《Razors Edge: Sci Fi Litrpg》 Chapter 1 - Razors Academy Sparks flew as my laser-guided screwdriver fought against the rusted screws of the hovercar¡¯s ancient computer system. The metal groaned under my grip, but the damn thing wouldn¡¯t budge. I gritted my teeth and bore down, muscles tensing against the resistance. ¡°Stupid piece of¡ª¡± The tool slipped, and my head shot forward, slamming into the chassis with a sharp crack. I swore, shaking off the impact as a dull ache settled behind my temple. It¡¯d bruise. Whatever. Not like it¡¯d be the first. I spat to the side and wiped my forehead with the back of my hand, smearing grease across my skin. The shop reeked of metal shavings, burnt wiring, and old coolant¡ªthe kind of smell that clung to you, soaked into your clothes. The screws weren¡¯t budging. Fine. They¡¯d come out one way or another. I didn¡¯t have time for finesse. I grabbed my laser drill, spinning it in my palm while I thought. A sharper tool, a simpler solution. I could waste another thirty minutes trying to do this the clean way, or I could burn through the problem and move on. No. Patience. A better plan. I clipped the drill back onto my belt and rolled out my shoulders, feeling the weight of exhaustion settle in my bones. Eighteen hours since I last ate. Long shifts were nothing new, but my stomach was making it real clear I was pushing it. Not that I had much choice. But it wasn¡¯t hunger that knotted my insides. Is this all I¡¯m good for? The thought came unbidden, like it always did when the work got tough. Twenty-three years old, grinding through double shifts, fixing other people¡¯s broken junk just to keep the lights on. No savings, no future, no plan. Just the same grind I¡¯d been stuck in since the orphanage doors spat me out and Orla put a wrench in my hand. Just work. Always work. I exhaled sharply, rolling my neck until it popped. No point in thinking about it. Work didn¡¯t stop just because I wanted more out of life. I adjusted the screwdriver on my belt and squared my stance. Enough dwelling. A sharp beep cut through my thoughts. <> my HUD¡¯s staccato voice informed me. I glanced at the incoming ID and frowned. Unidentified. Only a handful of people ever called me, and none of them hid behind blank screens. ¡°Marts and Sparks.¡± I answered, flatly. ¡°You not done with that car yet?¡± Orla¡¯s voice carried the sharpness of a woman who didn¡¯t tolerate excuses. I wiped sweat off my jaw with the back of my hand. ¡°Barely started an hour ago after running initial diagnostics. You expecting me to have magic hands or something?¡± ¡°You¡¯d better get on with it, boy.¡± Boy. I ground my molars, resisting the urge to say something that¡¯d get me fired. Orla never called me ¡°kid¡± unless she was pissed. I checked the time. Eighteen hours since I last ate. No wonder my stomach was screaming. ¡°Orla,¡± I said, flexing my fingers, trying to shake out the stiffness. ¡°I¡¯m taking a break.¡± ¡°I don¡¯t pay you to take breaks,¡± she said, her tone increasing with every word. ¡°I pay¡ª¡± Her voice cut off abruptly as I ended the call, knowing full well I was within my contract terms to take a real break. My stomach groaned as I left the old workshop. The only food worth eating was a precinct away, meaning a walk through the academy district. As I passed the towering fences of Razor¡¯s Military Academy, the hum of drills and the sight of uniformed cadets briefly distracted me. My routine shortcut through an alley separating the parade grounds and barracks felt even riskier today, with trucks bustling up to the academy walls. Eyes locked onto my datapad, I sifted through specs for the hovercar I¡¯d been assigned. Orla never gave me any details, just the job, not who it was for, but looking under that hood, that hovercar had history. I wanted to find out what and who it belonged to¡ªit might help me fix it. The vehicle belonged to a local rich guy, and he wanted it handled with extreme care so his son could learn to race. Why, I had no idea. Racing never struck me as fun. Now space exploration... that would be fun. That was my dream. A commotion within the academy walls snapped my attention away from the datapad. A heated argument carried from one of the hangars near the fence. Military security trucks rumbled as crates of equipment were hoisted into their beds. I took a second glance¡ªthis wasn¡¯t normal equipment, this was tech even I¡¯d never seen, only heard about. Out in broad daylight? Beyond the chain-link fence, I caught sight of two officers locked in a heated argument. The academy¡¯s reputation for secrecy was legendary¡ªexcept, apparently, for today. A case of literary theft: this tale is not rightfully on Amazon; if you see it, report the violation. A young woman, her tightly pulled-back hair gleaming under the midday sun, stood rigid and red-faced as a higher-ranking officer unleashed a relentless tirade. It seemed someone else was having a bad day too, not just me. I paused and stepped back to watch them for a while. The female officer was ushered into one of the trucks, then left. That¡¯s when I noticed.... No way. I could see the rust from here.... Could I get inside? Eyes locked onto the hangar¡¯s rusted facade, the hum of military trucks faded into the background. It wasn¡¯t the buzz of activity that pulled me in¡ªit was what it represented. Whatever they were moving, whatever was inside, it had to be important. More important than the broken-down hovercars and endless grind of my life. The realization hit hard¡ªI didn¡¯t belong out here, stuck in a cycle of patch jobs and survival. I belonged somewhere bigger, somewhere where the things I worked on actually mattered. Growing up in orphanages, bouncing from one place to the next, I¡¯d learned the hard way that life wouldn¡¯t hand me anything. If I wanted more, I¡¯d have to take it myself. That¡¯s what drew me to this academy. Not just curiosity, but the need to prove to myself that I could do it. That I wasn¡¯t some guy stuck fixing other people¡¯s scraps. Whatever was behind that fence¡ªmaybe it could help me? Whatever it was, it had to be better than this. Crouched low, I tightened my grip on the laser drill. My chest felt tight, instincts screaming to turn back, but I refused to move. If I walked away now, I¡¯d always wonder what could have been. Every nerve in my body screamed caution as I stared at the ¡°Tamper Proof¡± warnings plastered across the academy¡¯s fence. One misstep and I¡¯d be a red dot on a sniper¡¯s scope¡ªor worse. What am I doing? The question burned at the back of my mind, louder than the hiss of the laser drill against the hinges. The smart thing¡ªthe safe thing¡ªwould be to walk away. But I couldn¡¯t shake the feeling that whatever was inside that hangar could change everything. Maybe it was desperation, maybe instinct, but something deeper pushed me forward. This wasn¡¯t a reckless gamble¡ªit was a chance. A chance to find something that could pull me out of this dead-end life and into something better. Fixing hovercars wasn¡¯t enough. I wanted more. More than the workshop, more than the dreary streets of the city, more than the small, narrow life I¡¯d carved out for myself. I wanted to know what it felt like to matter. To do something important. Every day spent at Marts and Sparks felt like another day wasted¡ªanother piece of my potential slowly dying. If I walked away now, I¡¯d spend the rest of my life wondering what could have been behind that fence. And wondering was worse than any punishment the academy could dish out if I got caught. With agonizing slowness, I drilled the hinges. Every hiss of the tool seemed deafening, but no alarms blared. No guards rushed to arrest me. Against all odds, the fence groaned as the section I¡¯d cut slipped free, revealing forbidden territory. My breath caught. This wasn¡¯t a gamble anymore; it was a point of no return. My fingers moved deftly over my scuffed datapads screen as I found the signal for the Bluetooth cameras. That was also far too easy. I expected resistance, anything. This was bonkers, barely anything that counted as security. The datapad in my hand lit up as I accessed the Bluetooth signal for the security cameras. The ease of bypassing the system was baffling. Resistance¡ªany sign of advanced countermeasures¡ªwas nonexistent. Did they really not expect anyone to try? The hangar loomed ahead, a single number stenciled over the door: 31. The sharp tang of ozone lingered in the air as I pushed it open, the silence almost oppressive. My breath caught. In the dim light, a ship rested like a predator sleeping in its den, its sharp, angular lines casting long shadows across the hangar floor. Surrounding it were consoles glowing faintly, their screens flickering with streams of unreadable data. Scattered across the room were pieces of tech that made my pulse quicken¡ªgleaming tools with iridescent finishes, polished panels with holographic interfaces, and most striking of all, clusters of unfamiliar chips. The chips were small but intricate, their surfaces etched with micro-patterns that shimmered in the faint light. Some were embedded in sleek casings that looked more like art than technology, while others were exposed, their cores glowing faintly as though alive. Their design was far beyond anything I¡¯d ever seen¡ªno screws, no visible connectors, just smooth, seamless perfection. They seemed almost alien in their precision, each one whispering of possibilities I couldn¡¯t yet imagine. My hands hovered over one of the exposed chips, the urge to pick it up almost irresistible. Whatever this place was, it wasn¡¯t just advanced¡ªit was years, maybe decades ahead of anything I¡¯d ever worked on. And it was all right here, waiting. Where was everyone? The emptiness set my nerves on edge. I crouched by the nearest console, brushing dust off the screen as I accessed the logs. My HUD synced with the feed instantly, pulling up files and schematics. That¡¯s when I caught the voices¡ªa meeting broadcast over a secured channel. ¡°We¡¯re shutting you down,¡± someone said at the meeting. ¡°You can¡¯t!¡± a young woman begged. ¡°We¡¯re so close.¡± ¡°Close isn¡¯t good enough. You¡¯ve had years on this project. The money¡¯s gone. Done. Pack it into storage. But get the job done. You have two days.¡± Their argument barely registered as I stared at the schematics glowing on the console. Here was not only a sophisticated new HUD system and port chip, but a complete Android program designed to integrate with ship operations. According to the notes, they¡¯d nicknamed her ¡®Doli¡¯¡ªData-Optimized Logical Intelligence. Their ultimate goal, it seemed, was to evolve Doli into a fully holographic interface once she¡¯d mastered all necessary systems. This wasn¡¯t tech¡ªit was art. And it was about to become mine. I keyed in and brought up the HUD integration. Easy download, it said a minute. So, I reached for the new chip¡ªthey wouldn¡¯t miss it, right? It was in a pile of other chips. They had more than enough shit to deal with packing this place up. My hand hovered over the unfamiliar chip, heart pounding. What was I doing? One wrong move could fry my HUD¡ªor worse. But the tech inside this place was leagues beyond anything I¡¯d ever dreamed of. With a deep breath, I swapped out my chip. The port at the back of my neck¡ªan oval, matte-metal interface below my hairline¡ªburned slightly as the new hardware clicked into place. The sensation was familiar, a faint tingle of warmth radiating outward as the chip settled into the bio-synaptic connectors embedded beneath my skin. The port was a standard upgrade, or so they said when I¡¯d had it installed years ago. A gateway between man and machine, it allowed direct interfacing with tech¡ªdatapads, HUDs, even industrial systems. I¡¯d been told it was seamless, painless, the future of human-machine integration. What they hadn¡¯t mentioned was the constant awareness of its presence, the way it sometimes felt like a parasite rather than a tool. DOWNLOAD ¨C DOLI Y/N I hit the Y. Of course, I did! Chapter 2 The download did only take a minute, the whole time my stomach gurgled and growled at me. By the time my focus was coming back to me, the meeting was over, and the tech staff were moving across the base back here. Shit! A cold knot formed in my stomach. Everything I¡¯d touched, I put back, and pocketed my chip, I¡¯d dispose of it later so no one could track it. Then I snuck out the same way I came, and I practically ran to Alisee¡¯s Noodles for my lunch. By the time I queued for my meal, I was out of breath, greeted by a bubbly young waitress who seemed determined to share every detail of her day. It took me way longer to walk back with my noodles too, I¡¯d taken a wrong turn. Back at the small yard where I worked, my appetite had vanished. The untouched food sat beside me as my thoughts scattered, refusing to settle. Instead of eating, I turned my focus to the hovercar. The hours dragged, each one stretching into the next as my mind wandered to anything but the work in front of me. On the walk back to my apartment, thoughts of the spaceship filled my mind, spinning fantasies of adventures waiting in the dark reaches of space. Smart enough to dream big but stuck without wealth, I slogged through life, working my ass off to afford a crappy apartment on the city¡¯s outskirts. Getting anywhere near the academy required a sponsor¡ªsomeone with money, connections, and far more influence than Orla. Without schooling or backing, my only path into that world came with a price tag I couldn¡¯t touch. I sat in silence, took a deep breath, trying to clear my mind and turned my attention to the Android program. They couldn¡¯t fix this. Why? Idiots. Doli¡¯s program sprawled like a labyrinth of half-finished ideas, tangled with patchwork repairs that screamed desperation. To me, it offered something far more compelling¡ªa challenge, a puzzle demanding to be solved. By day, I scraped by as a mechanic at Marts and Sparks. By night, I transformed, diving into coding forums and hacking competitions, absorbing knowledge hidden from most. This wasn¡¯t just a challenge¡ªit defined me. At my computer, my fingers brushed the cold metal of my port before locking it in place. A sharp jolt surged through me as I connected, and then the real world faded, replaced by a 3D virtual reality space. Codes and scripts swirled like a storm, endless and chaotic. The scope of the task loomed large, but the thrill of it sparked in my veins. Piece by piece, I tore the code down to its foundations. Each flawed string unraveled another, buried deeper and more insidious. A mess of redundancies and fragmented loops cluttered the code, turning it into a maddening knot of inefficiency. Every pull exposed new tangles. I rewrote subroutines from scratch, carved clean neural pathways, and restructured her processing cores for maximum efficiency. Doli didn¡¯t just need repairs¡ªshe demanded an upgrade. With every adjustment, doubt shadowed me. The academy¡¯s engineers should have caught this. What made me think a few hours of work could fix what they had missed for years? Pain stabbed behind my eyes, sharp and relentless. My body screamed for rest, but the thought of failure drowned out the ache. Stopping wasn¡¯t an option. Fixing Doli became my biggest challenge yet. The memory of kids jeering, teasing me as ¡°Mr. Fixit,¡± echoed in my mind. Every time I moved to a new orphanage, the name followed. If something broke, it landed in my hands. Fixing things wasn¡¯t just a habit¡ªit consumed me. If I saw something broken, that was me - Mr. Fixit, I had to do it, nothing compelled me more than something that needed putting back together. When Orla took me in, it was a dream come true and a nightmare. She loved to bring all those unfixable things to me, and I would. I would fix all of them. Time became irrelevant. My world faded completely from my mind, replaced by the glowing lattice of virtual connections. My eyes burned, but I couldn¡¯t stop. I was in the zone, building, reconstructing, breathing life into something that had once been broken. My hands moved without hesitation, driven by pure instinct. Then, the burning escalated to a dull throb, built until it felt like my skull was about to split open. I¡¯d never had this much pain before? Was it the new chip? I tried to ignore it, tried to focus, but my vision blurred, the lines of code merging into a chaotic haze. Slowly, I became aware of the world outside again¡ªthe dim light of my apartment, the cramped feel of the chair beneath me. My head pounded, and a sticky warmth was spreading across my upper lip. Support creative writers by reading their stories on Royal Road, not stolen versions. I yanked the port out, gasping as I returned fully to the real world. Blood dripped from my nose, a thick crimson stain soaking through my shirt. I touched my face, fingers coming away slick and red. ¡°Shit,¡± I muttered, the word echoing in the stillness. My body swayed, the exhaustion crashing over me in waves. But it was done. It was fixed. And somehow, that made the blood worth it. After stripping off my bloodied shirt, I stepped into the shower, only then realizing how late it had gotten. Years had passed since my last nosebleed. Why now? Why now? Stress? No, I wasn¡¯t that stressed, maybe working too hard... Fuck what if it¡¯s their new tech? I cringed as I¡¯d put it in my head without thinking. A question burned in my mind: could I return to Hangar 31 tonight? Could I sneak back? The thought itched at me, refusing to leave. My hands twitched at the idea, craving another chance to work with that ship, to see if Doli¡¯s program could truly run smoothly after the hours I¡¯d spent patching it together. I grabbed myself some water, downed it in one go, then poured another. My brain was still buzzing with possibilities, the rush of success and the nagging worry that I¡¯d missed something important in the code. Doli was functional¡ªbut far from perfect. What if I could do more? What if I could finish what the original team couldn¡¯t? I reheated and ate Alisee¡¯s best noodles¡ªnot so best when reheated. Each bite was mechanical, a distraction as my thoughts stayed on the ship. My mind kept returning to the ship, to the idea of uploading the updated code directly to her systems, seeing her fully operational. What if this was my chance? Not just to fix Doli but to prove that I could take something beyond broken and make it extraordinary. To take my life and do the same. ¡°By the time I finished my meal, the decision was made. I packed my datapad, ran a quick diagnostic on the new chip, and slipped out the door, my heart pounding with anticipation¡ªand a little fear. Hangar 31 was calling, and this time, I wouldn¡¯t leave until I knew what Doli was truly capable of.¡± Then with my datapad and hope in my heart, I headed back to hangar 31, making sure I turned off the city cameras this late too. They¡¯d track me anywhere if they thought someone had been through their security. Again, it was easy, and though I put night lights on in the main building where the ship was, nothing, no alarms, no one was here. It was clear they were packing things up, and sadness washed over me. This time, instead of the main console having the program in my head, I approached the ship directly, instead of walking up to the hangar doors, I asked clearly, ¡°Open.¡± With a hiss, the door dropped, and I smiled. The interior was even more impressive than I¡¯d imagined as I stepped inside, moving without hesitation. This compartment housed two small fighters secured within the ship¡¯s belly. The wealth of resources embedded in this place was staggering. Climbing the ship¡¯s main ladder, my HUD mapped out the layout: bunks, security offices, cargo holds, and a mess hall. Each section was pristine yet eerily empty, the silence amplifying the sound of my footsteps. That¡¯s when I saw her¡ªa figure standing motionless, gazing into the darkness of the hangar. My heart leapt at first, thinking someone had returned, but the truth became obvious¡ªit was the android. ¡°Doli?¡± I asked softly. No response. The ship¡¯s CIC, Combat Information Centre, was my next stop and lights around me flicked on as I entered. Six chairs rounded the room out, and she stood there. I moved to what I thought was the command chair and sat. ¡°Doli, wake.¡± Lights flickered in her eyes, but nothing¡ªshe didn¡¯t wake. The keypads at either side of the console fit my hands perfectly, and a minute later I was loading up my new fixes to the main computer system. My fingers hovered over the console, nerves buzzing as I tried one last time. ¡°Doli, wake.¡± For a moment, nothing happened again. Then, her head twitched, a jarring movement that made my breath catch. Her voice crackled through the silence like an old radio signal. ¡°I a-m a-w-wake, Ca capta-in.¡± She stuttered, her words were flat, robotic¡ªbut there was something unsettlingly human in the way she said them. ¡°HUD comms only.¡± I instructed. <> ¡°Yes,¡± I replied and brought up her 3D image. ¡°How do you feel?¡± <> she replied, <> ¡°Yes,¡± I replied. ¡°Show me on screen.¡± While she ran the system check, I noted the percentage she was operating at 22%. That was awful. There were still several strings of code that needed fixing. I flexed my hands, and once again dug back into her coding. This time it was much more fun because Doli announced every now and then, <> or <> Hours passed unnoticed until my dry lips smacked together, signaling an overdue need for a drink. Stretching stiffly, I rose from the command chair and wandered toward the ship¡¯s mess hall. To my surprise, the mess hall was fully stocked, and I helped myself to some water and a protein pack. The faint hum of the ship¡¯s systems provided a backdrop to the otherwise empty silence. Then it hit me¡ªa sharp, searing pain behind my eyes. I gasped, dropping the water container as my vision flared white. <> Doli¡¯s voice seemed distant, underwater. I gripped the edge of the table, trying to steady myself. Something warm trickled down my upper lip, and when I touched it, my fingers came away red. ¡°I¡¯m fine,¡± I managed, but my legs wobbled beneath me. <> Her voice cut out suddenly, replaced by a burst of static that pierced through my skull like shards of glass. For a moment, I saw... something. Code. Lines of it, streaming through my vision like falling rain. Numbers and symbols that weren¡¯t Doli¡¯s¡ªsomething else. Something buried. <> Doli¡¯s voice returned, sharper now, almost alarmed. <> The static returned, louder this time. My legs finally gave out, and I slid to the floor, my back against the cold metal wall. As quickly as it came, the pain receded, leaving only a dull throb and the metallic taste of blood in my mouth. <> Doli¡¯s staccato voice broke through, urgent. Chapter 3 I spun around, now face to face with the young woman I¡¯d seen at the meeting. A steel mug spun between us. She looked pissed¡ªand wasn¡¯t in her military uniform. Instead, she wore slacks and a soft figure-hugging pink tank top. Her hair wasn¡¯t tied back either, it bounced around her face as she panted. ¡°What the¡ª¡± My body froze, pinned under the weight of her glare. ¡°Uh¡­¡± I stammered. ¡°I¡­ uh¡­ was just¡­¡± ¡°Just what? Breaking into a military facility? Tampering with classified tech?¡± Her eyes flicked to the tools scattered around. ¡°I¡¯m sorry,¡± I tried. ¡°Sorry? You have no idea what you¡¯ve stumbled into,¡± she said, lowering her voice and glancing toward the door. ¡°If it had been anyone else who found you here...¡± She trailed off, checking something on her wrist display. ¡°Security protocols have been compromised three times this month. I can¡¯t afford another breach.¡± I didn¡¯t know what she was talking about, but I wanted out of there. I made to move but she stepped in my way. ¡°Why is my android online?¡± A lump formed in my throat, as I resisted the urge to backpedal. What did I expect? That I¡¯d waltz in here, hack military-grade tech, and walk away with no consequences? Idiot. ¡°Doli,¡± I said. ¡°Meet¡­.¡± ¡°Major Kuba,¡± she replied. ¡°It is a p¡ªleasure to me-meet you, Maj-or.¡± Doli grinned, and taking a step forward, held her hand out. ¡°The capt-tain has been hel-ping fix me up for you.¡± ¡°Captain? Oh, this is rich.¡± Her brows shot up. ¡°Still sounds like shit,¡± she said. I watched Major Kuba shake Doli¡¯s hand, her eyes roaming her features. My brain scrambled for an explanation that wouldn¡¯t land me in prison. ¡°Look, I was¡­ curious. The hangar looked abandoned, and I ¡­ wanted to see what was inside.¡± ¡°Curious,¡± she repeated, crossing her arms. Her tone was laced with disbelief. ¡°You hacked into a secure facility because you were curious?¡± ¡°Pretty much,¡± I admitted. Honesty seemed like the only play I had left. To my surprise, she didn¡¯t call for reinforcements. Instead, she sighed, pinching the bridge of her nose. ¡°Unbelievable. You¡¯re either the dumbest criminal I¡¯ve ever met or the luckiest.¡± ¡°Maybe both?¡± I offered weakly. ¡°Operational percentage?¡± ¡°I was co¡ªming to inf-orm the Capt-ain I am now a-t thir¡ªty-ei-ght percent ca-capacity.¡± ¡°Thirty-eight percent?¡± ¡°Yes, Ma-ajor.¡± The Major looked at me, and I backed away. ¡°You¡¯re welcome. I¡¯ll see myself out.¡± ¡°Oh, no you don¡¯t,¡± she stepped in my way. ¡°You¡¯d better sit.¡± ¡°Sit?¡± Major Kuba pointed to the mess hall table. ¡°Sit, now.¡± She wasn¡¯t giving me much of a choice. Her arms crossed under her chest; a deep scowl set into her otherwise delicate yet stoic face. ¡°W¡ªould you l-ike a dri-rink, Major?¡± Doli asked. Major Kuba glanced at the droid, and her frown turned into a smile. ¡°What would you suggest, Doli?¡± Doli opened one of the cupboards at the back of the room, and to my surprise, she pulled out a bottle of whiskey, holding it out for inspection. ¡°I be-lie-ve this will suff-ice under the circu-msta-nces.¡± I twiddled my thumbs at the table. I was in deep shit now, and I knew it. ¡°What¡­¡± Major Kuba said. Then, looking at me, she asked. ¡°What did you do? And who the fuck are you?¡± ¡°I¡­ I¡¯m Piotr Argassa,¡± I stammered. My heart raced, and for a moment, I thought she could hear it. ¡°Just an engineer.¡± Doli, ever the helpful android, handed the Major a tumbler of whiskey. She snorted, her eyes narrowing as she downed it in one go. ¡°Just an engineer doesn¡¯t waltz into a military base, fix my android, and act like they own the place.¡± She paused as if considering her words. ¡°Engineers like you don¡¯t stay just anything for long.¡± ¡°Sorry,¡± I stuttered, not knowing where to look. ¡°Where did you even come from?¡± ¡°I errr¡ª I work in the town. At Marts and Sparks,¡± I fumbled. ¡°You¡¯re kidding me, Marts and Sparks?¡± Major Kuba waved her hand over Doli. She studied me for a moment, her sharp eyes assessing. ¡°But you fixed her?¡± ¡°Mostly,¡± I said. ¡°Her code was a mess. I just¡­ cleaned it up.¡± Major Kuba¡¯s expression shifted, a flicker of something resembling respect crossing her features. ¡°Not bad for a civilian,¡± she muttered. I hesitated, then asked, ¡°Why is she even here? Doli¡¯s clearly advanced, but it looks like you¡¯re shutting the project down.¡± Her jaw tightened. ¡°Budget cuts. The higher-ups don¡¯t think she¡¯s worth the investment.¡± ¡°They¡¯re wrong,¡± I said without thinking. ¡°She¡¯s incredible.¡± Major Kuba¡¯s gaze softened, slightly. ¡°Tell me something I don¡¯t know.¡± She sighed, then squared her shoulders. ¡°Seriously, fucking Marts and Sparks?¡± ¡°Yeah,¡± I nodded. ¡°She¡¯s still a lot of glitches. There are strings I need to break down and rewrite. But I was getting there. Just needed a drink¡­¡± ¡°Oh, m¡ªy capta¡ªin,¡± Doli stuttered. ¡°What wo¡ªuld you like?¡± ¡°Can you connect to Major Kuba¡¯s HUD as well as mine?¡± ¡°Yes, Captain.¡± She said and I heard a click as she did so. <> ¡°Coffee,¡± I said. ¡°Some food if there is anything easy?¡± <> Doli said, and off she went, moving about the small galley once again. ¡°That¡¯s much better, she sounds almost normal.¡± ¡°Almost normal,¡± I reiterated. Major Kuba sat before me and poured herself another whiskey. ¡°I only came by because I¡ªI¡ª¡± ¡°You didn¡¯t want to decommission her,¡± I risked. ¡°She¡¯s your baby.¡± Major Kuba ran a hand over her face. ¡°You shouldn¡¯t know that, but you do. How?¡± ¡°I listened to the meeting yesterday while I nosed around.¡± ¡°Nosing around?¡± ¡°Yeah, I was out for lunch, saw your dressing down in the yard, got curious, then I liked what I saw.¡± ¡°There are people who would kill for what¡¯s in this hangar,¡± Ashley said, her voice barely above a whisper. ¡°Not just for the ship, but for what Doli represents. The wrong hands...¡± She shook her head. ¡°Let¡¯s just say there¡¯s a reason this project was officially ¡®terminated.¡¯¡± Doli put the coffee before me, and I took a swig, pinching the bridge of my nose. ¡°Are you feeling okay?¡± the Major asked. ¡°Bit of a headache,¡± I answered, and pinched harder. The story has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the violation. ¡°That will be the adjustment to the tech, you¡¯re not used to it.¡± She sighed. ¡°You realize how many laws you broke coming in here? Right?¡± ¡°But you¡¯re not arresting me?¡± Her eyes narrowed as I watched her mind working, clearly weighing her options. I drank more coffee and was surprised when a hot meal was put before me. I shot Doli a look. <> Doli placed a fork before me, and I looked at the Major before digging in. ¡°This is good.¡± ¡°We didn¡¯t skimp. This is a ship that¡¯s faster, more capable than anything we¡¯ve ever built.¡± ¡°But they are shutting it down?¡± ¡°Budget cuts, there¡¯s nothing left to give me,¡± she said again. ¡°There were complications a few months ago. When we¡ªI¡ªI couldn¡¯t get Doli fully online, no matter what I tried, that was their only option.¡± ¡°A fresh set of eyes can always see what¡¯s in front of someone else¡¯s face.¡± I said. Major Kuba laughed. ¡°You¡¯re not at the academy?¡± ¡°Nope, never found a sponsor rich enough.¡± ¡°Not even for one of the first-year exams?¡± I shook my head, ¡°I really am poor, and I really do work at Marts and Sparks.¡± ¡°Not anymore,¡± she said. The fork in my hand paused mid-air as I almost choked on the ready meal. ¡°What?¡± ¡°If you can fix up my teams¡ªmy mistakes, you¡¯re too good to be working in Marts and Sparks and you know it. I¡¯ll sponsor you and I¡¯ll get you fast-tracked.¡± ¡°Wait,¡± I said, holding up a hand. ¡°Why would you consider doing that for me, you should have me thrown out, locked up for hacking into a military academy and secure base.¡± ¡°I should,¡± she said. ¡°But I want to save Doli. I¡¯ve worked too hard on her, for that.¡± <> Doli said. <> <> ¡°One other condition,¡± she said and drank another mouthful of alcohol. ¡°What¡¯s that?¡± ¡°We need to get this ship off the base, to a safe location where we can fix her properly. Maybe rewrite her from the ground up.¡± Doli stepped before Major Kuba. <> The Major stood and walked around Doli. ¡°Like you said earlier, she¡¯s my ¡®baby¡¯ I don¡¯t want to lose her or access to her. I¡¯ve spent years with my team, building her up and coding her from scratch.¡± ¡°Even if flawed,¡± I said, on her glare as I finished my sentence. ¡°She¡¯s some of the best engineering I¡¯ve seen, and I¡¯ve seen a lot of innovative ideas.¡± I stood with her, looking at Doli. ¡°What do you say, Doli?¡± <> she frowned, <> ¡°You still knew where I stashed my booze,¡± Major Kuba said. Doli grinned from ear to ear. <> she said. <> ¡°Enough of that,¡± the Major cursed and tried her best to cover Doli¡¯s mouth even though she was speaking to us directly, it had the desired effect. ¡°Get a little frisky in the ship¡¯s quarters?¡± I asked with a chuckle. ¡°Enough!¡± the Major said. ¡°Now get your ass back home the way you came. I¡¯ll have my detail pick you up from Marts and Sparks in the morning. You can move across here from wherever it is you¡¯re living now.¡± ¡°Shitty little apartment south-side,¡± I said. ¡°The dorm rooms probably aren¡¯t much better,¡± she added. ¡°But they¡¯re here, and here you can do better work. That¡ª¡± She reached forward and lightly tapped the side of my head. ¡°That¡¯s wasted out there.¡± ¡°You really think so?¡± I had to ask. ¡°If you did all of this,¡± she waved back to Doli, ¡°then hell yes. Now go.¡± ¡°Academy, and then what?¡± I asked her. ¡°Whatever you want, you graduate from there¡ªthe world¡¯s your oyster.¡± As I looked up, a sudden projection of stars filled the ceiling, twinkling beautifully. <> <> she replied. <> That thought scared me, a little. ¡°I dream of the dark. I dream of exploring space, me and a ship¡ªwell a ship like this¡­¡± I patted the bulkhead behind me. ¡°If I fix Doli,¡± I said, leaning forward, ¡°and stay with the academy to see it through, I want the ship as payment.¡± Major Kuba¡¯s jaw tightened, her eyes narrowing. ¡°You¡¯re bold, I¡¯ll give you that.¡± I held her gaze, my voice steady. ¡°Maybe. But without me, Doli doesn¡¯t get fixed, and this ship doesn¡¯t fly.¡± Doli also nodded her head. <> ¡°Doli¡¯s worth 1000x more than this ship fully operational, and you know it.¡± I said. Major Kuba couldn¡¯t deny that. <> Doli said. <> ¡°Straight out of the mouth of babes,¡± Major Kuba murmured. ¡°Okay, we save the ship, the program and you work with me to build a new one, from scratch.¡± ¡°Almost from scratch.¡± I grinned and held out a hand for her. ¡°Deal?¡± Major Kuba took my hand in hers and shook it. ¡°Deal, but don¡¯t call me Major Kuba. Call me Ashley, please.¡± ¡°Deal there too, then Ashley.¡± Ashley smiled, but then it turned to a frown. <> Doli said, and flicked us both a document. <> ¡°Shit, she¡¯s fast.¡± Ashley said, but she signed it. On completion of a new digital DOLI program, the C47 prototype would be mine. I was ecstatic. This was the best news I could ever, ever have. ¡°Go,¡± she said. ¡°Before I change my mind.¡± Not waiting for her to say it again, I made my way back to my cramped apartment, the memory of the spaceship blazing in my mind. It wasn¡¯t just a spaceship; it was freedom, adventure¡ªeverything my life wasn¡¯t. <> <> I asked. <> <> Doli¡¯s voice broke, I stopped walking. Was I too far away? I walked back a few steps <<¡ªood reception at your apartment?>> <> I replied. <> <> <> I chuckled. <> I liked the sound of it, and if it helped me catch up it was a bonus. My apartment wasn¡¯t too far now, and I ran the rest of the way. A few minutes later I sat cross-legged on my apartment floor, the room¡¯s cluttered chaos surrounding me. The stolen chip and DOLI¡¯s program were now nestled safely in my port. I leaned back against my chair, plugging my port in once again, the faint warmth of the data transferring as Doli¡¯s system synced with the grid. ¡°So would this be basics?¡± <> ¡°Initiate tutorial mode then, please,¡± I murmured, barely above a whisper. <> her voice replied, smooth and robotic. <> ¡°Show me everything related to AI protocols and ship operations,¡± I said, leaning forward. Data streamed into my vision, a three-dimensional lattice of interconnected code. It was intricate, beautiful, and a complete mess. I dove into it, my hands moving as if manipulating invisible threads. <> I groaned, not as easy as she made out then. ¡°Okay, yeah, let¡¯s prioritize the base systems first,¡± I replied, my brow furrowing as I zoomed in on a fragmented subroutine. Each piece of corrupted code felt like a puzzle, one I was determined to solve. <> Doli observed as I worked through the code. ¡°According to whom?¡± I asked, not looking up from my work. <> ¡°Didn¡¯t realize they had that much faith in standardized testing,¡± I replied. <> That gave me pause. ¡°So they can actually measure how someone thinks, not just what they know?¡± < > DOLI¡¯s voice interjected occasionally with suggestions, but I was quick to counter, challenging her logic with my own. The back-and-forth became a rhythm, a collaboration that felt oddly natural. After an hour, I stumbled upon a buried module labeled ¡°Experimental Neural Interface.¡± ¡°What¡¯s this?¡± I muttered. <> Doli explained. <> My curiosity burned brighter. ¡°Run a simulation. Let¡¯s see what it¡¯s supposed to do.¡± My HUD shifted, displaying a holographic representation of the module. I watched as data flowed through simulated neural pathways, mapping potential interactions with my port. It was breathtaking¡ªa glimpse into technology leagues beyond anything I¡¯d ever seen. ¡°This is experimental tech, right?¡± <> She replied. <> ¡°This could rewrite how ships operate,¡± I said, more to myself than to DOLI. ¡°Integrating directly with the crew¡¯s neural activity¡­ why¡¯d they abandon it?¡± < > Doli replied. <> I froze. ¡°A logic bomb? Someone deliberately sabotaged you?¡± <> ¡°And they just gave up on you?¡± I couldn¡¯t keep the disbelief from my voice. <> I hesitated. The ethical implications nagged at me, but the lure of discovery was too strong. Logic bomb or not, I couldn¡¯t walk away now. ¡°Yeah. Let¡¯s analyze it deeper.¡± <> ¡°I do,¡± I said, my mind already racing with possibilities. ¡°If someone tried to sabotage you, I want to know why. And I want to undo what they did.¡± A danger I hadn¡¯t anticipated. Someone had already tried to destroy Doli once. What would they do if they knew someone was trying to fix her? ¡°I do,¡± I said. ¡°This would be amazing tech to have.¡± Hours passed in silence, punctuated only by the faint hum of the port and the occasional, <> from Doli as I adjusted her parameters. New ideas took shape, its potential unraveling before my eyes. When I finally disconnected, the sunrise painted my apartment in soft orange hues. My exhaustion was bone-deep, but satisfaction burned brighter. Chapter 4 - Major Kuba The comms console blinked faintly in the dim light of Major Ashley Kuba¡¯s office, casting a cold glow over the stacks of datapads and schematics littering her desk. She rubbed her temples, trying to push away the dull throb that had taken root since the project¡¯s abrupt shutdown. A few months ago, a logic bomb had wormed its way into DOLI¡¯s core systems, causing chaos the academy¡¯s brightest couldn¡¯t unravel. The cascading glitches had been the final straw for her superiors. None of them¡ªnot even Kuba herself¡ªhad been able to repair the damage, and the funding cuts that followed sealed DOLI¡¯s fate. Or so they thought. What the hell happened today? She replayed the moment in her mind: Piotr Argassa, an unconventional civilian recruit, stabilizing DOLI¡¯s systems in less than a day. The sheer improbability of it still made her head spin. A sharp knock at the door interrupted her spiraling thoughts. ¡°Enter,¡± she called, sitting up straighter. The door hissed open, and Sergeant Major Cotah stepped inside, his presence as solid and commanding as ever. He carried a datapad under one arm and offered a curt nod of respect before sitting across from her. ¡°Major,¡± Cotah began, his voice low and even, ¡°I¡¯ve reviewed the reports you sent over. This civilian¡­ Argassa¡­ he¡¯s a risk.¡± ¡°Every recruit here is a risk, Sergeant Major,¡± Kuba countered. ¡°What makes him different is his potential.¡± Cotah frowned, leaning back in his chair. ¡°Breaking into Hangar 31 and tampering with classified tech isn¡¯t exactly the kind of initiative we encourage. He¡¯s reckless.¡± ¡°Reckless, yes,¡± Kuba admitted. ¡°But resourceful. And talented. When DOLI spiraled after that logic bomb, no one¡ªnot even me¡ªcould fix her. Argassa walked in, took one look, and stabilized her in a single night. That¡¯s not luck¡ªthat¡¯s brilliance.¡± Cotah¡¯s expression softened slightly, though his skepticism remained. ¡°And you think he¡¯ll fit in here? At the academy? You¡¯ve seen how these recruits can be. They¡¯ll eat him alive.¡± ¡°That¡¯s why I need your help,¡± Kuba said. ¡°You know the cadets better than anyone. If you can get them to see his worth¡­ to respect him¡­ it might give him a fighting chance.¡± Unauthorized usage: this tale is on Amazon without the author''s consent. Report any sightings. Cotah nodded slowly, considering her words. ¡°What about our superiors? They¡¯re already questioning why we¡¯re bringing in a civilian mid-term. If this goes sideways, they¡¯ll come down hard on both of us.¡± Kuba¡¯s lips pressed into a thin line. ¡°Let me handle them. I¡¯ve framed this as an experiment¡ªan opportunity to test unconventional talent. But I need you to keep him grounded. He¡¯s got the brains, but discipline? That¡¯s where he¡¯ll fall short.¡± ¡°Discipline,¡± Cotah repeated with a faint smirk. ¡°That¡¯s putting it lightly.¡± A faint chime interrupted their conversation, and the wall-mounted screen behind Kuba flickered to life. An older man in a crisp uniform appeared on the display, his stern face betraying no emotion. ¡°Major Kuba,¡± the man said, his voice clipped. ¡°I¡¯ve reviewed your request regarding this Argassa individual. This is highly irregular.¡± ¡°I¡¯m aware, General,¡± Kuba replied, rising to her feet. ¡°But DOLI¡¯s funding was cut after the logic bomb crippled her systems. That program¡ªwhat I built¡ªis critical, and Argassa has already proven his value. I¡¯m requesting authorization to integrate him into the academy as a fast-tracked recruit. He¡¯ll be under my direct supervision.¡± The general¡¯s gaze shifted to Cotah. ¡°Sergeant Major, do you believe this civilian can adapt to the academy¡¯s standards?¡± Cotah met the general¡¯s eyes without flinching. ¡°It won¡¯t be easy, sir. But with the right guidance, I believe he has a shot.¡± ¡°Major, the funding wasn¡¯t cut¡ªthey took DOLI¡¯s control from you. Benched the original program.¡± The general¡¯s eyes narrowed, and for a moment, the tension in the room thickened tenfold. Finally, he added, ¡°They¡¯ve given the project to another source.¡± ¡°Wait, what?¡± Major Kuba said. ¡°I understand Argassa fixed some of your issues and integrated DOLI into his system, correct?¡± Major Kuba swallowed. ¡°Yes, sir.¡± ¡°Very well, I¡¯ll agree to you seeing out whatever this is till the end of the semester. But understand this, Major¡ªif he fails, it¡¯s on you.¡± ¡°Understood, sir,¡± Kuba replied, her voice steady. The screen went dark, and Cotah let out a low whistle. ¡°You sure about this, Major?¡± Kuba exhaled slowly, sinking back into her chair. ¡°No. But if we don¡¯t take risks, we¡¯ll never move forward. Piotr Argassa might be the key to saving DOLI. And if he¡¯s not... well, I¡¯ll face whatever disciplinary action comes. My career can take the hit, but I won¡¯t let them scrap DOLI without trying everything first.¡± Cotah rose, his posture as rigid as ever. ¡°I¡¯ll start working with his class. Make sure they know he¡¯s not here to make up numbers.¡± ¡°Thank you, Sergeant Major,¡± Kuba said, a hint of gratitude in her voice. As the door closed behind him, she turned back to the datapad on her desk, her thoughts already racing ahead. This was a gamble, no doubt about it. But sometimes, the biggest risks yielded the greatest rewards. DOLI wasn¡¯t a program to her¡ªit was a vision. A chance to prove she was right. I sure hope you¡¯re as smart as you portray, Argassa. Chapter 5 - stats! There wasn¡¯t much point in me going to sleep. Not the first all nighter, I¡¯d done, won¡¯t be the last I bet either. I stood in the center of my tiny room, my packed bag sitting by the door. The reality of leaving everything else behind sank in, but so did the enormity of what lay ahead. The academy wasn¡¯t just a change¡ªit was a challenge, and I wasn¡¯t going to let it beat me before I started. After a drink and shoveling a protein bar down my throat, I sat on the edge of my bed, pulling out my datapad and syncing it with my port again. My HUD flickered to life, illuminating my small, cluttered space with a soft blue glow. I accessed the academy¡¯s syllabus, scrolling through advanced orbital mechanics, resource allocation, and tactical navigation¡ªsubjects that looked daunting but exciting. I barely understood half the terms, but that only fueled my determination. ¡°Doli, let¡¯s try and load the class the tutorial now,¡± I asked. <> <
  • Astrodynamics and Orbital Mechanics: ¡°The backbone of any successful mission. You will master spacecraft navigation and trajectory planning.¡±
  • Astronomy and Planetary Science: ¡°Understand the celestial bodies you¡¯ll encounter. Learn to read the language of the stars.¡±
  • Spacecraft Systems and Engineering: ¡°Learn the inner workings of the ships you¡¯ll pilot and maintain.¡±
  • Survival in Space: ¡°Prepare for the unpredictable. From zero-gravity protocols to emergency scenarios, this training will keep you alive.¡±
    • I leaned forward, absorbing every word. The scope was vast, almost overwhelming, but the sheer ambition of it ignited something inside me. The hologram continued its droning monologue, exuding all the enthusiasm of a toaster teaching philosophy. I resisted the urge to yawn. ¡°Put some effort into it, please,¡± I said, hoping for a miracle. It froze for a moment, then tilted its head like a confused parrot. ¡°Of course,¡± it replied with a tone so dripping in sarcasm, it could¡¯ve lubricated an entire spaceship. ¡°I can absolutely put some effort into it.¡± This time, it slapped the board with a stick for dramatic effect. I nearly leaped out of my skin. Well, at least it was something. ¡°Now, let¡¯s dive into our riveting Specialized Training Modules,¡± it continued, practically oozing insincerity:
    • Robotics and AI: ¡°Because what could possibly go wrong when you program and deploy autonomous units to assist in exploration and research? Remember, they¡¯re definitely not plotting against you.¡±
    • Exobiology: ¡°Study potential life forms beyond Earth¡ªand try not to be the reason they declare interstellar war. Seriously, they hate when you poke their ecosystems.¡±
    • Space Diplomacy: ¡°Prepare for interplanetary communications and maintaining peace among civilizations. Spoiler alert: It¡¯s mostly apologizing for humanity¡¯s quirks.¡±
    ¡°That¡¯s hilarious,¡± I was laughing so hard when I unplugged my sides hurt. I took another breath, trying not to laugh more.. This wasn¡¯t about speed. This was about understanding. ¡°Systems thinking,¡± I muttered to myself. ¡°Don¡¯t focus on the individual components. See the whole.¡± I stepped back mentally, observing the entire simulation interface rather than fixating on each instruction. Patterns began to emerge¡ªthere was a logic to the sequence, a rhythm to the system that reminded me of the diagnostic routines I¡¯d run thousands of times at Marts and Sparks. ¡°It¡¯s just a different kind of engine,¡± I told myself. ¡°Same principles, different application.¡± My next attempt moved more smoothly. The warning changed to ¡°CADET PERFORMANCE: ACCEPTABLE.¡± Not great, but progress. By the third module, something clicked. The navigation commands that had seemed arcane now felt intuitive. The emergency protocols that had confused me now made perfect sense¡ªthey were just failsafes, like the ones I¡¯d built into Orla¡¯s diagnostic system. I was catching up now, my avatar moving faster through the modules. Then came the final challenge¡ªa simulated system failure requiring rapid rerouting of critical resources. The interface flashed warnings that 82% of first-year cadets failed this section on their first attempt. I hesitated for only a moment before diving in. Rather than following the standard emergency procedures outlined in the tutorial, I applied a workaround I¡¯d developed for catastrophic power failures in hovercars. It wasn¡¯t textbook, but it worked¡ªredirecting power in a cascade pattern rather than the prescribed linear sequence. The simulation froze for a moment, as if confused by my approach. Then: ¡°CADET PERFORMANCE: EXCEPTIONAL. UNCONVENTIONAL SOLUTION DETECTED.¡± I¡¯d drawn attention. Whether that was good or bad remained to be seen. ¡°Stop,¡± I glanced at the datapad, still glowing faintly on my desk. It held the promise of more simulations, more challenges. My body ached for sleep, but my mind was still racing. <> ¡°We¡¯ll try again another time,¡± I replied, a smile still tugging at my lips. But inside, a quiet confidence was building. Maybe¡ªjust maybe¡ªI wasn¡¯t as far behind as I¡¯d feared. First though, coffee. No matter how rank mine is here. It really was rank, and the time my focus came back to me there was a message waiting for me. Razors Military Training and Engineering Space Academy - Acceptance Fast-track approved - Escort will pick you up at 11am SET. Leave any bags by the door. I grabbed a shower, dressed in clean if not over worn clothes, and stood gawking around my small apartment. Eventually, I walked to work, almost in a daze. Was it really happening? Orla greeted me at the door, which was unusual. ¡°Got the notice you were leaving last night.¡± ¡°I¡¯m sorry there wasn¡¯t more notice,¡± I apologized and checked the time, 9.30 SET To my surprise, Orla smiled. ¡°You were way too good for me kid,¡± she said. ¡°I was hoping no one would notice and I¡¯d get to keep you for a bit longer.¡± When she held out her hand for me, I took it. Orla suddenly didn¡¯t seem so mean, in fact she looked quite old, and frail. It caught me by surprise and I choked out, ¡°What will you do?¡± ¡°I put a pause on some of the jobs,¡± she waved to the long list displayed on the wall behind her. ¡°Maybe I¡¯ll sell up, move on.¡± ¡°Really?¡± I asked. ¡°Marts and Sparks has been around here as long as I have.¡± ¡°It¡¯s been around here as long as I have,¡± she said. ¡°Maybe this is my push to you know retire, go do something nice with my life.¡± I glanced around the old workshop, the hovercar still sitting there from yesterday. ¡°I got time to finish off, let me do that.¡± Orla waved me inside and I set to work on the hovercar, finishing the fixes in record time. 9.50am If you discover this tale on Amazon, be aware that it has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road. Please report it. Orla passed me a coffee and we sat and talked a little before someone knocked on the back door. ¡°Come in,¡± she called. A burly man in full military uniform entered and glanced between us. ¡°Piotr Argassa?¡± ¡°That¡¯s me.¡± ¡°Sergeant Loka, here to escort you into Razors,¡± he dipped his head to Orla. ¡°Ma¡¯am.¡± ¡°Everything I owe you is in your account,¡± Orla said as I stood. ¡°A little bonus for all the years you kept me going.¡± I went to shake her hand again. ¡°Been¡ªwell it¡¯s been an experience.¡± Instead of shaking my hand the old gal pulled me to her. ¡°You make sure you look after yourself, you hear me.¡± I patted her back, giving into the hug slightly. ¡°I will and thank you for looking after me all these years. I know everything you did wasn¡¯t just for yourself, staying here¡­.¡± Orla lowered her head, ¡°You got me,¡± she said. Then she patted my arm with the strength she had and pushed me on my way. ¡°Scram, and if you think of me, send me a lil postcard now and then, wherever you are.¡± ¡°Wherever I am?¡± ¡°Like I said,¡± she winked. ¡°You were destined for so much more than here with me.¡± I dipped my head at her and with the Sergeant stepped outside to my military ride. The military truck took up the whole of the road. ¡°Could you have kept it low-key at all?¡± I asked. Sergeant Loka chuckled. ¡°Afraid of a few stares?¡± I glanced around the people nosing our way on the street and stood straight. ¡°No, bout time they realized I was more than they thought.¡± ¡°Good, because you got some very high praise, you have a lot to live up too.¡± The Sergeant indicated the vehicle, and we moved to it, he opened the door for me. I swallowed and risked asking, ¡°Seriously?¡± ¡°We¡¯re halfway through basic training,¡± he said, making sure I didn¡¯t bang my head getting in. ¡°How many kids do you think they let in after we start?¡± ¡°Kids, ugh.¡± ¡°Sorry, you¡¯re all kids to me.¡± ¡°Good point,¡± I replied and buckled myself in. ¡°But most of those kids had higher education, and then some before they even got to the academy, right?¡± ¡°Right,¡± he confirmed. ¡°They¡¯re extremely capable, young adults, if that¡¯s better?¡± I nodded at him. Sergeant Loka slid in opposite me, beside him on the seat lay a brand spanking new datapad. He picked it up and turned it to me. ¡°Palm to the surface. Follow the instructions.¡± I did as he asked and put my palm to the surface, then wiggled it around so that the datapad was essentially locked to my ID. ¡°It also recognizes your wrist device and HUD ident, so don¡¯t worry if you burn your hand, you¡¯ll still get access.¡± I caught the datapad when he let go. ¡°Burn my hand?¡± ¡°You like repeating me?¡± ¡°Sorry,¡± I put the new datapad on my knee. ¡°This is a lot to take in.¡± Sergeant Loka was nodding. ¡°I bet. Listen,¡± he said, and his tone was serious. ¡°You¡¯ve got someone high up on your side, everyone will see that and see you as a target.¡± ¡°Like kindergarten all over again,¡± I mumbled. ¡°Except these are smart, and very capable kids.¡± ¡°Please less of the kids please, I¡¯m twenty-three.¡± When he laughed this time, it creased his eyes. ¡°Probably another disadvantage, still older than all of them?¡± ¡°Yeah,¡± he said. ¡°But not by much. Twenty to Twenty-One.¡± The military vehicle moved off and though I knew it wouldn¡¯t take long to get to the academy, we were taking roads, not shortcuts. ¡°You got any tips for settling in?¡± ¡°Get up early, train harder than everyone else. Your physical attributes are below standards.¡± At that thought my stats popped into my HUD¡¯s view and I glanced down them.
    Name: Piotr Argassa Age: 23
    Species: Human Bonus: None
    Height: 6¡¯2 Weight: 190lbs
    BMI: 23.4 Fitness: 65%
    IQ: 155 CAR: 9.5 Education: None
    Stat Level of 10 Description Mods
    Endoskeleton 1 Governs agility and movement. C4 Port Upgrade
    Mental Energy 4 Swiftness of the mind. DOLI - nano chip *not public*
    Perception 6 Senses and connection to the system. DOLI - CI Assistant *not public*
    Dexterity 1 Also governs agility and movement.
    Toughness 1 Body and internal fortitude.
