No Teacher's Pet
By KittyCaro
Disclaimer: Voltron (Lion Voltron and Vehicle Voltron) and its characters belong to World Event Productions. Original/new characters belong to the author.
Rating: PG-13 for adult themes and strong language.
Author’s notes: This is dedicated to Yoshi for her fic "Ladies Lunch" (2000) and Rune Lai for her fic “Left Behind” (1999)
Vehicle Voltron Information was borrowed from Shannon Muir’s Voltron Pages (1996) and the The Stellar Ship Explorer website (1999) and the Army, Navy and the United States Military Academy websites. Certain passages were inspired by the Novels Island Conquest by Brooke Hastings (1981) and An Icy Affair by Mona Gedney (2002) and the movie Wing Commander (1999). C&C are welcomed.
Thank you Cami and Ruben for beta reading and your insight.
Categories: E (Adventure/Episodic), Pre (Present)
Originally Published 12/13/2013
Rating: PG-13 for adult themes and strong language.
Author’s notes: This is dedicated to Yoshi for her fic "Ladies Lunch" (2000) and Rune Lai for her fic “Left Behind” (1999)
Vehicle Voltron Information was borrowed from Shannon Muir’s Voltron Pages (1996) and the The Stellar Ship Explorer website (1999) and the Army, Navy and the United States Military Academy websites. Certain passages were inspired by the Novels Island Conquest by Brooke Hastings (1981) and An Icy Affair by Mona Gedney (2002) and the movie Wing Commander (1999). C&C are welcomed.
Thank you Cami and Ruben for beta reading and your insight.
Categories: E (Adventure/Episodic), Pre (Present)
Originally Published 12/13/2013
Click on the following links to move along to that chapter.
The Explorer, December 26, 2305
I was working on my iPad while my teammates watched the movie ‘Die Hard’ starring Bruce Willis. It was a tradition of the Explorer to show a marathon of holiday movie classics to its crew, including the virtual chimney, a wide assortment of sugar cookies, dried fruits and nuts, cans of caramel and cheese popcorn, peppermint bark, peanut brittle, hot chocolate and gallons of eggnog to cover our sweet tooth for at least three weeks.
“I got five gift certificates from my folks!”
Jeff winked at Lisa. “Good for you, now you can give me the perfect Christmas gift.”
“What do you know about the perfect gift? You’re always giving us boxes of chocolate-covered cherries or cans of mixed nuts."
“Nuts are delicious.”
“And nutritious,” Chip added, grabbing a bunch of almonds.
“Besides, I’ve never heard you say ‘no’ when I pass around a box of chocolates,” he went on, placing the box in front me.
“Chocolate is chocolate,” I said, taking one.
Lisa squeezed Jeff’s arm. “Leave Ginger alone, she takes her holiday shopping very seriously.”
“That’s right,” I said, lifting my nose. “You know nothing about the ritual.”
The hatch opened and Cliff stepped into the rec room, looking dashing as always. He raked his fingers through his golden hair, scowled a moment at the television screen, and then muttered, “Die Hard again?”
Frowning, Rocky got up and said, “Some of us are trying to watch the movie, okay?”
“You have seen it before,” Krik said quietly.
“At least twenty times,” Tangor said.
“And the ending never changes,” Hutch said, fighting the urge to laugh.
“I don’t care,” he snapped. “I want to watch it.”
“Don’t worry, Rocky,” Marvin said. “You can stop the movie anytime you like. See this red button on the remote-”
He gritted his teeth, his fury and helplessness combining. “It ain’t the same!”
“Calm down, big guy,” Cliff said soothingly. “Sit down and have another chocolate-chip cookie.”
Rocky made a face. “No thanks, they taste awful.”
“Oh, I forgot Eddie baked these cookies.”
Sinda smiled. “I do not know where he got his diploma. He simply cannot cook.”
Marvin shrugged his shoulders. “Through the Internet?”
Wolo chuckled softly. “I would not be surprised.”
“At least the eggnog is good,” Modock said, going for a second cup.
“Of course it is,” Zandee said with a wry grin. “It came straight from Earth, courtesy of Mrs. Graham.”
Cliff plopped beside me. “I hope you’re looking for my ‘late’ Christmas gift.”
“Of course not!”
He leaned over and stared me in the eye. “You don’t have to pretend, Ginger,” he said in a hushed tone. “Everybody knows that you’re still crazy about me.”
“Hah! You wish!”
He touched my cheek with one long finger. “You’re lovely when you blush.”
I slapped his hand away. “You’re incorrigible!”
He raised his golden eyebrows. “You could reform me. I’m sure of it!”
“No thanks!”
He held back a sigh. “You don’t know what you’re missing.”
“But I do. That’s why there is no gift for you.”
Shannon was obviously enjoying our exchange. “Hey Cliff, don’t you ever get tired of teasing Ginger?”
He grinned. “No, that’s why I was coming down here, when Hawkins stopped me on the way. He wants everyone in the conference room. Stat.”
“Why?” Jeff said.
Cliff shrugged, moving around the couch to stare at the TV screen. “I don’t know. But he didn’t sound too thrilled about it.”
“We better get upstairs.” Krik started for the door.
“I’ll meet you there,” I said, “just let me leave this in my room.”
Cliff began to mouth something, then simply shrugged and left with the rest of the team.
I reached for my chocolate-covered cherry and bolted from the couch.
I was working on my iPad while my teammates watched the movie ‘Die Hard’ starring Bruce Willis. It was a tradition of the Explorer to show a marathon of holiday movie classics to its crew, including the virtual chimney, a wide assortment of sugar cookies, dried fruits and nuts, cans of caramel and cheese popcorn, peppermint bark, peanut brittle, hot chocolate and gallons of eggnog to cover our sweet tooth for at least three weeks.
“I got five gift certificates from my folks!”
Jeff winked at Lisa. “Good for you, now you can give me the perfect Christmas gift.”
“What do you know about the perfect gift? You’re always giving us boxes of chocolate-covered cherries or cans of mixed nuts."
“Nuts are delicious.”
“And nutritious,” Chip added, grabbing a bunch of almonds.
“Besides, I’ve never heard you say ‘no’ when I pass around a box of chocolates,” he went on, placing the box in front me.
“Chocolate is chocolate,” I said, taking one.
Lisa squeezed Jeff’s arm. “Leave Ginger alone, she takes her holiday shopping very seriously.”
“That’s right,” I said, lifting my nose. “You know nothing about the ritual.”
The hatch opened and Cliff stepped into the rec room, looking dashing as always. He raked his fingers through his golden hair, scowled a moment at the television screen, and then muttered, “Die Hard again?”
Frowning, Rocky got up and said, “Some of us are trying to watch the movie, okay?”
“You have seen it before,” Krik said quietly.
“At least twenty times,” Tangor said.
“And the ending never changes,” Hutch said, fighting the urge to laugh.
“I don’t care,” he snapped. “I want to watch it.”
“Don’t worry, Rocky,” Marvin said. “You can stop the movie anytime you like. See this red button on the remote-”
He gritted his teeth, his fury and helplessness combining. “It ain’t the same!”
“Calm down, big guy,” Cliff said soothingly. “Sit down and have another chocolate-chip cookie.”
Rocky made a face. “No thanks, they taste awful.”
“Oh, I forgot Eddie baked these cookies.”
Sinda smiled. “I do not know where he got his diploma. He simply cannot cook.”
Marvin shrugged his shoulders. “Through the Internet?”
Wolo chuckled softly. “I would not be surprised.”
“At least the eggnog is good,” Modock said, going for a second cup.
“Of course it is,” Zandee said with a wry grin. “It came straight from Earth, courtesy of Mrs. Graham.”
Cliff plopped beside me. “I hope you’re looking for my ‘late’ Christmas gift.”
“Of course not!”
He leaned over and stared me in the eye. “You don’t have to pretend, Ginger,” he said in a hushed tone. “Everybody knows that you’re still crazy about me.”
“Hah! You wish!”
He touched my cheek with one long finger. “You’re lovely when you blush.”
I slapped his hand away. “You’re incorrigible!”
He raised his golden eyebrows. “You could reform me. I’m sure of it!”
“No thanks!”
He held back a sigh. “You don’t know what you’re missing.”
“But I do. That’s why there is no gift for you.”
Shannon was obviously enjoying our exchange. “Hey Cliff, don’t you ever get tired of teasing Ginger?”
He grinned. “No, that’s why I was coming down here, when Hawkins stopped me on the way. He wants everyone in the conference room. Stat.”
“Why?” Jeff said.
Cliff shrugged, moving around the couch to stare at the TV screen. “I don’t know. But he didn’t sound too thrilled about it.”
“We better get upstairs.” Krik started for the door.
“I’ll meet you there,” I said, “just let me leave this in my room.”
Cliff began to mouth something, then simply shrugged and left with the rest of the team.
I reached for my chocolate-covered cherry and bolted from the couch.
The Explorer, December 26, 2305
I found my teammates seated at the table, studying the navigation screen. Glancing to the head of the table, I saw Commander Hawkins blowing on a steaming mug of coffee.
There was something rugged, something handsome and something pirate-like about the man that made me realize that he had seen a lot more of the universe than he would ever admit.
I found the commander’s gaze. “Sir?”
A strange look washed over his face, and I stiffened nervously to attention.
“Sorry to be late, sir.”
“Take a seat.” Hawkins gestured with his coffee toward the empty chair to his right.
Releasing a mental sigh over his decision to ignore my tardiness, I hurried to my seat.
“Team, Her Highness Princess Allura has invited us to celebrate New Year’s Day at Planet Arus-”
“Oh! I’m going to see Keith again.”
Hawkins straightened his wide shoulders and looked at me with ill-disguised impatience. “Yes, Ginger. You’ll see Keith again, along with the rest of your former classmates.”
I blushed furiously. “Of course, sir, I didn’t mean to-“
Lisa shook her head, driving me into silence.
Hawkins’s lips curled in a remote smile. “I’m sure everyone here needs a change of scenery, so we can think about the incoming year.” He averted his gaze a moment, as he seemed to consider something. “Yes, we have a lot to think about.”
“Ginger, we waited for you almost fifteen minutes,” Sinda said as we made our way back to the rec room after our meeting with Hawkins.
“I said I was sorry.”
“And the way you cut him off,” Lisa chided. “You were so inconsiderate.”
“What are you talking about? I was just happy to see Keith again after all these years.”
“I think every woman in the Explorer feels the same way,” Sinda observed thoughtfully. “But we all know that he only has eyes for Princess Allura. She’s a very lucky woman.”
Lisa sighed. “I think Keith is a lot like Commander Hawkins. They carry an aura of power that’s both fascinating and arousing. Any woman would be happy to claim their attention. Don’t you think so, Gin?”
“Not me! I always get in trouble when I claim his attention.”
Sinda looked at me with her eerie, dark-blue eyes. “The commander is quite attached to you.”
“Since the academy,” Lisa said. “That’s why Jeff and Lance started calling you the teacher’s pet.”
