Book One of the Travelers (12 page)

W
hat am I going to do with you, Vo Spader?” Master Simmons demanded. “It's been this way your entire time here at the academy. You show great promise and skill, and then you do something completely foolish. Not to mention dangerous.”

Spader wanted to say that his skill should be all that mattered, not whether or not he followed a bunch of dumb rules. But he knew enough to keep his mouth shut.

“I could expel you for using the obstacle course unsupervised.” Simmons shook his head. “And you did it
blindfolded
!”

“I beat it, though,” Spader blurted out. “You should have seen me! Maybe your next cadets should—”

The master shot Spader a look that made Spader instantly stop speaking.

“By the gates of Faar, what made you do such a stupid thing when you
knew
you'd be caught? Are you that intent on proving you don't have to follow the rules?”

“What do you mean?” Spader asked.

“The parents' tour!” the master said. “It was on all of your schedules for the day.”

“Oh, right…” Spader hadn't actually read the schedule, but he was certain Per had. Spader's ears grew hot with anger. The timing was too perfect—Per had set him up to be caught.

“Under normal circumstances I would expel you,” Master Simmons continued. “But those parents out there view you as a hero.” The Master sighed and rubbed his face. “Another foolhardy move. You went into a dangerous situation without knowing the facts. You put yourself and possibly others at risk.”

“My parents were aboard that vessel,” Spader protested. “I had to do something.”

“I know. I'm not saying it wasn't also courageous.” He shook his head. “That's why you've been such a difficult student. You can be selfless and brave, but you just don't think!”

“Please let me graduate,” Spader said. “I promise to start thinking more.”

The master looked as if he were fighting back a smile. “I certainly hope so. You're a good lad, Vo. People like having you around. Just don't make them regret putting up with your recklessness. Like I'm about to do.”

“Thank you!” Spader said. He grabbed the master's hand and gave it a hard shake. “I'll make you and the academy proud. You'll see!”

“I have high hopes,” the master said. “Dismissed.”

Spader hurried out of the office. He knew his parents were waiting for him back at his room, but first
he needed to have a word or two with Per. Loud and choice words.

He didn't have to go far. Per was sitting on the dock rail as if he were waiting for Spader to come out of the master's office.

“You set me up,” Spader said. “You knew exactly when the master would be at the obstacle course.”

Per shrugged. “You could have said no. But as usual you had to impress everybody. The great and daring Vo Spader at it again. You never take anything seriously.”

“Fighting off the raiders was pretty serious,” Spader retorted. “What did you do? Run to daddy.”

Per's eyes flashed with anger. “You didn't go into that fight to help. It was just showing off.” He gave a nasty laugh. “You probably thought it would be fun! It's all just a big game to you.”

Spader's fist connected with Per's jaw. Startled, Per fell to the ground. Spader was startled too—he hadn't realized he was going to hit Per until he saw his hand fly out.

Per scrambled up to his feet and swung. Spader ducked the blow, but Per was fast and came back in with a punch to Spader's midsection.

“Oof.” Spader doubled over. As Per came at him again, he twisted and kicked out in a sweeping roundhouse, knocking Per back to the ground.

Per leaped up again with an angry shout and flung himself onto Spader. The sudden, sideways weight knocked Spader off balance. They toppled off the dock and into the water.

Water rushed up Spader's nose, and he wished he
were wearing an air globe. He kicked hard and resurfaced quickly, but he felt Per grab his legs, making it impossible for him to swim away.

Spader squirmed and wriggled but he couldn't break free. Per suddenly yanked hard, dunking Spader under.

Spader shot back up, but Per was instantly on him again, grabbing a handful of his long hair. Spader's head jerked back, and Per pulled his head under the water. Spader scissored his legs around Per's, then tossed him sideways, breaking the boy's hold. Spader kicked hard to put distance between them. Per grabbed Spader's feet in a viselike grip and pulled him down under again.

Is he trying to kill me
? Without air globes, Per would drown himself right along with Spader. Per didn't seem to care.

Spader felt as if he were suffocating. He stopped thinking about trading blows with Per anymore—he needed to get to the surface. But Per kept at it, weighing Spader down.

Something dropped into the water nearby. A pair of powerful hands yanked the two boys apart. Per tumbled away, and Spader shot up to the surface. He took in big, grateful gulps of air.

Per's head popped up a few feet away.

“You trango fish!” Spader yelled. He raised his arms to stroke toward Per, but a strong hand grabbed his wrist, holding him back.

“Stop. This minute,” Benn Spader ordered his son. “Back to the dock. Now.”

Spader slowly swam back to the dock, weighed down by embarrassment. To have to be rescued by his dad.
And his father didn't seem too happy about it either.

Spader glanced up at the dock. A group of parents had watched the whole thing. Spader saw his mum's disappointed expression. He could kick himself for getting into a fight in front of everyone. He should have waited until he and Per were alone.

