Kaiser's eyes slowly opened, blinking through his blurred sight, he corrected his vision. Glancing over to his side, he saw he had woken later than normal. He recalled the night prior as he prepared for the day. Despite his intention to only help the maintenance crew, he had ended up staying later than the majority of them and departed only when Piper began to drift asleep herself.
Thus his sleep and morning routine was cut shorter than normal. Foregoing breakfast, Kaiser dressed in his regular, carefully ironed school uniform, packed his supplies into his black bag and departed his room.
Locking the door he glanced left and right to see no other students present outside the student dorms or 'Barracks' as some had taken to calling them. Like many others aboard the ship, he lived alone due to his transfer as opposed to some, such as Virtanen whose grandparents transferred their jobs on ship to be with him.
Descending the stairwell, his walk in the crisp morning air gently that rolled along the ship's deck with the sun lolling along on the horizon, soothed him. Though later than usual, he was still earlier than most, allowing him to enjoy the early hours. Unfortunately, though the majority of the ship was only beginning to stir awake, an unexpected presence drove down the road next to him.
A Mercedes Gross 770, in jet black paint, had cruised to a sudden halt next to him with its engine purring. Only one vehicle of this type was on ship and only a handful of individuals had access to it. The school staff and Commanding students of the Senshado team. "Virtanen" Kaiser greeted the smiling face behind the rolled-down window.
"Mornin' Lieutenant Colonel" Virtanen cheerfully responded as he kept the car moving with Kaiser's pace. A few moments and Virtanen couldn't restrain himself. "Really? Not gonna say anything about the ride?" he prodded, seeking feedback.
"Very well then..." Kaiser acknowledged stopping in place, his eyes shifting slowly. "I'm rather certain that the rules state only a majority consent from the school staff was required for authorized usage of staff vehicles. I doubt you managed to obtain that in one night." he criticized.
"Oh come off it" Virtanen quipped, all too joyful despite the time. "It has to be driven now and then to ensure it works. Just consider this a periodical checkup." he reasoned. Kaiser rolled his eyes at the loose reasoning. "So what's the matter?" asked Virtanen. "Bags under your eyes seem rather noticeable today." he taunted.
Despite being tired of the conversation already, Kaiser obliged the question. "Funny you should ask. That little favor Ms. Cartier asked for ended up going on a tad too long." Kaiser noticed Virtanen's smug grin through his peripherals. Snapping his head to snap to the side, Kaiser's tone darkened. "Speaking of last night, how did your share of my workload come along? Finish it all?" Kaiser asked stressing the importance that it was done.
Virtanen's vehicle slowly fell behind Kaiser at the mention. Glancing over his shoulder unamused Kaiser just caught the end of Virtanen's excuse. "Look at the time, don't want to be late!" Virtanen called out as he peeled away down the road.
'Not the answer I wanted yet the one I expected' he sighed internally. Proceeding to school content with the return of his peaceful walk and the knowledge he would get back at Virtanen eventually. The work wasn't that urgent anywho, but Virtanen didn't need to know that.
The school day went on short and uneventful. Classes consisted of nothing more than introductions, orientations, and schedules for the semesters ahead. The short day ending with the principal's address to the current student body in the auditorium in which he acknowledged the heads of each department within the school's structure.
Virtanen and Kaiser, now changed into their black SS Senshado dress uniforms, were on stage as well. Although, they stuck out like a sore thumb in contrast to their peer's standard school uniforms and sports equipment. Even the maintenance, engineering, naval, and air course students' uniforms paled in comparison.
While their uniforms were undoubtedly sharp the Senshado team had invested in two sets of uniforms. A standard match uniform intended to get dirty for 'field' play and another sharper 'dress' uniform would be adorned with medals and other various awards and ornaments.
Currently, the two stood amidst the long line of student peers onstage as the principal began to wrap up his speech. Their uniforms, freshly cleaned and boots polished, awards neatly aligned, and both, presenting their issued sidearms of personal preference generously lent from the marksmanship teams collection for aesthetic purposes on their hips.
