Cognition

Old dust and hot dirt, that's all a town like Old York was to Abbot and his friends, Ozias and Finleigh. The history books had told them all they needed to know about the past.

Old dust and hot dirt, that's all a town like Old York was to Abbot and his friends, Ozias and Finleigh. The history books told them all they needed to know about the past, the people and the civilizations that had come before them.

All those lives, cares, worries and hopes, like so many slabs of rock in the stratum of time, lost to the ages, crushed under the ambition of the new world.

*

 

It was like a haze of ancient particles, caught in a dance by the fierce rays of indomitable sunlight. It was a shriveled, dried out husk of a city that had developed a cancerous infection at its core; the lime green heart of the new city squeezed into the broken bones. Through the white windows of the office, Ozias glanced out at the old corpse; the sight gave him pause.

"You're going to have to pick yourself up, recruits, if you want to be in my Navy!"

The voice broke through the fog like an iron pike and shocked Ozias back to attention. Ozias back to wakefulness. With a stiff back he stood at attention, staring straight ahead into the unforgiving eyes of his instructor, Lieutenant Gagnon. Normally that murderous stare would have made Ozzy quiver like a pot of jelly, but this time he wasn't alone.

His partners in crime were standing at his side: Abbot and Finleigh. Abby and Fin hadn't been much for the scheme, but he had dragged them into it nonetheless. Ozias might not have been the best recruit in the course, but he was the most persuasive when he needed to be.

Gagnon frowned at the three of them, jabbing his finger into Ozzy’s face. "What I don't understand is how you two got roped into this mess along with him...Mr. Saxon is the troublemaker here, but you two? You're in the top of your classes! How can you even think to put all that into jeopardy, by pulling these...these...low-grade pranks!? This is the Academy of the Stellar Navy, and by every God on this earth, I will not have slackers pass this course!" Lt. Gagnon's dark brow was furrowed with anger, his hands set firmly on the solid oak of his tall work desk. The three recruits stood like dark blue statues in the low light of his office, wincing with every word from his spittle-strewn mouth.

Ozias tried to pay attention to the words, to take them into his heart and really understand, but the world outside kept calling to him. The dark, skeletal remains of Old York, once used by generations past surrounded the Academy. Now it was a bone dry forest standing as a monument to days long past. They seemed to draw his gaze like a distant mountain range.

"Serviceman Ozias! Eyes front!"

Ozias snapped his head away from the endless range of shattered buildings and faced his instructor, his teeth grinding together in frustration.

"Are you even listening to me, recruit!? Am I making it past that thick skull of yours?"

"Sir-yes-sir!" the words rang loudly throughout the crowded office. Lieutenant Gagnon exhaled loudly and fell back into his seat, waving his hand in the air.

"I guess it’s useless trying to get through to you eggheads! Won't learn unless you can see the consequences with your own eyes eh? Fine then!"

Gagnon cross the floor of his office until he was within an inch of Ozzy's face. The man's breath smelled like burning mint.

"Sweeper duty for the entire perimeter of the Academy grounds! I want every sidewalk spotless as the shack floor! You start at oh-five-hundred hours tomorrow morning, Serviceman!"

Ozias was about to let out a disappointed groan, but he thought better of it and kept his face impassive. He tried to stop himself from leaning away from the leering face of Gagnon, but he kept bending like an antenna in the wind. Gagnon scoffed at him and turned to Abby and Fin.

"Serviceman Abbot! Servicewoman Finleigh! I want you both to report to the Old York Alpha Shelter for one hour's worth of community service!"

Gagnon gave Ozias one last sneer before turning his attention back to Abby and Fin. "Only because you two have shown aptitude in this course...and because I already know who the ringleader of this little gang is."

The recruits stood in their immobile line as silently as if they were asleep, but inside they were angrily griping. They all watched out of the corners of their eyes as Gagnon walked back to his desk and turned away from them.

"Dismissed! Get out of my office!"

Like scolded children, the recruits each made a sharp turn in good drill order, then scurried out of the office. Abbot held the door open until his friends had gotten out of there, and then quickly closed it behind them.

They didn't wait around once they were out; just as easily as Gagnon yelled at them in his office, he could yell at them outside his office too. They scooted down the hall as quickly as a fast march could carry them, turning one white-walled corner after another through the smooth glass of the academy halls.

In short order they found themselves in the lobby that connected all the offices of the east wing. It was empty and poorly lit.

They took their ease on one of the rows of cushioned waiting chairs, catching their breath for a moment. It didn't take long for Abby and Fin to confront Ozzy, their arms crossed and deep, furrowed frowns on both of their faces.

