Resistance Part I Betrayed

Posted on Monday 21 November 2016 @ 18:09 by Lieutenant Caleb Mitchell
Edited on on Sunday 4 December 2016 @ 16:09

Mission: Old, New Ship
Location: Taos II
Timeline: Twelve Years Ago
1267 words - 2.5 OF Standard Post Measure

Caleb was small for his age, which given his particular mixed heritage was something of a surprise. But he was in good shape or thought he was. But, that was before a ten-kilometer run and a two-kilometer swim. Now, at the edge of the water, he stood, shivering slightly, his hands on his knees as he tried to catch his breath. The mere fact that he had finished, when many of the other boys in his school had not, made him feel proud for a change. The fact that he had finished in the top ten, made him ecstatic. He still wasn't sure why the race had been held. The Headmaster, Mister Thorn had just told everyone that it was a test, everything seemed to be a test at the St. Ares Academy For Boys these days. Ben, Caleb's roommate and about his only real friend, who had also made the cut, tossed him a towel.

After drying off and trying not to peek too much at the other boys doing the same, then catching his breath, Caleb was ready to go again. Mister Thorn, looked at each of the eight boys in turn. Then, after making sure that everyone else that had not passed his test had left, he led his charges into the nearby classroom. "Okay," he said as he walked to the center of the room, "everyone take a seat. I'm sure you're wondering why you've been tested the past few days both mentally and now physically. I had to be sure of your abilities and your belief systems. I wanted, no, I had to have the best, of the best for this project. You are my chosen ones."

Caleb exchanged glances with Ben, both boys it seemed, were thinking the same thing. What had they been chosen for? But neither of them said anything. They just waited.

After a brief pause, the Headmaster continued, "I am letting you boys in on a little secret, but you must swear not to reveal it to anyone, under penalty of death, and I don't mean that figuratively, I mean it literally." The man paused then, letting his words sink in.

"Penalty of death?" Caleb mouthed to his friend, "what's going on?"

Ben shook his head but said nothing.

"You see," the Headmaster continued, "Ares Academy isn't quite what it seems. There is a school, within a school. Some of you may have heard about a book from Earth called Oliver Twist. I, am Fagin, you will be taught many skills our benefactors will find helpful. If you succeed, you will be richly rewarded, if you fail, you will pay a price you don't want to pay. But for now, you can go back to your rooms."

In no time at all, Ben and Caleb were back in their room laying on their beds.

"I'm scared Caleb," Ben said, "I've never been more scared in my life."

"Me too, "Caleb replied.

"Will you come and sit beside me?" Ben asked.

Caleb did as the other boy asked.

"Will you hold me?" Ben asked after Caleb had sat and then put his arms around the other boy.

"An.. and I know you never thought I'd ask this. But could you, could you kiss me?"

Caleb looked over at his friend cocked his head to one side closed the short distance between them and pressed his lips against the other boy's. He'd never kissed another boy, though he had wanted to and it was everything he thought it would be.

After the kiss broke a chime sounded.

/=\ Computer freeze program/=\ Caleb said nervously. His time was up and he didn't want anyone at the school catching him running that particular program.

Caleb was a good student and a very good athlete especially with sports that required good eye-hand coordination and agility instead of pure strength. But, he was also confused and more than a little scared. It may have been the twenty-fourth century, but this was Taos II and he had a secret he could never reveal to anyone not even his father. More than once it had kept him up at night. The holodeck was the only play he could live out the fantasies going on inside his head. The only place he could be himself. He was a pretty good programmer especially for being just fourteen, and the program he'd just been running was one of his favorites. It was more dramatic than romantic, and not much happened beyond the kiss as far as the latter was concerned. He had others that did go a little further, but due to his total lack of experience, and inability to research, none of them was too specific.

Just like he'd programmed, Ben was his roommate and the closest thing he had to a friend, but they weren't really that close. "Did you have fun?" Ben greeted him when he entered the room they shared.

"Yeah I did," Caleb replied, hoping that, as usual, Ben wouldn't press the issue. Fortunately, he didn't. Instead, he surprised Caleb holding out a small package to him. "Hey," he said, "I'm sorry I missed your birthday last week, but I wanted to make it up to you. Here."

"Thanks," Caleb said, "Thanks a lot." He then unwrapped and opened the box. Inside was a copper bracelet with his name engraved on it. "Wow," thanks again, this is so nice."

"Glad you like it," Ben said as Caleb put it on, "I like you, Caleb, I want to be friends. Good friends."

Caleb's heart began to flutter. Did Ben mean what he thought he meant? Could this really be happening? Caleb wanted so badly to ask or just assume and do more than ask. But what if he were wrong? So instead he just said, "Great, I want to be your friend too."

A week passed by with almost no signals one way or the other from Ben. The two of them settled back into their standard routine, but Caleb never took off the bracelet. Then, that next Sunday Caleb was able to secure some more time in one of the school's three holo suites. This time he ran one of his more physical programs, with Ben playing a featured role.

Ben wasn't in their room when he returned, which was a good thing, given what Caleb wanted to do. Before he could start though the door burst open and Ben and a couple of other boys marched in.

"You're a dumb ass, and you're sick," Ben said by way of greeting.

When Caleb gave him a confused look he continued, "That bracelet I gave you was special it was a transmitter and it broadcasted your whole demented little show. We made sure the whole school saw it. I sure as hell don't want to kiss you, or do, any of that other stuff you imagined. I thought you were normal and it was, you know, girl stuff you were doing. It was just going to be a practical joke. Well, I guess the joke was on me. I'm sure the administration will have something to say, but I want you out of my room. NOW!"

Caleb was speechless. His face was red with both shock and embarrassment. He tore the bracelet from his wrist and threw it across the room. Then with slumped shoulders and unable to look anyone in the eye, he slipped quietly out of the room.

TBC

A solo post by

Lieutenant Caleb Mitchell
Counselor
USS Merlin