Shoshone Station: The Galactic Consortium season 2

Episode Five: Adam #14

Lannister finished up the final report. It wasn't even lunchtime yet, but he'd informed his people he would be taking the rest of the day off, and he was more than happy to be finished. His life suddenly felt very stressful. It wasn't that his workload had changed—it was because his family would arrive in a few days. Luckily, he had a chance to get away from stressor too, for the afternoon at least.

As he stepped into the zero G lift and headed toward his quarters above, he heard someone give out a fierce war cry, followed by a dull thud. When he stepped out of the tube, he was surprised to find that it had been Peeta.

They had moved the couches away from the back of the room to clear a space. A slate was on the floor, projecting a life-sized human crouched in a fight pose. Peeta stood in a tight-fitting shirt and long slacks in front of it, sweat dripping from his lean frame. Adam and Kleppie were standing to one side in matching T-shirts and sweatpants, watching.

"Again," Peeta said. "Watch." He moved in fast, catching a punch from holo-projection and striking out with an elbow. There was a thud, as though the projection were solid. "Now, you."

Adam stepped forward. Zie crouched and waited while Peeta gave the command. Zie mimicked Peeta's move, not nearly as fast but fast enough to block the punch and land a blow.

"We can increase the speed as you improve, make it harder," Peeta said. Noticing Lannister, he turned and gave a bow. "Captain."

"Sir," Kleppie said, saluting. Adam fell in beside him.

He returned the salute but said, "At ease. And I'm not really your captain."

"I know, sir," Kleppie said, deflating. He tugged on the T-shirt with the Navy logo embossed on it. "But habit is hard to break. Especially when I'm wearing these."

To Peeta, Lannister said, "I didn't know I had a bodyguard as well as a page."

"It's not my specialty," Peeta replied. "But we are given hand-to-hand training at school. Some pages do indeed double as bodyguards. As for you, this position doesn't have that danger rating. However, if we ever face a violent insurrection, I promise I won't let you down."

"Good to know. May it never happen." He turned to Kleppie. "You might want to get cleaned up. Cheyenne's flight will dock in about half an hour."

"Yes, sir," Kleppie said. "One slow lap, to cool down," he said to Adam, and the two headed out the front door to run a lap of the circumference of the station.

"I heard a thud," Lannister commented as Peeta closed the slate and picked it up.

"Hard-light attachment," Peeta said, pointing at one of the many-colored stripes along the edge.

"Hard light?"

"It's a misnomer really. It's an added kinetic field to the holographic display, gives it a certain resistance."

"That's awesome," Lannister said. "Where do I get one of those slates?"

"Slate? You mean the bands."

"They are separate?"

"Yes. The slates are provided free, for everyone to have the same opportunity, you know. But bands, you must buy them. I can direct you to a good store, or order the ones you want. Some, like the hard-light band, are expensive. My slate is my baby." He held the multicolored device across his chest. "As for you, given your salary and how little you seem to care for luxuries, you might find the cost easy enough to part with."

"Remind me," Lannister said. "I would like to know what each band does. Then perhaps I shall look into one, as you say. But for today, I should be getting ready as well."