Chapter 10: Rude Awakening

Lyude slept fitfully that night. He'd been subject to all kinds of pranks since he had arrived. That Commander Stryker approved of him made it all the worse, but his family's status would have made it just as troublesome. He was glad for Andrews, who, though from a much lower class family, had taken the time to get to know him and had not measured him solely on his family class.

Rest, alas, was not to come to him in any form. Lyude was jolted rudely awake by Folon, who had woken early just to take revenge for his defeat in the previous day's sparring match in a most unpleasant fashion. With a devilish snicker he dangled by his knees from the bed to wake Lyude with an air horn to the ear. Though this was surely poorly planned, for Folon had not thought ahead far enough to realize that such a rude awakening would result in just as rude a retaliation.

The moment the air horn sounded Lyude snapped awake, his first impulse to strike at the afflicting noise, and strike it he did, his foot connecting with Folon's jaw and, given Folon's poor hold by the knees on his bed, the blue haired boy slid loose and landed flat on his face with a squeal, Lyude leaping quickly from his mattress, to ensure Folon was not badly injured.

"Aiiieee!! You've killed me you high strung freak!" Folon squealed, rolling back and forth and making quite the scene. "Agony! Aaagoooonnyyy!!!"

"Hold still." said Lyude, trying to calm the exaggerating boy. "Your nose is bleeding everywhere."

"Your fault!" Folon said, pointing a finger right at Lyude's nose. "You…you sissy-boy poser! You're not supposed to pack that kind of punch."

Lyude sighed and shook his head. "Come on, you need to go to the infirmary." said Lyude, giving Folon a handkerchief to stem the bleeding.

"My poor beautiful nose!! You broke it! You brooooke it!!" Folon said, flailing.

Lyude could say nothing more before Stryker burst into the room and Lyude felt the bottom fall out of his stomach. Even startled awake, he wasn't sure that his record was going to come out flawless from this. Stryker took one look at Folon and pulled him up by the back of his pajamas.

"Shut up and get to the infirmary, soldie-er…whatever excuse of a creature that tries to pass as a human you are." He hissed. "Lyricello, I want you in my office. Now." Stryker snarled, turning on his heel.

Lyude swallowed hard, not in the least looking forward to this meeting. He obediently followed his commander, however and stood at attention in his pajamas. Upon Stryker's orders, Lyude related the incident and Stryker rolled his eyes. "That idiot boy…very well, Lyricello, you're dismissed. Commander Lyricello has requested your presence for the coming week and it has been granted. The redhead felt that uncomfortable pang in his stomach again….He would have preferred to have cleaned the bathrooms with a toothbrush rather than hear those words, they surely didn't mean good things for him. "Yes sir." said Lyude with a respectful nod, not letting his feelings show on his face. "What time am I to report?" he asked.

"Immediately after breakfast. He will come and collect you. You are to have your full magnus deck and be in full uniform as usual. I don't fell the additional training necessary, but that's not my call. In any case, you will return to your normal training immediately after you pass Commander Lyricello's assessments." He said.

Lyude nodded faintly. "Yes sir." He said quietly.

"You're dismissed." Said Stryker.

There was at least one thing the young redhead was happy to see upon his return to the barracks to get dressed. Andrews was back, his nose having been properly mended after Benson's rather painful encounter with it. Now that his head was no longer ringing from the blast, he was able to focus on the tasks of the morning, making sure that his bed was flawless and that the blood on the floor was cleaned up. He straightened his tie and walked over to Andrews when he had finished. "Are you all right?" he asked.

"Heh, yeah, but I see that Folon took my place in the infirmary. What happened?" asked Andrews.

"I did." Lyude said, rubbing his brow. "Folon apparently thought it would be funny to wake me up with an air horn."

"You hit him?"

"Not on purpose. It was reflex, but he was dangling from his bunk and well…."

"Ouch…."

"Yes….ouch." said Lyude. "Was he still wailing when you passed him?"

"Squealing like a stuck pow." said Andrews. "There were a few other things I heard scattered, something about his last will in testament and socks."

"Oh good grief…" said Lyude.

"Yeah, it went on for quite a while before the nurse smacked him upside the head and told him she'd break something else if he didn't shut up." Said Andrews. "But you know Folon, everything's dramatic."

Lyude nodded faintly. "Yeah…well, I need to get to breakfast, Andrews, my brother will be training me this week." He said quietly.

"….Ouch. That guy really needs to take the stick out. What's his problem with you, anyway? You're the top of our class and you hardly ever miss anything."

"It's the family honor, I suppose…He wants the entire family to be the best of the best…Either way, I need to go." He said quietly.

"All right…well, good luck, Lyude. I'm sure you'll come back even better." He said.

"Thanks, Andrews." Said Lyude, and he turned to go to a breakfast he was quite sure he would have no appetite for, but wouldn't dare waste a morsel.

A/N: Zombie update! I do still live and lurk on the internet! It feels so good to be writing something again. Sorry to everyone who has more than likely given up on me, but hopefully those of you that have me on your watch list will see the update. I'm sure all of you have been missing Folon's exaggerated antics and I hope this chapter didn't disappoint!