Private Class Warfare

[Makko Vyres]

A C A D E M Y​

Makko shifted his weight from foot to foot impatiently. The girl in front in the line was taking an age to decide what she wanted to eat and taking even more time to worry about her airs and graces.

It had taken some gentle convincing from Lossa and Valery for Makko to stay a few more days at the academy. Apparently he had some innate talent that they could teach him to use.

It was a hard sell. He had been making a life for himself on Denon. He had carved out a niche within the Fractal State. He wasn't truly important, but he had a little respect. That respect came from fear, but for the orphan from a district slum it was a different life to what he had been born into.

Makko still wasn't convinced that they weren't a cult. He had started to believe them, having never heard of a jedi before in his life. Once he saw the robes all the 'padawans' had to wear, he had started to worry about the cultish undertones once again.

Valery Noble had started them out at the cafeteria and it had become his favourite place. Not quite believing the concept of someone feeding you for free, he still had a habit of hiding bits of food before he left.

Groaning in frustration, Makko cut ahead of the girl. He spooned a portion into his bowl and with the staff distracted talking to the girl took himself two plates of dessert. Which left none remaining on the counter.

Corazona von Ascania

 

[Corazona von Ascania]

The options in the cafeteria were…

...quaint.

By no means did Cora expect a royal spread—she was a member of Nobility, not Royalty—but she'd grown accustomed to certain furnishings. While certainly grateful that she was being fed, her palate had yet to make a full adjustment to eating commoner's fare on a daily basis.

"Perhaps, you might have some cuts of Endorian chicken?" Cora addressed the cafeteria worker in a most respectful tone, receiving an unamused stare from the woman behind the counter. "Would it be at all possible for someone to check in the back?" She ventured further, unruffled but slightly unnerved by the lunch lady's dead-eyed stare.

"Hun, that is Endorian chicken." Her gravely voice cut through the tension, gesturing to the cookware between them.

"I...see." Cora stared into the pot, unable to see her reflection in the opaque, beige slurry that apparently was, or at least allegedly contained, Endorian chicken. "And what, pray tell, is the difference between this and the protato stew?" She gestured to the pot right next to the chicken, this one containing a suspiciously identical suspension. The lunch lady did not offer an explanation.

Sighing in defeat, Cora reached for the stew—seemingly the least offensive dish, if only marginally. Then, she felt a bump and shuffled back. The blonde blinked, finding that a young man had seemingly forgotten how a proper queue worked, helping himself to a meal even though it was clearly not his turn.

"Excuse me!" Seizing his wrist before he could make off, Cora cleared her throat. "Perhaps you are new here, but civility dictates that one must wait one's turn while in line. For you to do as you please is quite unfair those those who've dutifully followed the rules." Her eyes roamed his face, trying to get a good look at him—then they fell to his tray. Her eyes narrowed.

"Additionally, only one dessert per person per meal is permitted. Please return your unauthorized pudding."

Makko Vyres

 

[Makko Vyres]

Even with his suspicions that this place might have been a cult, Makko hadn't expected such a rigid diatribe from the girl he had cut past.

It sounded more like she was quoting verses from their sacred text of lunch etiquette rather than dressing someone down for being rude.

Makko should have cowed before his senior, having broken some rules. She had come from a world where she got her way. She was used to getting respect. It was why she stood up to him.

Makko came from a world where you only got respect for standing your ground. Even if you got a bloodied nose for your trouble, not fronting up would be worse.

"You wot?" he went. A sharp twist of his wrist broke free. A common street mugger would have had a more solid grip.

"It's unfair to hold up the whole queue," he said, turning to face her and taking a step closer. "Take too long and someone else gets your dessert. That's what I say's fair."

 

[Corazona von Ascania]

Cora fought back a frown as the young man yanked his wrist from her grasp, then insinuated that she was the one holding up the line.

...which, to be fair, was entirely true.

Clearing her throat, she spun on her heel and quickly dished herself a portion of Protato stew before stepping out of line—without a dessert.

