7 Grave New World

Tox leaned against the counter as Tinner closed the door behind the last customer.

"So," Tinner said, "you finally got accepted."

Tox stared at him. "How did you know?"

The old man laughed. "The rumour's been spreading around Neering Sector since yesterday, and now your wandering around like you've got something you want to say."

Tox nodded. "I'm in. And I start next week. Most of the classes are in Red Shift." He still couldn't believe it himself. He'd gotten the call a full rotation earlier, when he was still hung over from his time at the Flight Deck, and had been expecting to wake up from the dream ever since. "Someone will be coming to take my Wexler away today."

"They're taking the Wexler?"

"They're taking it to their docks on Keel Sector. I can keep it there for free and still live on board."

"My docks not good enough?"

"The academy study grant isn't very much at all Tin'. I couldn't afford to even pay the little you're asking."

"Ever think I might let you use it for nothing? Have all the docks ever been in use at the same time since you've been working here?"

"No but..." Tox started counting the day's takings but didn't get far. "I want this to work, Tin'. If I'm living here, I know I'll see some ship brought in and want to help strip it down. I know I'll be walking through the shop one day and someone will have a vague question that I can answer. And every little thing will take my mind off what I should be doing."

Tinner nodded but didn't look happy. "Do you know how hard it'll be to replace you?"

"Just think about it this way-- you can find some new kid and pass on all your knowledge."

"But I don't want to do that. I just want to hand around and do all the easy stuff while someone does the work." He shook his head. "You might as well go then. And don't bother coming back tomorrow." Tinner took the crits from Tox and counted out a large pile. "This'll cover what I owe you?"

"You know it will, Tin'. It's too much." Tox tried to hand some of the money back but the old man turned his back and started counting the rest.

In the ship, Tox sat in the pilots seat and wondered what to do. He cleaned everything up earlier, though that didn't matter one way or the other. There were no repairs he could do in the time he had available. He sat where he was.

An hour later, a voice from the speakers woke him.

"Grable, are you there?"

Tox sat up and tried to think. He hit the mic button." Yes, I'm here."

"I'm Fad-- from the Academy. You ready to go?"

"Just give me a minute Fad. I need to disengaged the systems from the Station."

It took a couple of minutes and soon after he was attached to the top of a mag-grab and moving quickly towards the bottom side-- the inner side-- of Keel Sector. Lanes seemed to clear before them. Once the hit the bottom of the sector near the Twist tube, they headed Upside. At the cornern they reoriented.

"This is an end mount, Grable."

"Confirming end mount."

"Confirm. Taking you front in."

Tox repositioned the access tube and listened for the soft thunk of engagement. Fad worked slowly and missed on the first attempted. Tox could hear him swearing over the link. He matched on the second attempt.

"We're there, Fad. Thanks for the lift."

"My pleasure, Tox. I dare say I'll see you in class somewhere."

"You will?"

"Yeah. Second year student here."

"See you there then."

The mag-grab disengaged and Tox was left on his own to check that everything was ok. And when he was done, he sat in the seat, as he'd done back at Tinner's, wondering what he could do. But like before, everything that needed to be done on the ship had been done. With a deep breath he checked the engagement of the access tube then broke the seals. He crawled into the tube, punched the code he'd been given into the lock and worked at the manual seal. Beyond was not what he'd expected.

A guard sat at a small desk. He looked up once as Tox stepped out of the hatch, made a note on a data pad, then turned his attention outwards once again.

The room he guarded was a common room. There were food and drink vending machines, various gaming tables and computers. A dozen young people-- none as old as Tox-- sat in small groups or on their own. All wore academy uniforms. They all carried looks of studied professionalism.

Tox had been instructed to report to the registrar as soon as he arrived so he didn't have time to grow accustomed to the idea of being in the academy. He strode across to the guard.

"Excuse me."

"Yes, Mr Intya."

"Are you allowed to call me Tox?"

The guard looked at him suspiciously. "Yes."

"Good, well, could you do that, please."

"Sure, Tox."

"Thanks. This is going to be strange enough as it is."

"Tell me about it." He smiled. "You're supposed to be going to the registrar."

"I know. What I don't know is how to get there."

"You... Oh. Most people who come here have been through the Cadet Corp. They all think they know everything there is to know about this place. Do you have a data pad."

"You could call it that." Tox took his pad from his pocket and held it out while the guard worked with his own.

"I shouldn't really do this but... here's a map of the entire complex-- well, most of it." When he had the map on his screen, he touched his pad to Tox's and transferred it over. "Right near the main entrance over there." He pointed.

"Right. So... We're in here?"

"That's right."

"Great, thanks."

Tox hurried from the room and made his way through the gleaming halls of the academy. People were everywhere-- all of them looked extremely busy and extremely important. Tox wondered if either of those situations were correct for any of them.

One man, with a crisp uniform and officer's badge, grabbed his arm as he passed. "Who are you? What are you doing here?"

"My name is Tox Intya, Sir. I am registering today."

"That's a likely story. You're too old. And even if you weren't you shouldn't be in here if you haven't registered."

"Sir, what's more unlikey-- a 25 year old student or someone who got past all the security?"

The man opened his mouth to say something then stopped. "What are you doing here then?

"Sir, I will be living on board my ship. It has been docked near... ummm.. down there near the common room."

"That isn't allowed."

"Sorry, Sir. I'm just following orders."

The man finally thought to check is data pad. After a moment he grunted and nodded grudgingly. "Very well, Mr Intya. I'm Lieutenant Huhard. I teach one of the engineering classes."

"I may see you there then, Sir."

It appeared that the Lieutenant didn't know if that was a good thing or not. "You'd better get going then."

"Sir." Tox felt as if he should be saluting, but the Lieutenant strode away without looking back. So Tox did the same. Five minutes and two wrong turns later he found the registrars office. Like everything he'd seen it was bigger than he'd expected and probably larger than was absolutely necessary. There were two desks flanking an archway and a real garden filling a corner.

Tox tried not to stare. Real plants... He made his way to one of the desks where a tall, green haired woman was working at a computer.

"You must be, Tox Intya."

"My fame precedes me." Tox's smile faltered-- the woman did not look at all amused. "Yes, ma'am."

"Right. Take this data pad and go through there. Someone will be with you soon. Fill out the form while you are waiting."

"Thank you ma'am."

Tox took the pad and made his way through the arch. There were rows of seat in the large room beyond. At least a thousand, all facing a long counter at the front of the room. There were no people anywhere.

Sitting in the front row, feeling as if he was late, or in the wrong spot, Tox filled out the form. It was regular stuff about his back ground and education and acquired knowledge. Stuff that they probably knew already. Just as he finshed, a man entered via a door behind the counter and sat at one of the chairs. He looked at Tox expectantly.