My earliest memory would probably be… on the Ba'als Thunder. It was an old galactic cruiser, and my dad was overseeing its decommissioning. He was a high-ranking, military engineer and was allowed to bring me and my mom on the ship's last passage.
A tiny girl stood on the cruiser's observation deck, standing on her tiptoes to watch the ocean of stars. She was still too young to fully grasp the vastness of the void before her, but the sight always filled her with wonder. What would it be like to reach out and grab one of those little lights in the distance?
"Rana," a woman spoke, snapping the little girl out of her daydreaming.
The girl turned to see a tall woman with light green skin and long, white hair much like her own. Looking up to meet her gaze, Rana held out her hands to be picked up by the motherly figure.
"What do we say?" the woman pleasantly asked.
"Please, pick me up, Mommy," Rana said. "I want to watch the stars."
"Alright, sweetie." The woman picked up Rana, both arms under the girl's bottom as to provide a stable seat. "You're getting too big for this," she panted.
"Woooow," Rana gasped in amazement. "There's so many!" Her wide eyes twinkled in the star field's glow, drawing a small giggle from her mother.
"The Bajor Cluster is always beautiful to see up close," the woman said as she looked out the ship's window. She turned back to the girl. "Just like my little Rana." She nuzzled her head against her daughter's making the little girl smile. Together, they watched the stars float on by, daughter cradled in her mother's arms.
The peaceful moment was cut short by the mother starting to gag. She quickly put Rana down and covered her mouth.
"Mommy?" Rana asked with a tinge of fear. Her mother fell into a coughing fit but was able to get it under control after a minute.
"It's alright, sweetie," the mother reassured. She wiped off her mouth and smiled at her daughter. "Mommy is ok."
Rana nodded at her mother but couldn't stop staring at the drop of emerald blood on the woman's chin.
Mom suffered from a rare, lung condition her entire life. It could normally be controlled with medication, but…
Pregnancy took a lot out of her. After I was born, her health started to deteriorate. She died less than a year after the tour.
Rana was kneeling on the temple floor with a hundred others, her father directly to her left. She had never been to a funeral. She didn't fully understand why all the people had gathered in the stone hall. She didn't understand why she had to wear a white robe, or why she had to follow along with the ceremony. Rana just knew her mother was gone, and she missed her very much.
After the ceremony, all the adults had gathered outside under the dark red sky. Rana looked up in hopes to see a few stars, but it was always cloudy on Narjahim. Star gazing was a rarity on the surface. She gave up and decided to follow her father around, as he was the only familiar face in the crowd.
"Daddy, can we go home?" she asked, tugging on the sleave of his robe.
"Not now, Rana," he said. "Why don't you go play with the other children?" He pointed over to a group of kids playing schoolyard games at the far end of the field, before turning back to his conversation.
Rana walked off pouting. Daddy never seemed to want her around, always saying that she needed to go play with the other children. But the other children always ended up bullying her for her tiny stature, so she would run off to Mommy instead. But Mommy was gone now, so she followed his suggestion.
"Uh… h-hi guys," Rana shyly greeted.
"Oh. Hey, Rana," one of the older boys scoffed.
"What are you playing?"
"Grufball," a taller girl answered. "Two-hand touch, so we don't dirty our robes."
"Mind if I join you?" Rana smiled.
"I don't know," the girl frowned. "We already have two teams. If we let you join, it wouldn't really be fair."
"I can find another player, then the teams will still be even."
"Well, I guess that would be alright."
"No," the first boy said. "The team with tiny here would be at a disadvantage."
"No, they wouldn't!" Rana protested. "I'm great at Grufball!"
"You? Good at a sport? My granny could outrun you," the boy laughed.
"Knock it off, Qays," the girl elbowed him. "Her mother just died. Cut her some slack."
"Good," the boy smirked. "My dad always said Rajiya was weak. It's no wonder where this little twerp got it from."
"My mommy wasn't weak," Rana glared at the boy. A crowd of kids had gathered to see what was holding up the game and had formed a circle around the slowly brewing fight.
"Sure, she was," the boy continued. "She couldn't fight. She couldn't run. She could barely walk. She was weak, just like you."
"Take that back! Right now!" Rana demanded, tears starting to gather at her eyelids.
"Oh yea? Who's gonna make me? You?" the asked, leaning in close. He continued to smirk down at Rana, daring her to try something. They continued this contest of wills for a few seconds before Rana looked away. "Yea, that's what I thought. Come on, guys. Let's get back to the game."
The kids all walked off, leaving Rana behind to fight back tears. The little Narjian had never felt so humiliated in her young life. The grief she was experiencing was more agonizing than what she had ever known possible. Her mother was dead, and now everyone was making fun of her mother.
She needed to fight back and prove them wrong. Her mother was not weak, and neither was she. Mommy would want her to be brave, so that's what Rana decided to do. She was probably going to get beaten up for this, but it was worth it to protect Mommy's honor.
All the other kids had started playing their game again. Rana looked out at the playing field and located Qays. A new fire grew in her chest as her eyes locked on and she charged forward. The game came to a halt as everyone was caught off guard by the little girl dashing across the field. Qays turned to her but didn't have enough time to react.
"GRAAAAAHHHH!" Rana let out an animalistic scream as she leaped at the boy, her weight forcing him to the ground. "TAKE IT BACK! TAKE IT BACK!" she cried as she wailed on Qays with all the might her child arms could muster. The boy flailed in desperation but couldn't get the girl off him.
