AN: This chapter was harder to write I think then a lot of the others, because Helena is in a depressed mood and everything is all new to her again. Also I have in new characters that I have never written before now, so let me know if they feel off, I will try my best to fix that.
IMPORTANT: I will say this now so you will not be confused as you read. I have decided that the teams (armies), will have rankings, but will not be the usual Military ones. I found it to be confusing because they really wouldn't be that rank for they are cadets, students learning how to be and function in the military. So I used inspiration from an anime I watch called Bleach and used their ranking system, somewhat.
The rankings in the armies will be:
Captain (commander of army)
Lieutenant (2nd in command)
And from there, will be a list of seats. So, 3rd seat, 4th seat, and so on. It will hopefully make my life and yours easier.
Important Side Note: A friend of mine died recently, and I have been doing pretty good considering, but would like to let you know that I don't know if I'll be writing any time soon or not. I wanted to finish this chapter as it was almost done, but it took a lot of effort to try and finish it. So I thought I would give you a heads up.
PS: If anyone catches the little tidbits that I used to poke fun at MacPherson, bonus points to you ^^
Also I would like to thank everyone again for reading my story and all to the people that have Faved, Reviewed, or Followed.
Chapter 11
The solitude was unwelcoming as I made my way to my new quarters where I was to report to James MacPherson of the Salamander Army. I was sure I was going to be miserable there mostly in part to Myka and Pete's absents, especially Myka's.
I was now without Myka by my side. We just made up, a good couple hours ago, and now we have to be split up, just like that. I knew it was coming, but never imagined it to be this soon.
Myka has become my rock, my hard place that kept me tethered here in the real world. I have come to appreciate life as a reality worth living for, more so than the virtual world, in the games. That was what I lived for, to play games and solve puzzles, it feels so long ago.
It only has been a few short months knowing Myka and I have come to depend on her like no one ever before. Now I have to get used to not being with her all the time again. It hurts, but it is something I do not have the luxury of mourning. I push back my ache, my longing to the back of my mind and stand tall, moving onward to my new assigned location.
Helena walked down the corridors following the green lights. She made a turn from the main hall to a smaller one. As soon as she turned into it, she come across people who were playing what looked like a make sift baseball game. They were all crowded in the hallway. The pitcher that was pitching a ball to someone further down the hall, who had a make shift bat in hand. The catcher that was squatting down next to the batter was wearing their green battle helmet for make shift catchers mask for protection. The others crowding around the hall Helena assumed was for outfielders.
Helena didn't know much about the sport, but her time in these military schools occasionally watching of others play in their downtime is where she pick up on some knowledge of the sport.
The pitcher threw a fast curveball and the batter swung and missed. The ball bounced off the wall and flew at H.G.; she caught it with ease and gained the attention of everyone currently in the hall.
The batter, who had a clear view of Helena now asked, "Are you lost Launchie?" taking note that she had to be a rookie, for anyone else would have known that they were in the territory of the Salamanders.
Helena was a bit nervous for she didn't know what to expect. She licked her lips and walked hesitantly further into the hallway introducing herself, "H.G. Wells." She tossed the ball back at the batter and replied back, "I am supposed to report to James MacPherson."
"So your the replacement?" a girl who was one of the outfielders said.
Helena thought she was friendly enough, or at least seemed to be. She tried to play it cool and tried to be nice enough for things to go smoothly. She walked up to the older girl and introduced herself again lifting her hand for a handshake, "H.G. Wells."
The older girl shook H.G.'s hand and introduced herself, "Sandra. I am the only girl here in the Salamander Army that has more balls then anyone else in this bunk room."
Almost all the guys were rolling their eyes and some of them gave protest to her claimed statement. They were all making fun of her, but not in a bad way. It looked more like they were joking around and teasing her, than making fun of her. They all were having a laugh until MacPherson came into the hallway.
"H.G. Wells?" MacPherson asked in a commanding tone.
Helena straightened up and reported in to her commanding officer, but took note that he too had a British accent. "Sir, yes, Sir. H.G. Wells, reassigned."
