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  Giles looked at her, half smiling. “You mean, you’ve been working on this without telling me? All this time?”

  Arlene nodded. “Not just a pretty face, you know…”

  Giles got up. “Right then,” he announced.

  Arlene spun around, her clever discovery forgotten. “Where are you going?” she demanded.

  Giles grinned. “We’re going to need some wheels. With gate capabilities.”

  And with that, he strode out of the dimly lit comms room, and disappeared into the bright corridor beyond.

  Arlene shook her head, sighed, and returned her attention to her screens to set up her calculations.

  Gaitune-67, Base Gym

  Thump.

  Thwack. Thwack. Thwack. Thwack. THWACK.

  Sean hit the deck for the third time that session.

  Joel padded over to him. “You ok?” he asked, offering him a hand up. “Want a break?”

  Sean, panting, lifted his head up, and then pulled his arms underneath him. A second later he sprang to his feet from a laying down position, ignoring Joel’s outstretched hand. “No. I’m good,” he said, looking fatigued, and more than a little irritated. “Let’s go again,” he affirmed.

  Joel nodded, and stepped back a little, waiting for the agreed signal to attack. Or rather, in this instance, waiting for Sean to lunge forward and try to blitz him.

  This time Sean hung back and switched stances a few times. Joel edged in a little further, looking loose and relaxed in his movement. Sean tried to copy his relaxed air, but he was just too tired. And invested.

  A second later, he was on his back - again - realizing that Joel had just moved in and swept him as he bounced, contemplating his next move.

  Crash had appeared in the doorway. “Ouch. That’s got to hurt!” muttered under his breath. Neither Joel nor Sean realized he was there.

  “Ok. What have you done?” Sean asked, gazing up at the ceiling from his lying down position.

  Joel looked innocent. “How do you mean?” he said, ambling over again.

  Sean was sweating. He put his hand out for Joel to help him up this time. Joel took his hand, heaving him up to standing.

  “You’ve done something,” Sean insisted. “Like upgraded. There is no way you can just suddenly start moving that fast.”

  Sean thought about it a moment more. “In fact, this extra speed only happened since we got back from the ArchAngel. You’ve had another implant!”

  Joel pretended to look offended. “Another implant?”

  Sean narrowed his eyes. “Oh yeah. I know about your original upgrade. Fuck knows how you managed it because it was before you knew anyone on the ArchAngel… But those sudden increases in your performance… No way that’s natural, mate.”

  Joel smiled knowingly, but didn’t respond.

  Just then Brock arrived at the door next to Crash, and the two warriors became aware that they were being watched.

  Joel looked sheepish, but clammed up. Sean realized there was no way he was going to admit anything in front of the others. He changed the subject, wandering over to the edge of the mat to grab his towel. “You guys want in?” he called over to Crash and Brock.

  “Helllz no!” Brock called back to him. “I’m working my sweet ass to get fighting fit, for sure… But no way am I gonna risk messing this pretty face up with some macho bravado.”

  Crash was quiet, still hanging on to the door frame. His muscles bulged a little more than Joel remembered.

  “Hey,” Joel called over to him. “You been working out more since we got back?” he asked Crash. “Or are you just pumped?”

  Crash bobbed his head and glanced at Brock. “We’ve been hitting the weight room most days since we got back.”

  Brock did a little swing of his hips. “Yeah. I’m gonna be ready next time we get sent over to that APA again!”

  Joel raised his chin. “Ahhhh. I see. It’s the Were Cat thing, eh?”

  Brock nodded vigorously. “Yeah. I dunno what hope we’re suppose to have against one of those cats even if we train… but I figured our odds are better if we’re in condition. Plus the better the skills we have, the more chance we have of surviving.”

  Sean was taking a long drink from his water bottle. He finished and put the lid back on. “Yeah, that’s always my philosophy… So how’s the six pack coming, Brock?”

  Brock laughed. “Ha! More like a jelly pack right now. But I’m working on it!”

  Crash chuckled and patted his friend on the back. “He’s doing great,” he told them.

  Brock slapped him playfully on the arm. “You’re teasing me…”

  Crash opened his mouth to protest, but Brock had already changed the subject. “Hey, anyone seen Molly this afternoon?” he asked.

  Crash stuck out his lower lip and shook his head. Sean and Joel shrugged. Then Joel remembered something. “Ah, yes. I think she’s out auditing a lecture or something on Estaria.”