"Ozias, this is the last time I help you with anything! You're going to get everyone expelled!" Finleigh hissed. The lobby was empty except for them, but even so she glanced around to make sure no one in any of the nearby offices had heard her outburst.

Abbot nodded his whole-hearted agreement. "Not that I don't see the merit in stealing Cormack's gym shoes and filling them with mess gravy...but this has got to stop. You're taking it too far."

"You see!?" Fin shouted, quickly turning to see if anyone nearby had heard her. "Even Abbot agrees with me! And Abbot's got even less of a spine than you do!"

"Hey c'mon, there's no need for that."

"I'm just telling it like it is!"

Ozias leaned back and rolled his eyes, setting his elbows on the back of the chair as he stretched his legs.

"You both need to relax. The punishment fits the crime okay? Gagnon's being fair to everyone. At least you don't have to do sweeper duty." Ozzy leaned back in his seat, looking away to stare at some dull paintings hanging on the lobby wall. A bitter expression creased his features as he thought about how long it would take to sweep the perimeter of the entire school.

"You didn't exactly think this through." Abbot reminded him.

"We wouldn't have to do anything if you didn't get caught, Ozzy!" Finleigh scorned, kicking him in the foot.

Ozzy pulled back from her kick, pointing an accusing finger at both of them. "Hey! I didn't make you guys do anything, okay? You didn't seem to be complaining all that much when we were stealing gravy packets from the mess."

Abbot shook his head. "Your stupid pranks are going to get us all thrown out."

Ozzy pushed himself up off the chair, straightening up with a smug smile on his face.

"You guys enjoyed yourselves for once, admit it."

Abbot and Fin glanced at each other, a twinkle of amusement in their eyes. Their arms were still crossed, and they were still angry, but they had to admit, Ozzy was right. It was the first time they had acted out, been more than just quiet grey-men throughout their whole course. It was rough to be berated by Gagnon, the man that they had grown to respect, but they had both sort of liked getting into trouble.

Finleigh gave an exasperated sigh. "Look...just lay off the stuff for now... we've got some serious work coming up, and I haven't got an extra hour to spend at the Alpha Shelter."

"...If you can of course. I imagine it must be hard for you...doing actual work." Abbot teased, a snide smile on his face.

Ozias glared at him. "Oh ha ha...sure, whatever guys... we've all got to buckle down. I'm all for it. But we still have one thing to discuss."

With a knowing glance, Ozias opened up his workbag and began rummaging through the innards. From out of the bag, he pulled a small mechanical device with a digital screen, handing it to his friends.

"Someone's got to get rid of the Commaxe; the instructors can't know we have it. We will get it in so much crap if they find it!" Ozias whispered, but his friends backed away with their hands up, as though he were holding them hostage.

"You can't be serious, what are either of us going to do with a Commaxe? It's a military-grade computer spider!"

"It's your damn hackers’ toy! Give it back to your uncle. “Finleigh whined, scooping up her own workbag and heading for the door," I've got to get dressed for this damn punishment; I'll see you at the door, Abbot.".

Ozzy turned to Abbot with a pleading look. "I can't give it back to Uncle Harrison! He lives in Columbia, for God's sake! Someone's got to take it, or at least throw it out!"

"Well I might have taken it if you didn't use the lord's name in vain, Ozias."

"Oh please! Can you get off your high horse for a second and help me?"

Abbot gave him a sour look. "The last time I helped you I ended up in Gagnon's office, remember?"

"I'm serious Abby. I need you to get rid of it, off the academy grounds! If they find it in the garbage somewhere they'll trace it back to me. You're going to the Alpha Shelter anyways; just throw it in an alleyway. If they find it I’ll be thrown out of the school!"

Abbot turned his head, considering the favor. "What do I get out of it?"

"Look, I'll make you a pot of recaff when you get back to the dorm, alright? Just please, do this for me, neither of us can afford to get caught with it."

“You mean YOU can’t afford to be caught with it. My grades are so good; Gagnon would let me get away with anything.” Abbot chuckled to himself.

"Sure whatever, just take it and get rid of it."

Abbot snatched the Commaxe from Ozzy's hand and stuffed it into his bag. He gave his friend one last wary look, before heading out of the lobby.

"I'll see you tonight, Ozzy. Try to stay out of trouble," he offered before leaving. Ozzy gave him a wave and a strained smile.

"Oh I'll be fine buddy, don't worry about me."

Author's Note

Review at your leisure