Day In A Life Nine | Flashbacks
Charles Recounts - The Battle Of Verath:
It was a special appearance, at least that’s what Jager told him in the message. Apparently the Castillon Defense Forces were holding a special event for their senior class of cadets where they would learn firsthand from people already stationed in the field.
Charles didn't have the time to teach any skills so he politely declined until Jager mentioned that they were also getting some veterans to tell war stories and he could be there for that. After some back and forth he finally accepted.
Hannah came with him as always. She was always within eyesight of him unless he was conducting combat operations or at the gym. More often than not she was attached to his arm. He didn’t mind, it was normal to him now.
The shuttle arrived at Fort Edward, escorted closely by Slasher and Bruiser in the TIE Defender X “Punishers”. They stuck around circling the base many times before finally heading back to the Stryker II. Fort Edward was currently Castillon’s primary military base located on the outskirts of Castellum (and likely would be into the foreseeable future). It was a large facility that could easily fit a division’s worth of troops, for now though it only housed about a battalion’s worth, clearly the planet developers had been thinking ahead.
Jager was waiting for them. A warm smile on his face. He hugged his sister first before saluting Charles. He saluted him back.
“We appreciate your arrival Captain and Mrs. Charles. I am the base commander Lt. Jager and I shall be your guide today.” he said in a formal tone, making sure to exaggerate it just a bit.
Hannah gave him the specific look only an annoyed younger sister could give.
Jager grinned, then dropped the formalities. He led them towards the conference building.
“You are just in time.” he said. “The other guests and cadets are already here.”
Charles looked around. He wasn’t here for an inspection but he was curious to see its readiness condition. So far everything looked good, it seemed more quiet than usual, that made sense it was a weekend after all. He checked the guard posts.
“Security seems a bit lax.” he commented.
“It’s the weekend." replied Jager, a little defensive after getting checked by his role model.
“My Sergeants would have a word about this.” Charles continued. “See that entrance over there? Only one guy in a watch tower. You need at least 4. Two on the ground and two for the towers. Even my Privates know this.”
Jager frowned. Now that he thought about it, Charles was right. He pulled out his datapad and made a note.
He didn’t continue. There was no need.
Hannah gave a satisfied smile. This one of the many things she loved about her husband. She held his arm a little tighter.
They reached the back entrance of the conference building. Jager led them into a backstage room. The other guests were already seated on stage. They could hear the buzz of excited cadets.
“Sorry sis, but there is only one seat on stage.” said Jager.
“That’s fine, I’ll just stand behind him.” replied Hannah flatly.
“But -”
She cut him off.
“Jager.”
Jager sighed. He knew that tone. It meant her decision was final. He looked at Charles. His expression hadn’t changed.
“Alright.” he said finally, leading them to the stage. He watched as Charles took his seat, his sister standing right behind his chair. He watched in amusement as she put a hand on Charles’s shoulder. It was time. He was hosting the event.
He stepped on stage, adjusting his mike one last time.
“Thank you Cadets for being here on your day off. As you know I am Jager the base commander. Today we have five special guests who will be sharing stories from their past experiences. Please be respectful and ask your questions at the end of each presentation.”
He introduced them one by one until finally he landed on Charles.
“This is Captain Charles, commander of First Scouting Squadron.” he said, gesturing towards him.
The room went still.
“Thank you for the introduction,” said Charles. “I’m Charles, and this lovely lady behind me is my wife Hannah Charles who was actually the first ambassador of Castillon.”
She blushed slightly, gripping his shoulder tighter.
He gestured towards Jager. Who got it, it was time to move on.
“Our first story will be from Captain Agincourt…”
They listened to everyone’s stories. Each was fascinating in its own right. The cadets remained attentive clapping after each one. Finally it was his turn. He stood up and picked up his mike. He felt his wife shifting, barely managing to keep herself from grabbing his arm right then and there.
"The Battle of Verath," he started. "Nine hundred and two ABY. The final days of the New Imperial Order."
The cadets leaned forward.
“I was commanding the Arquitens Class Command Cruiser, IMS Dauntless, assigned to the 4th Scouting Squadron, a part of the vanguard of the 8th Fleet.”
“As the name implies we were scouting ahead of the main formation when all of a sudden enemy reinforcements drop out of hyperspace right in front of us.”
