Chapter 13
Fang sighed as he erased the notes he had been writing on for the umpteenth time that day. Captain Solar's lectures were as difficult as the rumors had said, practically cramming every single detail he practically memorized in just a span of two hours with barely any notes or slides to aid him.
Fang wasn't sure if he should be amazed or annoyed especially with how infuriating it was to have someone like Solar as a lecturer.
But today's class had been a little bit strange...
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"Moving on to our next topic, as a Captain, what are the important key points in a dangerous mission?" Silver eyes glared sharply at Fang who in return answered with slight hesitance;
"Err- communication?"
This was immediately answered with an eye-roll.
"According to page 36 of the book 'A Competent Intergalactic Captain' a Captain, embarking on a dangerous mission requires careful planning, preparation, and quick decision-making." Solar said as he walked in front of the other,
"You have to go through Risk Assessment, Mission Objectives, Communication Protocols, Emergency Procedures, Resources & Supplies, Crew Training, Decision-making Hierarchy, Monitoring Systems, Escape Plan, Time Management, Debriefing and Learning, Mental and emotional Well-being, Environmental Awareness, Learning about Local Laws & Customs and respecting them and, finally..." Solar turned back to him "Backup Plans."
He wasn't sure how he managed it but, somehow he succeeded in writing all of that down.
"A mouthful, isn't it?" Solar said, leaning back against his desk with his arms crossed, "On textbook, these are definitely what you have to look out for. What you have to prepare for. But do you actually find yourself listing all that when you're in the face of danger?"
"Uhm..." Fang consciously shuts his notebook, "...no?"
"Exactly." The young Captain nodded eyes sharp and intimidating, "There are two things you only need to remember: the risk and the reward."
"Risk... and reward?"
"Stop being a parrot and get it through that thick skull of yours." The other huffed in exasperation. "Let me ask you Lance Corporal, which is far more important? The safety of your crew or a successful mission?"
"The safety of my crew, of course!" Fang answered without hesitation but the light-manipulator merely flashed him a condescending look.
"That's what all naïve Captains would choose." He snorted.
"So what?! The mission is far more important than the lives you're responsible with?"
"I never said that." Solar answered haughtily, "So calm down, Lance Corporal, and let me finish."
Fang could feel his face flush but reluctantly remained quiet. He can already tell where this was going and the result would be him ending up looking stupid... as always.
"Every naïve wanna-be Captains would choose the same as you." The human said in amusement, "But a competent Captain, like me, would know there is no choice. Just an outcome. You take in both the risk and reward and formulate them into only one outcome. And that outcome should be a successful mission with the entire team in one piece."
Fang flinched when Solar slammed his hand on his desk, "And if you end up in a situation where you have to choose between accomplishing the mission and saving your teammates... then you've already failed."
"Not everything would go smoothly in a mission, you know!" Fang countered, "What if, situationally, you really do end up having to choose between stopping a power sphere from falling in the wrong hands and protecting a teammate?! What then?!"
"Choose the power sphere obviously." Solar answered without missing a beat that Fang had to do a double-take.
"You'll let your team take the fall-?!"
"You obviously don't have what it takes to be a Captain if you let the situation end up like that in the first place." The other said calmly, still staring at the alien eerily, "But... if that ever happens, then you have to choose the lesser of evils. Because if you let the power sphere fall on the wrong hands... if you let a mission fail... then the entire galaxy will be doomed and everyone- including your loved ones- are good as dead."
Fang was failing at hiding how shocked he was at the other's words that Solar couldn't help but roll his eyes once more.
"Don't look at me like I'm some heartless monster. I only say that because I trust my teammate can stay alive enough for me to actually prioritize what needs to be prioritized."
"That doesn't really make me feel any better."
"Well, tough." Solar deadpanned, "What happened to trusting your teammates?"
"Well, I'm sorry, that dying for a mission is the last thing I want for me or for my own team." Fang sarcastically retorted, but the young Captain did not rise to the bait and instead said in a serious tone,
"I would do it in a heartbeat."
Fang scoffed, "Please. If you actually end up in that life-and-death situation, you'd want to stay alive."
When Solar stubbornly stayed silent, Fang couldn't help but narrow his eyes at him before shaking his head, "Look, it's not about looking like a coward- if that's what you're thinking. Or if it's somewhere along the lines of trying to look cool or heroic! It's about remembering that there are people who still care about you and would want to actually see you safe and alive."
He was expecting another sarcastic retort or a snide remark- but all Solar did was look away, gaze turning lost.
"Class dismissed."
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"Had a tough time with our dear Captain?" Fang was snapped out of his reverie when a plate of fried rice was set in front of him.
He looked up to see Qually grinning at him and he couldn't help but huff and push the plate away, "I'm not that hungry."
