{"sf1_id":127472,"sf2_id":"V1Y6X9re","title":"The Academy - Remembrance","author":"SrA havenofimage","words":2410,"posted_at":"2010-02-22T16:08:00.000Z","tags":["Bear","Falcon","Fox","Funeral","Military","Snow Leopard","Story End","Various Species","marten"],"url":"https://fse.anthro.fr/stories/127472-the-academy-remembrance","original_url":"https://sofurry.com/s/V1Y6X9re","image_url":"https://cdn.sofurryfiles.com/submissions/thumbnails/ac/63/ac638058-e138-417e-92f1-760adad043c6","description":"#12 of The Academy","content":"\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp;We weren't allowed to go back to campus.\u0026nbsp; The story that was being put out was that we had died in a helicopter accident during the training mission and it would raise suspicion if we were seen around the barracks.\u0026nbsp; Instead, we were being confined to a luxurious condominium, usually reserved for visiting heads of state.\n\n\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp;We sat in the living room around the large fireplace.\u0026nbsp; Jessica and Tank were in the middle of a heated chess game.\u0026nbsp; I watched passively as they maneuvered pieces across the board.\u0026nbsp; Trestan was playing on a handheld gaming system.\u0026nbsp; Teague was lounging in a recliner, reading the paper.\n\n\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp;\"Hey guys!\" he called.\u0026nbsp; \"We made the headlines.\"\n\n\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp;I walked over to see what he was talking about.\u0026nbsp; It didn't take long to find out.\u0026nbsp; On the bottom of the front page was an image of smoldering aircraft wreckage accompanied by the title \"Five Academy Cadets Die in Training Accident.\"\u0026nbsp; I read the story quickly.\u0026nbsp; It talked about the weather conditions which caused the pilot to lose visibility.\u0026nbsp; Bla, bla, bla...\u0026nbsp; Finally, at the end of the article, it listed the names of the cadets who had died.\u0026nbsp; They were ours of course.\n\n\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp;\"Well, it's official.\u0026nbsp; We're dead.\"\n\n\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp;\"It's kind of strange reading about your own death.\"\n\n\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp;\"It's kind of sad thinking of who else is reading about it.\"\n\n\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp;I sat back down.\u0026nbsp; The article had brought home the realization of what I had chosen to undertake more than anything else.\u0026nbsp; I knew my parents had already been notified before the article came out.\u0026nbsp; Who knew what they were thinking right now.\u0026nbsp; Traci however, probably wouldn't know until she read this.\u0026nbsp; Unless my parents had told her.\u0026nbsp; When I had said I wouldn't know what to do if I lost her, I had meant it.\u0026nbsp; Now I had, because as far as she knew, she had lost me.\u0026nbsp; What was she thinking right now?\u0026nbsp; I couldn't bear the thought of Traci believing me to be dead.\u0026nbsp; Somehow, I had to let her know that I wasn't.\n\n\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp;\"When's the funeral.\"\n\n\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp;\"Wednesday, why?\"\n\n\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp;Wednesday.\u0026nbsp; That was in two days.\n\n\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp;\"Because I'm going.\"\n\n\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp;\"But we can't leave the house.\"\n\n\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp;\"I don't care.\u0026nbsp; I'm going to my funeral and that's final.\u0026nbsp; I'll wear mourner's robes so no one can recognize me.\u0026nbsp; Feel free to join me if you want.\"\n\n\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp;\"How are we going to get passed the guards?\"\n\n\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp;\"Come on, if we can break into a bunker full of armed men, we can sneak out of here past two guards.\"\n\n\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp;Wednesday brought clear skies and the warm dry air that came at the end of summer.\u0026nbsp; It felt good to be outside, the first time in over a week.\u0026nbsp; The heavy black robes were hot and uncomfortable, but a necessary precaution.\u0026nbsp; We would already be getting in trouble for breaking out, even more if we were seen.\u0026nbsp; The folds of the cloth would cover our figures, and the hoods came down to hide our faces in shadow.\n\n\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; We stood, side by side as the ceremony took place.\u0026nbsp; Unfortunately, our bodies could not be recovered from the wreckage.\u0026nbsp; Instead, five national flags lay folded on a table draped in black.\u0026nbsp; It was a surreal moment standing there amongst people who I had known, listening to a priest talk about my life.\n\n\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; It broke my heart to see Traci.\u0026nbsp; She stood in the front row, tears silently rolling down her beautiful face.\u0026nbsp; If I had known I would ever see this, I would never have volunteered for the assignment.\u0026nbsp; My parents were there as well, my father's arm around my mom.\u0026nbsp; I spotted Teague's parents standing next to two bears who must be Tank's family.\u0026nbsp; There was also a fearsome looking falcon who shared Trestan's features, but I couldn't find anyone who looked like Jessica's relatives.\u0026nbsp; I'd have to ask her about it sometime.