“God, how I hated that stupid nickname! I was no teacher’s pet. You’ve been telling me for years that Hawkins is interested in me and that’s not true. The poor man simply tolerates me. Besides…”
“What?” Sinda said.
I was at a loss for words. “Well… he… he is old.”
“A small smile touched Lisa’s mouth. “Not that old,” she said. “He is what… thirty-five?”
“Turns thirty-six on December 31st,” Sinda replied solicitously.
“Oh, I did not know that.”
I saw them grinning at each other with the look of conspirators. “That’s because he’s a very private man. He doesn’t like to make a fuss. Maybe you could buy him a nice birthday gift,” Lisa offered. “That way you can return to his good graces.”
“Hmmm… I could give him one my gift certificates. Maybe the one from Amazon-”
Lisa rolled her eyes. “Please… that’s so impersonal.”
“You still have a couple of days to think about it,” Sinda said. “Maybe you could find him something in Arus.”
“That’s a great idea, Sinda, thank you!”
Jeff strode into the rec room, bypassed Rocky and made a beeline for us. Lisa looked up and a flirtatious smile dashed across her face. “Jeff, you came back early,” she said. “Did you enjoy target practice with Cliff and Krik?”
He leaned against the table and cocked his head at her. “We didn’t go after all.”
“Why?”
He clamped his jaw tightly. “We were on our way to the gallery, when Hawkins called us to his office.”
“Something wrong?” Sinda said.
I noticed the peculiar look in Jeff’s face, and felt a prick of uneasiness. What’s wrong? Commander Hawkins couldn’t be sick, could he? Maybe he got in trouble with the high brass. As always, my imagination was working overtime.
“Jeff, don’t keep us in suspense.”
Casting a furtive glance at Lisa and Sinda, he sank down in a chair and closed his eyes, sighing.
“What’s the matter?” Lisa said, squeezing his shoulder.
He straightened, a vein pulsing in his temple, his expression thunderous.
“Commander Hawkins is leaving the Explorer, effective January 2nd 2306.”
I found my teammates seated at the table, studying the navigation screen. Glancing to the head of the table, I saw Commander Hawkins blowing on a steaming mug of coffee.
There was something rugged, something handsome and something pirate-like about the man that made me realize that he had seen a lot more of the universe than he would ever admit.
I found the commander’s gaze. “Sir?”
A strange look washed over his face, and I stiffened nervously to attention.
“Sorry to be late, sir.”
“Take a seat.” Hawkins gestured with his coffee toward the empty chair to his right.
Releasing a mental sigh over his decision to ignore my tardiness, I hurried to my seat.
“Team, Her Highness Princess Allura has invited us to celebrate New Year’s Day at Planet Arus-”
“Oh! I’m going to see Keith again.”
Hawkins straightened his wide shoulders and looked at me with ill-disguised impatience. “Yes, Ginger. You’ll see Keith again, along with the rest of your former classmates.”
I blushed furiously. “Of course, sir, I didn’t mean to-“
Lisa shook her head, driving me into silence.
Hawkins’s lips curled in a remote smile. “I’m sure everyone here needs a change of scenery, so we can think about the incoming year.” He averted his gaze a moment, as he seemed to consider something. “Yes, we have a lot to think about.”
“Ginger, we waited for you almost fifteen minutes,” Sinda said as we made our way back to the rec room after our meeting with Hawkins.
“I said I was sorry.”
“And the way you cut him off,” Lisa chided. “You were so inconsiderate.”
“What are you talking about? I was just happy to see Keith again after all these years.”
“I think every woman in the Explorer feels the same way,” Sinda observed thoughtfully. “But we all know that he only has eyes for Princess Allura. She’s a very lucky woman.”
Lisa sighed. “I think Keith is a lot like Commander Hawkins. They carry an aura of power that’s both fascinating and arousing. Any woman would be happy to claim their attention. Don’t you think so, Gin?”
“Not me! I always get in trouble when I claim his attention.”
Sinda looked at me with her eerie, dark-blue eyes. “The commander is quite attached to you.”
“Since the academy,” Lisa said. “That’s why Jeff and Lance started calling you the teacher’s pet.”
“God, how I hated that stupid nickname! I was no teacher’s pet. You’ve been telling me for years that Hawkins is interested in me and that’s not true. The poor man simply tolerates me. Besides…”
“What?” Sinda said.
I was at a loss for words. “Well… he… he is old.”
“A small smile touched Lisa’s mouth. “Not that old,” she said. “He is what… thirty-five?”
“Turns thirty-six on December 31st,” Sinda replied solicitously.
“Oh, I did not know that.”
I saw them grinning at each other with the look of conspirators. “That’s because he’s a very private man. He doesn’t like to make a fuss. Maybe you could buy him a nice birthday gift,” Lisa offered. “That way you can return to his good graces.”
“Hmmm… I could give him one my gift certificates. Maybe the one from Amazon-”
Lisa rolled her eyes. “Please… that’s so impersonal.”
“You still have a couple of days to think about it,” Sinda said. “Maybe you could find him something in Arus.”
“That’s a great idea, Sinda, thank you!”
Jeff strode into the rec room, bypassed Rocky and made a beeline for us. Lisa looked up and a flirtatious smile dashed across her face. “Jeff, you came back early,” she said. “Did you enjoy target practice with Cliff and Krik?”
He leaned against the table and cocked his head at her. “We didn’t go after all.”
“Why?”
He clamped his jaw tightly. “We were on our way to the gallery, when Hawkins called us to his office.”
“Something wrong?” Sinda said.
I noticed the peculiar look in Jeff’s face, and felt a prick of uneasiness. What’s wrong? Commander Hawkins couldn’t be sick, could he? Maybe he got in trouble with the high brass. As always, my imagination was working overtime.
“Jeff, don’t keep us in suspense.”
Casting a furtive glance at Lisa and Sinda, he sank down in a chair and closed his eyes, sighing.
“What’s the matter?” Lisa said, squeezing his shoulder.
He straightened, a vein pulsing in his temple, his expression thunderous.
“Commander Hawkins is leaving the Explorer, effective January 2nd 2306.”
The Explorer, December 26, 2305
I watched as Newley walked into the officer’s lounge on the mirror over the bar before I slugged down the rest of my shot.
“Commander,” he greeted me.
“Captain.” I looked at him as he climbed onto the stool next to me and ordered a scotch.
“The crew is looking forward to our shore leave on planet Arus. Mostly for the governess’ cooking, they’re still talking about her last banquet. Too bad we couldn’t convince her to leave her post at the castle. Keith and the boys surely are in paradise.”
Newley frowned at the empty glass in front of me. “Hawkins, how many of those have you had?”
“Three. I’m celebrating!”
“Alone?”
I motioned for the bartender to bring us another round. “In five days, the year will end, I’ll turn thirty-six, I’ll leave this post and I’ll be completely and unequivocally alone.” I dropped my elbows on the bar and leaned my chin on one hand. “Pathetic, isn’t it?”
He grunted.
“By the way, how did you find me?”
The bartender brought our drinks. Newley sipped his drink appreciatively, and then said, “Someone said you had a batch of ginger-snaps this afternoon and I decided to try the officer’s lounge.”
“News travels fast in the Explorer,” I muttered.
Anthony smiled, and folded his arms on the bar. “Before you go Hawkins, have you had time to consider, well, how should I put this… why did you accept Graham’s offer?”
I shrugged. “Time for a change I guess.”
“What about Ginger?
“What about her?”
“Let me see if I’ve got this straight. You fell for this cadet years ago, but she was off limits. In spite of all the grief you gave her at the academy she became a lieutenant and part of the Vehicle Voltron Force. When you finally have a chance with her, you decide to leave. Why?”
“I don’t want to interfere in her life anymore.”
He took another sip. “You don’t want the lieutenant?”
When I lifted the glass to my lips, the light sparkled off it like fire. Like the fire in Ginger’s blue eyes. Oh, I wanted her, all right. Every damned time I looked at her.
“I’ll deal with it. The farther I’m away from her, the better.”
Newley lifted an eyebrow. “The thing is… does she want you?”
“Heh… she wants me in another galaxy.”
Anthony threw back the rest of his drink and then gave me a weary smile. “Do me a favor. Talk to your lieutenant. Give yourself a chance for happiness. We all deserve one… even you.”
I watched as Newley walked into the officer’s lounge on the mirror over the bar before I slugged down the rest of my shot.
“Commander,” he greeted me.
“Captain.” I looked at him as he climbed onto the stool next to me and ordered a scotch.
“The crew is looking forward to our shore leave on planet Arus. Mostly for the governess’ cooking, they’re still talking about her last banquet. Too bad we couldn’t convince her to leave her post at the castle. Keith and the boys surely are in paradise.”
Newley frowned at the empty glass in front of me. “Hawkins, how many of those have you had?”
“Three. I’m celebrating!”
“Alone?”
I motioned for the bartender to bring us another round. “In five days, the year will end, I’ll turn thirty-six, I’ll leave this post and I’ll be completely and unequivocally alone.” I dropped my elbows on the bar and leaned my chin on one hand. “Pathetic, isn’t it?”
He grunted.
“By the way, how did you find me?”
The bartender brought our drinks. Newley sipped his drink appreciatively, and then said, “Someone said you had a batch of ginger-snaps this afternoon and I decided to try the officer’s lounge.”
“News travels fast in the Explorer,” I muttered.
Anthony smiled, and folded his arms on the bar. “Before you go Hawkins, have you had time to consider, well, how should I put this… why did you accept Graham’s offer?”
I shrugged. “Time for a change I guess.”
“What about Ginger?
“What about her?”
“Let me see if I’ve got this straight. You fell for this cadet years ago, but she was off limits. In spite of all the grief you gave her at the academy she became a lieutenant and part of the Vehicle Voltron Force. When you finally have a chance with her, you decide to leave. Why?”
“I don’t want to interfere in her life anymore.”
He took another sip. “You don’t want the lieutenant?”
When I lifted the glass to my lips, the light sparkled off it like fire. Like the fire in Ginger’s blue eyes. Oh, I wanted her, all right. Every damned time I looked at her.
“I’ll deal with it. The farther I’m away from her, the better.”
Newley lifted an eyebrow. “The thing is… does she want you?”
“Heh… she wants me in another galaxy.”
Anthony threw back the rest of his drink and then gave me a weary smile. “Do me a favor. Talk to your lieutenant. Give yourself a chance for happiness. We all deserve one… even you.”
The Explorer, December 26, 2305
I swung my stool around and watched Newley disappear through the crowd as quickly as he had appeared. He was a romantic fool. I could not claim Ginger as my lieutenant. I might lust after her in a weak moment, but that’s where I drew the line, clearly and unmistakably. And as for talking to her, well, I can’t do it.
I bid good night to the bartender and headed for the door.
Accepting Graham’s offer was my only way out. I have been a changed a man ever since the episode at the academy six years ago.
