by Bryan Thomas Schmidt

BEEP! BEEP!

The alarm on the targeting computer of his VS28 starfighter filled Davi Rhii’s ears. He glanced down to see several blips had appeared. “Incoming enemy craft,” he announced into the comm channel then switched on his shields and prepared for his second encounter with the enemy that day.

As he adjusted his controls, another VS28 appeared beside him, flying a little to close. “Bordox, aren’t wingmen supposed to fly in formation behind their leader?”

Bordox’s cocky voice came back over the comm channel: “Yeah, so fall back and fly behind me then.”

“We’ve got incoming. No time to play.”

The enemy craft appeared ahead, swooping down toward them. Davi rotated his VS28 lining up on the lead enemy fighter. Letting go with his lasers, he landed two hits on the enemy leader’s wings and sending him spinning toward the ground. “Got him!” he whooped over the comm channel as he saw another enemy fighter explode through his blast shield.

“Got mine, too,” Bordox said with his usual cockiness.

“Great, but stay in formation so we can protect each other.” He sighed as Bordox ignored him and dove off in another direction. Davi executed a roll with his VS28 and went in for another run. He fired three times in a row, hitting two more enemy fighters. Bordox dove in from the other side, but his laser shots missed their target as an enemy fighter braked and slid onto his tail.

Bordox cursed over the radio. “Get this guy off me, Rhii!”

“I’m coming as fast as I can.” Davi swooped down, lining up on the fighter chasing Bordox, already seeing he was too late. The enemy fighter fired three times, hitting Bordox’s engines and wings. Bordox’s fighter spun out of control toward the ground as Davi destroyed the last two enemy fighters.

“Lights up!” Professor Orson Jonas called.

The reflector pods overhead lit the room with blinding light. As Davi climbed out of the flight simulator, his best friends, Yao and Farien, raced over to pat him on the back, aglow with another victory.

“How many does that make?” Yao’s purple eyes brightened against his dark orange-tinted skin. “Nine in a row by my count.”

Davi glanced over at Bordox struggling to extract his huge frame from the tight seat of another sim. “Who’s counting? It’s all in fun.” Bordox scowled as their eyes met.

Farien guffawed. “Don’t show him any mercy he wouldn’t show you.”

“Just friendly competition,” Davi said, figuring he’s already humiliated Bordox enough.

The flight classroom was one of the largest on the military academy’s campus. Occupying the bottom floor of an instruction building, it contained several rows of tan flight simulators with black seats and control panels identical to those of actual VS28 starfighters. At the front of the well lit room stood a lectern, behind which a laser board covered most of the front wall. Professor Orson Jonas stood behind the lectern, his black hair beginning to show strands of gray. He wore the gray uniform of the full military officer he had been until retiring to teach at the academy.

“Perhaps next time, Cadet Bordox will try and work with his leader instead of trying to compete with him,” Professor Jonas said with a smile.

Bordox grimaced and shrank back into his simulator seat as Davi exchanged high fives with Yao and Farien.

“I failed the test!” Farien rested his head on the dining hall table.

Davi chuckled and patted him on the shoulder. “I think I failed, too. You’re not the only one.”

Shorter almost by a foot than the other two, Farien compensated for it doubly in bulk. His hair was as much darker than Davi’s as his creamy skin was lighter. Yao, the tallest and thinner than both his friends, was a humanoid from the planet Tertullis.

The glint of the gold buttons on their blue-gray uniforms teased Davi’s eyes. Matching hats sat on the table next to their trays of brown Qiwi antelope meat, Gixi juice, and Jax fruit salad with fresh baked bread. They faced each other around one of the long, reddish brown tables which ran in several rows down the middle of the dining hall.

Yao sipped his Gixi juice and smiled at the sweet taste Davi knew reminded him of home. “Don’t be so dramatic, Farien. You could have joined the study group. We invited you several times.”
“Easy for you to say, you’re a genius at math,” Farien growled as Yao and Davi chuckled.

“Ignore him, Yao.” Farien needed to purge, and Davi knew better than to try and stop him.

“At least you’re good at something. You impressed Professor Jonas on the simulators today. I stink at that, too.” Farien lifted his head off the table, pulled his tray back from the middle, and took a bite of Qiwi.
“Bordox didn’t seem impressed.” Yao grinned.

