3 Weeks Later, Friday. 13:15 Communications Center

Today was the day most cadets learned where they were being assigned. John and his friends already knew what fleets they would be assigned to, thanks in no small part to his handiwork. Most of his friends had already been given hints of what they’d be doing, though nothing firm. While John had his doubts about the agreement, leadership within the Second Fleet would hold up their end of the bargain.

Alice had just sent John a message that she was confirmed to be assigned to St. Mary’s station above Manchester. It was presumed that would be the case because of John’s assignment to a vessel. That meant there weren’t any games being played for them either.

The attack wing that he would be assigned to remains a mystery, despite his best efforts to discover it. John had heard of a few rumors or possibilities but nothing firm as of today. But he continued to wait for his new commanding officer. It was a difficult wait, especially since his new CO was supposed to have talked to him nearly an hour ago.

John was passing the time on his tablet scrolling through his investments. He and Alice had an unexpected tax refund that year. Alice didn’t want much of that money, just enough for a shopping run. John smiled when he thought about that, she hated her family’s affluence, but ironically her tastes were no less lavish than his. He refocused on his task and narrowed his list down to ten companies.

“Which two don’t I want?” John mumbled to himself.

John’s moment of introspection was broken when the screen flashed and a tired and annoyed-looking man began to speak, “Cadet Lief, it seems I am your new CO.”

“Appears that way sir, but you have me at a disadvantage,” John said politely.

“I’m Lieutenant Kory Shephard, captain of the CNS Des Moines,” the First Lieutenant said as he scrolled through John’s information, “Command class I see. I’ve heard much of your exploits and of some rather unsavory things. Where do your loyalties lie?”

“I apologize for answering your question with a question sir, but to be clear are you asking whether I am loyal to the Navy or Intelligence.”

John received radio silence in return. Kory appeared to be busy working on some paperwork. This first impression didn’t get started on the right foot it seemed. In fact, if John was reading the mood and body language of his new captain that they didn’t seem to particularly care about the addition of John to the crew or don’t want him there in the first place.

After an uncomfortable amount of radio silence, Kory looked at the screen, “Well?”

“I’m unable to answer your question without further context, sir.”

“Are you loyal to the Navy?”

John answered immediately, “Yes, I am. Recent events have thankfully clarified things.”

“Recent events, eh? You say that so easily as if it was an open question prior to today. Your past actions indicate at best dual loyalties and at worse loyalty outside of the Navy itself.”

John smiled, “That relationship had soured over the past year and a half and just recently ended in irreconcilable differences. It’s safe to say that an acrimonious divorce occurred. My only loyalty now is to the Navy.”

Kory didn’t wait a moment, “And what if the relationship hadn’t soured.”

“What indeed,” John said sinking back into his chair but speaking clearly, “It’s not a scenario that could happen, so I haven’t exhausted any recent thought into how that would’ve played out.”

Kory didn’t look or sound impressed with the answer, “Try me. What would you have done if the situation was different?”

“I would do as I’m ordered.”

“By whom?”

“My primary loyalty most likely would have been to Intelligence first, and my fleet and the Navy second.”

Kory frowned, “You would have played the part of spy and dutiful soldier. That doesn’t sit well with me at all cadet. Do you believe that could have pulled that off?”

“That is within my capabilities to do, sir. I can be a chameleon if necessary, and I’m exceptionally good at lying when I need to. That kind of comes naturally when one works deep cover assignments,” John sighed, “Though I can see how it would be more difficult to trust me at my word.”

Kory leaned into his desk and leaned his chin on his hands, “I’m not sure what to make of you cadet. Your academic record is stellar, and your performance while in command of the Academy ships is unmatched. In fact, I’d dare say that the admirals were wrong about your capabilities. But your attitude is frankly shit, your dual loyalties raise doubt about the kind of officer you can be. I’m not sure if I believe that you’re fully separated from them.”

“That’s understandable sir. I hope with time you’ll come to believe that these words aren’t just lip service.”

“I doubt there’s going to be enough time to generate that kind of trust. Your actions, or rather, your supposed actions have cost my family dearly.”

