Chapter 2

We arrived at the launch base where they launch the graduates into space to get to the next school, Battle school.

I was the last graduate to arrive. They were suppose to have launched an hour and 1/2 ago, but due to Colonel Valda's commands they were to hold until he arrived with the last, last minute, graduate that was to be taken with the rest of the graduates that were picked weeks ago in advance.

Colonel Valda drove up to the launch site and parked the car. He then got out and closed the door, not even bothering to look to make sure H.G. was following him or not and started walking away from the car towards the launch site.

Helena looked out the window for a few seconds to take in a bit of the view and realized she was being left behind and scrambled quickly, unbuckling her seatbelt and got out of the car. She closed the door and quickly jogged to catch up with the colonel.

They made it passed security and up to the shuttle. Helena and the colonel walked down a tunnel like structure that was leading to the shuttle to get to their seats.

The little H.G. was allowed to bring was loaded by other workers that were to put it into the storage bay. Helena was told that it was going to be sent to her quarters when she got there.

Both made it to the end of the tunnel and Helena stopped and looked at the colonel to figure out where they were going next, because the colonel stopped right in front of her just as they made it into the shuttle. Helena soon noticed that in front of him was Major Frederic, (which now would be the side of him, since he was facing the back of the shuttle and so was she.)

When Helena noticed what direction they were facing, she looked in the direction they were and found rows of seats with graduates sitting in them. They were all wearing a yellow like jumpsuits that Helena was told to put on when they went passed security.

H.G. was very nervous again. She didn't get along with people well. She was very good at manipulation and acting the part, but not at making true friends that would not make fun of her, or get jealous of her outstanding intellect, which somehow always got her into trouble. Helena just wanted a friend, someone that could understand her and they could trust each other with anything and everything. She was tired of being alone, but she doubted anyone here would be any different then the others she has met at school before.

Colonel Valda and Major Frederic observed Helena for a moment before ordering her to take her seat.

H.G. looked up at them uncertain.

The major looked at her in the eyes with a soft, reassuring expression and ordered again, as well as encouraged her to take a seat with a wave of her hand in the direction of the seats.

Helena nodded and walked down the aisle that was in the middle of the rows. She headed towards the only open seat that was left in the back, which was next to a curly haired girl that was talking to a boy about something. He was laughing, while the girl looked annoyed.

As Helena finds her seat and gets comfortable, the girl with brown, curly hair stops talking to the boy and looks at her, observing her for a second then states, "Your late."

H.G. turns her head to the side facing the girl and replies back annoyed, "It was out of my control." She then thinks about how that was not going to get her any friends and tries again in making conversation. She sighs and then states, "I'm H.G." As she lefts up her hand hoping for a friendly handshake.

"H.G.?" The girl with curly hair looks at her in wonder and then asks maybe a little to bluntly, "What type of name is that?"

Helena gives a defeated sigh and puts down her hand. For a second she has her doubt about making a friend, and then immediately shakes her head clearing it and tries again. "What's your name?"

"Myka." The brown, curly haired girl replies.

"Myka?"

"Yes. I know it's not common and a bit odd." Myka said rambling like she was self conscious of her name, which made Helena wonder if she was teased a lot too.

"Oh, on the contrary, I find that your name is very beautiful. It has a nice feel as it flows through my lips." Helena just realized that she just said something without thinking, which was unlike her and hoped she did not mess up the conversation. She thought it was going well so far, better then the ones she had at school before and didn't want to mess up this chance to make a friend.

Myka looked away from H.G. blushing after that comment. No one has ever said anything like that to her, she was always made fun of, especially for her name as it was not a girls name, but a boys. She had a friend or two, but that was it. It seemed this H.G. was much like her and was nervous about making friends.

Myka looked back at Helena as soon as the blush started to dissipate some. She then replied back most softly and quietly that Helena almost didn't catch what was said, "Thank you."

Helena was about to continue with their, so far good conversation, when a alarm went off, which silenced her. She looked ahead where she heard the noise and found there was a red rectangular light flashing that had an image of a seatbelt on it. H.G. looked down and saw there was a strap that had a circular piece attached to it that seemed to have multiple slits on the edge of the disk like shape, that indicated multiple belts were to come and attach to it. She then looked around her seat and found each one and slid them into place, one by one into the slits with a satisfying click, as they were secured into place.

