Disclaimer: I do not own any of these characters, it's for pure fun. Don't sue me, I don't have any money!!!
This is a prequel to FF:TSW, centering mainly around Aki and Gray's relationship – and development thereof. It starts out at the HMA and moves to the field. Major kudos goes out to HUGGING TREE, (you know who you are) who helped me hugely in the editing and rewrite of this story. To all others, please read and review!! Many more chapters to come!!
At 22 years old, Aki Ross was the star pupil of Dr. Sid's "Gaia" theory. Although not widely accepted by many, Dr. Sid's theory was gaining recognition. Aki had been traveling to each barrier city to solicit support of the theory. The theory lacks only one thing: PROOF.
"I don't understand why YOU have to go to Houston," Maya moaned as she watched her roommate of 4 years pack her things. Aki continued to pack, feeling even more apprehensive about her journey than before. She didn't want to leave the institute. The Atlanta BioEthrics Institute was her home: everything she loved was here, Dr. Sid, Maya, Devon, and all the others. Aki looked smiled somatically towards Maya, "I will miss you too, Maya. But, Devon is going with me. And Dr. Sid thinks this will be good for me to gain some experience."
"Experience in what?" Maya squawked.
"Experience in…. stuff," Aki replied, uncertain herself what she would be doing at the HMA. Maya remained quiet for a few moments after that. Aki knew what she was thinking. After 4 years they could practically read each other minds. Maya sat up nervously, "Your going to try and prove the Gaia theory aren't you? That's why Dr. Sid wants you to go to the HMA! Are you crazy! You know those guys HATE the Gaia theory! They don't believe! You can't be serious about this."
Aki looked at Maya and motioned to her packed bags as if to say, "I'm packed aren't I." "I know, I know. But all they will know is that I am a recently graduated medical student, who is going to volunteer as a medical technician."
"Yeah, those technicians go into the field, into the wasteland!! Sometimes they don't come back!" Maya cried. "I don't know how you got Devon to go with you. He is sooo not-the-military type."
Aki smiled to herself. Maya was right. Devon wasn't the military type. He was a practical joker/prankster. Aki just couldn't see him with a gun in his hand. A whoopee cushion maybe. He'd less likely kill a phantom than he would try to embarrass it. He was not going to fit in there. But, Dr. Sid had said that might draw any attention away from Aki, if any arose. Devon was happy to go with Aki; they were like brother and sister. They had both come from San Francisco to study medicine. Devon specialty was endocrinology. Aki's was bioengineering. Both had become friends early on. In fact, Devon was her only friend for the first couple of weeks. Both of their parents were killed when the San Francisco barrier failed. Devon and Aki became as close as siblings after that.
"I'm sure that Devon can handle himself. He handles you all the time." Aki winked at Maya. Maya and Devon had been carrying an illicit affair for months. "Yeah, he does." Maya purred prettily. Aki rolled her eyes at the dreamy way Maya flounced on the bed. Aki knew Maya was doubly hurt by both of them leaving at the same time, but she also knew she would need Devon's help at HMA. Maya had lost a lover about a year ago, a medical tech who had gone to the HMA to volunteer, and it was all Aki could do to console her afterwards.
Aki zipped up the last of her bags, 3 in all, and carried them to door. Maya sat up suddenly, and quickly walked over to Aki. "Listen, promise me one thing. Promise me that you will keep Devon safe. I don't know if I could handle it if I lost him too." Maya pleaded, holding both of Aki's hands. Aki wanted to tell her it wasn't up to her, she wanted to be honest – not give Maya false hope – but she couldn't. She could never be the sensible, logical Aki that all her colleagues knew around Maya. Maya had always been able to lure the emotions out of Aki. More than once Maya had gotten Aki in trouble for going by her emotions rather than her logic. Aki gently squeezed Maya's hands, "Don't worry. Devon is like a cat 'always lands on his feet'."
Aki and Maya walked towards the tarmac, where a transport ship was to take Aki to the Houston Military Academy. Dr. Sid was waiting not far from the ship. As Aki walked across the tarmac, Dr. Sid pulled her aside.
