by Kal Spriggs
“My father would never forgive me,” she said.
“Then don't go home,” I replied. “Come stay with me during break, if you need. You're sixteen, now, you don't have to do anything your parents say, you're legally an adult.”
She didn't answer for a long minute. “I'll have to think about it,” she said. She sounded like she was actually considering it. I hoped she would. Well, not the staying at my place, part. I really sort of dreaded how my parent's might react. But her coming back to Sand Dragon would be good.
Before I could tell her that, the lights came on. We were rescued.
***
Chapter Twenty-Five: A Little Bit Of Closure
I got to see the same grumpy female doctor. She made a big point of telling me that my usual bed was open. I wasn't sure if she was being humorous or if she'd actually kept it open for me.
“We need to stop meeting like this,” the Admiral said as she showed up a few hours later.
“I'm fine,” I protested.
“You have two cracked ribs and a partially dislocated shoulder, along with a concussion. You're staying in bed until Doctor Force gives you a clean bill of health.”
“Okay,” I said, “maybe I'm not fine.” I sighed, “I'm sorry I got into this mess...
“You did well,” the Admiral said. I could not have been more surprised to than to hear those words from her. Until, of course, she went on, “I'm proud of you.”
“You're proud of me?” I stared at her. “I nearly got myself killed. This was all my fault...”
She waved a hand and cut me off. “I read the report. I know how this ties back to you giving a map to Tony Champion. That doesn't matter. You couldn't have had any idea how that would connect to all of this. Scarpitti, by any definition, was crazy. We found high concentrations of Rex in her blood samples. We also found cartridges of it in her personal possessions.”
I shivered at that. “You think...”
“I'm certain she was the one who got young Cadet Webster addicted. I'm not sure why she did it, but I don't know that I want to understand her thoughts, from what I've seen of her actions.” The Admiral shook her head, “She set Webster up for the attempts on your life and then she killed him, to cover her trail. You uncovered what a team of investigators should have found on their own. But they were too focused on the drugs she planted and they didn't look deeper like they should have.”
Her expression went hard. “I've had some very select words for those investigators.”
“Ma'am,” I said, thinking back, “Why was she looking at a map of my parent's dig site, anyway?” That was the part I didn’t understand. What did the alien ruins back at Black Mesa Outpost have to do with any of this?
The Admiral frowned, “We aren't sure, yet. There were some files that Isaac Champion had, that talked about underground trade in alien artifacts. There's also been some... interesting discoveries at your parent's dig site. There's some Militia involvement over some of the implications. It might be related to that, but...” She shrugged. “It doesn't seem to have gone anywhere, at least. I've had some words with some of my contacts in the Enforcers. They're going to open a station at Black Mesa Outpost, just in case.”
I felt a wave of relief at that. Even a couple of Enforcers should be enough of a deterrent to keep any criminals away. I'd joined the Academy because I wanted to protect my family. Knowing that they'd be taken care of was a huge weight off my chest.
I just hoped that this really was the end of it.
***
“Hey Jiden,” Sashi said as I stepped out into the hospital waiting room. I was still sore and bruised, but the grumpy doctor didn't have any reason to keep me. Though she had threatened to have me restrained to my quarters if she had to see me any time during the rest of my time at the Academy.
Personally, I wasn't sure I disagreed with her. I hoped I never saw the inside of another hospital. Kyle walked with me, more there for moral support than anything, but I was glad to have him.
“Hey Sashi, how's it going?” We hadn't had a chance to talk after they rescued us. I noticed she wasn't in uniform and I saw her bags next to her. My stomach sank a bit. “Did you...” I couldn't finish the question.
She looked down at the bags, then back at me. Realization dawned on her face. “Oh, no.” She swallowed and gave me a weak smile, “I messaged my dad and told him to stuff it. He... didn't take it well. I was wondering if that invitation for a place to stay was still on the table.”
“Yeah, of course!” I gave her a welcoming smile... then I thought about how my mom would react. Especially since she'd heard who shot me for real. I'm sure it will be fine.
