A FEW WEEKS LATER, SOMETIME IN FEBRUARY 215 UC

I wanted to sleep in a little longer…

Mom had barged into my room and tried to shake me awake. Rather violently… I should say. When that didn’t work, she ripped the blanket off me. “Vicky! Vick! Wake up ! Jeez… you’re developing bad habits from pops.” She says scornfully as she tiptoes around the bombastic mess that is my ‘room’ to pry the body-sized pillow from me, but my greater strength prevails in the end. Not willing to be defeated that early, mom stomps her way over to the curtains and rips them open, showering my room with a light that bleeds through my eyelids.

“Vick! Get up! You’re going to be late for the entrance ceremony!” She says—says, but in reality, it’s more like an angry growl. It’d be an understatement to say it was aggressive. She tries again to grab the nice and comfy pillow away from me, and after a great struggle she pulls it away from me—but in the process causes me to fall face-first into the carpet.

I hear the jingle tune of a certain semi-sentient floor appliance booting up from underneath my bed. And the first thing I see and hear is a jet-black rumba rushing forward to slam right onto my upside-down forehead.

“Gaahhh!” I cry out as I collapse fully onto my back. Vivi lets out a robotic cry —do robots even feel pain?— as it scurries around me. “Vicky! Vicky! Wake up! Vicky!!!” The circular little device echos the growls of mom in a fashion that’s a lot more feminine and cutesy, albeit with robotic pronunciation. Vivi’s front sensors spin around in perfect tandem with it’s maneuvering.

“Alright… alright! I’m out of bed! I’m up!” I moan as I get to my feet, “you win! I surrender! Now get out of my room so I can change.” Mom only lets out a deep exhale, and leaves me alone with Vivi.

“Okay… but if you so much as jump in bed again…” She shoots me one intimidating glare, and closes the door behind her. And with her gone… I jump straight back into bed. Maybe the pomf it made was a bit too loud.

Of course, mom’s motherly senses immediately slams the door open again. “What did I SAY?!”

Vivi and I scream in human and robotic terror.

It finally took some time, but I finally got out of bed— for real this time, under unnerving supervision—and proceed to put on the military uniform they gave us a few days ago in-class orientation. This is actually the first time I decided to wear it, though. I wanted to save it for the occasion. Dad spent a lot of time ironing it out for this moment. Maybe a bit too long, mom would get worried he was going to burn it too much if he didn’t stop— and he didn’t, so she had to force him to stop.

Mom waited outside my room to give me some privacy, and also eavesdrop in case she heard me try and sleep again—and there was no way I was going to attempt that again.

It’s a nice fit, if a little tight around the chest area—which is probably because of the tie or belt. But before I can consider messing with those more, the door opens and I see mom in the background. “Well? What do you think?” I turn around to face her, and just out of the doorway I also see the old man peaking in briefly before disappearing.

“It’s… it’s…” Mom stammers, she takes a few steps towards me and pats me on the shoulders. Her lower lip is slightly quivering. “…You look so bloody good in it, love… it makes me feel nostalgic of pops.” She clears her throat and her nose gets a bit rosy. “It reminds me of the time when he offered me a dance in uniform, and then afterward—” Uh oh, she’s heading down memory lane of gross romantic stuff with dad. I guess they have a knack for that thing, the two of them.

“Mum, um… I gotta go see if Kiki came by yet. We told each other we’ll meet over at my place this morning.” She flutters her eyes and nods, wiping away some premature tears and stepping out of the way so I can leave.

Kiki had just made her way to my front porch and hardly got the chance to knock before I opened the door on her. “Oh, good morning Vicky! You look lovely.” She says with a beaming smile.

“Likewise,” I eye her from head to toe, “you know, you don’t look half bad wearing the uniform yourself. In fact, I think it compliments your hair color quite well! If I were a guy, I’d pick you up and give you a kiss!”

Friederika leans forward and puckers her lips, eyes shut tight. “It wouldn’t hurt to give me a little kiss right here!~ Chuuuu~” I resist the urge to sucker punch her, but I think my mom would get mad if I get Friederika’s uniform bloodied up. So instead, I just jab an index finger into her pursed lips and wiggle it around her tongue. This emits an amusing Friederika sound from the dark-haired girl. Gross, wet, and slimy—but worth it. “What the bloody hell was that for?!” Friederika stammers with a warm blush, spit-taking with her tongue out.

“Sorry I just had to tease you—would you rather I actually kiss you?”

