Category: fantasy romance

3rd Year, P. 6

Seven hours after the squads broke down their assigned Conex boxes, they made camp to rest. Before daylight, everyone was back on another road march to designated areas for each group. Alpha squad found a handwritten map which would lead them to an abandoned warehouse. The scribbles made the map difficult to read. Frustrations heightened everyone’s temperament, but they could still make good time compared to the other squads who had gotten lost on the way.

Once inside the building, the team was given earbuds for communication and tracking. Yoshida and Roudan were sent to a control room where they could monitor Shevchenko, Savoi, and Farouk navigate through a series of time-sensitive challenges. A loud buzzer went off, indicating the portion of the exam had begun. The trio bolted down a long corridor to an opened black door. On the other side of the room was another black door. Farouk checked the door and found it was locked. In the center of the room was a wicker basket filled with a dozen multi-colored numbered velvet pouches was placed on a cylinder stand.

Savoi was the first to peer over the basket.

“There are several colors to choose from,” she said as she gently sifted through the pouches. “Yellow, black, brown, red, and blue. Which one do you want to go with?”

Farouk panted out loud, “Ooh, I know; let me pick!”

Savoi looked at Shevchenko, who seemed less assured of an answer.

“Okay, Maaz, which one?” she asked.

Without hesitation, he blurted, “GREEN!”

Incredulously, Shevchenko popped Farouk on the back of the neck.

“Why did you even bother with him?” she asked

“I really thought he knew,” Savoi sighed.

The trio stood silent, waiting for each other to come up with a solution.

Savoi broke the tension when her eyes beamed brightly.

Shevchenko tapped her on the shoulder.

“You’ve got something, don’t you?”

Savoi stalled, as she was apprehensive about making another wrong assertion.

Farouk panicked at the sound of the buzzer ticking away.

“Thomasa, say something! Don’t leave us in suspense!” he demanded.

Savoi took in a deep breath, then said, “Let’s think of this more strategically. During the entrance exam, we captured a red flag and became the Alpha squad from that victory.”

Shevchenko squinted her eyes and her mind went blank.

“Yeah, so? I’m not following.”

Savoi searched again through the pouches.

“We were the first to capture our flag. Maybe we should look for a red pouch with the #1 stitched on it.”

Farouk dove his hand inside the basket until he plucked out the pouch she described.

“Found it!” he cried.

Inside the pouch was a medium-sized metal key. They ran across the room to the locked door. Farouk took the key, then clumsily banged it up against the hole.

“The opening is too small. I can’t get it in,” he said.

“Well, you can’t just keep pounding it like that. There’s no way it will jam itself in,” Shevchenko scoffed.

Savoi curiously tilted her head to the side, then guided his wrist so that the key was flipped upside down.

“Maybe turn it at a different angle?” she guessed.

Shevchenko huffed.

“You two obviously know nothing about these kinds of things.”

Savoi shrugged with the last of her patience, and replied, “Please enlighten us with your knowledge, oh wise one.”

Shevchenko grinned.

“Clearly, a bit of lubrication is needed. Since we don’t have any, and time is of the essence, someone has to spit on it.”

Savoi shook her head in defiance.

“I’m not doing that!”

Farouk, still puzzled, spat lightly on the tip of the key.

Shevchenko flailed her arms.

“No, no! Not like that! You have to wet it until it slides in with ease.” She spat a large wad of saliva on the key and rubbed along the base and inside the entrance of the keyhole with her index finger.

Suddenly, the key glided into the hole perfectly.

“Wow! I never would’ve had known how to make it work. Lily, where did you learn such a neat trick?” Farouk asked.

Suddenly, Shevchenko became flushed and self-conscious about what she shared with her team.

“Why would you ask me something like that?” she stuttered.

Farouk was puzzled by her change in demeanor. He pressed his lips together, searching for a response. Savoi was ready to move forward from there.

She waved a hand in their air and said, “An uncreative mind finds every wrong answer, but a creative mind will find fault with the questions. Lily, you solved this riddle perfectly fine. Now, we should focus on why a lubricant agent was so important to the task. I think it’s a clue for something else.”

As she led the team through the unlocked door, Shevchenko whispered to Farouk.

“Let’s just say I have my ways.”

Yoshida and Roudan stared at each other, completely mortified and dumbfounded by the absurdity of the situation.

~The Waring Robins~

3rd Year, P. 5

The excursion part of the exit exam was delayed by several hours because of some last-minute changes. Each squad spent the night in the great hall of battalion headquarters. Both laughter and a few minor squabbles filled the room until everyone fell into a silent sleep. At approximately 0200 hours, the squad leaders were awakened and commanded to gear up their squads for departure. Once roll call and weapons checks were complete, the excursion begun. Calvary academy’s 3rd year unit exit exam was fully underway.

A thick fog covered the night sky, and a chill filled the air. Though they were dressed in the mandatory winter battle dress uniform (heavy cotton and polyester material, with chameleon-styled camouflage), the bitter cold seeped through their gloves. Many cadets griped it made holding their laser beam M16 rifles nearly unbearable. For the first 12K miles, the squad leaders took turns calling cadence. Their complaints were met with a harsh rebuke from Master Sergeant Abdullah, who was at least 6 foot 7 and dubbed “the surly giant”.

Roudan’s voice was clear, full of resolve and determination. He knew his team was bent to come out on top by the end of the exam. This would be Alpha squad’s shining moment since the entrance exam. So many slipups had left blemishes on their records and personal lives between then and now. Unfortunately, the road to redemption also paved the way for their demise. He figured they should go out in glory, rather than weasel away with their tails tucked. Squads Bravo through Delta were in for a rude awakening if they believed anyone could best the Alpha squad.

Hours of marching led the unit through a desert, inside a woodland labyrinth, and eventually to a swamp marsh. A recent monsoon caused the water to rise waist-level to the average sized cadet. Slowly, the cadets drudged through the swamp with their weapons overhead. All was going well until Shevchenko became dizzy and nauseous. She retched, then vomited twice before she was asked if she needed to be sent back to the rear detachment for medical treatment. Her team was concerned for her wellbeing, but she played it off by recalling how heavily she drank Roudan’s hooch.

Savoi pulled a tiny vial from her rucksack and offered it for Shevchenko to drink. The women quarreled briefly over the necessity of such a measure. Savoi assured her that there were more than enough medicines in her bag to last the duration of the exam. Shevchenko reluctantly took a small sip, then saw the eagerness in everyone’s eyes. Not wanting to be the weakest link, she downed the rest in a flash. To her satisfaction, the neon blue potion quickly eased all her ailing symptoms. Feeling rejuvenated, Shevchenko to the lead in calling cadence for the rest of their trek.

