40. Overplayed, not Overstepped

"You overplayed your hand."

Avocato and Borber sat on opposite sides of the shadowy hall in the administrative wing of the academy, waiting to hear the upshot of the investigation. Major Inka, Major Bitara, Colonel Cataloupe, and Commodore Leoni were in a closed meeting to determine what course of action they would take. Avocato was calm – he was the wronged party, after all, and his future was not in question – while Borber was nearly sick with anxiety.

"You shouldn't have killed me every round," Avocato continued quietly. "Your lack of strategic training shows."

"Please stop talking," Borber ground out, then quietly added, "Sir."

"Oh. So, you're allowed to antagonize me for two months, but I'm not allowed to talk to you? Is that it?"

"I thought it was a joke."

"Did you check to see if I was laughing along with you and Novenk?"

Borber shielded his eyes, leaning heavily on his knees with a muttered, "I said I was sorry."

Avocato let out a quiet snort. "Oh, that goes without saying, but it changes nothing. You couldn't look me in the eye when you said it before, either. You're just sorry you didn't figure out sooner that Novenk was using you, and that you weren't clever enough not to get caught."

"And what was I supposed to do?" Borber demanded with sudden fire.

"Say no. Tell the dorm monitor your roommate was trying to engage you in illicit activities."

"It's not so easy."

"Why not?"

"The queen's broth-"

"Ventrexia has no queen at present," Avocato corrected sharply. "His Majesty is a widower. Be careful with your choice of words, cadet. To call the crown prince's consort queen when her father-in-law is quite hale could be construed as treason." He accompanied his warning with a hearty glare, letting Borber know who would top the list of people calling him a traitor for pursuing that line of thought any further. Borber clearly had no idea how closely related to the royal family Avocato was. "And a word to the wise – if someone needs to tell you why they're important, they probably aren't."

A little groan escaped Borber. "He said nothing would come of it. That nothing would happen."

"Oh, it won't. Not to him. Not without solid proof he was involved."

And Borber's word was already in question. Anything he said from here on out was suspect. And there was no proof of anyone but Borber being responsible for the hack.

Another groan, and Borber pushed himself upright. "What will I tell my father? Do you think they'll throw me out?"

"I can't say. It's not what I would want to see happen."

The younger cadet finally lifted his head, making himself look at Avocato. "For what it's worth, sir, I am sorry."

But they both knew his regrets were worth exactly nothing.

They were silent until the door to Leoni's office opened. Light spilled into the hall and silhouetted Colonel Cataloupe.

"With me, cadets," he ordered. His tone and expression were guarded.

They rose, squared their uniforms, and filed into the room. Majors Inka and Bitara were ranged in chairs before Commodore Leoni's desk, while Colonel Tibbets, Major Miku and Captain Lula sat off to the side as impartial observers. Inka wore an intense look, while Bitara smoldered. Leoni was collected and unreadable as ever. Avocato snapped a salute to the commodore. Borber followed suit, but with less precision.

"At ease," ordered Leoni sharply. "Major Inka?"

Inka rose, lifting a padd from the corner of the desk. "I'll summarize for the record. We're here because Cadet Borber admits to using the academy's gaming system to hack into Cadet Avocato's war games club account. By doing this, he gained access to Avocato's code name and took control of his gaming padd in order to manipulate Avocato's character into being killed early in each scenario. He did this a total of eight times, denying Avocato an opportunity to take part in what is supposed to be a fun and educational experience."

Not to mention driving him to distraction for two months, and by extension, Nikos.

"Borber stated he was coerced into doing this by his roommate, Cadet Novenk, in retaliation for disciplinary actions taken by Avocato against Novenk his first day at the academy. Novenk has denied this allegation and claims Borber was acting independently. We have obtained no proof to the contrary."