“It was purely by chance, they must have been trying to outflank the main force or something like that but it caused complete chaos for both sides. Unfortunately for us, their force happened to be larger than ours.”
“We lost five ships in as many minutes. My ship was near the edge of our formation so I managed to avoid the destruction. Soon it was just me and the frigate IMS Steadfast left. She had already taken a hit to two of her engines from their Mon Calamari Cruiser and it was closing in for the kill.”
His wife grabbed his arm. She never liked this part. He put his hand over hers before continuing.
“I honestly don’t know what I was thinking but I gave the order to charge. I thought if we attacked the bridge and tried to take out their command structure we could distract them long enough to buy time for the main force to arrive.”
“I used every trick in the book, dodging, twisting, weaving. I pushed my ship beyond its limits…and eventually we broke through to the bridge. We fired every concussion missile we had at it.”
She gripped his arm tighter.
“The bridge was obliterated but by that time we had taken multiple hits. Eleven of my crew were dead, another 34 were wounded, Engine One was disabled. I thought this was the end and comforted myself that we did what we could. That’s when the main line arrived. Six Star Destroyers and their escorts. They had beaten back the main enemy fleet and had arrived to join us.”
“They finished off the Mon Calamari cruiser leaving the rest of the rebel force to flee. Both the Steadfast and my ship were able to limp back towards base. My ship broke down half way and we had to be towed by one of the Star Destroyers.”
He chuckled. The cadets laughed too. Hannah gave a small smile.
Multiple hands flew up. He picked one at random.
"Sir, what would you have done if the main line hadn't arrived in time?"
“We would have died.”
He felt his wife’s hand starting to tremble. He knew she hated the idea of him in danger, much less dying. She had expressed it many times. He picked another hand.
"Sir, were you scared?"
“Yes, but you only get scared before or after, not during.”
“One last question.” said Jager.
“Do you regret it?” asked the last cadet.
“No.” he replied. “Those men died doing their duty. It was an honorable death.”
He stayed standing up to give his wife an anchor.
The room was quiet for a moment. Then Jager started the applause, the Cadets followed, the room thundered with claps. The other guests got up. They stayed standing up until the applause died down.
Jager dismissed the cadets.
Charles walked off the stage back to the backroom. Hannah beside him gripping his arm. She held it together until they were outside through the backdoor.
They were alone. The other guests had stayed to chat with the remaining cadets a bit longer. The other cadets had left through the front entrance on the other side of the building.
She turned into him, wrapping both arms around him, burying her face into his neck. He hugged her back, gently patting her back. They stayed like that until she stopped trembling.
“I don’t like it.” she said quietly, her face still buried in his neck.
“You didn’t like the story?”
“It wasn’t the story…just you being in danger. I hated it.”
“I know, but I’m here now.”
They stayed like that for a moment longer. Eventually, she let go.
“We need to talk about retirement.” she said retaking his arm.
He filed it away, before looking at her.
“Okay.”
They headed back towards Kelven’s shuttle.
Hannah Recounts - Worst Day of School:
It was a typical evening. Charles was done with his work early and was lounging on the couch with his datapad. She was on the beanbag reading a book. It was a history book about the development of education on Castillon.
“You know, you never really told me much about your time in school.” he commented, still looking at his datapad.
“It’s because it’s not important.” she replied.
“Honey, we have been married for months now. If it’s something embarrassing I won’t judge” he said.
She closed the book, tilting her head up to look at him. His lap looked inviting. She got up and lay on the couch her head landing squarely on his lap. He set down his datapad looking at her, placing his hand in her hair.
Her body went limp from the comfort he gave her. Here with him she was the version of herself she had spent years keeping private. The one from her room. The one who said what she meant. He got all of her and she had stopped being surprised that he wanted it. It was the opposite of the story she was about to tell him.
“I'll start by explaining the old school system," she said. "Not the new one that was implemented after you came. The one that I grew up in."
She looked at the ceiling to organize her thoughts.
“Each community had their own schooling system. The Hills and Plains were more like apprenticeships while Castellum’s was more like the old system during the good old days.”
“Was it like an Imperial Academy?” asked Charles.
“Kind of,” she replied. “It wasn't military focused as you can guess. It was more general purpose starting at age four and ending at age eighteen. There were two levels to it, the education brackets and the social brackets.”