Once the unit cleared the marsh, they camped for 3 days and two nights to recover. Long before sunrise, another 12K road march ensued. Two female cadets, (Kaleigh from Bravo and Zepeda from Charlie) were treated for dehydration. Cadet Samuels, who had ranked from the Echo squad into Delta, was so exhausted and lethargic from the march that the Chaplin carried his weapon most of the way. His feet were bruised by cysts and he was deemed unfit to continue the exam.

After which, the unit marched upon a tarmac where four Ch-47F Chinook helicopters waited for them to board. Conex boxes containing more equipment were loaded before takeoff. At one point, the pilots spooked the cadets by opening the hydraulic ramp in the back. The sight of height in the air caused a stir among some cadets. Fortunately, no one in the Alpha squad was deterred. Farouk became excited, knowing he could soon fly the helicopter. Shevchenko was relieved to feel well enough to appreciate the moment with him.

Fifteen hours of air travel brought them to a meager landing strip. Choppy winds caused high turbulence as the helicopters landed. The cadets were instructed to remove the Conex boxes and carry them to a designated location. Master Sergeant Abdullah warned everyone to “stay low,” while running from the helicopters. The wind from the propellers alone where enough to blow wind at 200 MPH.

Cadet Drafus, of the Charlie squad, did not take heed of the Master Sergeant’s words. He quickly tired from running in a hunched position while carrying one side of a Conex box. He stood straight and was instantly propelled forward. His hand snatched away from the box as he was forced to run faster. Then Drafus tripped, which sent him tumbling down the strip. After a series of tucked rolls, he came to a stop. The on-site medic declared Drafus suffered a concussion and fractured right tibia from the incident, and was sent back to the rear detachment.

~The Waring Robins~

3rd Year, P. 4

The exit exam comprised an excursion, which lasted over a period of several days, followed by twenty-five separate obstacle courses. There were riddles and puzzles to be solved, like those from the entrance exam. Every 3rd year squad, from Alpha to Delta, was expected to compete against each other and capture a minimum of 20 flags. The grueling six months of extensive training would prove whether any of the cadets were fit to graduate and be sent on the front lines. Anticipation, anxiety, and hopefulness filled the air as everyone crammed themselves inside the battalion situation room to prepare for the event.

While no one else noticed, Roudan tenderly kissed the side of Shevchenko’s neck. A few wisps of hair were in the way, but it did not deter his desire to show affection. She blushed and seemed pleasantly surprised by the gesture until she saw Yoshida and Savoi talking in her peripheral view. Savoi’s beaming grin showed she and Yoshida had mended their broken connection, or so it seemed. There was no way to interpret the subject of their conversation, but both parties appeared to be genuinely amused.

Shevchenko frowned as she turned in their direction. Her heart sank knowing Yoshida had long hoped Savoi would let him back into her graces, and Savoi was obviously ready to reconcile as well.

“A win for her means a loss for me,” Shevchenko thought with a heavy sigh. She looked at the crossed expression on Roudan’s face and straightened her posture. He shrugged, silently handed her a flask, and walked over to Farouk. She nursed her bruised ego later, as she nestled the flask inside her left breast pocket.

Farouk was the least enthusiastic soul in the room. His eyes were bloodshot, and he was nowhere near as talkative as usual.

Roudan grimaced.

“What’s bugging you so early this morning?

Farouk stood with his eyes shut, as if to be in a trance.

“I’d like to go back to bed. You know, to take another stab at trying to sleep,” he said.

Roudan chuckled for a moment, then realized Farouk’s tiredness was regarding what happened earlier in the night before when he brought Shevchenko to their barracks. It was not the best plan, but he knew Yoshida and Savoi were at their usual hangout spot beneath the overpass. That night, things got hot and heavy between him and Shevchenko. Once they got inside the room, their entangled bodies brushed up against a coatrack, which caused a tumbling sound. Farouk kept quiet and pretended to be asleep, as he planned to stay unrevealed for the duration of their tryst. He did not want to repeat the incident when Roudan and Yoshida snuck in female cadets from the Echo squad during their 1st year.

Shevchenko mustered enough annoyance to join Roudan and Farouk. She peered back at Yoshida and Savoi as they kept up their playful banter.

“They look awfully cozy,” Farouk noted, with one eye opened.

Shevchenko rolled her eyes.

“Maybe they need to get a room,” she replied.

Roudan was about to speak but was cut off by a female police officer who had short brown hair and hazel eyes.

“Cadet Roudan, General Benavides, would like to see you for a moment,” she said.

Roudan followed her outside.

“Wow, she’s incredible,” Farouk stammered, this time with both eyes opened.

Yoshida crept behind him and playfully slapped him on the shoulder.

“You should ask her out. She’s totally your type,” he teased.

Farouk looked as if he were strongly considering taking up the task. Wide grins shared between him and Yoshida forced Savoi to intervene. 

“Don’t bother. Her name is Warrant Officer Kaitlyn Calamaan, and she is one of the battalion administrative secretaries.”

Yoshida scoffed.

“Are you implying she’s out of his league?”

“Way out of his league,” Shevchenko cackled.

Farouk fixed his mouth to defend himself, but Savoi chimed in first.

“That’s not what I meant, silly goose.” She nudged Yoshida’s arm. “Kaitlyn is married to the other admin secretary, Warrant Officer Diana Calamaan. I met them both at my hearing with the Tribunal Council. They’re both strikingly beautiful, but unavailable. So, my assertion is that Maaz shouldn’t waste his time on someone already spoken for.”

Farouk was relieved of Savoi’s rescue. It had been a while since she had come to his aid in such a way that quelled Yoshida and Shevchenko’s thirst to poke fun at his expense.

Meanwhile, Roudan met with General Benavides in an office outside the situation room. He knew Benavides would want to be briefed on the Alpha squad’s progression towards graduation. Though there was nothing negative to report, Roudan always felt uneasy about their secret meetings. He kept his team in the dark about the impending doom that awaited them after their venture at Calvary academy.

The men stood in silence with only piercing glares. Benavides smirked at Roudan’s seemingly confident stance. Time was of the essence, so without warning, he rattled his thoughts out like a rapid-fire machine gun.

“New developments in the war have increased anxiety throughout the kingdom. Battlegrounds in key states have gotten worse since the last attack on the prior graduates. Even as we’ve amped up our training modules and modified our weapons, I’m uncertain that we can accomplish much. Our central intelligence has been compromised. Apparently, there is a traitor among us who is determined to see us fail and have the kingdom come to ruin.”