Instead of getting insulted by the act, the short alien laughed in good nature, "You're still not mad at little 'ol me, are you?"
After their mission at planet Rimbara, Qually actually had the audacity to run after their ship exclaiming that he wanted to join in on them on their missions so that he could collect the bizarre ingredients written on the cookbook.
He offered to be the chef of their team. And without batting an eye, Solar actually agreed into taking him in.
Fang had no reserves in showing his disagreement with the whole situation.
Unfortunately, Solar did not budge with his decision.
"You're not supposed to be in this team! You just got lucky!" Fang exclaimed, pointing an accusing finger at him.
"Hey, look... I know I tried tricking you last time, but I was hoping we'd get past that and start over? I did what I had to do. It was nothing personal. I swear." Qually said holding up a hand which Fang swatted away.
It wasn't that he didn't trust the alien. It was the fact that he got into the team so easily it kind of pissed him off.
He practically had to work with an enemy, crawl through the vents and almost get killed by a booby-trapped room before Solar agreed to have him in his team.
And not to mention, on his first day, Solar greeted Qually like an old friend while he still kept looking at Fang in surprise like he wasn't expecting him to be there!
"To be a part of a team, you have to trust your own team mate. But that's never going to happen with you around." He said, because admitting the real reason would definitely make him sound immature and stupid.
Qually pouted as his shoulders drooped, "What do I have to do to prove to you that I am?"
"Nothing." Fang huffed as he pulled his notes closer and tried going back to writing them.
"I know!" Qually exclaimed twirling Fang's chair to face him, "I'll help you figure out what happened to Solar- I mean Captain Solar's brothers!"
Fang scowled, "We are not going to do that!"
He was still bitter from the last mission when Solar didn't bother to explain further about his situation with his brothers after mysteriously saying he didn't have brothers who care about him.
Did that mean they were dead or something? What was the context there??
"And why not?" Qually frowned, "I know you're just as curious as I am. And you know~ he'd share to me bits and pieces about them when we were collecting the ingredients for Master Gaharum."
"He did?" Fang turned to him in surprise and the other's expression immediately turned sheepish.
"No, he didn't." This made the shadow-manipulator turn back to his notes while the cook tried to hastily explain, "B-but admit it! You got curious for a second there."
"I won't admit to anything because it's an invasion of privacy!" Fang stubbornly kept his head down, "I've already risked my position from our last mission. I can't risk losing it again."
"But weren't you the one who wanted to quit-"
"I said we're not doing it!" Fang whipped around, arms crossed, "And as the one with the higher rank here, we do as I say."
Qually narrowed his eyes before speaking up in nonchalance, "Captain Solar is calling his grandpa right now. And all we have to do is eavesdrop~"
Fang froze, "He has a Grandpa...?"
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"I can't believe I'm being dragged into this again."
"You're the one who practically dragged me out of the conference room!" Qually defended which Fang retorted with a glare.
"This was your idea first!"
"I-"
"Shhh!"
"...neighbor's chicken pen's finally fixed."
Both Fang and Qually peaked into the spacious laboratory and saw Solar on one of the tables, his back facing them. He seemed to be in the middle of fixing something with a pair of tweezers as he talked to a small holographic screen in front of him.
"That's great to hear, Atok." The two crawled towards one of the tables behind the young Captain, "How's your hip? I heard from Ochobot that you had a bad fall yesterday. Did you get it checked by a Doctor?"
"It wasn't that bad." Came the elderly's response, "I just had some bad bruising. Nothing a bit of icing and painkillers could manage."
Fang slowly and carefully tried to peak over the table, trying to see what his Captain's Grandpa looked like.
Was he as intimidating as his grandson?
"Please be more careful of yourself, Tok Aba."
"I would like to say the same, Cahaya."
Fang immediately caught sight of the ordinary-looking old man. His wrinkled face gentle and kind but eyebrows furrowed with obvious concern.
A total contrast of his Captain's strict demeanor.
"I am taking care of myself. I'm here talking to you aren't I?"
"Commander Koko Ci told me about a certain incident." Solar winced, "I think I remembered telling him that you call me as soon as you wake up."
"Sorry, Atok... I- things kinda' came up and I sorta'... forgot?"
"That's unlike you, my grandson. Have you been sleeping well at all? Maybe you're pushing yourself too much again-"
"I'm fine, Tok Aba. You're getting yourself worked up again."
There was a moment of silence as the old man looked so sad, Fang couldn't help but feel bad.
"I wish you'd come home..."
He watched as Solar's fist clenched on the table and slowly slid back behind the table. He couldn't help but feel guilty at eavesdropping, and as he looked at Qually next to him, the alien seemed to feel the same.
"I'd give anything to hug you one more time-"
"Tok Aba. I miss you too. But... I can't." Solar's voice sounded tight, "This was my decision and I'm seeing this through."
