Chapter 5: "Flashback: Scott Hughes"

Corneria, surface

East District Columbia

2:00 PM

Military Time: 0200 hrs

A typical sunny mid-afternoon shined on Scotts face feeling the sun's rays under-neath his pours of his skin, a normal active 12 year old young wolf with dark-grey fur, and blue irises, running through the streets of Corneria disappearing into the crowds of civilians from other planets, and sectors trying to stay low Scott seemed small than the original height of the other people all shapes and sizes, but he didn't care he was just running to something or to someone important, he was fast for a 12 year old boy a small skinny wolf wore a Kinowa leather jacket sleeveless with black, gunmetal, and silver gradient features all over his chest plate and abdomen the silver nylon outlines reached to his shoulders to his stomach with a neoprene comfort collar embedded with the jacket also with really baggy denim jeans the jeans itself covered most of the dark boots that he wore, it seemed top notched for a orphan. "Dang I'm running late for school again!" said to himself, Scott whilst panting he was running so hard and fast the street conversations he heard were just barely a faint murmur to him.

He tripped and fell over a civilian's foot accidently he hit the cement hard reaching his arm trying to reach for something so he can stabilize his fall he fell on his face giving a slight deep scratch on his left cheek seeping a bit of crimson blood that dripped on the dirty cement, his body felt so much tension and his head was spinning with all that running within the impact from the velocity of the fall he came to his senses quick as he whipped his cheek from Scotts arm limb as he stretched it out while looking at the tall man , "Watch were you going kid, you idiot!" the male proclaimed trying to protecting his family when Scott almost fell upon, his stature was frustrated especially in his tone of voice, Scott winced at the ground he hated the be called that, they don't know who he is or what he will become. He quickly raised by himself without the aid of the male, or any of family members. "Watch where you are going next time!! You almost hurt my family!" Scott shook his head as he nodded, "I'm sorry, I was in a rush," stated Scott politely "Well…" the man didn't seem to care about his apologies, "Whatever, just walk like the others do around here. Moron…" the man made a slight inaudible "Tch" beneath his breath. Scott then gave an apologetic smile towards the man, then after the few minuet encounter he ran back again, trying to beat his own time so he can get back in school on time, instead of missing all important dates. After dodging heavy pedestrian traffic on the streets mostly it was a routine for himself, he finally arrived at the Columbia School Districts in the east side of Corneria, the school had two stories it had steel gradient embedded text inside the light brown adobe walls and dark-reddish bricks attached with the adobe buildings leading down to the cement it the text stating "Cornerian Academy" futuristic for a school building there were also, five pillars holding a observatory view of the streets of Corneria, the second story had three giant glass transparent windows glancing at the scenery and streets of Corneria's East District the scenery was none other, it was clean agriculture the layout had shrubs and a granite tile engraving a stating with transparent text, "The intellect, ability, and character of each person within it" right near the doorways leading inside the school district.

There were two school districts one for Middle School, and one for High-school, they both had the same layout and color, except the one High-School was a ROTC training facility, the uniforms that the seniors wore and sophomore's wore were eye-appealing towards Scott what he actually wanted was that school uniform patch the colors were red, black, and gold and the patch had a logo of a wolf and red text embedded and stating "Team work is always at its best" the wolf was there official mascot of the High-school department as he was watching the ROTC students march, like he always does in the afternoon, "Man, I want to be like them one of these days, be in the army and make a name for myself god it sucks not to have a family," Scott said underneath his breath while sitting down on a low bench that was almost covered by the tree itself. Most students at Corneria Academy take four academic classes, two electives, one directed study, and a lunch/advocate period. Credits are distributed along a fairly standard path, with most students taking the original core subjects there are 15 Advanced Placements classes are fairly popular among students as 33% of 10th though 12th graders are enrolled in at least one AP class which were in the High-School department instead of the Middle School department.

Scott perched up and walked into the entry way in the Academy he glanced at the digital clock stating, "2:25PM" CRAP! Thought Scott, he missed his first class period, the class ranks were the same as the high-school district, followed by a ranking system Scott was a Lieutenant in the ranks meaning he was one the lowest grade level most of the students were in a high position like Colonels and Captains, rushing through the corridors of the hallways he opened one of the doors leading to his classrooms hopefully he can make it in time he looked inside the transparent glass seems there was a few classmates in the study room, "Good," said Scott beneath his breath.