Bitara glowered and glared when Borber pursed his lips and seemed about to argue. Avocato kept his gaze firmly on Inka, in no mood to provoke Bitara by doing anything that might set the man off, like breathing too loudly. Two scandals in less than two months involving the same parties was not a good start to the major's tenure at the academy, especially since he had worked so hard to be put in charge of this particular class. It seemed Princess Apricot's brother was proving to be something of a liability.

"Cadet Borber's actions violate a number of academy policies and rules of conduct, the foremost of which include misuse of academy resources, harassment, retaliation, interference with another cadet's performance or grades, interference with another cadet's personal records, and false accusations. The penalty for each of these actions can range from verbal reprimand up to and including dismissal from this academy, and possible criminal prosecution."

Borber was visibly trembling, so complete was his anxiety. Avocato didn't blame him. If he'd been that stupid, he'd be terrified, too.

"Since this academy exists for the education of future officers in Ventrexia's military, the character of potential candidates is weighed very carefully. We look to an individual's conduct in determining what sort of officer they'll make. This panel of seven officers, comprising academy administrators, class heads, and educators, has deliberated long and hard to agree upon a course of action."

So this is what it was like to be tortured. Inka could have a second career as an inquisitor. Avocato wasn't even the accused, and he was apprehensive. Borber had to be on the verge of collapse.

"The charges of retaliation and false accusations will be dropped. This is simply once cadet's word against another's. Outside of receiving his room assignment the first day here, Borber has had no interaction with Avocato on an academic or personal level, so there is no retaliation for some perceived wrong. Further, the misuse of academy resources and interference with a cadet's personal records will be downgraded to off duty misconduct, since the activity and records involved were a game, albeit one meant to educate, and while Cadet Avocato's gameplay was hacked, there was, fortunately, no gross violation of personal information involved."

On that point, Borber was luckier than he knew. Grand Lord Catomar VI retained a legion of lawyers, and had Avocato's personal information been compromised, his father would have unleashed them all, both on Borber and the academy. Like many noble parents, Catomar and MewMew were highly protective of their children, especially their privacy, and even more so of their son the Blue Imperial. Borber never would have survived the legal onslaught.

"Which leaves us with harassment and interference with a cadet's performance or grades. Cadet Avocato has stated that while his grades were not affected by this incident, his study schedule was, and his found the interference annoying and distracting. Deliberate, repeated, unwelcome behavior is the definition of harassment, and regardless of his motivation, Cadet Borber's conduct fits this definition. Therefore, it remains for this panel to determine his punishment."

Inka lowered the padd, his attention on the commodore. She nodded, her green eyes cool as she asked, "Cadet Borber, is there anything you wish to say before we proceed?"

"Only that I once again offer my apologies to Cadet Avocato," was Borber's remarkably generic response. Everyone waited for more, but nothing else was forthcoming. Even Bitara, no fan of Avocato, looked astonished at so vague and pathetic a reply. Now was the time to grovel and promise good behavior, to throw oneself on the mercy of the judges and the victim.

Finally, Leoni blinked,gave her head a tiny shake, and said, "Cadet Avocato, is there anything you wish to say?"

He considered for a moment, and then decided yes, he would kick Borber while he was down. And rub Major Bitara's fur the wrong way. Why not? This was for Nikos and two months of being killed off at every turn. Besides, Avocato had spent his whole life learning to take someone out at the knees in the nicest way possible. He may as well sharpen his claws a bit.

"Yes, ma'am," he said. He looked at Borber, so foolish and impressionable, and said, "At the risk of sounding pedantic, I'd like to offer Cadet Borber some advice a member of my family gave me before starting the academy. It was from the personal journal of Cadet Prince Mau of Hiis, from his second year here. To paraphrase, Mau wrote, you should always surround yourself by the sort of people you would like at your side in battle, but when someone shows you who they are, believe them."