"So now they have sent me a Launchie to replace Reynolds, have they?"
"Sir, I am a quick study. You wont have to worry about me not keeping up, Sir."
"You are, are you? Well, we will just have to see about that, eh." Not long after MacPherson stated that he came up to Helena and wrapped his arm around her shoulders like they were old pals. "Here is how I run this place, I give the commands, you follow the orders and we have no problems. You claim that you are a quick study, well my army is undefeated in the last 21 battles and I am going to try to make it to Command School within six months, so I would advise you to not screw up." After the warning was given he let go and walk back toward the bunk room. As he walked he delivered and order to his subordinate without looking back. "Sandra, be a dear and show our new recruit where she will be bunking."
Sandra nodded she understood even though MacPherson was not looking at her.
MacPherson paused on his way into the bunk room and turned to look at the guy that was holding the make shift bat, the very some person that asked Helena if she was lost. "And Raymond, I think it is time to round up the troops and call it quits with your silly game, don't you." It wasn't a question, but an order.
"Yes, Captain"
"Good." MacPherson said with a smile. It was not a pleasant smile, but one of authority, one that was to look nice and pleasant when they got their way.
After he was done ordering his subordinates he turned back around and walked into the bunk room with no further delay.
Everyone looked after MacPherson for a moment then came back to themselves after that intense meeting.
Raymond gathered up his team mates, as well as the other team's players and told them it was time to come in, Captain's orders, which generally meant that it was lights out in 10 minutes.
Sandra came up to H.G. and asked her to follow her to the bunk room so she could show Helena her bunk and get settled for the night. H.G. followed with out question. They made their way into the bunk room and proceeded down the row of beds till they came upon the last bunk on the right side.
Sandra waved her hand to he bunk and said, "This is your new bunk. You can have either the top or bottom. We don't have anyone occupying either at the moment. We are still waiting on another replacement for Maxwell who just got discharged as well."
"Thanks" Helena said with a respectful smile.
"Sure." Sandra said with a small smile back. "Get some sleep." with that she turned around and headed to the front of the room where her bunk must have been.
H.G. went to her new storage space to see what is in there for her tomorrow. She hopes her stuff will be coming soon that she was allowed to bring to this school, as well as her stuff like tablet that she needs for some of her classes and whatever else she wants to do with it. More then likely Myka will give her touch pad tomorrow during their classes.
Helena panicked for a minute. How will she know what classes she will have the next day? Will MacPherson wake her informing her, or will she be exempt until things have settled for her here? She shook her head clearing her thoughts and pushed all of that into the back of her mind for now. That will be tomorrows problem, right now she wanted to look at what was there for her and then go to bed. She was very exhausted, only a little while ago she was staring up at the bottom of Myka's bunk and now she was here... It has been a very draining night, so much has changed in only a short few hours. H.G. sighed and proceeded to put her information in like her first time here on this space station.
She found her new uniform, which showed that she was now an official cadet at this school. The new jumpsuit she had to wear was a blue-gray it had her team patch on the side of the shoulders of a green salamander and a name tag, like her old yellow one, on the right, front side that said Wells on it.
Everything was there like when she first came here, she even found a tablet that she assumed was to replace her old one. Helena decided to take it out incase she was given instructions on it for where she is supposed to go tomorrow.
H.G. closed her locker and walked back to her bunk with the tablet in hand. She paused in front of the bunk looking up to the top bunk almost expecting to see Myka laying there, only to be reminded that she wasn't. She felt let down and depressed to find it empty, even though she knew it was going to be to begin with. She just wished that this was some elaborate dream preying on her fears or something, but she knew it wasn't, this was her new reality, she was alone again. It was something she was going to have to get used to.
"You miss someone close to you." a soft voice came from side of H.G.
Helena jumped slightly, she was not expecting anyone to come talk to her. The soft gentle voice brought her back from her mourning thoughts of Myka. She turned ever so slightly, finding the person that the calming voice belonged to, which was a girl a few years younger then herself.
H.G. looked a the girl in confusion. "Sorry?"
