Cognition

Chapter Two of Circumspector

The United Naval Academy was a monolith; its exterior gleamed with all the arrogance of youth, towers like pearls shining in the heated air. And the air was hot; forty degrees Celsius on the garden roofs, only slightly cooler in the lower junctions. The sun beat down from a hazy sky the color of dry sea foam. Long stretches of hallway fell forward in front of Abbot Jamir as he followed behind an angry Finleigh.

“Can you believe him? It’s a wonder he’s lasted this long in the course. His uncle probably forged his application.” Finleigh muttered bitterly, her hands balled into fists as she stormed down the hall. Abbot tried to smile, but Fin wasn’t even looking at him anymore.

As they passed groups of stiff-looking naval recruits, Abbot heard a sound like chanting reverberating through the walls. He craned his head and listened closely.

“Hold on just a second Fin.” Abbot asked, as he and Fin rushed by the white, glassine walls.

“What is it?” She snapped.

Abbot turned to the wall, blank and featureless as a still pond. He waved at it as though he were clearing smoke, and the glass parted like windowpanes at his fingertips. Where once there had been a wall, there was a tight balcony into the open air, and a perfect view of the courtyard far below.

It was a procession of recruits, each dressed in pristine uniforms and assembled in neat rows. They moved like geometric poetry, perfect and seamless as though a machine had cut them from the concrete court they stood in. Their anthems were carrying on the air.

Blue of the Northern Deep, Gold of Southern God's Sun,
Let these colors be, till all of time be done,
By Solos shore we learn, our Navy's ancient call:
Faith, Courage, Service true, with Honor Over All.

On each breast pocket was hung the emblem of the Stellar Navy, an ancient symbol from some forgotten world.

“Can we get a move on Abby?”

Abbot sighed with disappointment. “I can’t believe we’re going to Miss Bravo three’s inauguration.”

Finleigh shrugged. “Hey, it’s not like they’re the only group of recruits getting out of here. You and I are gonna be down there someday soon.”

Abbot smiled down at them. “Good job Navies.”

“They can’t here you idiot. Let’s get going.”

Finleigh managed to pry Abbot away from his window, and the pair rushed to their dormitories to find their civilian working clothes. Each managed to produce a set of identical black trousers made of thick material, along with close fitting sweatshirts. They were uncomfortable and unsightly, but they were pre-approved for physical work and the recruits knew better than to wear their civvies for punishment duty.

Abbot emerged from the sliding glass of his dormitory, still fixing the final steel clasp on the top of his sweatshirt, work bag dangling loosely from his shoulder. Fin was already at the end of the hallway, tapping her foot against the pasteel with an impatient scowl on her face.

"Are you ready to go yet?"

"Yeah just give me a second..."

"I want to get this over with."

Abbot gave her an agreeable nod. "Me too. I hate working for Papa Fachi..."

"The guy is a f*****g creep."

Her face twisted into a sneer as she recalled the last time she had seen the infamous slumlord.

“If anyone touches me over there,” Fin held up a threatening fist, her lithe muscles bulging under her sweatshirt, "fingers are going to break. I swear to god."

"Break all the fingers you want Fin, but curse it to someone else okay?"

Fin blew an exhausted whistle. "Oh my Go-- okay... sorry. I guess I do say it a lot."

Abbot gave her a comforting smile as he shouldered his bag and shoved his hands in his pockets.

"It's okay, I forgive you."

Abbot and Fin double-checked their kit once more, just to be safe, before they crossed the hallway to the stairwell. The long, winding steps led ten stories down to the common level, where they would have to take a car to the exit tunnel that led the rest of the way down. Elevators were forbidden for recruits, but Fin and Abby didn’t mind taking the stairs, it gave them a chance to do something they enjoyed for once.

Leaping down the stair with their hands riding the guardrail, the two recruits raced each other to the bottom. The sheer drop didn't seem to even register in their minds as they careened around the tight corners.

"Oh c'mon! Give me a chance at least."

"No way highscore! You win or you lose." Fin giggled

She flipped her bag over her shoulder and kicked up onto the railing, sliding down the curving length with all the deftness of an acrobat on a tight rope. Abbot was left hopelessly behind, muttering as he stumbled down the last few steps.

"You'd probably get the same grades as me if you put some of that energy into your studies."

"Blah blah blah...I beat you, get over it." Fin laughed, shouldering her work bag and waving her hand in front of the door. Hydraulic clamps released and the door slid open to reveal the massive domed roof of the common level cafetorium.

Hundreds of students, instructors, and civilian workers crowded the wide dining hall. Clusters of mechanical security patrolled the floor, their steel shells painted neon red. Save for the civilian workers and machines, everyone wore identical uniforms of starched white, their chests adorned with Naval imagery. Steaming wafts of hot air met Fin and Abby as they stepped through the entrance and into the common level, the smell of cooked protein and salted stews.