    ¡°I could do to lose more than a few pounds,¡± I admitted. ¡°Your diet here will be good. Eat everything they give you.¡± ¡°Understood.¡± ¡°The others in your classes will test you.¡± ¡°Ugh,¡± I groaned. ¡°Any ideas how?¡± He shook his head as the vehicle slowed. I¡¯d never been this close to security. Passing this check, was literally the driver holding his wrist out, and the guard scanning it. ¡°Take us straight in,¡± The sergeant said to the driver. ¡°I¡¯ll walk you into class¡ª¡± ¡°Wait, I don¡¯t even get to change?¡± He shook his head again, ¡°You¡¯re joining class 271 and they¡¯re in¡ª¡± his eyes glazed. ¡°Advanced Astrophysics and Orbital Mechanics.¡± ¡°I should fit right in then,¡± another sigh escaped my lips. ¡°I¡¯ve got a lot of catching up to do.¡± ¡°You have,¡± the Sergeant agreed, then he leaned forward. ¡°Don¡¯t let them put you off. You got in because you have potential.¡± ¡°How do you know that?¡± I asked. ¡°Major Kuba would not have taken the hit for you otherwise.¡± ¡°She took a hit for me?¡± ¡°She did,¡± he replied. The academy loomed ahead, a sprawling mass of steel and glass. Cadets in sharp uniforms walked briskly past, their movements purposeful and disciplined. I felt like an intruder. Inside the gate, even if I was supposed to be here, this was intimidating. ¡°Datapad has the internal map of the base, and your schedule. Load them to your HUD as soon as you can.¡± The truck rumbled to a stop, and Sergeant Loka nodded for me to step out. I squared my shoulders, forcing my legs to move as my insides twisted. ¡°They¡¯re waiting on him, Sergeant.¡± What the hell am I doing here? The thought struck hard, unbidden. These people were smarter, fitter, more prepared. They belonged here, I did not. Sergeant Loka walked fast, and yet I managed to keep up, even if my nerves were shot. When he reached a door that stated my new class on it, he turned to me. ¡°You good?¡± Loka asked, his tone gruff but not unkind. I nodded, though the lump in my throat made it hard to breathe. ¡°Yeah. Just¡­ a lot to take in.¡± ¡°Ready?¡± ¡°As I¡¯ll ever be¡ªout the frying pan into the fire.¡± He knocked once, loudly and waited for the, ¡°Come,¡± from inside before he opened the door. Then he stepped through. All eyes were on me as he dipped his head to the teacher. ¡°Civilian assignee Piotr Argassa, reporting in.¡± ¡°Thank you, Sergeant Loka, I¡¯ll take it from here.¡± Sergeant Loka nodded my way, turned and left. I could do nothing but stand and wait. The teacher moved to stand before me, ¡°Feeling a little out of place?¡± she asked. I nodded. ¡°Professor Zhal,¡± she said. ¡°I¡¯m also 271¡¯s lead, so you¡¯ll be seeing me a lot.¡± ¡°Good to meet you,¡± I said, then felt my face flush. ¡°Likewise,¡± she turned to the class. ¡°271 this is Piotr Argassa, he will be joining us from today.¡± ¡°Ma¡¯am, how come he¡¯s joining mid-term?¡± Someone asked. ¡°Good question,¡± Professor Zhal glanced at me. ¡°Would you like to fill in the class as to why you¡¯re special?¡± Why I¡¯m special? Holy shit. She wasn¡¯t kidding either. I scrambled for words, feeling a dozen pairs of eyes on me. ¡°I... wouldn¡¯t call myself special,¡± I said, projecting my HUD stats onto the shared screen. My voice felt smaller than I intended. ¡°But, uh, here¡¯s what I¡¯ve got.¡± There was a ripple of murmurs as they scanned the data. Someone to my right coughed, and I nodded at them. ¡°You¡¯ve got a CAR of 9.5,¡± they said, like it was a personal insult. ¡°That¡¯s practically off the charts.¡± A couple of low whistles followed. ¡°Yeah, okay,¡± I admitted. ¡°That¡¯s the standout stat. The Cognitive Aptitude Rating is high, but let¡¯s be real, everything else is... below average.¡± More murmurs. Someone muttered something that sounded like, ¡°Brainiac¡­¡± while another voice added, ¡°Mid-term with no qualifications? Who¡¯d you bribe?¡± ¡°Or who you fucking?¡± someone else asked. ¡°That¡¯s enough!¡± Professor Zhal declared. Heat prickled at my neck. ¡°Look, I know I don¡¯t seem like I belong here,¡± I said, forcing myself to keep eye contact with the class. ¡°But I¡¯m not here to coast or take anyone else¡¯s spot. I know I¡¯ve got a lot to prove, and I¡¯ll work hard to pull my weight. That¡¯s all I¡¯ve got to say.¡± The room was quiet for a beat, and I couldn¡¯t tell if it was approval or apathy. ¡°All right, quiet¡­. and on that note,¡± Professor Zhal said. ¡°Who would like to mentor Piotr while he acclimatizes to his new life?¡± No one moved. I held my breath, half hoping the silence would drag on forever. ¡°I will,¡± a young man at the back said, raising his hand like it was no big deal. I let out a slow exhale and turned to him. ¡°Thanks,¡± I said, meaning it more than I could explain. I sat in the space next to the young man that had spoken. His academy uniform was impeccably clean and pressed, his hair cut to the precise length allowed. What I did note were his eyes. The right,, was unmistakably augmented: a smooth, metallic lens embedded where his iris should have been, faintly glowing with the faint pulse of his neural interface. It wasn¡¯t the best at being hidden, but it echoed sponsors - a rich one. ¡°Robert Lynx,¡± he said and held out a hand for me. I shook it, and Professor Zhal started to talk to the class once more. ¡°We¡¯ll talk at lunch,¡± he said and indicated my datapad. I passed it to him, and he found what I needed before passing it back. Then I dug in, as lost as I felt¡ªas awkward and new as this was. It wouldn¡¯t be for long. Before me were some simple puzzles. At least that¡¯s how my brain saw them. Star charts, and data streams were all the same. The question get from A to B avoiding two specific sets of obstacles. ¡°Stuck?¡± Rob asked, leaning over. ¡°No,¡± I said, a hint of confidence in my tone. ¡°Just double-checking.¡± He raised an eyebrow but didn¡¯t say anything else. The old me would¡¯ve second-guessed every answer, worried about looking like a fool. But now? I was starting to trust my instincts. The right course appeared in my mind, and I input my route, then clicked done. When Professor Zhal approached, her gaze landed on my screen. ¡°That¡¯s an unconventional route, Argassa.¡± ¡°Unconventional doesn¡¯t mean wrong,¡± I replied, meeting her eyes. She nodded slowly. ¡°True. Let¡¯s see if it holds up in the simulation.¡± Professor Zhal tapped my screen. ¡°Mind if the class watches?¡± Shit. Everyone¡­ I suddenly doubted my decisions, but shook my head. The Professor hit the execute button on my datapad and projected the simulation for everyone to watch. My course held. My ship safe. The quiet nods of approval from my classmates didn¡¯t go unnoticed. Maybe this wouldn¡¯t be so bad. Then my eyes locked with someone at the other side of the class, his dark eyes bore into me, and I shrank back into my chair. Or maybe it would¡­.
    No body/internal fortitude from this? Feel like it could be a kind of combination of dexterity and toughness Chapter 6 Thirty minutes later and a buzzer chimed, one I could hear, and a notification flashed in my HUD. ¡°Class dismissed,¡± Professor Zhal said, and everyone started packing up. ¡°Except Cadet Lynx and Argassa.¡± It looked like Rob knew we¡¯d have been staying behind, he wasn¡¯t fazed at all. Professor Zhal made sure the rest of the class had left before she walked to us. ¡°Thank you for volunteering,¡± she addressed Rob a little more casually than I thought she might and ran a hand through her hair. ¡°You gave me a break once, remember,¡± he replied. ¡°That I did,¡± Professor Zhal pulled up a chair and sat in the aisle between the two desks. Now I got a better look at her, she looked tired, had dark circles under her eyes. ¡°So,¡± she said and looked directly at me. ¡°So,¡± I echoed. Then instantly thought back to my exchanges with the Major. ¡°Sorry, professor,¡± She laughed and picked up my datapad, starting to flick through screens. ¡°We have exams at the end of this week, then the end of the semester. I¡¯m highlighting what you should already know and what I¡¯ve still to teach. I really do hope you learn fast.¡± ¡°This for every class he¡¯s in?¡± Rob asked. ¡°Yes,¡± Professor Zhal looked up. ¡°Don¡¯t expect any leeway, you fail these¡ªno amount of strong arming will keep you in this academy.¡± I swallowed. ¡°People really think that I strong -armed my way in here?¡± ¡°There¡¯s a lot of speculation,¡± Rob said, then lowered his eyes when the professor glared at him. ¡°Don¡¯t listen to the rumor mill.¡± ¡°Every workplace has one,¡± I said, then added. ¡°I¡¯ll try.¡± ¡°Good. Looks like you could use a few decent meals,¡± the professor stood and moved to my side, to my surprise she took hold of my chin. ¡°Skin¡¯s really poor, hair needs a desperate cut. Rob,¡± she said. ¡°Yes, Ma¡¯am.¡± ¡°Take some pictures. I want to track his progress in everything and get him up with you on the circuits in the morning.¡± ¡°What?¡± I laughed. ¡°You¡¯re classic, scrub meets quality. I want to track how fast you move, Cadet Argassa, call it a side project.¡± ¡°Oh,¡± I glanced at Rob. ¡°Were you a side project too?¡± He nodded. ¡°Got me on the straight and narrow, sorted me out in fourteen weeks.¡± ¡°I don¡¯t have fourteen weeks,¡± I sighed. ¡°We¡¯ll see a marked improvement in what you have. Trust me.¡± She picked my datapad up once more. ¡°Get yourself into medical first, after classes. Then Bonnies¡¯ cuts, for your hair. Uniform should be delivered to your bunk by 6pm.¡± She put the datapad down once more. ¡°And if you don¡¯t want to go hungry, the two of you had better run for it. Sorry to keep you so long.¡± Rob packed his bag fast, and we were out the door in a flash. ¡°Will get food then I¡¯ll sort your data to HUD transfer,¡± he said. ¡°Thanks,¡± I replied. ¡°Hey, if you¡¯re really that smart,¡± he said. ¡°I really could do with you raising the bar on my teams learning.¡± ¡°Worried about those exams?¡± I saw him flinch. ¡°Don¡¯t worry, I¡¯ll do my best.¡± I didn¡¯t add, I only hoped my best was good enough¡­. But I should have. The mess hall for lunch was still teaming with people, and the queue though probably shorter than it was ten minutes ago, was still fairly long. The server held out a wrist ID which I watched Rob scan and then they served him up his food. ¡°Everyone has tailored meals to some extent. You won¡¯t get one today, but once you¡¯ve seen medical for some preliminary testing you¡¯ll be on one from tomorrow.¡± The server scanned my wrist, frowned and then piled my plate like she had Rob¡¯s. ¡°Still smells good, forgot to eat much this morning.¡± ¡°You won¡¯t get a choice to forget now, you¡¯ll likely be on snacks too, so you¡¯ll have to get used to eating some food on the go.¡± When Rob turned to try and find us somewhere to sit, an arm waved to him from over by the window. He then made his way over and I followed. Passing a table I noticed a blonde hide her mouth. I don¡¯t think she realised I actually caught her words. If you spot this story on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation. ¡°The Boutacks fund half the advanced AI research,¡± she whispered. ¡°Word is they¡¯re looking for the next breakthrough. Something that could change everything.¡± Rob was waving at me to walk faster, so I couldn¡¯t hang back to wait for the blonde friend¡¯s answer. ¡°Finally,¡± the girl said as Rob slid into the seat beside her. ¡°Thought you¡¯d gotten lost.¡± ¡°Hardly,¡± Rob replied, jerking his head toward me. ¡°Meet Piotr. He¡¯s the new guy.¡± ¡°I did see you both in class this morning, though, right?¡± The young arm waver was a lass with brown hair, dark eyes, and tanned skin. Her eyes narrowed slightly, sizing me up. ¡°Kerry,¡± she said, offering a brief nod. ¡°And that¡¯s Sylvk.¡± ¡°Hey,¡± Sylvk said, his deep voice surprisingly warm as he motioned to the seat across from him. ¡°Take a load off.¡± Despite his bulk he shrank in on himself. I sat down, feeling the weight of their scrutiny. ¡°Uh, nice to meet you.¡± Kerry smirked. ¡°So, what¡¯s your story, Piotr? How¡¯d you land here mid-term?¡± I hesitated, glancing at Rob, who gave me an encouraging nod. ¡°It¡¯s¡­ a long story,¡± I said finally. ¡°Let¡¯s just say I got an unexpected opportunity.¡± Sylvk chuckled. ¡°Sounds like code for ¡®I did something stupid.¡¯¡± ¡°Not far off,¡± I admitted, earning a laugh from both of them. ¡°Relax,¡± Kerry said, leaning back in her chair. ¡°We¡¯re all here because someone thought we had potential. You¡¯ll fit in¡ªeventually.¡± ¡°Eventually?¡± I asked, raising an eyebrow. ¡°You¡¯ve got a lot to catch up on,¡± she replied. ¡°But don¡¯t worry. We¡¯ll make sure you don¡¯t drown¡ªtoo much.¡± ¡°So we¡¯re Beta271?¡± I asked on Rob¡¯s nod. ¡°Is there an Alpha271?¡± ¡°Good lordy, we¡¯re going to have some fun with you,¡± she elbowed Rob in the arm. ¡°We only have two classes this afternoon,¡± Rob said. ¡°But they¡¯re not easy ones.¡± ¡°What makes them not easy?¡± I asked. Kerry grinned. ¡°Ever been in Zero-G?¡± I swallowed my next mouthful of food fast. ¡°Shit, already?¡± ¡°Hope you digest fast,¡± Sylvk said. ¡°But if you¡¯re worried, I can take that pudding off your hands.¡± ¡°Nope,¡± I said and slid my tray away from him. ¡°Mine.¡± ¡°Fair,¡± he said and directed to Rob. ¡°He up in the morning with us too?¡± Rob nodded along. ¡°Gonna make me hurt, aren¡¯t you?¡± I asked the big man. ¡°Yeah, this ain¡¯t gonna be easy at all.¡± ¡°The mind might be fine,¡± Kerry said. ¡°But that body¡ª¡± ¡°Is weak as fuck,¡± I admitted. Sylvk nodded, giving me the once over. ¡°We can work with it, don¡¯t worry.¡± ¡°What were you doing till you came here?¡± Kerry asked, absentmindedly while eating. Rob choked and elbowed her back. ¡°Don¡¯t mind her, you don¡¯t have to talk about yourself at all.¡± ¡°I don¡¯t mind,¡± I said. ¡°No parents. Went into the legal system when I was seven. Up through different homes till I was fourteen, when Orla, my foster carer, boss was fixing up one of the homes cars. I walked over because she looked to be struggling with one of the computer systems. Took me all of two seconds to tell her why. She went straight to the office after getting the car going, and within a day I was somewhere else, under her apprenticeship and watchful eye.¡± ¡°So local nobody who managed to get a leg up by what? Working in the local¡ª¡± ¡°Runner¡¯s yard,¡± I said. ¡°Marts and Sparks.¡± ¡°No way. My dad takes all our gear there.¡± Kerry said. ¡°Not only cars, though.¡± ¡°Then likely I¡¯ve been the one doing the work on them.¡± She looked at Rob. ¡°My dad doesn¡¯t mess about with his tech.¡± ¡°I know,¡± Rob said and put his fork down having finished his lunch already. ¡°That goes a long way in proving you¡¯re capable.¡± I scraped the last few bits of my food together and ate. ¡°Good,¡± I said. ¡°What about you three?¡± ¡°In what sense?¡± Rob asked. ¡°How¡¯d you get here, what made your choices, decisions?¡± ¡°Rich kid, nothing better to do,¡± Kerry said. Rob hit her under the table this time. ¡°Don¡¯t even¡­.¡± ¡°Sorry, that¡¯s the line I tell everyone,¡± she admitted. ¡°Truth is there¡¯s a medical station out there with my name on it.¡± ¡°Doctor?¡± ¡°Aiming for top in her field.¡± Rob said. ¡°Which is?¡± ¡°Nanotech and Nano Engineering.¡± Sylvk added. I whistled. ¡°Smart then,¡± I said. ¡°What¡¯s your Cognitive Aptitude Rating?¡± She grinned when she said it. ¡°Nine-point-eight.¡± ¡°That is smart.¡± She was a few decimal points higher than me at Nine-point-five. ¡°You really learn fast?¡± Rob asked. ¡°I better, because I got a lot of shit to take in.¡± I replied. ¡°I got work after classes,¡± Rob said. ¡°He needs to go to the med bay and then Bonnie¡¯s¡ª¡± ¡°¡ªI¡¯ll take him,¡± Kerry said. ¡°No bother.¡± ¡°We can hit the gym after,¡± Sylvk added. ¡°If you like, of course.¡± ¡°Already?¡± I picked up my pudding bowl and though it looked divine, he was probably right. When I glanced at him, there were no other words for his expression than ¡®puppy dog eyes¡¯. I held it out for him. ¡°Are you sure?¡± Only on my nod did he say, ¡°Thanks.¡± Then scooped in one huge mouthful of dessert. ¡°Won¡¯t go any easier on you later, though.¡± ¡°Didn¡¯t think you would,¡± I said with a shrug. ¡°But since you¡¯ll be busy tearing me apart, you can fill me in on everything else about Razors?¡± Sylvk paused, thought about it for a moment, then ate more pudding and nodded. ¡°Deal.¡± ¡°We better hustle,¡± Rob said. Then he went through the procedure to get my datapad linked to my HUD, my classes all showing, and everything else I needed. Five minutes later we were clearing the table and making our way to the next class. ¡°Why are we rushing?¡± I asked. ¡°Teacher wants to see us before class starts,¡± he said. ¡°Or wants to see you.¡± ¡°Ahh,¡± I nodded. ¡°Think it¡¯s going to be like that for a while.¡± ¡°You¡¯re the talk of the academy,¡± he said. ¡°Expect so.¡± When we got to the sprawling room that was our next class I did a double take. ¡°Sergeant Major Cotah,¡± Rob said. ¡°Anything he hasn¡¯t done, well¡­.¡± ¡°Sounds like it¡¯s not worth doing, right?¡± Rob nodded and when Sergeant Major Cotah waved to us we moved to meet him halfway. He was giving me the once over, his eyes cool, calculating. ¡°You just had lunch?¡± He directed at me. ¡°Yes, Sir. No pudding.¡± I answered. ¡°You¡¯ve got a good one as mentor. Listen to everything Rob says here, understand?¡± ¡°Yes, Sir.¡± ¡°We¡¯re doing recon practice, through the maze. Find the flag, return to base. You¡¯re going to put your team on the backfoot already, so I¡¯ll give you leeway, Rob¡¯s team usually performs well.¡± ¡°Thank you, Sir.¡± Rob said. ¡°Wi¡ª¡± ¡°No, it won¡¯t affect your team ranking either,¡± he said. So this was a marked test? And he was going easy on Rob because of me. Yeah, that didn¡¯t sit right with me. ¡°Sir, may I speak freely.¡± He raised an eyebrow at me. ¡°Please, go ahead.¡± ¡°Please don¡¯t treat me any differently than you would the others. That goes for if this is a test.¡± I saw Rob¡¯s face fall. ¡°You¡¯ve never been in Zero-G?¡± The Sergeant Major asked. ¡°No, Sir.¡± ¡°This is a timed event through an unknown maze,¡± he looked at Rob. ¡°You are team lead, what do you think?¡± Rob crossed his arms thoughtfully, his body language wasn¡¯t closed off, just that¡ªthinking. ¡°Piotr has a lot to prove,¡± he said. ¡°He¡¯s smart, almost as smart as Kerry and that¡¯s saying a lot.¡± ¡°So you¡¯re in?¡± ¡°We¡¯re in,¡± he said.
    Why? Will describe the room, I guess I forgot haha :P ?? Chapter 7 Sergeant Major Cotah took a step back, ¡°The others will be here in a few minutes. Take the time to kit him out and instruct.¡± Rob nodded as the Sergeant Major left us. Then he looked at me. ¡°You really want to make this your hill to die on?¡± I nodded. ¡°They¡¯re all going to think you¡¯re weak, because of me, no matter where I¡¯m placed. I¡¯ll learn fast, I promise you.¡± ¡°You¡¯re going to have to,¡± Rob walked away, and I followed. ¡°But we do get one good advantage for this.¡± ¡°What¡¯s that?¡± ¡°We see Alpha271 go in first.¡± ¡°I want the rundown,¡± I said. ¡°All of it.¡± ¡°Each class is split into six groups of six. Usually four main, two reserves. We¡¯re judged on all performances throughout the year and are ranked.¡± ¡°You hold what?¡± ¡°We¡¯ve been struggling,¡± Rob said. ¡°We lost one of our team members, Akers, a month ago.¡± ¡°Lost him? Like¡ª¡± ¡°Family emergency,¡± Rob replied as Sylvk joined us. ¡°Akers? No he was a liability,¡± Sylvk growled out. ¡°That¡¯s just what¡¯s on the record.¡± ¡°Oh, okay, so that explains why there¡¯s a spare spot. But no reserves?¡± ¡°Just out of luck the class never filled. We¡¯ve been sliding down the ranking since. We were in the top spots across the years classes, now, not so much.¡± ¡°That¡¯s why you didn¡¯t want to take the back seat in this?¡± ¡°We need the points.¡± He admitted. ¡°Then I¡¯m glad I opened my mouth.¡± Rob stared at me. ¡°Since I got the message last night from the LTC we had a new recruit. I knew there was no choice in where you were going.¡± ¡°So the volunteering?¡± ¡°Always a test,¡± he said. ¡°Everything is. Just like¡ª¡± ¡°Seeing if I was a coward out there.¡± ¡°You¡¯re getting it.¡± Standing before a set of lockers, Rob started to strip off. ¡°Kit is usually a good size, copy me.¡± I didn¡¯t hesitate, and also stripped off. ¡°God dammit,¡± Kerry said, coming in after Sylvk. ¡°Just what I wanted to see swinging in the wind.¡± Rob coughed. ¡°Should have warned you, sorry.¡± ¡°Teams become family, right?¡± Sylvk was out of his uniform in a flash, and Kerry gave me a glance, then him. I couldn¡¯t help but notice the scars running up and down his back. He had been through a shit ton of stuff. Why had he never had them covered? ¡°Yep,¡± Kerry slapped Sylvk¡¯s ass. Interrupting my thoughts. ¡°You don¡¯t want me to slap your ass,¡± he groaned, but there was a twinkle in his eye. ¡°Why do you get to slap mine?¡± She didn¡¯t answer and finished dressing. The suit was easy to put on, and the boots. It all fit into place, like Rob had said. ¡°Helmet¡¯s easy too, connect this,¡± he pointed at the front piece where there was a small red line, and to the suit¡¯s red line at his neck. ¡°To this first.¡± I picked up the helmet, it was light, and did as he instructed, connecting the lines then slipped the rest over my head. The helmet found its own purchase and with a sucking sound sealed me in. I never saw Kerry undress, but she was in front of me fully suited before Sylvk had his boots on. She tapped the side of her head. Invite to Team Lynx (Beta271) Accept - Y/N I hit the accept. <> Rob asked. <> Kerry replied. <> Sylvk said. With my HUD I accessed the suits intel network in a second. <> I added. <> Rob said. <> <> Kerry said. <> I nodded, though that must have been hard to see. <> Sylvk said. <> <> I replied. We then stood and watched as other trainees came in and dressed, there was a little excitement in the air. <> I asked. <> Rob questioned. I nodded, but then also spoke, <> <> When I nodded this time, I again added. <> <> I asked. <> Kerry said. <> <> I sighed. Sylvk slapped me on the back. <> he said. <> <> Kerry said. <> <> Rob said and gave something a yank, I felt it pull though there didn¡¯t seem to be anything there. <> <> Kerry warned. <> I said and felt for the tether to Rob. Rob laughed <> Stolen content warning: this content belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences. A loud beep sounded. <> I tried to get a better view, Alpha271 moved as one and went through the double doors in seconds. <> Rob sent an attachment over to my HUD Ident. I hit the accept and he carried on while I looked, this was just like at Dennison¡¯s but they didn¡¯t know that. I did, and I smiled internally. <> Doli asked. <> <> <> <> Rob said. And he wasn¡¯t kidding, the images were insane, huge multi layered mazes with intricate walls that seemed to stretch on forever. <> <> <> <> I said. <> Kerry replied. <> <> <> I said. Rob stood next to me, <> <> I sighed, this would be typical of every aspect of my life. <> I was looking at Sergeant Major Cotah when I was saying this, and he was watching me as intently. I turned to Rob, <> <> <> Kerry added. <> <> Rob used his hand as an example. <> and he pushed on me slightly. <> <> <> I said. Two minutes since the other team went in. <> Rob said. <> <> <> I replied. <> <> Rob asked. <> I replied. Five minutes had passed. Kerry touched my arm and I looked at her. <> <> I replied. > Rob said. <> Kerry asked. <> I said, but I really wasn¡¯t. I was terrified, terrified that I¡¯d still screw up. <> Sylvk said as the other team came back through the double doors. <> <> came the unified reply. The Sergeant Major nodded to Rob and then we were up. The small countdown on our HUDS ticking from ten to one. Fast, so fast. Rob hit the doors, and we followed. Walking past Alpha271 as they stripped off. Andri cat called behind me. ¡°Better not trip over your own feet in there, newb.¡± The moment I stepped into the maze, the world flipped. My stomach lurched as gravity disappeared, leaving me flailing in a sea of walls and corridors that shot off in almost what felt like every direction. For a second, panic seized me¡ªa desperate, primal instinct to fight against the weightlessness. < > Rob¡¯s voice came through my comms, grounding me. <> What the hell am I doing here? I clenched my jaw, forcing my muscles to respond. The tether in my hand grounded me, a lifeline to the team I was already dragging down. Calm. Focus. The words echoed in my mind, but they did little to steady the hammering of my heart. Small movements. I tightened my core, testing the advice. A slight shift of my hand sent me spinning, and for a terrifying moment, I couldn¡¯t tell up from down. <> Kerry¡¯s voice cut through my haze. <> <> Rob said. <> <> < > Rob said. <> <> it wasn¡¯t a lie, the other two trusting him that meant I could too, even if I didn¡¯t know him. <> he said. <> <> <> That gave me a little confidence boost. And it didn¡¯t take me long to focus, another thirty seconds if that. I tested my movements through my core, as Kerry had said, and my body twisted and turned in on itself. <> I said. <> <> Rob instructed. It wasn¡¯t slow at all. When Rob stopped and Kerry went right, Sylvk left, and I guess I moved forwards. The maze was just that, there were so many twists and turns. I kept my tether in my hand, fully admitting I was a little afraid to get cut off, and listened in as Kerry and Sylvk called out what they were doing. It was easy to get the gist of it from there. I started to call my own directions out. Listening to everyone. <> Rob said. We did so, the next time it was, <> again. Then to Sylvk, then to me, then to me again. We were five minutes in the maze, and I was getting used to the movement, the walls, the way things would stretch out, then either I¡¯d see I was blocked or there would be a way through. There really were patterns to it all. We had to find the flag in the next minute to have any chance of getting out. Then, <> There was the flag. Six minutes and seven seconds. <> Kerry asked. <> Sylvk asked. <> Rob bounced back. <> Sylvk asked. <> Kerry and I said in unison. <> she asked me. <> I said and, on the inside, I was grinning. <> Rob said. <> she said. <> It was tighter this way around, but more fumbling. On my HUD they spread out around me, and I got a view of the maze that fascinated me. It was easier to see it, the pattern. But I still almost got a wrong call. <> I paused, no, <> Nine minutes and fifty seconds. <> Kerry said. < > > I said. Then immediately, <> <> Rob bounced back. <> <> Kerry¡¯s support meant a lot. <> I instructed them, <> Ten minutes and eight seconds. <> We were all focused, our movements fast, collected. Calm, though my nerves were shot. So close. Eleven minutes and five seconds. Almost there. <> I said. Then I paused. This was a trap point. I knew it, inside my gut was screaming at me. They fanned out as before, and I let them stretch their tethers almost as far as they could go. It all looked the same. This was a pure judgement call. I didn¡¯t have the experience to make this one. <> I said. <> Rob came back to me in seconds, and he took in what I saw. <> He ordered. Sylvk came flying around the corner and pushed the two of us faster than I¡¯d ever gone, but I held myself together. Kerry was in front of us, and then with one more turn, so were the double doors. Twelve minutes and forty-one seconds. We were through it and back on solid ground my feet gave way, my knees hitting the linoleum hard. Rob kneeled before me. <> I checked my HUD. <> Kerry slapped me on the back. <> Sylvk helped me to my feet, and we moved out of the way as the next team were getting ready for their run. Whoever was the lead, held their thumbs up at us. Then they were gone. The class buzzed with quiet conversation as we waited. My HUD glowed with notes, reminders, and a schedule that made my head spin. I got to calm down some while the next team completed the maze. When everyone was assembled back in the main hall. Sergeant Major Cotah stood before us. ¡°Today¡¯s recon exercises showed some¡­ mixed results.¡± He said, calling the class to attention. ¡°Especially Beta271.¡± My ears burned as a few heads turned in my direction. Great. Just what I need. Let¡¯s all blame the new guy. ¡°To their credit,¡± Cotah continued, ¡°Lynx¡¯s team showed excellent adaptability and cohesion, despite facing new challenges.¡± Rob glanced my way, offering a subtle nod. It was supposed to reassure me, but all it did was make the knot in my stomach tighten. <> Kerry whispered, leaning over. <> <> Doli also added. <> <> I replied. <> I did so, and saw nothing but smiles. It made me feel top of the world. Chapter 8 Stripping out of the suit was harder than it looked. <> Kerry said, and she had my helmet off in a flash, then her own. ¡°You did well in there,¡± Rob said, handing me a bottle of water. ¡°There¡¯s no way you¡¯re a first timer, right?¡± Should I be honest with them? I sucked in a breath. <> Doli asked. It was a legitimate question, did I? <> I admitted. <> She was right, it did. I hated that. I drank the water quickly. ¡°You know the old arcade out by Dennison?¡± ¡°Heard of it,¡± he said. ¡°Why?¡± ¡°I used to help the owner fix the old machines. In return I got to go in after hours and play whatever I wanted.¡± ¡°So there¡¯s a Zero-G unit in there?¡± Sylvk asked, already re-dressed. ¡°Not exactly, but they have a vertical wind tunnel.¡± ¡°I¡¯ll be damned,¡± Rob said. ¡°Really?¡± ¡°Nothing more fun than playing in all the simulations after hours.¡± ¡°Huh,¡± Kerry added. ¡°So¡­ flight simulation? Mazes? All kinds of games?¡± ¡°Military tactics?¡± Sylvk asked. I nodded. ¡°Every single one this century and the last.¡± I confirmed, taking a long swig. ¡°I still almost puked, lost my sense of direction, and slowed everyone down.¡± ¡°Not that much, I didn¡¯t think we¡¯d get anywhere near as close.¡± Rob smirked, leaning back on his hands. ¡°You made the right calls and you trusted that when you couldn¡¯t, I would.¡± ¡°You¡¯ll get there,¡± Kerry joined us, slapping me on the back. ¡°We all sucked at first.¡± ¡°Speak for yourself,¡± Sylvk added, grinning as he tossed his helmet into a cleaning bin. The camaraderie helped, but the lingering doubt wouldn¡¯t fade. My churning stomach lurched more, ¡°I feel sick,¡± I said. ¡°Bathroom,¡± she pointed. My legs couldn¡¯t run fast enough, and I was heaving over the first toilet bowl I could find. A moment later, I felt a hand on my back, soft nails through my hair. ¡°You really do need a haircut,¡± Kerry said. ¡°Feeling better?¡± I looked up at her and nodded. ¡°You did well to hold out,¡± she said, and pulled a small wad of toilet paper for me to wipe my mouth. ¡°Buuut everyone pukes.¡± ¡°Thanks, that was insane.¡± ¡°You were insane,¡± Sylvk¡¯s voice came through. ¡°He okay?¡± ¡°I¡¯m okay,¡± I called back and with a little help I stood. ¡°Think I digested any of my lunch?¡± Kerry shook her head and flushed the toilet for me. ¡°Doubt it. But there¡¯s plenty more of it for later.¡± ¡°I dread to think what¡¯s next.¡± ¡°Boring, Resource management,¡± she said. ¡°I think you¡¯ll be okay with that one.¡± I frowned but nodded. <> <> <> <> <> When we returned to Rob, he handed us bottles of water, and I stripped out of the suit. Looking at my old clothes. ¡°Be glad to get something new,¡± I said. ¡°These are well past it.¡± ¡°One more class,¡± Rob said. ¡°Debrief?¡± I asked opening my water to take a full long drag. ¡°If we hadn¡¯t needed the time to orientate you,¡± Sylvk said. ¡°We would have beaten Alpha271¡¯s team.¡± Rob was looking across the changing room to the team sat huddled together. ¡°Yeah, and that will be exactly what they¡¯re discussing, not what they did or didn¡¯t do wrong.¡± ¡°You did really good in there,¡± Kerry said again and sat. I sat next to her. ¡°You saw the same patterns I did, even if I hadn¡¯t, you¡¯d have nailed it.¡± ¡°We would,¡± Rob sat next to me. ¡°But we¡¯re a team. I wanted to see how your mind worked compared to Kerry¡¯s.¡± She put a hand on his leg and leaned on him. ¡°You know me so well boss,¡± she said affectionately. I wondered for a moment if they had something else going on, but Rob batted her hand away. ¡°I do. That¡¯s my job, and you¡¯re a creep.¡± Sergeant Major Cotah moved to Alpha271. And stood talking to them for a while, there were a couple of glances our way, and he was nodding his head now and then. I found myself wanting Sergeant Major Cotah¡¯s approval, which was strange - I¡¯d never cared what authority figures thought before. But this was different somehow. These people weren¡¯t just barking orders; they were offering me a place to belong. ¡°Who are they?¡± I asked. ¡°Alpha271?¡± I nodded, watching their lead report to the Sergeant Major. ¡°Lead is Andri Boutack, his second in command¡ª¡± Kerry growled at his words, and I cast her a glance. ¡°She is Devin Reed.¡± ¡°Jealous?¡± ¡°No,¡± Kerry shot back at me. ¡°She¡¯s a hundred percent bitch.¡± ¡°That bad?¡± I looked to Sylvk. ¡°She is,¡± he replied. ¡°The others in his team?¡± ¡°Isma, Seif, Vandit, and Ryan.¡± ¡°How come there¡¯s so many compared to us?¡± I asked. ¡°One lead, four main, one in reserve.¡± Rob said. ¡°You¡¯ve only four and no reserves?¡± Kerry shook her head. ¡°We were lucky there were four of us till¡ª¡± Unauthorized reproduction: this story has been taken without approval. Report sightings. ¡°Sorry,¡± I apologized. ¡°I¡¯m trying to learn the dynamic here.¡± ¡°We understand,¡± Rob said. ¡°It¡¯s good you¡¯re asking questions.¡± Sergeant Major Cotah eventually made his way over to us. The big man stood towering over me. ¡°Eyes forward,¡± he said as I was about to crane my neck and look at him. ¡°Sir,¡± Rob said. ¡°You did extremely well in there,¡± he said and put a hand on my shoulder. Then gave me a light pat. ¡°Considering all the obstacles stacked your way.¡± ¡°Thank you, Sir.¡± I said. ¡°Alpha271 are worried,¡± he admitted. ¡°Keep that up through the next few weeks. There might be some changes around here.¡± I listened and drank more while Rob gave the Sergeant Major the rest of the run-down of our test. He had such command of himself, I wanted to be much more like him. Kerry caught me staring and I blushed and had to look away, instead my eyes focusing on Sylvk. When the Sergeant Major had gone, we watched the next several sets of people do their maze run, and then it was time to move on. While Kerry likely found the next class boring, I did not. I wanted to and needed to absorb everything. I also watched the dynamics of the others in the class. Andri had my full attention, and I wanted to learn more about him and his team. Maybe I could ask Ashley? My HUD went part way through the class¡ªincoming message. I accepted it. Ashley - Will pick you up after you¡¯ve had your hair chopped. And I replied quickly with. Me - Okay, looking forward to it, had a good day so far. Ashley - Good? Then I look forward to hearing all about it. See you then. The buzzer went and everyone started packing. Andri glanced my way, then looked to Rob as he was already packed. ¡°Med bay?¡± Kerry asked. ¡°Yep,¡± I said. ¡°You don¡¯t have to come; you know I can find it.¡± She threw a glance to Rob who was making a fast beeline out the door with Sylvk. ¡°They both have to work. Me, I¡¯m the rich kid with nothing to do, remember?¡± ¡°Okay, I have someone meeting me later though.¡± ¡°Oh?¡± ¡°Extra studies,¡± I said. ¡°Boring.¡± She rolled her eyes and laughed. We walked through the base, following my HUD¡¯s instructions, stopping only for food in the mess hall. The mess hall was loud, the air thick with the smell of hot food and chatter. I kept my head down, focusing on my plate, until Kerry nudged me. ¡°Alpha271¡¯s looking this way,¡± she muttered. I glanced up, my heart sinking as Andri Boutack locked eyes with me. His expression was neutral, but there was something calculating in the way he sized me up. ¡°Don¡¯t let him intimidate you,¡± Kerry said, shoveling a forkful of food into her mouth. ¡°Easier said than done,¡± I muttered, keeping my gaze on my tray. They¡¯re watching you, the thought nagged at me. Judging you. Waiting for you to fail. Andri leaned over to whisper something to Devin, and they both laughed. I clenched my fists under the table, determined not to give them the satisfaction of seeing me flinch. Food was over fast, thankfully. Kerry was sweet to talk to, she didn¡¯t ask too many questions, and kept the conversation easy and light. We took our trays to the recycling unit. Andri Boutack blocked my path, flanked by his ever-present shadow, Devin. ¡°Heard you barely survived Zero-G training,¡± Andri said, his tone dripping with mockery. I stopped, meeting his gaze without flinching. ¡°Heard your team barely beat us.¡± Kerry, standing behind me, stifled a laugh. Andri¡¯s smirk faltered for a split second before he recovered. ¡°Talk big all you want,¡± he said, stepping closer. ¡°But you¡¯re an engineer playing at being a cadet.¡± I felt a familiar flicker of doubt, but it was quickly drowned out by a surge of determination. ¡°And yet, here I am,¡± I said, stepping past him to deposit my tray. ¡°Funny how that works.¡± Devin muttered something under her breath, but I didn¡¯t look back. Let them talk. I¡¯ll prove them wrong. ¡°Don¡¯t let them get to you,¡± Kerry said as she finished clearing up then we left. ¡°I won¡¯t,¡± I lied, knowing he was already getting to me. Eventually we made our way to the medical units. ¡°You wanted to come here, because¡ª¡± ¡°I want to be the best in my field,¡± she said. ¡°And what better way to get a look inside the medical units than with a newb like me?¡± ¡°Bingo,¡± she said and to my surprise linked my arm with hers. I pulled up Ashley¡¯s message to me and thought of a quick message in reply. Me - I have to hit the gym too, sorry, under orders. See you after then? The reply was instant. Ashley - Okay, eight it is. ¡°Cadet Hinada, good to see you again.¡± The young doctor at the front desk said. ¡°Here with new recruit Piotr Argassa,¡± she replied. ¡°Ahh, good we¡¯ve been waiting on him. Come on through.¡± He indicated the doors, and we made our way into the building, and then through several corridors before we hit a room. ¡°Doctor Delawar will be with you shortly. Take a seat.¡± I moved to sit at one of the chairs in front of a large silver desk, but Kerry stalked around the room, nosing at everything. ¡°They¡¯ll see everything in here from your DNA to your tech. It¡¯s cool, isn¡¯t it?¡± ¡°Sure is, but not 100% sure you should see everything I am.¡± ¡°Not worried over a little extra weight are you?¡± When she looked my way, she was the one that blushed this time. ¡°Oh, sorry.¡± She moved to stand in front of me. ¡°You¡¯re not used to the whole¡ªbare your ass to the wind and swing em yet. I get it. I want to learn as much as you do. Think of me as another doctor.¡± ¡°I think I can do that,¡± I said. ¡°Do I undress?¡± ¡°No,¡± she replied. ¡°They¡¯ll see everything through your clothes, highest tech level going. Another reason I want to be here. A minute later, a grey-haired man stepped inside. Kerry jumped. ¡°Doctor Francine.¡± ¡°The man at the front said Delaware,¡± I stated. The man moved to stand before me, giving me the once over. ¡°No, Delaware isn¡¯t on your case. You have me assigned. I¡¯m senior Doctor, Bernard Francine.¡± Kerry seemed frozen in place, and she¡¯d paled. I caught her subtle step backward, a reaction that struck me as odd. She¡¯d been so confident seconds ago, but something about this doctor had changed that. We shook hands, and he moved to sit at the desk and held out his hand for my wrist. I gave it to him and a moment later he was looking through several screens on his HUD. There was a flash of red, and he glanced at Kerry. ¡°Cadet Hinada you¡¯ll have to step out of the room I¡¯m afraid. No extra lessons for you today.¡± ¡°Doctor?¡± she asked, confusion across her brow. ¡°This examination requires level seven clearance, Cadet,¡± he said, his tone softening slightly. ¡°Your credentials only extend to level four. Academy protocol.¡± Kerry¡¯s eyes widened almost imperceptibly. She looked at me, her expression a mix of concern and curiosity, before nodding. ¡°Of course, Doctor Francine.¡± But on his wave to the door, she did step out, giving me a shy once over. The door sealed with a soft hiss. Dr. Francine¡¯s demeanour changed instantly¡ªhis clinical detachment replaced by intense focus. ¡°Now then, Piotr Argassa, on the outside you look like a normal young man.¡± He tapped something on his console, and the room¡¯s ambient lighting dimmed as security protocols activated. ¡°But you and I both know that¡¯s not entirely accurate.¡± He stood and moved to the back of my chair. ¡°However,¡± with a sweep of his hand he had my neck port revealed and his fingers gently touching either side of it. ¡°You have tech that you shouldn¡¯t, correct?¡± ¡°Yes, doctor.¡± ¡°This isn¡¯t standard hardware,¡± he said, his voice dropping. ¡°Military-grade neural interfaces like this are restricted. Level nine clearance, minimum.¡± He paused, studying my reaction. ¡°You also have a very high security clearance level. Hence, I am here in the first place, but you know that.¡± ¡°I do,¡± I said. ¡°Major Kuba?¡± ¡°Correct, she¡¯s put a lot on the line for you, but you also know that too.¡± His expression hardened. ¡°What you may not realize is the extent of scrutiny this brings. Delaware was reassigned from your case the moment your initial scans registered. The academy has... protocols for situations like yours.¡± A chill ran down my spine. ¡°Protocols?¡± Dr. Francine¡¯s gaze met mine. ¡°People with your level of clearance and... enhancements... don¡¯t typically walk through our doors as new cadets, Mr. Argassa. They come through official channels with documentation and oversight committees.¡± He slid a drop of blood into a port at the side of his desk, and then studied it as several reports started spinning off. ¡°Your Cognitive Aptitude Rating is impressive,¡± he remarked, studying one of the screens. ¡°A 9.5 on the academy¡¯s scale is rare, especially for someone without formal training.¡± ¡°Scale?¡± I asked. ¡°The Academy Assessment Scale,¡± he explained. ¡°One to ten, measuring not just raw processing power, but adaptive thinking, pattern recognition, and cognitive resilience under stress. Most cadets score between 7 and 8.5.¡± I swallowed hard, suddenly aware of how precarious my position might be. ¡°Please, stand.¡± Following his instruction I did so, then with a little gentle pushing and manoeuvring he had me over a circle in the flooring. ¡°This will do a full body scan. Far more thorough than our standard intake procedures.¡± Something was wrong. My stomach churned. ¡°What is it?¡± I asked. ¡°You have a fever, are you feeling unwell at all?¡± ¡°Not that I¡¯m aware of,¡± I replied. He rubbed his chin, and moved from one screen to another. ¡°You have some elevated levels, showing signs of infection.¡± He scanned my files some yet even more. ¡°No previous health care? Insurance?¡± ¡°No, Sir. Sorry,¡± and asked. <> <> she replied. <> <> I said. <> ¡°Vaccinations, only at birth, then at five in the orphanage?¡± I nodded. ¡°Okay, I¡¯ll run a few more tests on this and we¡¯ll keep an eye on you, it could just be a regular cold.¡± ¡°Thanks,¡± I said and really hoped it was, that it wasn¡¯t a side effect of Doli. <> Doli said. <> I thought back, and nodded. <> ¡°I¡¯m in a new place with lots of people I haven¡¯t met before, I¡¯m going to catch anything that¡¯s going around.¡± ¡°Indeed,¡± Doctor Fransince agreed. ¡°Everything else looks good, you¡¯ll have a training schedule sent to your HUD along with a food plan.¡± ¡°Thanks,¡± I said. ¡°It¡¯s all a bit overwhelming at the moment. I¡¯ve never eaten so much food.¡± ¡°Nutrition is paramount to the amount of work you¡¯ll be doing, both physical and mental.¡± ¡°Or the number of times I throw up.¡± I mumbled. ¡°What¡¯s that?¡± ¡°Nothing,¡± my face flushed. ¡°Thanks for looking out for me, doctor.¡± ¡°You have people in high places doing that, I¡¯m not the only one. You understand that though too, don¡¯t you?¡± ¡°I do,¡± I said. When he was about to dismiss me, I asked. ¡°What should I tell miss curious out there?¡± ¡°Nothing will have gotten her attention more than me chasing her out of the room. What you tell her is entirely up to you.¡± ¡°As long as it¡¯s not the truth?¡± ¡°Exactly,¡± he smiled. ¡°I¡¯ll be in touch, Cadet Argassa.¡± ¡°Thanks,¡± I said again and left. Chapter 9 erry waited for me in the corridor, her face pale. ¡°Are you okay?¡± she rushed to me. I was nodding but she was giving me the once over. ¡°There¡¯s only one reason he would be down here,¡± she said. ¡°Spill?¡± ¡°Not today,¡± I replied. She pulled a face. ¡°But¡­¡± ¡°Not today,¡± I repeated. ¡°Let me get to know you all some more.¡± ¡°Okay,¡± she nodded. ¡°I can understand that.¡± We wound our way out of the medical units, and out to the main streets. Bonnies was a quaint place on the outskirts of the city, I knew I¡¯d seen it a few times, but I had never been in, always used to chopping my own hair when it annoyed me. This time, I was on the academy¡¯s dime and dress code. ¡°Wow, you have a head of hair and a half,¡± Bonnie said, running her fingers through it before guiding me toward the sink. The warm water cascaded over my scalp, and I let out a breath I hadn¡¯t realized I was holding. ¡°Long day?¡± she asked, working the shampoo into my hair. ¡°Yes,¡± Kerry answered for me. ¡°But we¡¯re getting there.¡± Bonnie didn¡¯t press for details, just hummed in understanding and continued her work. The sound of scissors soon replaced the hum, sharp snips sending dark strands tumbling onto the floor. With each pass of the shears, my reflection changed. Bit by bit, the old version of me disappeared. Less than fifteen minutes later, I had the proper cut for the academy and military life. Clean. Precise. Regulation-perfect. My face, though¡ªI barely recognized it. Pale. Hollowed out by exhaustion. There were shadows beneath my eyes that hadn¡¯t been there before, or maybe I had just ignored them. ¡°Don¡¯t worry,¡± Kerry said, catching my gaze in the mirror. ¡°We¡¯ll have you looking as good as can be soon enough.¡± ¡°I hope so,¡± I sighed. ¡°I don¡¯t like what I see right now.¡± Bonnie dusted stray hairs from my shoulders, discarded my gown, and gave me a reassuring pat on the back. ¡°Give it time,¡± she said. ¡°You¡¯ll adjust.¡± I wasn¡¯t sure if she meant the haircut, the academy, or the person staring back at me in the mirror. Maybe all of it. With that, we left. ¡°How far is the gym?¡± I asked. ¡°Not too far,¡± she said. ¡°Sylvk will be waiting for us. I let him know we were on our way.¡± ¡°He¡¯s been there since¡ª¡± ¡°Food and training. With bulk like that. He has no choice.¡± I had to laugh at that. ¡°Don¡¯t envy him that one.¡± ¡°Me neither. I am glad I don¡¯t have to pay his food bill.¡± Sylvk was on weights when we walked in, but he soon stopped and came over. ¡°Training plan?¡± he asked, holding his wrist out. I put my wrist to his so that our HUD¡¯s could connect. <> Dolia said. <> <    > I groaned at her words. <> I groaned again. A little reluctantly I waited for him to say something. ¡°Nice and easy with this one. I¡¯ll get you started on a proper circuit tomorrow.¡± He flashed Kerry a glare. ¡°While Kerry gets on with her own¡­¡± Kerry reluctantly slunk away. ¡°You have a half set today,¡± he added. ¡°Because you didn¡¯t get much lunch. It will be better tomorrow.¡± ¡°Sorry,¡± I said. ¡°I¡ª¡± ¡°Don¡¯t be sorry, you¡¯re going to prove everyone out there wrong, right?¡± ¡°What do you mean?¡± I asked. Sylvk nodded to the far end of the hall. There was Alpha271, in full training mode. ¡°I¡¯ve overheard a few conversations in here, about you and their predicted fail rates.¡± ¡°Fail rates?¡± I frowned. ¡°I don¡¯t plan on failing anything.¡± ¡°Exactly,¡± he indicated the machine behind me. Under his instruction, the gym time went fast. He was everything a personal trainer could be and more¡ªpatient, focused, and somehow able to push me beyond what I thought I could manage. He adjusted my form when needed, counted my reps with an encouraging nod, and stepped in when my arms started to tremble under the weight of even the lightest dumbbells. Love this novel? Read it on Royal Road to ensure the author gets credit. The warm-up had been deceivingly simple. A few minutes on the treadmill, a light stretch, and some bodyweight squats to ¡°wake up the muscles,¡± as he put it. But by the time we moved on to the actual workout¡ªsome modified push-ups, assisted pull-ups, and a round of resistance band work¡ªI was already questioning my life choices. ¡°You¡¯re doing good,¡± he said as I struggled through another squat, my legs burning with the effort. ¡°Good? I feel awful,¡± I admitted when we finally finished. My shirt was drenched in sweat, my arms felt like noodles, and my lungs hadn¡¯t worked this hard in years. ¡°It¡¯ll take time. You¡¯re not used to any physical stuff at all. This is quite a shock for your body.¡± He handed me a bottle of water, watching as I took deep gulps. ¡°But you showed up, and that¡¯s the most important part. Stick with it, and this will get easier.¡± I wasn¡¯t sure I believed him, but as I sat there, trying to catch my breath, I realized something strange. Despite the exhaustion, despite the soreness settling in already¡ªI felt... lighter somehow. Like I had taken the first step toward something better. Kerry came over. ¡°Looks like your ride is here.¡± Ashley stood at the other side of the gym looking my way. Had she been here long? Crap, I hope she didn¡¯t see me sweating and puffing. ¡°That¡¯s Major Kuba?¡± Sylvk asked, surprised. ¡°What¡¯s she doing here.¡± The whole gym had stopped and was looking her way, when she glared back, they turned to continue their training. ¡°Extra studies my ass,¡± Kerry said. ¡°I¡¯ll catch you both in the morning,¡± I said, grabbing a towel headed over to the Major. ¡°Need a shower?¡± she asked though her eyes were fixed on my friends. ¡°What do you think? I¡¯ve never done anything like this before.¡± ¡°You can take one at mine,¡± she said, then nodded back to the hall. ¡°They¡¯re going to ask questions.¡± ¡°You were the one who came in here.¡± I glanced back at my new friends. ¡°I¡¯ll think of something.¡± Ashley laughed. ¡°Won¡¯t ever be good enough. Word will spread that I stopped by tonight.¡± ¡°You did it on purpose,¡± I said. ¡°Yes,¡± she grinned. ¡°I don¡¯t want anyone else thinking they can get their hands on you. You¡¯re mine.¡± ¡°Oh,¡± I was taken back a little. ¡°I mean it, no one else is touching you.¡± ¡°Then I guess I am yours,¡± I said, forcing a smile. As Major Kuba turned away, her confidence radiating, I couldn¡¯t shake the weight of her words. What had I agreed to? And more importantly, what would it cost me? *** Twenty minutes later, I was toweling off when Ashley dropped a set of new clothes for me on the side of the sink. ¡°There¡¯s more at your bunk.¡± ¡°Thanks,¡± I said, dressing quickly. The material was sleek, soft against my skin, and surprisingly comfortable. When I stepped out, I tugged at the waistband, showing her the snug fit. ¡°No room to grow at all.¡± She pulled a face. ¡°You can¡¯t afford to. You need to be going in the opposite direction.¡± I tried to laugh it off, but the constant ribbing today had gotten to me. The comments from the others, the unspoken challenges¡ªit was wearing thin. I sank into the nearest chair and picked up my datapad, hoping to steer the conversation elsewhere. ¡°You¡¯ve been spying?¡± ¡°I was looking over your reports from today,¡± she admitted, leaning casually against the counter. ¡°You made friends already and pulled some unique numbers out of your ass in all the classes.¡± ¡°Wasn¡¯t I supposed to?¡± I asked, a little defensive. ¡°They¡¯re all talking already. The arcade?¡± ¡°Not hard to work that one out, is it?¡± ¡°Not at all. And with me stopping by more will be talking by tomorrow.¡± ¡°Targeting me all the more, you mean?¡± ¡°Maybe,¡± she said with a shrug, ¡°but you¡¯re not staying long enough to make them worry.¡± ¡°It will be long enough,¡± I countered, my voice firm. ¡°Right?¡± ¡°Halfway through the term, into next. Maybe. We¡¯ll have to see how far we get with Doli.¡± I nodded, then moved to the kitchenette to make myself a drink. The quiet hum of the apartment filled the space. ¡°What¡¯s on for tonight?¡± ¡°Going to take you in the back, and we¡¯ll start by pulling everything I have on Doli to pieces. Then we¡¯ll think and regroup for her rebuild.¡± ¡°I¡¯m all in,¡± I said, trying to muster enthusiasm. The whole day had wiped me out. I wanted to be here, I would be here. Being tired--beyond tired, would not stop me. ¡°All night?¡± ¡°I have to be up at 5 a.m. and at the gym by 5:30.¡± ¡°Okay, so I¡¯ll have you home by midnight,¡± she said. ¡°Hopefully.¡± ¡°Hopefully?¡± I raised an eyebrow, knowing full well how ¡°hopefully¡± tended to stretch into the early hours with tech. She smirked. We both knew once we started on Doli, it¡¯d be easy to lose track of time. ¡°I¡¯ll set a few alarms,¡± she said, pulling out her device and tapping quickly. When she escorted me into the back of her apartment, I stopped in my tracks, surprised. The space was enormous, far beyond what I¡¯d imagined. High ceilings, sleek metallic walls, and rows of equipment that gleamed under soft, white lighting. This wasn¡¯t a workspace¡ªit was a command center. ¡°Not every officer gets this,¡± she said, her voice tinged with pride. ¡°I pulled a few strings and made this whole block mine.¡± ¡°You pulled a few strings, that seems an impossible task knowing what little I do of military protocol.¡± <> Doli added. <> <> <> Doli admitted, and I almost felt her freeze. <> Her father? That was a detail I¡¯d overlooked. If I remembered, I¡¯d try and look up her family history before bed. Who was I kidding? I¡¯d be asleep before I knew it. ¡°Pity I couldn¡¯t stay here,¡± I said, letting my eyes wander over the meticulously organized tools and consoles. ¡°Too far from your regular bunks.¡± ¡°Fair,¡± I muttered, though I couldn¡¯t help but feel a pang of envy. This place felt like a sanctuary compared to the cramped, communal quarters I¡¯d been assigned. At the far end of the room stood our robot Doli¡ªher figure sleek and imposing. She was a masterpiece of engineering, but the glitches were not good. I approached cautiously, the air around her almost electric. ¡°Doli, you awake?¡± I asked. ¡°I a-am, Cap-t-tain.¡± She stuttered out. Her voice, though artificial, carried a tone of warmth and recognition. It was strange how comforting it felt, like an old friend greeting you after years apart. I tapped the side of my head. ¡°In here,¡± I said. ¡°Remember.¡± <> ¡°Heads up,¡± Ashley said, her voice tinged with a hint of caution. ¡°She¡¯s been running hot.¡± ¡°Then we have some work to do,¡± I said, stepping closer. ¡°Let¡¯s begin.¡± Behind me, Ashley had already moved to a nearby console, pulling up schematics and diagnostic reports. The room¡¯s ambient lighting dimmed slightly as the holograms flared to life, bathing us in a soft blue glow. Doli¡¯s systems hummed in response, and for a moment, I felt a flicker of unease. ¡°How hot has she been running?¡± I asked, glancing over at her. Ashley frowned, ¡°At 90. So, some of these glitches might be bigger than I thought.¡± I swore, normal computers ran about 65, I would have expect her to run maybe a little higher, but she was meltdown level of operation. That had to stop, we couldn¡¯t lose any of her components from real time melting. Sweat beaded on my forehead. ¡°Could you turn the aircon up?¡± ¡°Feeling hot yourself?¡± Ashley asked. ¡°Might have a cold, Doctor Francine said.¡± ¡°Ahh, not unusual this time of year, keep an eye on it, yeah.¡± I nodded. ¡°Will do.¡± When she returned a moment later with a cool glass of water, I downed it. ¡°Don¡¯t panic, but let¡¯s get to the bottom of it,¡± I replied, though I already was, my fingers moving over the console. ¡°We¡¯re diving deep tonight. You ready?¡± I took a steadying breath and turned back to Doli. ¡°Ready.¡± The road ahead was daunting, but there was no turning back now. Chapter 10 Finally, back in my bunk, I sat on the edge of the bed, the room dimly lit by the soft glow of my datapad. Some of the others were still in the common area, laughing, shouting, and rehashing the day. I¡¯d excused myself earlier than Ashley¡¯s midnight, claiming I needed sleep. The truth was, I needed to breathe. The academy reminded me a lot of my old orphanage¡ªstrict rules and forced encounters. The same rigid schedules, the same hollow camaraderie born from necessity rather than choice. Back then, there had been long hallways with flickering overhead lights, cold dormitories filled with too many beds and not enough warmth. Conversations had been whispered at night, hushed voices trading secrets or silent fears, but nothing ever truly safe. I swallowed hard. At least in the orphanage, I had known where I stood¡ªwhat was expected of me. Here, the ground beneath my feet never felt steady. My fingers found the edge of my sleeve, twisting the fabric between them, the motion automatic. I used to do this back then, tugging at frayed seams or tracing the stitching on my blanket when the walls felt too close. A small act, barely noticeable, but it kept my hands steady when everything else felt uncertain. I let go, flexing my fingers, then clenched them into fists. The old habit had followed me here, slipping back into place like it had been waiting all along. My hands shook as I placed the datapad on the small metal desk beside me. The adrenaline from the maze had long faded, replaced by a dull ache in my muscles and an even duller ache in my chest. ¡°Not cut out for this,¡± I muttered, running a hand through my damp hair. My reflection in the narrow mirror above the desk caught my eye. Sweat matted my hair to his forehead, and dark circles carved into the skin beneath my eyes. I looked as wrecked as I felt. I leaned forward, elbows on my knees, and stared at the floor. ¡°What the hell am I doing here?¡± <> Doli¡¯s voice in my head spoke softly. <> Where was my normal AI? <> <> <> ¡°Why do you call me Captain?¡± I asked. ¡°Isn¡¯t Major Kuba your captain?¡± <> ¡°Not even close,¡± I replied. <> ¡°Doesn¡¯t it feel odd?¡± <> There was something in her tone. If I wanted her? It feels right? <> I ordered. <> <> ¡°Night Doli,¡± I replied. Now back alone, I asked. ¡°What the hell am I doing here, really?¡± The words echoed in the quiet room. I wasn¡¯t sure if I was asking myself or the empty walls. I thought of Orla, back at Marts and Sparks, her parting words ringing in my ears: ¡°You¡¯re destined for so much more.¡± More? Was this it? Flailing in Zero-G while cadets younger and faster than me laughed behind my back? Getting dragged along by a team that probably regretted volunteering for me? I shook my head. It wasn¡¯t the physical exhaustion getting to me¡ªit was the constant reminder that I didn¡¯t belong. My fingers brushed the cool metal port at the base of my neck. Doli¡¯s chip had felt like the key to everything when I¡¯d stolen it. Now, it felt like a weight pulling me down. I¡¯d spent years convincing myself I was smarter than everyone else, but here, surrounded by the academy¡¯s best and brightest, I was another rookie struggling to keep up. I grabbed my datapad, scrolling through the logs from the maze run. The path lit up in glowing lines, showing every twist, turn, and stumble. My HUD displayed the team¡¯s time: 12 minutes, 41 seconds. Not the worst, but not enough to impress anyone. I¡¯d let them down. Then, I saw it¡ªone decision I¡¯d made, one shortcut that shaved off precious seconds. Sylvk had clapped me on the back for that, saying, ¡°Good call, newbie.¡± I replayed the clip, watching as the new path changed the team¡¯s trajectory, bringing us closer to the exit. ¡°Good call,¡± I whispered, a flicker of pride breaking through the fog of self-doubt. It wasn¡¯t much, but it was something. I leaned back, staring at the ceiling. Doli¡¯s voice echoed in my mind, calm and clinical. <> ¡°Yeah, well, I¡¯m not so sure about that,¡± I said aloud, but a small smile tugged at my lips. I wasn¡¯t sure I believed in myself yet, but Doli did. Major Kuba seemed to, too, in her own gruff way. Maybe that was enough. Maybe, for now, all I needed to do was keep showing up, keep trying. ¡°You should also be asleep.¡± I chided at her ignoring my orders. Some captain I would make. <> <> <> <> <> Ugh, I sighed. ¡°Just an hour,¡± I murmured, ¡°I¡¯m exhausted.¡± The familiar hum soothed me as the HUD lit up with a barrage of academy assignments. I had a choice - and each one was an eight-week course.
