Friday. 08:00 Hangar Waiting Room

“Good morning cadets. Check your messages to see what flight you are on. The first flight is departing in one hour. Head back to your rooms and finish cleaning them out.”

Everyone was glaring at John.

“Hey, don’t give me that look. I did not know they were going to do this.” John was trying to diffuse the situation. “Plus, we’re all on the second shuttle that heads down at 09:30.”

“You’re just damn lucky that we didn’t get our shit ready for nothing.” Jessica was laying down on the floor resting against her bag.

“So, is this an atmospheric flight or are we heading back to Armstrong station?” Thomas asked.

“Wait this doesn’t make any sense. Our shuttle is heading to the Great Lakes Orbital station.” Nathan said.

“Oh, fuck us, that means we get a cargo plane flight back to Annapolis.” Brian looked and sounded dejected.

“Wonderful, we get back on campus at 23:00. Nothing like a long day of traveling.” Alice sounded pissed.

“Take a look at this, most of the shuttles are heading to that facility. Yaeger must be busy as hell today.” John shrugged. “Well, here’s to hoping some of our classmates fuck up and are late.”

“Could you do your mind magic stuff and…” Andern grinned.

“No. Don’t listen to that at all.” Jessica was looking for something to throw at Andern.

“Yeah, we don’t need that crap.” Kristin agreed with Jessica.

“Each shuttle seats fifty. And if my guess is right there will only be thirty on time. So maybe we’ll move up and get back to the academy this afternoon.” John smiled.

“So, getting here early wasn’t useless.” Kevin smiled.

“Let’s wait thirty minutes to see if he’s right, otherwise he’s just a cocky dumbass.” Thomas smirked.

“The downside though is if he’s right he’ll be a smug ass on the way down.” Alice slapped John’s shoulder.

The group got to deal with smug John as twenty-six cadets missed their boarding time. Since the group was on the next flight and were in the right place, they got shifted to the first flight out. John’s smug smirk caused everyone to roll their eyes at him as the ship was released from its moorings and headed to Yeager station.

10:15 Yaeger Station, Shuttle Docking Bay 12

“We’re heading for the Industrial Cargo Warehouse.” Andern said as he slung his bag over his back.

“Hang a left, go to the end of the corridor then down about eight levels.” John said.

“Mind magic again.” Andern said sarcastically.

John pointed at the sign that gave them directions to where they wanted to go.

“Dumbass.” Nathan laughed.

“So, this gets us back to ground at what, 13:00?” Kevin asked.

“Then a ninety-minute drive back to campus. So 15:00 is a solid bet.” Nathan said.

“Beats getting tossed about on a C-330 heavy transport.” John said dryly.

“And no leave this weekend either.” Alice said quietly.

“Is that because of demerits?” Theresa asked.

John opened something on his tablet and was reviewing something. “Yup.”

“Before you elaborate, please stop.” Jessica was being the groups nay-smith.

“Fine. Everyone ready for finals?” John was walking down the stairs.

“Only one I’m moderately worried for, rest should be easy.” Kevin was hopping down the stairs.

“Medical ones seem easy, but I’m not sure if your classes are any different than mine Theresa.” Alice almost tripped on the last step.

“I feel like I’m in a good position.” Theresa yawned.

The group continued its light conversation as they walked to the industrial hangar. They managed to get to the elevator just before it was ready to be sent down. Half the elevator was industrial parts, they were the only ones on the elevator. Andern decided to start playing “I spy with my little eye” to the general annoyance to everyone in the elevator.

By the time the elevator stopped at the station, Kevin and Nathan were ready to throw Andern off of it. Thomas won the eye spy contest by calling out a bird that literally flew into the elevator’s window. While everyone was annoyed with Andern, the limited number of things to do besides sleep caused the group to play along.

15:30 Gymnasium

“Oh sure, get back to earth they said, have a lazy weekend they said.” Kevin said as he was running around the track.

