The seeker 1 was soaring through space coming toward a planet with three moons orbiting it. The view sunk into the seeker. Karman was seated in a chair across from the bridge occupied by two academy personnel. From up front were officers making sure the spacecraft was operating as expected to be and should be running. From the front window can be seen surrounding the edges of the planet was a film of blue shield but the clouds and seas stood out to the naked eye.
The seeker sunk through layers of the atmosphere going deep and deeper by the passing minute at a controlled speed. Finally, it broke free of the fight against the atmosphere making a orchestrated glide toward the headquarters. It flew toward the landing pad that had people standing across from the center waiting for it to come down. Seeker 1 landed on to the top of HQ. Lewis and Noa stood side by side with members of Karman's family from across them. Slowly, the door opened then out came the ex-cadet dressed in a simple gray civilian top and long gray bell bottoms that made his black worn black boots stand out against them. Karman approached Lewis playing with his hands and came to a stop in his tracks.
"Ah, um, ah, uh," Karman said. "Gampu wants-um-you-uh-to transfer-someone that no one likes."
"He said-what?" Lewis repeated.
"Send someone that no one, um, ah, likes," Karman said.
"Why?" Lewis asked.
"Don't bother sending another Paul," Karman said. "The, um, ah, academy is not a, ah, dum, revolving door."
"Revolving door. . ." Lewis said. "Never heard of that before," he looked off. "We must be on his last nerve."
Lewis turned around then gestured the family toward Karman.
"What is it, sir?" Noa asked as Lewis joined his side.
"How many people do we not like in this colony?" Lewis asked.
"At this point," Noa said. "Just one."
"Paul Jerome," Lewis said. "If we want a representative of this colony then we have to send the worst of it."
Lewis shook his head in disgust turning away from Noa.
"Do we really want that?" Noa asked.
"No," Lewis said. "But we have to."
Jerome was set on the bed fast asleep with his hands clasped on the back of his head. The door to his cell quarters opened. Jerome's eyes opened then he slid up and came to the edge of the bed with his hands on the edge. He looked up toward the direction of the approaching officers in uniform compared to his bright orange prison uniform handed to him hours ago.
"Get changed," Lewis said.
The door to the cell opened.
"What?" Jerome asked. "Are you going to get me ready for my execution too early?"
"Much as I like that," Lewis said. "That is not the case." he stepped forward, as Noa came with the folded uniform, then handed it to Jerome's hands. "I got something better than that."
"This is a cadet's uniform," Jerome said, looking up toward Lewis.
"That it is," Then Lewis smirked. "It's for a team."
"The cadet team of death?" Jerome asked. "I don't like being part of teams even when it comes to the execution."
Jerome's reply grit Lewis's nerves.
"You do starting today," Lewis said. "Commander Gampu authorized your transfer to the space academy." his smirk turned into a broad grin. "It's the only way you are ever going to live past the age of sixteen. Now, what do you say to orders from the commander?"
Jerome raised his chin up.
"Oraco," Jerome said.
"You have hundreds of hours worth of training with the seeker. Which as it turns out they still use to this day so you won't need any training for that when you get there." He took another step forward. "If you get expelled and return to this planet, you are going to die." then added darkly glaring toward Jerome. "Don't."
Jerome nodded.
"Good," Lewis stepped back with a thin smile. "You are not going to be the best image of yourself here then you are going to join those space corps. We'll be back in five minutes and take you to the seeker. Don't bother making a escape," he turned around from the cell then began to walk away. "You will be shot down by armed guards outside of this room or in any part of this building if you attempt one."
The other officers followed Lewis out of the cell.
Jerome slowly looked down toward the uniform in his hands as he turned his back toward the door.
Jerome slid off his boots, including his prison uniform, then unfolded the cadet uniform. He put on the warm but soft and comfortable uniform on his figure then placed his feet into the boots that were zipped up not a moment later. He folded the prison outfit then placed it on to the bed. He looked up with a sigh from the bed toward the window. The familiar blue color was a comforting color when he was a young boy until it became a color of dread and mundane and horror. Now it was a color that he wore. It was a familiar color that he was terrified of leaving behind.
