I worked my ass off that day in the gym. Even Kerry struggled to keep up. She asked me three times was I okay, and my answer was the same.
Standing at the water hole, this time she didn’t ask me that, “How’s your stats looking?”
I cast her a glance, then held my wrist out for her.
“You sure?”
“Go on, you see more than most right?” On her nod I added. “I’m sure.”
“Would you like to see what I see?”
“Can I?
“Here,” she moved us away from the water hole to a bench and sat, so I followed suit, perching beside her.
“There’s deeper things for us, not just the basic stats, if I have permission or in a medical emergency—”
“Like with Sylvk?”
“Exactly,” she held her wrist out for me, and I put mine to hers.
Kerry moved the screen for me to see what she could.
“This is what I can see.”
My jaw dropped. “Wow, that’s amazing. Why don’t we get to see all this?”
“Oh, you can if you want to, most people don’t want too.”
“Each of this lets me know how you’re doing, like now in training.”
“Tell me, please.”
She smiled at me and looked back to my stats. “Wait—lemme check this.”
Her face changed. “Here, this is you when you were with Sylvk yesterday.
“Piotr, these scans show you’re definitely not at one hundred percent. Your immune markers are spiking a little, which usually happens when the body is fending off an infection—or something that mimics it. Right now, it looks like a low-grade bug, but we can’t pinpoint the source.
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The good news is your neural integration and stability haven’t crashed—they’re just a bit lower than usual. Keep an eye on any headaches or new symptoms, and report them right away, okay? I’m not too worried yet, but I want us to stay ahead of whatever this is.”
The headaches had never really gone away, at least I hadn’t had a nosebleed again. I just nodded at her. “Will do.”
<
<> she replied. <
<
<
When we parted ways, Kerry leaned in and rested a hand on my arm. “I get the frustration,” she said. “But we’re here for you. Got it.”
Her hand lingered a moment, till I nodded. Then she left me.
I was struggling with this team dynamics. I knew I was leaving, but I wanted to stay. I wanted what they had. The comradery, the care.
<
I was going to answer her, to talk about it more, instead I threw myself into where we’d gotten on Doli-2.
It was in the middle of re-writing a section of Doli-2s code the next night I finally got Andri’s message.
Andri - Come over, room 421, Alpha271’s block. Me - Code? Andri - 4221778 - Visitor pass.
Me - On my way.
<
“Shit,” I replied. “No that wouldn’t be fair.”
It took me a minute to finish the code string, and then lock Doli-2 off, but at least she wasn’t in limbo.
“Since when did you worry about Doli-2 being offline at night?”
<
Lonely? I paused, surprised by the unexpected empathy in Doli’s response. “That’s a very human observation.”
<>
I shook my head, both intrigued and slightly unsettled. Doli was evolving faster than I’d anticipated—developing nuances I hadn’t programmed. Something to consider later, when my mind wasn’t racing with Andri’s cryptic message.
The cold night air bit at my skin as I crossed the base toward Andri’s block, carrying the faint, metallic tang of machinery and recycled oxygen. The corridors stretched long and silent, but something about them felt off tonight—the kind of quiet that wasn’t calm, but watchful. As I passed an open access panel near the engineering wing, I caught a flicker of movement in my peripheral vision. I stopped, squinting into the shadowed alcove.
Nothing. Probably a stray reflection. Still, unease prickled at the back of my neck.
<
“Just being cautious,” I muttered, quickening my pace until I reached Alpha271s bunks.
The general sounds of Andri’s building’s internal systems vibrated faintly through the walls as I stepped inside. The corridors here were pristine, every surface polished to reflect the academy’s unyielding standards of excellence. My boots echoed against the tiled floor as I approached room 421.
The door slid open as I keyed in the visitor pass, revealing Andri hunched over his personal terminal. The small space was as meticulously kept as I’d expected. His bunk was regulation-perfect, the sheets crisp and taut. A pristine uniform hung neatly by the door, and his desk held nothing but the terminal and a single stylus. The sterile scent of standard-issue cleaning solution hung in the air, sharp and clinical.