“Then get sent on a random unannounced PE session because reasons.” Thomas said bitterly.

“After PE tomorrow morning we’re done with PE till Monday. Could be worse.” John said as he passed the group.

“You’re a dick, you know that?” Andern shouted.

“My lungs are on fucking fire.” Theresa said.

“Only ten more minutes.” Jessica patted her on the back.

“He’s got a hundred yards on the boys already. How in the hell does he do that?” Kristin pointed to join.

“And he’s doing all that only ten weeks after getting hit by a station umbilical. He’s not normal.” Alice laughed.

“You know more than you’re letting on.” Jessica hissed.

“Yup, not getting it out of me though.” Alice smiled.

John passed them on the next lap. He slapped Alice’s ass on the way around. In hindsight that would be a mistake. Alice pushed her limits and chased him down. And then successfully tackled him to the ground when time was called. Alice slapped his ass and walked off. The girls couldn’t stop laughing, leaving the boys really confused at what just happened.

“Yeah, I may have slapped her ass two laps ago.” John said sheepishly.

“You are literally itching for trouble.” Kevin slapped his shoulder.

“I try that with Kristin, and she’d pummel me.” Andern shivered when he imagined that.

“Yeah, I’m not sure Theresa would leave a body behind.” Kevin shook his head.

“Well, I need to shower and apologize.”

“Wise man.” Brian snickered. “Except a smart man wouldn’t have done that in the first place.”

“So true, but it was funny.” John laughed and led the guys to the locker room.

Saturday. 09:15 Lounge

“Cadet Lief, with me please.” The communications officer said.

“Stop giving me that look, I haven’t done anything.” John looked at his friends.

“You will not stop getting those looks. We know you.” Jessica said sarcastically.

John shrugged and followed the officer. He laughed when John told him they left a cornhole set they made up on Yeager station. The officer laughed harder when he said ten officers saw it but said nothing.

“Captain, this is Cadet Lief.”

John stood at attention and saluted. “Captain.”

“At ease son. My name is Captain Jerad Young. A local officer lost his life in a recent pirate attack. I’d like you to come with.”

“Sorry to hear that sir, but why do you need me?”

“The commander left behind a teenager that we wanted you to talk too.”

“Understood sir, I need to run and change.”

“Please do. You’ve got ten minutes to get ready be back here.”

John saluted again and ran to the co-ed dorm. He put on his dress blues on. He didn’t run back as he didn’t want to sweat but he was walking at a fast clip. John opened the door and saw the captain and a pair of other officers with him waiting at the door.

“Good timing Cadet. With us.”

“Aye aye sir.”

John followed the officers to a waiting car. One of the younger officers got in the driver’s seat and programmed in the address to the GPS system and drove off. There was nothing said in the car for the first five minutes. These kinds of missions drove John nuts as he didn’t have enough information to complete them correctly.

“Don’t suppose y’all are willing to tell me what happened?”

“Pirates attacked the CNS Omaha. The ship was out of position in its wing and was attacked by a pair of pirate frigates. She put up a fight and took out one of the frigates but at a cost.”

John had his tablet open. He was connected to the naval records system and had pulled up the after-action report.

“The commander made a decision and ordered the ship to reposition itself. That ultimately resulted in the death of twenty-three onboard, including his life. Though his positioning likely saved the lives of the destroyers that should have been where she was.”

“I would ask how a cadet could read that report, but I was told to expect the unreasonable when dealing with you.”

“I’d say he died honorably. Unfortunate for sure, but he died well.”

“You’ve done this have you cadet?”

“Death has long been a mistress of mine, but I’ve never been involved in informing loved ones of someone passing. But as I’m command this is something that I’m going to experience sooner than later.”

“It never gets easy.” The captain said quietly.

“If it did then we’re in the wrong role.” John said astutely as he looked out the window.

“Captain, house is at the end of the bock on right.” The officer from the front seat said.

The car rolled up to the house. “Doesn’t look like anyone’s home.”