After our first encounter in the hangar, I spotted Ginger at the first row of the auditorium with Keith. He was leaning closer to the girl, apparently to hear her better, and their conversation appeared cordial. She looked pretty in her white Polo shirt and blue jeans, her strawberry blond hair barely touching her shoulders.
I didn’t usually go for the cadets. In fact, I never did. Ever. But this one was the exception. In any case, she was definitely worth a second look.
After my welcoming speech, I pushed through the crowd in front of the stage. The mass of cadets parted easily for an officer in full uniform, until I stood in front of the nervous girl. The intriguing scent of cherry blossoms and sweat mingled in my nostrils.
“May I help you, cadet?”
My muscles tightened as her lush mouth parted slightly, and the tip of her tongue peeked out, moistening her upper lip.
“My name is Virginia Paddington. I wanted to apologize for the incident in the hangar. Had I known you were a commander-“
“Are you saying that it’s okay to treat technicians as second-class citizens?” I asked plaintively.
Her eyes widened in alarm. “No! That’s not what I meant.”
I grinned inwardly at her discomfort. “That’s not what I meant, SIR.”
She lowered her lashes, blushing, and when she raised her blue eyes again, fire danced in them.
“I’m sorry, sir,” she whispered furiously.
I folded my arms over my chest and gazed down her body all the way to the tips of her white tennis shoes, and then slowly back up again.
“You’re in the space academy now, cadet, not high school. You better treat your crew with respect. Without them, you’re nothing. Understood?”
“Yes, sir. Thank you for the advice, sir.”
I smiled then. “You’re welcome, cadet. I have found my advice is generally helpful to lesser mortals.”
Stung, her eyes sparkled with anger. I forced myself to turn and walk away before she gave me a nasty reply she would later regret, and hurried up the stairs behind Newley and Steele.
I swung my stool around and watched Newley disappear through the crowd as quickly as he had appeared. He was a romantic fool. I could not claim Ginger as my lieutenant. I might lust after her in a weak moment, but that’s where I drew the line, clearly and unmistakably. And as for talking to her, well, I can’t do it.
I bid good night to the bartender and headed for the door.
Accepting Graham’s offer was my only way out. I have been a changed a man ever since the episode at the academy six years ago.
After our first encounter in the hangar, I spotted Ginger at the first row of the auditorium with Keith. He was leaning closer to the girl, apparently to hear her better, and their conversation appeared cordial. She looked pretty in her white Polo shirt and blue jeans, her strawberry blond hair barely touching her shoulders.
I didn’t usually go for the cadets. In fact, I never did. Ever. But this one was the exception. In any case, she was definitely worth a second look.
After my welcoming speech, I pushed through the crowd in front of the stage. The mass of cadets parted easily for an officer in full uniform, until I stood in front of the nervous girl. The intriguing scent of cherry blossoms and sweat mingled in my nostrils.
“May I help you, cadet?”
My muscles tightened as her lush mouth parted slightly, and the tip of her tongue peeked out, moistening her upper lip.
“My name is Virginia Paddington. I wanted to apologize for the incident in the hangar. Had I known you were a commander-“
“Are you saying that it’s okay to treat technicians as second-class citizens?” I asked plaintively.
Her eyes widened in alarm. “No! That’s not what I meant.”
I grinned inwardly at her discomfort. “That’s not what I meant, SIR.”
She lowered her lashes, blushing, and when she raised her blue eyes again, fire danced in them.
“I’m sorry, sir,” she whispered furiously.
I folded my arms over my chest and gazed down her body all the way to the tips of her white tennis shoes, and then slowly back up again.
“You’re in the space academy now, cadet, not high school. You better treat your crew with respect. Without them, you’re nothing. Understood?”
“Yes, sir. Thank you for the advice, sir.”
I smiled then. “You’re welcome, cadet. I have found my advice is generally helpful to lesser mortals.”
Stung, her eyes sparkled with anger. I forced myself to turn and walk away before she gave me a nasty reply she would later regret, and hurried up the stairs behind Newley and Steele.
The Explorer, December 27, 2305
Jeff made us promise not to mention Hawkins’s departure to anyone else. He had asked them to keep the information to themselves because he didn’t want to ruin our New Year’s celebration. However, Jeff was so devastated that he couldn’t keep it a secret.
“Commander Hawkins is leaving the Explorer, effective January 2nd 2306,” he had said in a shaking voice. Those awful words had knocked the wind off my lungs. Even now my throat aches as if I had just run for miles without stopping.
I know I should be happy for the commander; he will now be part of Marshall Graham’s Joint Chiefs of Staff. But I can’t, I don’t want Hawkins to leave. Life without him will not be the same.
Why am I behaving like this? Hawkins was my teacher, and has been my commander for the past two years. I cannot see him in a different light, can I?
I still remember the first time I saw him…
I had just arrived at the academy and was watching the holovid ‘Is the Los Angeles Space Academy your future?’ narrated by a cute dark-haired officer with chocolate brown eyes.
“You’re the only person who can answer that question,” he had said. “However, if you want a great education, a promising career and a chance to make a difference, LASA is the perfect option.”
The holo ended and I decided to look around the campus, and ended up at the hangar. I walked toward a row of fighter planes. I came to the first fighter, number fifteen. Her heavily patched armor and carbon scoring spoke of numerous battles. I pictured myself in the cockpit, diving onto a Drule fighter’s tail, locking target, and turning it into space dust.
I walked up to the cockpit ladder. I peered around the deck for a second and, since no one was watching, climbed into the pit.
Even though the instrument panels were dark, I could easily imagine the left visual display unit reporting battle damage, the right VDU showing options for the videoconference systems and the targeting screen, and the radar displaying a wave of red blips above me.
“Break and attack,” I told my imaginary wingman.
And then I heard a deep voice say, “Two Drules behind you- one above, one below.”
I almost jumped from my seat, and then looked down toward my inquisitor. He stood at least six feet tall, dressed in oil-stained orange coveralls. A blue Galaxy Garrison cap covered his black hair. He looked tired, with dark circles beneath his gray eyes.
He raised a thick brow and continued, ‘You’ve got five, maybe ten seconds.”
But it was his voice rather than his appearance that most commanded my attention. It began as a powerful rumble deep in his chest and finished in a controlled growl. It was the voice of a man who didn’t need to raise his voice to make his point.
“What do you do?”
“That’s easy. I go vertical and inverted, do a one-eighty at full throttle, apply the brakes, and drop in behind them.”
He shook his head. “Wrong. Not fast enough. Drules are too quick, especially in a climb.”
No one had ever spoken to me this way. What did he hope to prove? Why the bad attitude? Was he bitter over not being a LASA graduate?
“Alright, let’s try this one,” he said in a condescending tone that set my teeth on edge. “You’re locked on a Drule. It goes evasive, enters an asteroid belt.”
I gave him a ‘duh’ look. “I’m locked on. There’s no such thing as evasive-“
“Wrong again,” he said. “It’s an ambush. Half a dozen fighters are hiding behind rocks and pounce.”
Feeling my face burning, I balled my hands into fists. He began unzipping his coveralls.
“What’s the matter? Are you having second thoughts about becoming a space explorer? If you hurry, you can still catch the shuttle back home.”
I glared at him. “No. It’s just that I didn’t expect combat tips from a simple tech.”
His eyes turned steel-cold, his mouth neutral. “Young lady, if you want to play at being a space explorer, I suggest you try the virtual fun zone at Disneyland. Now, step down from the fighter.”
Fuming, I rose and set foot on the cockpit ladder. As I descended, I noticed the pilot’s name in bright yellow letters along the pit’s edge.
Commander Steven ‘Hawk’ Hawkins. And thirty-five Drule skulls representing kills in neat rows beside the name.
“What are you doing here in the deck?”
“Looking for the welcoming party.”
Shifting his dark gaze to the far end of the flight deck, the tech nodded to a smiling dark-haired space cadet coming our way. “You found him.” He then turned on his heels and strode off.
“Sorry for taking so long,” the boy said, offering me his hand. “I’m Keith Harrison, nice to have you on board.”
I couldn’t stop gawking at him. He was GORGEOUS!
“Nice to meet you, Keith. I’m Virginia Paddington. But you can call me Ginger.”
“Nice to meet you, Ginger,” he replied, shaking my hand. “I believe you’ve made your first enemy.”
“Why do you say that?”
“I saw you talking with him, and he didn’t look too happy.”
“Who’s that brute, anyway?”
Keith raised his eyebrows. ‘Don’t you know?’”
“Should I?”
“Of course! He’s quite a celebrity around here. He’s-”
When he was about to say his name, the speakers blared out, “Attention, new cadets! Report to the admissions office at once!“
“We must go,” Keith said.
“Okay, lead the way,” I replied happily, looping my arm around his elbow.
Jeff made us promise not to mention Hawkins’s departure to anyone else. He had asked them to keep the information to themselves because he didn’t want to ruin our New Year’s celebration. However, Jeff was so devastated that he couldn’t keep it a secret.
“Commander Hawkins is leaving the Explorer, effective January 2nd 2306,” he had said in a shaking voice. Those awful words had knocked the wind off my lungs. Even now my throat aches as if I had just run for miles without stopping.
I know I should be happy for the commander; he will now be part of Marshall Graham’s Joint Chiefs of Staff. But I can’t, I don’t want Hawkins to leave. Life without him will not be the same.
Why am I behaving like this? Hawkins was my teacher, and has been my commander for the past two years. I cannot see him in a different light, can I?
I still remember the first time I saw him…
I had just arrived at the academy and was watching the holovid ‘Is the Los Angeles Space Academy your future?’ narrated by a cute dark-haired officer with chocolate brown eyes.
“You’re the only person who can answer that question,” he had said. “However, if you want a great education, a promising career and a chance to make a difference, LASA is the perfect option.”
The holo ended and I decided to look around the campus, and ended up at the hangar. I walked toward a row of fighter planes. I came to the first fighter, number fifteen. Her heavily patched armor and carbon scoring spoke of numerous battles. I pictured myself in the cockpit, diving onto a Drule fighter’s tail, locking target, and turning it into space dust.
I walked up to the cockpit ladder. I peered around the deck for a second and, since no one was watching, climbed into the pit.
Even though the instrument panels were dark, I could easily imagine the left visual display unit reporting battle damage, the right VDU showing options for the videoconference systems and the targeting screen, and the radar displaying a wave of red blips above me.
“Break and attack,” I told my imaginary wingman.
And then I heard a deep voice say, “Two Drules behind you- one above, one below.”
I almost jumped from my seat, and then looked down toward my inquisitor. He stood at least six feet tall, dressed in oil-stained orange coveralls. A blue Galaxy Garrison cap covered his black hair. He looked tired, with dark circles beneath his gray eyes.
He raised a thick brow and continued, ‘You’ve got five, maybe ten seconds.”
But it was his voice rather than his appearance that most commanded my attention. It began as a powerful rumble deep in his chest and finished in a controlled growl. It was the voice of a man who didn’t need to raise his voice to make his point.
“What do you do?”
“That’s easy. I go vertical and inverted, do a one-eighty at full throttle, apply the brakes, and drop in behind them.”