“Do you live here, or is this part of the academy museum?” I muttered, leaning against the desk as he typed commands into his terminal.
“Some of us like order, Argassa,” he said without looking up. “You should try it sometime. Might help with your whole ‘chaotic genius’ vibe.”
“Funny,” I said, crossing my arms. “I prefer ‘resourceful innovator.’”
Andri snorted, but there was no real humor in it this time. His focus stayed locked on the screen as the footage began rendering. The grainy image sharpened layer by layer, resolving into the hooded figure. The metallic vial was unmistakable.
“There,” Andri said, pointing at the screen. “They dropped it near the staff table and left.”
“Rewind,” I said. “I want to see where they came from.”
He obliged, dragging the footage back several minutes. The figure entered the mess hall through the side entrance, moving with purpose. They kept their head down, avoiding the main serving lines and slipping past the staff unnoticed.
“They knew exactly what they were doing,” I said, narrowing my eyes at the screen. “No hesitation. No wasted time.”
“They weren’t a cadet,” Andri said firmly. His jaw was set, eyes hard with certainty. “Look at the way they move—trained, professional.”
“You mean like Rob is?”
I didn’t answer that. It wasn’t my place too.
“Look,” he said, his voice dropped. “I knew something was off from the start of this term. Beta271 weren’t on the boards till Rob and Kerry joined them. Then slowly they lost their reserves and that last guy... Ackers well, he was a mess.”
“You really suspected they were planted?”
He tapped the side of his head. “Till you came along, yeah. You I can’t weigh up at all.”
“Ahh,” I said and tried to deflect. “Could be someone from outside the academy.”
Andri paused the footage, his jaw tightening. “Or someone who wanted to look like they were from outside.”
That thought sent a chill down my spine. If this person was connected to the academy, it meant the sabotage and poisoning weren’t random acts—they were part of something bigger. I felt the familiar tightening in my chest, the same sensation from the day Sylvk collapsed.
“You seem awfully sure about that,” I said, glancing at him. “What aren’t you telling me?”
He stilled, his fingers hovering over the keys. For a long moment, he didn’t respond, and I thought he was going to brush me off. But then he exhaled sharply, his shoulders slumping.
“I talked to my parents,” he admitted. “They confirmed what I’d already started to suspect. The poisoning wasn’t about Sylvk at all. It was about me.”
I frowned, my chest tightening. “Why would anyone target you?”
“It’s not me,” Andri said, leaning back in his chair. “It’s my family. My father’s been pushing reforms that threaten certain... interests. Contractors, private factions with too much to lose. We’ve been receiving threats for months. This is the latest in a long line.”
I stared at him, the pieces clicking into place. “And the sabotage? The power grid, the exams—it’s all connected, isn’t it?”
He nodded grimly. “The exams were the perfect cover. If they’d gone down, it would’ve been a public embarrassment for my family. And if the poisoning succeeded…” He trailed off, his jaw tightening. “Well, they wouldn’t have to worry about me anymore, would they?”
A cold knot formed in my stomach. I replayed the vial drop on my datapad, the figure’s deliberate movements taking on new significance. I said quietly. “It was a message.”
“Exactly,” Andri said. “And now it’s personal.”
The terminal beeped, drawing our attention back to the screen. Andri turned, his expression darkening as a name and photo appeared. The image was grainy but clear enough to make out a sharp jawline and cold, calculating eyes. The name beneath it was one I didn’t recognize, but Andri stiffened immediately.
“Harlen Macks,” he admitted. “He used to work security at my family’s estate. We fired him two years ago.”
“What for?” I asked.
“Embezzlement.” Andri’s fists clenched. “After, he sent threats to my father. Said we’d regret cutting him loose. My parents thought he was blowing off steam, but I knew better.”
“And now he’s here,” I said, my mind racing. “You think he’s the one behind all this?”
“If not him directly, he’s connected,” Andri said. “Macks doesn’t bluff, and he doesn’t forget.”
I leaned back against the desk, trying to process it all. The sabotage, the poisoning, the calculated attack on the academy—they were all threads leading back to Andri and his family. And now, with Macks in the picture, it was clear this wasn’t over.
