[Atrocities]

2360.5

Innocent Times

The summer was nearly over and the class of 2360 was eager to graduate this day and begin their military careers as officers of the Global Alliance. As a large group of the men and women that would soon become the fiftieth class to graduate from the Pandoran Military Academy gathered in the assembly area for the ceremony, the spectator stands began to fill. The day was a hot one, easily the hottest of the year, made even more miserable by the humidity of the southern continent this time of the year. Krellor was a horrible month to hold a graduation ceremony thought Thomas Allen Christopher, a brass, confidant looking, and handsome young man as he tugged at his cadets dress uniform attempting to adjust its uncomfortable fit.
“Out of ten months in a year, why in the hell did they have too chose Krellor to hold this damn ceremony in.” Muttered Tom to himself as he wiped the sweat from his forehead and looked over at the stands and felt sorry for the spectators who would be sitting there out in the open with the sun baking down upon them. The fit of his uniform left something to be desired and he began to tug on it again.
Tom hated wearing the tightly fitting uniform nearly as much hated this place. The climate of the southern continent was as unfriendly as a group of drunken upper classmen looking for more beer money on a Rossday night. Tom hated the Academy nearly as much as he hated leaving it. It had become his home over the Last sixteen years and now it was time to leave. As he sat watching his classmates gather in the assembly area, he pondered his life with some regret. Not having a family, and being raised as an orphan, was a constant reminder that there would be no one in the stands today for him. His adopted father had recently passed away, and his mother was too ill to make the trip. The loneliness that he felt this day was an empty feeling that ate away at his heart like a virus leaving him to feel depressed on a day that he should be feeling exaltation.
“Tommy boy!” Yelled one of his classmates, and closest friend Devon Gore the Sixth, as he made his way through the crowd toward him carrying two glasses of juice. Knowing Devon, the juice was no doubt heavily spiked with Brandon weed whisky, his favorite intoxicating beverage of choice.
“Why so gloom my man?” He asked as he sat beside him and handed him one of the glasses. “This is the first greatest day of the rest of your life.” He said cheerfully. “A toast to our coming glories, my they be grand and glorious.” He finished with a smile.
“Devon, are you drunk?” Tom asked him as he sniffed the drink he had been handed.
“You better believe it.” His friend said in joyful manor.
“What am I going to do with you?” Tom asked as he drank the contents of his cup, crushed it and threw it to the ground. “Cheers.” He said simply and stood up to walk away.
“Wow, wait just a minute there.” Commented Devon as he too stood. “Just where do you think your going?” Tom playing the amused part, bowed slightly and said, “Why to the drink cart my Prince, our glasses need refilling.” Both men laughed and walked together toward the refreshment stand on the other side of the assembly area.
“You know you’re not alone.” Devon said to him kindly. “You and I have each other, and the many women of this planet to keep us company.”
Tom smiled at his friend warmly and considered the time they had spent together having a good time womanizing and chasing about the planet over the years as Cadets.
“Devon what are we to do now?” He asked in a whimsical tone of voice as they walked up to the refreshment cart and each of them took a glass filled with juice that had obviously been spiked against regulations.
“Why my dear friend we serve the Alliance and my father with honor and distinction, advancing in rank until we are both Supreme Generals.”
“Easy for you to say, promotion won’t be an issue for you.” Commented Tom without thinking. He immediately regretted what he had said but the damage had been done. Tom had grown to know Devon Gore like a brother, but he had never before seen the expression that was now etched in his friends face.
“I earn my rank Tom, I expect nothing from my father but his thrown some day.” Tom realizing that he had offended his friend and offered an apology.
“Hey Devon, I didn’t mean it to sound that way.”
Devon relaxed and let out a smile from ear to ear.
“Hey look it’s Erin and Mira. You know you should marry that one.” Devon had said joyfully, having forgotten Tom’s remark. Tom had learned long ago that his friend was somewhat peculiar in that regard. Something’s bothered him while other things seem completely unimportant. Perhaps a result of his royal upbringing Tom thought to himself as Devon waved at the two ladies.
“Come on Tom, lets not keep the future Mrs. Christopher and her friend waiting.”
With that both men made there way toward them, drinks in hand.
“If she will have me, I would gladly marry her.” Tom replied honestly as they approached the two lovely looking women in dress uniforms.
“Well, Mira is a fine women and she would make a fine wife.” With that the two men joined the two ladies, also cadets about to graduate, and together they walked off toward the courtyard where the graduation ceremony was about to take place.