  Brock frowned. “Auditing a lecture. What for?”

  Joel shrugged again. “No idea. Have to ask her when she gets back… later tonight probably. Think she put a food order in with Paige, so she should be around later.”

  Brock nodded his understanding. “Alrighty then! Thanks Joel.” He turned to Crash. “I’m gonna hit the shower…”

  Crash slapped him on the back. “Alright bud. I’m going to do a round with these guys. Time to start pushing myself,” he said, stepping into the room.

  Sean was drinking water again, and took the bottle from his lips, and pointed at Joel. “Go against him first,” he said. “I’m having a time out.”

  CHAPTER TWO

  Aboard the Scamp Princess

  Giles arrived on the Scamp Princess through the cargo hold. “It’s ok. I’m here!” he called through to Arlene. “Scamp, you can close up the doors now,” he added.

  The computer generated voice spoke to him over the in-ship communication system. “Ok, Giles. Closing doors. Did you get your message sent ok?”

  “Yes… thank you,” Giles frowned, fixing his single pack of luggage to a rack. “How did you know?”

  Scamp responded matter-of-factly. “Arlene wanted to know where you were. ADAM would only tell me you were in the comms department, and that you were on your way over. I assumed you were sending someone a long distance message before we left on our adventure. I mean, mission.”

  Giles smiled at the EI’s dig at him and his attitude towards missions. “Ah ha. Arlene wanted to know where I was…?” he repeated, like a grown up talking to a child.

  Arlene turned her head as he wandered into the cockpit. “Arlene did,” she confirmed.

  Scamp clicked on again. “She also wanted to know what you were communicating to whom, but ADAM wouldn’t give us clearance for that.”

  Arlene looked suddenly guilty. Giles looked vindicated. “Well, it’s good that at least ADAM has some integrity around here…” he jested with them. “So, are we all set?”

  Arlene spun back round in her console chair. “Yes. We were about to miss our window, but I think we’ll be ok if we leave now.”

  She flicked a switch, starting the engines.

  Giles could see she had the pilot’s console up. Normally, with anyone else, except maybe Sean Royale, he might argue. But today. With Arlene… he was quite happy to be a passenger. He made himself comfortable in the next console over and strapped himself in. “Ok. Well, what are we waiting for?”

  Arlene rolled her eyes, and gave the command. “Ok, Scamp. Let’s get going… now that his royal tardie-ass has arrived!”

  The Scamp Princess lifted up off the hangar deck of the ArchAngel and made its way out into the blackness of space.

  “The Giles Kurns Adventures continue…” Giles muttered to himself as he relaxed back in the chair, interlocking his fingers behind his head.

  Staðall University, Spire, Lecture Theater 21

  The lights along the walls of the lecture theater flashed, signaling to both the students and teacher that t
he allocated time had come to a close.

  Professor Abigail Von, paused mid-sentence, before finishing her point.

  “And for those who have volunteered for the next Think Tank session, make sure you review chapters twenty through to twenty-two. It will make the decision-making and discussion much easier on your counterparts when you plug in if you’ve done the reading!”

  The theater erupted in activity as students scrambled to their feet. Molly was sitting quietly dressed all in black. She was on the back row and out of the way, watching, expecting a mass exodus.

  But that didn’t happen. At least a quarter of the two hundred and something students raced towards the front and seemed to gather around Von hanging on her every word.

  Molly frowned, watching carefully, waiting for the activity to clear. When it didn’t, confused, she allowed herself to also be drawn down to the front of the room.

  “… yes, and if they had considered that in the first place, you could say it would have been another variable. But as it was, it was indeed forgotten. Well spotted though Johnny.”

  Abigail Von seemed to be having a discussion with one of the students, as the others listened in rapt attention. As soon as she finished responding there was a respectful clamor for her to choose them as the next question.

  Von glanced up at Molly as she made her way down the steps, obviously a little old to be in the class she had been teaching. Von was distracted for a second, but then turned her attention back to the immediate consideration. “I’m afraid we’re out of time folks. You need to get to your next lecture, and I need to eat something before supervising a discussion. If you don’t have a class next, you’re welcome to attend.”

  The remaining students started to disband and make their way up and out of the doors at the back of the theater.

  Von packed up her things and started to head out herself too. Molly battled against the current and managed to catch her as Von headed towards the doors on the lower level, presumably reserved for the faculty, she guessed.