"I can admit that I have, perhaps, erred in my lack of awareness." The words came through with a begrudgingly polite tone. "However, I insist that you return the dessert. Not to me, but to the cafeteria." She gestured towards the lunch lady and the line, neither of which seemed to agree nor disagree with her. "Simply put, it is unfair for you to have two while others get none."

Makko Vyres

 

[Makko Vyres]

Makk was trying to keep a straight face and stand his ground. However, he sudden turn to fill up her tray and get herself out of everyone's way had the corner of his lips desperately trying to curl upwards.

"Erred in my lack of awareness..." he echoed back.

"Fuck'n hell," he said, sounding absolutely exhausted by her response. "Thought you were telling me off about a pudding, not writing to a paper about it."

She sounded like a politician. That thought got any chance of a smile right under control.

Makko looked at her, where the puddings had come from and down at his own tray.

"Nope."

 

[Corazona von Ascania]

Cora's jaw tightened, which caused her polite smile to constrict in turn. She was not accustomed to her requests being flat out ignored.

"I see." She ground out with taut patience, fingers gripping the edges of her tray with increased pressure. "Then, perhaps, would you mind explaining to me why you feel as though you are entitled to more pudding than everyone else in this room?"

As exasperating as this young man was, Cora refused to back down, considering this an exercise in patience as much as justice.

Makko Vyres

 

[Makko Vyres]

Makko grinned from ear to ear, holding his ground. As much as she hated being disobeyed, Makko loved to see someone trying to hide how much he annoyed them.

"Not everyone in the room," he clarified.

He had seen this before. Corporate shills would try and tell the people of Denon that other people of Denon were at fault. He remembered the phrase: if you don't work your machine at the factory after hours then someone else has to pick up the work.

"Just more than you. But...I do have a spare..."

He lifted the pudding from his tray slowly.

"If you ask nicely."

 

[Corazona von Ascania]

Just more than you.

Cora's face flushed, cheeks puffing with irritation. How indescribably rude! This young man had nodecorum at all!

The proverbial and literal cherry on top was Cora's sweet tooth. Ukatis' only minor claim to fame was that it's capital was home to a factory that produced gourmet truffles that were popular all over the galaxy.

Pride demanded that she not take the last pudding cup, even if she wanted it badly. Especially with this cur taunting her.

Exhaling sharply, Cora addressed him with visibly waning patience. "As previously stated, I have no interest in obtaining the pudding cup for myself, only seeing that it be rightly returned to the cafeteria. If you insist on acting so unruly, I will insist upon taking matters into my own hands!"

Stepping forward, she made to grab for Makko's wrist, aiming to extract the offending cup of pudding from his grasp.

Makko Vyres

 

[Makko Vyres]

Makko snatched the pudding away and held it up over his head. He hadn't been to a single jedi lesson yet, but he had lived a life on the streets. On top of that, it had been easy to see the move coming from a mile away.

"Oh no, the poor cafeteria!" he exclaimed, taking a step back but refusing to turn his back on her.

"The valiant hero of the people has failed them! Whatever will she do?"

Unfortunately, with all the fun Makko was having he had forgotten that there was a second pudding still sitting on his tray.

 

[Corazona von Ascania]

Now he was taunting her, holding the dessert over his head as if she were a child! The nerve!

Flustered, Cora took the bait, balancing on her tiptoes to try and reach the pudding that was just out of her grasp. She managed to suppress the urge to shove him, at least.

It was only after one futile swipe did she notice the remaining pudding on his tray. Moving in to grab that one with her other hand while still on precarious footing, she lost her stability and stumbled fully into Makko.

 

[Makko Vyres]

She actually jumped for it. Makko couldn't believe his luck. So determined to be right in front of everyone she would also make a fool of herself. In front of everyone.

Both of their gazes fell to the second pudding at the same time.

"Ah!" was all he managed to say in warning . She ignored the warning and crashed into him. Makko had just enough time to tilt his tray up to try and shield the pudding from her. Just enough time to tilt the tray so that as he went stumbling back, the entire lunch went over his shirt.

Makko found his footing. He had a fistful of her sleeve to keep her upright too.

He didn't look amused. He didn't look slightly irritated.

