Short Chapter Followed By A Loooong One

[anonymoose_au]

Chapter Ten

Sector 752, Quadrant Gamma, Feld Asteroid Field, Durvon, Time Agency Headquarters
5079
Agency Year 104

Marek knew the big one was coming…from where he wasn’t entirely sure, but it was definitely coming…

He thought he heard something, the tiniest sound…

Whirling on his heel, he raised his gun and fired.

“Target destroyed…Level completed…Accuracy one hundred precent.” A computerised voice announced.

Marek grinned broadly and held his hands up as if to stop riotous applause, even though this really wasn’t an applause kind of place.

As he left the Training Room he found Maddy looking nervous as always wringing his hands.

“Oi, why the long face?” Marek gave him a nice slap on the back. “I kicked its arse! You heard all that didn’t you?”

Maddy just nodded vaguely and Marek rolled his eyes. He knew well and good that Maddy didn’t want him here, he kept on sprouting crap about it being too dangerous about him not being ‘suitable’ for the job of Time Agent.

Marek could safely say after the past few days that that was a load of shit. Apparently because he didn’t have any alien ancestors or fancy-smancy genetic modifications done that he was somehow inferior to the Time Agents who had come through before.

Madison had told him all this, told him he should go back to Earth, settle down somewhere and act like all the other humans who found themselves stuck on that planet.

But Marek wasn’t having any of it, it was complete crap, he could do as well if not better than anyone else who took these tests.

And so far he’d proven it! It had been surprisingly easy to learn how to shoot. Seemed it wasn’t all that different to firing those laser guns back in Grange, not that he particularly wanted to think about that. But still it had put him in good stead for this test.

There was an alien who oversaw all the tests, a cute little number with orange skin and four arms. Marek wasn’t entirely sure if it was male or female, it just went by the name Osctok.

Osctok was waiting at the end of the hallway, holoboard in hand, lips pursed in thought.

“Went pretty good didn’t I?” Marek came up to her - him - with a smirk on his face.

Osctok raised his – her – eyebrows at him. “So modest, Mr. Vane. Remember though, there’s more to this than simply pointing a gun and shooting….Although for someone who possesses no sixth sense or extra sensory organs your score is quite amazing.”

Marek preened.

But as Osctok said there was more to it, so far Marek had managed to pass the Espionage test, the Integration test and the Poisons test, though admittedly that one seemed to be dumb luck, none of that stuff had been poisonous, well, not to humans at least, must have been left over from the last guy. But Marek decided not to say anything and surprisingly Osctok hadn’t mentioned it either, so he figured he’d got a free pass on that one.

He’d obviously blitzed the Ambushing test, but according to Osctok the next few tests when involving writing shit down and answering common questions and crap like that. Written tests, Marek had always hated those damn things, but he supposed he didn’t have much of a choice but to endure them if he was going to get into the Time Academy (where cruelly, there’d be even more written tests…education on the whole was some sort of sadistic ritual that some people, somewhere must get their jollies off on.) and getting into that Academy was Marek’s goal in life.

So he’d actually studied, he’d got Maddy to hand over all the instruction manuals and what not – was that cheating? Well even if it was Marek didn’t care, seemed he had a handicap going into this thing, so really inside information was more of a…evening of the playing field.

As they reached the doors leading to the exam room, Marek looked up at Maddy with pleading eyes. “You going to wish me luck, at least? Come on, you should look at this as a chance for me to make you proud!”

Maddy sighed again. “Good luck, Marek,” he finally responded with an absolutely straight face.

As Marek entered through the double doors he had to wonder about Maddy, but perhaps the guy just missed his partner, certainly whenever Marek tried to bring up Harvey, Maddy would refuse to discuss the subject, not even if Marek begged!

But, no time to wonder about Harvey’s mysterious disappearance now, the holo screen on his desk lit up, the test was on!


The Overseers seemed to be both impressed and pissed off, the latter was normal, but the former was definitely something else.

They were going over Marek’s test results and making noises of disbelief the whole time.

Finally the holo screens were switched off and the Overseers trained their eyes on Madison.

“Impressive,” the Head Overseer finally pronounced fingers tapping on the table top.

“Very impressive,” another one spoke up, “and unexpected,” he added, gaze boring into Madison’s. “Did you have anything to do with this, Agent? Gave him a few tips perhaps?” The tone was accusatory.

Madison shook his head. “I provided him with documentation, but nothing another cadet would have been able to get.”

The Overseers looked sceptical and Madison felt the uncomfortable sensation of someone probing his mind.

Finally, the sensation stopped and an Overseer with an ever changing hue said to the others. “No sign of deception.”

There was grumbling among the Overseers as they considered their options.

