Interstellar Academy, Kennedy Harkins [epub e ink reader TXT] 📗

Astra

August 1, 2465:

Who do you call when your stolen spaceship is careening off of Intergalaxy Road 29?

I gripped the handlebars with white knuckles and attempted to steer it back into traffic. Sweat dripped from my skin onto the blazing, holographic warning flashing out at me.

“Intruder, you are on a collision course. Re engage autopilot,” the synthetic monotone said from the dash.

“What, and have you drive me straight to the authorities? Not a chance.”

A sudden jerk from me on the handlebars sent the craft completely off the rails and into free space. My eyes widened as we got closer and closer to the weigh station, aka point of collision. It spun out of control, sending me flying around the cabin. My head knocked against the anti-gravity control, activating it. I held onto the ledge of the control panel tightly as my custom made boots and the rest of my body soared above my head.

“This craft has no free space capabilities on manual pilot.”

“Clearly!”

I slapped the gravity control again and winced as my feet hit the ground with a bone jarring thud. I took hold of the steering bars, tugging against the locked controls. My movements became more frantic as I looked up every couple of second to see the weigh station getting bigger and bigger.

“Advisement: an attack on a weigh station is a galactic crime.”

I looked around frantically. There had to be a way out.  “I’m not attacking. And what do you care? You’re the one who’s trying to get me arrested. Where’s the escape pod on this thing?”

“Galactic regulations don’t require an escape pod on vessels not exceeding thirty square meters.”

I forced the elevation lever up with all my might. The ship gave a shudder and rose a couple of feet, right onto the path of a huge hunk of stone above the station.

“Warning: new collision course.”

I searched wildly for the large red button.“Computer, emergency stop.”

The cruiser jerked, throwing me forward. I’d definitely have bruises from this ride. The craft slowed marginally.

“At this velocity, you will not stop completely before reaching the point of collision.”

Well, a good captain does go down with her ship.

I didn’t close my eyes. That would have ruined all the fun.

_____

I sat on a cot not too far from the burning remains of the stolen cruiser, wishing for the millionth time in the past hour that I was still in the wreckage. A pudgy older man in a red medics’ suit was somehow managing to scan me for injuries and send disapproving glares my way at the same time.

I love people who can multitask.

The scanner in his hand spoke up. “Astra Alkaev. Citizen of Earth, New York. Fifteen years of age. Minor concussion. A fractured rib. Multiple, shallow lacerations.”

I ignored the gadget and, instead, glanced up at Isra Earhart, hero of the Galactic War, notorious supporter of equal rights and cooperation amongst the species of all four planets, a universe wide adventurer, and woman whose face I’d smashed the craft into. It wasn’t actually her just a statue erected in her honor by the weigh station. And, just my luck, the hideous thing was erected by the United Universe. Which meant defacing it-- literally or otherwise-- was a galactic offense.

My, making this go away was going to take a pretty penny from Daddy’s pocket.  

“You’re incredibly lucky, Miss Alkaev.”

I nodded, ignoring how dizzy it made me. “Very lucky. So lucky, in fact, I can feel it right here in my side. Oh, wait, that’s the broken rib.”

He shook his head vigorously, his cheeks flapping like a drooling dog’s. “You could have died. You would have if the ship’s safety protocols hadn’t kicked in and ejected you from the pit.” He took another rueful glance at my last name. “I hope you learned something, at least.”

“Learned something? Did I ever! When my dad finally caves and gets me a craft of my own, I definitely won’t buy a Cruiser XI. That piece of crap couldn’t even hold its own against one tiny statue.”

“This isn’t a joke. Apart from what could have happened to you, you’re facing serious charges here, young lady.”

He clearly didn’t know how this worked.

“Could you just fix me already? Isn’t that what my parents are paying you for?”

He smiled tightly. “I work for the government.”

I winced as he prodded my side with a little more force than the situation required. Peasants. They were basically useless.

I returned his smile. “And my parents own the government.”

Drusus

 

August 1, 2465:

Find the weakness. Look for it. Look for it....

There.

I lunged in with the sword, slicing at the side that my opponent was favoring. I bolted back, on the defensive, and pulled my wings closer to my back. It didn’t prove necessary. As his shirt turned crimson, he grit his teeth and knelt in surrender. I pressed the tip of the blade into his throat while I eyed the Notatai I’d cut through.

I felt a pang of regret at destroying it, though he was old and probably had dozens of markings commemorating a life lived fully. All Tundrians did.

As I looked closer, I recognized the swirling lines of the Notatai as one honoring a veteran for their service in the war. The one war worth remembering. The Galactic War.