Before Friederika can reply, I hear footsteps from behind us to find my parents curiously seeing what the commotion was. “Ah! If it isn’t the little Trachenberg!” Mom cooes as she gives Friederika a warm embrace—poor Friederika looks embarrassed. “I take it your parents are outside?” She asks while messing with Friederika’s lips. Poor Friederika, I know your pain all too. Friederika can only afford to give a weak nod in between mod tormenting her with shaking her violently. Man, and I thought I was terrible to Friederika.

“G’day, Sophie! G’day, Vincent!” Mr. Trachenberg says cheerfully, oblivious to the trauma his daughter had just gone through. But rather or not he takes notice of it, it’s enough for my mom to let go of a ghastly Friederika and give a proper exchange of greetings with the two Trachenberg parents. From the doorway, my old man casually waves to the Trachenberg guests.

“It’s so nice to see you two again! I love when your daughter comes to drop by to visit us; it makes me happy knowing Victoria and your Kiki get along so well.” I don’t know if getting along well is anywhere NEAR close to what I would describe our relationship, but… parental ignorance is a blissful thing for better or worst.

“I could very well say the same, Sophie—our poor little girl is always sulky when she gets and sometimes cries when she doesn’t get to see Victoria.” Miss Trachenberg says, “I suppose it’s a miracle they managed to befriend each other, and even so far as to enlist with her…”

“You get lonely and cry without me, huh?” I sneer at Friederika, hooking my index fingers on either inside of her mouth and pulling—but only gently.

“Waaah, dwon’t bwully me, they’we twlling lwies!” Is the only thing I can make out from Friederika’s stretched mouth. Yeah, sure they are.

“By the way, have you finished packing for Victoria yet? We already have Friederika’s belongings packed in the trunk—we’re ready to leave whenever you are.” Mister Trachenberg says while pointing behind at his teal-colored car. “Ah!” He then exclaims in surprise, looking past us at the doorway. My father was on the steps, with wheeled pieces of baggage in tow. He had changed from his pajamas into his old tan-colored SEATO uniform—it’s a rare sight to see. He makes his way past me without saying a word and both hands preoccupied with the wheeled baggage. “Rear admiral Happ-Schwarzenberger!” Mister Trachenberg addresses stiffly, he raises his right hand to the side of his cap, where the tips of his fingers barely touch the cap’s brim.

“You don’t have to call me that anymore, I’m retired,” Father grumbles. He peers into the back window of the trunk and looks back at mister Trachenberg. “You want me to put it in the back, or?” He asks the two Trachenbergs.

“Well, Lion of SEATO, I think there should enough room in the backseats.” Mister Trachenberg says with a straight-face.

“That’s enough, commodore, you don’t have to call me that either,” Father growls, “just call me Vincent… anyway, I’ll try squeezing her things in the back.”

“Oh Victoria! I almost forgot!” Mom runs back into the house and returns with a robotically squealing Vivi pressed against her chest. “You’re going to take her, aren’t you?” Mom asks, holding the roomba out to me; Vivi’s front sensors give me such an adorable look that if I tried imagining it hard enough, it would probably give me pup eyes.

“Mum… you know I can’t do that, they probably won’t allow things like… er… Vivi.” I say a little apologetically, “there’s no telling if they might demand me to send her back.” Vivi makes a tune so depressing that it makes my heart sink a little.

“Yeah…I suppose you’re right,” Mom’s eyes lower a bit, somewhat taken back, “—well I was hoping you would say no, anyway! Vivi would be handy around the house, won’t you Vivi?” She asks like a deranged person to the roomba, who only offers a tune weaker than before, and I felt it once again tug a little at my heartstrings. I offer to take Vivi from her for one last time. Vivi’s lightweight is easy to handle, and I press her against my chest as tight as I can, much to the delight of Vivi.

“I’ll be back for you one day, Vivi—so be good for mum in the meantime, won’t you?” I say with a heavy lump in my throat, and Vivi’s sensors blink for a few seconds, but finally gives acknowledgments with a somewhat more cheerful tune. “You’re a good girl, Vivi,” I utter as I hand her back to mom who then returns it to the household, and returns after locking the front door. With everything said and gone, we helped out our dads with putting baggage away and proceeded for our fateful destination; the Canberra Defense Institute.

The car ride under the canopy of trees is a quiet one. But soon enough the green scenery gives away to a fiery red compound that covers an enormous acre of land which is just as large as the fleet of parked cars near its vicinity. Friederika and I’s pops grumble about the time wasted needed to find a spot and the trek that to the academy’s entrance.

After what feels like forever we finally find a spot that wasn’t too far of a walk, and proceed to get our baggage out in earnest where we then join the flow of people walking to the front gates of the Institution. It also isn’t long before bands of important-looking military blokes take notice of my father and converge around him like some kind of pop-star decades past his prime. He looks tired of the attention but gestures for us to continue on as he catches up with his old friends.