Davi licked his lips in anticipation as he sliced his Qiwi. “Bordox relies on his size to intimidate people instead of developing his skills.”

He didn’t bother to glance up as Bordox and his cronies entered the dining hall. A huge, hulking cadet with light yellowish-brown skin and a dark beard, common to colonists who’d descended from the Hispanic cultures on Old Earth, Bordox walked  as if he owned the place. None of his buddies matched their leader’s size, but all wore the same smug look on their faces.

Yao spotted them and nodded to Davi. “Bordox.”

Davi turned and his green eyes met Bordox’s for a moment. His rival’s brown eyes held an anger Davi hadn’t expected, but his smug face never faltered.

Swallowing, Farien smiled and waved at Bordox. “Hey, Bordox, nice job on the flight simulators. So good of you to show us all how not to do it!” Bordox struggled to maintain his composure as the cadets around them smiled and guffawed.

“Don’t egg him on, Farien,” Yao said as Davi nodded in agreement. Bordox didn’t appear in the mood for their usual hazing.

“Mock all you want, Farien,” Bordox said in his scratchy baritone as he and his friends barreled across the room, stopping at the end of their table. “Your flight skills match your math skills in their ineptness.” Bordox’s buddies snickered.

Davi felt Farien’s muscles tense as he jumped to his feet. Davi put a hand on his arm. “I’m sure everyone could use extra time on the simulators.”

Farien frowned and sat back down.

“Like your family will allow you to be put in danger, Prince.” Bordox sneered. “You’re only here because of special treatment.”

“Here I’m your peer, not your Prince,” Davi insisted, embarrassed that his rival had brought it up.

Bordox and his cronies cackled as they turned away and moved off toward the serving counter.

“I’m sick of that jerk!” Farien shuffled the food on his plate with his fork.

Davi shrugged as he savored a bite of savory Qiwi meat. “He’s never liked to lose. He’ll get over it by tomorrow.”

“If he keeps this up, he’ll be drummed out of flight school,” Yao said. “His focus should be on his studies rather than humiliating you.”

“He still thinks my uncle stole the throne,” Davi said with a sigh. “I don’t think his father makes it easy on him with all the failures, either.”

Farien groaned. “Don’t tell me you feel sorry for him! No one deserves your sympathy less than that moron!”

Davi and Yao exchanged amused glances as they turned back to their meals.

Professor Jonas pounded a fist on the lectern, motioning for the chattering students to quiet down. “Cadets, I’m pleased to announce our annual sky course competition has been scheduled for the end of the month. Cadets at all levels are welcome to participate. You’ll want to work hard in the simulators over the next few weeks to avoid embarrassing yourselves in front of your family and friends. The High Lord Counselor, along with most of the Council, will be in attendance.”

“Our little Prince had better sit this one out,” Bordox said raising his voice and sneering as Davi grimaced, “so he won’t publicly embarrass the Royal family.” Bordox and his friends chuckled.

“I wonder what excuse your father will come up with, Bordox,” Farien said, “to avoid having to see you humiliated again.”

Bordox’s face reddened as the cadets laughed again. “At least the Lords won’t have to lower themselves by sitting next to commoners like your family, Farien.” He and his friends sneered as Davi tried to calm Farien with a look.

“As I recall, Cadet Bordox, Cadet Rhii did rather well on the simulators last class,” Professor Jonas said, causing Bordox to shrink back in the chair of his simulator, “while your own score left much to be desired.”

Davi relished Bordox’s discomfort as the other cadets chuckled and elbowed each other through broad grins.

“I’d be happy to tutor him, Professor Jonas, if he’d like,” Davi said with a smirk, provoking another round of laughter.

Bordox’s face turned dark. When their eyes met, his look was sharp as blades. “From what I hear, the royal prince’s blood isn’t so royal.”

“Members of the Royal family are to be treated with respect!” Farien stood as if preparing to rush Bordox at any moment.

Yao grabbed Farien’s arm, trying to calm him as Davi smiled. Bordox must be really desperate to come up with something so absurd. “Who’d have known you’re so fond of folk stories, Bordox.”