“Test score as high as this usually call for automatic acceptance,” the Head Overseer began slowly, “but this is not a usual case…full-blooded humans pose challenges. Weaker, slower, lacking in stamina.”

“Although this particular full-blood might be an exception to the rule,” another Overseer spoke, a wry smirk on his face. “If the speed tests are any indication.”

“And there’s the immunity issue,” the Overseer with the changing skin hue spoke up. “That’s something we could definitely use to our advantage.”

There were general sounds of agreement and Madison knew then that there was going to be an exception made for Marek, which was exactly what the kid had been praying for.

Madison though, feared the kid would live to regret it.


Marek bounced on his toes before returning to pacing, he couldn’t sit still at the best of times and certainly not now when Maddy was set to return with news about whether he’d been accepted or not.

Not that he had any doubt that he would be, not really, but he wanted to get the word officially!

He checked the clock on the wall, Maddy had said something about being back by five-thirty – it was kind of funny that time was the same up here, so far away from Earth – but it was all ready a quarter to six! What was taking the guy so long?

Marek flopped onto the couch and jiggled his legs impatiently.

“Come oooon,” he whined, as if expecting that to conjure Maddy up.

But no luck there, Marek was just going to have to wait, although he thought about going hunting for Maddy in the Agency building, but it was pretty much impossible to actually get into the place. No wonder the security between the sectors was non-existent! Or maybe someone had heard about him sneaking in from the Hospital Sector.

It sucked either way.

Finally after what seemed like hours, but was really only one, the door slid open and there was Maddy!

Marek leapt half way across the room in a single bound and grabbed onto Maddy’s coat. “What took you so long? I was gonna send a search party!”

It was then he noticed Maddy wasn’t smiling and Marek almost panicked. “Oh shit, don’t tell me they rejected me?! They couldn’t have!”

Maddy held up his hand. “No, no, you got in.”

Marek’s eyes widened and then he leapt into the air with a huge cheer.

“Yeeees! Go me! Go meeeee!” Marek grabbed hold of Maddy’s hands and attempted to turn him around in a circle, but the guy wasn’t having any of it.

Marek pouted. “Aren’t you happy for me?”

Maddy cleared his throat. “I’m just not sure…you don’t seem to understand how difficult it is to be a Time Agent. It takes four years just get through the Academy and there’s no guarantee you’ll even –“

Marek waved a hand. “I’ll make it,” he said dismissively, then grinned. “But what? You don’t think I can do it? Hmpf! Thanks for the vote of confidence!”

Maddy had the decency to look embarrassed, he cleared his throat. “It’s not that I don’t believe you can do it Marek, it’s just…I’m not sure you want to do it.”

If Maddy was trying to put him off, it wasn’t going to work! Marek had his heart set on this and he’d succeed!

“I’ll breeze through! With you as my roommate I can’t go wrong can I?” He winked, that was quite the side benefit.

But Maddy rained on that parade. “No, you won’t, all cadets live in the Academy sector and it’s unlikely you’ll have any contact with me at all.”

Marek frowned. “What? But you’re a friend of mine!” Just the thought of it made Marek feel lonely! He’d been lonely back on Earth for all those months and he didn’t want to ever feel like that again. Sure Maddy was hardly a barrel of laugh, but the fact remained…

“I can call you though, right?” He finally said, a smile spreading across his face.

“Not during class time…the life of a Time Cadet is strict, no outside calls.”

Marek pouted, Goddesses! What a bunch of killjoys!

Oh well, he decided, I’ll figure out something.

Nothing was going to quell his enthusiasm.

He rubbed his hands together and gave Maddy a big grin. “So, when do I report for boot camp?”

Maddy gave that smile he always gave at moments like this, Marek had the feeling he was been gently mocked by the man.

“First of September, typical school terms.”

“Hmmm,” Marek murmured to himself, well that was good news, he’d be able to celebrate his birthday (just seven weeks away now!) with his buddies at the pub before been sent away to some terrible fun-free building for four years – if Maddy wasn’t exaggerating.

Well, at the very least, if typical school terms were involved he’d get break time!


“To Marek!” Lee got to her feet and held up her glass, spilling a few drops of hypervodka in the process. “And his exciting career-to-be!”

“To Marek!” The pub fairly shook with voice and at the centre of it all was Marek.

The Agency was, of course, a big aspect of Durvon, but it was pretty low-key, those not involved with the place seemed not to have any idea of what actually went on there.

The enrolment information Marek had been sent had a code of secrecy clause, the Agency’s actual activities had to be kept under wraps any breach and enrolment would immediately be cancelled.

Maddy had all but drilled into Marek the importance of keeping to this clause and Marek had agreed to, though he failed to see how the Head Honchos would know if he broke the rules. But Maddy had been so serious, Marek had decided not to risk it.

