A New Beginning

Chapter Two: Imperial Academy

Location: Houston, Texas; Town Square

Ezra was the first person outside the station when the train stopped. He continued to sprint towards the Imperial Academy, praying that the class hasn't begun. As he was sprinting, Ezra heard something. A low humming.

"Huh?" Ezra slowed his pace from sprinting to running. The humming continued. Ezra turned his head to look behind him only for him to crash into someone. Both of them fell to the ground. Ezra recovered first.

"Oh my! I am so sorry! Here let me," Ezra grunted as he pulled the - seemingly dazed - man on to his feet. He bent down to the ground and grabbed the scattered papers. He caught a glimpse of the words Imperial Academy Records. He raised his eyebrows but shrugged it off. In the distance, a bell rung. Ezra knew that was the 5 minutes early warning bell.

"Oh no! I need to go, I am so sorry!" Ezra apologized and shoved the papers on the man's arms. Ezra didn't get much details about how he looked except that he has brown hair and a green long sleeved shirt. Regardless, Ezra continued to sprint towards the academy. He ran by his locker and grabbed his cadet uniform and helmet and changed as quickly as he could.

================================
Location: Imperial Academy; Obstacle Course

The ticking of a clock could be heard. The long hand of the clock reached 12 and Commandant Cumberlayne Aresko snapped the watch closed. He growled. Cadet Red was late. Again. He stood on a platform of a closed off obstacle course of the Imperial base with the cadets minding their own businesses. This section was newly built for cadets with a higher chances of being a part of the high ranks in the Empire. This is newest and one of the most effective base. It used to be where spaceships were created and where people were sent to space. But that changed when the Empire rose up. They made it the biggest branch of the Imperial Academy. The Commandant was about to shout an order when the long awaited cadet finally arrived.

"Cadets! Single file! Red! Front and center!" Commandant Cumberlayne shouted.

"Sir, yes, sir!" The cadets shouted back. Immediately, the cadets formed one line horizontally, unmoving. The cadet stood at the center in his white uniform and helmet with a red symbol. The Commandant circled him once.

"Cadet. You are 6 seconds late. As punishment, you are to do 6 laps around the entire field. Begin," Cumberlayne Aresko ordered. The cadet immediately took off and ran around them.

"Alright, cadets. Listen up. Today, Taskmaster Myles Grint will be bringing a new cadet. They will be joining us shortly," The Commandant announced. Cadet Red finished the first lap. He just finished the second lap when the large metal doors opened.

Taskmaster Myles Grint appeared with a cadet wearing a helmet with a violet mark. The cadet appeared to have a female's form. Cadet Red continued to run, and finished his third lap.

"This is Cadet Violet. She will be joining you in your trainings. Red! Speed up! I saw you run faster than that, or are you starting to become sloppy?" Taskmaster Myles Grint shouted.

"No sir!" Came Red's reply he ran faster and completed his fourth and fifth lap quickly.

"That's more like it. Violet, join your fellow cadets. Double time!" The Taskmaster ordered. Once his back was turned, Cadet Red smirked under his helmet and ran faster than he originally did - as he was nearing the place he started at, he did a cartwheel and landed on his feet. Cadet Red stood still and firm.

"Permission to enter the group, sir!" He shouted.

"Granted." Commandant Aresko said. Red smiled from under his helmet. He stood beside two cadets with a yellow and blue symbol on their helmets.