“Great!” Sashi gave me a relieved look. “I was worried I wouldn't have anywhere to go.”
“We'll take care of you,” I said. I clapped her on the shoulder, “You're Sand Dragon.”
“Well, they haven't approved my transfer back, yet,” she shrugged, “But hopefully.”
I would put a word in with Salter about it. Since she was the new Company Commander, I was sure it would work out. “You're already packed?” I asked.
“Uh, yeah,” Sashi shrugged. “My older brother Nahka is Ogre's new Company Commander. He... sort of gave my room away.”
I scowled at that. “Let's go talk with Salter. I'm sure she can fix that problem.” Sashi's brother Nahka sounded more and more like a jerk.
I put my arm around her shoulders. Somehow, our situations had reversed. It was odd, feeling like the confident one while she seemed so uncertain. We'd had our differences, but when it came down to it, I wasn't going to let her sink without helping her.
She'd nearly killed me once. She'd betrayed me once. I realized that was as much my fault as hers... I hadn't understood the pressures she was under. From here on out, it was a new beginning.
***
Webster's parents got to hear that their son wasn't a crazy attempted murderer. I didn't know if it made them feel much better, but they came by and visited me and thanked me. I got interviewed by a bunch of Militia investigators and even a few Enforcers as well. They all seemed rather irritated with me for some reason.
Things settled down. None of it made the news. I was glad for that. The last thing I wanted was to make the news. I didn't want to be famous and I really didn't want my parents any more worried than they already were.
The Admiral sent me a few notes on updates to the new investigation. Some of it was random things. She'd been an immigrant from Drakkus, which she'd told all of us. What they found out was that she apparently was a bit older than she'd said. Records pegged her as having come here to Century to finish her secondary schooling. But if the investigation was right, then she'd already been twenty. That meant she'd been twenty-two when she started at the Academy, rather than the normal fourteen or fifteen. No one really had an explanation for why she'd pretended to be a kid... or just how she'd pulled it off.
There were other discrepancies. She had way more money in a variety of accounts, some under fake names. The really bizarre parts were where that money came from. I wasn't an accountant, but even I could see that money had gone from her to Isaac Champion and not the other way around.
I didn't know what that all meant, but on the last day before I went home, the Admiral called me to her office. There was a tall, thin man in uniform, his collar had a symbol for Militia Intelligence.
“Cadet Armstrong, this is Captain Douglas Spader, he's here to give you an apology.”
“Me?” I asked incredulously.
“Yes,” he replied. “Cadet Armstrong, my branch has done you a great disservice and I wish to give you my full apology. The previous investigators into the events at Champion Enterprises missed cruicial details. They thought that this was just a smuggling event, and it looks more and more as if it was much more than that.”
“Sir, I...”
He held up a hand, “Cadet, if not for your actions, a woman we suspect of being an enemy agent would have remained an officer in our M
ilitia. She had high level access to all of our engineering projects. She had access to political and civilian leaders. We still don't know the extent of the damage she did or what her end goals were, but at least we have a starting point to dig deeper. Thank you.”
He gave me a nod, then saluted the Admiral and left.
I stood there, dumbfounded.
“Good job, Jiden,” the Admiral said. “You've managed to take Militia Intelligence down a notch.”
I stared at her, not really sure what to say to that. “They tend to be a bit full of themselves,” the Admiral smiled. “To be shown up by a fourth-class cadet... that stung them a bit. Captain Spader is the best of the lot and he at least admits it. The others are still sulking a bit.”
“Ma'am,” I asked, “how is it that they did miss this?”
“They shouldn't have,” she said. “But that said, Commander Scarpitti hid her actions very well. She had multiple layers of cut-outs... of which we think Isaac Champion was one, just as Cadet Webster was another.” Her expression went bleak as she said that. “Each time something went wrong, there was someone who she could shift the blame over towards. I'm told that the Intelligence branch is going over every personnel file in far more thorough detail, especially for anyone hailing from Drakkus space.”
