“Most of all, Cadet, I want you to learn to trust yourself. Not just your battle instincts, but your moral ones. Only when you learn to trust yourself will I trust you.”
His words echoed around the training ground.
I trusted myself. I knew how to move my body, knew it would never let me down.
But my mind? Could I honestly learn to trust that?
I was happy for the Lieutenant’s help, but deep down I was doubtful it would work. The only thing that would ever truly assuage my guilt and soothe my moral conscience would be to defeat my master. Only when the galaxy was free from his insidious influence would I rest in peace.
...
Jason Singh
I leapt over an obstacle, just as it formed in front of me. I grunted, the noise echoing around the small training ground. I would have liked to be in one of the larger grounds, but the main one was currently being used.
I needed to let out steam. I needed to feel effective, even if it was only for a few minutes.
I punched to the side, pitching my body to the left and rolling heavily as a projectile slammed past my shoulder.
I let another grunt rip from my throat. Sweat dripped down my brow. I’d only been pushing myself for ten minutes now, but it had been nonstop. My body pumped with so much adrenaline, my hands would shake and teeth chatter if I had the time to stand still.
An enemy suddenly formed in front of me, the hologram flickering here and there as dust particles passed through the light matrix.
I threw myself forward, just as the Xerk warrior rushed towards me. He opened his perpetually snarling mouth, his beady eyes glinting like far off stars.
I shoved my shoulder hard into his gut, using my momentum to drive his massive form backwards.
The Xerk stumbled, but almost immediately spun around with a backhand, walloping his huge arm across my shoulders.
I absorbed the force by ducking down, but the arm still impacted hard – so hard it would have left a massive contusion and a few broken bones, if this weren’t a holographic fight.
I couldn’t be injured during this simulation, not unless I was dumb enough to trip over and skin a knee. That or push myself too hard and strain something. The holographic enemies couldn’t shoot, maim, stab, or beat me to death. Instead, any damage they did was registered with the computer, showing my virtual life rapidly dwindling with each blow I received.
I only had a few bars of health left, and I had to use them wisely.
Pivoting on my foot, I shunted backwards, falling to the ground and angling my feet up as the Xerk rushed me again. I pushed my feet together and punched them forward, striking the Xerk in the knees.
It was enough to make the holographic alien stumble, enough to give me the time to roll to the side and follow my move up with a well-placed kick to the back of the knees.
The Xerk stumbled. Before he could get up, I grabbed the gun in his holster and turned it on him.
“All enemies defeated. Your score for today’s training program is below average.”
I swore. So much for making myself feel effective. Even the computer thought I wasn’t up to much at the moment.
Dropping the holographic gun and watching it disappear before it could strike the ground, I wiped the back of my sweaty hand over my even sweatier face. Pressing my fingers into my lips, I forced several calming breaths.
Enough training. It was time to find that spy.
I glanced up at the afternoon sun above. A few more hours until evening, I realized.
A few more hours until Em would voluntarily accept Hendra’s help.
I let the thought distract me as I exited the training ground and got cleaned up.
What was Em really up to? Had she changed her mind? Or was this erratic behavior evidence she was at the point of breaking?
Chapter 12
Axira
“How was your special training session with Ma’tovan?” Elle asked as she walked by my side.
She had a reassuring, friendly smile on her face. One she wore permanently in my company.
“Fine,” I managed as I directed my head forward to ignore the collective stare of a group of muttering cadets.
“She’s so unpredictable,” one of the cadets whispered.
“That’s one word for it – unstable is a better one.”
“If you spent less time muttering and more time studying, you wouldn’t have to put down others to make yourself feel less inferior,” Elle snapped at the cadets.
I was starting to learn that Elle – despite her incredibly sweet nature – was as protective as a mother rock warrior.
“It’s fine,” I said quietly. “Let’s just hurry along.”
“It’s not fine,” she said passionately. “They’re making stuff up about you. You’d think the Academy would require its cadets to have a certain level of maturity. Even my brother can’t keep his mouth shut, and he’s much older than me.”
I attempted to control the interest that tried to crumple my features. “Your brother?”
Elle looked sprung. “Never mind. I just caught him talking to Hendra about you, that’s all.”
My jaw stiffened. I had to pretend to swallow – that or let the tension shatter my skull. “I see.”
“It’s okay to get angry with him,” she assured me, “He had no right to talk to her about you. None of them have any right to talk about you.” Elle swept her angry gaze over the crowd.
“... It’s okay. You don’t need to put anyone offside because of me.”
Elle turned to me, that same smile back on her face. “That’s what friends are for. They defend each other in times of need.” She waggled a finger at me.
I returned her smile and tried not to think of what I’d just learnt.
Not that I should be surprised. I knew Jason was curious about me, and considering yesterday’s events, he would only be more curious.
Or maybe he’s not curious, my suspicious mind suddenly offered – maybe he’s suspicious.
Last night I’d fought off a Kore intelligence team essentially on my own. Today I agree to have a “Session” with Hendra, even though I’d made it crystal clear I didn't want to have anything to do with her.