"Where's Devon?" Aki asked as she scanned the area.
"I thought it best that you arrived separately. So they don't think that you're a 'team.' Remember Aki; the military doesn't 'like'us. We have to prove the Gaia theory to them, and in order to do that, you and Devon have to get some training. Only the military can help us, and we need their support. I don't want either of you going out there without being able to protect yourselves."
Aki looked worried for a moment. "It seems you acting as if we're your only hope."
Dr. Sid put his hands on Aki's shoulders, and looked straight into her eyes. "You are. I wouldn't trust this to just anyone." Aki looked even more worried after that. But Dr. Sid gently maneuvered Aki towards the ship. "Don't worry, Aki. You'll both be fine. I know the director of the med tech division at HMA, and he has assured me that you both will be assigned together on the same team. Hence the reason for the separate arrivals." Aki relaxed a bit. Dr. Sid stopped short of the gain way ramp. Dr. Sid hugged Aki softly. She hadn't been away from him for more than a few days in the past 4 years. He was the closest thing to a relative she had left. Aki's eyes swelled with tears, but she did not cry. Aki pulled back from the embrace and walked up the ramp. She did not look back.
HOUSTON MILITARY ACADEMY – The Next Day
The last 24 hours had not been good for Aki. Her transport flight had to go to several other cities before going to Houston. She was not happy about the situation, since she was told she was going straight to the HMA. Aki became more and more concerned about her arrival at the HMA. As more and more passengers boarded, the more their conversations drifted in her direction.
"Yeah, looks like another med tech," replied a cadet to another cadet, "we lose so many, so fast…" the conversation drifted off.
"More cannon fodder," snickered another burly cadet, "those med techs just get in the way half the time."
Aki tried to ignore the remarks and concentrate on the book she was reading. "Stupid jar-heads," Aki thought, "This is going to be rough 6 months."
As the transport floated gracefully through barrier entrance, Aki quickly and quietly gathered her briefcase to exit the ship. Aki was dressed in a stylish navy blue business suit, with a knee length a-line skirt and navy blue pumps. She had thought the color would blend in better, but soon realized she was the only one showing her calves! As she exited the ship, she saw her bags lined up on the landing pad. She walked over to the flight technician. "Excuse me, why are my bags sitting there?"
The flight tech looked her up and down, then over her shoulder at her bags, "Ahhh…. because you left them there?"
Aki looked annoyed. "Are my bags going to be delivered, or do I have to carry them myself?"
"Well, if you want them to get to where YOU'RE going, I suggest you take them yourself." The flight tech replied wryly.
"You can't be serious."
"Yeah, I'm serious." The flight tech turned back to what he was doing and "dismissed" Aki outright.
Aki was fuming. She wasn't used to all this. Most for the places she went she didn't have to worry about the details. But in fairness she never had toted her entire life with her before. Aki let out a calming breath, and walked to her bags. She picked up each one and gingerly walked towards the entrance of the academy.
As Aki walked, the bags became increasingly heavy. Aki stopped a few times and restarted. She was seriously considering what in the hell was in all of her bags. As the entrance of the Houston Military Academy drew closer, Aki considered the entrance. The front was very austere, with few embellishments. Large, high-mirrored windows lined the front of the building on the 2nd floor. The wide steps leading up to the front doors were empty. A 10-foor high wrought iron fence enclosed the entire complex. A sign on the front gate stated: "ATTENTION: AUTHORIZED PERSONNEL ONLY! BREACH OF THIS PERIMETER IS PROHIBITED. ALL CADETS AND PERSONNEL ASSIGNED TO HMA MUST BE WITHIN COMPLEX WALLS AT ALL TIMES. PLEASE HAVE APPORIATE IDENTIFCATION AVAILABLE FOR INSPECTION." All in all it was not very inviting. But, Aki wasn't expecting anything less that what she was seeing. Aki reached inside her briefcase for her ID. As she did, a large heavily built solider stepped from around the front gate. Aki was so startled by his appearance she jumped.
"This is a restricted area. State you business!"