“If it’s a folk tale, I guess you’re the folk lore prince,” Bordox cracked. “A starport rumor about a baby who arrived in a courier craft from the stars and landed near the palace, adopted by a lonely princess with no offspring.” Bordox’s cronies chortled and sneered. “Maybe I should have my father look into it, just in case,” Bordox said as Farien struggled against Yao’s grip. Bordox’s father, Lord Obed, headed the Lord’s Special Police, an elite squad of soldiers dedicated to the High Lord Counselor’s service.

“Enough!” Professor Jonas hollered then waited for them to quiet down. “Cadet Bordox, you’re out of line. Impugning the reputation of another cadet without cause is enough for me to have you dismissed. We all know Prince Rhii’s heritage is not in doubt. Would you like me to take this matter before the Academic Council?”

Bordox just stared straight ahead but Davi felt the anger radiating from him in waves.

“May I continue with class now?” the Professor asked as Bordox sunk down further into his seat. His eyes held a hatred Davi had never seen.

After class, as Davi joined the cafeteria line with Yao and Farien, he saw Bordox and his cronies whispering at a table across the room.

“I think you upset him,” Yao said with a smirk. Davi nodded, still puzzled as to the intensity of Bordox’s anger. “Maybe his father’s pressuring him about the sky course. Lord Obed won when he was here.”

“Spreading lies like that takes things too far!” Farien’s face still crinkled in a frown.

Davi held his feelings in, brushing it off with a wave. “You know how people love to talk. The Royal family’s always been a popular subject. Relax. We’ll get our revenge on the sims.”

Yao started laughing. “Imagine Bordox’s reaction if his father had to chastise him for being called in front of the High Lord Counselor about such slander.” Davi and Farien chuckled as the line moved forward and they grabbed trays from a nearby stack.

The next night, Davi, Yao and Farien ate dinner on the patio of a restaurant at the Promenade with three beautiful women they’d met at a park.

“Would you ladies care to go for a stroll on the Promenade?” Warmth filled Davi as the last bite of his meal settled into his stomach.

“There he is, the adopted prince. It’s sad, isn’t it, hearing his blood isn’t really Royal?  It’s so charitable of the High Lord Counselor and Princess to take him in anyway so he can make something of himself.”

Davi’s blood temperature rose as he turned at the sound of cackling to see Bordox and his companions standing nearby with dates of their own. People around them stared, making Davi’s group’s dates very uncomfortable.

“A slave child sent into space in a courier to save his life adopted by a princess.” Bordox’s sarcasm cut Davi like shards of ice “It really is a great story, isn’t it?  Almost like a fairy tale.”

Davi heard more guffawing around them as Farien stood, his face whitening in anger. “You’re pushing it too far, Bordox. I’m warning you.”

“Or what?  Your worker prince will call his uncle?” Bordox sneered as his friends chuckled.

“It must be really humiliating to watch him keep beating you on the sims,” Yao said with a smirk. “Especially since his family has a history of such victories against yours.”

“Let’s settle this right here!” Farien’s chair squeaked as he pushed back from the table and stood, fists balling at his side.

Davi stood beside him. Public disparaging was too much. He had to defend his family’s honor.

“Come on, ladies, don’t listen to him,” Yao said from behind them. Farien and Davi turned as their dates hurried away down the promenade. Bordox snickered as he and his companions turned and walked away.

“Let’s go!” Farien said, stepping forward.

“He’s got too many people with him, Farien. You can’t take them all on,” Yao said, grabbing him by the arm.

Davi stood fuming as he watched them walking calmly past a Skitter shop along the Promenade. His instincts matched Farien’s. Private teasing was one thing, but spreading lies in public was another. Who knew how far the rumor would spread now?

An idea popped into mind and he smiled. “I think what I have in mind will make you feel much better.” He led the way toward the Skitter shop.

They rented Skitters and took off down the promenade, weaving through the scattered pedestrians. One man ground craft which operated on a hovering system using manipulated air, Skitters were sleek and fast vehicles, easy to maneuver through trees and other obstacles.

As they rode, Davi spotted Bordox’s group walking close to the edge of the water.

“There they are. Let’s go say hello.” He sped up with Yao and Farien close behind.

Davi steered the Skitter over behind Bordox’s group. Others on the Promenade spotted them coming and cleared a path. Davi revved the engines taking Bordox and his friends by surprise. Trying to jump clear, Bordox and several companions, including his date, lost their balance and fell into the river.

