YOUNG ADULT — SCIENCE FICTION

Kali’s Got A No-Nonsense Attitude In Thule

Space Cadet Academy 2 — Chapter 4

Photo by Visit Greenland on Unsplash

When the cadets entered the mess hall, the place was busy. Lieutenant Cruse led them to a table close to the serving counter where they would pick up their meal. Dirk sat at the table, waiting for the others to go through the line ahead of him. As usual, Ethan was the first in the line to get food. The rest of the guys waited for the girls to get their food before filing in behind them. Benji and Dirk were always the last two in line no matter where they ate.

There were almost too many choices. Ethan had convinced Beth who followed him, to take extra portions as he had no room on his plate. He would share his plate with her in return. Beth simply smiled in agreement. She wasn’t fussy about what she ate. Behind Beth, Kali grunted in disgust. Beth was too soft in her opinion. There was no way that Kali would coddle a guy like Beth did.

As usual, while sitting at the table, Ethan was his usual loud and boisterous self. Because of his volume, a group from a nearby table came up to the cadet’s table.

“Hey, it sounds like you’re from Boston,” a burly soldier stated as he offered Ethan his hand.

David stood up, surprised that a real soldier was talking to him.

“No, Sir, Birmingham, Sir.”

“Don’t sir me, boy,” the soldier replied. “Sir is for officers. Just call me PFC Caleb Adams. What’s your handle, boy?”

The other cadets listened, not comprehending everything being said. However, it appeared Ethan had no problem understanding the American soldier.

“Ethan, Sir … Mr. Adams.”

Adams slapped him on the back, “Just call me Caleb. So, you’re off to the Space Station, are you? Me ‘n the guys wanna wish you luck.” He turned to grin and wink at his buddies before turning back to Ethan and including the rest of the cadets, to continue.

“Ya know, the last three groups never made it to the Space Station. Yep, their rockets misfired and their ships fell into the sea. Scuttlebutt has it they became a meal for the local polar bears.”

Seeing the shock on the kids faces, Adams and his buddies doubled up in laughter. Catching his breath, Adams said, “Just joshing you guys. Bears, especially Polar bears don’t particularly like eating humans.”

“I suppose they would make an exception for a PFC or two,” Kali returned. “Especially well fed PFC’s.”

“Now, there’s the spirit, girl.” Looking at her name tag, he added, “Kali? How do you say it, Kay-lee, Call-ee?”

“It’s Kali, the same as the Indian Goddess who is the Destroyer of Evil Forces.”

“Woohee, we got us a Goddess here.”

PFC Adams gave a formal bow, only to have Kali comment, “You may rise, PFC Caleb Adams.”

Lieutenant Cruse came over to the table to see what the commotion was about.

“Adams, I see you’re up to your old habits.”

Adams straightened and his face took on a pallor. He had run into Lieutenant Cruse in the past and it hadn’t ended well for him.

“Sorry Ma’am. Me and the guys are just wishing the cadets good luck. That’s all, I swear.”

Cruse gave him a hard stare which soon had him looking down at the floor. Turning to Kali, she asked, “Is this true, Kali?”

“Yes, Ma’am. Caleb was just trying to make us feel at home, especially Ethan who he thought was a fellow American.”

Adam looked up at Kali with respect. He knew she had saved his butt.

“Good to hear, PFC Adams. Perhaps you and your buddies would show the cadets where the rec center is. They have some time to kill.”

“Yes, Ma’am. You can count on us, Ma’am. When they’re ready, we’ll come back and take them to the rec center. We’re just sittin’ over there, Ma’am.”

Cruse turned to face the cadets so that Caleb Adams wouldn’t see her face, and winked before saying, “He’s harmless though a nuisance. I’m heading back to the junior officer’s table in back corner. If you need me, just wave.”

With that she turned and walked back to her table.

“Wow! Did you see her put him in his place?” Nicole said with awe and admiration in her voice. Someday I’m going to be an officer, just like her.”

Following a boisterous time in the rec centre with PFC Adams, the cadets got to spend time in one of the hot pools, following an aquatic work out in the evening led by the Lieutenant. Back in their dorm for the night, it wasn’t long before everyone was ready for bed.

“Lights out!” commanded the Lieutenant. “We’ve got a final medical check tomorrow morning before we will be allowed onto the rocket ship. You get to have breakfast and then a mid-morning snack, but nothing else until we have docked and are safe inside the Space Station.”

Find all chapters as they are published here

I want to thank Mariana Busarova, Melissa Coffey, Brian Lageose, K.B. Silver, Jo Letke, Chris O., Anne Chisom, Dennis • M.Sc., Lisa Duffy-Korpics, Msfireballsmom, Amethystah, Martijn Vos, Paulette Tomasson, Jérémie., Sheila & David, and Alberto Ocando for being my faithful readers of this story.

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