The girl repeated herself again. "You miss someone close to you. I can see it."
"You can see it? What does that mean, exactly?" Helena was curious. She has never come across another human being like her before.
When the girl talks, it as if she is an oracle, or at the very least, like she knows things about you that she shouldn't.
"I read auras." the girl replied simply. "And right now, yours looks torturous and hellish."
"Really now, that's something." H.G. said with a little bit of edge in her tone like she was being sarcastic, but it was still soft and polite like she was genuinely interested at the same time. She was still quite fascinated by the girl and her peculiar ability to read people, and wanted to know more. "But how do you know it is because I miss someone close to me?"
"The way you were looking at the bed hoping someone was there, and I can see it in your eyes even though you are hiding it pretty well. I am very good at reading people you will come to find. Actually, I think that maybe the only reason why I have made it this far. As I am sure you have deduced that I don't care much for fighting and lack the aggression needed for the games."
Helena didn't know what to say to that and just nodded, she needed a moment to process.
The two girls stood in silence for a couple of seconds while H.G. processed what had been voiced.
Helena was quite intrigued by this ability that this girl claimed to have and thought she must be selling herself short if she has made it this far, especially at her age. "That is a quite an impressive talent you have then. It must be useful, or you would not be here, right? I am sure it makes up for what you lack in many ways. Not everything in the games can be won by fighting and aggression, one has to have a mind and intelligence to use to win on the battlefield. You must be a very good resource to use to help your team win, or at the very least, help build intel on your opponents, right?"
The girl smiled up at H.G. like she just gave her the biggest compliment that she has ever received. "Thank you...ah..." She paused and looked like she was trying to remember something.
"H.G." Helena said as soon as she figured the girl was trying to think of her name, trying to remember if they introduced themselves yet. "H.G. Wells" she said in clarification holding up her hand for a handshake.
The girl looked a little embarrassed, or maybe she was being shy, maybe it was both. She walked closer to H.G. and shook her hand and replied back, "Leena. Sorry, I should have introduced myself first, after all you are new here."
"There is no need to worry." Helena disregarded with a kind smile.
They both let go of each others hands not sure where to go from there.
Helena had a thought when she looked back down at her hands noticing her tablet in one of them and looked back up at Leena. "I...ah... was wondering since you are here, and know how things work... How do I know were I will be going tomorrow, I mean I expect I will have to go to my classes again like usual... so... how does that work exactly?"
"It's a bit complicated, it depends where you are in your studies, really. Though you are new and I am sure you were given as little instruction on how things are done.
Helena nodded in agreement and answered, "Yes."
"Well, you have a good start." Leena pointed to H.G.'s tablet, "That will be your best friend here, it gives you your schedule that you will be following for your classes and any updates that our captain will be giving us for practice, or anything we need to know."
"If that is all to it, then why was I not informed by my captain? I would think that is part of a captain's duty, to make sure all their team and new recruits are informed and know what they are supposed to be doing."
Leena looked at H.G. deciding on how she should approach this subject. After gathering her thoughts she replied, "It is not really my place to criticize my captain, but you will find that MacPherson may have a little to much ambition. I will say this, he gets what he wants, but at the cost of others, so be careful."
Helena thought back to when she first met James MacPherson and nodded her head in understanding. "I think I understand, and thank you for the warning."
Leena nodded in return as a your welcome just as the lights went out.
Apparently it was lights out, and almost everyone was in their beds waiting for sleep to come.
"We should probably get some sleep, especially you. You are going to have a long day ahead of you tomorrow." Leena suggested knowing how different it was going to feel and be like in a team after being promoted form being a Launchie.
H.G. smiled at Leena in the darkened room and nodded her head in agreement. "Yes, I suppose we should, and thank you."
Leena smiled and replied, "Was a pleasure, hope you have a good nights sleep." She turned around and headed back to her bunk, which was across the way from Helena's.
Helena called after her in a hushed tone for it was lights out, "You too."
After she said that she too turned to her bunk and got into bed. She took the bottom bunk, for that was what she was used to and that way she could pretend that Myka was above her like she has always has been since she has came to this school.
