Space is Vast

Chapter 3 - To be or not to be

“You can see the Dean now.” The woman at the desk looked up to the dark skinned boy and smiled. “Just go on in.”

He nodded and stood up and walked though the large waiting room placing down his magazine and making his way to a large doubles doors. He stopped outside of them and made to give a slight knock and watched as the doors swung open at his presence. He eyed the doors strangely and proceeded inside. The boy glanced around the large office. His eyes played over the expensive burgundy carpet, which complimented the large oversized desk. The desk was placed slightly nearer to the wall opposite of the double doors, making the walk to the desk unpleasantly long. The boy’s eyes wandered to walls also scanning over the hundreds of weapons that were hung. Most of them he had seen before, but a few… such as a large “W” shaped weapon with a length of cord attaching the two tips of the “W” truly baffled him. Finally his eyes came back down to notice the man standing behind the desk with his hands placed on the wood he had leaned slightly forward and was smiling warmly. The man looked to be in his mid forties with a brilliantly white smile. His clothes were a dark gray as were traditional clothes of the school. He was much taller than the boy, standing at a little over six two he was lean and sinewy. He had a scar across his face, from his nose to the bottom of his right cheek, but the disfigurement only seemed to enhance his character and his smile had made many girls hearts drop before. The man cocked his head slightly and spoke.

“What can I do for you son?”

The boy walked to the desk and sat down in one of the extremely comfortable chairs placed in front of the dean’s desk.

“Dean…. Sir, I don’t want to do this anymore. I want to stop. I- I have nightmares sometimes.” He looked away a little ashamed, “I don’t think this is what I should be doing with my life sir.”

“Bollocks! Who’s been telling you that? Of course this is the best thing for you, you’re top of the class, and no doubt the most efficient with a 23-0 record. As far as I can think no one has yet to top that, and you want to throw all that away?”

“Sir… I don’t think I can handle all this, my conscious is telling me it’s wrong, and my body just reacts and does it. I want to stop for good. Someone else can be your top student.”

The dean looked at the boy who sat in the chair before him. His brown eyes were locked onto his own, and although he was only seventeen he had progressed to a level 4 when most boys his age where only at level 2. He truly hated to lose such a valuable asset but he had always told all his students that if they should wish to leave they had only to ask. He couldn’t deny this boy’s plea. He gave a deep long sigh and pushed a button on his desk. A screen popped up from the center and folded out revealing a keyboard underneath. The dean sat in his seat and tapped a few keys before leaning to his left to peer around the large screen.

“You realize this means we erase your files from this place. You were never here.”

The boy nodded.

“And we’ll give you a small trunk which you can fill with food and such, but you had better find a way to live. You’re a young man and you better not waste you life shoveling cats in the city of Taris.”

Nod.

“Also we can send you to any planet you wish. Do you have a preference?”

Nod, “Erandor Sir. I’ve heard a lot about the place and I’ve always wanted to go there.”

“Then so it shall be. Just stay in the waiting room for a little bit and I’ll have my secretary bring you the tickets and provisions.” The dean stood up as he talked and extended a hand, which was accepted by the boy with a firm handshake. 

“I will miss you Adam. I hope this is what you truly want.”

“Thank you sir, I hope so too.”