The latter had been added by Kaiser's request upon seeing Anzio's dress daggers. It was allowed on the condition only former InfanterieKampf cadets could wear if they were in a position of leadership and for a formal event. Their chests were also filled with ribbons and medals awarded not from Senshado yet, but from their time in Infanterie Kampf. Virtanen's awards surprisingly paled in comparison to the amount of Kaisers.
With their black dress caps blocking the stage lights from their eyes and sight from the crowd, the two muttered to each other impatiently wishing to proceed with their day. Virtanen, foregoing professionalism, pestered Kaiser with a series of 'psst's' to make small talk so he could ease his mind off the discomfort of standing under the bright light fixtures and heat for so long in their thick clothing.
"So why were you walking? That motorcycle in the hangar that caught your eye right?" Virtanen asked as the principal brought up another 'important point of trying your hardest to achieve success to the student body.
Waiting until the principal took a deep breath and began to ramble on once more, Kaiser took the opportunity to mutter a response. "I prefer to walk in the morning. Clears the mind and I'd rather not catch unwanted eyes" Kaiser whispered back.
"That the confidence of a lady killer huh?" quipped Virtanen glancing beneath his visor.
"As if. I've seen enough of your misfortune with romance to not try my hand with it. May have rubbed off on me from always being around to clean up after you." Kaiser retorted.
The two locked glares underneath their visors, neither showing any facial expression below the visor to the crowd, but each seeing the cheeky glare in each other's eyes.
"Moving on" Virtanen muttered, shifting his feet slightly.
"As I was saying, I don't want any unnecessary eyes on us just yet. New school, new program, new commanders. Someone somewhere is going to be digging their nose around to find out something to make us look bad or irrelevant. We have a clean slate. Best to build PR while we own it." he explained.
Coincidentally as Kaiser finished his explanation so did the principal, announcing for the students to be dismissed. As the principal did the same he instructed club leaders to return to their respective team practices. Each group did so except for Virtanen and Kaiser who saluted before taking leave.
Rather than descend the stage and join the mass of excited students the two went backstage and waited a few minutes for the halls to clear out. Neither enjoying the stares of countless, wandering eyes. Virtanen due to his stage fright and anxiety. Kaiser because he found it a nuisance.
After a few minutes, the two, having taken their caps and jackets off to relax for a bit, donned them once more to make their way to their office before the hangar for vehicle inspections. Proceeding through the school's courtyard which stood as a rather large and ornate garden, they began the usual chat.
"I'm surprised you didn't faint up there, to be honest" mocked Kaiser, carrying on their conversation.
"I'm not that bad and I told you I'm working on it alright. Like I said you can't change someone in a day." Virtanen reiterated. "And yes, I do want to change. But back to our reputation. How do you plan on working that? He asked.
Kaiser pondered for a moment. "Good question. I suppose a school paper or some form of media outlet to release whatever news we want and to control information leaks would be necessary," he explained, bringing a finger to his lips in thought.
"Sounds like despotism," Virtanen quipped.
Ignoring the remark, Kaiser continued. "We'll need to start locally and build our image up in the school."
"Isn't it good by default?" asked Virtanen curiously.
Kaiser shook his head and sighed as if explaining to a child. "No. Right now we're just some students dressed up and siphoning a chunk of the school funds. Despite no notable achievements, all eyes are focused on us at the moment. We'll have to take some steps to make ourselves look good."
Stopping under the shade of a tree, Virtanen became more invested in their talk, turning to Kaiser. Before he could speak a book flew between their faces and slammed against the nearby tree.
Quietly Kaiser picked up the book as Virtanen turned towards the direction it came. A large group was mulling around jeering while shouts came from within. It was only growing in size as other students began to run from the nearby doorways to join.
The two nonchalantly stepped up to the crowd, entering the inner ring without any resistance from the students as they shrunk away from them. Arriving in the center with deadpanned looks, Virtanen repeated Kaiser's statement "Start locally".
"Not like this," Kaiser sighed, rubbing the bridge of his nose.
Before them, was the beginning of a fight between two groups of students. Already past any point of calmly settling the dispute, one side had thrown their opponent's belongings, hence the wild book that had found its way to them.
