Return

With a mixture of hatred and some concern, I prepared to return to the academy. I knew that the vengeance that once consumed me had changed a bit. I just needed some information to rat them out with Chloe's help.

Before leaving, I approached my sisters and explained that I would see them again on vacation, their names were Angie and Valeria. The older one was the first of her.

"Maybe in the middle of the year, we'll see each other again, and at the end of the year I stayed for Christmas with you." 

Are you sure you want to come back to the academy? After what happened last time, mom said you suffered an accident, "Valeria, the youngest one, commented.

"I understand your worries, but I have to do it, my dream is to be a pilot."

"But what if something goes wrong again? Mom said you lost two fingers" Angie asked me.

I kind of resented hearing her say that. I felt kind of weird answering her that. 

"I know it's kind of dangerous. I promise to take all the necessary precautions and I will be in constant communication with you. Don't worry, I will return home safe and sound. Thank you, sisters. It means a lot to me to have your support. I promise to stay safe, I will see you in the middle of the year."

Despite being so young, they had me under some pressure.

I hugged them after that to say goodbye to them, I had to go now.

[...]

During the trip, my mind was filled with memories of the happy moments I shared with my sisters. Their laughter, warm hugs and unconditional love gave me strength to face any challenge that came my way.

However, upon arriving at the academy, I found myself with other students who shared my goal. 

When the lieutenants saw me arrive again they ignored me, I knew something had happened that week.

I went to the cafeteria, trying to find Arturo and Scott to get some context of what was going on.

Surprisingly, Scott had a medal as and was sitting next to another girl who also had the same medal. I walked over to them and spoke to them.

"Good morning."

"Good morning, Nick, this is Emily, she is our new second level leader, please avert your eyes from her, don't do the same thing as last time."

"It's okay, it won't happen again."

She didn't stay quiet.

"So you're Nick, who was rolling around with Lucia?"

I was annoyed with the way she said it, and it was obvious it was a faith comment, try to be respectful and not let Lucia off as an easy woman, or anything like that.

"She was my girlfriend, that's what we young people do, there's nothing wrong with that, or you ever do that with your partner."

"But not in this place, you were very irresponsible, I'd rather you talk to me with more respect, now I'm the leader"

"I know, but you should be more cautious with what you say. You claim to be the leader, but you are a talkative and gossipy one."

The tension in the cafeteria was uncomfortable as Emily and I exchanged words. I tried to remain calm and respond respectfully, even though her comments were getting to me.

"I understand your position as a leader and I value the responsibility you have, but you should respect others and not judge anyone for their mistakes" I responded, trying to keep a calm tone.

Scott stepped in, trying to calm the situation. 

"Guys, please, we are in the middle of intergalactic games, and we need to focus on that. Nick, Emily is right that we need to be more careful and responsible in our behavior, especially in this competitive and dangerous environment. She also needs to be more respectful and avoid pointless arguments."

I nodded, acknowledging his point so as not to make the conversation more difficult.

"You're right, Scott. Intergalactic games are important, and we must not let personal distractions affect our performance. I apologize if my earlier behavior has generated any discomfort."

Emily seemed to soften her attitude and offered a small fake smile

"I appreciate your apology, Nick. I just want to remind you that you are a mere cadet and as such you must act in a respectful manner towards me."

She was too full of herself with that title of leader, I don't know what her problem was with Lucia, but I could tell she hated it.

I decided to keep my composure and not let myself be provoked. Even though Emily seemed to have a hostile attitude towards me, I knew I had to keep my mind on my goal.

"I understand your position, Emily, and I am willing to abide by the rules and regulations of the academy," I replied calmly. 

Scott nodded in agreement and tried to ease the tension in the conversation.

"Paul is right, Emily. We are all on the same team, and we should support each other."

Emily pondered for a moment and finally sighed, letting her guard down slightly. 

"It's okay," she said with some reluctance. "I guess we all make mistakes, and we should learn from them. Let's try to work together from now on."

Although the reconciliation was not complete, at least there seemed to be an attempt to establish a more cordial relationship. I knew we would still have differences and more arguments if she didn't change her attitude towards me.