So, all anyone knew was that Marek Vane was off to the base on Durvon for some serious study and a glittering career. Marek liked the mystery angle quite a bit and played it up to Aitik and Juzof.

They of course, were rather upset that the relationship was coming to an end, at least that’s what Marek hoped! Not that they’d be devastated or anything, but that they would at least miss him.

And so they would and told him so, between snogs and Marek would miss them too! Maybe, he could sneak off the base for secret rendezvous or something. That’d be pretty exciting!

Maddy had also been invited to the party and he had shown up, but by the time the toasts had begun he was nowhere to be seen! Really how rude! Marek was slightly put out.

He supposed Maddy had his reasons, although he’d be kicking himself when he found out he’d missed…Karaoke!

Marek had, admittedly, never seen Maddy sing, but he was sure he’d love it! Who didn’t? Maybe Marek could set up karaoke nights at the Academy! If it was everything Maddy said it was, fun like that was definitely needed.

As holo screens popped up, ready for the first person up on stage, Aitik grabbed one of Marek’s arms and Juzof the other.

“C’mon! Birthday Boy first! Plus we want to hear your dulcet tones.”

Marek grinned and gave them both a wink. “Well, since you asked so nicely!”

Together they hurried up on stage and got to singing some modern song, Marek had to admit that the older stuff was way better. Technology and machinery might have sucked, but damn they knew how to write a tune.

Yep, definitely needed to be karaoke at the Academy.

Sector 752, Quadrant Gamma, Feld Asteroid Field, Durvon, Time Academy
5080
Agency Year 105


Registration Day! Marek had never been to one before and certainly not for a school like this. There were aliens and people everywhere! He couldn’t turn around without bumping into someone.

He looked about wondering exactly what to do, Maddy had said something about lining up at the desk with the first letter of his last name above it. But he couldn’t see any lines and just about everyone seemed to be taller than him! Even standing on tip-toes didn’t seem to help.

Finally, he just decided to ask, English seemed to be the primary language here anyway.

He reached out and tapped the first person he saw on the shoulder. “Hey ‘cuse me, can you tell me where the ‘V’ line is?”

The guy whose shoulder he tapped looked down his nose at Marek.

“Well, what are you doing here, diddums? Lose your way?”

Marek blinked, how rude! “I’m enrolling at the Academy,” he did his best to look as tall as he could.

The guy, whoever he was, laughed derisively. “Suuuure, how ‘bout you turn around and go back to your Mama?”

Marek growled, he didn’t know what the Hell this guy’s problem was, but he didn’t need to take it out on him.

“Oooo, baby’s got teeth then?” The guy smirked.

And a second later the smirk was wiped right off his face as Marek lashed out with a fist.

It caught the guy right in the chin and sent him reeling.

Marek gave a happy laugh, he may be short, but he could hit with the best of them!

The guy wasn’t going to give up without a fight though, which Marek had no trouble giving him. He jumped out of the way as the guy launched himself at him.

Marek brought his elbow down in the middle of the guy’s back as he sailed past.

“You rotten little –“ the guy managed to groan and then slowly got to his feet and turned around going for Marek again.

Pretty soon a group was circled around them, cheering and egging them on.

Marek laughed, this was fun! He took another swing at the guy’s face.

The guy, of course, didn’t seem to find it quite so fun, but probably because he was losing.

Finally, with a hard uppercut to the guy’s jaw the guy crumbled to the floor.

For his trouble, Marek got a round of applause and even a pat on the back!

“Right, thank you,” Marek played it up, even waving and then turned to the nearest person. “So where’s the ‘V’ line then, hmmm?”

This time he didn’t get any trouble and was directed right there.

Once he’d registered and flirted with the lovely looking alien at the table handed him a holo key, which displayed a room number, obviously for his room.

But the lovely alien didn’t directing him right there, so that was an invitation to look around if there ever was one.

The Academy was huge, corridors, leading everywhere and all sorts of intriguing room names, The Octazone, The Fieldium, The Telepathizium, but unfortunately he couldn’t get into of them! Unfair!

And his room wasn’t what he’d expected after seeing Maddy and Harvey’s suite of rooms.

It was tiny! With bunks, one desk and there didn’t even seem to be a holo-screen!

There’s wasn’t much Marek could do about it though and he certainly wasn’t going to go complain. At the very least he’d got here before his roommate and he tossed his small bag onto the top bunk and then looked around in case there was a holo screen and it was just secreted away somewhere.

Nope, definitely no sign…Marek hopped up the ladder to the top bunk and tested the mattress, it was nice and comfy at least.

Lying back, Marek folded his hands behind his head and stared up at the ceiling, wondering who his roommate was going to be…He hoped it was some sexy and funny!