Looking on, Virtanen and Kaiser noted that out of the eight students posturing themselves for a fight, four of them were their subordinates in Senshado. Though wishing for an end to the conflict they waited, listening in on the bickering and asking the students next to them what they knew.
They received an immediate response as some students saw their demeanor and uniforms, recognizing them to be the Senshado commanders. A quick answer or two was given while the offenders continued to bicker and shove, tempting their opponents to throw the first swing. Soon Virtanen and Kaiser found their conclusion.
"Seems they're arguing over who has the biggest pair" Virtanen stated, stepping next to Kaiser.
"Not just that, it seems that one of our subordinates talked disrespectfully to another cadet and one of their friends outside of Senshado didn't appreciate it, each side retaliating in kind as it escalated." clarified Kaiser.
A glance around showed the environment encouraging the confrontation. The strict academic environment, having felt restrictive to most students, led to a stifled view. Yet, suddenly, a new form of entertainment unfolded before the masses of students. While the occasional female looked on, the crowd was overwhelmingly male and jeering as opposed to the opposite sex's worried looks.
Looking in at the two bickering crews, one could see three students attempting to get a word in only to be ignored. Eventually, the two males and lone female, were pushed away into Virtanen and Kaiser who continued watching on.
"Why! this is all your fault! The leader of the trio before them shouted.
Glancing down at the boy, Virtanen and Kaiser noted his armband with the school's crest signaling his appointment on the student council.
"Hey there Danny boy," Virtanen greeted, hoisting the boy up from the knee. "How's everyone's favorite student council president?" Virtanen asked mockingly as he dusted the shorter male off.
"My name is Daniel! And why haven't you stopped this yet!" he demanded, eyes seering from behind his thick-rimmed glasses. Despite the shorter stature and thick lenses, the boy's ire was transmitted clearly.
Virtanen's smile and thin silver glasses hid his anger from being ordered around by the petulant peer. The student council held no authority over the Senshado club as it was overseen by teachers strictly and its funding was handled separately from academic school affairs. Yet, despite Virtanen's kind demeanor, their initial meeting hadn't hit off so well when they had first met during the previous summer.
All Virtanen would tell Kaiser of while they were both busy with personal affairs, or to be more precise complain of, was how 'Danny' would give orders with no thought as to how to execute them and do so in the most enraging way possible. Kaiser was impressed when he was told of the sheer fact of Virtanen's deep patience being withered dry in such a short time.
"Stop what?" asked Virtanen innocently.
"That!" shouted Danny pointing at the ongoing conflict, where a few had already begun to grapple.
Kaiser, who had been staring down Danny's peers, who averted their eyes, glanced at the fray. "Those idiots don't even notice our uniforms sticking out and are still going at it" he hissed.
"Oh, that~" Virtanen hummed, his grin twitching as it thinly hid his irritation.
"Yes, that!" Danny shouted. "Such irresponsibility! Why I'll have you know I'll be seeing the principal about this! You, You'll-" He began to rant only for Virtanen to sling an arm around his neck and pull him close.
"Kaiser I think we have all seen enough," said Virtanen as he tightened his grip on Danny.
Kaiser nodded his head once and addressed the struggling boy still in the headlock. "Mr. Jameson, remember your agreement with Virtanen from the summer." he reminded "No interference with each other. No matter the situation lest it is unavoidable or requested.
"Essentially we stay in our lane's" Virtanen spat.
"Besides your capabilities extend to an office leave the more physical altercations to those more experienced. Despite being offended Danny could only watch Kaiser leave as he was still restrained. Stepping past the two prefects that accompanied Daniel, Kaiser stood just before the fighting students.
"Now watch this" Virtanen whispered excitedly. Danny looked onward from Virtanen's forceful embrace, confused. Kaiser reached to his hip and drew his sidearm, a luger, and unexpectedly fired it into the air. Silence reigned over the crowd at the sudden noise. Danny glared awestruck at Kaiser then up at Virtanen's grinning face.
