Zenden sat back on his chair he whistles like a faint breeze in the air unknown of how to reply to such a statement. “Now are you sure about this?”

  “I’ve been dreaming about this for months. It was only at the assault course where it seemed to go on for longer and I saw her face.”

  “Who is this guy? The one with the red cloak? Is he the Lord Knight?”

  “I don’t know. It wouldn’t seem so. This guy looked human; he looked like he had a human like stature. The Lord Knight is an alien. An Encronian scum.”

  “He could be a Terenconan?”

  “I don’t know, I mean do we know of any Andulans who practise magic?” Lathan asked.

  “Do we know of any Andulans at all Lathan? Plus Andulans are the good guys.”

  “Then a Terenconan he could be.”

  “What is that what you said? That golden orb in your hand? Is it the Analyan thing he was asking for?”

  “I really don’t know. What I do know is that guy kills Kayla and then,” he shudders as he said, “kills me.”

  Both stay silent for a couple of seconds. “Are you going to tell her?” Zenden asked.

  Lathan looked up at the ceiling once again and then looked at Zenden. “I honestly don’t know.”

  Zenden sits up regaining lost posture from before and looks strong. “Then don’t. We don’t know what these dreams mean. Maybe, since it’s been played out fully that it maybe the end of those dreams. You don’t know if there is any truth to it. Don’t worry her with stuff like that until you know for sure. I mean she was wreck when you…you know when you blew up.”

  “Really?” Lathan said sitting up roused by what Zenden just said.

  “Yeah, I mean she was here every day for two weeks when you were gone. She was sick with worry. She only left last week because of something to do with your hero.”

  “Starzancer?”

  “Yeah he had some issues with some aliens from the north and some Knights had to go and assist. I’ll tell you something she was not amused when she was called to service I’ll tell you that.”

  Wow Lathan thought she was worried about me.

  “So what’s going on between you two?” Zenden asked.

  “I don’t know, lately I’ve just been thinking about her. “ He looks out of the window. “I know this sounds cheesy and it is, but she reminds me of a morning in the spring, a spring coming to the summer type morning. Faint breeze in the sky with cool air. Looking at her gives me that feeling.”

  “I know exactly what you mean. I feel the same way with Marcella, gives me that extra reason to get up in the morning.”

  Both sigh and look up. Mockingly at ease with each other’s statements.

  Lathan’s legs were still numb from the blast and every time he stood up there was no power in his muscles. Most times he travelled round the main medical centre of Speciour being couriered by a wheel chair most times by a pretty nurse from New Venezuela called Cindy whose pouting lips and wide hips put Lathan’s imagination into places he fervently tried to deny himself through the main months of training. Cindy told Lathan of her dreams and how she wanted to be on great ships amongst battles healing the men and woman of the fleet, Lathan admired what she was saying, but his mind was trying to process what she was saying, but his eyes always drifted around her chest and lips with little fateful glances towards her legs as well.

  Every so often as Lathan would be watched by many young doctors, interns they were called who looked at him like he was a pet project. At the beginnings he would attempt to shout abuse well more in his head to shout some abuse, but the nice guy inside him overruled his feelings. Now he couldn’t care less what they were writing on their compoboards. Lathan also took particular attention to Marcella. She would often say hi to him and come into his room and talk about Zenden. He would be sometimes too over-complementary to his friend making sure that he could he feel her out to see if she would hold him to the same high esteem. It was a worry though when every time she left Lathan’s room another gentleman a young, tall and attractive individual was always waiting for her or walked past his room with the both of them looking very happy.

  I’m going to have to keep an eye on this guy.

  Jaden and Hawken came down on the coming days telling Lathan varying things. Jaden of course expounded most his news on the availability on some chicks with his sneaking off with them from the barracks to the mountains, talking of the exhilaration of being so close to getting court marshalled that he could barely contain his excitement. Lathan sick of his remarkably detailed bragging of a different girl from a different part of New Earth then often with the same joke told Jaden that his room was bugged by law and freaked him out to the point of aggressive paranoia. Of course Jaden got angry threatened to never speak to Lathan again, but like next morning he always came back with a new story to tell.

  Hawken was often sitting talking about the victories of the past with the Quasarball team, both of them missing their time at Bridgeport high and speaking of the past fondly. Hawken spoke of his father’s proud speeches every time Hawken spoke to him from the videophone. Hawken at time went deep talking about his fears of being a Speciour Knight and Lathan knew that these conversations were profound to Hawken and all he had to do was to listen and attempt to understand. He was happy to be there for his friend and actually appreciated the company.