Roudan’s eyes watered as he processed what Benavides said.

“I’m sorry, Sir. I’m not understanding how I’m supposed to take this information,” he replied shakily.

Benavides became dismayed that Roudan was so easily shaken.

“I’m telling you this, so that you will be in the loop on what is about to happen,” he answered calmly.

Roudan took a step back to lean against the wall and shook his head.

“Then what is the point to any of this? The exit exam tests our skill levels, but if you’re saying it won’t make a difference, how does it help the kingdom?” he asked.

Benavides drew in a sharp breath.

“The exit exam, like all other exams and training here, are formalities which were set in place a long time ago. This was long before the kingdom was in the crisis that has overtaken us now. It seemed purposeful and had a significant impact on our successes. Everything has changed, and we are at the mercy of whomever has tainted the rules of the game. However, the rules of engagement are still intact. You will lead your squad to the designated drop zone. Unfortunately, this area is a hotspot and considered one of the deadliest territories.”

General Benavides left Roudan to sit with his thoughts. The burden of knowing they were headed to a highly concentrated conflict area meant imminent death for every single graduating cadet. Roudan did not return to the situation room until it had been nearly cleared out, and all that remained was his squad. He watched them as they surveyed the map and argued over who would take point on the excursion route. His team members seemed serious enough about the mission at hand, but not serious enough about their lives being in jeopardy.

Shevchenko stood next to Yoshida, as his mood soured after Savoi mentioned her near expulsion from the academy. It was obviously still a sore point for him. Shevchenko thought of using the opportunity to ingratiate him, though to no avail. He rebuffed her every attempt, and issued scornful glares instead. Yoshida did not bat an eye, yet Shevchenko’s eyes twitched with the swelling of tears.

Roudan disused the situation by delegating Yoshida to take Savoi and Farouk to the armory to collect their gear. Once they left, he and Shevchenko stood alone in the room. She took out the flask from her pocket and drank somberly.

“You might want to slow down with that. We have a long day ahead of us,” Roudan warned.

She quickly gulped the last of her drink to avoid an awkward reply. Roudan shuffled his feet, not knowing what to say either.

Finally, she cried, “He’s so stubborn. I don’t know why he’s still bent out of shape over a non-issue. Only a fool torments himself over a problem he can’t solve.”

“It seems to me that you’re in the same boat. If you’re looking for more reasons to dislike him, you may as well admit there was never a chance to begin with.” Roudan replied.

Disgruntled, he stormed off and slammed the door behind him.

~The Waring Robins~

3rd Year, P. 3

The following day, before breakfast, Alpha squad was set to continue weapons training. Farouk hurriedly scurried past several groups of cadets as he made his way through the courtyard. After arriving at the female barracks, he shuffled inside while a female cadet exited the front entrance. He paced up and down the hall as his mind raced. Shevchenko and Savoi were startled to see him.

“Good morning, ladies. I hope you’re well rested and ready for the exciting day ahead of us,” he belted in an uneven, high-pitched tone. 

Farouk’s unusually cheerful voice caused a bit of concern to them. Shevchenko glared at him briefly, then walked by with an unsuccessful attempt to stifle a deep yawn. Her disheveled uniform and messy bun revealed her nighttime activities with Roudan. Savoi greeted Farouk with a nod instead of a pat on the head and followed Shevchenko out of the entryway.

Farouk darted out of the building to catch up to them and called out,

“We should all eat the same items for breakfast today. It will help us be in sync.” Savoi shook her head in disagreement, so he declared, “It’s true. I heard it’s a real thing!”

“I assure you, that is NOT a real thing,” Shevchenko dryly replied.

 Farouk stepped in front of them.

“Lily, Thomasa; you both are women, right?” he asked.

Shevchenko and Savoi glared at him, then at each other, puzzled by his question. Farouk seemed lost in thought, as if to plan a fitting follow-up question. Shevchenko smirked and suddenly massaged her breast. She took things further by doing the same to Savoi.

“Last time I checked, we are still women, Maaz,” she jested.

Farouk nodded his head.

“I may have done something pretty terrible involving a woman,” he said.

Shevchenko stopped feeling Savoi up and rolled her eyes.

“I hope you didn’t pull anymore stupid stunts like at the grenade range.”

Savoi chuckled at her statement, as she continued.

“Speaking of pull; why would anyone freeze after pulling the pin from a radioactive grenade?”

“Perhaps it was delayed remorse for the inevitable consequences,” Savoi chimed in.

“Ooh, good one!” Shevchenko laughed.

 “Okay, but can we all just appreciate the fact that nobody died?” Farouk huffed.  

Shevchenko scoffed.

“Famous last words.”

 Savoi gave her a high-five with a wink.

“Lily, I must say; you’ve been on fire with your comebacks lately. I’m truly impressed. Emmett is doing an amazing job of smoothing out your rough edges.”

Shevchenko blushed at first, but let out a girlish giggle before nodding in agreement.

Farouk became frustrated with their jesting and redirect the conversation.

“Do you know cadet Abarra?” he blurted.

Shevchenko paused, then answered.

“Yes, I know Luz. She’s a 2nd year from the Bravo squad. She’s also an assistant instructor in the linguistics program.”

Savoi perked up once she realized who they were referring to.

“Oh yeah, the cute brunette with the big knockers and even bigger chip on her shoulder?”

Shevchenko confirmed by flexing her hands in front of her chest, emulating cadet Abarra’s bust size.

Savoi snickered, then asked, “What about her?”

 “I wrote an essay and submitted it to her,” Farouk replied.

Shevchenko and Savoi noticed how his demeanor became sullen. They looked at each other, then simultaneously asked, “Was it an academic essay or a love confession?”

Farouk blushed.

“A bit of both,” he coyly replied, with his head down and eyes to the ground.

Savoi nudged him.

“Well, what did she say?”

“Yes, tell us what happened next,” Shevchenko chimed in.

Farouk mustered the courage to continue.

“Things didn’t go the way I expected. Nothing ever does, so I shouldn’t be surprised.” He looked up to see the women eagerly awaiting his next statement, so he continued. “Our conversation went in an entirely different direction. Instead of feeling flattered, she ignored my confession completely.”

Savoi scoffed.

“That can’t be possible. How do you know for sure that she ignored you?”

Farouk let out a deep sigh, and answered.

“I know for sure because when she returned my essay, it was covered in red ink from where she corrected my grammar and misunderstanding of certain words. We spent the entire conversation discussing the history of a crossbow.”