Rana's attack came to an end when a group of adults ran over to intervene. They ripped her off Qays, dragging her away kicking and screaming. A pair of strong hands grabbed her wrist once the adults let go.
"Rana, that's enough!" her father commanded. Rana ceased her crying at the sound of her father's voice. She forced her teary eyes open to see his disappointed gaze. "Let's go home."
"He called Mommy weak," Rana finally mumbled. The ride in their private shuttle had been silent up until then, and she felt the need to justify herself to her father. "Mommy wasn't weak."
"It's good that you were willing to stand up for yourself," her father sighed, "but there are better ways to sort out disagreements with your friends."
"They're not my friends. Qays is just a big meanie."
"I see," her father raised his eyebrows at her. "Still, there was no need to attack that young man. Even if he is rude, attacking your comrades unprovoked is dishonorable. I expect you to behave better going forward."
The shuttle was silent once again, the only noticeable sound being the quiet hum of the jet engines. Rana stared out the window in deep thought. She wasn't sure how to shake the lingering feeling of rage in her stomach. Her mind kept wandering to Qays' stupid fade and how much she wanted to punch him again. She thought that going home would help, but her father somehow made the anger worse. It was confusing, as Mommy always seemed to make things better.
"Do you think Mommy was weak?" Rana blurted out.
"Do not question my loyalty to your mother," her father glared at her. "Rajiya and I shared a Lover's Bond. I thought the world of her, just as I do of you. I will always miss her."
"Did you think Mommy was weak?" she asked again.
"That's enough, Rana," her father commanded, before looking away. "No more of this foolish discussion."
"Ok," Rana mumbled. She looked back out the window, pouting the whole way home.
It was Rana's first day back to school. She really, really didn't want to go. Surely everyone would have heard about what she did to Qays by now. If he didn't beat her up himself, then he would at least send someone from his posse after her. But Mommy would want her to be brave. Rana took a deep breath, just like Mommy showed her, and entered the building.
For half the day, Rana was tense with paranoia. Every time another kid so much as looked in her direction, she had to fight the urge to run away screaming. She started to constantly glance over her shoulder, expecting one of the older kids to wallop her from behind. But the beating never came.
It was at the midday meal that Rana's fear started to turn into confusion. She started to wonder if everyone had forgotten, or maybe they just didn't care. While Qays was one of the popular boys, that didn't mean people didn't talk badly about him behind his back. Many just thought he was a hot head from his dad being a General. A bit of fear started to creep in when she thought that maybe they were waiting for the right moment to strike.
All her fears and doubts were wiped away when she spotted Qays and his group on the way back to class. They all quickly turned away, giving her the cold shoulder like most people do. But Rana saw it. For the briefest moment, when her eyes met Qays', she saw fear. Her outburst had somehow scared him. As the school week continued, she started to notice that same glimmer of fear in other kids, too. Even ones who usually picked on her, they were all actively avoiding her.
That's when Rana realized that she had a sense of power over them. No one would pick on her ever again. If someone dared tried to hurt her in any way, they would pay. She couldn't help but giggle at this realization.
It stayed like that for a long while. I became the loner. Out of some sense of pride, I had to do everything by myself. I had to prove I wasn't weak. I don't remember how or when, but at some point, that turned into proving I was the best.
"Excuse me. Shorty coming through," Rana said as she tried force we way through the crowd of students.
Exam scores has just been posted for the whole school to see. Being their last year before military school, it was an incredibly important exam. The scores and ranking would be compared to others around the planet. They were crucial to determining where each student was sent for training and what careers were available to them.
"Just let me… squeeze through," Rana mumbled loudly, desperate to get a glimpse of the list. She eventually forced her way to the front, and her eyes traveled up the list. She grinned at the name on top.
Rank 1: ID 19950509: Rana: Score 100%
"WOOO!" she cheered. "That's right! Who's the greatest? This gal right here!" Rana dashed out of the crowd and started to do a celebratory dance in the middle of the hall, much to everyone else's cringe.
"She's doing it again," one student groaned.
"Alright! We get it!" another shouted in frustration.
"See you all later," Rana laughed before skipping down the hall.
"Get set… GO!" The coach shouted, and the four students all took off down the track.
Rana sprinted as fast as her legs would allow her. She technically wasn't competing against the others. It was a timed sprint for their physical exam. That didn't mean she didn't want to win. Running along side the others made her want to be faster. She wanted to be the first one across the line. But she finished third.
"Time!" Coach shouted, clicking the button on his digital timer when each student crossed. "That was a good run. From all of you." He smiled at the four pupils but faltered when he noticed Rana sulking. "Rana, is there a problem?"
"No problem," she denied, causing a few of the students to giggle at her.
"Come see me after class," Coach calmly said.
Rana let out a bored sigh as she sat in the coach's office. Her eyes wandered across the walls, examining the various flags and metals the man had hanging. Coach was a self-proclaimed sports nut and went into physical education as soon as his required military time was up. Rana struggled to understand that mindset. Professional sports weren't a thing Narjians did beyond local leagues, and she found school sports to be a waste of time. She stayed fit so she could fight, not to partake in some stupid game.
"Sorry about the wait," Coach said as he stepped into the office. He closed the door behind him and sat down in his chair opposite Rana. "What seems to be troubling you, Rana?"
"Nothing's troubling me," Rana continued to deny.
"You looked pretty troubled after the running test. And everyone noticed, I might add."
"I don't know. Just wish I was faster," she shrugged.