  “Professor Von?” Molly called over the hub of activity, as she landed on the ground level.

  Abigail turned around and looked at her.

  Molly quick stepped over. “I was wondering if we might speak. I have a proposition for you.”

  Von was already biting into an apple. She kept walking towards the door, now with Molly in tow. Clearing her pallet she leaned against the door and nudged it open. “Are you ok to walk and talk? I need to be across campus in twenty minutes, and I’d like to eat as well.”

  Molly smiled, helping her through the door as she shuffled without a free hand between her bag, water flask and half-eaten apple. “Sure. Let me help you,” she offered as she pushed the door.

  Von led her through what seemed to be a dumping ground for old equipment, and abandoned experiments. Then, through another two sets of doors, they seemed to arrive in a corridor that was beyond the lecture theater, and back in the main building - only another level down from where the students had spilled out.

  Von glanced over at Molly, more of her attention available now they were en route. “So… how can I help?” she asked.

  Molly had considered her pitch, and began speaking immediately. “You’re the foremost authority in interplanetary negotiations. I need someone like that for a special project. Someone like you,” she clarified.

  Von frowned. “You’re not planning on starting a war are you?”

  Molly chuckled, having never considered that that might have been why she was asking. “No. Not in the slightest. I’m looking for someone who can help avoid future wars.”

  Von glanced over at her as the two women strode purposefully down the stark white corridor. “Oh, I’m not taking on any consulting gigs right now,” she said dismissively.

  Molly shook her head, looking straight ahead of where they were going. “Not consulting. Teaching.”

  Von’s pace slowed a little. Molly could feel through the space using her new abilities. She could tell the academic was curious. “I have a job teaching,” she told her, gesticulating with the remains of her apple at the surroundings as way of evidence.

  Molly smiled. “I know,” she responded simply. “A different teaching job. But still here.”

  Von’s pace slowed again as her mind worked to put the pieces of information together. Her slim brown eyebrows furrowed together.

  “Here, at this university?” she asked, looking confused.

  Molly nodded. “The long term goal is to start a university for the next generation of leaders.”

  Von started walking again, this time a little more slowly than her initial, harassed pace. “We already have places that do that. Like the military. And the elite universities that educate the best and the brightest in law, history and politics.”

  Molly bowed her head respectfully as they journeyed down another corridor. “Yes, I’m aware of that. And what they’re taught doesn’t coincide with what they could be taught. Things that will ultimately lead to making better decisions - decisions that aren’t based on greed or fear, or commerce. But on methods to resolve conflicts and create stability for the whole population. Not just the few who can afford to buy influence in politics.”

  The corridor opened out into a stone building, and the two headed through the foyer of what looked like an original piece of architecture from when the university had been founded.

  The foyer then gave way to a hall, which in turn turfed them out into a quadrangle. “So what are you suggesting they be taught instead?” Von pressed, tossing her apple core into a refuse disposal chute as they passed by.

  Molly clasped her hands behind her back now as she spoke. “The practical strategies that actually mean a better life for all involved. The policies that mean a sustainable system which don’t rely on versions of financial enslavement. How to build economies so they are healthy rather than corrupt. How to ensure justice for all, no matter what their background, gender or skin color.”

  Von almost smirked. “That’s sounding a little… ambitious. Which organization did you say you were from?” she asked a little suspiciously now.

  Molly stopped walking, forcing Von to turn and look at her. “I’m not from an organization. But I do have the means to fund this venture. And in the first instance, all I want to do is prove a concept. Prove that this is something that can work… even just with one course.”

  A gaggle of students walked by, laughing and joking loudly. Von shot them a look, and they quietened down a little.

  She turned her attention back to Molly. “So why me?”

  Molly shrugged, watching the students head across the rest of the quadrangle in the direction they had been walking. “You’re the capital city’s leading authority on Estarian-Ogg trade relations. I checked you out. It’s because of you that there is an ensuing peace between these two inner system planets… which could otherwise have been disastrous without your mediation a couple of decades ago.”

  A frown appeared across Von’s perfectly manicured human eyebrows. “So you want me to teach trade relations?” she deduced.

  Molly nodded. “Yes. But as a container for this bigger vision. Making it clear that this is why the method of negotiation is important. Why co-operation is always the most beneficial to all sides…”