He wasn't late or so he expected the teacher was giving out a lecture about being a character and how everything was supposed to be influenced around them, he slowly approached his seat hopefully not to be seen by the teacher which was writing on a board, "Scott! How many times must we go through this? You're late again. Do you want to be withdrawn from this class?" he sat down swiftly, "No sir," he said politely. "Quit with your pragmatics, this is serious. You've been late for the past 2 months. I'm going to have a word with you after class," the classmates were snickering against his back yet again, "Sorry Mr. Hoffman," he stated although his voice didn't seem to care at this point he was just glad to be in class. "Hey, why are you missing classes this month?" whispered another kid who was a bit older than Scott, "Just a run-down with traffic," "That's what you said before. What is going on actually?" said the boy who was sitting behind Scott, "I'm hearing whispers in the back of the class again. Don't make me strip your rank again, Scott," warned General Hoffman, Scott rolled his eyes.

The class bell rang after first period, "Remember homework is due this week don't forget to tell your parents." Reminded General Hoffman to the students the class groaned and moaned because of homework like always, "Oh and Scott, stay here while the class leaves. Thank you." After a few minuets Scott was getting anxious on what Hoffman was going to say, will he get withdrawn from the class? Or stay? The class was quickly evacuated into another class, Hoffman sat down on his seat glancing at Scott, "You missed a full six week course Scott, you're not going to make the class with a bunch of F's in the class. What's been going on with you? Is it family problems or I'm I not teaching the course subjects clearly, c'mon Scott I need feedback." Scott felt really silent and his stomach dropped quickly, "Uh…" he paused, "No it's not family issues…Or anything," he didn't want to say that he didn't have a family instead he's going to say something swift and keen, "Just heavy traffic like always, shoot you watch the news right? There's car crashes all the time. Hah, hah" Hopefully General Hoffman would buy this statement, "Still doesn't give the right on missing the courses. Even your Cornerian History course's been dropping like bombs." Hoffman raised an eyebrow he rubbed his head with his palm covering his whole face and eye's, seems to be stressed out, "I can't stress this enough, Scott. If you are not motivated there is no choice but to withdraw you and the class," he pinpointed Scott hard with that statement, Scott quickly encountered, "No, no…Uh…" "Have something to say?" Scott lowered his head, "How should I put this…I…" he paused slowly shifting his head glancing out the windows trying to say something that was important, "I…Really don't have a family at all Mr. Hoffman, I'm sorry that I lied countless of times since I first enrolled in the Academy" Scott finally stated the truth with a bit of sorrow in his irises', "For a twelve year old boy, you're pretty keen," said General Hoffman he gave a faint smile at the young wolf, "Alright Scott, this is the truth right? I don't want to find out you did have parents or guardians telling me in the future. I'll let you pass but, if I find out you've been lying to me, I will withdraw you out of everything." He assured Scott with a reasonable tone of voice Scott nodded, "Don't tell the other teachers that I don't have a family, I want to pass this on my own and nothing else, I don't care if I have a family." Scott had a great firm voice after the chat with Hoffman, "Okay, I won't tell. It's a secret between you and me." As he promised, Hoffman raised his full body as he let Scott go into another class. After the courses he tried to avoid many people in the hallways, he glanced at a red fox who was having a conversation with a friend of his looked like the other individual was trying to provoke him into a engagement of hand-to-hand combat with a higher grade than the other one, pushing and shoving the red fox other's were crowding around trying to get a glance what was really going to happen. Scott approached the crowed and looked, "Hey get off!" said the persecuting red fox, "Look, what ever happened I didn't do it." Scott took a sharp eye on the other kid who was pushed onto a locker door the blow from the push knocked him backwards, and he slumped down to the ground trying to raise his body his head shifted upwards to the individual and threw another attack, the blue avian picked the fox up as he spun the fox giving him a choke hold on the neck as the fox was stunned by the avian counter attack, "If you ever try to mess with my comrades again, John. It'll be your life. You hear me?" he whispered into Johns ear John was being choked by the avian as he was gurgling trying to have a breath of air, his esophagus was almost closed by the pressure of the arms from the combatant.