"Faster? Rana, you are in the top ten for fastest kids in this school. I got guys on the track team envious of your speed."
"Doesn't mean I can't be faster."
"Rana," Coach gave her a sad smile. "You can't be the best at everything. You did good out there, and you should be proud of that."
"I know," Rana let out an exasperated sigh. "I know I'm good. But what's wrong with wanting to be better?"
"There's nothing wrong with that. But that doesn't mean you can't be proud of how far you've come. Look," Coach pulled out his tablet and opened some of his files. "According to my records, you've gone from being one of the weaker students in the school to scoring 18th out of 250 overall on your physical." He put down the tablet and looked Rana dead in the eye. "I also heard about your exams. Do you have any idea how hard those tests are? You are one of maybe ten kids on the entire planet that got a perfect score. You're already one of the best."
"Thanks," Rana said, getting a somewhat smug grin on her face. "I'll remember that. Cool if I go now?"
"One last thing. Do you have anyone to talk to?"
"Say what now?" Rana raised her eyebrows in surprise.
"You can't go though life on your own. You need friends and family to help you sometimes," Coach continued. "It's no secret your father can be distant. Do you have anyone else you can fall back on?"
"No," Rana responded sternly. "Just me. I don't need anyone else."
"You may think that now, but everyone had a breaking point. Without anyone to talk to, life can become awfully lonely."
"I talk to people," Rana defended.
"Would you call any of these people a friend?"
"I…" Rana rubbed her neck, not wanting to answer.
"What about a bonding partner? A big part of cadet training is learning about telepathic bonds and knowing how to properly form one."
"I haven't put any thought into bonds."
"That's normal for your age, but it's something you will have to consider in the future."
"I should make a friend or whatever. I get it," Rana frowned, growing frustrated. "Can I go now?"
"You may," Coach nodded. "And know that all the teachers her are available to talk, myself included."
"Thanks Coach," Rana said as she made her exit.
"Hey, Dad," Rana sang when she got home.
"In my office," her father called out.
Rana dropped her books in her room before skipping into her father's office. She took a quick glance around, trying to get an idea of what big project he might be working on. There were a few new blueprints and sketches on the wall she didn't recognize, but nothing popped out at her as super important stuff. Ignoring it for the time being, she ran up to her father's workbench.
"Guess what," she grinned, struggling to not hop out of her skin from excitement.
"What is it, sweetie?" her father responded, not looking up from his papers.
"Your supposed to guess," Rana giggled.
"Alright," he sighed and turned to her. "Did you build another drone with my spare parts?"
"Nope," Rana shook her head before frowning. "Well, actually I did, but that's not the thing."
"Then tell me the thing."
"I got a perfect score on my exams," Rana squealed in delight.
"Really? Good for you," her father smiled. He gave her a firm pat on the arm. "You've always had a big brain on those shoulders." His smile grew a little larger as he turned back to his work.
"You're… proud of me, right dad?" Rana asked, her smile faltering.
"Of course, I am," he replied, not looking away from his papers. "I'll always be proud of my little genius."
"O-ok," Rana hesitantly nodded before walking away. She paused at the door. "One of the choir kids is hosting a party. Big celebration for the end of primary school. Mind if I borrow the shuttle?"
"Is a party really necessary?" he asked.
"I mean…" Rana paused, not sure how to answer. "We're just going to hang out and have some fun. It's no biggy."
"Hmm…" her father pondered. "I need the shuttle. You can borrow my metro pass. And make sure you are home before curfew."
"Ok. Thank you," Rana said before running off back to her room.
The girl shut the door behind her and quickly stripped out of her school uniform. Rana started going through her dresses, trying to decide on which one to wear. She wanted something more on the casual side. Nothing formal or stiff like the stupid uniform she had to wear almost every day. She eventually decided on a knee length, blue, floral dress with a dark, plain t-shirt. It was simple yet nice.
Examining herself in the mirror, she tried to smile. But her thoughts kept going back to her father. She really hoped he would have been… well, she wasn't sure what she hoped. Just something more than a pat on the back. All she ever got was a "good job" out of him. Whenever the choir performed or there was some big, school event, all the other parents would hug their kids and say how proud they were. Not her dad. He only offered a pat on the back, assuming he even bothered to show up. It was all about hard work and honorable living with him.
Rana understood his mindset. Father was one of the top military engineers in the entire empire. You didn't get that far without some hardcore discipline and patriotism. He was going to be busy with work most of the time. The man was a big deal…
But so is getting a perfect score on her exams. That's a big deal, too. And Rana was really hoping to get some sort of reaction out of him.
Slouching with a sad sigh, Rana pushed the thoughts away. She needed to do her makeup.
"So, you think those two will end up bonded?" Rana asked.
"Hu?" Akio perked up, surprised by Rana's sudden presence.
"Ken and Amita," Rana clarified, pointing at the couple across the room. "They make those stupid expressions all the time. I wouldn't be surprised if they already got some sort of link going."
"Oh, uh, I guess," the boy shrugged.
"Guess it doesn't matter," Rana shrugged. She plopped down on the seat next to Akio and took a sip of her drink. "Kinda wishing Yasser had followed through on his promise to sneak alcohol to the party. Would have made things way more interesting." She smirked at him but frowned when he didn't respond right away. She leaned back and watched two other girls get into a poetry duel.
"What are you doing here?" Akio finally asked.
"It's a party for the choir, right? I am part of the choir," Rana answered with a hint of sass.
"No, I mean why are you trying to talk to me. You never want to talk."
