The Woes of Education
Nov. 29th, 2009 12:56 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
anonymoose_auChapter Eleven
Sector 752, Quadrant Gamma, Feld Asteroid Field, Durvon, Time Academy
5080
Agency Year 105
The end of the first year at the Academy came before Marek was prepared for it, since it involved exams.
Ugh…exams…
For a few weeks, Marek wasn’t even able to concentrate on Jax he had to study! The whole thing was just…bizarre to him, a vague memory came to him…back on Earth, it seemed like forever ago, telling his mother –
But Marek shook his head, he didn’t want to think about that, there was no point after all. Instead he just concentrated harder on his books and notes.
As it turned out, it sure as Hell must have worked because Marek could hardly believe his eyes when the results were posted up in the main corridor. He’d actually passed! In fact he’d done more than just passed…he’d even topped the Weapons subject and there hadn’t even been any actual shooting involved!
Bouncing on his toes with glee Marek gave the nearest person a big kiss on the lips and then hurried off towards the Agency Scientists Accommodation Block to find Maddy. After his complete lack of faith, wouldn’t he be surprised indeed to see how well Marek had done!
The guy at the front gate of the Agency Scientists Accommodations Block, however, stepped in front of the gate when he saw Marek coming. He had his arms folded and a particularly stern look on his face.
“Yes?”
“I’m here to see Agent Madison,” Marek looked up at the guy, hands on hips.
The guy looked amused. “Oh really? On what sort of business exactly?”
Marek frowned. “Personal business, I s’pose, I’m a friend of his.”
The guy laughed. “I’m sure, we don’t let cadets just wander into the Agency, God knows what you’re getting up to.”
Marek pouted. “He’s a friend of mine! I just wanted to tell him how I went.”
“Uh-huh, sure.”
Marek looked the guy up and down and considered his chances at taking him on. If he wasn’t a Time Agent, maybe, but Marek knew enough from his lessons that fully trained Time Agents were nothing to mess with.
“Can I at least give him a message?” He gave his most pleading look.
The guy looked right back and finally shrugged, holding out a holo pad. “Fine, go nuts.”
Marek pulled his holo pen from his pocket and scrawled on the holo pad:
Hey Maddy!
Kicked arse on exams! Going into second year, go me!
Love Marek
The guy pressed a button and then shoved the holo pad back into a holster on his belt. “It’ll get to him.”
Marek considered complaining some more, but figured it wouldn’t be worth it, so with a shrug he headed off back to the Academy, maybe he could find Jax and have some fun now that classes were over for a couple of months!
As it turned Jax had disappeared…gone home to Boeshane, apparently and he hadn’t even bothered to say goodbye!
“I don’t think he actually likes you,” Gret remarked in the pub.
Luon laughed loudly. “That might be a bit of understatement.”
Marek pouted. “He’s just playing hard to get s’all!”
Keith shook his head. “Seriously, Marek, you’re deluded. Give it up, it’s not like you don’t have anyone else to shag.”
“Oi! I’m not just after shags you know,” Marek protested. “Well, not always…”
“Oh yeah, what exactly do you want with the ‘Face of Boe’ then?”
Marek scratched his head. “Well, a shag’d be nice, but…I dunno, it’d be fun to listen to that sexy accent for a while.”
There was a general murmur of agreement, Jax’s accent was sexy as Hell.
“Where are you going then, Marek?” Gret asked.
“Going?”
“We’re on our break! You gotta go somewhere.” Luon reminded him.
“I do?”
“What about your family then? You don’t want to visit them?”
“Oh…er…well…I can’t…they’re…” Marek didn’t want to say it, he just wanted to forget about all that. “They’re back on Earth.”
“Earth? You’re from Earth?”
It didn’t come from one of his friends, but from a Cadet at another table.
“Oh Gods, just when I thought you couldn’t be any more pathetic,” a blond sitting at the centre of the table snickered.
Marek cocked an eyebrow. “Is there some sort of problem?”
“Yeah, there’s a problem…Earth is a scum bucket, only the lowest still live on that sorry excuse for a planet.”
Marek’s brow furrowed. “You’re kidding right? What, can’t find anything else wrong with my physical appearance? Nose too long? Lazy eye? You gotta pick on the planet I’m from? Which you know…is where most of us came from.”
The blond cadet smirked. “Oh there’s plenty wrong with you, starting with why you’re here in the first place.”
Marek got to his feet, even as Gret reached out to pull him back down, he shook her tentacle off. “What the fuck is that supposed to mean?”
The blond cadet got to his feet as well and fuck he was tall! Goddesses! Marek would get a crick in his neck if he had to talk to this guy for any length of time.
“It means you don’t belong here, Cadet Vane, you should have been the one to drop out, not Hollock.”