She laid down with her touch pad in hand she turned it on to see if there was any instruction for her, or a schedule that was forward to her for her to follow tomorrow. H.G. found that this new tablet was just like 'hers' that she left behind at her old quarters, it was an exact duplicate as all her stuff was there, all her files and things she had on her other one. There was however an addition to her saved files on her touch pad. She opened the file that was sitting on the desktop that was labeled Class Schedule. She found all her classes that she would be having the next day up to months end. She assumed that she will be getting a new one every month.
Helena studied her schedule for tomorrow and set an alarm so that she can get up in time to get ready and get to her first class. She was anxious to see Pete and Myka, especially Myka tomorrow.
She put her tablet down next to her pillow like usual and stared at the underside of the top bunk much like she was earlier that night, imagining that nothing was different, that she and Myka shared the same bunk and Myka was above her like normal.
She eventually closed her eyes in exhaustion from the nights events. Not long after she closed her eyes sleep came to her.
I was wondering in a waste land, where the dirt is red/brown and light like sand. The wind kicked some up in the already thick, heavy air that was suffocating and humid. The sun was scorching here, which made me feel like I could melt at any moment. I didn't understand why I was here, why I was wondering this foreign dessert. I had this feeling someone was calling me, beckoning me to them.
I was standing around the spiky, rock structures looking around trying to find why I was here, why I was being called. I yelled out "Hello," but there was no reply. I look around and call out again as I felt something watching me, "Hello..."
This time there was a hissing like sound in the background. I knew something was there now, watching me, calling me, but I didn't know what. I had no visual of it, not even a direction of sound.
I yell out in frustration but still cautiously, "I am here. Why are you hiding? You called me and I am standing right here, waiting, so show yourself, please."
It drew closer, I could hear it moving.
I turned in that direction waiting for something to appear. I saw nothing.
I started to walk in the direction I assumed it was in, which was in the rock structure. I walked into the darkness of what appeared to be a cave.
As I walked into the frigid darkness all I hoped for was not to be killed by a monster. Even knowing that is what could be waiting for me, I took my chances to find out what was beckoning me.
I heard it's hissing like noise as I adventured further into the cave like it was drawing me in, telling me to follow it.
I followed the sound of it's movements and it's occasional hissing noises. I was having a bit of trouble keeping up as I had to navigate through many different tunnel systems. It sometimes got confusing where the sound of the creature was coming from, but I did my best and kept at it.
I eventually found myself in a opened area that all the tunnels seemed to connect to, but I saw no creature. I looked around hoping to find it, or at the very least hear it. I was hoping I didn't get lost and left behind. I wanted, needed to desperately find this creature that beckoning me here. I needed to know why I was summoned here, what it wanted from me.
I heard movement behind me and I whipped around hoping to see it, but I didn't.
There was a hiss like sound again, it seemed to be coming from around the opening of one of the other tunnels.
I saw movement through parts of the wall of the tunnel that was not solid as it come closer.
I waited in an anticipation as I watched its movements in and out of the shadows coming closer and closer, hoping to get a at least a glimpse of the creature.
Just as it was about to rival itself to me, I was awaken once again.
Helena was woken up by her alarm. She turned it off and laid there for a few moments trying to get her bearings. She was caught up in that dream that she had yet again.
She could not believe that she had it again, she has not had it in a long time, a month or so give or take. She wanted to know what these dreams meant, why she kept having them.
H.G. also wanted to know what that creature was in her dreams the most, why it called and lured her into it's den, what it wanted from her. She was disappointed that she got interrupted from her sleep because she was about to have the creature revival itself, it was frustrating and irritating to always wake up with no answers.
At the same time though she was quite happy to be out of the dream for it was an intense recurring dream. It was nerve raking and something she could not dwell on for to long, because she had other more important things to think and worry about in reality then worry about a recurring dream.
