Fiction: Space Cadets: Series One Ch 1, Sci-Fi

Prologue

Dust blew over the rubble.

The wind howled loudly over the silenced battlefield, caking the dead in dust. A lone figure wandered across the mass graveyard, searching for signs of life. He covered his eyes from the stinging wind with a bleeding hand, and bent down over one body, removing its blue black helmet.

Long dark hair fell from beneath the helmet, and a beautiful face, frozen in an expression of pain and horror, looked lifelessly back up at the figure. The man sighed, and whispered, "Your child and nephew are safe, Acciana. Rest well."

He quietly replaced the helmet, and turned the body face down in the tradition of his people. He began to rise from the body of Acciana, tears flowing from his blue eyes, when he felt a searing pain in the back of his head.

He slumped to the floor, clutching where he had been impacted. He brought his fingers around to his lips, and tasted blood. Then he heard a sickening laugh from behind.

"This is where it ends, young friend," rasped the voice, its amusement poorly hidden. "You fought bravely, but, as is so often the case, bravery and stupidity are often..." he held about both hands then clasped them together, "One."

The man rolled over onto his back, searching for the source of his voice. At first, a blur stood over him. As his vision focused, his eyes came alive with fear. "You."

"Very observant, Captain." he spat.

The Captain's voice trembled as he replied, "Why this place? Why all these innocent people, those with..." he looked sorrowfully at Acciana's body, "Children?"

"To make a point, my dear friend. I told them I would burn this place to the ground, and they laughed at me." Seeing the disgust in the Captain's eyes, he added, "Besides, it is only fair that all shall know who will..." he pulled a Blaster from his belt, and pointed it at the Captain, "Kill them."

"Our children will avenge us."

The killer smiled a crooked smile, devoid of any warmth, and muttered, "Not soon enough."

He pulled the trigger, and a stream of green energy was released, driving into the Captain's chest and throwing him backward, before it exploded, shredding the Captain's chest apart.

The man grimaced at the smoking body, and chuckled, "You might want someone to have a look at that."

***

Chapter One - Ticket to Ride

The never ceasing war between the Imperial Institution and The Revolutionary Darkness, controlled by someone known only as Laird Zaneth, created many orphans of brave soldiers. To protect these orphans, it was decided to send them to a remote planet, where the population was oblivious to the conflict that could destroy them at any moment.

Talar was surprised at the untraceable amount of orphans appearing, to say the least.

And this, ultimately, as many ideas from the Imperial Council, was a really crap idea. Who else could decide to bubble wrap the descendents of their finest space officers, leaving their talents untapped? The same people who described Laird Zaneth as "slightly crazy, mostly harmless", of course.

Fortunately, one man had a bright idea.

***

"Captain, we're approaching Talar," croaked a giant, purple frog like creature from behind a navigational console.

"Lieutenant, tell me what we've been able to see in the view screen for the last half an hour?" replied the Captain in an exaspaerated manner.

"A planet, Captain."

"Exactly. So, can you tell me why the bloody hell you gave me such a useless piece of information?"

"Because that's a screen saver, Captain."

The Captain flushed as the bridge crew snorted with laughter. With a resigned facial expression, he mumbled, "Take us into orbit."

***

"Lieutenant Biff, what's our status? Over."

"Two hostiles at seven o'clock."

...

"You didn't say 'over'."

"Sorry Acey."

"Sorry Acey what?"

"Sorry Acey, over."

"That's better."

"You forgot to say 'over', Acey, over."

Acey gave the walkie talkie in her hand a cold stare. Then she stood quietly, and climbed gently upon the mouldy bed she had crouched behind. She leaned over, and peered over the other side. She was greeted by the brown head of a fourteen year old boy, crouched over a walkie talkie, waiting for a transmission. She leaned over carefully, and brought the walkie talkie down on his skull.

"Over."

The boy groaned and slumped to the floor, clutching his head where Acey had struck. "Youâ€™re a mean bitch sometimes, Acey."

Acey was about to respond, but Biff grabbed her by the collar on her white shirt, and pulled her down on top of him. She struggled to get away, giggling furiously, but Biff held her in his grasp.

"You know, cadet, this is a court-martial offence," she joked.

Biff let go, clutching his sides as he laughed, with tears streaming down his face. Acey joined in, and for minutes all that could be heard was giddy laughter. Biff finally sat up, and pulled Acey towards him. He put his arm around her and said, "Youâ€™re my favourite cousin, you know."

Acey poked him in the rib, "Youâ€™re my only cousin, brains," she mocked, then her voice turned sombre. "Youâ€™re the only thing I have."

Biff sighed and asked a question he'd asked a hundred times since he'd found out, "Do you have to go?"

"You know I do. Its the only chance we have of a decent future."

"But your so far away, and you could get hurt."

"There's a lot of money in the mining, that's why its dangerous."

After a long silence, Biff said, "We're too young to make these choices."

"I know."

***

Biff was awoken by a draft. He rubbed his eyes and muttered, "Learn to close a sodding window Acey."

He shook his head and muttered something about "women" as he approached the window. The brown curtain, full of holes from an age hanging there, fluttered in the breeze. Biff studied them as he closed the window, and asked quietly, "Have they ever been washed?"