Another uncomfortable silence, "I understand...then I'll support you no matter what."
Fang listened as the other heaved a relieved sigh, "If it makes you feel any better, I'm not alone anymore."
"Oh?"
The shadow-manipulator perked up at this.
"I've finally gotten a team as 'suggested' by the higher ups."
He can't help but feel a little nervous since he was pretty sure the human was talking about them. Was he going to talk about his mistakes and talk behind their backs? Because he can totally see that happening and-
"And they're actually here right now, eavesdropping on our conversation as we speak." Both Fang and Qually froze in horror, "Isn't that right, Lance Corporal Fang and Chef Qually?"
"Busted..." Qually whispered as he sheepishly stood up while Fang followed suit, knowing there was no point in prolonging his agony.
Their Captain looked unimpressed while his Grandpa just looked surprised and amused at the same time.
"Tok Aba, meet my team." Solar then turned to them, "Lance Corporal, Chef, meet my Atok."
"I-it's nice to meet you, sir!" Fang said as he saluted while Qually gasped as if remembering something.
"Wait! You're the Tok Aba who also makes the most delicious Tom Yum on earth that I've heard about?"
Solar stared at him blankly, "I forgot I told you about that."
"'Most delicious Tom Yum on earth'? You think too highly of me, my grandson."
"It's true though..."
"They look like a pair of bright individuals." The elderly smiled kindly at them, "It's nice to meet you, Fang and Qually."
"Not exactly so bright if they think eavesdropping over people's conversation is something they should do." Solar said with an eye roll, "I have to go, Atok. I'll call you back."
"Alright," Tok Aba deflated at having to drop the call before perking up as if remembering something, "Wait... Cahaya, you have that training with... him again soon, don't you?"
"I know Grandpa, I promise it won't happen again." The young Captain assured, much to their confusion, "Now I have to talk to these two idiots."
"Be nice, Cahaya."
Instead of an eyeroll Fang expected, the Captain instead turned to his Grandpa with a worried look, "Alright, Atok. And please take care of yourself and try not to put too much pressure on that hip. I've read elderly's are more prone to hip fractures and you're lucky you didn't end up with one."
"Take care of yourself as well. You know I'll always worry."
It was brief, but Fang managed to catch the other's usual grumpy face turn soft as he gave the elderly a small smile before turning the call off.
And then it was back to that piercing glare as he turned back to them and stood up from his seat, "Give me one good reason why I shouldn't put you in community service for your privacy violation."
"I-"
"It was my idea, Captain." Qually stepped up before Fang could say anything, "Lance Corporal Fang tried to stop me, but I couldn't help but be curious about your grandpa when I found out you were in the middle of a call with him. He followed me here to stop me but got caught in the process."
Solar looked back at Fang, eyebrow raised, "Is this true, Lance Corporal?"
Fang looked back at Qually who gave him an assuring smile and sighed, knowing what he had to do.
"It's exactly what he said, Captain."
"Wha-" The short alien quickly grabbed him by the sleeves, "I can't believe you're actually going to throw me under the bus like this!"
"I have no idea what he's talking about, Captain." Fang continued on, completely ignoring the crying alien next to him, "He's obviously regretting the fact that he wasn't able to manipulate me into taking the fall for his own mistakes."
"This is the chili pepper all over again!" Qually wailed in despair.
"Alright, that's enough!" Solar exclaimed his own patience running thin, "Qually, stop being pathetic and stop using other people to pass the blame on. Fang, stop being jealous of Qually."
Qually immediately stopped his crying to look at Fang who sputtered in indignance, "I am not jealous!"
The young captain had turned back to carefully place the small pieces of what looked like a watch, scattered all over the table he had been working on, into a clear plastic container, "I expected this when I agreed to take Qually as a part of our team. I just didn't think you'd stoop this low."
And as soon as Fang heard this, it was like a string snapped inside him that he couldn't help but explode, "It's because you're unfair!"
Qually squeaked and backed away while Solar whipped his head at him, anger reflecting in his own eyes, "Unfair?! I'll have you know that I-"
"I am way more qualified to be in your team than a wanna-be chef who tricked you!"
"Lance Corporal-"
"And it took me way more hurdles to actually get into this team and all he had to do was ask you and you just say 'yes'?! I tried that and you got all broody and sad!"
"Lance-"
"And not only that, it seems he actually knows more stuff about you than I do! You tell him things voluntarily while I have to sneak around and rely on rumors and stories to make sure I don't get off in the wrong foot with you! Especially when it's about your brothers!"
"FANG!"
Fang snapped his mouth shut at Solar's exclamation. A little surprised and embarrassed as he realized what he had just said.
The young Captain, in turn, sighed as he massaged his temples, "This is exactly why I never wanted a team in the first place. It's messy, and noisy, and annoying..."