After a few moments of day dreaming there was the sound of the door of the room sliding open. Marek quickly sat up to see who it was.

And then he laughed.

Oh dear…oh dear! It was the guy he’d just beaten the crap out of!


Classes didn’t start for a few more days, which gave everyone time to get know everyone else, which Marek thought was fabulous!

It was brilliant! Being around all these different people and aliens, but it didn’t take Marek long to realise there was something different about him, compared to all the others.

For one thing there was his height, which he had sort of noticed before in the pub and in Durvon generally, but no-one there had made a big deal out of it.

But the cadets certainly did! By the second day there were a litany of nicknames from ‘shorty’ to ‘midget’ and things in all sort of alien’s languages that Marek didn’t have a hope of being able to pronounce.

It was bloody annoying! But Marek decided to shake it off, if that was the worst thing he had to put up with here, he had a good thing going!

Then they started on the hair.

Marek’s hair was admittedly kind of funny looking, what with the extreme curliness and it was puffy besides! It formed a sort of…circle around his head. Aitik and Juzof and a whole bunch of others though had thought it was totally cute!

Not his fellow cadets it seemed, or if they did they decided it was still fun to tease him about it.

And of course, when that didn’t get much of a rise out of him, they took to calling him ‘diddums’ which considering how Marek had reacted when his roommate had called him that, seemed to be with the express purpose to make him want to punch whoever said it.

Marek though, steered clear of punching everyone in the face most of the time…unless they were being really annoying about it.

And he’d also found some new friends and when classes began Marek didn’t have to sit all by himself.

The introductory lesson was conducted by a niiice looking alien woman. She wore glasses and had what appeared to be long black hair, but maybe it was something else because it seemed to move by itself.

“I welcome you all to the Time Academy,” the woman also had the most lyrical voice…instantly everyone was on their edge of their seats to make sure they heard every word. “We have a lot of cadets here, but I must inform you all that, unfortunately, only twenty percent of you will make it through to third year. But you can only do your best,” she gave a glittering smile that made her words easy to take. In fact, it took a moment for Marek to realise exactly what she had just said.

Not make it?! Only twenty percent?! I sure as Hell aren’t gonna be part of that group!

The woman continued. “Now, theoretical classes will begin tomorrow, practical lessons next week, which I’m sure you’ll enjoy.”

Normally, there would have been a fair bit of grumbling about the fact there even were classes, even though it was an Academy and all. The woman seemed to have some sort of strange power over them all.

“Now, I hope you’re all enjoying yourselves, getting to know your roommates and fellow cadets. Might I remind you, though, that fighting is strictly forbidden, as is skipping lessons, taking equipment from any of the training rooms and of course you need to wake up, go to bed and attend meals at the appropriate time.”

Once again, what normal would have caused a whole lot of cat calling and hissing was met with only the sound of people shifting in their seats.

The woman gave them one last glittering smile before they were dismissed and despite the fact she had told them things they hadn’t wanted to hear, everyone hoped to Hell she’d be teaching a class they were in.


To Marek’s great disappointment he didn’t get to have a class with the memorising woman. Apparently only certain types of human or alien could attend telepathic training.

Which turned out to be most of the cadets, in fact there were only ten others along Marek and they were all alienoid.

Which in Marek’s opinion wasn’t so bad, it gave him a whole new bunch of friends!

“What do you think is going on there?” Gret, a pink jelly-ish alien with cute eyes and the ability to create as many arms as she wanted or none at all, nodded vaguely in the direction of the classroom where the Telepathic Training classes went on.

“Reading peoples minds obviously,” Keith – at least that was the name he went by seeing as he was Killoran – rolled his eyes, his ears flopping.

“Duh,” with a smirk Gret made an arm appear and reach out and goose Keith.

“Hey!”

Marek giggled. “I don’t think we’re missin’ much,” he declared, at least that’s what he’d decided on. “I mean like you can’t tell what people are thinking anyway.”

Luon gave a loud laugh. “Oh come on, Vane, you really think you can do that?”

“Sure!” Marek turned to him and stared at him for a good second. “I can tell you think I’m just bullshitting.”

Luon rolled his eyes. “Oh well of course…But I mean without talking to me.”

“Sure I could!” Marek folded his arms. “And not just you! Anyone, s’all a matter of concentrating on body language.”

“The only body language you concentrate are ones that lead to a shag.”

Marek shrugged. “Well, hey, who wouldn’t?”

Luon smirked and strolled over grabbing Marek by the arms and pulling him in for a kiss.

“You two!” Gret made two arms appear, they reached out and pulled the two of them apart.

“Hey!”

“You two aren’t hot enough to have an audience.” Gret laughed.

Luon and Marek looked at each other and Marek gave a huge pout before turning back. “We so are!”

