The Academy

Chapter 1

If someone did well on the exam though, they would be accepted into the Academy, and upon graduation from the Academy, would be granted full citizenship with the CCUP. The only problem was, no one knew what was tested during the exam, so Nick had no way to prepare in advance.

"Nick!" Becca's voice penetrated the walls of his room, and he knew he needed to hurry. He quickly pressed down the wrinkles on his clothes, and gave himself a once over in the mirror. His face was still caught between the transition of a boy to man, and his blonde hair seemed pale in the artificial light of his room. His blue eyes starred back him, lacking the intelligence he saw in his sister's eyes, but holding instead a hint of mischief. A trait his mother said he inherited from his father.

The thought of his father gave him pause. He was the reason Nick's family had been able to live on the Space Colony for the past 17 years. He had been a member of the Deep Reconnaissance and Eradication Department Corps, also known as the DRED Corps. They were responsible for the continued scouting of deep space for new habitable planets, as well as the defense of all human colonies throughout the galaxy.

The CCUP and DRED Corps had been originally formed in the 26th century, when mankind discovered the hard way they were not alone. A hostile alien race discovered humanity in the Milky Way system, and mankind lost Uranus, Neptune, and Pluto in the ensuing war before they finally defeated the aggressive alien forces. Since that time, the CCUP, and its military arm, the DRED Corps, had kept mankind safe.

The DRED Corps selected only the top recruits from the Academy, and Nick's father was said to have been the best. However, even the best are mortal. Seven years ago, his father never returned from a strike against an invading alien fleet. It was said his father had given his life to ensure the fleet was destroyed, and his squad was safe.

While his mother and sister took the news hard, Nick resoled himself at that moment to become even better than his father. Even though he lacked his sister's intelligence, he engrossed himself in his studies. He also excelled at combative training, and pushed his body to the limit with martial arts and strict training. Nick also spent everything he had on combative training games, and spent hours playing them. He was going to ensure he was selected for the DRED Corps.

"Nicholas James Stryder!" His mother's voice this time, impatient and shrill. Nick cursed himself for getting lost in thought and hurried through the automatic door into the hallway.

His mother stood by the living area door, dressed conservatively as always, brown hair tied in a braid. He and his sister got their hair from their father, but Nick always felt his sister had a striking resemblance otherwise to their mother. Both had eyes that sparkled with intelligence, and a shared mannerism that seemed to imply they were the smartest person in any given room.

Nick couldn't help but shake his head as he walked into the room, because as much as he loved his family, their arrogant nature grated on him. He wondered for a second how his father ever managed to put up with Nick's mother for so long.

"You should know better than to keep me waiting, Nicholas."

"I'm sorry mother, I'm just nervous about the exam." He was really nervous, but he hated admitting that fact. However, the truth softened his mother's demeanor, a change that almost made him miss his sister's snide smirk.....almost.

"Everything will be fine Nicholas. I am sure the both of you will pass with flying colors. Once you reach the Academy, your life will change, and you two will have opportunities you could never have dreamed of." Her eyes seemed to get lost in a distant memory for a moment as she spoke.

Nick smiled at the idea, already seeing himself as a member of the DRED Corps, until his sister's voice pushed the image away.

"I don't doubt I will be accepted, but do you really think Nicholas has a chance? The Academy is for the best, and Nick is....well Nick."

Only years of training kept Nick from lashing out at his twin.

"Intelligence isn't the only thing tested during the exam, Rebecca, it is irrational of you to have thought such." His mother did try to be fair to her children.

"Now then, enough of this, you both have a long day ahead of you, and we need to leave now to avoid the risk of being late."

They fell in line behind their mother as the door from their living unit slid open. Their mother looked back once, then stepped forward, leading Nick and his sister deeper into the Space Colony towards the testing zone, and their future.