Dragon Flight Academy 2, page 10
“Hey, guys, welcome to the Pacific,” Rooke said in a tenor voice that had a melodic lilt to it. “Follow me.”
We fell into step behind him and took one of the paved roads that went from the tarmac to the first couple of buildings. The road continued beyond the buildings, and the soldier took us past them at a leisurely pace.
“This is where we have our meals,” Rooke said as he pointed at the small gray building. “Well, most of the time anyway. Sometimes we eat outside if the temperature’s not too hot.”
“Aren’t you required to wear a uniform?” Anji asked curiously as she trotted to keep up with our guide.
“No.” Rooke shook his head, and a couple of blond tendrils flew away from the top of his head. “And neither will you. We’re all pretty relaxed here, even Cyrus. He only wore his full attire because you guys arrived today.”
“You call the General by his first name?” Caleb asked in astonishment.
“He likes to be called by his first name.” Rooke shrugged and turned around to wink at him.
Then our guide turned and walked backward while he pointed at other buildings and explained what they were used for. The compound was basically a secluded town, and I wouldn’t have been surprised to learn that there was a lot of other business on the base besides the stuff the government knew about. Sometimes, a dragon would fly overhead and cast the road in shadows, and other times, the creatures would perch themselves between buildings to inspect us with their intelligent eyes.
Rooke eventually took us up several flights of stairs and onto another paved road that led back toward the sea. When he stopped walking, we were in front of a long building with a thatched roof and bamboo panels. From the look of it, there wasn’t an upstairs area, but the place probably had several rooms. Every few feet, the outer building wall was interrupted by a diamond-shaped window with pieces of dyed bamboo glued around the edges. The whole building gave off an island vibe, and it was getting harder by the minute to remember that we weren’t on vacation.
“This will be your living quarters for the next few weeks,” Rooke explained and pointed his thumb at the building behind him. “Your rooms have already been allotted, and your bags are already inside. See you in a few minutes.”
The surfer winked and waved at us before he trotted away slowly while he whistled a merry tune. For a moment, we all looked at each other in confusion.
“Well… that’s interesting,” I murmured, and my friends hummed in agreement. “Let’s get settled and showered.”
I turned to the building and pushed open the dark brown wooden door. The inside was illuminated by the bright sky, and when I stepped across the threshold, I entered a large living room with couches, tables, and chairs. The furniture was rustic and in warm brown and yellow tones that matched the outside of the building. Vintage brass lamps stood in all four corners of the room, and a fan was lazily spinning around as it dangled from the white ceiling.
“Oh, it’s so chilly in here,” Caleb said when he joined me inside. “I doubt I’ll be able to leave my room to go back in the heat.”
“You’ll get used to it, I’m sure,” I chuckled.
The rest of the cadets trickled inside and marveled at the place. A corridor to the left of the front door led into the bedrooms, and a doorless arch in front of us opened into a kitchenette. The main table in the room was covered with two welcome baskets that contained various food items as well as wildflowers that gave off a sweet scent.
“Yep, this is definitely not what I expected,” I heard Anji say. “This looks more like an Airbnb in the Bahamas than a military base.”
“At least we don’t have to be in the same building as Hale and Sunderland,” Byron replied.
“They’re not far away,” Nick spoke for the first time. “But their rooms are bigger.”
He shrugged when everyone turned to look at him and then flopped down on one of the couches. Since he’d stayed behind while we were training with Sunderland, I assumed that he was already given a tour of the base. I also imagined that Gracie and the other squires had done the same as Nick, and since they weren’t with us, I assumed they had their own building, or maybe they shared with the squires who lived here.
“As long as the person I share a room with doesn’t fucking snore, I’ll be alright,” Pierce said and walked off.
We followed him along the corridor to find our rooms, and I was pleasantly surprised to find out that I had the only single room. Everyone else had to share a room, and unfortunately for both Caleb and Pierce, they were forced to share. Byron and Nick shared a room, and Xander, Dave, and Michael also shared one, like they did at the academy. All three women were bunking together, and the last room was mine.
