Five Weeks Later. 01:50 Bridge

“Armstrong Tower, CNS Marcinko requesting permission to dock,” Lacey said.

“Good morning CNS Marcinko, please enter holding pattern by coming to heading Two-Niner-Five and orbit at thirty thousand kilometers. You are sixth in line. Expect vectors in fifteen minutes,” a controller stated.

Lacey read back the instructions. Caleb entered the vectors and began a slow orbit around the station. John was relaxing in his chair feeling a bit bored. Andern was visibly bored, he slid over and acknowledged a notification from the mess hall.

“The mess has been cleaned and secured,” Andern said from the rear of the bridge.

“Thank you Andern. Lacey why don’t you broadcast this to the whole ship,” John said as he stood up.

“Give me a moment sir,” Lacey clicked a few buttons at her terminal, “You have the ship, sir.”

“Good morning. We will be docking with Armstrong within the next two hours. The third shift will remain on duty. First and second shifts please clean the berths of your effects. Once cleaned then stow your gear on your bunk and work with your department to determine if any assistance is needed to shut down the departments.”

“We’re number four now sir. Looks like things have been efficient thus far,” Lacey said.

“Famous last words Lacey, but I appreciate the optimism,” John smirked as he sank back in his chair.

“Not using this time as an opportunity to run any more drills cadet?” Lieutenant Page asked.

“No ma’am. We already did three drills this shift. No sense in running anymore. We’re above average overall when it comes to the deployment as-is.”

John suspected Lieutenant Page wanted him to keep his crew busy. She would have had a point had they not run any drills earlier in their shift. But they were already doing quite well in them already, forcing the issue didn’t seem to make much sense to John.

John was going to miss this chair. He would get another chance in a little over six months, but with a different crew. He was going to miss having his friends all here. It did make sense though. Nepotism rarely ever worked. It did for this crew, but for how long would that be true. John pondered that question for some time. How long could this crew maintain its effectiveness?

John’s pondering was interrupted by Armstrong Tower contacting them, “Marcinko, docking approved, lower ring, bay 13-B. Follow Immigration vectors to slave-point. Proceed at current speed.”

“Cleared to dock, lower ring, docking bay 13-Bravo. Take the Immigration glide path to ship to station slave-point. Marcinko out,” Lacey called back.

“Caleb, make it so.”

Forty-five minutes later the ship was docked, and the main core was being shut down. The mess crew was already transferring food off the ship. There was a degree of controlled chaos on this offload. The Marcinko wasn’t going to be used for another six months so all foodstuffs had to go.

“Mess reports two to three more trips to offload food sir,” Lacey said.

“Engineering says the core is now shut down, basically just waiting on food being offloaded,” Andern said.

“Lacey, all ship again please,” John waited until Lacey gave him the thumbs up, “First shift, when the mess crew comes back to the ship, help them offload the rest of the food. The third shift may return to their berths and pack their bags. No one has the authorization to disembark at this time.”

Senior Chief Stroll walked into the bridge, “Cadet, a hell of a job. Was glad to serve under you. You got some learning to do but you’re going to be one hell of a captain in the future,” Stroll stood at attention and saluted John crisply.

John stood up and saluted back then offered his hand, “Pleasure is all mine chief. Thank you for all your hard work.”

“Don’t mention it, well I’m going to make sure my men have their suits in gear. I’ll get yours marked for delivery back to the academy.”

“I’m a step ahead of you already Senior Chief. All my gear should be marked for delivery already.”

“Well, I’ll verify it anyways,” Chief Stroll smiled and strode out of the bridge.

“Chef just reported the last of the stuff was moved off the ship,” Lacey said.

“Let’s open the floodgates then. All ship once again please,” John paused a moment, “It is currently Friday 05:40 Earth Standard time. Congratulations one and all for an excellent tour. I’m proud of the work we all did here. I want to thank every last one of you for trusting in one another to make this as successful as you have. You may now begin to disembark. The enlisted crew is to report to the Military Wing, Room 2305B by 06:30 for reassignment. Cadets are to head to the space elevator. We are scheduled to descend at 07:15.”

John walked to his room and opened the door. His bag was waiting for him at the foot of the doorway. He reached down and slung it across his back. John watched the bridge crew filter out. He was smiling.

“Well done cadet. I’ll be submitting my final report, but a paraphrased summary is that your crew did an amazing job.”