'Where the hell did you get the live ammo?!' Virtanen screamed internally, unprepared for the sudden act himself yet remaining composed in front of Danny. Kaiser glanced back at Virtanen. His eyes showing his joy at the mischief with a small tug of a grin at the edge of his lips. Virtanen shook his head dejectedly knowing the look all too well. "Don't ruff them up too much," he ordered.
"Never dreamt of it" Kaiser fibbed.
"What are you on about?! Help him!" Danny demanded trying to break free from Virtanen's grasp.
Virtanen chuckled at his attempts and the demand. "Danny you don't seem to get it. He may usually be calm and poised but Kaiser has a very high disposition towards violence."
"Quiet" demanded Kaiser at the offending students. The silence from the gunshot continued on and out of the eight boys, the four Senshado students stood up from their scuffles and warily backed away, perhaps aware of their situation. It was the other four regular students who didn't care for who he was, that stood defiant.
"The entertainment is over" Kaiser shouted to the crowd. "Those of you within the Senshado team will report to the hangar for further instructions and those who are regular students will accompany me and the prefects to the staff offices," he instructed.
"Who the hell are you?" Came one of the four resisting students' replies. "Just because you're in the Senshado team, you act like some big shot?" One of the boys shouted getting to his feet.
"Not a part of. I lead it." Kaiser corrected. This clarification didn't deter the boy as he began striding towards Kaiser, seeking to silence him.
Virtanen dug a finger into Danny's cheek and continued to explain. "Now pay attention, you'll soon see why Kaiser was so fond of close-quarters combat in InfanterieKampf."
As the words left his mouth, Kaiser holstered his sidearm. The boy marching towards him, reached out with his left hand grasping at Kaiser's collar.
"Oh, bad move" Virtanen commented.
Kaiser grabbed the boy by his extended left wrist and grasped the boy's left shoulder, turning his foe 90 degrees. Then driving a knee into the back of his adversary's leg and forcing him onto his knees.
Kaiser didn't relent. Still holding the boy's left arm, he wrenched it up behind his back, and drove the boy's head into the ground with his right hand, while simultaneously driving his right knee into the boy's back, pinning him to the ground.
Glancing to his right Kaiser saw the remaining boys flinch at the speed and force of what just occurred. Another student, bravely and to Kaiser's delight, took a step forward to try and aid his disabled friend. Kaiser nonchalantly grabbed his sidearm and pointed it at the boy who was seeking to intervene. A single 'bang' reverberated through the air as the boy clutched his inner thigh in pain at the impact.
Kaiser glanced over the other boys and spoke condescendingly towards them. "I'll repeat myself once more. Senshado cadets will report to the hangar for corrective actions. Regular students will accompany me and the prefects to the office for disciplinary actions. This can happen in one of two ways. After I incapacitate you as a threat, preferably with a few rubber rounds, or voluntarily."
His words held their desired effect as the remaining two students backed away and the third, clutching his leg, followed albeit limping. "Everyone else disperses!" Kaiser ordered as he stood from the boy who had ceased resisting.
The crowd was slow going, some even stopping to take a picture or two of the scene's aftermath as Kaiser was preoccupied moving the offenders along, and Virtanen meanwhile smiled down at Danny, who was now released.
"If you think that's bad wait till you see what he's gonna do to our boys" whispered Virtanen wickedly.
The two prefects watched as Kaiser escorted the four regular students, making the guilty party walk ahead as they followed in tow. "He seems more like a prefect than us" The female dejectedly stated.
"More like a bouncer" The male counterpart added. The two silenced themselves when Kaiser glanced back giving his standard stern gaze. The two prefects lowered their heads and continued walking on as a quick chill ran through them.
Facing forward and annoyed, Kaiser thought to himself. 'Why am I doing their job for them?'
-Transition-
The four male students were quickly pawned off to the prefects and Danny to be handled, leaving the four remaining cadets at the hangar to be dealt with. Kaiser informed Virtanen to continue with the day's plans without him so that he could reform their thinking.
The four turned stiff as the two commanders entered through the large bay area doors. Virtanen proceeded with getting measurements from the four then the rest of the Senshado team to finalize the order for team uniforms. As he did so, Kaiser wasted no time in dredging up a surprisingly well-improvised course of hazing for them, Which even more surprisingly went unimpeded until sunset.