Makko's top lip curled back to reveal teeth. He balled one hand into a fist. He was the animal that felt it had been cornered. For just a moment, he really looked as if he was going to hurt her.

He took a slow breath. His fist opened.

"Wow you really wanted that pudding," he said, looking down at the mess of his clothes and on the floor.

"Guess that's your one."

 

[Corazona von Ascania]

"Wh—!"

Cora stumbled, Makko stumbled, and yet somehow they both remained upright. The only real casualties had been Makko's shirt, and the solitary pudding cup that now laid top down, splattered over the cafeteria floor.

While she was still caught in her shock, a feral sort of anger rose from the young man in front of her—then it passed, quickly as it had come. Cora blinked owlishly. She stared at him, at the mess on his clothes, at the pudding on the floor, and then her gaze found the lunch lady. Unlike Makko, her irritation did not dissipate.

"You two-" She growled, pointing a pair of tongs threateningly at the bickering kids. "In the back, now. You'll be washing dishes for the rest of the day."

Cora sputtered, yanking her sleeve from his grasp. "But I—he's the one who—I can't—!"

The cafeteria worker appeared unaffected at Cora's appeal to defend herself. Perhaps she looked a little more annoyed.

Defeated, the blonde threw a glare over her shoulder at the boy who'd caused all of this—in her opinion—with his stubborn refusal to adhere to the rules.

Makko Vyres

 

[Makko Vyres]

"With her?" Makko asked incredulously.

He levelled a finger directly at Cora. He knew her name now, but chose not to use it. They hadn't shared a word since the encounter at the canteen, but he had asked around.

"Are you feeling angry about something Makko?"

The question from the Jedi Master had a certain weight to it. It gave Makko pause. He had been identified as something of a problem child at the academy. Like a transfer from a bad school, he didn't fit in at all. They all tried to be patient with him and understanding of his violent past.

It always sounded condescending to him.

"That will... Be fine," Makko said, lowing his finger.

This had seemed like such a good idea. Three days of survival training set in an abandoned jedi temple in a jungle. Far more his speed than sitting in a circle and trying to 'control their feelings'.

But now, after some training and advice, he was partnered with her for setting out into the wilderness for a day.

 

[Corazona von Ascania]

Cora couldn't believe her misfortune. Had being made to clean dishes in the kitchen for a week not been punishment enough? Was her performance lacking in other areas?

Why, of all the available Padawans, was she being forced into survival training with the most crass, unruly person she'd ever come upon?

She sniffed with indignation as Makko pointed a finger at her, but otherwise said nothing while he protested. To see him deflate under the watchful eye of a Jedi Master gave her no small amount of delight.

Serves him right!

Still, she considered it incredibly unfortunate that there'd be no watchful eye of a Jedi Master during their training. Save for an emergency beacon, they'd be cut off from the order entirely.

"Thank you for this opportunity, Master Jedi. Padawan Vyres and I will be sure to make the most of this important exercise." Accordingly, she bowed her head as she spoke, tone perhaps a bit overly gracious.

Rising, she faced the stone monolith of a building, weathered walls cracked and covered in moss and all manner of plant life. Hesitation danced in her eyes and at the pull of her lips, finding the accommodations less than…clean.

Perhaps it would be better inside.

Makko Vyres

 

[Makko Vyres]

"Thank you for this opportunity, Master Jedi. Padawan Vyres and I will be sure to make the most of this important exercise."

Makko tilted his head to one side, screwing his eyes shut. He looked as if he was struggling with an intense migraine and not holding back a retort.

Brown nose. Horrible fething suck up posh...

Shouting mentally made it easier. Even that, however, drew a warning glance from the Jedi Master.

"It's not an opportunity Cora, it is a task," the master said. He hid the hint of a smirk behind the back of his hand. His thick, dark beard helped to hide it from the pair.

"In the box is a selection of objects. Medical kits, water bottles, and plenty of others. You may take two and two only. If someone is a bag, it counts as one thing."

"Once you have been chosen I'll be leaving and I expect to see you all at the meeting place. You do all have an emergency comm unit. Use it if you have to back out. "

Makko snorted.

