Blood and Genetics

Flames of the Past

Mr. Harris was droning on about fire again. Keith watched the example desk carefully, waiting for it to burst into flames. He was not disappointed. This time, he got up, grabbed the fire extinguisher and put it out.

Mr. Harris gaped at him. "Kogane?"

"Is that not the correct procedure to put out a fire in a plane, sir?"

"Um- well- yes."

Keith saluted and sat back down. Mr. Harris cleared his throat. "Well. That- that covers the basics. So. Um. We'll be headed down to the simulators to practice in a more realistic situation.

There was a relieved cheer, and the cadets started lining up at the door. They marched down to the simulator room, and Mr. Harris called names by alphabet, starting with

"Garret, Hunk."

Hunk gulped and went into the simulator. A few minutes later, he stumbled out, green and nauseous. Mr. Harris sighed, barely looking up from his phone, where he monitored the inside of the simulator. "Fail. Griffin, James."

Griffin entered the simulator, his face pale. After a minute, the door opened, and he came out, white-faced and shaking.

Mr. Harris gave him a look. "Pass, but barely. You performed the correct procedure, but you panicked." He called one of the girls in their flight group, who did moderately well, but then-

"Kogane, Keith."

Keith entered the simulator and sat down at the controls. He piloted it as normal, soaring through the blue sky, and then- something burst into flames.

A student being set outside through a window by a pair of hands that Keith knew to be his father's.

The whole building collapsing in on itself, flames burning bright.

Being held back by teachers as he attempted to run towards the burning building.

Screaming for his father, but getting no answer.

Keith jumped and steered the plane into a nosedive before reasserting control and putting the plane in autopilot. He jumped out of his seat, going for the fire extinguisher, but a warning light told him that the plane was unstable because of something or other that was burning, and the simulator gave an almighty heave that sent him crashing into a wall and smacking his head on the fire extinguisher that he was supposed to use.

After a dizzying moment where all he could see was stars, he seized the fire extinguisher and finished the job. The simulator let him out, and Mr. Harris gave him a frown.

"Pass. Barely. You nearly crashed. Go get that bump on your head checked out by the med bay."

Keith nodded and left as Mr. Harris called the next name.

"McClain, Lance."

Xxx

"Keith, I want to talk to you."

Keith stopped at the door of Mr. Harris' classroom, turning around to face him. They were the only ones left in the classroom. "Yes, Sir?"

"Are you doing alright?"

"I'm fine."

"What happened in the simulator today?"

"I panicked. It won't happen again, Sir."

Mr. Harris eyed him. "You're very bright, Keith, and you've got good reflexes- how fast you managed to pull out of that nosedive is a testament to that."

Keith said nothing, waiting for the "but" or the "so why".

"So why don't you ever do your homework? I know that you're smart enough to complete the work, and you've clearly done the reading and know the material. So, why don't you ever do your assignments? You could do very well if you would just..."