“There you are! I should have known you wouldn’t come in through the main doors.” Andy smiled warmly from the stage. “Come on up here, please.”

We walked cautiously along the aisle between the chairs, concerned about the way he was smiling at us. There were five chairs on the stage behind him, I realised belatedly as we reached him but my brain didn’t want to work out what was about to happen.

He looks too happy. Peggy pointed out ominously.

I’ve not seen him smile like that since before we were arrested. Cas agreed as we climbed onto the stage, eyeing him with suspicion.

“Due to your recent acts of outstanding bravery and service to society during times of war, you have all been promoted to the rank of Graduate Tutor and will begin teaching tomorrow. That means that your flying ban has been lifted and your tracking devices will be removed after this assembly. You will begin to work professionally as a crew again but primarily, you will be teaching the new recruits which will be monitored by other tutors on the base and myself, as per Council request. Obviously that means Aries, you have been promoted to Captain. Congratulations.” He beamed down at us, holding out a small navy box to me.

I opened it, my fingers numb yet tingling, and stared at the medal inside. The same one our tutors wore. I remember thinking this couldn’t be happening, I’m still a dumb kid. I was only sixteen. I wasn’t ready for this.

“Have the Council approved this?” I asked hoarsely, tearing my eyes away from the box.

His face tightened slightly but his smile didn’t drop.

“Luckily, they have limited control over what I do on this base however they have approved this. They asked that I do not throw the usual award ceremony, which you deserve, as they think it may be seen as further celebrating your insubordination.”

“I don’t understand.” Peggy breathed, staring down at the medal with confusion and awe.

“Your new uniforms will be waiting in your new quarters and I’ve asked a servBot to wait for you in the hatch to take you there via the medBay before dinner. All of your things were taken to your new rooms whilst you were having lunch. I’m so proud of you all. You have done yourself, this base and this planet proud.” He paused, gathering himself as tears sparkled in his eyes. “Now put your medals on. You’ll be seated on the stage during the assembly so please sit down. I’m about to open the doors.”

He found a loophole. That’s why he’s done this, it’s so we’re free. Cory thought, admiration evident in his voice.

We can fly again. Gem pinned her medal on her chest with trembling hands, her eyes shining with tears.

I breathed out a shaking breath as excitement started to build. We could fly again, we could be free. But I couldn’t let myself get too excited. I played back what Andy had said in my head, trying to work out why the Council would have let this happen. Even then I knew they wouldn’t have let us go that easily. And even if they did, it was so rare to be promoted without passing the final exams. We weren’t even really at war!

Then I realised the bit that Andy had glossed over.

Ummm I’m sorry, did everyone miss the bit where he said we’ll be teaching? I asked, my hands shaking as anxiety and happiness warred within me. I am not cut out to be a tutor, I don’t have the patience!

“Stop chatting and put your medals on.” Andy smiled indulgently.

I’m sure he can hack into our thought stream. Cas pinned his medal on, his eyes narrowing slightly at Andy but still smiling widely.

He can’t, you’re just not subtle at all when you think at us. Gem shot back, smirking.

I finally managed to pin my medal on, my trembling hands made it harder than it needed to be. Andy might have found a loophole to allow us to fly and live unmonitored but he also made us Tutors and me a Captain. The youngest Captain since the last war. That was a huge deal. I wasn’t good enough to deserve that. We weren’t ready for it.

Andy turned around to check that we were all seated and adjusted Cory’s medal which he’d been struggling with, before gesturing for the doors to open.

“Welcome new recruits! Please be seated and we will begin the assembly!” Andy called into the microphone, smiling happily.

They entered, some timidly looking up at the stage, some glaring and some smiling including that kid from earlier who waved enthusiastically at us. I returned it with a slight raise of my hand but my eyes were flicking around the room in anxiety. Sitting in front of all these people who were clearly judging us felt too similar to our trial in front of the Councillors. I found myself peering through the doors to check for signs of Guardians before I caught myself. Andy wouldn’t let that happen to us. He’d protect us. Right?

There was a subdued hum of chatter whilst they took their seats and even from where we were sitting I could tell that they were talking about us, their eyes fixed on the obvious medals on our uniform. I knew I could have listened to what they were saying because of my mods but I resisted it, knowing it wouldn’t be anything good. Even so, bits of their conversations reached me. It wasn’t as bad as I thought but it still wasn’t good. Part of me wanted to say something or glare at them but it wasn’t worth it. It wasn’t their fault anyway, they were just repeating the Council bulletins.

