Freedom, Humanity, and Other Delusions (Death's Handmaiden Book 3) by Niall Teasdale (best summer reads txt) 📕

‘Let me introduce Captain Takuma Ishikawa Sonkei,’ she said, indicating the man standing to her right. ‘He’s an instructor in police procedure and law.’

Takuma was a tall, slim man with the suggestion of muscle hiding under his ASF uniform. He was an Ishikawa, so his Japanese ancestry was probably fairly pure. He had a rather intense, shrewd look about him. ‘It’s a pleasure to meet you all,’ he said.

‘Captain, this is Joslyn Harris Daison, the school’s vice principal, Nava Greyling Sonkei, captain of the SSF, Mitsuko Trenton Sonkei, student president, and Courtney Martell Garavain, who led the SSF until Nava took over recently.’

‘Welcome to SAS-squared, Captain Takuma Ishikawa,’ Joslyn said. ‘Or, welcome back, I think.’

Takuma smiled slightly. ‘Yes, I graduated from here seven years ago. Is the principal still…’

‘Whatever phrase you’re looking for, I’m sure he is.’ Joslyn’s smile was a little tight, but she was smiling.

‘Thank you for doing this, Captain Takuma Ishikawa,’ Nava said, before that conversation could go further.

‘The ASF thanks you,Captain Nava Greyling, for this opportunity,’ Takuma said. ‘If this experiment is successful, we’ll possibly see more better-quality recruits entering our ranks.’

‘I guess we’ll see how it goes. Shall we get started?’

‘This is going to be basic police procedures, right?’ Courtney asked before Takuma could reply.

‘That’s correct, Courtney Martell,’ Takuma said. ‘It’s the kind of thing you’d normally learn in the basic policing course and you may already know it all, but I will also be providing some of the legal framework behind the procedures to explain them.’

‘Sounds great. Like Nava said, let’s get going.’

Takuma gave a nod. ‘I’m looking forward to seeing how the students react. Let’s find out.’

236/5/22.

‘All in all,’ Mitsuko said, ‘I thought it went rather well. No one fell asleep. That’s a good sign.’

‘That’s a fairly low bar you’re setting, Suki,’ Darius pointed out.

‘Maybe, but we passed it.’

A lunchtime meeting of the student council was in session, mainly to discuss the previous night’s lecture. It was not theoretically council business, but it did affect the school’s relationship with the ASF, so it had been deemed appropriate that Nava give progress reports. Nava was happy with that since it got her impressions written up by Melissa, rather than her having to compile a report herself.

‘As Suki said,’ Nava said, ‘it seemed to go down well with most of the audience.’

‘Most?’ Darius asked.

‘I’m keeping an eye on one. I’d rather not give a name at this point. It may simply be a matter of that one being a little bored. Otherwise, I learned something. The feedback I’ve had from several other members is similar.’

‘I learned something,’ Mitsuko said. ‘I’m not sure I’ll go into policing after graduation, but it was interesting learning about it.’

‘You’re welcome to sit in on other lectures if you wish. No one had trouble with the content. Captain Takuma Ishikawa seems to have understood the level needed for his audience well. I’ll be sending him some feedback over the weekend to let him adjust things as he thinks he needs to, but I think we can go ahead with the two additional lectures planned for next week without delays. We’ll also be kicking off the forensic analysis course next week, beginning with an introductory lecture and planning to introduce lab work by week three.’

‘Uh, the school has indicated they can make lab space available as required,’ Melissa said, ‘but there will need to be a faculty member from the school present. It’s health and safety. No way around it.’

‘I don’t suppose they gave us a list of teachers willing to handle that?’ Nava asked.

‘No such luck. I think Hoshi might be a suitable candidate, though. If it’s once a week, for a good cause, and especially if it was temporary until we could get others involved, I bet we could persuade her to do it.’

‘We’ll see how things work out. I’ll contact Joslyn Harris tomorrow and ask who might be available. It’s Chess’s birthday soon.’

‘What’s that got to do with– Oh, he’ll be seventeen. Right. Yes. They might be busy in the evenings.’

Mitsuko giggled. ‘I’m sure she could spare a couple of hours a week.’

Nava looked at her girlfriend. ‘I remember you when we first hooked up. I am not discounting them vanishing into a room and not coming out until winter.’

‘I was not that bad! Not… quite… that bad. I think it’s time we moved on to another subject.’

Francis grinned. ‘I don’t know. I could stand to hear more.’

‘I’m president. I get to say when the subject gets changed.’ Pause. ‘I’ll pout, you know. Don’t think I won’t!’

236/5/25.

‘What’s up with you?’ Melissa asked, keeping her voice fairly low. She was walking beside Rochester after lunch. There would be a council meeting sometime soon, but she had a few minutes. ‘It’s your birthday. You’ve just turned seventeen. You look like someone drowned your puppy.’

‘There’s nothing–’ Rochester began. Then he gave up on the ridiculous denial and tried a different way. ‘It’s nothing you need to worry about.’

‘Chess, we’re friends. If you’re worried about something, you can talk to me.’

‘It’s… private.’

Melissa’s eyes widened. ‘You’re worried about being with Hoshi tonight.’ The strangling noise she got in reply was a definite indication that she had hit the nail squarely on the head. ‘I assume you’re going out. Or are you just staying–’

‘We’re going out. I-I am to have my first alcoholic b-beverage. Hoshi claims she’ll need one t-too. Then we’ll be returning to her apartment. I will be spending the n-night for the f-f-first t-time.’

‘Breathe. You’re getting incoherent.’ Melissa sighed and came to a stop, turning to face her ex-lover. Rochester stopped out of habit. ‘Look, Chess, you don’t have anything to worry about. Unless you go a bit far with the Dutch courage. Don’t get drunk before your first time with her. You never had any trouble satisfying me. Why should Hoshi be any different? I don’t get the feeling that she’s enormously experienced and we got up to a few fairly kinky things while we were together. You’ve got stamina