Chapter 15: Firsts and Lasts
"So . . . what track will you choose, Cato?"
This was no attempt at friendly conversation, but a demand. Avocato, who was patiently waiting for his name to be called, opened his eyes and lifted his head to an unwelcome sight.
Cadet Lord Kitner, that permanent sneer in place, was standing right in front of him and blocking his view of an ugly painting of the academy's founder. Avocato was one of perhaps eight cadets sitting in the hall and waiting to speak with Colonel Cataloupe about which classes they would be in the following year. They were in their last week of the school year. Their final exams - written, physical, and practical - were done, the nerve-wracking examination panels were behind them, their grades were in, and the class ranking would be announced before they were released for a two-month break. The time for his appointment had come and gone. Predictably, Catalopue was backed up. Avocato didn't mind. He welcomed the quiet and the chance to relax a little. They were tired, all of them, and very ready to wrap up the year and get a few weeks of rest.
"Avocato," he corrected firmly, not liking the way his house sounded coming from Kitner and not about to allow such familiarity to become a habit, especially out of someone he disliked.
"Oh, my apologies," was the completely insincere reply. "I didn't realize it was such a sensitive point for you, Avocato."
The cadet sharing the bench with Avocato, whom Avocato knew by site only, made a sound of annoyance and glared at the newcomer disturbing their quiet and his almost-nap. Clearly he was no admirer of Kitner, probably due to a merciful lack of noble blood and attitude.
"So . . . Avocato, what will the Blue Imperial major in? Given your . . . status in all things, I suppose you'll given your first choice of tracks. How lucky for you. So how about it? Will you go for command?"
"And you want to know . . . why?"
Kitner shrugged a little too casually. "Curiosity. Conversation while we wait."
"Do you have a betting pool?" countered Avocato coolly. "I can't imagine how my choice of classes are of any interest to you, not to mention no business of yours."
"Can't I ask a fellow cadet a friendly question?"
"I honestly don't know the answer to that, Kitner," he said, to the amusement of the cadet next to him. "Can you ask a friendly question? Do you even know what friendship is?"
"I can answer that," volunteered Avocato's companion, his voice dry.
"Don't interrupt your betters, Muser," hissed Kitner.
Avocato pounced.
"Words to live by, Kitner. You're Muser?" asked Avocato before Kitner could counter his advice. He shifted to face the other cadet, completely ignoring Kitner. "You did the presentation on the Battle of Tyran for Squad 1, didn't you? One of my friends is planning to be a gunner, and he was so impressed with your analysis he had us watch the recording. You must have read Commodore Tora's dissertation on the destruction of the Tryvuulian supercarrier Ga'Go."
"Five times, at least," Muser replied, enthusiastically following Avocato's lead and snapping up the subject, one Kitner was not invited to join. "His strategy was unparalleled."
They rambled on in pointless back-and-forth, gushing over battle tactics and pre-lightfold technology limitations. Kitner, unused to being outmaneuvered, didn't budge from where he stood. Eventually Avocato glanced his way again and said,
"My thanks for the introduction, Kitner. Don't let us keep you."
It was a dismissal, a not-so-subtle order to shoo, not even worth tagging on a 'please' for the sake of manners. Something that would be said to a hovering servant. Kitner's eyes narrowed sharply, but he didn't move.
"Have you read General Dame Peppurra's book Battle Plans of the Imperial Age?" asked Muser, very deliberately overlooking Kitner and just letting him be an unwelcome hanger-on until he took the hint and removed himself from an uncomfortable situation.
"One of my friends in engineering recommended it. I ordered it and plan to read it over the break."
"Chapter nine offers some interesting insights to what lead up to Tora's success. It was as much his knowledge of Tryvuulian tech as utilization of his environment, in this case, the Urluk Minor Asteroid Swarm. That, and his dissertation, was the basis of my presentation."
Avocato nodded thoughtfully. "I'll have to rewatch your presentation after I read the book."
"Comm me after you've finished it and we can talk about it in more detail if you want."
"Thank you. I'll do that." Avocato finally looked back at Kitner. The young lord was seething but powerless, and too stubborn to cede victory. There was no way he could join in their discussion at this point without looking an utter fool or desperate for attention. Leaving would admit defeat, but staying was hopelessly oafish. Both he and Avocato and anyone paying attention to the standoff knew it. "Can we help you with something, Kitner?"
"Cadet Muser?" called the secretary. "Colonel Cataloupe will see you now."
"Thank you, ma'am." Muser stood and straightened his uniform coat. He smiled as he said, "I'll be looking for your call, Avocato."
"Depend on it."
Muser vanished into Cataloupe's office. Kitner turned to Avocato with an angry sneer and softly hissed,
"You enjoyed that."