I removed my sword from his throat, cleaning it off on my combat pants. I inclined my head in the man’s direction in a motion of deference and respect. He returned the gesture.

I turned away from him, stalking off the practice courts with a slight tremor in my body. My hand twitched unconsciously towards painfully bare spot of skin on my forearm. Soon it’d be filled and then....

Then I’d be worthy.

The halls leading back to my quarters were dark, lit only by the computers on the walls and the faint light from holos in my fellow students’ rooms. The floor was dirt, left over from ancient times, and was silent under most feet. Still, I was trained to know when someone was sneaking up on me.

I swung around with my hands out stretched, ready for whatever opponent dared come at me from behind. I was almost disappointed when it was only a Gorci.

It was only a couple of feet high and stood on its hind legs, covered in mossy colored fur. The creature also had two tube like nostrils that almost fell down to its paws.

It hopped a little closer, eager as always to deliver its message. “Drusus Accia?”

“That’s me.”

It reached in its little stomach pouch and pulled out a small microchip. “Congratulations, young Kverian.”

My black, featherless wings fluttered of their own accord. I clenched the chip in my grasp and hurried towards my room. I ran over a few of my winged brethren on the way there, both Scalan and Kverian. It didn’t matter as long as they were in my way.

I snapped my finger causing the panel to slide shut behind me. My room was as bare as any soldier’s and devoid of color besides neutrals. The lack of presence calmed my spirit as I slipped the chip into my personal hologram emitter.

A plain letter popped up in front of me. It was gold embossed and rang of officiality.

Congratulation, Drusus Accia, Kverian of the planet Tundris, you have been admitted into the Interstellar Academy for the Cessation of Quandaries. Classes start September 3rd, and the shuttle leaves August 30. A list is enclosed containing your equipment requirements and instructions on how to accept this admittance.

Welcome to the family,

Isra Earhart

I leaned back on the stool, feeling the tips of my wings brush against the floor. The room felt suddenly cramped and stuffy. I stood and paced around, trying to focus solely on the clunking of my boots.

She was never going to allow it. Her first born son going off to a segregated school? The idea was laughable. Add in the fact that going meant I wouldn’t participate in the Battle of Rites, the fight that would introduce me as a full fledged warrior to the community, and the whole thing became ludacris.

Who knew what kinds of foolhardy courses they offered there: ethics, philosophy, economics, art, music.

Music....

I walked back out of my room, cruising through the halls. She’d be in a meeting, naturally. The Tundrian council members were always in meetings now-a-days.

After a couple of minutes and a bit of a trek, I leaned against the cool wall outside the Gathering room. I stood there cracking my knuckles for the next hour, getting more and more tense as the moments continued on.

She was last out of the room, so I had to avoid the eyes of all the intimidatingly strong and wise men and women flowing out the door. Luckily, they barely paid me a second glance.

She was as tall as any of them, easily six and a half feet. Her arms were burly and covered in Notatai. We had the same dark, curly hair, but her eyes were a deep blue, mine a bottle green. Mine were my father’s eyes.

“Drusus. It’s not like you to interfere during council business.”

“I apologize, Mother.”

She frowned. “Walk with me.”

We crossed through the silver arches and into the courtyard. It housed many of our most exotic plants, like flytraps from Earth and swarming lilies from Kalid. The multitude of colors almost hurt the eyes, and you had to be very careful where you stepped. You never knew what was worth millions of galactic credits.

“I’ve been accepted into the Interstellar Academy.”

I didn’t look at her. I instead inspected the dome covering the garden, keeping the warmth in and the constant sub zero temperatures out.

“Of course you were. Your credentials are exceptional. Any school that lets in Animarians, Syrenies, Parvulian, and humans is bound to accept you. Any less would be an embarrassment.”

There. I saw my opening.

“I think it would be a good idea to attend.”

An eyebrow rose and there was a tick in her cheek. “Why is that?”

“The school is known throughout the galaxy for its academics, especially battle wise. An education there could set me apart for positions in the military.”

She looked at me as if I’d said something clever, and she wasn’t happy about it.“True. But the answer is no. I don’t want you going to school with.. others.”

I deflated a bit. “That’s one of the reasons why I should attend.” The expression on her face prompted me to explain. “It’s not like I want to rub shoulders with the other species, but you’ve always stressed knowing your enemy inside and out.”

She was silent for a good long while, just staring into the many patches of hundred of plants all fighting for ground space.

“War is coming, Drusus. Only a fool or sentimentalist would disagree.”

Since I didn’t want to be filed under either, I kept my mouth shut.

“You should be prepared.”