Installation Dec-1 21

Karal surveyed the classroom. What had two years ago been a room of a thousand students now barely held seventy, He reasoned that statistically only forty would remain until the end of the year and, probably, under twenty would graduate. He considered inwardly how he was never supposed to have survived birth, yet here he was, a year and a one in three chance away from graduating pre-college, He turned toward Asalka and Taarla wondering if they would make it, then looked sympathetically across the room at Ekeu, seeing him sit by himself. Karal imagined the pain Ekeu might be feeling now that Alpe, the last of Ekeu's companions, was gone. And that is perhaps what Karal feared more than anything, sitting by himself.

Altohota 8th
Karal repurposed his attention to professor Akasta, who had been going over.. something. He raised both of his hands out and the professor called on him. "Karal?!" the professor called, "Yes, why do we need to know how to fly a spacecraft, I thought we were here to build them, not to fly them." Karal asked. The professor responded without hesitation "I'm actually very glad you asked, and I'm sorry I hadn't stated the reason." "How many of you have used a vacuum cleaner?" He asked the class. Around half of the coursemates raised their hands, including Karal. "Before I was in pre-college I worked as a part time janitor, Where I worked they did not have service cleaning robots, or else they would've not hired a part time janitor. Instead they had these bulky, cheap, standardized vacuums. Whenever I'd use one, I hoped that whoever'd designed it would be arrested and have to spend the rest of their lives cleaning a prison with one". He continued "The reason we're making you pilot your craft is that you'd better not engineer a craft that is hell for a person to fly. Does that answer your question?" he finished. Karal nodded and the professor asked the rest of the class if they had any more questions and only the air conditioning could be heard so he continued with his class.

After the session, Karal approached Arnin in the hallway and asked him if he'd have trouble piloting a spacecraft. Arnin gave him half a dirty glance and headed off towards the mess hall. Karal called out after him, "I know you heard me, I'm the one with the bad ear!". Karal grew nervous wondering why Arnin had grown cold to him, he shook his head saying to himself "If this is how it is, we'll see how he fairs in Rocketry alone." Karal met up with Asalka and Taarla, who joined him going into the mess hall. Once they had gone through the line they gathered around their usual table and sat down. "Now." Karal announced "Who are we going to select to replace Usiatsa?". "I thought we were going to invite the bat." Answered Asalka. "I talked with him after class today, and he seemed to give me a cold shoulder. I am going to check for the package tonight but if it is not there I'm calling off our deal".

Ekeu observed them from across the mess hall. He supposed they were likely choosing a new member for there group, but he also knew that there was only one AUAE scholarship extended to the Alsara pre-college, and he sure as heck wasn't going to suck up to the elites to find another way in. "But." he thought "Maybe there was someone he could help get into the group and sabotage it". He considered the idea, but ultimately dismissed it reminding himself "The only person you have to overcome is yourself". He glanced over at Arnin who was looking his way but appeared to be zoned out. Until he suddenly stood up at his table and disappeared, Ekeu himself got up and moved to a different table. He sat down next to Srutta, a member of the uplifted Atsrosiat species, and began talking with him.

Karal noticed Ekeu do this and smiled briefly to himself, and after a few minutes he looked over at Arnin who was closely eyeing Ekeu. Karal shuddered to himself and wondered how the two of them ever worked together. "We could get Srutta." offered Asalka, "He's bound to be a good pilot". Karal wanted to object but was glad to hear Taarla chime in "Wait! I'd thought we'd agreed to two guys and two girls". "What, is this table getting to masculine for you?" joked Karal, before he realized he was shooting down his own plane. "No you're right, Eltere is plenty smart.. How come you didn't say the same about Arnin". Immediately, the faculty staff announced a mandatory session, followed by Aerospace piloting 1O1 would be beginning in five minutes. So the group finalized plans and broke up. Karal headed outside to his and Arnin's established meeting spot. He was surprised to see the programming drive where it should be, picking it up carefully from inside a gap hidden beneath a large rock, before heading inside.

