Axira Episode One

  Chapter 3

  I looked at the snippet of view through my dormitory window. I was in my room, sitting on the corner of my bed, head tilted as I considered the clouds racing beyond.

  Outside in the main room of my apartment, my flatmate was having a party. Despite the sound-proof door and walls, I could hear every footstep, every word, and every breath.

  I’d been invited to join; I’d refused.

  I knew that I could not distance myself too much from my colleagues – I understood the Coalition valued comradeship – but it was unwise to socialize too soon. I was starting to realize I was not as prepared for Academy life as I’d hoped. My mistake this morning on the track was all the evidence I needed that I had to study harder – learn every quirk of soft-fleshed biology and behavior – to fit in.

  Yet rather than study, I was staring at the view.

  I wasn’t emotional – I couldn’t be. 450 years of internment had scraped every care from my body, leaving nothing but cold hard efficiency.

  Despite that fact, I couldn’t ignore I was … feeling something. It was inside my chest somewhere, or up near my throat, or buried in my cheeks. I didn’t know what the feeling meant.

  I flicked my gaze down to my bare wrists, letting my eyes settle on my scars. Occasionally, when the light came in at a certain angle, you could see them glimmer. I hadn’t lied to the medical technician this morning – they were unstable. I hadn’t told the full story, though – they were continually painful, like knives sticking into my hands.

  Ordinarily, I wasn’t one to brood. I was one for action. So why was I sitting on this bed staring at the sky again?

  …

  Jason Singh

  I sipped at my drink, wondering why I was here. Okay, I knew: this was my best friend’s little sister’s welcoming party. Still, wasn’t I a little too old for this?

  I saw a recruit bounce in from the corridor. He looked fresh out of high school.

  I was way too old for this.

  I tried to sidle toward the windows to hide behind a large pot plant. It was the only cover I could find.

  I’d stick around for a few more minutes, then make a discreet exit.

  “How’s she for company?” Someone asked.

  I turned to see Mason – my best mate – sidle up with a smile painted on his face.

  “Ah, who are you talking about?”

  “Your date in the corner there.” He gestured toward the pot plant beside me with a shrug of his broad shoulders.

  “Can you please not say the word date in here?” I coughed into my drink. “I’ve suddenly realized how young everyone is. Why did I agree to come here again?”

  “Because it’s my sister’s first day at the Academy, and this is her first party – and I want to shoot any potential suitors a real clear warning that if they break her heart, I’ll break theirs.”

  “You mean you’ll date them, string them along until they think it’s serious, and dump them?”

  “Ha, ha. Now shut up, drink your drink, and look menacing.”

  I rolled my eyes and laughed as I took another sip. “Don’t drag me into this. You can do all the menacing on your own. Do I really need to be here?”

  “Yeah, Mandy wants you here. By the way, she has a crush on you,” Mason pointed out with a casual shrug, which he followed up immediately with a stiff waggle of his finger, “But if you—”

  I spread my arms wide in surrender. “Dude, she’s your little sister. That’s never going to happen.”

  “That’s a good answer – I like that answer. Now return to your drink, and start looking menacing already. I know you have it in you – I’ve seen you take on Kore assassins. A couple of upstart spotty recruits shouldn’t be too hard.”

  I shook my head and wondered when I’d be getting out of here.

  Before I could sidle back to the comfort of my plant, Mandy bounced up, playfully hitting Mason on the shoulder then shooting me a red-cheeked smile. “I’m glad you could both make it. It’s so exciting. I mean, I know it gets serious tomorrow when the classes start, but it’s great to get a chance to meet everyone today.”

  “Yes, it is,” Mason agreed as he shot a tall young recruit a warning look as the guy walked up to Mandy with a drink in his hand. The recruit – clearly smarter than he looked – quickly turned and gave the drink to someone else.

  Mandy turned her red-cheeked smile on me, and I found myself sinking further toward the plant.

  Realizing I couldn’t stand there in silence, I cleared my throat. “Ah, how are you settling in? How’s your flatmate?”

  Mandy’s broad smile faltered. She shot the closed door on the opposite side of the room a quick look, before leaning in and whispering, “She is so weird.”

  “What do you mean?” Mason asked protectively.

  “She wouldn’t come out for the party.”

