I got back from work. I should continue posting...forgot to mention, Raven does not have Shadow just yet. Shadow just might be his reward...

Some Experience Necessary

1.2

"Understand that this will be filed under extra curriculum activities…something of which you are in great need of." The sniveling tones washed over Raven as he did his best to keep up with the tall man's amazing pace as they made their way out of the classroom building and into the school grounds. Flick was the aide to the principal and was more of a secretary than an officer, harshly washed and skinny as a rake. One of those rule-botherers. "Of course I can safely say that your marks are incredibly high…mmm, we can expect nothing less from the son of the defense minister, but all the same, your skipping of classes and ignoring of the team rosters-"

Raven rolled his eyes, shifting his shoulders as he did so to reposition his backpack. His jacket was stifling and Flick didn't look like he was stopping any time soon. Skipping class? No, he had notes for those. Only the top ten percent of the school skipped classes and that was usually for good reason – their families were either high up or in the field. No noble's child would be caught dead genuinely skipping school for hi-jinks due to the beating they'd probably earn when they got home. 'Skipping' was often down to legitimate missions. What had he been caught out on this time? Prozen was meticulous with his file keeping on everything except his own personal details – Raven drummed his fingers against the coarse backpack strap, thinking. The Barthas Conflict? There'd been the incident on the border two weeks ago that took a while to resolve…possibly St Martin's Place? That had been a sticky situation-

"…All this gallivanting about, you need to put more effort into outside school activities apart from the gun club and the…" Flick consulted his notes. "Home economics class?"

"A good soldier knows how to take care of himself." Raven replied, not bothering to tack on anything sarcastic – it was a waste of energy in this heat.

"Hmm. Where were you three days ago?"

Raven jerked with surprise, confused. "It was a weekend, sir. I didn't think we needed to sign in for those."

Flick's pencil-thin moustache almost curled as his cheeks pinked in carefully held fury. "You missed camp!"

Raven stopped, frowning in annoyance. Bugger the heat. "And play in the dirt with the other kids who don't even know how to put up a tent? Their idea of outside survival is making out where the teachers can't see."

"I'll have you know, Mister Prozen" – never had a name been spoken with such venom – "It is highly important to bond with your peers and there is nothing wrong with taking on a leadership role and helping out those beneath you!" Flick wasn't bothering keeping his voice down. A few heads were poking out of windows above them as they made their way across the parade ground. Only the band attempting a basic march was not paying attention - but then that could be something to do with the tuba player. "Do you have anything to say to this?!"

"I don't have to explain myself to you." Came the growl back.

Flick stopped, spun around on his heel and put his hands on his hips in a haughty pose, his clipboard quivering in his spider-leg fingers. "This time, oh this time, you do."

Raven stared him down. His fingers itched, but the ways of war were not appropriate in school. This was a public servant and while he was drunk on his own delusions of power, he was still part of the government system. It didn't mean he had to be listened to, but he couldn't be beaten either. What was it Prozen always suggested? Oh yes.

"National security remains national security." Raven said smoothly, trying to keep anything smug out of his voice. The look on Flick's face was ridiculous. "The camp was never said to be compulsory, so I didn't see why I had to go. Minister Prozen needed someone to come with him for – as I said a moment ago – a project of national security." He said the words lovingly, revelling in what he was seeing in front of him. Flick went purple. It was an attractive shade too, but possibly not on the trembling secretary.

When the man finally gained control of himself – with a few polite coughs – he leaned forward and fixed Raven with a pair of watery hazel eyes, filled with office-brand evil. "Without a certain amount of points to your name, you will not be able to graduate." Raven raised an eyebrow in question, so Flick continued. "The school requires people to do things properly, and what you have alone will not cut it. So. You'd best make up points fast because the end of the school year is nigh. Summer vacation, the delights of Christmas, the New Year…and you, having to face this year all. Over. Again. How does that sound?"

"Minister Prozen won't stand for it."

"Minister Prozen is part of the military and the government and knows damn well he can't break the rules. No amount of bribery either – favours or cash - will let you pass. No permanent pilot's licence. The turning in of your weapons cache, which I have heard has been getting rather large. Having to, haha, work with the younger set. Am I making myself clear?"

Raven grit his teeth behind firmly closed lips, carefully controlling his temper before replying. It would do no good to lash out now no matter how gleeful the damned bastard was. "Completely clear, Mr. Flick."

The man straightened with a triumphant and somewhat sly grin. "Good! So now you're thinking, what do I have to do to get out of this?" Silence. Flick decided to carry on, his tone still quite bright. "The task is very simple. We have a lot of prospective new students, and they must be tested to gain entry to our little school and further training. I recall that you had to go through that same test?"

Raven nodded, but paid it no heed. That particular memory of his childhood was not one he liked to dwell on too much. The test itself had been fine, it was the leading up to it which had been painful. "You're asking me to…be the tester?"

"Don't get ahead of yourself." With a dismissive wave of his hand, Flick turned suddenly and began to walk again towards the low-slung bunkers that served as the main office buildings, complete with an old gunner station still attached to the top. It was a quirky thing, covered in mismatched paint and crude graffiti of political statements, very anatomically incorrect penises and love confessions, all of which the janitors had long since given up on with removing. Despite all of this it still held some grandeur, its design pure old Imperial and a reminder that some things were constant in this strange world. Raven watched it for a moment before following, head down and face grim. This would not be good.

"Four unique young ladies have under the watchful eyes of Emperor Zeppelin II."

Raven's jaw dropped and his words came out without thought. "Oh really? He can still get it up?"

"Hold your tongue against his highness! Honestly, you're disgusting!"

"And realistic." Raven recovered. "Four girls." A suspicious pause. "Why girls?"

"Why not?"

"Why just girls? Aren't there any guys? And why did they volunteer? The school is open for education on it's own, but this is a military thing or you wouldn't have asked me to come over here."

"What makes you think they volunteered?!" Flick spluttered.

Raven scratched his chin, lost in thought for a moment as one of the rare cool breezes of the day made the trees rustle around them. Perhaps it was a little ominous, but he did feel a prickle of warning down his back. "If they were conscripted they'd be part of class and would be treated accordingly. They'd either be of noble blood – which means they'd be part of a specific unit, or…their families would be selling them to the only 'safe' profession in order to save the farm…and earn some more cash in the mean time. But they're not in class, so I don't get it."

Flick waved him aside. "It doesn't matter. Get inside. Now."

"It does." Raven folded his arms, narrowing his pale eyes. "Volunteers fall into two categories – murderous or insane. Possibly both at the same time if they don't have a…" A democratic pause that would have made Prozen proud. "…if they're missing something between their legs. Do you know why we have such a high ratio of men to women in the military?"

"I don't know and I don't care. Get. inside."

- To be continued