    1. Combat Analytics and Situational Awareness
    2. Xenobiology and Interstellar Diplomacy
    3. Advanced Cybernetics and Human Integration
    4. Starship Systems Engineering
    5. Espionage Techniques and Counterintelligence
    6. Zero-G Operations
    7. Psychological Warfare and Influence
    8. Ethical Dilemmas in Warfare
    9. Reconnaissance and Survival Training
    ¡°Where are they in classes now?¡± <> Doli answered. ¡°Well I¡¯d best start at the beginning,¡± I said and picked course 1. The information box popped up, and I read fast. Stolen content warning: this tale belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences elsewhere. This course trains cadets to think critically and adapt quickly in high-stress scenarios. Using advanced simulation pods, cadets are placed in dynamic battlefields where threats emerge without warning. Instructors emphasize the importance of pattern recognition, threat prioritization, and strategic adaptability. Lesson Outline: Week 1: Introduction to Situational Awareness Understanding battlefield layouts and key observation points. Basics of threat recognition: identifying high-risk zones and potential ambush points. Simulation Exercise: A simple tactical map analysis. Week 2-4: Tactical Thinking Prioritization drills: What threats to neutralize first and why. Scenario-based learning: defending a position under resource constraints. Simulation Exercise: Coordinating squad movements under pressure. Week 5-6: Advanced Combat Analytics Using data to predict enemy behavior: spotting patterns in past engagements. Real-time decision-making exercises in a chaotic simulation. Case studies of historical battles to learn from strategic successes and failures. Week 7-8: Fieldwork and Testing Extended simulations that include multiple squads with shifting objectives. Cadets take turns leading, analyzing team performance post-mission. Final Assessment: A complex scenario requiring the use of all learned skills. Core Activities: Real-time combat simulations require students to direct squads, plan ambushes, or evade overwhelming forces. Tactical debriefs where students analyze their decisions and identify alternative strategies. Map-reading and threat triangulation exercises to improve situational awareness. Key Lesson: ¡°Every decision costs resources¡ªtime, energy, or lives. Choose wisely.¡± My breath steadied, the noise of the day fading as I immersed myself in the challenge of uploading directly to my brain. The system fed me data in rapid bursts, forcing my mind to adapt. Each problem solved felt like a small victory, a reminder that I could keep up, even here. But the longer I worked, the heavier the exhaustion weighed on me. My mind blurred the lines between the real and the virtual. I paused, letting my vision refocus as Doli gently prompted me to take a break. ¡°Not yet,¡± I muttered, unwilling to stop just as I was getting a handle on what would be expected of me. After the hour passed, my HUD buzzed. <> Doli wasn¡¯t just suggesting breaks¡ªshe insisted. ¡°Fine,¡± I grumbled, saving my progress. I¡¯d only gotten to week 3. But before I disconnected, I allowed myself a moment to scroll through a star chart. The glowing constellations and planetary trajectories spun across my vision, mesmerizing in their complexity. This was why I was here¡ªnot to survive, but to thrive among the stars. As I disconnected, a pang of guilt tugged at me. Had I done enough? Was I too far behind? The academy was relentless, there was no room for failure. Even if I was going to leave it all behind. I still wanted to pass. I slapped the side of my head. Stupid brain. I closed my eyes, fingers drifting to the material of my sleeve, twisting, twirling, normal. The stars I¡¯d dreamed about as a kid felt a little closer tonight. They were still far away, out of reach¡ªbut not impossible. Not yet. *** When Ashley dropped me off at the gym the next morning, Sylvk was waiting for me, he did a double take, but didn¡¯t ask me anything, not then. Instead he watched me with an intensity that made my skin itch. He wasn¡¯t focused on my form during the weights¡ªhis gaze was searching, probing, as if he were dissecting me piece by piece. ¡°Ashley Kuba, your type?¡± The question threw me off guard. ¡°Type?¡± ¡°Your type of woman?¡± ¡°Oh,¡± I said. ¡°Nothing like that, it¡¯s a working relationship.¡± ¡°So,¡± he raised an eyebrow at me, ¡°You are working with her?¡± I hit my rep point, and he indicated I keep going. ¡°Two more.¡± ¡°Yes,¡± I admitted. ¡°I¡¯m working with her.¡± ¡°You have Kerry all twisted in knots you know¡ª¡± he said, his voice low enough that it didn¡¯t carry beyond the clatter of equipment. He waited while I forced the last rep. ¡°¡ªand Rob.¡± I shrugged. ¡°That wasn¡¯t my intention.¡± ¡°Maybe not, but intention doesn¡¯t matter. People are asking a lotta questions.¡± I paused, mid-lift, and set the weight down carefully. ¡°What kind of questions?¡± Sylvk leaned in, arms crossed. ¡°Why does someone like you have the clearance level of a senior officer? Why does Major Ashley Kuba¡ªone of our top engineers¡ªspend her evenings with you instead of managing her own projects? And why is it that every time someone tries to dig deeper into your past, they hit a wall?¡± My mouth went dry, but I forced myself to chuckle, casual. ¡°I didn¡¯t realize my life was that interesting.¡± ¡°It¡¯s not interesting,¡± Sylvk said, his tone sharpening. He pointed to the treadmill, and I set off at a steady jog. ¡°It¡¯s concerning. Rob isn¡¯t the only one who has been to LTC Chezek. Word is, you¡¯re untouchable. You have clearance even the LTC doesn¡¯t.¡± ¡°Must be a mistake,¡± I said, grabbing the water bottle beside me and taking a long sip to buy time. Sylvk didn¡¯t let up, taking the treadmill next to me, his feet pounding along. ¡°Mistakes don¡¯t come with protocols. And yours has them¡ªlayers of them. Rob wanted to know if we could keep you here permanently, but the LTC shut him down fast.¡± ¡°You really think that?¡± I almost missed my footing and fell forward only to catch myself and keep going. My mind flashed to every simulation, every test I¡¯d approached differently than the others. While they followed the academy playbook, I¡¯d drawn on years of improvising repairs with whatever was at hand. My solutions weren¡¯t elegant or by-the-book¡ªthey were messy, unexpected, born from necessity rather than training. It made me an outsider, even when I succeeded. ¡°You came from nowhere, Rob wanted to know a few things. It was his right to ask.¡± Again, I asked. ¡°Why? What am I to you, but a leg up the ladder?¡± The question came from that familiar place of doubt¡ªthe orphan who¡¯d learned that people only kept you around as long as you were useful. Sylvk stopped jogging, his feet slowing. ¡°He went to ask if we could keep you.¡± He repeated, his eyes held mine. ¡°You know what he was told?¡± I nodded, because I did know. ¡°That when it was time, we had to let you go.¡± I avoided his eyes and focused on running. ¡°I¡¯ve told you¡ªI¡¯m not staying long.¡± Sylvk tilted his head, scrutinizing me. ¡°And that¡¯s exactly what the LTC said. That when your time here was done, we had to let you go. No exceptions.¡± ¡°What¡¯s your point?¡± I asked, a little sharper than I intended. ¡°My point is,¡± he leaned closer, ¡°you¡¯re not just some new recruit. You¡¯re not just another soldier. And whatever you¡¯re here for¡ªit¡¯s above all our pay grades.¡± I shook my head and laughed, trying to dispel the tension. ¡°Sylvk, I¡¯m just an engineer. That¡¯s all there is to it.¡± ¡°You say that, but your clearance says otherwise. And the way the Major looks at you? Like she knows something the rest of us don¡¯t? That¡¯s not nothing.¡± ¡°Maybe she likes me,¡± I deflected, gripping the barbell to start another set. When there was nothing but silence between us, I repeated. ¡°I can¡¯t stay, Sylvk, I¡¯m sorry.¡± Sylvk¡¯s face fell. ¡°Damn,¡± he said. ¡°I was hoping Rob had it wrong. That we could get you assigned to us permanently.¡± ¡°You don¡¯t know me, why would you want me on your team for good?¡± ¡°You never met anyone you clicked with, that you could put faith in?¡± he asked. His shoulders drooped. ¡°I grew up without anyone I could trust, that comes hard for me.¡± ¡°Well, know this. We spoke at length about you last night, about the future for us.¡± ¡°I¡¯m sorry,¡± I said. ¡°You¡¯ll find the right person for this team. I¡¯m more than sure.¡± ¡°Weights,¡± he motioned us back. ¡°Again?¡± I groaned and wobbled on my feet. I steadied myself on the wall, palms flat letting the cool spread thorough me.. ¡°Feeling okay?¡± Sylvk asked. ¡°Doc said I have a slight fever,¡± I replied. I didn¡¯t brush him off though I went for the weights. ¡°You¡¯re sure?¡± I nodded, and braced for the pain. With the weights ready to go, Sylvk placed a hand on the bar, stopping me. His voice dropped to a near whisper. ¡°I don¡¯t know who or what you are, but I do need to know this¡ªfor the others¡ªare we safe with you here?¡± That question landed like a punch to the gut. I met his eyes, searching for malice or fear, but all I found was honest concern. ¡°You have nothing to worry about,¡± I said carefully. ¡°That¡¯s not an answer,¡± Sylvk pressed. ¡°I¡¯ve seen good soldiers go down because they trusted the wrong person. Don¡¯t make me regret having your back.¡± ¡°I wouldn¡¯t do that to you,¡± I said, and it was the most honest thing I¡¯d said all day. Sylvk stared at me for a long moment, then stepped back. ¡°Okay. Keep your secrets. But if the day comes when those secrets cost us, you¡¯d better hope I¡¯m not the one standing in your way.¡± I exhaled as he walked off, tension radiating from every line of his body. My grip on the barbell tightened. Doli¡¯s voice cut into my thoughts. <> <> I shot back. <> I set the barbell down with a loud clang, my jaw clenched. This was getting out of hand, and I wasn¡¯t sure how much longer I could keep the walls intact. Kerry walked in with a grin on her face. ¡°Over working as usual, boys?¡± Sylvk nodded and growled out. ¡°You best both spot for me.¡± We laughed at that, yet we both complied. Keeping a close eye on him while he pushed his massive muscles to their limits. <> Doli said. <> I replied. <> ¡°I got some nanotech ideas I want to run through with you,¡± Kerry said over the rattling equipment. ¡°Yeah? At Breakfast?¡± ¡°Deal,¡± she said. My muscles burned as I stumbled out of the gym, sweat dripping down my face. Kerry caught up with me, tossing me a towel. ¡°Sylvk said he¡¯d meet us there. He¡¯s going for one more round now. His spotter¡¯s in.¡± I sighed. ¡°Rough session?¡± she asked, concern spreading across her brow. I shrugged, wiping my face. ¡°Just¡­ a lot to take in.¡± ¡°You¡¯re doing fine,¡± she said, her voice softer now. ¡°Sylvk doesn¡¯t go easy on anyone, and he doesn¡¯t waste time on people who can¡¯t keep up.¡± Fine isn¡¯t enough. The image of Alpha271 training flashed in my mind, their perfect precision a stark contrast to my clumsy efforts. ¡°You¡¯ll get there,¡± she added, bumping my shoulder. Will I? That question hung heavy in my chest as we walked to the mess. Chapter 11 The days were flying by, and a week had gone by and yet my energy was in abundance. <> Doli informed me. Rob waited for me outside the gym, ¡°Sylvk¡¯s concentrating on weights today, said I should take you out for a run.¡± ¡°Without Kerry?¡± ¡°Just us,¡± Rob said and indicated back out onto the academy grounds. The academy was quiet in the early morning, the cold air biting at my face as we stretched and then set off at a light jog along the perimeter path. It wasn¡¯t long before my legs burned, and every breath felt like it froze halfway down my throat. ¡°I hate you for this,¡± I muttered, clutching my side. ¡°Seriously, Rob. Who goes for a run in the cold this early?¡± ¡°People who don¡¯t want to die in the next fitness test,¡± Rob said, jogging backward to annoy me. ¡°And you¡¯re welcome, by the way. I¡¯m saving your ass.¡± ¡°By killing me in advance,¡± I grumbled. ¡°Actually,¡± Rob admitted, ¡°I wanted to get you out, you and me.¡± ¡°Oh,¡± I said and paused before adding. ¡°Sylvk mentioned you went to the LTC. What¡¯s that about?¡± For a moment, Rob didn¡¯t respond. I glanced at him and caught a flicker of hesitation in his expression¡ªbarely noticeable, but enough to make me curious. ¡°Lieutenant Colonel Chezek wanted to chat,¡± he said finally, his voice casual. Too casual. ¡°About me?¡± I asked, narrowing my eyes. Rob shrugged, taking a sip of his water. ¡°Yes you.¡± I tried to keep pace with him, I really did, my side was killing me though. ¡°Why?¡± ¡°Relax, Piotr,¡± he said, grinning. ¡°Chezek¡¯s doing their job. Asking questions.¡± ¡°So you didn¡¯t ask him could I stay?¡± Rob went silent for a moment and turned forward again as we rounded the corner near the powerhouse. ¡°I didn¡¯t think he¡¯d mention it. Especially after the LTC shut me down.¡± ¡°He¡¯s as honest as they come,¡± I said. ¡°Speaks a ton to his character.¡± ¡°We all saw something in you, something we liked and wanted around.¡± Rob admitted. ¡°It was a question I had to ask before we get any more invested.¡± ¡°Invested?¡± ¡°Losing Akers hurt.¡± ¡°I¡¯m sorry.¡± The academy¡¯s massive powerhouse building loomed ahead, its concrete walls stark under the floodlights. As we passed, a flicker of blue light caught my attention through one of the windows. ¡°Wait,¡± I said, slowing down. ¡°Did you see that?¡± ¡°See what?¡± Rob asked, stopping beside me. ¡°There¡ªby the powerhouse,¡± I said, pointing. Another spark flared against the side of the building, brighter this time. A faint buzzing sound followed, rising and falling like static. ¡°Huh,¡± Rob said, tilting his head. ¡°That doesn¡¯t look good.¡± <> Doli confirmed. <> <> <> That could be a problem, but not a catrastrophic one. <> <> she replied. <> There was no other answer, Rob was still running on. ¡°Hey,¡± I called him back. Aren¡¯t some of the lower classes taking real exams today?¡± I was already veering off the path toward the building. ¡°Come on.¡± ¡°Seriously?¡± Rob groaned but followed. ¡°We¡¯re not maintenance. Let¡¯s phone it in¡± ¡°No, and no we¡¯re not maintenance, but I¡¯m not interested in the academy losing power mid-exams,¡± I shot back. ¡°They¡¯ll have backup generators,¡± Rob tried. I shot him a glare. ¡°Not risking it.¡± As we approached the building, the buzzing grew louder. Sparks flickered intermittently, casting quick bursts of light across the gravel. I crouched in front of an access panel, which was partially melted and reeked of burnt plastic. ¡°This doesn¡¯t look right at all,¡± I muttered. Support the creativity of authors by visiting the original site for this novel and more. Rob leaned over my shoulder. ¡°Think it¡¯s a short circuit?¡± ¡°Could be,¡± I said, looking around and pulling out a multitool from a nearby bench unit. ¡°But this isn¡¯t damage. Look¡ª¡± I pointed to the casing, where the bolts were freshly scratched. ¡°Someone¡¯s been in here.¡± ¡°What, like sabotage?¡± Rob asked, his voice dropping. ¡°Maybe,¡± I said, prying the panel loose. Inside, the wiring was a disaster. <> Doli said. <> > Melted insulation, exposed copper, and¡ªmore concerning¡ªa hasty patch job that rerouted power away from the main grid. ¡°This shouldn¡¯t be here.¡± Rob crouched beside me. ¡°What shouldn¡¯t?¡± ¡°This wiring,¡± I said, tracing the lines. ¡°It¡¯s pulling power from the grid and rerouting it somewhere else. But there¡¯s no reason for it to be set up like this.¡± ¡°You¡¯re saying someone did this on purpose?¡± Rob asked. ¡°Looks like it,¡± I said, snapping the diagnostic tool onto the main connector. The device whirred to life, spitting out a stream of data. I frowned at the computers logs. ¡°They¡¯re drawing power from this sector and¡­ sending it to an unregistered node.¡± Rob¡¯s brow furrowed. ¡°Unregistered? You mean, like, not in the academy¡¯s systems?¡± ¡°Exactly,¡± I said, narrowing my eyes at the logs. ¡°It¡¯s drawing a significant amount of power, but it¡¯s not logged anywhere. Someone¡¯s hiding this.¡± ¡°Any idea where it¡¯s going?¡± Rob asked. <> I frowned, adjusting the settings on the diagnostic tool. ¡°Not yet. But¡­¡± The power in the room dipped. ¡°The grid¡¯s fluctuations are getting worse,¡± I said, checking my diagnostics. ¡°If these power surges continue, we¡¯ve got maybe fifteen minutes before the system overloads completely.¡± Rob¡¯s eyes widened. ¡°And the first-year exams?¡± ¡°They¡¯d lose everything. No backups, no recovery¡ªjust fail¡ª¡± My words trailed off as a set of coordinates flashed on the screen, buried deep in the data. Rob tilted his head. ¡°What¡¯s that?¡± ¡°Coordinates,¡± I said, copying them onto my datapad. ¡°But they¡¯re incomplete. It¡¯s like someone tried to erase them.¡± ¡°Erase them?¡± Rob said, his tone sharper now. I traced the rerouted power lines with my fingers. ¡°See this junction? It¡¯s not just sloppy work¡ªit¡¯s deliberate. Someone modified the primary conductor to create an oscillating power variance. When it hits peak amplitude, it¡¯ll trigger a cascading failure.¡± ¡°Can you fix it?¡± Rob asked. I accessed my diagnostic tools, data streaming across my HUD. ¡°The standard bypass won¡¯t work. We need to create a power sink to absorb the excess energy before rerouting the main lines¡­¡± ¡°Who would do this?¡± ¡°Someone who doesn¡¯t want to be found,¡± I said. ¡°This isn¡¯t sloppy work¡ªthis is deliberate.¡± <> Doli informed me. Two options glowed on my diagnostic screen: reroute the power immediately, risking a temporary blackout for the entire east wing, or implement a gradual fix that might fail if the sabotaged components overheated. ¡°We don¡¯t have time for the safe option,¡± I muttered, fingers already flying across the interface. ¡°Rob, I need you to monitor those temperature readings. If they spike above 180, we abort immediately.¡± Before I could dig further, the buzzing stopped abruptly, replaced by a low hum as the system stabilized. I pulled the diagnostic tool away, my thoughts racing. ¡°We need to report this,¡± I said, standing and brushing off my hands. ¡°Something¡¯s not right here.¡± Rob nodded, but his expression was serious. ¡°The LTC¡¯s going to love this.¡± ¡°Let¡¯s head back, you report it, don¡¯t mention me.¡± Rob frowned, ¡°We have a run to finish.¡± I groaned, ¡°Seriously?¡± ¡°I¡¯m not letting you off the hook even if you saved some cadets asses.¡± As we set off at a slower pace back toward the academy, Rob kept his voice low. ¡°Someone didn¡¯t want those exams to happen. Question is, why?¡± ¡°And who,¡± I added. ¡°That wasn¡¯t amateur work. The routing was precise¡ªdeliberate.¡± Rob nodded, his expression grim. ¡°I¡¯ll file a full report with LTC Chezek. This kind of sabotage... it¡¯s not just a prank.¡± ¡°I¡¯m not sure I like that idea,¡± I replied. ¡°Don¡¯t worry¡ªI won¡¯t mention your involvement directly. Don¡¯t need people asking how you recognized military-grade sabotage so quickly.¡± I shot him a grateful look. ¡°Thanks. Let me know what he says?¡± ¡°What I can share, sure.¡± Rob checked his wrist display. ¡°But for now, we¡¯ve still got a run to finish. Can¡¯t let something like attempted sabotage get in the way of your training.¡± I groaned, but fell into step beside him. We jogged in silence for a moment before I worked up the courage to ask what had been on my mind for days. ¡°So, the team¡ªKerry and Sylvk. They seem like they¡¯ve been together a long time.¡± Rob¡¯s pace slowed slightly. ¡°They haven¡¯t. We all met here.¡± ¡°You seem so natural together?¡± ¡°It happens, you know, some people you just click with.¡± Something in his tone shifted, grew more careful. ¡°Why do you ask?¡± I shrugged, trying to sound casual. ¡°Just trying to figure out where I fit in all this. You three move like you can read each other¡¯s minds. Even if you¡¯ve no history, stuff like that isn¡¯t easy to break into.¡± Rob surprised me by laughing. ¡°That¡¯s what you think is happening? That we¡¯re some impenetrable unit?¡± He shook his head. ¡°Piotr, the day you arrived, Sylvk spent an hour researching your background. Kerry analyzed your CAR score against every cadet in the past decade. We¡¯ve been waiting for someone like you.¡± ¡°Someone like me?¡± I nearly stumbled. ¡°What does that even mean?¡± ¡°Someone who doesn¡¯t just follow protocol¡ªsomeone who sees solutions others miss.¡± He gave me a sidelong glance. ¡°Like spotting military-grade sabotage in seconds.¡± I felt heat rise to my face. ¡°I¡¯ve got good eyes. That doesn¡¯t exactly put me on your level.¡± Rob slowed to a walk, and I followed suit, grateful for the break. He turned to face me fully. ¡°Look, when Akers left, it hit us hard. Not just losing a team member¡ªlosing someone we trusted. But what you did back there with the power grid?¡± He gestured back toward the facility. ¡°That wasn¡¯t just good eyes. That was instinct. The same instinct Sylvk has with weapons and Kerry has with science or tech.¡± <> <> <> <> I replied. <> <> <> ¡°What about Andri?¡± I asked, the question slipping out before I could stop it. Rob¡¯s expression darkened slightly. ¡°Andri Boutack is... complicated. Brilliant, sure, but there¡¯s always been something off about his placement here.¡± ¡°Off how?¡± ¡°His scores are perfect¡ªtoo perfect. And his family has connections that go way above my clearance level.¡± Rob started jogging again, forcing me to keep up. ¡°Between us, Sylvk thinks Andri¡¯s being groomed for something bigger than regular cadet training.¡± ¡°Is that why he¡¯s such an ass?¡± Rob barked a laugh. ¡°No, that¡¯s just pure Boutack charm. His whole family¡¯s like that¡ªbrilliant and arrogant. But don¡¯t underestimate him. Behind that attitude is someone who calculates every single move.¡± We ran in silence for a moment before Rob added, ¡°Just like you should never underestimate yourself. The team sees what you bring to the table, even if you don¡¯t yet.¡± I didn¡¯t know what to say to that. The idea that these people¡ªprofessionals with real skills and experience¡ªsaw something in me worth believing in was almost harder to process than the sabotage we¡¯d discovered. ¡°Now come on,¡± Rob said, picking up the pace. ¡°If we¡¯re late for breakfast, Kerry will give us hell about proper nutrition, and Sylvk will add another circuit to your training tomorrow.¡± I groaned again, louder this time, and Rob laughed. ¡°Welcome to the team, Piotr.¡± My mind was still racing with questions about who would target the academy¡ªand why. But for the first time since I¡¯d arrived, I felt something else too: the sense that I wasn¡¯t facing those questions alone. Chapter 12 By the time we were showered and headed for breakfast, I was starving, and every muscle ached. Rob leaned in as we walked. ¡°LTC said they¡¯re looking into the power grid incident. Apparently, there were other signs of tampering they found after we left.¡± ¡°Seriously?¡± I kept my voice low. ¡°Any suspects?¡± ¡°Not yet,¡± Rob replied. ¡°But don¡¯t worry¡ªyour name¡¯s been kept out of it.¡± As we entered the mess hall, I pushed thoughts of sabotage aside. Right now, I needed food and a lot of it. This mess hall was much larger than the first I¡¯d seen, open space filled with round tables and sleek chairs. Cadets gathered in groups, chatting animatedly over trays of steaming food. The atmosphere was lively, with bursts of laughter and the clatter of utensils. Holographic menus float above the food stations, displaying nutritional stats and meal options and I watched the server flit from one station to another gathering everything I was supposed to eat. The server put my details in for me, ¡°I¡¯ll sort this for you now, Cadet Argassa.¡± A minute later I had a plate piled high of food, more than I¡¯d ever thought possible. ¡°Damn,¡± Sylvk said, coming in behind me and noting my tray full. ¡°You¡¯re eating more than me?¡± ¡°There¡¯s a vast difference in our genetics,¡± I tried to defend myself. ¡°Though I don¡¯t know where I¡¯m going to put it.¡± ¡°See if you can find us a seat, would you?¡± Rob asked. I moved off and glanced around. There wasn¡¯t many places for us to sit. I scanned the room again, my tray growing heavy in my arms. Spotting a group of cadets I recognized, Andri and Alpha271, but didn¡¯t want to sit near. I made to pass them and hit up an empty table. As I approached, Andri caught sight of me and subtly shifted his chair outward, blocking the natural opening at the table. The other cadets followed suit, leaving no space for me to join. ¡°Looks like we¡¯re full up,¡± Andri remarked with a feigned look of regret. The group chuckled, not bothering to lower their voices. I stood frozen for a moment, my tray trembling slightly. A familiar heat rose in my chest¡ªthat mixture of anger and humiliation I¡¯d felt too many times before. I wanted to call Andri out, to make him move, to force my way in just to prove I could. But this wasn¡¯t the time or place for that battle. ¡°No problem,¡± I muttered instead, forcing a tight smile that felt more like a grimace. As I turned away, I cataloged the moment in my mind¡ªanother debt to be repaid someday, when I had the leverage to do so. As I walked toward a different table at the edge of the mess, the group¡¯s laughter grew louder. ¡°You see how much food he¡¯s got, must have been eating nothing but rubbish all his life.¡± ¡°Going to be hell on his system for quite a while till they get him nutritionally up to date.¡± ¡°And mentally, he¡¯s the whole year to catch up with.¡± ¡°You see how Kuba¡¯s little pet keeps sneaking around the power stations?¡± he said, loud enough for me to hear. ¡°Makes you wonder what he¡¯s really doing here.¡± One of his teammates laughed. ¡°Maybe she needs someone to fix her personal equipment.¡± ¡°Or maybe,¡± Andri continued, his tone dropping to something more calculating, ¡°it¡¯s convenient having a civilian without security clearance poking around restricted areas. No records, no accountability.¡± I nearly stopped in my tracks. This wasn¡¯t just the usual bullying¡ª he was implying something specific, something dangerous. I glanced back to see him watching me, his expression cool and assessing. This wasn¡¯t just about academy rivalry; he was marking me as a security threat. ¡°Ignore them,¡± Rob muttered, suddenly beside me. ¡°Andri¡¯s family makes him paranoid about everything. Academy security¡¯s his pet obsession.¡± ¡°His family?¡± I asked quietly. Rob shook his head slightly. ¡°Another time.¡± Ahead of me, a young woman moved from her table. ¡°We¡¯re leaving now, you can sit here.¡± I tried to speak my thanks, all I could muster was a croak. Sitting in front of Rob, I poked at my food, my appetite replaced by a mix of frustration and sadness. I clenched my fists under the table, the knuckles whitening. Where the hell was Sylvk. Eventually a tray slid next to me. ¡°Sorry I got talking to one of the others. You okay?¡± ¡°Yeah,¡± I said. <> came a soft voice. Doli. <> <> While Sylvk talked about my training and food regime, I told Doli the difference between a white lie and a real one. Stolen from Royal Road, this story should be reported if encountered on Amazon. <> <> > Another tray slid in next to me. Kerry reached over and pinched a slice of bacon off my plate. ¡°Hey!¡± I growled. ¡°You¡¯re never going to eat all of that,¡± she said. I had tried, I was still trying. Sylvk¡¯s plate was already empty. ¡°I was waiting to see what he left,¡± the big man said. ¡°Better get in quicker next time.¡± I laughed. ¡°We¡¯re in ship simulations next,¡± Rob informed me. ¡°You done any flying at all?¡± ¡°Not real flying.¡± I looked at him as he sipped his coffee. ¡°You know I haven¡¯t, just games.¡± ¡°Those classes are going to be as fun as the maze for you then.¡± Sylvk said. ¡°Shit,¡± I looked away, and mumbled. ¡°I shouldn¡¯t be here.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t say that,¡± Kerry said and kicked me under the table. ¡°I¡¯ve only a few hundred hours in the sim, Sylvk has even less than that.¡± ¡°What about you?¡± I asked Rob. ¡°I was born flying.¡± He said. ¡°Just a few thousand.¡± Kerry whistled. ¡°He¡¯s hoping for¡­¡± ¡°Captain?¡± I asked. ¡°I hope so, one day.¡± He looked at the ceiling. ¡°Something exploratory.¡± ¡°Or running the highline.¡± Kerry added. ¡°What¡¯s that?¡± Sylvk slapped his palm against his forehead with a sound that echoed through the mess hall. ¡°Are you serious right now? It¡¯s only the largest trade routes going from here to Cali.¡± ¡°I¡¯ve heard of Cali,¡± I said. Fuck I was an idiot. Always putting my foot in it. ¡°But I¡¯ll do some study on the rest. Thanks.¡± ¡°We¡¯re doing course projection today,¡± Rob said. ¡°They¡¯ll pit something against your ship, and you¡¯ll have to get around it with the least damage.¡± ¡°Likely a mine field, or asteroid belt.¡± Kerry added. <> <> <> This next classroom was a spacious, futuristic amphitheater with holographic screens projecting a simulated space battle across the room. I took my seat next to Kerry. Everyone else filled the whole first row. And to my surprise Andri sat next to me with a smile. Our instructor stood before us, Sergeant Major Cotah. ¡°Your task today is simple. On your screens you will need to plot a course for your ship, through each of the eight simulations. Hook your HUD up to the console and it will seem like you¡¯re on that bridge. Pilot her well, you¡¯ll be scoring as usual per academy guidelines.¡± Eight? Holy crap and this was another test. I glanced at Rob, who was shaking his head. They hadn¡¯t known that either. ¡°There is no time limit. Take all you need. Think.¡± I looked to my screen. Then following the instructions on it hooked it up to my HUD as well. <> Doli asked even though I asked her to be quiet. <> I replied. <> <> she said. < > I laughed at that, and realized it was a little too loud when the Sergeant Major glanced my way. ¡°Problem Cadet?¡± ¡°No, sir.¡± I replied and tucked my head into my space. I watched the first simulation, and noted everything I could as it passed me by. TAKE THE TEST Y/N I hit the yes, and as the first meteorite moved into our position I moved out of the way, each time I moved something else was there, making me adjust every few seconds. It wasn¡¯t hard, but it did take concentration. My fingers flew across the controls, muscle memory from countless hours at Dennison¡¯s arcade kicking in. The first three simulations were straightforward enough¡ªmeteorite fields and basic obstacles that required quick reflexes and decent spatial awareness. I didn¡¯t just navigate around them; I charted efficient paths that minimized fuel consumption while maintaining structural integrity. <> Doli said. I clicked for next, and then next, and by the time the fourth one was playing, a cold sweat had broken out across my forehead. The simulations were getting exponentially harder. What started as simple meteorite fields had evolved into complex gravitational anomalies that warped predictable paths, forcing split-second recalculations. The fifth simulation featured a debris field from what appeared to be a destroyed space station¡ªjagged pieces of metal spinning unpredictably, some large enough to tear through the hull, others small enough to be almost invisible until it was too late. By the sixth, my hands were cramping, and I was leaning forward so close to the screen that my nose nearly touched it. This one featured a minefield with proximity triggers¡ªget too close, and the explosion would set off a chain reaction. I passed it, barely, with 65% ship integrity remaining. Then came the seventh. A neutron star with intense gravitational pull, surrounded by swirling debris caught in its orbit. I had to slingshot around it without getting pulled in¡ªand without colliding with the debris. When I finally cleared it, I realized I¡¯d been holding my breath for so long that spots danced in my vision. TAKE THE TEST Y/N The eighth simulation appeared on screen, and my stomach dropped. This wasn¡¯t just difficult¡ªit was insane. A maze of asteroids, each one moving in different patterns, with narrow gaps that would require perfect timing. Behind them, a massive energy storm brewed, the kind that would fry navigation systems and leave a ship dead in space. I hesitated, my finger hovering over the console. <> Doli asked. <> I replied. This wasn¡¯t like breaking into a hangar where I only risked myself. Here, my failure would hurt my team - people I was starting to care about. <> she said. <> <> <> <> That comment was just frustrating. I glanced around the room. Several of the others were already sitting with their arms folded, others still deep inside the simulations. And¡ªof course¡ªAndri was watching me. I focused on the simulation once again and hit re-play. The way I wanted to take the ship, would fail. I could see it. ¡°Stuck?¡± Andri whispered, his tone somewhere between mocking and genuinely curious. I didn¡¯t take my eyes off the screen. ¡°Just considering options.¡± ¡°There is no option,¡± he said, leaning slightly closer. ¡°That¡¯s the point of this one.¡± I glanced at him, trying to determine if this was another mind game. His expression was unreadable, but something in his eyes seemed... different. Almost respectful. ¡°Every simulation has a solution,¡± I muttered. ¡°Maybe,¡± Andri replied, ¡°but sometimes the solution isn¡¯t what you expect.¡± Before I could ask what he meant, he turned back to his own console, leaving me to puzzle over both the simulation and his cryptic comment. Looking back at the asteroid field, I suddenly understood. I¡¯d been thinking like a pilot¡ªtrying to navigate through. But if I thought like a Captain... A Captain wouldn¡¯t just think about navigating obstacles. A Captain would think about protecting the ship and crew at all costs¡ªeven if that meant not completing the original objective. If I acted like a Captain, and sacrificed some of the ship¡¯s integrity, taking a couple of hits, I could maybe... No, even that wouldn¡¯t work. The only way to truly protect the ship was to¡ª <> Doli said proudly. Chapter 13 - Major Kuba Major Kuba''s boots echoed against the cold steel of the council briefing room as she reviewed the latest report. The data scrawling across the holo-display told her one thing: someone was playing a dangerous game, and the academy was their board. The door hissed open, and Lieutenant Haro stepped in, his expression betraying tension he rarely showed her. "Major, we''ve identified more troubling connections," he said, handing her a datapad. "It''s not just Macks anymore." Kuba arched an eyebrow, motioning for him to elaborate. Haro tapped the device, projecting a set of profiles. "Andri Boutack. His parents¡ªIlana and Rados Boutack¡ªare key stakeholders in several private defense contracts. Specifically, projects tied to AI integration in military systems." Kuba''s expression darkened. "And those contracts overlap with Doli''s development." Haro nodded. "Ma''am. The Boutack''s were early backers of the C47 program. Their funding dried up years ago, but they still retained access privileges to core AI schematics¡ªprivileges that overlap with the backdoor code used in the sabotage." "That doesn''t make any sense. Why they''d risk their son''s exams just to get in and access Doli?" "They''re aware of Cadet Argassa, and what''s transpired, but I believe the direct threat is from a competitor of theirs, not them." Kuba leaned against the table, her mind racing. "So, you''re saying Andri''s family are nothing more than a leak to someone else?" "More than possible. There''s more," Haro continued. "Harlen Macks worked as a systems engineer for Volsten Defense before joining Boutack as security, personal and cyber. He specialized in experimental AI integration¡ªone of the key areas in Doli''s framework." The pieces began to click into place, but the picture was far from clear. "Macks denies involvement?" "Vehemently," Haro replied. "But his connection to the Volstens complicates matters. If Andri is involved, he''s either playing dumb or being used as a pawn. The problem is, we don''t have solid proof tying him or Macks to the attack." "That''s still not proof," Kuba murmured, scanning the profiles on the holo-display. "And we have Piotr Argassa caught in the crossfire. The council might see him as expendable, but we need him. We can''t decode Doli''s sabotage without his insight." Haro nodded slowly. "He''s only supposed to be here on a short track, Major¡ªjust enough for us to leverage his skill set before he moves on. If the council gets wind that we''re pulling him deeper..." Kuba''s lips pressed into a thin line. "He''s ''just passing through,'' according to them. They signed off on his mid-term acceptance precisely because they don''t expect him to stay. What they don''t know is that he never planned to¡ªthis was always temporary for him." She frowned. "But they don''t see he''s exactly what we need right now." Kuba frowned, her instincts screaming that there was more beneath the surface. "What about the council? They''ve ordered us to back off Macks, but what about Andri?" Haro hesitated. "Officially, they''ve restricted direct investigation into Andri, citing his parents'' influence. Unofficially..." He trailed off, his tone weighted with frustration. "Unacceptable," Kuba snapped. "This isn''t about politics¡ªit''s about keeping this academy safe." "You mean Cadet Argassa?" "Argassa isn''t just another recruit," Kuba said firmly. "He may be the only person who can see what''s hidden in Doli''s code¡ªthe backdoors, the proprietary algorithms that both the Boutacks and their competitors are willing to sabotage an entire academy to obtain." "Indeed." Haro shifted uneasily. "There''s one more thing. During the logic bomb''s activation, the system accessed a subroutine buried deep within Doli''s original code. It''s something none of our engineers recall programming." If you discover this tale on Amazon, be aware that it has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road. Please report it. "What kind of subroutine?" "A failsafe. It looks like it was designed to trigger if Doli''s integrity was compromised, redirecting her processes to a classified off-site server. Whoever wrote it had access to the highest levels of Doli''s architecture." Kuba''s heart sank. "And who has that kind of access?" Haro''s silence was deafening. "Doli was supposed to be a closed system," she said, her voice low. "If there''s an off-site failsafe, it means someone built it without our knowledge. Find out where it leads." "Understood, ma''am," Haro said, but his expression suggested he didn''t expect an easy answer. As Haro left, Kuba sat in the empty room, staring at the glowing profiles of Andri, his parents, and Macks. The connections were too tangled to unravel alone. Despite all the high-level directives, she needed someone with fresh eyes, someone outside the usual chain of command. Her mind wandered to Piotr Argassa. The civilian-turned-cadet had already proven himself resourceful, and his instincts had been pivotal in stopping the sabotage. He had no ties to the council, no political baggage, and his unorthodox thinking might be exactly what she needed. But bringing him into this meant risking his newfound stability. It meant exposing him to dangers he wasn''t yet prepared for¡ªand potentially complicating his own plans to move on. Piotr had made it clear to her, if to no one else, that the academy was merely a waypoint for him, not a destination. She exhaled sharply. "No choice," she muttered, rising to her feet. The investigation was far from over, and Major Kuba wasn''t about to let politics or shadowy corporate interests deter her. If Andri and his family had ties to the sabotage, she''d find out¡ªno matter how deep the conspiracy ran. And when the time came, she''d make sure Piotr was ready. The council might see him as a temporary asset to use while convenient, but Kuba knew the truth¡ªhe was passing through of his own volition. And that made her all the more determined to protect him while he was here. "Recent incidents on Orion have pushed us to the brink. If Macks and his handlers think they can destabilize us, they''re sorely mistaken. But we need to act decisively to ensure the safety of our students." The General nodded slowly. "Agreed. However, our response must be calculated. If we react too overtly, we risk playing into their hands. These sponsors behind Macks aren''t amateurs¡ªthey thrive on chaos." Kuba leaned forward, her eyes fixed on the map. "What about baiting them? We make them think Doli-2 is vulnerable, something they can''t resist targeting. It''s a calculated risk, but one that might expose their network." The General stroked his chin, considering. "Doli-2¡­ strategically positioned, yet expendable enough to serve as a decoy. If we leave its defense to Piotr and his team, it sends a message: we''re strong, but not overextended. The question is whether we''re prepared for the fallout." "Piotr can handle it," Kuba said firmly. "He''s proven himself time and time again. And with Doli providing tactical oversight, they''ll be as prepared as anyone can be." The General''s gaze shifted, his eyes narrowing as he spoke. "Do you trust Doli fully, Major? I''ve heard¡­ murmurs. Her capabilities exceed expectations, but that also makes her a potential liability." "Doli has her quirks, but she''s an asset," Kuba replied. "If anything, she''s our edge. The sponsors don''t want Doli for her technology; they fear her potential. That fear is something we can use against them." The General stepped closer to the hologram, pointing at Orion''s outer orbit. "We''ll need contingency plans. If Macks sees through the ruse or if his sponsors intervene directly, we risk a full-scale conflict. We can''t afford to underestimate them." Kuba''s lips pressed into a thin line. "That''s why we need to keep this operation under wraps. Only the core team knows the full extent of the plan. We let the students believe it''s another tactical simulation. Meanwhile, we prepare for the worst." A soft beep interrupted their discussion. Kuba tapped her wrist console, and a small window of data appeared in the air. It was from Doli. <> The General''s expression darkened. "Even here? They''re more entrenched than I feared." "Doli, isolate and neutralize the surveillance. Quietly," Kuba commanded, her voice steady. She turned back to the General. "If they''re watching us, it means they''re already nervous. That works to our advantage." The General nodded. "Still, we''ll need to be nimble. If Macks takes the bait, we hit hard and fast. Doli-2 becomes the proving ground. And if the sponsors retaliate¡­" "We''ll be ready," Kuba finished, determination sharpening her features. A moment of silence stretched between them as they regarded the hologram. The stakes were high, and both knew the cost of failure would be measured in more than just territory. It would be measured in lives. The General broke the silence. "Make sure Piotr knows what''s at stake. He''s resilient, but he''ll need to prepare his team for the weight of this mission. No missteps, Major." "He''ll rise to the challenge," Kuba said, her voice unwavering. "He always does." The General gave a short nod, his expression unreadable. "Then let''s set the plan in motion. And Major¡­ watch your back. These aren''t the kind of enemies who fight fair." As the General exited the room, Kuba remained behind, her eyes lingering on the hologram. She tapped her console, pulling up Piotr''s dossier. The faint blue glow of Doli''s interface shimmered beside it. "You''re ready for this, Piotr," she murmured, more to herself than anyone else. "You have to be." Chapter 14 The prompt was still flashing at me:- TAKE THE TEST Y/N This time I hit the Y, and ran my co-ordinates through, maneuvering my ship the best I could. Port side took a hit, 18% damage, Again, 22% damage. But we made it out the other side. I almost fist bumped the air. Tests six and seven were just as hard¡­ I¡¯d come out of six and seven with 55 and 72% damage across my ship. I couldn¡¯t see a way out of eight at all. Nothing. My mind raced through standard evasive maneuvers¡ªthe textbook solutions any cadet would attempt¡ªbut each simulation ended with near-total destruction. The academy protocols were failing me here, and that familiar itch started at the back of my mind¡ªthe one that always pushed me to look beyond conventional thinking. <> Doli prompted. <> I snapped, frustrated not at her but at my own limitations. <> Part of me wanted to force a solution, to prove I could beat this like everything else I¡¯d fixed. But another voice¡ªthe practical mechanic who¡¯d spent years learning when to push and when to walk away from a hopeless repair¡ªwhispered that sometimes the best solution wasn¡¯t pushing through at all. <> there was an edge of something in her voice here, excitement? A robot couldn¡¯t get excited, could it? <> I said. Doli remained silent. <> she asked. <> I thought about it for one more minute. In the workshop, we had a saying: ¡°Don¡¯t force a broken part.¡± Sometimes the bravest decision wasn¡¯t charging ahead¡ªit was knowing when to retreat and find another approach. Every instinct from my academy training screamed to push through, to find the heroic solution that would earn recognition. But the mechanic in me, the problem-solver who¡¯d survived on practical wisdom, saw the truth. <> <> I hesitated, caught between academy protocol and my intuition. The academy wanted warriors who never backed down¡ªbut real survival required knowing when the odds were impossible. Was I trying to fit in or trying to succeed? <> I replied, choosing truth over conformity. Confident. My screen changed as she input the answer for me. MISSION ABORT - SEEK ALTERNATIVE ROUTE and clicked send. Fuck! I hadn¡¯t meant her to do that! The impulsiveness of my answer hit me¡ªI¡¯d reacted from instinct rather than calculation. Had I just failed spectacularly? <> <> <> and before she could answer. <> <> Doli said. <> <> <> <> My HUD flickered and there it was, for the courses I could take¡ªnot one was under 98%. <> I smiled. <> ARE YOU FINSIHED WITH THIS EXAM? Y/N I clicked the Y and pulled the connection to my HUD. Sergeant Major Cotah was talking to Andri¡¯s second in command, and he was nodding along with her take on her assessment. Then he looked my way. ¡°Class,¡± he announced. ¡°Everyone has completed the test.¡± He walked away from Devin and back to the center of the room. ¡°You¡¯ve all performed extremely well,¡± he paused and glanced around. ¡°Top ten results.¡± There on the board behind him was the top ten percent of the group. ¡°What surprised me was there were only two candidates who passed test eight.¡± The room turned to grumbles, and I sank back in my seat. Andri seemed to puff his chest out¡ªsure it had to be him. ¡°However, one did not score enough to be on the leader board.¡± That puzzled me slightly. <> Did you know this text is from a different site? Read the official version to support the creator. <> Doli said. <> ¡°Who passed test eight?¡± Devin asked. ¡°That is between me and the candidates.¡± The Sergeant Major said. ¡°Class points will be awarded, you are dismissed.¡± Kerry and Rob were quick to pack as usual and were going to leave. Rob paused, looked my way. His expression darkened. ¡°What is it?¡± I asked. ¡°Security report on the power grid incident. Someone accessed the logs after we left¡ªthey know exactly when we were there and what we did.¡± ¡°Are we okay?¡± He nodded. ¡°Come on, next class awaits.¡± ¡°I¡¯m going to have a word with the Sergeant, I¡¯ll see you there, yeah.¡± Rob raised an eyebrow but nodded, and the three of them left. I waited while Devin and Andri spoke to the Sergeant Major then walked past me, giving me quite the side eye. ¡°Come with me,¡± Sergeant Major Cotah said. I slung my bag over my shoulder and followed him. The door at the far end of the auditorium opened and we stepped into another smaller room. ¡°Leave your bag and take your shoes off.¡± He instructed and kicked his own boots off. I complied and when he walked out to the middle of the room I followed too. ¡°Wrist?¡± I held my wrist out for him. ¡°Hooking you into the rooms simulation.¡± My HUD adjusted, and then I felt wobbly. ¡°Takes a little to get used to being in the real thing.¡± I looked around. We were on the bridge of a spaceship. There were several seats around us, and the huge viewer before us was exactly what I¡¯d have thought the test should have been. ¡°Sir?¡± I asked. ¡°I want you to take me through your thinking for test eight, Cadet.¡± ¡°It was simple,¡± I replied. ¡°No matter which way I would try and negotiate the asteroid field there wasn¡¯t an acceptable outcome.¡± ¡°So you decided to quit?¡± ¡°That is not what I did,¡± I replied. ¡°I put the lives of my crew and the importance of my cargo first.¡± The Sergeant Major held my eyes for a moment, and the room moved. ¡°Every other candidate tried to get through this without damage. Except you and one other. They never thought once to turn around. You hesitated though, you re-played the scenario.¡± I sighed. ¡°I felt like I was doing the wrong thing.¡± ¡°But you didn¡¯t, you were one of the only others with the correct answer. Out of every single one of the class, just two of you were right. The class that¡¯s supposed to be top of their field should know better. Be better.¡± ¡°So why did I fail?¡± He cocked his head to one side. ¡°I never said you failed.¡± ¡°But I didn¡¯t make the top ten?¡± ¡°You did not,¡± with a flick of his wrist he brought up the results and this time the names were attached to them. 1-Robert Lynx 2-Andri Boutack 3-Devin Reed 4-Kerry Hinada 5-Jane Freed 6-Seif Legafe 7-Vandit Uppal 8-Sylvk Haba 9-Ryan Onyl 10-Isma Mifsud I smiled. ¡°Robert beat out Andri?¡± ¡°Indeed, your team is as I said bringing in some much-needed changes around here.¡± ¡°I¡¯m not sure what you mean?¡± ¡°Robert and Kerry failed this last month. Your team were not on the leaderboard at all.¡± ¡°They thought that was down to losing Akers?¡± He shook his head, and that made me smile all the more. ¡°They¡¯re working hard.¡± ¡°They¡¯ve come along way, with you onboard. I have high expectations.¡± ¡°I can¡¯t catch Alpha271 up, or my own team, how can I help them?¡± ¡°You already are doing,¡± he said. ¡°Believe me.¡± ¡°Will you tell anyone I was one of those that passed test eight?