“Settle down, please. As I said before, welcome to your new home! You are now under the care of the Space Corps and more specifically Base 225, Nova. I am Director Andrew Gaddon and sitting behind me are your new Tutors who will be assisting in your education for all matters to do with flying, fighting and everything else you need to know that isn’t taught at school!”

Andy paused as the group before him began murmuring, gesturing with his hands for them to settle down.

“If you can hold your comments until the end then I’m sure I will have covered them. I understand that some of you may not feel comfortable working with these five however please understand that I trust them explicitly and the Council has approved this decision. If you still do not wish to be taught by them, you are free to leave the hall now and wait outside my office where I will transfer you to the base of your choice.”

There was more muttering at this announcement. The children looked shocked that they had a choice as to what they could do. A handful of them stood up and walked out. Mostly recruits, not drafts, obviously. Drafts weren’t used to making a fuss or having options.

Eight. Peggy counted sadly.

“Okay, great! Now that is out of the way, we can continue. You will have already received your daily schedule on your wrist monitors including your free time and schooling which you will be expected to do in addition to your Corps education. I’m aware that a lot of you have been drafted and therefore your schooling might be a little bit behind your expected levels for your age but, as you saw from your schedules, you’ll be in testing for the next couple of days and we will place you in the appropriate classes and with the right tutors. For a lot of you, life on this base will be very different from what you are used to; you have a lot more freedom. You have days off, you get paid for being here, you’ll be able to choose a name for yourself, you get to explore the world and universe and, later, you’ll be able to choose your speciality whether that’s piloting, weaponry or a number of other options. Once you graduate, you'll also be able to choose whether you would like to continue in the service of the Space Corps or if you would like to be discharged. But you’ll learn more about all of that during the next few days and if you have any questions,” Andy paused, smiling back at us, “feel free to address them to your new tutors.”

I let his voice wash over me, staring down at the kids in front of us. They looked young. I swear we didn’t look that young when we first came here. And they were looking at us. Their eyes were bouncing back and forth between Andy and us. We were expected to teach them, to train them to be full members of the Space Corps and serve the Council. How could we serve the Council when we no longer trusted them? Even worse, how could we teach others, poor kids who didn’t know any better, to serve the Council?

Anyone else feeling a little overwhelmed? My voice was high pitched, panicked.

Yes absolutely. We’re tutors now? That’s terrifying. I should not be trusted to be a tutor. Gem answered immediately.

I wonder what we’ll be teaching? Like, will we be teaching our expertise or will we just kind of be taking it in turns to cover everything? Peg added, unconsciously fiddling with her wrist monitor as if she wanted to start looking through it straight away for answers. I could probably cover most subjects but my piloting is a little rusty.

I gulped anxiously. Peggy might have been able to cover everything but I barely remembered half of the stuff we’d learnt in first year, probably even less. We only really learnt things that were relevant or necessary but if I had to teach the history of the Council I’d probably punch something. I trusted Andy completely, he wouldn’t make us do that.

Probably our expertise, right? That would make sense. Cas thought but he sounded unsure.

I think so. Do you think we’ll still get to go to classes?

Yeah definitely! I answered quickly.

There was still so much I hadn’t learnt and I needed to learn to prevent anything like before from happening again. My hands balled into fists unconsciously, my nails digging into my palms. It couldn't happen again, I wouldn't let it. If I was smarter or quicker I wouldn’t have almost lost Gem or any of the others or let Cory get injured. I could have saved more people. No one needed to die. That was our fault. We could have been quicker or smarter. We could have saved them. A tremor started in my hands and I could feel my breath speeding up. Fear raced through me at the thought of having a panic attack in front of all these kids who were supposed to trust us. How could they trust someone so clearly out of control?

Cas bumped his leg against mine gently, gesturing subtly to Andy with his head and breaking me out of my thoughts. I took a deep breath, trying to stop my head from racing and forced myself to concentrate on what Andy was saying.

“Once I dismiss you, you will be taken to your assigned dormitories grouped by age and gender by one of the servBots. If you want to be assigned to a different dorm or identify as a different gender just click on the help button under your dorm assignment on your wrist and we can get that sorted out. You don’t need to do it now, you can do it at any point going forwards. If you check the schedules on your wrists you’ll see which coloured Bot to go to. Please do not hesitate to come and find my office later if you have any questions, it is marked on your maps. You are dismissed!” Andy opened the doors with a flick of his hand and stepped away from the podium towards us.

I stood on shaky legs to meet him, the rest of my crew doing the same. Gem hovered close to me, watching carefully, ready to throw an arm around me to help me stand if needed.

