Baxter Moon, Galactic Scout Read Online Free
not her face.
“Paying attention, sir, ma’am,” I said in my most scout-like voice.
“You have talent as a pilot, just not as much as you think you have. At least not yet. If…”
“If I don’t crash and burn,” I interrupted.
She shook her head. “Yes, that goes without saying, as does not interrupting your commanding officer,” she said.
I lowered my head. “Sorry, sir, ma’am.”
“What I was going to say was, if you learn to be a better judge of your ability and also learn to trust those around you more, you may someday become as good as you think you are.”
“So you’re not sending me Earthside?” I asked.
“Not yet — you make things challenging for me,” she smiled. “I like a good challenge.”
“Thank you, sir, ma’am, sir,” I said.
She pointed at me. “I warn you, though. I’m smart enough not to take on an impossible challenge. Another incident like this and you will be heading home. Got it?”
“Loud and clear, sir, ma’am.”
“The call will begin in thirty tics,” SC-711 said impatiently. “Scout Moon isn’t cleared for this level call.”
The commander pointed to the door. “Don’t let me see you in here again, Scout.”
I stood up. I gave her a little bow. “You won’t, sir, ma’am.”
I made a hasty exit from the room.
Chapter 3
“Your squad is in the common room,” SC-711 told me. “If you hurry you may be able to help them to victory in a fooseball game with Kappa-II squad.” I could have sworn there was a bit of urgency in SC-711’s voice. He didn’t want me anywhere near the commander’s office.
He had no worries there. I didn’t want to be anywhere near there either. I was just glad to get out of there not quacking like a duck.
As I walked, I peered out through the station’s transparent walkway. The walkways that connect one section of the station to another are one of the most subzero parts of the place. They were totally transparent. You knew they were there because of the holographic wall markers that lined the walls, but you couldn’t see the walls themselves. You were able to look through them and see millions and millions of stars all around you. It made me feel a part of something, yet kind of small at the same time. I can’t really put my finger on it.
I let my mind wander a bit. I’m a kid. I can do that. It was funny. The commander had scolded me for thinking I was too good for my own good. Yet before I went into her office I was wondering what the bloop I was doing here…I didn’t think I was good enough. I hope when I get older I’ll actually figure out what I’m good at and what my limits are. Maybe that’s when you know when you’re grown up. You know what you are good at. What your place in the universe is. Maybe.
I walked into the common room. It was packed to the rafters. Every second class squad from Alpha-II to Zeta-II was there, pilots, navigators and techs. (Except of course for the Betas. They aren’t allowed to fly, so they work as maintenance support specialists.) The others were shooting the breeze at the space soda bar. Some were playing old-fashioned games like anti-grav ping-pong, fooseball or pinball-4D. Some were playing new virtual games like Jupiter-golf, full-contact bull roping and lawyer chomp. Others were just listening to the official space scout sanctioned tunes that included music from new groups like the Alpha Betas all the way to oldies like the Zappers to ancient bands like the Beatles. This was our time to relax, let loose a bit. The place was abuzz with the sound of kids being kids.
Somebody saw me. I think it was Dan Dankins, the mec for Delta squad. “Hey, it’s Moon!” he shouted.
The room fell silent.
Zenna turned from her fooseball game and rushed over to me. She pulled me into a bear hug, lifting me off the ground.
“You’re alive and still here!” she shouted. “I thought for sure the commander would either kill you or send you Earthside or both.”
“Zen, if you
“Paying attention, sir, ma’am,” I said in my most scout-like voice.
“You have talent as a pilot, just not as much as you think you have. At least not yet. If…”
“If I don’t crash and burn,” I interrupted.
She shook her head. “Yes, that goes without saying, as does not interrupting your commanding officer,” she said.
I lowered my head. “Sorry, sir, ma’am.”
“What I was going to say was, if you learn to be a better judge of your ability and also learn to trust those around you more, you may someday become as good as you think you are.”
“So you’re not sending me Earthside?” I asked.
“Not yet — you make things challenging for me,” she smiled. “I like a good challenge.”
“Thank you, sir, ma’am, sir,” I said.
She pointed at me. “I warn you, though. I’m smart enough not to take on an impossible challenge. Another incident like this and you will be heading home. Got it?”
“Loud and clear, sir, ma’am.”
“The call will begin in thirty tics,” SC-711 said impatiently. “Scout Moon isn’t cleared for this level call.”
The commander pointed to the door. “Don’t let me see you in here again, Scout.”
I stood up. I gave her a little bow. “You won’t, sir, ma’am.”
I made a hasty exit from the room.
Chapter 3
“Your squad is in the common room,” SC-711 told me. “If you hurry you may be able to help them to victory in a fooseball game with Kappa-II squad.” I could have sworn there was a bit of urgency in SC-711’s voice. He didn’t want me anywhere near the commander’s office.
He had no worries there. I didn’t want to be anywhere near there either. I was just glad to get out of there not quacking like a duck.
As I walked, I peered out through the station’s transparent walkway. The walkways that connect one section of the station to another are one of the most subzero parts of the place. They were totally transparent. You knew they were there because of the holographic wall markers that lined the walls, but you couldn’t see the walls themselves. You were able to look through them and see millions and millions of stars all around you. It made me feel a part of something, yet kind of small at the same time. I can’t really put my finger on it.
I let my mind wander a bit. I’m a kid. I can do that. It was funny. The commander had scolded me for thinking I was too good for my own good. Yet before I went into her office I was wondering what the bloop I was doing here…I didn’t think I was good enough. I hope when I get older I’ll actually figure out what I’m good at and what my limits are. Maybe that’s when you know when you’re grown up. You know what you are good at. What your place in the universe is. Maybe.
I walked into the common room. It was packed to the rafters. Every second class squad from Alpha-II to Zeta-II was there, pilots, navigators and techs. (Except of course for the Betas. They aren’t allowed to fly, so they work as maintenance support specialists.) The others were shooting the breeze at the space soda bar. Some were playing old-fashioned games like anti-grav ping-pong, fooseball or pinball-4D. Some were playing new virtual games like Jupiter-golf, full-contact bull roping and lawyer chomp. Others were just listening to the official space scout sanctioned tunes that included music from new groups like the Alpha Betas all the way to oldies like the Zappers to ancient bands like the Beatles. This was our time to relax, let loose a bit. The place was abuzz with the sound of kids being kids.
Somebody saw me. I think it was Dan Dankins, the mec for Delta squad. “Hey, it’s Moon!” he shouted.
The room fell silent.
Zenna turned from her fooseball game and rushed over to me. She pulled me into a bear hug, lifting me off the ground.
“You’re alive and still here!” she shouted. “I thought for sure the commander would either kill you or send you Earthside or both.”
“Zen, if you
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