Chapter Two

The First Introduction

Walking forward with what little courage she had managed to muster, Sora could feel that she didn't fit the part. There was no way that she could fake being a teacher. Teachers should be pure, wise bearers of knowledge, all-knowing about the fields that they would be teaching. She, on the other hand, was only in her twenty-fourth year of life. How could she be considered 'enlightened and wise' when she was still young and looked at as a ‘babe’? How would she get any respect from her students if she didn't look the part? My uniform might have the rank and awards but my body doesn't show it. I certainly don't fit the pure part. Too many bloodstains I have caused make me fail as a white sheet. So many problems... I really shouldn't be here. That damn Isa!

As she stepped out onto the podium, a loud, brisk voice from the audience spoke up. “Attention! Everyone salute!” Sora's eyes shifted as she tried to find the voice that announced her presence. With everyone standing up at attention, there was no way to find out who was trying their best to be the class representative. The only thing that caught her eye was one person who still was sitting, hat over his eyes, kicking back and relaxing. Sighing, she knew that there was only one man in the entire galaxy who would try to blow off a speaker who was the third in command.

“At ease. You can all sit down. As you all know, I am Director Sora Doichu, the headmaster of this academy. Before I continue on, I would like to make a special introduction to a member of my audience. Could we all give a round of applause to Supreme Commander Anthony Lindsey?” The applause shook the room for the elated leader of the entire movement. Despite the massive noise of applause, he still slept soundly. Sora grinned as everyone started to mutter quietly to themselves about their leader. He deserved it if that was what he wanted to do.

“YO, ANTHONY! WAKE UP!” At this yell into a microphone, he muttered something quietly and rolled over on his side. A small, irritated look started to take hold of her face. “Excuse me. Could someone near him please give him a good jab with something? Maybe a slap across the face?” Now nearly everyone in the hall was looking at her as if she was crazy. Slapping a galaxy-leader? Maybe I am or maybe I know that that man can sleep though anything. Bomb shells, trains running over his head, atomic bombs going off in his backyard, and pretty much anything else. Well there is one last way to wake him but it is going to kill the last of my respect from the students.

“Yo, Moron! Get your lazy butt out of that chair right now and wake up!” she spoke into the microphone. Drastic problems called for drastic solutions. This time, however, he jumped up in his seat. Sora could only grin, as he looked around at all the staring faces.

“Ahhhhhhhhhh... Pleasure to be here. I had a late flight and got virtually no sleep. You know how those things go.” Trying his best to act formal in the state of drowsiness he was in, a half-salute was the best he could manage.

“Well, lets give one more hand to our haggard leader.” With all of the others, she gave him a round of applause as he stumbled up to the podium. When he got there, he took a stand next to here and muttered quietly under his breath.

“Not as nervous now are you?”

Words got stuck in her throat as she took a split second to think about what he just said. Yeah, I am not as nervous. He might be a strange guy but its moments like this that make me remember that he is a good guy at heart. Tossing his reputation with the cadets away at the very beginning so I can stop worrying that I don't look a part. He must think I'm stuck-up... Quietly she spoke back, so the rest of the audience couldn't hear.

“Yeah. I owe you what now... three hundred?”

“You can pay me back some day. I have a nice loan program. Don't forget though, we are still in front of all the trainees.” That made her jump as she forgot that there were still 103 people staring at her attentively.

“Before I continue on, I would also like to call out here the other teachers that you will be working with, including Commander Lindsey here. Come on you guys. Everyone lets give them a big hand. That’s right. Oh and don't forget to bring out some chairs.” As Anthony went to go grab some chairs Isa and the others came walking out. Uhi took the time though to wave and make a grand entrance while Bob and Isa drifted out. As he walked by, Isa gave her the most malevolent smile he could muster.

“Thought you could make me come out here and watch me make a fool of myself, did you? If I'm going down, you are coming with!” she said.

“I won the game. I wouldn't have played such a dirty trick if I lost.”

“Liar.”

As the chairs were brought out and the others took their seats, a nagging feeling entered Sora's mind. It tore at the fact that there were only four teachers beside her when there should have been five. Where is Commander Trigin? Damn you Bulsar! Is every single man around here completely brain-dead?! After this speech I swear that I am going to graft a clock to their arms.

“On my far left is Sergeant Major Eric Isa, a specialist in nearly all forms of combat. He will mostly teach squad tactics and other command training. Next to him is Commander of the Wings Bob. Commander Bob apparently is a sharp stick when it comes to star fighter combat and other space combat. All questions to navigation and flight should be directed to him. On my immediate left is one of the most famous men of the entire Force.” A round of applause struck up from the audience and soon turned into a standing ovation. Wow. I wonder if I will get that kind of feelings? I mean, sure he has done so many things to save the galaxy, Uhi has, but I've done tons of things too. The thoughts seemed to bash her over the head as she remembered that less then five minutes ago, she was griping that she didn't deserve any acknowledgment and was just a fake. Maybe I'm not such a loser... Nah. No matter what I think I want, I still am just a fraud stuck in a situation I can bluff out of. “Director Vi will be teaching most of the weapon and tactics training. I hope you all will enjoy his teachings.”

“Of course you don't bother to say that about my classes,” Isa muttered under his breath.

“As sharp as a pli'ggrri stick, I am,” Bob replied.

“Just what exactly,” Uhi looked at Bob strangely as he spoke, “does that mean? I don't speak... whatever it is that you speak.”

“Hey, guys...” Anthony tapped on Vi's shoulder and all three looked up to see what he wanted. There stood Sora looking extremely irritated and about ready to kill them.

“Hey, Director... Why don't you continue?” Anthony spoke quickly, trying to placate her before she ripped into them for interrupting her in front of all the students. “I believe you were almost ready to talk about the next person.”

