Heritage

Heritage (Chapter 3)

Chapter 3 - Stella

Having just heard yet another rumor about the Commander's son, Leon, I roll my eyes in disgust and head for Technology Studies. It’s my favorite class, with the minor exception of Leon. He's arrogant and annoying, but I have to admit, he’s also brilliant and...Attractive.

Ugh, I hate even admitting that in my own mind, but it’s true. He’s had a thing for me for ages now, and despite my attraction to him, his attitude is a huge turn off.

His parents, however, are exceptionally brilliant and unbiased. Leon’s been in more trouble than anyone else, and has always been treated as just one of the Cadets, never getting special treatment.

I turn left, catching a glimpse of myself in the glass partition that separates the corridor from the Blaze Hall Library. It’s dedicated as a memorial to Dr. Thomas Blaze and Security Lieutenant Dante Hall, who sacrificed themselves to virus induced mutants so that Commander Blake and his wife (who was pregnant with Leon at the time) could survive. Both Blaze and Hall were close, personal friends to the Blakes.

I spend a lot of my time in Blaze Hall (or so us Cadets call it), studying and focusing as much of my time on coursework as possible. I strive to be the best at everything that I do, because in my family, being second just doesn’t make the cut.

Both of my parents are Senators back on Earth. My entire family is filled with overachievers and I guess the gene carried to me too. I begged my Mother to send me to Poseidon, because it’s been my dream for as far back as I can remember.

Now that I’m here, I plan to make my mark.

Blaze Hall isn’t a typical library, it’s one of the most technologically advanced libraries of information in the entire world. Only a small section is dedicated to books, while over 97% is made up of micro-discs, which hold up to fifty gigabytes of information. In order to check out the micro-discs, we have to swipe our TAPs keycard at the Librarian’s desk.

I turn left down the south wing corridor, ignoring the gaping stares from some of the younger Cadets. My looks can be somewhat of a distraction to the guys on the ship, and to me they’re simply a curse.

Most people don't notice my master level skills in martial arts or my 4.5 GPA average, they’re too busy staring at my flaming red hair, flawless complexion or my curvy attributes.

And then there’s the eyes. I’ve heard about them my entire life, bright aqua blue and apparently entrancing, that is, if they can take their eyes off of my other features, lower than my face. It’s hard only being recognized for your physical elements instead of your hard-earned achievements.

That is why I look up to Commander Elena Blake, Technology Studies teacher and General Ethan Blake’s wife. She treats me like an equal, even though I’m just a Cadet, and she plainly shows her appreciation for my hard work. Her son, however, needs some work.

I enter the classroom and see Commander Blake at her desk, grading a stack of quizzes, and I quickly make my way to my study table. My partner Monica is out for the day, seeing as she had been taken to the infirmary last night with complaints of the stomach flu.

Monica’s habitation module is two doors down from mine, and she was kind enough to let me know she’d be out today, before heading to the ship’s infirmary.

Each Cadet has their own habitation module, or HabMods as we like to call them, with a bedroom and a small bathroom in each one. Our HabMods are furnished completely with all the necessary furniture and extras of everyday life.

After dropping my bag on my worktable, I make my way up to Commander Blake’s desk to inform her of Monica’s absence. She looks up from grading her quizzes (looks like another fail for Joe Marshall, unsurprisingly) and gives me a bright smile.