After Helena was done with that, a male voice come from the speakers saying that they were going to be taking off in 3 minutes and that they better check there seatbelts to make sure that they are secure and in place; and for those that were not in seats yet better get settled very soon before take off.

Helena leaned back in her seat and closed her eyes. She took a deep breath and exiled trying to calm her nerves.

Myka looked over at H.G. again patted her arm reassuringly and said, "Don't worry I am sure we will be fine."

Helena looked back the curly haired girl and replied, "I know, it's just...I get nervous and excited with new experiences, from the anticipation, you know? I just trying to keep calm and relax, is all. No need to worry about me, darling." She said with a kind smile.

"Oh, well would talking help distract you for a bit, so your not so jittery?" Myka asked trying to be helpful.

"I think that might be helpful, yes." Helena smiled warmly at Myka.

"Good 'cause I like talking to you." Myka smiled back, hoping her joking manner will help ease H.G and keep her engaged.

Just then, the boy that was talking to Myka before was nudging her with the back of his hand to get her attention.

Myka took her eyes off of H.G and turned her head over to the boy and asked annoyed, "What is it Pete?"

Pete replied back and ignoring the annoyed face Myka was giving him, "Mykes we are going to be going into space soon. I can't wait! What will the school be like? Will we be in awesome, kick-ass battle uniforms? Maybe we will have cool weapons and man, I hope we get better food this time 'cause the last school had crappie lunches."

Helena was looking at the boy named Pete with interest. He seemed to be really excited about Battle School just as much as she, if not more so. Though she could not understand Myka and Pete's relationship. When she first came here Myka seemed to be angry at him and he seemed to be laughing at her. Just now she heard the boy call Myka, 'Mykes', as in a nickname, so they must be friends. Helena continued to observe the two as their conversation went on.

"Pete... PETE!" Myka called as she was trying to get his attention from his excited ramble. "Pete, we haven't even left the dock yet ok, we will be launching soon. As for all the stuff to expect, I don't know, ok. I expect we will have battle uniforms, and maybe a weapon to use as we train. As for the lunch, I don't know, alright. Seriously Pete, is there a time that you don't think about food?"

Pete scrunched up is face considering her question and finally replied back with, "No, I guess I don't."

Pete looked back at Myka again and as he was doing so, he saw the another girl looking at Myka and himself. He couldn't stop looking at the girl, for he found her mesmerizing. He thought she was a knockout and hoped he had a chance with her.

Pete looked back at Myka and said, "Hey, Hey, Hey... Mykes," then as he delivers his line looks back at the relatively straight haired brunet. "who is this gorgeous lady sitting next to you?"

Myka looked annoyed again, maybe more so, like when Helena first saw Myka and Pete. Myka looked like she wanted to hit him, so that he would stop talking.

After hearing the line he delivered, H.G. could not blame the girl. Although, it was nice he thought she was attractive, but she thought it was rude to try to pick up a girl at your friends expense.

Myka just sighed and rolled her eyes and looked back at Helena as she condoled, "Sorry about him. He gets very hyper and fidgety. He sometimes forgets his manners in his excitement, that is if he has any." She expressed 'manners' forcefully making a point to Pete while talking to H.G. and not bothering to care that she was add insult to injury with her last statement to his pride.

"Hey!" Pete interjects

Myka rolls her eyes again and looks at Helena and says with a smile, "He can be a lot of things, but bad guy isn't one of them." Myka chuckles a bit and then introduces while turning her head to face both of them with a wave of her hand at each of them, "H.G. this is Pete. Pete this is H.G."

Helena looks at Pete and replies in sweet, but shy tone, "Hello, Pete. Thank you for the compliment, it was lovely. I do hope to make a good acquaintance."

"Hey, umm... yeah. Your welcome." Pete says a bit nervously. "Hey, what country are you from? You have a different accent from us."