Gret exchanged looks with the others in room. “Hmm, what are we thinking now then?”

Marek cocked an eyebrow and gave a smirk. “You’re thinking how unfortunate it is that there’s no cameras to film the sexiness, that’s why you stopped us. But don’t worry, you can have broadcast rights when Luon and I get around to it.” He gave Luon a wink.

Everyone else just shook their heads or head-like appendages at least… and then a ‘mind-reading’ game started up, which ended with Marek feeling rather vindicated because pretty much everyone could guess what others were thinking anyway.

Besides it was hard to care about missing out on telepathic lessons when the Weapons training began. During the test he’d only used one type of gun which he’d thought was pretty impressive, but now -!

Holy shit! There was so many guns…so many types, oh it was fabulous! Marek was never gonna get tired of this!

Although, apparently the people who ran this place seemed to take exception to using the gun training room outside of lesson hours as Marek discovered one evening.

And it wasn’t as if he’d gone shooting up the Academy or something, he was using the range and everything, but when one of the instructors caught him he was suddenly been dragged by the shirt collar to some strange little room.

Marek looked around and wondered if this was some sort of jail cell, but then a blue light appeared in front of him.

“Hello?” Marek leaned forward.

A rather mysterious looking figure appeared as a hologram.

“Cadet Vane,” it greeted him.

“Yeah?”

“You have been found accessing the Weapons Training Room without authorisation.”

“Well, yeah…I was just…uh…testin’ em out, you know…”

“Testing,” the figure’s voice was dripping with scepticism.

“Well I was! You got some great shit in there.”

The figure was not impressed. “Entering the Weapons Room without authorisation is an expellable offence Cadet Vane.”

“What?” Oh come on, that’s ridiculous!”

“You don’t seem to realise the seriousness of the situation you’re in Cadet, allow me to refresh your memory.” And the figure launched into a long diatribe about the rules, which now that they weren’t coming from a seductively sexy alien were just infuriating! There were just so bloody many! Hadn’t these guys ever heard of fun before? Goddesses!

Finally, the figure stopped blathering on and the door to the room slid open and Marek could finally escape.

Unfortunately the arsehole instructor was waiting and followed him all the way back to his room and shoved him back inside.

“I’ll be watching,” the instructor warned before the door slid shut and locked from the outside.

Marek kicked the door.

“What the fuck are you doing?” His roommate groaned sitting up and rubbing his eyes.

“Just checkin’ out the weapons,” Marek grumbled. “Fuckin’ instructor caught me!”

“You can’t go wandering about the Academy in the middle of the night, diddums.”

Marek growled. “Hey, I can still punch your face in.”

“Sensitive, aren’t you?”

Marek frowned, he supposed he was, but honestly, couldn’t they find something more offensive then his hair? It’s just hair!

He climbed up onto the top bag and flopped down. “Then I got thrown into some jail cell and a hologram told me off!”

His roommate rolled his eyes and lay back down. “Oh, the Overseers, they do that.”

“The whats?”

“Don’t tell me you don’t even know about them. How the fuck did you pass the tests to get in here?”

Marek looked over the edge of the bed and glared. “Oi! I scored the shit out of those things. Better then you did I bet.”

His roommate glared right back up at him. “You wish.”

Marek was supremely tempted to spit on him, but he decided he’d been in enough trouble tonight.

Goddesses, he needed a new roommate though.


Getting a new roommate was easier said then done, it seemed, really Marek would have thought asking was enough, especially since his roommate (whose name he really couldn’t bothered to learn) hated him just as much if not more.

But nope, apparently rules were rules here at the Academy and they couldn’t be bent…for anyone.

It didn’t take long for Marek to find a way to avoid his roommate though and even better it was fun.

Threesomes! In the almost two months, Marek had gained himself quite the reputation, well deserved he should think.

And even though the teasing was still going on, it was mostly in good fun and there certainly weren’t any complaints about his hair or his height after a night of sexy good times!

Luon and Keith were always a good port of call, so to speak, whenever ‘the roommate’ got too much of a pain in the arse.

That morning Marek had woken up somewhat squashed between Luon and the wall.

“Heeey,” Marek poked Luon in the side. “Move a bit, huh?”

Luon groaned and pulled a pillow over his head, but he did move his arse over.

Marek climbed over him and went hunting for his clothes, since there were sometimes room inspections so he had to get back to his just in case.

“Great time guys,” he said cheerfully as he pulled on his pyjama bottoms, knowing that they were asleep and not listening.

He left a holo message for them before tip toeing out and heading down the corridor to his own room.

Unfortunately for him, ‘the roommate’ was awake and greeted him with. “You’re a complete slut, you know that?”