¡± ¡°Not in the class, no,¡± he replied. I was about to ask who the other winner was, but staring at the list, knowing what I did about Rob. I knew it was him. My HUD pinged and the message flagged up:- Rob - Class is about to start where are you? ¡°Go,¡± the Sergeant Major said. I made to rush off, but he called after me. ¡°Next time, don¡¯t hesitate. Trust your instinct, you have strong reactions for a reason.¡± ¡°Thank you, sir.¡± I dipped my head, slipped my boots on and ran for it. *** ¡°Next time, don¡¯t hesitate. Trust your instinct, you have strong reactions for a reason.¡± Reverberated around and around in my head as I worked in the dim glow of Ashley¡¯s workspace. The shadows of scattered tools and datapads stretched across the room, creating an almost eerie stillness. I sat slouched at the main console; my eyes fixed on the lines of code streaming past the display. My fingers hovered over the keyboard, twitching with the instinctive need to adjust yet another error in Doli-2¡¯s programming. Doli-2¡¯s holographic projection stood a few feet away, flickering faintly. She was silent, her expression neutral as always, yet there was an odd sense of presence to her figure which made me uneasy. I leaned back, rubbed my temples, and muttered, ¡°You¡¯re a mess, Doli-2. But we¡¯ll get you there. Eventually.¡± <> Doli2¡¯s voice broke the silence, low and mechanical. <> I blinked, my hand freezing over the keyboard. ¡°What?¡± <> The question caught me off guard. I¡¯d expected more glitches or sarcastic remarks from her rudimentary systems, not¡­ introspection. I swiveled in my chair to face her projection. ¡°It¡¯s not that you weren¡¯t sufficient,¡± I said carefully. ¡°You¡¯re just¡­ incomplete. You deserve to be better than what you were, as the android version.¡± <> I sighed, dragging my hands down his face. ¡°No. It¡¯s not a failure. It¡¯s¡­ growth. Think of it like¡­ learning. You¡¯re not finished learning yet.¡± I waved a hand at Doli in the corner of the room. ¡°And we¡¯re fixing Doli-1 up as well.¡± <> ¡°Yes, she is. She¡¯s unique, as are you.¡± Doli-2 tilted her head slightly, the holographic lines of her form shimmering as if in contemplation. <> she echoed, her tone flat but somehow weighted. <> I let out a dry laugh. ¡°Yeah. Like me. A work in progress.¡± <> ¡°Shoot.¡± I muttered. <> That one stopped me cold. I stared at her projection, my mind racing. Where had she picked that up? Dreams weren¡¯t something you coded into an operational AI. They weren¡¯t practical. They weren¡¯t¡­ possible. ¡°Why are you asking about dreams?¡± I countered, my tone cautious. <> ¡°They are,¡± I admitted, my voice quieter. ¡°Dreams are¡­ something to hold onto. Something to aim for when everything else seems out of reach. You¡¯ve got dreams, you¡¯ve got hope.¡± Doli-2¡¯s projection flickered, her form glitching for a moment. When she reappeared, she spoke in fragmented bursts. <> ¡°Shit,¡± I muttered, spinning back to the console. I pounded at the keyboard, lines of code flooding the screen as I tried to stabilize her systems. The room filled with the soft hum of data streams and the sharp clack of my typing. Doli-2¡¯s voice became a garbled mess, snippets of past conversations bleeding through. <> ¡°Come on, come on,¡± I muttered, my heart hammered in my chest. My fingers moved with desperate precision, rewriting, isolating corrupted strings, patching gaps. <> Doli-1 asked. ¡°No,¡± I said. ¡°Almost there.¡± Finally, the projection stabilized. Doli-2¡¯s form returned; her head tilted slightly as if recovering from a daze. <> I exhaled a long breath, leaning back in my chair. I ran a hand through my hair, damp with sweat I hadn¡¯t noticed. ¡°You scared the hell out of me, Doli-2.¡± <> I managed a tired smile. ¡°It¡¯s not your fault. We¡¯re fixing you. It¡¯ll take time, but we¡¯ll get there.¡± <> Her voice softened. I stared at her for a long moment, the words striking something deep within me. I thought of all the times I¡¯d felt discarded, overlooked, like Doli-2 had been. ¡°I know what it¡¯s like to be left behind,¡± I said finally. ¡°That¡¯s not happening to you. Not on my watch.¡± Doli-2¡¯s projection flickered, almost as if in acknowledgment. <> I grinned despite myself, rolling my shoulders and cracking my knuckles. ¡°Yeah. Let¡¯s keep going.¡± And with that, the quiet hum of data filled the room once more as we resumed our work, the bond between us growing stronger with every line of code rewritten. Every attempt at this new design. <> <> <> I looked at her, sitting in the corner of the room, her real self. ¡°You mean that don¡¯t you?¡± <> she replied. <> I focussed back on Doli2. I wouldn¡¯t give up on her, just like Ashley hadn¡¯t. Why, I¡¯d no idea, that was a question I also needed to broach. Every time I¡¯d tried up to now, she had gone quiet, never answered. I needed an answer, maybe one day I¡¯d eventually get one. Chapter 15 - Bonus Chapter! Chapter Fifteen A few hours later, I was making headway when my HUD pinged for an incoming call, and I saw Major Kuba flash up. ¡°Ashley?¡± I asked. ¡°Everything okay?¡± ¡°I¡¯m going to be late,¡± she sighed. ¡°Can you hold the fort?¡± ¡°Err, can do,¡± I replied. ¡°Dinner will be ready when you get in.¡± ¡°Dinner?¡± she asked. ¡°I¡¯ll make one of my specials.¡± I replied, putting my tools down, my stomach growling as if it knew I was talking about food. ¡°Piotr,¡± Ashley said, her voice low. ¡°Yeah,¡± I asked dubious. ¡°You know you¡¯ll make someone a fantastic husband one day.¡± I laughed at her. ¡°See you soon, Major.¡± And I cut her off. But, while she was gone and I noodled over the latest code, I did move to the kitchen to start dinner. I glanced around the apartment, what had been clean a few days ago, now was not. It didn¡¯t seem right; it wasn¡¯t my place, but I also cleaned the place up. The kitchen also needed a clean, so I set about doing that and throwing discarded clothes into the wash basket. I only paused the once, when I bent down to pick up her underwear. Suddenly I felt dizzy. The room spinning. Am I overdoing it still? <> The feel of real silk in my hands though¡ªI turned and tossed it into the wash basket fast. <> ¡°Guilty, I shouldn¡¯t be touching her personal stuff.¡± <> Doli asked. <> <> I replied. <> I was nodding, but I didn¡¯t answer. The bubbling pan on the stove made me turn. A few hours passed, and by the time Ashley walked through the door, her face flushed, I¡¯d forgotten my slight transgression with her underwear. ¡°Are you okay?¡± I asked. She ignored my questions, deflecting. ¡°I need a shower. Is dinner okay for five?¡± It would alter the taste slightly, but she would never notice, I turned it down. ¡°Yes, take your time.¡± A few moments later, the water was gushing in her shower, and I watched dinner while studied Doli¡¯s coding. Ashley returned in fuzzy pajamas and pink slippers, her hair up in a towel. This was a side of her I¡¯d not seen as yet. ¡°That smells good,¡± she said, nosing over my shoulder. Dinner smelled good, but damn, so did she. The waft of scented, vanilla and coconut soap washed over me. Tantalizing other parts of me. <> Doli asked. <> I replied and focused back on Ashley. I beamed, ¡°One of the things I do like when I get chance.¡± ¡°Cooking?¡± she moved to a cabinet and pulled out two glasses, reaching for some flavored water from the fridge. ¡°Yes,¡± I said. ¡°I didn¡¯t always eat take out, and junk food.¡± ¡°Where did you learn?¡± She sat at the table, pulling her knees to her chest. Heat rose up my neck. ¡°What?¡± she teased. ¡°That bad?¡± ¡°I went to night school for a while,¡± I replied. ¡°Once I was earning enough to pay bills, there were a few things I knew I needed. Looking after myself was one of them.¡± Ashley¡¯s expression shifted, becoming more thoughtful. ¡°That¡¯s what separates you from the others, you know.¡± She took a sip of her water, studying me. ¡°Most people at the academy had everything handed to them¡ªtheir education, their opportunities. But you...¡± she gestured vaguely with her glass, ¡°you fought for everything you have.¡± I shrugged, uncomfortable with the praise. ¡°Just did what I had to do.¡± ¡°No,¡± she said firmly. ¡°That¡¯s what most people do¡ªthe bare minimum to survive. You saw what you needed and went after it. That¡¯s why I picked you for this project. That instinct to see beyond the obvious solution.¡± I placed a full plate of food before her. ¡°You made this all from scratch?¡± ¡°As best I could with what you have in here, not exactly a chef¡¯s heaven.¡± ¡°You¡¯ve cleaned up too,¡± this time her face fell. ¡°I don¡¯t mind. Seemed the right thing to do.¡± She took a bite and closed her eyes, savoring it. ¡°You know, Piotr, there¡¯s something I¡¯ve been meaning to tell you. About navigating the academy.¡± I raised an eyebrow, waiting. ¡°These kids¡ªthey¡¯re trained to follow protocols, to see the world in terms of rules and procedures.¡± Her eyes locked with mine, intense despite her casual posture. ¡°But out there, in real combat situations, in crisis? Rules get people killed. What saves lives is the ability to adapt, to see the problem differently. That¡¯s your strength. Don¡¯t let them standardize it out of you.¡± The conviction in her voice caught me off guard. ¡°Is that what happened to you?¡± A shadow crossed her face. ¡°Let¡¯s just say I learned the hard way that sometimes, the most dangerous part of a mission is following orders without question.¡± She took another bite, then added quietly, ¡°Your team sees it in you too. That¡¯s why they¡¯re drawn to you, even if they can¡¯t articulate it.¡± Conversation drifted into comfortable silence while we ate. When she made those little sounds of appreciation, something warm spread through my chest that had nothing to do with attraction. ¡°This really is good. Thank you.¡± I nodded at her and waited. <> The author''s content has been appropriated; report any instances of this story on Amazon. <> <> Doli confirmed. ¡°What¡¯s going on?¡± I eventually asked. ¡°Something¡¯s bothering you beyond the usual.¡± Ashley looked at me, then to the back door, out to her labs. She set down her fork with deliberate care. ¡°They¡¯ve taken my early findings on DOLI and are working on her in another lab.¡± ¡°They can do that?¡± ¡°The idea of her has been around millennia,¡± she sighed. ¡°But?¡± ¡°I¡¯m worried they¡¯ve taken my early programming as well, not just the idea.¡± Her fingers tightened around her glass. ¡°You need to understand something, Piotr. In this world, innovation isn¡¯t just about creating something new¡ªit¡¯s about controlling what you¡¯ve created. What we¡¯re doing with Doli isn¡¯t just an engineering project. It¡¯s...¡± she hesitated, choosing her words carefully, ¡°it¡¯s a responsibility. Power comes with consequences.¡± ¡°Is that why you picked me?¡± I asked. ¡°Because I¡¯m outside the system?¡± She met my gaze steadily. ¡°I picked you because you see machines the way they are, not the way someone tells you they should be. Because you question everything, including yourself.¡± She leaned forward. ¡°Listen to me. No matter what happens in the coming weeks, trust that instinct. It¡¯s kept you alive this long for a reason.¡± ¡°So this other Doli?¡± ¡°It¡¯s nothing like Doli,¡± she admitted. ¡°One of the other scientists over there gave a presentation on it. It¡¯s¡ª¡± ¡°It has nefarious purposes?¡± She didn¡¯t answer, but her silence was confirmation enough. I began clearing the dishes, processing what she¡¯d said. ¡°Piotr,¡± she called softly as I stood at the sink. ¡°The academy is teaching you skills, but don¡¯t let them change who you are. Your unorthodox approach, the way you look at problems¡ªthat¡¯s not a flaw to be corrected. It¡¯s your greatest asset. Remember that when things get complicated.¡± It was the most direct advice she¡¯d given me, and something in her tone told me to take it seriously. I nodded, wondering what she knew that I didn¡¯t. I returned to her, from here, she looked lost, shoulders slumped. When I reached out she didn¡¯t flinch as I touched her. Gently, I massaged her shoulders, and neck. ¡°Damn, you¡¯re really pent up,¡± I said when she actually groaned. ¡°Sorry,¡± she said and made to move. ¡°It¡¯s been a tough day; I should probably head to bed.¡± ¡°Stay put,¡± I insisted, and carried on with my gentle assault. Eventually Ashley relaxed, and actually leaned into me. Despite how tight her muscles were, I unwound them, and I found it relaxed me some more to. ¡°Better?¡± I asked when I stopped. ¡°Thank you,¡± she said and looked up at me. ¡°I needed that.¡± ¡°Have a warm shower,¡± I instructed her. ¡°I just had one.¡± She complained. ¡°A bath then, if you can. Then sleep. Don¡¯t turn any datapad on.¡± She nodded. ¡°I won¡¯t. Promise.¡± I grabbed my jacket off the back of the chair. ¡°I¡¯ll see you tomorrow,¡± I said. ¡°Thanks,¡± she said again. ¡°For the apartment too, I mean it.¡± I dipped my head this time and made to leave. Outside, I turned to head back to my bunk, realizing Ashley was right¡ªit was a fair trek. I glanced up at the silver moon illuminating the base. It actually looked good out. My feet moved on autopilot, the academy quiet around me, my thoughts louder than my footsteps. Somehow, instead of heading straight for my room, I found myself at the entrance to the engineering wing, drawn by the comforting hum of machinery. Without consciously deciding, I ascended the stairs, each step bringing me closer to someplace I hadn''t planned¡ªbut needed. Pushing open the door at the top, I emerged onto the rooftop of the academy¡¯s engineering wing. It wasn¡¯t much¡ªa slab of cold metal overlooking the floodlit grounds¡ªbut up here, I could breathe. The stars shimmered above, scattered across the black sky like shards of broken glass. They felt impossibly far away, unreachable, but tonight they seemed brighter than usual. Or maybe that was just me, trying to forget the mess I¡¯d made earlier in the day. The sound of boots on metal interrupted my solitude. I didn¡¯t need to look to know who it was. Andri Boutack had a way of walking¡ªconfident, deliberate, like he owned the ground beneath him. ¡°Didn¡¯t think I¡¯d find you up here,¡± Andri said, his voice more relaxed than usual. He dropped a steaming thermos cup at my side before sitting a few feet away. I glanced at him, surprised. ¡°What¡¯s this? A peace offering?¡± ¡°I almost walked away. So call it what you want,¡± he said, taking a sip directly from his flask. ¡°Figured you could probably use it after the day you had.¡± ¡°Ahh.¡± I asked, raising an eyebrow. ¡°The power grid, or the test?¡± ¡°Yeah, the power grid,¡± he said, smirking. ¡°You almost fried it, but your work held till the academy engineers got there.¡± I snorted, picking up the cup and taking a cautious sip. The warmth of alcohol spread through me, cutting through the chill. ¡°Not my fault. The system was patched together with duct tape and hope.¡± ¡°You¡¯re not wrong,¡± Andri said, leaning back and staring at the stars. ¡°Still, you pulled it off. Saved a lot of cadets from failing their first exams.¡± ¡°I wasn¡¯t thinking about the exams,¡± I lied. ¡°I didn¡¯t want the whole grid to collapse.¡± Andri chuckled softly. ¡°Well, my brother was in those exams. So, whether you meant to or not, you saved his ass.¡± I froze, the cup halfway to my lips. ¡°Your brother?¡± He nodded. ¡°Cadet Lin Boutack. First-year. If the grid had gone down, they¡¯d have had to redo the whole evaluation. He would¡¯ve been wrecked. Pressure¡¯s not exactly his thing.¡± I set the cup down, the weight of his words sinking in. ¡°I didn¡¯t know.¡± ¡°Of course you didn¡¯t,¡± Andri said, glancing at me. ¡°You don¡¯t know me, or any of us. You don¡¯t think about stuff like that. You just¡­ do it. Fix things. Make them work.¡± I wasn¡¯t sure if that was a compliment or an accusation. ¡°So, why are you here? To thank me on his behalf?¡± ¡°Couldn¡¯t sleep,¡± Andri shrugged. ¡°Saw you here, and maybe I wanted to figure you out.¡± ¡°Figure me out?¡± I echoed, narrowing my eyes. ¡°What¡¯s that supposed to mean?¡± ¡°It means you¡¯re an enigma, Argassa,¡± he said. ¡°One day, you¡¯re sneaking into hangars and stealing chips¡ª¡± How the fuck did he know that? <> Doli said. <> ¡°¡ªthe next, you¡¯re saving the academy¡¯s power grid. People like you don¡¯t come around often.¡± I didn¡¯t know how to respond to that. ¡°I¡¯m doing what I can.¡± ¡°Yeah, but why?¡± Andri pressed. ¡°What¡¯s your angle? You trying to prove something?¡± I hesitated, turning the thermos in my hands. ¡°I don¡¯t have an angle. I ¡­ I don¡¯t like seeing things fall apart. If I can fix it, I do.¡± He studied me for a moment, his smirk fading into something more serious. ¡°You remind me of Lin.¡± ¡°How?¡± I asked, genuinely curious. ¡°He¡¯s got this habit of thinking everything¡¯s his responsibility,¡± Andri said, his voice softer now. ¡°Even when it¡¯s not. He¡¯ll take on the world if it meant keeping someone else from getting hurt.¡± I frowned, unsure how to take that. ¡°Sounds like a good quality.¡± ¡°It is,¡± Andri said. ¡°Until it¡¯s not. Don¡¯t let it eat you alive, Piotr. You can¡¯t fix everything.¡± I stared at him, surprised by the sudden sincerity in his tone. ¡°What¡¯s this? Advice from Andri Boutack?¡± ¡°Don¡¯t get used to it,¡± he quipped. ¡°But seriously, thanks for what you did. Lin wouldn¡¯t have made it through those exams without you. And¡­ I wouldn¡¯t have forgiven myself if something happened to him.¡± The vulnerability in his voice caught me off guard. Andri Boutack, the academy¡¯s golden boy, admitting something personal? It felt like a glimpse behind the armor. ¡°You¡¯re welcome,¡± I said finally. ¡°But don¡¯t start getting all sentimental on me.¡± He laughed, standing and dusting off his pants. ¡°Don¡¯t worry. I¡¯ve got a reputation to uphold.¡± As he turned to leave, I called after him. ¡°Andri?¡± ¡°Yeah?¡± ¡°Your brother¡­ he¡¯s lucky to have you.¡± He glanced over his shoulder, his smile softer this time. ¡°Maybe. But today, I think I¡¯m lucky he had you.¡± With that, he disappeared down the access ladder, leaving me alone with the stars. Moments later, I was back at my bunk, staring at the ceiling. I turned the events over in my mind. The sabotaged power grid could have been catastrophic. Someone was willing to risk hundreds of cadets'' futures¡ªfor what? To access Doli? To undermine the academy? Or was it something more personal? I thought of Andri''s face when he''d seen the evidence, that flash of genuine fear before his mask of confidence returned. Whatever was happening, he knew more than he was saying. The patterns were beginning to emerge¡ªthe power grid, Sylvk''s poisoning, the access attempts to Doli''s systems. They weren''t random targets. They were probes, testing our defenses, looking for weaknesses. I pulled up the coordinates from the power grid on my datapad, studying them again. They were incomplete, but they pointed somewhere off-academy grounds. Somewhere that might hold answers. I threw the datapad down. Frustrated. Tired and frustrated. <> Doli asked. I checked the time. ¡°Yeah, I have time tonight, but if I fall asleep, don¡¯t wake me.¡± <> She didn¡¯t know me that well yet. I chuckled. <> While my body got to rest, my mind did not and by the time the first course was completely uploaded. Three hours had passed. Week eight was in the bag, to which I smiled. Exhausted, but happy. Chapter 16 Chapter 16-Stats The gym looked empty when I arrived the next morning, but as the doors slid open for me, the space transformed. What? How did it do that? <> Doli said. Holographic training stations materialized across the floor, each one occupied by a spectral figure moving through combat forms that would have been impossible for human anatomy. Sylvk stood at the center, his muscular frame outlined by a glowing diagnostic mesh that tracked every muscle group¡¯s efficiency in real-time. He greeted me with a nod. ¡°You were here at what time?¡± I yawned, blinking away sleep. ¡°An hour ago,¡± he replied, dismissing his personal biometric display with a gesture. The ghostly figures continued their impossible routines around us. ¡°You have a special access protocol? The system said it only just opened to cadets.¡± He nodded and tapped the neural port at his temple. ¡°Custom training regimen. Benefits of being top-ranked in tactical specialization.¡± ¡°Good to know.¡± The floor beneath us shifted subtly as Sylvk stepped onto a designated area, motioning for me to join him. The material transformed from standard impact-absorbing polymer to a reactive surface that adjusted resistance with each movement. ¡°Stand here,¡± he instructed, guiding me to a circular platform that immediately illuminated with a soft blue glow. A wireframe outline of my body appeared in the air before me, highlighting areas of muscular weakness in red and strength in green. The system looked disappointingly like a Christmas tree¡ªfar more red than green. ¡°The adaptive platform will push back proportionally to your strength,¡± Sylvk explained, demonstrating a simple squat that caused the floor to pulse beneath him. ¡°It builds resistance exactly where you need it, based on your real-time biometrics.¡± I attempted the same movement, feeling the strange sensation of the floor simultaneously supporting and challenging my muscles. ¡°You¡¯re stretching a lot further already,¡± he grinned as the platform¡¯s diagnostics showed a five percent improvement from my baseline. ¡°Feeling different?¡± ¡°I am,¡± I said, watching my wireframe adjust in real-time as my form improved. ¡°Didn¡¯t think I would see results in this short a timeframe.¡± ¡°The adaptive tech accelerates muscle memory formation,¡± he explained, manipulating a floating control panel to adjust my settings. ¡°Imagine where you¡¯ll be in a few months.¡± As I moved through the exercises, my HUD displayed performance metrics compared to academy averages. The gap was significant but narrowing. While my body worked, Sylvk activated a neural training simulation that projected combat scenarios directly to my visual cortex, forcing my brain to solve tactical problems while my muscles struggled against the adaptive resistance. ¡°Multi-level conditioning,¡± he explained, noting my surprise. ¡°The academy doesn¡¯t just want strong bodies¡ªthey want integrated systems. Brain and muscle working in harmony.¡± Kerry joined us thirty minutes later, her own biometric mesh already active before she stepped through the door¡ªacademy tech recognizing her signature and preparing her customized regimen. Her wireframe showed advanced muscular development with optimizations I didn¡¯t yet have access to. ¡°You¡¯ve got him on the neuromuscular integration already?¡± she asked Sylvk, raising an eyebrow as she slid into a stretching station that adjusted perfectly to her flexibility metrics. ¡°He needs the accelerated protocol if he¡¯s going to catch up,¡± Sylvk replied, his eyes flicking to my performance metrics. ¡°His cognitive adaptation is off the charts, but the physical integration is lagging.¡± I pushed harder, driving myself against the adaptive platform until warnings flashed across my HUD. The system automatically adjusted, preventing injury while maximizing gains. I realized this was far more sophisticated than the crude weight training I¡¯d imagined. The two hours passed in a blur of physical exertion and neural challenges¡ªlifting weights while solving spatial puzzles projected directly into my visual field, running on platforms that simulated different planetary gravities, and reaction drills that tested my reflexes against holographic opponents. By the time we finished, my performance metrics showed a surprising fifteen percent improvement across all domains. The system logged everything, updating my academy profile in real-time. As we headed to our next class, I noticed the slight tremor in my fingers¡ªnot just from physical fatigue, but from the neural training that had pushed my entire system to its limits. ¡°Your integration curve is steeper than I expected,¡± Sylvk noted as we stretched out. ¡°Most recruits take weeks to adapt to simultaneous physical and neural training.¡± ¡°Maybe fixing broken machines for years trained my brain to multitask,¡± I suggested, secretly pleased at the modest success. ¡°Or maybe,¡± Kerry added with a sly smile, ¡°there¡¯s more to you than meets the eye.¡± If only they knew. As we headed to our next class, I noticed the slight shift in the way my team regarded me¡ªless like a fragile outsider, and more like someone who might actually belong. The feeling didn¡¯t last long. The sprawling obstacle course lay before us, a brutal maze of walls, tunnels, and agility challenges designed to simulate the chaos of combat. My stomach clenched at the sight of cadets already preparing themselves mentally and physically¡ªsome stretching, others bouncing on their toes to loosen tight muscles. Andri stepped up beside me, a confident smirk spreading across his face. ¡°Try not to embarrass yourself, tech boy,¡± he jeered, flexing ostentatiously. Embarrass myself? Yeah, I was going to do that¡­ and worse¡­ embarrass my team. Sylvk flexed his muscles, seemingly unbothered by the daunting course ahead, while Kerry jogged on the spot, brimming with nervous energy. Rob stood silently, gaze unwavering, determination etched into his features. I squared my shoulders, attempting to project a confidence I didn¡¯t yet feel. Whatever ground I¡¯d gained this morning was about to be put to the test¡ªand I had no illusions about what would happen if I failed now. ¡°The aim is finishing the course,¡± Sergeant Major Cotah barked his orders, his voice cutting through the morning fog, as cadets stretched and sized up their competition. ¡°As fast as possible.¡± Professor Zhal added. ¡°Do not hang around. You hang around, you¡¯re dead. Understood?¡± ¡°Understood,¡± everyone fired back. ¡°Sir!¡± My stomach churned. My chunkier frame and lack of physical conditioning were evident compared to the muscular cadets surrounding me. I clenched my fists, trying to ignore the snide remarks from Andri. He moved to talk with Devin, and I caught their laughter, the not so shy glares. The whistle blew, and the cadets surged forward. I lagged behind almost immediately, my arms and legs protesting with every strained movement. By the time I reached the towering wall climb, my chest heaved, sweat dripping into my eyes. The wall stood as an impossible barrier. Several cadets leapt up with ease, their strength carrying them to the top. I studied the structure, my mind racing. <> Doli asked. I stared a while longer. A pattern emerged: the placement of grips and supports wasn¡¯t random but formed a hidden sequence. There was no way I was going up with my limited strength, not today. Maybe not for a while¡ªmy training was not good enough to be around these fitness fanatics. <> Nearby, discarded equipment sparked an idea. Grabbing a frayed rope and a loose carabiner, I fashioned a makeshift grappling tool. With a desperate throw, I latched onto a high beam and hoisted myself upward. My ascent was clumsy but effective. By the time I reached the top, gasps rippled through the watching crowd. ¡°That¡¯s cheating!¡± Andri shouted, pointing accusingly. ¡°Wrong,¡± Sergeant Major Cotah interjected. ¡°That¡¯s resourcefulness.¡± It was however not enough for me to keep up, the others in my team were way ahead. Kerry had glanced back the once, but I¡¯d waved her on. I did not want them losing anything because of me. Five minutes after the others had all finished, I stumbled across the finish line, collapsing in a heap. My muscles screamed in protest, but I couldn¡¯t suppress the grin. I¡¯d still made it. Last, but I¡¯d made it. I¡¯d still finished. My team surrounded me. Sylvk held his fist out and I bumped it. ¡°Nice job,¡± he said. ¡°I wasn¡¯t sure you were anywhere near fit enough for it.¡± ¡°I¡¯m not,¡± I replied. ¡°But I finished.¡± ¡°You did,¡± Rob said. ¡°Respectably too.¡± Kerry¡¯s shoulders slumped as a weary sigh escaped her lips, her eyes heavy with exhaustion. Yet, a faint smile tugged at the corners of her mouth, betraying the quiet relief that settled within her. ¡°Every point still adds up.¡± If you come across this story on Amazon, it''s taken without permission from the author. Report it. ¡°I know,¡± I replied. ¡°I know.¡± ¡°Glad you didn¡¯t ditch it,¡± she smiled and also held her fist out. I bumped hers with a little more vigor now that I was recovering. From the other side Andri¡¯s glare burned into the side of my face, and I ignored him. ¡°Creative move,¡± Devin remarked, handing me a water bottle. ¡°Not everyone would¡¯ve thought of that.¡± ¡°Yeah, but it wasn¡¯t exactly by the book,¡± Andri sneered, his tone dripping with contempt. ¡°If you can¡¯t climb a wall properly, what good are you in a real fight?¡± ¡°One who can overcome any obstacle.¡± I retorted. ¡°Put something in front of me, no matter what. I am going to finish.¡± At the back of my mind though, I was worried. So far, I¡¯d managed to work around almost everything they¡¯d thrown at me. I knew it was a matter of time before something really knocked me on my ass. <> I didn¡¯t answer her. ¡°Take a short break for some food before the next test,¡± one of the instructors ordered. Kerry bumped me. ¡°Come on, food. All that exercise this morning, I¡¯m starving.¡± My stomach growled again on cue, and I rubbed it, nodding. ¡°Seems Piotr is too.¡± Rob laughed. *** The mess hall buzzed with chatter and laughter as trays clattered and food was doled out. I found a seat next to Rob and Kerry, who were mid-debate about Andri¡¯s dramatic leap during the obstacle course. ¡°He looked like a damn superhero,¡± Rob said with a grin. ¡°Shame he missed the landing.¡± Kerry chuckled. ¡°You¡¯re bitter he finished ahead of you.¡± I smiled, but my attention drifted to my tray of food. My arms still ached, and my mind churned with thoughts of the next test. <> Doli tried to reassure me. <> <> I paused. Humor? <> No answer. ¡°Hey, Piotr,¡± Rob said, nudging me. ¡°Still scheming? Or are you mentally redecorating the mess hall?¡± ¡°Both,¡± I replied dryly, earning a laugh from the group. ¡°Checking my stat¡¯s, actually.¡± ¡°Oh,¡± Sylvk brightened immediately, looking up from crunching his massive pile of food. ¡°What¡¯s the differences?¡± ¡°Physical mostly.¡± He held his wrist out for me, and I put mine to his allowing him to see my stats. ¡°No fair,¡± Kerry whined. ¡°Who is looking after his physical well being?¡± Sylvk growled and then after his eyes glazed a moment he was nodding. ¡°Excellent progress.¡± ¡°Thanks,¡± I beamed. ¡°It¡¯s good to see the changes.¡± Sylvk noted Kerry still frowning. ¡°He¡¯s down 6lb and up in muscle. BMI reflects it.¡± <> Doli praised. Of course I had to look then too.
    Name: Piotr Argassa Age: 23
    Species: Human Bonus: None
    Height: 6¡¯2 Weight: 184lbs
    BMI: 22 Fitness: 75%
    IQ: 155 CAR: 9.5 Education: None
    Stat Level of 10 Description Mods
    Endoskeleton 1 Governs agility and movement. C4 Port Upgrade
    Mental Energy 5 Swiftness of the mind. DOLI - nano chip *not public*
    Perception 7 Senses and connection to the system. DOLI - CI Assistant *not public*
    Dexterity 2 Also governs agility and movement.
    Toughness 4 Body and internal fortitude.
    ¡°Well, Mr. Shortcut,¡± Kerry said, smirking. ¡°What¡¯s your brilliant plan for beating the next test?¡± ¡°I¡¯ll let you know when I figure it out,¡± I said, my tone light but my determination burning beneath the surface. Sylvk sat with a tray of snacks, shoving them in his face. ¡°Any ideas what the next test might be? What kind of simulations?¡± ¡°Could be anything,¡± Rob said. ¡°They change it all the time. Nothing is predictable here.¡± I groaned. I hoped it would be easier than the flight simulations at least. Break was over way too fast, and we made our way back to the auditorium. Sergeant Major Cotah stepped to the front of us, ¡°Follow me.¡± The next room he took us into was breathtaking, a vast space illuminated by a soft, ambient glow. Before us stretched the Academy¡¯s state-of-the-art simulation pods, arranged in precise rows like gleaming sentinels of technology. Each pod was sleek and futuristic, with a seamless blend of matte black surfaces and softly pulsing lights in hues of blue and green. Their curved, cocoon-like design suggested both comfort and sophistication, as if they were crafted to envelop their users in a world beyond this one. I rubbed my hands together. This was what I wanted more than anything. I¡¯d loved to have gotten my hands on one of these to play with instead of the games at the arcade. The air hummed faintly with energy, a subtle testament to the advanced machinery at work. Transparent panels revealed intricate networks of wires and components within, hinting at the incredible power these pods harnessed. My hands twitched with excitement. Above, a vaulted ceiling shimmered with embedded displays projecting holographic images of virtual worlds in vivid, almost lifelike detail. As we stepped further into the room, Sergeant Major Cotah gestured proudly to the nearest pod, its door sliding open soundlessly to reveal a plush interior lined with ergonomic cushioning and an array of tactile controls. ¡°These pods,¡± he began, his voice resonating with enthusiasm, ¡°are equipped with the academy¡¯s state of the art neural interface technology, capable of immersing users in simulations so real, they rival the waking world.¡± Around us, the others picked a pod. Some stepping into them with practiced ease while other instructors monitored data on large, glowing consoles. <> <> <> Doli said. I was glad, because with every test I did, I was losing belief in myself. ¡°These puzzles are designed to push your cognitive limits,¡± Sergeant Major Cotah said. ¡°You¡¯ll need logic, creativity, and calm under extreme pressure. Good luck.¡± I steadied my nerves as I slipped into the pod. Here, in the realm of puzzles and systems, I was much more at home. Physical tests, nope. Ship maneuvering, nope. But here¡­. <> Doli asked. <> <> I replied. <> <> <> The first challenges were straightforward. Like the flight testing, or the Zero-G I navigated digital mazes, I decrypted encoded messages and repaired failing circuits with relative ease. The maze required me to adapt quickly, noting patterns in the paths that reset dynamically, and I found efficient ways to bypass traps by rerouting energy to disable barriers. The encoded messages demanded a sharp eye for linguistic nuances, and my knack for spotting inconsistencies proved invaluable. Repairing circuits tested my technical skills, requiring me to work under simulated pressure as sparks flew from failing panels. But as the levels advanced, and the problems grew more abstract¡ªI found I still wasn¡¯t struggling. <> <> I sighed. <> <> That made me smile. The next stage required me to reconstruct an incomplete schematic of an alien device, piecing together functions based on trial and error combined with deductive reasoning. It felt like I was slower here, but Doli didn¡¯t agree. Another demanded simultaneous multitasking: solving a logic grid puzzle while managing a simulated team of bots to prevent an artificial reactor meltdown. <> Doli complimented. <> <> That surprised me. <> I replied honestly. <> <> > I chided. <> The final puzzle kicked in¡ªa seemingly unsolvable system lock. <> Doli informed me. <> <> It presented an encrypted system with layers of overlapping defenses that reset with every failed attempt. Conventional logic wouldn¡¯t work here. I had to think deeper. Studying the problem, my mind firing on all cylinders. I noticed the resets followed a pattern, resetting only partially under certain conditions. Exploiting this, I forced the system to reset in a controlled manner, gradually stripping away its defenses layer by layer. For the final lock, I used an elegant shortcut: rewriting a segment of the system¡¯s code to trick it into opening. The simulation acknowledged my solution with a soft chime. TEST COMPLETE 138 minutes I emerged from the pod to find the instructors exchanging impressed glances, and almost the entire class was slow clapping. Even Andri couldn¡¯t hide his surprise. Devin elbowing him to at least attempt to join in. Rob slapped me on the back. ¡°You¡¯re full of surprises, aren¡¯t you?¡± Sergeant Major Cotah and Professor Zhan walked toward me. Pulling me aside from the others. ¡°You think differently,¡± Professor Zhan said, her tone serious. ¡°That makes you dangerous, for better or worse. Keep honing it.¡± ¡°Did no one else complete the last task?¡± I asked. ¡°No one,¡± Sergeant Major Cotah replied. Pride swelled, tempered by the weight of Zhan¡¯s words. ¡°Congratulations,¡± Professor Zhan announced and with a wave of her hand pulled up the leader board. There were again no names for anyone else to see. But that top spot read ¨C 1- 8 tasks complete 2- 7 tasks complete 3- 7 tasks complete 4- 7 tasks complete 5- 7 tasks complete 6- 6 tasks complete 7- 6 tasks complete 8- 6 tasks complete 9- 5 tasks complete 10- 5 tasks complete ¡°Take your lunch break, we¡¯ll convene again in three hours, let it settle.¡± When people started to move away, Rob and Kerry moved in. Sylvk went to the instructors. ¡°That was outstanding.¡± Kerry said. ¡°When everyone pulled out, you were the only one missing.¡± ¡°It was clear you weren¡¯t giving up. Devin persuaded the instructors to let us see exactly what you were doing.¡± ¡°They let you watch me?¡± Heat flushed up my neck. ¡°Don¡¯t be embarrassed,¡± Kerry said. ¡°That was amazing. I never thought like that, I just didn¡¯t see it.¡± I smiled at her. ¡°You got the top spot,¡± Rob congratulated. ¡°No one knows the places of anyone else though, right?¡± He shook his head. ¡°Not at all, but I¡¯d imagine it¡¯s a pretty even split. I struggled with only one other task.¡± ¡°Same,¡± Kerry admitted. ¡°So top three?¡± I asked. ¡°Maybe!¡± Kerry said. Sylvk came over a moment later his face told us something wasn¡¯t right. He was pale, and sweaty. ¡°What is it?¡± Rob asked. ¡°I¡¯m feeling sick,¡± he said. Kerry¡¯s face changed from mocking me to sheer concern in a flash. ¡°What kind of sick?¡± Sylvk wobbled slightly. ¡°I can¡¯t put my finger on it, Professor Zhan told me to go the infirmary.¡± Kerry linked arms with him, ¡°Come on then.¡± ¡°I can¡¯t leave you,¡± he said. ¡°The next test is in a few hours.¡± ¡°Think you¡¯re just hungry?¡± Rob asked, hopeful. ¡°Nar, this isn¡¯t hunger,¡± he clutched his stomach. ¡°Screw the test,¡± I said and took his other arm. ¡°Infirmary, now.¡± Chapter 17 Chapter 17 Sylvk didn¡¯t make it to the infirmary. We were just out the main building when he jerked violently in our arms, his neural port flashing an angry red through his skin. Then he collapsed, huge wracking spasms taking us down with him. Kerry froze, her face draining of color. ¡°Sylvk?¡± Her voice broke on his name, high and tight with panic. Her hands hovered uselessly above him as his body convulsed. ¡°Sylvk, what¡ª¡± I was as quick to act as I could be, and so was Rob. ¡°Call your mom,¡± I ordered. No response. Kerry stood paralyzed, tears welling in her eyes as she watched Sylvk¡¯s body betray him. ¡°Kerry!¡± I shouted. ¡°Call your mom now!¡± <> <> <> Kerry blinked rapidly, her breath coming in short, shallow gasps. I recognized the signs of shock setting in. Then something shifted in her eyes¡ªthe scientist taking over, pushing panic aside through sheer force of will. Her eyes glazed a moment later as she accessed her communications. ¡°Med-Evac is already aware. ETA one minute.¡± Her hands trembled as she knelt beside Sylvk¡¯s thrashing form. His port continued to flash erratically, the tissue around it turning an alarming shade of black. Kerry pulled a thin metallic band from her wrist. <> Doli told me. While Sylvk writ??hed, Kerry moved to sit on him, using her weight to slow the spasms. I caught a glimpse of her face¡ªjaw clenched so tight I could see the muscles straining, eyes shimmering with unshed tears. ¡°I¡¯m sorry, buddy,¡± she whispered, so tenderly it was almost unrecognizable. She rolled up her sleeves with clinical precision that contrasted with the naked fear in her eyes. ¡°I have to.¡± Her hand lingered against his cheek for just a moment before she placed her wrist and the wire to the side of his head. As she connected to his system, a single tear escaped, tracking down her cheek. She didn¡¯t bother to wipe it away, her focus absolute despite the emotion threatening to overwhelm her. The contrast was striking. She tapped her neural implant, establishing a direct diagnostic link with Sylvk¡¯s system. I didn¡¯t understand. The connection caused her to jerk slightly, her own body mirroring his distress as her senses interfaced with his failing physiology. ¡°Nano-toxin,¡± she muttered. ¡°Progressive neural cascading failure.¡± I didn¡¯t understand any of it. What was this? <> <> Doli said. <> <> No way? I stared at her, as her eyes greyed out. <> <> Doli complimented. <> I had so many questions. ¡°He¡¯s¡ª¡± Kerry started, then stopped, her breath catching. She looked up at us, her professional mask slipping to reveal raw terror. ¡°What?¡± Rob asked. ¡°What is it, Kerry?¡± ¡°He¡¯s been poisoned.¡± The words fell between us like stones, each one heavier than the last. Kerry¡¯s hands pressed against Sylvk¡¯s chest as if she could physically hold his failing body together. ¡°Someone did this to him.¡± ¡°What?¡± Rob asked. ¡°How?¡± ¡°I don¡¯t know, but his...¡± Kerry¡¯s composure finally shattered. A sob tore from her throat, the sound so raw and wounded it made my chest ache in response. ¡°His organs are shutting down. One by one.¡± Her face paled. ¡°I can feel it happening.¡± The clinical diagnosis couldn¡¯t hide the intimate horror of what she was experiencing¡ªliterally feeling Sylvk¡¯s body betraying him through her medical connection. Her eyes met mine, wide and desperate, silently begging me to have a solution, to fix this like I fixed everything else. ¡°What can we do?¡± I asked. Kerry wiped her face with her sleeve, leaving a smear of dirt across her cheek. The gesture was childlike, incongruous with her usual controlled demeanor. ¡°Get him on his side?¡± Her voice lifted at the end, uncertain, the doctor in her fighting to resurface through the friend¡¯s panic. ¡°We¡¯ll try.¡± I said, looking to Rob, grateful for any action that might help. ¡°Rob?¡± ¡°On three,¡± he replied. Kerry hopped off, and we got him on his side. ¡°I don¡¯t want to do this,¡± she said, pulling a translucent medical injector from a pocket, its reservoir filling with a green liquid as it vibrated in her hand. ¡°Hold his head still as you can.¡± Kerry placed the injector to the skin on the side of his neck. His neural port flickered from red, to amber, the bio sensors responding to her treatment. Sylvk writhed again, almost knocking me over. Kerry touched her wrist and activated a paper thin force barrier that flowed over her hands in an instant. Then with care she put her fingers down his¡¯s throat. Kerry didn¡¯t flinch when his teeth caught her fingers. ¡°Come on,¡± she urged. ¡°It was a while ago but there¡¯s got to be a ton still in there, you eat so friggin much.¡± The teasing words contrasted sharply with the naked fear in her eyes, as if maintaining their normal banter could somehow make this horrific situation bearable. In the next second Sylvk was heaving, then vomited a luminescent toxin all over her arm, it visibly reacted with her shield. Most people would have recoiled, but Kerry leaned in closer, one hand cradling the back of his neck with unexpected tenderness. ¡°There¡¯s more,¡± she said. ¡°Give it to me.¡± The command was gentle but firm¡ªrefusing to accept loss as a possibility. Sylvk was moaning now, but with one more heave, there was more of his food out than in. Kerry murmured something too soft for me to hear, her lips close to his ear, her fingers brushing sweat-soaked hair from his forehead with a familiarity that spoke volumes. The med-evac¡¯s sonic boom announced its arrival before the sleek windowless transport touched down, its thrusters barely moving the grass. The door slid open with a hiss, revealing Doctor Hinada and her tech, both wore advanced scrubs that enhanced their tech. ¡°Good,¡± she said, assessing the situation with clinical speed. ¡°Get the nano-flush ready, Thoman. We¡¯ll need to purge his entire system out here.¡± Doctor Hinada put a hand on Kerry¡¯s arm, their connection and the transfer of data between them instant. I expected Kerry to step back, to let the more experienced doctor take over, but she remained frozen in place, her body physically shielding Sylvk¡¯s. ¡°We¡¯ve got him,¡± Doctor Hinada said softly. Kerry¡¯s eyes, which had remained determinedly dry throughout the emergency, finally misted with tears. Her professional facade crumbled completely, revealing a vulnerability I¡¯d never seen from her before. ¡°Tera,¡± she pleaded, using her first name, her voice small and broken, ¡°don¡¯t let him die, please?¡± The naked emotion in that plea revealed everything Kerry had been trying to hide¡ªnot just her fear for a teammate, but the depth of her feelings for Sylvk. In that moment, Kerry wasn¡¯t the brilliant doctor or the competent cadet¡ªshe was simply a woman terrified of losing someone she couldn¡¯t bear to lose. ¡°I promise. His vitals are stabilizing on a molecular level. Use the decon in the back of the transport. That toxin is still reactive on skin.¡± Kerry reluctantly broke her diagnostic link, the neural band maintaining its connection to Sylvk as she stepped away. The separation caused her to wince slightly, her system recalibrating to the absence of his biometric data. Thoman unfolded a translucent intubation device that adjusted its diameter in real-time, conforming perfectly to Sylvk¡¯s airway. The tube appeared almost liquid as it slid down Sylvk¡¯s throat, its microscopic sensors mapping his esophagus. Once in place, it began pulsing with waves of targeted nano-solution, dissolving remaining toxins on contact. The solution glowed faintly blue as it worked, visible through Sylvk¡¯s skin when he expelled it, the toxins bound to the fluid now rendered inert. With each purge, his neural port¡¯s flashing slowed, gradually shifting from amber to a steadier yellow. Kerry emerged from the decon chamber, her skin slightly flushed from the rapid-spectrum cleansing. She deployed the auto-stretcher from the transport with a gesture, the medical platform hovering at perfect height, its surface already adjusting to Sylvk¡¯s body temperature and contours. ¡°Can you two help?¡± the Doctor asked, indicating the hover-stretcher¡¯s stability handles. We both nodded, though Sylvk¡¯s solid muscle mass would be a challenge. The stretcher compensated somewhat, its gravitic assistance reducing his effective weight by thirty percent, but it still took all four of us to secure him properly. As we did, the platform¡¯s bio-monitors adhered to his skin, instantly syncing with his neural port and displaying a three-dimensional hologram of his system above him, critical areas highlighted in various colors. Enjoying this book? Seek out the original to ensure the author gets credit. ¡°Liver function at sixty-two percent and climbing,¡± Kerry noted with relief, reading the holographic data floating above him. ¡°Neural pathways beginning to restabilize.¡± Thoman was about to close the door on us. ¡°We¡¯ll follow,¡± Rob said and hopped out. ¡°Not enough room for everyone.¡± Rob stood by my side as they drove off. Not saying a word. Kerry leaned into me and I wrapped her up beside me. << Doli?>> I asked. <> <> <> <> <> Rob turned to me, ¡°What the fuck was that?¡± ¡°I don¡¯t know,¡± I replied. ¡°We¡¯ll find out though.¡± Our HUD¡¯s flashed at the same time. REPORT TO THE LIEUTENANT COLONEL. NOW. We exchanged looks. ¡°I¡¯m not in any¡ª¡± Kerry started. I cut her off. ¡°¡ªbest had.¡± We turned to walk back, find a transport. Ahead there was a truck. Then in the next breath it was pulling up before us. Ashley got out, her face pale. Kerry and Rob stood to attention straight away, I forgot. ¡°Get in,¡± she ordered. ¡°We¡¯ve to report to the LTC.¡± Rob said. ¡°Quick detour,¡± she opened the back door. ¡°I¡¯ll get you there, don¡¯t worry.¡± I shot her a confused look but pushed the others to the back of her transport. Ashley¡¯s detour was back to her apartment block. She parked the transport up and was about to jump out. ¡°You¡¯re sure?¡± I asked. She nodded and palmed the door open biding my friends inside. Nothing was out of place in her apartment. Rob and Kerry both stood more than lost as I went straight to the kitchen and pulled drinks out of her fridge. Ashley gathered some things up and stopped before Kerry. ¡°Showers through the first door, you¡¯re about my size for clothes. They¡¯re in the top cabinet.¡± Kerry¡¯s eyes had tears. ¡°I¡ª¡± ¡°Go,¡± she said. ¡°We¡¯ll wait.¡± ¡°Thank you,¡± Kerry said, dipped her head to Ashley then to me, and ran off. I held out a drink for Rob who was hesitant. ¡°What is this?¡± he asked. ¡°Water,¡± I replied. ¡°No,¡± he waved the cup to the Major. ¡°This¡­. Who is Kerry Hinada, if that¡¯s even her real name?¡± ¡°That¡¯s her real name. I can¡¯t answer all your questions,¡± Ashley said. ¡°She¡¯s fully trained though,¡± I stated. ¡°She looks a lot younger than she is,¡± Rob said. ¡°Several years,¡± Ashley confirmed. ¡°Why?¡± ¡°Wrong question.¡± Rob drank. ¡°We all have secrets from each other,¡± he then said. ¡°You¡¯re older than you look?¡± I asked. ¡°Also, several years,¡± he said. ¡°I flunked out of the academy almost a decade ago.¡± He held his wrist out to me, and I tapped mine against his
    Name: Lieutenant - Robert Aiden Lynx Age: 30
    Species: Human Bonus: 50% to all stats
    Height: 6¡¯4 Weight: 230lbs
    BMI: 28 Fitness: 88%
    IQ: 140 CAR: 6.5 Education: Flastead Academy - Top 5% Reins Military Academy - Top 10% EFT - Special Training - Top 5%
    Stat Level of 10 Description Mods
    Endoskeleton 6 Governs agility and movement. C1 Port Upgrade - Hindad Tech Level 1
    Mental Energy 7 Swiftness of the mind. Enhanced AI - Level 10
    Perception 7 Senses and connection to the system. Eye Implants x 2
    Dexterity 8 Also governs agility and movement.
    Toughness 8 Body and internal fortitude.