  The days were slow burning as the feeling gradually came back to his legs, but he still had no strength to keep him up for long. Lathan was guided by Cindy on crutches most of the time. He would sit and watch at the distant sand swept valleys of the south of Speciour, which was near faded deserts. Tundra, many of them could be seen for many miles and sandstorms could be seen rustled up at the distance, the weather was always warm in the south, yet stretching to the east you could see cold distant mountains and for Lathan it was weird to see two differing climates so close.

  Lathan spoke to his uncle on other days when it was allowed and both gave awkward looking glances and little speech to each other. Lathan figured they both had a lot to talk about, but just couldn’t initiate it. Lathan feeling conflicted and strange about how to go about talking about a past that was such a blur and was revealing itself from the many months past. Lathan was glad that Julius was alive and well and seeing him smile was enough for him.

  The nights were the most difficult of periods for Lathan, one thing was either thoughts of dreams gone past of his uncle at the park talking to him about life or the nightmarish scenario with the death of Kayla high on his mind. Every time he woke perspiring immensely and having terrible headaches. He took some aspirin giving to him by the doctor and knocking him out, but he couldn’t have it every day. It would become an addiction he thought.

  Lathan thought of Kayla often too with dreamlike images of her face like becoming requited solace of the pain and despair of the night time thoughts haunting his head. He thought about her because it was the one good thing to think about. He hoped that she was okay from her mission to help Starzancer and that she came back well. He hoped that she thought about him as much as he thought about her. Lathan tried to think of mental pictures of her worrying about him by his bedside, getting thoughts of arousal when he thought her stroking his hand and then laughing to himself because that was Jaden was talking about at the first day of infantry training.

  Zenden stopped by of course saying that he packed Lathan’s things for the trip to the east next week for flight training. Zenden told Lathan about a visit from Sykes offering a place in the outpost near the eastern nebula system. That he thought that Zenden would be a good commanding officer one day. Zenden said he required no thought and declined respectfully, but Sykes wouldn’t relent until Zenden told him of his well acted love for flying and he wanted to be a pilot. Zenden said that Sykes’s face was priceless and Lathan rued his luck not having being there.

  Lathan wanted to talk about this mysterious guy who always haunted the steps of Marcella, but kept it to himself because for the first time in truly along time Lathan saw the happy side of Zenden Mearsain Tenstraighter his best friend for as long as he could remember just happy as plain and as simple as that Lathan thought. He had his girl; he was in love a word Zenden added that he had yet to disclose to Marcella as she had yet to reveal those feelings to him yet. That’s strange Lathan thought to himself as Zenden made that revelation. Now I’ve really got to keep an eye on that guy and well her as well. Lathan also noticed that his friend did look quite uncomfortable saying those words that Marcella didn’t tell him that she loved him.

  Lathan sat in front of the window of overlooking the distant tundras to the south and the trees coming into a strange bloom despite being near a desert. Lathan was near classroom and always saw interns spill out of classroom either elated or stressed after mind numbing classes or exams. He sat there alone as he did for the last month. His friends now moved to the east for flight training or gone from infantry to other outposts in the galaxy. Lathan sat there not looking forward to speaking to Julius later on today with the usual mind games being played abundantly. He cursed not literally his legs for still being weak and those thoughts about not being human crept in his mind like a bad houseguest that overstayed their welcome. Lathan figured that he was in depressed and needed something to spring him back to life.

  Then someone sits next to him Lathan so out of sync that he does not realise that it was the one person he had pined for in the last month.

  “Nice view Thorne.” Kayla said looking forward as well.

  Lathan looked at her and his face was cast in surprise. “Kayla.”

  She looked at him and smiled. He hugged her without thinking and then realised his mistake. “Oh I’m…sorry, I didn’t mean to,”

  “No, no that’s okay,” she said brushing away a twirl of hair from her face which was red from embarrassment, but she could not hide the smile from her face. “Seriously that’s okay. Lathan.”

  Lathan cannot hide his grin. “You called by my first name. You’ve never done that since.”

  “Yeah, well a near death experience can change things.” she said and they both laughed. She then looks at Lathan and takes out something from her pocket. A small box wrapped with a silver bow. “Happy belated birthday Lathan….see I said it twice.” She said as he passes on the box to his hands and they touch for a second. A warm feeling comes across the pair as the hands part.

  “I love the progress.”

  “Why thank you. If that was a complement.”

  “Yes,” he said opening the gift, “it was.” He opens it and it’s a box which he opens and reveals a silver chain with half a star on it. “Wow, its beautiful Kayla thank you.”

