Hank Bodderias, too, wished Vera a happy birthday and had her come to his office for a chat. This was more proof to her that her birthday had changed a few things. For the first time she went alone to the office, without her father.
Hank poured her a glass
of lemonade and gave her a package as a birthday present. But this
wasn't the reason he had called for her. With his arms placed behind his
neck he leaned back in his office chair. "I've heard you are sick of
playing the hostage over and over again?"
Vera took a sip of her lemonade and shrugged. "It's just so daft being the only one who gets pushed around and handled like a parcel. I know I'm good at it, you're paying me for it, and I am gracious. But some day I want to do more than just be the little victim."
"I'm with you" Hank assured her. "And now you're not a child anymore. According to Geshtachius Prime law, from this day on you are allowed to start an apprenticeship to a future profession. That being said, as long as your educational marks are in order."
Vera gave him a surprised look. So far that law only meant to her being not allowed to do many things. She wasn't aware that her growing up granted her more rights. "Eh... my educational marks are fine" she declared and thus understated greatly. Every lesson she had taken over the Comm with the Centralius school computer she had passed with distinction. She learned eagerly and with great ambition - after all, her school education would provide her with a way to a fulfilled life. And her best chance to leave this planet and have adventures.
"I'm going to talk this through with your father" Hank went on. "But first I wanted to speak to you. Cause there is one important question I'd like to ask: What would you like to be later?"
Gone away from the farm and this dull planet, Vera thought by herself. But she did her best to look unphased and matured as she gave her reply: "I'm not quite sure. I mean... I could imagine becoming a mercenary."
"Hmm..." Hank hummed a little to himself. "I thought so. But maybe you're not aware of the meaning of this."
"Maybe. But I'm ready to try anyway." Vera wondered what Hank's intention was asking her all that. Did he want to train her? Give her a real chance?
Suddenly he stood up from his chair and walked around Vera, examining her from all sides while brushing his chin in thoughts. "Yes, you would be very well made for this. You learn quickly and adapt well. You are exceptionally bright for a girl your age. And you are not easily intimidated." He tilted his head. "Your attitude towards others is something we should probably work on."
"What's that supposed to mean?" Vera flared up and turned on him rapidly.
"It means you have kicked a few shins too many, my dear. You have no respect towards authority or rules. When you're not supervised, you are uncontrollable. These are attributes unbecoming a mercenary."
Vera stared at him. "I have gotten better, haven't I?"
"During the last two years?" Hank looked at her over the edge of his thin glasses. Vera tended to forget the fact that under the energetic outside of the academy's head he was indeed an old man. "Maybe it's just because we left you no room to walk to a different drum. After all, I know why your father has brought you here."
Because of the spaceport thing. Vera knew that much. "I was young and dumb" she murmured.
"You are still young" Hank reminded her. "The thing is: Had you thought this through more carefully, you would have succeeded. Had you chosen not to go to the Coock City spaceport, but to the one in Fylliard to the south, you would have been able to avoid their security and board the starship without anyone noticing. That is exactly what keeps your father on his toes."
He sat back behind his desk, letting out a deep sigh. "I would love to give you a chance, Vera. But I would need you to assume some responsibility. And I'm only going to do this when I am certain that you can handle this kind of responsibility."
"What kind of responsibility?" Vera asked confusedly. "Shall I lead a team?"
Hank gave her a thin smile. "No, nothing like that. But if I give you a task, you'll have to fulfill it to the best of your abilities. You have to keep yourself under control and accept responsibility for everything you do, for noone else will do that for you. Not even your father or me. If you fail, the mission fails. You understand that?"
"Of course I do" Vera countered, being offended by this. How stupid did he take her for? "And I've never failed a task as long as I have been here."
For a few seconds Hank only looked at her silently. But then his mood brightened a little "I'm glad to hear that" he said. "Then let me show you something!"
Behind the desk a big screen lit up on him pressing a button. After a few moments Vera was able to make out a schematic map which she identified a few more moments later as the northern region of Coock City. Hank scrolled the map upwards, showed Vera a region further to the north. It was an outlying region, far away from the human settlements - although there were maps of it, it was considered wilderness. A red marker flagged a certain spot in this region, but Vera couldn't make it out properly.
But she knew: Many regions on this planet were hardly frequented by people, if ever. To the south there were the "Badlands" - dry plains with high temperatures, bare of interest even to Geshtachius standards, so no one ever bothered to settle there. But others like this nameless piece of no man's land hadn't just been populated yet because there was no need for more living space.
On the other hand she had picked up on some rumors during her visits to Coock City. Gossip about a crashed starship, biological weapons or other hazardous materials which made the inhabitants of this planet avoid the region like the plague. She had once asked her father whether there was some truth to these rumors. Igor had managed to put her mind at ease as he explained to her that no signs of anything being out there had been found. The settlers on Geshtachius had checked this planet thoroughly, and never had there been any problems of any kind.
Hank magnified the map at the spot with the red mark. "The academy is preparing a new training mission. One that may or may not have use for your services as an adorable hostage." He winked at her shortly. "But before we can implement it, we have to prepare for it. So I thought you might give us a hand in that."
Vera looked at the map, not understanding what he expected from her. "What am I supposed to do?"
Hank pointed his index finger at the red dot. "There, exactly in that spot, we want to construct a base. A hideout for the bad guys, so to speak, that will be attacked by the participants of the training exercise. The images you see here were made by the patrol ships in orbit of Geshtachius Prime. But we haven't seen it up close yet, so we're sending scout groups. I'd like you to join one of them."
Her eyes brightened up instantly. A scouting mission! "What exactly will be my objectives?"