Perhaps he even thought I could be the source of the intelligence leak.
“We should go away somewhere this weekend – get out of this place for a while,” Elle offered as she skipped ahead.
I would be busy this weekend.
It was time to catch a spy.
Chapter 13
Jason Singh
“Thank you for coming to see me,” Hendra said as she nodded low, her bare skull glinting in the sunlight streaming in from her office window.
“What’s up?” I asked as I returned her nod and walked into her well-appointed office.
“When I saw you in the corridor earlier you felt stressed,” she noted. “I’m sorry if this is an intrusion, but I wanted to help if I could.”
From anyone else it would be an intrusion. But you couldn’t fault Hendra. Aside from my sister, she was about the sweetest person I’d ever met.
I didn’t make eye contact though. My gaze darted to the floor as I scratched my chin uncomfortably, my fingernails snagging over two days of unshaved stubble.
Hendra smiled prettily again, and it was enough of a distraction that I let my hand drop.
“I can help take away your stress.” She nodded low once more. “I will follow the telepathic code, and at no point will I look into your memories,” she assured me as an uncomfortable expression crossed my face. “Plus, I sense that you have a strong will. You must be trained, and you would be more than capable of keeping your memories locked away from me – not that I would ever pry. I’m just trying to—”
I put up a hand quickly. “Put me at ease. And thank you. I suppose ...” I trailed off as I considered whether I wanted to go ahead with this.
The truth was I did want to get rid of this stress. It hung heavy in my limbs, robbing me of slee
p and generally souring my life.
I also knew I’d be able to do a better job of tracking down the spy if I wasn’t so tired and worried.
Hendra smiled hesitantly. “Please say no if you are uncomfortable. I wouldn’t push my help on anyone.” She patted a hand emphatically on her chest, her long elegant fingers ruffling her golden robes.
“... Okay,” I answered, surprised the words stumbled their way out of my mouth.
Was I actually okay with this?
As Hendra shot me another one of her trademark incredible smiles I relaxed. Yeah, this would help me, wouldn’t it?
“Do not fear, Lieutenant; I’ve been offering my services to many of your colleagues. Just relax. Take a seat and close your eyes.”
...
Axira
I was early for my appointment with Hendra. I was eager to get this over with. Plus, if she wasn’t in her office right now, I would be able to subspace jump inside and investigate it.
I approached her door. That’s when I heard people within. Their voices weren’t muffled; not to my ears.
It was Lieutenant Jason Singh and Hendra.
“Just relax,” Hendra encouraged.
She was prying into his mind, wasn’t she?
This was how she did it, right? She canvassed the higher-ups of the Academy, either offering them sessions with her, or gleaning what secrets she could as she walked past them in the corridor.
If my theory was right, Hendra was a very powerful telepath. Then again, I already knew that, didn’t I? If she’d been able to push past my considerable defenses to find out the memory of my master, then she was far, far more powerful than she pretended to be.
The Kore Empire must have trained her to keep her considerable abilities disguised. Perhaps she had a number of well shielded cybernetic implants that would hide the level of her abilities from other telepaths, letting her true power go undetected.
If the Academy were aware of how powerful she was, they wouldn't let her walk around the grounds, let alone be in the same city as so many admirals.
I didn’t stop. I jammed my thumb into her intercom. “I’m early for my session,” I said loudly.
If she didn’t answer, I was ready to call Jason Singh on his wrist device. He’d given me permission to if I ever needed help. Hopefully it would be enough of an intrusion that Jason would snap out of whatever spell Hendra had put him in.
I concentrated, and heard Hendra stand up, her robes rustling distinctly as she walked over to the door. There was a beep and she opened it.
I controlled my expression, wiping away the anger that had formed there.
“I wasn’t expecting you for another half-hour,” Hendra said politely.
Was there an edge to her expression?
Some kind of anger? Aggression maybe?
If I were anyone else, I wouldn’t be able to spot it. But I had seen so much aggression over my life that I knew how to detect it.
In my peripheral vision I saw Jason stand up, a little shaky at first as he pressed two fingers into his brow. Then he blinked, saw me, and offered a smile.
I didn’t return it.
Idiot, I thought. Fool. He was being pulled in by Hendra’s act, and he’d just let the woman poke around in his mind. Who knew what secrets she’d managed to pry out? And who knew how many more she would have pulled from his mind if I hadn’t interrupted.
I diverted my gaze from him and concentrated on Hendra. I gave what I hoped was a good attempt at a smile. “Something’s come up later this afternoon. Is there any chance we can get this done now?”
“Of course.” She bowed low.
I didn’t return the move. Instead I walked into the room, again ignoring Jason’s gaze. In fact, I didn’t look at him once until he gave an awkward cough. “Okay, then, I guess I will see you around.”
Hendra shot him the kind of smile she’d likely been taught by the Empire. Just the right curve of her full lips, just the right glitter in her eyes – it would gain the attention of any man or woman fool enough to fall for it. “We will continue this soon.”