He shook his head. “Wrong. Not fast enough. Drules are too quick, especially in a climb.”
No one had ever spoken to me this way. What did he hope to prove? Why the bad attitude? Was he bitter over not being a LASA graduate?
“Alright, let’s try this one,” he said in a condescending tone that set my teeth on edge. “You’re locked on a Drule. It goes evasive, enters an asteroid belt.”
I gave him a ‘duh’ look. “I’m locked on. There’s no such thing as evasive-“
“Wrong again,” he said. “It’s an ambush. Half a dozen fighters are hiding behind rocks and pounce.”
Feeling my face burning, I balled my hands into fists. He began unzipping his coveralls.
“What’s the matter? Are you having second thoughts about becoming a space explorer? If you hurry, you can still catch the shuttle back home.”
I glared at him. “No. It’s just that I didn’t expect combat tips from a simple tech.”
His eyes turned steel-cold, his mouth neutral. “Young lady, if you want to play at being a space explorer, I suggest you try the virtual fun zone at Disneyland. Now, step down from the fighter.”
Fuming, I rose and set foot on the cockpit ladder. As I descended, I noticed the pilot’s name in bright yellow letters along the pit’s edge.
Commander Steven ‘Hawk’ Hawkins. And thirty-five Drule skulls representing kills in neat rows beside the name.
“What are you doing here in the deck?”
“Looking for the welcoming party.”
Shifting his dark gaze to the far end of the flight deck, the tech nodded to a smiling dark-haired space cadet coming our way. “You found him.” He then turned on his heels and strode off.
“Sorry for taking so long,” the boy said, offering me his hand. “I’m Keith Harrison, nice to have you on board.”
I couldn’t stop gawking at him. He was GORGEOUS!
“Nice to meet you, Keith. I’m Virginia Paddington. But you can call me Ginger.”
“Nice to meet you, Ginger,” he replied, shaking my hand. “I believe you’ve made your first enemy.”
“Why do you say that?”
“I saw you talking with him, and he didn’t look too happy.”
“Who’s that brute, anyway?”
Keith raised his eyebrows. ‘Don’t you know?’”
“Should I?”
“Of course! He’s quite a celebrity around here. He’s-”
When he was about to say his name, the speakers blared out, “Attention, new cadets! Report to the admissions office at once!“
“We must go,” Keith said.
“Okay, lead the way,” I replied happily, looping my arm around his elbow.
The Explorer, December 27, 2305
Keith and I arrived at the admission office so I could sign some papers, and then we walked to the central auditorium. Dozens of cadets were already filling the bowl of seats. We sat in the front row next to Rocky and Hutch.
Commodore Steele- director of admissions, a big, stocky man with a grizzled moustache introduced the program. His voice boomed over the crowd without the need of a microphone.
“Good morning cadets, I would like to take this opportunity to welcome you to the Los Angeles Space Academy. You are here because of your strong performance on standardized tests and your interest in the military. It is very clear to us that you possess the necessary academic skills and achievements to pursue your higher education goals, while also building a foundation for career success. If you accept this challenge, you will join the hundreds of graduates who have served the planet as military leaders, engineers, academic professionals and business leaders.”
The doors parted to reveal another officer and I snapped my eyes wide open.
“I will now let Commander Hawkins take over,” said Steele.
“Steven ‘Hawk’ Hawkins?” I whispered.
Keith smiled at me. “I told you he was important.”
The man paraded silently across the stage, and I fought the reaction to his dark looks. His body had a solid, almost square look to it that suggested fitness and strength. I lifted my gaze to his face. His jaw was square and firm, hinting at his stubborn nature. His high cheekbones, the aquiline nose and his full lips were compelling attributes.
He spotted me sitting next to Keith, and my stomach performed a somersault.
“What does it take to be a space explorer?” He asked ominously, his eyes boring through me like lasers.
“It takes dedication, self-sacrifice, courage and a sense of duty. It also takes mastery of the Academy’s demanding broad-based curriculum, tough physical and military training, and high moral-ethical standards.”
He then assumed a thoughtful look. “LASA will provide you an array of once-in-a-lifetime opportunities to prepare for the challenges of the 24th century. Upon graduation you will be commissioned as a second lieutenant in the Terra Armada and will serve in one the universe’s most trusted professions.”
When Hawkins finished his speech, I waited patiently for him while he talked with group of cadets so I could apologize for my earlier behavior.
He glanced at me, and a thundercloud seemed to pass thorough his eyes.
“May I help you, cadet?”
“Yes… my name is Virginia Paddington. I wanted to apologize for the incident in the hangar. Had I known you were a commander-“
He raised an eyebrow. “Are you saying that it’s okay to treat technicians as second-class citizens?”
“No! That’s not what I meant.”
“That’s not what I meant, SIR.”
“Yes, sir. I’m sorry, sir.”
“You’re now in the Space Academy, cadet, not high school. You better treat your crew with respect. Without them, you’re nothing. Understood?”
“Yes, sir. Thank you for the advice, sir.”
A brief smile glimmered in Hawkins’ face. “You’re welcome, cadet. I have found my advice is generally helpful to lesser mortals.”
The nerve of this guy! Before I could reply to his insult, he hurried up the stairs with Captain Newley and Commodore Steele. At that moment, I wished the next four years could pass in a breeze, not knowing that he would be there, every step of the way.
Keith and I arrived at the admission office so I could sign some papers, and then we walked to the central auditorium. Dozens of cadets were already filling the bowl of seats. We sat in the front row next to Rocky and Hutch.
Commodore Steele- director of admissions, a big, stocky man with a grizzled moustache introduced the program. His voice boomed over the crowd without the need of a microphone.
“Good morning cadets, I would like to take this opportunity to welcome you to the Los Angeles Space Academy. You are here because of your strong performance on standardized tests and your interest in the military. It is very clear to us that you possess the necessary academic skills and achievements to pursue your higher education goals, while also building a foundation for career success. If you accept this challenge, you will join the hundreds of graduates who have served the planet as military leaders, engineers, academic professionals and business leaders.”
The doors parted to reveal another officer and I snapped my eyes wide open.
“I will now let Commander Hawkins take over,” said Steele.
“Steven ‘Hawk’ Hawkins?” I whispered.
Keith smiled at me. “I told you he was important.”
The man paraded silently across the stage, and I fought the reaction to his dark looks. His body had a solid, almost square look to it that suggested fitness and strength. I lifted my gaze to his face. His jaw was square and firm, hinting at his stubborn nature. His high cheekbones, the aquiline nose and his full lips were compelling attributes.
He spotted me sitting next to Keith, and my stomach performed a somersault.
“What does it take to be a space explorer?” He asked ominously, his eyes boring through me like lasers.
“It takes dedication, self-sacrifice, courage and a sense of duty. It also takes mastery of the Academy’s demanding broad-based curriculum, tough physical and military training, and high moral-ethical standards.”
He then assumed a thoughtful look. “LASA will provide you an array of once-in-a-lifetime opportunities to prepare for the challenges of the 24th century. Upon graduation you will be commissioned as a second lieutenant in the Terra Armada and will serve in one the universe’s most trusted professions.”
When Hawkins finished his speech, I waited patiently for him while he talked with group of cadets so I could apologize for my earlier behavior.
He glanced at me, and a thundercloud seemed to pass thorough his eyes.
“May I help you, cadet?”
“Yes… my name is Virginia Paddington. I wanted to apologize for the incident in the hangar. Had I known you were a commander-“
He raised an eyebrow. “Are you saying that it’s okay to treat technicians as second-class citizens?”
“No! That’s not what I meant.”
“That’s not what I meant, SIR.”
“Yes, sir. I’m sorry, sir.”
“You’re now in the Space Academy, cadet, not high school. You better treat your crew with respect. Without them, you’re nothing. Understood?”
“Yes, sir. Thank you for the advice, sir.”
A brief smile glimmered in Hawkins’ face. “You’re welcome, cadet. I have found my advice is generally helpful to lesser mortals.”
The nerve of this guy! Before I could reply to his insult, he hurried up the stairs with Captain Newley and Commodore Steele. At that moment, I wished the next four years could pass in a breeze, not knowing that he would be there, every step of the way.
The Explorer, December 27, 2305
There were several changes within the faculty on my first year at the academy. One professor retired, two captains were appointed as new professors, and Hawkins was selected as new vice dean to oversee academics. We later found out that he was looking for candidates to form the Vehicle Voltron Force.
As cadets we could choose from over thirty-two majors ranging from aeronautical and astronautical engineering to space operations. At least twenty-five graduates of LASA had been selected by the Garrison to become space explorers, so I decided to get my bachelor of science in aerospace engineering to improve my chances.
In addition to the standard required college courses, the academy’s curriculum included courses not generally taught at other institutions of higher education. These classes taught us leadership, exo-politics, astronautics, law for commanders, military history, and defense policy. And we were encouraged to compete in numerous varsity and club sports. All these things were part of our 48-month experience at the academy.
“Commander Steven Hawkins-” Jeff had read out loud a pamphlet on his tablet as we sat on the last row of the classroom waiting for our instructor, “-a 2291 Academy graduate, became vice dean of the faculty at the start of the spring semester. As former commander of the Flying Training Squadron and current professor of Aircraft Design Laboratory he has spent over a decade of his active duty instructing cadets in various capacities-”
“Aircraft Design Laboratory?” I said looking at Keith who sat next to me. “That means-”
“He’s going to be our teacher,” he replied. You couldn’t miss the look of pure joy that lit his dark, handsome features.
“I’m really looking forward to the experience,” Lance said as he dangerously leaned back in his chair. “They say he’s the best.”
“That’s right,” said Cliff. “And speaking of the devil…”
That was the first subject Hawkins gave me, and it was pure hell. The highest grade I got was a D. When I got another F I decided to talk to him.
Steeling myself, I knock on the door of the commander’s office.
“Come in.”
I quickly pasted a false smile on my mouth that should get me high marks for my effort, but it nearly slipped when I looked the scowl on his face.
“I’m sorry to bother you, sir, but I need to talk to you about my grades. I got an F on the last exam. This can’t go on, I don’t want to flunk.”
“You could follow that piece of advice,” he said, pointing at a poster on the wall of a hawk that read, “Relax, there’s always next semester.”
The man thought he was funny!
“Sir, I won’t take ADL again.”
Hawkins pursed his lips and took his time. His expression made me think he was considering flunking me to get me out of his hair.
“Cadet, why do you want to be a space explorer?” he asked at last.
“I want to travel off-planet to meet other life forms and study new cultures and customs, sir.”
“Maybe that path isn’t right for you. With a degree in aerospace engineering you could get work right here on Earth on planetary, federal, state, or local government. Or take part in scientific research in our laboratories.”
“No, sir. I want to fly a spaceship.”
“With these grades you won’t,” he said, shaking his head.
“Sir, I promise to study harder. I’ll even convince Keith to tutor me.”
“Alright, cadet,” he began, his voice rough. “Do you whatever you think is necessary to pass my course.”