"You're absolutely right, I did. He's an engaging conversationalist and his presentation was extremely informative. I wish I'd made his acquaintance sooner in the year." He turned a pleasantly bland expression on Kitner, relishing how with each passing moment the other cadet's awkwardness increased exponentially. Avocato was not going to give him an opening. Not after the way Kitner had treated his friends over the course of the past year. Not after he and his cronies had targeted Nikos just for being Avocato's friend. Kitner could choke on his arrogance as far as Avocato was concerned. The other cadets waiting their turn were watching them, most of them delighted to see Kitner, always so biting and clever, meet his match. Avocato sat back on the bench he occupied, getting comfortable. He cocked an eyebrow at Kitner, his vapid demeanor as fixed and guileless as only the youngest in the family could achieve, wordlessly asking 'What?'
Seeing no other way out of this hell he'd made save through it, Kitner very grudgingly took the spot Muser had vacated. Avocato gave him an empty smile, a silent dare to carry on planning his own funeral. Kitner glowered, glaring into middle space. Not even the most obtuse of witnesses to their exchange could have missed his humiliation or how obvious his desire to hit Avocato into the next parsec.
"You enjoyed that."
The repeated accusation was so softly spoken that even Avocato, who was closest to Kitner, barely heard it.
"Oh, and you didn't?" Avocato countered innocently, not even bothering to look over at him. "You've so gone far out of your way to make Nikos feel included. I just had to return the favor."
Kitner shook his head and quietly sneered, "You think you're so special."
Avocato chuckled softly, finding Kitner absurd. "No, I don't, Kitner. You think I'm so special."
No argument was forthcoming, and they went back to waiting in silence.
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"Ah! Avocato! So how have you found your first year?"
He considered for a moment before forming his answer. "It's been as intense as it's been enjoyable, Colonel."
Cataloupe smiled, like the response. "I doubt anyone else has had a year so interesting, either."
"Doubtful, sir," Avocato replied, returning the smile. "Nikos probably came close."
"He's made quite an impression on a good many people, that's a fact."
"In a good way, I hope."
"Indeed. As you have, my boy. Now, the class ranking will be announced by the end of the week, but in certain cases - essentially the top and the bottom of the class - I'm permitted to inform the student of their position, so it doesn't come as a shock. Allow me to offer my congratulations, Cadet Avocato. You have finished first in Class 984."
Avocato blinked, astonished. He knew he would be in the top ten, but first? It didn't seem right.
His reaction pleased Cataloupe, who smiled fondly and gave him a few moments to process this news. Finally, Avocato managed to stutter,
"First? Really?"
The colonel was happy to expand his explanation. "Your grades are exceptional. You're a better martial artist than many of your instructors. You thoroughly impressed the officers on the interview panel not just with your answers, but with your bearing and self-control. There's more, though, than just grades taken into account. You take correction, but don't take it personally. You're a born leader. People follow you and look to you to take action first. You think well beyond the immediate, and know how to use your resources. It hasn't been missed that the students you tutor in Galactic Standard have shown remarkable improvement, or that the fluency of your circle of friends has increased to third-year levels in just a few months."
"But, sir, it seems to me I've done nothing but cause trouble."
"On the contrary, Cadet." Cataloupe raised a finger, forestalling any debate. "I've been watching carefully, Avocato. All your instructors have. You haven't caused trouble. The people around you have tried to make trouble for you. There's a difference."
"Yes, sir," he said, stunned.
"Which brings us around to the question of which track you wish to pursue. I can tell you now, finishing the year as well as you did, you'll get whatever you choose. The question remains, though, what do you want to do?"
He'd given this a lot of thought over the past year. In truth, there was really only one thing he could ever see himself doing in the military.
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"Command?" exclaimed Kedi. "Only a handful of cadets qualify. Congratulations! That's outstanding, Cato!"
"And expected," added Nikos with a wide smile. "What will your secondary track be?"
They had convened in Felice and Toshi's room, draped over every available surface including the desks, beds, and floor. By earlier agreement, they had not mentioned their career tracks until they were all through with meeting Colonel Cataloupe to finalize their choices. Avocato had been last to go, and now, in the last few minutes before lights out they were sharing their happy news.
"Battle planning and tactics," said Avocato from where he sat on Felice's bed. "You?"
"Administration," said Nikos. "Apparently I'm the perfect candidate for an executive officer: organized, detail-oriented, and I love math."
"You forgot neurotic and nit-picky," said Toshi.
"That, too." Nikos elbowed him playfully, then continued. "My secondary track will be command, so we'll have some classes together.."
"Excellent! Toshi?"
"I'll be in medical," Toshi said proudly. "I just made the cut."
"And now you'll be able to bandage it up," said his roommate, seeing an opening and unable to resist any play on words.
They cheered. Of them all, Toshi had struggled the most to get the grades needed for acceptance into his chosen field. Like command, the medical track at the academy was notoriously difficult to get into.
Pawlette saluted with her drink. "One guess for me."
"Stellar cartography," suggested Felice, setting them all off.
"Drill instructor!"
"No - cook!"
"Janitorial services."
"Filing clerk!"
"Public relations!"
"Ventrexia, save us from these genius sons of yours," she groaned, looking heavenwards before joining in the laughter along with them. There had never been any question about Pawlette's major; she lived and breathed for engineering. "Kedi?"