  “Maybe she’s just shy,” I offered. “What race is she?”

  “Taskarian.”

  I paused, drink halfway to my lips. “The woman from the track this morning? The one who ran for four goddamn hours in 30-degree heat? Her?”

  “I wasn’t at the track this morning, but a few of my friends were. Yeah, it’s her.”

  “Wow,” Mason looked interested, “I heard about that. Damn, I want to meet this woman.” He looked excitedly over his shoulder at Em’s door.

  I remembered her name – Em. You don’t forget someone like that. News of her exploits this morning had already spread halfway around the Academy. By this time tomorrow morning, the whole track team would be lined up outside her door begging her to join.

  “Go and get her to come out,” Mason encouraged his sister. “Jason is probably right, and she’s just shy.”

  “Nah,” Mandy refused. “She’s … weird. Her reactions aren’t normal. It’s like she doesn’t know what you’re saying half the time. She always tilts her head at you in this weird way.”

  I knew that head tilt – I’d seen it this morning.

  “Mandy, this is a big wide galaxy, full of many, many aliens. Not everyone is like you. And the first lesson you need to learn at the Academy is how to get along with people from other species and cultures. Now go ask her to come out so I can meet her.”

  “No way am I going in there,” his sister resisted.

  Maybe I would stick around this party for a little longer. I wanted a chance to talk to Em and thank her for what she’d done for Elle. Without Em’s incredible efforts on the track, Elle would have been cut already.

  Before I could go and do something brave like actually knock on her door, she came out on her own.

  Several mingling recruits scurried out of her way as her statuesque form cut between them. She was less like a body and more like a scythe slicing through the air.

  Without a word or a smile, she walked toward the doors, as if in a daze. No, daze wasn’t the right word – she didn’t look confused, just focused.

  “Go make an effort; she’s your flatmate. And bring her over here,” Mason demanded as he pushed his sister forward.

  Mandy reached Em before she could walk through the doors.

  I walked closer to hear their conversation, Mason at my side.

  “Ah, don’t leave – you should join us,” Mandy offered awkwardly as she gave an uncomfortable, toothy smile.

  Em looked at Mandy blankly, as if she had no idea what to do next.

  “Ah, have a drink.” Mandy gestured to a full bottle of Caskcar – one of the most intoxicating drinks in the galaxy.

  Mason had confiscated it after an idiot recruit had offered Mandy a shot.

  Em gave the bottle a quizzical look, returned her gaze to Mandy briefly, then tilted her head at the bottle. Without a word, she reached forward, plucked it up, and poured it down her throat.

  Without flinching.

  Without gurgling.

  Without choking.

  Without passing out.

  The whole party went silent, several people dropping their drinks.
Mandy made a wheezing sound as she sucked in a long breath of air.

  Em finished, without spilling a drop, and returned the empty bottle to the counter. “I’ve finished your drink. I have enjoyed this party. We should do it again sometime. Goodbye.” She turned and walked for the door.

  Mandy stood there with her mouth wide open. “Y-you weren’t meant to finish the drink. T-that’s really alcoholic.”

  Em paused. She tilted her head. “I apologize. You offered it to me. I misunderstood. If you require compensation, I will oblige.”

  “No, I mean are you okay? You just drank a whole bottle of Caskcar.”

  Em’s expression changed. Slightly. You had to be looking at her as closely as I was to even pick it up. Her gaze quickly darted over the shocked, awed crowd. “I am fine. Do not worry about me, I used to … drink professionally.”

  “You … what?”

  “I am fine. I should leave now. Enjoy the rest of your party.” With that, Em walked away, shot the empty bottle a calculating look, then promptly exited through the stunned crowd and into the hall.

  Mason leaned close to me. “Holy shit,” his voice shook, “Who the hell is that woman? Did you see that?”

  I saw it alright.

  “How can she be standing? I mean, I know Taskars are different to humans, but dammit, Caskcar is some of the most lethal shit this side of engine plasma. Do you think we should go and check on her to make sure she’ll be fine?”

  “I’ll do it,” I offered bravely, moving through the party before Mason had a chance to go in my place.

  I left Mandy standing in a sea of her friends, all madly discussing what Em had just done.

  Wow, the woman had only been here for a day, and she was already the talk of the Academy.

  What would she get up to tomorrow?