He could feel the emotion roiling off of Bitara, the fury and envy and want, the spikes of amusement from Cataloupe and Inka, the shock from Borber. Delicious. That Avocato had read Mau's actual journals, written by the general-prince himself, went without saying. They were housed in the library at Hiis, and his grandmother had given him free access to them. He hadn't meant it as a warning to anyone but Borber, but it served as a stern reminder to all that Apritom wasn't the only cadet closely linked to the royal family, and while Apritom was connected only by his sibling's marriage, Avocato was a blood relative to the king.

And, perhaps even of greater importance to the people in this room and what they represented, General Mau.

"Thank you, Cadet Avocato." He caught a flash of satisfaction at the reminder in Leoni's eyes as she stood. Clearly she was less than pleased with Bitara's students causing so much trouble again. "Cadet Borber, it is the decision of this panel that you will be on probation for the entirety of your first year at this academy. Any transgression of academy rules or code of conduct will be brought into review by everyone present, excepting Cadet Avocato, with considerably stricter interpretation and adherence to these rules. You are to submit a written apology to Cadet Avocato, to be reviewed by Major Bitara, before the end of this week. You will also submit to this panel a twenty-page research paper on harassment in the military and the effects upon morale and performance. You will also be changing rooms and gaining a different roommate. Have your things packed before lights out. Your dorm monitor will escort you to your new quarters." She fixed Borber with a steely gaze so heavy, Avocato was surprised Borber wasn't smashed like a bug. "There are some in this room who feel you should be dismissed from this academy. Fortunately for you, they are the minority. You are being offered an opportunity, cadet. See that you don't waste it."

Borber stammered out a squeaky response that barely made sense as relief overwhelmed his capacity for speech. As Borber fumbled through his gratitude, Avocato swept his glance over the officers present, only to find Bitara was looking directly at him, and Cataloupe watching Bitara through narrowed eyes. It seemed the major's anger over Avocato putting Apritom on report had not abated.

All the officers seemed satisfied except for Bitara, telling Avocato who comprised the minority. What sort of class head would want his own student expelled? Did he think he was doing the crown a service by protecting Apricot's brat of a brother? For all they knew, House Apri had sent their youngest son in the hopes of some sense being knocked into him. After this, Bitara would probably take any chance to crack down on Borber. One thing was for certain - Borber was in for a hard year. One he'd earned.

"Dismissed," snapped Leoni. "Captain Lula, escort Cadet Borber to his quarters. Major Bitara, I'd like a word."

Had Leoni's office been on fire, they could not have fled faster. Avocato found himself out in the hall with Cataloupe and Inka as Lula hauled Borber away.

"So," said Cataloupe, looking at Avocato, "what do you think, cadet?"

"I think it was a fair decision, sir, given the totality of the circumstances. Hopefully, what I said will sink in."

"Doubtful in some cases," grumbled Inka softly. "Would you like your name back for the war games club?"

Avocato smiled. "I would, sir. I'd like to shock my peers by staying alive a round or two."

"I'll switch your account back to Chockpaw, and I'll see you in class tomorrow. Colonel." He nodded to Cataloupe, and left.

"Major Bitara wanted him expelled, didn't he?" Avocato felt emboldened to ask when they stood alone in the hall.

Cataloupe studied him for a moment, but skirted a direct reply. "I'm sure he'd view it as defense of someone who in truth really doesn't deserve defending. He hasn't forgotten that first day. You shouldn't, either." He smiled slightly. "That was a well-timed reminder about General Mau, however."

"I was afraid I overstepped."

Cataloupe snorted. "The military has a lot of majors, Avocato, but only one Blue Imperial. It doesn't hurt to remind people of that, now and then, but . . . you might be best served by avoiding certain ranks for a while."

"Understood." He could do that. All he wanted was to go back to being just a third-year cadet, not the center of more drama. A thought struck him. "You did say my heritage was a tool, sir."

"I'm glad to see you putting it to use." Cataloupe smiled. "Now, go on. Don't keep Nikos in suspense."

Avocato returned the smile as he saluted. "Yes, sir!"