Guilty Until Proven Innocent

The walk out of the combat room is quiet except for a few whispers and a rare snicker. Word is already going around already about Blue Team's leader getting thrown into a wall and about the girl with the robotic leg. However, as we walk by, nobody says a word. Everyone in the squad is silent as we walk towards the forest and to a clearing which sits about a hundred yards in.

        The clearing is a small cleared space in the forest for squads to go during their free time when they want some peace and quiet. Administration decided to put it there after a few students had cracked from the pressure and began attacking each other and their instructors. In a sense it was the "time-out corner" of the academy.

        I look around the space and check for anyone else. There were usually a few people there at any given time but right now it's empty. Over the years it had become the squad's meeting place whenever something important came up. After the little show in CQC we all knew we needed to talk. As we stop and sit on the benches that form a circle around the edge of the clearing I think about what just happened.

        "She risked breaking my ribs and maybe killing me for a joke." I thought, "Is she mad at me about what happened that night? Does she think that what happened to her was my fault? Then there's the problem of having a squad member attacking their commander. Administration won't like that at all… I don’t plan on saying anything and I’ll deny it but still…." I sit there and think about this for a while until Lydia speaks to me and I snap back to reality.

        "Sir," Lydia says with a concerned look on her face, “are you ready to start the meeting?"

        "Sir?"  I think, "She never calls me sir. She must be pretty on edge."

        Looking back at her I nod and stand. "Thank you all for coming out here with me." I say, nodding to each of them, "As you know we are here to discuss a potential issue. The issue of course, is Cassie," I finish and turn around to face her.

        Her face, which had previously been showing a triumphant smirk, turned to shock.

        "Me?" She sputters, "How am I a problem!? Are you just mad because I beat you on the mat?"

        I raise a finger and am about to explain the situation but don’t get a chance. Sarah jumps to her feet and looks outraged.

        "HOW ARE YOU THE PROBLEM!?" Sarah screams at her, "YOU are the problem because YOU almost killed him! It's a miracle he doesn't even have any broken ribs! If it wasn't for the padding on the wall and all the physical enhancements we have, he might have died! So please excuse us if we don't just ignore the fact that you almost killed our friend and leader. The same person who, in fact, risked his life to save yours years ago because you were too stupid to avoid a freaking tree!" Sarah finishes this with her face an angry shade of crimson I've never seen on her before and with her hands clenched into fists by her sides. She's breathing heavily and looks like she's either about to start shouting again or lunge at Cassie and tear her head off.

        Taking advantage of the momentary silence I quickly walk over to Sarah and guide her back to her bench. As I sit her down I glance around and see that everyone except Cassie has varying looks of agreements on their faces. It dawns on me that when Cassie had kicked me into the wall they might have actually thought I was dead. Cassie's face shows a mixture of shock, fear, and indignation. It seems as if she's angry that she's being accused of all this but is afraid of what's about to happen to her.

        Stepping out of the circle so I'm able to face everyone, I take note of Cassie's fear, Sarah's anger, and everyone else's visible emotions. Zach is simply watching and listening. He gives me a nod that tells me he'll back up any decision I make. Bishop looks a little more aggravated about the situation but also appears to just be waiting on my verdict. Drew's expression is a blend of confusion and concern. He's probably trying to understand why Cassie did what she did and is worrying about what unseen effects the kick might have had on me. He'll want to give me a full check-up after the meeting is over. Looking over at the girls, it's an entirely different story.

        Sarah is still clenching her fists and is looking at Cassie like she wants to kill her; but there's something else there too. Relief. She keeps glancing at me with a look that is a mix between concern and relief. She's just glad that I'm alive and doesn't want anything like this to happen again. This comforts me because it means if I say everything just right, we can settle everything without anyone dying or leaving the squad.

        Lydia is trying to comfort Sarah and handle her own thoughts at the same time. She's patting Sarah's back and whispering words of comfort while slowly looking around with a confused look on her face. I have a feeling that she caught on to the comment about me saving Cassie's life and wants to know about what happened all those years ago. She keeps glaring distrustfully at Cassie and glancing at me with an expectant look at her face.

        Sighing, I gather my thoughts and make eye contact with everyone in turn. It’s silent and I can tell I have everyone’s undivided attention. “Although rather uncalled for,” I state evenly, “Sarah is right. The event in CQC is a bit of a problem and needs to be discussed. You all know how we do things here. Cassie will explain the situation from her side, then any other concerns and questions will be brought up and addressed, and then a decision will be made. Seeing how I was the one kicked into a wall, I think it will be my call.”