“Ugh, that sucks,” Caleb murmured when he joined me in my room. “I’d rather room with you than that prick.”
“Awww, it’ll be fine,” I said teasingly.
“Easy for you to say,” my friend grumbled. “You don’t have to share.”
“It’s only for a few weeks,” I reminded him.
Caleb heaved a sigh and left my room to go shower. Each room had their own en-suite bathroom, so I quickly jumped in the shower, scrubbed my body and washed my hair, and when I was done, I got dressed in a simple white shirt and knee-length shorts.
My room was smaller than the one I shared with Caleb at DCA, but it was large enough for a queen-sized bed with brown and green camo-style bed sheets, a bedside table with an old-fashioned lamp, a thin closet pushed against the wall by the bathroom door, and a tiny, rickety desk and chair. The walls were covered with a wallpaper that depicted trees and birds from the rainforest, and the window had a perfect view of the ocean just down the coast.
The entire compound was surrounded by a brick wall topped with razor wire, but since it wasn’t tall enough to block the ocean view, I assumed it was mostly to discourage people from sneaking out than anything else.
Since I still had a few minutes before dinner, I emptied my bags, put my clothes away in the closet, and tidied the bathroom. Then I joined my friends in the living room, where they were all dressed in civilian clothes.
“Everyone ready?” I asked the whole room.
“Yeah, let’s go,” Brie said and jumped up from the chair she’d occupied. “I’m famished.”
Murmurs of agreement followed her statement, so we all piled outside and found our way back to the tarmac where Rooke had showed us the crew mess. But when we emerged from between the buildings, I noticed that Hale, Sunderland, and the squires were gathered with some of the soldiers. Even Harlan was there, though he was still in his uniform.
Harlan was talking to my supervisors, and I noticed that chairs and tables had been set up to the right of the runway where there was a tiny stage. It was still light outside, though the sun was very low on the horizon and cicadas had begun their nightly concert.
When Hale spotted us, he waved us over to the chairs and tables, and once we were close enough that he didn’t have to shout, he ordered us to take a seat wherever we wanted. Half of the chairs and tables were already occupied, so the rest of us found empty seats wherever we could. Luckily, I shared a table with Gracie and Byron. The others in our group were soldiers who regaled us with tales of their Dragon Corps days since they’d left the Academy.
As the sun dipped below the horizon and stars began to appear, solar-powered lights automatically turned on and illuminated the area. We were served delicious local food that included seafood with rice and coconut flavored sauces as well as the traditional breadfruit. Every table was loud with conversations, and as cadets, we were allowed one beer each. The atmosphere in the compound was jovial and excited, and when dinner was over, Harlan climbed on the little stage with a mic in hand.
“Welcome, members of the academy,” he greeted us. “We’re honored to have you stay with us for a few weeks, and to welcome you properly, we’ve asked the locals from Majuro to perform a special show for you.”
I clapped and whistled along with the other soldiers and cadets just as Harlan left the stage and a group of Marshallese people replaced him. There were four women and four men, and an older woman with tan skin, wrinkles, and white hair. Like the other four women, she wore a lavalava, which was a woven skirt made from pandanus leaves. The garment had been colorfully dyed with red, blue, and orange tints, and it was accompanied by a white and beige bodice. The men wore white loincloths and necklaces made of shells and bones.
To the side of the stage, a group of musicians set up shop with various instruments including the ukulele, marimba, and a tambourine. They began playing a rhythmic melody that was both engaging and captivating, and soon the men and women on the stage began dancing a series of complex twists and turns.
“Iakwe, people of America,” the old woman greeted us in a low and guttural voice. “Marshallese culture is rich and welcoming, and tonight, you’ll learn about my people.”