\n\n\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp;The sermon drew to an end.\u0026nbsp; An honor guard of seven soldiers dressed in class A uniforms marched out.\u0026nbsp; At the command of the leader, they each fired three shots into the air.\u0026nbsp; I heard a soft rumbling which quickly grew into a loud roar.\u0026nbsp; I looked up to see a formation of jets.\u0026nbsp; As they passed over head, one flew off and the rest continued on their original path.\n\n\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp;Some members of the audience shuffled forward to pay their final respects while others drifted off back to their cars.\u0026nbsp; I watched Traci silently as she stared at the table.\u0026nbsp; Finally she moved away.\u0026nbsp; I raised my hood just enough so the sun would reflect off my eyes.\u0026nbsp; I walked towards her and as we passed I brushed against her arm gently.\u0026nbsp; I then quickly disappeared into the dispersing crowd.\n\n\\*\\*\\*\n\n\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp;I can't believe he's dead.\u0026nbsp; How could god do such a thing.\u0026nbsp; I just read a report in the paper about a serial killer getting off on a technicality.\u0026nbsp; How is scum like that allowed to walk free and my Kirian, who wanted nothing more than to protect the people of his country, is taken away?\n\n\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp;I couldn't hold back the tears, and I didn't try.\u0026nbsp; His parents were standing next to me.\u0026nbsp; I didn't even want to try and imagine how they must feel.\u0026nbsp; Eighteen years was too soon to be taken.\u0026nbsp; Parents should never have to go to their children's funerals.\n\n\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; I didn't even know it had ended, but people were leaving, so it must have.\u0026nbsp; I walked up to the table.\u0026nbsp; There were five folded flags sitting on it.\u0026nbsp; One for each of the squad members who had died.\u0026nbsp; I had eyes for only one.\u0026nbsp; There was a small placard below it.\n\nC/PFC Kirian Harper\n\n\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp;It wasn't fair.\u0026nbsp; It just wasn't fair.\u0026nbsp; I loved him, and now he was gone.\u0026nbsp; Could I ever love again?\u0026nbsp; Probably, but it would never be the same.\n\n\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp;Finally, when I could stand the sight no longer, I turned away.\u0026nbsp; I would come back, but right now I had to get away from this place.\u0026nbsp; Someone in heavy black mourner's robes was walking towards me.\u0026nbsp; I looked quickly into the shadowed face to see... two golden eyes.\u0026nbsp; The figure brushed me gently as it passed.\u0026nbsp; It couldn't be.\u0026nbsp; I turned, but they had gone.\u0026nbsp; I hadn't imagined it had I?\u0026nbsp; No, I knew those eyes too well, and the fur on my arm was still on end from where he had touched me.\u0026nbsp; This didn't seem possible.\u0026nbsp; I must have imagined it.\n\n\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp;I climbed in my car and started the drive home.\u0026nbsp; I flipped the dial to my favorite radio station.\n\n\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp;\"We just had a young man call in and request this song.\u0026nbsp; He said he hope it would give a little comfort to those mourning the tragic loss of five academy cadets.\"\n\n\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp;I didn't pay much attention to the song until it reached the chorus.\n\n\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp;\"And it's breaking my heart, I know what I must do.\u0026nbsp; I hear my country calling but I want to be with you.\u0026nbsp; I'm taking my side, one of us will lose.\u0026nbsp; Don't let go, I want to know that you wait for me until the day...\"\n\n\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp;This couldn't be.\u0026nbsp; It was all just a random series of coincidences.\u0026nbsp; Kirian couldn't be the only person with eyes that color.\u0026nbsp; And some random friend of one of the cadets called in because he actually thought the song would help everyone.\u0026nbsp; Kirian couldn't be alive.\n\n\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp;I got home and ran to my room.\u0026nbsp; I didn't know what to think.\u0026nbsp; I opened the door and was about t throw myself on to my bed when I saw something on my pillow.\u0026nbsp; There was a single black celestial sitting on it.\u0026nbsp; Only one person could have put that there.\n\n\\*\\*\\*\n\n\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp;\"What were you doing?\"\n\n\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp;\"I had to take care of some unfinished business.\"\n\n\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp;I climbed into the cab with the rest of the squad.\u0026nbsp; The driver, somewhat distraught from the five black clad figures crammed into his car, took off.\u0026nbsp; I felt better now that I had ensured Traci knew I was alive.\u0026nbsp; The brass would be pissed when they found out what we had done but, like Teague had said, \"No one's keeping me out of my own god dammed funeral!\"\n\n\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp;We reached the condominium.\u0026nbsp; I paid the driver and we extricated ourselves from the cramped interior.\u0026nbsp; Getting out was the hard part.\u0026nbsp; Getting back in was fun.\u0026nbsp; We walked up the two guards and laughed at the expression on their faces as we walked through the front door.