 

[Corazona von Ascania]

"Yes, of course. Understood, Master Jedi." Cora dipped her head in a bow once again, making a point to ignore the irritation practically radiating off of Makko.

Peering into the box, her nose wrinkled. She was no survivalist, so selections had to be made carefully. What was the most important aspect to attend to, nutrition or shelter? They'd likely have to forage for food and create a fire; all of which could be found in the wild. She hoped. Her hand hovered above the medical kit, then switched to the water purification bottle at the last moment. Perhaps they could survive these few days without illness or injury, but water was a necessity. Drinking contaminated water would be a quick way to need emergency evacuation.

Everything was a test with a right answer, and Cora intended to perform flawlessly during this training. Even if it meant being dragged down by a crude young man who looked like he'd be more at home on the streets of Nar Shaddaa than in a Jedi temple.

Her selection made, she pulled away from the box to see which choice her unwilling partner went for.

Corazona von Ascania

 

[Makko Vyres]

"You sure you don't want a knife?" Makko asked. "What's that?"

He was already strapping the weapon about his waist. He thought of himself as a survivor. He was right, but he wasn't used to surviving in this kind of environment.

Where Makko came from there was never less than a thousand people within a stone's throw. The dangers were the same in both places: a lack of access to safe water and food and the cold of the night. The ways to avoid them were completely different. Makko did not appreciate this. Not yet.

For a couple of days there would be no reciting of proverbs or listening to his own thoughts. He hated the silence. His memories had nothing pleasant to fill the emptiness with.

 

[Corazona von Ascania]

Cora practically balked.

"Why would we need two knives?"

Honestly, was he even taking this seriously? She couldn't deny the usefulness of a blade when traversing the wilderness, but something about him being the one to hold it made her supremely uncomfortable.

Accordingly, she held up the plastoid bottle to explain its use. "This is a water purification bottle. This part--" She pointed to the miniature device attached to the underside of the cap. "Filters parasites and contaminants from the water. This way, we won't become ill."

With their selections made, it was time to set out into the jungle.

Cora took a long inhale of the humid air and tried to push down her anxiety. This would be her home for the next few days, with the most unpleasant company. Already, she wanted a shower.

"Right then. We should prepare shelter before it gets dark."

Makko Vyres

 

[Makko Vyres]

"Why would we need two knives?"

"Well...then we'd both have a knife?" he reasoned.

Her explanation of the water purifier did make a lot of sense. He refused to say as much, but the way he nodded was enough to convey it.

He was going to be deeply dissapointed with himself if this entire escapade led to forming some begrudging respect for the stuck up queen. Makko would remain mindful of such unacceptable

Makko had never experience humidity like this. It was deeply uncomfortable to have his tunic soaked through from barely an hour of walking.

"Shelter? Yeah..."

He didn't want to admit that he had tried to pay attention to the lesson, but didn't know where to start. He looked at the trees around them and drew the knife.

A distant rumble of thunder added urgency to the task as he deliberated about how to start.

 

[Corazona von Ascania]

"We should look for a fallen tree. Something sturdy."

It had scarcely been an hour and already, the humidity was oppressive. Cora had since peeled away her outer tunic, using it as a makeshift headband to keep her hair away from her neck and face. Humid weather had always been easier to deal with at the promise of air con and a nice shower when it was over. Unfortunately, they'd be waiting a few days for that.

Fortunately, they managed to find a tree that looked as though it had been struck by lightning. The majority of the upper trunk has fallen, angling sharply before it hit the ground. Cora ducked beneath it, pressing on the wood to test its strength.

"It looks like there is enough room for both of us beneath here." She said, then paused. Her cheeks flushed pinker at the prospect of them needing to be near each other. She quickly looked around in hopes of identifying another broken tree. None. A roll of thunder urged her on.

"G-get some branches to lean against the trunk. We'll have to make a wall."

Turning to hide her flushed face from Makko, Cora set about gathering leaves and moss for bedding. "Cu..cut them down if you need to.”

Makko Vyres