Marek raised an eyebrow. “Please…jealous, are you?”

‘The roommate’ gave a snort of laughter. “Jealous? Frankly I can’t imagine how you manage to find a new one every night. You paying them or something.”

“Nope…that’s your department,” Marek smirked and headed towards his bunk.

But ‘the roommate’ red faced and spluttering had got to his feet and grabbed his arm.

“You take that back you little bastard.”

Marek yawned. “Oh please, we all know I can beat the shit out of you.”

His roommate gave him a slap across the face.

Well, that was all needed…Marek loved a good fight.

Of course the Overseers didn’t see that way and the two of them found themselves in trouble again.

Marek sighed. Although with any luck eventually the Overseers would see reason and find him someone more pleasant to room with.


There was one thing to be said about the Time Academy, it had its very own pub! On any one evening all the cadets were almost guaranteed to have passed through. And Marek could be guaranteed to be there every night.

It his personal opinion the pub was the least the cadets deserved especially considering the shit that passed for meals is this place.

This particular night two months into the school year, Marek and a group of first year cadets where at the usual spot at the bar and were busy taking shots of hypervodka.

Oh, how Marek loved hypervodka! He’d never get enough of it…as he turned around in his bar stool with his third glass of the night, he spotted something else…something that was maybe even better that hypervodka.

On the other side of the bar, a cadet…a gorgeous cadet.

Marek had met so many people, so many aliens, but none of them as gorgeous looking as that.

“Niiiiice…”

Which was a bit of understatement, but it was the first word that came to his mind.

He looked at his fellow cadets wondering if anyone else had noticed the guy not that Marek could imagine anyone not noticing…

The cadet next to him turned with a grin, licking his lips. “Like what you see, huh? Newest Time Cadet, just came in from Boeshane.”

“I have no idea where that is and I don’t care.” Marek shook his head. “That guy is shaggable!”

Everyone burst out laughing and the guy next to him almost pushed him off the stool.

“Oh please, don’t think for a second the ‘Face of Boe’ would stoop to your level.”

Marek glared back annoyed, Goddesses, the bloody height thing…Ordinarily that’d be grounds for a punch in the face, but Marek really couldn’t be bothered right now. He wanted to introduce himself to the handsome newcomer!

“Watch and learn,” he declared. “Gentlemen, observe the master at work.”

The cadet wasn’t looking his way, but Marek made sure to strut over, just for the benefit of everyone else in the pub, though he’d pretty much managed to shag everyone, always good to keep your options open.

“Hello, handsome,” Marek drawled taking the seat next to the new Cadet.

The cadet turned pretty blue eyes on him, stared for a moment or two then turned back to his drink.

“Hear you’re new then, I’m Marek Vane.” Marek holds out his hand.

The cadet ignored him.

“So, Boeshane, huh? Where exactly is that?” Marek didn’t particularly give a shit, but it seemed like the thing to ask.

The Cadet still didn’t answer.

Marek frowned, brow furrowing. What the Hell, seriously…

“So…” Marek leans close, and puts on flirtiest grin. “Playing it cool, hmmm? I love that.”

The Cadet turned to him again, his eyes flashing in annoyance. It looked damn sexy to Marek though.

“Hmmm…you’ve got gorgeous eyes, but I bet you hear that all the time…”

The Cadet finished his hypervodka.

Marek threw an arm around his shoulder. “What me to buy you another one of tho-“

He didn’t get to finish the question though because suddenly he was flying back from a fist in the face.

“Owww!”

The Cadet didn’t even bother to look at him, he just got to his feet and stepped over Marek heading for the bar. There were gales of laughter from the cadets Marek had been sitting with.

“Arse,” Marek moan, rubbing his nose, and briefly considered going after the guy, pretty he may be he deserved a whack right back.

But…he was admittedly on thin ice…just the other day he’d got himself another lecture from the ‘Overseers’ (really what a crappy name…if they were trying to strike fear into the hearts of people they should have picked something a little less clichéd).

So instead, Marek got to his feet, brushed himself off and headed out of the pub with what he was sure was a measure of dignity.

He passed by the Cadet from Boeshane on the way and Goddesses, the bastard was gorgeous.

Way too gorgeous not to shag…Marek would have to get the guy’s attention…somehow…someway.


The possibility presented itself a few days later when Marek was finally allowed to re-enter Weapons Training after been banned for some stupid reason that he couldn’t remember right now.

Might have had something to do with his training-mates because he found he was in a new class. And that wasn’t all! The Cadet from Boeshane was there to looking sexy enough for it to be illegal.

Marek grinned and tried to catch his eye but no luck there…he did learn his name though.

Jax…it rolled right off the tongue!

It was individual skills that day which was rather unfortunate, because the last time Marek had been in class it had been partner work.

