Axira Episode One Read Online Free

I
replied.
    She began to blush, her neck dipping back. It appeared I had
emotionally affected her. “I’m sorry to be a pain, of course it
does. I’m just not good with directions.”
    I opened my mouth, ready to tell her that a lack of spatial
awareness indicated she would be a poor recruit.
    “ Elle, what are you doing? You’re meant to be heading to your
team,” a man said as he walked up to us.
    We were now the only people left in the hall.
    I watched him as he approached. It took me a moment, but I
recognized him. Jason Singh. Son of Admiral Singh. I had read his
publically available file when I’d done my research on the
Coalition Recruit Program. He was a decorated graduate, and he
headed up an elite unit which operated under the watchful eye of
Admiral Forest.
    “ Brother, I’m so glad you found me. I have no idea where I’m
going.” Elle, as I now knew she was called, flopped a hand over
Jason’s arm and leaned into him.
    That was a lie; I had told her seconds before where she was
meant to be going.
    “ Damn it, Elle, I thought I already told you that this
morning. I’ve walked you through these halls countless times, how
have you forgotten already?”
    “ I’m so nervous.” She flapped at her face and winced at
him.
    “ Alright, I’ll take you there, but we’ve got to hurry. I just
found out your Team leader is Lieutenant Ma’tovan. And trust me, he
isn’t going to like you being late.” Jason suddenly turned to look
at me. His brow dented up. “What team are you? Are you lost
too?”
    “ Omega,” I replied evenly, “No, I am not lost. Your sister
engaged me in conversation.” With that, I turned, nodded at them,
and proceeded to walk down the corridor.
    “ Follow us, I know a quicker route.” Jason waved me forward as
he turned sharply on his foot, his regulation black boots squeaking
on the polished floor.
    I hesitated for a moment. I had already memorized the
blueprints of the Coalition Academy compound. I doubted his way
would be any quicker.
    I followed nonetheless.
    “ Oh my god, I’m so sorry for making you late.” Elle turned to
me as she jogged behind her brother. Her face was already flushed
with exertion.
    I had seen Coalition officers run far quicker and for far
longer without showing such signs of exhaustion.
    “ What’s your name, recruit?” Jason dropped back, grabbing at
his sister’s arm to pull her quicker.
    I could have easily sped up and headed to the engineering
lecture hall on my own. I knew the way, and Elle was holding me
back. I doubted it would be a good idea to do so in front of Jason
Singh, however.
    I knew that I had to keep a low profile. During my training
and into the years to come, I had to keep my head down. Elle was
apparently the daughter of Admiral Singh, the very same Admiral who
headed up the recruit program.
    “ Em,” I replied easily. Though we were jogging, my voice was
unaffected.
    “ I haven’t heard that name before, you human?” He
asked.
    “ No.” As I jogged my gaze darted around the corridor noting
every detail I could. It was part of my nature. I logged every fact
I could find. From the shape of the doors to the height of the
windows, I made an internal map of every room we passed and every
corridor we jogged through.
    “ You kind of look human,” he noted as he ushered us up some
stairs.
    I did. But in my case, looks were deceiving. “I am
Taskarian,” I lied. I had already assessed that my bio scans were
closest in resemblance to that race. There were differences, of
course, but I knew how to mask them. I had spent the past two years
tracking down a subcutaneous device that would make my bio
signatures mimic that of a Taskarian. The device was apparently
impossible to detect. Without it I would never have been able to
join the Coalition. With it I had the opportunity to finish my
training with the secret of who I was fully intact.
    “ Wow, we don’t get many of your kind joining the Academy. Why
did you join?”
    To