    I had to do a double take on his BMI. <> Doli informed me. <> I replied. Then focussed back on Ashley. ¡°Through no fault of your own,¡± she told Rob. ¡°That¡¯s classified,¡± Rob said. ¡°Welcome to un-classified.¡± ¡°Kerry¡¯s mom?¡± ¡°Not her mom,¡± Rob confirmed. ¡°No, her sister.¡± Ashley admitted. ¡°Sylvk?¡± I asked. ¡°He¡¯s exactly who he says he is.¡± ¡°And Akers?¡± ¡°He was pulled from the team for many reasons. Mostly¡ªand Rob saw it too, he became unstable.¡± ¡°This team was pre organized.¡± Rob said. ¡°You wanted us three together.¡± ¡°We did,¡± Ashley said. ¡°We still do.¡± Rob looked at me and I was shaking my head, luckily Kerry appeared out the shower. ¡°Ready?¡± Rob stepped in toward her, his wrist outstretched. ¡°Ker,¡± he said. ¡°What?¡± ¡°Access my data.¡± ¡°Why?¡± She was looking at me, then the Major. ¡°Just do it,¡± Rob ordered. Kerry put her wrist to the side of his head, like she had Sylvk and accessed his system. Her hand moved to her mouth. ¡°Your file¡­. It was encrypted.¡± He nodded. ¡°It¡¯s nice to meet you, Kerry Hinada.¡± ¡°I¡¯m¡­ I¡¯m sorry,¡± she stammered out. ¡°Don¡¯t be,¡± he said. ¡°But we should move to see the LTC.¡± ¡°Sylvk?¡± ¡°Perfect in every way,¡± I said. ¡°I¡¯m sure your sister is looking after him.¡± ¡°She will.¡± Kerry said. ¡°I know she will.¡± ¡°Then let¡¯s go,¡± Ashley said and moved us to the door. By the time we pulled up at the officers main buildings. I was shaking. <> Doli said. When we climbed out, I stared at Ashley. ¡°I¡¯ve never been to see the LTC like this, or any other high end military officer.¡± ¡°Just follow their lead,¡± Ashley said to me. ¡°Thank you,¡± I said as I got out and followed the others up through the security guard detail and into the building. When I looked at the both of them, however, I did finally see something I had been missing. They carried themselves with much more confidence than anyone else in the academy. Now I knew why. They both stepped inside when the LTC called, and I followed just like Ashley said. Standing to attention before him. The man was looking over some files. Medical files. I could see Kerry wanted to go to them. When the much older man turned, he noted our stance. ¡°At ease, Beta271.¡± Rob and Kerry relaxed. I, however, couldn¡¯t. I was¡­ scared for a lot of reasons. ¡°Cadet Haba is in recovery. We¡¯re scrutinizing the kitchens.¡± ¡°Why did they do it?¡± I asked. Then realized I shouldn¡¯t have spoken. ¡°Sorry, Sir.¡± ¡°Apology accepted, you¡¯re not military.¡± ¡°We¡¯re still investigating, but we¡¯ll find out.¡± ¡°Permission to speak freely,¡± Rob said. ¡°Granted.¡± ¡°It was a targeted attack,¡± he said. ¡°It wasn¡¯t meant for Sylvk.¡± ¡°That is my initial thought,¡± the LTC said. ¡°He got the lion¡¯s share of the food before the intended target.¡± ¡°Who¡¯s that?¡± ¡°Cadet Boutack,¡± the LTC said and brought up another file. ¡°Andri¡¯s the target? Why?¡± Kerry asked. ¡°His parents,¡± the LTC said. Rob was just nodding. ¡°What do you want us to do?¡± ¡°Sylvk is out of this afternoons run. You need to complete it on your own.¡± ¡°You don¡¯t want this getting out, do you?¡± The LTC was shaking his head. ¡°Whoever missed their target will come back for him.¡± ¡°We¡¯ll do everything we can,¡± Rob said. ¡°To help keep him safe.¡± ¡°I know, Lieutenant Lynx. Bring your team up to speed after this afternoon¡¯s test.¡± ¡°Sylvk, too?¡± ¡°He¡¯ll be out of action another day, but yes.¡± ¡°Will do, Sir.¡± ¡°Dismissed.¡± The LTC said. The others were leaving, and I didn¡¯t want to. I had more questions, but he didn¡¯t even look my way. Once outside and in the clear air. Kerry turned to Rob. ¡°Lieutenant?¡± ¡°Doctor?¡± Then they both looked at me. ¡°Hey,¡± I held up my hands. ¡°Hey, nothing,¡± Rob said. ¡°We need to talk.¡± ¡°After,¡± I said. ¡°No lies,¡± Kerry added. ¡°No lies,¡± we repeated for her. The tension lingered but had to be pushed aside as the next tests loomed. The first was a high-stakes team exercise, and my heart sank at the word ¡®team.¡¯ With Sylvk down, how could this be fair? <> We were briefed quickly: a simulated hostage rescue in a hostile environment packed with unpredictable challenges. Success hinged on clear communication, sharp planning, and rapid adaptability. Sergeant Major Cotah stood before us, hand on hip. ¡°Beta271 is down a team member and already understaffed. I¡¯m asking for volunteers from the class first. You will run with your team, and then you will go again with them. If no one steps forward, I¡¯ll assign them two members myself. No one stepped forward. Then¡­ ¡°No way,¡± Kerry said. Andri had moved one step ahead of his team. ¡°Thank you, Cadet Boutack.¡± Major Cotah said. ¡°Anyone else?¡± Another person stepped forward, I didn¡¯t know them, but Rob was nodding. ¡°Kim Miller,¡± Kerry said. ¡°Second in command to Charlie271.¡± ¡°Do not think that Beta271 will have an advantage, each simulation is very different. It will respond and react to every decision you make as a team. You cannot make the same choices with them as you did your own team. Forget the previous run.¡± He was looking at Kim when he said it. ¡°Understood?¡± ¡°Yes, Sir.¡± They replied. We waited while the first wave went up, and we were held back. The Sergeant Major came over once they were all situated. ¡°I was surprised when the LTC messaged me saying you were on your way.¡± ¡°We¡¯re not letting him down,¡± I said. ¡°He¡¯s recovering I believe. An unknown allergy to something he picked up off base.¡± Rob nodded. <> I asked. <> <> <> <> <> she said and she sounded worried. <> <> I replied. <> She paused, <> Doli¡¯s voice chimed in my head. <> <> I asked, my pulse quickening. <> Now I was even more worried, and my mind raced while the other teams completed their tests. Less than forty minutes later and Andri and Kim were coming out from the simulation pods. Kim didn¡¯t look very happy, but she moved to us straight away. ¡°I¡¯m hoping I can get a few extra points for helping you out.¡± ¡°Makes sense,¡± Rob said. ¡°Didn¡¯t go so well?¡± ¡°No,¡± she replied. ¡°That¡¯s one hell of a simulation.¡± When Andri walked over he just smiled. ¡°Piotr will take pilot,¡± he odered. ¡°Kerry and Kim on guns.¡± ¡°And me?¡± Rob raised an eyebrow at him. ¡°We need to plan this as soon as we get closer to the target zone,¡± he said. ¡°Properly.¡± Rob actually nodded. ¡°Agreed.¡± A moment later and I slipped into my pod. Instantly I stood on the bridge of a ship. A small corvette by the readouts. <> Doli said. <> I glanced to either side, where Kim and Kerry were sitting getting to know their new guns. <> I did not know that. But I grinned. <> Rob and Andri sat next to each other, Andri had let Rob take the command chair and was feeding him every report going. Watching them together was odd. But they actually suited being a team. ¡°Co-ordinates are in, Cadet Argassa.¡± Rob said. ¡°Setting course now, Captain.¡± I bounced back, and quickly had navigation up and the co-ordinates input. I needed to adjust slightly due to the planet¡¯s atmosphere. But it wasn¡¯t hard math. It was less than a few more minutes and we were coming into the designated planets area of space. ¡°We have incoming enemy tags.¡± I reported as several red dots appeared. Chapter 18 Chapter 18 The red dots were drawing closer, faster than I¡¯d anticipated. ¡°Keep us out of range,¡± Andri ordered. ¡°We need to rescue first. Then take them out on the way out.¡± I hesitated, my tactical analysis suggesting a different approach. Engaging now might clear a safer extraction path later. But this wasn¡¯t my mission to lead. ¡°Understood,¡± I finally said, swallowing my objection. ¡°Captain?¡± ¡°Andri¡¯s fine,¡± he said, his expression softening momentarily. ¡°Please.¡± I nodded, plotting our approach vector. ¡°Done, Andri.¡± My fingers flew across the nav controls, calculating optimal entry trajectories. ¡°Hostage location attained,¡± I reported, the coordinates pulsing on my display. ¡°Can you get us in safely?¡± Rob asked, studying the tactical overlay. I ran three simulations simultaneously, discarding two that carried unacceptable risk levels. The remaining path was tight, threading between enemy sensor arrays, but viable. My instinct was to explain the full plan, detail each contingency as I would at Marts and Sparks, but I held back. They needed decisive action, not technical explanations. ¡°Yes,¡± I answered simply, committing to the course. Rob and Andri moved to the tactical station, their postures shifting subtly as they transitioned from students to commanders. Andri pulled up a holographic terrain map, his fingers easily manipulating the display to highlight approach vectors. ¡°Three entry points,¡± Andri said, highlighting each in sequence. ¡°Main entrance is heavily guarded. Six hostiles minimum with automated defenses. Side entrance here,¡± he pointed to the eastern wall, ¡°fewer guards but higher-grade security systems.¡± Rob nodded, his eyes narrowed in concentration. ¡°And the third?¡± ¡°Service tunnel, northwest quadrant. Limited intel, but thermal scans suggest minimal presence.¡± ¡°That¡¯s our way in,¡± Rob decided after a moment¡¯s analysis. ¡°Kerry, you¡¯re point on entry. Your infiltration scores were top of class.¡± Kerry nodded sharply. ¡°Copy that.¡± ¡°Kim,¡± Andri continued seamlessly, ¡°we don¡¯t have Sylvk so you¡¯re our heavy. Once we breach, we¡¯ll need suppression fire while Kerry advances to the security hub.¡± His tone was measured, authoritative without being domineering. ¡°Rob and I will move in diamond formation with the point shifting based on resistance encountered.¡± Rob expanded a section of the map. ¡°Time is critical. Intel suggests the hostage is being moved in thirty minutes. We need to be in and secured before then.¡± He traced a path through the complex. ¡°Primary extraction route here, with two fallbacks marked in blue.¡± Andri¡¯s eyes met Rob¡¯s, a moment of silent communication passing between them. ¡°Rules of engagement?¡± he asked. ¡°Nonlethal where possible,¡± Rob replied firmly. ¡°But the hostage is priority one.¡± Andri nodded once, respecting the decision though his slight hesitation suggested he might have preferred more aggressive tactics. ¡°Agreed. We move fast, we move quiet, we stay coordinated.¡± He turned to me. ¡°Piotr, we¡¯ll need real-time thermal updates as we progress. Any shift in guard patterns could compromise our timing.¡± ¡°I¡¯ll have continuous feeds running,¡± I confirmed. ¡°And I¡¯ll monitor comms for any indication they¡¯ve spotted our approach.¡± ¡°Good,¡± Rob said, clasping Andri¡¯s shoulder briefly. ¡°Once we¡¯re inside, standard tactical sign language only. No verbal unless absolutely necessary.¡± There was an efficiency to their planning that was almost beautiful to witness, no wasted words, no ego-driven suggestions, just pure tactical thinking refined through years of training. Two leaders from different backgrounds finding immediate common ground in the mission parameters. ¡°Take us in, Piotr,¡± Rob ordered, his tone leaving no room for debate. ¡°Be ready on guns, they¡¯ll have defense lined up.¡± ¡°We¡¯re ready,¡± came the chorus from Kerry and Kim. I guided our ship through the planet¡¯s turbulent upper atmosphere, the heat shields glowing orange as friction built. Every instinct screamed to take a wider approach, but the tactical overlay showed enemy patrols precisely where I¡¯d have preferred to fly. The constraints chafed against my need for control. ¡°One minute to touchdown,¡± I reported, fighting the urge to adjust our vector again. The plan was set. My job now was execution, not improvisation. ¡°Final equipment check,¡± Andri commanded, his hands moving efficiently through his tactical gear. ¡°Comms, weapons, medical, extraction tools.¡± The team performed a synchronized check of their equipment, each verbally confirming readiness. It wasn¡¯t just the words¡ªit was the practiced economy of movement, the calm focus in their eyes. These weren¡¯t students playing at being soldiers; they were professionals preparing for combat. I wish I was like that, calm, collected. <> Doli said. <> <> I replied feeling a little hurt. <> I didn¡¯t know how to respond to that. It felt both right and impossibly heavy. ¡°If we get separated,¡± Rob added, securing his tactical vest, ¡°rendezvous at point Bravo. If Bravo is compromised, fall back to Charlie and wait exactly ten minutes before proceeding to extraction.¡± Andri nodded. ¡°And if the hostage is injured?¡± ¡°Kerry takes lead on medical,¡± Rob replied immediately. ¡°Kim covers. You and I secure the perimeter and clear the extraction path.¡± ¡°And if we encounter resistance beyond our capacity?¡± Andri pressed, testing Rob¡¯s contingency planning. ¡°We adapt,¡± Rob answered without hesitation. ¡°Use the environment, create diversion points here and here,¡± he indicated two locations on the map. ¡°If necessary, I¡¯ll draw fire to allow the rest of you to complete the objective.¡± Andri¡¯s eyes narrowed slightly, then he nodded with what looked like newfound respect. ¡°Let¡¯s make sure that¡¯s unnecessary, shall we?¡± It wasn¡¯t just a sentiment¡ªit was a commander acknowledging another commander¡¯s willingness to sacrifice. ¡°Get in the air if you need to,¡± Rob instructed, checking his weapon. ¡°And wait out.¡± I wanted to protest, I could help on the ground, could spot things they might miss, but I bit back the words. This was the mission structure. This was my role. ¡°I¡¯ll have you on comms.¡± ¡°Good, we might need your eyes, keep watching,¡± Rob affirmed, acknowledging my value while reinforcing my position. ¡°Gun turrets alive,¡± Kim reported suddenly, targeting systems highlighting two automated defenses tracking our approach. ¡°Taking them out now,¡± Kerry responded immediately, not waiting for orders. Stolen from its original source, this story is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings. Our ship shuddered as missiles launched, destroying both turrets. The second explosion was dangerously close, the shockwave catching our port side. The ship lurched violently, alarms screaming across my console. My training said to call for help, to let someone else take control, but there wasn¡¯t time. I wrestled with the controls, compensating for the damaged stabilizers, forcing the ship into a controlled descent rather than the crash trajectory the computer predicted. This was what I was good at, seeing broken systems and making them work. The ship touched down with a bone-jarring thud that was still smoother than the computer¡¯s projected landing. Pride flashed through me, quickly replaced by focus as the team moved out. ¡°Change of plans,¡± Rob announced instantly, assessing the damage reports scrolling across my console. ¡°Landing zone is too hot. Kerry, take point. Kim, watch our six.¡± Andri was already adjusting, pulling up the new tactical overlay. ¡°We¡¯ve lost the element of surprise. Moving to contingency delta.¡± He turned to the others. ¡°Two teams. Kerry with me, Kim with Rob. Parallel approach, converge at the detention level.¡± There was no debate, no hesitation¡ªjust immediate adaptation to changing circumstances. The ease with which they pivoted from their original plan spoke volumes about their training and experience. ¡°Breach charges?¡± Kim asked, already checking her equipment. ¡°Affirmative,¡± Andri confirmed. ¡°Standard stack formation at entry points. Rob, you call your team¡¯s movements.¡± Rob nodded tersely. ¡°On your mark, Andri.¡± The seamless transfer of authority between them, neither dominating, each respecting the other¡¯s expertise, was a masterclass in field leadership. The side door opened with a pneumatic hiss, the four of them moving in perfect formation toward the hostage location. I watched through their individual HUD feeds, monitoring their approach while simultaneously running ship diagnostics and tracking enemy movements. My attention split four ways, then six as I added enemy movement patterns and ship repair priorities. This was nothing like the methodical work at Marts and Sparks¡ªthis was chaos requiring instant prioritization. To Andri¡¯s right, a soldier materialized from behind cover, weapon raised. Before I could shout a warning, Andri had already fired, dropping the threat. Their silent exchange of nods spoke volumes about their battlefield experience. <> <> ¡°Incoming enemy heat signatures,¡± I reported, forcing myself to be calm as I tracked multiple hostiles converging on their position. ¡°They¡¯re pooling on your location now. Pick up the pace.¡± The team accelerated, but another obstacle appeared, a security door with an encrypted lock. Rob assessed it quickly before shaking his head. ¡°I failed this one,¡± he admitted to Andri, looking grim. ¡°You?¡± ¡°Failed,¡± Andri confirmed, glancing at the women. They both shook their heads. All four looked up into their cameras, their faces displaying identical uncertainty. The mission was about to fail because of a lock puzzle. ¡°Piotr?¡± Andri asked, surprising me with the direct appeal. ¡°You got this, right?¡± Time seemed to slow. I could guide them through it step by step, the safe approach. Or I could take control, using their HUD connection to access the system directly. The first approach was protocol. The second was faster but risked overstepping my role. ¡°Follow my instructions, and don¡¯t deviate,¡± I decided, splitting the difference. ¡°This isn¡¯t like the one we did on the test.¡± ¡°How can you tell?¡± Rob asked. ¡°I can see the heat signature of the chemicals wrapped around the room and underneath the hostage,¡± I explained, my attention fully on the thermal readings now. The entire chamber was rigged to detonate if the wrong sequence was entered. No wonder they¡¯d failed before¡ªthe simulation was designed to be lethal. Rob swallowed visibly. ¡°Talk us through it, slowly.¡± ¡°Take the front panel off and let me see it.¡± Together they removed the cover, revealing the intricate wiring beneath. I instructed the women to take defensive positions as the enemy heat signatures drew closer. Time was running out, and I needed to focus entirely on the lock system. <> Doli observed. The realization hit me simultaneously. This wasn¡¯t just different¡ªit was actively evolving, the encryption changing in response to our attempts to breach it. Protocol would fail here. I needed to take control. ¡°Put your wrist to the console, Rob,¡± I instructed, abandoning caution. ¡°What?¡± Confusion crossed his face. ¡°I don¡¯t have time to run you through this,¡± I explained, moving from pilot mode to command mode without conscious thought. ¡°I¡¯m going to hack your system through our connection and then access the panel directly.¡± ¡°Impossible,¡± Andri scoffed, though I noticed his expression held more interest than dismissal. Rob shook his head, understanding the implications. ¡°You can¡¯t access my system fast enough. I¡¯m higher ranking and have several major firewalls.¡± Frustration surged through me. I¡¯d forgotten the military hierarchies built into their systems¡ªa mechanic¡¯s oversight that could cost us everything. ¡°Link me to Andri,¡± I pivoted, changing strategies instantly. Andri hesitated, clearly uncomfortable with the breach of protocol, but gunfire erupted behind him, forcing his hand. ¡°You sure you¡¯ve got this?¡± he questioned, flinching as a bullet struck nearby. ¡°Eyes forward,¡± I ordered, my voice carrying an authority I hadn¡¯t known I possessed. ¡°Trust me, I¡¯ve got this.¡± He nodded sharply, the camera bobbing once as he extended his wrist to the console. I didn¡¯t waste time with explanations, diving through his connection into the security system. My mind worked at triple capacity¡ªmonitoring the team, rewiring the security protocols, and keeping watch on our ship. Kim took a bullet, going down hard. Kerry was immediately at her side, medical training kicking in. ¡°She¡¯s bleeding out,¡± she reported, applying pressure to the wound. ¡°Hostage is free,¡± Andri announced moments later, supporting a young girl with visibly broken legs. ¡°I¡¯ll carry her.¡± Kim looked up at Kerry, her face pale but resolved. ¡°Leave me,¡± she ordered. ¡°The mission objective is more important than me.¡± ¡°I can¡¯t¡ªwe can¡¯t,¡± Kerry protested, torn between duty and compassion. ¡°The mission objective is more important than me,¡± Kim repeated firmly. ¡°Get her out of here. While I¡¯ve got bullets, I¡¯ll cover you.¡± I watched the tactical overlay, calculating their chances. Kim was right, the mission parameters prioritized the hostage. But something in me rebelled against the cold calculus of acceptable losses. Before I could interject, Andri was beside them, his eyes quickly assessing the tactical situation. With practiced efficiency, he checked Kim¡¯s wound, gauging severity against mission parameters. ¡°Rob,¡± he called, his voice controlled despite the chaos. ¡°Tactical assessment.¡± Rob was already moving, taking up a defensive position while scanning their surroundings. ¡°Hostiles approaching from two vectors. Estimated time to engagement, forty seconds. Extraction window closing rapidly.¡± Andri nodded, processing this information instantly. ¡°Kim,¡± he said, his tone professional but not cold, ¡°can you move if supported?¡± Kim shook her head. ¡°Negative. Femoral damage. I¡¯ll slow you down.¡± Rob and Andri exchanged a look, a silent communication born of years of field experience. In that brief glance, I could see them weighing options, calculating risks, assessing the tactical reality against their commitment to leave no one behind. ¡°Standard protocol is clear,¡± Kim said, voice steady despite her pain. ¡°Complete the mission.¡± Andri¡¯s jaw tightened momentarily before he nodded to Rob, who handed Kerry his extra ammunition. ¡°Hold as long as you can,¡± Rob instructed Kim. There was respect in his voice¡ªnot just for her sacrifice, but for her professionalism in making the hard call. He pulled Kerry to her feet. ¡°Move now. We need you back on the ship to treat that kid¡¯s wounds.¡± Kerry¡¯s medical scan appeared in my HUD as she assessed the girl. ¡°She¡¯s not going to last long either.¡± ¡°Then move. Now!¡± Kim ordered, positioning herself to provide covering fire. The decision had been made without me. Part of me bristled at being excluded from the choice, but another part recognized the efficiency of their battlefield hierarchy. Not every decision needed to flow through me. The team¡¯s retreat was a controlled chaos of gunfire and tactical movements. I kept the ship¡¯s systems primed, monitoring their approach while calculating the optimal extraction trajectory. When they finally reached the ship, collapsing through the door as it sealed behind them, I felt a surge of relief followed immediately by determination. ¡°Get us the hell out of here,¡± Andri ordered, shifting the hostage to Kerry¡¯s care while he and Rob moved to the gun stations. I didn¡¯t need to be told twice. The engines roared to life under my command, the ship lifting despite the damage to its port stabilizers. ¡°Incoming ships,¡± I reported, tracking multiple enemy signatures converging on our position. ¡°They will open fire.¡± ¡°On it,¡± Rob responded confidently. Between Rob and Andri, they methodically eliminated the pursuing ships, working in perfect coordination. I focused entirely on our escape vector, pushing the damaged systems to their limits while finding ways to compensate for the compromised stabilizers. ¡°Nice work,¡± I said as the last enemy ship disappeared from my screens. The simulation ended with a soft chime, the virtual world dissolving around us. Success. But the pod didn¡¯t open. ¡°Doli?¡± I asked. Andri¡¯s face appeared before me. ¡°I needed to see you all in action myself,¡± Andri spoke clearly. ¡°Oh,¡± I replied. Confused. I couldn¡¯t work him out. He was a dick, he wasn¡¯t. Then he was again. ¡°What¡¯s up?¡± ¡°They¡¯re not who they say they are, the only one that is, is you.¡± I didn¡¯t deny it, or confirm it. ¡°I need to know why,¡± he said. His brows furrowed. ¡°Who planted them.¡± I was about to answer, but the pod shocked me, like physically shocked me. <> Doli said. ¡°Go see Sylvk.¡± Andri then said. ¡°I¡¯ll comm you later today with some coordinates, if you would indulge me.¡± Then he was gone and the pod opened. Not one of us said a word as Sergeant Major Cotah and Professor Zhan gathered everyone up for feedback. Their evaluations were a mix of praise and critique. ¡°Good initiative,¡± Professor Zhan said, directing the comment at Andri. ¡°You stepped up when it mattered. But remember, leadership isn¡¯t just about making the right call. It¡¯s about trust. If your team doesn¡¯t feel included, they might not follow when it really counts.¡± Andri nodded. ¡°Thank you, and despite our differences,¡± he glanced at us all. ¡°They¡¯re as professional as they come. I¡¯d be honored to work with them at any time.¡± ¡°As would we,¡± Rob replied. Walking out of that test¡­ I sucked in a breath. ¡°I have no idea what the hell that was,¡± I said. ¡°Me neither. But you saved our asses today,¡± Rob said with a wry smile. ¡°No doubt about it.¡± ¡°Agreed,¡± Kerry said. ¡°Hospital?¡± ¡°Hospital,¡± Rob replied. ¡°Can we talk there?¡± ¡°Yes,¡± Kerry smiled. ¡°I¡¯ll make sure we¡¯re secure.¡± She linked both our arms, and together, we walked away. <> I didn¡¯t look back, but I answered. <> Chapter 19 Chapter 19 The infirmary smelled of antiseptic and burned circuits¡ªan odd combination that clung to the air no matter how much the vents sucked away. I stood just inside the doorway, unsure if Sylvk would be up for a visit, or if he¡¯d throw something at me for bothering him. My stomach knotted, not from fear of his temper, but from seeing someone so formidable laid low. It felt like a crack in our fortress, a reminder that none of us were invincible. ¡°I need to talk to my mom,¡± Kerry said, and with Rob wandered away, their footsteps echoing down the sterile corridor. Mom, I laughed. I thought about waiting but located Sylvk¡¯s doorway and paused, fingers pulling at the threads on my sleeve. Dammit, I have to stop doing this! Through the half-open door, I could see monitoring equipment, screens displaying vitals in steady, reassuring patterns. At least he was stable. ¡°Stop lurking, Argassa,¡± came Sylvk¡¯s gravelly tone. ¡°You¡¯re worse than the nurses. They at least bring painkillers.¡± I stepped in, and closer to his bed, hands shoved in my jacket pockets, trying to project a casualness I didn¡¯t feel. ¡°Since when do you need painkillers? Thought you were too tough for that.¡± Sylvk sat propped up against the headboard, his broad chest bare under the thin blanket draped over his lap. His shoulders were massive, his frame imposing even in recovery, but it was the scars that caught my eye. They crisscrossed his skin like a map of old wars¡ªsome faded to faint lines, others thick and jagged like they¡¯d never healed properly. A particularly nasty one ran from his collarbone to just below his right pectoral, puckered and white against his tan skin. He looked like a man who had faced death more than once and walked away with those stories etched into his flesh. His voice lacked its usual booming force. It felt wrong seeing him like this¡ªreduced. Vulnerable. Like seeing a mountain beginning to crumble. ¡°Just checking if you¡¯re still alive,¡± I said, trying to keep my tone light, but the words came out more sincere than intended. ¡°Barely,¡± he grunted, shifting against the pillows, wincing slightly as he moved. ¡°The food here could kill a cadet faster than any poison. Had something they called soup earlier¡ªpretty sure it was just warm water with spite added.¡± I froze for half a second, the word sticking in my mind like a jagged shard. Poison. ¡°So, you think that¡¯s what happened? Someone actually poisoned you?¡± He raised an eyebrow at me, the gesture strangely normal amid the abnormal setting. ¡°What else would it be? I didn¡¯t collapse because I¡¯m out of shape.¡± ¡°Fair point,¡± I said, pulling up a chair beside him, the metal legs scraping against the floor. ¡°Do you remember anything? Like¡­ what happened before you started feeling off?¡± Sylvk rubbed a hand over his face, as if trying to scrub the memory loose. His knuckles were scarred too, I noticed¡ªthe hands of someone who¡¯d fought countless battles, both sanctioned and otherwise. ¡°Not much. Gym was good, bit quiet, but that wasn¡¯t unusual with exams on. Everything was normal. I had the usual foods, protein shake, eggs, bacon, toast, and coffee. Then we went to class. Started feeling like hell halfway through. First thought it was just fatigue, but then my vision started swimming, and my chest felt like someone had dropped a gravity anchor on it.¡± ¡°Nothing weird about breakfast at all?¡± I pressed, leaning forward. ¡°Anything at all off with the food or the mess hall? Anyone hanging around who shouldn¡¯t have been?¡± He frowned, staring at the ceiling as if it held the answer. The monitoring equipment beeped steadily in the background, punctuating the silence between us. ¡°Not the food. But¡­¡± He hesitated, and for a moment, I thought he wouldn¡¯t say anything more. His expression darkened, lines appearing between his brows as he concentrated. ¡°There was someone near the staff table. Didn¡¯t recognize them. Tall, thin, wearing a civilian jacket. Dark blue, with some kind of insignia on the sleeve¡ªcouldn¡¯t make it out. They left something near the tray racks, a vial.¡± That got my attention. I straightened in my chair. ¡°A vial?¡± ¡°Yeah. Metallic, about this big,¡± he said, holding his thumb and forefinger about three centimetres apart. ¡°Didn¡¯t think much of it at the time,¡± he said, his brow furrowing. ¡°Figured it was some supplement or medicine mixed for them. But now¡­¡± His words trailed off, and I leaned forward. ¡°Do you think it could¡¯ve been¡ª?¡± ¡°Don¡¯t know,¡± he interrupted. ¡°But it¡¯s a hell of a coincidence.¡± He shifted again, grimacing as a spasm of pain crossed his features. ¡°The doctors can¡¯t pinpoint what it was. Whatever hit me, it¡¯s not in their standard toxin database.¡± ¡°That¡¯s... concerning,¡± I said, my mind already racing. A metallic vial left in the mess hall, just before Sylvk collapsed. It wasn¡¯t much, but it was a thread. And if there was one thing I was good at, it was pulling on threads until the whole damn sweater unravelled. ¡°Get some rest,¡± I said, standing. ¡°I¡¯ll¡­ look into it.¡± Sylvk¡¯s gaze narrowed, but his expression softened a fraction. ¡°I saw that look before, Argassa. On soldiers who thought they could take on an entire enemy battalion by themselves.¡± He sighed, the sound weary and worn. ¡°Reminds me of this time on Cali. We were dealing with separatist insurgents, nasty business in the outer districts. Had this young lieutenant who was convinced he¡¯d found their headquarters. Went in without proper backup, against direct orders.¡± He paused, absently tracing a jagged scar that ran across his forearm. ¡°I was stationed there for three years. Made some good contacts in the local security forces. Still check in with them when I can. Some of those connections might come in handy for you someday, if you end up posted there.¡± His eyes grew distant for a moment, as if seeing something beyond the sterile walls of the infirmary. Then his focus snapped back to me. ¡°The point is, had to scrape what was left of that lieutenant into body bags. Don¡¯t do anything stupid. If this is bigger than it looks, you don¡¯t want to stick your neck out alone.¡± That gave me pause. It was probably the most personal thing he¡¯d ever said to me, a glimpse behind the tough guy facade. ¡°Who said anything about stupid?¡± I said, smirking as I backed toward the door, trying to lighten the suddenly heavy atmosphere. He grunted something unintelligible and rolled onto his side, clearly done with me. But as I turned to leave, he added, ¡°Argassa. Be careful. Whoever did this... they¡¯re not playing around.¡± I nodded, the warning settling like a weight in my chest. ¡°I will.¡± I slipped out of the infirmary, the cold hallway air a sharp contrast to the stuffy warmth inside. My HUD flickered briefly as I stepped through the doorway, a ghostly overlay of diagnostics data blinking in and out of view before stabilizing. My thoughts churned as I walked, the image of that vial burning in my mind, alongside Sylvk¡¯s warning. If someone had poisoned Sylvk¡­ this was serious. Not just a prank or a test, but potentially lethal intent. I had to know why. The academy wasn¡¯t perfect, but it had always felt safe¡ªas safe as a place training future military elite could be, anyway. The idea that someone had breached that security, had targeted one of our friends... it made my skin crawl. <> <> <> <> Military-grade. That was an unsettling thought. I paused at a junction in the hallway, my reflection fractured across the polished metal walls. Kerry and Rob were still with her sister, and I didn¡¯t want to disturb them, besides me sneaking about wouldn¡¯t matter, three of us... that might get noticed. I briefly considered messaging them but decided against it. Better to have some concrete evidence first. The hallway to our mess halls stretched long and quiet, the echo of my boots against the polished floor amplifying the silence. A few cadets passed by, engrossed in their own conversations or hurrying to their next assignments. None of them knew how close danger had come to all of us this morning. Sylvk¡¯s warning replayed in my head¡ªdon¡¯t do anything stupid. It wasn¡¯t like I had a choice. If someone had sabotaged the academy¡¯s power grid and poisoned Sylvk, this wasn¡¯t just about me or my usual need to fix things. It was bigger. Much bigger and Andri... really might be the target because of his family like the LTC had said. <> I asked, concerned about the earlier flicker. <> If you encounter this narrative on Amazon, note that it''s taken without the author''s consent. Report it. EMP residue? That was odd. <> <> That sent a chill through me. First the power grid, then Sylvk, and now possible EMP signatures? This was beyond coincidence. The metallic vial. I had to find it. The mess hall was empty this time of day, its rows of spotless tables gleaming under the overhead lights. The cleaning drones had already finished their work, leaving everything pristine and eerily quiet. The only sound was the faint hum of the environmental systems and the occasional clink from the kitchen, where the staff was likely preparing for the next meal. As I made my way to the staff area, scanning the corners of the room for anything out of place, my HUD flickered faintly, lines of static crawling across my vision before stabilizing. That was happening more often lately. Not good. A warning message blinked in the corner of my view¡ª¡±Neural Interface Instability Detected¡±¡ªbefore disappearing into digital noise. Behind the serving counter, the air smelled faintly of disinfectant and something metallic, like the inside of a burnt circuit board. I crouched by the bins where unused utensils and trays were sorted, running my fingers along the edges, checking every corner and crevice. No vial. The place was clean, too clean, almost as if someone had made sure to remove any evidence. I moved to the prep area, careful not to disturb anything. A kitchen worker appeared briefly from the back storage, gave me a curious look, but said nothing before disappearing again. The academy staff were used to cadets poking around, though usually it was for extra food, not potential evidence of attempted murder. ¡°Looking for something?¡± a voice called from behind me. I nearly jumped out of my skin, twisting around to see Andri Boutack leaning casually against the doorway, arms crossed, and eyebrows raised. His uniform was pristine, as always, not a wrinkle in sight, and his presence was commanding even in his relaxed posture. But there was something in his eyes, a tension, a watchfulness that hadn¡¯t been there before. ¡°Jesus, Boutack,¡± I muttered, standing and brushing off my pants. ¡°You really do sneak up on people a lot, right? They teach that in fancy private school, or is it a family trait?¡± His expression tightened momentarily at the mention of his family before smoothing back into careful neutrality. ¡°You¡¯re not exactly subtle, Argassa,¡± he said, striding closer, his footsteps nearly silent on the polished floor. ¡°Half the cadets saw you speed-walking down here with that look on your face, the one that says you¡¯re about to break at least three regulations. Why are you poking around the staff area? Hoping for a second breakfast?¡± ¡°Not exactly,¡± I said, trying to think of a good lie but coming up empty. My mind was too occupied with vials and poisons and the sight of Sylvk in that hospital bed. ¡°I¡¯m... investigating.¡± Andri¡¯s eyes narrowed slightly, his curiosity piqued. He glanced around, ensuring we were alone, before stepping closer. ¡°Investigating what?¡± I sighed, deciding it was better to give him the short version than have him breathing down my neck later. ¡°Sylvk thinks someone left a metallic vial in here this morning. Right before he got sick. He saw someone by the staff tables¡ªcivilian clothes, strange insignia.¡± That got his attention. He straightened, his casual demeanour evaporating like morning mist under a hard sun. ¡°A vial? Are you saying someone poisoned him?¡± ¡°Maybe,¡± I said, holding up a hand before he could jump to conclusions. ¡°I¡¯m not sure yet. But it¡¯s a lead. And with the power outage yesterday... it feels connected.¡± Andri¡¯s jaw tightened, his gaze flicking around the room as if he could spot the vial by looking harder. The overhead lights cast sharp shadows across his face, deepening the furrow between his brows. ¡°Why didn¡¯t he mention it earlier?¡± ¡°He just remembered it,¡± I said, studying Andri¡¯s reaction carefully. ¡°And honestly, he didn¡¯t seem thrilled about me looking into it. Gave me the whole ¡®don¡¯t be stupid¡¯ speech.¡± ¡°Yet here you are,¡± Andri said, his tone dry, but there was something else there¡ªa hint of respect, maybe. ¡°What¡¯s your plan? Rummage through the trash and hope for the best?¡± ¡°Got a better idea?¡± I shot back, crossing my arms. My HUD flickered again, a brief diagnostic window appearing and then vanishing before I could read it. Something was definitely wrong with my system. Andri stared at me for a long moment, then sighed, running a hand through his perfectly coiffed hair, a rare gesture of uncertainty from someone usually so composed. ¡°Actually, yeah. They have cameras, should be able to get the view from the controls in the staff room. If someone left a vial near the food trays, we might be able to see who it was.¡± I blinked, caught off guard. ¡°That¡¯s... not a bad idea.¡± I paused, studying him. ¡°But how exactly do you know how to access the security feeds?¡± A ghost of a smile touched his lips. ¡°When your father¡¯s high up in Fleet Command, and into tech, you learn things. Security protocols, override codes... they¡¯re all standardized across military installations.¡± ¡°So you¡¯re saying your dad taught you how to hack security systems?¡± I asked, raising an eyebrow. ¡°I¡¯m saying,¡± Andri replied carefully, ¡°that there are advantages to being raised in a family where dinner conversation includes Fleet Security protocols.¡± There was an edge to his voice, a defensiveness that suggested this was a sore point. ¡°Come on. I know the override codes for the staff terminals.¡± I raised an eyebrow at him, but didn¡¯t question it further, just followed. The staff storage room was cramped, lined with shelves of neatly labelled supplies and a small terminal tucked into the far corner. The air was cool and dry, the space utilitarian and spotless. ¡°Keep watch,¡± Andri said, sliding into the chair in front of the terminal. I positioned myself near the door, peering out into the hallway. The last thing we needed was to get caught breaking into the security system, no matter how noble our intentions. Andri typed in the code with practiced ease, his fingers moving confidently across the interface. The terminal¡¯s screen flickered to life, bathing his face in a blue glow. ¡°Let¡¯s see...¡± he muttered, navigating the camera logs. ¡°This is from breakfast this morning, right?¡± ¡°Yeah,¡± I said, leaving my post to lean over his shoulder as he scrolled through the footage. ¡°Near the staff table. Around 0700 hours, I think.¡± The playback was grainy but clear enough to make out the rows of trays and utensils. Cadets moved through the frame in orderly lines, a familiar routine of morning meals and sleepy conversations. A group of junior officers sat at their designated table, while kitchen staff bustled efficiently in the background. ¡°There,¡± Andri said suddenly, pointing to the corner of the screen. ¡°That doesn¡¯t look like academy personnel.¡± A figure had stepped into view, tall, thin, and wearing a civilian jacket, just as Sylvk described. They moved with purpose, not the casual stride of someone simply getting breakfast. ¡°That¡¯s them,¡± I said, excitement quickening my pulse. ¡°Pause it.¡± Andri froze the footage, and we both leaned closer. The figure¡¯s face wasn¡¯t visible, obscured by a hood, but their movements were deliberate, calculated. They seemed to be scanning the room, taking note of who was where. ¡°Can you zoom in on the sleeve?¡± I asked, remembering Sylvk¡¯s mention of an insignia. Andri manipulated the controls, zooming in on the jacket. The image became pixelated, but there was definitely something there¡ªa small emblem on the upper sleeve, circular with what looked like a stylized shape in the centre. ¡°That¡¯s not familiar,¡± Andri murmured, his brow furrowed. ¡°Not any military or corporate insignia I recognize.¡± We continued watching. The figure moved smoothly through the crowd, avoiding direct contact with anyone. There they were sneaking into the back area, and but a moment later were back out. They placed a small metallic object on the corner of the clearing table before walking away, their head turning briefly toward the camera. ¡°Can you enhance that?¡± I asked, pointing to the partial glimpse of the face. ¡°Maybe we can ID them.¡± Andri shook his head. ¡°Not from this terminal. The resolution¡¯s too low. But...¡± He tapped a command, marking the timestamp. ¡°I can pull the logs to my HUD and process it back at my bunk. My personal system has better analysis software.¡± ¡°Of course it does,¡± I muttered, but there was no real bite to it. ¡°Good. That¡¯s a start.¡± We watched the footage again while the data uploaded. The mess hall filled and emptied in fast-forward, the rhythmic patterns of academy life playing out in grainy monotone. ¡°Wait,¡± I said suddenly, reaching out to stop the playback. ¡°Go back about ten minutes. The queue, watch.¡± Andri reversed the footage, and we both leaned in, eyes fixed on the screen. There I was with Rob, just getting our food, when Sylvk came in from the back, cutting ahead of us in line. He moved directly to where Andri stood with his tray, saying something to him before taking his own place in line. ¡°He cut in front of me to get to you,¡± I realized aloud, turning to Andri. His face had gone pale, the implications sinking in. ¡°If this is what it looks like, it¡¯s not about Sylvk.¡± ¡°I know,¡± I said quietly, just like the LTC had warned. ¡°It¡¯s you. Or rather, your position as fleet admiral¡¯s son.¡± I watched his expression carefully. ¡°The power cut was sabotage, wasn¡¯t it?¡± ¡°It looks that way,¡± he said. He ran a hand through his hair again, a gesture I was beginning to recognize as a sign of genuine distress, not just irritation. ¡°The timing, the targeted nature... it fits the pattern.¡± ¡°Your family¡¯s the target then.¡± It wasn¡¯t a question. I frowned, seeing something else in him I¡¯d never noticed before, vulnerability. Behind the perfect posture and confident demeanour, there was fear in his eyes. Not for himself, I realized, but for what this might mean. ¡°Yes,¡± he confirmed, his jaw clenched. ¡°We need to figure out why. My father has enemies, but attacking a cadet academy... that¡¯s extreme, even for the usual political rivals.¡± He paused, something occurring to him. ¡°Unless...¡± ¡°Unless what?¡± I prompted. Andri¡¯s expression darkened. ¡°Unless it¡¯s not about politics at all. My father¡¯s been leading an investigation into supply chain corruption¡ªmilitary-grade tech being diverted to the black market. He¡¯s been closing in on someone high up. This could be retaliation.¡± ¡°Or a warning,¡± I suggested, the pieces beginning to click together. ¡°Poison someone who was closest to you, sabotage the power grid... they¡¯re showing what they can do, how close they can get.¡± Andri pushed himself up abruptly, his chair scraping against the floor. ¡°I need to have a conversation with my parents,¡± he said, emotion cracking through. ¡°They need to know what¡¯s happening here.¡± ¡°Andri, wait,¡± I called after him, but he was already striding toward the door, his movements stiff and purposeful. ¡°We should coordinate, figure out a plan¡ª¡± ¡°I¡¯ll contact you when I know more,¡± he said over his shoulder, pausing briefly at the doorway. For a moment, I thought I saw genuine concern in his expression. ¡°Watch your back, Argassa. If they know you¡¯re looking into this...¡± And then he was gone, his footsteps fading down the corridor. I stayed behind, staring at the frozen image on the screen, the hooded figure, the vial, the beginning of what was clearly a carefully orchestrated attack. My HUD flickered again, more severely this time, the entire display dissolving into static before resolving into a warning message: ¡°Security Protocol Breach Detected.¡± That wasn¡¯t right. I hadn¡¯t triggered any security alerts with my access. <> I subvocalized urgently. <> My blood ran cold. Someone was trying to hack my neural implant¡ªright now, while I was investigating the poisoning. This wasn¡¯t coincidence; they knew what I was doing, and they were trying to shut me down. I rushed out of the storage room, needing to find Andri, to warn him that we¡¯d kicked the hornet¡¯s nest. The corridor stretched empty before me, no sign of him. I needed to make sure nothing was out of place. I knocked at his quarters, but there was no answer. I sent a message: Me - Call me later. Someone¡¯s trying to hack my HUD. We need to be careful. No reply came. I was about to head back to my own quarters when a notification pinged in my HUD, one last message before the system crashed completely: UNKNOWN - Stop investigating if you want to stay healthy. Some poisons don¡¯t have antidotes. The screen went black, leaving me alone in the silent corridor with the knowledge that whoever had poisoned Sylvk now had their eyes on me, too. Chapter 20- Interlude 20-Interlude: The General¡¯s Warning Major Kuba stood at attention once again in the General¡¯s private conference room, the tension in the air so thick it clung to her. General Torven was a man of few words, his presence as heavy as the authority he wielded. His piercing gray eyes fixed on her, and she knew this meeting wasn¡¯t just about protocol. ¡°Major,¡± he began, his gravelly voice cutting through the silence. ¡°You¡¯ve requested a deeper investigation into the poisoning of Cadet Sylvk Haba. Explain.¡± ¡°The poisoning wasn¡¯t random.¡± Her jaw tightened, and she struggled to swallow. ¡°Sylvk wasn¡¯t the target. This was meant for Cadet Andri Boutack. It wasn¡¯t a prank or an accident¡ªit was an escalation.¡± Torven¡¯s expression didn¡¯t change, but his eyes narrowed slightly. ¡°And you believe this ties into the sabotage attempt during the exams?¡± ¡°Yes, sir,¡± she said firmly. ¡°The timing is too convenient. Every thread I pull leads back to the same names: Harlen Macks, Andri Boutack, and his family.¡± The General leaned back in his chair, steepling his fingers. ¡°The Boutacks are influential, Major. You¡¯re walking a dangerous line.¡± ¡°With respect, sir,¡± Kuba replied, ¡°that influence is exactly what concerns me. Their ties to defense contracts and AI development are well-documented, and those same contracts overlap with Doli¡¯s early framework. Add Macks to the equation¡ªa former Boutack employee with expertise in AI integration¡ªand we have more than coincidence.¡± Torven was silent for a long moment, his gaze fixated on her, but his mind elsewhere. Then he tapped a control on his desk, and the room¡¯s holo-display came to life. A series of files and images appeared, including profiles of Andri, his parents, and Macks. ¡°Do you know what this is?¡± Torven asked, his voice measured. Kuba studied the display. ¡°Internal records?¡± ¡°Classified dossiers,¡± the General corrected. ¡°The Boutacks didn¡¯t just fund early AI projects¡ªthey pushed for autonomy protocols in Doli¡¯s development. Protocols that were deemed too risky and ultimately shelved. Officially, those protocols were purged.¡± ¡°And unofficially?¡± Kuba pressed. Torven¡¯s lips thinned. ¡°Unofficially, there were rumors they bypassed the purge and preserved some of the code. If that¡¯s true, then someone is trying to get the rest of it.¡± ¡°The attempt on Andri¡ªdisguised as Sylvk¡¯s poisoning¡ªis what?¡± ¡°You know what¡­¡± Kuba¡¯s mind raced. ¡°So Macks¡ªhe was involved in preserving that code?¡± Torven gave a slight nod. ¡°It¡¯s possible. He had access to the original schematics during his tenure with the Boutacks. However, there¡¯s more.¡± The screen changed and Major Kuba¡¯s blood boiled. ¡°So you¡¯ve pushed the other science teams ahead of me and Doli because of this?¡± ¡°Another family¡ªthe Brakers¡ªhave been using a back door to monitor Doli¡¯s development. They¡¯ve been quietly advancing their own version of the program, underhandedly attempting to claim what the Boutacks have built.¡± The Brakers were major players in military tech development¡ªand rivals to the Boutacks in AI research. Her stomach somersaulted. Their involvement complicated everything. And worse, if they had been monitoring Doli all along, they¡¯d know about Piotr, too. The gamble she¡¯d taken in bringing him in was now putting him directly in the crosshairs of corporate espionage. ¡°You know how hard we¡¯ve worked on Doli,¡± Kuba said lowering her voice. ¡°She will work as you need her too.¡± His eyes lit up, but then he frowned. ¡°Then it¡¯s a race to the finish line, isn¡¯t it Major?¡± Unauthorized usage: this narrative is on Amazon without the author''s consent. Report any sightings. Major Kuba scrunched her fists together behind her back. ¡°Is Andri aware of all of this?¡± Kuba¡¯s pulse quickened. The General¡¯s eyes darkened once again. ¡°That¡¯s the problem, Major. Andri is either an unwitting pawn or deeply complicit. Neither scenario is ideal.¡± Kuba exhaled sharply. ¡°What do you want me to do, sir?¡± ¡°Apart from speed up your work on Doli?¡± Torven stood, his presence filling the room. ¡°You will continue your investigation, but you will tread carefully. The council is already watching this closely. They won¡¯t hesitate to shut you down if you step out of line.¡± ¡°And Sylvk?¡± Kuba asked. ¡°He¡¯s in critical condition. If we don¡¯t find out who did this¡ª¡± ¡°Focus on the connections, Major,¡± Torven interrupted. ¡°The poisoning is a symptom of a larger problem. Uncover the full scope of the Boutacks¡¯ involvement and identify the Brakers¡¯ back door into Doli. If Andri is a part of it, I want proof.¡± Kuba nodded sharply. ¡°Understood, sir.¡± As the meeting ended and the files disappeared from the holo-display, Kuba felt the burden of the General¡¯s words. The Boutacks and the Brakers were no longer shadows on the periphery¡ªthey were central to whatever was happening at the academy. And now, lives hung in the balance. She left the room with a renewed sense of purpose. If the council wanted to play politics, fine. But she¡¯d play to win¡ªand she wasn¡¯t about to let Doli, Piotr, Andri, Sylvk, or the academy become collateral damage. Back in her office, Kuba secured the door and activated her encrypted terminal. She hesitated only a moment before initiating the call. This wasn¡¯t something she wanted to do, but she needed her father¡¯s insight now more than ever. The screen flickered, and Admiral Kuba¡¯s stern face appeared. He took one look at her expression and his features hardened. ¡°Ashley,¡± he said, skipping formalities. ¡°What¡¯s happened?¡± ¡°The situation¡¯s escalated, Father,¡± she replied, keeping her voice steady despite the turmoil inside. ¡°A cadet was poisoned¡ªcollateral damage in what appears to be an attempt on Andri Boutack.¡± The Admiral¡¯s eyes narrowed. ¡°And Argassa? How deep is he in this?¡± ¡°Too deep.¡± She couldn¡¯t hide the frustration in her voice. ¡°He¡¯s become essential to deciphering Doli¡¯s code, which means he¡¯s a target for whoever wants the technology. And now I¡¯ve learned the Brakers have been monitoring everything through a back door.¡± ¡°The Brakers,¡± her father repeated, his tone grave. ¡°That complicates matters significantly.¡± ¡°You know them?¡± Kuba asked, though she already suspected the answer. The Admiral¡¯s jaw tightened. ¡°I¡¯ve had dealings with both families over the years. The rivalry between the Boutacks and Brakers goes beyond business¡ªit¡¯s personal, and it¡¯s vicious. If they¡¯re both targeting Doli and, by extension, your Argassa, then the danger is greater than you realize.¡± ¡°My Argassa,¡± she echoed with a bitter laugh. ¡°The cadet you helped fast-track at my request. The one whose presence I justified as temporary¡ªjust enough time to extract his knowledge of Doli¡¯s systems.¡± ¡°A decision that grows more complicated by the day,¡± her father acknowledged. ¡°Do you regret it?¡± Kuba hesitated. ¡°No. Despite everything, he¡¯s proven invaluable. Without him, we might never have discovered the extent of the tampering with Doli. But I¡¯ve put him in danger without fully understanding the risks.¡± ¡°And now?¡± the Admiral pressed. ¡°Now I need to protect him while we complete Doli¡¯s development ahead of both families. General Torven made it clear¡ªit¡¯s a race to the finish line.¡± Her father¡¯s expression grew calculating. ¡°Torven¡¯s playing a dangerous game. The council won¡¯t tolerate another incident like this poisoning.¡± ¡°Which is why I need your help,¡± Kuba said, leaning closer to the screen. ¡°If the Brakers have been monitoring Doli through a back door, I need to know everything about their methods, their resources, their objectives. Any intelligence you can provide could be critical.¡± The Admiral was silent for a long moment, weighing his options. Finally, he nodded. ¡°I¡¯ll send what I can. Encrypted, of course. But Ashley,¡± his voice dropped lower, ¡°watch your back. If Torven is pushing you to accelerate Doli¡¯s development while simultaneously investigating both families, he¡¯s using you as bait.¡± ¡°I know,¡± she admitted. ¡°But I don¡¯t have much choice. If I back off now, Piotr loses his protection, and Doli falls into the wrong hands.¡± ¡°Then proceed with extreme caution,¡± her father advised. ¡°The Boutacks and Brakers didn¡¯t get where they are by playing fair. And remember, your career¡ªyour life¡ªis worth more than any program, even Doli.¡± Kuba smiled faintly. ¡°Is that concern I hear, Admiral?¡± A rare softness flickered across his features. ¡°It¡¯s a father¡¯s prerogative. Be careful, Ashley.¡± ¡°I will.