It took Marek a moment to place the name, it was his roommate. He’d been wondering where the guy had got too, but that explained it.
“Obviously I do, or I wouldn’t have made it through, would I?”
The blond cadet smirked. “You were lucky, they obviously cut you some slack, you should run along diddums, get out before you get yourself killed.”
Marek squared his shoulders and clenched his fists – he hated that name – glaring at the blond cadet. “Is that a threat?”
“No, it’s a promise.”
Marek made a show of shivering. “Oh, I’m so scared and whose gonna finish me off? You?”
“With pleasure,” the blond cadet dived for him.
Marek was more than ready for guy, he stepped deftly out of the way and brought his elbow down hard on the guy’s back as he flew past.
He followed right behind grabbing the guy by the back of his coat and tossed him onto the bar and kneed the cadet in the back of the leg.
Marek turned back to the rest of the cadets who had been sitting with the blond and laughed. “Wanna help out your friend? Seems to be having a bit of trouble with little ol’ me.”
The cadets just stood there, uncertain of what to do.
“And how ‘bout you, blondie?” Marek smirked leaning down. “You give, huh?”
“Fuck you.”
Marek gave a shrug and hauling him off the bar to his feet and then threw a punch to his face.
The blond cadet wasn’t about to stand around, however, he threw a punch right back.
Marek ducked again and took him around the middle, knocking him down again.
Grabbing hold of blondie’s arm, Marek flipped him over and pinned the arm behind his back.
“Still feel like kicking my arse?”
Blondie groaned.
“What was that?”
“Let…let me go!”
“What’s the magic word?”
“Ugh!”
“Nope,” Marek sing-songed. “It’s please, say please.”
“Please!” Blondie shouted.
Marek let go of the guys arm and got to his feet . “Righto then. Hope you’ve learnt your lesson.”
Blondie got to his feet and glared. “You watch yourself, Vane…” He growled before disappearing with the others he’d been sitting with.
Keith applauded. “God damn! Good work!”
Gret looked less than impressed. “You may have a talent for punching people’s lights out, Marek, but do you think you should?”
Marek raised an eyebrow. “What do you mean by that?”
“I just mean you heard what he said.”
Luon waved a hand. “Yeah right after Marek wiped the floor with him.”
Gret created two tentacles just so she could fold them. “Maybe, but what if the rest of them had joined on in.”
Marek giggles. “Orgy?”
Luon and Keith joined in, while Gret signed and shook her head. “I just think you might want to be careful.”
“I will, I will,” Marek promised, but he winked at Luon and Keith.
Sector 752, Quadrant Gamma, Feld Asteroid Field, Durvon, Time Academy
5080
Agency Year 106
Marek had ended been left quite on his own, it seemed like all the other cadets had families to go home too, including Keith, Luon and Gret.
Marek had though managed to get back to the pub in Durvon, even though to his great disappointment Aitik and Juzof had left months before and of course hadn’t been able to contact him and let him know.
Lee was still there though!
“Well, well, aren’t you looking well!” She greeted him as he sauntered on over to the bar. “Love what you’ve done to your hair!”
Marek grinned, without having to get up and get moving every morning he’d had time to experiment with gel and stuff.
As a result his hair was all nice and styled, with only the tiniest hint of waviness!
“Looks good, huh?”
“Oh, fabulous!” Lee threw an around his shoulders. “And how’s all the top secret training going?”
“Very top secrety!” Marek winked.
“You can’t even tell me what’s going on?”
Marek pouted. “’Fraid not, they were pretty clear on that, you wouldn’t want me to get fired before I’ve had a chance to put it into practice, would you?”
Lee sighed. “S’pose not.”
“So did Aitik and Juzof leave forwarding details?” He asked as the bartender brought him his favourite drink.
Lee shook her head. “Sorry to say they didn’t, pretty sure they’re not coming back this way.”
Marek pouted some more. “What? Not even to visit me? I’m not entertaining enough for them or something.”
Lee laughed. “Oh nothing to do with you I’m sure, I think the Galactic Police were after them, being conmen and all.”
Well that sucked! Marek didn’t think he’d really never see them again, if he had he would have given them a better goodbye!
He also got a chance to meet with Maddy, who was still being pessimistic despite the exam results and everything.
“You still don’t think I can deal with it? C’mon!”
Maddy sighed. “I told you, it’s not that I don’t think you can…it’s just…the Agency changes people.”
“Now, Maddy, it’s nice to know you think I’m perfect,” Marek gave him a wink. “But I can be improved I think!”
Maddy shook his head.
“Is this about Harvey? Did he go insane or something?”
Maddy looked surprised, in fact his hand seemed to shake a little as he set his drink back down. “Well…maybe a bit…”
“Really? Wow, that’s probably the most interesting thing he’s done!”