“Thank you, ma’am. I’m pleased as hell that everything worked as well as it did.”

Page smiled and left the bridge. John was the only one that remained. He couldn’t stop smiling. But he still felt disappointed that it was all over. He slowly walked to the door. John made a fist and banged the wall.

“Hell of a job old girl, thank you.”

07:40 South Elevator 14B

“I spy with my little eye…” Andern started to say.

“Buddy, if you try to play this game, I will throw you off this fucking thing,” John said.

“But I’m bored.”

“Go to sleep then you idiot,” Kevin said, “John, you ever hear what happened with the crew of that freighter?”

“They were hired to pick up military equipment in three different systems, they had one more stop in Sol, then they were off to a private station in Groombridge to unload.”

“Let me guess when Intelligence showed up there, the group who were supposed to take the freighter over from them were long gone,” Andern said.

“Weird right?” John said shaking his head, “So now there’s a big ass investigation going on about tracking down how all that gear was smuggled out of the system. Or space dock. That’s the part I don’t get is how they got the engine components. Shit like that isn’t assembled off-site.”

“I wouldn’t want to be working for the shipyards with Intelligence breathing down their necks,” Kevin said as he slid down on his chair.

John got up from his seat and walked over to a window, he leaned against it and watched them descend. He smiled at the memories that were made in the last four months. The whole nonsense that happened on Manchester he’d like to ignore but it is what it is.

“It was a good trip, I kind of wish we could stay longer,” Alice said as she placed a hand on his shoulder.

John turned and smiled, “Mistakes were made but overall the experience exceeded my expectations.”

“Doesn’t our crew prove that nepotism has its place? I know you hate it, but I felt we did an amazing job.”

John turned around and leaned on the railing, “It worked on this tour. Would it continue to work over many tours and years? I’ve been wondering that very thing. In most cases, I think things do work initially but in the end, they tend to blow up in one’s face.”

“Our next tour is going to be radically different is it not?”

“I wouldn’t call it radically different. But the commandant asked me my opinion on our spring and fall deployment. Kristin and Joeng agreed to be in a wolfpack. Not sure if it’s going to be a trio of destroyers or a destroyer and a pair of corvettes though.”

“And this crew will all be split up, right?”

John stopped smiling, “Unfortunately, that’s true. Couples will be split up. But the plus side is we’ll all have shore leave together. So, it’s not all bad I suppose.”

“Are you going to be ok?”

“I’ve already adapted to the new normal. Whether I want to go back to the old me or not is immaterial.”

“That wasn’t my question though, was it?” Alice smiled.

“I’ll be fine,” John smiled back, “Seriously, I am fine. In some ways, it’s a weight lifted off my shoulders. Knowing what I shouldn’t do. Being tempted to do certain things. Without that ability, those immoral and unethical thoughts disappear.”

“Are you ever not stoic?” Alice said sarcastically.

“Nah.” John grinned as he answered the question.

“John,” Kevin said, “Have any idea how the Lieutenant was going to grade us?”

“High marks around. Some work is needed on tidying up personal spaces. Beyond that, it was very positive though.”

“Who got the most demerits?” Brian asked.

“I got six,” John said, “Five came because of that fucking princess.”

“You ever respond to her messages? I think I remember six or seven coming in while I was on duty,” Jessica said.

“Nope. Not going to either.”

“Smart man,” Alice smirked, “If I see her again, I’m punching her straight away and right in her stupid face.”

Nathan laughed, “I mean, she was kinda hot. Dumb as a bag of rocks, but still hot.”

“You went there, really?” Theresa stared at him.

“Yeah. She was tall, curvy, and had a nice rack. Physically she was a nine out of ten and I would bang. But her personality and supposed intelligence was a massive turnoff.”

John was grinning, “He is right. She is attractive by the standard definition of most men and women. And he’s also accurate her physical attributes don’t outweigh social ineptitude and general royal cuntishness. Is cuntishness a word?”

“No, and what the hell. She was not attractive,” Alice crossed her arms and was glaring daggers at Nathan and John.

“Alice, your wrong, those two are technically right. Most women would find her attractive too, except they are understating her personality flaws,” Kristin elbowed Andern as he was grinning at the conversation.

“The best kind of being right,” John said smirking.