"Simple: Keep your eyes open" Hank responded. "Examine the surroundings, take a walk there and tell me afterwards about your impression of it. First you will join a speeder crew and scan the area from above, but then I want you to explore it on foot. You're fast and agile after all." Again he winked at her.
Vera gave him a frowning look. "You got something in your eye? Blinking like that, I mean."
"What do you say, Vera?" Hank just ignored her insolent comment. "Would you accept this mission?"
"Sure!" She was overjoyed. "I'll do my best." She paused as something crossed her mind. "But I still have no clue what I should look for there."
Hank dismissed it with a
wave of his hand. "Never mind that. You won't be alone in this. As I
understood, you work well with Tamelia. How would you like having her as
a partner on this mission?"
Vera nodded eagerly. "Good idea!" A real mission, and she got to work with Tammy! It got better and better. Even Hank seemed to be pleased.
"Then I shall see to the rest of it" he declared. "The mission starts tomorrow at 0900 hours. Tell your mother to give you some decent clothing and durable shoes. And provide you with a hardened packed lunch."
As well as she knew her Vera was certain that her mother would do so anyway when she told her that she would go on a mission. Another thought came to her: "Ehm... do I need a weapon?"
"No!" Hank called out in shock. "What for? The area is completely safe, and you have Tamelia by your side. There is nothing you would have to defend against."
It took some effort to hide her disappointment. Otherwise she could have made her father give her the code to the glass container. If she had to wait until he was convinced she could handle the pistol "responsibly" she wouldn't get her hands on it until retirement. "Good to know", she mumbled.
With an encouraging nod Hank had her dismissed. She stood up, putting his birthday present under her arm, and headed for the door. "One more thing" he called her back from halfway through the room. "I will enter you into the mission register since you will be on official business for the academy. All mercenaries in the register carry a combat callsign. What shall I put down for you?"
Vera turned around to him and gave him a clueless shrug. "I haven't thought about it yet."
"Hmm..." Hank took a glance at his computer screen. "Hasn't there been a name the others have called you already?"
She knew precisely what he was referring to. "No!" she replied insistently. "Not that one! Never! Not in a hundred years!"
"Why not?" Hank looked at her in wonder. "I do think it fits you."
"That name sounds like I'm a dog" Vera stated annoyed. "Should I need a combat callsign, I'd rather pick one myself, thank you very much."
Hank shrugged. "Then I'll leave this one empty. But it would be nice if you soon give me a callsign to put in here. Otherwise I would have to pick the one I know."
"Don't worry, I will think of one." Curse him if he really did pick that name! Vera got this pet name when she had been the first week at the academy. At first she hadn't even understood it. Later, after someone had told her the meaning of it, she had acted insulted for three days, not talking to anyone. It seemed like this pet name followed her like a dog - and that was also what it sounded like. At least she vaguely remembered a breed of dogs that carried a similar name.
Sending him a last stern warning through her eyes, Vera left Hank's office.
She looked up Tammy and told her about the meeting right away. Tammy had already heard about the mission and had spoken to Hank herself. She explained that it had been her idea to have Vera go with her and do the scouting. Overjoyed Vera gave her a hug. Tammy having a birthday present of her own almost became a secondary issue.
On her way home Vera couldn't think of any of her birthdays being greater than this one. So much happened during the few hours she had spent at the academy. The feeling in her that Hank had spoken true grew stronger: She was no child anymore. Neither by Geshtachius Prime law nor by her own sentiment. She was no longer twelve years old, sweet and innocent, but now she had turned thirteen. She had become a person to consider, to watch out for. This day, her own birthday, belonged to her, and she would pass her last hours of childhood in joy. But by tomorrow, on her first real mission, a completely new life would have started for her. Nothing else made her as happy as that.
Naturally a big celebration waited for her at home. Her family awaited her with a big cake and additional presents, even her grandmother Greta had come from the city to visit the farm. The party went on to the evening hours, and Vera enjoyed every minute of it. But as soon as the sun set over the farm and the guests headed home Helen sent her daughter to bed not having any fuss about it. It would be a long, exhausting day for Vera tomorrow, and she would have to be well rested for it. Vera obeyed without any objection.
But in her room Hank's
present was still waiting for her. During all the excitement she had
forgotten to unwrap it. Curiously she took it to her desk, put it under
her reading lamp and removed the gift wrapping. A rectangular box
emerged from it which she also opened. In it she found... a suit. It was
a combat suit, like the ones the mercenaries at the academy wore, but
apparently in her size. A dark top, a firm pair of trousers with
additional pockets, both made out of tearproof material and very supple.
This also contained a jacket which showed the insignia of the academy
on its sleeves. Vera held the tops in front of her body and looked at
her reflection in the mirror. The suit seemed to actually fit.
Then she noticed something, looking in the mirror. The front left side of the jacket showed a name stitched into it. She couldn't make out the reflected version at first, but seeing it gave her a bad feeling. Quickly she turned it around and saw up close what name had been put there.
"Son of a bitch!" she cursed. He actually did do it! The name she hated so much was showing in blood red letters at the front of the jacket he had given her. But one moment later she realized whom she really had to thank for it. The same person knowing her bodily measures also had provided her with that name when she had gone to the academy. The person that had her join the academy in the first place. Of course he had convinced Hank to gift her this. She threw a devastating look in the approximate direction of her parents' bedroom.
Well, at least it was certain that she wasn't going to wear that suit tomorrow.
She went to bed, leaving the jacket lying on the floor without care. The pale moonlight shone through her window onto the five red letters, making them seem to glow like a bad omen.
PINCH.
Comments (0)
See all