He smiled at their curious expressions. "I will be a generalist. I'll learn all the bridge functions aboard ship and basic repairs. I'll second in security."
Felice hummed in appreciation. "I considered generalist, but I'd rather blow things up. I'll be in demolitions, followed by gunnery."
"I'm also a generalist," said FannFee.
"What's your second?" asked Nikos.
"Administration."
He grinned. "Ah! So, I'll see you in class, too."
"Good! Just being in the same room with you will help my math score!"
"Did you all put in housing requests?" asked Pawlette. "I take it nobody wants to break in a new roommate."
There was a chorus of affirmative replies. In most cases, if both parties requested it, they could remain with the same roommate.
"I think my roommate wants to move in with a friend, so I'll probably have someone new next year," said Kedi. He shrugged. "I hardly see him, anyway."
"Maybe you'll get someone with an actual personality next year," said FannFee.
"Speaking of personality, Felice, I met Cadet Muser while waiting to meet with Colonel Cataloupe," said Avocato. "We had an excellent talk about his presentation. I'm glad you had us watch it. He wants me to call him once I've finished General Peppurra's book on strategy."
FannFee grinned. "I hear you talked and someone got to listen."
"You shouldn't listen to gossips," Avocato replied, though not without a hint of amusement.
Her smile widened and she gave a broad, dramatic gesture with both paws. "I am the gossip, Avocato. When will you learn that?"
"Who did he burn and bury this time?" asked Toshi.
"Kitner was up to the usual prying," she provided shamelessly, and the rest of them rolled their eyes, shook their heads, and made little sounds of disgust. Kitner impressed none of them, and was something of a joke to their clique.
"He's just unreasonably worried about my future," Avocato reassured, the embodiment of sarcasm. Seated on the floor opposite him, Nikos smirked.
"Which means to say he was desperate to find out your track and class ranking, so he could know his resentment is justified and spend the whole break moping," she countered shrewdly. "Sources say you chewed him up and spit him out."
"Fann!" He protested, but didn't deny. "I'd never spit."
Toshi and Felice exchanged a sly look, taking this claim up as a challenge.
"Bet you would if you ate worms," Toshi said.
"Why would I eat worms?" exclaimed Avocato, revolted.
"Good question," agreed Felice with mock concern. "Why would you, Cato?"
Kedi chimed in. "Didn't Catowba say you'd eat almost anything?"
"Almost," he stressed. "And whose side are you on, Kotik?"
"Where I come from, we have a saying: pepper and jura sauce can cover a lot of sins," offered Nikos, managing to sound wise as they discussed culinary delights.
"Thank you for the warning, Nikos! I'll remember that when I come visit!" snapped Avocato, trying not to laugh. His friends were not nearly so successful, and any further discussion was lost to breathless laughter.
A chime sounded, the warning for lights out, and their little celebration ended. Dragging themselves upright, the cadets filed out, still laughing and calling out farewells as they headed for their own rooms. Avocato gave Nikos a hand up from the floor and let the smaller cadet push him towards their room, marching him across the hall.
"Command, Cato! That's wonderful. Your father and mother will be so proud," said Nikos as he closed the door.
"So will yours!"
"Who knows? Maybe someday, I'll be your first officer!"
Avocato smiled, imagining such a future. "If I could ever be so fortunate to have you beside me, no force in the universe could withstand us, Nikos." He lowered his voice, leaning in close, almost bursting with satisfaction. "But that's not all!"
Nikos gave him a penetrating look, his blue eyes keen and assessing. Knowing he spoke the truth, he quietly said, "You finished first in the class, didn't you?"
Not trusting his voice, knowing he had to tell someone or risk telling everyone, Avocato nodded, scrunching up his shoulders and letting out a little squeak of excitement. Nikos let out an ecstatic shout, then clapped a hand over his mouth, his eyes wide with delight.
"You?" pressed Avocato, knowing his friend had done well.
"Thirteenth," said Nikos in a whisper, pleased and surprised.
"Thir - that's amazing!" Avocato quietly gushed.
"I tied with another cadet."
By the way he said said it, Avocato knew the best was yet to come. "Who? Nikos, who?"
His eyes glittering with amusement, Nikos fought a mighty battle to keep from laughing out loud. Biting his lip, he raised an eyebrow, willing his friend to figure it out. Avocato's eyes grew huge as he realized.
"Not Kitner?"
Nikos nodded, a snorting little laugh escaping him. He clapped both hands over his mouth, trying to contain the need to cheer.
"Your arch enemy!" Avocato crushed his friend in a hug. "Oh, that's too perfect. He must be light years beyond furious!"
"I hope so!"
Overwhelmed, needing to celebrate but afraid to call the monitors down on them, both cadets gave in and silently screamed, jumping about in celebration and pure elation at their successes. They had done so well, and learned so much, as much about being soldiers as about themselves. Their futures were being laid out and carefully planned, and they would be officers and leaders in the war to defend Ventrexia.
The first year was over at last.