Chapter 1 I stepped into my mockpit beside Crater, the other eight were empty. Dent fired up the holograms, I found myself in the rubbles belt with over ten Krell flying around lazily. “I am not a new cadet Dent,” I said, sighing “could we make them go at least a little faster?” I looked again at the ships as they started to get faster, “Thanks,” I said under my breath. I immediately took down two by hitting them with my Destructors. “Nix,” Dent said into my helmet, “Wait for your wingman's verbal confirmation,” “Okay,” I said a little frustrated at Dent, I knew I was supposed to but I had so much energy in me, and anger, I just wanted to kill all the Krell in the universe. I wanted to avenge my flight. “All clear Nix,” Crater said. “Same here Crater,” I said. Dent always had us do this, I mean I understand in a real battle that we need to do it, but seriously a hologram? I took off towards the Krell with Crater behind me startled at my fast start. I dodged stupid space junk and lightlanced Krell. “How about we practice teamwork Nix, and work on our IMP’s” Dent said sternly, I didn’t think we needed more training on “teamwork” cause didn’t he see how amazing we did in the battle a couple days ago? But I decided to listen, and went back to Crater as his wingmate. “Okay I want you both, to take down two groups of Krell with your IMP’s together,” Dent said as he put up two groups of three Krell ships in front of us. “Copy that,” I said. “Copy that,” Crater said. “Go,” Dent said calmly, starting the hologram. Me and Crater swerved as the Krell came straight for us. “Let's take the far left group first Crater,” I said turning a sharp left, “You fire the IMP,” “Copy that Flightleader,” Crater said, turning with me, he sometimes called me Flightleader even though there was not really any flight. It reminded me of how I had given instructions to Fin to take down the two Krell, he had failed, and I was responsible for it. I had killed him, I should have known that he wasn’t ready, I should have known it would kill him. I snapped back into reality with tears in my eyes, we were near the Krell and I got too close and exploded. My hologram turned off and I wiped my eyes quickly so no one would see I had cried.
CONTINUE CHAPTER 1 “What was THAT?” Dent asked me pointing at nowhere in particular, “You are my best cadet and you blew up, getting to close to a ship,” “Sorry Dent, I got caught up,” I said, fidgeting with my hand, though he had just called me his best cadet. “Caught up with what?” Dent said, still pointing, “What would be more important than staying alive?” I could think of a few, I thought angrily. “Nothing sir, sorry,” I said, seeing Crater climb out quietly. “Take a break, you obviously need one,” Dent said, putting his hand to his side as he walked through the door towards the mess hall. I bent down and leaned against my Mockpit, Crater sat down beside me. “What happened Nix?” Crater said keeping his voice down, “You haven’t crashed since our third week,” “I. . .” I broke off “I thought of our flight, of Fin. Atlas, I killed Fin, I should have known he wasn’t ready. I just. . .” “You are the flight leader Erice,” Atlas said, calling me by my name, “sometimes you have to make decisions that go wrong, it's not your fault. I know this sounds cheesy, but it's true,” He finished. I chuckled and got up, he was wrong, but I appreciated it. “I am going to get Dent,” I said going to the door, I stepped out and took a deep breath. I saw Dent already coming back, “I am sorry for earlier sir,” I said walking with him, “But I am ready,” Dent nodded and opened the door. “You better be,” I walked out of the classroom with Crater following me, it was late, Dent had us do an extra 2 hours because of my crash with the Krell. I sighed and pulled my pack higher up on my shoulders. “Are you planning to go to the mess hall to eat?” Crater asked, “Cause I am starving,” he said rubbing his stomach, I chuckled. “I’m not really hungry,” I said looking at the light line on my wrist that had been given to me by Crater. It was 1030 and I was tired, “I am just going to go to bed,” I said, turning towards the dormitories. I was alone in my room now, since AM and Nat had died. I opened the door and set down my pack. I flopped into the lone cot. I hoped to turn and see Nat chuckling at me about how tired I acted, but I didn’t. I started to tear up, but I wiped them away and breathed in. There was a knock on the door, I got up and opened it to see a roll and some soup on a platter on the ground, I sighed and picked it up. There was a note on it that read: I DON'T BELIEVE IT, I THOUGHT YOU WERE ALWAYS HUNGRY! -Atlas I chuckled and brought the platter into my room.
