Across the Universe: A BFDI Oneshot Collection

Roll Call

Hiss.

"ATTENTION!"

Quicker than a flash, the six cadets jumped up from their seats and stood at attention while Commander Thrie walked through the doorway to the mess hall. The commander scanned each of the cadets before pausing at one of them with a bread roll sticking out of their mouth.

"Swallow your food, Ruh." Thrie gave Dow-Ruh an unimpressed stare as the latter cadet gulped down the last of her bread roll before continuing. "As you all know, we have officers from the Engineer visiting our ship soon. Clean up your lunch and meet in the bridge. You have 10 minutes."

"Permission to speak, Commander?" one of them piped up.

"Permission granted, Book."

The others snickered and tried to hold in their laughs, but Book didn't acknowledge them past an annoyed glare. "You told us that the officers weren't going to be here for another five hours," she continued. "Is that not already enough time to prepare for the officers' arrival without having to end lunch early? I mean, you already had us clean our quarters a few minutes after we woke up."

"That is what the officers told me, correct," Thrie replied. "However, Book—" the cadets once again struggled to contain their laughter— "it is important that we prepare for their arrival at any time. We are at war; it is not only prudent, but rather imperative to expect the unexpected."

"Excellent summary, Commander Thrie."

The commander whirled around in surprise and the cadets all suddenly stiffened up as they heard the officer's familiar voice. "And I am...satisfied with your cadets' standards of cleaning," she continued. "Although I will remind you that each cadet is allotted one pillow only. No more, no fewer."

Thrie looked confused for a second before mentally facepalming and turning around to glare at Saw and Gay-Tee, both of them conveniently avoiding eye contact. "My apologies," she said, turning back to the officer. "I will resolve that issue as soon as—"

"No need. I've already taken care of it. Let me see your cadets."

"...Ma'am, I was informed that the evaluation would take place in the bridge."

"And you were also informed that I wouldn't be coming for another five hours. Now let me see your cadets."

Thrie hesitated, but stepped to her side to allow the officer to enter. The cadets all gazed in awe at her decorated uniform and poised demeanor. A pair of steely gray eyes silently judged each of them behind a pair of glasses sitting evenly on her nose, and she brushed away a stray bang from in front of her face with a swift flick of her head. She filled the room with an aura that commanded respect as she stopped in front of the cadets and stood tall and confident, looking down at them silently.

Or, more accurately, she stood short and confident, looking up at them silently.

"Holy heck, it's GB herself," Saw whispered to Tee, amazement in her voice.

After a few tense seconds, GB nodded in approval and said, "Well, you cadets can stand at attention well enough. TB?"

She pressed a button on the top of her glasses and projected a tall, yellow hologram of another person right next to her. "What's up, GB?" the hologram asked.

"Run roll call protocol."

"You got it." The hologram flickered off for a second before flickering back on. "All right, so I'm assuming you kids are the cadets of Starship B73-H?"

All of them nodded.

"Great. We're gonna run through all of you in alphabetical order, starting with you," he said, pointing at Book.