John reached out with his mind and scanned the home. “Their home. I’ll follow your lead sir.”

The captain nodded. The officers exited the home and walked up to the front door. John followed in the rear. The captain knocked on the door. A pair of feet could be heard thumping toward the door. Then it opened.

The little girl looked up and instantly knew something was wrong. She saw four officers that dressed like her father standing there.

“Hello, you must be Angie. Can you bring your mother to the door?” Captain Young asked the young girl.

“Yes, please wait a moment.” She was already tearing up.

The other two officers looked at the captain, John could feel their emotions of guilt and sadness well up in them. John stood motionless in the back. The captain noticed John’s steely demeanor.

The young girl and her mother appeared at the door.

“Mrs. Bardeaux, my name is Captain Jerad Young. I was your husband’s commanding officer. He died in a pirate attack that occurred near where the fleet was patrolling.”

“No, no, no.” She fell to the ground. “Not my husband, no.” She began crying as her daughter hugged her.

The captain went down to one knee and put a hand on her shoulder. “You have my and the Navy’s deepest condolences.”

John took a step forward and walked through the house. He opened the patio door and stepped into the backyard. A baseball was thrown in his general direction.

John caught it with his right hand. “You put some heat into that. Name’s John, what’s yours?”

“Jax. It happened, didn’t it?”

“I’m afraid so.” John tossed the ball back to the young man.

Jax caught the ball, but his emotions were all over the place. John took note that rage and anger were the primary emotions that were bubbling up.

“I understand getting upset and being angry now, but trust me, it won’t help in the long run.” John said robotically

Jax through the ball back at John with much more force than the first throw.

“You’re the best pitcher on the team, aren’t you?”

“What the fuck do you know?” The anger in Jax’s voice bubbled to the surface.

“Jax, my apologies for my callous remarks. It’s far too easy to tell someone in pain not to do something. And as for what I know. Death and I are old friends. Though I’ve never had to inform anyone before.”

“How did he die?”

“He died as a hero, a warrior’s death. He put his ship out of formation to protect the smaller ships in his attack wing.”

“Was it worth it? He always said being in the military was the right thing to do.”

John leaned up on the corner of the house. “Afraid I can’t answer that question. But I can’t imagine a scenario where his actions were in vain.”

“If I join up, can I kill those fucking pirates.” Jax had a baseball in his hands.

“Jax, I speak with a fair amount of experience here, killing someone isn’t going to make you feel any better. Even someone who wronged you. Each time you do a little part of you is lost. It can be regained but at great cost and effort.”

“So, you don’t want me to get justice for my dad?”

“You’re talking revenge, not justice. Jax, I get it, I really do.”

“I suppose you’re going to say your dad was killed too.”

John chuckled. “Lost both my parents when I was a year old. Yeah, I’m aware of loss. A chapter in your life has finished, and a new one is about to be written.”

“I didn’t even get to say goodbye to him properly. I told him to piss off the last time I talked to him.”

John felt sorry for the guilt Jax was feeling. “Don’t let that guilt eat you up inside. That your feeling guilty means you didn’t mean the words you said. And I’d wager my life’s earnings that your dad knew that too.”

Jax got up and tossed the bat at the tree, it ricocheted toward John. “Fuuuu…”

John casually caught the bat. “Care for some more unsolicited advice?”

“Sure, why not.” Jax was sitting down with his head facing down.

“Use the guilt and anger your feeling as a focus. You can rise above where you are now if you do that. That is if you want to rise up.” John set the bat down. “When you graduate, the marines would love to have someone as talented as you.”

“How do you deal with it all?”

“The only way any of us can, by taking things one day at a time. Don’t be afraid to talk to someone about what you’re feeling. Seeing a therapist isn’t a sign of weakness, they are there to help people overcome their problems. Your mom has my contact information. If you need anything let me know.”

“Thanks.”

“Your mom and sister need you, but don’t ignore your needs too. Your stronger than you give yourself credit for.”