John gave that impish smile and grin that he was known for, “Tell me, Lieutenant, do you think it honorable that admirals in the core fleets were trying to actively sabotage a cadet’s ability to attend the academy?”

“No, I do not, but my father wasn’t part of that and yet he still lost his money. His guilt was presumed through his association and friendliness with the others.”

John looked at his tablet and pulled up the results of that operation. Kory’s father was an admiral in the Third Fleet. The elder Shephard had an illegal slush fund that was temporarily emptied, but ninety percent of the money was returned. John also confirmed that the good admiral was against cadets like John achieving command in the fleets.

“Sir, your father was not entirely honest with you. His slush fund, which was funded largely through illicit payments, was nearly restored in full. The delta was likely an operations fee. It was a noticeable amount, but the overwhelming majority of that money was returned to him.”

“Interesting, assuming you aren’t lying to me then I wasn’t told the entire story.”

“If you’d like the pertinent details, I’d be happy to provide that to you. Naval Intelligence may think otherwise but it is what it is.”

“No, I won’t need that just yet. I find it interesting that you’d be willing to tell me that. Do you not follow your oaths?

“Normally I do, but Naval Intelligence seems to think I’m responsible for the loss of a protection detail that an assassin killed. They also don’t see any value in keeping me around now that I no longer have any telepathic abilities. Things that have been classified I’m still bound to keep secret, but the information I’m looking at doesn’t technically have a classification attached to it.”

“Interesting delineation, you have a justification for everything you do. Tell me, cadet, how do you handle death?”

“Death is a constant in the military. Each vessel, even the diminutive escort vessels, can kill thousands of people. It’s very detached compared to the precision that an individual can strike.”

“What would happen if your wife died?” Kory looked back at the screen to judge John’s reaction.

“If she was killed in a war? If we were holding any POWs directly involved in the attack I’d kill them on the spot. An accident, I would grieve. Murder?” John started to laugh.

“I didn’t expect laughing.”

“It’s directed at the poor fools responsible for that.”

“You would conduct extrajudicial justice?”

“I won’t mince words, sir. I don’t care who would be responsible for that or what position or rank they hold. I would bath the streets in blood to quench my vengeance for such an offense,” John said in a chilling but straightforward tone, “And no one would ever connect me to anything.”

“Bold words. You are every bit as cocky as these reports say. Have you given any thought to what you’d prefer doing onboard the ship?”

“I hadn’t. I’ll be honest I’m not really familiar with Oslo class vessels.”

Kory nodded his head, “That’s not an unusual response, they aren’t overly common.”

“That being said, I trust that you’d assign me a position on the vessel that suits my skills.”

“Your talents are varied and numerous I see. We’ll find an adequate position for you. If you’ll excuse me, I need to run.”

The communication ended early. John sighed and left the room. That wasn’t a great first meeting. It was highly unlikely that he’d get a warm welcome to the vessel. John had a sinking feeling that his abilities and talents would be mismanaged or not utilized. Though there was some hope because of the ship’s capabilities as a forward scout there was some hope that John would be in some sort of analytical role.

14:15 Dorm Quad along King George St.

John was walking back to his room. The original plan for the cadets was to meet their new CO along with their department heads. As John’s CO hadn’t determined what role he’d have on the ship he wouldn’t be meeting any department heads. It could be a relaxing afternoon, but John was just annoyed that he knew effectively nothing about his coming commission.

He sent Alice a message since she had said her session should be over in an hour or two, but she hadn’t responded. John didn’t think much of it, that wasn’t the first time she hadn’t responded. Plus, it was entirely possible that her introductions were going well, unlike his.

There was a loud bang, clearly a gunshot, from the street. John had a moment to curse at himself for leaving his back to the street before the bullet struck him in the shoulder. John’s right foot caught his left foot slightly sending him off balance and falling to the ground.

John’s arm didn’t move out as he expected, and wanted, it to. When he landed on the ground, he struck his head hard. The bullet wound appeared to be superficial, literally a minor flesh wound, but he had concussed himself into unconsciousness and was suffering from a bad bloody nose.