The Polynesian woman began telling us a story in a powerful voice as she half-sang, half-talked about her people while the men and women behind her continued their difficult dance. Thanks to Caleb’s earlier explanation, I knew a lot more about Marshallese people than I did yesterday.
Toward the end of the tale, which was an old traditional legend about an octopus and two ladies, the dancers left the stage and walked among the soldiers and cadets with cowrie necklaces that they distributed to each of us.
“Komol tata,” I heard one of the soldiers at my table say as they bowed slightly and donned the necklace.
“Komol tata,” I repeated when the petite Polynesian woman gave me my own cowrie necklace.
Once everyone had a necklace, the dancers edged back to the stage to finish their performance. The elderly woman ended her tale, and I clapped and whistled along with everyone else. The show had been surreal and impressive, and to my surprise, it wasn’t over yet. Two of the men stalked forward on the stage and started a traditional warrior stick dance while the musicians began a different type of music that was more intense and tribal.
I’d never witnessed anything like it before, and I was completely in awe. It truly felt like I’d just decided to take a random vacation in the middle of the Pacific. My cheeks hurt from all the laughing and smiling, and my palms stung from the constant clapping and cheering, but I wouldn’t have made any changes to my evening even if I could turn back time.
And when Gracie secretly held my hand under the table while the elderly Polynesian woman started another tale about fishing, I was the luckiest man on Earth, even if it was just for a few seconds.
Chapter 7
Running around the island at five-thirty in the morning when the world was still sleeping and the sun was just starting to paint the sky with its bright red and orange colors was something I’d never experienced before and didn’t think I would ever get used to. For someone who hadn’t traveled much, it was amazing to watch the sun slowly rising above the sea. It also made for the most calming run I’d ever taken.
I’d slept so well in my single room that if it hadn’t been for Hale, I would’ve continued sleeping well past five-thirty. Last night had been amazing, and I’d gone to bed feeling exhausted but content with my day, and today, I couldn’t wait to find out what Hale and Sunderland had in store for my squadron. Hale had briefly mentioned he had an announcement to make, and my friends and I had thrown ideas back and forth once we got back to our sleeping quarters. So far, none of us had come up with a plausible hypothesis, not even me.
By the time everyone was showered and had enjoyed breakfast with the soldiers that were up, I was already sweating profusely. The wet season wouldn’t be over for another month or so, and though the sun had quickly disappeared behind dark clouds after we’d eaten, the temperature was still hot and humid. So much so that it was suffocating. A heavy wind had picked up in strength and intensity, and I wondered how practical it’d be to ride a dragon in such conditions. Then again, we’d be expected to fly in all types of weather once we graduated, so I could hardly complain about a rainstorm.
Hale and Sunderland had gathered us at the end of the tarmac at seven on the dot for the announcement. As we stood in a single straight line, I spotted our dragons as they flew above the compound with the soldiers’ dragons. It was a truly majestic sight to behold, and a grin spread across my face when I saw Storm flying between a dark brown dragon and an azure-blue one.
“Good morning, Cadets,” Sunderland greeted us since it was the first time we’d seen him today. “I trust y’all slept well and are ready for your next lesson. Today is a special day for your squadron. I’ll let Captain Hale explain in more detail.”
He nodded respectfully at the Captain, who took a step forward and surveyed us with his dark eyes.
“Let’s start with a question,” Hale said. “What makes the Dragon Corps so powerful?”
“Our dragons and the intensity of the academy’s program?” Miranda guessed, though she was actually reciting one of the ads for the Dragon Corps.
“Our willingness to fight and die for our country?” Byron added.
“The fact that the army only recruits the best of the best?” Pierce said with a smug grin.
“Wrong.” Hale shook his head in a disappointed manner, though I noticed the corners of his mouth were shaking lightly, as if he was holding back a smile. “It’s our NATO ties that make us so powerful. Alone, we’re strong, yes, but if there was ever an attack, and we had to stand alone, we wouldn’t stand a chance against Russia and the Red Tide. But with allies just as powerful as us, we can put an end to the Communist threat.”
