Chapter 1: Accusations
"Meika! Meeeeiiikkkkaaa!" A tall blonde haired girl of nineteen turned at the sound of her name, putting down the part she was fixing. An officer at the pilot academy she was attending ran up to her. The two were good friends even though the other girl was Meika's superior.
"What is it Ummi?" Meika questioned the brunette twenty year old. Ummi stopped by Meika and had to catch her breath from the long run from the office of General Azra. Meika waited patiently for her friend to stop panting.
"The general wants to see you. He said it was urgent." Meika's smirk faded and was replaced by a look of dread.
"Any idea why he wants to see me?" She asked, cleaning up the small mess she had made.
"No, but… Blake was in the office as well. It can't be good news whenever he is concerned with you."
As soon as Ummi finished her sentence Meika was off to the Main Building. She left the paved sidewalk in favor of a quicker way across the lawn. She was quite curious about what she was needed for, and Ummi was right. Blake being there was not a good sign.
Ever since Meika entered the academy the two had been rivals. Their relationship didn't improve when Meika scored the highest in their class on the simulation devices.
"Girls can't be pilots." Blake had said. Him being present at the same time she was called could only mean one of them was in trouble, and Meika had a sinking feeling as she stepped into the air-conditioned office that she was the culprit.
It didn't take her long to walk the blue carpeted hall to General Azra's office. Opening the chestnut door, she was greeted by general Azra's stern face and Blake's smug expression. Her heart leapt into her throat. Whatever it was she was in for it.
Blake brush aside his long, thick black hair and shot Meika a gloating expression. General Azra's face was severe as he fixed his honey colored eyes on the young woman.
"You called for me Sir?" Meika asked, saluting. General Azra didn't return her salute, this alarmed Meika. Meika's heart stopped as the General stood.
"Trainee Meika Hou, you are aware of the murder of Captain Bering, correct?" Meika nodded and the General turned to Blake. "Present your evidence, trainee Blake." Meika held her breath, what evidence was the general talking about?
Blake pulled out a necklace and Meika grew angry. Where had he gotten her charm necklace? It was gold with a little airplane and shuttle charm. Meika had gotten it as a gift from Ummi on the 9th day of the flight academy. That necklace was always either around Meika's neck or in the drawer beside her bed.
"This is yours, correct?" The general questioned Meika. Meika nodded her head slightly. Blake pulled out a hair band that Meika sometimes wore. "This is also yours, correct?" The general stated, already knowing the answer. Again Meika nodded. She didn't like where this was leading. General Azra sighed.
"Trainee Meika Hou, you have been convicted of first degree murder in the death of Captain Bering." Meika couldn't move, or speak. This was impossible! She did not kill anyone! Yet here Blake was presenting her belongings, claiming them to be near the Captains body when he was shot. She then realized that Blake had famed her. Blake was a bully, but she never thought he would stoop this low. Unfortunately, she had no way of proving her innocence.
Meika had been missing the night of the murder, even though she had only gone to get something she had left behind. She had seen the murder happen, but the killer had been wearing camolfladuge and a cloak, and she haden't been able to get a good look at the suspect. Since she had no clues as to who it could be, she kept her mouth shut.
"Meika, you are hereby sentenced to death by lethal injection." The General stated. Meika gulped.
"You're kidding right?" She questioned. The General shook his head.
"I never joke."He replied. Meika shivered as she backed up feeling the chestnut door behind her.
"Not even a trial, are you positive I killed the Captain?" Even as General Azra nodded Meika was feeling for the door handle. When she found it, she twisted it and bolted from the room.
"After her!" She heard General Azra command. It wasn't hard to detect Blake's thundering footsteps as he gave pursuit. Meika saw the automatic doors being shut. She would never make it on time. Instead she turned on a dime and fled down a hallway, Blake on her heels.
"Uh-oh." Meika had bolted up a flight of steps only to realize that she had no way of getting down safely. Still, she ran.
She stopped in a side room and hid herself in a closet. Her heart was pounding wildly as she felt the blood rushing though her ears. After a few moments, she stepped softly from the closet. At that exact moment, Blake burst through the door, trapping her in the room.
"Come on girlie. You have an appointment with a needle." He drew his gun. Meika pressed herself against the window. Blake leveled his weapon at her. Then General Azra joined, pulling his own gun and pointing it at the desperate girl.
"Nice and slow Meika, come on now." Azra said. Meika responded by flattening herself against the window. Then, she got an idea. Bringing her arm forth, she smashed it backwards, shattering the glass and hurling herself through the broken window. Gunshots rang out over her head.
The escape from the room had taken but a moment, but the five story fall seemed to take forever. To her relief, she had launched herself out far enough to hit the lake below.
With a splash Meika hit the water. It was cool and refreshing, had she not been running for her life, she would have stopped to enjoy it. Meika swam rapidly though the deep water to the opposite shore. She pulled herself out and ran though the lawn not heeding the people in her way.
She managed to make it to the garage. Ummi was still there, and upon seeing Meika soaking wet, she guessed what happened. Meika looked frantically in the garage for a place to hide. She found a shimmering black motorcycle, and crouched behind it. Ummi told then General when he had arrived and questioned her that Meika had run out the back door. Meika felt a wave of gratitude towards the officer.
When Blake and the general had left, Meika stood up. Ummi looked at her sympathetically.
"I need to get out of here Ummi, they think I murdered the captain." Meika said in short breaths. Ummi nodded.
"Come by our bunk tonight. I'll let you in so you can get your stuff and leave. Blake did a real good job manipulating the general, didn't he?" Ummi said. Meika nodded miserably.
"He had my necklace, the one you gave me, and my hair band. Now I know why they were missing."
"What are you going to do when you escape."
"Go to a space colony, if I can fake an ID and get on a passenger shuttle." Ummi walked over and hugged her friend.