Helena eventually got up and was about to head to her locker when she remembered where she was. She was not in her normal dormitory where Myka and Pete were, she got promoted and now was in a new dormitory. She became a bit depressed at the thought of it. She gathered herself and her thoughts and focused on getting dressed and heading to class. She was anxious to see her friends again, which might be ridiculous as she just saw them a few hours a go, but she already missed them greatly. It felt new and alien to be on her own again and she just supposed that she was just going to have to get used to it again.
She got ready, doing everything she needed to do and grabbed her tablet, and then left for her class.
Helena had no lights to guide her like she was used to when she was a Launchie that got her from place to place, she did however know her way to get to her classes by now. The only thing she had to remember was the new hallways that lead to the Salamander territory.
She felt a bit off kilter for everything was different then before. Not only was her uniform and her place of residency different, but she had more responsibility. She didn't have Artie waking her up every morning, she didn't have him telling her what her classes were going to be that day, she didn't even have the lights to guide her to her classes. Everything was just different.
Helena made it to her first class of the day just in time with only a few minutes to spare. It was a good thing she didn't get lost or she would have been late. When she walked in she saw that Myka and Pete where looking out for her, waiting for her to come through the door. She also observed that they saved a seat for her so that she could sit next to them like usual.
When Myka and Pete saw Helena they were excited. They could not wait to hear how things went for her. They were curious how things were ran being in a team compared to what they were used to.
Myka was very nervous to find out how Helena was holding up. She knew that Helena was afraid of losing her friends and herself along the way in this school. She knew that Helena also become quite reliant on her as she herself has become reliant on Helena. She hoped she was doing well and coping ok with the change. She knew that it was tough to try to get used to, but it was something they had to do. She knew what Helena was going through as she herself was going through the same thing, wishing that Helena was there with her, like she has been through their whole journey so far at this school.
Both Myka and Helena became such fast friends, which grew into much more rather quickly, which was not common among their peers. They both didn't want to be away from each other for to long, but in this school, in this way of life that was set for them, it was not something that would be tolerated. They were only there to compete for the chance to be a hero and defend their planet. They were taught to only to think of themselves and their ambition to achieve this goal, nothing else mattered. This is what made their relationship and separation that much more difficult, regardless of what the colonel wanted with H.G. The colonel just complicated things even further.
H.G. made her way up to the both of them as soon as she saw they noticed her. When she got to the reserved seat that was saved for her and sat down, Pete almost bounced out of his seat in excitement. He seemed eager to ask her all about her promotion.
"So hotshot, what is it like being in a team?!" Pete asked excitedly just when Helena's butt hit the seat. He noticed her team patch on her new uniform and got even more excited. "O-M-G! Your in the Salamander Army! What's it like being on the best team?! I believe their standing score is undefeated in the last 21 battles, right? WOW! This is awesome! I hope when I am promoted that I land in an amazing team."
Before Pete could say anymore H.G. started to answer Pete's questions before she got to overwhelmed by them. "Pete slow down... Before you ask anymore questions let me answer these ones first, alright. I believed you asked what it was like being in a team, right?"
Pete nodded his head yes confirming Helena was right.
"Right then. It is not that much different then being in the team with the Launchies, just how things are done are different. You have more responsibility in a lot of ways you may not have expected. I have to wake myself up for my classes now, and there are no lights to guide you from class to class. Our tablets become very important when you get promoted. It will tell you what your class schedule is and any updates from your captain or from anyone that works here that needs to inform you of something."
Myka replied just after Helena was finished with an observation that she noticed in Helena's explanation. "I guess that makes sense. Why would they put us in the same class schedule with our team when everyone is on a different level? That, I imagine is the main reason for why you have to get to whatever class you have to on your own, because everyone is all on different levels of the classes we take."
While listening to Myka explain her observation Helena couldn't help but smiled. She was amazed by Myka's intellect and quick thought. "Great observation darling. That is what I have concluded too after being told how things work and are done there."
The two ended up falling into their own bubble again and Pete was left watching them stare into each others eyes longingly.