Finally John gripped the avians' neck using his back for pressure throwing him down for a counter assault, "Smart move, Thomas." Stated John glancing at the downed avian, Thomas raised from the ground using his arms, he then gripped out a small pocket knife twirling it with his hands as he held it he rushed at John with anger in his eye's Scott finally jumped into the fight pushing the red fox again onto the locker, he lift his arm limb using his elbow towards the avian and countered Thomas almost knocking the knife in his hand clean off Scott glanced at the avian using his body he shifted towards the avian, "So you wanna fight too, eh?" Thomas laughed as if this wolf was serious enough to fight the strong combatant, "Shut up!" Scott shook his head as he yelled at Thomas for Scott this was daring, Scott clinched his fist into a ball as he made a inaudible growl beneath his muzzle his rage was getting the best of him.

His body fell into so much tension and his senses were insane he couldn't keep it into focused on what his next plan to attack was, violently he reached out swiftly and punched Scott then felt accomplished with a moist crunch as it smashed into the locker, Thomas then got up quickly a bit dazed by the punch, he got his knife ready into place as he rushed and stabbed Scott in the stomach he felt the sharp sting in his right abdomen his arm dangled limply at his side as he fell onto the floor his wound was seeping blood quickly Thomas acted as he punched Scott in the face hard his nose started to bleed by the fierce punch.

Scott applied pressure on his jacket the jacket was creating a moist, dark stain on his left side obviously Scott was bleeding out, he then was finally unconscious from the lack of blood, finally General Hoffman reached to the fight, "ALRIGHT!" he snapped, the kids were in line Hoffman realized Scott was in trouble, "Damnit.." he rushed over to Scott almost there was a pool of crimson blood laying near Scott, Hoffman lifted Scotts body, he felt a pulse, "WHO DID THIS?!" he barked at the corridor were kids standing in line strictly on the lockers, "If I find out who did this, they're going to Cornerian Police immediately! When I get back I want to know who was responsible for this!" apparently Hoffman was angry at all of the kids, he rushed over the schools medical detention area at least there was a nurse in there providing some assistance for Scotts mortal injuries, a few stitches occurred on his body, still he was unconscious on the bed twitching a bit. John walked in the area seeking out the kid who saved his life, he saw General Hoffman leaning on the cabinets his arms folded placing his index finger on his chin staring at Scott he was still angry at the kids who were responsible for Scotts injury, "I tell you, that wolf can make a quite a fight to save my life." Said John revealing the true responsible meanings for his injuries, "And you have a lot explaining to do." Still staring his stature it seemed to be healing, "And I will. It wasn't my fault at all, see there was this other person named Thomas Auron at the hallway, I was trying to avoid the fight." John shrugged, "Apparently he came out of the crowed and put on a good show." "Thomas Auron…I recall that name, thanks for advance on who was responsible for the current actions." He walked into another doorway going to the nurses room as he tried to contact the Cornerian Police, John on the other hand sat down near Scott, "Damn fool. This wasn't meant for you." Said the seventeen year old fox John had a praising feature of his kindness, and his keen analytical abilities. "You couldn't handle your-self" Scott groaned as he murmured underneath his breath, "The names John Staten, I'm a Colonel in the Wolf brigade in the High school district."

Scott glanced at the red, black, and gold and the patch had a logo of a wolf and red text embedded and stating "Team work is always at its best" embedded into the green nylon fabric air-force jumpsuit, "I have a debt to pay with you. Your name son?" Scott gave a faint smile, "Scott Hughes." "How about joining into the Wolf Brigade, you seem like a fair fighter." Scott then obliged to the offer, finally his dream is becoming true by the minuet, "First though you have to sign a legal document, do you have any parents and guardians?" stated Mr. Staten, "I don't have either of them" Said Scott, he wasn't ashamed anymore on telling lies, "Still recruiting are you even when someone is dying?" Hoffman laughed silently, "I'm not dying Hoffman!" He reached out and he felt a sharp pain in his stomach, it felt like there was a rip in his stomach. He grunted."Well, I'll fix that up with you. Welcome to the family of the Wolf Brigade." Staten handed the official patch that the officers wore.