New Release: CADETS, Young Defenders, Book 1

 

“Is she covered in tattoos?“ Shayn asked.

“No, not really. Just a few scars are visible on her face. The rest on her arms and legs are covered by her uniform. E’bett says she carries a very big knife. It’s tradition.“ She winked, prompting chuckles from Tila and Ben.

Jorgan suspected Maenta was teasing, just a little. He didn’t think she was lying, because she was a Le’ankan master. They couldn’t lie, could they?

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The only time Shayn and Jorgan could find an open spot to play in the zero-gravity tank was early the next morning, an hour before breakfast. When they went to bed that night, they set the controls in the wall screen in their room to wake them up half an hour before that open time. That would give them time to dress and get to the recreation deck. Before they could tell their parents what they planned, Ben knocked on the door of their suite and came in.

“What are you boys getting up so early for?“ he asked.

“How do you know?“ Shayn blurted.

“We’re responsible for everything you do on this station.“ Their father sat down on the small couch in the sitting room. Jorgan thought he didn’t look angry, just concerned. “When you program anything into the room controls, it alerts us. It also tells us when you go into any part of the station that isn’t strictly residential.“

“Will it tell you when we go to the recreation deck?“ Jorgan asked. “Isn't that considered part of the residential section?“

“Oh. Right.“ Ben grinned. “What are you planning on doing in there? Before breakfast.“

“Well, we planned on taking some of the food in there.“ Shayn gestured at the cabinet kitchen. “That's the only time the zero-g tank is open.“

“Okay, makes sense. Did you reserve it?“

“We forgot!“

“Duh,“ Jorgan said. He wasn’t sure if he wanted to laugh or groan. “We should have thought of that.“

“Yes, you should. You don’t want to get up that early and get to the rec deck and find out some other people had the same idea, but they got there a minute ahead of you,“ Ben said.

“We were going to ask you,“ Shayn said. “We were just excited we figured out how to set the time.“

“That’s good to know. Just rearrange your steps.“

Ben figured out how to navigate through the station services system to reserve the time in the zero-g tank, without having to go to the recreation deck to do it. When the boys asked him if he wanted to come play with them, he laughed and said he might think about it. If he woke up early enough.