"Probably not," came a stern voice from behind.

Biff span round, his heart pounding with fear. He saw a tall man, perched on Acey's bed, nursing a red, gun shaped device in his gloved hands, with long dark hair and grey eyes, face smeared in white makeup, wearing a long black cloak that went all the way to his shining black boots. On the chest was a small insignia, a yellow falcon bearing the word 'Imperial.' Biff's eyes focused on it for a moment.

"Crap, isn't it?" said the cloaked stranger in an oily voice, "I suggested a phoenix, swirling around, but apparently it wasn't professional." He spat the last word as though he was still wrangled by the rejection.

But Biff has stopped listening. In a crumpled heap on the floor was Acey, a burn mark her chest. Then it dawned on him; this screw had shot her.

He started towards his fallen cousin, but the tall man stood and blocked his path with a firm hand. "Don't worry, she's merely stunned," he said, then, seeing Biff wasn't convinced, added, "Look, who's got the Blaster? Sit down and let me explain."

Biff slumped onto his own bed, keeping a watchful eye on the strange intruder. The man returned to his seat, still cradling his Blaster.

"I don't suppose you know anything about your parents?"

Biff shook his head, "We were just found on the doorstep. Why?"

"I'm here to tell you about your family, and, unless you display stupidity beyond comprehension, give you both..." he indicated at Acey with a flick of his head, "A better life."

"Forget it, Acey's already been roped into a dangerous mining job. I'm not doing the same."

The man gave Biff a sharp look, which sent a chill through his spine. "Don't be so quick to judge, my boy. Now, let me explain."

Biff nodded; hell, I'm not gunna to argue with this headcase, he thought. "Um... what can I call you?"

"I don't use my name anymore, I-"

"Well, what were you called then?"

"Alan. Now, can we please continue?"

Biff nodded.

"When you were a month old, Acey about a year old, you were dropped outside here, along with hundreds of other kids at different orphanages. No one knew where you came from. And that is because, you weren't born on this world."

Biff choked at the last word, shaking his head in disbelief.

"Believe it, boy. When your auntie was murdered in battle by the evil Laird Zenith..."

"The what?"

"Laird, Scottish for Lord."

"Scottish?"

"You'll find out later," said Alan, his patience clearly ebbing away, "So, when your auntie was killed, she being your last surviving relative, you and Acey were officially orphans. We brought you here."

"Why here?"

"Politics, of course," Alan grimaced as he said 'politics'.

"Oh," said Biff, non-plussed. He thought for a moment, then said, "Prove you are who you are."

Alan immediately flipped a communicator out of his pocket and spoke into it quickly. "Collector to the XXX-wing, can I have proof of your existence?"

After a lengthy silence, Biff quietly mumbled, "You didn't say over."

"Oh, of course. Over!"

A few more moments silence, then, as Biff began to speak, they heard a small buzzing sound. Then a piercing light shone through the window, escaping through holes in the curtains to meet their eyes.

Alan raced to the window, he face furious. He shouted down into the communicator, "Not THAT close, you'll have the whole population in uproar!"

The light vanished, and buzzing sound faded. Alan turned to see the shocked expression on Biff's face, and said, "Sorry. In this business, you often deal with incompetence."

"If you wish, you and her are to become space cadets, train to be the best officers in the galaxy, and have an exciting and well paying line of work. Its up to you."

Biff thought for a moment, then said, "Kay".

"Good, your cousin already agreed," he said, raising his Blaster and aiming at Biff's chest, "Hold still please."

"Is it necessary to stun me?"

"No," Alan replied, then pulled the trigger. A soft yellow light struck Biff, and he slumped to his knees.

Alan held the communicator to his mouth, and said, "Three to beam up."

As he was dematerialised inside a red light, he added, "Such a cliche."

***

A few hours later, Acey and Biff stood in full cadet uniform, a blue leather suit with black gloves, and an insignia on the chest. They waited before the captain, a short, bumbling man with brown eyes and hair, his face etched with tiredness. Alan stood silently in the corner.

"You sure these are the last, Alan?"

"Positive."

The Captain coughed gently.

"Positive, captain," Alan spat.

"Thank heavens for that. This the crappiest mission I've ever been on. "Study seventy orphans for possible cadet training" my ass. Its the council's fault theyâ€™re here in the first place, so why doesn't one of their big wigs come down here and sort it out themselves?"

Alan shrugged, and said, "Perhaps, captain, you should just type the data in."

"Ok, fine," he typed quickly on his keyboard, "Cadet Biff, fourteen, green eyes, brown hair, six foot tall. You can type the rest of your profile in later from your room. Cadet Acey, fifteen, blue green eyes, brown hair, five foot.. uh.. lets say five foot six. Welcome to the team. I'm Captain Dan, I'll be flying you to Imperial Headquaters, where you will probably be stuck on a laundry ship headed for the Academy. Dismissed."

Acey and Biff were taken back by the brevity of the signing on, and shuffled towards the door in a daze. Biff went through the silvery sliding door first. As Acey stepped through, the Captain said, "You have your mother's eyes."

Acey pretended not to hear.

***

You guys rock, inspiration for my chapter names. Cheers.

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