[...]

I made my way to the general's office and sat in her office chair.

"Good morning."

"Good morning, you look better already, mmmm, besides you ran away from the beating you deserved."

"I almost got killed, this place wasn't safe for me to recover."

"You deserved it, you slept with the most beautiful woman in the academy and earned the hatred of others."

He was very direct, I didn't expect him to make that direct comment to me and with the same tone I replied.

"It seems he liked her too"

"Don't confuse things, I respected her and felt she was right for that position. Her horniness for you made her leave, there it's not my fault, it's yours as young people. You missed taking more blows."

That fucker was very happy about what happened to me. I knew he was a half ungeizefer, so he didn't deserve my respect, but I couldn't tell him to his face what I thought, or provoke him.

"I just wanted to know if I'm in the intergalactic games or not."

"Of course you are, everyone expects you to crash or die."

It was cruel, but it was a clear warning of what would happen if I was careless, but in the face of this. I preferred to do what Chloe told me, just gather important information and that was it. With that, I could start an investigation and not expose myself so much.

I wanted to ask her about Lucia, I wanted to talk to her and gather the information she had.

"Do you have any information on Lucia or anything to contact her with?"

"No, don't waste your time, you think I would help you with this. You're only here because I need you in the intergalactic games, and to make you pay for what you did. Get out of my office already, I have other things to do."

He lost his mind a little, and I knew he was interested in Lucia. It made me sick to think about it. I got up from my chair and left the place.

[...]

I left the general's office feeling frustrated and with no answers about Lucia. It looked like I wasn't going to get any information from him and would have to find other ways to find out what had happened. I decided to follow Chloe's advice and focus on gathering important information to conduct my own investigation. I really wanted to do other things, though.

I headed to the academy library, a quiet place where I could concentrate and find clues about what had happened to Lucia. I knew she had been investigating the Ungeizefer, and I was sure she had discovered something relevant before she left.

I spent hours going through files, and records she left hidden on some ships, looking for her number or her mail. I had to burn all that to eliminate that evidence, and I was the only one who knew where she was. I didn't find anything that was effective evidence, just conversational assumptions.

I didn't know whether to talk to her friend to communicate with her, I was a little afraid that they would hate me for what happened.

As I went through the files and records in the library, some clues began to emerge about Lucia's investigations. I found notes and documents indicating that she had been following the Ungeizefer's trail, gathering information about their activities and possible weaknesses. This was of little use to me.

I decided to talk to Lucia's friends, despite the fear I felt of being judged for what happened between her and me. I knew it was important to get as much information as possible and that they might have relevant data for my investigation.

[...]

I looked for Lucia's friends at the academy and finally found them in one of the study rooms. I approached them somewhat cautiously, feeling the tension in the air and the stares from the other cadets.

"Hi, girls! Can I talk to you for a moment?", I asked them in a soft voice and somewhat nervously.

They looked at each other, hesitating what to do, and at that very moment Arturo appeared.

"I understand that you may be upset with me because of what happened between Lucia and me," I began, trying to show sincerity in my words. "But I need your help on an important matter. I'm trying to make contact with her."

"You better go, we're not going to talk to you."

I knew how to continue that conversation, I didn't want to leave yet.

"Uh... I... I... I need you to help me get her phone number."

She looked at each other, hesitating what to do, and at that very moment Arturo appeared.

"Is something wrong, cadets?"

There was a moment of tense silence as the girls exchanged glances. Finally, one of them spoke, in a slightly bitter voice.

"Paul, what happened between you and Lucia affected all of us. It was painful for her and for us to see her leave because of you and the rumors that were being made."

My heart raced at those words. Despite the hard feelings, it seemed like I could get valuable information from them.

"Please, I need to know anything you can share. Any detail, no matter how small, could be important," I pleaded with them.

The girls looked at each other again, this time with softer expressions. They decided to help and began to tell me about Lucia's investigations.

"Lucia never told us about her and her family, I'm sorry, you'll have to look elsewhere for information."

I felt defeated to hear that, but I had to continue.