"I'm Aki Ross. I am to check into the academy today." Aki handed the solider her ID card. He scanned the card on the gate, at which time the gate opened. The solider handed her ID back to Aki.
"Follow me…please." He didn't seem very happy.
Aki leaned down to pick up her bags and carry them. "Don't even think about asking for HIS help, Aki," Aki thought to herself as she heaved the last of her stuff through the gate.
INSIDE PLEBES HALL – HOUSTON MILITARY ACADEMY
Sr. Cadet, and Cadet Leader, Gray Edwards stood at the top of the second floor stairway at the front of HMA looking down at two figures walking up the front steps of the academy. A group of senior cadets stood around Gray, as was usual, each discussing the recent assignments from HMA to the Deep Eyes. Every cadet hoped to be recruited but only 10 out of a graduated class of 100 were picked, making competition very high. All seniors knew that the Cadet Leader and Cadet Assistant Leader were shoe-ins, 90% of the time. Occasionally, a cadet leader didn't get picked for whatever reason. Most of the time it was because of family responsibilities. One of the requirements to be in a Deep Eyes Unit was to have no family ties – no wife or children. The reason for this is because of the death rate among the Deep Eyes. The military didn't want to have to deal with family – all they wanted to do was win.
Gray was oblivious to the discussion. His thoughts were centered in on the solider, which he knew was Brett Fontaine, and the woman, judging by the skirt, walking up the stairs. Gray knew Brett Fontaine, and though he was an asshole. Fontaine was a junior whom Gray had many altercations in class concerning procedure and tactics. Fontaine was a "charge-in-guns-a-blaze" type, while Gray liked to assess the situation prior to any action. Gray was a minimalist – the least about of action, with the best results. Gray didn't "get off" on the rush of combat; he just knew it was necessary sometimes. Gray like quiet.
Gray continued to watch as the woman struggled up the stairs. She never dropped anything, but he could see she was not doing well under all that weight. Gray cursed under his breath. Judging from her size, Gray knew she wasn't here to be a solider. "Probably a med tech," Gray thought to himself. Which made it doubly insulting to her, since she was VOLUNTEERING for this.
Mark Wallace, Cadet Assistant Leader and Gray's best friend, noticed Gray's expression. Mark knew that face. Gray was pissed.
"Hey Gray, what's got you miffed?" Mark moved closer to Gray, looking over his shoulder in line with Gray's POV. Gray continued to clench his fist, a clear sign to Mark that he was definitely pissed. "Ahhh….Fontaine. You still stewing about that argument in class yesterday?"
"No, that's not it." Gray replied calmly without looking away from Fontaine and Aki.
"What is it then?"
Gray turned to Mark, and then pointed, "Look at that! Don't you see! He's doing that to her on purpose, just because she's med tech."
Mark looked down at the other figure he hadn't even noticed. "Okay. So he's not helping her. That's not that big of a deal." Gray looked back towards the two now at the top of the stairs, going into Receiving.
"It's the point, Mark. Were soldiers, not robots. He could have a least…. ahh…forget it." Gray threw his hands up as if to say, "If you don't understand, I can't explain it to you."
Gray turned and started down the stairs, Mark following close behind. Mark and Gray became friends about a year ago. They had gone a routine training mission that turned terribly bad. Gray, Mark, Brady, and Zane had been the only ones to survive. They were a very tight group now, even though they knew they would have to separate soon. Mark and Gray were complete opposites, personality wise. Gray was more reserved and quiet; while Mark was more boisterous and charming. But during combat, Mark and Gray were in total sync. Gray brought out a claming affect in Mark, while Mark brought out the more "animated" Gray many of the cadets had been introduced to in the traditional faculty "raids" and graduation functions.
"Look, I know your Dad was big on the whole 'chivalry' thing. I know you've chewed my ear off about it. But, come on Gray."
Gray continued to walk silently down the hall towards the barracks. "Aren't you going to say anything?" Mark asked as Gray continued to stride down the hall.
"Yeah. We've got five minutes before final inspection." Gray called over his shoulder. Mark looked down at this watch, his eyes widened, "Oh, shit!" Mark rushed to catch up with Gray.