Davi and his friends chuckled as they rode away.

“Your ideas really are the best,” Farien said.

“I wonder if the water’s cold,” Yao said as they stopped and turned to watch Bordox’s friends helping him and his disgusted date out of the water. “You know this might only make him madder.” Yao looked at Davi.

Davi shrugged. “He’s the one who made it personal. Besides, I feel better.” He grinned as they all laughed, then accelerated and rode away.

Over the next several weeks, Davi and Bordox barely crossed paths; mostly during lectures or when cadets compared simulator results. Bordox jeered at him a couple of times when his scores outdid Davi’s, but otherwise made no attempt to converse. In time, the tension between them receded to its normal level.

Two days before the competition, Davi and his fellow contestants gathered with Professor Jonas at the starport for their one practice run on the sky course.

“You each get one practice run on the actual course before the competition,” Professor Jonas explained. “You must either destroy or avoid all the obstacles before reaching the finish line. Scores will be determined through combining how many obstacles and targets each of you defeats with your overall speed.”

Davi glanced around at the grandstands scattered through the course, which wound over the city in a large oval. Spectators could rent special goggles allowing them to see the course. Adding to the challenge, the VS28s had been designed for spaceflight and didn’t operate near as efficiently within the planet’s atmosphere. The professors regarded it as a truer test of the cadets’ piloting skills due to the added handicap.

Davi, Bordox and Farien were in a group with six others. As they approached their fighters, Davi increased his pace to come alongside Bordox. “Good luck up there today.”

Bordox looked at him a moment, as if evaluating his sincerity. “You, too.”

“I saw your sim scores. You’ve been working hard.”

Bordox shrugged. “We’ll see who’s the hotshot pilot now.”

Davi grinned and extended his hand. Bordox nodded as he shook it, then they hurried on toward their assigned craft.

They launched from the starport and rendezvoused at the starting zone for the course, waiting for Professor Jonas’ signal to start their run.

As his VS28 rose into the sky, sunlight from the twin suns warmed his neck and shoulders, making him feel like he belonged up here.

Listening to the hum of the engines and feeling the ship vibrate beneath him, he turned to each side to memorize the wingspan and diameters. Although they’d been allowed some practice time over the past two weeks, the sky course would require them to fly in closer than normal, and he wanted to feel out the fighter so he could run the actual competition on instinct. His concern for the day wasn’t winning but learning how the fighter would respond and what would be required to succeed in navigating the course. He could always add speed later.

A high, long tone sounded over their comm channel as they accelerated onto the course, engine trails tagging behind them. Farien and two others accelerated far too fast for Davi’s comfort. He relaxed and hung back, getting to know the fighter and the course. To his surprise, Bordox hung back with him.

Navigating the first few obstacles with ease, Davi hit three targets then accelerated. His controls froze. He wiggled the joystick and punched the fuel button. Control returned. He breathed a sigh of relief. If the same thing happened during the competition, he wouldn’t stand a chance.

He’d lost sight of Bordox as they passed through some low clouds. As he emerged from the cloud cover, his controls froze again. His heartbeat echoed through the cockpit like a bass drum. Every attempt he made failed to restore control. He keyed his comm. “Test Alpha Six, my controls are frozen.” He tried not to panic.

Professor Jonas’ steady voice came back through the comm. “Test Alpha Six, attempt to reinitialize your flight computer and report the results.”

Davi flipped the switches, starting the reinitialization sequence for his flight computer and controls. The whole process should take a couple of minutes, and as he waited, he flew into another series of clouds. His fighter jerked, tossing him about, and he heard metal shrieking. Turning back, he saw Bordox’s fighter close on his wing, a cocky smirk on Bordox’s face.

Davi switched his comm channel to the private squadron channel. “Bordox, what are you doing?”

Bordox’s voice came back sounding apologetic. “Sorry. It’s hard to see through the clouds.”

“Back off, Bordox,” Farien scolded over the comm. “He’s lost his controls.”

Before Farien finished, Bordox accelerated up beside him so close, Davi feared an impact.

“More fun if I can see your eyes.” Bordox looked over and smiled.