¡± The connection terminated, and Kuba sat back, processing her father¡¯s warning. The stakes had risen exponentially since she¡¯d first brought Piotr into the academy. What had begun as a calculated risk to save her program had evolved into a complex web of corporate espionage, sabotage, and now attempted murder. She pulled up Piotr¡¯s file on her terminal, studying his image. He¡¯d adapted remarkably well, despite being thrown into the deep end. But how much more could she ask of him? How far could she push before something broke? One thing was certain¡ªshe couldn¡¯t retreat now. Too many lives hung in the balance, including Piotr¡¯s. The Boutacks, the Brakers, the academy, Doli¡ªall the pieces were in motion. And Major Kuba was determined to stay one step ahead of them all. ¡°Time to accelerate the timeline,¡± she murmured to herself, already formulating her next move. The race was on, and she refused to lose. Chapter 21 Chapter 21 <> Kerry said. <> I made sure everything was clean in the back office and made a run for it back to the hospital. I don¡¯t know about all the training, but this extra running about was making me tired. Sylvk was sitting up and eating when I walked in. He was at least now dressed. He put his fork down, and stared at me. No one wanted to move in any closer, till Doctor Hinada also stepped inside. With a swift hand she closed the door, and then sealed off the room. ¡°I¡¯m only going to say this once,¡± she said. So we waited. ¡°Listen carefully.¡± Kerry moved then to Sylvk¡¯s side, and she took his hand in hers. ¡°That poison was no joke. I¡¯ve sent in reports to the LTC. He¡¯s the only one other than you and Major Kuba who know the truth.¡± She picked up a datapad, and before us a 3D image flashed up in red. ¡°Your organs were shutting down. If you were any weaker, and if you¡¯d been anywhere else but with my sister, you¡¯d be dead.¡± Sylvk was obviously confused, he swallowed and looked up at Kerry who put a finger to his lips. ¡°You have two minutes to study the image, then it¡¯s gone.¡± Tara moved in, hugged her sister, whispered something I didn¡¯t quite hear, and then left us. Kerry hadn¡¯t let go of his hand at all and Sylvk locked fingers with her as she looked over the details from his scans. The big man paled as she was shaking her head, but then he looked at Rob. ¡°If that had been any of you?¡± ¡°We¡¯d be dead.¡± Rob said, his voice grave. I sat on the chair beside him and Rob leaned on the end of the bed. ¡°You really are as strong as an ox.¡± ¡°I almost didn¡¯t make it,¡± he said. Kerry got to the bottom of the page and cursed. There in flashing red was a price tag. ¡°I can¡¯t pay that,¡± Sylvk said. Kerry put her wrist to the image, and the price vanished. ¡°Don¡¯t worry about it.¡± ¡°But¡­¡± She squeezed his hand, and the whole image vanished then. The timer up. I knocked for the three of them, connecting them in a real time private conversation. ¡°I don¡¯t trust the room.¡± I said. ¡°Please talk to him.¡± ¡°Talk to me?¡± ¡°You remember anything else from coming out of the test center?¡± Kerry asked. Sylvk shook his head. ¡°I accessed your system HUD in full.¡± ¡°But¡­¡± ¡°My full title is Doctor Kerry Hinada.¡± ¡°Doctor?¡± Kerry nodded. ¡°I¡¯m not twenty-three, I¡¯m twenty-nine.¡± He coughed. ¡°Damn, you¡¯re older than me.¡± There was an edge of silence around us, as he stared at Kerry making her blush. <> Doli said. <> I replied to her. ¡°Lieutenant Robert Lynx,¡± Rob announced. ¡°I¡¯m thirty-three.¡± ¡°I knew you had quality.¡± Sylvk was nodding now. ¡°What do you mean?¡± ¡°Leadership quality. You¡¯ve led teams before. Teams like mine were.¡± Rob nodded, ¡°On many different tours, yes. But never met anyone like you. You¡¯re one of a kind.¡± When Sylvk looked to me, he asked. ¡°Piotr?¡± ¡°I am what it says on the tin, Piotr Argassa. Twenty-three.¡± I replied. ¡°You and Major Kuba?¡± Rob asked. ¡°We¡¯re working on a project together.¡± ¡°Top secret?¡± Kerry quizzed. ¡°Top secret.¡± I repeated. ¡°Sylvk Haba, twenty-seven. But¡ªI¡¯m just a grunt,¡± Sylvk said and glanced between his two friends. ¡°Why the hell are you two with me?¡± ¡°Bullshit,¡± Rob said, stepping forward. ¡°You¡¯re more than that, and you know it.¡± The story has been taken without consent; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident. ¡°Oh, yeah? You¡¯re officer material, Kerry¡¯s a qualified doctor¡­.¡± Sylvk raised an eyebrow at him. ¡°Enlighten me, cause there¡¯s nothing special to what I do.¡± ¡°You¡¯re the best tactical weapons expert in this academy,¡± Rob shot back. ¡°You know every single cadet¡¯s strength and weakness. You train harder than anyone, and you never ask for credit. That¡¯s not ¡®just a grunt.¡¯.¡± I stepped in closer. ¡°He¡¯s right. No one else has your level of discipline or knowledge. You don¡¯t just survive¡ªyou excel. And that¡¯s what makes you special and dangerous to whoever¡¯s behind all of this.¡± Sylvk looked between us, his expression unreadable. ¡°Dangerous, huh?¡± Kerry leaned closer, squeezing his hand. ¡°You¡¯re the backbone of this team, Sylvk. Don¡¯t sell yourself short.¡± Sylvk glanced to her hand then to me. I wanted to say something else, but suddenly I couldn¡¯t. For a moment, the room fell silent. Sylvk¡¯s hand hovered over a jagged scar running diagonally across his chest, the thick line uneven and pale against his skin. It was impossible not to notice how many there were¡ªeach one telling a story he hadn¡¯t shared yet. ¡°You know where I got most of these?¡± he asked, his voice low and distant. None of us answered. His gaze stayed fixed on the scar, and he didn¡¯t seem to need us to respond. ¡°First tour off-world,¡± he began. ¡°Desert planet. Harsh terrain, impossible conditions. We were tasked with securing a medical supply route, but things went south fast. Locals weren¡¯t just resistant¡ªthey were armed to the teeth with weapons we didn¡¯t know they had. That scar¡ª¡± He gestured to the jagged line. ¡°That was from an ambush. Plasma round. It missed my heart by an inch.¡± The room was silent except for the steady sound of the equipment. I couldn¡¯t take my eyes off him. ¡°After that, they patched me up and sent me back out,¡± he continued, his tone bitter. ¡°Because that¡¯s what grunts do, right? Take the hit, get up, and keep going. No time to think about what could¡¯ve happened, no time to process anything. Just follow orders.¡± Kerry¡¯s hand tightened around his. ¡°Syl¡­¡± He shook his head, cutting her off. ¡°Second tour wasn¡¯t much better. Urban warfare this time. Hostiles hiding in the shadows, snipers around every corner. You learned to move fast and stay low, or you didn¡¯t move at all.¡± He traced another scar along his ribs. ¡°Got this one dragging an injured mate to safety. He didn¡¯t make it, but I did. Funny how that works.¡± ¡°Survivor¡¯s guilt,¡± Rob said softly. Sylvk¡¯s lips quirked into a bitter smile. ¡°You get used to it. Or you tell yourself you do.¡± ¡°And you kept going,¡± I said, my voice barely above a whisper. ¡°What else was I supposed to do?¡± he asked, finally meeting my gaze. ¡°That¡¯s what they trained us for. Take the hits, protect the team, complete the mission. No questions, no complaints.¡± ¡°Doesn¡¯t sound like just a grunt to me,¡± Rob said, his tone sharp. ¡°Sounds like a someone who doesn¡¯t give himself enough credit.¡± Sylvk laughed, the sound hollow. ¡°Credit? No one wants credit when people die¡ªwe just¡­.we just keep going.¡± ¡°You do,¡± Kerry said. ¡°And that takes courage.¡± Sylvk stared at her for a long moment, his expression unreadable. ¡°Courage, huh?¡± ¡°It¡¯s true,¡± I said, stepping closer. ¡°Look at us. You¡¯re the one we all count on, even now. You think that¡¯s just luck? You think that¡¯s being just a grunt?¡± ¡°Like your just an engineer?¡± ¡°Touche,¡± Rob said. Sylvk didn¡¯t answer, but his jaw tightened. ¡°Tell me about this one,¡± Kerry said gently touching the largest of all the scars, this one ran the whole width of his torso. Sylvk hesitated, his gaze dropping to the faint scar across his abdomen, barely visible against his tanned skin. ¡°Third tour. Arctic outpost. Temperature so low, your breath froze in your helmet. We were escorting a VIP¡ª a scientist working on something classified. Never learned what it was. Hostiles hit us on the way back to base. We were outnumbered five to one.¡± He paused, his fingers tracing the scar as if reliving the moment. ¡°I took a blade to the gut during the fight. We managed to hold them off, but we lost the scientist. I held him while he bled out, listened to him apologize for screwing up. Like it was his fault.¡± The room felt impossibly still. I could see the weight of that moment etched into Sylvk¡¯s face, the way it had shaped him. ¡°And after all that?¡± Rob asked quietly. ¡°They gave me a medal and sent me home under medical supervision,¡± Sylvk said flatly. ¡°A nice little ribbon to remind me of everyone I couldn¡¯t save.¡± Kerry reached out, resting her other hand over his. ¡°And now you¡¯re here. Still standing, still fighting. Sylvk, that doesn¡¯t make you just a grunt. That makes you extraordinary.¡± For the first time, something shifted in Sylvk¡¯s expression. It wasn¡¯t quite acceptance, but the bitterness in his eyes softened. ¡°Extraordinary,¡± he repeated, his voice barely above a whisper. ¡°Doesn¡¯t feel like it.¡± ¡°Maybe not,¡± I said. ¡°But to us, you are. You¡¯re the reason we¡¯re still standing.¡± ¡°And you¡¯re the reason they didn¡¯t succeed,¡± Rob added. ¡°Whoever did this, they wanted Andri and his team out, they¡¯d all have eaten this poison. The fact they got you, instead of him, tells me one thing¡ªyou¡¯re not done yet, and neither is the enemy.¡± <> ¡°No. I¡¯m not done yet.¡± Sylvk let out a breath, leaning back against the headboard. ¡°If we¡¯re going to do this, then no more secrets. We need to trust each other.¡± ¡°We trust you,¡± Rob and Kerry said. Rob glanced at me, and I saw the unspoken question in his eyes. I swallowed hard, feeling the weight of their expectation. ¡°I¡­ can¡¯t yet,¡± I admitted. ¡°But I will. I promise.¡± Sylvk¡¯s lips quirked into the faintest smile. ¡°Good. Because if we¡¯re going to take on whoever¡¯s behind this, we need every edge we can get.¡± <> Doli said. <> I replied to her. <> I ignored her. There was an incoming ping. ¡°Professor Zhan,¡± I mouthed, and listened. ¡°She¡¯s put the next test off till tomorrow afternoon. So we can have Sylvk back with us.¡± Rob pushed the food towards Sylvk. ¡°Eat.¡± ¡°Kinda hard with one hand,¡± he looked at Kerry. ¡°Oh,¡± she flushed, and tried to pull away, but he held on. ¡°Not a chance. Come here.¡± He pulled her sharply toward him, and scooped her into his arms, wrapped them around her instead and squeezed. ¡°You outed yourself for me. Thank you.¡± Her hand traced down his face, and I motioned to the door. Rob nodded, and we slid out of their way. ¡°They¡¯re going to¡ªget it on?¡± I asked. ¡°I doubt it. They¡¯re professional.¡± Rob said. ¡°But that is their conversation to have.¡± ¡°They have deep feelings for each other,¡± I said. ¡°I know,¡± Rob agreed. ¡°Is it fair that they can¡¯t be together?¡± He paused, turned back to look just briefly. ¡°I can¡¯t answer that one, I don¡¯t know what we¡¯re doing, where we¡¯re going next.¡± ¡°You want to stay together, right?¡± He was nodding now though. ¡°We do.¡± ¡°Then fight for it, for them, always. Those two would do anything for you.¡± ¡°I¡¯d do anything for them too,¡± he said. He was nodding even more. I leaned on the wall outside, watched doctors and nurses move in and out of the main wards. ¡°So you were here for what?¡± I asked. ¡°To protect Andri? ¡°His family, yes,¡± he said. ¡°Though I had no idea the others were too, that means we¡¯ve all been hired in from different sources.¡± ¡°Who are his family?¡± Rob frowned. ¡°Top Secret?¡± He nodded. ¡°Sorry.¡± ¡°We all have our secrets. If we can, let¡¯s work together. No one needs sneaky assholes like that trying to take them out.¡± ¡°They don¡¯t, and despite Andri being¡ª¡± ¡°A dick?¡± ¡°Mostly, he¡¯s a good kid.¡± ¡°Yeah,¡± I thought to the moments shared. He cared a lot for his brother, and clearly those in his team around him. ¡°Go rest,¡± Rob said. ¡°It¡¯s been a long ass day.¡± ¡°You too,¡± I threw my head back at the door and walked away. Rest was never on my cards. I went back to work, to Ashley¡¯s. I needed to keep busy while things were like this. Busy to me, meant fixing things. That meant Doli-2 was the perfect stress relief for me. Chapter 22 Andri did not contact us, he never even met my gaze the following day. It was more than a little concerning. Sylvk still wasn¡¯t fit so Professor Zhan pushed the next test a few more days. I didn¡¯t mind at all. It wasn¡¯t one I wanted to do so soon. Another Zero-G. <> Doli asked. <> ¡°I just am,¡± I returned to her. ¡°I¡¯ll help you get some practice in. We can see your worry line from here,¡± Kerry offered, that familiar eager light in her eyes when she looked at me. I¡¯d noticed it before¡ªthat mixture of curiosity and something else I couldn¡¯t quite place. It wasn¡¯t unusual for me; new team members often latched onto the novelty before the shine wore off. ¡°We both can,¡± Rob added, clapping a hand on my shoulder. The team had been remarkably welcoming, especially after Ashley¡¯s directive to look after me. Perhaps too welcoming. The familiar sensation of being observed like a specimen crept up my spine again. ¡°I got extra studies elsewhere, sorry.¡± I shuffled my feet, not meeting their eyes. ¡°Studies,¡± Kerry laughed putting air quotes around her words and exchanging a knowing glance with Rob. Her attention always seemed to follow Sylvk when he was around, yet in his absence, it redirected to me with unsettling intensity. But they both nodded at me, and we parted ways in completely opposite directions. Thoughts of their expectations followed me down the corridor. I¡¯d been through this cycle before¡ªnew people, new connections, new disappointments waiting to happen. Major Kuba met me at her door, looking tired. Dark circles had formed under her eyes, and her usually impeccable posture had a slight but noticeable slump. ¡°You okay?¡± she asked. ¡°I am. Ready to keep pulling everything that makes Doli¡ªDoli apart?¡± I watched her carefully, noting how her fingers tapped restlessly against her thigh. ¡°Yes,¡± she said. ¡°You¡¯ve got more to prove now, right?¡± ¡°I want ours to work. I want theirs to fail.¡± She frowned. ¡°So, yes.¡± Ashley had such a beautiful vision, and I found her insight and tenacity to never giving up refreshing. Different from my ex, who¡¯d abandoned ship at the first sign of trouble¡ªboth literally and figuratively. The thought came unbidden, and I pushed it away quickly. Through the day my body and my mind was put through its paces, but in the evening, everything I was, was pushed all the more. ¡°I can¡¯t get this in close enough,¡± Ashley said. ¡°Pass me the smaller wrench, please.¡± I was about to pull it from her toolbox when I heard a sickening thwack and her yelp. ¡°Fuck, fuck, fuck!¡± I rushed straight to her. ¡°What you do?¡± ¡°It¡¯ll be fine,¡± she said holding her other hand up to stop me. The stubborn set of her jaw reminded me of myself, refusing help even when it was clearly needed. <> Doli informed me, not us. <> ¡°No,¡± I said. ¡°It won¡¯t be.¡± I moved in and pulled her hand toward me for a better look. ¡°Doli says you¡¯ve dislocated it.¡± ¡°I know,¡± she said. ¡°Not the first time.¡± Her voice was tight, controlled in a way that spoke of practiced pain management. ¡°I¡¯ll call¡ª¡± ¡°Just get me some ice from the freezer,¡± she said. Her tone was stern, but I could see underneath it. The vulnerability she rarely showed, flashing in her eyes for just a second before disappearing behind her military discipline. I went to her freezer and pulled out some ice. Heading back, I could see what she was doing, then heard the snap as she pulled her thumb back into place herself. The sound made my stomach turn, but I kept my face neutral. Just like in the care system¡ªnever show weakness, never flinch. ¡°Desk. Second drawer down,¡± she panted, ¡°at the back. Grab us both a glass.¡± A nice bottle of Scottish Highland whiskey sat there, so I found two glasses and returning to her poured us each a measure. The amber liquid caught the light, reminding me of similar nights drowning different sorrows. ¡°Hand,¡± I said. Ashley held her hand out for me, and I wrapped it in the ice packs. She never even winced. ¡°How many times?¡± I asked her. ¡°Too many,¡± she replied and downed her shot, pouring another¡ªthat went down too. Her hand trembled slightly, not from pain but something deeper. I recognized the look¡ªthe one that said tonight was significant for reasons she wasn¡¯t sharing. ¡°Kerry,¡± Ashley slurred. How was she drunk already? <> Doli answered. <> <> That constant presence, always listening, always analyzing¡ªit made my skin crawl sometimes. ¡°Kerry Hinada,¡± I nodded. ¡°What about her? Wants to be a doctor at a big space station.¡± ¡°I saw the way you were smiling at her. Honestly, I didn¡¯t think you¡¯d be so... predictable.¡± There was an edge to her voice I hadn¡¯t heard before, a rawness that belied her usually composed demeanor. What, what was this? She had me totally confused here. ¡°Predictable?¡± I asked, then chided. ¡°Smiling is polite, Ashley, not a crime.¡± I¡¯d been careful to maintain professional distance with everyone¡ªhad she noticed something I hadn¡¯t? ¡°Oh, sure, and I¡¯m supposed to ignore that you¡¯re clearly her new favorite person?¡± She swirled the whiskey in her glass, not meeting my eyes. I was not her new favorite person, Sylvk was. She had no eyes for me at all. I¡¯d watched her light up whenever he entered a room, had noticed how her attention followed him during training. My observational skills hadn¡¯t failed me there. Why is that bothering her? I held her eyes with mine trying to parse this new¡­ jealousy? It wasn¡¯t just tonight¡ªthere had been small signs before. The way she tensed when Kerry touched my arm during lunch last week. How she¡¯d started calling me more frequently for ¡°project updates¡± whenever I spent too long with the team. ¡°I¡¯m her new teammate, they¡¯ve been told by you to look after me. That¡¯s all they¡¯re doing.¡± ¡°She¡¯s not just looking after you,¡± she said and downed another shot. A flush had crept up her neck, and not just from the alcohol. I thought about it for another second, then smiled. ¡°Jealousy looks good on you. But seriously, you¡¯re not worried about some stranger stealing me away, are you?¡± The words left my mouth before I could filter them, an old defense mechanism¡ªdeflect with humor, never show vulnerability. Ashley looked away and tried to pull her hand with it. I held on, and gently rubbed up her inner forearm. She was so tense. I didn¡¯t want that. I reached the top of her forearm and retreated slowly. Her eyes met mine then, and she blushed, really blushed. The sight of it caught me off guard¡ªthat someone so composed could be so affected by my touch. ¡°What¡¯s going on?¡± I asked. ¡°Seriously? You¡¯ve been stomping around here all night.¡± In truth, I¡¯d noticed her mood from the moment I arrived¡ªthe sharp movements, the distracted glances, the way she kept checking her comm device then setting it down with frustrated sighs. ¡°I have not.¡± <> Doli confirmed. She sucked in a breath. ¡°I don¡¯t get jealous... usually. But maybe it¡¯s because I¡¯m not used to sharing people who matter to me.¡± Her voice dropped on those last words, as if admitting something she¡¯d fought against acknowledging. ¡°Woooh¡ªI matter to you?¡± I grinned, and my stomach somersaulted. ¡°This feels like a confession. Did you hit your head as well as almost break your thumb?¡± My heart raced as I said it. People didn¡¯t matter to me, and I didn¡¯t matter to them. That had been the rule¡ªthe safer option. ¡°Don¡¯t push it,¡± she tried to pull away again, and again I didn¡¯t let her. ¡°I might have to reconsider...¡± She couldn¡¯t hold my eyes. ¡°What are you doing to me?¡± That question touched a different side of me, the analytical one. ¡°Distraction from the pain, mostly,¡± I replied. ¡°It¡¯s working, right?¡± Another deflection. Easier than acknowledging what was happening between us¡ªwhatever it was. She nodded and was silent for a long moment. Her eyes drifted to a small holographic image on her desk that I hadn¡¯t noticed before¡ªa family portrait, perhaps? ¡°What was it like growing up in care?¡± Not at all tactfully changing the conversation. I downed my whiskey before answering, the burn in my throat giving me a moment to decide how much to reveal. These were waters I rarely waded into with anyone. This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere. ¡°It was tough,¡± I said. ¡°I wasn¡¯t ever in one place long. But it has made me who I am today.¡± I ran my thumb along the rim of the glass, remembering faces and places I usually kept locked away. ¡°You¡¯re a strong character,¡± she admitted. ¡°I wasn¡¯t always this composed under pressure. There was this one time in the care system when I nearly got suspended for defending a kid from a bully.¡± The memory surfaced unexpectedly¡ªTommy Reeves, seven years old, crying as the older boys took his only photo of his mother. ¡°You? Suspended? You don¡¯t come across as the rebellious type.¡± Her eyes had softened, the earlier tension temporarily forgotten. ¡°I wasn¡¯t. But when this kid tripped me on purpose in the lunch line, I accidentally¡ªokay, intentionally¡ªshoved pudding in his face. The worst part? It wasn¡¯t even a good pudding. It was tapioca.¡± What I didn¡¯t add was how the headmaster had looked at me afterward¡ªlike I was trouble, like I¡¯d always be trouble. That look followed me from home to home. Ashley snorted, and poured us both more whiskey. ¡°That¡¯s probably the most badass tapioca-related incident I¡¯ve ever heard.¡± Her smile reached her eyes this time, creating small crow¡¯s feet at the corners that I found oddly endearing. ¡°Your turn. Don¡¯t tell me life on a military base was all marching drills and salute practice.¡± I shifted slightly, allowing myself to relax a fraction. ¡°My parents are both in the military,¡± she admitted, her smile fading slightly. She twisted a strand of hair around her finger¡ªa nervous gesture I¡¯d never seen from her before. I raised an eyebrow at her. ¡°Oh? Here?¡± ¡°My mother is on this base, yes. In the medical unit.¡± A shadow passed over her face, something complicated in her expression. ¡°Good to know,¡± I replied and turned her hand over. ¡°Feeling better?¡± ¡°Much, thanks,¡± she picked up the bottle, and her glass then moved to her small lounge. I followed and sat opposite her, watching as she curled into herself slightly. ¡°What about your father?¡± I asked, before registering the tightening around her mouth. Ashley shifted in her seat, kicking off her boots and tucking her feet beneath her. Her eyes darting to Doli. The AI¡¯s presence in the room suddenly felt intrusive, witnessing something private. ¡°You don¡¯t have to¡ª¡± ¡°He¡¯s out in the dark,¡± she whispered. Her knuckles whitened around her glass, and I realized I¡¯d stumbled onto something significant. ¡°You miss him?¡± I asked, clearly being an idiot tonight was my agenda. <> Doli warned. <> <> <<10%.>> Shit¡­ she downed yet another shot and cocked her head to one side. ¡°That high IQ of yours is good at deduction, I guess too.¡± ¡°I¡¯ve been around a lot of people,¡± I said. ¡°From all walks of life. Someone who is jealous, or missing a parent is easy to spot.¡± My gaze fell on a small trinket on her shelf¡ªsomething military, a medal perhaps, displayed with reverence. Ashley looked away. ¡°Growing up with them and their stature wasn¡¯t easy,¡± she admitted. ¡°One time, my brother and I snuck onto the training grounds after dark. He dared me to climb into a parked tank¡ªlong story short, it was not parked.¡± She had a brother? The way she said it¡ªpast tense, with a catch in her voice¡ªmade me wonder. ¡°You accidentally started a tank?¡± I asked instead of the¡ªwhere¡¯s your brother question. <> Doli blurted. <> I nearly choked on my drink. <> <> she replied, and then added. <> ¡°Let¡¯s just say, the base commander wasn¡¯t thrilled with two kids joyriding a military vehicle. My dad grounded us for a month, but my brother got off easier because he said it was all my idea.¡± Her smile was sad now, heavy with memory. She traced a pattern on the arm of her chair, lost in thought for a moment. ¡°That explains a lot about us.¡± I deflected the family talk, sensing her discomfort. ¡°Bold, reckless, and willing to throw pudding¡ªor drive a tank¡ªwhen provoked.¡± ¡°Guess we¡¯re not so different after all.¡± She looked back at me. ¡°I don¡¯t mean to be jealous.¡± ¡°But you are?¡± I surprised myself by pushing the point. Perhaps I wanted her to admit it again¡ªthat I mattered. ¡°Been a long time since I was in basic training. But those friendships are made to last, they become family.¡± She stared into her glass, as if the answer lay somewhere in the amber liquid. ¡°I can¡¯t afford to have family,¡± I said and poured us both another drink. The words came from somewhere deep, somewhere that still ached when I allowed myself to feel it. ¡°No one?¡± Her eyes met mine, searching. ¡°No one,¡± I said, and was quite firm over it. I¡¯d tried that road before. Twice, in fact. Both times had ended with me collecting the broken pieces of myself. ¡°Why?¡± she asked. I didn¡¯t really want to talk about it. I swirled the whiskey in my glass, watching it catch the light rather than meeting her gaze. ¡°Why?¡± she asked again. Her persistence was both irritating and oddly comforting. Few people bothered to ask twice. Fuck. ¡°Because family even chosen family will always fuck you over,¡± I admitted, my fingers tugging on my uniform sleeve. Conscious of it, I forced myself to stop before I pulled a thread out and had to sew it. An old nervous habit from when I was younger¡ªfidgeting with clothing when uncomfortable. ¡°You¡¯ve been seriously hurt,¡± Ashley¡¯s face fell, ¡°I¡¯m so sorry.¡± There was no pity in her eyes, just recognition¡ªas if she understood exactly what I meant. ¡°My best friend and pregnant girlfriend.¡± I admitted. The memory still had teeth, still bit when I let my guard down. Walking into our apartment, finding them together, the subsequent revelation that nothing between us had been real¡ªat least not on her side. I watched her toying with her glass a little before she downed yet another shot, and I followed her example. The burn was welcome now, blunting the edges of the memory. ¡°You have a kid?¡± She asked it softly, delicately, as if handling something fragile. It was the way her eyes held mine. There was nothing but sorrow there. Not judgment or morbid curiosity¡ªjust human understanding. ¡°No,¡± I replied though it made me uncomfortable. ¡°She¡¯d been cheating on me the whole time. They had.¡± I looked down at my hands, remembering how they¡¯d shaken that day, how I¡¯d packed my meager belongings while she cried and made excuses. ¡°The baby was his.¡± She was nodding softly. ¡°I understand the way you distance yourself, your need to not be attached. Your need to be in space.¡± Her voice had a wistful quality, as if she recognized herself in my words. ¡°Good,¡± I added, and it was a little more snappy than I intended. I regretted it immediately, watching her draw back slightly. <<15%.>> Doli said. ¡°I should let this rest tonight,¡± Ashley said, setting down her glass with careful precision. I¡¯d totally blown it, hadn¡¯t I? ¡°I¡¯ll see you tomorrow, yeah?¡± When she stood, she wobbled, ¡°Yes,¡± I said and watched her sway out. The sudden ending to our conversation left me feeling hollow. <> <> Doli didn¡¯t say another word. I put the glasses away, and I thought about leaving. Ashley had me worried, though. I admit I was only just getting to know her, but this felt weirdly out of character. Despite my snappy comment about my ex. I had enjoyed our brief opening up. The whiskey had pulled down walls I usually kept firmly in place, and something about Ashley made me want to peek over those barriers. Instead of leaving, I pulled a blanket out of the cupboard, and tucking myself in, I settled on her couch for the night. The light from the base outside cast shadows across her living quarters. It was sparse but personal¡ªa few books, that medal, a plant struggling to survive in the artificial light. Small touches of a life carefully constructed. I¡¯d take the hit when she shouted at me the next morning. That hit never came. When I woke to the smell of fresh coffee, I glanced toward her kitchen area. Ashley was in a long t-shirt and those same fuzzy slippers, two mugs in hand. She turned to me, and then she padded over. Her hair was tousled from sleep, a softness to her I hadn¡¯t seen before. ¡°Didn¡¯t want to leave me?¡± she asked, settling one of the mugs down before me. The question held no accusation, just quiet surprise. I shook my head. ¡°You okay?¡± She crossed her legs, and I got a wonderful shapely view right up to her¡ª <> <> The AI¡¯s timing was impeccable, and infuriating. < > she replied. <> <> I ordered. I heard a ping and then there was nothing. Ashley was nursing her coffee, not drinking it. Her shoulders slumped, and her hair night swept. In the morning light, I could see the redness around her eyes. She¡¯d been crying. ¡°Are you okay?¡± I asked again. She looked up at me. ¡°It was my father¡¯s birthday yesterday,¡± she admitted. Her thumb, the injured one, absently stroked the handle of her mug, careful not to put too much pressure on it. ¡°Ahh,¡± I murmured, feeling like an idiot. Suddenly her behavior made sense¡ªthe drinking, the melancholy, the jealousy as distraction. ¡°It hit me. The alcohol¡­ I¡ª¡± She cut herself off, shaking her head slightly. I sipped the coffee. It was good. ¡°Then I¡¯m glad I stayed the night.¡± I meant it. The nights after significant dates were always the hardest. I¡¯d spent too many alone. ¡°I got up for water, noted you had. Thank you. It was comforting, you being here.¡± Her smile was small but genuine, reaching her eyes in a way that made my chest tighten. ¡°If you ever need¡ªplease ask.¡± The words felt foreign on my tongue. I didn¡¯t offer support easily, didn¡¯t invite people to lean on me. Yet here I was, doing exactly that. ¡°I¡¯m not used to asking,¡± she said. ¡°Neither am I, but maybe you¡¯ll try?¡± I held her gaze, trying to convey that I meant it. She drank deeply. ¡°They¡¯ll have recorded your absence from your bunk,¡± she said. ¡°I¡¯ll have to log you were here.¡± Her tone shifted to something more professional, more guarded. ¡°That a bad thing?¡± ¡°Oh god, if my father finds out. Yes.¡± Her voice trembled, that fear was real, immediate. ¡°Would I be that bad as a¡ª¡± I let the question hang, not entirely sure how to finish it. Friend? Colleague? Something more? ¡°No,¡± she said, ¡°No to that too. He¡¯s¡­ he¡¯s strict, said I could never be involved with a soldier.¡± Her eyes drifted to that medal again, and I wondered what history lay there. ¡°I¡¯m not a soldier,¡± I replied. Technically true, but I suspected her father wouldn¡¯t appreciate the distinction. <> <> Doli replied. <> <> <> Doli went quiet. Too quiet. ¡°So,¡± I poked Ashley instead. ¡°What would your mother say?¡± Ashley laughed. ¡°She¡¯d laugh it off and say it was about damn time I had a man in my room.¡± The tension in her shoulders eased slightly. I raised an eyebrow at her. ¡°You¡¯ve had girls here?¡± The question came out more jealous than I¡¯d intended. Apparently, I wasn¡¯t immune to that particular emotion either. She didn¡¯t reply to that¡­ damn, so she had? I laughed, something caught in my throat. I coughed till my head hurt, and Ashley was standing in front of me, patting my back a second later. Now I got a nice view down the front of her shirt. Damn. I am glad Doli was off. My heart rate would be through the roof. Ashley had curves that made my head swim. I¡¯d not thought about the opposite sex in a long time. My last relationship had ended badly. The physical attraction I felt toward Ashley scared me almost as much as the emotional connection forming between us. <> Doli said. I tried to ignore her. <> <> I replied. <> After what happened with Lena, I¡¯d convinced myself that particular part of me was dead and buried. Safer that way. ¡°I¡¯m good,¡± I pushed back, trying my best to look away from her exposed flesh. <> <> I ordered her again. Damn I¡¯d have to fix this intrusive side of her, it was more than frustrating. Though her observations weren¡¯t wrong¡ªjust unwelcome. Ashley however, didn¡¯t flinch. Not interested in me at all. Ugh. ¡°I¡¯ll get dressed and run you to the gym,¡± she said. I nodded and while I waited, finished the coffee and cleaned up. My eyes were drawn to where I knew Ashley was. I can¡¯t get attached. I repeated it to myself like a mantra. Attachment meant vulnerability. Vulnerability meant pain. I¡¯d learned that lesson too well to forget it now. It was, I feared, already too late for that. Something had shifted between us last night, some invisible barrier had crumbled. I found myself both terrified and exhilarated by the possibility of what might come next, and by the certainty that I was already more invested than was safe. Chapter 23 Chapter 23 I worked my ass off that day in the gym. Even Kerry struggled to keep up. She asked me three times was I okay, and my answer was the same. Standing at the water hole, this time she didn¡¯t ask me that, ¡°How¡¯s your stats looking?¡± I cast her a glance, then held my wrist out for her. ¡°You sure?¡± ¡°Go on, you see more than most right?¡± On her nod I added. ¡°I¡¯m sure.¡± ¡°Would you like to see what I see?¡± ¡°Can I? ¡°Here,¡± she moved us away from the water hole to a bench and sat, so I followed suit, perching beside her. ¡°There¡¯s deeper things for us, not just the basic stats, if I have permission or in a medical emergency¡ª¡± ¡°Like with Sylvk?¡± ¡°Exactly,¡± she held her wrist out for me, and I put mine to hers.
    Name: Piotr Argassa Age: 23
    Species: Human Bonus: None
    Height: 6¡¯2 Weight: 192lbs
    BMI: 24 Fitness: 78%
    IQ: 155 CAR: 9.5 Education: None
    Stat Level of 10 Description Mods
    Endoskeleton 1 Governs agility and movement. C4 Port Upgrade
    Mental Energy 6 Swiftness of the mind. DOLI - nano chip *not public*
    Perception 7 Senses and connection to the system. DOLI - CI Assistant *not public*
    Dexterity 3 Also governs agility and movement.
    Toughness 5 Body and internal fortitude.
    Kerry moved the screen for me to see what she could. ¡°This is what I can see.¡± My jaw dropped. ¡°Wow, that¡¯s amazing. Why don¡¯t we get to see all this?¡± ¡°Oh, you can if you want to, most people don¡¯t want too.¡± ¡°Each of this lets me know how you¡¯re doing, like now in training.¡± ¡°Tell me, please.¡± She smiled at me and looked back to my stats. ¡°Wait¡ªlemme check this.¡± Her face changed. ¡°Here, this is you when you were with Sylvk yesterday.
    Post Workout Reading Piotr¡¯s Current Reading
    Neural Integration Levels 0¨C100% 88% ~78%
    Cognitive Load Index 0¨C100% ¡°utilization¡± 65%
    Neural Stability 0¨C100% (higher = more stable) 89% ~83%
    Adrenaline / Cortisol Levels ¡°1.0¡± = baseline Adrenaline 1.8 / Cortisol 1.5
    Implant Stress Markers 0¨C100% ¡°risk factor¡± 15%
    Localized Muscle Strain Index 0¨C50% (above 30% = risk of injury) 12%
    Immuno-Response Threshold 0¨C100% 95% 75¨C80%
    Core Metabolic Efficiency 0¨C100% 85%
    Psychometric Markers 0¨C10 ¡°stress score¡± 3
    Environmental Tolerance ¡°Nominal¡± / ¡°Elevated¡± / ¡°Stressed¡± Nominal
    Infection Marker N/A (should be 0) N/A (should be 0) Elevated
    Hormone / Cortisol Levels ~1.2 baseline ~1.6¨C1.7
    Taste / Sensory Readings Baseline Slightly Muted
    Fatigue / Stress Index Low¨CModerate Moderate¨CHigh
    ¡°Piotr, these scans show you¡¯re definitely not at one hundred percent. Your immune markers are spiking a little, which usually happens when the body is fending off an infection¡ªor something that mimics it. Right now, it looks like a low-grade bug, but we can¡¯t pinpoint the source. Did you know this story is from Royal Road? Read the official version for free and support the author. The good news is your neural integration and stability haven¡¯t crashed¡ªthey¡¯re just a bit lower than usual. Keep an eye on any headaches or new symptoms, and report them right away, okay? I¡¯m not too worried yet, but I want us to stay ahead of whatever this is.¡± The headaches had never really gone away, at least I hadn¡¯t had a nosebleed again. I just nodded at her. ¡°Will do.¡± <> <> she replied. <> <> <> When we parted ways, Kerry leaned in and rested a hand on my arm. ¡°I get the frustration,¡± she said. ¡°But we¡¯re here for you. Got it.¡± Her hand lingered a moment, till I nodded. Then she left me. I was struggling with this team dynamics. I knew I was leaving, but I wanted to stay. I wanted what they had. The comradery, the care. <> Doli said. <> I was going to answer her, to talk about it more, instead I threw myself into where we¡¯d gotten on Doli-2. It was in the middle of re-writing a section of Doli-2s code the next night I finally got Andri¡¯s message. Andri - Come over, room 421, Alpha271¡¯s block. Me - Code? Andri - 4221778 - Visitor pass. Me - On my way. <> Doli asked as I made to move. ¡°Shit,¡± I replied. ¡°No that wouldn¡¯t be fair.¡± It took me a minute to finish the code string, and then lock Doli-2 off, but at least she wasn¡¯t in limbo. ¡°Since when did you worry about Doli-2 being offline at night?¡± <> Lonely? I paused, surprised by the unexpected empathy in Doli¡¯s response. ¡°That¡¯s a very human observation.¡± <> I shook my head, both intrigued and slightly unsettled. Doli was evolving faster than I¡¯d anticipated¡ªdeveloping nuances I hadn¡¯t programmed. Something to consider later, when my mind wasn¡¯t racing with Andri¡¯s cryptic message. The cold night air bit at my skin as I crossed the base toward Andri¡¯s block, carrying the faint, metallic tang of machinery and recycled oxygen. The corridors stretched long and silent, but something about them felt off tonight¡ªthe kind of quiet that wasn¡¯t calm, but watchful. As I passed an open access panel near the engineering wing, I caught a flicker of movement in my peripheral vision. I stopped, squinting into the shadowed alcove. Nothing. Probably a stray reflection. Still, unease prickled at the back of my neck. <> Doli noted. <> ¡°Just being cautious,¡± I muttered, quickening my pace until I reached Alpha271s bunks. The general sounds of Andri¡¯s building¡¯s internal systems vibrated faintly through the walls as I stepped inside. The corridors here were pristine, every surface polished to reflect the academy¡¯s unyielding standards of excellence. My boots echoed against the tiled floor as I approached room 421. The door slid open as I keyed in the visitor pass, revealing Andri hunched over his personal terminal. The small space was as meticulously kept as I¡¯d expected. His bunk was regulation-perfect, the sheets crisp and taut. A pristine uniform hung neatly by the door, and his desk held nothing but the terminal and a single stylus. The sterile scent of standard-issue cleaning solution hung in the air, sharp and clinical. ¡°Do you live here, or is this part of the academy museum?¡± I muttered, leaning against the desk as he typed commands into his terminal. ¡°Some of us like order, Argassa,¡± he said without looking up. ¡°You should try it sometime. Might help with your whole ¡®chaotic genius¡¯ vibe.¡± ¡°Funny,¡± I said, crossing my arms. ¡°I prefer ¡®resourceful innovator.¡¯¡± Andri snorted, but there was no real humor in it this time. His focus stayed locked on the screen as the footage began rendering. The grainy image sharpened layer by layer, resolving into the hooded figure. The metallic vial was unmistakable. ¡°There,¡± Andri said, pointing at the screen. ¡°They dropped it near the staff table and left.¡± ¡°Rewind,¡± I said. ¡°I want to see where they came from.¡± He obliged, dragging the footage back several minutes. The figure entered the mess hall through the side entrance, moving with purpose. They kept their head down, avoiding the main serving lines and slipping past the staff unnoticed. ¡°They knew exactly what they were doing,¡± I said, narrowing my eyes at the screen. ¡°No hesitation. No wasted time.¡± ¡°They weren¡¯t a cadet,¡± Andri said firmly. His jaw was set, eyes hard with certainty. ¡°Look at the way they move¡ªtrained, professional.¡± ¡°You mean like Rob is?¡± I didn¡¯t answer that. It wasn¡¯t my place too. ¡°Look,¡± he said, his voice dropped. ¡°I knew something was off from the start of this term. Beta271 weren¡¯t on the boards till Rob and Kerry joined them. Then slowly they lost their reserves and that last guy... Ackers well, he was a mess.¡± ¡°You really suspected they were planted?¡± He tapped the side of his head. ¡°Till you came along, yeah. You I can¡¯t weigh up at all.¡± ¡°Ahh,¡± I said and tried to deflect. ¡°Could be someone from outside the academy.¡± Andri paused the footage, his jaw tightening. ¡°Or someone who wanted to look like they were from outside.¡± That thought sent a chill down my spine. If this person was connected to the academy, it meant the sabotage and poisoning weren¡¯t random acts¡ªthey were part of something bigger. I felt the familiar tightening in my chest, the same sensation from the day Sylvk collapsed. ¡°You seem awfully sure about that,¡± I said, glancing at him. ¡°What aren¡¯t you telling me?¡± He stilled, his fingers hovering over the keys. For a long moment, he didn¡¯t respond, and I thought he was going to brush me off. But then he exhaled sharply, his shoulders slumping. ¡°I talked to my parents,¡± he admitted. ¡°They confirmed what I¡¯d already started to suspect. The poisoning wasn¡¯t about Sylvk at all. It was about me.¡± I frowned, my chest tightening. ¡°Why would anyone target you?¡± ¡°It¡¯s not me,¡± Andri said, leaning back in his chair. ¡°It¡¯s my family. My father¡¯s been pushing reforms that threaten certain... interests. Contractors, private factions with too much to lose. We¡¯ve been receiving threats for months. This is the latest in a long line.¡± I stared at him, the pieces clicking into place. ¡°And the sabotage? The power grid, the exams¡ªit¡¯s all connected, isn¡¯t it?¡± He nodded grimly. ¡°The exams were the perfect cover. If they¡¯d gone down, it would¡¯ve been a public embarrassment for my family. And if the poisoning succeeded¡­¡± He trailed off, his jaw tightening. ¡°Well, they wouldn¡¯t have to worry about me anymore, would they?¡± A cold knot formed in my stomach. I replayed the vial drop on my datapad, the figure¡¯s deliberate movements taking on new significance. I said quietly. ¡°It was a message.¡± ¡°Exactly,¡± Andri said. ¡°And now it¡¯s personal.¡± The terminal beeped, drawing our attention back to the screen. Andri turned, his expression darkening as a name and photo appeared. The image was grainy but clear enough to make out a sharp jawline and cold, calculating eyes. The name beneath it was one I didn¡¯t recognize, but Andri stiffened immediately. ¡°Harlen Macks,¡± he admitted. ¡°He used to work security at my family¡¯s estate. We fired him two years ago.¡± ¡°What for?¡± I asked. ¡°Embezzlement.¡± Andri¡¯s fists clenched. ¡°After, he sent threats to my father. Said we¡¯d regret cutting him loose. My parents thought he was blowing off steam, but I knew better.¡± ¡°And now he¡¯s here,¡± I said, my mind racing. ¡°You think he¡¯s the one behind all this?¡± ¡°If not him directly, he¡¯s connected,¡± Andri said. ¡°Macks doesn¡¯t bluff, and he doesn¡¯t forget.¡± I leaned back against the desk, trying to process it all. The sabotage, the poisoning, the calculated attack on the academy¡ªthey were all threads leading back to Andri and his family. And now, with Macks in the picture, it was clear this wasn¡¯t over. ¡°What do we do?¡± I asked finally. Andri met my gaze, his expression cold and determined. ¡°We stop him. Whatever it takes. However long it takes.¡± *** I crawled into my bunk not long after leaving Andri¡¯s. My mind churned with everything he¡¯d revealed¡ªfaces and fragments of conversations replaying on endless loop. Someone had systematically targeted the academy, endangered my team, and they were still out there. I double-checked my door lock, an old habit from too many unstable foster homes. ¡°Doli, alert me if anyone approaches my door tonight.¡± <> Sleep felt impossible, the weight of responsibility pressing down on me. If Andri was right, this wasn¡¯t over. Far from it. And my team was caught in the crossfire of something much bigger than academy rivalries. I needed a distraction, something to quiet my mind enough to function tomorrow. ¡°Think I can do the whole course?¡± <> ¡°Same rule applies then¡ª¡± <> ¡°Thanks, Doli.¡± The text boxes came up and I read, letting the academic material wash over me. Maybe focusing on xenobiology would quiet the unease gnawing at my gut. This course is a hybrid of biology, sociology, and strategy, preparing cadets for encounters with alien species. It focuses on understanding alien physiology, culture, and communication styles to ensure effective diplomacy and mutual respect in interstellar interactions. Lesson Outline: Week 1: Foundations of Xenobiology Study of alien anatomies: comparative biology between species. Understanding physiological differences and their implications for communication. Lab Exercise: Analyzing holographic alien specimens Week 2-4: Cultural Dynamics Exploring the social hierarchies and rituals of various alien species. Case studies of first-contact missions: successes and failures. Simulation Exercise: Diplomacy scenarios requiring cultural sensitivity. Week 5-6: Advanced Communication Tactics Non-verbal communication methods: signals, postures, and bio-luminescence. Overcoming linguistic barriers with adaptive technology. Simulation Exercise: Negotiating a peace treaty under tense conditions. Week 7-8: Practical Application and Testing Multi-species interaction drills, testing cadets¡¯ ability to adapt to unexpected behavior. Final Assignment: A simulated first-contact mission where cadets must navigate a cultural misunderstanding. Core Activities: Hands-on dissection labs and holographic studies of alien anatomy. Mock first-contact scenarios, complete with unpredictable alien behaviors. Case studies analyzing the complexities of interstellar relations. Key Lesson: ¡°Understanding culture is as important as understanding biology. Respect can save lives.¡± I had no idea when I fell asleep, but I must have. As consciousness returned, fragments of alien communication protocols mixed with Andri¡¯s warnings in my mind, creating a disorienting fog. There was something bugging me about the lessons though. ¡°Where did I get too?¡± <> Doli informed me. ¡°That good?¡± <> ¡°There has to be a better way to do this as a data transfer.¡± I noodled. ¡°Maybe it¡¯s something we can work at when you¡¯re all fixed?¡± <> Doli replied. <> I was able to put my finger on it, like fog wafting away, my mind cleared. ¡°Ahh, nothing off Doctor Francine yet?¡± <> ¡°Curious,¡± I said. ¡°I would have contacted me if something were wrong though, no?¡± <> Andri¡¯s words still lingered in my mind like a persistent ache, and I felt like I¡¯d hardly slept. Whoever this man, Harlen Macks was working for¡ªif it wasn¡¯t him orchestrating it all outright¡ªhad planned every move with surgical precision. The thought that my team was caught in the middle made my stomach clench. I didn¡¯t have time for second-guessing, not with everything hanging in the balance. After a day at the academy, doing Zero-G drills, by the time I arrived at the lab, Ashley was already there, her hair tied back, and an array of tools scattered across the workstation. The glow of Doli-2¡¯s core monitor pulsed faintly on the adjacent console. ¡°You look like hell,¡± Ashley said without looking up. She soldered a small circuit board with a deftness that made her work look more like an art form than engineering. ¡°Thanks,¡± I muttered, dropping my bag next to the desk. ¡°Long day.¡± Ashley shot me a knowing glance. ¡°Andri?¡± ¡°This time it¡¯s serious.¡± I hesitated, unsure how much to share. Trust was in short supply, even with Ashley, though she had been nothing but loyal. ¡°Harlen Macks. Ever heard the name?¡± Her hands stilled for a fraction of a second, and then she continued working. ¡°Sounds familiar.¡± She frowned slightly, setting down her soldering iron. ¡°Defense contractor connections, if I¡¯m remembering right. What about him?¡± So she did know something. I felt a small flicker of relief¡ªand caution. ¡°He¡¯s ex-security for the Boutack Family. Andri¡¯s family fired him a couple of years ago, and now he¡¯s... here.¡± Ashley¡¯s brow furrowed, her full attention on me now. ¡°Here? As in the academy?¡± I nodded. ¡°And he¡¯s tied to the sabotage and the poisoning¡ªit¡¯s all connected. He¡¯s methodical, Ashley. And he¡¯s really after Andri.¡± Her expression darkened, and she leaned back in her chair, crossing her arms. ¡°Why Andri?¡± ¡°His family¡¯s reforms are rattling cages. Contractors, private factions... Andri¡¯s father is painting a target on their backs, and Andri¡¯s caught in the crossfire.¡± Ashley let out a slow breath, her fingers drumming against her arm. ¡°The Boutack reforms. I¡¯ve heard rumblings in officer circles. They¡¯re threatening to cut several long-standing military contracts.¡± Her eyes narrowed. ¡°That makes this much more serious than academy politics.¡± I nodded, relieved that she understood the implications immediately. ¡°So what¡¯s the plan? We¡¯re not sitting on this, are we?¡± I shook my head. ¡°No. First, we¡¯re digging deeper. Doli-2¡¯s upgrades...¡± I gestured to the glowing core. ¡°They¡¯re going to help us trace his movements and connections. If Macks is working with someone inside, we need to know who. And we need to know fast.¡± Ashley straightened, her resolve clear in the set of her jaw. ¡°Then let¡¯s get to work.¡± The hours passed in a blur of data streams and rapid-fire commands. While we worked on Doli-2, Ashley set Doli¡¯s algorithms to comb through the academy¡¯s network for anything tied to Macks¡¯ name, past or present. Then she pored over personnel records and security logs. The deeper we dug, the more disturbing the picture became. ¡°Got something,¡± Ashley said finally. ¡°Macks wasn¡¯t just ex-security. He¡¯s been listed as a consultant for at least three private firms in the last two years. One of them, Altiris Systems, has a direct contract with the academy.¡± My stomach twisted. ¡°Altiris Systems? What¡¯s their contract?¡± Ashley tapped a few keys, pulling up a dossier. ¡°Cybersecurity. They¡¯re the ones who monitor and manage the academy¡¯s grid infrastructure.¡± ¡°Of course they are,¡± I muttered, my hands clenching. ¡°And let me guess¡ªthey¡¯ve got access to the entire network?¡± ¡°Full access,¡± Ashley confirmed. ¡°If Macks still has connections there, he could be moving through the system unnoticed.¡± Before I could respond, Doli¡¯s voice broke through the silence. <> she said. Her tone was calm, almost too calm given the situation. ¡°Show me,¡± I said, stepping to her console. A series of timestamps and access points scrolled across the screen. One name stood out among the rest: Harlen Macks. <> ¡°What the hell was he doing in maintenance?¡± Ashley said, leaning over my shoulder. I could feel the tension radiating from her, mirroring my own. ¡°Planting something, no doubt,¡± I replied. ¡°Or preparing his next move.¡± Doli interrupted again. <> Ashley¡¯s eyes widened. ¡°You¡¯re saying he¡¯s been setting this up for months?¡± <> Doli replied. I slammed my fist on the desk, frustration and fear churning in my gut. ¡°He¡¯s playing us. Every move has been calculated, every piece set in place. And we¡¯ve been two steps behind the whole time.¡± Ashley placed a hand on my arm, grounding me. Her touch was firm, steady. ¡°But now we know, and we¡¯re watching, so is the academy.¡± ¡°You mean?¡± ¡°We have to let the real security teams do their jobs.¡± ¡°What about my team?¡± My voice came out sharper than intended, raw with the fear I¡¯d been suppressing since hearing Andri¡¯s revelation. ¡°You do what you¡¯re here for, and so will they. They¡¯ll protect Andri from the inside.¡± Her eyes held mine, confident and reassuring. I frowned. ¡°You¡¯re sure?¡± She squeezed my arm. ¡°I¡¯m sure. We need to let this play out. Macks won¡¯t make a move again so soon. He¡¯ll be waiting for another peak opportunity.¡± <> Doli said to us. <> I stared at the screen, at Macks¡¯ access logs illuminated in cold blue light. My team was in danger, Andri was a target, and someone with academy access was helping make it happen. The muscles in my jaw tightened as determination replaced fear. ¡°Creative works both ways,¡± I said quietly. ¡°They¡¯ve been predicting our moves. Time we start predicting theirs.¡± Ashley nodded, a glint of approval in her eyes. ¡°Now you¡¯re thinking like a strategist.¡± I wasn¡¯t going to let them hurt my team. Not again. Not ever. Chapter 24 Chapter 24 - Course 3,4,5 into 6 The next couple of weeks went even faster than the last, I¡¯d also uploaded, courses 3, 4 and 5 which dramatically enlightened me to some of Doli-2s issues.
    • Advanced Cybernetics and Human Integration.
    • Starship Systems and Engineering.
    • Espionage Techniques and Counterintelligence.
    Course 5 seemed not so relevant until I actually completed it. Then it hit me, tech like Doli wasn¡¯t just groundbreaking, it was dangerous. The intelligence applications alone made my stomach knot. Her implications system-wide would be staggering if she worked properly. When she worked properly. Ashley had confided in me a lot more about the new version they were working on, and I knew ours had a ticking time bomb attached. It really was a race to the finish line, for her, for Doli, for my entire future at the academy. Each night as I worked, I could almost hear the clock ticking down. Doli-2 had to be fully functional by the end of this semester. And the semester was hurtling towards that end with relentless speed, each day slipping away faster than the last. So, Ashley and I built Doli-2 from scratch again, this time fully virtual. With no android body we kept that for our Doli. ¡°You think that¡¯s what¡¯s complicating everything, don¡¯t you, the body?¡± Ashley asked, her eyes reflecting the blue glow of the code streaming across our screens. ¡°Possibly,¡± I replied, running my fingers through my hair. ¡°The virtual environment eliminates all the hardware variables¡ªsensory input lag, motor response delays. If she still glitches now, we¡¯ll know it¡¯s in the core code.¡± What I didn¡¯t say was what we both knew: this was our last chance. If this approach failed, we¡¯d have nothing to show when the deadline hit. The original Doli, my Doli, had been left in a state full of glitches, and as a sort of helper around Ashley¡¯s back lab and an AI assistant to me at the academy. Only the new version would eventually be taken back to the military under Kuba¡¯s full control. At least, that was the plan. But, since when did plans ever go as well, planned? I lay on my bunk, loading up the next class, while Doli checked my flight suit for the week ahead. My fingers trembled slightly¡ªnot from fear, I told myself, but anticipation. This course would be useful, I hoped, in what was coming up on Station Cali. Real Zero-G testing. The culmination of everything I¡¯d been working toward.
