Interstellar Academy by Kennedy Harkins (read books for money .TXT) 📕

It was him. And probably her. Along with their two whelps. I steeled myself, schooling my expression into emptiness.

I pulled out the holo and turned on the projection. My father’s face, aged with too many laugh lines and not enough Notatai, appeared, followed by my stepmother. She was cheerful and distastefully human, just like her round son, my step brother who wore a perpetual smile and was a few years younger than me.

Thankfully, Felix didn’t join them on the screen. I didn’t know if I could stare at his happy face without betraying my hatred. My half sister--I would never call her this out loud, of course-- didn’t appear in the projection either. She was far too energetic and talked a million miles an hour. It was always a relief not to see her. Crina insisted on telling me how old she was, to the day, every time I talked to her. It was a constant reminder of how long it had been since my father had left.

My father spoke first. “Drusus! You look so grown up.”

It was the same sentiment that had appeared in my aunt’s words, but I bristled this time. “I suppose that’s what will happen in five years.”

He winced, but went on as if he hadn’t heard that. “And it’s only been a few months since we talked. Linda and I just wanted to check in and see how your first day at the Academy.”

My stepmother hopped into the conversation at that point. “Did you make any friends, Dru?”

I ground my teeth. “No.”

“Oh.” Linda blanched for a moment. “Not to worry, honey. I’m sure they’ll warm right up to you. And if not, well, don’t worry about it. Next year you’ll have Felix to keep you company.”

I had been nodding along absently to her well-wishing which was the best I could do under the circumstances. But that part about Felix stopped me cold.

“What was that?”

My father said, “We’re sending Felix to the Academy next year. Surely we told you.... No?” His picture shifted uncomfortably. “Well, it’s not good to keep the boy locked up here on this tiny Earth Colony. He needs to explore, spread his wings.”

Realising what he had said, his face colored. “Metaphorically, of course.”

“Felix...is coming...here,” I said stupidly.

Linda’s head bobbed enthusiastically. “Isn’t that great? You two have never gotten to spend much time together, what with you living so far away from us. This way you can really feel like brothers.”

“Great.”

My father seemed to catch on that I thought it was less than great. “Well, we don’t want to keep you.”

“Oh, but, honey, I haven’t heard about his first day yet! I’m sure Felix will--”

“I’m sure Drusus has homework and would rather spend time with his friends,” my father said softly.

After saying goodbye but before my stepmother could remind him that I didn’t have any friends, he disconnected the call. I sat there in the dark silence for a moment, hardly believing my own ears. That oaf would be invading my sanctuary before I knew it, and I’d only just gotten here.

I put my head in my hands, groaning at my misfortune. Was there no place in the galaxy I could go and be alone? Just me and my music. That was all I wanted.

September 4:

“A few more minutes of sleep,” I grumbled. “That’s all I want.”

Kavi and I walked a few paces in front of the chuckles heads, but didn’t lose them in the crowd on other freshman heading to their first class. Much to my chagrin, Kavi was turning out to be a huge stickler for the rules of the ship and of common decency.

Which was just no fun at all.

“But you don’t want to be late to Life Studies--”

I rolled my eyes. “It’s like you haven’t been listening. So I’ll say it slowly.... All. I. Want. Is. Sleep.”

He patted me on the shoulder, looking so cheery I thought I’d have to stab him. “You’ll thank me for this once your body adjusts.”

In one ear and out the other.

Once inside the holo lab, I pushed a couple of dilly-dalliers out of the way of my seat. The cool metal felt nice against my skin, so I layed my head down, hoping to catch a few more minutes before the class started.

Professor Adal, with his Animarian green skin, walked right past my desk on his way into the classroom. He slapped it with a loud thud, causing me to almost leap out of my seat. “There will be no napping in my class, Miss Alkaev.”

He was wearing a strange pair of pink pant that were as undoubtedly human as they were female. Again, he said his fury, Tundrian hat placed loftily on top of his head. He sat on the desk like it was a cushion on the floor: legs crossed under him.

“Well, who wants to hand in their homework first? No volunteers? Hmmm.” He tapped his finger against his chin. “Miss Alkaev, you must have been so tired from staying up all night to do the assignment properly. Perhaps, you would like to turn in your masterpiece first?”

“My masterpiece is yet unfinished I’m afraid,” I said from the back of the class.