Maddy gave him that look.
“So is he in an asylum somewhere?”
Maddy shook his head and refused to say anything more on the subject.
And now second year was beginning and Marek spotted a familiar face.
“Heeey, Boe!” He waved.
As ever Jax ignored him, in fact, he practically broke into a run.
Marek shrugged. He really had to wonder what Jax’s problem was, Marek wasn’t that terrible was he? No…maybe Jax was worried about the opposite that Marek’s personality would be so fabulous that he wouldn’t be able to resist and wouldn’t be able to think of anything else!
Marek giggled to himself, well he certainly couldn’t have that happen! He’d leave Jax alone for the time being, but he definitely wanted to get into the other cadet’s pants. A man that handsome? It’d be a crime!
As it would turn out, Marek didn’t have to concentrate on keeping away from Jax, the new training and courses required guaranteed it. In fact, he barely had time to breathe! Maddy hadn’t been kidding after all, damn…
After a few months though, things got easier and Marek and his friends were able to get themselves to the Academy pub after hours for some drinks.
“No wonder it’s only a twenty percent success rate,” Gret said, taking a deep drink of something pink.
“You’re not thinking of dropping out are you?” Marek was horrified at the thought. He liked his little group!
Gret laughed. “Of course not, I was just saying is all.”
Luon looked slightly less blasé about the whole thing, however. “You may have seen the last of me if this sort of crap keeps up.”
Marek shook his head. “Oh come on you guys! Don’t you want to be Time Agents?! It’s gotta be the best job in the universe, think of all the stuff you can do and all the places you’ll see!”
“I only want to go to one place, really,” Luon spoke in a low voice, not meeting anyone’s eyes.
It could everyone’s attention all the same.
“What do you mean?” Keith asked.
“Well, I’d go back home,” Luon replied.
“Didn’t you just do that?”
Luon looked up with a slight glare. “My original home…my planet was destroyed.”
“Oh.”
There was a general sound of sympathy from Keith and Gret and Marek wasn’t exactly sure what to say. It was really pretty damn awkward…
“I’m so sorry Luon,” Gret patted his hand with a tentacle. “I’d like to go back in time too…and save my…my little brother.”
More sympathetic noises and then Keith spoke up. “I know how that is…if I could stop that earthquake, or warn ‘em…”
Then all eyes were on Marek, obviously expecting something…
Marek supposed he should tell them, since they’d told him, but…he didn’t want to think about it.
“I’ll go get some more drinks,” he said instead, leaping out of his chair and hurrying off to the bar.
Where, for once, he ran into Jax accidentally.
“Uh…sorry.”
Jax was giving him a look that could kill. “Just stay the fuck away from me, would you?” He snapped before grabbing up two glasses and leaving.
“It was an accident,” Marek protested, but Jax had all ready disappeared.
Shrugging he turned to the bartender and asked for a jug of hypervodka, and hoped that by the time he got back to the table the tear-jerking moment would have passed.
And if not…maybe it was time to break out the karaoke.
“What the fuck was that?!”
“What?”
“Do you have a death wish?”
“It’s just a simulator, you know.”
“That’s not the point, you moron!”
Marek rolled his eyes. He thought getting partnered with Jax was the chance of a lifetime, but the guy was deciding to be a pain in the arse about it.
“We’re the last ones standing, so I don’t see what your problem is, anyway,” he finally hissed back.
Jax glared – fuck he was hot – and continued crawling through the simulated jungle.
Marek followed, which afforded a great view of Jax’s arse at the very least.
Suddenly Jax stopped and Marek collided with him.
“Watch it!”
“You’re the one who stopped right in front of me!”
“Don’t you always brag about your lightning quick reflexes?” Jax smirked a highly irritating smirk right back at him. “Well, show them.”
“How ‘bout you let me lead,” Marek hissed back.
“And lead us into the middle of the ants nest? Oh, I don’t think so.”
Marek growled, but since he did get to admire Jax’s arse this way, he didn’t kick up too much of a fuss.
They kept on crawling along, looking for the enemy and a way to sneak up on them and disable them before they were caught. The rest of the class had managed to get themselves captured or killed, so it was all up to Jax and Marek now.
There was a noise and Marek grabbed hold of Jax’s ankle.
“Hey,” Jax turned around with a hiss.
“I hear something,” Marek hissed right back, and put a finger to his lips. “Listen!”
Jax did and the noise becomes louder, a rustling of leaves and whispering.
“It’s them,” it has to be. Marek reached into his coat pocket and withdrew a mini-charge which he lobbed over Jax’s head.
“Hey!”
There’s a controlled explosion not too far ahead and then…
“Simulation completed, Team Eight has been successful.”