  “Let me put it on for you.” She said and Lathan turned round she puts up the clasp and tucks it under his robe. Lathan turns it around admiring the star. “You really like it?” she said hoping.

  “I do. I love it thank you.” He said and they hug again, but hold each other for longer. He kisses her on the cheek and she goes red once again. Lathan then goes red. Did I just do that? Frick did she like that?

  I wasn’t expecting a kiss on the cheek. He really loves the gift I don’t know what do next. She thought and both stayed silent giving awkward gazes to each other.

  “How was the Starzancer thing? I heard you had to leave to sort out some problem he had with some aliens.” Lathan finally said somewhat out of desperation to filter out the silence.

  “Yeah, he made some distant Mearcons angry with some comments at the press, about their fighter pilots not being up to the task if an enemy came. If you knew Starzancer then you would know that he never usually thinks before he talks.”

  “Is he really the best?” Lathan asked.

  Kayla stayed silent for a second looking out of the window. “I will say this begrudgingly, that on his day he is the best. I mean he’s got all the records, he’s got all the fans, I mean he’s the media’s darling. The official face of the galactic fleet. That’s good to keep interest in our cause, but as a person Lathan. He’s a jerk.”

  Lathan got kind of insulted there. “Sorry?”

  “He’s always running his mouth saying this and that. His ego is high like right up here,” she said lifting her hand above her head, “he’s a flyboy to the fullest and some of the things he says about girls…if he said that in front of me he would be sorry.”

  “Like what?”

  “Like some girls can’t fly as well as men. That some of the girls are just on the squads because of the equality act. Makes my blood boils when he fricks around like that. I think on my day I could be as good if not better then him.”

  “I bet you could.”

  “How could you know you’ve never even seen me fly?”

  “Well then that gives me even more reason to get better. So I could see you fly and prove that I was right.” Wow nice line. Didn’t see that one coming.

  Kayla smiles, she looks into the eyes of Lathan and moves closer to him once again and then slowly, but surely moves her hand closer to his, Lathan equally as nervous moves his hand closer to hers. Don’t screw this up! Both think. They hold hands and both feel undeniable happiness. Both feeling a healthy chill up their spines and nerves seem to calm. “Thank you.” She said looking down at their hands together. “You know…it’s not often I,”

  “What?” Lathan said looking directly into her eyes.

  “I never usually get this sort of attention from,”

  “What the fr…?” Lathan said more aggressively looking past Kayla now.

  “What I’m trying to say is that,” and she looks at him looking past and realises that he is looking behind her and she turns round. She sees a girl kissing as girl by the hallway in front of an empty room. What she doesn’t know is this girl is Marcella. “Lathan what is it?” she then looks down as Lathan has let go of her hand. Oh I see an ex girlfriend. Still got feelings.

  “Oh no…” Lathan said with sadness tinged in his voice. “How could she do that?” as Marcella then looked at Lathan and a guilt look came across her face. Lathan stood up slowly clutching his crutches and walked towards the pair. The guy looked at Lathan gave him a dirty look.

  “Let’s go. Come on lets go.” Marcella said and they both left with Marcella pulling the guy away as he still looked at Lathan with an un-amorous gaze.

  Lathan just looked at them walking off. If I was fitter he thought I would beat his head in. Kayla stood next to him. She looked up and sighed. “So how long were you two together Thorne?”

  “Huh? What? What’s with the Thorne business?” Lathan said with an exasperated surprise.

  “I thought we were on first name business Kayla?”

  “Just answer the question Thorne.”

  Lathan gives her a stern look, but Kayla’s got one of her own cancelling his own out. “I’m not going with her. Zenden is, that’s Zenden’s girl! Marcella!”

  Kayla looked at Marcella going down the hall, recognising her from New Kings Cross Station many months ago. It now dawns on Kayla Starbright that she has made quite a fool of herself, not a large impact as a fool, but as now the situation dawns on young Miss Starbright that she indeed did not think before she spoke or at least thought of the wrong thing. “Oh…I didn’t know.”

  “No you didn’t!” Lathan said angrily and hobbled off.

  Kayla knew best not to follow a guy when he was angry especially when it was her fault he was angry in the first place. She knew to give him some space.

  Lathan sat on his bed looking at his knees. He was at odds of the events that have just unravelled. I should have known that guy was bad news…

  His bad feeling was the fact of his best friend’s feelings. A young man he’d known all his life going through the best period internally so far and now it was taken away.

  Knock…knock

  Kayla leans by the door with two cups in her hand. “Can a fancy beverage of fruit shake lead into an apology? From a girl who clearly did not think and pushed away a guy she cares a lot about unintentionally?”

