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Planet: Strantor, Mechwarrior Academy
"What? What do you mean I have to do work? I'm relaxing!" I objected, as I lay on one of the benches in the park area of the Academy complex. This area was one for relaxation and contemplation, with a pond, rows of blossom trees, and paths for walks. Birds of varying types chirped their songs as squirrels and Tyaks ran all about, chasing each other. Right now I was lying on one of the benches, resting my head on my hands as I looked up at my disapproving Lancemate staring down at me, her eyes stern under her purple hair.
"I know you were a hero back on Meadow, but that doesn't exempt you from rising to the call of duty, Lane," she told me, her hands clasped behind her back. Even though we had been back here on Strantor for several days and had taken it easy, Jennifer still only wore her Mechwarrior uniforms, as opposed to Makoto and I going about in our clothes from home. I don't think Jennifer would ever wear anything casual unless forced. She went on, "This is no time to just relax and waste time, you know. Special Unit Officer Lorin wants something of you, and you should report promptly. It's disgraceful to keep a superior waiting. Come on, get up."
"B... but, you're talking about Boren, right?" I asked, not getting up. "Your brother? It's okay, I know him and he wouldn't be upset if I took my time. He'll find something to do, or even better, someone else to do whatever he's asking of me."
"Him being my brother and you knowing him doesn't change anything," Jennifer snapped. "Why are you being so lazy, Lane? We can't just slack like this. What if you lose your edge and fail the next mission?"
"There's no way I'm failing a mission! But, okay," I relented, getting up and stretching. "Sorry, it's hard to get out of a lazy mood. Where's Officer Lorin again?"
Jennifer looked a little happier now, pointing at the Training Center. "Floor 3, wing E-7, his office," she said. "You know where that is, right?"
"Oh, yeah. I can find that easily," I said, then started off, raising a hand in farewell. "See you later, all right? Tell Kyle and Cassandra hi for me if you run into them."
"The job shouldn't take that long," Jennifer called back, "though I will if I find them. They keep themselves pretty busy around here, more busy than you."
"Hey! What's that mean?" I objected, turning my head around to look.
"Nothing," Jennifer said coyly. "See you later."
"Wait, what?"
"Good bye, Lane."
I sighed as I made my way through the light throngs of other people on the walkways, sticking my hands in my pockets; I did that whenever I was thoughtful or modest. I was happy to be getting along better with my Lancemates, all right, and my deeds on Meadow clearly earned me their improved respect and established me as a capable Lance Leader. Jennifer even went out of her way to tell me that she would treat me better and have more faith in me. Just thinking about her made my heart beat harder and I had to keep from fidgeting!
Even so, both of my Lancemates (excluding Kyle, who had joined as the fourth Lance member) were tough for me to figure out. Makoto had been surly and reclusive when I first met him, but now he was a reliable and outspoken teammate. Jennifer, too, had been hard on me and distant at first but now she was much different, being a much warmer and more friendly person... acting like a real companion, as she had put it.
She seemed to be unsure how to handle all this, somehow – I couldn't tell if she was testing me to see if I could keep my military demeanor, or whether she was testing new boundaries she had never explored before. Cassandra had been right: there was something developing between us, slowly and steadily, even if I couldn't tell what it was. I would just have to wait and see how all this wound up. Finding my place in the galaxy wouldn't be a quick or straightforward process. Life was more abstract than that.
Jeez. Just look at me thinking away, I thought, waving a greeting to a few other Prodigies who were passing by, entering the Training Center and going up a flight of stairs. Here, too, many other people bustled about, making me have to squirm my way through a few thickets. Man, from relaxing by myself to fighting these crowds – getting up to do work was a real drag sometimes! Whatever.
"Let's see... Club with extra mayo, pepperoni and onion..." I muttered to myself, stopping to scan the contents of a sandwich vending machine, the money in my pocket itching to be spent as my stomach rumbled. "Which one to get..."
"Just choose one already!" someone snapped, and I made a face.
"This is kind of seeming familiar," I commented, then dispensed a sub sandwich of my choosing and started off again, unwrapping it and taking a big bite.
"Lane! Hey!"
"What? Oh no!"
Being tackled by the midriff sure was shocking, I realized as Cassandra's high-speed tackle knocked the both of us over and sent us tumbling down a short flight of stairs. I groaned and rose to a sitting position.
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