Flight (13 page)

"Do you need help?"

I shake my head at him. "No, I got it."

I take off my vacation clothes, stopping for a moment to check the gash that mutant left on my calf a few weeks ago, and then start assembling myself into a soldier. In training, anyway. Not that I need more training, but whatever. I'm a real RR soldier now, not a state secret.

Everything is soft and does not feel stiff and new even though I've never worn this uniform before. They are good to me at home sometimes. Very good to me. I hate new clothes, refuse to put them on until they've been softened up in the wash. And someone at home went to the trouble to soften up my uniform and then press it flat to make it look crisp. Most of my body is still sunburned from lying on a Hawaiian beach for the past week, so this little attention to detail makes me even happier then it normally would.

I tug on the undershirt and pull on the socks and pants before my dad speaks again. "You can give me your SEAR now, Junco. I'll keep it for you."

There were no jobs on Hawaii. Birthday week is for vacation only, unless there's an emergency or something. But I always get to keep my SEAR when I'm away from the RR, just in case I get separated from the guards. I walk over and hand it to him and watch as he slips it into the breast pocket of his service uniform jacket.

I go back and continue getting dressed, buttoning up and tucking in the short-sleeved shirt, then fastening the belt and pulling on the new boots that shine in the overhead ship lights. I brush my hair, grab a hair tie and then go sit on the floor in front of my dad. "Not too tight this time."

He sighs behind me as he swivels his chair and gathers up my hair to braid it. When he gets to the end I reach back with the elastic tie in my hand and he takes it, twisting it into my hair to hold his work together.

I get back up and grab my hat, then go to the mirror so I can put it on. I hate the hat, but it's required for services and as soon as we land in Peaks the hovercopter will take us right over to Council 1 for the welcome ceremony and check in. They'll probably be waiting for us, we were late taking off.

I check myself in the mirror one last time then go back and sit across from my dad and look out the window. The view of Earth below is clear of clouds and I can see the mountains, so we must be close.

"They'll wait, you know."

I look over at him. "Yeah, I know. But I don't want them to wait. Then everyone will think I get special privileges because I'm your daughter."

He smiles. "You do get special privileges, Junco. You cannot change who you are."

I shrug. "I just don't want them to know that on the very first day."

"Michael will be at the barn every Friday, Saturday, and Sunday at 0900. So make sure you're always there. No exceptions. If you need to cancel for some reason, you show up first, then ask for a day off. You have trials for Worlds in February and it's very important that you qualify so you can compete in the championships in Sydney next spring."

"Yeah, OK." But I don't want to think about what will happen in Sydney next spring besides my aerialist competition.

"Monday through Thursday you have private piano with Mrs. Strauss from 1100 to 1300. You'll meet her today."

I nod and look out the window. The peaks of the MR mountains have snow on them already, even though it's only the second week of September.

"I have a new power for you, Junco."

A slight panic consumes me as I think about my last fight with that prairie lion. I lost.

Matthew came to the house and yelled for two days, telling anyone who'd listen that I lost that fight. But my dad finally got sick of him and pulled rank. He had him removed from Council 3 and returned to Stag Camp, still complaining the whole way there I bet.

He recognizes the look on my face. "Not that kind of power. You will not go to camp again until cadets are over. You'll come home for holidays and summers until you graduate."

"That's a gift," I say. "Not a power."

He ignores my statement. "Do you know why I'm sending you to cadets, Junco?"

I shrug and look out the window again. "To do my duty. Like everyone else."

He laughs. "Your duty was fulfilled years ago. No, that's not why."

My eyes track back to him. "Then why?"

"To make friends. And have fun. Have a lot of fun, Junco. But do not fall behind on your studies, sport, or piano. And do not get caught. Do you understand me?"

My brows scrunch together as I study his face. "You want me work hard and if I do that, then I can break the rules, as long as I don't get caught. Is that what you just said?"

He nods. "You have three behavior rules you will not break. Are you ready to hear them?"

"Yes."

"You will not talk about your home life or family, including HOUSE. You will not talk about camp, training or missions. You will not talk about weapons not available to you on campus."

"Is that it?" That can't possibly be it.

"That's it." He hesitates for a second. "Well, don't kill anyone unless it's absolutely necessary. Even if they tell you to try your best in training, don't try your best."

Duh.

"Only try your best in studies, sport, and piano. Unless you really need to kill someone, of course. I'll leave it up to you, just know you'll have to account for it."

I think about this for a few seconds. "Is that my power? Kill if I have to?"

He lets out a little laugh. "No, Junco. I just don't want to make a rule that might make you hesitate to protect yourself. That's all."

"Then what's my power?"

He smiles. "Smile, Junco. Smiles are powerful. That's how you make friends. You just smile."

I look away and let my grin spread across my face even though I try to tuck it down. "I know that."

"And when the boys start asking you for attention, you just smile at them. Boys only want one thing, and it's not a smile. So if that's all you give them and they accept it, then you'll know you found a good one."

My face gets hot as I look out the window. "I don't want to talk about boys with you, Dad."

He laughs and goes back to his screen.

But I do want to think about boys in my head and my new life as Junco the cadet. Today is a really good day.

Isten's hand on my shoulder pulls me up from the dream. He's kneeling on the floor outside my berth and he cups a hand over my mouth as I start to make noise.

"Shh," he whispers. "Just me. You OK?"

I swallow. "Yeah, just a dream."

His eyes search mine and he waits.