“Thanks. Goodbye, Cadet Em,” he added, shooting me another look.
I ignored him, concentrating on Hendra instead. “Are you ready?”
Hendra nodded.
Jason walked out and the door closed behind him.
As soon as it did, Hendra’s expression changed completely.
It was like someone had thrown a brick at the forced facade of gentle calm she always wore. Her lips cracked up into a grimace. Her gaze changed too – it became hard, cold, victorious.
I had not expected this.
She gave a soft laugh. Then she reached a hand into her robe and pulled out a small device. “I wonder how long it would take someone like you to injure someone like me?”
I froze. “What are you talking about?”
She thumbed the button on the device. She brought it up to her face and pressed it flat against her cheek. Suddenly there was a jolt as the device slammed into her, breaking the skin over her cheek and causing her to jolt back.
My eyes widened in alarm. “What are you doing?”
She smiled, ignoring the blood trickling down her cheek. Then, with a powerful grip, she tore one of her sleeves to reveal more bruises and cuts. All of them looked as though they were the result of a beating.
I took a jerked step towards her.
I figured it out.
I understood what she was about to do.
She tilted her head and smiled. “You should have stayed out of this.” Then she turned on her foot, screamed, and ran out of the room.
I stood there and stared.
I was a spacer, the most powerful creature at the Academy, apparently, and yet I’d lost this battle.
I’d underestimated my enemy.
But as my enemy was about to find out, she’d underestimated me too.
...
Jason Singh
I was still standing around outside Hendra’s office. I wanted to leave – I should leave; I had no reason to be here – but I couldn’t convince myself to walk away.
Em hadn’t made eye contact with me once. She’d ignored me completely.
There was something wrong with her, wasn’t there?
Hendra’s office was located along a very wide hallway that was always busy with traffic. In other words, I had a large audience to watch me as I stood there and awkwardly watched the closed door.
Just as I convinced myself to walk away, something happened.
The doors burst open, and someone flung themselves out. I was standing so close that they hit me. I held out my arms, catching them.
It was Hendra.
Her cheek was bleeding, the sleeves of her robe torn. “She attacked me. She attacked me,” she cried, shaking in my arms.
I looked up, slowly, as if my neck muscles had frozen.
Cadet Em was standing in the middle of Hendra’s office staring at Hendra. Her expression ....
“I just wanted to help her. She attacked me. She’s insane.” Hendra gripped my collar, her hands still shaking as she pulled her head from my chest and looked up into my eyes.
Em didn’t move.
By now word was spreading through the corridor. I heard somebody call for security.
Em still didn’t move, she just stared at Hendra.
With a jerky move, Hendra turned her head towards Em. Then, clearly overcome by emotion, nestled her head back against my chest.
I brought my arms up to support her. “It’s okay.”
Em crossed her arms.
I … couldn’t believe it.
As security came rushing down the corridor, the sound of their boots echoing through the halls, Em walked out of the office.
She wasn’t hurried, in fact, she almost looked bored.
“She attacked me,” Hendra repeated.
“She attacked herself,” Em replied.
“I … I can telepathically share my memories,” Hendra said through sobs.
“You can also create them,” Em pointed out with a blank expression.
Security arrived.
Em put her hands up.
She didn’t look remorseful.
She had just attacked Hendra, and she looked ... like she didn’t care.
Hendra started sobbing again.
Em gave out a soft laugh.
It chilled me to the bone.
“Keep acting, telepath. But don’t forget, when you create memories of our so-called interaction, that I don’t have any of your DNA on my hands.” She waggled her fingers as one of the burly security officers grabbed her hands and pinned them behind her back.
“You could have coated your knuckles with a DNA inhibitor,” Hendra continued to sob into my chest.
“Hmm, now why would I have done that if I was prepared to attack you virtually in public?” Em shrugged a shoulder to the assembled crowd in the corridor.
“You’re insane,” Hendra wailed.
“We’ll see about that,” Em answered ominously.
Hendra continued to shake, the blood from her cheek splattering over my uniform. “Please take her away.”
I nodded at the security guards.
Em didn’t say another word. She shot Hendra a look though – one colder than I’d ever seen. Her face contorted with a frozen kind of concentration. She also ticked her head to the side.
“Take her away,” I said, my voice shaking.
Em didn’t resist.
The security guards hauled her away, leaving the rest of the corridor in stunned silence.
I kept my arms around Hendra until she pulled away. A massive bruise was forming over her already swollen cheek. “Thank you,” she said in a broken voice.
“It’s okay,” I managed as I stared past her in the direction they’d taken Em.
....
God, I couldn’t believe this.
I’d been wrong about Em. So wrong.
Chapter 14
Axira
I was dumped in the brig.
Every cadet or officer I passed stared at me with disdain. News spread so quickly through the Academy, there was little need for faster-than-light communication.
I let myself be placed in a shielded cell.
I could have fought back at any moment.
Axira Episode One: A Galactic Coalition Academy Series Page 13