I nodded along to everything our supervisor said. It made sense that having alliances with several other countries, some of the most powerful in the whole world, would only strengthen our own position. Still, I couldn’t yet understand Hale’s point, but it seemed I didn’t need to.
Just then, I spotted something on the horizon. I squinted against the sun and saw it was a massive aircraft on approach to the island. My friends gasped, but my attention quickly turned back to Hale. He was hiding a smirk, and I couldn’t help but think that he’d planned the whole thing. It was like he’d timed it perfectly, whatever ‘it’ was.
“For the next day, you’ll be working closely with the British Royal Dragon Corps.” Hale’s announcement dropped like a bomb, and all eyes focused on the incoming carrier again.
Soldiers were already in place on the runway to guide the plane once it landed, and I could see a couple of people with carts preparing to meet the plane as well. It looked almost exactly the same as the carrier we’d flown in, except that this one had British flags painted on the sides and on the carrier’s tail.
“I can’t believe we’re going to be partnered with Brits,” Brie murmured next to me. “Wonder how that’s going to work.”
“They’re not so different from us,” Caleb replied from my other side as he peered around me to look at her. “They speak English, and I’ve heard that their dragons are pretty much the same as ours. They just don’t have horns.”
“I know they speak English.” Brie rolled her eyes at him. “I’m just saying, we all know how Americans and Brits don’t always see eye to eye.”
“I’m sure it’ll be alright,” I said when I could feel the tension in the squad start to grow. “We’ll welcome them the way we’d want them to welcome us, and we’ll make sure they’re alright and have everything they need.”
Hale and Sunderland had turned to the tarmac to watch the aircraft land. The engines made a deafening roar that echoed around my chest and under my feet as it touched down. The ground trembled as the carrier powered down its engines, and soon, it became completely still and silent. The hatch opened, and a staircase automatically rolled out.
A man in uniform stood on top of the stairs and glanced down at us. I straightened my back and felt my friends do the same. The man descended the stairs, and I took a long glance at him. His uniform was dark brown and black, and there were quite a few ribbons on his chest. His matching cap was secure on his head, and it masked his features until he was close enough for me to see beneath the visor. He looked to be in his forties, and he had a crooked nose that had probably been broken a few times, a sure and purposeful gait, and dark skin.
“Captain Hale,” he said in a hoarse voice as he shook Hale’s hand firmly. “Pleasure to see you again.”
“Welcome, Captain Kearney,” Hale replied politely. “Meet Lieutenant Sunderland. He oversees the cadets’ flying training.”
“How do you do,” Kearney asked as he turned to shake Sunderland’s hand. “These are your current trainees?”
He pointed his round chin in our direction and assessed us with his black eyes. I couldn’t interpret the look on his face since his features were blank, but I imagined he was gauging us.
“Indeed they are.” Hale nodded. “This here is Cadet Randall, the squadron leader.”
Hale tilted his head in my direction, and I took it as a hint to step forward.
“Good morning, Sir,” I said to the British captain as I extended my hand. “It’s an honor to meet you.”
“Likewise,” he replied curtly and shook my hand. “Let’s get down to business.”
He nodded at Hale and Sunderland before he headed back to the carrier. He disappeared inside for a brief moment, and when he reappeared, he was tailed by twelve cadets. I counted only two women, and I immediately picked out the squadron leader, since his dark brown flying gear featured a colorful patch in the shape of two wings sewn into the left side of his chest. There was also a contempt-laden smirk on his pale face, which could only mean he was the one in charge. His hair was bright red, and his nose and cheeks were covered in freckles. Like most soldiers, he had a long and lean body, and I didn’t doubt that his uniform was hiding the sizable muscles needed to be a dragon rider.
“Check ginger out,” I heard Pierce grunt under his breath. “I can already tell he’s going to be a pain.”