I wait too. But he stays silent. "It was just a dream, Isten."

"You sure about that? It felt like a memory to me. And that means your dad–"

"Enough. Leave me alone, get out of my head."

He exhales. "OK. Go back to sleep then."

And then he's gone.

Chapter Twelve

The remaining days are a blur of jump preparations. I've parachuted several times over the years but I'm no expert and I'm nervous even though Isten feeds me memories of his previous jumps. All of which were executed flawlessly. Expect the worst has always been my motto and as long as I'm in the business of soldiering, that's not gonna change.

When we're not preparing I'm looking out the porthole on the forward observation bunk, watching as the small dot of light turns into a swirling blue ball. My stomach feels flighty at the thought of Earth and I automatically swallow down the urge to hurl as I look out at it.

You OK, Junco?

Isten is so in my business since the telepathy kicked in, it's not even funny.

Fine, Is. Just getting nervous.

I hear his boots clanking down the deck and then his face appears in the bunk. "Come on, we're gonna spray wings and do a dry run for tomorrow."

I jump down and follow him back to the gear room. "We have to wear suits and armor? I'm not even gonna be able to move. Why can't we just use those blue light thingys? Like when you guys came to my house?"

He ignores me as we walk into the crowd of warriors in the gear room. I've asked everyone this same thing and they're tired of repeating the answer. But I figure the worst they can say is no. And maybe, you never know, but maybe they get tired of me bitching about it and change their minds? Or maybe they realize my idea is just bet–

Holy fuck, Junco. We're not gonna change our minds. Give it up.

Asshole, you need to respect my private thoughts. When I want to talk to you I'll–

"Tier, Junco has been having these really strange dreams, man. You should really ask her what's up."

I stare up at him with my mouth open. "Isten, what the fuck?"

Tier comes over and leans down to kiss me, hands cupped around my face and full on the mouth even, in front of everyone.

I feel Isten's anger and kiss him back before coming up for air. "Whew, thanks!"

Tier slips his arm around me and looks over to Isten. "Isten, our deal is over. You've crossed the line too many times." Then he kisses me again and walks off to check that all the suits are ready.

I laugh at Is and poke him in the chest. "See, that's what you get for being a jerk. Stay out!"

He pulls me over to bench in front of my locker and throws my armor at me. "A deal's a deal, Junco. Don't even think about it or I'll make your life hell inside."

I roll my eyes. "Just show me how to get in this thing."

The wing protection is sprayed on in a fine mist that coats them as I flex and contract to allow access to each feather. It feels heavy at first, making them droop a little, but in a few minutes they begin to dry and when it's all done, they feel lighter than ever and can change color to blend in with the environment around me.

That one procedure alone takes hours.

Then hours more getting into the jump suit. The final leg of the dry run is the helmet seal and suit pressurization. The helmet encasement has a sun visor that makes me think of a bird's beak. Maybe it's psychological and induces fear, to have a winged warrior coming at you looking like a prehistoric predatory bird, who knows?

As soon as the helmet snaps closed on my head and they start pressurizing me, I wanna barf. It's only then that I'm truly thankful for having Isten's voice in my head, because hurling in your helmet is not good. Not good.

Sera comes on and my vital signs and other health information begins scrolling across my field of vision. It makes me dizzy.
Fucking knock it off, Sera. I'm gonna fucking puke here.

Isten shoots me a funny look and I shake my head and swallow down the sudden accumulation of saliva that has collected in my mouth.

They make me sit there for the entire fifteen minutes of simulated jump time and I tell ya, that was the longest fucking fifteen minutes of my life. Tier unsnaps my helmet and pulls it off when my time's up and I run to the head and retch so hard my chest scar hurts.

Tier follows me in and holds my hair until I surface. I wipe my hand across my mouth and let out a deep breath. "Thanks, I don't know what came over me. I've never been claustrophobic before."

His eyes are serious and dark as he studies my face. "Is that what it was?"

I smile. "Yeah, and some nerves too. I'm excited and nervous about going back to Earth, but the jump scares the shit out of me, Tier, I'm not gonna lie."

He looks at me for a few more seconds before accepting my answer. "Isten loves jumping, so yer with the right guy, Junco. Plus there's no way to mess it up really, ya have wings." He shrugs. "The chutes disintegrate at a thousand feet and then Isten will disengage and you'll coast on in and follow us."

I let out a little laugh. "Yeah, I know, but it's hard to shake the fear of heights that comes with being human, ya know? And what if I don't glide in right? What if I crash to the ground or–"

Tier cuts me off. "Junco, it's no different than flying down from the top of the mast at Fledge. Same stuff, OK?"

"Yeah, OK. I'll get it under control."

He puts a hand on my shoulder. "That's not what I'm telling ya, darlin'. I'm telling ya to believe me, not deal with it. Believe me. It'll be fine." His smile calms me as he pulls me in. "It's gonna be fine. Besides, what do ya wanna bet that you'll be so consumed with the view of your home planet that you'll forget all about jumping?"

"Yeah, I can't wait for that, really. It will be a once-in-a-lifetime experience. Literally, right? Just the one jump? I don't want to do this ever again."

He laughs.

"No, really, Tier – I do believe you. You're my foundation of truth these days." He waits as I drink some water and then we walk back to the gear room and I start removing the many layers of suit and clothes that make my body look like a walking black marshmallow.

I find Layla alone in the science lab later. She's standing in front of a table trying to make her various charts and tech items behave. More specifically, she's trying to keep them from floating away.