“Whoo!” Marek gave a cheer and held his arms open. “Victory hug?”
Jax was white face and shaking and for a second Marek thought the guy was shell shocked or something.
But then Jax launched at him and grabbed him around the throat. “You ass! What the fuck do you think you were doing?!”
Marek couldn’t actually speak with Jax’s hands around his throat and all, so the best he could do was kick his legs, finally managing to get Jax in the shin.
“I was getting rid of the enemy!” Marek gasped, rubbing his throat. “What the fuck was that?!”
“You can’t just go around throwing explosives at people, you idiot!” Jax yelled back.
“Yes I can! They’re the enemy!”
“Not without my say so!”
“Your say so? Who died and made you boss?”
“I actually have a brain in my head! Unlike you –“
There was the sound of someone clearing their throat.
Marek and Jax turned, the jungle simulation had disappeared and the instructor along with the rest of the class were watching the two of them somewhat bemused.
“Well done you two,” the instructor spoke up, giving them a somewhat embarrassed smile. “A bit of a…shock and awe type campaign.”
Jax growled, Marek grinned. “Spilt-second decision, sir.”
“Hmmm,” the instructor raised an eyebrow, taking in Jax’s less than calm visage. “Well…you may want to take time to discuss your method of act with your partner before taking matters into your own hands, Cadet Vane.”
“Sure, sir.”
Marek thought it had all gone rather well, but as soon as they where out in the corridor, Jax had him pressed up against the wall.
“Is this your idea of a date, Jax?”
“Shut up.”
“What’s your problem, we did it!”
“You did it,” Jax snapped.
“Well…yeah, but you helped, at the start of the thing.”
“I don’t need your help! I work alone!” Jax lets him go and Marek lands on his feet and straightens his jacket.
“Not in that class, we were partners, remember,” Marek shook his head, obviously Jax had some sort of mental problem, which all things considered probably wasn’t all that surprising. The guy was constantly running in the other direction whenever Marek was concerned after all!
Jax looked like he was going to punch him in the jaw, but sadly he just snapped. “We’ll never be partners, got that?”
And typically, Jax didn’t wait for a response, he just stormed off.
Marek sighed and shook his head, they’d all ready been partners! Really…
“Now, most of you here have some level of psychic ability, but even those of you who do not will need to learn the following.”
Marek had been excited as all Hell when he’d discovered that he and his friends would get a class with the purple skinned alien Salvine Artiz.
Agent Artiz was pacing back and forth in front of the class, she moved fluidly, it was impossible to turn away.
“As Agents you will be exposed to all sorts of attacks and they won’t just be physical. They will be psychological also, the aim of this class then is to instruct even those of you who do not have any ability in that area to repel these attacks.”
Marek exchanged looks with Luon, damn, that was pretty cool.
Suddenly there was a moan from somewhere in the room and Marek looked around, wondering where the Hell it was coming from.
It turned out to be someone in the middle of the room, some cadet Marek didn’t know, was struggle in her chair, turning her head as if to escape something or someone.
“Psychic attacks seem to come out of nowhere,” Agent Artiz continued, her eyes rather empty, staring at writhing cadet. “But they can be sensed and even if they aren’t they can be repelled.”
Finally the cadet stopped struggling.
“But first…you must experience an attack for yourself.”
There was a general murmur of discomfort, especially considering the female cadet was looking vacant eyed and she twitched slightly ever so often.
Agent Artiz gave them all a slow comforting grin, which calmed everyone down considerably.
But then there was another cry from somewhere else in the room, another cadet was shaking and trying to escape.
This was followed by another and another…those who had not yet been affected shifted uncomfortably, wondering which one of them would be next.
Then suddenly Agent Artiz lurched backwards, and blinked in surprise and everyone was looking around wondering exactly what had happened.
Agent Artiz managed to stand up straight again and she gave a smile. “Well, well, Cadet K’zechim, it seems you’re well-versed in psychic attacks then?”
Jax, whose normally tanned faced was white, stared back with huge eyes, barely blinking at all.
“Cadet?” Agent Artiz repeated.
Jax shook his head, physically shaking himself out of…whatever it was he was in.
His Adam’s apple bopped in his throat as he swallowed hard and finally he answered the instructor. “Yes.”
“Hmmm,” Agent Artiz nodded, “a bit overhanded, but a successful repel.” She looked to the rest of the class. “Keep that in mind, most psychics like to use a multi-directional attack, not realise where you actually are, you’ll want to repel their attacks silently, carefully, so you don’t give your position away. Otherwise you’ll find yourself captured anyway.”
Marek couldn’t help sneaking looks at Jax even as Agent Artiz went on to describe the method for doing so.
He couldn’t help wondering…where had Jax run into psychic attacks anyway?