Shevchenko resisted the urge to burst out in laughter.

Savoi smiled and pressed with a sincere interest.

“Crossbow you say? What does that have to do with anything?”

Farouk continued.

“I mentioned Cupid, since love is synonymous with that name.”

Savoi paused for a moment, deep in thought, until Shevchenko interrupted.

“Oh, I see! You must have confused a crossbow with a regular bow and arrow.”

Farouk uttered something, then refrained.

Savoi gently pat him on the shoulder and said, “Don’t take it too hard, Maaz. Look at it this way; strength and courage are derived from love. You demonstrated both with your confession. If the receiver is deaf, they weren’t meant to be with you.”

Shevchenko had thoroughly been amused by Farouk’s tale of unrequited love, especially since this time it was less disastrous than before he enrolled in the academy. However, she was pained by Savoi’s words. Regarding Yoshida, his awareness was keen, though she had taken no bold efforts to confess her feelings for him.

Savoi continued.

“In this instance, you pulled the string of your bow and released the arrow. It might not have landed on or even near your intended target, but it’s alright. Just remember what to do next time. Whether you choose to aim higher or lower, be sure the target is worth your effort, so there’ll be no regrets.”

Farouk beamed a smile of relief as he fully understood Savoi’s advice. He wondered if she meant any of those words for herself or Yoshida, but thought better than to ask her about it. Shevchenko signaled they should continue to head down to the chow hall. As they departed, she asked,

“So, are you going to say anything else to Abarra?”

Farouk looked at Savoi and gained a new sense of confidence.

“Nope. I refuse to give her the satisfaction of knowing she got under my skin,” he replied.

Shevchenko shrugged her shoulders and said,

“She might not care either way.”

Farouk sighed as if to release all the anxiety he felt on the matter.

“You’re right, Lily, she might not care either way.” He looked at his watch and realized they were behind schedule, and picked up the pace. “I don’t care anymore, either. It’s like Thomasa said; love confessions to the blind are pointless.”

“I said nothing of the sort,” Savoi cackled.

The trio quick-stepped into a full run to meet Roudan and Yoshida at the chow hall.

~The Waring Robins~

3rd Year, P. 2

The next morning, routine squad-level PT was replaced with a battalion run to celebrate and kick off the start of the third-year cadets heading towards graduation. Alpha squad was finally complete with the return of Savoi. There was no time to talk, as General Benavides gave a riveting speech to rally his troops with excitement. The mood and morale were a mixture of eagerness, anxiety, and a few drowsy cadets. The battalion ran six miles, with the Alpha squad at the helm. This time Savoi did not fall back. Instead, she held her own and even called cadence at the insistence of Lt. Co. Adame.

Everything from her appearance to her demeanor had changed. She transitioned her braids into dreadlocks and shaved her sides into a fade. Every cadet donned new gold and black PT uniforms, which distinguished them as third-year cadets. Savoi’s body was far more svelte than before, though the thickness of her muscular thighs and backside were further defined. Savoi’s strong, emboldened voice belted loudly, laced with the richness of her island accent. It was as if she cast an enchantment spell over them in her native tongue. The Alpha squad could not help but to feel reinvigorated by the spirited command of such a fierce presence.

It was apparent Savoi had not spent the duration of her laboratory confinement cuffed to a worktable extracting chemical compounds. Whatever took place was a trigger which eliminated the whimsical, child-like version of herself. She embodied a true soldier prepared for the battlefield. Each of her squad mates was flabbergasted and in awe of her transformation. For Shevchenko, it was a slap in the face compared to the girl who danced nearly naked in their barracks room just hours before.

After the battalion run, Roudan had his team take part in weapons training. He enlisted Yoshida to take point, as this was his specialty. They met inside the armory and waited for further instructions. This was Savoi’s first time inside the armory. Her eyes grew wide as saucers at the exotic weapons on display. She took a specific interest in a giant crossbow. It was heavier than she expected. Yoshida braced her into place as she stumbled backwards. A brief but intense gaze held them together. For the moment, Yoshida swam in her allure. Savoi broke the tension with a beautiful grin that expose the creases of her dimples.

Shevchenko watched them from the other side of the room, heated with envy. Farouk interrupted her train of thought with a gentle nudge, and she felt the coldness of Roudan’s wounded glare behind her. For Roudan’s part, he had a comfortable understanding that he could only quell a small portion of the flames of passion which Shevchenko held for Yoshida. After all, the heart wants whoever it wants. Savoi’s reentrance into their squad made it clear to him that both he and Shevchenko played second fiddle to the undeniable intimate connection Yoshida shared with her.

Roudan snapped out of his lovesick mourning and called the squad to attention. He graciously relinquished authority to Yoshida so they could conduct their weapons training in a timely manner. The Alpha squad geared up with protective armored suits. They headed to the lower interior of the armory where there was an M16 rifle and 9MM hand gun range. Yoshida patiently instructed his team on how to hold, secure, and clean each weapon.

“The best way to become a sharp-shooter is to be fed bullets,” he said.

Farouk was struck with confusion.

“You mean we have to eat the rounds?” he asked.

Yoshida chuckled in delight.

“No. I mean, you must shoot your weapon as many times as possible to get better,” he replied.

The pop-up targets surrounded them, and the squad fired their weapons until each clip was empty.

After target practice was completed, they shifted to a training station behind the armory.

The grenade range provided simulations of a full-on, warlike scenario on the battlefield. Just as he did during the entrance exam, Farouk froze in place and became disoriented by the surrounding commotion. The radioactive grenades had a detonation timer set for thirty seconds after the pin was pulled. Farouk was the only member to hesitate when commanded to throw the grenade. At that point, Yoshida swiftly tackled him to retrieve the grenade and throw it as far as he could.

Yoshida stopped the simulation and ripped into Farouk with all of hell’s fury. Savoi did not intervene. She stood afar in stoic silence. The deadness in her eyes was noticed by all. Farouk shook off Yoshida’s harsh rebuke and licked his lips with determination not to foul up again. Shortly after, Roudan declared it was best to take a break. The team went back inside the armory to eat the MRE meal packages sent from the chow hall.

Savoi ate very little and did not mingle with her squad. She took it upon herself to continue studying the different weapons on display. Yoshida quietly followed behind her. He pondered her unreadable disposition. Roudan made a point of telling everyone to refrain from any desires to probe the exact nature of Savoi’s punishment. There had been brief moments throughout the day when they could see flickers of the old jovial Savoi. He missed that part of her. It was almost as if everything that occurred during their second year knocked the wind out of Savoi.