Sora shook her head, tired at the constant disrespect from her peers and Anthony's attempts to save their lives. At this point, those scum were beyond help in her mind. How dare they ruin her ill-prepared speech!

“Well, I don't have much more to add to the orientation that you already were given. Lights out is in half an hour after this speech tonight, so if you want to stay up, best start belting out questions. Please try to keep the questions to the running of this academy or classes.” Sora took a brief sigh as she got that out. No matter what she wanted to feel, nervousness at her lack of organization haunted her. In the back, a male human of about the age of 20 stood up and started to speak.

“Excuse me, Headmaster. How are room pairing being decided and when will we find out who we are going to be paired up with?” The man made a quick bow and retook his seat. “Charming... though a bit too polite,” Sora thought to herself.

“A good question,” Sora replied. “Postings should be put up right after this talk in the quarters area. The way we are deciding it, to answer your first question, is by shear random. If there is a genuine problem with your pairings, please do not be afraid to contact Professor Lindsey.” The word stuck in her mouth as she said. It just seemed to be absurd that such a man got a title like that. “I don't mind him too much as a person, and he is a great leader,” she pondered, “but as a teacher? It just doesn't add up as much to me as Commander Lindsey or just Anthony.” The man stood up quickly and spoke into the microphone.

“When she says a genuine problem, it best be an actual problem. One of the things you learn in the field is to trust the man... or woman... or no gender... next to you and we feel that this is the best way to do it, even if you don't.” Sitting back down as fast as he could, the others next took him started to comment.

“Mr. Quotation.”

“ No gender? Is that possible?”

“Was that really needed, Anthony.”

“Cough shut up guys and pay attention Cough! Excuse me. Next question please.” Sora spoke, trying to keep her voice from showing the irritation at the idiots behind her.

A short, brown-haired female with a small scar along her cheek stood up near the front and started to speak with a sweet, calm tone. “I wish I was as nervous as she is! Not a single waver...” Sora thought glumly to herself.

“Madam Director.” That formality again... “You did not address what you and Professor Lindsey,” she added a humble bow at this, “will be teaching.”

Sora shifted slightly as she tried to hide the fear at her mess-up. Only years of training were keeping her emotions kept in check. “Forgive me. Our esteemed Commander here will be teaching part of the scholastic education here. He is also a crack sharpshoot and has asked me to inform you all that he will be giving lessons ever three day cycles. I, on the other hand,” She spoke with a hint of pride, “Will be taking the other half of the book education. I'll also be teaching those of you who are going into the Intelligence Special Operations. I'm the director of intelligence.” She finally spoke with a smile.

“About time. She is finally letting loose a bit. Just need to keep it up my dear Doichu.” Anthony thought with a grin. But instead of continuing to be quiet, he spoke up. “Headmistress, don't forget the others.” Her face lost the smile and it dawned on him that it was the titles that were bothering her.

“She better get use to it.” he thought, “It isn't the old days anymore and it is time to start stepping into the shoes that we now wear.”

Sora looked at him with a look of mixed appreciation and irritation. This was her show and she needed to keep it in her field, even if she couldn't remember what it was. She had best keep going the way Anthony had mentioned.

“The other Professor who should have been here today but was stopped due to... an inconvenience... is Admiral Bulsar Trigin. Admiral Trigin will be doing various things around here.” What, I don't know yet. “Next question please.”

There was an air of silence for a few moments as no one put up their hand. Sora started to shift nervously as she had no clue what to do if no one stood up. I am a failure and they are about to see it. A drop of sweat dropped from her brow. To her great thankfulness, a pudgy Galfinion from the damp and dark planet of Galfin stood up.

Galfin was a planet on the far side of the universe. A planet that had only rarely ever seen the sun that it orbited due to the massive tropics that dominated the planet. It was due to these conditions that the Galfinions had evolved the way that they had. Long and swift arms had helped make the tall limber species the dominating presence on it. Very few of them had any sort of body mass and the few that did were always the wealthy and influential. Greaaaaaaaat. Rich kid who... why the heck is he here anyway?

“Director, when is meal time?” the pudgy creature asked.

The question threw Sora for a loop and it took her a moment to regain her train of thought.

“Dinner? Please refer to the schedule that has been sent to all of your PDAs. It will take care of all classes and other parts of your schedules. If there is any change in the day's arrangement, you will be notified by the ship's intercom.”

Her words had only just come out of her mouth when a young, blond human quickly stood up and waved her hand around.

“Yes?” Sora asked, nervous of what new disaster waited the recruit's response.

“Just who is crewing this ship anyway?” Another recruit sitting next to her punched her in the hand. The girl looked down at her friend curiously and then snapped back to attention quickly. “Ma'am.”

Sora swallowed the word down and answered back.

“We have a standard crew on board to maintain order and control. You can be assured that this is a in the field learning experience.”

The girl sat back down, still looking confused. Sora, on the other hand, was confident. Standing boldly in front of the entire mob, her military experience told her what to do next. Declare a victory and pull the hell out. From the shifting of the crowd and the quietly remarked sarcastic comments coming from the peanut gallery behind her, it was time to end this.

“If that is all, I will end it with this. You are all quite remarkable people. I hope to be able to discover just what makes you all special in the next few weeks of officer training. I hope this will be as good a learning experience for you as it will be for me. Dismissed!” Ending with a quick salute, she quickly turned tail and headed for the escape. She was just at the door to the exit when a loud noise overtook her. The roar of applause was barking out to her like a pesky dog. She couldn't help but lower her head and blush. I've done nothing yet and still they applause me like I am some hero. That is going to change if I have anything to do about it.

As she headed out the door, she had no idea which of the two was going to change...