He’d find out…somehow…
Word Count: 3,600
Onto Chapter Twelve
Sector 752, Quadrant Gamma, Feld Asteroid Field, Durvon, Time Academy
5080
Agency Year 105
The end of the first year at the Academy came before Marek was prepared for it, since it involved exams.
Ugh…exams…
For a few weeks, Marek wasn’t even able to concentrate on Jax he had to study! The whole thing was just…bizarre to him, a vague memory came to him…back on Earth, it seemed like forever ago, telling his mother –
But Marek shook his head, he didn’t want to think about that, there was no point after all. Instead he just concentrated harder on his books and notes.
As it turned out, it sure as Hell must have worked because Marek could hardly believe his eyes when the results were posted up in the main corridor. He’d actually passed! In fact he’d done more than just passed…he’d even topped the Weapons subject and there hadn’t even been any actual shooting involved!
Bouncing on his toes with glee Marek gave the nearest person a big kiss on the lips and then hurried off towards the Agency Scientists Accommodation Block to find Maddy. After his complete lack of faith, wouldn’t he be surprised indeed to see how well Marek had done!
The guy at the front gate of the Agency Scientists Accommodations Block, however, stepped in front of the gate when he saw Marek coming. He had his arms folded and a particularly stern look on his face.
“Yes?”
“I’m here to see Agent Madison,” Marek looked up at the guy, hands on hips.
The guy looked amused. “Oh really? On what sort of business exactly?”
Marek frowned. “Personal business, I s’pose, I’m a friend of his.”
The guy laughed. “I’m sure, we don’t let cadets just wander into the Agency, God knows what you’re getting up to.”
Marek pouted. “He’s a friend of mine! I just wanted to tell him how I went.”
“Uh-huh, sure.”
Marek looked the guy up and down and considered his chances at taking him on. If he wasn’t a Time Agent, maybe, but Marek knew enough from his lessons that fully trained Time Agents were nothing to mess with.
“Can I at least give him a message?” He gave his most pleading look.
The guy looked right back and finally shrugged, holding out a holo pad. “Fine, go nuts.”
Marek pulled his holo pen from his pocket and scrawled on the holo pad:
Hey Maddy!
Kicked arse on exams! Going into second year, go me!
Love Marek
The guy pressed a button and then shoved the holo pad back into a holster on his belt. “It’ll get to him.”
Marek considered complaining some more, but figured it wouldn’t be worth it, so with a shrug he headed off back to the Academy, maybe he could find Jax and have some fun now that classes were over for a couple of months!
As it turned Jax had disappeared…gone home to Boeshane, apparently and he hadn’t even bothered to say goodbye!
“I don’t think he actually likes you,” Gret remarked in the pub.
Luon laughed loudly. “That might be a bit of understatement.”
Marek pouted. “He’s just playing hard to get s’all!”
Keith shook his head. “Seriously, Marek, you’re deluded. Give it up, it’s not like you don’t have anyone else to shag.”
“Oi! I’m not just after shags you know,” Marek protested. “Well, not always…”
“Oh yeah, what exactly do you want with the ‘Face of Boe’ then?”
Marek scratched his head. “Well, a shag’d be nice, but…I dunno, it’d be fun to listen to that sexy accent for a while.”
There was a general murmur of agreement, Jax’s accent was sexy as Hell.
“Where are you going then, Marek?” Gret asked.
“Going?”
“We’re on our break! You gotta go somewhere.” Luon reminded him.
“I do?”
“What about your family then? You don’t want to visit them?”
“Oh…er…well…I can’t…they’re…” Marek didn’t want to say it, he just wanted to forget about all that. “They’re back on Earth.”
“Earth? You’re from Earth?”
It didn’t come from one of his friends, but from a Cadet at another table.
“Oh Gods, just when I thought you couldn’t be any more pathetic,” a blond sitting at the centre of the table snickered.
Marek cocked an eyebrow. “Is there some sort of problem?”
“Yeah, there’s a problem…Earth is a scum bucket, only the lowest still live on that sorry excuse for a planet.”
Marek’s brow furrowed. “You’re kidding right? What, can’t find anything else wrong with my physical appearance? Nose too long? Lazy eye? You gotta pick on the planet I’m from? Which you know…is where most of us came from.”
The blond cadet smirked. “Oh there’s plenty wrong with you, starting with why you’re here in the first place.”
Marek got to his feet, even as Gret reached out to pull him back down, he shook her tentacle off. “What the fuck is that supposed to mean?”
The blond cadet got to his feet as well and fuck he was tall! Goddesses! Marek would get a crick in his neck if he had to talk to this guy for any length of time.
“It means you don’t belong here, Cadet Vane, you should have been the one to drop out, not Hollock.”