“Unfinished.” He seemed to test the word in his mouth.

The classes’ eyes flickered from Professor Abal to me and back again. I was glad I could facilitated this important moment in every teacher/student relationship: figuring out how far you could push them before they pushed back.

“Very well. The rest of you will put your work on my desk.” They all went running to do as he bid. “And, Miss Alkaev?” The students froze, waiting for the axe to come down on my head. “See me after class.”

My bravada drained like bathwater. Nobody ever got called to stay after class for a well done or a gold star on their homework--especially since I didn’t do mine. But surely they wouldn’t kick me out for that? It was only the second day, after all. There had to be some kind of adjusting period.

I spent the next hour picking at my nails--something I never did because it was like chipping away art-- and tapping my foot. I tried to console myself with thoughts of what I’d say to him. I was actually considering the truth: that I’d stayed up late, but it was too much work for one night. I couldn’t be expected to read half a book and fill out an entire packet as thick as my hand, could I?

I pictured Earhart’s smug face as she waved from the docks, watching me drive off with Igor. She didn’t even last the week! Then Professor Accia was there, towering over Earhart but laughing just as jollily. That’s where the smart money was. Now you owe me fifty credits.

The class filled out after being assigned another assignment. This one was easily ten times as large, but due when we had class next, which wasn’t for a few days. I wrote it down in my holo agenda, taking the time to draw little frowny faces next to it.

“You may approach, Miss Alkaev.”

I walked to the front of the room, feeling very much like a man on the way to the gallows. There was no uncomfortable seat like in Professor Earhart’s room, so I stood. Professor Adal stared down at me from his perch on the desk, his face giving nothing away.

“You are from Earth, are you not?”

“Uh--yeah. Yes.”

He nodded, shuffling around a pile of papers from a different class. “Good. We get so many applicants from the Colonies and none from the actual home planet. Your views on some of my curriculum could be very interesting and valuable for future Earth studies.”

“Sure,” I said, not really knowing if agreeing was what he wanted or not.

He didn’t smile, but his face soften a little when he said, “So it’d be a shame if you were forced to leave before I could learn anything.”

I blinked. One teacher in this place actually wanted me to stay.

He pulled out his holo and sent me another packet. “This, along with the new assignment, will be due on Friday. I trust you’ll have it done this time.”

I nodded, leaving the classroom before he could change his mind about punishing me, and rushed to my next class: battle. I ran all the way there, feeling a little inspired despite myself, but I was still late.

Luckily, Professor Adal had provided me with a friendly face and an excused slip to get me out of any demerits for being tardy to my next class. So, when Professor Accia stomped over to me, steam shooting from her nostrils, I waved the small piece of paper like a white flag of surrender, thinking, don’t shoot, don’t shoot!  

Her lips curled, obviously still peeved that I was here after almost crashing her ship. I didn’t point out that it had been her idea not to turn me in, believing it’d be more entertaining to watch me drown. I could be very sensible when I wanted something.

“Now that we’ve been graced by Miss Alkaev’s presence,” she said. “Let’s get on with it.”

She paced back to the front of the class and then started pairing students off. Professor Accia stopped in front of a pair of burly, Tundrian fraternal twins. “Borko, you go with the scrawny Animarian. Borna, with Gyatso.” She named off one of the Syreni boys.

Those two pairs separated from the group, giving themselves enough space for God knows what. Kavi looked back at me nervously while Borko, his partner, cracked his knuckles and put on the dull grin of someone who had taken one too many blows to the skull. Next to them, Borna and Gyatso squared off, hanging out in a loose, vaguely threaten manner.

This did not bode well for me.

I watched people walk off in twos after their names had been called. My head snapped to watch each one, and, by the time it was over, I was pretty sure I had whiplash. While I massaged my neck, I was deliberately not noticing who was left besides me.

Professor Accia stood in front of us, smiling so widely it hurt to look. “Well, Greenie? Waiting for a royal invitation?”

“How else will I know if it’s black tie optional?”

She flexed her wings, and I couldn’t help but gulp when the muscle rippled through the movement. She pushed me towards my opponent. “What you have on works just fine for a spot of ass kicking.”

Professor Accia made her way back to the front of the class. “Now, how many of you are familiar with the concept of sparring?” A lot of hands went up. Mine wasn’t one of them. “That’s good. Because this class will serve as a workshop