"I don't know," Rana shrugged. "Isn't that what people do at parties? Chat and make friends?"
"Well, yea," Akio scratched the back of his neck. "But you never seemed like you were interested in friends."
"Eh. Coach said I needed to try being more social or whatever."
"Oh."
The two kids sat in silence, content to people watch and listen to the occasional bout of singing. Neither of them was much of a socialite. Rana made a point to be a loner. She wasn't sure about Akio. She knew he had people he hung out with, but he didn't seem like the person who would normally go to a party.
They both got up when Amita talked them into singing with the group, which Rana enjoyed doing. Singing was one of the few ways she would express herself in such a way that others might consider vulnerable. And even though she didn't really have friends, the other choir kids felt pretty close to a family at times. They would all dance and sing and joke around together. Rana knew she was going to miss them.
After a while, the singing died down, and everyone split off again. Akio seemed to be less nervous around Rana, which she took as a sign of progress. Then a really dumb idea came to her.
"Hey, Akio," she whispered.
"Yea?"
"Want to try something crazy?"
"Uh… will we get into trouble?" Akio hesitated.
"We'll be fine," Rana smiled. She took his hand and led him out of the house when no one was looking. They snuck around to the side of the building, into the shadows where they couldn't be seen.
"W-what's this crazy thing you wanted to try?" the boy struggled to ask.
"I think you already figured it out," she slurred with a wide grinned. Rana wrapped her arms around Akio's waist, resting her head against his chest. "We're going to experiment a little." She looked up at him. "Now kiss me."
"O-oh, um. Ok." He leaned in and pressed his lips against her but missed her mouth.
"That was my nose, you idiot," Rana laughed. "Let me." She raised her arms and placed her hands on his cheeks. She stood on her tiptoes and pulled him in. There lips touched for a brief second.
"Wow," Akio breathed.
"I know," Rana whispered. "Let's try longer." She pulled him in again, this time letting her lips linger on his. She meant to pull away but got caught up in the moment.
Her hands slipped down to his shoulders as they both leaned in more. Akio's arms wrapped around Rana, instinct telling him to hold her closer. He leaned in further, allowing her to stand proper and deepen the kiss. They could both feel something building inside, some urge drawing them together. They kept their lips locked for over a minute when a spark ignited between them.
Rana's eyes shot open, and she shoved Akio away.
"That's enough," she commanded.
"What's wrong? And what was that feeling between us?" Akio asked, suddenly less shy with her.
"I'm not sure," Rana said, though she had a decent idea what the spark was. And she didn't like it. "Thank you for the experiment. You should go back inside. I need a moment to straighten myself out."
"Ok," Akio quietly nodded, his shy demeanor returning. He left her alone in the shadows to contemplate what just happened.
Rana could feel a strange fear in the pit of her stomach. It wasn't the kind of fear like when a kid is afraid of the dark. This felt much more personal. Like that spark was threatening her sense of being. Rana decided that she didn't need to be physical with anyone for a while.
After primary school, anyone who was capable was enrolled in military school. We were all in our early teens and being sent to fight for the Narjian Empire. Mind you, not everyone would end up in combat. But everyone would have some part to play in helping the Empire expand. With my high scores and physical abilities, I was sent to one of the top cadet schools on the planet.
"Welcome to Dietenzi Academy, cadets," the Headmaster announced to the group of a hundred students. "You all represent the finest of your generation. The brightest and the strongest our species has to offer. But do not think that your time here will be easy. My job here as Headmaster is to make sure every single one of you is forged into your best possible selves. When you graduate from Dietenzi, you will be ready to lead us into the next era. For the Empire!"
"For the Empire!" Rana shouted, her voice echoing alongside 99 others.
Almost immediately, Rana showed herself to be the outlier among the class. Her drive to be the best quickly pushed her to the top academically, and the girl received high praise from her professors for her work. But she was also criticized for her ego and antisocial behavior. She would boast every chance she got, and only stopped when she started getting threatened with janitorial duties.
Rana also had zero interest in learning about bonds. Unlike the more traditional classes, the lessons on telepathic bonds were mostly outside and had a weird "spiritual" feel to them. They would learn about companionship, and brotherhood, and other things Rana didn't really understand. She tended to disengage during these lessons. The girl would just go through the motions and avoid the other students as much as possible.
"Thank you for coming," Miss Fionola greeted. "You can close the door."
Rana closed the door behind her and sat in the chair across from her Bondings teacher. The woman didn't have a traditional desk like all the others. There was only a coffee table with two cups and a pot between Rana and Miss Fionola.
"Would you like some?" the teacher asked, pouring a green liquid from the pot into one of the cups. "Scoke grass tea from the Raliv home world. It has a leafy sweetness to it."
"Sure," Rana shrugged, accepting the cup from Fionola and taking a sip. The teacher filled the second cup for herself.
"I wanted to chat about your performance in my class," Fionola calmly started before taking a sip from her cup.
"Did I do poorly on the test?" Rana immediately question.
"Of course not," the teacher smiled. "You did marvelous on the test. Though your essay could use some improvement."
"So, you wanted to want to talk about my essay?"
"No, Rana, dear," Fionola sighed, but didn't stop smiling. "My class isn't all about test and knowing facts. Telepathic bonds are something you need to feel out. Which is why I'm worried about your lack of engagement with the other students."
"I don't see what the big deal is," Rana said. "I'm doing fine on my own. And it's not like forming a bond is a requirement for the class."