There were several changes within the faculty on my first year at the academy. One professor retired, two captains were appointed as new professors, and Hawkins was selected as new vice dean to oversee academics. We later found out that he was looking for candidates to form the Vehicle Voltron Force.
As cadets we could choose from over thirty-two majors ranging from aeronautical and astronautical engineering to space operations. At least twenty-five graduates of LASA had been selected by the Garrison to become space explorers, so I decided to get my bachelor of science in aerospace engineering to improve my chances.
In addition to the standard required college courses, the academy’s curriculum included courses not generally taught at other institutions of higher education. These classes taught us leadership, exo-politics, astronautics, law for commanders, military history, and defense policy. And we were encouraged to compete in numerous varsity and club sports. All these things were part of our 48-month experience at the academy.
“Commander Steven Hawkins-” Jeff had read out loud a pamphlet on his tablet as we sat on the last row of the classroom waiting for our instructor, “-a 2291 Academy graduate, became vice dean of the faculty at the start of the spring semester. As former commander of the Flying Training Squadron and current professor of Aircraft Design Laboratory he has spent over a decade of his active duty instructing cadets in various capacities-”
“Aircraft Design Laboratory?” I said looking at Keith who sat next to me. “That means-”
“He’s going to be our teacher,” he replied. You couldn’t miss the look of pure joy that lit his dark, handsome features.
“I’m really looking forward to the experience,” Lance said as he dangerously leaned back in his chair. “They say he’s the best.”
“That’s right,” said Cliff. “And speaking of the devil…”
That was the first subject Hawkins gave me, and it was pure hell. The highest grade I got was a D. When I got another F I decided to talk to him.
Steeling myself, I knock on the door of the commander’s office.
“Come in.”
I quickly pasted a false smile on my mouth that should get me high marks for my effort, but it nearly slipped when I looked the scowl on his face.
“I’m sorry to bother you, sir, but I need to talk to you about my grades. I got an F on the last exam. This can’t go on, I don’t want to flunk.”
“You could follow that piece of advice,” he said, pointing at a poster on the wall of a hawk that read, “Relax, there’s always next semester.”
The man thought he was funny!
“Sir, I won’t take ADL again.”
Hawkins pursed his lips and took his time. His expression made me think he was considering flunking me to get me out of his hair.
“Cadet, why do you want to be a space explorer?” he asked at last.
“I want to travel off-planet to meet other life forms and study new cultures and customs, sir.”
“Maybe that path isn’t right for you. With a degree in aerospace engineering you could get work right here on Earth on planetary, federal, state, or local government. Or take part in scientific research in our laboratories.”
“No, sir. I want to fly a spaceship.”
“With these grades you won’t,” he said, shaking his head.
“Sir, I promise to study harder. I’ll even convince Keith to tutor me.”
“Alright, cadet,” he began, his voice rough. “Do you whatever you think is necessary to pass my course.”
The Explorer, December 27, 2305
After my conversation with Hawkins regarding my grades I decided to change tactics. Instead of sitting on the last row of the classroom between Jeff and Keith, I sat on the front row between Chip and Pidge, took note of every indication Hawkins gave us, solved every example presented in class and asked all the right questions. I simply never took my eyes off him. Thankfully it paid off because I passed Aircraft Design, but all these desperate actions earned me the nickname “the teacher’s pet” which still haunts me to this day.
I remember that I was on my way to the flight simulator, when I saw a smiling Keith coming out of the cafeteria with his black coffee.
“Ginger, I just saw your ADL grade,” he said, putting the beverage on a nearby table.
“Really? What did I get?”
He smiled. “You got a B+.”
“Oh Keith! That’s great, and it’s all because of your tutoring. I could kiss you!”
He rubbed the back of his head thoughtfully. “Well, I’m not going anywhere-”
Laughing, I moved my head until I was close enough to smell the coffee on his breath and then our lips met. I threw my arms around his neck. His lips were warm, soft. I was the one who had kissed him, but he took control immediately, one arm holding me tightly to him, the hand at the back of my head holding me steady for his kiss.
I broke the kiss to move back an inch and take a shaky breath. The taste of him was hot and dark, just like his favorite drink.
“Do you want to go out?” He bent forward for another kiss, a light one this time.
“Oh, yes-“
Then Hawkins, clumping down the stairs behind us with all the subtlety of a robeast, ruined the moment.
“Cadets.”
Keith pulled away as if I had burned him. “Sir! I was on my way to your office to give you this letter.”
He snatched the envelope from Keith’s hand. “When did this come?”
“About ten minutes ago, sir.”
“What about you, Paddington? Were you looking for me too?”
“I was going to the flight simulator, sir,” I answered dryly. “But Keith just gave me my ADL grade and I was thanking him.”
Hawkins’ face darkened as he tore the envelope. “I see,” he said, slowly. “You have read the academy’s policy regarding fraternization among cadets, haven’t you?”
Keith and I looked at each other. “Yes, sir,” we said.
“Alright.” He stared down at the note, anger glittering in his eyes.
“We weren’t doing anything wrong!”
“Excuse me, sir,” Keith intervened. “Ginger is telling you the truth.”
“Harrison, tell Captain Newley that I’ll meet him in fifteen minutes.” He then gave me a disapproving stare. “You come with me.”
“Yes, sir,” I muttered under my breath, as I saw Keith giving me a casual wave as I followed Hawkins up the stairs to his office.
I glanced around in silent appreciation of the untidiness of the room. At one point in this silent perusal my eyes accidentally met Hawkins’, and I hastily looked away. He no longer seemed annoyed with me, but his eyes were glinting in a very unsettling manner. I felt my face redden with embarrassment.
He still held the letter that Keith gave him, but dropped it on the center of his desk.
“Now, I think you have something to say to me.”
“You have no right to tell me who I can date. If I want to go out with Keith or Cliff-”
“Cadet Paddington.” His voice was deliberately steady. “I didn’t tell you anything of the sort; I just don’t want you to get hurt for fraternizing with your classmates. You must control yourself. Understood?”
My eyes dropped to my boots as I considered a number of rejoinders to Hawkins’ reminder of the policy.
Finally, anxious to escape, I said, “What about your meeting with Captain Newley, sir?”
He stared at me for a while and then sighed. “You’re right. I must go.”
After my conversation with Hawkins regarding my grades I decided to change tactics. Instead of sitting on the last row of the classroom between Jeff and Keith, I sat on the front row between Chip and Pidge, took note of every indication Hawkins gave us, solved every example presented in class and asked all the right questions. I simply never took my eyes off him. Thankfully it paid off because I passed Aircraft Design, but all these desperate actions earned me the nickname “the teacher’s pet” which still haunts me to this day.
I remember that I was on my way to the flight simulator, when I saw a smiling Keith coming out of the cafeteria with his black coffee.
“Ginger, I just saw your ADL grade,” he said, putting the beverage on a nearby table.
“Really? What did I get?”
He smiled. “You got a B+.”
“Oh Keith! That’s great, and it’s all because of your tutoring. I could kiss you!”
He rubbed the back of his head thoughtfully. “Well, I’m not going anywhere-”
Laughing, I moved my head until I was close enough to smell the coffee on his breath and then our lips met. I threw my arms around his neck. His lips were warm, soft. I was the one who had kissed him, but he took control immediately, one arm holding me tightly to him, the hand at the back of my head holding me steady for his kiss.
I broke the kiss to move back an inch and take a shaky breath. The taste of him was hot and dark, just like his favorite drink.
“Do you want to go out?” He bent forward for another kiss, a light one this time.
“Oh, yes-“
Then Hawkins, clumping down the stairs behind us with all the subtlety of a robeast, ruined the moment.
“Cadets.”
Keith pulled away as if I had burned him. “Sir! I was on my way to your office to give you this letter.”
He snatched the envelope from Keith’s hand. “When did this come?”
“About ten minutes ago, sir.”
“What about you, Paddington? Were you looking for me too?”
“I was going to the flight simulator, sir,” I answered dryly. “But Keith just gave me my ADL grade and I was thanking him.”
Hawkins’ face darkened as he tore the envelope. “I see,” he said, slowly. “You have read the academy’s policy regarding fraternization among cadets, haven’t you?”
Keith and I looked at each other. “Yes, sir,” we said.
“Alright.” He stared down at the note, anger glittering in his eyes.
“We weren’t doing anything wrong!”
“Excuse me, sir,” Keith intervened. “Ginger is telling you the truth.”
“Harrison, tell Captain Newley that I’ll meet him in fifteen minutes.” He then gave me a disapproving stare. “You come with me.”
“Yes, sir,” I muttered under my breath, as I saw Keith giving me a casual wave as I followed Hawkins up the stairs to his office.
I glanced around in silent appreciation of the untidiness of the room. At one point in this silent perusal my eyes accidentally met Hawkins’, and I hastily looked away. He no longer seemed annoyed with me, but his eyes were glinting in a very unsettling manner. I felt my face redden with embarrassment.
He still held the letter that Keith gave him, but dropped it on the center of his desk.
“Now, I think you have something to say to me.”
“You have no right to tell me who I can date. If I want to go out with Keith or Cliff-”
“Cadet Paddington.” His voice was deliberately steady. “I didn’t tell you anything of the sort; I just don’t want you to get hurt for fraternizing with your classmates. You must control yourself. Understood?”
My eyes dropped to my boots as I considered a number of rejoinders to Hawkins’ reminder of the policy.
Finally, anxious to escape, I said, “What about your meeting with Captain Newley, sir?”
He stared at me for a while and then sighed. “You’re right. I must go.”
The Explorer, December 28, 2305
While cleaning up my desk, I found an old USB flash drive with pamphlets and photographs of summer programs offered by the Academy where I took part as instructor or advisor. Many cadets took part in summer aviation training that included soaring, parachuting, navigation and pilot indoctrination.
“Listen up, cadets,” I remembered saying. “Many come to the academy with a desire to fly. To be selected for undergraduate pilot training, cadets must be medically qualified and have completed a GA-approved introductory flight training course, which includes eighty flight hours and a solo flight. Those interested can get more info in the Academy Aero Club.”
Ginger raised her hand.
“Yes, Paddington?”
“Who’s going to teach the course, sir?”
“I am.”
She raised her hand again. “Do we have to take it right here in the academy, sir?”
“There are GA-approved civilian flight schools in the local area which offer the course. But I strongly suggest that you take my course… if you’re still interested in becoming a space explorer.”
Something about her expression told me she was fighting down her temper with an effort. Her mouth was flat and her hands resting on her thighs were digging into the fabric of her trousers until her knuckles became white.
Nevertheless, she took the course and passed it with flying colors.
Another thing Ginger didn’t like about my teaching methods was that I always returned their graded exams until the end of class. On one particular exam she had had trouble with a question about aircraft structural design criteria that represented 50 percent of the grade, and the day I was giving out the results, I noticed that she wasn’t paying attention to my lecture and decided to teach her a lesson.
I stood in front of her desk and said, “But there are some people who obviously consider this topic quite boring, isn't that right, Paddington?”