The quad had turned into a flurry of panicked students and teachers. All went running for cover. All that is except for a lone sophomore that ran towards John and pulled him back around into a defensive position. John was a dead weight that wasn’t reacting to anything.

14:22 The Light

John’s eyes opened. He was lying on a bare white floor. He rubbed his eyes as he rose to his feet. The location didn’t appear to be natural, or anywhere he had been. Then John remembered he was shot; he felt his shoulder. There was no wound.

“You are between realms,” a chilling voice said.

John turned and sighed, “I presume you are the Grim Reaper? Or Death?”

The spectral figure was floating six inches off the ground. The black cloak appeared to be flowing as if a wind were blowing, yet there was no obvious airflow.

“This is your representation of what you the primordial force of death is. It changes from person to person. Your interpretation of me is most interesting. It seems almost comical compared to the very real things you’ve been involved in your short life. I am your personification of Death.”

“Then am I dead?” John ignored the statement and shot straight to the point.

“This is but a transitory passage for you,” Death said disappointingly, “Your time to join with me is hard to divine. I’m not sure when, or even if, you’ll ever join me.”

“Why the fuck am I imagining all of this,” John said as he looked around, “Lucid dreams are a god damned trip.”

“Who’s to say this is a dream? I was under the impression that you’re a believer.”

John laughed, “I am a believer but not a practicing one if that makes any sense. I can’t say I ever really wanted to meet you though, you’ll take me someplace hot for all of eternity. Luckily, I can still say I haven’t met Death yet.”

Death laughed, “What if this is real or your assumption is incorrect?”

John shot back confidently, “Because it isn’t happening. I’m hallucinating this because I was just shot.”

“Death was a certainty for everything long before your world ever produced life. And it will continue to be so long after your species dies out.”

John walked a circle around the figure, “I’m sure it will be.”

“Of all that I have met before, you are the only one that is so certain that this is not real.”

John turned to look at the specter, “Because this doesn’t exist. What makes you think humanity would be able to communicate, much less be aware of such a primal force of our universe.”

“And yet here I am, floating in front of you.”

John’s impatience only grew with the ridiculousness of the situation he found himself in, “Yes, here we are. I’m shot, knocked out, or bleeding out, and I’m having a lucid dream about talking to Death. This is either the moment before my life force gives out or my life is just flashing before my eyes.”

“So set in your beliefs that you can’t believe that something contrary could occur.”

“We’ve been colonizing other worlds for over two hundred years now. We’ve been an interstellar species for well over a hundred. We’ve visited thousands of worlds and animal life is fairly common. In only one world is there a species that could, and I stress could gain sentience. We have yet to meet another intelligent race.”

“Life is abundant throughout the universe, as you’ve come to find,” Death said as he walked nearer to John, “But complex life like yours is exceedingly rare. It has always been thusly and will be that way until the end of days.”

John sighed, “OK, let’s say you really are Death. Why would you want to communicate with me? If you are who you say you are, then you’d be a primordial force of the universe. We’d be a single-celled organism compared to you. I'm nobody.”

The specter’s smile was formed beneath its cowl, “You’ve been seriously injured before and those that operated on you presumed you to be far closer to death than you really were. You are truly unique amongst your species. You were born with gifts that common man couldn’t begin to dream of.”

“Some gifts,” John sarcastically hissed.

“And yet you threw them away as if they were nothing to accomplish a mission.”

John looked puzzled, “You’ve been watching me?”

“Oh yes, the others have too. You have evolved into something none of us could have predicted. I wonder if that evolution will continue into the future.”

“Evolving into what?”

The white light began to dim. John could feel his consciousness struggle to regain control once more. He couldn’t see clearly anymore, but he was able to hear one last thing from his visitor.

“Evolution is complicated but never happens without need. I am curious what humanity's needs of you will forge you into. Time will tell what your true destiny is…”

15:20 Academy Clinic

John shot straight up. The smelling salts the paramedic employed were a heinous thing, but very effective at rousing a patient. One of the paramedics and a nurse grabbed him quickly and restrained his head from moving.

“Settle down big guy, we just want to make sure your head and neck are alright. We didn’t expect you to wake up like that.”