"That's not the point. You can't force a bond, nor should you try. Most people form there bonds out in the real world, after they graduate." The teacher took another sip of her tea and put down her cup. "You are in my class so you can understand the bond. It is the link that connects all Narjians. It will form most strongly between two people, but they will both be able to sense the bonds between others and the Greater Bond that connects us all. Does that make sense?"
"I guess," Rana shrugged. "Still not seeing what the big deal is. Maybe I'm not meant to be part of the 'greater bond' or whatever."
"All Narjians are part of the Greater Bond. It is part of your birthright. We are stronger when we embrace that togetherness. Think of it like a bundle of sticks. One stick-"
"One stick by itself is easy to break," Rana interrupted, "but bundle them together and they become impossible to shatter. Yea, I know."
"Then you understand the importance of my class," Fionola raised an eyebrow at Rana.
"I don't know. Maybe I just have a thicker stick."
"What do you mean by th-" The teacher's eyes shot wide at Rana struggling to hold in a laugh. Her demeanor became grumpy as she frowned at the girl, something few students ever witnessed.
"I'm assigning you a partner to work with during your time at the academy," Fionola said, suddenly becoming serious. "The other professors agree that this will be a good way for you to learn to be a team player. I have talked it over with the other student, and they are willing to help."
"Oh, and who would that be?" Rana grinned as she raised her cup to her lips. She couldn't help but be amused at what appeared to be a desperate move from the staff.
"Akio."
Rana gagged on her drink, spitting it back into the cup. "No," she said.
"It's not up for discussion," the teacher stated. "I picked him due to you both already knowing each other. I understand that you were both in choir together during primary school. My experience says that music students usually form close knit groups. Akio is the perfect candidate, and he already agreed."
"Just because we were in choir together doesn't mean we were friends," Rana protested.
"Yes, he mentioned you were a loner at your last school. Just another reason why this will be a good experience for you."
The last day of the week was dedicated to combat training for Rana's class. At first, it was just a more intense version of physical education, but quickly evolved into a full-on fighting class. They had started to learn hand-to-hand combat and were scheduled to learn firearm basics that day. Rana was making her way to the shooting range when Akio caught up to her.
"Hey! Rana!" he called out. "Wait up!"
Rana started to grumble to herself, not bothering to look at the boy as he started to walk beside her
"Miss Fionola said she filled you in," he said.
"Yes," Rana sighed. "You know you didn't have to agree to this."
"I almost didn't, but figured why not," Akio smiled. "Things are pretty intense here, so I thought it would be nice to have a familiar face to hang out with."
"You?" Rana squinted at him. "Shy kid Akio wanted to hang out with me?"
"You are the only person here I know from primary school. And we do have some history with choir and that one time at the party."
"No no no," Rana shook her head. "That didn't mean anything. It was just two people goofing off. Don't try turning it into something it's not."
"I'm not," Akio defended. "But out of all the people there, you decided to 'experiment' with me."
"And it will never happen again," Rana spat.
"I'm not expecting it to." Akio smirked at her. "I'm not looking for a bond partner or anything like that. I'm just looking for a friend."
"The hell does that even mean?"
"What?"
"Looking for a friend? I don't get it," Rana said. "If you want someone to talk to, go chat up some other loser and leave me alone."
"I could, but we are kind of stuck with each other for a while."
"Words cannot express how much I hate you right now," Rana mumbled. "Come on. Here's hoping we actually get to shoot a blaster."
Looking back, I was pretty hard on Akio, at least at first. But I eventually accepted the fact that we were partners. It was nice to have some familiarity. He kept me out of trouble, and I pushed him to be better. Though, there were limits to how much we could help one another. I was still a loner, only ever accepting Akio's company. I still slacked in Miss Fionola's class. And I still wanted to show everyone I was the best.
Rana aimed down the sights of her hand blaster and pulled the trigger. She hit the bullseye. She took aim a second time and fired again. Another perfect hit. Then a third. She took aim for a fourth shot and-
"Time!" the range master called out.
"But I only took three shots!" Rana protested.
"Doesn't matter," the range master said. "Time's up. Next!"
Rana placed down the blaster and stepped away from the firing booth. They had been learning everything about blasters for the past month, and Rana excelled as usual. Except she was slow to aim and fire. Once the class began timed firing, she fell behind. Storming out of the range, she was stopped by Akio grabbing her arm.
"Calm down, Rana," he cooed.
"Why should I?" Rana spat. "It's clear I suck at shooting."
"You don't suck. You just need a different approach."
"What wrong with my approach? My way has worked with everything else."
"But it's not working with this," Akio said pointedly. "I'll schedule us some range time, and we can turn you into a real blaster man."
"Ok," Akio nodded, placing the blaster in the firing booth. "Go ahead."
Rana stepped up and grabbed the blaster. Aiming down the range, she took a deep breath. Pulling the trigger, a blot fired out the end and hit the target dead center. She took aim and fired again. Another perfect shot.
"Stop," Akio commanded.
"What?" Rana asked confused.
"You're thinking too much. It's slowing you down."
"I can't hit the target if I don't aim."
"Sure, you can," Akio smiled. "You might not hit the bull's eye, but you'll hit the target. Put down the blaster for a second."
"Ok?" Rana frowned but listened.
"Now close your eyes and take a deep breath."
Rana breathed in through her nose and let out a calm sigh.
"Good," Akio said. "When you open your eyes, pick up the blaster and empty the battery as fast as you can. Don't think. Don't aim. You need to feel this out. Just point at the target and pull the trigger."