Davi sighed. This wasn’t the time to play.

“Test Alpha Eight,” Professor Jonas said, using Bordox’s call sign, “pull off so you don’t get caught in the tractor beams.”

Moments later, Bordox’s left wing connected with Davi’s right wing and the force of the contact pushed Davi’s VS28 into a roll.

Davi’s flight computer finished initializing and beeped, notify him it was ready. He struggled with the controls, trying to stop the spin and regain control. Instead, his fighter pointed straight at the ground. The g-forces pushed him back harder against his seat with every second.

He pulled a hand off the joystick and keyed the comm again. “Test Alpha Six in trouble.” He had no controls again.

“Hang on Alpha Six,” Professor Jonas responded.

His fighter continued spinning out of control, the ground growing nearer as he gained speed. His heart raced and his breathing increased. He wondered how a pilot mentally prepared to die. The ground appeared as a smeared whirl out his blast shield.

A moment later, the fighter rocked, sending his shoulder hard against the cockpit wall, and two VS28s flown by military officers pulled even with him on either side. His fighter jerked again and stopped spinning, suspended between the other two. They adjusted direction until all three flew straight again then turned back toward the starport. Davi had never experienced tractor beams before. With palpable relief, he released the controls and said a silent prayer thanking the gods.

That night in his dorm room, Davi leaned back on his bed as Farien paced near the closed door. Yao watched from the chair beside the desk. “Bordox tampered with your fighter,” Farien said, still angry.

“We don’t know for sure,” Yao responded.

Davi breathed deeply, thankful it was over. “It’s the first time he’s ever apologized to me. He made a point of asking if I was okay. The fighters are harder to maneuver than the simulators. And you know how bad Bordox was on the sims.”

“What other explanation is there?” Davi exchanged a look with Yao. Neither had one. “Did you see the look on his face at the starport after?” Farien continued.

“Tampering with fighters is serious,” Davi didn’t want to believe Bordox would take things so far. “Someone could get hurt or killed.

“His eyes said he knew,” Farien said.

“Oh you’re an eye reader now, are you?” Yao teased.

“Come on. You both know what I mean.” Farien stopped pacing and leaned against the back of the closed door, looking frustrated.

“Why would he go that far? He may be jealous of me. We give each other a hard time. But I could have been hurt or killed.” Davi wondered when their friendly competition had gotten so distorted that Bordox would risk putting Davi in real danger or doing him harm?  This was military training, not war.

“Bordox hates you,” Farien answered. “Walz overheard him at the Bar Electric swearing he’d bring you down no matter what.”

“Bordox always brags like that.” Davi had heard Bordox’s comments so often, he’d stopped caring. “It’s just talk. He never acts on it.”

“Lord Obed still claims your grandfather stole the throne.” Yao was the best versed among them in history, his favorite subject.

“It’s just silly jealousy” Davi scoffed at Yao’s expression.

Yao shrugged. “It’s a motive.”

He’d thought they’d resolved things. It was hard to believe. “Without proof there’s nothing we can do,” Davi said, hoping they were wrong.

“We can tell Professor Jonas,” Farien said.

“And risk being accused of disparaging another cadet ourselves? You have enough demerits already.” Yao looked at Farien, who sighed defeatedly.

Davi took a slow breath, as tension continued releasing from his body. “They always reassign fighters before the race. Professor Jonas promised to let me have another practice run alone tomorrow during afternoon break. Can you two keep Bordox occupied?”

Farien’s face brightened as it did whenever he had an idea. “A request to stop by his father’s office during afternoon break.” His eyes brightened and the corners of his mouth lifted into a smile.

“What?” Yao shook his head. “He wouldn’t have time. He couldn’t get to LSP headquarters and back before his break ended.”

Farien nodded. “Right.”

Davi laughed. “Sometimes I think you’re too devious to be an officer, Farien.”

Yao stared quizzically at Farien. “You’re planning to forge an official government communiqué?”

“Walz’s specialty is intelligence,” Farien said. “Forgeries are part of his training. He’d love to test his skills in a real life situation.”

“Perfect.” Davi smiled.

Yao shook his head. “It could come back to haunt us.”

“You’ve got a better idea?” Farien asked.

“No,” Yao said.