\n\n\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp;\"Every entrance and exit to the building had an alarm on it.\u0026nbsp; Quite impressive that you were able to escape without setting a single one off.\"\n\n\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp;I turned to see who was talking.\u0026nbsp; Shit.\u0026nbsp; It was the general.\n\n\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp;\"We go through all the trouble of this and you nearly blow it by making a public appearance!\"\n\n\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp;\"Sir, respectively speaking, if you're going to kill my squad, I would at least like the privilege of paying my final respects.\"\n\n\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp;\"True, that's why I didn't send a team after you.\u0026nbsp; At least you took the precaution of disguising yourselves.\u0026nbsp; But that's not why I'm here.\u0026nbsp; You're all shipping out tomorrow to begin training.\u0026nbsp; A vehicle will meet you out front at 0500.\u0026nbsp; You will then take a jet to a secure facility.\u0026nbsp; I look forward to seeing what you will become.\"\n\n\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp;He rose from his seat.\u0026nbsp; I snapped a quick salute which he promptly returned.\u0026nbsp; As he walked out the door, I got the strange feeling that I would never see the fox again.\n\n\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp;The next morning we were picked up by the same white van which had taken us to the last challenge.\u0026nbsp; It drove us to an airfield on the base where we had been staying.\u0026nbsp; We unloaded and were met by a tall, powerful looking cat.\u0026nbsp; He was a first lieutenant and said that he would be our pilot.\n\n\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp;We were led out to the tarmac to find a strange looking aircraft waiting for us.\u0026nbsp; It resembled the Lancer supersonic bomber, crossed with some millionaire's private plane.\u0026nbsp; It had a strange elegance once you got over its shocking appearance.\u0026nbsp; The pilot explained that \"his baby\" was capable of sustained speeds above mach 2 with a max velocity of mach 3.15.\u0026nbsp; It had the maneuverability of a large fighter and, for the protection of its passengers, was equipped with a 20mm cannon, and two wingtip mounted fire and forget air to air missiles.\n\n\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp;I wondered as I climbed aboard why we were traveling in such a heavily armed transport.\u0026nbsp; I donned the provided helmet and mask, and strapped into my seat.\u0026nbsp; Soon we were taxiing out.\u0026nbsp; I heard the engines increase in volume as the pilot pushed the throttle forward.\u0026nbsp; Then, with a lurch, the breaks were released and we shot forward and lifted off the ground at an alarming rate.\u0026nbsp; I could feel the G forces push on by body.\u0026nbsp; Tank's voice came over the line.\n\n\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp;\"Oh, I think I'm going to be sick!\"\n\n\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp;\"Going supersonic.\"\n\n\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp;The cabin shuddered as it was buffeted by the shockwave and we broke the sound barrier.\n\n\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp;\"Yup.\"\n\n\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp;I heard the muffled sound of Tank using the barf bag.\u0026nbsp; Personally, I found the experience to be rather exiting.\u0026nbsp; Never in my life had I dreamed that I would be traveling faster that the speed of sound on my way to be trained at a secret government facility.\n\n\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp;Not half an hour later the pilot announced that we would soon be arriving.\u0026nbsp; I looked out my window as the view lightened and I could begin to make out the landscape.\u0026nbsp; We seemed to be over a large dessert.\u0026nbsp; There was a mountain range in the distance that we were heading for.\u0026nbsp; I watched as we descended lower and lower.\u0026nbsp; Then I started to worry.\u0026nbsp; We were extremely close to the ground, the mountains approaching fast, and I couldn't see any sign of a landing strip.\n\n\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp;I gasped as the air craft quickly decelerated and we touched down inside of a mountain.\u0026nbsp; The plane came to a halt.\u0026nbsp; Someone opened the side hatch and I climbed out.\u0026nbsp; I looked behind us to see two huge doors closing.\u0026nbsp; I took in the rest of my surroundings.\u0026nbsp; The hanger was massive, there were a few people moving about but for the most part it was empty.\u0026nbsp; A computerized female voice came over the speakers.\n\n\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp;\"Venting exhaust.\"\n\n\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp;The whir of enormous fans silently filled the room.\u0026nbsp; The rest of the squad joined me.\u0026nbsp; Tank handed a bag to the pilot.\n\n\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp;\"Thanks bud.\"\n\n\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp;I saw someone walk out of a door and make a b line for us.\u0026nbsp; It was a tall female mink wearing civilian cloths and glasses.\n\n\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp;\"Welcome to training center seventeen.\"\n\n\u0026nbsp;\n\n[b][url=http://www.sofurry.com/page/127980/user]To be continued...[/url][/b]\n\n  \n  \n\n","series":{"name":"The Academy","previous":"https://fse.anthro.fr/stories/127295-the-academy-a-general-s-proposal.json"}}