The five of us make our way into a closed-roof stadium just off to the side of the main compound of buildings, where it’s rather nice and cool despite the summer heat. Inside is a vast open field with an assortment of chairs in the middle and places for the parents and guests to stay and watch. Friederika and I depart from our parents, who wave us off as they head for their seats. “Vicky… I know you’re kinda tense about this, but you’re squeezing my hand too hard.” Friederika says offhandedly after they leave. I wasn’t even aware I was clasping her hand in the first place, and gradually let go.

“Right… sorry, I guess I kind of am, huh? Also, youre hand is awfully sweaty.” I remark, and Friederika pouts looking the other way.

“It’s not like I can help it! It’s too hot outside and these uniforms are stuffy!” Friederika whines as she tugs at her white collar. With her other hand, she fans her day in a dramatic matter.

Some of our nearby mates look at us with curious brows, and I can’t resist but nudge Friederika between the ribs, “that’s no way for a fine future officer to behave, don’t you think? They say first impressions are important…”

“—Oh, quiet you!” She quips, and points to the podium on top of the stage, “seems like the ceremony is starting now.”

A middle-aged man in fancy military attire exchanges seldom salutes with some other middle-aged blokes, who presents himself as Commodore Ramsay DeRyck. “Ladies and gentlemen… thank you for coming out to visit our humble institution despite the intense Aussie heat. We hope the lodgings are to suitable to your liking,” he says in a clear and authoritative voice, yet calm and soothing, “to both the cadet initiatives and junior cadets—the staff here at Canberra Academy look forward to another wonderful academic year and are thrilled to have an excellent crop of students to teach and drill. And to the senior cadet officers hanging on—we hope to produce many wonderful alumni who will, no doubt, after this coming December, will go on to achieve phenomenal accomplishments to make us proud…”

DeRyck’s speech goes on about further remarks about what to expect at life in the academy and describes the hard, but enjoyable and rewarding experience we can expect. DeRyck then introduces some of the instructors and teachers, followed by a welcoming address by some of the senior cadets and guest alumni.

A military band then plays for us, signifying the end of the ceremony, and DeRyck delivers his closing statements amid a standing ovation. With that everyone gets up to leave the stadium.

“That was nice, wasn’t it?” Friederika says wiping away a single tear. We’re leaving to see our parents off since we stay behind to spend life on-campus. It’s a bit hectic to find them since there are so many people scrambling about.

“You’re not crying, are you? I never took you for being emotional.” I ask her as we link up with our parents at last.

“You’re the one to talk—who was it exactly that got overly emotional over leaving a little roomba behind? Here, I’ll give you hint, she’s dumb, blonde, and has big—” I jab Friederika between the ribs again, and she lets out a whine in typical Friederika fashion. “What the bloody hell was that for?”

“You could probably ask that for a lot of things,” I say rather dryly.

Our parents were leading the way to the gate where our father was. My dad, waiting along with some of his friends waves them off when he takes notice of our group. “Over already? Sorry I missed it, Vic… I had an irritatingly bloody time playing catchup and they wouldn’t let me go for even one second.”

“It’s fine, dad.” He looks uncomfortable, averting eyes with me. I might think it’s fine, but he seems somewhat upset by the fact that he missed the ceremony. “Just the fact that you came with us means a lot to me, anyway.”

“Well… as long as you’re not mad at your old man…” Dad says trying to hold back tears. It’s not long after that we all went around to give each other deep embraces and comforting words. Friederika is the first to break down crying, and it causes a ripple in the rest of us to cry—well, aside from me and my mom.

“Vic, you better make sure you keep your room clean—maybe I should’ve brought Vivi after all…” My mom says in her typical lecturing at first, with a hint of worry.

“It’s fine, mum—I’ll manage.”

“Don’t forget to brush your teeth and keep a healthy diet.”

“Thanks, mum, I’ll do what I can,” I say, struggling to get the words out.

“Don’t forget to wash and keep me…” She loses the ‘don’t cry’ contest first, and I bury my face into her chest for reconciliation.

With our goodbyes out of the way, we finally see our parents off for good. Friederika and I tearfully wave frantically them off as their car—along with the endless motorcade departing the grounds of the academy. Friederika is trying without avail to stop the tears from flowing with the heel of her palms.

“I’m sure we can visit them every so often,” I say with reassure to both myself and Friederika, “it’s not like this will be the last time we’ll ever see them.” Friederika nods in agreement, and we both turn around to confront our new future—our morning to a new tomorrow.