There were only about ten of them and they all spilt up and soon lost each other in the huge labyrinth that they were running through. The instructors had warned hazards would be in there and of course fellow Cadets that you damn well better not kill.

Marek was creeping through on an upper level when he spotted Jax, creeping with a stealthy grace on the bottom level. Poetry in motion the term was.

Marek couldn’t resist, the look on Jax’s face was so concentrated!

Aiming carefully, Marek let off a shot which missed Jax’s head by inches, just like it was supposed to.

“The fuck!” Marek giggled at the look on the guy’s face as he leapt for cover and looked around for where the shot had come from. He gave Jax a wave and then blew him a kiss before running off into the maze.

It got Jax’s attention certainly because as Marek left the class a spring in his step having scored the highest in the class, a pair of hands grabbed hold him by the lapels of his jacked and smashed him against the metal wall of the corridor.

“Woah!”

“What the fuck did you think were you doing you crazy son a bitch?!”

“Oi! Don’t insult my mother! Goddesses, give me a break, I wasn’t anywhere near hitting you!” Marek chuckled shaking his head.

“Nowhere near?” Jax demanded, keeping Marek pressed up against the wall with one hand, he used the other to point out a lock of hair that was somewhat singed. “What do you call this?”

Marek squirmed out of Jax’s grasp, his jacket would get all out of shape! “Shit, all this over some hair? How long you been here? They’ve got stuff that’ll fix that up in a second!”

Jax didn’t bother to even ask exactly how instead he throws a punch!

Luckily Marek sees it coming and blocks it, because really, his nose doesn’t need anymore punishment. He gives Jax’s fist a tight squeeze just to calm him down.

Didn’t quite work… “OW! Hey!”

“Don’t be such a wuss!” Marek shook his head in disbelief, then grins again. “Say uncle!”

“Let me the fuck go!” Jax shouted.

“Come on now, don’t you want to play fair?”

Finally Jax managed to wrench his fist loose and if looks could kill…well, Marek would be pretty damn dead.

“Fuck, don’t you ever smile?” Marek groaned, honestly, he hadn’t seen a single smile out of the guy since they met!

“Sorry I don’t play nice with people who have tried to blow my head off!”

“Goddesses! You’ve never been near a firing range or something? I was nowhere near hitting you!” Marek shook his head. “Hell, if I wanted to kill you your brains would be splattered all over the wall, not standing here bitching at me.”

“Could have fooled me,” was Jax’s cold reply.

Marek grinned he couldn’t help it. “Well, hey if you thought that was impressive how ‘bout we do a little one on one trainin’? I could teach you how to handle a weapon.” He gave Jax a wink.

But Jax wasn’t having any of it, instead of agreeing, he gave him a swift kick in the shin, which fucking hurt!

By the time Marek was able to look up again, Jax had run off.

“What an arse.”


But let it never be said that Marek Vane gave up easily. He wanted to spend time with Jax, and spend time he would.

Although, at first it looked as if most of that time would be chasing the guy, who refused to speak to Marek or share a drink with him or anything! It was just unbelievably rude!

Of course, as much as he wanted to Marek could not spend all his time trying to get Jax’s attention, life as a Time Cadet a lot of work.

For one thing, Espionage proved to be a lot harder than Marek thought it would… He started off OK, but invariably he’d accidentally slip up and get busted. And the instructors weren’t particular nice about it either, the number of times Marek got kept back.

“What exactly do they do to you in there?” Gret asked in the cafeteria one day.

Marek groaned and rolled his eyes. “Nothing the least bit sexy, I mean I was hoping they might tie me to a chair or something and punish me. But nope, I just have to sit there and say these same lines over and over and over.”

Keith snickered. “Punish you? What like some sort of porno?”

“Hey why not, I’d concentrate a lot better if our sexy instructor showed me the goods.”

Luon shook his head. “You’ve watched way too much of that crap.”

Marek puts a hand to his chest. “What an accusation! You know I’d never watch that sort of filth!”

Everyone else at the table rolled their eyes and elbowed each other.

Marek was just about to say something back when he noticed Jax had entered the cafeteria and as usual he took a seat at a table in the very corner.

Keith noticed right away and reached over to give Marek a poke in the arm. “So how’s your little love escapade going?”

Marek frowned. “What’s that supposed to mean?”

“Oh come on, we all know that you’ve got it bad for that guy.”

“I do not!” Marek protested. “I’m just…er…tryin’ to welcome the guy to the Academy. I mean he never talks to anyone! How pathetic is that for someone whose that hot?”

There were general remarks of agreement at that, and really the ‘Face of Boe’ should be way more popular than that!

So the decision was made to send Gret over to charm the guy and invite him on over to sit with them.