Arnin sat contemplating inside the classroom, perfectly oblivious to the rest of his peers as they entered, actively reflecting on the previous two graded demonstrations and already planning the final one coming up. His alliance with Karal was now outliving it's usefulness, it hardly mattered that he was creating a team, as this was a game for masters, teams serve their purpose, but not here. Arnin had discovered that he very much enjoyed his game with Ekeu, He hardly cared for the person, but vastly enjoyed watching him engineer, even learning a thing or two. He figured Ekeu was on to him but kept up appearances to continue working with Karal. Arnin thought that it was just getting too hard to remain friendly toward the guy.

The class watched principal Alhelle approach the podium, and listened as he announced the year's first demonstration. "The purpose of this first course will be to teach you how to successfully and safely pilot an aerospace craft in both atmospheric and orbital conditions." The class mostly listened as the principal continued for sometime on the importance of safety, which Arnin considered rather obvious. He laughed aloud after hearing the phrase "..We cannot legally graduate course students posthumously." though stopping his laughter abruptly as he realized it was not intended as a joke. The principal glanced over his way, and after a moment smiled, before continuing on. Nearing the end of his spiel he announced "All course students have six weeks to achieve a piloting certification or will be dismissed from the course." He dropped his notes onto the podium and, after a brief look over at Arnin, with a smile added "And please, 'Don't 'Die".

Ekeu strode out of the classroom, as the class made their final dispersion of the day. Once he was by himself, he slowly made his way upstairs, and shuffled into the library. He stepped halfway into the room. He sat down at the centrally positioned table, thinking about the day's events in the back of his mind and peering across the study to watch the evening sky as he did so. Ekeu heard someone approaching from behind, Looking back he saw Srutta. "How's the air?" Ekeu called back loudly. He caught a small smile from Srutta's face before the usual reply "It's fresh over here, How's yours?", "Sucks now that've got to share it with you!" Ekeu responded, poking fun. He was glad to hear a small laugh escape Srutta, seeing Srutta peripherally as he seized the adjacent chair. "A've you got any plans for tonight?" Srutta fired off as he crashed onto the chair. Ekeu took a moment to think before answering "Besides avoiding you, not really" He said with a smile. "O' good, do you play Armada?". After a few minutes, Ekeu's gaze fell off of the open game and once again outside the window. He briefly watched the dusk, as the sun gently tapered below the horizon. Looking back to the game and prepared to do battle with Srutta.

Chapter Tail
Ekeu threw up his hands, covering his eyes as he leaned forward. He heard Srutta's unusual laugh, common to the Atsrosiat species, in the background as Srutta fleet destroyed Ekeu's flagship and avatar. "Noo!" Ekeu cried, reinforcing the lament attributing to his loss, before the excitement of the game wore off and their intensity driven laughter subsided. "I suppose it'll start getting serious again tomorrow." Ekeu added. "Where a've you been all week?" Srutta asked him. Ekeu's thoughts momentarily flashed to Alpe before he responded, "Curing myself" he replied, facading an expression on his face, happier than he really was. "Well, you win some and we lose some" Srutta responded unsure of what else to say. "We only really ever lose to ourselves." said Ekeu. "Yeah, That and better flight times." Ekeu was content to let his newfound philosophy pass Srutta's attention and moved the conversation to the upcoming projects.

The two discussed various projects deeper into the night, their conversation becoming less and less important and or coherent as the night got later. Finally, after Ekeu became confused as to even the current topic of conversation they agreed to call it a night.

Altohota 9th
Ekeu tiredly woke up shortly before the dawn. He looked around the room and realized that his mind had already become accustomed to having the room to himself, and his routine had already adapted to a life without Alpe. He got up and strolled down the hall to the changing room, getting dressed and heading on outside. He went for a morning sprint on a trail leading around the Campus pond. He returned to the library, stimulating and stretching his cerebral faculties for the day as he waited for the mess hall to open for breakfast.

Chapter 2
Ekeu was the first to arrive at the mess hall for breakfast. The first to get in line as it opened and, he noted, the first to sit down. He watched as several others followed by Karal entered over the next minute. Ekeu saw that Karal was joined soon after by Taarla and Asalka, then was surprised to see Asa join the table.