"Ok," Rana nodded. She took a second deep breath. Her eyes flew open with determination as she grabbed the blaster and started shooting. As she was told, she didn't aim. She focused on the feeling and drained the blaster's battery as fast as she could. After 18 shots, it was empty.
"Nice," Akio lightly punched her arm. "How did that feel?"
"I missed," Rana deadpanned.
"Wait, what?" Akio looked down the range to see that the target was untouched. "Wow."
"Yea."
"Uh… that's ok. That's ok," Akio tried to encourage her. "We got you to shoot fast, now we fine tune it. This time aim then unload the battery."
"Ok," she sighed. "If you say so." Rana replaced the blaster battery and took aim. Steadying herself, the girl opened fire. The first shot hit the center of the target. The next six were scattered around the target, and the rest missed entirely.
"Better," Akio said.
"I guess," Rana frowned, her confidence starting to fall.
"You just need practice. Try again."
"Check this out!" Rana cheered. She pulled up a sketch on her computer for Akio to look over. "Pretty neat, hu?"
"What exactly am I looking at?" Akio asked. "Some sort of arm brace?"
"It's an aim assistant," Rana rolled her eyes at the boy. "Just a concept sketch of course. But I think I could have a prototype working in a couple months."
"What will it do?"
"It makes caffeinated beverages," Rana sang, drowning her voice in sarcasm. Her smile immediately fell. "It's supposed to help me aim blasters, idiot. Pay attention."
"You don't need a machine to help you shoot," Akio said. "You just need some more practice."
"Yea, yea, practice makes perfect, blah blah blah," Rana shrugged him off. "Try looking at the bigger picture for a second. Imagine a platoon equipped with these things. Just 50 soldiers that never miss. They would be unimaginatively destructive. Now expand that concept to full body armor. You could have a single platoon doing the work of an entire army!"
"That sounds…"
"Awesome?"
"Dishonorable."
"Oh, come on!" Rana groaned. "Not you, too."
"Rana, you should know this," Akio sighed. "Narjians are strong without all the stupid tech assistance. That's why we've been able to maintain our galactic empire."
"Then what about the Zykenites, hu?" Rana snapped back. "Or those bug things from Cuiwei? Want to know why the Empire has been fighting them for so long? Because they are willing to embrace enhancement technology and advanced robotics."
"They don't know the meaning of honor," Akio argued.
"They don't care about honor! They only care about survival! And they are right. How long till they advance to a point to take the fight off-world? Once they reach that point, it's only a matter of time before they are standing on Narjahim's doorstep."
The room went quiet for a tense minute, as Rana watched the gears turn in Akio's head. He was trying to think of a way to argue the Traditionalist mindset, but she already shut down anything he could think up.
"Why are you telling me this?" he finally asked.
"We're supposed to be partners. And we've done a pretty good job of beating most of the challenges this place has thrown at us. You help me with this, and we'll have a working prototype in no time."
"Rana…" Akio sighed sadly. He shook his head. "It's a bad idea, but I won't stop you. If you really want to go for it then go for it. But I can't help you."
"Fine," Rana huffed. "I should get started. See you later." The girl marched out of the room, heading straight for the workshop.
That is when everything started to go wrong. True to his word, Akio made no attempts to stop my project. He would ask about it on occasions, but never showed any further interest. We still help each other whenever it was needed. And my aim did get better. But there was a new distance between us. I was almost ready to call him my friend, but after that day we felt more like casual coworkers than anything else.
After several months of building, programming, and testing, I had a prototype.
"Ladies and gentlemen!" Rana announce to the small crowd that had gathered at the outdoor range. As per usual, she wanted to show off and invited anyone who might have even a passing interest in her project. "You are all about to witness the next evolution in firearms combat!"
"Observe!" The girl slipped her arm into a metal brace with wires running along it. It covered her entire arm and strapped over her shoulder. "This brace has been programmed to respond to and correct my movements based on what I want to aim at." She then took a headband and scrapped it to her forehead. "It does so with this. I have adapted a neural reader similar to the ones used by fighter pilots. The last piece is this." Rana held up a glove with more metal bracing on the outside. "This will correct minute movements in my hand, allowing for extreme precision." She put on the glove and plugged it into the arm brace. Then she flipped a switch on her shoulder, causing the contraption to light up and beep.
"With the aim assist on, the brace will correct my grip automatically." Rana picked up the blaster with her gloved hand and aimed. She opened fire, taking several shots in a row. They all hit the target dead center. She smirked as the crowd came to life with murmurs.
"Demonstration's not done," she called over her shoulder. Rana replaced the battery in the blaster and placed it down in front of her. Her free hand went behind her back and her glove hand rested at her side. She took a deep breath then grabbed the blaster, opening fire without properly aiming. Again, every shot hit the center of the target. By this point, there was a large burn mark from the same spot being struck multiple times.
"This is just a prototype made with whatever scraps I could get my hands on," Rana continued. "The brace could be made of Volcanium to double as armor. Expanding this concept to full body could- uh, could allow…" Rana stumbled over her words as she struggled to let go of the blaster. "Uh, technical difficulties! Give me one second." She reached into her back pocket and pulled out a screw driver and pliers.
"You alright there?" Akio asked as he stepped up beside her.
"The glove is stuck. I can't open my hand," she said. "This is a prototype!" She cheerfully called over her shoulder to the crowd. "Got a few kinks to work out!"
