To use me. Hun, you rained hell down from the fuck’n sky for me. You’ve seen the worst of me and helped me get better.” Simone’s crying face and voice slightly re-emerges but she dares not break her eye contact, “Like right now… Sam wouldn't do what you're doing. We would’ve just jumped into something like sex because she wouldn’t have wanted to deal with me like this. You actually care hun… that’s why I want to marry you. You are an incredible person. It’s true you’re a horny bitch but I love that. I love you. By the fucking stars I love you so much. You’ve pushed me to be a better person, to a better life. I’m a mom Chak… I’m a goddamn mom and that’s because of you. You prancing like a little idiot into that bar was the best thing that ever happened to me”
Scooting herself up to be more face to face with the red flickering eyes of the space princess, Simone takes hold of Chak’s upper hand in hers.
“I love you.” the Terran reiterates.
“And I love you.” Chak whispers before kissing Simone in the manner that Terrans enjoy, “Would you like to call up Seven and see the kids?” she poses.
“I’d love that… but before that… There is one more thing I want to talk to you about since it’s fresh on the mind. It’s… something I’d like to address about us. Not as dramatic, but hell it might actually lighten up the mood before we talk with the kiddos.” Simone says.
“Of course.”
“Alright… here goes… it’s kinda weird bringing this up to my fiance, but I’m going to learn from my last relationship and want to establish these boundaries. I’m a single lady at a time kind of gal. I’ve had fun in the past with more than a duo, but I’m not gonna be bringing anyone else in for really any reason. You’re enough for me, and I’m perfectly satisfied. Being serious here, what are your honest feelings on it? There’s no question in my mind that if I wanted it, you would be happy with just me. But you’ve always been honest, and I need to know your needs.” Simone lays out.
Chak’s eyes flash and she nods.
“I must admit… being honest with you has never felt more scary… Not scared of you of course, but how you might interpret it. I… would be very happy with only you. I intend to only be with you emotionally as my life partner. And physically as well, especially if that’s what you need. I cherish our moments of love making together, I don’t feel the need to be with anyone else.” Chak answers.
“Just so I understand, you’re not adverse to it?” Simone asks.
“I’m not, in theory. I’m really sorry if that’s not what you hoped to hear, but of course I’d never betray your trust in me. I’ve already happily accepted being physically exclusive with you and only you.” the Cali answers.
“What if… I didn’t want that?”
Chak leans back in surprise.
“W-what? But… you said that… I’m sorry I don’t understand.” she stammers.
To this, Simone smiles with a smirk.
“It’s only practical. We both know you’re gonna have a lot of life to live after I’m gone. Even if I somehow made it to the max of a Terran lifespan. I don’t want you to be taking care of a crotchety old woman while you're still rocking your cougar years. I want you to live your best life, no fair that you’d have to morbidly wait for me to croak.” she explains with a wink.
“Oh…” Chak mumbles, unsure how to face that aspect of the future.
“Seriously, hun. Even before we even get there I’ll support you as long as my needs are met. If something ever comes up, communicate with me, and we'll figure it out. Sound good?”
“Yes. That is perfectly agreeable to me.” Chak confirms.
“Alright… cool… Oh! Also, if you’re offered a billion-or-whatever credits to sleep with a gorgeous woman that you're attracted to but isn’t me… you have my express permission to go for it. We split the money, and I’d be so damn proud you scored a good time.” Simone adds as she playfully taps a finger at Chak’s nose.
Narrowing her eyes, Chak’s eyes begin to glow.
“A woman more gorgeous than you? I’ll believe it when I see it… But understood.” Chak giggles, “If that were to happen, I’d use my half of the money to completely spoil you and the kids.
“Hell yeah. Alright, let’s give those kiddos a call.”