“Social brackets?” he asked.
“They were informal of course.” she added, looking back at him. “There were no ranks besides what education grade you were in and that was based on age.”
“Makes sense.” he said. “Our companies were like little cliques as well. It created tight brotherhoods but also rivalries…and of course they grouped people with high social standing together.”
“I am a little surprised it would happen in a community based society like Castillon though.” he added, touching his chin with his free hand.
"Six hundred years," she said. "I suppose even when everyone needs each other to survive... people still find ways to sort themselves. It just took a few generations. As you know my father is working hard to suppress that.”
He filed it away. Then checked the time on his datapad.
“Shall we move to the rack?” he asked. “It’s getting late.”
She agreed, walking with him towards the bed. They got comfortable under the blanket. She found her usual spot against him. He lay on his back, one arm wrapped around her, his far hand resting on his stomach.
“My mother…” she started. “She’s the one that got me into reading.”
“I remember you telling me that.” he replied.
“She had a garden…it was the one I showed you when we were dating.”
“It was a very nice garden.”
She smiled.
“She always said the garden taught her patience. That you can't rush growth. That the best growth comes from two people taking care of each other. Water other people and they will water you she would say.”
“She’s right.” he said quietly, kissing her head lightly.
It occurred to her that her mother would have liked him very much. She held that thought for a moment before continuing. She put her leg over his waist.
The night cycle activated leaving only the red emergency lights. He turned on the desk lamp on the night stand.
“She died when I was fifteen.”
“I remember.” he replied, grabbing the hand that was over his heart with his far hand.
“The disease took her slowly, bit by bit until one day she was gone. She passed peacefully in her sleep. Never once did she complain.”
“My mom would have liked her.” replied Charles.
She looked at him. Her husband had told her a lot about his parents.
“We should visit them soon.” she said. “When we have kids.”
“Okay, I know you have been wanting them.”
“You noticed.” she said sardonically. “It’s not like I mentioned this multiple times.”
“Four times,” he replied, his voice calm as always. “I’ve been counting don’t worry.”
She laughed, the kind she saved only for him. She kissed his cheek. They had a few conversations about him retiring. They all ended the same way. He would retire when he was ready. She made him promise by thirty.
She settled back, nuzzling into his neck. His hand returned to her shoulder.
“After she died. I needed ways to process my grief. I didn’t have any friends so I just started writing.”
“You have them now.” he said.
“I know,” she said. “But back then…”
She paused. This part still haunted her in the dark corners of her mind.
“I wrote everything in a small book. A blue cover. I kept it on my nightstand.”
“Back then I was alone. No friends, only the library and garden. I wore reading glasses and my hair was unkempt. People stayed away from me. Boys thought I was average looking. It stayed that way until I met Sena in my last year of school.”
“You aren’t average looking.” he said, delivered with complete certainty.
“I was fifteen, you didn’t know me back then.”
“No Han. Listen to me. Do you want to know average looked like? Perhaps below average? That was me.”
She tilted her head up to look at him. He meant it completely. He always meant it completely. That was somehow the most infuriating and most endearing thing about him.
“Honey, don’t say that.” she started.
He kept going.
“Average was when you were one of the weakest in your company, average was when you were floundering in your classes, average was when your upperclassmen always found something new to hit you with. That is average.”
Her chest ached slightly. Not because she disagreed. Because she could picture it — him young and struggling and not yet the person she knew — and she wished she had known him then.
“I wish I had been by your side earlier.” she said quietly.
“You weren’t average. In fact I know you were way out of my younger version’s league. Sometimes I still think that today.”
“I need you to listen to me," she said quietly, rolling to get on top of him. "You are not out of anyone's league. Least of all mine. I am the one who got lucky.”
She took his face in her hands, bringing it close so she was forehead to forehead with him. Her legs were already straddling him.
“Woah. Slow down there honey. I thought this was story time.” he joked.
“I'm being serious," she said quietly, sitting up slightly. "Can you be serious for thirty seconds?”
He wiped the smile from his face.
“There, being serious.” he said.
“You are everything to me.” she said softly, looking into his eyes. She was dead serious, her life would be completely ruined without him.
“Okay.” he replied, meeting her gaze.
She took in the moment. Then lowered her forehead back to his.
They stayed like that for a moment. Then settled back to her usual spot against him. He pulled the blanket back over them.