Jeff and Lance were chuckling behind her, and she turned beet red.
“Sorry, sir. It’s just that I can’t wait to see my grade.”
“I’ll give out the exams in a few minutes.”
“Thank you, sir.”
“By the way, if I were you, I would not be so excited about such a low grade.”
And their chuckling turned to laughter.
When Ginger saw her D, she squared her shoulders, sending me a defiant glare. She obviously hated my guts.
While cleaning up my desk, I found an old USB flash drive with pamphlets and photographs of summer programs offered by the Academy where I took part as instructor or advisor. Many cadets took part in summer aviation training that included soaring, parachuting, navigation and pilot indoctrination.
“Listen up, cadets,” I remembered saying. “Many come to the academy with a desire to fly. To be selected for undergraduate pilot training, cadets must be medically qualified and have completed a GA-approved introductory flight training course, which includes eighty flight hours and a solo flight. Those interested can get more info in the Academy Aero Club.”
Ginger raised her hand.
“Yes, Paddington?”
“Who’s going to teach the course, sir?”
“I am.”
She raised her hand again. “Do we have to take it right here in the academy, sir?”
“There are GA-approved civilian flight schools in the local area which offer the course. But I strongly suggest that you take my course… if you’re still interested in becoming a space explorer.”
Something about her expression told me she was fighting down her temper with an effort. Her mouth was flat and her hands resting on her thighs were digging into the fabric of her trousers until her knuckles became white.
Nevertheless, she took the course and passed it with flying colors.
Another thing Ginger didn’t like about my teaching methods was that I always returned their graded exams until the end of class. On one particular exam she had had trouble with a question about aircraft structural design criteria that represented 50 percent of the grade, and the day I was giving out the results, I noticed that she wasn’t paying attention to my lecture and decided to teach her a lesson.
I stood in front of her desk and said, “But there are some people who obviously consider this topic quite boring, isn't that right, Paddington?”
Jeff and Lance were chuckling behind her, and she turned beet red.
“Sorry, sir. It’s just that I can’t wait to see my grade.”
“I’ll give out the exams in a few minutes.”
“Thank you, sir.”
“By the way, if I were you, I would not be so excited about such a low grade.”
And their chuckling turned to laughter.
When Ginger saw her D, she squared her shoulders, sending me a defiant glare. She obviously hated my guts.
The Explorer, December 28, 2305
“Ginger, do you want cherry pie or chocolate cupcake?”
I glanced up from my food tray and saw the grin on Eddie’s face. I turned around and noticed that Lisa and Sinda were staring at me.
“Cherry pie, please.”
He cut a thin slice and dropped it on my plate. “There you are.”
“Poor Ginger,” Sinda said, patting my back. “She still can’t eat cupcakes after all this time.”
“You’ll feel the same after working at Sunny Cupcakes for three whole years,” I muttered, taking a small glass of almond milk.
“And to think you left the Academy and returned to that job,” Lisa remarked. “Thank goodness you changed your mind.”
My friends will never know that it was Hawkins who convinced me to come back. I couldn’t stay away from his influence; I had him as a professor every semester and obviously on the toughest subjects. It seemed like he wanted me to quit the academy. He almost got his wish on my junior year, when he took the class to the San Bernardino Mountains in the middle of an unusually harsh winter.
“Paddington!” The commander had exclaimed barging into the cabin where I had taken refuge.
“Sir!” I said, jumping up from my place by the fire. Taking a second look at the man coated in snow, I added, “Are you okay, sir?”
“No!” he growled, staggering toward the fire. “Hell, of course I am not.”
He sat down on the bench, peeling off his gloves. His fingers did not seem to work, and when he began swearing, I carefully removed them and then rubbed his hands rapidly with my own.
“Sir, I know my way around these mountains. I used to come here with my family when I was a child. So why would you come out in such a storm?” I blew into my hands and rubbed them together before I placed them on his face which was so cold that it instantly took the heat from my skin.
He gave me wry look before he pulled back. “I might ask the same of you, cadet.”
I poured a cup of coffee from my Thermos. “When I came out this morning, sir, it was barely snowing.” I handed him the cup.
Hawkins had to hold the cup with both hands; otherwise he would spill the hot coffee on his lap. He tipped his head back against the headboard and sipped.
“I simply did not wish to be at the cabin any longer, so I came out here.”
“Without leaving a message or taking a communicator? Did you believe we would know where you had gone and that you were safe?”
“Sir-“
“Stupid girl! We‘ve been searching for you for hours!
“I did no such thing!” I replied. “I left Rocky a note, telling him I was coming here. I knew I would have no problem reaching this cabin.”
“Where did you leave this note?”
“On the kitchen table, I thought that the most likely place for him to find it since he was in charge of kitchen duty.”
“Di Caro didn’t see any note. We thought you were lost.”
“You made it perfectly clear when you called me stupid, sir!”
“Well, what would you call yourself?” he demanded. “You left the cabin in the midst of a blizzard because a teammate upset you!”
“And who told you that, sir?”
“Ginger, do you want cherry pie or chocolate cupcake?”
I glanced up from my food tray and saw the grin on Eddie’s face. I turned around and noticed that Lisa and Sinda were staring at me.
“Cherry pie, please.”
He cut a thin slice and dropped it on my plate. “There you are.”
“Poor Ginger,” Sinda said, patting my back. “She still can’t eat cupcakes after all this time.”
“You’ll feel the same after working at Sunny Cupcakes for three whole years,” I muttered, taking a small glass of almond milk.
“And to think you left the Academy and returned to that job,” Lisa remarked. “Thank goodness you changed your mind.”
My friends will never know that it was Hawkins who convinced me to come back. I couldn’t stay away from his influence; I had him as a professor every semester and obviously on the toughest subjects. It seemed like he wanted me to quit the academy. He almost got his wish on my junior year, when he took the class to the San Bernardino Mountains in the middle of an unusually harsh winter.
“Paddington!” The commander had exclaimed barging into the cabin where I had taken refuge.
“Sir!” I said, jumping up from my place by the fire. Taking a second look at the man coated in snow, I added, “Are you okay, sir?”
“No!” he growled, staggering toward the fire. “Hell, of course I am not.”
He sat down on the bench, peeling off his gloves. His fingers did not seem to work, and when he began swearing, I carefully removed them and then rubbed his hands rapidly with my own.
“Sir, I know my way around these mountains. I used to come here with my family when I was a child. So why would you come out in such a storm?” I blew into my hands and rubbed them together before I placed them on his face which was so cold that it instantly took the heat from my skin.
He gave me wry look before he pulled back. “I might ask the same of you, cadet.”
I poured a cup of coffee from my Thermos. “When I came out this morning, sir, it was barely snowing.” I handed him the cup.
Hawkins had to hold the cup with both hands; otherwise he would spill the hot coffee on his lap. He tipped his head back against the headboard and sipped.
“I simply did not wish to be at the cabin any longer, so I came out here.”
“Without leaving a message or taking a communicator? Did you believe we would know where you had gone and that you were safe?”
“Sir-“
“Stupid girl! We‘ve been searching for you for hours!
“I did no such thing!” I replied. “I left Rocky a note, telling him I was coming here. I knew I would have no problem reaching this cabin.”
“Where did you leave this note?”
“On the kitchen table, I thought that the most likely place for him to find it since he was in charge of kitchen duty.”
“Di Caro didn’t see any note. We thought you were lost.”
“You made it perfectly clear when you called me stupid, sir!”
“Well, what would you call yourself?” he demanded. “You left the cabin in the midst of a blizzard because a teammate upset you!”
“And who told you that, sir?”
The Explorer, December 28, 2305
“More coffee, sir?”
I glanced up from the virtual chimney and saw Eddie with the white Thermos.
“No, I’m good. Thanks.”
Sitting alone in front of the fire drinking coffee reminds me of the fight I had with Ginger in the San Bernardino Mountains after I blurted it out the reason of her “escape” from the cabin.
I gave my attention to the fire instead of the fire on Ginger’s eyes. I could see from the corner of my eye that she was waiting for me to look at her.
“Afton mentioned the matter to me after you disappeared,” I said, as I turned to face her.
“Cliff told you what happened?” she asked, her eyes wide in disbelief as she looked at me.
“You found text messages from a young lady on his iPhone.”
“Yes,” she sighed, looking away from me. “Cliff and I were sitting on the balcony while the rest of the team was inside playing poker. I took his phone to watch the pictures we had taken yesterday morning during practice. As I was passing the pictures, I saw one of that Pasadena girl that used to work at the cafeteria. When I asked Cliff about it, he became nervous and tried to take away the phone. Then I discovered the text messages. She had been texting to him repeatedly, saying how much she missed him in her bed, thanking him for the bracelet he had given her on her birthday. She even sent him a picture of her wearing it… and nothing else. The bracelet was similar to the one he gave me when we went steady. The bastard.”
“No, love, it’s not what you think, I barely know the girl,” she said, mimicking Cliff’s voice. “I barely know the girl, my foot! That brunette knows him well enough to send him that picture and those steamy messages!”
Ginger sank down beside me on the wooden bench, and placed her face in her hands.
“Yes, I understood something like that had happened,” I said uncomfortably. “But you mustn’t let it upset you, Paddington.”
“Why not?” she said in a soggy voice.
“He’s not worth the trouble.”
Ginger lifted her tear-stained face to stare at me. “And why is he not worth it, sir?”
“Afton is immature. He treats you as he would any other girl he would meet.”
“I don’t understand.”
“You’re not just any girl!” I responded. “Obviously you know that, Paddington.”
“How would I know it, sir? My family thinks I’m special because they love me. Besides them, no one else has told me. Why should I think it?”
“Because it’s true and because you’re able to think!” I said. “You should have arrived to that conclusion on your own.”
“Even with you telling me that I’m stupid?”
“Your opinion of yourself should not hang upon what I or anyone else says about you.”
I reached into the pocket of my parka to get my communicator to tell Jeff that I had found Ginger in a cabin all safe and sound and that we would be staying here overnight, and was leaving him (along with Keith) in charge until we got back.
Ginger and I glared at each other for a while. Then, before I could give her a chance to reply, I took another long sip and placed the empty cup on the floor.
“Paddington,” I said, stretching out my feet toward the fire, “I must rest and I order you to do the same.”
“More coffee, sir?”
I glanced up from the virtual chimney and saw Eddie with the white Thermos.
“No, I’m good. Thanks.”
Sitting alone in front of the fire drinking coffee reminds me of the fight I had with Ginger in the San Bernardino Mountains after I blurted it out the reason of her “escape” from the cabin.
I gave my attention to the fire instead of the fire on Ginger’s eyes. I could see from the corner of my eye that she was waiting for me to look at her.
“Afton mentioned the matter to me after you disappeared,” I said, as I turned to face her.
“Cliff told you what happened?” she asked, her eyes wide in disbelief as she looked at me.
“You found text messages from a young lady on his iPhone.”