Spader pulled himself out of the water and stood dripping on the dock, waiting for his father. Per climbed up a few feet away.

Spader watched Per's father storm over to Per. He grabbed Per's arm and dragged him down the dock. “You let that boy catch you off guard?” the older Watsu demanded. “Then you had to be rescued by his father?”

“He didn't rescue me!” Per shouted. “I was winning.”

“
Winning!”
Spader sputtered. His fists clenched. He wanted to finish the fight—show Per once and for all who would have won.

“Stop it. Now,” Benn Spader ordered.

Ginja Spader joined her husband and son. “Are you all right?” she asked.

“Fine,” Spader said, looking down at his feet.

“No, you're not fine,” Benn said. “You're so caught up in anger and adrenaline you're not thinking straight.”

Spader gaped at his father. “That's not true! Per—”

“Let's go to your room,” Benn said, cutting him off.

Spader knew better than to protest. He took his mum's overnight case, and they walked to Spader's room in silence.

Spader was fuming. First Per got him into trouble with the master and now this.

When they arrived at his room, Benn told Ginja, “Give us some time.”

“Of course,” Ginja replied. “I'll go to the visitors' quarters. I need to freshen up.” She gave them a wry smile. “Not as badly as you two need to do, of course.” She took her case back from her son and left them alone.

The warm day had dried their clothes a bit. Spader handed his father a towel.

“Vo, you're a good, smart, and talented lad,” Benn said, toweling off his hair.

“But…” Spader said, knowing that this compliment was just the beginning of a lecture.

“You seem to have no control. No discipline.”

“I get the job done,” Spader protested. “No one is better in the water than I am.”

“That may be true,” his father conceded, “but that's not enough. By far.”

Spader sighed. He'd heard this one before. But this time his father seemed much more intense about it.

“Hitting that boy,” Benn said, shaking his head. “How was that ‘getting the job done'?”

Spader looked away. When his father saw his final academy report, he'd only be angrier—it had the same kinds of criticisms. “Not living up to his full potential” was also a comment that his parents wouldn't be happy to see.

“You jeopardized a career that hasn't even begun,” his dad continued. “Do you want to be known as a brawler?”

“Per had it coming!” Spader protested.

Exasperated, Benn threw his hands into the air. “Even now! You don't see it! That momentary satisfaction of hitting someone who insulted you doesn't make up for the damage you cause yourself.”

“He set me up!” Spader fumed. “He knew the master would be passing by, and that's when he dared me to—”

Benn held up a hand. “Stop right there. Do you hear yourself? He dared you to do something that was against the rules, not to mention dangerous. All you're angry about is that he did it in a way that you'd be caught. What do you care if he dares you to do something?”

Spader's mouth dropped open. He didn't have a good answer to that.

“You sound just as angry now as you must have been when you took a swing at him,” his father said. “You have to let it go. Anger has a bad habit of festering and getting worse.”

“You're right,” Spader finally conceded. “I'll let it go. Besides, after graduation tomorrow I won't have to see his smug face again!”

Benn shook his head. “I have a feeling this is something we're going to have to keep talking about.”

W
ishing you smooth waters, the strength of the waves, and the wisdom of the Faarians for this next phase of your life!”

Spader beamed as his friends and family toasted him. His parents were throwing him a going-away party; tomorrow he'd start his assignment on Grallion.

Spader held up his glass of sparkling graka juice. “Wisdom and strength are all very well and good,” he jokingly complained. “But how about wishing me the fun of a skimmer race and the adventures of an aqua explorer!”

Benn slung an arm around his son's shoulders and grinned. “That's my boy! Always looking for excitement! Me, I just want to be sure he doesn't lose the job and have to live off his mum and me for the rest of his life!”

“You mean I won't be getting an allowance anymore?” Spader asked in mock horror. “Can I at least send home my dirty clothing?”

“You somehow managed to do it at the academy,” his mother teased.

“Sure, he managed,” someone in the back of the group shouted, “by never doing it! Phew, the smell!”

Everyone laughed, Spader the hardest of all.

“There's someone here I want you to meet,” Benn said. He brought Spader to the refreshment table where a tall slim man stood cutting a piece of larto fruit pie. “Press, I'd like you to meet my son, Vo Spader.”

“I've heard a lot about you,” Press said.

“Good, I hope,” Spader said.

“Definitely. I can't wait to get into the water with you,” Press said. “I hear you're some skimmer scuttler.”

“I make good time,” Spader admitted with a grin.

“Before you go, we should have ourselves a race,” Press said.

“You're on!” Spader said. “Maybe we can even get my dad into the mix.”

“I'd rather watch and referee,” Benn said. “With you two, someone has to be sure you're playing by the rules.”

“Do you work with my father?” Spader asked.

“No,” Benn said.