A part of Lieutenant Paul Jerome was terrified about going out there into space. Space was more unknown, unpredictable, and full of endless but dark possibilities than the well known planet Seto. A planet that he was born and raised on. Never had he left the air space of Seto. Flying was one thing, flying through space and working in it was another matter entirely. Jerome flexed his trembling fingers out from the palm of his hand then linked his hands behind his back looking out warily toward the sky.
He can see the dark canvas with stars, planets, moons, space scientists, space labs, space monarchs, space mirrors, seekers, space animals, asteroids, and the most fantastic images in his mind. Legends that had become bed time stories told by his mother. Legends that couldn't possibly be real but it could very well be. The thought of facing a number of the impossible made him tremble. But, trying to avoid that would lead to his death by Seto or by the very unpredictable space creatures out there. He tilted his head looking out in wonder.
Space was special in one way.
Jerome was going to get to know it.
The doors opened from behind Jerome.
"Time to go, Jerome," Lewis said.
Jerome shifted toward Lewis.
"Do I have to go in degrading cuffs?" Jerome asked. "I am a cadet for the space academy after all."
"No," Lewis said. "But you will be escorted."
Jerome walked of the cell then was escorted out of the room.
Lewis was thrilled, in reality, by the inside. He was no more worried about the boy going against the escort and the wishes of the academy then the sun was when it came to being alive for anther day. It was a wonderful change of events. His disgust was put on display for the sake of not seeming that he liked the decision to send the officer out there to save him. Public perception was all that he had when it came to his command and oversight of the colony.
"Are you going to tell my mother about this, Lewis?"
"I doubt that your father would like to hear you were kidnapped and forced into being a fighter,"
"I heard the academy was a explorer planetoid,"
"Space changes everyone including the main missions,"
"It won't change me,"
"You can't fight positive progress especially when it impacts you," Lewis said. "Don't want to be ran over by it. Do you?"
"Ran over?" Jerome said. "What is that supposed to mean."
Lewis shrugged.
"It's a phrase I picked up from the commander," Lewis said. "He is a very long living person."
"So older than you are,"
"Older," Lewis said, emphasized. "He has a very long decorated career."
"I bet it is better than yours,"
"It is," Lewis replied. "He helped this colony get here in the first place when he was a captain. Took several trips but he did it."
Lewis looked over, fondly, rubbing his chin.
"It was a very difficult flight in the beginning being attacked in a old and creaky ship," Lewis continued. "One of those old 21st century ships that had been heavily modified to carry a hundred people."
"Well, where is it?" Jerome said. "This building looks nothing like a colony ship."
"We are in it," Lewis said, looked toward Jerome with a smile. "Took several ships to make her this big."
"And very slow," Jerome said.
"We got help along the way just to get to Seto," Lewis continued turning his attention off him. "Lots of it. Before that day, I had never seen that many ships before joining one lone colony ship one at a time as a escort while going against Emperor Dragos's wishes and protect us against the dragon drones."
"Dragos who?" Jerome asked.
"No one you should-" Lewis stopped. "On second thought. . . Yes, you do."
Lewis shifted toward Jerome.
"He attacks the academy daily so I believe when you get there, his daily trouble making would have already happened by then,"
The elevator stopped then the doors withdrew before the group.
"Don't be concerned about him too much,"
Lewis waved his hand dismissively resuming the walk out of the elevator
"Jason is always there to defend the academy and send him retreating,"
"I will take your word on it," Jerome and the officers followed Lewis toward the seeker.
"Please do," Lewis said. "Time to go, Lieutenant."
The group parted ways from Jerome.
Jerome walked toward the seeker not looking back to the past then went inside and the door closed behind him.
"Please be seated, Lieutenant," Jerome seated down into the seat. "Blue Team, eh?"
"Uh huh," Jerome said.
"How long you are staying?"
"Four years," Jerome said.
Jerome was met with skepticism by the pilot who closed the door.
"Good luck with that," the pilot smiled then went up front and seated down into the chair. "Preparing to disembark Seto."