“Yes,” she sighed, looking away from me. “Cliff and I were sitting on the balcony while the rest of the team was inside playing poker. I took his phone to watch the pictures we had taken yesterday morning during practice. As I was passing the pictures, I saw one of that Pasadena girl that used to work at the cafeteria. When I asked Cliff about it, he became nervous and tried to take away the phone. Then I discovered the text messages. She had been texting to him repeatedly, saying how much she missed him in her bed, thanking him for the bracelet he had given her on her birthday. She even sent him a picture of her wearing it… and nothing else. The bracelet was similar to the one he gave me when we went steady. The bastard.”
“No, love, it’s not what you think, I barely know the girl,” she said, mimicking Cliff’s voice. “I barely know the girl, my foot! That brunette knows him well enough to send him that picture and those steamy messages!”
Ginger sank down beside me on the wooden bench, and placed her face in her hands.
“Yes, I understood something like that had happened,” I said uncomfortably. “But you mustn’t let it upset you, Paddington.”
“Why not?” she said in a soggy voice.
“He’s not worth the trouble.”
Ginger lifted her tear-stained face to stare at me. “And why is he not worth it, sir?”
“Afton is immature. He treats you as he would any other girl he would meet.”
“I don’t understand.”
“You’re not just any girl!” I responded. “Obviously you know that, Paddington.”
“How would I know it, sir? My family thinks I’m special because they love me. Besides them, no one else has told me. Why should I think it?”
“Because it’s true and because you’re able to think!” I said. “You should have arrived to that conclusion on your own.”
“Even with you telling me that I’m stupid?”
“Your opinion of yourself should not hang upon what I or anyone else says about you.”
I reached into the pocket of my parka to get my communicator to tell Jeff that I had found Ginger in a cabin all safe and sound and that we would be staying here overnight, and was leaving him (along with Keith) in charge until we got back.
Ginger and I glared at each other for a while. Then, before I could give her a chance to reply, I took another long sip and placed the empty cup on the floor.
“Paddington,” I said, stretching out my feet toward the fire, “I must rest and I order you to do the same.”
The Explorer, December 28, 2305
When I awoke the next morning, I realized my arm was wrapped around Ginger’s shoulder, and she was leaning against me, her forehead close to my lips.
“Time is it?” Ginger murmured sleepily. She reached out as though to find the alarm clock, smacking me on the chin.
“Ow.”
Her eyes flew open. “Oops,” she muttered, following closely with, “Sorry.”
“That’s okay. Good morning,” I greeted her, rubbing my chin with my free hand.
She stared at me for a moment before replying. “Why did you really come here?”
Caught off guard, I stared back. “I came looking for you, of course.”
“Yes, but why did you come, rather than any of the others?” She demanded.
“Because I felt responsible for your situation,” I said abruptly, sitting up straight and pulling farther away from her.
“Why?”
I could not bring myself to look at her. “Do you really think I was going to place my whole career in jeopardy because of you? A stupid girl who finds out her boyfriend is two-timing her and instead of confronting him, escapes in the middle of a snow storm, risking her life and those of her classmates in the process?”
“Oh! You… evil man!”
“No,” I said, finally turning to look into her eyes. “It would have been evil to leave you to your own devices in this storm. Forcing you to see the truth was the kindest thing I could do.”
“Really?”
“Damned right it is!”
She sat looking into the fire. “You told me once that I should not fraternize with my classmates, but I didn’t listen. How you must be enjoying this moment!”
Before I could answer that unexpected remark, she rose and zipped up her red parka.
“Where the hell do you think you’re going?”
“I’m going back to see Cliff to tell him it’s over between us,” she responded grimly. “And when we return to LA, I’ll pack all my things and leave the academy for good!”
“I thought you were smarter than that,” I said, trying to ignore the hurt of not seeing her anymore. “Perhaps I was wrong and you just entered the academy to pass the time.”
Ginger pulled up the hood. “You can think whatever you like, sir,” she said, the last word with obvious disdain.
When I awoke the next morning, I realized my arm was wrapped around Ginger’s shoulder, and she was leaning against me, her forehead close to my lips.
“Time is it?” Ginger murmured sleepily. She reached out as though to find the alarm clock, smacking me on the chin.
“Ow.”
Her eyes flew open. “Oops,” she muttered, following closely with, “Sorry.”
“That’s okay. Good morning,” I greeted her, rubbing my chin with my free hand.
She stared at me for a moment before replying. “Why did you really come here?”
Caught off guard, I stared back. “I came looking for you, of course.”
“Yes, but why did you come, rather than any of the others?” She demanded.
“Because I felt responsible for your situation,” I said abruptly, sitting up straight and pulling farther away from her.
“Why?”
I could not bring myself to look at her. “Do you really think I was going to place my whole career in jeopardy because of you? A stupid girl who finds out her boyfriend is two-timing her and instead of confronting him, escapes in the middle of a snow storm, risking her life and those of her classmates in the process?”
“Oh! You… evil man!”
“No,” I said, finally turning to look into her eyes. “It would have been evil to leave you to your own devices in this storm. Forcing you to see the truth was the kindest thing I could do.”
“Really?”
“Damned right it is!”
She sat looking into the fire. “You told me once that I should not fraternize with my classmates, but I didn’t listen. How you must be enjoying this moment!”
Before I could answer that unexpected remark, she rose and zipped up her red parka.
“Where the hell do you think you’re going?”
“I’m going back to see Cliff to tell him it’s over between us,” she responded grimly. “And when we return to LA, I’ll pack all my things and leave the academy for good!”
“I thought you were smarter than that,” I said, trying to ignore the hurt of not seeing her anymore. “Perhaps I was wrong and you just entered the academy to pass the time.”
Ginger pulled up the hood. “You can think whatever you like, sir,” she said, the last word with obvious disdain.
The Explorer, December 29, 2305
I went back home to Pomona after my fallout with Hawkins in the San Bernardino Mountains. My parents had not been totally convinced with my decision of becoming a space explorer, so they were happy believing that I would now study something “normal” like architecture, accounting or electrical engineering like my brothers and sisters.
I still wanted to be a space explorer, but Hawkins’ attitude and my grades made me understand that it wasn’t meant to be. I needed to find another school to earn my degree on aerospace engineering. So while I was studying my options I got my old job at Sunny Cupcakes.
I barely had two weeks working the cash register when I got a visitor.
“Welcome to Sunny Cupcakes, may I take your order?”
“Paddington.”
The hard voice made me jump. To my astonishment and annoyance, Commander Hawkins was the next customer. He looked me up and down disapprovingly.
“Sir, what are you doing here?”
“I could ask the same of you.”
“Earning a living, like everyone else.”
He narrowed his eyes. “I must talk to you in private, cadet. Ask someone to cover for you.”
The manager came to the registers to see why there was a long line of customers behind Hawkins. I told her that he was my teacher and needed to talk to me. Scowling, she ordered me to take my lunch break.
We came out of the shop and sat on a table. “There was no need for you to come here, sir,” I said, looking away from him. “You have made it very clear that I don’t have what it takes to be a space explorer. You won’t have to deal with me anymore; I’ll get my degree somewhere else.”
“I’m relieved to hear that, cadet,” returned Hawkins, placing his arms on the table. “I have wasted enough of my time visiting all the cupcake shops throughout Los Angeles searching for you instead of taking care of my duties.”
“Visiting all the-” I said, startled. “Why should you be looking for me?”
Hawkins shrugged. “I wanted to be sure you were fine.”
I was torn between annoyance that he was once again interfering and gratitude that he should be willing to place himself at considerable inconvenience for my sake.
“You are all kindness, sir,” I replied, trying to sound sarcastic.
I went back home to Pomona after my fallout with Hawkins in the San Bernardino Mountains. My parents had not been totally convinced with my decision of becoming a space explorer, so they were happy believing that I would now study something “normal” like architecture, accounting or electrical engineering like my brothers and sisters.
I still wanted to be a space explorer, but Hawkins’ attitude and my grades made me understand that it wasn’t meant to be. I needed to find another school to earn my degree on aerospace engineering. So while I was studying my options I got my old job at Sunny Cupcakes.
I barely had two weeks working the cash register when I got a visitor.
“Welcome to Sunny Cupcakes, may I take your order?”
“Paddington.”
The hard voice made me jump. To my astonishment and annoyance, Commander Hawkins was the next customer. He looked me up and down disapprovingly.
“Sir, what are you doing here?”
“I could ask the same of you.”
“Earning a living, like everyone else.”
He narrowed his eyes. “I must talk to you in private, cadet. Ask someone to cover for you.”
The manager came to the registers to see why there was a long line of customers behind Hawkins. I told her that he was my teacher and needed to talk to me. Scowling, she ordered me to take my lunch break.
We came out of the shop and sat on a table. “There was no need for you to come here, sir,” I said, looking away from him. “You have made it very clear that I don’t have what it takes to be a space explorer. You won’t have to deal with me anymore; I’ll get my degree somewhere else.”
“I’m relieved to hear that, cadet,” returned Hawkins, placing his arms on the table. “I have wasted enough of my time visiting all the cupcake shops throughout Los Angeles searching for you instead of taking care of my duties.”
“Visiting all the-” I said, startled. “Why should you be looking for me?”
Hawkins shrugged. “I wanted to be sure you were fine.”
I was torn between annoyance that he was once again interfering and gratitude that he should be willing to place himself at considerable inconvenience for my sake.
“You are all kindness, sir,” I replied, trying to sound sarcastic.
The Explorer, December 29, 2305
It made me furious that Ginger made good on her threat to leave the academy. I had thought she was different from all the other cadets. Weeks passed in anger, and then I had gradually accepted that she wasn’t going to turn up in class.
Silently, I cursed the images that had flooded my mind. Memories of her pretty smile, her lovely blue eyes gazing up at me in class with wonder. She was always haunting my subconscious. She was there in the halls, in elevators, driving by. Once I had actually run up and grabbed a woman in the street, only to spin her around and find a terrified girl who couldn’t have been out of college yet. That was when I took the task of looking for her, and found her working at a cupcake shop in Santa Monica.
As we sat in a table outside the shop, Ginger tried to her hide her confusion by plastering a rebellious expression on her freckled face.
“I didn’t mean to offend you, cadet.”
“But you did, sir,” she murmured. “You seem not to care about anyone’s feelings but your own.”
I pretended to consider her words for a minute, and then nodded. “I believe you’re right, cadet. It has never been quite clear to me why should I concern myself about the feelings of others- particularly when I don’t know what they are.”
She gave me a brief, disbelieve glance. “I can see what you mean, sir,” she observed. “You’re a selfish man.”
“Once again, cadet, you’re correct. But again I can’t see why I should do otherwise. Of whom should I be thinking, if not myself?”
She gasped. “Why, of your family, sir! Or your friends, assuming of course you do have some.”
“I don’t get along with my family-”
“Ha! I´m not surprised.”
I frowned at her. “And although I do- despite what you think- Have a least one or two friends, they do not expect me to be always thinking of them. So what does that leave me to think except myself?”