“Not exactly,” Press said at the same time.

Spader's forehead wrinkled. “Which is it?” he asked, confused.

“Both,” Press answered quickly. “I've been traveling all over Cloral, visiting the different habitats. Your father was kind enough to get me temporary work with him.”

“Press isn't around very often, so I thought I'd invite him to join us for your party,” Benn added.

Spader studied Press. He seemed like a decent sort, and his father obviously thought highly of him. So he wondered why his father had never mentioned him before.

“Press and I met right after you left to start your training at the academy,” Benn said, as if he'd read Spader's mind. “I'm sure you'll be running into each other now and again.”

“So, you're off to a new habitat tomorrow?” Press said.

“Sure am,” Spader said. “I'd be happy being an aquaneer just about anywhere, but Grallion was my first choice. It's a spiff assignment.”

“You're lucky it wasn't taken away from you after your behavior that last day at the academy,” Benn said.

Spader frowned at the reminder that he'd disappointed his dad. He noticed Press's glance flick quickly from him to his father. “Ahhh, school days,” Press said. “Gotta admit, I got up to my own fair share of hijinx back in the day.” He winked at Spader. “I bet there are stories about your dad's time back at the academy.”

Spader grinned. “Yeah, old man,” he teased his father. “I bet Mum has some stories to tell.”

Now Benn threw his head back and laughed. “Don't get her started! I'll never be able to scold you again!” He threw an arm across Spader's shoulders and gave him a squeeze. Spader's mood instantly brightened.

“Let's take this party to the water,” Spader called. “Who's up for a few spins around Point Clarion?”

A cheer went up. Everyone grabbed their globes and their gear and headed for the door.

“Should the old-timers join the next generation?” Press asked.

“Hobey!” Benn said with a grin. “Why should the young ones have all the fun?”

“What are we waiting for?” Spader said. “Let's go!”

 

“Welcome to Grallion!” Wu Yenza, Grallion's chief aquaneer, strode to the center of a catwalk above the loading dock where Spader and the other new recruits stood awaiting work assignments.

It was finally happening. His first day of “real life”—on his own, with an important job where he got to spend all his time on the water.

“We work hard, we work safe, and our work is for the good of Grallion. We keep things coming and going, and we take great pride in it. I expect each and every one of you to live up to the high standards and feel proud to call yourselves aquaneers.”

Spader beamed; he was
already
proud to be there.

“We work in teams; there's very little we can do successfully alone. You're going to rotate through shifts and tasks in your first months here.”

Wu Yenza began calling out names and teams. Spader hadn't realized there were so many crews and departments. Then he heard something he hadn't expected: Per Watsu's name.

Spader frowned. A dark cloud called Per Watsu just blotted out the bright and sunny days up ahead.

“Okay, let's start this day!” Wu Yenza declared. “Smooth waters, everyone.”

Spader passed Per as he headed toward his work crew.

“I hope I get my transfer soon,” Per grumbled as he walked by Spader. “I wanted to go to Prongo, but there was a waiting list.”

“Hey, mate, if there's anything I can do to help hurry that transfer along, just let me know,” Spader said. “I'm as eager to see you on another habitat as you are to be there.”

 

“I was just lucky Wu Yenza wasn't there to see the mess I'd made,” Kor Tradco said, laughing. “I'd have been transferred for sure!”

Spader laughed and helped himself to another plateful of grilled Kooloo fish. Tradco, another new aquaneer, lived in the flat next door to Spader's and had invited the other aquaneers on the row over for grilled fish. Spader was happy to see that Per hadn't come.

“Wu Yenza is tough,” Bry Loran, one of the older aquaneers, said. “But she's fair.”

“She really knows her stuff,” Ara Renton, another senior aquaneer agreed. She took a swig of her graka. “When we were hit by that rogue wave, I thought we were done for. But Yenza got us through.”

“We had storm training at the academy,” Spader said. “They can be real tum-tiggers.”

“The unpredictability,” Ara said. “That's the hardest part.”

“Like with raiders,” Loran said. “They appear out of nowhere.”

“Don't I know it,” Spader said, settling beside Loran on the ground. “Raiders hit right in front of the academy the day before graduation.”

“I heard there's been raider activity over near Crasker,” Ara said.

Loren nodded. “Makes sense. It's foggy around Crasker—great way to sneak up on a vessel.”

“They try something with me again, and they'll wish they were in the city of Faar,” Spader said. “I'd make 'em vanish just as completely.”

“Well, the Kooloo fish vanished,” Tradco said. “Should I put another one on?”

“You have to ask?” Loran said. He held up his empty plate.

Spader lay back to watch the light changing as night approached. He sighed with contentment. Good mates, a job to be proud of, and exciting challenges ahead—and a chance to prove he really had the stuff to make a great aquaneer. This was one spiff life.

As long as Per Watsu stayed out of his way.