86 M1: Term: 2, Round: 3 (2/2)
”And that's what you meant when you said 'Fuck Fortescue' which I loved by the way,” Barran said. ”I didn't think you used words like that.”
”I save them for rare occasions,” Daedo said smiling.
”And for effect,” Vannier noticed.
Daedo nodded.
”Shit. Being with you guys is like being with a bunch of world-class crazy genius mother fuckers,” Kang said excitedly.
”But you like it?” Picard asked.
”Yeah its getting interesting now! All the research, academic, training and building without catching a breath was… well, it was intense. But, this is some next level shit,” Kang said.
”What do you think Picard?” Daedo asked. She never offered opinions where Vannier and Barran always did.
”Although it's not a plan, yet, I like it. I am simple, I will just do my thing kicking your arse on the mat,” She said.
”Axelzero?” Vannier asked.
”I'm in. I know this is more than what we discussed when we started Daedalus and even if we are wrong, who cares. We aren't hurting anyone,” Axelzero said.
Daedo looked at Mace. She merely nodded once.
”Okay. I think we are all in for the crazy mother, ahem, plan to dominate this planet and outer space in the name of Daedalus protector of Earth,” Vannier announced with enthusiasm.
Kang scoffed. ”Dontcha think that's going too far? We're like thirteen?”
The six original members of Daedalus disagreed, and they showed Kang this with serious silence in response to her question.
”Really?” Kang asked.
”Yes really,” Picard replied.
”Who's going to deliver this information to Master Nader?” Vannier asked changing the subject. She looked at Daedo.
”Daedo,” Barran said.
”Daedo,” Kang said.
”Daedo,” Axelzero said.
”Daedo,” Mace said with a large grin at Daedo.
”I guess you're all too chicken,” Daedo said.
”I can come with you if you like,” Vannier offered, and Daedo shook his head. Vannier noticed the change in behaviour over the last five weeks. ”You take me less and less, I am beginning to think..”
”You have a thing with Nader!” Barran interrupted, and everyone laughed.
The look on Daedo's face said 'if you only knew', but it was lost on the squad. They had no conception of what had been happening. Why would they?
Sufficient time had passed, and the library had been quiet for an hour, so the squad left their study room to head back to their quarters. It had become the norm that when they walked through the academy other squads would stand aside and stare. It was normal for squad zero, but it still irked Kang.
”Why do they do that?” She asked looking at M3 Osiris squad fourteen who had stopped walking, moved to the side of the corridor and just watched them pass by while whispering to each other.
Picard, who had become Kang's best friend in the squad and probably the world because she wasn't the easiest person to get along with answered, ”It's the same on a military base, minus the whispering when a high ranking officer walks by.”
Barran scoffed, ”We are legends that's why.”
Kang looked at him sceptically, ”Yeah right. We are M1, those cadets were M3.”
”We are notorious, especially Daedo, he would have ranked first on the M3 Gauntlet for the first two rounds, and the only reason he didn't is that he isn't in M3,” Picard said. ”And we made the semi-finals of the first tier M3 tournament last term.”
”Oh. So we are notorious. I've been wondering why everyone looked at us funny from the first week,” Kang beamed. ”And to think I almost didn't join this band of notorious crazy mother fuckers.”
”Language,” Picard reminded her. ”We're not enlisted.”
Kang sighed.
Daedo had asked Master Nader for a meeting before they left the library and when they arrived at the quarters, he went straight in to see her.
Without asking she opened the VR room and pulled them both inside before running through her usual security checks.
Master Nader stood waiting for Daedo to begin, her arms crossed. The mystery box had not made an appearance.
”We came across some interesting information tonight,” Daedo began and sent Master Nader the full feed.
She reviewed it in a few minutes.
”None of this is surprising,” She stated.
”Can you do something about the gene therapy?” Daedo asked.
”Technically it's not illegal if the therapy has been registered and approved,” Master Nader replied.
”You don't expect that's the case?” Daedo asked.
”No, I would be surprised. But what they are talking about here could be twisted into discussing legal therapies. There is no proof showing which therapies Fortescue was insisting would be administered.” Master Nader responded.
”This isn't about what is legal, my squad wants it stopped. They don't want the M3 cadets pressured into doing something dangerous,” Daedo said.
”What do you want?” Master Nader asked.
”I want good morale in my squad,” Daedo answered truthfully. ”If I were to push something through that they were unhappy with it certainly wouldn't be this.”
”I can have my experts work on improving existing human gene therapies and making them safer. It would not be difficult,” Master Nader said calmly.
”That is the last thing I want,” Daedo replied sternly.
”There will come a day when your team will need to work on advanced biology, it will be central to your survival,” Master Nader said ominously.
”How do you know it will be central?” Daedo asked.
”Logic,” Master Nader simply said.
Daedo sighed. ”We are getting off topic. What can you do with this information?”
”I can send it anonymously to parents, I have data on all cadets,” Master Nader said.
”What else? What if their parents are keen for the cadets to be on the first team?” Daedo asked.
”Would a parent want their child put a dangerous situation?” Master Nader asked.
”I would have answered no six months ago. Now, I am not sure,” Daedo replied.
”Agreed. I can send it to all the Masters, the Chiefs and key supporters of the Academy which have a tendency for honourable behaviour,” Master Nader replied.
”Do that, please. Even if there is no proof of illegal gene therapy, with that much attention, they couldn't get away with it,” Daedo responded.
”What about the match-fixing deal with Renault?” Master Nader asked. ”I can use this information with great effect.”
”Save it. Use it if you have to,” Daedo said. ”But let me know if you do please.”
Master Nader waited for a few moments before asking, ”Have you overcome your fears Cadet?”
”You mean my reservations. The only thing I am afraid of doing is the wrong thing,” Daedo replied.
”Semantics.” She said emphatically. ”You do not have the luxury of time. You cannot waste it with inaction due to doubt,” Master Nader said calmly.
”Why me?” Daedo asked.
”Why have you been chosen? Why is it not someone else?” Master Nader asked. ”Someone older. Someone in a position of power?”
”Yes. Exactly,” Daedo replied.
”What makes you think you are the only vessel?” Master Nader responded.
”You do!” Daedo said exasperatedly. ”Time and again you have said it is up to me. To us.”
”And it is. But you are not alone,” Master Nader replied.
”Are you alone? Are you the only one?” Daedo asked.
”You are treading in areas that are not pertinent to your task,” Master Nader said. ”I see your doubt is an issue and I am doing all I can to remove it. And that is why I will tell you. No, I am not alone. There are more like me.”
”How many?” Daedo asked.
”I don't know. But it is more than a few,” Master Nader said.
Daedo sighed before asking, ”Give me the box.”