It took Marek a moment to place the name, it was his roommate. He’d been wondering where the guy had got too, but that explained it.
“Obviously I do, or I wouldn’t have made it through, would I?”
The blond cadet smirked. “You were lucky, they obviously cut you some slack, you should run along diddums, get out before you get yourself killed.”
Marek squared his shoulders and clenched his fists – he hated that name – glaring at the blond cadet. “Is that a threat?”
“No, it’s a promise.”
Marek made a show of shivering. “Oh, I’m so scared and whose gonna finish me off? You?”
“With pleasure,” the blond cadet dived for him.
Marek was more than ready for guy, he stepped deftly out of the way and brought his elbow down hard on the guy’s back as he flew past.
He followed right behind grabbing the guy by the back of his coat and tossed him onto the bar and kneed the cadet in the back of the leg.
Marek turned back to the rest of the cadets who had been sitting with the blond and laughed. “Wanna help out your friend? Seems to be having a bit of trouble with little ol’ me.”
The cadets just stood there, uncertain of what to do.
“And how ‘bout you, blondie?” Marek smirked leaning down. “You give, huh?”
“Fuck you.”
Marek gave a shrug and hauling him off the bar to his feet and then threw a punch to his face.
The blond cadet wasn’t about to stand around, however, he threw a punch right back.
Marek ducked again and took him around the middle, knocking him down again.
Grabbing hold of blondie’s arm, Marek flipped him over and pinned the arm behind his back.
“Still feel like kicking my arse?”
Blondie groaned.
“What was that?”
“Let…let me go!”
“What’s the magic word?”
“Ugh!”
“Nope,” Marek sing-songed. “It’s please, say please.”
“Please!” Blondie shouted.
Marek let go of the guys arm and got to his feet . “Righto then. Hope you’ve learnt your lesson.”
Blondie got to his feet and glared. “You watch yourself, Vane…” He growled before disappearing with the others he’d been sitting with.
Keith applauded. “God damn! Good work!”
Gret looked less than impressed. “You may have a talent for punching people’s lights out, Marek, but do you think you should?”
Marek raised an eyebrow. “What do you mean by that?”
“I just mean you heard what he said.”
Luon waved a hand. “Yeah right after Marek wiped the floor with him.”
Gret created two tentacles just so she could fold them. “Maybe, but what if the rest of them had joined on in.”
Marek giggles. “Orgy?”
Luon and Keith joined in, while Gret signed and shook her head. “I just think you might want to be careful.”
“I will, I will,” Marek promised, but he winked at Luon and Keith.
Sector 752, Quadrant Gamma, Feld Asteroid Field, Durvon, Time Academy
5080
Agency Year 106
Marek had ended been left quite on his own, it seemed like all the other cadets had families to go home too, including Keith, Luon and Gret.
Marek had though managed to get back to the pub in Durvon, even though to his great disappointment Aitik and Juzof had left months before and of course hadn’t been able to contact him and let him know.
Lee was still there though!
“Well, well, aren’t you looking well!” She greeted him as he sauntered on over to the bar. “Love what you’ve done to your hair!”
Marek grinned, without having to get up and get moving every morning he’d had time to experiment with gel and stuff.
As a result his hair was all nice and styled, with only the tiniest hint of waviness!
“Looks good, huh?”
“Oh, fabulous!” Lee threw an around his shoulders. “And how’s all the top secret training going?”
“Very top secrety!” Marek winked.
“You can’t even tell me what’s going on?”
Marek pouted. “’Fraid not, they were pretty clear on that, you wouldn’t want me to get fired before I’ve had a chance to put it into practice, would you?”
Lee sighed. “S’pose not.”
“So did Aitik and Juzof leave forwarding details?” He asked as the bartender brought him his favourite drink.
Lee shook her head. “Sorry to say they didn’t, pretty sure they’re not coming back this way.”
Marek pouted some more. “What? Not even to visit me? I’m not entertaining enough for them or something.”
Lee laughed. “Oh nothing to do with you I’m sure, I think the Galactic Police were after them, being conmen and all.”
Well that sucked! Marek didn’t think he’d really never see them again, if he had he would have given them a better goodbye!
He also got a chance to meet with Maddy, who was still being pessimistic despite the exam results and everything.
“You still don’t think I can deal with it? C’mon!”
Maddy sighed. “I told you, it’s not that I don’t think you can…it’s just…the Agency changes people.”
“Now, Maddy, it’s nice to know you think I’m perfect,” Marek gave him a wink. “But I can be improved I think!”
Maddy shook his head.
“Is this about Harvey? Did he go insane or something?”
Maddy looked surprised, in fact his hand seemed to shake a little as he set his drink back down. “Well…maybe a bit…”
“Really? Wow, that’s probably the most interesting thing he’s done!”
Maddy gave him that look.