“Follow the Bot to your new rooms, you’ll be involved in the testing tomorrow. I want you to look out for anyone whom you think will excel or can be flagged for a speciality early, just like you all were. Have a good evening!”

He walked us over to the hatch that was hidden by the edge of the stage, opening it with just a glance.

We ducked into it, thanking him as we passed and followed the waiting servBot to our new rooms. It stopped outside the hatch to a corridor near Andy’s office before beeping gently.

I guess this must be us? I thought as I ducked into the corridor of tutor rooms, already feeling out of place.

“This one is yours, Arie!” Gem called excitedly, bounding away from us, looking for her room.

The door had a little gold nameplate on it with ‘Captain Aries’ in black writing. I touched the door lightly, expecting it to not recognise me or let me in but it opened with a gentle whir.

Holy crap. Does everyone have a huge room? I asked staring around in wonder, not wanting to step into the room just yet.

Mine’s got its own bathroom! Gem practically shouted at us. I can shower for as long as I want without any of you shouting at me!

I’ve got a desk! And bookshelves! I won’t have to go to the library anytime I want to work! Peggy squealed excitedly.

This is definitely a step up from the dorm we used to live in that’s for sure. Cas added.

Have you seen the info pack yet? I didn’t realise we’d have to do this much. Cory thought, sounding worried.

Wait, wait, wait! Do you all have a mini-fridge as well? Cas sounded genuinely excited by this. I’m going to the stores to stock up, who’s coming with me?

Done! I heard Gem’s pounding footsteps as she sprinted towards the storerooms with Cas following behind, laughing.

Meet me in my room after? Bring snacks! We can go through the packs. I thought to them, finally gathering the courage to walk further into my room.

Sorted! I’ll grab some squares? Peggy answered.

Give me 5 minutes? I need to change out of this horrible suit. Cory added.

The room was huge and so different to the dorm I’d been staying in with Peg and Gem (and also the boys but they weren’t always there). The dorm had a bunch of beds with a small table and wardrobe next to each one and screens lining the wall but this room felt almost empty in comparison. It just had a bed in the centre, a wardrobe, a desk with a mini-fridge under and another door which (when I blinked hard to activate my mods) I could see a bathroom behind. I gestured with my hand and the wardrobe door lifted revealing a crisp new dress uniform.

I grinned. My flight bag was on the bed. I hadn’t seen it since we landed after the rescue mission. I unzipped it and flipped it open. My suit was inside. I pulled it into my arms and hugged it to me. I’d thought I would never get it back even though we’d bought the suits with our own money so it wasn’t even the base’s property. It still smelt like that strange burnt meat smell of space. Tears threatened my eyes as I rooted through the bag. A flight-safe bottle of pop, a bag of crisps, one of my old screens that had stopped working years ago but I hadn’t gotten around to taking out of the bag yet, a change of clothes and a menu for the noodle place out by Solaris we’d been to last year. I chuckled as I picked up the menu. I’d shoved it into my bag to remind us to go back there but we hadn’t yet. The food had been so good and it had been such a lovely flight. I hope we get to go back some day but I know it’s unlikely.

There was another bag of my stuff from our dorm on the bed, mostly just screens that we’d somehow accumulated over the years, a few spare sets of silvers and suits. I stepped back from the bed and stared at it. Everything I owned was in those two bags. There wasn’t much but it was all I had apart from my crew. I thought things could be different. I had my own room and so much more space, I could fill it with stuff if I wanted. We could stick stuff up on the walls even, if we wanted.

It was so different. It was quiet there, too quiet really. I was so used to being surrounded by my crew. It had only been like two weeks that we’d been back together after the prison but I’d gotten used to their constant stream of sounds but now? Here was as quiet as the jail. I felt alone, isolated, even though I knew they were just down the hall. My heart started to beat harder as I stepped back towards my door, feeling trapped. I stumbled towards it, reaching out with shaking hands and tapping it.

My breath caught in my chest as it didn’t open. I was trapped. I smacked the door with open hands desperately, I couldn’t be stuck, the Council had no control here. The door lifted quickly and a strangled laugh that was almost a sob burst out of my throat.

It just wasn’t used to me yet.

I stepped out into the corridor to check, half expecting Guardians to drag me back into my room and lock the door but there was nothing but a gentle breeze from the vents above us. I walked back into my room feeling foolish. The Council had no control there, I reminded myself. Now I feel like an idiot, I should have known they wouldn't care about the rules.