The following days were very difficult for me. Everything was new, the handling of weapons and the coordination for the different activities I had to do. Lucia was suspended for disrespecting an officer, and Jhon did not want to help me. If I was a first level cadet, I would no longer have a chance to continue in this academy. I didn't have the knowledge to do anything.

I just locked myself in and tried to open the ships that were at the place where I was sent to sleep, but I couldn't open them. No matter how hard I tried, I didn't know how to do it. I felt like a useless person. So much time training and doing thousands of things for nothing.

It wasn't long before the first trip we would be given to the most outstanding cadets, but I didn't want to go. I got depressed and moved away from everyone. I ate at a table in the back of the cafeteria. What we were served every day, was a portion of rice and whatever meat or chicken we wanted. Although sometimes they would give us a rare pastry to get us used to the space.

Until a rather strange boy sat at my table. He was brown-haired and black-eyed, very tall and serious, and had a gray cap.

"Good morning, cadet, you seem to be quite upset, why did you wander so far away from the rest of the group?"

"Ah... Well, most of them don't like me, why did I rise through the ranks fast?"

"Yeah, I know, but I heard something else. They say it's because of you that Lucia got suspended. Although I know she was asking for it, lately she was protesting for everything. Now that the academy is no longer there, she feels quite lonely. Maybe today they'll take away her punishment".

I wanted to ask her about her, there was too much silence from the whole academy to talk about what happened.

"What did Lucia do?"

"She complained why they kicked out two students. Well, they were only going to kick out one, but the two preferred to leave. Lucia intervened, she asked the general not to be so harsh. The truth even for me was too harsh, they both left the institution."

"Why don't they allow couples here? Most of the men have little contact with girls."

"Mmm, because they are distractors and generate conflict. There have been couple fights and things like that. Besides, we came here to learn how to fly ships. Not to look for a mate."

She was perhaps reflecting on what would have happened to her, if the lieutenants had discovered her with John, and that's why she was so upset.

While I was thinking about that topic, I saw that guy had some gloves on his hand and I asked him about that.

"And those gloves?"

"Ah... My hands get sweaty. Don't worry, it's normal for me. I suffer from a health problem, so sometimes I sweat too much."

"Ah... Ok.."

"Well, my name is Arturo, I am the best pilot in the academy. Maybe I'm the best in the world."

I didn't understand why that guy was talking to me, but I knew that for a part of the school knew that I was a somewhat unique person they wanted to learn from.

Lunchtime was different from the rest of the other days, but it was more so when I saw Lucia walking down the halls. She looked a little under the weather, thinner and with some dark circles under her eyes. Seeing her like that, her classmates went to her and started talking. Even Arturo said, he opined about it.

"She looks very thin, I think she didn't want to eat for a few days and they decided to let her out. The lieutenants know the trouble they would have earned if I didn't let her out."

"Is she that capricious?"

"Sometimes, but this time she got the academy in trouble. She forced them to let her out."

It was impressive to see that most of them looked at the girl with respect. I wanted once to be so loved by all the people in the academy, but for now it was very difficult for me, I was a stranger to everyone here. I took advantage of the occasion and continued talking to my partner. This time I wanted to ask about Jhon.

"And Jhon?"

"He is a bum, he will stop being the leader of the cadets. He doesn't do anything for anyone. He only rose to that position because of the perks they give him, I think he's related to a lieutenant here."

I felt, from what he told me, most people disliked him. I just hoped I wouldn't get in trouble with him. Jhon was still angry why I interrupted him while he was having sex with Lucia. I had to avoid him.

I continued to eat the portions of food we were given. While everyone was welcoming the leader of the cadets. The lieutenants looked on with some annoyance. She had them under pressure, they knew they would be in trouble if she got sick. They were all going to complain about it. I was struck by the way she made so many friends, I began to feel jealous of her personality, she was very sociable, and I was asocial.

[...]

In the afternoon, as every day, I was taken to a room to pilot, but this time with a certain group of second level cadets. 

The lieutenant we had at the time, took off his cap and revealed his natural face. He looked quite serious, was bald, with quite a few wrinkles, had a small beard, black eyes and a mole near his eyes.