"Need help?" Akio asked as Rana began to mess with the bolts on her glove.
"I got it. I got it," she shrugged him off. "Like I said, still getting the kinks out."
"I don't want you shooting yourself."
"I know how to practice basic blaster safety."
"You sure?"
"How about you bug off and let me work," Rana mumbled so the crowd wouldn't hear. She continued to fidget with the joints, but was struggling to force them loose. "Dang it," she whispered.
"Let me help. It will be easier with two people," Akio offered.
"I said no," Rana snapped, louder than she intended.
"Come on, you're making a fool of yourself. I can probably force it open with two hands." He reached over and took hold of Rana's gloved hand.
"Quit it. Just… JUST BACK OFF!" Rana shouted at him. In her moment of anger, she turned to him directly, pulling the trigger and shooting Akio.
"AH!" Akio fell back, holding his stomach.
"AKIO!" Rana cried in shock as tears started to form in her eyes.
Rana sat outside the medical wing, nervously shaking her leg as she waited. It had already been made clear that disciplinary action would be taken for the accident. She tried not to think about that. Rana instead turned her attention the smells of disinfectant and the soft footsteps of passersbys. She tried to focus on Akio, and hoped he was ok.
"Miss Rana?" the Head Nurse spoke as she stepped into the hall.
"How is he?" Rana leaped up. "He's going to be ok, right?"
"He'll live," the nurse sighed. "But that was a point-blank blaster bolt. We're going to transfer him to the hospital for surgery and proper treatment."
"Oh," Rana looked down, her expression becoming neutral as she tried to process the information. "Can… can I talk to him?"
"For a little bit. Third bed on the right," the nurse nodded to the door.
"Thank you," Rana bowed and made her way to Akio.
Most of the beds in the medical wing were empty. Those that were in use had privacy curtains pulled shut. Walking up to the third on the right, Rana pulled open the curtain just enough to step around it.
"Hey," she greeted quietly. Akio looked at her, his blank gaze meeting her own.
"Hey," he said.
"How are you feeling?"
"Oh, you know, just got shot in the stomach," Akio deadpanned. "I have internal trauma and probably won't be able to walk for a while. If it wasn't for the painkillers, I wouldn't be able to talk to you right now."
"I'm sorry, Akio," Rana said softly, looking away in shame. "I didn't mean to hurt you. The prototype was working fine yesterday. It just decided to jam on me."
"I told you it was a bad idea," Akio frowned, turning his gaze to the ceiling.
"It wasn't a total failure," Rana shrugged, rubbing the back of her neck. "The tech works. I just need to put more time into it and get better parts."
"Rana, come on," Akio sighed.
"Oh!" Rana's eyes shot open in realization. "I could use the neural reader to fix you."
"Fix me?"
"The nurse said you might not be able to walk for some time, right? I could easily adapt the reader and build you leg braces. They could help you get around until you're back to full strength."
"Rana… No. I don't want anything to do with your stupid project."
"I screwed up, ok," Rana groaned. "I'm trying to make it right. To help you. Isn't that what we're supposed to be doing? As partners, or friends, or whatever?"
"Or whatever?" Akio stared at her with an accusing gaze. "Don't call us friends. You never wanted to be friends. To you, I was just the guy the professors forced you to work with. I'm not sure you even know what it means to be a friend."
"That's not true," Rana whispered in disbelief.
"I think you should go." Akio turned away.
Rana stared at the boy in shock. Slowly, her brain adjusted to the new situation, and she grew furious with him. She had to bite her tongue to not snap with every curse word in the Narjian language.
"Fine," she spat through grinding teeth. "But never say that I didn't do anything for you. Because I sure as hell tried."
Rana stormed out of the medical wing and to her dorm room.
Rana sat in the Headmaster's office, her leg shaking in anticipation. Her father sat directly to her left. Together they waited for the Headmaster to return and hear the staff's final verdict.
"I'm surprised you showed up," Rana mumbled.
"Of course, I am here. You have made a mistake, and as your father it is my responsibility to make sure you correct your errors."
"So, what? That's all I am to you? A mistake?"
"Rana, of course not," her father said, turning to her. "You are my daughter. I want to help you grow and become a successful and honorable woman. Why would you suspect anything less?"
"Oh, I don't know," Rana shrugged. "Maybe because I haven't heard a peep from you since I moved to this stupid academy."
"Don't speak like that," he scolded. "You should be proud to attend Dietenzi. You need to stop thinking of yourself as better than everyone else. Maybe then you wouldn't be in this mess."
"Wow. Ok," Rana blinked before turning to her father. "That's what you got out of that statement? You know what, Dad? Maybe if you actually took the time to-"
"Apologies for the wait," the Headmaster said as he entered the office.
"Forget it," Rana sighed as she slumped back down into her chair. She glimpsed a wave of conflicted emotions wash over her father's face before he stood up.
"Headmaster Maxamed," her father greeted, shaking the man's hand.
"Mr. Hashim, a pleasure to meet you," the Headmaster smiled. "A shame it couldn't be under more pleasant circumstances."
"Family emergencies happen," Rana's father reassured him. "I'm glad I could be here to help my daughter through this."
Rana had to look away so she wouldn't get yelled at for making a face at that statement. Once the pleasantries were over, she watched the Headmaster sit down behind his desk and open a file on his computer.
"I hope you both understand the gravity of this situation. Negligence of this severity is rare at all levels of academia," the Headmaster said.
"I was just an accident," Rana spoke under her breath, "that wouldn't have happened if he had backed off like I told him."