  Lathan smiles. “Of course.” He taps the mattress and she comes over and sits down. She passes him a cup. Both take a sip. She then looks at Lathan like she was slightly insulted.

  “Oh don’t do the tapping thing you know I get…” don’t get at him this is a fricking apology “Are you okay?” she asked redirecting herself. Insulted face gone. Caring face up.

  “Me? I’m fine. It’s just,”

  “Telling your friend the bad news.”

  “Yes…. And I wish I never saw it! I don’t want that responsibility!” he said standing up with one crutch on his hand. “I don’t want to hurt him.”

  “I know you don’t Lathan. These things happen, but you don’t want to see your friend played for a fool don’t you?”

  “No, of course not.”

  “Then it is your responsibility to tell him. If I was going out with someone and my best friend saw them behaving in such a scandalous manner I would want them to tell me. Wouldn’t you?”

  “Of course Kayla. Of course.”

  Kayla stands up and holds both his hands. “I know it pains you with this responsibility, but if you know something about someone, something that they should know that could change their lives, you should tell them.”

  Lathan then at that moment thinks of the dream and Kayla’s plight and eventual demise. He bows his head. “Hey,” she said putting her index finger on his chin raising his head up, “don’t be afraid to weep. You can weep in front of me.” He hugs her and holds her tight. Her grip on him is the same. “Don’t worry,” she said, “this is what friendship is all about. He will not kill the messenger. He will look to you for support and you will give him it Lathan. You won’t let him down” she feels him squeeze her back even tighter. Not knowing that his pain was about her as well.

  Captain Thernright walked into the office of Venston Blake again which the usual mode of respect. Straight stance looking direct at his superior Captain Thernright knew his role.

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  “Sit down Captain.” General Blake said with his deep tones. Captain indeed sat down sitting straight and proper.

  “You asked to me to come with important news.” Captain Thernright asked.

  “Yes,” General Blake said passing Captain Thernright a map with several green dots scattered across the page. “There is movement from the Encronians.”

  “It looks like a large fleet general. Moving to the west.” Captain Thernright said studying the map. “What would be there?”

  “It could be anything. Our interceptors have been picking up loads of signals from their communication devices. It has been erratic Captain, from one to all of their sources of the squadrons in around all four of the directional belts in this galaxy.”

  “Could they be launching a wide scale attack? I mean they couldn’t yet they would have develop,”

  “Larger fleet ships Captain we know of this, but we caught this on a transmission.” General Blake hands Captain Thernright another piece of paper written:

  Lathan Thorne is not the main target anymore, but the mercy crystal is, launch forces west to find our precious symbol.

  “Mercy Crystal?”

  “We’ve got the DMA on it right now. Were trying to find what and where this mercy crystal is and how it could be so important to the Encronians and how Lathan Thorne is still in their thoughts.”

  “General Sir, doesn’t this say that Lathan is not,”

  “The main target. He is still in their sights. We need him up and running. If he has one tenth of his father’s talents then he could be the key.”

  “We cannot put him out there if he is such a target. He could be in absolute danger not just to himself, but to the Speciour Knights when he finishes training.” Captain Thernright said with conviction.

  “Lathan Thorne maybe the key Captain. You know they could have killed him at any point in his youth, why now at seventeen is Lathan Thorne such a threat? Plus this could bring out the Lord Knight and we could finally put an end to his wretched existence.”

  “It may not be as easy as that sir. I’m sorry to be curt sir, but I’ve seen the Lord Knight. He has more then most. I saw him die and resurrect.”

  “Then we hid the boy? And live in fear or we bring the boy and see what his true destiny is. A Thorne could again change the fate of the world Captain.”

  “But at what price General?”

  General Blake looks at Captain Thernright with little menace, but his lips shake a little. “Captain Thernright I have known you since you were young man. And I have great respect for you, but do not consider me an idiot; I wouldn’t risk Lathan Thorne if I believed that his attributes were up to the task. Do not speak to me in such a curt way again captain. Do you understand?”

  “I do sir and I apologise.”

  “Then you are dismissed Captain.”

  Captain Thernright stood up and walked up to the door and then stopped and turned round. General Blake already immersed in his papers looked up in shock that his Captain Thernright had not left the room. “General, I lost my two best friends to the Lord Knight. Two people that I loved very much. Because of those wars I’ve been barely able to fly. I don’t know why I have been this way I guess… I…I just don’t want the same fate to befall Lathan sir. I wouldn’t know what to do if I saw his spirit die sir.” Captain Thernright said welling up inside.

