Chapter Three
The First Step
It had been twelve years since Pioneer 2 left the home world. There was about seven months left in the long journey. I was 18 then, finally old enough to become a hunter. I woke up on the 6th of Thelat (approximately May 21) refreshed and ready for the day. I got dressed, brown shirt and pants. I grabbed my well worn, wooden saber. Then I stopped, and I thought, "I won't be needing this anymore. The day all the work with this saber will pay off is today."
I left my room, into the same old kitchen it had been in my youth. If I got through this test, I would finally say good-bye to this place. For what may be the last time I said farewell to my mother, her black hair now had many gray streaks in it. My sister was at medical-school, following in my mother's footsteps just like I followed in my father's.
I opened the door and stepped outside, for the first time I was going someplace other then school unarmed. "You're finally up Kurako," someone said.
I turned and looked at the wall of my house, there was John, leaning against the wall. The red shirt and pants he was wearing matched his long, bright red hair. I smiled, we'd both be applying to the Hunter's Guild today. As kids we agreed to apply together, to help each other along the way. It was a good hike to the main guild, as it was in the back of the ship, we lived on the front edge.
After around 10 sant we finally arrived at the guild. John and I looked at each other, this was it, no turning back now. Both of us walked to the doors, then they opened. Inside was a room with light blue walls, a desk with people working behind it, several tables, and a wide window to space. The Hunter's Guild was an impressive sight.
I walked up to the counter. John stood very still and quiet. The lady behind the desk smiled and greeted me with, "Good-morning gentlemen. Welcome to the Hunter's Guild. How can we help you today?"
"We'd like some hunter applications. My friend and I are trying to join," was my reply.
The lady smiled and said, "May I please see your identification cards."
I handed her my ID and John presented his. "One moment please," she said, and then the lady put my card into a slot. The computer in the desk hummed, then an electronic voice spoke, "Authentication, confirmed. Name: Saijo, Kurako. Age: 18. Current residence: 325 Star Avenue. Family on Pioneer 2: Mother and sister. Hunters in family: Saijo, Kano; FOmar, father. (The lady glanced at me when the computer said that, such is my father's fame) Previous Offenses: Defense fights in school, usually defending others. Qualified for hunter application."
The computer then ejected my card. The lady handed it to me and put John's card in. Once again the computer spoke, "Authentication, confirmed. Name: Nakz, John. Age: 19. Current residence: 300 Star Avenue. Family on Pioneer 2: Mother. Hunters in family: Nakz, Sarhato; FOmar, father, deceased. Previous Offenses: Defense fights in school, usually defending others, using techniques in school. Qualified for hunter application"
The computer ejected John's card, and the lady handed it to John. She then reached below the sill of the counter and handed both of us an application. "Please fill these out the proceed to the room over there. Be sure to present the applications to the person inside." She pointed to the steel door next to the counter.
John and I found an empty table in the guild and sat down. "Well Kurako, you and I have more in common then we knew," John said.
I pulled a pen out of my shirt pocket, "You know John, if we both get through the exams we ought to stick together. Hunter teams always last longer then solitary hunters."
John looked at me and gave his own, peaceful smile, "You're right Kurako." Both of us then got to work on the applications.
We filled out the applications, both knowing that this would be the end of our lives, as we knew them. Although John talked a little I did most of the talking, just as it had always been. As I went through the applications I kept thinking soon, soon…