"There's more to the situation than that, Miss Rana. You were partaking in a dangerous project that endangered both yourself and everyone else at the range. But I digress. I have spoken with your professors, and we have decided on what we believe is the best course of action."
"To start, you will no longer be attending Dietenzi Academy. Normally, this would mean your immediate expulsion and potential transfer to Full Combat Training. However, the staff and I feel that this may not be the best course of action for you."
"I don't understand," Rana's father spoke up. "While I am grateful that my daughter won't be considered for Full Combat, what makes her situation different?"
Again, Rana had to bite her tongue to not curse. So much for being Daddy's little genius.
"Mr. Hashim, Rana is quite possibly the brightest student to attend Dietenzi in recent memory," the Headmaster praised. "She excels in almost every subject, and we believe that to risk Full Combat would be a waste. Unfortunately, her intelligence and determination have caused to her to become egotistical, socially withdrawn, and unresponsive to authority. She also refuses to put any effort into understanding bonds. These are all things that could lead to her removal from Full Combat Training."
"Rana… is this true?" her father hesitantly asked.
"I wouldn't call myself unsocial. Akio and I were getting along great until a few days ago," Rana correctly matter-of-factly.
"You mean when you shot him," her father frowned.
"It was an accident! I was on the verge of a technological breakthrough. Why can't you, a military engineer of all people, see that?"
"It doesn't matter if you were about unlock the secret to immortality. You were reckless and someone was seriously hurt as a result," her father scolded, raising his voice. He had to close his eyes and take a deep breath. "Apologies."
"Your frustration is perfectly understandable, Mr. Hashim," the Headmaster excused. "The staff and I believe that what Rana truly needs is to learn some humility. She needs to learn how to work with and rely on others. Which is why we have arranged to have her transferred to Sigmorta-5."
"Whoa, whoa, whoa," Rana cut in. "Sigmorta-5. Isn't that, like, an ice planet or something?!"
"It is, but I can assure you it is perfectly safe. The Sigmors are longtime allies of the Narjians, and all Empire owned buildings are well heated. You will finish your academics there as well as work in a manufacturing plant. Your job will be limited due to your age, but I have been assured the manager will have plenty for you to do."
"Is this really the best you could come up with?" Rana griped. "Shipping me off to freeze to death on some backwater, factory rock?"
"Rana, please," her father spoke up. "Try to stay calm." He turned to the Headmaster. "While I understand that this is a difficult situation, are there any other solutions?"
"I'm afraid not," the Headmaster shook his head. "We were struggling to find an academy willing to work with us. This school only agreed because Sigmorta-5 is lacking Narjian workers."
"Gee, I wonder why," Rana mumbled under her breath, but the two men seemed to ignore her.
"All we need is a signature from both of you. An agreement that you understand why this action is being taken and giving us permission to follow through."
"And if I don't sign?" Rana grimaced.
"Then you will be expelled," the Headmaster calmly explained. "You will be sent home with your father immediately. Akio's parents will be free to seek damages if they so wish, and you will most likely be sent to Full Combat Training. Should they fail to turn you into a model soldier, then your fate will be left to the courts."
"But if you sign, then you will get a day to get your affairs in order before leaving. You will not be held legally liable for your negligence. And you will still have the opportunity to serve the Empire however you choose. This is a second chance."
Rana didn't answer right away, her mind was swirling with thoughts emotions. She was tempted to head straight to Combat Training out of spite. Full Combat Training wasn't supposed to be a punishment after all. Lots of Narjians went, and some actively looked forward to it. But she also knew she wouldn't last long there. The Headmaster was right. Rana would fight the sergeants every step of the way, as was her nature.
"I'll sign," the girl sighed.
The full impact of what was happening didn't hit Rana until the passenger transport was leaving atmosphere and she could see the curved horizon out the window. She felt nothing as she packed up her things to leave Dietenzi Academy. She didn't have any friends so didn't bother with emotional goodbyes. She got a few 'good lucks', but that was it. As usual, things we cold between Rana and her father, as he didn't bother to hug her or even give his usual pat on the back. He just gave her a bow as a formal departure.
But once Rana could see her home from up high, the numbness wore off. Narjahim was the only place she had ever known, and now she was flying away from it at a thousand miles a minute. She could feel her heart ache as the reality of the situation hit her like a missile. When the transport went into slip space, everything out the window became a blur.
Rana raced out of her seat and to the nearest restroom, practically slamming the door shut. For a solid minute, she wept in the tiny stall. She rested her head on the wall as she hugged herself. No one was left to love her. Her father wanted nothing to do with her. Akio, the closest thing she ever had to a companion, hated her. The only person who ever loved her was Mom. She missed her mom.
Once Rana was able to calm herself, she looked in the restroom mirror at the mess she had become. Her hair had become disheveled and the tears had caused her makeup to run. It looked as if had been crying black tears. She took a moment to straighten herself out. The girl hesitated when wiping her tears. The weird look fit how she was feeling too well, but she relented to her better self and washed her face.
"You got this," Rana whispered to her reflection. "They don't want you around? Fine. You don't need them. You're the best there is." She tried to smile at her reflection, but couldn't maintain it. It kept falling into an furious gaze. "Stop trying to be happy," she told herself. "You're on your own, but is doesn't matter. We'll show them. I'll show them all."
an::
holy shit...
can't believe I've been working on this for a whole year...
never thought it would turn into something this... grand?
here's hoping it will be finished soon...
until then, see u l8tr