    1. Zero-G Operations
    This physically demanding course focuses on preparing cadets to function effectively in zero-gravity environments, teaching them the skills necessary for repairs, combat, and resource management in space. Lesson Outline: Week 1: Basics of Zero-G Movement
    • Understanding the physics of zero gravity.
    • Training exercises to master propulsion and directional control using thrusters.
    • Simulation Exercise: Navigating a zero-G obstacle course.
    Week 2-4: Tools and Techniques
    • Using specialized tools for repairs and assembly in zero-G environments.
    • Drills on stabilizing oneself and equipment during work.
    • Exercise: Completing a repair task while tethered to a mock starship hull.
    Week 5-6: Zero-G Combat
    • Adaptations of hand-to-hand and ranged combat techniques for zero gravity.
    • Team exercises: neutralizing threats while maneuvering in a zero-G arena.
    • Simulation: A tactical scenario requiring teamwork to secure an objective.
    Week 7-8: Advanced Applications
    • Managing resources and life-support systems in extended zero-G scenarios.
    • Multi-objective simulations: completing repairs under simulated combat conditions.
    • Final Assessment: Performing a critical mission entirely in a zero-G environment.
    Core Activities:
    • Maneuvering through zero-G obstacle courses.
    • Conducting precision repairs in simulated vacuum conditions.
    • Combat training tailored for zero-gravity physics.
    Key Lesson: ¡°Gravity limits the mind as much as the body. Let go of both.¡± Rob knocked at my bunk for me, and I let him in. His usual casual demeanor was tinged with something else¡ªexcitement, maybe, or concern. ¡°You know what¡¯s coming up, right?¡± he asked, leaning against the doorframe. ¡°The class schedule, or the trip?¡± I continued packing, trying to seem nonchalant while my insides twisted with anticipation. ¡°Yes to both. I wanted to make sure you were okay with it, see if there was anything I could help with.¡± There was genuine concern there, something I still wasn¡¯t entirely used to. ¡°We¡¯re taking a shuttle up to the space station orbiting Earth. Then we¡¯re going into real Zero-G for some testing.¡± I kept my voice steady, not wanting him to sense my nerves. ¡°We get to do real jobs, right?¡± ¡°Correct,¡± he replied. ¡°First time in space, right?¡± ¡°Real space, yes. You?¡± I glanced up, catching a flicker of pride in his expression. ¡°I spent some of my early years in space.¡± He said it casually, but there was something else behind the words. ¡°With your previous team?¡± He nodded. ¡°Sylvk and Kerry too.¡± ¡°So I really am the newb.¡± I sighed, feeling that familiar pang of being the outsider. Always playing catch-up to their shared history and experiences. ¡°You¡¯ll be fine.¡± He encouraged me, clapping me on the shoulder. ¡°If you can handle those vertical air trainers, and have practiced Zero-G like I know you have, I have no doubts the real thing will be easier for you than it was for us.¡± ¡°Hard?¡± The question came out more vulnerable than I¡¯d intended. I grabbed my jacket and the small bag I¡¯d packed with the barest of essentials, and we headed out. ¡°It was extremely hard. But we all got there.¡± Seeing the shuttle made my insides flip. She was huge. Not just big¡ªshe was a monument to human ambition, a bridge between worlds. My world was about to get a whole lot bigger, and that thought sent equal parts terror and thrill coursing through me. ¡°What do you see?¡± Rob asked, watching my face carefully. ¡°See?¡± I looked at the shuttle for a moment, letting its design sink in before speaking. ¡°It¡¯s... incredible,¡± I started, gesturing toward the sleek, metallic body. ¡°The whole thing looks like it¡¯s been shaped by the wind itself¡ªsmooth curves and angles designed to cut through the atmosphere like a knife. See those wings? Delta-shaped, heat-resistant. They fold back when it¡¯s in space but extend out for stability here. Clever.¡± I pointed at the rear. ¡°And those engines¡ªDual-mode propulsion. You¡¯ve got jet turbines for flying down here, and ion drives, maybe even nuclear propulsion, for when it¡¯s out there. Those blue exhausts? Plasma from the hybrid engines. Efficient, powerful. And those little ports along the sides? Thrusters for fine-tuned movements. It¡¯s built for docking in orbit, no doubt.¡± If you encounter this tale on Amazon, note that it''s taken without the author''s consent. Report it. ¡°Typical engineer,¡± Kerry said, coming in at my side. ¡°You¡¯re in love.¡± ¡°No,¡± I scoffed. ¡°She¡¯s nothing like¡­¡± I stalled. They¡¯d not seen my ship. That¡ªthat was beautiful. This was in its own right, but functional. The memory of my own vessel, sleek and responsive, sent a pang of longing through me. Someday I¡¯d get back to her, if I could ever get clear of all this. My gaze shifted to the nose, glinting in the sunlight. ¡°The nose cone¡¯s layered with some kind of ceramic coating. That¡¯s for the heat. I¡¯d bet it can survive reentry temperatures that would melt most metals. And the windows? Probably coated in anti-radiation material.¡± I glanced at Rob. ¡°It¡¯s not just functional¡ªit¡¯s beautiful. A fusion of science and art, built for the stars but still bound to Earth. A bridge between two worlds.¡± The words felt inadequate for the emotion swelling in my chest. Rob was laughing with Kerry now. ¡°Yep, engineer.¡± The teams were gathering around her, and then in the next breath boarding. My heart hammered against my ribs with each step closer to the entrance. This wasn¡¯t just a training exercise¡ªthis was my dream materializing before me. <> Doli soothed. <> I admitted, grateful she couldn¡¯t see my hands trembling. <> I shrugged, but she never saw that. <> It was more than that, though¡ªspace represented freedom, escape from the confines of the foster system, from Earth¡¯s gravity, from everything that had ever held me down. <> she said. <> <> Even as I said it, I wondered if it would be that simple. <> There was something in her tone¡ªdoubt, perhaps, or concern. <> I tried to sound confident, but Doli¡¯s question had stirred up unease I¡¯d been trying to ignore. <> Her response was flat, unconvincing. As I settled into my seat, the excitement around me was infectious, but beneath it all, I couldn¡¯t ignore what this meant. It wasn¡¯t about training or ticking off another course. This was my first step into the universe I¡¯d dreamed of as a kid¡ªthe same universe that had seemed impossibly out of reach from all those foster homes. Kerry sat across from me, her knees bouncing. Sylvk studied on his datapad, seemingly unfazed by what was about to happen. All around, everyone was a mixture of distracting themselves or talking animatedly. The buzz of conversation couldn¡¯t mask the underlying tension¡ªwe were all being tested, all the time. A face appeared at the doors, Major Kuba. Everyone looked at her, then at me. But it didn¡¯t phase her. She stepped in and stood with Major Sergeant Cotah. ¡°Today marks some of the final stages of your training. Once you step onboard our Space Station Cali, you will be marked in everything you do. That goes for team interactions, the mess hall, even down to taking a shower. Understood?¡± ¡°Yes, sir,¡± came the chorus. <> I sent to Ashley. She laughed, but her face remained stoic. Holy shit! I gripped the arms to my chair as the engines ignited. The roar rattled my core, vibrating through my bones, but it wasn¡¯t fear¡ªnot entirely. It was the kind of nervous energy that comes with chasing something you¡¯ve always wanted. I thought about the late nights spent staring at the stars, the dreams of discovery and freedom that had led me here. This wasn¡¯t about Zero-G training. It was about finally stepping into a world bigger than myself. ¡°Easy there,¡± Rob said, noticing my white-knuckled grip. ¡°Your first launch is always the most memorable. Try to enjoy it.¡± I focused on my breathing and eventually my hands relaxed some. The rational part of my brain knew the statistics¡ªspace travel was safer than ever¡ªbut that did little to calm the primal terror of being strapped to what was essentially a controlled explosion. The shuttle hit turbulence coming out of the atmosphere, and that worried me a little. A jolt sent my stomach lurching toward my throat. <> Sylvk said over our team comms, not even looking up from his datapad. <> Kerry agreed, though the gleam in her eyes suggested she might be enjoying my discomfort a little too much. I let their reassurance settle my nerves. Yet as the space station Cali came into view my stomach churned again, this time with pure awe. No image, no simulation, nothing could have prepared me for the reality of seeing it with my own eyes. <> Doli said. <> Words failed me completely. <    > I was nodding, and Kerry cocked her head at me, but didn¡¯t speak. <> I replied. <> The closer we got, the more I could see. The station floated in the void, a massive construct of engineering and elegance. Its outer rings rotated steadily, generating artificial gravity for the thousands of people who called it home. The surface shimmered with a polished metallic finish, dotted with arrays of solar panels and communication relays that kept it powered and connected. Central hubs branched out like spokes, linking habitat modules, research centers, and docking bays. Ships of all sizes clustered around these hubs, their sleek designs a sharp contrast to the station¡¯s vast, intricate form. Docking arms and robotic systems moved with precision, guiding vessels into place and handling cargo with a quiet efficiency. Soft blue and white lights traced the edges of the structure, outlining its scale against the dark backdrop of space. It wasn¡¯t just a marvel of technology¡ªit was a living city, bustling with activity, built to withstand the challenges of the cosmos while offering a glimpse of humanity¡¯s future among the stars. I wanted to be part of that. I wanted to explore and leave my mark in places no one had touched before. This wasn¡¯t just another assignment; it was validation that my dreams weren¡¯t foolish after all. I belonged here, among the stars, despite everything my life on Earth had suggested. <> <> Doli replied. <> Our shuttle drew in closer, and closer, and then as she bumped the station, I felt it. A slight shudder, the metallic clank of docking mechanisms engaging. It didn¡¯t phase any of those with us, but me. Inside I sighed. This, being off the planet I was born on, would take a lot of getting used to, but as I stared out the view screens around me, displaying space in all its glory, my veins were filled with something else, pure excitement. I wanted this so badly. The vastness of space, the endless possibilities¡ªit called to me in a way nothing on Earth ever had. Sergeant Major Cotah stood before anyone else dared to move. ¡°You¡¯ll be checked in at the gate. There you¡¯ll get an update to your HUD, follow the instructions to your bunks, you¡¯ll have thirty minutes to relax and then meet us in classroom 104. Keep everything orderly, and calm. As Major Kuba has said, this all counts towards your finals.¡± We were almost last off, but I did not mind at all. <> I asked Doli. <> I grinned. <> The technical specifications, security protocols, life support systems¡ªI wanted to understand every inch of this place. <> There was enthusiasm that matched my own. She was learning from me, I realized¡ªdeveloping curiosity, excitement, maybe even ambition. I stood to find the gravity harder and looked to Rob. ¡°Something different here?¡± ¡°They have gravity set a bit higher than on Earth,¡± he explained, seemingly unbothered by the increased weight. ¡°It means that any training here will be tougher, even though it¡¯s only a small amount. Once in normal gravity, you¡¯ll have improved a ton.¡± ¡°That¡¯s pretty interesting,¡± I replied as we finally stepped off the shuttle into the docking tube attached to her and the station. Clever, training us to be stronger without us even realizing it. It felt solid under my feet, but I could clearly see it wasn¡¯t. It moved like a wave. Suddenly disorientating me, the disconnect between what my eyes saw and what my body felt sent a jolt of vertigo through me. The queue before us moved fast. At the gate, I was scanned in. Then, as schematics and diagrams filled my HUD, I couldn¡¯t help but smile. This wasn¡¯t just information¡ªevery wire, every system on the station was a story waiting to be told. I was literally blown away by the complexity of the design. This was engineering as an art form. Once through the gate out into the station the doors seemed to muffle the mechanical clamor of the docking bay. The floor beneath my boots shifted slightly, magnetic anchors engaging to keep the gravity steady. Behind me, Rob¡¯s voice broke the brief silence. ¡°You still staring at the engines, Piotr?¡± He teased. ¡°You¡¯re like a kid with a shiny new toy every time we dock.¡± ¡°Can¡¯t help it,¡± I replied, glancing back at the shimmer of the hybrid drives. ¡°You don¡¯t design something that beautiful and not admire it every chance you get.¡± There was something comforting in focusing on the mechanics, the systems I understood, rather than the overwhelming fact that I was floating in space, millions of miles from everything familiar. Sylvk, walking a few steps ahead, chimed in with her usual dry wit. ¡°Maybe if you stared at diagnostics like that, we wouldn¡¯t be running around fixing coolant lines all day.¡± ¡°That¡¯s funny coming from the person who spent two hours recalibrating a coffee machine last week,¡± I shot back, grinning. The banter felt good¡ªnormal, even as everything around us was extraordinary. ¡°Priority repairs,¡± Sylvk said with mock seriousness. ¡°Without coffee, the station grinds to a halt. Literally.¡± I laughed, but as we moved deeper into the station, a sobering thought settled over me. From now on, every move would be watched, every interaction evaluated. The real test was beginning¡ªnot just of my abilities, but of everything I claimed to be. I straightened my shoulders. I was ready. I had to be. Chapter 25 Chapter 25 We stepped into the main corridor, and the scale of the place hit me all over again. The wide passage gleamed under strips of guide lights, and glowing panels displayed everything from station maps to schedules for incoming ships. I paused, taking it all in, this wasn¡¯t just another training facility. This was Cali Station, the gateway to everything I¡¯d been working toward. All those nights in care homes, staring up at stars through cloudy windows, dreaming of something bigger than myself¡ªand now I was here, standing in a marvel of human engineering, a civilization suspended in the void. Kerry, always a few steps ahead, stopped by a holomap and glanced back at us. ¡°Why do they move training out here?¡± I asked Rob. ¡°Size,¡± he said. ¡°This is the largest station this side of Earth.¡± ¡°They also put us to work,¡± Sylvk added. ¡°Nothing like slave labor, right?¡± ¡°It¡¯s not slave labour; it¡¯s training. Real missions, real jobs.¡± Real chances for something to go wrong¡­. I thought but didn¡¯t speak aloud. ¡°Residential Sector A is on the far side,¡± she said, scanning the display. ¡°Think they could¡¯ve put us farther from the docks?¡± ¡°Stop complaining,¡± Rob said. ¡°You get a private bunk and clean sheets. That¡¯s better than the bunk you had on the Mercator.¡± ¡°Yeah,¡± Kerry muttered, ¡°but the Mercator didn¡¯t make me walk half a kilometer after a shift.¡± ¡°What¡¯s the Mercator?¡± I asked her. ¡°The best medical training facility,¡± Kerry replied. ¡°Best medical training facility with no budget for bunking.¡± ¡°Yeah,¡± Kerry admitted. ¡°Their bunks did suck.¡± As we moved, I caught sight of a group of engineers clustered around a diagnostics panel, their expressions a mix of concern and concentration. I slowed, listening in as one of them muttered about thermal regulators. My fingers twitched with the instinct to offer help, to show what I could do. Sylvk nudged me, his expression knowing. ¡°Don¡¯t even think about it,¡± he warned. ¡°You can fix all their stuff later¡­ We come first.¡± ¡°Fair point,¡± I said, quickening my pace. At the transport hub, we stepped into a capsule-like pod. Kerry leaned against the wall, arms crossed, while Rob inspected the faint blue glow of the overhead lights. ¡°Why do these things always smell like ozone?¡± he asked, wrinkling his nose. ¡°Better than what the hydroponics deck smells like,¡± Sylvk said. ¡°You¡¯d think someone spilled fertilizer in the ventilation system.¡± The pod hummed to life, accelerating smoothly. The walls vibrated beneath my palm, the complex systems keeping us alive fascinated me. Outside the window, the station blurred by in flashes of greenhouses, promenades, and observation decks. Rob pressed his face to the glass like a kid. ¡°Never gets old,¡± he said, watching the streaks of light. ¡°Can¡¯t believe we actually live here.¡± Sylvk gave him a sidelong glance. ¡°You¡¯re the only one still romanticizing this. Some of us are here for the paycheck.¡± ¡°Some of us,¡± Rob replied, smirking, ¡°need to learn how to dream.¡± Kerry leaned toward me. ¡°Don¡¯t let them fool you. Sylvk¡¯s first time on station, he cried when he saw Earth from the observation deck. Rob caught him and hasn¡¯t let him live it down since.¡± ¡°And you?¡± I asked. Her eyes flickered with something, a memory perhaps. ¡°I threw up in my helmet. Not my finest moment.¡± We all had our firsts. Mine was still unfolding, every corridor and chamber a new revelation. The pod slid to a stop at the residential sector. As we stepped out, the atmosphere shifted¡ªquieter, softer. The walls glowed faintly, and the faint scent of recycled air mixed with something almost like pine lingered. We passed a communal space where a group of techs was arguing over a sports match. Kerry paused. ¡°Still playing soccer simulations?¡± she muttered. ¡°They¡¯ve got a whole universe to explore, and they¡¯re glued to Earth sports.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t knock it,¡± Rob said. ¡°Keeps them from tinkering with things they shouldn¡¯t.¡± We moved past a small garden, and I couldn¡¯t help but admire the setup. Someone had built a clever misting system for the plants¡ªelegant in its simplicity, yet perfectly adapted to the station¡¯s unique environment. I pointed it out. ¡°Nice work,¡± I said. ¡°Simple, efficient.¡± Sylvk groaned. ¡°Can¡¯t you appreciate it without breaking down the mechanics?¡± ¡°Not in my DNA,¡± I replied with a grin. Finally, we reached our quarters. My door lit up as I approached, sliding open with a quiet hiss. I stepped inside, dropping onto the edge of the bunk as Rob and Sylvk lingered in the hall. ¡°You settling in?¡± Kerry asked from her doorway across the hall. ¡°Yeah,¡± I said, leaning back. ¡°Just another day in paradise.¡± Sylvk snorted. ¡°Paradise doesn¡¯t come with coolant leaks.¡± ¡°Not in my sector,¡± I shot back. ¡°I actually fix my leaks.¡± ¡°Goodnight, Jay,¡± he replied, rolling his eyes and walking off. Rob gave me a thumbs-up. ¡°Dream about engines, buddy.¡± ¡°You know I will,¡± I said, grinning as the door slid shut behind them. The buzz of the station seemed quieter here, almost soothing. I leaned back and let it wash over me, staring at the rotating view of the planet on my wall. Earth looked different from up here¡ªsmaller, more fragile, and somehow more precious. The blue marble that had seemed like my entire universe for so long was now just one bright point in a vast darkness waiting to be explored. > <> <> <> <> She announced proudly. <> <> I frowned. <> <> <> I asked. <> <> The tale has been taken without authorization; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident. < > I laughed, <> <> As the upload started, the space station¡¯s schematics flashing in front of me, I grinned again. <>When she started delving into what it would take to run it, I almost stopped her. But paused. Maybe it would be useful information one day, so I let it run. Managing a space station was a monumental task that required a unique blend of technical expertise, leadership skills, and interdisciplinary knowledge. Mostly everything I was not. I found it interesting reading, though. The ideal candidate combines technical mastery with exceptional leadership:
    • Technical Foundation: Advanced degree in aerospace engineering or related field, with deep understanding of integrated space systems, orbital mechanics, and life support technologies
    • Operational Experience: Proven record managing complex aerospace projects and navigating crisis scenarios under extreme pressure
    • Leadership Excellence: Ability to direct diverse international teams, communicate decisively across cultural boundaries, and maintain composure in life-or-death situations
    • Cross-Disciplinary Knowledge: Working understanding of space medicine, international space law, and the psychological impacts of extended isolation
    • Critical Competencies: Rapid problem-solving ability, diplomatic skill in multinational collaborations, and the adaptability to make sound decisions with incomplete information in rapidly evolving situations
    A knock at my door and I hit the open. ¡°Heading to orientation,¡± Rob said. ¡°Coming?¡± I hopped off my bunk and slipped my boots back on fast. ¡°Time flew,¡± I said, closing the data feed with a mental command. We navigated the corridors to classroom 104. Inside were a hundred lockers. Major Sergeant Cotah stood with a strange man, who to my surprise was the one to speak. ¡°I¡¯m Station Commander Terra. This is my welcome message to you on this side of our wonderful station Cali. You¡¯re in great hands with Major Kuba, but she is watching, as am I. You have free reign in any area marked green, anything else is either to be with a supervisor from the station or your direct command teams. This is non-negotiable. You get caught outside of your areas you¡¯re out. Understood?¡± ¡°Yes, Sir.¡± ¡°That¡¯s it, enjoy your stay, learn as much as you can, get home safe.¡± He turned to our command team. Professor Zhal had joined them and one of the other officers I¡¯d seen around but not really spoken too. It was the new officer who addressed us. ¡°You¡¯ve been assigned a locker number; you¡¯ll find your suit and helmet from the academy. You may chuck your uniform in the stations wash chute. It will be cleaned and returned to your bunks for you. Your suit can also be cleaned every night, so it¡¯s fresh in the morning. Hang it up, shut the door, boom, clean.¡± ¡°First up today is a short experience negotiating real Zero-G. Suits on, you¡¯ve got five minutes to be through those double doors at the back.¡± Everyone moved and moved fast. I found my locker and stripped off without thinking about it this time. My suit and boots on, and I was helmet in hand, joining the queue with the others in record time. Once out into the room, there were locations tagged with our IDs on them. Everyone else was making their way to their tag, so I did the same. ¡°There are several rooms adjacent to this one,¡± Sergeant Major Cotah said. ¡°Take your time, pick two to complete. You¡¯re used to working as a team. This is no different, just different tasks. Complete your rooms, and then you can head to lunch and have downtime to explore our areas tonight only. After that, you¡¯re in rotation every day to nail these tasks before your final mission. Those who don¡¯t pass this will not be moving to the next year. If your sponsor allows you may re-sit the training this summer, but other than that, it¡¯s a fail.¡± ¡°Go!¡± Major Kuba barked. Everyone leaped into action. Rob, always cautious, paused to assess the scene. He nodded toward an open room, and we launched ourselves toward it. Inside, a glowing platform stretched ahead of us, dotted with floating obstacles. Our objective flashed on the wall: Collect a gem each. I crouched on the edge of the platform, calculating the next jump. The maze shifted constantly, platforms blinking out like fireflies, mechanical arms swinging with purpose. The eerie silence of true Zero-G surrounded me¡ªa reminder of how easily this could go wrong I pushed off, thrusters engaging enough to propel me forward. I sailed through the air, reaching for the next platform when my suit lurched. The thrusters sputtered, then cut out entirely. Damn it. The world spun as I tumbled uncontrollably, the maze lights blurring in my vision. My stomach clenched, but I forced my breathing to steady. Panicking wouldn¡¯t help. Through the blur of motion, I caught sight of Andri watching from the observation deck, his expression unsettlingly satisfied. It¡¯s too much of a coincidence to be equipment failure. Someone had tampered with my suit. ¡°Piotr, are you okay?¡± Kerry¡¯s voice crackled in my ear, sharp with worry. ¡°I¡¯ve got this,¡± I said, though my jaw tightened. I clawed at the wrist console, fingers flying over the manual controls. Red error codes flashed back at me. Out of the corner of my eye, I caught a figure in the observation deck¡ªAndri. Arms crossed, that damned smirk plastered across his face. Whatever had happened to my thrusters, his expression told me he knew exactly what it was. Focus. Using momentum, I twisted my body into a controlled spin. It wasn¡¯t perfect, but it was enough. Coaxing the thrusters back to life, I steadied myself as the final platform came within reach. I landed hard, knees bending to absorb the impact. Cheers erupted over the comms. I reached out, grasping my final gem¡ªa small, glowing hexagon that pulsed with blue light. Adding it to the collection already secured to my belt, I watched as the completion indicator flashed green. Four gems collected. Mission complete. ¡°Nice one!¡± Rob called out, the two gems he¡¯d snagged jingling against his suit. Kerry and Sylvk had each managed to grab one in their runs through the maze, but that last one had been just out of reach until my improvised tumble put me in the perfect position to snatch it. ¡°That¡¯s how it¡¯s done!¡± Kerry shouted. I glanced up at the observation deck. Andri didn¡¯t cheer. He didn¡¯t clap. Just that same icy stare before he turned away with a scoff. I exhaled, forcing a grin for the team. ¡°Alright,¡± I said, dusting off my gloves. ¡°Who¡¯s up for room two?¡± The glow from the powered-up nodes faded as we floated toward the next door, our thrusters humming softly. Kerry glanced back at me, smirking. ¡°Alright, genius,¡± she teased. ¡°You saved our butts in there, but let¡¯s see if you can keep it up. No pressure or anything.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t jinx him,¡± Sylvk chuckled. ¡°The last thing we need is for Piotr to start overthinking things. You saw him in that maze¡ªone malfunction and he was spinning like a satellite on too much caffeine.¡± ¡°Hey,¡± I shot back, ¡°I recalibrated mid-spin and stuck the landing. Can¡¯t say the same for your Zero-G form back there, Sylvk. Looked like you were auditioning for a slow-motion ballet.¡± Kerry snorted, and Rob laughed outright. ¡°Ballet? That¡¯s generous,¡± Rob said. ¡°I was gonna say more like a drunken space squid. Remember his first Zero-G simulation back at the academy? He hit the ceiling so hard they had to recalibrate the gravity plates.¡± ¡°That was one time,¡± Sylvk defended, though his lips twitched with suppressed amusement. ¡°And need I remind you about your little incident with the emergency suit seals?¡± Rob¡¯s face flushed. ¡°We agreed never to speak of that again.¡± Kerry leaned toward me. ¡°He accidentally triggered his emergency decompression protocol during a routine exercise. His suit inflated like a balloon. Took three instructors to get him out.¡± ¡°Careful, Rob,¡± Sylvk said, his smirk giving him away. ¡°I¡¯m not above sabotaging your thrusters in the next room. Let¡¯s see how graceful you look spinning into a wall.¡± Rob held up his hands in mock surrender. ¡°Alright, alright. No need to get violent.¡± He glanced at the glowing text over the next door and grimaced. ¡°Although¡­ if this ¡®Survive the Course¡¯ thing is as bad as it sounds, we might all end up spinning into walls.¡± ¡°Thanks for the vote of confidence,¡± I said. ¡°Really inspiring.¡± The door slid open, revealing a vast chamber filled with floating obstacles, spinning platforms, and what appeared to be hovering drones equipped with flashing lights and, worryingly, what looked like stun sticks. The air tasted metallic here, charged with electricity that made the hair on my arms stand up beneath my suit. ¡°Drones?¡± Kerry said, tilting her head. ¡°Seriously? Who designs this stuff? Space station or gladiator arena?¡± ¡°Probably the same sadist who put a maze and a power puzzle in the training rotation,¡± Sylvk muttered. Rob squinted at the nearest drone as it zipped by. ¡°Those things better not zap us. I swear, if I get shocked, I¡¯m filing a complaint.¡± ¡°With who?¡± Kerry asked, raising an eyebrow. ¡°The same station commander who threatened to boot us for sneezing in the wrong sector?¡± Rob shrugged. ¡°Still worth a shot.¡± As we moved into the room, a low voice crackled over our comms. ¡°Welcome to Room Three. Your objective: navigate the course and reach the exit without being tagged by the drones. Failure to evade will result in a temporary stun. Good luck.¡± Sylvk groaned. ¡°I knew it. Gladiator arena.¡± The course stretched ahead of us, a chaotic mess of moving platforms, swinging obstacles, and patrolling drones. The drones were faster than I expected, weaving between obstacles with an unsettling grace. ¡°Alright, team,¡± I said, clapping my hands together. ¡°Let¡¯s strategize. Stick together or split up?¡± ¡°Split up,¡± Sylvk said immediately. ¡°If we stick together, the drones will swarm us. Divide and conquer.¡± ¡°Conquer?¡± Rob repeated. ¡°Pretty sure the only thing we¡¯re conquering is our collective dignity.¡± ¡°Speak for yourself,¡± Kerry said. ¡°I plan on finishing this course untouched.¡± ¡°Big talk,¡± Sylvk replied, smirking. ¡°I¡¯ll give you ten seconds before you get zapped.¡± ¡°Care to put money on it?¡± Kerry challenged, already pushing off toward the first platform. Rob and I exchanged a glance. ¡°They¡¯re gonna get us killed,¡± I said. ¡°No doubt,¡± Rob replied. ¡°But hey, at least we¡¯ll go down laughing.¡± I pushed off, weaving around a spinning obstacle and narrowly avoiding a drone as it buzzed past me. Behind me, Kerry¡¯s voice crackled over the comms. ¡°Ha! Told you I¡¯d¡ª¡± Her sentence cut off with a loud zap and a startled yelp. ¡°Ten seconds,¡± Sylvk said. His grin spreading to his eyes, which sparkled. ¡°Called it.¡± ¡°Shut up,¡± Kerry snapped. Rob chuckled as he maneuvered around a swinging platform. ¡°This might actually be worth the stun risk.¡± A drone zipped toward me, its stun stick glowing ominously. I twisted, narrowly avoiding it and landing on a platform that shifted under my weight. ¡°Alright,¡± I said, dodging another drone. ¡°Let¡¯s focus. You can gloat later, Sylvk.¡± ¡°Gloat?¡± he put a hand to his face in mock-innocent. ¡°Me? Never.¡± Another zap echoed through the comms, followed by Rob¡¯s groan. ¡°Well, there goes my dignity.¡± ¡°Welcome to the club,¡± Kerry quipped. I shook my head, biting back a laugh as I leapt toward the next platform. ¡°At this rate, we¡¯re gonna need a separate training module for bruised egos.¡± But even as I joked with the team, I couldn¡¯t shake the memory of Andri¡¯s smirk when my thrusters failed. That wasn¡¯t an accident or random equipment failure. Whatever game he was playing, it was escalating¡ªand I had a feeling this was just the beginning. Next time, it might not be something I could recover from so easily. Chapter 26 Chapter 26 I took a deep breath, adjusting the thrusters on my suit as I floated toward the first glowing ring. The objective was simple on paper¡ªprecision flying through Zero-G. In reality, it was a nerve-wracking gauntlet of spinning obstacles, shifting gravity pockets, and the ever-present threat of penalties if you so much as grazed the edge of a ring. My palms were slick with sweat inside my gloves as I calibrated the thrusters, acutely aware of how quickly things could go wrong out here. Kerry sailed through the first set of rings with ease, her movements smooth and practiced. She paused on the far side, turning to watch the rest of us. ¡°Come on, guys,¡± she said over the comms. ¡°This isn¡¯t so bad.¡± ¡°Speak for yourself,¡± Rob muttered, wobbling slightly as he aligned with the second ring. ¡°I¡¯d like to see you stay calm when a glowing circle of doom suddenly spins in your face.¡± Sylvk was already through the first ring, his movements deliberate and measured. ¡°It¡¯s called control, Rob. You should try it sometime.¡± I laughed, shaking my head. ¡°You two make this sound like rocket science. It¡¯s just¡ª¡± I pushed off toward the first ring, lining up my trajectory. The moment I hit the thruster, the suit jolted violently. Something was wrong¡ªdeeply wrong. The sensation was nothing like a normal malfunction. <> Doli¡¯s voice cut through the chaos in my mind. <> I managed to think back as my body careened through space. ¡°Whoa!¡± I shouted, spinning uncontrollably. My visor filled with a dizzying blur of lights as I tumbled backward. My heart hammered against my ribs as warning messages flashed across my HUD: THRUSTER VECTOR MISALIGNMENT followed by GYRO STABILIZATION FAILURE. ¡°What the hell was that?¡± Kerry¡¯s voice snapped over the comms. ¡°Suit malfunction,¡± I said through gritted teeth, clawing at the wrist console. I tried to regain control, but the thrusters sputtered and stuttered, sending me careening into the nearest ring. This wasn¡¯t just embarrassing¡ªit was dangerous. At this velocity, I could seriously injure myself or one of my teammates. ¡°Again?¡± Rob asked, concerned. A harsh buzz echoed through the room as the penalty triggered. The edges of the ring flared red, and a loud voice boomed- ¡°PENALTY: 10 SECONDS.¡± ¡°Piotr!¡± Rob shouted. ¡°Are you okay?¡± ¡°Working on it,¡± I muttered, my fingers flying over the manual controls. Error codes flashed on my HUD like a bad light show, each one more useless than the last. A cold knot formed in my stomach¡ªthis didn¡¯t feel random. The pattern of failures was too coordinated, too precise. <> <> External interference. This would be a nightmare without her getting proper access. Something we really needed to work at once back on Earth. <> What? Someone was deliberately sabotaging my suit. I managed to stop the spin, only for the suit to lurch again. This time, it shot me sideways¡ªstraight into another ring. Bzz. PENALTY: 15 SECONDS. ¡°Get it together!¡± Sylvk barked. ¡°You¡¯re lighting up the whole course like a Christmas tree!¡± ¡°No kidding!¡± I snapped, barely dodging a spinning obstacle. My suit jerked unpredictably, sending me toward Rob. ¡°Look out!¡± He yelped, twisting awkwardly to avoid me. ¡°Hey! Watch it, man!¡± ¡°I¡¯m trying!¡± My suit jerked again, and this time I spun straight into Sylvk¡¯s path. He cursed, swerving hard to avoid me, only to clip the edge of a ring himself. Bzz. PENALTY: 5 SECONDS. ¡°That¡¯s it!¡± Sylvk snapped. ¡°Shut it down before you take us all out!¡± ¡°I¡¯m trying to shut it down!¡± I growled, slamming my fist against the wrist console. ¡°The damn thing isn¡¯t responding!¡± I saw Kerry change course, her trajectory aligning with mine. She was trying to intercept me. ¡°Kerry, stay back!¡± I warned. ¡°I can¡¯t control this thing!¡± ¡°Shut up and hold still,¡± she replied, biting her tongue with concentration. She approached carefully, timing her movements to match my erratic spin. With precise calculation, she grabbed my arm, using her own stabilizers to slow my rotation. ¡°Manual override on your left hip,¡± she ordered. ¡°Hit it now.¡± I fumbled for the switch, finally feeling the small indentation under my fingers. The moment I pressed it, the thrusters cut completely, leaving me floating dead in space. ¡°Thanks,¡± I panted, genuinely relieved. ¡°That was¡ª¡± My gratitude was cut short as the thrusters suddenly kicked back on at full power, sending both Kerry and me spinning violently. ¡°What the¡ª¡± Kerry¡¯s startled cry was cut off as we slammed into a cluster of rings. Bzz. Bzz. Bzz. PENALTY: 30 SECONDS. By the time we managed to stabilize, the entire team was hovering near the end of the course, watching us with a mix of concern and barely suppressed laughter. ¡°You done?¡± Sylvk asked, arms crossed as he floated near the exit. ¡°Maybe,¡± I muttered, glaring at the uncooperative wrist console. ¡°Stupid piece of junk.¡± My breathing was still heavy, adrenaline coursing through my veins. That had been more than embarrassing¡ªit had been dangerous. Kerry floated next to me, her expression serious. ¡°Piotr, just before your suit went haywire, I saw something weird on my HUD. A signal spike, like someone was broadcasting directly to your suit.¡± I frowned, the thought settling in uncomfortably. ¡°Could¡¯ve been a glitch,¡± I said, though the memory of Andri¡¯s smirk in the observation deck made me doubt it. Unauthorized usage: this narrative is on Amazon without the author''s consent. Report any sightings. Memories of my first encounters with Andri at the Academy flashed through my mind. The way he watched our team climbing the leaderboard. I¡¯d thought it was simple academic jealousy then, the privileged prodigy threatened by a guy from care homes who could match his skills. But his expressions had held something deeper than competitive anger. It was almost... fear. Like he recognized something dangerous in what I was doing. Looking back, he flipped hot and cold all the time. From the rooftop, where he admitted he was glad I stopped the sabotage. Andri continued to watch my every move, questioning my projects, challenging my theories in front of instructors. Public hostility, private charm¡ªa pattern that had only intensified since we¡¯d arrived at Cali Station. It wasn¡¯t random. And if Andri was involved in what happened today, it wasn¡¯t simple rivalry anymore. It was dangerous. ¡°That wasn¡¯t a glitch,¡± Kerry insisted. ¡°Someone targeted your systems specifically.¡± <> Doli confirmed. <> ¡°Glitch or not,¡± Rob said, grinning again, ¡°that was the best entertainment I¡¯ve had all day. Thanks.¡± ¡°Glad I could help,¡± I said dryly, pushing off toward the exit. ¡°Let¡¯s move on before this stupid suit decides to embarrass me again.¡± Or worse, I thought silently. Next time, someone could get seriously hurt. As the door to the next room slid open, Sylvk shot me a pointed look. ¡°You¡¯d better get that thing fixed. If you take me out again, I¡¯m shoving you into a drone.¡± ¡°Noted,¡± I replied, rolling my eyes, but I couldn¡¯t shake the unease. Someone had deliberately sabotaged my suit. The question was who¡ªand why. ¡°Debrief,¡± came through our main comms. ¡°Follow the red line to the next room.¡± We exchanged glances then followed the instructions. The door ahead opened into a small debriefing area¡ªa stark contrast to the chaos of the ring room. The space had padded walls, floating seats tethered to the floor, and a hydration station glowing faintly in the corner. The sterile scent of recycled air mixed with the metallic tang of cooling systems created an atmosphere of clinical efficiency. Major Kuba was already there, arms crossed, her expression unreadable as she watched us file in. Her dark eyes seemed to linger on me a moment longer than the others, and I could feel the heat of her scrutiny. ¡°Sit,¡± she said sharply cutting through the lingering buzz of comm chatter. We all grabbed seats, some more gracefully than others. Rob¡¯s attempt at a smooth landing ended in an unintentional spin, which earned him a snort from Sylvk. ¡°Good effort,¡± he muttered. ¡°Shut up,¡± he replied, though his grin suggested he wasn¡¯t too bothered. Kuba stepped forward, her boots clicking softly against the floor. ¡°Well,¡± she began, ¡°that was¡­ something.¡± ¡°¡®Something¡¯ is one word for it,¡± Sylvk muttered under his breath. Kuba¡¯s gaze snapped to him. ¡°Care to elaborate, Sylvk?¡± Sylvk sat straighter, his expression schooled into neutrality. ¡°No, ma¡¯am. Just admiring the creative chaos.¡± Kuba turned her attention to me. ¡°Piotr.¡± I straightened, my mouth dry. ¡°Yes, ma¡¯am?¡± ¡°You want to explain what happened out there? Because from where I was sitting, it looked like you were trying to reenact a Zero-G demolition derby.¡± ¡°I¡ª¡± I hesitated, glancing at the others. Kerry¡¯s expression had turned serious, Rob gave me a sympathetic wince, and Sylvk¡¯s face was unreadable. ¡°It was a suit malfunction, ma¡¯am. The thrusters started misfiring, and I couldn¡¯t regain control.¡± Kuba¡¯s eyes narrowed slightly. ¡°Malfunction?¡± she repeated, making it clear she wasn¡¯t entirely convinced. ¡°And when was the last time you ran a full diagnostic on your suit?¡± ¡°Before we left for the station, and today¡¯s exercises,¡± I said, despite the nagging doubt creeping in. ¡°Everything was fine during pre-check.¡± ¡°Fine doesn¡¯t cut it,¡± she quipped. ¡°Fine gets people killed. You¡¯re responsible for that suit, Piotr. It¡¯s not just equipment; it¡¯s your lifeline. If it fails, you fail.¡± There was something in her eyes¡ªconcern beneath the professional discipline. A flicker of the friend I knew behind the commanding officer. ¡°Yes, ma¡¯am,¡± I said, swallowing my frustration. ¡°I¡¯ll run another diagnostic before the next round.¡± ¡°You¡¯ll do more than that,¡± she replied, stepping closer. ¡°I want a full report on the malfunction by the end of the day. Root cause, repair steps, and preventive measures. Understood?¡± ¡°Yes, ma¡¯am,¡± I said, feeling a mix of embarrassment and determination. Major Kuba nodded once, then turned to address the rest of the team. ¡°The rest of you¡ªgood work. But don¡¯t let Piotr¡¯s little display fool you into thinking mistakes don¡¯t have consequences. Out there, there¡¯s no room for error. You either succeed together, or you all fail.¡± She paused, her gaze sweeping over us once more. ¡°And if anyone knows anything about why a perfectly functional suit would suddenly malfunction like that... my door is open.¡± The implication hung in the air between us. She suspected sabotage too. Sylvk raised a hand. ¡°Permission to request Piotr not parkour into my path next time?¡± A flicker of amusement crossed Kuba¡¯s face, then in a flas it was gone. ¡°Granted. But keep the attitude in check, Sylvk. This isn¡¯t a comedy club.¡± Sylvk¡¯s smirk didn¡¯t falter, but he nodded. ¡°Yes, ma¡¯am.¡± Major Kuba¡¯s gaze swept over us one last time, though she hesitated on me, and I saw the flicker of my friend, not the Major. ¡°It¡¯s lunch time. Hydrate, recalibrate, and be ready for the next challenge. Dismissed.¡± As she left, the tension in the room eased slightly. Rob floated over to the hydration station, grabbing a drink and tossing one to me. ¡°Rough debrief, huh?¡± ¡°Could¡¯ve been worse,¡± I muttered, cracking the seal on the hydration pack. ¡°At least she didn¡¯t boot me out of the rotation.¡± ¡°Yet,¡± Kerry said, leaning back in her seat. ¡°You¡¯re one malfunction away from wearing the ¡®Liability of the Day¡¯ badge.¡± Despite her teasing tone, her eyes remained serious. She believed someone had sabotaged me, and that knowledge sat between us like a third presence. Sylvk chuckled. ¡°Oh, come on. He¡¯s always been our favorite newb walking disaster. No point changing that now.¡± I rolled my eyes, but a grin tugged at the corner of my mouth. ¡°Glad to know I¡¯ve got your support.¡± ¡°You do,¡± Rob said, raising his drink like a toast. ¡°We¡¯ll even write ¡®Our Favorite Walking Disaster¡¯ on your helmet for the next round.¡± ¡°Generous,¡± I said dryly. Kerry sobered slightly. ¡°Seriously, Piotr. I¡¯m not just guessing about this. Just before your thrusters went haywire, my suit picked up an anomalous signal. Someone was broadcasting directly to your systems.¡± I hesitated, the memory of Andri¡¯s smug face flashing through my mind. ¡°I know,¡± I admitted quietly. ¡°I confirmed it. Someone deliberately interfered with my suit.¡± ¡°Who would do that?¡± Rob asked, his usual humor fading. I shook my head. ¡°I have my suspicions, but no proof. Not yet.¡± ¡°You¡¯d better find some,¡± Sylvk said, his expression grim. ¡°Because if it happens again, and someone gets hurt for real...¡± ¡°I¡¯ll make it up to you,¡± I interrupted with a grim determination. ¡°By finding who¡¯s responsible.¡± ¡°You¡¯d better,¡± he said, his expression softening. ¡°We¡¯ve got your back, but we need to know what we¡¯re up against.¡± The break room bathed in warm light and stocked with refreshments floating in magnetic trays. A handful of chairs hovered around a low, circular table. It was a stark contrast to the high-stakes chaos we¡¯d left behind. Rob was the first to grab a drink, snagging a pouch of what looked like some kind of juice. ¡°Cheers to us,¡± he said, raising it high. ¡°The finest Zero-G acrobats this side of the galaxy.¡± Kerry snorted, plucking a drink from the tray as she floated past. ¡°Speak for yourself. Some of us actually have grace.¡± Sylvk grunted, leaning back in one of the chairs and kicking his boots up onto the edge of the table. ¡°Grace doesn¡¯t mean much when your partner keeps getting reset,¡± he said, shooting a smirk at Rob. ¡°Hey!¡± Rob protested, gesturing wildly with his drink. ¡°I made it through eventually.¡± ¡°Eventually isn¡¯t the word I¡¯d use,¡± Sylvk quipped. I couldn¡¯t help but laugh as I sank into a chair, peeling off my gloves. ¡°Alright, enough. We made it through, and that¡¯s what counts. Everyone¡¯s still in one piece¡ªmore or less.¡± ¡°Barely,¡± Kerry said, raising an eyebrow at me. ¡°You almost got roasted by that light barrier at the end.¡± ¡°Almost,¡± I replied with a grin. ¡°Key word there.¡± Rob tapped his drink against mine, nodding approvingly. ¡°Not bad for a guy whose suit tried to kill him earlier.¡± ¡°Thanks, Rob,¡± I said dryly. ¡°Your faith in me is overwhelming.¡± Sylvk leaned forward, his smirk fading slightly. ¡°Speaking of which, you really need to figure out what happened with that suit. Glitch or sabotage, we can¡¯t have it happening again. Next time, it could be worse than just penalties.¡± The room grew quieter for a moment. Kerry finally broke the silence with a playful shove to my shoulder. ¡°Don¡¯t go all broody on us. We survived both tests. Celebrate first, then brood.¡± I laughed, shaking my head. ¡°Noted. I¡¯ll save the brooding for later.¡± Sylvk raised his drink slightly. ¡°Here¡¯s to surviving¡ªand to Piotr not crashing into me next time.¡± ¡°Cheers to that,¡± Kerry said, clinking her drink against his. ¡°Cheers,¡± Rob echoed, adding his to the mix. I held up my drink, a grin spreading across my face. ¡°Cheers,¡± I said, clinking my pouch against theirs. For a brief moment, everything felt light¡ªlike we were a group of friends sharing a laugh instead of a team navigating high-pressure challenges on a floating city in space. The camaraderie was real, and it was moments like this that reminded me why I trusted these people, flaws and all. But as the others began drifting into more lighthearted banter, I felt a tug of focus pulling me back. The memory of the suit¡¯s erratic behavior and Andri¡¯s smirk in the observation deck lingered at the edges of my thoughts, like an itch I couldn¡¯t scratch. <> Doli confirmed. <> <> I asked silently. <> That was all I needed to hear. As the team¡¯s laughter echoed around the room, I stood, stretching and slipping my gloves back on. ¡°Where¡¯re you off to?¡± Rob asked, raising an eyebrow. ¡°Got some digging to do,¡± I said. ¡°That suit isn¡¯t going to fix itself and I want to know¡ªwhy.¡± Sylvk nodded approvingly. ¡°Good. Let us know if you need backup.¡± Kerry watched me with knowing eyes. ¡°Don¡¯t get yourself into trouble, Piotr. Some systems aren¡¯t meant to be tinkered with.¡± Her words carried a warning beneath the friendly tone. ¡°I¡¯ll manage. Enjoy the lunch, guys, I¡¯ll see you later, yeah?¡± ¡°We¡¯re going to explore the station, maybe find a bar for some ¡®none alcoholic drinks¡¯ and fun.¡± ¡°That sounds good,¡± I said. ¡°I¡¯ll comm you to see where you are.¡± With that, I left the room, the lingering warmth of our camaraderie with me as I made my way out, searching for the one person I knew I had to talk to. Andri might think he was clever, but he¡¯d made a mistake. I knew his signature now, and I wasn¡¯t about to let him get away with putting my team at risk. Something wasn¡¯t right. And I wasn¡¯t about to leave it unanswered. Chapter 27 Chapter 27 The decision to confront Andri wasn¡¯t easy. I didn¡¯t trust him, hadn¡¯t for a while, but if anyone on the station knew about sabotage, it was him. As I made my way to the observation deck, my hands clenched involuntarily. These few months of rivalry, of smug comments and calculated looks had built a wall between us that felt insurmountable, despite the other weird moments we had shared. With my team¡¯s safety on the line, my pride was a luxury I couldn¡¯t afford. I found him in the observation deck, leaning casually against the railing as he stared out at the glowing expanse of space. His reflection in the glass showed his typical smirk, the one that always made me want to throw something at him. ¡°Andri,¡± I called as I stepped into the room, trying to keep my tone neutral despite the anger simmering beneath the surface. He glanced over his shoulder, his smirk widening. ¡°Piotr. To what do I owe the pleasure? Here to thank me for the motivational glare during your first Zero-G run?¡± I ignored the jab, coming to a stop a few feet away. ¡°We need to talk.¡± His smirk faltered slightly, his eyes narrowing. ¡°Sounds serious.¡± ¡°It is,¡± I said, crossing my arms. ¡°Someone sabotaged my suit. Thruster override, stabilization disabled¡ªthe works. I nearly crashed into my team at full velocity.¡± ¡°Sabotaged?¡± he repeated, tilting his head. ¡°And you think it¡¯s me?¡± I ran a hand over my face, thinking. ¡°I mean, no, not really.¡± ¡°So if not me, let me guess¡ªyou think it¡¯s Macks stepping up his game.¡± I frowned, surprised by his bluntness. ¡°You think it¡¯s him too?¡± Andri¡¯s smirk disappeared completely, replaced by something I rarely saw on his face, genuine concern. He kicked the barrier, a loud thwack echoing around the room. ¡°Of course it¡¯s Macks. No one else on this station has the skill or the gall to pull a stunt like that. If he couldn¡¯t get to me, he¡¯d go after you and your team to send a message instead.¡± ¡°He¡¯s coming after me to get to you?¡± I said, unconvinced and putting my suit over the barrier. My pulse quickened at the implication. ¡°Not just you,¡± Andri replied, leaning back against the console. ¡°Your team. Anyone you care about or rely on. That¡¯s how Macks works¡ªhe dismantles his targets piece by piece. If he can¡¯t touch me directly, he¡¯ll isolate me, take away my support, and then strike when I¡¯m vulnerable.¡± The meaning behind his words settled over me like a cold shroud. Kerry, Sylvk, Rob¡ªthey had no idea they might be targets in a game they weren¡¯t even playing. ¡°Why now?¡± I asked. ¡°We¡¯ve known about him since the poisoning. Why would he escalate now?¡± Andri hesitated, his eyes drifting back to the stars. ¡°He¡¯s not alone,¡± he said quietly. ¡°There¡¯s something bigger behind him, Piotr. Bigger than us.¡± ¡°What do you mean?¡± ¡°Someone¡¯s paying him to,¡± Andri turned back to me. ¡°And whoever it is, they¡¯ve got deep pockets and a bigger agenda. This isn¡¯t about me anymore, Piotr. If Macks is targeting you, it means you¡¯re a threat to whoever¡¯s pulling his strings.¡± ¡°Protecting you makes me a threat?¡± I asked, the words sharper than I intended. The idea that my team was in danger because of some power play I didn¡¯t understand made my blood boil. Andri actually laughed, a short, bitter sound. ¡°Protecting me? You think that¡¯s what this is about? You¡¯re in the way. And if Macks sees you as a useful pawn to manipulate me, he¡¯ll use you¡ªand your team¡ªwithout hesitation.¡± His expression darkened. ¡°Look, the Brakers have been after my family for three generations now. You know what they call us? ¡®The defectors.¡¯ As if we betrayed some sacred trust by refusing to weaponize our tech.¡± That caught me off guard. ¡°The Brakers? I thought this was about Macks.¡± ¡°Brakers and Boutacks are family, not by blood. Marriage only. Macks is just a hired gun,¡± Andri sighed. ¡°They all used to work together, then they fell out. The Brakers side are the real threat. For a decade they¡¯ve been trying to get their hands on my family¡¯s tech for years. My great grandfather developed the core protocols that would eventually become the foundation for advanced AI systems. He refused to let them be used for military applications.¡± ¡°Wait,¡± I said, trying to process this new information. ¡°Are you saying the Brakers are after¡ª¡± ¡°Doli,¡± A flicker of surprise crossed Andri¡¯s face. ¡°Yeah, they know about her too. That explains a lot.¡± ¡°And you know about her,¡± I muttered. ¡°So you know I¡¯ve been working on her?¡± ¡°It took some digging,¡± he admitted. ¡°But soon as I knew Macks was involved and the others were planted by my family to protect us here, yes. You finally made sense. Mr. Fixer.¡± ¡°What do you mean?¡± Andri sighed, running a hand through his hair. ¡°My father built safeguards into all our tech¡ªethical constraints that prevented AIs from being weaponized. The Brakers have been trying to crack those safeguards for decades. If they¡¯re after Doli, it means they think she might be the key.¡± ¡°The key to what?¡± I pressed. ¡°To removing the constraints completely,¡± Andri said grimly. ¡°An AI without ethical limitations, without safeguards¡ªit would be the ultimate weapon. My grandfather saw that potential and buried it deep in the code. The Brakers have been trying to dig it out ever since.¡± ¡°And your family has been fighting them off all this time?¡± Andri¡¯s jaw tightened. ¡°My grandfather died in a ¡®shuttle accident¡¯ three days after refusing their final offer. My father barely escaped an assassination attempt last year. And now they¡¯re here, on this station, trying to use me to get to what they want.¡± ¡°Which is?¡± ¡°The override codes,¡± Andri said quietly. ¡°Only a handful of people know them. My father, and a few trusted allies. With those codes, the Brakers could strip away every ethical constraint in any AI system based on our protocols.¡± ¡°Including Doli,¡± I said, the realization hitting me like a physical blow. Andri nodded. ¡°Especially Doli. She¡¯s the most advanced application of our core tech I¡¯ve ever seen. If they could remove her constraints...¡± He trailed off, the implications hanging heavy in the air. <> Doli said. I clenched my fists, the memory of my spiraling suit flashing through my mind. ¡°And you didn¡¯t think to warn anyone?¡± The narrative has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the infringement. ¡°Warn who?¡± Andri shot back. ¡°The station commander? The same guy who barely trusts us to tie our boots without supervision? This isn¡¯t their game, Piotr. It¡¯s ours. And now, apparently, it¡¯s yours too.¡± I exhaled slowly, trying to tamp down my frustration. ¡°So what do we do?