(Canon Pending) Arnin was sitting quietly by himself, studying the coffee  maker from a distance. He kept himself attent to the machine, watching the coffee as it dripped down into the pot. "Drop.. Drop.. Drop" he thought to himself. He lost the moment as the machine gave off a hiccup of steam and the dripping increased into a steady stream. Frowning at this, he attempted to reclaim the notion that had just been on his mind. It teased him, keeping itself at an arms distance. He slowly wandered over to the drink line, stepping one foot slowly in front of the other as he did so. He poured himself a glass of the first thing within reach and plucked a stirrer. He carefully dipped the instrument into the glass. Then pulled it out and let it drip, standing there for a minute and letting his mind leave him again. This succeeded and the notion returned to him. (Canon Pending).

Karal, seeing this, mentally criticized the seemingly nonsensical behavior. He then turned his attention back towards his table's conversation. Asa noticed his annoyed look and asked him about it. Karal simply gestured with his head toward Arnin and Asa observed the young adult standing in front of the coffee machine mumbling to himself. Asalka followed their gaze and interjected "I've given up on trying to make sense of the bat". "Why call him 'bat'?" Asa asked. "Because of his 'high pitched voice'." Taarla replied for Asalka, knowing from past experience what he was going to say. Taarla remembered how he'd explained it to her and their group's former member Usiatsa. "O" Asa simply replied. She was worried by how easily they could make fun of their ally, wondering just how easily could they come to make fun of her.

Ekeu waited twenty minutes before seeing Srutta enter. Srutta staggered a little as he moved over to the beverage section. After a minute Srutta looked over at him. Ekeu waved to him mouthing "Took you long enough ". Ekeu watched Srutta trudge over to his table. Srutta called out "Well us apes's need our morning herbs's". Ekeu shook his head as Srutta chugged his "Herbs's". The pair listened as the upcoming schedule for the day was announced. And Ekeu grabbing his plate said "Well just in time to leave". Srutta smiled at the remark, saying "I've always been this late". Ekeu nodded and simply shrugged.

Ekeu, along with the seventy one other coursemates, attended the three flight classes. At the end of the third class, He registered for the necessary Rider's Permit test. Ekeu was led to the first in line of an aisle of small testing booths. He entered, closed the door, sat down at the small table, and answered the fifty six question test with ease. Within the next fifteen minutes, he stood up, exited the booth, and submitted it to the scorer.

As he was waiting He noticed Karal emerge from the second booth. Karal was already screening the hall before noticing Ekeu standing over by the scoring station. Ekeu watched Karal approach and asked "How'd you test without your tutors to bail you out?", making a verbal swing. Karal simply glared before figuratively ducking the stroke and returning a thrust with "At least they were my friends before I knew I needed a Pilot's license." Ekeu responded "What is that supposed to mean" trying to glance the attack aside. "Everyone knows Atsrosiats make good pilots." Karal whipped back, the accusation striking meat. Ekeu covered the hit, remarking "We'll see how good I did on my own" turning and patiently waiting for the scorer. "100%, here's your riders permit" said the scorer. Without a word or glance to Karal, Ekeu took the permit, thanked the scorer, and walked off with a slight smirk.

After another minute Karal heard the repeated "100%, here's your riders permit". He knew this was the easiest of the four tests and was of little more than of token significance to him, yet he still viewed it as a chance to outdo Ekeu.

Altohota 10th
"Hello Ekeu, I'm Iahetse your trainer" Ekeu heard Iahetse introduce himself as he gestured toward the aerospace vehicle "Let's go ahead and mount this beast". Ekeu followed Iahetse up the ladder into the cockpit, feeling more nervous now than he had even at the previous demonstration. Climbing the ladder was difficult due to the bulky protection suit he was made to wear. Ekeu swallowed as he entered, then sat in the co-pilot's position. "Here is the choke, don't ever, ever, engage the aeroplane interface without first choking the craft. That includes coming out of orbit, got it" Ekeu was looked dead in the eye as Iahetse made the remark. Ekeu nodded and replied "got it". Iahetse went on to explain the rest of the control panel, the pair of joysticks, and the pair of lockable pedals. "Okay let's begin. I'm choking the craft!" He called out as he choked the craft. Ekeu continued to watch and listen as Iahetse narrated his every move. "I'm contacting traffic control", "Hello! traffic control campus! This is Tat-ara-ene-kiak pilot Iahatse, rider Ekeu, requesting emergence from campus and orbital jump!".