        There’s some nodding and then Bishop says, “Tristan…. You seem pretty calm for someone who got kicked into a wall. Did you knock something loose in your head back there?”

        The question catches me a bit off guard. “He’s right, shouldn’t I be freaking out a bit more right now? We weren’t exactly trained for situations where we get sent flying by our own squadmates.” I hesitate a few moments and then answer him with a smile, “If I knocked anything loose it obviously wasn’t anything too important because I still know I can take you down. All jokes aside, thanks for the concern but I'm fine. I’m alive and well and that’s all that matters.”

        He gives me a slight grin and nods.

        Then a thought that should have been obvious comes to mind. “Cassie,” I ask slowly, “why am I still alive? I’m not complaining, but shouldn’t I be dead?”

        Glad to finally have a chance to defend herself, she stands up and talks with a twinge of annoyance in her voice “You’re alive because you were never really in any danger. When they gave me the new leg they gave me an implant that lets me control certain functions with my thoughts. Walking and stuff like that doesn’t require anything more than before but I can use the implant to calculate the pressure I apply and the density and structure of objects thanks to little scanners they placed in my eyes. I knew just what parts of your body could take how much pressure when applied in each direction. As long as you didn’t sneeze or try to duck or anything you were perfectly safe.” She sits back down looking triumphant and pleased with herself.

        I can’t help but feel irritated that she did all this just to show off a little trick. Especially with all the risks and possibilities that had been associated with what had happened.

        Zach, who was now looking at Cassie with a renewed interest, stood up. “How did you know he was truly safe?” He asked, “There’s always been a bit of trouble with those kinds of implants. The interference from the brain’s electrical currents tends to make complicated procedures like your little stunt pretty hard to calculate.”

        Cassie just shrugged and said “I was confident with the numbers it gave me.”

        The reality of those words sinks in. She had done all this regardless of the risks. She hadn’t even thought of what would happen if her implant had decided to glitch at the last second.

Everyone looks at me and I try to keep the anger out of my voice as I ask, “Anything else to add Cassie?”

        She shrugs again and says “I just don’t see what the big deal is. Everything worked out fine.”

        Allowing myself a little exertion of anger, I clench and unclench my hands into fists a few times before I say “If anyone has anything to say, now’s the time to say it.”

        Sarah looks exasperated as she stands and points to Cassie and speaks in a barely controlled voice. “If she hasn’t proved that she can’t be trusted,” She pronounces, “then I don’t know what else you need short of her shooting you in the back. That’s all I have to say.” I nod as Sarah sits back down and crosses her arms while giving Cassie a look that could only be described as pure hatred.

        After a few moments Zach rises and faces me. “If you decide to keep her,” He offers, “I’ll take a look and see if I can’t make the calculations more reliable. I rarely get a chance to work with this kind of tech.” He doesn’t add anything else and just sits down then looks at the ground.

        Hmmmm……. So Zach wants her to stay around? I’m going to have to keep an eye on that.

        A minute passes and nobody else says anything so I decide that the time for a final decision is here. “Everyone has had a chance to speak and state their opinions.” I begin, slowly looking into each face, “After careful thought and consideration, I have made a decision.” I take a moment to make sure I’m not having any second thoughts about what I’m about to do before I continue. “Cassie… will remain on the squad due to her not being familiar with the way our squad runs and her past ties to me and my involvement in the incident that resulted in the loss of her leg. Punishment will be administrated in private by Lydia after this meeting is concluded.” Ignoring the looks of shock and open mouths, I look Lydia in the eyes, “The form of punishment is completely up to you and any repercussions for said punishment will be received by me.” I explain, “You will suffer no penalties for whatever you decide to do. Know however, that it is your responsibility that today’s incident is never repeated. Do you understand and accept this responsibility and the conditions stated?”

        Much to her credit, Lydia doesn’t let any shock or discomfort show on her face. She simply stands, salutes, replies with a curt “Yes sir,” and sits back down.

        Giving her a nod, I turn to everyone and announce “Now we will leave Lydia and Cassie here and wait for them at the edge of the forest. You all know the drill. Come on.”

        Everyone still seems stunned but rises and starts walking away from the clearing in silence. Nobody looks back once towards Lydia and Cassie but it’s obvious that we’re all wondering what’s about to happen in the clearing, and whether or not they’re both going to come out alive.