“Déjà vu,” he thought to himself, referring to the memory sequence of the happy little girl whose world was turn upside down.

Savoi caught his attention when she picked up a folding knife. She struggled with the trigger to release the blade, so he took it from her.

As he released the blade, he said,

“This is a very special tool.” He folded the blade and clasped his right hand over the weapon. “These types of knives serve as a surprise to your opponent, never to flash right away.” Yoshida walked behind Savoi and slid his left arm around her waist. Before she could protest, he swiftly extracted the knife with his right hand and held it to her throat.

Savoi countered his move by slipping her hand inside the small opened space of his right forearm. She gripped his wrist and forcefully pulled the knife away from her throat. Then glided her left hand over his and dug her nails deep to draw blood. This maneuver took Yoshida off guard, so he did not notice when she moved her right leg back and in between his stance. Finally, Savoi bowed, pushed her body into his, and swiftly body slammed him over her shoulder.

Yoshida was beyond stunned and embarrassed. Not because he had been bested by Savoi, but because his actions might have triggered her into such a strong response.

Shevchenko stood with her mouth wide open, while Roudan and Farouk clapped in awe of her technique.

“Great going, Thomasa,” Farouk yelled after a cheerful whistle. “I bet you learned that move after your ordeal with Molvik,” he continued.

Savoi gasped at his remark. She knew everyone walked on eggshells around the subject, yet she was not ready to expound on everything that had transpired. Roudan jabbed Farouk harshly and Yoshida’s eyes rebuked him, which only made her feel more uncomfortable. Farouk winced in disgrace from yet another foul. Shevchenko rolled her eyes at her male counterparts. For the past several weeks, she had the luxury of not watching them fawn over Savoi.

“Who would imagine that between Emmett and Haru, it would be Thomasa to end up on the firing line with the Tribunal Council?” Shevchenko interjected, and did so with a loud cackle that required no permission or participation.

“Lily, that was unnecessary!” Roudan barked.

Savoi took no offense to Shevchenko’s dig. In fact, she laughed hysterically at the truthfulness of her statement.

Savoi cut off her laughter in an instant.

“Lily has a good point. I suppose the damning thing about me is I will never stand by idly and watch my teammates be torn down,” she said with the intensity and her island accent.

Roudan and Yoshida froze, as they knew Savoi was referring to both incidents where she put herself on the line to spare them from being expelled from the academy. Neither of them had returned the favor, and it ate away at them. This made Yoshida suddenly feel off kilter, which made him unsure of how to proceed.

~The Waring Robins~

3rd Year, P. 1

The final days of the Alpha squad’s second year were spent with much preparation for the exit exams. Regarding the Molvik VS Savoi incident, a decree from the Tribunal Council established Molvik would be expelled from the academy and return to his home state with no honors or the ability to enlist in any military services. Meanwhile, Savoi was sentenced to ninety days of extra duty in the laboratory under the supervision of Lt. Co. Adame. Calvary academy’s cadre was meticulous to ensure that each cadet was well prepared to carry out their duties in the field. The upcoming class would graduate in fifteen months’ time, and orders for their first deployment were drafted.

By the end of the ninety-day period, Savoi had completed the terms of her punishment in time to start the beginning of the third year with her fellow squad mates. Shevchenko entered the barracks at approximately 1900 hours, where she found Savoi dancing with headphones on and a flask in her hand in the dark. Shevchenko did not turn on the lights immediately, but did so to ensure that it was, in fact, Savoi in the living quarters. She removed Savoi’s headphones and said,

“Why the hell were you in here partying in the dark?”

Savoi smirked and replied, “What’s wrong with that?”

Shevchenko was often ruffled by Savoi’s lackadaisical attitude, which became more prominent over the course of their second year.

 “Because I could’ve crashed into something,” she snapped.

Savoi flippantly snatched her headphones away, and just before she put her them on said,

“Too late for that; you’ve already crashed my party.”

With that, Savoi turned off the lights once again and continued to dance as if no one else were in the room. Shevchenko huffed and left the barracks before Savoi could annoy her any further. She hadn’t seen her roommate in nearly three months, and all that had remained the same was the unspoken animosity between them. Much of their first year was spent with futile attempts by Savoi to befriend her. Shevchenko did not particularly dislike the girl. In fact, her source of great disdain only derived from Yoshida’s obvious affection for Savoi.

Shevchenko walked to the armory, where she found Yoshida, Roudan, and Farouk rolling around on the floor. Apparently, they had used high-voltage laser guns on each other. Yoshida and Roudan laughed the pain away, while Farouk laid balled up in the fetal position. His brief whimpers evolved into a maniacal laughter. The other men followed suit and laughed in hysteria. Shevchenko was not amused by their foolery. She gruffly cleared her throat (as much as a young female aristocrat could do so), which caused the men to sit up at attention.

Yoshida looked over at Farouk, whose eyes were filled with tears, though he had a devious smirk. This cause Yoshida to let out a muffled giggle, then Roudan joined in. The men could not contain their laughter for much longer. With each attempt to stifle a laugh, one of them would ruin their progress all over again.

Shevchenko stomped her foot to regain control of the room.

“My word! I can’t believe this is truly the alpha squad and the hope of our kingdom.” She glared at Farouk, who nearly successfully regained composure. “Maaz, have you been eating truffles again? You know that little stunt almost got you busted with the cadre.”

Farouk sat up straighter and apologetically glanced back at her.

“We were just testing those lasers out. Not to worry, as we kept them on the lowest voltage possible,” he answered.

 Yoshida was aggravated by Shevchenko’s chastisement, so he chimed in.

“Everyone bow your heads and let us have a moment of silence, for all the poor dead horses cadet Shevchenko has beaten to death.”

Shevchenko was taken aback by Yoshida’s dig. It was true that she continued to give Farouk a hard time about eating a laced truffle, but that was only to deter him from being so careless. She, herself, made good use of the truffle that she had eaten. It was the very thing that helped her and Roudan to cross the blurred lines.

Roudan saw the climate in the room was about to become tense, so he interjected.

“Lily, I assure you, none of us have partaken in any forms of drug paraphernalia. We were just goofing around to blow off some steam. Besides, Thomasa isn’t around to provide such goods,” he said, as he helped Yoshida and Farouk up to their feet.

Suddenly, Shevchenko remembered Savoi was back at the barracks.

“Yeah, about that; I have news,” she sighed. The eager look in her teammate’s eyes, particularly Yoshida’s, made her queasy. “Thomasa is no longer serving extra duty,” she said reluctantly.