Thomas rolled his eyes because he allowed himself to get dragged into this conversation, “I’m gay. Can confirm the bimbo was attractive. Would not bang though.”

“John, would have you banged her?” Andern asked.

Everyone in the elevator looked or turned to look at Andern. General apathy was being directed at him.

“What? It’s a fair question.”

“I’m married, so I never even considered it,” John paused and looked at Alice, “And I’m not saying that because it’s the right answer that you want to hear. It is the only answer.”

“Ok, what if you weren’t married? Would you have gotten married to her?” Alice asked.

“Probably would’ve banged her on the ship. Being married to that would have benefits. But then you’d have to live with her.”

“Sounds like a cruel and unusual punishment,” Brian said laughing.

“Ugh, you’re a pig John,” Jessica said.

John shrugged. Alice punched him in the ribs lightly. Everyone went back to their conversations as the elevator continued its descent to the surface. Twenty minutes later they were back on the surface. They would be back at the academy by 10:20, but they had to go to the medical building to be scanned and receive a PT plan for the next two weeks.

12:45 Dorm Mess Hall

“It was nice timing, if I do say so myself, that we docked on a Friday,” John said smirking.

“Never stop being an evil genius,” Andern said, “When it helps me, naturally.”

“Is it really true that we have a full week off?” Kristin asked, “That almost sounds too good to be true.”

“Not everyone finished their coursework. That and all the PT they want us to do too,” John said before taking a bite of his burger.

“Doing anything fun this afternoon? I feel like the lounge and cornhole are on my radar,” Kristin said.

Theresa and Jessica looked at her.

“Fuck it, she’s right,” Alice said shaking her head.

“What’s going on there?” Kevin said.

“The girls are capitulating defeat on the matter of cornhole,” John answered nonchalantly, “Only took two years.”

“Nice…” Thomas said.

“You going to join us, honey?” Alice asked.

“I have a meeting with the commandant in forty-five minutes. Then I get to speak to the Psi-Corp. They don’t believe I’m non-functional now.”

“Getting probed, eh?” Andern said.

“Not funny asshole. Dealing with them is never fun.”

“What’s the big boss want to talk about?” Kristin asked.

“He wants to discuss Page’s review of our ship. I’m hoping I can get some more morsels of truth about Patrice and Terry’s commands too. And of the plan for the summer deployment. I hear rumblings that there’s been yet another change of plans.”

“What’s changing?” Thomas asked.

“Seniors, basically us, get escorts and corvettes between June and August. Then we will get up to frigates for the fall term. Any ‘leftovers’ from the Junior class will get their own ships kinda like how our class got three crews.”

“Interesting, that should be fun either way,” Kristin said.

“Mhmm, but it is interesting that our curriculum keeps shifting.”

“Trying to make better officers?” Brian said.

“Most likely. I do know that they had some rough classes a few years back. All book smarts and no practical smarts. Almost feels like they’ve shifted too hard the other way though.”

The group continued to enjoy lunch together. By the top of the hour, they brought their trays back to the turn-in area. John headed toward the commandant’s office. The rest headed to their lounge, which they found empty. The cornhole boards were still there though.

14:15 Psi-Corp Investigative Services Building – Conference Room 212B

John was annoyed, tired and a bit pissed off. Psi-Corp buildings and offices were dour places to be. The people that worked in their locations weren’t much better. What was triggering John was that the moment his examiner looked at him they stood up and left the room without saying anything. That was twenty-five minutes ago. John was presuming they saw or felt something unnatural when looking at him.

John stood up and walked to the glass and banged on it lightly, “Talk to me or I’m walking out.”

John turned around but heard the locks engage on the door. His lack of tact once again put him in a moderate bind. He began banging on the two-way mirror harder.

“Stupid mother fuckers. Either talk to me or let me go. This is bullshit.”

After another ten minutes went by, which only pissed him off more. The banging on the glass had grown to the point John was feeling discomfort in his hands. John grabbed the chair and began using that to bang on the glass. The glass was breaking, but it was still holding itself together. Something heavier was needed.

John smirked as he grabbed the table and throw it at the glass. It was wedged between the top and bottom frames, but there was no more mirror there any longer. He grabbed the table from the frame and set it down on the ground. He was about to climb through the opening when the door opened.

“Jesus, about god damned time. What the fuck is going on?”

“Why did you break the window?” the agent said.