“What do we do?” I asked finally.
Andri met my gaze, his expression cold and determined. “We stop him. Whatever it takes. However long it takes.”
***
I crawled into my bunk not long after leaving Andri’s. My mind churned with everything he’d revealed—faces and fragments of conversations replaying on endless loop. Someone had systematically targeted the academy, endangered my team, and they were still out there. I double-checked my door lock, an old habit from too many unstable foster homes.
“Doli, alert me if anyone approaches my door tonight.”
<
Sleep felt impossible, the weight of responsibility pressing down on me. If Andri was right, this wasn’t over. Far from it. And my team was caught in the crossfire of something much bigger than academy rivalries. I needed a distraction, something to quiet my mind enough to function tomorrow.
“Think I can do the whole course?”
<
“Same rule applies then—”
<
“Thanks, Doli.”
The text boxes came up and I read, letting the academic material wash over me. Maybe focusing on xenobiology would quiet the unease gnawing at my gut.
This course is a hybrid of biology, sociology, and strategy, preparing cadets for encounters with alien species. It focuses on understanding alien physiology, culture, and communication styles to ensure effective diplomacy and mutual respect in interstellar interactions.
Lesson Outline:
Week 1: Foundations of Xenobiology Study of alien anatomies: comparative biology between species. Understanding physiological differences and their implications for communication. Lab Exercise: Analyzing holographic alien specimens
Week 2-4: Cultural Dynamics Exploring the social hierarchies and rituals of various alien species. Case studies of first-contact missions: successes and failures. Simulation Exercise: Diplomacy scenarios requiring cultural sensitivity.
Week 5-6: Advanced Communication Tactics Non-verbal communication methods: signals, postures, and bio-luminescence. Overcoming linguistic barriers with adaptive technology. Simulation Exercise: Negotiating a peace treaty under tense conditions.
Week 7-8: Practical Application and Testing Multi-species interaction drills, testing cadets’ ability to adapt to unexpected behavior. Final Assignment: A simulated first-contact mission where cadets must navigate a cultural misunderstanding.
Core Activities: Hands-on dissection labs and holographic studies of alien anatomy. Mock first-contact scenarios, complete with unpredictable alien behaviors. Case studies analyzing the complexities of interstellar relations.
Key Lesson: “Understanding culture is as important as understanding biology. Respect can save lives.”
I had no idea when I fell asleep, but I must have. As consciousness returned, fragments of alien communication protocols mixed with Andri’s warnings in my mind, creating a disorienting fog.
There was something bugging me about the lessons though.
“Where did I get too?”
<
“That good?”
<
“There has to be a better way to do this as a data transfer.” I noodled. “Maybe it’s something we can work at when you’re all fixed?”
<
I was able to put my finger on it, like fog wafting away, my mind cleared. “Ahh, nothing off Doctor Francine yet?”
<
“Curious,” I said. “I would have contacted me if something were wrong though, no?”
<>
Andri’s words still lingered in my mind like a persistent ache, and I felt like I’d hardly slept. Whoever this man, Harlen Macks was working for—if it wasn’t him orchestrating it all outright—had planned every move with surgical precision. The thought that my team was caught in the middle made my stomach clench.
I didn’t have time for second-guessing, not with everything hanging in the balance. After a day at the academy, doing Zero-G drills, by the time I arrived at the lab, Ashley was already there, her hair tied back, and an array of tools scattered across the workstation. The glow of Doli-2’s core monitor pulsed faintly on the adjacent console.
“You look like hell,” Ashley said without looking up. She soldered a small circuit board with a deftness that made her work look more like an art form than engineering.
“Thanks,” I muttered, dropping my bag next to the desk. “Long day.”
Ashley shot me a knowing glance. “Andri?”
“This time it’s serious.” I hesitated, unsure how much to share. Trust was in short supply, even with Ashley, though she had been nothing but loyal. “Harlen Macks. Ever heard the name?”