Yoshida launched a series of rapid-fire questions.

“She’s not? Where the hell is she? Why didn’t you bring her with you?”

Shevchenko’s heart sank at his eagerness to learn about Savoi. In all the time Savoi had been kept away, Yoshida only sulked for a short spell before he snapped out of it. There were rumors he attempted to see Savoi at the lab, but she promptly turned him away. Shevchenko used their separation to become closer to Yoshida, though she had been sleeping with Roudan all the while. Yoshida slightly softened his indifferent disposition towards Shevchenko, but the news of Savoi’s release from extra duty put him back into his old stance.

Farouk finally sobered up from his laughing fit and demanded to know Savoi’s whereabouts.

Shevchenko stood in the middle of the three men, feeling as if she were being interrogated. She did not respond until they stopped talking. She could feel Yoshida’s piercing glare on the back of her neck, which gave her goosebumps. Farouk’s eyes were no better, so she fixed her gaze on Roudan. Though he proclaimed to be Savoi’s older brother, he also understood Shevchenko’s issues with her. He constantly had to reassure Shevchenko that his affection for Savoi in no way hindered his desire for her.

Shevchenko pursed her lips together, then said,

“Thomasa is at home in our barracks room. I imagine she will rejoin us tomorrow morning at PT, so save all your questions for her, then.”

Without another word, she excused herself from the armory. Roudan took off after her, while Yoshida and Farouk stared at each other until another fit of laughter descended upon them.

~The Waring Robins~

2nd Year, P. 10

The room fell awkwardly silent once again, as everyone knew Shevchenko’s question was more of a plea than anything else. Yoshida’s cheeks became flushed and jawline tightened. It was safe to say there was a hint of truth nestled within Molvik’s rumor. Understanding exactly what it all entailed had the potential of devastation for Shevchenko. Yoshida was never in the business of unintentional and unwarranted harm. He deflected the question with an abrupt tap on Roudan’s shoulder to show him the new series of fiber laser beam bayonets out on display.

The men marveled at the latest version of weapons enhanced with advanced technology. They spoke in a hushed tone, as to avoid Shevchenko’s wrath for being openly dismissed. Farouk missed the cue that the conversation had changed. He banged his fist on the sergeant’s desk in a tirade.

“Wait a minute! It makes no sense to me that Lt. Co. Adame would place Thomasa essentially on lockdown at the lab over a tawdry rumor. She’s been a model cadet, even improving on her fitness qualifications. I don’t see how her off-duty activities would have such a massive impact on anything else. There has to be more to the story,” he said.

“There is,” Shevchenko interjected, as she watched Yoshida and Roudan pretend not to respond. Roudan swiftly turned and his eyes pierced hers with an intense warning not to say anything else. She darted her eyes away and zoned in on Yoshida. They each held in a breath of anticipation over her next words. The scorn in her eyes surpassed any hope that she had not become unnerved by Yoshida’s refusal to elaborate further details about his rendezvous with Savoi.

“Well, if you must know, I can tell you this; Thomasa reaped the full consequences of her actions,” she said without batting an eyelash.

Farouk perked up at the sound of her unhinged tone. Yoshida smirked, believing Shevchenko was bitter to know he and Savoi were intimately acquainted. He crossed his arms and drew in a sharp breath as she continued.

Shevchenko slowly paced between the sergeant’s desk where Farouk sat, then between Roudan and Yoshida. Her loafers tapped the linoleum floor with deliberate impact. She seized the opportunity to taunt them and relished in their dismay.

“From what I know, the Charlies got an eyeful last night. They were reprimanded for trespassing in the laboratory, which they could’ve only gained access to from a cadet with granted credentials to be there. They told Molvik that Thomasa let them inside. I can’t imagine why she would do such a thing, but perhaps only you can answer that. Right, Haru?”

Yoshida did not reply. He resisted the temptation to defend Savoi, as she had protected him from an impossible situation with the Charlie squad. In his mind, it was better to say nothing than to give Shevchenko the upper hand and twist his words. Matters could not get any worse, so he thought.

Shevchenko became impatient that she could not stir a rile from Yoshida, so she went in for the kill.

“Whatever went on must’ve been enticing, because it gave Molvik the idea that he could have a go at her as well,” she said.

By then, Farouk had become dizzy watching Shevchenko pace around them. He laid his head on the desk as he listened, but snapped upright at her last statement.

“What? What do you mean by that?” he asked.

Yoshida was taken aback. With a scoff, he asked, “You’re joking, right?” He looked at Roudan, who stood stoically beside him. “Lily’s joking, right?”

Roudan remained silent, but his eyes flashed a sorrowful surrender. He watched Yoshida’s eyes swell with rage and tears. Roudan nodded at Shevchenko.

“Lily said she fought him off, so he couldn’t get far,” he said reassuringly.

“How do you know this? Were you with her when it happened?” Farouk asked.

“Of course, not. I had no dealings with her foolishness,” Shevchenko replied smugly.

Yoshida lunged within an inch of Shevchenko’s face. It took all Roudan’s strength to hold him back.

“What do you mean you weren’t there for her? Why wasn’t anyone by her side when that sleazy bastard tried to touch her?” he roared.

Shevchenko nearly fell backwards as the two men tussled to the floor. Farouk panicked for a moment, then found the last of his bearings. He jumped up and yelled at the top of his lungs.

“You two need to stop fighting so we can find Molvik and pulverize him!”

Farouk’s declaration caused Yoshida and Roudan to stop wrestling. Roudan had subdued Yoshida with a headlock to hold him in place, but let him go. They looked at each other, then back at Farouk, in agreement. Without a word, they were on their way to charge out of the armory. Shevchenko halted them with a screech.

“Are you all mad? What the hell are you going to do, Maaz? Will you burn the academy down to avenge Thomasa’s honor? I saw her this afternoon, and she handed me a confidential report.” The men did not readily respond to her, so she continued. “Please believe me when I tell you; the hands she laid on Molvik were far worse than whatever he tried on her. I’m talking about a black eye, 3 cracked ribs, and a noted swollen groin area. The Tribunal Council had Molvik expelled with prejudice. His life is screwed since he can’t enlist anywhere and will have no service for the kingdom.”

The men stood in awe of what Shevchenko revealed. Her sincerity left no room for doubt that she had told them the truth. Yoshida looked at Roudan apologetically for his outburst. Roudan offered an unspoken pardon, and they shook hands. Farouk’s adrenalin crashed as he slumped up against the wall. Roudan and Yoshida helped him back to the sergeant’s desk to rest.