“So is he in an asylum somewhere?”
Maddy shook his head and refused to say anything more on the subject.
And now second year was beginning and Marek spotted a familiar face.
“Heeey, Boe!” He waved.
As ever Jax ignored him, in fact, he practically broke into a run.
Marek shrugged. He really had to wonder what Jax’s problem was, Marek wasn’t that terrible was he? No…maybe Jax was worried about the opposite that Marek’s personality would be so fabulous that he wouldn’t be able to resist and wouldn’t be able to think of anything else!
Marek giggled to himself, well he certainly couldn’t have that happen! He’d leave Jax alone for the time being, but he definitely wanted to get into the other cadet’s pants. A man that handsome? It’d be a crime!
As it would turn out, Marek didn’t have to concentrate on keeping away from Jax, the new training and courses required guaranteed it. In fact, he barely had time to breathe! Maddy hadn’t been kidding after all, damn…
After a few months though, things got easier and Marek and his friends were able to get themselves to the Academy pub after hours for some drinks.
“No wonder it’s only a twenty percent success rate,” Gret said, taking a deep drink of something pink.
“You’re not thinking of dropping out are you?” Marek was horrified at the thought. He liked his little group!
Gret laughed. “Of course not, I was just saying is all.”
Luon looked slightly less blasé about the whole thing, however. “You may have seen the last of me if this sort of crap keeps up.”
Marek shook his head. “Oh come on you guys! Don’t you want to be Time Agents?! It’s gotta be the best job in the universe, think of all the stuff you can do and all the places you’ll see!”
“I only want to go to one place, really,” Luon spoke in a low voice, not meeting anyone’s eyes.
It could everyone’s attention all the same.
“What do you mean?” Keith asked.
“Well, I’d go back home,” Luon replied.
“Didn’t you just do that?”
Luon looked up with a slight glare. “My original home…my planet was destroyed.”
“Oh.”
There was a general sound of sympathy from Keith and Gret and Marek wasn’t exactly sure what to say. It was really pretty damn awkward…
“I’m so sorry Luon,” Gret patted his hand with a tentacle. “I’d like to go back in time too…and save my…my little brother.”
More sympathetic noises and then Keith spoke up. “I know how that is…if I could stop that earthquake, or warn ‘em…”
Then all eyes were on Marek, obviously expecting something…
Marek supposed he should tell them, since they’d told him, but…he didn’t want to think about it.
“I’ll go get some more drinks,” he said instead, leaping out of his chair and hurrying off to the bar.
Where, for once, he ran into Jax accidentally.
“Uh…sorry.”
Jax was giving him a look that could kill. “Just stay the fuck away from me, would you?” He snapped before grabbing up two glasses and leaving.
“It was an accident,” Marek protested, but Jax had all ready disappeared.
Shrugging he turned to the bartender and asked for a jug of hypervodka, and hoped that by the time he got back to the table the tear-jerking moment would have passed.
And if not…maybe it was time to break out the karaoke.
“What the fuck was that?!”
“What?”
“Do you have a death wish?”
“It’s just a simulator, you know.”
“That’s not the point, you moron!”
Marek rolled his eyes. He thought getting partnered with Jax was the chance of a lifetime, but the guy was deciding to be a pain in the arse about it.
“We’re the last ones standing, so I don’t see what your problem is, anyway,” he finally hissed back.
Jax glared – fuck he was hot – and continued crawling through the simulated jungle.
Marek followed, which afforded a great view of Jax’s arse at the very least.
Suddenly Jax stopped and Marek collided with him.
“Watch it!”
“You’re the one who stopped right in front of me!”
“Don’t you always brag about your lightning quick reflexes?” Jax smirked a highly irritating smirk right back at him. “Well, show them.”
“How ‘bout you let me lead,” Marek hissed back.
“And lead us into the middle of the ants nest? Oh, I don’t think so.”
Marek growled, but since he did get to admire Jax’s arse this way, he didn’t kick up too much of a fuss.
They kept on crawling along, looking for the enemy and a way to sneak up on them and disable them before they were caught. The rest of the class had managed to get themselves captured or killed, so it was all up to Jax and Marek now.
There was a noise and Marek grabbed hold of Jax’s ankle.
“Hey,” Jax turned around with a hiss.
“I hear something,” Marek hissed right back, and put a finger to his lips. “Listen!”
Jax did and the noise becomes louder, a rustling of leaves and whispering.
“It’s them,” it has to be. Marek reached into his coat pocket and withdrew a mini-charge which he lobbed over Jax’s head.
“Hey!”
There’s a controlled explosion not too far ahead and then…
“Simulation completed, Team Eight has been successful.”
“Whoo!” Marek gave a cheer and held his arms open. “Victory hug?”
