Of Hearts And Stars (Classic Editon) (The Cadet Starship Chronicles) (27 page)

“
For the last two years you've only stayed for one dance and then left. We usually go to the arcade after we get changed. This year you've stayed for nearly the entire thing. Why?”

Swift scratched his head and shifted his eyes to the side “I'm having a lot of fun this year, so I figured I'd...”

Revy folded her arms and raised her eyebrows. This meant that his bull wasn't cutting it.

He gave in and said “Okay. After the ball get changed and meet me down in our hangar bay. I'll explain everything. Don't tell anyone, promise?”

She nodded and said “Promise.”

-
52
-

Revy changed out of the dress she had worn to the ball, and into a more practical dress that was better suited for school and work. Within minutes after parting ways with Swift outside of the auditorium, she walked into Hangar Bay One to find him moving crates from LaCroix to another ship.

“
What's all this then?” she asked.

Swift set down the crate he was carrying and wiped his forehead “Top secret mission.”

“
Oh yeah?”

“
Yup. Remember that portal The Empire opened?”

“
How could I forget? It was two weeks ago.”

“
Well The Empire couldn't close it. The best they could do was to temporarily disable it.”

“
And let me guess. You think you're the only one that can shut it down?”

Swift rolled his eyes and said “I was contacted this morning by Mr. Method. He told me that a device capable of closing the portal had been engineered. The catch is that it can only be activated, manually, from inside of the portal itself. The Alien Dimension. They're not willing to sacrifice a crew for this and no one has volunteered. The only readily available AI that is sophisticated enough to activate the device is LC.”

Revy narrowed her eyes and said “That's absurd! They expect you to just sacrifice the ship your father left you? On top of that, LC is our friend! Can't they just program another AI?”

“
Apparently not soon enough. With that portal active, we risk an invasion that mankind can't fight off. Least not as long as this war is still going on.”

“
So what will you do?” she asked.

Swift looked away and did not answer, so she rephrased her question as “Swift, what are you doing with all of these crates?”

“
I'm going to fly this student ship into the portal myself and close it. I've already moved the device over, and these are crates of water and rations. About half a year's worth.”

“
How long will it take for The Empire to bring you back?”

“
I don't know.”

“
You don't know!?”

“
Well they don't know. The technology to bring me back without opening another portal of that size doesn't exist yet. Plus they don't know that I'm actually going.”

Revy considered these words for a moment and said “Take me with you.”

“
No way. It's too dangerous.”

Revy strode right up to him and stood on her toes until their noses touched.

“
Take. Me. With. You.”

Swift saw from the flare of defiance in her eyes that she would not accept anything other than yes as for an answer.

“
Help me finish moving the rations and water. Then we'll go.”

“
Okay!”

They moved the crates one by one until ship number forty seven was fully stocked. When Revy had set down the last crate, Swift dusted his jacket and turned to her.

“
One more thing and we're set. I need you to put this crate just inside of the hallway. I want Gin to find it after we're gone. I'm going to go initialize the engines.” he said.

She nodded and said “Sure.”

Revy took the crate down to the hallway entrance and set it down. Just as she went to stand back up, she felt something drop onto her shoulders. She looked and saw a very familiar sight: Swift's leather jacket. The one that had belonged to his father, and was his prized possession.

“
Hey-”

Swift took a step back and said “Engage security protocol alpha.”

Revy spun around and rushed forward, only to be stopped by a force-field.

“
You tricked me!” she cried.

Swift put his hands into his pockets and said “I'm sorry.”

“
Leoric Swift, you take down this force-field right now.”

Swift shook his head and said “No can do Reveille James.”

“
Fine. Then you leave me no other choice.” she said, then summoned Ninebreaker and leveled it with the center of the force-field.

“
Revy wait-”

His voice was cut off from by the thunderclap issued from Ninebreaker's muzzle. The round hit the force-field and ricocheted into and off of one wall before lodging itself in another. Upon seeing her shot barely cause a ripple in the force-field Revy threw Ninebreaker to the deck and stretched her arm out in front of her.

“
Now that it's come to this...” she said as electricity arced at her fingers and a shimmering light began to take form in her hand.

“
Revy, this force-field was developed from the same technology as Wrath. It's been modified to scale and run off of the academy's power source, making it impenetrable. You're going to hurt or kill yourself if you fire Blazing Angel at it.”

No sooner than her next weapon had formed, she released it and fell to her knees. Regardless of what had happened already, she knew that he wasn't lying about this.

“
Then why don't you take it down?” she asked in a small, sad voice.

“
I can't.” Swift said, grief apparent in his voice as well.

“
Why?”

“
I've been trying to be strong for many years now, but the hits just keep coming. It suffocates me until I feel as if I can't breathe. I want to believe that it'll all be okay, someday, but I can't, and the truth is that I am afraid. I'm always fighting against the current, barely keeping my head above water at times, and then there's you. A hand, always there, to reach in and pull me up. But at what cost to you?” he asked.

“
It costs me nothing!” she cried.

“
Oh, but it does. I know how much you worry. The nights you sit up and cry after I manage to nearly get myself killed. I know that you deserve better than me. You deserve happiness. And even though it's something I truly know because of you; I cannot give it back, because I cannot change.”

Tears began to stream down Revy's face as she said “I don't want you to change! I'm happy just the way you are!”

She pressed her hand against the force-field, light rippling out from her palm. Swift put his hand up to the force-field as well and said “That's what I am afraid of. It'll just get worse and worse for you because I can't change. Even now you're willing to follow me into an unknown and dangerous
dimension with no definite way back. I can't let you throw your life away.”

“
I don't want to live without you! Don't you remember when we met?” she asked, and he did. He considered taking the force-field down at this, but realized that he couldn't. He still had to be strong.

“
Since that's the way it is, then you have to stay. If anyone can build a transdimensional teleporter, it's you.

Revy wiped her eyes with his jacket sleeve and said “Okay. I can do it.”

Swift gave her a thumbs up and said “Magical!”

“
Leoric?” she asked.

“
Yeah?”

“
I l-”

“
Hey!” he hollered so loudly that she nearly fell backwards.

“
What the heck?” she asked, irritated with his sudden interruption.

“
Let's say that to each other when I get back.”

-
Epilogue-

Information about The Empire's research and development of transdimensional portals was leaked to the public, as well as rumors of a hostile alien threat, leading to an immediate outrage among imperial citizens. Many prominent public figures spoke out against it, questioning The Emperor’s poor decision making and why such a thing was even carried out in secrecy to begin with. These events would go on to bring about increased internal strife, and the need for 'reconstructive measures'. In the end the universe never found out about the courageous, yet egotistical young man who gave up his freedom, his friends, and his life for the sake of mankind.

-
Afterword
-

Edward Dean West is a New Jersey based author who works full time at his day job. Much of Of Hearts And Stars was originally composed in spiral notebooks and on sheets of legal paper in what little free time he had. That being said, if you like Of Hearts And Stars, but dislike the amateurish writing style: don't worry. The author is tirelessly working at improving his technique. You, the reader, can support him by telling a friend about this book! If they can't afford it, or don't want to risk the cost of the novel, lend it to them! Let the galaxy know about the daring exploits of our young heroes! To Shatter Glass, the next novel in The Cadet Starship Chronicles, will be out soon. In the meantime if you're still itching for more of Swift and the cadets, head over to ofheartsandstars.com. A bi-weekly web comic is currently underway, set up for your enjoyment as a bonus for being a fan. Thank you very much for reading all of this nonsense.