Dana Cartwright Mission 1: Stiletto (27 page)

If you can’t face your own guardian, how are you ever going to face the EVA-Stress Evaluation Module?
 

Dana shook her head. DOC’s bark was worse than a no-win scenario.

After reviewing his message, she realized hers was an emotional reaction, and she really needed to assume the Galaxean response of being logical and unemotional.
 

She replayed the message. DOC was especially terse. He was forwarding to her academy apartment a gift from the MCE staff that Doctor Calagura thought she would appreciate. It should arrive in a few days. The bigger surprise was that he made no comment about her decision to join the Star Service.
 

“I’ve only crashed three times,” Korwin boasted, as he left his flight simulator.

“Might be your eyes, Korwin. May take some time for you to fully integrate your new left eye,” she counseled.

He sighed. “Oh, yes, that could be it. How’d you do?”

Dana looked down. “My first attempt was hardly newsworthy. I barely got off the shuttle deck.”

“Well, that’s pretty good for a beginner,” Korwin assured. “I’ve been flying since I was ten! I should have aced it. I don’t care for the F-series shuttles. They’re so awkward compared to Alphan ships.”

Korwin sensed her dejection. “Want me to coach you?”

Dana sighed. “There’s not much time today. I have to go to the dojo for my first session.”

Korwin winked. “You’ll do fine. Trust me.”

She shook her head. “I don’t know.”

They walked together to the log-out station, which stored their scores.

“The Galaxean twins are going to ace us on the simulators,” Korwin giggled, “but that’s okay. We’ll catch up.”

She shrugged. “I don’t know. I want to fly, but it feels so different. I thought it would be more like… Well, like flying gliders.”

“Oh, hardly… Gliders are hands-on — a whole different animal,” Korwin said, but asked, “Is something else wrong?”

She nodded. “My former colleagues sent me a gift. It’s a statue of Icarus.”
 

“So why the frown? Who’s Icarus?”

“In ancient Earth mythology, Icarus was a boy who had wings made of wax. He disobeyed his father’s orders and flew too close to the sun, which melted the wax, and he died.”

Korwin blinked. “Ouch! Kind of a gloomy myth.”

Dana nodded. “I think they think I’ll fail.”

“Oh, no, you won’t. I won’t let you!” Korwin promised, “We’re a team. Right?”

Dana nodded.
 

“Come on… Let’s have a light meal before going to the dojo. You’ll need the energy.” Korwin led her to the student union and they settled down with bowls of soup and small cheese sandwiches.

Subconsciously, however, Dana kept glancing about watching their classmates. They all seemed to be keeping their distance. There were two older students who seemed to be paying them particular attention.

Korwin noticed. “Don’t worry. Those two are my bodyguards.”

Dana sighed. “Oh…”

Dana liked the feel of the gi and being barefoot on the mat. The class consisted of four young women and one young boy. She was, obviously, the oldest, but not the smallest.

Korwin gave her a nod from the stands, sitting with a dozen or so watchers while the class took positions with the Sensei for the first time.

At first she had a hard time making her body assume the forms the Sensei showed them. And then she understood why. She needed a visual, a textbook image, or illustration. It was a brain, eye, hand, and body coordination issue.

After realizing her issue, she sat out a moment and looked through a picture book of the full form, memorizing the images. Then it all made sense and she took up the method and followed completely the Sensei’s directions.

After an hour and a half, the Sensei concluded the class and dismissed them. As the day before, students and watchers quickly left, leaving Dana and Korwin with the Master.

Korwin came and bowed to Nishada. “Sensei, Konnichiwa.”

Nishada bowed in response. “Prince Korwin, welcome. Your father is well?”

“Yes, Sensei. Thank you for asking.”

“You wish to come to classes, too?” Nishada asked with a grin.

“I…”

“Not for awhile, Korwin. You just had eye surgery,” Dana cautioned.

“I will, once my doctor approves.”

Nishada nodded. “You fended off a nasty attack.”

“I overreacted.” Korwin admitted, “Was caught off-guard.”

“So, you need to come for refresher?” Nishada wondered.

Korwin nodded. “I should.”

“Advanced class arrives now.”