Then he looked up at them in exasperation, "But... I know I'm truly not a Captain without one."
Fang looked away, now feeling ashamed for his outburst and for being petulant with Qually, "I'm sorry, Captain. I guess I overreacted as always."
"No... you didn't. You have the right to speak your mind." Solar amended before turning to the other alien who had been quiet the whole time, "Qually, if you would please leave the two of us alone."
"Yes, sir!" Qually hastily left the laboratory, obviously been waiting for an opportunity to leave the sudden tense atmosphere.
"Captain-"
"You're mainly the reason why it was easier for Qually to join us." Solar said sitting back on his chair, "I can't believe I'm admitting this to you, but it's been easier with you around. Rather, it's easier having someone to rely on."
Fang tried to hide his surprise at his admission by clearing his throat instead, "I'd thought you'd at least choose someone who's more of a... serious fighter."
"Qually's a dependable fighter and is pretty good at manipulating people around him as you've witnessed. But I know he's a good guy." Solar said with a shrug, "And anyway, he only signed himself up as our chef. He won't entirely be mandated to join our missions. If he does want to, he'll need to ask for special permission and sign a waiver since he basically haven't undergone training under TAPOPS and may end up as a liability. So, if you're concerned about your position in this team, I assure you, you have nothing to worry about, Lance Corporal."
"I... thank you, Captain."
In the end, Solar seemed to indeed at least acknowledge him as one of the main team despite the obvious gap between them in terms of knowing and understanding each other.
The thought that Qually managed to have over come that gap may have made Fang feel insecure and act out in a wrong manner.
He should've seen it as an opportunity to get to know his Captain better and if some manipulative, backstabber like Qually can get bits and pieces of information from someone as closed-off as their Captain, then so can Fang!
"Do you still believe that Qually doesn't deserve to be in this team?" Solar prompted with his arms crossed.
"I shouldn't have doubted him." Fang sighed and scratched the back of his head, "and anyway, that's your call, Captain. I trust your decision."
Solar nodded his head, "Anything else?"
Fang was about to say 'no', when he realized this was finally his opportunity to know about the biggest mystery he had been trying to figure out.
Should he...?
"Uh... erm... Captain... about-about your brothers-"
"They're perfectly fine and alive." Solar said without hesitation, "They're living with Tok Aba and are about to start school soon."
"Wha-"
"And yes, they used to be members of TAPOPS. And they still kind of are... but not as involved as they used to be. They also have similar power watches as us, but they decided to stay on earth and protect the planet from evil aliens that might target the rest of the humans." Solar continued like he was talking about the weather,
"And the reason why I didn't go with them was because I believe I could aim higher and do more with my powers by staying here and becoming a Captain. And thus... here we are."
Well... that was anti-climatic.
"So... there's nothing wrong between you and your brothers?"
Solar suddenly looked away it made Fang winced.
He wasn't sure if he had overstepped his boundaries, but surprisingly, the other answered, "They didn't support my wishes on wanting to become stronger... we had a huge fight... and... they just left me."
Fang froze, remembering the pained look on Solar's face when he saw that photo during the time he was trying to snap him out of his episode, "That's why... you don't talk about them?"
"It's a difficult topic. That's why I try to avoid mentioning them as much as I can. Even when I'm talking with Tok Aba," Solar affirmed, trying to keep a straight face and Fang knew he had already reached his limit.
"I'm sorry you had to go through that. I know it's not in my position to say this, but who knows? Maybe you'll work it out with them one day?" Fang offered hesitantly but Solar's expression did not change and merely nodded his head.
"Maybe."
There was obviously something more going on in this story than the other was letting on, but Fang knew he should stop snooping and decided not to comment further.
He had already made his risk and was indeed rewarded.
Fang then thought about asking something else instead when Solar's watch beeped and the latter immediately checked it only for his eyes to grow wide.
"I'm sorry, Lance Corporal but I'm going to have to ask you to go back to the conference room." He said as he hastily stood up and practically rushed out of the room, "Tell Qually we'll be having a debriefing about a new mission next week. I'll be there in ten minutes."
Solar was already gone before Fang could even say anything.
He frowned. Well, that was strange.
He was about to leave when he caught sight of the pieces of watch that Solar had been tinkering earlier and picked up the clear plastic. He frowned when he noticed that they look kind of similar as the young Captain's power watch before shaking his head and heading out to go after him.
"Captain! You forgot your-!"
"...see you tomorrow for our training. I trust you won't be late."
Fang stopped in his tracks at the familiar voice and slowed his pace, eyes wide as he caught the light manipulator a good couple of meters away, however his sight landed on the alien he was talking to on his watch's holographic screen.
"You can count on me, Commander Retak'ka." Solar replied.
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End of Chapter