  “Captain I do not think you’re spirit is dead. I still think you have a huge part to play in this story. I can’t think of a better person to guide Lathan then the best friend of his father. Someone, who will protect him and care for him on the skies of space, on the battlefields of lands far and away and in the realm of life,” General Blake said smiling. “There is no one better in my estimation.”

  Captain smiled and then saluted. General Blake reciprocates and nods. Captain Thernright leaves the room.

  “No one better.” General Blake said to himself.

  Lathan recovered strength in his legs to stand firm without any support cast away those wretched crutches he thought before remembering that even Jaden never talks like that and that statement should kept with him and him alone. He was just waiting for Zenden and Hawken to pick him and go to flight training when there was a knock on his door. It was Marcella.

  “What do you want?” Lathan said coldly.

  “I need to talk to you, about what happened earlier this week.” Marcella said slowly moving forward.

  “Oh, when I saw you kiss that other guy and betray my closest friend.”

  “No Lathan, it’s…it’s not like that.”

  “So he’s just some random guy you kissed?”

  “No.”

  “Then what Marcella? I don’t know what you’re trying to say, what you’re trying to justify here. You’re going out with my friend, who’s been in love with you for more then four years and you throw it away just like that.”

  “Lathan it is not that simple.” She pauses as she sits on the bed. “You have to understand, I never meant for this to happen.”

  “Yeah, that’s what all cheaters say.”

  “I’m not searching for some sort of justification here Lathan. I just, this guy, the one you saw me kiss. We went out for a while and it ended badly. I forgot about him and I moved on. I then fell for this great guy who’s adored me for years and makes me feel different feelings I have never felt. Though,” she sighs, “that guy came back and he knows my signals, knows how to push my buttons. He kept on coming and I….I was weak. I couldn’t help it, that sixteen year old came back Lathan and she couldn’t resist. I kissed him and it felt good like for a second. After we went off I felt terrible. I had to know though if, if I could be true to Zenden without no doubt.”

  “Oh so you tested yourself by kissing another hot guy? And potentially hurting my best friend?”

  “I know I’m the villain here, but you have to understand, I had to know. I would be lying to Zenden and lying to myself if I didn’t see how I felt about this guy.”

  Lathan stands and walks back turned towards the window in his room. He puts his hands on his sides and sighs. “You have to tell him or I will. No bargaining. No choice. He has to know the truth.”

  Marcella stands and goes next to Lathan. She looks out the window too. “I have to tell him in my own time. Not now when he’s still got training.”

  Lathan sighs knowing there was some merit to what she said. Flight training started in a day and Zenden needed to have his mind right for the coming weeks. “Okay, but I will stop by here and if I see you with that guy. That’s it. Game over.”

  “There was no game to begin with Lathan.”

  “Then why were you playing one Marcella?” Check mate.

  Marcella stays silent as Zenden and Hawken come through the door. “Honey.” Zenden said arms aloft hugging Marcella who smiles concealing any guilt she had shown previously. They have a kiss in front Hawken and Lathan, Hawken winking at Lathan while taking Lathan’s bag while Lathan walking out slowly gives a look of disgust at the pair.

  Lathan, Hawken and Zenden were on the aero train bound to the east to flight training. It was a journey which took around two hours or so. Lathan looked behind at the medical facility going farther off into the distance. Lathan sat back thinking of the kiss that will break his best friend’s heart. Lathan thinks of this as the train passes the long desert of the outskirts of the south. Hills of sand with swirling lines went past and little sandstorms just moved some unfortunate grains of sand to higher or lower locations around the valley. Lathan looked at the desert and saw the beauty and simplicity of the desert, rock faces around with interesting shapes and sizes.

  Lathan thought of the isolation of living in such a place, that mirages can happen in deserts clouding your mind and turning you mad. Lathan thought of how love could be presumed as a desert, that it can look beautiful and be different and yet at the same time if you hung around long enough it could kill you if you weren’t prepared. Lathan looked at his friend who was talking to him about Marcella, but Lathan was not listening he was thinking of sad place imaging the pain his friend will feel that the girl of his dreams was more of fake illusion and that the cloud or some veil of truth and betrayal could be lifted but at what price? Lathan thought. This seemed to perturb him even more as his thoughts turned to Kayla, a girl who has only entered into his life over the last couple months eight Lathan thinks and has grown into such a prominent part of his life. A girl he has feeling for growing ever deeper for. It was no coincidence that the aero train had left the lonely tundra of the south and was now heading towards the east which had more mountainous terrain ahead.