Helena opened her mouth to make a reply, when the speaker went on again. H.G. sighed as she listened to the announcement stating that they will be departing from the dock in 1 minute. After that she looked back at the two to make sure they were paying attention to her before she answered Pete's question and relied, "I am from here actually, The United States, but my father and mother are from England. My brother and I have inherited the accent from hearing it so much as we grew up, I guess. My father and mother moved here to get an opportunity at the program to join the International Fleet, since at the time England was not setup for it yet."

"Wow! That's cool, that means your parents are in the army right?" Pete staid excitedly.

"No, not at all. Both my parents didn't make it in the program, even though back then there was far less competition, or so I have been told. My brother, the first born, was to make it, and he too failed and I thought I did too actually, only to find myself here suddenly." Helena said sadly.

"Oh." was all Pete could think to say to H.G.'s sad tone.

Myka was now curious on what she meant at the last part. How could you have thought you failed, weeded out of the program, to suddenly find yourself here.

Myka was fighting with herself for a couple of seconds, debating if she should ask her question. She finally got the courage and asked, "What do you mean by you thought you failed only to find yourself here?"

Helena looked up at Myka just then, she could see the curiosity as well as caution. It seemed Myka was afraid that she might upset her and wasn't even sure she should be asking this question.

H.G. looked at those beautiful, honest, caring, green eyes for the longest time. She finally decided on making a retort to Myka's question when the speaker came on, and to Helena's misfortune with the blasted timing of it, she was happy it came at a time she was not sure wanted to answer to something.

The male voice coming from the speaker was counting down the seconds till they were to launch.

As the seconds were being announced Helena could see Pete over ecstatic and as she chanced a look at Myka she saw concern, thinking she might have over stepped the line.

When Myka looked at H.G. they both shared a conversation for the first time in their lives without words or gestures, just a look with their eyes. Myka was telling H.G. how sorry she was for asking the question and Helena was reassuring Myka it was fine, that they still could be friends, and that at some point in the future she might share more.

The last second was announced and they launched into space.

Helena, Myka and Pete along with the rest of the recruits were holding onto their seats and seatbelts from the force and pressure they were feeling as they were being launched into space. The force and pressure that seemed to be pushing them into their seats didn't last to long, maybe 2 to 3 minutes or so, and then they all started to feel really light. All of them took their arms off their seats and seatbelts, examining their arms as they seemed to float somewhat upward.

Someone further down the row that the three new friends were in started to get sick and someone yelled about getting them the bag quickly. It was passed to the sick person just in time and they threw up into the bag. They didn't close it right away and some of the vomit floated upward and then suddenly there was a call from the front, Colonel Valda, that told the recruit to close the bag.

The colonel floated on over using the tops of the seats to steady and guide him to make sure the kid was alright and then saw Helena. She was tilting her head and having a goofy smile on her face looking at him. He asked confused, "What are you doing, Wells?"

"Nothing, sir" was H.G. immediate reply as the question snapped her out of her curious mind and back to grounded thoughts.

"Is something funny?" Valda asked demandingly.

Helena didn't reply thinking she was in trouble again.

Myka and Pete watched the scene play out. They didn't know what to do for their new found friend. It seemed like she was in trouble for doing something that was unknown to them.

"I asked you a question Launchie." Valda stated using the rank Helena was currently, commanding a reply.

Helena licked her lips and then relied, "Sir, your floating horizontal..." she paused and stumbled out hesitantly, "I thought that was funny."

"Really, why?"

"Because in zero gravity there is no right-side-up. You may think your vertical, and we might think we are horizontal."

"Is that funny?" Colonel Valda asks all the Launchies.

The group shook there heads and replied, "Sir, no, sir."

The colonel nodded his head and replied, "Yes it is." amusingly.

He looked at the one kid that got sick and called his name, asking him if he knew what Helena was taking about, and of course the kid wanted to look good so he said yes, but the colonel knew he had know idea why it was funny.

He then stated to the group, "So far there is only one kid on this launch with any brains at all, and that's Helena Wells."

All the Launchies that were new recruits on this launch looked over at Helena.

Helena didn't want the attention and was annoyed that the colonel pointed her out at being the smartest of the group, because she didn't need more people to hate her.