The boys were practically tripping over themselves at the end. Exhausted and bruised, they were unable to keep up with Kaiser's demands.
"Or at least that's what Kaiser told me this morning before passing out in class," Virtanen relayed to his homeroom teacher. "He even went as far as transferring them all into one vehicle under O"Diveley saying 'He can deal with that mess' and to be honest if anyone could get them to voluntarily play nice, it would be him and that overbearingly charismatic attitude of his." Virtanen leaned back in his chair taking a deep breath after his explanation as his teacher typed silently on his computer responding to faculty mail.
"Oh, and most entertainingly, in front of all the other cadets he ordered them to get on the ground face down and, I kid you not, with a face full of disgust said 'Don't worry. I'll fix you. Why by the end of today even'. One of the most sinister looks I've ever seen on his face!" recalled Virtanen, bent over laughing exaggeratedly.
"Sounds like he put them through the wringer, reminds me of when I was younger" The tall and stout man chuckled. Standing at six feet four inches, Mr. Pokorski was a domineering presence in the class. A prided teacher and even more so proud mentor to students who sought his help. "I'm surprised he didn't use any of my pointers" he grinned, glancing over at Kaiser's asleep at his desk."
"I'm sure he did, but I doubt he could use them all lest it causes an infraction with their parents," noted Virtanen anxiously, laughing along.
Kaiser's head sprang up with a quick remark. "Not as if I'd ever pity a group of fools like that, I'd gladly do worse" before nestling back between his arms.
Mr. Pokorski and Virtanen glanced back at each other, shrugging their shoulders, and continued their talk. Kaiser was an oddball student at first to most teachers but the majority had grown used to his actions in the few short days the semester had been active. Reports from his prior schools already stated what he would and had been doing about simply sleeping through classes. Yet this was not considered a problem as he still passed all subjects with all passing grades.
It didn't set the best example of work ethic but it did set the bar higher for students around him so it was barely excused, although it did stress some teachers regardless and annoy some peers when he would score higher.
"They're not such bad blokes!" O'Diveley piped up from across the classroom. He and Sokolov happened to find themselves in the same homeroom as Virtanen and Kaiser and were usually found in each other's presence. "I talked with 'em and they're just energetic lads. Besides, our sleeping officer here could stand to make a better impression with the rank and file after the show he put on yesterday."
Virtanen cocked his head at the statement as Kaiser glanced out from under his arms. "Take a gander at this," O'Diveley said, gesturing to Sokolov. Snagging Sokolov's phone and chucking it towards Virtanen who caught it haphazardly, the phone's owner seemed unbothered by the action and rather accustomed to O"Diveley's spontaneousness.
Virtanen quickly became invested with the Phone as their teacher glanced at the screen before chuckling to himself and returning to his work. Virtanen made his way to Kaiser's desk and shook him. Disgruntled, Kaiser raised his head and looked at the phone before him.
It was a shoddy-looking gossip page at first glance but upon closer inspection, it was far more. It seemed to be the self-proclaimed 'official Transcendence newspaper, revealing the ecstatic world of Transcendence's Senshado'. At the bottom, a disclaimer stated no affiliation with the school's real newspaper who shared the same title.
Though a freshly made website, no older than the semester's start at most, it already had a few burgeoning stories ranging from the team's roster of cadets and vehicles, updated as recently as of yesterday, it covered private information of students as a featured story.
Kaiser clicked a link with his name, it being near the top of the page. The screen loaded up with the number of views and a corresponding amount of articles on him. It told of his personal information such as height, public demeanor, and whatever stories they could dig up. Thankfully there weren't any falsehoods he could see and relatively little on him, but the unnerving part was how accurate they were.
They had his dislikes and interests down to specifics, especially so on other cadets. Clicking onto Virtanen's name, the case was similar as such yet more detailed. Clicking on a random Cadet's name, it did the same with varying information even as far as her preferences in boys and career plans.
Kaiser's eyes widened at the investment within the site. It seemed that the main page's claim of "Keeping every fellow student up to date with their newest 'celebrities' and their escapades" wasn't a mere boast. They had been able to dig up a lot of info and compiled it for the entire student body to see.