"Hello Tat-ara-ene-kiak! Traffic control! director Atrapu! All clear!" Traffic control gave the green light and directed Iahetse to a skyhook coordinate and arrival time. Iahetse instructed Ekeu to activate the communication device on his suit, then called out abruptly "Ignition!" Ekeu was startled, feeling the roar and tremor of the craft as it's engines abruptly ignited, dying down a little after a moment. "Activating lift!" Iahetse spoke into the headphones radio, with the roar, now just a quiet noise in the distance. Ekeu watched as Iahetse's hands moved down the sides of the joysticks, pressing in two levers on the sticks as his back legs pressed two rear pedals unlocking the front pedals. "Impulse to bear!" He shouted into the radio before he grabbed the joysticks and pulled them steadily towards himself, Ekeu felt as the plane began to propel itself forward, seeing the ground as it appeared to roll backward on every side. Iahetse spoke again "Aaand! lift to bear!". Iahetse pressed on the forward pedals and Ekeu felt a slight drop in his stomach as the bird eased off contact with the earth carrying itself higher and higher into the sky, reminding him of the moment when the overpass car lost contact with the delivering station, or the first moment of an elevator's ascent.

Ekeu looked in awe as the aerocraft broke through the clouds. "Activating Ramjet!" Iahetse released the joysticks and activated a pair of dials as he said this. "Ramjet to bear!" he continued, releasing the joystick leavers by pressing down a knob on the tops. Ekeu felt the craft increase it's speed drastically before, during, and after the ramjets activated. "Activating rocket assist!" Iahetse called out, flipping a switch. "Rocket assist to bear!" he called again grabbing a central joystick which had popped up and activating it by pressing in two levers on either side. Ekeu then watched him nudge the stick forward with one hand. "This is the hard part" Iahetse spoke with a smile, seeing Ekeu swallow through the glass of the suit. "Check instruments to make sure they agree with the Jump coordinates! Checking instruments!" He shouted "Now once you see they agree! Turn on com-piloting!" He pressed in a pair of black buttons "And click the link!" He pressed a large button under a small screen, looked over at Ekeu and grinned. "Is that it!?" Ekeu asked. "As long as you have a standard Akaelela com-piloting programming and com-piloting equipment! Otherwise you'd need to know how to do it manually!" said Iahetse. "Wouldn't I need to know that anyway?!" Questioned Ekeu. "You guys won't be using a sky hook for the test.." Iahetse began, "Why are we using it then!?" Ekeu interrupted as he wondered why on earth he would need to know about an aerospace-sky-hook interface at all if it wouldn't even be helpful for his future project. "I just like the view," Iahetse replied.

As he heard this, Ekeu saw the whipping end of the large mega structure as it spun towards them. He spotted the large magnet attached to the end of the massive rod grow larger and larger as it came to bear with the craft. "Magnet to bear!" Iahetse said plainly into the radio. "The plane and the hook are talking to each other as the hook explains to the plane the exact vector the craft will need to make proper contact" Iahetse explained as he eased on all the pedals and relaxed a little. Ekeu felt the craft jerk a little then begin to accelerate. The fright and exhilaration of the falling sensation within his chest caused Ekeu to laugh. "Ever upward and onward!" he sighed into the radio, in between bouts of almost uncontrollable laughter. Ekeu then noticed Iahetse tense again as he said "That's what they say, "Activate orbital interface!" Iahetse resumed.

Iahetse simultaneously pressed down four of the buttons, producing four switches which he subsequently flipped on. Ekeu watched most of the controls rearrange themselves. The earlier joysticks folded in and a pair of wheels meeting perpendicularly down the middle took their place. "Activating 1080 rockets!' Iahetse said easily. Ekeu noticed changes being made outside of the ship, familiar with their function due to his earlier project designs. "Calculating orbital vector!" He flipped a switch next to the big com-piloting button, then flipped another switch below the first. "This is the 1080 sphere" Iahetse gestured to the wheels "These are manual controls for emergency only! Before use either activate the distress beacon or clear it with traffic control! Penalties for unlawful use can result in serious prison time for mass reckless endangerment. Now I am about to make my return decent! and I have a question." Iahetse stated. Ekeu had been watching for this "Choke the buzzer on reentry!" He responded while the next words were still on Iahetse's mouth. "Good!" Iahetse replied "But please don't curse at the bird, even if it is one of these awful Akaelela Inc standards!".