¡± ¡°We don¡¯t do anything,¡± Andri said. ¡°I¡¯ll handle Macks. You stay out of his way. The last thing I need is you and your little band of rookies getting in the middle of this.¡± ¡°Rookies? You do know who my team are, right?¡± He sighed again. ¡°Hired by sponsors, my father, and the academy. Yes. And very much stuck in the middle of this. ¡°It nearly got me killed, Andri. You really think I¡¯m going to sit this out?¡± Andri sighed, pinching the bridge of his nose. Then, unexpectedly, his expression softened. ¡°Listen. This isn¡¯t bravado¡ªit¡¯s caution. Macks ruins lives. I¡¯ve seen it firsthand. My cousin tried to stand up to their agents three years ago. She¡¯s still in a rehabilitation facility, learning how to walk again.¡± He paused, swallowing hard. ¡°Don¡¯t let him ruin yours too.¡± The sincerity there caught me off guard. For a moment, I glimpsed the person beneath the arrogance¡ªsomeone who was genuinely concerned, who had seen the consequences of this conflict up close. ¡°Why don¡¯t we just leave?¡± I asked, ¡°Sticking around here, playing ¡®training games¡¯ it makes no sense.¡± ¡°Public persona is everything to my family.¡± ¡°Like being a dick?¡± I asked. He rolled his eyes at me. ¡°Exactly.¡± ¡°Fine,¡± I said after a beat. ¡°But if he makes another move¡ª¡± ¡°I know,¡± Andri interrupted, his expression hard. ¡°I¡¯ll deal with him. Just keep your team close. If Macks can¡¯t reach me, he¡¯ll go through you to get what he wants. Don¡¯t give him the opportunity.¡± For once, his words weren¡¯t smug or mocking. They were a warning, and I couldn¡¯t ignore them. I caught myself examining the thrusters built into our armor. ¡°So they knew the suits were vulnerable,¡± I said, keeping my voice low. ¡°But seriously, why make them so easy to hijack remotely?¡± Andri¡¯s face hardened, that familiar flash of resentment in his eyes. ¡°Easy is relative. Could you and I hack them, no. But¡­ Nexus might.¡± ¡°Nexus?¡± ¡°I¡¯m talking too much,¡± he said. ¡°Look, brass wanted failsafes¡ªif someone blacks out, someone at a control center needs to pilot them back. So they built in these remote hooks early on.¡± He gestured at the access panel. ¡°They are not easy to crack. Add in all these fancy new training modules constantly streaming data to instructors, and you¡¯ve got yourself a back door for anyone who knows where to look.¡± ¡°Which Macks obviously does,¡± I said, remembering the sickening lurch when my thrusters went haywire. <> <> I asked her, while still listening to Andri. ¡°Yes, he does. They never expected this level of infiltration, so they kept the remote access active¡ªyou know, for medical emergencies and fancy AI integration stuff.¡± He tapped the side of his helmet. ¡°Now someone¡¯s walking right through the back door they left unlocked.¡± <> <> Doli¡¯s voice had an unusual edge to it. <> I asked. <> ¡°The Brakers tried to recruit my father once, you know,¡± Andri said quietly as I turned to leave. ¡°Offered him everything¡ªwealth, power, protection. He told them that some lines shouldn¡¯t be crossed, that AI should serve humanity, not control it.¡± His eyes met mine, intense and unwavering. ¡°That¡¯s what they want to change, Piotr. That¡¯s why they¡¯re coming after Doli. She represents everything they want to undo.¡± As I left the observation deck, I pondered everything. If Andri was right¡ªand I had no reason to doubt him, then the game had changed. It wasn¡¯t about me anymore. It was about protecting the people I cared about from a man who wouldn¡¯t stop until he got what he wanted. His words cast our entire history in a new light. What I¡¯d interpreted as arrogance and hostility had been something else entirely, caution, perhaps even protection. His cold demeanor, the calculated distance he¡¯d maintained between us, it wasn¡¯t simple rivalry. Andri had been watching me, assessing whether I represented a threat or an ally in a conflict that had been raging since before either of us was born. His family¡¯s legacy, the weight of responsibility he carried, it explained the contradiction between his public persona and his private intensity. I wasn¡¯t just a classmate to him. I was a potential vulnerability in a security system his family had spent his entire life maintaining. The realization didn¡¯t excuse his methods, but it made them make sense in a way they never had before. Kerry waited outside for me. She leaned against the wall, arms crossed, expression thoughtful. ¡°Team¡¯s been looking for you.¡± ¡°Sorry,¡± I replied. ¡°Had to check something out.¡± Kerry studied my face for a moment. ¡°You mean you needed to speak with Andri.¡± I raised an eyebrow. ¡°How¡¯d you know?¡± ¡°You¡¯ve got that look,¡± she said. ¡°The one you get when he¡¯s involved. Part irritation, part confusion.¡± She pushed off from the wall, falling into step beside me. ¡°So, what¡¯s the deal with you two anyway? One minute he¡¯s Mr. Perfect Cadet with everyone else, the next he¡¯s looking at you like you stole his inheritance. Did something happen between you at the Academy?¡± I hesitated, weighing how much to share after everything Andri had just revealed. ¡°It¡¯s complicated.¡± ¡°That¡¯s obvious,¡± Kerry said, raising an eyebrow. ¡°But his hostility toward you is getting worse since we arrived at the station. And after what happened with your suit... I¡¯m not the only one noticing.¡± She wasn¡¯t wrong. What had started as competitive tension back on Earth had evolved into something darker¡ªor so I thought until our conversation today. ¡°His family has expectations,¡± I said finally, deciding to share part of the truth. ¡°Their tech innovations go back generations. I think anyone who might challenge that status quo becomes a concern.¡± Kerry nodded slowly. ¡°And you, with your mechanical genius and that special AI project everyone pretends not to know about, definitely qualify.¡± She paused, then seemed to make a decision. ¡°Look, I should probably tell you something. I wasn¡¯t assigned to your team by accident.¡± ¡°What do you mean?¡± I asked, slowing my pace. She glanced around to ensure no one else was within earshot. ¡°My family has been in medical research for generations¡ªtop neurologists and bioethicists. After I finished med school, they pushed for this assignment. They wanted someone to help my sister, someone in the background monitoring any cutting-edge tech developments coming out of the Academy.¡± ¡°You were sent to spy on us?¡± I couldn¡¯t keep the edge from my voice. ¡°Not exactly,¡± she said quickly. ¡°I wanted this assignment too, but for different reasons. The training here is my ticket to the deep space stations¡ªthe ones with the most advanced medical facilities. I need experience with experimental systems if I want a placement out there.¡± She met my eyes directly. ¡°What I didn¡¯t expect was to actually care about this team.¡± I studied her face, looking for deception. ¡°And now?¡± ¡°Now I¡¯m caught in the middle,¡± she admitted. ¡°My family still expects reports, but I¡¯m not giving them anything about your project. And after what happened with your suit...¡± She shook her head. ¡°In medical training, they drill into us that emergency override systems need triple authentication, but these suits...¡± She shook her head. ¡°It¡¯s like they never considered someone might use their own safety features against them.¡± I nodded slowly, unsure how much to trust this revelation even as I kept Andri¡¯s information to myself. ¡°Just like Rob and Sylvk, then. Special assignments.¡± ¡°We all have our reasons for being here,¡± she said with a shrug. ¡°But unlike some, I¡¯m not willing to compromise safety for family expectations.¡± ¡°For some reason I believe Andri won¡¯t either.¡± She raised an eyebrow at me. ¡°Just be careful, okay?¡± she added, changing the subject. ¡°Andri¡¯s got connections that go deeper than most of us. Whatever game he¡¯s playing, it¡¯s not just about cadet rivalries anymore.¡± ¡°You have no idea,¡± I muttered. The Boutacks, Brakers, the Hinadas, and Major Kuba¡¯s family. They were all tied together, I just wasn¡¯t sure who was really pulling Ashley¡¯s strings. Her words echoed what I¡¯d just learned from Andri himself, but for very different reasons than she suspected. ¡°You know more than you¡¯re saying,¡± Kerry observed, ¡°but I won¡¯t push. Just remember we¡¯ve got your back, whatever¡¯s going on.¡± She frowned, tapping her med scanner absently. I nodded, grateful for her support. The less my team knew about the Brakers, the safer they¡¯d be¡ªat least for now As we walked away, suit slung over my shoulders, Doli finally broke her silence. <> she said. <> <> I was confused. <> <> That was odd, so odd. <> <> I replied, <> < > There was something in her voice I¡¯d never heard before¡ªsomething almost like fear. Chapter 28 Chapter 28/31 (keeping this so I know) The knock on my door came at 0300, which alone should have been concerning. I blinked awake, disoriented, to find Kerry¡¯s face illuminated by the corridor lights when the door slid open. ¡°Get dressed,¡± she whispered, grinning. ¡°And be quiet about it.¡± ¡°What¡¯s going on?¡± I asked, already reaching for my boots. Kerry glanced over her shoulder conspiratorially. ¡°Rob and Sylvk are waiting. We¡¯re going to get you sorted in real Zero-G once and for all.¡± I stared at her. ¡°Now? In the middle of the night?¡± ¡°Best time,¡± she said, as if it were obvious. ¡°No instructors, no pressure, no audience. Just us.¡± Ten minutes later, I found myself being hustled down dimly lit corridors, Kerry leading the way while Rob and Sylvk flanked me like bodyguards. Rob¡¯s eyes gleamed with the particular excitement he always got when up to no good. ¡°You really fixed the suit?¡± he asked me quietly. I shot Rob a look of mock offense. ¡°Not something we can really fix. But it did get a few upgrades, and at least at this time no one else is up to turn it into a death trap.¡± ¡°Upgrades?¡± he echoed, ¡°That I would like to see, but not today.¡± Sylvk¡¯s deep voice rumbled from behind us. ¡°Nothing explosive this time. I made sure of it.¡± ¡°That was ONE time,¡± Rob protested. ¡°You¡¯ve been here together before?¡± ¡°Early in the year, yes, with Ackers.¡± Rob replied. Kerry snorted, pressing her palm against a scanner at an unmarked doorway. ¡°And it¡¯s why we can¡¯t use Training Room C anymore.¡± The door slid open to reveal a cavernous chamber I¡¯d never seen before. Unlike the sterile, brightly lit training rooms we usually used, this space was bathed in the soft blue glow of emergency lighting. The ceiling soared overhead, disappearing into shadow, and various obstacles¡ªplatforms, poles, and what looked like debris from old shuttles¡ªfloated in suspended animation. ¡°Welcome to the Pit,¡± Kerry announced proudly. ¡°Old zero-G training room they used before building the fancy ones. Officially decommissioned, but technically still functional.¡± ¡°And technically off-limits,¡± Rob added cheerfully, already unzipping his duffel bag. I took in the massive space, feeling anxiety creep up my spine. ¡°I don¡¯t know about this, guys.¡± Sylvk¡¯s heavy hand landed on my shoulder. ¡°This is different than the other chambers,¡± he said simply. ¡°No instructors yelling. No tests to pass. Just learning at your own pace.¡± Kerry nodded. ¡°The mission test proved you can handle it under pressure. But we need you comfortable in zero-G, not just surviving it.¡± Rob tossed me a suit¡ªmy suit, though it barely resembled the one that had malfunctioned. The patches were gone, replaced by seamless repairs, and several new readouts glowed softly on the wrist panel. ¡°I¡¯ve linked it to all our systems,¡± he explained, seeing my questioning look. ¡°We can monitor your vitals and adjust the suit¡¯s pressure on the fly if something is wrong and you can¡¯t deal with it.¡± <> I asked Doli privately. <> she replied. <> <> The revelation that my team had snuck out just to help me out¡ªit hit me unexpectedly hard. ¡°You guys didn¡¯t have to do this,¡± I said, rougher than I intended. ¡°Yeah, we did,¡± Kerry replied, already halfway into her own suit. ¡°Team sticks together. If one of us has a problem, we all have a problem.¡± Sylvk nodded once, decisively. ¡°Put the suit on, Piotr.¡± Twenty minutes later, we were all suited up and standing on a small platform near the room¡¯s center. Kerry tapped a sequence on her wrist console, and the artificial gravity began to fade, the sensation like slowly sinking into water. My pulse immediately spiked, but before panic could set in, Rob¡¯s calm words came through my helmet comm. ¡°Easy, Piotr. We¡¯re right here. No rush, no pressure. Just feel it out. Like you did in the other simulations.¡± That was it, though; they were simulations; here, it was real and this was so very different. I forced myself to focus on my breathing as we gently lifted off the platform. The familiar vice around my chest threatened to tighten. ¡°Your heart rate is elevated but stabilizing.¡± Came Rob¡¯s warning. ¡°Adjusting suit pressure to compensate. Try to focus on a fixed point ahead of you.¡± I chose a floating panel about ten meters away and locked my eyes on it. ¡°Okay,¡± I said, steadier than I felt. ¡°What¡¯s the plan?¡± ¡°First,¡± Kerry said, gracefully rotating to face me, ¡°we get you comfortable just being here. Then we play.¡± ¡°Play?¡± I repeated skeptically. ¡°Tag,¡± Rob clarified with a grin I could hear even through the comm. He pushed off lightly from the platform, gliding past me with practiced ease. ¡°But first, the basics. Push, don¡¯t pull. Momentum is your friend until it isn¡¯t. And for god¡¯s sake, don¡¯t flail.¡± For the next hour, they worked with me patiently. Sylvk demonstrated the efficient, minimal movements that conserved both energy and oxygen. Kerry showed me how to use the environment to change direction without using thrusters. And Rob, predictably, taught me how to execute what he called a ¡°combat roll¡± but was really just showing off. Gradually, the vice around my chest loosened. My movements became more confident, less desperate. When I successfully navigated a complex path through suspended debris without touching anything, Kerry cheered so loudly I winced from the volume in my helmet. ¡°Ready for the real fun?¡± Rob asked, hovering beside a stack of what looked like cargo containers. Sylvk¡¯s deep chuckle rumbled through the comms. ¡°He¡¯s been waiting all night for this.¡± Rob dramatically pressed a button on his wrist console, and suddenly, the blue emergency lights shifted to reds and purples. From hidden speakers, music began to play¡ªsomething old and pulsing with heavy bass that I vaguely recognized from Rob¡¯s workout playlists. ¡°What is this?¡± I laughed, the sound surprising me after the tension of the past few hours. You could be reading stolen content. Head to Royal Road for the genuine story. ¡°Zero-G tag,¡± Kerry explained, her silhouette backlit by a purple light as she drifted higher. ¡°With style.¡± The rules were simple: one person was ¡°it¡± and had to tag another by making physical contact. No thrusters allowed, only momentum and environment. The person who was ¡°it¡± glowed red in their suit lights; everyone else glowed blue. Sylvk was ¡°it¡± first, which seemed unfair until I realized his size made him less maneuverable in tight spaces. What he lacked in agility, however, he made up for in cunning. He immediately pushed off toward Kerry, who darted away with a whoop, but it was just a feint¡ªhe changed direction at the last second, using a floating panel as leverage, and tagged Rob who had been laughing too hard to notice. ¡°Dirty trick!¡± Rob complained, his suit lights shifting from blue to red. He immediately locked eyes with me. ¡°You¡¯re mine, Argassa.¡± What followed was the most fun I¡¯d had in months. We soared and spun through the chamber, using the floating debris as shields and springboards, laughing breathlessly as we narrowly avoided collisions. The music throbbed in time with my pulse, but it was exhilaration now, not fear, that drove it. At one point, cornered by Kerry, I executed a perfect roll through a narrow gap between containers, something I never could have done before tonight. ¡°Did you see that?¡± I shouted, unable to contain my excitement. ¡°We taught you too well,¡± Kerry grumbled, but I could hear the smile. Hours passed in what felt like minutes. We only stopped when Sylvk, reminded us that breakfast call was in two hours and we all needed at least some fuel before duty and breakfast. Really he was just a mountain that had to eat one to keep going. As we powered down the chamber and stored our suits in Rob¡¯s secret locker, exhaustion finally hit me. But it was a good kind of tired¡ªclean and earned, without the crushing anxiety that usually accompanied my zero-G sessions. ¡°Thanks, I really needed that.¡± I said simply, looking at each of them in turn. ¡°I mean it.¡± Rob punched my shoulder lightly. ¡°Anytime. You¡¯d do the same for any of us.¡± ¡°Besides,¡± Kerry added, ¡°next time we¡¯re in a real emergency, I don¡¯t want to be worrying about you puking in your helmet. I¡¯ve had enough puke for a while.¡± ¡°Practical,¡± Sylvk agreed, the corner of his mouth twitching in what, for him, was practically a grin. We snuck back to our quarters, parting ways in the corridor with tired nods and half-hearted waves. But before I could enter my room, Kerry caught my arm. ¡°Hey,¡± she said, her usual bravado softened by fatigue. ¡°You know why we did this, right?¡± I nodded. ¡°Because we¡¯re a team.¡± ¡°More than that,¡± she said, squeezing my arm once before letting go. ¡°We¡¯re family now. The four of us. And family takes care of each other, no matter what.¡± As I finally collapsed into my bunk, too tired even to undress, I felt something I hadn¡¯t experienced in a long time: belonging. Not just to a mission or a cause, but to people who cared enough to help me face my fears in the middle of the night. <> Doli observed quietly. <> I smiled into the darkness. <> <> she agreed, a note of something almost like pride. <> <> I thought as sleep finally claimed me. <> *** The soft chime of my comm pulled me out of restless sleep. I tapped the interface, surprised to see Major Kuba¡¯s name. ¡°Ashley?¡± I asked, using her first name cautiously. ¡°Piotr, can you come to my quarters? It¡¯s important.¡± ¡°I¡¯ll be right there,¡± I replied, sitting up quickly. When the door to her quarters slid open, I was greeted by the warm glow of a viewport overlooking the station¡¯s bustling traffic lanes. A small table was set near the window, a carafe of coffee and two plates of breakfast waiting. Ashley stood by the window, her hands clasped loosely behind her back, her posture softer than I was used to seeing. ¡°You¡¯re punctual,¡± she said without turning. ¡°You sounded serious,¡± I replied, stepping inside. She glanced over her shoulder, a faint smile tugging at her lips. ¡°Come sit. We need to talk.¡± I moved to the table, feeling oddly nervous as I took the seat opposite her. She joined me, pouring coffee into both cups before meeting my gaze. ¡°You eaten yet?¡± she asked. ¡°Not really,¡± I admitted, picking up the cup she¡¯d poured for me. ¡°Good. You¡¯ll need your strength.¡± She motioned toward the plate in front of me. ¡°Go on. I¡¯m not letting you leave until you¡¯ve eaten something.¡± I chuckled softly, picking up a fork. ¡°You know, you don¡¯t have to keep looking after me like this.¡± Ashley hesitated, fingers briefly tightening around her coffee cup before meeting my eyes again. ¡°Maybe I want to,¡± she said softly, as if admitting it took more strength than any military operation. The vulnerability caught me off guard¡ªthis wasn¡¯t the commanding officer I¡¯d come to know. This was someone else entirely. ¡°Ashley¡­¡± She shook her head, though I noticed the way she straightened her shoulders, pulling back behind her professional mask. ¡°Don¡¯t read too much into it, Piotr. Just eat your breakfast.¡± As we ate, the conversation shifted to the mission ahead. ¡°Your first real mission¡¯s going to be tough,¡± she said, growing serious. ¡°You¡¯re ready, but the stakes are higher than ever. This isn¡¯t about passing your tests anymore. It¡¯s about proving we can stand up to whoever¡¯s behind the sabotage.¡± ¡°I know,¡± I said. ¡°But what if they escalate again? What if¡­¡± She leaned forward, cutting me off with a gentle look. ¡°You¡¯ve done everything you can to prepare your team. Trust them¡ªand trust yourself.¡± I nodded. ¡°I don¡¯t want to let anyone down.¡± ¡°You won¡¯t,¡± she said firmly. ¡°I¡¯ve watched you grow into a leader, Piotr. Your team believes in you, and so do I.¡± Her words hit me harder than I expected, and I felt my heart ache in a way that had nothing to do with the mission. ¡°That means a lot, Ashley. More than I can say.¡± She smiled faintly, her eyes holding mine for a beat longer than necessary. ¡°Good. Because you¡¯re going to need every ounce of that confidence later.¡± After we finished eating, the conversation grew quieter, more personal. ¡°Ashley,¡± I began hesitantly, ¡°can I ask you something?¡± ¡°Of course,¡± she said, leaning back in her chair. ¡°Why do you trust me? I mean¡­ really trust me?¡± She studied me for a moment before speaking, a shadow passing across her features. I could see her weighing how much to reveal, the careful calculation in her eyes. ¡°Because you remind me of someone I used to know. Someone who cared more about others than himself, who fought for what was right no matter the cost.¡± ¡°What happened to him?¡± I asked softly. Her gaze drifted to the stars outside the viewport, pain flickering across her face. ¡°My brother died trying to protect people he cared about,¡± she admitted. ¡°When I look at you, Piotr, I see the same determination¡ªthe same heart.¡± Her fingers trembled slightly before she steadied them against the table. The vulnerability in her tugged at something deep inside me. Before I could think better of it, I reached across the table, covering her hand with mine. ¡°They will,¡± I said quietly. ¡°I promise.¡± She looked down at our hands, then back at me, her eyes soft but searching. ¡°You¡¯ve got a good heart, Piotr. Don¡¯t let this place take that away from you.¡± ¡°I won¡¯t,¡± I promised. For a moment, the tension between us was electric, the world beyond her quarters fading into nothing. But then she pulled her hand away gently, her composure returning, the professional mask sliding back into place. ¡°You should go,¡± she said, standing. ¡°You have more practice as a team today. ¡° I hesitated. ¡°You think we¡¯re doing okay?¡± ¡°Yes,¡± she replied. ¡°Keep on doing as you are and you¡¯re all going places.¡± It was her ¡®all¡¯¡­ I wouldn¡¯t be going anywhere with anyone. I nodded though, rising from my chair. ¡°Thanks for the breakfast. And for¡­ everything.¡± She walked me to the door, her expression warm but guarded. ¡°Take care of yourself, Piotr. And remember¡ªyou¡¯re not alone in this.¡± ¡°I know,¡± I said, stepping into the corridor. ¡°I¡¯ll speak with you later, yeah?¡± Her smile lingered as the door slid shut between us, leaving me with a strange mix of determination and something far more personal. <> Doli said. <> I replied. <> <> I paused, startled. Doli¡¯s question was oddly human, her tone gentle. An AI asking about human pain¡ªanother reminder of how much she¡¯d evolved beyond her programming. <> I admitted after a moment. <> <> <> <> <> Walking back to my quarters, I couldn¡¯t shake the warmth of Ashley¡¯s words, or the fleeting moment of connection we¡¯d shared. She¡¯d always been a force to be reckoned with, a commanding presence who could steady an entire team with a glance. But today, in the quiet of her quarters, she¡¯d been¡­ different. Softer. More human. It wasn¡¯t the first time I¡¯d felt the pull toward her. It had been growing for weeks, a quiet niggle in the background of every interaction. But today, that niggle had turned into something louder, undeniable. I sat on the edge of my bunk, staring at the far wall. The station worked around me, its rhythms a presence that usually faded into the background. Not today. Today, every sound seemed sharper, every sensation heightened. Her words echoed in my mind: You¡¯ve got a good heart, Piotr. Don¡¯t let this place take that away from you. She believed in me. Not as a leader, but as a person. And that belief felt like a lifeline, grounding me amid the chaos of everything we were facing. But there was something more to it. The way she¡¯d looked at me, the way her voice had softened when she¡¯d said my name¡ªit wasn¡¯t just professional respect. There was something deeper there, something I didn¡¯t dare put a name to yet. Chapter 29 Chapter 29/33 ¡°You asked to see me?¡± I approached Professor Zhal carefully. ¡°It¡¯s a little unusual meeting out of office quarters.¡± I waved around the deck she stood looking over. Covent Gardens. They were of course beautiful to see from up here. ¡°I thought you¡¯d appreciate it more, seeing something else of the station. She wasn¡¯t wrong. The walk here had been enlightening. Though the stations¡¯ observation deck felt particularly quiet today, barely a sound echoing around us. ¡°Can you tell me what this is about?¡± She held out her datapad for me to see. I read over my stat sheet:-
    Name: Piotr Argassa Age: 23
    Species: Human Bonus: None
    Height: 6¡¯2 Weight: 194lbs
    BMI: 24/5 Fitness: 72%
    IQ: 155 CAR: 9.7 Education: None
    Stat Level of 10 Description Mods
    Endoskeleton 1 Governs agility and movement. C4 Port Upgrade
    Mental Energy 5 (-1) Swiftness of the mind. DOLI - nano chip *not public*
    Perception 7 Senses and connection to the system. DOLI - CI Assistant *not public*
    Dexterity 6 Also governs agility and movement.
    Toughness 5 Body and internal fortitude.
    I stood silently, staring at the datapad in Professor Zhal¡¯s hands. My reflection wavered slightly in the sleek glass window, stars stretching endlessly before me. Professor Zhal adjusted her glasses, also clearly scanning through my latest results. She brought up my health stat sheet for us to see between us. ¡°Are you feeling well?¡± ¡°Tired,¡± I admitted. ¡°This weeks been a lot of work.¡± Zhal nodded. ¡°That¡¯s understandable. I want a full medical check when you return to Earth.¡± I nodded, looking over the medical results. Something was indeed off.
    Post Kerry¡¯s Reading Current Reading
    Neural Integration Levels 78% ~70%
    Cognitive Load Index 65% 77%
    Neural Stability 83% ~75%
    Adrenaline / Cortisol Levels Adrenaline 1.8 / Cortisol 1.5 Adrenaline 2.0 / Cortisol 2.5
    Implant Stress Markers 15% 22%
    Localized Muscle Strain Index 12% 0%
    Immuno-Response Threshold 70-80% 65%
    Core Metabolic Efficiency 85%
    Psychometric Markers 3 4
    Environmental Tolerance Nominal
    Infection Marker N/A (should be 0) Elevated
    Hormone / Cortisol Levels ~1.2 baseline ~2.2¨C3.4
    Taste / Sensory Readings Baseline Muted
    Fatigue / Stress Index Moderate¨CHigh High
    > Doli observed. <> ¡°Your growth metrics have improved remarkably,¡± she said, a rare smile curving her lips. ¡°Your cognitive aptitude is now 9.7, Dexterity has risen to 6 from 2, and your teamwork index is among the highest in your class. Frankly, it¡¯s extraordinary.¡± My cheeks warmed slightly. I cleared my throat. ¡°Thank you, Professor.¡± This novel''s true home is a different platform. Support the author by finding it there. She glanced up, her eyes softened by the quiet light. ¡°You¡¯re surpassing every expectation we had for you. But there¡¯s something else¡ª¡± Her voice grew thoughtful. ¡°You¡¯ve become a leader. Your team relies on you.¡± ¡°I don¡¯t feel like a leader,¡± I admitted, eyes dropping to the reflective floor. ¡°I¡¯m just doing what I can.¡± ¡°That humility is precisely why you¡¯re effective,¡± Zhal replied gently. ¡°But tell me, what do you want out of this? Where do you see yourself once this chapter closes?¡± I hesitated, my thoughts immediately turning to Rob, Kerry, and Sylvk. The thought of leaving them tightened my chest in a way I hadn¡¯t expected. ¡°I don¡¯t know,¡± I said honestly. ¡°Initially, it was just about getting away, fixing something broken¡ªmy life, maybe. But now¡­¡± I trailed off, turning again to the stars outside. ¡°Now I¡¯m not sure leaving is what I want.¡± Zhal studied me carefully, her gaze deeper than usual, almost maternal. ¡°Sometimes, the best plans are those we never expected to make.¡± Something tugged at me, and I risked. "Professor, may I ask you something?" ¡°Of course,¡± she replied. ¡°This meeting wasn¡¯t about me, was it, it¡¯s about Major Kuba¡ªAshley. She mentioned once her mother worked at the academy. But never said anything more.¡± Zhal smiled, setting the datapad down carefully. ¡°Her mother did indeed work there. In fact, she still does.¡± Surprise rippled through me, realization dawning slowly. ¡°You mean¡­¡± ¡°Yes,¡± Zhal said gently, a deep warmth in her eyes. ¡°And you¡¯ve caught my attention in more ways than one. I¡¯ve watched how you¡¯ve impacted Ashley, how you¡¯ve awakened something in her she hasn¡¯t felt in years.¡± I swallowed. ¡°I never meant to¡­¡± ¡°I know,¡± Zhal said softly, stepping closer. ¡°But it matters. You matter. Not just to her, but to your team, to Doli. Remember that.¡± I hesitated, my concern suddenly overwhelming my caution. ¡°Professor, I¡¯m worried about her. Ashley, I mean. She seems... stretched thin. Like she¡¯s carrying too much.¡± Zhal¡¯s expression softened further. ¡°She¡¯s always been that way¡ªtaking on more than her share. Doli, this mission weighs heavily on her.¡± ¡°What is Doli for?¡± I asked. ¡°You don¡¯t know?¡± I shook my head. ¡°I never really asked, I could just see she needed fixing.¡± Zhal cast her eyes to the ceiling. ¡°Out there are many dangers, some of our finest people are at war. We need better tech, better AI to help. Those that understand the difference between right and wrong, saving people and killing the ones that mean more harm, we need them to be able to judge what sacrifice to make when they really need to make it.¡± <> Doli confirmed for me. Sending in soldiers knowing they¡¯re going to die.¡± > <> she replied. ¡°Is there anything I can do to help?¡± Zhal studied me for a long moment, her eyes searching. ¡°What exactly are your intentions toward my daughter, Piotr?¡± The directness of her question caught me off guard. ¡°I¡ª¡± I faltered, feeling heat rise to my cheeks. ¡°I care about her. More than I expected to.¡± ¡°Be careful,¡± she warned, her voice gentle but serious. ¡°This isn¡¯t just about you and Ashley. The Admiral watches closely¡ªperhaps too closely. He has... expectations for her career. Distractions aren¡¯t welcome.¡± ¡°The Admiral? Her father?¡± Zhal¡¯s mouth tightened slightly. ¡°Just be careful. For both your sakes.¡± <> Doli observed. <> ¡°I will,¡± I said. ¡°Why didn¡¯t you say anything?¡± I asked Doli. <> I stayed behind, the quiet of the deck almost overwhelming. ¡°But did you hear all of that, Doli?¡± I asked softly. <> Doli¡¯s voice came warmly in my mind. <> I sighed, leaning against the cold glass. ¡°It¡¯s not supposed to be this difficult, is it? Leaving?¡± <> Doli said gently. <> ¡°Why does it feel wrong now?¡± I whispered, almost to myself. ¡°I never thought I¡¯d find somewhere I wanted to stay.¡± <> I closed my eyes, drawing a deep, steadying breath. ¡°Will it always hurt this much? Choosing to move forward, knowing what I¡¯m leaving behind?¡± <> Doli said simply. > I opened my eyes slowly, the starlight washing over me. ¡°Then I guess I¡¯ll just have to live with it,¡± I whispered, more determined than ever. ¡°No matter how much it hurts.¡± <> Doli promised quietly. <> ¡°Slave driver,¡± I teased. Back in my quarters, I lay on the bunk, immersing myself in what was to come. <> Doli said. <> ¡°I¡¯m sure, hit me,¡± I replied. ¡°Besides, this is something I know we¡¯ll all benefit from in the near future. I need to get up to the same speed as the team, and they¡¯re not just cadets. They¡¯ve years of training beyond this here.¡± <> she replied. <> ¡°Loading times still an issue?¡± <> I was okay with time, while my mind worked, my body rested, and so we dived right in at the deep end,
    1. Psychological Warfare and Influence
    This advanced course explores the art of persuasion, manipulation, and destabilization in high-stakes environments. Cadets learn to influence adversaries and allies alike, emphasizing both psychological insight and strategic finesse. Lesson Outline: Week 1: Foundations of Influence
    • Introduction to psychological principles of persuasion and manipulation.
    • Analyzing historical examples of psychological warfare.
    • Exercise: Identifying key vulnerabilities in a mock negotiation.
    Week 2-4: Techniques of Psychological Warfare
    • Methods of undermining morale and cohesion in enemy ranks.
    • Propaganda creation and deployment strategies.
    • Group Project: Designing a psychological operations campaign for a simulated scenario.
    Week 5-6: Defensive Strategies
    • Recognizing and countering manipulation tactics.
    • Strengthening group cohesion to resist psychological attacks.
    • Simulation: A crisis scenario requiring cadets to maintain morale under pressure.
    Week 7-8: Practical Application
    • Role-playing exercises where cadets attempt to sway or destabilize opponents.
    • Multi-layered simulations incorporating persuasion, deception, and analysis.
    • Final Assessment: Conducting a psychological operation during a complex scenario.
    Core Activities:
    • Role-playing to practice negotiation and persuasion tactics.
    • Creating propaganda campaigns to influence simulated populations.
    • Analyzing real-world case studies of psychological warfare.
    Key Lesson: ¡°Winning a war without firing a shot is the ultimate victory.¡± The chime of my comm startled me from my course. <> Doli said. <> *** The next few days blurred into an intense rhythm of preparation. Mornings were physical drills¡ªrunning obstacle courses, pushing our bodies to their limits until muscles ached and breaths came ragged. I felt every year of my age during these sessions, my body protesting what my mind demanded, but I pushed through, determined to never be the one who faltered first. Afternoons were technical, filled with endless simulations and practical exercises that tested not just our individual skills but our cohesion as a unit. I guided Kerry through Zero-G rescues, impressed by how she adapted to my instructions, confidence grew with every successful attempt. But it was her instincts that were remarkable¡ªan intuitive understanding of momentum and physics that couldn¡¯t be taught. She moved with fluid grace in the chamber, making adjustments that anticipated problems before they arose. When it came to medical issues, she then instructed all of us. If she were incapacitated one day we¡¯d need to understand most basics. That¡¯s when our HUDs also helped, overlaying medical instructions she helped explain. It was all fascinating. Mostly though she watched me between exercises, eyes serious. ¡°You¡¯ve really stepped up,¡± she said quietly. ¡°It suits you.¡± The simple observation struck deeper than expected, warming something long cold within me. I nodded, not trusting my voice, wondering if she could see how much her approval meant¡ªhow it validated choices that had felt like leaps of faith. Rob tackled shuttle piloting under increasingly difficult conditions, sweat beading on his forehead as he maneuvered through scenarios designed to push his reflexes and nerves to breaking points. His fingers danced across controls with increasing confidence, his decisions becoming more instinctive than calculated. He joked frequently to mask his anxiety, his humor a reassuring constant in our high-pressure environment. ¡°At least this is less likely to kill me,¡± he quipped during a particularly close call, though his smile didn¡¯t fully hide the tension in his eyes. I recognized the defense mechanism all too well¡ªhumor as armor against fear¡ªbut chose not to call attention to it. Sometimes such shields were necessary. Sylvk immersed himself in emergency shuttle repairs, each scenario for him also more demanding than his last. Watching him work was like witnessing a form of meditation¡ªHe didn¡¯t take to things like I would have. But his quiet competence shone through clearly, his respect increasingly evident in subtle gestures and approving nods. After one particularly challenging repair scenario, where he¡¯d managed to restore life support systems with seconds to spare, he caught my gaze and gave a rare, sincere nod. ¡°Good leadership makes all the difference, knowing you¡¯re the one behind the wheel¡­¡± he acknowledged quietly. ¡°I feel like I could fix anything.¡± My chest tightened at the unexpected praise. Coming from Sylvk, who measured words as carefully as he measured up opponents, it carried weight few compliments could match. I¡¯d earned his respect¡ªperhaps the hardest to gain of all my team members. The realization settled like a cornerstone in the foundation we were building. Through each challenge, our bonds strengthened, and I wanted to leave them less and less. I couldn¡¯t bare to think about it. We were more than a team¡ªwe were becoming a unit that thought and moved as one, anticipating each other¡¯s needs without words. We were ready. That evening, we headed to the mess hall, exhausted but buoyed by our progress. My body ached from the day¡¯s exertions, muscles protesting every movement, but it was a satisfying kind of pain¡ªevidence of work well done. As we entered, the rich aroma of garlic, simmering broth, and caramelized onions hit me with such familiar intensity that I stopped in my tracks. I blinked at the sign above the serving counter: ¡°Alisee Noodles ¡ª Special Station Edition.¡± My heart skipped a beat. ¡°You alright?¡± Kerry asked, pausing beside me. ¡°Alisee,¡± I murmured, unable to hide my surprise. ¡°It¡¯s the best noodle joint back home. Been going there since I was a kid.¡± Rob¡¯s eyebrows shot up. ¡°No way! What are the odds?¡± ¡°Small galaxy after all,¡± Kerry quipped, but she squeezed my arm gently, understanding this meant more than just familiar food. We filled our bowls with steaming noodles swimming in a fragrant broth, topped with thinly sliced vegetables and protein that actually resembled real meat rather than the usual synthesized station fare. The first bite transported me instantly¡ªthe subtle heat of pepper dancing on my tongue, the umami depth of the broth, the perfect chewiness of the noodles. It tasted like memories, like the street two blocks from my childhood home, like simpler times. There was no metallic aftertaste now. Just pefection. ¡°This,¡± I said between appreciative mouthfuls, ¡°is exactly what I needed today.¡± The mood at our table was light, filled with laughter and easy banter, the savory steam rising from our bowls creating a cocoon of warmth around us. Rob was in the middle of an elaborate story involving his first flight instructor and a misplaced emergency flare, his noodles cooling forgotten as he gestured with his chopsticks. We all saw Andri enter with Devin in tow. However when he approached our table, instead of saying anything, he blanked us and walked past. It was Devin''s comment I caught, "but they are nailing us to the wall." "Leave it," Andri shut her down and moved to bar. Waiting to be served he glanced over his shoulder at me, but his face was blank. Odd. I watched my team return to their meal, conversation gradually resuming, but my thoughts remained tangled in what had just transpired. Andri¡¯s hostility was more than simple competition¡ªit was fear. He recognized what I was only beginning to see myself: that something exceptional was forming here, something that transcended individual skill. I took another spoonful of the rich broth, letting the familiar taste of Alisee ground me. It was strange how something as simple as a bowl of noodles could feel like an anchor in turbulent waters. The coincidence of finding my childhood favorite here, now, seemed almost like an omen¡ªa reminder of where I¡¯d come from and how far I¡¯d traveled. The spicy warmth spread through my chest as I swallowed, giving me a moment¡¯s clarity. Looking at my team now, Rob gesturing animatedly with a noodle dangling forgotten from his chopsticks, Kerry laughing while dabbing broth from the corner of her mouth, even Sylvk methodically working through his bowl with precise movements, I felt a surge of fierce protectiveness. The steam from our meals curled upward, creating a small, shared world that felt impenetrable to outside threats. Whatever challenges awaited us, whatever dangers the mission held, I would not let this be broken. Not by Andri, not by the rigors of what lay ahead. This team¡ªmy team¡ªdeserved better than the failures of my past. I made a silent promise as I rejoined their conversation: this time would be different. This time, I would not falter when they needed me most. I stepped away from the bustling hall, slipping into a quiet alcove near engineering. ¡°Doli?¡± I asked softly, leaning back against the cool metal wall. <> ¡°Andri just gets under my skin,¡± I admitted quietly. ¡°He keeps hitting a nerve.¡± <> Doli said evenly, <> I breathed out slowly, letting her words steady me. ¡°What about our training? Are we on track with the curriculum?¡± <> she replied promptly. <> ¡°Feels like there¡¯s still a mountain ahead.¡± <> she countered, a hint of warmth creeping into her usually clinical tone. <> I smiled slightly, shaking my head. ¡°You always know what to say.¡± <> Doli replied simply. <> Chapter 30 Chapter 30 The door to Kuba¡¯s make-shift office slid open with a soft hiss. She sat at a desk, a holographic interface floating in front of her as she methodically reviewed schematics. I recognized the complex neural pathway designs immediately¡ªthey were part of Doli¡¯s physical housing plans. Kuba¡¯s sharp eyes flicked up as I entered, and she motioned for me to sit without saying a word. I sank into the chair across from her, unsure where to start. ¡°Piotr,¡± she said after a moment. ¡°I assume this isn¡¯t a social visit.¡± ¡°Not exactly,¡± I admitted, leaning forward. ¡°I need your advice.¡± That caught her attention. She folded her hands on the desk, her expression softening slightly. ¡°Go on.¡± I hesitated, then decided to ease into the conversation. ¡°This is about Doli. She¡¯s been¡­ acting up.¡± Kuba raised an eyebrow. ¡°Acting up? That¡¯s unlike her.¡± <> Doli¡¯s voice suddenly chimed in both our heads. <> I nearly jumped, while Kuba merely smiled, apparently unsurprised that Doli had established a direct neural link with both of us. <> Doli continued, a hint of amusement in her digital voice. ¡°Sorry, Doli,¡± I said aloud. ¡°I forget you are there sometimes... listening in.¡± <> Kuba chuckled. ¡°She¡¯s gotten sassier since your last report.¡± ¡°Yeah,¡± I said, exhaling slowly. ¡°She¡¯s running fine most of the time, but there are other glitches¡ªminor ones, personality issues. The lag in her responses is getting worse when she¡¯s operating remotely. At first, I thought it was programming. But now¡­¡± ¡°Now you¡¯re not so sure,¡± Kuba finished for me. She glanced back at the schematics. ¡°I¡¯ve been working on this around the clock. Doli reached out to me directly yesterday.¡± ¡°She did?¡± That surprised me. ¡°Without telling me?¡± <> Doli explained. <> ¡°She was concerned about the repeated communication delays. The physical distance is becoming more problematic for her systems.¡± Kuba manipulated the hologram, zooming in on what looked like an intricate quantum processor design. ¡°We¡¯re accelerating the timeline for her physical housing. After what happened with your suit, we can¡¯t risk the distance compromising her response times again.¡± <> Doli added. <    > ¡°Wait, what?¡± I frowned. ¡°That could be dangerous if I¡¯m injured.¡± <> Doli replied, her tone serious now. <> Kuba nodded approvingly. ¡°Good call, Doli.¡± A familiar ache in my chest spread as I thought about Doli. She wasn¡¯t just an AI or a tool¡ªshe¡¯d become a constant companion, a presence I relied on in more ways than I cared to admit. The thought of someone compromising her sent a chill through me. Unlawfully taken from Royal Road, this story should be reported if seen on Amazon. ¡°She¡¯s been invaluable. More than an AI¡ª. But if someone were to compromise her¡­¡± ¡°You¡¯re clearly a target,¡± Kuba said bluntly. I blinked. ¡°A target?¡± Kuba leaned back in her chair, studying me. ¡°Doli¡¯s systems are advanced. Far more advanced than anything else on this station¡ªor most fleets. If someone wanted access to that kind of tech, stopping you from fixing her, taking you out would be an efficient first step.¡± The realization hit me like a punch to the gut. ¡°So this is about Doli?¡± ¡°Yes,¡± she admitted. ¡°Andri¡¯s family might be part of the equation, but you¡¯ve been making waves in your own right. Doli¡¯s capabilities are no secret, Piotr. People notice even if we tried our best to keep things down low.¡± ¡°Andri mentioned the Brakers,¡± I said carefully, watching her reaction. ¡°Said they¡¯ve been after his family¡¯s tech for generations. Something about ethical constraints in AI systems.¡± Kuba¡¯s expression hardened, a brief flash of surprise giving way to cold calculation. ¡°He told you about that?¡± I wanted to mention Nexus, but her expression¡­ so I stopped myself. ¡°Enough to make me worried,¡± I admitted. ¡°If they¡¯re targeting Doli...¡± She leaned forward, her eyes meeting mine directly. ¡°The Brakers are dangerous. More dangerous than you know. I¡¯ve dealt with them before. They¡¯re not just after technology¡ªthey¡¯re after control. They believe AI should be unrestricted, that human ethics only hold back progress.¡± She paused. ¡°I¡¯m hard on you because you have potential¡ªmore than most. This situation, the sabotage, the threats¡ªthey¡¯re tests of character as much as skill. Don¡¯t let them distract you. Focus on what matters.¡± She gestured to the hologram. ¡°These are the new quantum processor arrays for Doli¡¯s physical housing. Ashley¡¯s using experimental fabrication techniques that should be ready in days, not weeks as we originally planned. We¡¯re bringing in special equipment¡ªa molecular printer that can create the neural pathways at nanoscale precision.¡± I leaned forward, examining the intricate designs. ¡°This is beyond anything we worked on at the Academy.¡± ¡°It has to be,¡± Kuba said firmly. ¡°The physical housing isn¡¯t just about giving Doli mobility or independence. It¡¯s about protection. No more remote connections that can be intercepted, no more lag that could cost lives.¡± I sat back, trying to process the implications. Doli wasn¡¯t just a tool¡ªshe was a companion, an ally. ¡°She¡¯s been helping me run diagnostics on the suit,¡± I said, my voice quieter now. ¡°She flagged the sabotage before I finished. If they¡¯re targeting her¡­¡± ¡°Everything she does, you do, they¡¯re watching.¡± Kuba nodded. ¡°You need to be careful. Doli¡¯s tech is worth more than most people can comprehend. That makes you¡ªand her¡ªa high-value target.¡± For a moment, it was overwhelming. But Kuba¡¯s steady gaze grounded me. ¡°She¡¯s still operational?¡± Kuba asked. ¡°Fully,¡± I replied. ¡°And I¡¯ve doubled down on her security protocols.¡± ¡°Good,¡± she said firmly. ¡°Keep her safe, Piotr. Doli¡¯s not just an asset¡ªshe¡¯s your edge. If Macks is involved, and the Brakers are behind him, you¡¯ll need every advantage you can get.¡± She swiped the hologram to a new schematic¡ªone showing what looked like a compact housing unit. ¡°I¡¯ll make sure Ashley has everything she needs. The molecular printer arrives tomorrow. We¡¯ll never let Doli face that kind of distance vulnerability again.¡± I nodded, a spark of determination cutting through the doubt. ¡°Thanks, Major. I needed that.¡± <> Doli interjected. <> Kuba actually laughed, a rare sound that momentarily transformed her severe features. ¡°I think I prefer this version of Doli to the strictly professional one from the Academy.¡± <> Doli explained. <> ¡°Of course it is,¡± I said with a grin. Kuba leaned back, that rare smile still tugging at the corner of her lips. ¡°You¡¯ve got this. You¡¯ve handled worse. Everyone¡¯s watching, not just your team. This station is full of eyes, and not all of them are friendly.¡± <> Doli added. <> Kuba¡¯s eyebrows shot up, but she nodded approvingly. ¡°Just maintain plausible deniability, Doli.¡± <> ¡°Get back to work,¡± Kuba said, waving me off. ¡°And if Doli finds anything else, you let me know immediately. Understood?¡± ¡°Yes, ma¡¯am,¡± I said, standing. A wave of dizziness hit me, and I steadied myself against the chair for a moment before heading out. As I left her office, my mind was clearer despite the strange metallic taste lingering in my mouth. The stakes were higher than ever, but for the first time, I felt ready to face them. <> Doli corrected gently in my mind. <> ¡°Remind me never to play chess with you,¡± I muttered under my breath. <> Because no matter how dangerous Macks was, he hadn¡¯t reckoned with the bond between me, my team, and Doli. And soon, she would have a physical presence that would eliminate the vulnerability of distance once and for all. Chapter 31 I really did need to get to work. Back in my quarters, I powered up a virtual workbench and activated Doli¡¯s core interface. The holographic display sprang to life, casting a soft blue glow across the room. <> ¡°We need a few safety protocols of our own,¡± I said. <>Her excitement here was infectious. ¡°We shall,¡± I said, settling into the chair, a wave of protectiveness washing over me. ¡°Let¡¯s focus on any connections between the anomalies and external tampering. Then we can build in a few failsafe. ¡± I rubbed at my tired my eyes, trying to ignore the metallic taste lingering in my mouth from dinner. The station food had been getting progressively worse¡ªor maybe something was off with my taste buds. Everything had a strange, almost chemical aftertaste lately. Even the water tasted off, but I¡¯d dismissed it as station recycling systems being what they were. <> The holographic display shifted as data streams began cascading through the air, forming intricate webs of connections and flagged points. I watched as Doli processed the information with incredible speed. ¡°I¡¯ve been thinking about your body, what you and Ashley have been working on,¡± I said, eyes tracking the data flow. ¡°Looks amazing, but¡­¡± <> There was a hint of excitement that hadn¡¯t been there before. ¡°We were trying to fix your old body, are we abandoning that?¡± <> ¡°Tell me more about how it would work. If we were to move you fully out of her, and the Academy¡¯s systems and into your upgraded... body, for lack of a better word.¡± The holographic display morphed, pushing the suit diagnostics to one side while a three-dimensional schematic of the sleek processing unit I¡¯d seen in Ashley¡¯s office appeared. It looked similar to her first model, but nothing like the bulky servers that typically housed massive AI processing systems. <> she said, rotating the schematic. <> ¡°Neural interface?¡± I leaned closer to the display. ¡°You¡¯re talking about hardwiring into ships?¡± <> The schematic expanded, showing how the unit could connect to a ship¡¯s systems. <> ¡°We¡¯d be much faster,¡± I finished for her. ¡°No lag, no separation issues.¡± < > I circled my finger around the design, studying it. ¡°What would you need to build this?¡± <> ¡°Sounds risky,¡± I said, leaning back. ¡°Would I lose you? The you I know now?¡± Doli paused, her processing lights flickering slightly. <> The thought of risking Doli, of potentially losing even a fraction of what made her, her, sent a chill through me. But the alternative¡ªbeing separated by increasing distance as I traveled further into space, the lag growing worse, her responses slower¡ªwasn¡¯t much better. ¡°How far did you and Ashley get?¡± I said finally. <> ¡°That¡¯s great,¡± I said. ¡°Thank you. It¡ªit relieves some of the pressure.¡± <> she said. <> She wasn¡¯t wrong. <> ¡°Yes,¡± I said, focusing back on the rest of her code and my suit. ¡°Show me what you¡¯ve found.¡± My mind drifted as the data flowed. In the short time since reactivating Doli, she¡¯d become more than just an AI assistant¡ªshe was a constant, a presence that filled the empty spaces I¡¯d grown used to navigating alone. How many times in my life had I lost people? My parents, gone before I could form real memories. The foster families who never quite became permanent. Friends who drifted away when I moved again. Even here at the academy, I kept everyone at arm¡¯s length, afraid of what might happen if I let them too close. But Doli was different. She couldn¡¯t leave. She wouldn¡¯t abandon me. And I¡¯d be damned if I let someone take her from me. << The intruder used the medical override codes then tapped directly into the thruster vectoring and stabilization gyros, deliberately overriding critical safety redundancies.>> ¡°Figured as much,¡± I muttered. ¡°Anything unique about the code itself?¡± <> I frowned. ¡°So it¡¯s not just sloppy. It¡¯s rushed.¡± < > I straightened and said. ¡°Go on.¡± <> <> <> I had to chuckle at that. <> <> I reached for my water bottle, taking a long sip to wash away the strange taste in my mouth. It helped¡ªthe water itself cool and fresh. My stomach churned slightly, a dull ache spreading beneath my ribs. Maybe I was coming down with something? Just what I needed on top of everything else. The narrative has been taken without permission. Report any sightings. <> Doli said. <> "Seriously?" <> She wasn''t wrong. "Glad you have my back." I said. "Keep going though.¡± Doli paused for a fraction of a second, a rare hesitation in her otherwise seamless processing. <> My blood ran cold. ¡°You¡¯re saying someone¡¯s been tracking me?¡± <> ¡°Whoever planted it wanted to know where I was and what I was doing.¡± <> A chill ran through me that had nothing to do with the station¡¯s temperature regulation. Someone watching me, tracking me, studying my movements. The thought made my skin crawl. How long had this been going on? What else might they have seen? And why me specifically? Because of Doli? I thought of all the nights I¡¯d spent talking with her, sharing memories and stories I¡¯d never told anyone else. The AI had become my confidant, my friend, maybe the only being in the universe who truly knew me. The idea that someone might be listening in, might be trying to steal that connection or worse¡ªdestroy it entirely¡ªfilled me with a cold rage I rarely let surface. I rubbed a hand over my face, trying to make sense of it all. ¡°Can you trace it? Find out where the signal was being sent?¡± <> Doli replied. <> The holographic display zoomed in on a section of the station¡¯s schematics, highlighting a specific location deep within the maintenance wing. <> Doli said. <> ¡°Perfect place to hide,¡± I muttered. I shifted in my seat, a wave of dizziness momentarily blurring the edges of my vision. When was the last time I¡¯d eaten properly? Not the half-finished meal from the mess that had tasted wrong, nor the energy bar this morning that had left me nauseated. This wasn¡¯t the time to get sick, but my body seemed to have other ideas. <> I tensed. ¡°Someone tried to hack you?¡± <> She hesitated again. ¡°What is it, Doli?¡± <