Her hands stilled for a fraction of a second, and then she continued working. “Sounds familiar.” She frowned slightly, setting down her soldering iron. “Defense contractor connections, if I’m remembering right. What about him?”
So she did know something. I felt a small flicker of relief—and caution. “He’s ex-security for the Boutack Family. Andri’s family fired him a couple of years ago, and now he’s... here.”
Ashley’s brow furrowed, her full attention on me now. “Here? As in the academy?”
I nodded. “And he’s tied to the sabotage and the poisoning—it’s all connected. He’s methodical, Ashley. And he’s really after Andri.”
Her expression darkened, and she leaned back in her chair, crossing her arms. “Why Andri?”
“His family’s reforms are rattling cages. Contractors, private factions... Andri’s father is painting a target on their backs, and Andri’s caught in the crossfire.”
Ashley let out a slow breath, her fingers drumming against her arm. “The Boutack reforms. I’ve heard rumblings in officer circles. They’re threatening to cut several long-standing military contracts.” Her eyes narrowed. “That makes this much more serious than academy politics.”
I nodded, relieved that she understood the implications immediately. “So what’s the plan? We’re not sitting on this, are we?”
I shook my head. “No. First, we’re digging deeper. Doli-2’s upgrades...” I gestured to the glowing core. “They’re going to help us trace his movements and connections. If Macks is working with someone inside, we need to know who. And we need to know fast.”
Ashley straightened, her resolve clear in the set of her jaw. “Then let’s get to work.”
The hours passed in a blur of data streams and rapid-fire commands. While we worked on Doli-2, Ashley set Doli’s algorithms to comb through the academy’s network for anything tied to Macks’ name, past or present. Then she pored over personnel records and security logs. The deeper we dug, the more disturbing the picture became.
“Got something,” Ashley said finally. “Macks wasn’t just ex-security. He’s been listed as a consultant for at least three private firms in the last two years. One of them, Altiris Systems, has a direct contract with the academy.”
My stomach twisted. “Altiris Systems? What’s their contract?”
Ashley tapped a few keys, pulling up a dossier. “Cybersecurity. They’re the ones who monitor and manage the academy’s grid infrastructure.”
“Of course they are,” I muttered, my hands clenching. “And let me guess—they’ve got access to the entire network?”
“Full access,” Ashley confirmed. “If Macks still has connections there, he could be moving through the system unnoticed.”
Before I could respond, Doli’s voice broke through the silence.
<
“Show me,” I said, stepping to her console.
A series of timestamps and access points scrolled across the screen. One name stood out among the rest: Harlen Macks.
<
“What the hell was he doing in maintenance?” Ashley said, leaning over my shoulder. I could feel the tension radiating from her, mirroring my own.
“Planting something, no doubt,” I replied. “Or preparing his next move.”
Doli interrupted again. <
Ashley’s eyes widened. “You’re saying he’s been setting this up for months?”
<
I slammed my fist on the desk, frustration and fear churning in my gut. “He’s playing us. Every move has been calculated, every piece set in place. And we’ve been two steps behind the whole time.”
Ashley placed a hand on my arm, grounding me. Her touch was firm, steady. “But now we know, and we’re watching, so is the academy.”
“You mean?”
“We have to let the real security teams do their jobs.”
“What about my team?” My voice came out sharper than intended, raw with the fear I’d been suppressing since hearing Andri’s revelation.
“You do what you’re here for, and so will they. They’ll protect Andri from the inside.” Her eyes held mine, confident and reassuring.
I frowned. “You’re sure?”
She squeezed my arm. “I’m sure. We need to let this play out. Macks won’t make a move again so soon. He’ll be waiting for another peak opportunity.”
<
I stared at the screen, at Macks’ access logs illuminated in cold blue light. My team was in danger, Andri was a target, and someone with academy access was helping make it happen. The muscles in my jaw tightened as determination replaced fear.
“Creative works both ways,” I said quietly. “They’ve been predicting our moves. Time we start predicting theirs.”
Ashley nodded, a glint of approval in her eyes. “Now you’re thinking like a strategist.”
I wasn’t going to let them hurt my team. Not again. Not ever.