Jax was white face and shaking and for a second Marek thought the guy was shell shocked or something.
But then Jax launched at him and grabbed him around the throat. “You ass! What the fuck do you think you were doing?!”
Marek couldn’t actually speak with Jax’s hands around his throat and all, so the best he could do was kick his legs, finally managing to get Jax in the shin.
“I was getting rid of the enemy!” Marek gasped, rubbing his throat. “What the fuck was that?!”
“You can’t just go around throwing explosives at people, you idiot!” Jax yelled back.
“Yes I can! They’re the enemy!”
“Not without my say so!”
“Your say so? Who died and made you boss?”
“I actually have a brain in my head! Unlike you –“
There was the sound of someone clearing their throat.
Marek and Jax turned, the jungle simulation had disappeared and the instructor along with the rest of the class were watching the two of them somewhat bemused.
“Well done you two,” the instructor spoke up, giving them a somewhat embarrassed smile. “A bit of a…shock and awe type campaign.”
Jax growled, Marek grinned. “Spilt-second decision, sir.”
“Hmmm,” the instructor raised an eyebrow, taking in Jax’s less than calm visage. “Well…you may want to take time to discuss your method of act with your partner before taking matters into your own hands, Cadet Vane.”
“Sure, sir.”
Marek thought it had all gone rather well, but as soon as they where out in the corridor, Jax had him pressed up against the wall.
“Is this your idea of a date, Jax?”
“Shut up.”
“What’s your problem, we did it!”
“You did it,” Jax snapped.
“Well…yeah, but you helped, at the start of the thing.”
“I don’t need your help! I work alone!” Jax lets him go and Marek lands on his feet and straightens his jacket.
“Not in that class, we were partners, remember,” Marek shook his head, obviously Jax had some sort of mental problem, which all things considered probably wasn’t all that surprising. The guy was constantly running in the other direction whenever Marek was concerned after all!
Jax looked like he was going to punch him in the jaw, but sadly he just snapped. “We’ll never be partners, got that?”
And typically, Jax didn’t wait for a response, he just stormed off.
Marek sighed and shook his head, they’d all ready been partners! Really…
“Now, most of you here have some level of psychic ability, but even those of you who do not will need to learn the following.”
Marek had been excited as all Hell when he’d discovered that he and his friends would get a class with the purple skinned alien Salvine Artiz.
Agent Artiz was pacing back and forth in front of the class, she moved fluidly, it was impossible to turn away.
“As Agents you will be exposed to all sorts of attacks and they won’t just be physical. They will be psychological also, the aim of this class then is to instruct even those of you who do not have any ability in that area to repel these attacks.”
Marek exchanged looks with Luon, damn, that was pretty cool.
Suddenly there was a moan from somewhere in the room and Marek looked around, wondering where the Hell it was coming from.
It turned out to be someone in the middle of the room, some cadet Marek didn’t know, was struggle in her chair, turning her head as if to escape something or someone.
“Psychic attacks seem to come out of nowhere,” Agent Artiz continued, her eyes rather empty, staring at writhing cadet. “But they can be sensed and even if they aren’t they can be repelled.”
Finally the cadet stopped struggling.
“But first…you must experience an attack for yourself.”
There was a general murmur of discomfort, especially considering the female cadet was looking vacant eyed and she twitched slightly ever so often.
Agent Artiz gave them all a slow comforting grin, which calmed everyone down considerably.
But then there was another cry from somewhere else in the room, another cadet was shaking and trying to escape.
This was followed by another and another…those who had not yet been affected shifted uncomfortably, wondering which one of them would be next.
Then suddenly Agent Artiz lurched backwards, and blinked in surprise and everyone was looking around wondering exactly what had happened.
Agent Artiz managed to stand up straight again and she gave a smile. “Well, well, Cadet K’zechim, it seems you’re well-versed in psychic attacks then?”
Jax, whose normally tanned faced was white, stared back with huge eyes, barely blinking at all.
“Cadet?” Agent Artiz repeated.
Jax shook his head, physically shaking himself out of…whatever it was he was in.
His Adam’s apple bopped in his throat as he swallowed hard and finally he answered the instructor. “Yes.”
“Hmmm,” Agent Artiz nodded, “a bit overhanded, but a successful repel.” She looked to the rest of the class. “Keep that in mind, most psychics like to use a multi-directional attack, not realise where you actually are, you’ll want to repel their attacks silently, carefully, so you don’t give your position away. Otherwise you’ll find yourself captured anyway.”
Marek couldn’t help sneaking looks at Jax even as Agent Artiz went on to describe the method for doing so.
He couldn’t help wondering…where had Jax run into psychic attacks anyway?
He’d find out…somehow…
Word Count: 3,600
Onto Chapter Twelve