“Thirty-seven minutes of waiting. THIRTY-SEVEN. Talk to me like a fucking adult you assholes. Now, what the hell is going on?”

“You don’t know?” the agent asked.

John’s anger got the better of him. He dashed toward the agent, grabbed him, and slammed him into the wall. The agent was being pressed against the wall a foot and a half off the ground and being pressed against the wall incredibly forcefully.

“I’m not a fan of circular arguments, now answer my fucking question. What the hell are you doing?

Another agent walked into the room and said in an authoritative tone, “You are going to let him down this instant.”

John complied albeit maliciously. The agent wasn’t let go straight away, but he let him go with some lateral momentum. That resulted in the initial agent falling to the ground rather unceremoniously.

“We were testing you.”

“I’m aware of your ways. These tests don’t take that long. What is really going on here? I can practically feel this one’s fear,” John all but hissed the words as he pointed at the agent slowly getting off the floor.

“You were assaulting me just now. But to answer your question is that you don’t exist.”

“Obviously not,” John shook his head.

“You misunderstood my junior agent’s statement. You are quite aware that when we reach out with our minds that we see a psychic impression of everyone in range of our abilities.”

“So?”

“You do not exist in that psychic observation sphere. In fact, there is no sign that anyone is occupying the space you’re in.”

“And to someone like me, our mind’s eye actively moves away from your location. As if we’re repulsed from it,” the other agent said.

“The repulsion phenomena you exhibit was being tested in another room. It appears that it takes a Level 4A telepath to resist the force. Not that resisting the force does much of anything since we can’t read you at all.”

“Well, I can’t control this ‘field’ or ability a psychic can accurately deduce someone is in fact thereby being repulsed from a particular point. As for my abilities you’ve read my files, you know why I’m no longer like y’all.”

“You’re missing something, that intelligence is not likely to be known, as you’re the first known blank. And we don’t know whether or not that new talent of yours is trainable or activatable.”

John was shaking his head, “Why didn’t you assholes just tell me you were going to do that? Instead, I got radio silence.”

“We were surprised and needed to make sure it was natural,” the younger agent said.

“Additionally, when your anger flared up it was helpful to see that our observations of you were unchanged.”

“Which implies that this new talent of mine is not something I can switch on or off. We done here? I have things to do and people to see.”

“Yes, what should we do about that?” the more senior agent was pointing at the shattered mirror.

“Dunno, this ain’t my building,” John shrugged as he walked out of the room.

The two agents looked at one another. They were surprised and unprepared for his response.

“What an asshole,” the younger agent said.

19:00 Lounge

“So, what did the head honcho say?” Andern said as he walked into the lounge.

“Wolfpack training in corvettes between June and early August. Head back home. Three-ish weeks off. Leave in September and come back the first week of December in the bigger ships. Finals the week after we get home.”

“What finals?” Andern asked worryingly.

“Always worried about tests with you,” Kristin said patting his shoulders from behind.

“Two classes during the summer, three during the fall,” John sighed, “Same shit we were doing on the Marcinko.”

“That’s a kick in the nuts,” Brian said.

“That’s my line,” Andern said smirking.

“Well, we need to get all our classes into graduate. They don’t want to delay us serving any more than they absolutely need to,” John yawned.

“Tired?” Alice asked.

“Yeah, been up for over a day at this point.”

“Hey, how did the meeting with the Psi-Corp?” Jessica said after she sat down, “So are you normal like the rest of us now?”

“Jessica, he’s not normal. He will always be a Martian,” Kevin said.

“You know what I mean though.”

John grinned, “Yup, turns out I’m a blank of sorts. For most telepaths, they will instinctively be repulsed from trying to focus on me. Any hopes of me getting my gifts back are likely long gone.”

“Does that benefit you in any way?” Nathan asked, “Doesn’t sound all that useful.”

“Well, being a blank is actually both interesting and helpful, from a certain point of view. Not that I was overly worried about this before, but now they literally cannot telepathically see me or enter my mind. Which ultimately means no brain death due to spooky mind magic.”

“Cool,” Nathan said.

The group continued to relax and unwind. Only a handful of games were played. Within an hour and a half, they all decided to head back to their rooms and get some rest. They had a week to study, finish up their classes, and spend an unwelcome amount of time at the gym. In only a week and a half, they’d be heading home on Christmas break. It was time off they all desperately wanted.