  Kayla Starbright Lathan thought how can I tell you about my most inner most thoughts? It was a question of great difficulty for Lathan thinking of a girl whose sheer presence sends his mind and his heart into spirals. The more he thinks about her, the more he thinks of her smile, they way it curled up at the edges of her mouth, her wonderfully deep brown eyes which he could stare into forever and her body which he started to look at more and more whenever she was around him. He was simply taken in by her. Only now that he has two things to keep from her, how could I tell her that I’m falling for her when I dream about her demise? How can she fall for me if I am holding onto this lie?

  The train passes a great forest sheltered by beautiful cedar-like trees, the sky also kept nice blue sheen across the long forest. Mountains were around for miles, more spread out then kept together. Hawken kept on eulogising about the Speciour Knights and the training, flying through the permanent night he calls space. Hawken talked about flying like he was in love with the most beautiful girl, that he admired her and that it was an honour to be around, that the act of flying was so important to him. Lathan looked at Zenden looking attentively taking in every word, Lathan on the other hand was caught in his own personal quandary about Kayla as during their last meeting with each other he wanted to ask her out properly, but at the same time feeling grief of his dreams, which has relented and Lathan actually got some peaceful nights sleep. Lathan stroked the half moon chain closing his eyes as he fell into a peaceful slumber.

  “Look! Look there it is! Knight Central!!!” a voice said and Lathan was nudged. He rubs his eyes and groans with annoyance and then looks to his right. A castle perched up on mountains large not looking so dissimilar to Elegan Ventura was ahead. Two towers were up high with flags of the fleet’s symbol at the top, the castle long built in a way which accentuated the mountain face was based near some of the highest peaks of the east.

  There was little cloud around at the train arched up and travelled towards the castle getting ever higher off the lower ground where the tracks. The train went up a long slope and the three could see the surrounding valleys around the castle, with a sumptuous view of little tributaries connecting to the largest lake on the planet lake Speciana and grassland spanning off to the north with cedar trees in and amongst the beautiful greenery. Lathan was taken aback and wished he had something to draw with this was something to behold Lathan thought as he saw to his right a long waterfall ahead of the river which went off the base of the mountain where Knight Central was and spanned off to the north.

  The train went back to level ground just as two sector knight fighters flew past and went towards the castle. The three could not hide their excitement of seeing those two fighter jets fly past at such speed and the train went down a tunnel just in front of the rock face of the castle. The train pulled up to a platform near the front of the castle ships were launching off or landing to the right and the three could see the centre of Knight Central with the high and long towers at the top. The three step off the train and look up. All take a collective gasp at the castle of Knight Central.

  “This is…this is.” Lathan said.

  “Amazing.” Hawken said filling in blanks.

  The people around the platform all walked upright looking relaxed. It was the same when the three went down a long path to their room which was at the west of the castle. Everyone just looked relaxed. It was a culture shock for the three who were used to the hustle and bustle of the barracks. There was escalators around every corner as they entered the main building at the ground floor which was reminiscent of Bridgeport with long traditional halls arched seemingly going on for miles. They went up to the escalator in front hoping to see Jaden who left a couple of days ahead. By the time they reached the second floor which was equal in width and length and space as the other floors below Jaden was there waiting. He joined them on the escalator excited “Isn’t this place amazing?”

  “It sure is.” The three say in unison. Looking up at the thirty other floors above. Each floor was busy generals and majors walked around as well as established pilots walking with the confident swagger. New pilots or inductees were called flyboys or flygirls and the term newbie was used loosely. Jaden himself eulogised about the girls in Knight Central calling them “classy” with an attractive sense of intelligence, humour and sophistication. Jaden was already waving to girls who were going down opposing escalators.

  I don’t know how he does it. Lathan thought.

  By the time they reached the twentieth floor where their rooms were they had seen each level of the castle. They went along the hallway, with the three looking out the window with one side showing the lake and valleys surrounding the castle and the other side showing sector knight ships docking in their holds. Jaden swiped a card and the smooth white door opened. The three opened their mouths in awe. The room was five times larger then the room they had at the barracks had a seating area with four computer terminals dotted around the room. There was a long settee in the middle and four chairs that could recline around the settee. In front of that was a large Television. TELEVISON! They all thought.

  There were doors to the left and right two on the left leading to two bedrooms two beds and wardrobes each. Jaden already had his stuff in the first room. So Hawken went and packed his stuff. Lathan and Zenden both went into other rooms which were a kitchen and bathroom respectively. Both rooms immaculately clean and spotless. Zenden went into the room and started to pack his things. Lathan sat down alone looking off at the sight in front. Looking at the surrounding wall of the castle and then looking past the tree laden valley ahead with slopping hills and a slight breeze brushing through the grass combing its splendour.

