Four members of the academy council sat in the conference room. The white artificial lights highlighted the orange secondary theme in the room contrasting against the white walls. The light brown pattern outlined strange shapes that stood out as odd and beautiful at the same time. It resembled bent crooked branches with a darker shade of brown and layers of brown. There was refreshments on the rounded table in front of the crowd. At each seat was a singular padd set beside the cup of water in front of the seated members of the academy council.
"We are here to discuss whether or not to admit a child as a cadet," Gampu said. "As his guardian, I recommend that we do not admit him in on the basis of his age."
"Aye," Came the rounds of agreement.
"Only send the child to Earth where he can properly learn more of his lost relatives," Gampu added. "I know some people willing to take him in so Loki can have friends his age."
"And your opinion as a officer?" Brookes asked.
"To treat Loki as a interested party," Gampu said.
"I wouldn't mind him being on Earth then returning to the academy to be trained," Cocupine then added. "when he is of age."
"Given that he is from a entirely new species," Brookes started. "Having Loki close by as he regains his memories would be a great way of having a eye out for what kind of civilization may be assets to the federation. Or what danger they could be in."
"Perhaps they are not in danger," the staff turned their attention on to the cadet. "The family who wiped his memory then abandoned him was."
"Alone in a star system that has a track record of a planet exploding every so decades?" Cocupine asked. "That is really suspicious."
"Why leave a child on that planet?" Brookes chimed in. "When you want them to live?"
"They may be be from this galaxy," Gampu suggested.
"Not asking around or doing some search about the star system?"
"Would you do that, Deputy Commander?" Gampu said. "With very limited time in a hurry very unexpectedly?"
"What are you getting at?" Brookes asked.
"According to his previous guardians, Loki appeared on their planet alone," Gampu said. "as if he were transported through a maser beam."
"Maser beams were outlawed a very long time ago," Brookes said.
"I am aware of that," Gampu said. "I am not suggesting that he is from Tauron."
"Then what are you suggesting?" Cocupine asked.
"A Tauron helped his family," Gampu said. "It had to be telepathic mind wipe. There was no traces of drugs lingering in his system according to the toxicology report."
"How did you get that done?" the cadet asked.
"Tee Gar took DNA samples and blood samples from Loki on the way to the academy," Gampu explained. "Those test results have come up empty."
"You mean to say that . . ." Cocupine said. "No one has ever documented or taken a blood sample of his species until today?"
"That is exactly what I am saying," Gampu said. "He is a talented child."
"And very interesting," Cocupine said.
"I hate to imagine what puberty is going to be for him," Brookes said.
"It could be awful," the cadet said.
"Hormones and a growing body always makes it difficult shifting from child to adult," Gampu said.
"I am sure that can be handled," Cocupine said. "Or be the best chaos that we had in ages."
"Ages," Gampu said, bemused. "I am not sure that describing a good thing is the best way to call growing up, Professor."
"Could he have other powers?" the cadet asked. "That we don't know of?"
"Does he?" Cocupine asked in concern.
"There is a distinctive possibility," Gampu said. "Could be capable of what his namesake does."
"I heard that he can beam to places, have strange vision, and camouflage himself," the cadet said.
"X-ray vision," Gampu said.
"Is there a possibility that he can shapeshift?" the cadet asked.
"Anything is a possibility with this strange child," Gampu said.
"Before we start reading his essay," Brookes started. "I want to be reassured that he won't become a liability for any of his future postings."
There was silence in the room as Gampu had a long, furious silent glare in the direction of the deputy commander.
"Liability," Gampu's words were a blaze of rage. "A liability."
"Yes," Brookes said.
"I don't think she means the liability that you are thinking of," Cocupine said.
"He is a child," the cadet said."He can be trained. And disciplined."
Gampu took a sip from his glass then lowered it on to the table.
"I have raised my fair share of children," Brookes said. "And I mean the liability that he is thinking of."
"You have children?" Cocupine asked. "I have known you for nearly a year and. ."
"That's the way I like to keep it," Brookes said. "They are everywhere in the federation."
"Children do listen to their elders," Gampu interjected. "As advisement."
"Commander, what experience you do have on this matter?" Brookes asked.
"Great experience. . ." Gampu mused. "Great experience." Gampu looked over, back at his experience in the past, all the great knowledge that came with living among people with short life spans. He turned his attention back on to the small group. "Right now, the process to mold Loki into the right person that he needs to be within this current climate can be started before it is too late. And he has the right person in charge of him interested in make sure that happens."
His words became calm with ease that was detached with his personal feelings on the matter put aside.
"There will not be any need to call a child a liability when surrounded by capable cadets and officers of the academy. The only liability is your concern that he will make mistakes. Mistakes are made to be learned from. It is what helped people like you and I grow into the people that we were not before. By the time he will be on a patrol ship, a space station, a exploration ship, or a unique posting. . . Loki won't be a liability. So I will appreciate if it you hold off calling anyone in this academy a liability. Because we are all liabilities at any age."
"Alright, alright!" the cadet said, ending the tension getting up from the table shaking her hands. "We got all those concerns out and addressed them . ." the cadet slowly walked around the table linking her hands behind her back. "Time we get down to the matter of business." She held up the padd in mid-air. "His essay."
"I," Cocupine lowered the glass with a gulp. "I agree."
"Deputy Commander," the cadet said, warily looking toward the officers. "Commander?"
"I agree," Gampu said, his hands clasped on the table.
"As do I," Brookes said, grimly nodding.
"Let's start reading then decide from there," The cadet sat back down at the table.
Then the members of the academy council picked up their padds and began to read.