Shevchenko was nearly brought to tears by the entire episode. Everything from Yoshida’s passion for Savoi to Farouk’s attempt to save her, (as if she were a damsel in distress), put the dynamics of the Alpha squad into a clear perspective. Roudan was no better, because he also was ready to tear Molvik and the entire academy to shreds on behalf of Savoi. They all loved her. The truth of the matter revealed, Hatsuharu Yoshida was head over heels in love with Thomasa Savoi.

“Men don’t cry over a woman unless they are completely taken by her.”

Those hollow words rang through Shevchenko’s mind. Her train of thought was interrupted by Farouk’s resumed humming. He lifted his head off the desk and pointed at Shevchenko.

“I’m glad Thomasa is alright, but those were awfully harsh words you had for me, Lily,” he said.

Roudan looked at her with concern.

“Yeah, you probably didn’t need to mention anything about burning down the academy,” he replied.

Yoshida smirked; satisfied and proud that Savoi had taken the garbage out all on her own regarding Molvik. He nodded in agreement with Roudan.

Shevchenko scoffed.

“You all sound just like Thomasa. Even after her hellish ordeal, she had the audacity to tell me to loosen up.”

Farouk chuckled and flexed his eyebrows repeatedly.

“She’s right, you know.” He nodded his head toward her vest pocket, where the second chocolate truffle remained. “I bet if you tried to chill out just once, you wouldn’t be so uptight all the time,” he said.

Roudan reminded everyone that he needed to collect his motorbike from behind the library. He convinced Yoshida to keep Farouk in the armory until he sobered up. Then, he and Shevchenko went to retrieve the bike. They rode around post all night to cool off from the intensity of the armory incident. He took her to the overpass where he and Savoi hung out. Without his knowledge, she ate the entire chocolate truffle. Not long after did the effects take in.

Shevchenko felt like she was floating on a cloud. She giggled infectiously as she plopped down on the mattress. Roudan salvaged one of his flasks filled with lemon moonshine. He took a swig and reluctantly handed the flask to Shevchenko, who nodded for him to do so. She took in a big gulp, even after he tried to persuade her to slow down. She just laughed it off.

“Emmett, come sit next to me,” she cackled.

Roudan eased himself next to her, bewildered by her sudden mood change.

“Everyone thinks I need to loosen up. Well, perhaps they’re right.” She looked at him with a big smile. “Maybe I will,” she said.

Roudan smiled back, and said, “Here, here,” as he toasted his flask in the air. Before he could take another drink, she kissed him on the lips. He pulled away in shock.

“Woah, hold on there, missy!”

Shevchenko grabbed him by the collar. Her eyes pleaded with him.

“I have to start somewhere, right?” she asked.

Roudan could not shake his soft spot for Shevchenko. It was clear he liked her, and she did not dislike him. The same could not be said about her feelings for Yoshida. Perhaps this would be the best way for her to get over him. There was no pressure and nothing was forced between them. He allowed her hands to roam freely as she returned the favor.

~The Waring Robins~

2nd Year, P. 9

The trio headed towards the armory to find Yoshida. Shevchenko gave Farouk a relentless earful of scolding as Roudan carried him on his back.

“I hope you’ve learned your lesson after this,” she said.

Farouk reached inside his trouser pocket, and replied, “Yes ma’am.” Then he pulled out another chocolate truffle and whispered, “Don’t tell Emmett! I snuck this one off the worktable when Thomasa wasn’t looking.”

Shevchenko gasped and quickly snatched the candy from him as he snickered. She tucked it inside a pocket on her vest before Roudan curiously glance at her. With a flirtatious giggle, she abruptly pressed her bosom to his arm. The gesture caused Roudan to stagger in surprise.

“Um, Lily, are you alright?” he asked.

Farouk tried to hold in another snicker, but was unsuccessful. Shevchenko thought it best to distract Roudan from knowing about the second truffle.

“The temperature must’ve dropped since the sun went down. Tonight’s air has me chilly,” she replied as she pressed herself closer to his arm.

Roudan paid Farouk no attention, but did not know what to make of Shevchenko’s sudden teasing.

He stopped walking and said with a boyish grin, “You’re setting me up for failure. There’s no way I can concentrate now that I’m distracted.”

Shevchenko was flattered by his interest in her. She had nearly forgotten about Farouk until he squirmed on Roudan’s back. Roudan had never been mean spirited towards any of his squad members. Shevchenko was astounded that he did not rebuke Farouk, but nodded so they could continue their way.

“Thank you for doing this, Emmett,” she said, then quietly popped Farouk on the leg to make him sit still. “Is he heavy?”

Roudan chuckled.

“Not at all. Maaz is a featherweight, which is why the truffle hit him so hard.”

They arrived at the armory just in time to watch Yoshida release the junior cadets for the evening. He looked comfortable in charge of his crew. The junior cadets both respected and feared him. His previous career as 3rd lieutenant of the Gokudō made it impossible to ignore his prowess. Roudan had often wondered why General Benavides chose him as Skull Leader and Captain of the Alpha squad, instead of Yoshida.   

Roudan strolled up to the armory with Farouk in tow. He saluted Yoshida, then said, “Looking mighty sharp there, senpai.”

Yoshida slowly returned the gesture, puzzled by the peculiar arrival of his squad. Farouk also attempted a salute, but his exaggerated movements caused Roudan to lose balance. Roudan carefully set him down on his feet, but Farouk’s knees instantly buckled and legs gave way. With quick reflexes, Yoshida caught him before he fell to the ground. The men dusted themselves off and rushed to open the front door to the armory. Shevchenko scoffed, appalled by their folly, then entered first. Roudan had to steady Farouk with an arm around his waist as they stumbled inside behind Yoshida.

The armor’s office was piled with several weapons. Some were disassembled, while others had green tags. Yoshida and his crew had been busy with a requested inventory for weapons to be shipped out in the field. As acting sergeant, he could not leave the armory until all the weapons were accounted for. Which caused him to be moodier than usual.

Once inside, Farouk tried to salute Yoshida again. This time was less disastrous, though he still needed to brace himself on Shevchenko. She was annoyed and abruptly pushed him onto Roudan.

“Nice form,” Yoshida cackled.

Farouk stood at Parade Rest, and drunkenly replied, “Thanks. I managed pretty well, didn’t I?” He leaned back on Roudan and snickered. “Even though I ate the whole thing!”

Yoshida furrowed his brow in confusion.

“What?”