The rest of the flight was pretty silent, all that you could hear was whispered mutters now and again, people turning and looking at H.G., acting like she couldn't see them.

They finally docked to the space station that was built for the battle school. The station was long; at one end it was thin and long like a needle compared to the other end, which had a thick radius. The bigger end had two cylinder like shapes and attached between them in the middle was a sphere that had an intricate design to it, much like hamster ball cage. Where there would be big wholes, there was a gated fence like design. The sphere had a ring around the cage design also, which looked like it was used more then just keeping the two halves of the sphere together.

Colonel Valda had instructed the Launchies to leave the ship in an orderly manner. They all had to get out of their seats and leave the way they came in. They eventually had to climb up a ladder to get out of the docking tunnel. One by one they made it to the top, which had a latch to it that was open so they could climb out of the hole they were in.

On the other side the latch, in which the Launchies were coming out of, was Colonel Valda and Major Frederic waiting and observing as the Launchies made there way through the docking tunnel to the hallway.

As the Launchies were coming out, on the speakers in the hallway, was a female voice blaring ordering the new Launchies instructions, "All new arrivals follow the yellow lights to your accommodation, The yellow lights." It kept repeating so that all the new recruits would know where to go.

Helena and the two new acquaintances she made came out last, first Pete, then Myka and lastly Helena.

When Helena came out she stopped in front of the colonel and the major to ask them why they would show her off in front of all the new recruits. "Sir, you made them hate me." H.G. said in a defeated, angered tone.

"I told them you were the best, we need a Julius Caesar, a Napoleon." Colonel Valda stated.

Major Frederic helped out trying to calm the situation a bit hoping Helena would understand, "We were hoping that would be you."

"Caesar was assassinated by the people he trusted." H.G. replied back a bit cheekily.

Major Frederic amusingly stated. "And Napoleon lost in the end."

Colonel Valda was a bit irritated with the little faults they made in his statement. "Not before he conquered the known world... dismissed!"

"Yes, sir" Helena said right away as the order was given and did an attention then continued on marching down the corridor following the yellow lights.

The colonel and the major watched Helena march down the corridor after their little chat with her. They were analyzing her during and after, and made some observations.

Major Frederic noted, still looking down the corridor even though Helena has almost disappeared by now, "She has a complicated response to authority. She wants to please the overbearing father figure, but resents a lack of reciprocated affection"

"Her isolation must never be parted with. She must never believe anyone will help her." Colonel Valda stated in defiance, for he wanted to train Helena to be the best commander that would win them the war on the alien species, Formics.

Helena made it to the room they will be staying in for their duration, that is until they get promoted or drop out. When she steps inside she looks around and sees everyone talking and laughing with one another.

Someone in the back of room notices her and calls out loud enough for everyone to hear, "Look, it's the smart-ass."

Everyone stops talking after hearing that comment waiting, watching to see how this confrontation will be played out by the two.

H.G. does nothing, just stands there and looks around for the place that she will be staying. She finds an empty bottom bunk to the bunk bed in the front on the right and says cheekily, "Thanks, I thought I had to be asked to be by the door." She did not notice that Myka shared the top to her bunk bed.

As for Pete, he ended up one bunk bed down from them on the right side, on the top like Myka. He liked having top bunk, so when Myka declared top to the last free bunk bed that had not been claimed, he went for the one next to it and took the free top bunk. When Helena came into the room he understood that Myka was saving a spot for Helena to have, which he didn't mind, just was a little disappointed that she wanted to share one with the new girl and not him.

Helena walks up to the bed she found free, but stops when she notices 2 storage spaces on the wall near the bed, she walks the remaining way to one of them and opens it. The automated machine asks for her to speak her name, and of course she gives her first and last name. As she does that it scans her eye and puts her vocal patters into memory so no one can open the storage space, but Helena.

The storage space fully opens and H.G. sees that there is a battle suite that was gray and yellow, with a matching yellow helmet and a weapon that looked like a gun. She goes for the gun and is about to pick it up when there is a sudden booming voice informing her that someone of authority was behind her.