Ekeu thanked Iahetse after landing and uneasily dismounted the plane, wobbling his way off of the air-strip, passing Asa as he did. They made brief eye contact and Asa waved. Ekeu nodded back saying "That was out of this world!" as he referenced the craft. She smiled and simply nodded in turn. Ekeu was driven back by a campus vehicle and, after changing, he made his way to his dorm. He closed the small door, fell backwards onto his bed, and laughed quietly with the residual excitement. He half-consciously slept, thinking about his next class. After an hour or so of the uneasy but peaceful rest, he forced himself out of bed and headed over.

Flashback Day X
The tour group to Apialaria was open to the twelve best performing students of the Northern Alsara Engineering Pre-College. Ekeu, ambitious for more, and wanting a chance to get away, eagerly accepted the opportunity to get away. As he approached the Van stop, he took notice of the others who had gathered outside to wait for the aforementioned Van. He supposed that Karal naturally would jump at the chance. And a quick glance around confirmed his hypothesis. Ekeu saw that Karal was accompanied by Asalka. He also glimpsed Asata and UhÏti talking together, Ünra squatting by himself and several others standing around idly."... 'Enjoy your ride'. Ekeu's lips mouthed the words coming from the robot, before replying to it 'You too... buzzer'. He waited inside of a passenger car with the rest of his group, after a few minutes the doors closed and the crew cautioned all passengers to 'Hold on or strap in' as the engine began to ease the train forward, He sat quiet by himself wondering, waiting while the train finally came to a halt. He exited the car with the group and they descended the tower down to the city below. Here they arrived at Apialaria, the planetary seat of government..."They toured the Aurunria, called the House of Plebiscites, in session. The government body discussed potential regulations on the laws passed by the planetary parliaments. After viewing an hour of proceedings the coursemates were privately introduced to Aurelle and Alpiaselle, executive members of the Espese Engineering & Cosmic Trust Corporation, one of the ninety largest businesses in the Federation, and the biggest in the stellar neighborhood. Ekeu shook hands with the pair, noticing a resemblance between them. After formally greeting all the students at the Pre-College, Aurelle spoke to them at large, clarifying that both businessmen were brothers and also the brothers of principal Alhelle. "We at Espese Inc would like to offer you all the option of an internship in our manufacturing department." He continued "And/Or, provided you successfully graduate the third year, a job on our creative team". Ekeu listened keenly as he heard a buzz of interest break out around him.

Published 12-31-2021 @ 06:10

Continued with Installation Win-1 21

Altohota 9th (Chapter 2)
(Non canon/) Ekeu, despite the protective, body encompassing flight suit, could feel the roar and wind of the simulation's craft as it tremored throughout his body and as far as he could tell the classroom. (\)

(Paracanon/) Karal thought to himself "How he wears those grins like a new shirt. I'd like to someday take it from him and expose his insecurity. He thinks he's got it all and he's deceived everyone into thinking he actually does, including me and especially himself". This was one of Karal's sole reservations against Ekeu. He had liked his competitive and confident nature, and the challenges Ekeu's intellect had presented Karal. But recently he'd become dismissive. (\)

(Canon/) Ekeu had invested spare time into a business certificate. He had been offered the opportunity to study business during his trip to the Alsara capital at the end of the previous academic year. (\)

Future
(Canon/) Ekeu leaned against the wall turning to stare out the window. His eyes were blind towards the marvelous colors radiating from the sunset, and as his sight continued to be awe, his eyes allowed a stream of tears. (\)

Flashforward Altohota 10th
(Canon/) Ekeu was later taken aside and offered a chance to study business while he remained in the aerospace course. (\)

(Non canon/) Ekeu considered the proposal, but his mind thought back to Alpe, who had missed out on this by a hard bump. His mind accused them of offering this to second year graduates to get an early slice of the up and coming intellectual pie. Maybe now they were to late, they didn't want Alpe, they wouldn't get him. (\)

Altohota 11th - 33rd
(Canon/) Ekeu worked vigorously across the month, he would meet regularly with Srutta as the two worked towards their aerospace piloting license. (\)