Once again, Dana vetoed the idea. “Sensei, it is too soon after his eye surgery. At least a month before he should.”

“By then, you will be ready to join him.”

She shook her head, but Nishada assured, “You are a natural.”

Dana sank down next to Korwin on the bleachers as the next class took their positions with the sensei. Korwin was grinning. She took it as a good sign.

When the advanced students began their forms, she focused, empathetically knowing the body movements, feeling deep inside the calm and the power. At the break, she and Korwin slipped out to the lobby.

“I can do this,” Dana decided.

Korwin nodded agreement.

She commented on his grin. “Your demeanor has certainly improved.”

He showed her a message on his padlet.

“’Apartment idea approved. Good you have a worthy friend. Kord.’ It’s from my father,” Korwin appended though she had guessed as much.

“Great! Come over and take a look at 12-C, next door to mine. We would share a patio.”
 

Dana requested a transfer for two and they materialized in the lobby. The robotic droid was there, polishing wood surfaces. Dana took the lead and asked the maintenance droid to show Korwin the apartment. They all rode up in the lift together and moved down the hallway on the 12th floor to the door of the vacant apartment, though the oversized tub led inside the furnished studio.

Korwin was in awe. “Space! Whoa! What a difference from my cramped dorm room!” He waltzed around, already sold on the place. “This is great!”

Dana asked the important questions, like when the carpeting would be cleaned and when he could move in. The robot responded with acceptable answers. Monday.

Korwin agreed to that. “That gives me three days. I can have my stuff ready in a heartbeat.”

Dana chuckled. She led him out to the balcony and showed him the view, and how only a potted plant separated the patio.
 

As he peeked in the window, he fretted, “Are you sure you want me next door? I…”

She just smiled, “I want you next door, Korwin, or I would not have suggested it. And,” she added, “I really like having a friend to make sure I’m not late in the morning.”

He had a good laugh but grew very serious. “Dana, I really appreciate having you as a friend. And thank you so much for saving my eyesight.”

“I’m just glad I was there, Korwin, and that my specialty is eyes.”

“Well, I’m even more determined now. I want to be a doctor — an eye doctor!”

Korwin MAT’d back to the dorm and the robot returned to the building lobby. Dana settled down in her living room with a cup of green tea, still wearing her gi, feeling very satisfied with her accomplishments over the first week at Academy.
 

As she closed her eyes, she could now see the complete aikido form start to finish. Her muscles would, of course, require strengthening, but years of swimming and physical fitness would payoff.

As for Quayle’s other suggestion about enlisting in the marksmanship course for small arms, she would propose to Korwin that they join the campus team. Perhaps he could coach her on certified weapons; and it would help his eyes to stabilize.

Dana sighed and set her tea aside, getting her padlet and calling up texts on post-implant neurological issues. A paper by a renowned physician from the Galaxean Science Academy indicated that such an imbalance could only be overcome by repeated eye exercises.

Excited by the prospect, Dana went to her viewer and called to Korwin.

“Excellent idea, Dana! I bet we can even challenge the hand-to-hand combat requirement and take the advanced firearms training. That’ll put us way ahead of the twins.”

Dana wasn’t so much concerned with getting ahead of the twins, but she wanted to attain the required certifications to fly.

“Flight school is my primary goal,” she reminded. “Whatever it takes to graduate.”

He nodded. “Well, medical school is mine. The sooner we both complete the required classes, the sooner we can move up to complete our goals.”

“Agreed.”

“Tomorrow, we can fly together on the simulators as a team. If you pilot and I co-pilot, we should be able to pick up our scores. The twins have been flying together for years, so they have the advantage.”

Dana agreed. “Okay, you’re on!” She matched his infectious grin. “Good night, PK.”

“Good night, DD.”

Flying tandem on the simulators gave Dana the confidence and support she needed to request her solo flight test. She had to complete one hundred hours with a certified pilot first, however. Korwin admitted he qualified, since he had his pilot’s license for nearly three years.

He taught her things not in the manuals — which she had memorized — and he stressed what not to do. He also hinted at what the instructors would grade on.

“I took all three levels because my older brother wanted me to tag along on longer flights and be his relief.”

Dana grinned at him. “You’ve sure done a lot in your nineteen years.”