“Okay, let’s go see Walz,” Davi said as he stood. Farien lit up and gleefully turned to the door.

On the day of the competition, Davi walked past the grandstands and saw his mother, Miri, and Uncle Xalivar, the High Lord Councilor, talking with Bordox’s father and Yao’s parents. His mother spotted him and waved, smiling with pride. Hope she’s still smiling afterwards.

As the pilots prepared to climb up to their cockpits, he glanced over and saw Bordox sneering at him from nearby.

Professor Jonas approached. “Rhii, switch fighters with Bordox.”

As both turned toward the professor, the smug smile vanished from Bordox’s face. “What?  Why?”

Davi watched his rival’s face as their Professor sounded irritated. “All the fighters are the same. What’s the issue, Cadet?”

Switching places with Bordox, Davi saw the truth in his eyes. You did it again, didn’t you? Bordox ignored him, grumbling to himself.

Yao climbed the ladder to help Davi strap in. “Maybe Professor Jonas suspects Bordox had something to do with what happened on your practice run.”

Davi shrugged and smiled. “Doesn’t matter. As long as it’s fair, I’ll leave him in the dust.”

Yao chuckled and climbed down, saluting with a wink of his purple eyes.

Davi’s group went through their preflight checks, then launched in pairs through the launch tubes, rendezvousing again at the sky course starting zone. Davi smiled up at the twin suns like old friends. The sky seemed clearer than usual. A good day for a race. When the signal came over their comm channel, they flew into the course as fast as they could.

Bordox stayed beside Davi as they dodged the first obstacles and shot several targets, then his speed dropped off. Davi looked over, watching him struggle with the controls.

He keyed the private comm channel. “You need help over there, Bordox?” He got no answer and sped on through the course.

When he landed at the starport, Bordox and his fighter were nowhere in sight.

Later, Professor Jonas announced the winners. Davi had the highest score by far. As he and his friends walked back toward the grandstands, Davi overheard a commotion down an alley between buildings. As they reached the alley’s mouth, they stopped and peered in.

Bordox forced one of his friends back against a wall. “I could have been killed!”

“You’re the one who didn’t want him humiliating you again!” The friend said.

“It’s not our fault the professor switched the fighters,” another friend said.

“You humiliated me in front of my father!” Bordox pounded a fist against the wall above his frightened friend’s head.

Davi and his friends exchanged a look then hurried past before anyone spotted them and continued toward the grandstands

“We’re so proud of you,” Miri said as she wrapped Davi in a warm embrace.

“Well done, Xander,” Xalivar said with pride. Xalivar wore his usual gold robe with a white collar and cuffs. In the center by his neck lay the jewel known as the Emperor’s eye. Shorter than Davi but taller than Miri, he had a dark beard. Dressed in a long white gown with long dark hair stretching past her waist, Miri had light skin like her brother. Her light blue eyes radiated warmth.

Davi smiled. “Thanks for coming.”

“We wouldn’t have missed it,” Miri assured him, the proud smile bursting off her face.

Davi tried not to frown as Lord Obed and Bordox approached. Obed wore a ceremonial robe similar to Xalivar’s. His skin had a light yellowish brown hue with the same intense brown eyes as his son. He smiled and extended his hand to Davi. “Congratulations, Prince Rhii. A great showing.”

Davi took the proffered hand and shook it, smiling. “Thank you, sir.”

Lord Obed turned and looked at Bordox, who stood there looking down at his feet. “You’ve embarrassed me enough today,” Obed growled.

Bordox sighed and extended his own hand. Davi had to hide his surprise as he shook it. “Congratulations, Rhii. You deserve it.”

Obed led Bordox away as Yao stepped away from his parents and stopped next to Davi. “That had to hurt.”

Davi nodded, continued to watch Bordox for a moment. He feared things had changed forever between them. He’d never wanted to make an enemy, but it hadn’t been his fault.

“Come on,” Farien called, waving him over, “we’ve got a party to get to!”

Their hands met in a high five as Davi joined them and they hurried off for their favorite bar.

© 2011 Bryan Thomas Schmidt
Original fiction debuting at Residential Aliens.

Editor’s Note: This short story is a tie-in prequel to the space opera novel, The Worker Prince by Bryan Thomas Schmidt and published by the good folks at Diminished Media Group.