  A buzz at the door and Lathan goes over to answer it. The door slides open and Kayla stands in front of him.

  “Hi.” She said nervously looking down at her boots. Again one of the endearing things about her.

  “Hi.” He said with nervous undertones sudden catching himself looking at his shoes. They both look at each other and have nervous giggles. We’re not even on a date or anything.

  “Aren’t you going to let me in?” she said and Lathan’s mind came back into processing rational thoughts.

  “Oh! Yes! I’m sorry come in, come in.” Lathan said and then she looked round to her left. “Yep okay come.” She said and Lathan peered out into the hallway. A girl was walking towards the pair with long dark hair, long legs, her lips thick, and her bone structure on her face near perfect. She sauntered over to the pair of them like she was a supermodel and her skin was tanned or look tanned, she had the look of Latin goddess and Lathan recognised the look she was new Peninsulan. Jaden is going to have a field day over this girl.

  “Lathan. I want you to meet my best friend Elena Santana, Elena this is the famous Lathan Thorne.”

  “Famous huh,” Elena spoke with sultry tones carrying at hint of new Peninsulan flavour. “Then this young man must be something. Nice to meet you Lathan.”

  Lathan was overawed by her beauty and stood shaking her head giving a gormless look. Elena laughed she had seen that look so many times in her life. Kayla did not look so happy and by the time the eyes of Lathan Thorne gravitated towards her gaze the gormless look was gone and normality resumed. Elena was about two inches taller then Kayla went into the boys’ room and Kayla barged past Lathan. Frick was she offended that I looked at her friend?

  “Nice place for a couple of flyboys.” Elena said, “Nice view, very nice view.”

  Zenden came walking from his room and looked at Elena. He dropped the books from his hand and they slammed into his foot. Zenden didn’t give anything away. He just stood there with a smile similar to Lathan’s just a moment ago.

  “And who is this?” Elena asked walking up to Zenden.

  “Zenden Tenstraighter. Meet Elena Santana.” Kayla said and they two shook hands.

  “Tenstraighter a very powerful name. Nice to meet you.”

  “Nice…Nice to meet you miss or corporal what do…do you go by?”

  “You can call Miss Santana if you like master Tenstraighter.”

  “Then nice to meet you Miss Santana.” Zenden surprising himself with his own coolness.

  I did not know he had it in him. “Very smooth.” Lathan said thinking out loud and the others looked at him. Lathan just gave a quizzical look and walked to the settee followed by Kayla close behind.

  Hawken then came out and walked and saw Elena and stopped in his tracks. He puts a hand out. “Hi.”

  “Hi.” Elena said and she shakes his hand. “And your name?”

  “My name is Damon Hawken. School mates of the three here. Hoping to become a Speciour Knight.”

  “Your enthusiasm will be needed. They will look at your attitude positively and that could be your strength” She looks at Kayla. “I like him.” she said giggling.

  Jaden comes through. “Look I use Winston’s marten shower gel as much as anyone.” He stops and looks at Elena, a surprising look as the other guys know how much he likes girls from the New Peninsula. “You.” He said with menace.

  “Jaden what’s wrong? What’s with the voice?” Lathan asked.

  “Oh yeah.” Elena said with a big smile across her face.

  “Jaden?” Lathan asked again.

  “You know that girl, when you know that girl who punched me when we got to the barracks on the first day?” he points to Elena. “Now you can meet her.”

  Everyone looks at Elena whose smugness now turns to embarrassment.

  “Wait.” Zenden stepped forward. “This is the girl that punched you?” Zenden and everyone else looked at Elena again. “This girl who weighs like ninety pounds?”

  “Yeah who punches like a heavyweight boxer and she is not ninety pounds I’ll tell you that.” Jaden argued.

  “You want me to punch you again?” Elena said stepping forward.

  “Well looks like I found your weakness. Miss slugger.” Jaden said crossing his arms with confidence.

  “Wait Elena,” Kayla said stepping in between the two, “What exact happened?”

  “Hey why do we have to hear her side first?” Jaden said with whinging tones.

  “Ladies first Jaden.” Hawken corrects.

  “Well that’s sexiest.”

  “SHUT UP JADEN.” Everyone else said in unison.

  “Elena.” Kayla said ushering her to talk.