“Holy hell, my nose hurts from that shit.”

“Ammonia salts. One time use,” the paramedic behind John said, “Well the good news is your skull isn’t fractured. And the bullet just tore your uniform and grazed your shoulder.”

“That’s a first.”

“Being shot? Yeah, I’m not sure many people want to add being shot to their list of things to happen to them.”

John shook his head as he stood up, “No, being grazed. Normally when I’m shot, I suffer organ or serious tissue damage.”

The paramedics and nurses looked at each other and shook their heads. This wasn’t a conversation to continue. They continued to check John out.

“Well cadet,” a new voice said as they entered the room, “The skin lesion was treated with antiseptic spray. Shouldn’t need to do much more besides keep it clean. Take this prescription and get it filled for that concussion of yours. Barring any issues, you should be back to normal by the weekend.”

John turned to see the doctor handing him the slip as they continued to speak, “Damn lucky son, a quarter of an inch lower and your collar bone would’ve been in pieces.”

“Thanks, doc, much appreciated. Sometimes it pays to be lucky.”

13:45 Co-Ed Dorms

John took a pair of the horse pills when he got home. He threw his jacket and shirt away and requisitioned replacements. Then he grabbed a bourbon glass and poured a healthy amount of Old Rip Van Winkle into it.

He sat down on the couch and after taking a sip he closed his eyes, “My god that is good. Did those pills say not to take with alcohol though? Fuck it.”

The door unlocked and in walked a very happy Alice. She set her bag down on their table. Alice was about to start talking when she saw the shirt and coat in the garbage.

“I heard about a shooting on campus. Then I get home and I see the trash. Why am I not surprised,” Alice sighed, “Are you ok?”

“Yeah, turns out I was in the wrong place at the wrong time. I tripped and fell over and knocked my dumbass out,” John took a drink, “It was just a flesh wound. But the funniest part wasn’t me getting shot.”

Alice shook her and closed her eyes, “Why are you saying getting shot was funny?”

“It’s because when I was knocked out, I had a lucid dream. And holy cow that was a trip. Like full-on trippy.”

Alice sat down and hugged John, “Tell me about it.”

“I met Death.”

“What did it look like?” Alice asked sounding legitimately interested.

John took another drink, “It was floating. Its arms were gangly looking, very lean with gray skin. It was wearing a black tattered robe that looked like it was flowing in the wind but there was no wind in the white space we were in.”

“Interesting,” Alice said sincerely, “I would’ve figured your vision of death would’ve been more grotesque or monstrous.”

“Thanks,” John said with a hint of attitude.

Alice squeezed John, “Be nice, I didn’t mean that negatively. The important part is you are safe. Though I don’t understand how you keep getting shot at.”

“It’s gotta be karma,” John said with a smile, “And yes, it is my fault that the karmic scales are so out of balance.”

Alice laughed, “Hey, how’d your interviews go? I met my CO and a few co-workers. I am really excited to begin working with them.”

“Wow, someone’s changed their tune about…”

Alice put a finger to John’s lips, “No, I’m looking forward to my work. Not being that close to that bitch of a princess. Anyways, how was your meeting?”

“Well…” John let out a pained chuckle.

“That bad?” Alice looked up with a concerned look on her face.

“My captain is a first lieutenant. Dad is an admiral in the Third Fleet,” John paused but grinned, “Who may have been involved in that whole money fiasco. Think the dad played up the loss in his slush fund more than it really was to my captain.”

“Oof,” Alice winced, “Can’t say this is all that surprising. It was only a matter of time until that came back to bite you in the ass.”

“It hasn’t technically bit me in the ass yet, but I don’t think things are going to all sunshine and rainbows.”

“You’ll be fine. You adapt well,” Alice pushed herself up and kissed John on the cheek.

The couple sat on the couch and continued their conversation until chow. It was a day for John, mostly one to forget. He still wasn’t sure what to make of the dream. It felt so unlike any other dream that he had, lucid or otherwise, that legitimate doubt was present over it being a dream. But it was too out there to be legit too. In either case, chow was going to be soon, and they’d hear how their friends made out in their interviews.