Somewhere, a mechanical voice droned out the day's marching orders over a loudspeaker.

Please remember to keep all facial hair maintained to the grooming standard...please remember to have all sleeves rolled to the three inch minimum...All glory to the Stellar Navy...

The rich-smelling air slowed Abbot down and making his stomach growl in protest. He found himself considering the rows of glass-cased food with a hungry eye.

"Maybe we should grab something while we're here, Fin? Do you feel like it?"

"I've got some rice cakes in the bag, we'll be fine." Fin had to shout over the noise of the crowd, as she weaved her way through passing students and instructors. More than once the two companions gave a curt nod to someone they knew, not wanting to stop and chat. Though working clothes were only worn for one purpose really, Abby and Fin weren't keen on letting everyone know that they had gotten in trouble.

They had almost reached the end of the cafetorium, having snuck their way around the far side to avoid the worst of the surging crowd. The doors to the outside world yawned open in front of them. When Abby saw them he almost tripped over his own feet.

Leaning against the polished glass with a group of her colleagues, was Chappy Constance, a senior scientist who had come to UNA three months ago. Those three months, he thought that she was looking more and more at home, but not so much for Abby, who was hopelessly infatuated with the woman. Unsociable and aloof at the best of times, Abbot became almost catatonic whenever he saw Dr.Constance's pixie hair against the white of her lab coat collar.

"What is it?" Finleigh snapped, when Abbot stumbled in front of her. Finleigh leaned over his shoulder to see what he was looking at and spotted the doctor, laughing along with her colleagues to some unheard joke.

"Seriously? Get a grip, Abbot, we have somewhere to be."

But Abby didn't say anything. His mouth moved as though he wanted to speak, but no words came out. He could feel his body shuddering with every hammer-beat of his terrified heart. Every fibre of his being told him to turn around, before he embarrassed himself in whatever way would inevitably happen.

"May....maybe we can ta-take the other doors..." He suggested through stammering lips. He made to turn around but Fin stood behind him, blocking his escape.

Fin rolled her eyes. "Come one highscore, let's go."

She grabbed her friend by the arm and sped forward before he could think, dragging him along like a scared dog.

"Hey, let go of me!"

But it was no use. Fin was making a bee-line for the exit and Abby had no choice but to go with her. He could almost feel his face swelling up with blood as they passed Chappy Constance. Fin saw Abbot's terrified expression and gave him a villainous grin.

"Good Afternoon, Dr. Constance!" Fin shouted across the way, waving with her free hand and smiling broadly. Abbot felt as though he were going to faint, as the doctor glanced his way and waved back, unsure of who had greeted her. All Abbot could do was force a brief smile, before ducking through the door as fast as his feet could carry him.

Fresh air greeted them as Fin and Abby staggered through the sliding doors and out onto the steps of the Academy. Abbot didn't stop to admire the powder blue sky.

He raced down the concrete steps and out onto the vacant lawn of the Academy grounds, his work-bag clutched in a trembling fist. It took Abbot a moment to catch his breath before he could speak again.

"What the hell!? Why'd you do that!??" he cried out in between gasps, his hands on his knees. 

Fin brushed the hair out of her eyes and gave Abby a nefarious grin, taking her time as she strolled down the steps.

"You're f*****g awful. How is it you like that doctor so much, yet you can't say a word to her?" Fin tossed her head back and laughed, passing Abbot by as he glared up at her.

"I can talk to her whenever I'd like! I'm just not ready!"

"Yeah, and by my guess you never will be." Fin chuckled, heading down the white stone pathway and off the lawn. Abbot wiped perspiration of his forehead and picked himself back up, jogging to catch up with Fin.

"Make fun of me all you want on your own time okay? But don't embarrass me in front of Chappy! If I screw up she's going to think I'm weird."

"and she would be right!"

Abbot rolled his eyes and reached into his shirt pocket, grabbing the silver cross that hung around his neck.

"I'm praying for you."

"Stop it."

"No, I'm doing it."

Fin growled in her throat. "You cut that s**t out..."

"Dear God in Heaven...please forgive this brutal woman..."

Finleigh lurched forward to shove Abby off his feet, but he jerked away at the last moment, a cheeky smile lighting up his pale features. Dancing out of her reach, he continued to mockingly pray for her in a pious tone.

"She knows not what she doeth..."

"Abby it's not funny!"

"Well look who's awful now?"

Fin scoffed and crossed her arms. "You've made your point okay? Give it a rest!"

Abby and Fin made their way across the front lawn, passing instructors and officers on their way in and out of the Academy doors. As the two companions made their way off the lawn and onto the road, a large blue bus with grimy windows was just pulling through the yellow-striped doors of the exit ramp.

Fin let out a resigned sigh as she saw the bus screech to a halt at the edge of the pathway.

"There's our ride." 

 

Author's Note

Review at your leisure.