Pete has been getting 'vibes' from them since they started hanging out. They were mostly good ones, but on several occasions they were bad ones, but still mostly good ones when they were around each other. Pete observed the vibes started to become stronger and more palpable as Myka and H.G. become closer. He may not fully know what was going on between the two, but he had is suspicions. He just didn't know if he should ask them, or wait for them to tell him. He knew the two were taking a big risk and they might not want to bring him into the fold for many reasons, but the top one was more then likely so that he was not pulled into the mess that may come about if they get caught. He knew all of these things and that is why he pretended like he didn't know, he was going to wait for them to tell him, so he puts less pressure on them, god knows they have enough of that.
Pete decided to break up the love fest that was going on in front of him. "Alright you two, stop making googly eyes at each other and lets get back the Q and A." He made the choice at pretending to not to know, but that didn't mean he could not tease them about it.
Pete's statement woke up the two and they became slightly flustered and embarrassed that they forgot where they were.
"Ahh... Right, my apologies Pete." Helena replied as soon as she came back to herself.
As soon as Myka got her wits about her she instantly argued, "We weren't making 'googly eyes' at each other Pete."
"If you say so Mykes." Pete answered in a tone that said he didn't believe a word that she said.
Myka opened her mouth and was about to respond back with a snacky comment, but Helena started talking before she could get a word out.
Helena interrupted them hoping to end their little spat that will go on for a bit. "Ahh... I believe your next question had something to do with what it was like being on the best team."
Pete gave a nod that that was correct and listened to Helena continue after seeing his nod.
"Right-y ho, then." There was a pause as she thought about what her thought and feelings were on the subject. "There are some nice people on the team, actually I met a girl, Leena, that has a peculiar ability, much like yours Pete, only she can read auras, or so she claims. I have found her quite fascinating and as well as very kind. Actually, she was the one that told me how things are ran there."
As soon as Helena finished that sentence Myka interrupted, "What?! I thought that was a captains job, to inform you of how things were ran."
"I was just about to get to that, darling. It is most irregular that your commanding officer does not. I however, was informed how thing were ran in MacPherson's army. I was informed that he was the best and that He was undefeated in the last 21 battles, I believe it was, and that I was not to get in his way, because he plans on making it to Command School in 6 mouths and doesn't want me to somehow screw it up. I am to do as I am told, learn quickly and stay out of his way. That is all my captain informed me with. I was not sure how I was to know when and what classes I was going to have the next day, or how I was to find out. After I was shown to my bed and had a look in my new locker was when Leena, the girl who informed me how I was to find out info about my classes, came up to me and started up a conversation. I was, and still am very appreciative of her kindness."
After Helena was finished there was a moment of silence, both Pete and Myka took a moment to take in the information and find something to say. They both knew after about hearing Helena talk about MacPherson that he was a man you didn't want to cross nor was he a team player.
Myka spoke first, "That's good your making friends there, though your captain sounds like he might be a bit dangerous."
Helena nodded her head in agreement.
"Yeah, I mean your captain maybe an asshole, but your on a team now, a real member of the school here and you made a friend. All things considered, you look like you are doing pretty well. I would just try to watch my back more around MacPherson, alright?" Pete piped in hoping to cheer H.G. up some now knowing that she has a dick for a captain.
Helena nodded her head again in agreement and said, "Thanks Pete."
The teacher walked into the classroom and started class after Helena thanked Pete. The class quieted down and they began the lesson for the day.
After that class, which was class were they studied the Formic flight patterns and all things Formic, the three of them went to their next few classes. Helena informed them that she will be taking all of their usual classes with them except for the battle room class, because now she was in a team and would be getting her own training in her team.
It will be a challenge getting used to my new life as a member of a team and getting used to how things are done there.
I am grateful that I still get to see my friends and interact with them. They help me be hopeful that things will be alright in a place that is unfamiliar to me. They are my rock and always will be. I know no matter what they will always be there for me, and I am ever grateful for that.
I just hope things continue to progress smoothly from here on out. I don't need or want more complications in my life right now.
To Be Continued...
PPS: For those of you that did not find the poking fun at MacPherson it was his aliases John Maxwell and Professor Reynolds. I used them as the kids that got discharged from the salamander army that they are waiting replacements for.