“Okay,” she said. “Where was I?”
“You were talking about your diary.” he replied. “I remember you mentioning it once.”
“Yes, the diary. I was writing my thoughts and grief into it. Just a daily entry or whenever I thought of something. I brought it with me everywhere in my school bag.”
He remained silent, letting her continue.
“Sena was the queen of school back then. She was dubbed “the hottest girl in school”. Everyone wanted to be friends with her even though her father was only a community leader. Even the kids whose families were the old nobles wanted in.”
“That tracks.” he said. “Though I don’t think I would have been a fan of her—hmm—confident and outgoing personality.”
“You mean loud.” she said, gently correcting him.
“Loud.” he repeated back.
She continued.
“She was surrounded by her squad of seven girls, the top eight most attractive girls in the entire school all together. They were of course with whatever guy they chose to be their boyfriend who they changed out often.”
“Seems like they were a bunch of schutta.” he commented flatly.
She paused. A part of her wanted to defend them. After all Sena, Bex and Tess were a part of that group. But then she remembered all the dates and parties they told her about and stopped. Her husband was right.
“Anyways, Sena was in a bad spot. Her grades were bad and if she didn’t get them up soon her father would ground her for months. So she went to get help. That help happened to be me and Wren.”
“Wait, so your friendship started out as her needing help studying for a test?” Charles asked a little incredulous.
“Yes,” she replied. “She needed help with three subjects: english, history and science. Wren took science, I helped with english and history. We met twice a week at the library and eventually she kept Wren and me around.”
“She chose well.” he commented. She knew he was no stranger to Wren’s expertise in science.
“We became a part of their friend group, Wren and me. Awkwardly at first, but Sena had Bex and Tess accept us immediately. The other five not so much.”
She paused, letting him build a mental picture before moving on.
“Petra was their ringleader. She was considered second only to Sena and was from a noble family. You know the type.”
“Unfortunately.” he replied.
“She made it clear she didn’t like us as soon as Sena was out of earshot. She never raised her voice. Never said anything outright cruel. She was too smart for that. It was always something you couldn't quite argue with. A look. A comment dressed as concern. A question that wasn't really a question.”
“They were like that to everyone they thought was below them. Except they were more overt about it.” she added.
“Sounds like someone I knew.” he replied, letting her continue.
“I think Sena knew that the other five didn’t like Wren and me so she started to invite just me, Wren, Bex and Tess over to her house to hang out. During one of those hangouts I forgot my diary there.”
She took a deep breath. He squeezed her shoulder.
“I only realized when I got home but by then it was too late. Sena said she was having Petra and others come over after Wren and I left and well, she found it first.”
“What did she do with it?” asked Charles.
“She took it and read it out loud at the final school dance. That night was horrible.”
“Tell me.” he said quietly, fury building in his voice. “If they hurt you, I will hunt them down right now and—”
“Shh.” she replied softly, covering his mouth with a finger. She felt him relax.
“They waited until after they announced the best dressed award at the final dance to read it, when everyone was paying attention. They read everything, the pain I felt from losing my mom, the loneliness I felt at school, everything. People started laughing, I ran out of there crying.”
She felt him tense again.
“Those witches,” he snarled. “Tell me the rest of their names. I will inform Edward and we will deal with their families appropriately.”
“I will, just let me finish the story.” she said, trying to get him to calm down. She knew if she left him to his own devices he would probably just beat them half to death.
“Sena was at the dance too obviously. She had just been crowned best dressed and saw everything. She said she saw what happened and demolished them on stage. It was so thorough that nobody would talk to them ever again.”
“Good.” he replied, anger still glinting in his eyes.
“I didn’t come back to school though. Sena visited me everyday with Wren, Bex and Tess to help me with my assignments. They mailed me the graduation certificate.”
“They are good friends.” he said, the anger fading from his eyes. “Especially Sena.”
“Apparently people noticed I was gone,” she continued. “Someone told Sena that the library wasn't the same without me. That I was always kind to everyone who came in. I didn't know anyone had noticed.”
“She helped me fix my style after that.” she concluded.
“Well, she did a good job.” he replied. “Though I do get to see your disheveled side…pretty often.” he said smiling playfully.
“You’re about to see it right now.” she replied, pulling off The Shirt.
It was about to be a long night. |