Clicking on the story of the day, however, caused Kaiser's brow to furrow. The picture was of him in uniform standing before the troublemakers yesterday. Followed by a short editorial, a few pictures of the infraction with him, and a video captured his actions in rendering the troublemakers immobile.
Mixed reactions of adoration, spite, and intrigue flooded the comments below the story. Kaiser handed the phone over and dropped his head with a sigh.
Drawing the class's attention was Mr. Pokorski, making an announcement. "All right now, matters outside of class can stay outside of class. Besides Mr. O'Diveley and Sokolov, you two can grin about Mr. Kaiser's fame once you two actually have equal standing. I've seen your grade reports from last year and let me be the first to say. That will not cut it here, especially in my class."
Sokolov's grin and O'Diveley's taunting smile turned awkward as their attention immediately found focus elsewhere. The class resumed its personal studying and the periods of instruction flew by with Kaiser listening in as he returned to his sleep. Virtanen tried to keep pace with notes as always and despite Sokolov's quiet demeanor and exemplary performance within a vehicle, he was rather poor at academics. O"Diveley himself struggled to take notes at all.
Once the school day finished, the class was quick to empty, leaving only a few stragglers. Kaiser did not stir from his position as Virtanen slowly packed his belongings. Regardless of Kaiser appearing asleep Virtanen talked to him all the same as if it were a regular conversation.
"I convinced Danny to report any infractions regarding our cadets to us immediately. He seemed willing to oblige after your performance" informed Virtanen, giving a weak laugh at the memory. "Speaking of which, I suppose that newspaper isn't good for us either." He reasoned, letting a sigh drag out, showing his worry.
"I just don't know what to do" He meekly muttered to himself as he stretched towards the ceiling. Wincing from the exertion, he heard a tapping next to him and looked down. Kaiser, still face down in his seat, had extended a sheet of paper towards him.
Virtanen lifted the sheet and skimmed it although there wasn't much to read in the first place. Despite being written quickly and likely without Kaiser even looking up, it was neatly written and organized into a few words explaining a series of steps.
Virtanen read a few aloud, processing the information. "Camaraderie, basic training, rounded training..." his voice slowly devolved into a pondering murmur before giving a surprised gasp, alarming the few stragglers in the classroom. "Hawaii?!" he blurted. Realizing his outburst, Virtanen looked around before lowering his head to Kaiser. "What do you mean by this?"
Kaiser raised his head slightly and looked at him through a half-lidded eye. Voice still groggy from his half-sleep. "What it says. The schools making a pitstop in Hawaii in a few days before going around the pacific as per school year regulations for sanctioned ships."
Kaiser let a small yawn out before continuing. "We'll make use of their free time for a training camp. I was stressing over the same problems as you last night. Ended up making a lot of calls and sending a lot of messages that I only got responses for earlier today. Hell, I didn't even sleep for the first half of school and was busy returning emails." he explained with a long yawn.
Virtanen gazed at the hunched form of his peer in amazement. Seemingly asleep Kaiser had done more for the team than he had been worrying all day. Almost in response to his gaze Kaiser, without changing his resting posture, presented a lethargic thumbs up. Virtanen abruptly stood from his chair. "Alright let's do it!"
Virtanen wouldn't admit that most of his motivation came from the reassurance that Kaiser had already thought of almost everything for it. 'Although he probably knows me well enough to guess that's why' he mentally conceded.
Now ready to depart and mentally amped, Virtanen stopped in place as he saw the shadows cast by the sun suddenly start to shift far too quickly. 'Is the ship changing course this late?' Virtanen pondered walking to the exit.
"Hey, Virtanen" Kaiser called after him.
Virtanen saw Kaiser slowly raise his head with a sinister smile. "Looks like we'll be arriving in Hawaii earlier than expected." He said, pressing a button on the phone laying on his desk.
Virtanen nodded with a grin of his own before closing the door behind him. Shaking his head at the ground with a nervous laugh, Virtanen chuckled. "Oh those poor cadets, he's really pulling out all the stops."
-End chapter-