  “Well I was at the barracks saying hello to my friend who had just joined. You know her Kayla, Joyce Parella.” Kayla nods, “so I’m coming back and I see this guy,” She points to Jaden, “He’s walking towards me with his teeth flashing at me and his body language especially his strut and I know, I know for a fact that this guy is a lothario. So already I’m not taking him seriously. So he saunters up to me and says ‘Hey girl,’ and you have to understand I have heard bad lines before. I could give you list, a top ten even, but I have never heard anything like this so he says to me, ‘Hey girl. You look lost why don’t you come back to my room and I could show you my own personal viewfinder. I bet after looking at my viewfinder you will know where you’re going’ you know with his eyebrows arching up and down and a silly grin. So I tried to be nice and I told him no and yet he still after hearing the word ‘no’ still came in front of me. Still trying to get me into his room and I’m getting agitated. I tell him to get out of my way. He didn’t so I whacked him right here,” she taps her chest showing her New Peninsulan machismo, “in the chest because he asked for it.”

  Everyone looks at Jaden. “VIEWFINDER?” everyone apart from Elena asked and then they started to laugh.

  “I’m sorry bro,” Hawken said in mid-laughing, “if I was a girl you would have punched for a line like that.”

  “I’m a girl,” Kayla laughed, “and I felt like hitting you for even thinking that.”

  “Now that is some skill Jay,” Zenden said, “to use that line, you’ve got some mental strength to still follow through after that.”

  Lathan’s laughing stopped her could see that Jaden was becoming agitated and becoming angrier by the minute. That he wanted to disappear out of the room sinking in a hole created by embarrassment. Lathan knew that a reaction was coming. Lathan looked at Jaden’s right hand which was now involuntarily shaking with rage.

  “YOU KNOW WHAT YOU GUYS CAN FRICK OFF!!!” Jaden said and stormed out of the room. After that the laughter stifled.

  Lathan at the same time was concerned for his friend and sickened by the actions of the others. He looked at everyone “You proud of yourselves?” Lathan said with a sneer and stormed out of the room. Everyone else just was looking at each other in silence embarrassed and ashamed.

  Lathan ran out and followed Jaden who then sat down in the room in front out the landing bay for ships with several landing in front as the day was turning to evening. Lathan walked up to his friend and sat next to him. Jaden just kept on looking out.

  “I’m sorry. For what it’s worth.” Lathan said.

  “You never said anything.” Jaden said coldly.

  “Yeah, but I was laughing.”

  “Everyone was laughing.”

  “Look Jay, everyone was acting up back there and it was wrong. Wrong of all of us. I should have backed you up.”

  “It’s okay. You’re going to look upon the girl of your dreams with spite now?”

  “What do you mean the girl of my dreams?” Oh my god does he know about my dream about Kayla?

  “I see the way you look at her Thorne. Acting awkward. Are her actions today going to put her in a bad light?”

  Wow he called me Thorne. He must be upset. “No, I don’t know. I don’t even know what’s going on between us. I mean something is there. She got me this.” Lathan pulls out the silver chain with half a moon on it. Jaden smiles.

  “Methinks that there is something real from Corporal Starbright Lathan. A girl wouldn’t do that if she didn’t care.” he sighs. “I guess I would something like that from a girl you know?”

  What? “What? You are on various dates on most of your free time?”

  “It’s not the same. Girls play the same game we do and you know what…they play it better then us my friend. Girls look at me like I look at them. An object of desire, not an object of affection like how Starbright looks at you.”

  “You’ve been on many dates. You’ve got confidence.” Lathan said trying to rouse Jaden’s sprints up.

  “I haven’t got the love from a girl like Zenden has from Marcella and you might get from Kayla.”

  “You’re being presumptuous Jaden. Who knows what may happen between Kayla and me? I don’t know the future.” Well I hope I don’t as Lathan thought of the dream once again.

  “Yeah well all I know is I guess I want love, I would want to look back at my teens and say that I was in at least one good proper relationship. Something to think about. Something to remember.”

  “I have never heard you talk like this Jaden. You sound…you sound like,”

  “Zenden.” Jaden laughed. “You don’t know everything about me Lathan.”

  You took the words right out of my mouth Sparrious. “You’ll find it. Love, you will. I guess you have to stop going for some of these easily lead girls Jay. Maybe someone with more substance.”

  “Yeah.” He then gives a tired sigh and looks out as the evening air came out and sheltered Knight Central. Streaks of cloud being burst by ships flying out of the castle. “Hey remember we only had this conversation okay?”

  “Confidential.” Lathan said looking at out at the sky. “Really though Jay, viewfinder?”

  Jaden laughed. “I wasn’t thinking with my brain then.”

  “Clearly.” Lathan laughed also as the others walked up to me with apologetic faces and guilt etched across those faces. Jaden smiled and looked at Lathan who knew his friend’s thoughts. Oh boy. He’s going to enjoy this.