"Well cadets, as you know, we are going on a space trip. You were all selected for this. You will just see how a ship is run with a crew of 20 people, and you will be on a station for two days. You're just going to audit the class and do crew duties."

I was a little thoughtful, I never thought of going to a station so quickly. I was encouraged to go on the trip. They were private places and kind of weird. I didn't know what kind of station we would be going to, but I didn't care, I wanted to get to know that place, it was the first time I would be leaving earth; however, Jhon opined.

"And why is Nick here? Shouldn't they give the position to someone worthwhile? He has made a lot of mistakes in the short time he has been here?" said Jhon.

The lieutenant got angry and shot back.

"That's not your problem. You're not the one running this place. Cadet be more respectful to your fellow officer. If you say anything like that again, you will receive punishment."

I didn't know the rules of this place and I didn't care to know them, but what that man said left me somewhat thoughtful. He was annoyed by that comment, to me, it was little offensive compared to everything I was told all week. Maybe it was because he said it in class in front of all my classmates. 

Arturo was also in that group, and he was laughing about what happened. While I just kept thinking about how to avoid him and not waste my time with him. I thought about telling my father, I wanted to get rid of him.

[...]

The lights in the room were completely turned off, apparently they would make us a simulation of what the space would be like when we left in a few days. 

There was a 3-D screen and the space was reflected there. It looked so real that it felt like we were there. Lieutenant Hamilton started talking. He was the most obnoxious of all the cadets. Unfortunately because of the helmet he was wearing, it was impossible to tell what expression he was making when he spoke to us, but we had to respect him, even if we didn't like him. 

"When you are on the ship, you will probably see this. There will be dozens of cadets like you who will be in different positions. Each one fulfills a function. Some are in charge of laser beams, some are in charge of shields, well there are dozens of functions, but each one is important. One person on a ship like this can't handle all that in the middle of a battle."

I could see the stars and asteroids passing close to us. For me, it was awesome, I had never been to space before. I had only driven small ships on earth, and it was exciting. Arturo spoke to the lieutenant.

"Can I use the controls to navigate?"

"Arturo, you're very hyperactive, but it's only a 3-D video, you can't move this place."

He scratched his head at not being able to do what he wanted. It was obvious that was what he liked best. I looked around at all my teammates and didn't see any of them had the attitude of a captain. They all looked like normal people, who were not as motivated as he was, but I saw the pilots who were about to graduate arrive, among them my brother. He looked very serious, maybe he was looking at all of us like cockroaches or something. 

"Sir, I am requesting more second level cadets for this trip. The ones you have here are not enough. The ship is very large and extra personnel are needed."

Hearing that I knew they would have us as employees, it was kind of stressful, I wish I would get the galley.

"Cadet, I will only send you two more, the station quotas are limited, not many people are allowed there. Remember, you and your classmates have your first directed trip. If you fail, you know this could hurt your record. You just have to take a tour of the world and do a reconnaissance of the earth. An easy mission and analysis, why so many people?"

"Sir, it's just that two of my colleagues got sick, they got intoxicated with something, and we need people to replace them."

"I see, well, I will send you two who had been suspended, Lucia the leader of the cadets and Mauricio, the pilot of another unit."

"But sir, they are hard to get along with, if they don't respect their superiors, I don't think they will listen to me."

"Lucia sometimes doesn't respect her superiors, Mauricio is too hyperactive and makes mistakes, but they both work to accomplish the mission."

The conversation had me somewhat bored, it was a discussion that would have no progress. The lieutenant had been very clear, he did not want to send normal people, he preferred to send the most conflictive ones to hinder the trip. We all listened to the situation and waited for them to make a decision.

I knew my brother was going to put me on something basic, he didn't want to see me near anything dangerous or me trying to check the ship's systems. It wasn't a bad idea, though, most of the ships they had here were old and seeing something new wouldn't hurt.

However, another lieutenant entered the room, apparently bringing news from the trip. I didn't like so many changes at all. It was very counterproductive, for a simple tour of the planet.