“You could think of your students, sir. We’re not robots; we have feelings just like everyone else. Sometimes we need to hear words of praise, of encouragement. But you’re only looking at our faults, our mistakes, and that’s not fair.”
Sighing, I splayed my right hand on the table. “Very well, Paddington, you win. If you want me to be more considerate with the student body, that’s what I will do.”
Ginger stared at me, apparently amazed by my concession. “Why?” What made you change your mind?” she asked suspiciously.
“I’m giving you something you want in exchange for something I want,” I replied. “You will leave this silly job and go back to the academy.”
“It’s always business with you, isn’t it, sir?”
I nodded. “When I want something, I find a way to get it.”
“I don’t know sir...”
“It will be the best for you, trust me.”
After a rather dramatic sigh, she said, “Alright, sir.”
Good girl, I thought, my pride in her growing.
It made me furious that Ginger made good on her threat to leave the academy. I had thought she was different from all the other cadets. Weeks passed in anger, and then I had gradually accepted that she wasn’t going to turn up in class.
Silently, I cursed the images that had flooded my mind. Memories of her pretty smile, her lovely blue eyes gazing up at me in class with wonder. She was always haunting my subconscious. She was there in the halls, in elevators, driving by. Once I had actually run up and grabbed a woman in the street, only to spin her around and find a terrified girl who couldn’t have been out of college yet. That was when I took the task of looking for her, and found her working at a cupcake shop in Santa Monica.
As we sat in a table outside the shop, Ginger tried to her hide her confusion by plastering a rebellious expression on her freckled face.
“I didn’t mean to offend you, cadet.”
“But you did, sir,” she murmured. “You seem not to care about anyone’s feelings but your own.”
I pretended to consider her words for a minute, and then nodded. “I believe you’re right, cadet. It has never been quite clear to me why should I concern myself about the feelings of others- particularly when I don’t know what they are.”
She gave me a brief, disbelieve glance. “I can see what you mean, sir,” she observed. “You’re a selfish man.”
“Once again, cadet, you’re correct. But again I can’t see why I should do otherwise. Of whom should I be thinking, if not myself?”
She gasped. “Why, of your family, sir! Or your friends, assuming of course you do have some.”
“I don’t get along with my family-”
“Ha! I´m not surprised.”
I frowned at her. “And although I do- despite what you think- Have a least one or two friends, they do not expect me to be always thinking of them. So what does that leave me to think except myself?”
“You could think of your students, sir. We’re not robots; we have feelings just like everyone else. Sometimes we need to hear words of praise, of encouragement. But you’re only looking at our faults, our mistakes, and that’s not fair.”
Sighing, I splayed my right hand on the table. “Very well, Paddington, you win. If you want me to be more considerate with the student body, that’s what I will do.”
Ginger stared at me, apparently amazed by my concession. “Why?” What made you change your mind?” she asked suspiciously.
“I’m giving you something you want in exchange for something I want,” I replied. “You will leave this silly job and go back to the academy.”
“It’s always business with you, isn’t it, sir?”
I nodded. “When I want something, I find a way to get it.”
“I don’t know sir...”
“It will be the best for you, trust me.”
After a rather dramatic sigh, she said, “Alright, sir.”
Good girl, I thought, my pride in her growing.
The Explorer, December 29, 2305
That same weekend I returned to the academy. After leaving my things in the dormitory I went to get some breakfast.
The door of the academy’s cafeteria opened, and Rocky stepped out on the sidewalk. He squinted in the bright sunlight.
“Rocky!”
“Ginger?”
“I’m back,” I strode to his side, absurdly happy to see him after all these months. “I can’t believe how wonderful it is to see you.” In the next second he gave me a big bear hug and turned hearty.
“We missed ya,” he said, laughing as he kissed my cheek. “You’re looking prettier than ever. Let’s get some breakfast.”
I gave him a shaky smile and allowed myself to be drawn into the cafeteria. All hopes of slipping into the academy unnoticed evaporated as I was greeted by classmates.
Wolo, my partner in judo lessons, gave me a cheery wave from the corner of the booth where he sat having breakfast with Chip, who had saved me countless times with computer programming.
“Rocky, who’s that beautiful girl?” demanded a smiling Keith.
“That’s not our Ginger, is it?” Jeff said.
“Sure is,” Rocky called back, casting his arm across my shoulder. “Take a seat, Ginger. I’ll get you coffee, pancakes, sausage, the works!”
I let everyone make a fuss over me. I was glad nobody forced me to talk just yet. I didn’t want to explain my three-month absence after our trip to the mountains, much less my fight with Hawkins.
Keith guided me to the center-most table in the cafeteria and made a show of pulling out a chair. When the last of our friends had gone back to their table, he sat down opposite me.
He looked at me for a while and then with a smile said, “Ginger, why did you leave?”
“I needed a longer vacation.”
“Were you sick?”
“Hmmm… no.”
He frowned. “Don’t worry about Cliff. I put him in his rightful place. He won’t bother you anymore.”
I sighed. Always my knight in shining armor. “Thank you, but nothing is that easy.”
“The classes you missed?” He gave me a red USB flash drive. “Here’s a copy of my notes.”
“Thank you,” I said slowly. “Would you mind if we didn’t talk about it just yet? Coming back to the academy will take some adjusting.”
He nodded. “So, you’re going to stay this time?”
“Yes,” I replied quickly.
“I’m glad. We’re having finals in six weeks. What else can I do for you?”
“You have done enough. Just be yourself, I guess. It’s so great to see you!”
“Same here.” He reached out and cupped my cheek with his hand. “Classes without you aren’t the same, you know?”
My heart pounded at the warmth of his hand on my face, the gentleness in his dark eyes. I covered his hand with my own and offered him a smile.
Rocky returned with steaming cups of coffee at that moment. “Here you are, Ginger.”
“Thanks, Rocky. You’re a sweetheart!”
Then Keith asked casually, “Have you seen Commander Hawkins?”
I grimaced. “No, and I don’t care to talk about him either.”
“Why?”
I laughed. “Please! Give me chance to catch my breath.”
He grinned and reached for his cup of java. “That’s okay. You’ll see him tomorrow in class. But I warn you, he’s been in a foul mood these past few months.”
Rocky arrived then with the plates loaded with pancakes, a side order of sausage and hash browns, too. Keith traded jokes with him before heading back to the table were Lance, Sven, Hunk and Pidge were having breakfast. They always behaved like a closed-knit family. I suppose that was the main reason Hawkins chose them to go to Arus.
I ate my pancakes with gusto, listening to Lisa and Sinda telling me all the gossip. The biggest rumor was that Galaxy Garrison had built a secret fleet of spaceships to help in the search of planets suitable to maintain life, which had set the Alliance on its ear since they wanted to increase their military power against the Drule Empire.
Shannon who sat at the next table heard Jeff mention the issue, and a friendly argument broke out.
“They should pick recent graduates of the academy to pilot those ships.”
“No! They should wait for us.”
“Do you think we’re qualified?”
“Of course we are! All we need is a chance.”
I listened to my classmates argue back and forth, feeling invigorated as I was swept up in the academy’s latest controversy. It felt a lot better than being swept down by my own troubles.
That same weekend I returned to the academy. After leaving my things in the dormitory I went to get some breakfast.
The door of the academy’s cafeteria opened, and Rocky stepped out on the sidewalk. He squinted in the bright sunlight.
“Rocky!”
“Ginger?”
“I’m back,” I strode to his side, absurdly happy to see him after all these months. “I can’t believe how wonderful it is to see you.” In the next second he gave me a big bear hug and turned hearty.
“We missed ya,” he said, laughing as he kissed my cheek. “You’re looking prettier than ever. Let’s get some breakfast.”
I gave him a shaky smile and allowed myself to be drawn into the cafeteria. All hopes of slipping into the academy unnoticed evaporated as I was greeted by classmates.
Wolo, my partner in judo lessons, gave me a cheery wave from the corner of the booth where he sat having breakfast with Chip, who had saved me countless times with computer programming.
“Rocky, who’s that beautiful girl?” demanded a smiling Keith.
“That’s not our Ginger, is it?” Jeff said.
“Sure is,” Rocky called back, casting his arm across my shoulder. “Take a seat, Ginger. I’ll get you coffee, pancakes, sausage, the works!”
I let everyone make a fuss over me. I was glad nobody forced me to talk just yet. I didn’t want to explain my three-month absence after our trip to the mountains, much less my fight with Hawkins.
Keith guided me to the center-most table in the cafeteria and made a show of pulling out a chair. When the last of our friends had gone back to their table, he sat down opposite me.
He looked at me for a while and then with a smile said, “Ginger, why did you leave?”
“I needed a longer vacation.”
“Were you sick?”
“Hmmm… no.”
He frowned. “Don’t worry about Cliff. I put him in his rightful place. He won’t bother you anymore.”
I sighed. Always my knight in shining armor. “Thank you, but nothing is that easy.”
“The classes you missed?” He gave me a red USB flash drive. “Here’s a copy of my notes.”
“Thank you,” I said slowly. “Would you mind if we didn’t talk about it just yet? Coming back to the academy will take some adjusting.”
He nodded. “So, you’re going to stay this time?”
“Yes,” I replied quickly.
“I’m glad. We’re having finals in six weeks. What else can I do for you?”
“You have done enough. Just be yourself, I guess. It’s so great to see you!”
“Same here.” He reached out and cupped my cheek with his hand. “Classes without you aren’t the same, you know?”
My heart pounded at the warmth of his hand on my face, the gentleness in his dark eyes. I covered his hand with my own and offered him a smile.
Rocky returned with steaming cups of coffee at that moment. “Here you are, Ginger.”
“Thanks, Rocky. You’re a sweetheart!”
Then Keith asked casually, “Have you seen Commander Hawkins?”
I grimaced. “No, and I don’t care to talk about him either.”
“Why?”
I laughed. “Please! Give me chance to catch my breath.”
He grinned and reached for his cup of java. “That’s okay. You’ll see him tomorrow in class. But I warn you, he’s been in a foul mood these past few months.”
Rocky arrived then with the plates loaded with pancakes, a side order of sausage and hash browns, too. Keith traded jokes with him before heading back to the table were Lance, Sven, Hunk and Pidge were having breakfast. They always behaved like a closed-knit family. I suppose that was the main reason Hawkins chose them to go to Arus.
I ate my pancakes with gusto, listening to Lisa and Sinda telling me all the gossip. The biggest rumor was that Galaxy Garrison had built a secret fleet of spaceships to help in the search of planets suitable to maintain life, which had set the Alliance on its ear since they wanted to increase their military power against the Drule Empire.
Shannon who sat at the next table heard Jeff mention the issue, and a friendly argument broke out.
“They should pick recent graduates of the academy to pilot those ships.”
“No! They should wait for us.”
“Do you think we’re qualified?”
“Of course we are! All we need is a chance.”
I listened to my classmates argue back and forth, feeling invigorated as I was swept up in the academy’s latest controversy. It felt a lot better than being swept down by my own troubles.
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