John nodded at the young man as he walked by him into the house. John followed him through the house and outside where the officers were. They said their goodbyes and walked to their car. The drive back to the academy was a quiet one. The captain and John exited the car and headed into the main dorm building.

“Cadet, tell me about this afternoon.”

“Well, your two junior officers were largely useless. But one of them has an excuse since he served with the commander. Can’t say that I liked any part of that though.”

“It helps to have some officers that show emotion. It humanizes the interaction. You did well with the son.”

“He’s stronger than he knows, he’ll know that for sure in the near future.”

“Well done and thank you for the assistance.”

“Sir.” John saluted and headed back to his room to change.

12:15 Cafeteria

John sat down next to Alice. “Hola. How’s it going?”

“Where were you?” Alice smiled.

“Went on a next of kin notification.” John took a bite of his salad.

The rest of the table went quiet. Everyone looked at one another. Puzzled looks were shared.

“Who died?” Andern asked.

“Captain of the CNS Omaha, Commander Bardeaux I believe.”

“So why did they ask you to go with them?” Jessica asked.

“The commander had a teenage son. They wanted me to talk to him.”

“God damn, that’s heavy to throw on your shoulders.” Kristin looked pale.

John shrugged. “Something we’re going to have to do in our roles. Not a matter of if but when.”

“Yeah, but you’re a cadet and had nothing to do with it.” Thomas didn’t understand why his friend had to do that.

John smiled. “Death and I are close. Y’all know my birth parents were killed when I was little. I get it.”

“Plus, you can be a better psychologist than I ever could hope to be.” Alice frowned.

“You put too much stock into my abilities, in that situation the emotions one feels are so raw and palpable it’s hard to read things accurately.” John took a bite of his sandwich. “You after being trained would be far more effective than I would in most situations.”

“But man, that’s just unfair to send a cadet on one of those notifications. We’re not ready for any of that.” Brian shook his head.

John smiled again. “Being put into uncomfortable positions is one of the best places and times to grow and better ourselves. And given that I’m in command the experience was valuable.”

20:00 Lounge

“Honey, I was thinking about waiting a week before going to Mobile.” John was sitting on the couch flipping through the channels.

“Are we allowed to stay in our dorms?” Alice sounded confused.

“Yup, cafeteria is open because of the summer term too.”

“I can push off going home for a week.” Jessica said.

“Yeah, that sounds fun. Andern, can you stay?” Kristin asked.

“Does a bear crap in the woods? Beats being stuck in the middle of fucking nowhere.”

“Does it snow in North Dakota in May?” Nathan laughed as he asked.

“It did those two times I can remember but it melted right away.”

“I’m never going back there.” John was shaking his head. “Alright, cool that gives us a week to hang out and have a good time outside of campus. Should be fun.”

“Yeah, what could go wrong?” Nathan said sarcastically.

“I’m blaming you if anything does happen.” John smirked.

“Yeah dude, that was not cool.” Kevin added.

“Plan for tomorrow?”

“Formula 1 race is in the morning so I’m getting up to watch that.” John sounded excited.

“I bet that’s something you could do well.” Kevin said.

“Oh god, don’t let him even think that.” Alice glared daggers at Kevin.

“He’s too damned big to fit in one of those cars.” Thomas said.

“Yeah, height wise he could, but he weighs twice what a normal driver does.” Brian said.

“No but endurance racing, like those prototypes and supercars. Man, that would be fun.” John was talking through an idea. “Think we can get the Navy to sponsor a racing team?”

Alice just smiled and shook her head. “I think more than half your ideas are crazy.”

“Sure, they may be crazy. But it’d be fun as hell too.”

The cadets continued their conversation until curfew was called. They were all glad to be home and in familiar surroundings. The rest of the weekend would fly by. They were nearly done with the semester. It wouldn’t be long until the final announcements on the ship command. John was excited for this opportunity. More than anything else though he was curious how his friends would handle the rigors of void flight.