Page 27 of Nova Academy

‘You okay, boss?’ he asked groggily.

‘Yup. Just went next door.’

‘Yeah? What they say?’

‘Just that they had nothing to do with the assault. They’ve got a pink female and a feast in there, too.’

‘Lucky bastards,’ was his reply, and then he fell back asleep.

‘Yeah,’ I whispered into the darkness. ‘Lucky.’

???

The next couple of days were much the same. My team and I worked as runners for the officers, ate, slept, and did it all again the next day. Tarren continued his smear campaign against Arty, but most people ignored him after the ‘witnesses’ suddenly zipped their lips on the matter.

The other notable change was the small group of sheep Tarren had acquired, following him around like lost little children and hanging off his every word. It was enough cause for mild concern, but otherwise I just brushed it off. Captain Hironimus would deal with them eventually. He must have had his reasons for allowing them to continue spreading the rumours, despite his clear opposition and zero-tolerance policy for bullying. But thiswent far beyond simple teasing and belittling. I was trying to be sympathetic towards Tarren because this was personal for him, but he was making it harder every time he opened his mouth.

I wondered if the captain was watching and waiting for one of them to slip up and start bragging about their involvement in hurting the woman. He was busy with too many other things that were more important than cadets running their mouths, though, like investigating the crime committed and apprehending thecorrectguilty party.

The good news was that the woman who was attacked woke up. I overheard a couple of the officers I was running for mention that she was healing well enough, but she was jumping at shadows. She didn’t want many people visiting, and one even commented on how paranoid she was, afraid to even go back to her own room for fear of being followed. Apparently, she believed herself safe from an attack with the on-board medical practitioners constantly hovering around as well as her brother, and felt their presence warded off anyone who wished her harm.

They also talked about how the rumours regarding Reece and his team were false, and the woman even confirmed that he had no part in what occurred. Yet, their absence was still noted by everyone, their team suddenly the most infamous on the ship. Cadets and officers alike gossiped about what was keeping them away, or if they were even still on board.

On the third day after I’d checked in with them, Mercer’s team finally showed up for breakfast in the mess hall. You could’ve heard a pin drop with the way everyone went silent and stared. They grabbed their food and sat at an empty table away from the majority of the population. It didn’t go unnoticed how Mercer, who had previously distanced himself from the others, sat in the centre and actually held a conversation.

It was smart of them to keep their social circle small and contained. Those nearest to them leaned away as if they wouldcatch some sort of disease if they got too close, their blatant distrust and disdain bouncing off an invisible shield they had erected around themselves. It was as if they were the only ones in the room, and everyone else was insignificant. I admired their courage and tenacity.

I wanted to get up and sit with them, if only to show everyone that their behaviour was ridiculous and uncalled for. And I didn’t want Arty, Bromm, Foryk or Reece to think they were unwelcome with the rest of us cadets, even if they were acting as if they didn’t care. There was no way the negative reactions hadn’t penetrated through their façade, even if only to a small degree.

Unfortunately, my team and I had just finished eating when they came in, so we were heading out for our first shift by the time they sat down. All I managed was a wave that they responded to as we passed.

Tomorrow, I resolved.

When we reported for duty on the control deck, we were directed away from our usual officers by the first lieutenant. Instead, we were led to the bridge for an audience with Captain Hironimus. He stood in the centre of the control room, hands clasped behind his rigid back as he turned to survey his officers and their work. When he eventually noticed us standing to the side waiting to be acknowledged, he stepped down off his platform and made his way towards us, his steps slow and measured. The first lieutenant took his place on the pedestal, her observations astute and laser focused.

The captain was a tall man for a Terran mutt, and his ancestry wasn’t clear. Some believed that ambiguous mutts with undefinable physical traits to be lesser beings, but they were just afraid of the unknown. When an individual’s racial attributes were unclear, they were also unaware of their abilities. With the sheer size of his musculature and the brilliant yellow of his eyes, I was certain that there was at the very least some Tornu in his bloodline,and that was enough to let me know that this man wasnotto be messed with. I was sure he also hid some other abilities he wasn’t forthcoming with either, if his rank was any indication.

He stopped in front of us, self-confident and intimidating as he peered down his nose. ‘Cadets Ituk, Brosni, Alaida and Parisia, I presume?’ he asked in that deep, imperious voice that caused people to quiver with unease on our first day. Though, to be fair, cadets still cowered whenever he entered the room. His officers didn’t, though, which was a decent sign he wasn’t as terrifying as he seemed.

I was betting on a soft core beneath all that brooding.

‘Yes, sir,’ I answered for all of us.

‘And you must be Cadet Corporal Ituk,’ he assumed, his attention now solely on me. It was slightly unnerving, but I held my ground and responded with another respectfulyes, sir.

‘I was told you were interested in the wellbeing of Cadet Lance Corporal Hastings and his team. Is this correct?’ he asked.

My brows wanted to rise into my hairline but I forced them to remain still. Who the hell had been watching me so closely to know that? I was suddenly slightly concerned about the nature of this discussion despite the fact that I didn’t have anything to hide or be ashamed of, but I refused to let him see me break under his scrutiny. He seemed pleased by my ability to stand my ground, however. A proud gleam glinted behind his eyes.

I nodded my confirmation.

‘Good. I am giving your team a new assignment,’ he began, and I waited for him to continue. ‘As you well know, Reece Hastings has been accused of a crime. A crime with a punishment that involves immediate dismissal, a trial, and a prison sentence. On some planets he could have faced an even harsher consequence. He has been found innocent through surveillance evidence, but the fact remains that someone is specifically targeting him, and his team by proxy. Their safety is currently one of my top priorities.’He paused to let us process the information. ‘I am assigning you and your team as their protection detail for the duration of the investigation.’

Shock coursed through me, at not only the new knowledge but the gravity of the assignment. He was trusting us to keep those under his care safe while he personally dealt with the problem, and that made me feel all warm and fuzzy inside.

I was totally right. Captain Hironimus was a closet softie.

‘Of course, sir. Anything to help.’

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