I nodded in response to that. I didn't like how this came back to Drakkus, but I didn't really see what I could do about it. At least the people in charge know there's a problem.
“You're headed home?” The Admiral asked.
“Yes, ma'am,” I replied.
“Your boyfriend is going?”
“Yes, and Sashi Drien too,” I said. I watched her expression carefully, but she didn't show any sign of surprise at that.
“Did you break the news to your mother?” The Admiral's expression looked professional, but I heard what sounded like a smile in her voice. Of course she found the whole situation amusing.
“No,” I replied, “I hadn't.” I swallowed, “I don't suppose that you...”
The Admiral gave me a very real smile, “No, Jiden, I think that's one fight I'm not going to take on. But I'm sure it'll work out.”
“Thanks,” I said dryly. I wasn't sure what else to say.
The Admiral came around her desk and stopped in front of me. “I am proud of you,” she said. “I know your mother is proud of you, too. You've done well and I think you'll continue to do well.”
“Thanks,” I said. On impulse, I stepped forward and hugged her. For a moment, the Admiral went still. Then, after what seemed like a long time, she hugged me in reply. I stepped back, feeling my eyes well up a bit. I could have been mistaken, but I thought the Admiral's eyes were a bit misty too. Nah, I'm just imagining things.
“Take care, Jiden,” the Admiral said, “I'll see you in a couple of weeks.”
***
I stood in front of the Wall. A freshly forged brass plaque had joined the wall. I touched the plaque, feeling at once happy and sad.
“Hey Armstrong,” Mackenzie greeted me from behind.
“Sir,” I turned around and snapped off a sharp salute. He wore the boards of an Ensign. “Sorry I couldn't be there at graduation.”
“You were in the hospital, it's fine,” he grinned. “Though you sort of put the whole event in the background.” His expression went solemn, “I wanted to thank you. Webster was one of my Cadet Instructors. After that, well, we were friends... and when I heard what they'd accused him of, I knew it wasn't right, but I didn't know how to prove it wasn't him. You cleared his name.”
My gaze went to the plaque. “I wish I could have saved him, sir.”
“I wish I could have been there for him too,” Mackenzie sighed. “But we don't always get what we want. Webster was a good guy, I think he was just coming back from that mistake he'd made. I think he would have been proud of you, Armstrong.”
“Thanks, sir,” I replied.
“I'm proud of you, for that matter. You'll make a fine officer,” Mackenzie said.
“Thank you, sir,” I choked up a bit.
“Well, I'm headed out on the next shuttle. Good luck and take care, Armstrong.”
I watched him walk away. I wondered if that was the last time I'd ever see him.
“Hey, pretty lady, how are you doing?”
I turned and found Kyle standing there. “Waiting on my boyfriend. He's supposed to meet my parents and look somewhat presentable. I don't suppose you've seen him anywhere?”
Kyle grinned, “Nope, but I did find some nice flowers, but since you're snooty, maybe I should give them to someone else? Or would you care to hold them for me?”
I shut up and took the flowers.
We walked away from the brass plaque. Some part of me hoped that it would be the last name on the wall. I knew, it wouldn't be. And while that saddened me, it also left me feeling good. I had thought that this would be like a job, like working at Champion Enterprises. I realized now that I'd been wrong. This wasn't a job, it wasn't a career... this was a calling. There would always be men and women who answered that call.
###
The End
The Story will continue with Valor’s Duty
About the Author
Kal Spriggs is a science fiction and fantasy author. He currently has five series in print: The Renegades space opera and space exploration series, the Shadow Space Chronicles military science fiction and space opera series, the Valor’s Child young adult military series, and the Eoriel Saga epic fantasy series.
Kal is a US Army veteran who has been deployed to Iraq and Afghanistan. He lives in Colorado, and is married to his wonderful wife (who deserves mention for her patience with his writing) and also shares his home with his newborn son, three feline overlords, and a rather put-upon dog. He likes hiking, skiing, and enjoying the outdoors, when he's not hunched over a keyboard writing his next novel.