He shrugged. “Being an ambassador’s son and grandson has advantages — and disadvantages. I’ve never had a best friend — even in the early years.”

“I was much the same, Korwin, but it was okay. I knew I was…different. And though DOC sent me to all the best schools, I was always the oddity.”

“One in three million… Yeah, that’s why I started wearing the colored lens.” Korwin pointed to the instruments, reminding Dana to correct altitude and heading. “I used to build things and do science experiments. Nearly lost my eyebrows one time, playing alchemist.” He chuckled. “But I resigned myself to being a bit of a freak.”

“Hardly, Korwin. We have a gift.”

“We do?”

“We just don’t know yet how it will manifest. I studied medicine because DOC said I had the scores for it. You have to want it and you do. I was just obeying my guardian.”

Korwin guided her through a perfect landing and they logged their best scores ever. “We make a good team.”

Dana thought about that; how it might be if he studied medicine and they assisted each other on surgeries. She also thought about the reverse — how good it would be to have Korwin as a flying partner.

“Infinite possibilities,” she mumbled.

He chuckled. “Going all Galaxean on me?”

“Not exactly. Alphans have a mystical bent, kind of like Galaxeans and Betelgeans. Do Enturians?”

“I’m not really sure. Guess you’d need to visit with Brettes or Hale,” Korwin suggested. “Bet my father would recommend Hale, because she was the Master Captain. Visiting with Major Brandenberg and Doctor Tracy might…”

“Great idea,” Dana exclaimed, “let’s get the permissions.”

“Well, I’m not… You might need to do that alone. They won’t speak freely in front of an Alphan -- especially not an Alphan ambassador’s son.”

He led to the front of the building. “Ready for lunch?”

“Sure.” Dana slung her med-kit across her body and fell into step alongside her friend. “Maybe you’re right. At the reception, Doctor Tracy certainly seemed apprehensive to discuss things with me.”

“I noticed that. And though I tried to distract the Elder Brettes, Tracy wouldn’t take you aside.”

Dana agreed, “Not sure why.”

“He’s lecturing at Station One tonight,” Korwin asked, “Are you going?”

Dana froze in place. “Korwin?”

He stopped walking and turned to face her. “Didn’t you know? It’s been listed on the roster since Orientation. I thought you…”

She shook her head. “I left my Orientation packet at your place. Darn… I wonder if I can get permission?”

“There’s a counselor at the union. Let’s go see.” He led inside and up to the information desk, where a young Star Service volunteer was busy studying linguistics of Ancient Earth.

“Counselor Myrtis,” Korwin called, reading her name badge.

The young brunette smiled back. “How may I help you?”

Dana explained about the lecture at Station One.

Myrtis accessed her viewer and announced, “There are four seats remaining.”

Dana looked to Korwin. “We’ll take two.”

The counselor entered their names then reminded, “MAT up to One early to avoid the rush.”

Korwin nodded. “We could go now and troll the shuttle deck…”

“Then grab some lunch at the cafe…” Dana grinned.

“Thank you, Counselor…”

“My pleasure.”

Their cadet uniforms blended in with the Star Service personnel, but knowing the layout of the base gave them even more anonymity.

Korwin found a viewport and pointed out to Dana some of the various crafts. “I do like Alphan models best though.”

Dana pointed to one of the F models. “Hey! That’s Captain Takio’s just coming in!”

“Do you know him?” He squinted and groaned. “How can you tell it’s his?”

“The number… He brought me to Academy.”

“Let’s go visit,” Korwin said, grumbling as they rode the lift down to the shuttle deck. “Gee, my eyes still aren’t focusing at that distance.”

Once the deck signal for the ‘all clear’ was given, they crossed to the F-class shuttle. A security detail scrutinized them.

“Hey, you two! State your business?” A burly lieutenant ordered. “Cadets aren’t allowed down here!”

“We’re visiting Captain Takio,” Dana assured.

The security officers scowled and let them pass.

Takio heard the commotion and came out to meet them, happily greeting Dana, “Doctor Cartwright!”

Another man stepped from the shuttle at the mention.

Dana stiffened. “DOC?”

Her guardian scowled back at her. “Doctor Cartwright.”

Korwin stiffened, too.