"I wouldn't touch that. You might freeze your delicate hand and chip a nail, kid."

After hearing that almost everyone stopped talking and fell in line in front of there beds. For a few that weren't listening or didn't hear, someone yelled, "Attention on deck!"

"At ease!" was the first thing the man said after a minute as everyone waited patiently. The man was plump and had very thick furry eyebrows that stuck up and did not lay flat on his face. The man also wore glasses and was somewhere in his 50's.

"Listen up Launchies! My name is, Sergeant. Artie. Nielsen. Give me a legitimate question and I will give you a, diet. red. answer, but if you are looking for a shoulder to cry on, use a pillow." Sergeant Nielsen stated as he walked down the aisle in front of the Launchies to the back of the room. When he finished the last part of the statement on what he expected from them he heard giggling and turned around and yelled, "Do I look like I am joking snots?!"

All the Launchies gave attention and replied, "Sir, No, Sir!" Then went back to at ease.

"Good." the sergeant stated walking down the aisle back again. "You will work as a team. You will all make this bunk room your home. You will keep your home, Clean! There are separate showers for both sexes. If you are not in an area not designated to your gender, I WILL PERSONALLY NUTTER YOU! AM. I. CLEAR!"

Again all the Launchies gave attention and replied, "Sir, Yes, Sir!" Then went back to at ease.

Sergeant Nielsen made it to the front of the room again, stopping in front of Helena and gave her a look.

Helena did the same, not sure why the Sergeant seemed to be sizing her up.

The sergeant after a moment looked back at all the Launchies like when he first started. He then wrapped up his speech, "You are designated to the color yellow. You will follow the yellow lights like your cowardly selves!"

There was another around of the Launchies gave attention and replied, "Sir, Yes, Sir!" Then went back to at ease.

"Good. Lights out in 5." The sergeant did an about face and left the dormitory.

The Launchies went back to what they were doing before, some went to their beds and others went to their storage spaces to set them up for themselves for tomorrow. They were all hoping their stuff will be delivered to them by then too.

Helena went back to her bed to lay down only to see Myka climbing up her bunk bed to get to the top. She greeted Myka with an unexpected greeting, "Oh, hello..."

Myka looked down to the side of her as she stopped climbing the ladder and greeted back nervously, as she wasn't sure if H.G. liked the idea of sharing a bunk bed with her or not, and after H.G.'s statement when she came in here made her even more nervous. "Oh, hi. I uh... thought you wouldn't mind sharing a bunk with me...I mean I left you the bottom in case you know wanted to be alone and by the door...ah...you know...umm..."

Helena looked at Myka as she was fumbling over her words as she was worried and nervous. H.G. couldn't take it any more as the girl was punishing herself every time she thought she said something wrong. Helena cut right over her reassuringly stated, "It's fine Myka. I don't mind sharing a bunk bed with you at all. I have no qualms with the bottom or top, it is whatever you prefer, darling."

"Oh, good. I too actually don't have a preference to the top or bottom. I guess we can keep it the way we have it." Myka said with a smile.

Helena smiled back and replied, "I suppose so."

Helena and Myka talked until the lights went out and then went to their own bunk to sleep for the busy day ahead of them.

As I laid in my bed the anticipation and fears of the unknown plagued my mind as I was tiring to sleep. All I could think about were the two things that seemed to plague my mind, this new school and my new friends.

What will this new school be like? What was tomorrow going to be like? What will we be learning in battle school? There were so many questions going through my mind, I was nervous and excited to see what we will be doing here.

After my excitement dwindled down all I could think about was the 2 other recruits I met and hopefully made friends with. Will the new friends I made continue to be nice? Will I be able to trust them? I hoped that they would not betray me. At this moment I'm not completely trusting of them yet, but they seem to be nice and I hoped that they continued to be.

All I wanted was someone to care for me, as I them. I have not really found what I have been searching for with anyone I have met. The closest I have is my mother, and even then we do not talk that much. Sometimes, I question even her love for me, as I am sometimes ignored or reprimanded for things that are out of my control. I am mostly left to my own devises and am to uphold the family name and pride.

I hope the future with my new found friends is a nice one.

To Be continued...