How Riya Ended Up Here...
Chapter Two: A Change in Station
There was really only one option for Riya. Even if he could somehow get a message to his father, or anyone on Mars for that matter, he didn't think they'd believe him. Malagai Kethron was a sensible sort of man, for all he was a fanatic, and dragons allied with UNIS was a little far fetched for him. Riya supposed he might have been able to get by with saying UNIS had managed to forge an alliance with a powerful alien race, but again, this was doubtful-- an alien race would have had to pass Mars to get to Earth, and surely the Martian colonists would have heard of it. Riya needed more information, some sort of proof, before he could even begin to try and convince them of what was going on. And he had two and a half months to do it in, before the next messenger came by with the supply freight.
So he set about dropping hints to certain people that he wished he could work more closely with the cadets, that he had some knowledge of modern mechanics and weaponry, that he was more patient and careful than he looked. He was extraordinarily polite with the cadets he served, for all they either ignored him, looked down their noses at him, or taunted him for his lowly place in the scheme of things, the slop he was forced to feed them, even his "girly" hair. Though he was usually very laid back and easy-going, he came close to breaking the nose of the one who came up with that little jab, but unfortunately, it was one of the psionic ones, and it was those nine-- one had dropped out after learning about the dragons-- he had to be extremely careful with. He didn't want to get on their bad sides, for most of them seemed to be taking their little promotion as one of Mullen's Favorites-- as the other Cadets were beginning to call them jealously-- to their heads.
Besides, you never knew how much they knew about you....
For, during the next couple of weeks, while he waited for his plan to go into action, Riya also learned a lot more than he'd ever thought possible. There was more to this gift of psionics than simply picking up sent thoughts and talking in each other's heads; Riya found, if he listened just right, he could "pick up" stray thoughts from unguarded minds. Most of the time it was merely amusing, hearing the thoughts of the kitchen staff or the laundry women, but once in a while he got close enough to someone important to "hear" some more important things. It was in part by using this gift-- possibly abusing it, but Riya didn't much care, for his home and father were on the line now-- that he learned just how many people knew of the dragon, who was involved in this Avangaean Bonding Project (whatever that was), and just what Mullen's Favorites were going through. So, in that way, he found ways and words to make it seem like he was the perfect man for the position of their assistant.
Also, while he waited, Riya kept his mental ears open for any summons by Mullen for his Favorites to come to special training. Whenever he could, he slipped away from whatever he was doing at the time to come watch and pick up any tips he could. He spent all of those private lessons jumpy, nervous, and paranoid that he would be seen, or heard, or sensed somehow-- but either Mullen wasn't as good of a psionic as Riya imagined him to be, or he didn't care that he had a watcher. Even the fire dragon, Esuro Fideles, seemed oblivious to his presence.
The fire dragon... Riya was utterly enchanted by the idea of dragons, now that he knew they weren't just figments of the over-active imaginations of cave-men and medievals. If ignoring the jibes of Mullen's Favorites was hard, it was almost impossible to hide his jealousy of their second tutor. Whenever he could, whether there was a summons or not, Riya found himself loitering outside, with the Barn in easy view, in case he might catch sight of the amazing creature. There was nothing of fear for the dragon, though at least three of Mullen's Favorites were scared shitless of him, but for Riya there was just awe.
Finally, one day, in an afternoon while Riya watched the cadets shooting at a model of some monster-thing called an Earth Demon and silently grumbled over some of the things Mullen had said during the practice, the captain and one of his subordinates, a man named Master Corporal Tadasana who coordinated a lot of the staff's placements, approached Riya in his shadowy little corner of the practice field. Riya literally jumped in surprise as he saw that they were, actually, aiming for him. He slipped from his hiding place, looking and feeling both embarassed and a little guilty-- the former for being caught, the second for hiding to watch to begin with-- as Tadasana beckoned him to join them. Either his plan was working, or he was in big trouble... Riya wasn't sure which.
"The Captain says you have been hovering around his group, boy," Tadasana said, not bothering with pleasantries, and he obviously didn't know Riya's name, so he didn't try to use it. That probably meant that the MC was either angry, feeling business-like, or experiencing some sort of distaste with his current duty. Riya didn't dare try to "read" him, not with Mullen right there, and Riya uncertain as to Tadasana's psionic gifting, as well. He glanced to Mullen, who looked more relaxed and less imposing than Tadasana, for all he was a higher rank, then nodded meekly to the MC. Thoughts kept running through his mind-- had they found out about his spying, his gift, his growing obsession with the dragon? Tadasana spoke again, as if he'd expected more than that and was making sure he got it now: "Why?"
Unable to escape that question with a silent answer, Riya clasped his hands before him, trying not to figet with them, and kept his eyes down. Most UNIS thought of that as a sign of guilt rather than respect, like it was in Riya's family, but he could never quite break the habit. "Because I was curious, sir. I mean... there are rumors about them, sir."
Tadasana sighed and Mullen smiled, perhaps encouragingly, when Riya glanced up at him briefly again. "Rumors, indeed," Tadasana grumbled-- he'd often been heard to complain about the hotbed of rumor that was the kitchen staff. It was his worst pet peeve. "Well, since you seem to have shown so much interest, and there are rumors circling around about you, as well, Captain Mullen has requested you join his team as an assistant." Tadasana obviously wasn't too happy about the move, but he could hardly refuse the captain.
Riya lifted his eyes again, smiling with what he hoped was gratitude but felt probably came out more with relief. "Really?" There was no need to feign the excitement in his voice, though, as he realized that this might mean he could meet the dragon in person. He looked over at Mullen who, to Riya's surprise and slight anxiety, nodded faintly-- had he heard the thought, or was he just responding to the spoken question?-- then back at Tadasana, who sighed faintly and nodded, as well. He even dredged up a small smile, despite having to speak with one of the lower members of the kitchen staff.
Riya gave a little half-bow, his braid dangling over one shoulder-- he refused to salute, but with the military you had to do something-- and exclaimed, "Thank you, sirs, I'll do my best, I promise."
"See that you do," Tadasana said simply, then turned on his heel and marched away, leaving Riya with the captain.
"Welcome to the team, Riya," Mullen said with a grin.
"Thank you, sir," Riya smiled.