Roudan shook his head and jabbed Farouk on the arm to silence him. It was Shevchenko’s scowl that made matters worse. Farouk stiffened up, and answered, “What?” as if he did not remember what he had said just moments ago. An awkward silence descended upon them until Yoshida walked to his desk with his hands in his pocket.

“Alright, I give up. Will someone please tell me what the hell is going on?” he asked.

Roudan and Farouk looked anxiously around the room, then Shevchenko blurted, “He’s a hot mess, and we have Thomasa to thank for it! She gave him drugged up chocolate candy, instead of being a real friend.”

Yoshida looked at Roudan, then at Farouk.

“Ok, but why’d you bring him here?” he asked calmly.

Roudan replied, “I’m embarrassed to admit I know nothing about how to sober him up, and clearly we can’t leave him alone.”

Yoshida smirked, slightly annoyed. He sat down and said, “There’s nothing to be done at this point. He will have to wait until it wears off.”

Shevchenko got more riled up as she watched Roudan wrestle to get Farouk settled in a chair.

“Thomasa should be tending to him. This isn’t fair to any of us,” she said.

“Well, it’s not like she knew he would take it all at once. Besides, she probably can’t leave the lab anymore for a while,” Roudan sighed.

Farouk perked up and interjected.

“It’s true. She told me so herself. I guess after what went on, Lt. Co. Adame will watch her like a hawk.”

Shevchenko gasped and looked at Roudan. They wondered if Farouk heard all that had transpired between Savoi and Molvik. Yoshida was none the wiser, and asked, “What do you mean?”

“I guess you wouldn’t know, since you’ve been stuck in here all day. Cadet Molvik heard from Charlie squad that they got in trouble last night watching you and Thomasa have sex in the computer lab,” Farouk sang as if it were lyrics to a song.

“It wasn’t the computer lab you dolt, it was the science lab!” Shevchenko shouted.

“Oh, yes! That makes more sense,” Farouk giggled.

Yoshida leapt to his feet, completely dumbfounded.

“Both of you are wrong! Those Charlies got what was coming to them on their own accord, and it had nothing to do with Thomasa and I having sex,” he replied.

Shevchenko felt a breath of relief for a moment.

“So, the rumor was a big fat lie?” she asked coyly.

~The Waring Robins~

2nd Year, P. 8

No sooner than Shevchenko settled herself on the backseat of the motorbike, Roudan sped off. He did not want to chance that she would change her mind. This was probably the most brazen move she had made since the night she announced her enrollment at the academy to her family. With so much going on with the war, Savoi, and Yoshida, there was no better time to drown all thoughts out with a high-speed trek through campus.

Calvary academy’s maximum speed limit of 35 MPH was dismissed in preference of the motorbike’s max of 75 MPH. The fierce rainstorm from the prior evening had long ceased and left the gift of a warm sunlit evening. Shevchenko was delighted to take in the fresh air and scenery as they drove through rainbow-reflected puddles. Not even the slightest hint of a chill came about. Only waves of pleasure and freedom washed over them. It was a defining moment, a treasure for both Shevchenko and Roudan. She allowed her long blonde hair to flail in the wind and carelessly tightened her arms around his waist. This was the closet physical contact between them since the entrance exam.

 He mused over how her attitude towards him had gone from cold to lukewarm, and in that moment, as warm as the sun. The combination of his confidence, swagger, and leadership abilities earned him her favor. During the year and a half of their enrollment at the academy, Roudan had mastered the art of balancing all their strengths against their weaknesses. The Alpha squad was considered a finely tuned machine. There were, of course, a few hiccups.

In the distance, on the backside of the library, a small figure clung to light a post. Roudan and Shevchenko zipped past the person until they realized it was Farouk. Roudan turned around to meet him. The boy giggled up a storm and sobbed all at once. He sang loudly in his native tongue and sounded like an injured cat. Roudan parked his bike and helped Shevchenko dismount.

“Maaz, what the hell is the matter with you?” she shouted as she slapped his cheeks.

“Oh, hello Lily. What are you doing out here?” he smirked.

“I asked you first,” she snapped.

Farouk plopped onto the ground, even as he still clung to the light post.

“Oh, it’s simple. I’m at the library. We just finished the study session for the flight exam,” he answered.

Shevchenko knelt beside him.

“Your study session ended hours ago. Why are you still here?” she asked.

Farouk giggled again, but when he saw Shevchenko’s scowl, he shushed himself and the light post.

“Oh, it’s simple,” he giggled. “I was stressed about the cram session, so I went to see Thomasa at the lab for one of her magical pep talks. She said she was busy and handed me a chocolate truffle. Her great advice was for me to take a small bite before and after my appointment.”

Roudan sighed heavily, which caused Shevchenko to look at them crossly.

“Maaz, did you eat the whole thing?” Roudan gently asked with concern.

Farouk nodded his head repeatedly and eventually bumped into the light post. He continued to giggle as Shevchenko helped him to his feet.

“Thomasa knows I love chocolate. I thought she was just sharing a snack with me. I imagined nothing would happen,” he said.

Shevchenko shook Farouk to stop his giggles.

“What in the world is the problem with a chocolate truffle?” she asked.

Roudan leaned to whisper in her ear.

“Thomasa is a master chemist with amazing abilities to create potions, serums, and, best of all, drugs,” he said.

Shevchenko looked at Roudan in disgust.

“She drugged him?”

Roudan smirked and replied, “More than likely the truffle was laced with something to calm his nerves, but he mistakenly didn’t follow her instructions on how to use it.”

Farouk began his dreadful song all over again with more tears. He stopped crying when Roudan hoisted him onto his back.

“Ooh, a piggyback ride!” he chimed with glee.

Roudan nodded for Shevchenko to collect the books off the ground.

“I’m sorry our road trip got sidelined,” she said.

Roudan chuckled.

“It’s alright. Our excursion will continue later if you’d like. Right now, we must sober him up,” he said.

Shevchenko pouted.

“Can’t we just take him back to the barracks?” she asked.

Roudan shook his head.

“Although drugs and alcohol aren’t specifically prohibited, extreme inebriation is frowned upon. I’m afraid our dear fellow is lit like a Christmas tree, which could reflect poorly on his evaluation. We can’t afford to let anyone see him in this state.”

Farouk finally stopped singing and buried his face in the back of Roudan’s head. Shevchenko was alarmed at his abrupt silence, and asked, “Maaz, are you alright?”

Farouk hesitated to respond, then lifted his head with a cackle.

“Oh, it’s simple. I’m fine!” He cut off his laugh and frowned. “Feels like I’m falling, but in the opposite direction.”

~The Waring Robins~