Marek was a little put out that he wasn’t chosen, but he supposed that Gret was at least almost as sexy as he was.

Or maybe more, because Jax certainly took to her quick enough! In fact they wandered on off together!

Honestly, people were just so rude sometimes…unbelievable.

But…Marek supposed he could hardly blame Gret, he sure as Hell would have wandered off with Jax if he had the chance.

Ah well, there was still hope…


The next time Marek saw Jax was at the Academy Bar where he was surrounded by a group of cadets from first to fourth year, all of whom where fawning over him.

Marek had been thinking of a way to get the guy’s attention for quite some time now and it came to him! The perfect plan!

Not only would it catch Jax’s eye, it’d also be the perfect debut for his favourite past time. Well, his favourite past time after shagging and fighting.

Karaoke!

And he had the perfect song in mind with which to serenade the ever elusive Jax.

Gret, Keith and Luon were of the opinion that this was in general a bad idea.

“You’re gonna sing to him?”

“Sure! I have a gorgeous voice I’m sure we can all agree.”

Gret raised an eyebrow. “Well, yeah…but singing.”

Marek shook his head. “Don’t tell me you people don’t know about karaoke! My poor deprived friends.”

“Yeah, I’ve heard of it,” Keith spoke up, “but c’mon, you think that’ll even work.”

“You’ll see,” Marek said with conviction.

And that was how he ended up on top of the bar, having got the bartender to hand over the microphone that was usually used to announce last call, singing When I Think About You (I Touch Myself) to Jax.

Now, if someone had done that for Marek he would have been all over them! But not Jax, the hard arse, oh no! In fact if looks could kill, Marek would have been dead. And it wasn’t as if Marek was out of tune or anything! He even spiced it up with some dancing!

But Jax was completely unmoved. In fact, as soon as the wonderful serenade came to an end Jax had gone.

Gone! The fuck?! He hadn’t even stayed for the whole thing?! What a bastard!

However…there was a plus side. Everyone else, even the cadets fawning over Jax though it was fantastic!

And that was how the Academy Pub Karaoke Night began.

Which was fabulous, but still…

What was Jax’s problem?


OK, Marek thought he had an idea of Jax’s problem now. The guy didn’t want to be completely singled out, which considering how unbelievably sexy the guy was, was really a crime against nature.

But, if that was the way it was, Marek was willing to be flexible.

So the not long after the karaoke incident, Marek spotted Jax in the pub surrounded be admirers as always.

Which was rather helpful because it made it a whole lot easier for Marek to sneak over and get a piece of the action.

“Hey there, gorgeous,” he drawled when he finally managed to get into the middle of the group and in earshot of Jax.

Jax turned, a sour look on his face.

“Need a fresh drink, hmmm?” Marek chuckled.

“Need you to fuck off.” Jax returned.

“Well, hey I can fuck something if you need it,” Marek rest his arm on the table and leaned in close.

Jax didn’t bother to answer, instead he just turned away and started speaking to the cadet behind him.

“Oh c’mon, Jax, don’t be such a hard-arse…well…at least when it comes to your personality. Your actual arse can be as hard as you want!”

Jax still didn’t reply.

“You know…I could give you the time of your life,” Marek reaches out and runs a finger up Jax’s arm. Oooo, muscular!

Jax wasn’t having any of it though…Goddesses! Talk about playing hard to get!

Well, maybe just a little kiss would convince the man…

The next thing Marek knew he was getting a fist in his nose.

“Hey!”

“Get the fuck away from him, you little fuck!” The cadet Jax had been talking to was glaring at him, fists cocked.

“What’s it to you?” Marek yelled back, it was one thing to get punched in the face by Jax, but now some other guy was doing it?

“You’re a complete nutcase, that’s what your problem is!” The cadet shouted back. “Why don’t you get the hint and fuck off before I wipe the floor with your skinny ass.”

Marek smirked, oooo a fight. “You think that, huh?”

“I know it,” the cadet snarled.

Well, then it was on!

Marek launched himself over the table and knocked the guy right off his feet.

Just about everyone in the pub turned at the sound and soon there was a crowd around the two wrestling cadets. With hoots and applause as one or the other landed a punch.

And contrary to the other cadets’ expectations, he certainly got nowhere near to mopping the floor with Marek. In fact after ten minutes he was lying in a crumbled head on the floor with Marek, hands on hips, standing over him with ripped shirt, a couple of scratches and a bleeding nose. But at least he could stand.

Unfortunately, when he turned back to the table where Jax had been sitting to find the guy was gone!

He sighed…

But…well, there were obviously a lot of other cadets around who were impressed and there was nothing quite like a shag with someone who was impressed with you.

Or several.

Good times.

Word Count: 7,569

Onto Chapter Eleven