Barracks

Sophie: *hugs* thank you very much for your reviews and wishes for me and Barracks. Don’t worry, there’s sorta a draft and there’s the storyline in my head. It’s all sorted out and finished, I just need to flesh out some details. As said, there are 66 chapters already. I stopped writing at the moment due to health reasons, but, hopefully, that will only last a couple of months, no longer (and I’ve already got a buffer of readied chapters). In short, Barracks isn’t drifting plotlessly, it’s firmly on track. Only that the journey has become much longer than expected ^_^ There will be some 72-75 chapters in total. Again, I can’t predict so strictly. I have enough material to cover 3 chapters, so that makes 69. But we know how it goes...

Pisces: Thank gods people like different things, and thank gods I can write what I like.
You are trying to push your own views on me. Don’t. That doesn’t work with me. I will neither start regretting, nor apologizing to you for spoiling your reading, since all the while I’m writing what I want and what excites me. I will repeat it for some twentieth time already – I’m not a commercial writer. I have no obligation to listen to what readers want.
Let’s say homelessness. You seriously think I’m a retard who doesn’t understand this increasing problem. I’m not stereotyping anything. There are various reasons why people become homeless. Some never do anything to prevent that. I see them leave school, even before leaving school and already not caring about anything just a bottle of some foul-smelling crap. When I ride a bus with this type of a hobo and where everyone has to stay on the opposite end of him/her and where I see him/her vomit all over the bus with whatever alcoholic breakfast he/she already had, excuse me, but it doesn’t make me think flowers and sunshine and poor kids out of college. It makes me think about diseases and, especially, tuberculosis that they can easily pass on. I’ve already had an experience of being sent to and fro to hospitals for half a year since I was suspected to have caught it.
So don’t go on correcting the poor ignorant me. Or maybe you’re just that naïve? Opinions are like assholes, everyone has got one.
I also find your views on Mr. Elite a bit contradictory. I mean you defend homeless people so vehemently, but the poor stupid animal that knows no better is beyond your compassion.
The royal guard was told to see Goten and Reyn to the palace but he was not forbidden to try and correct their badmouthing of the Royal Family.
Barracks is a three arc story. Each arc, more or less, starting its own story. It’s no wonder you think it’s been written by different authors. I worked on Barracks for over 10 years. Views change, everything changes. However, Toharu had to die, and no matter how you mourn, this won’t change the fact. I don’t plan on changing anything, since I like it how it is. Besides, with 66 chapters done, Barracks is steadily coming to an end.
I appreciate you took time to list all your disappointments, but the thing is that most of what you call disappointments are achievements to me. When I look back to the first chapters of Barracks, I do like them, but the writing quality wasn’t so good.

Gittoh: Well, keeping in mind this has been going on for over 62 chapters already, finally, finally, your wish is coming true. Well, a bit later XD

Disclaimer: I do not own Dragon Ball Z – it belongs to its respective owners. This fan fiction is not a commercial project, and I am not making any money from writing it.
Warnings: Alternate Universe. Yaoi (male x male). Goten x Trunks and vice versa. Other pairings.
A/N 1:
Head of Royal Division - Harada Lorimara
Deputy Commander - Ealdira Fidan
Captain - Amren Komira

Barracks

by chayron (lttomb@yahoo.com), beta-read by quatreofdoom

Part 62

When Goten and Reyn entered the infirmary, they found the doctor slumbering in front of a television screen; a giant dissected leg of sorts was on the screen. The reception area was otherwise deserted, the room empty, both beds and a dozen chairs idle. There was another door leading further into the infirmary. A crude painting of an already familiar design of a spaceship entering hyperspace hung above the door.

Goten cleared his throat to get the doctor’s attention. The second-class jolted in his swivel chair, his eyes setting on them.

“Huh? Who are you?”

“We are new recruits, sir,” Goten said politely. “I’m Goten, and this is Reyn, sir.”

Reyn nodded. “Hello.”

“At this time of year?” the doctor wondered. “I’m Sorevala Ofura. What is it?”

Goten lifted the box with the cat higher for the doctor to see. “He isn’t feeling well. He has been vomiting and shitting the entire day. Now he just lies there and is about to die. Stinks horribly, too.”

The doctor left the chair and approached the box. “I don’t normally deal with animals. What kind of species is it? Where did you get it?”

“It’s a cat,” Goten said. “Originates from Earth apparently.”

“Hmm…” the doctor hummed softly. “Logan, hey, come here!” he said suddenly. “Do you know anything about cats?”

A soft grumble and a yawn were heard from the adjacent room and soon a shuffle of feet approached the door. A sleepy, disheveled figure appeared in the doorway. Goten was surprised to see that it was an elderly Human.

“Cats?” the Human muttered, yawning again. “Yeah, I used to keep two of them. What about them?”

Goten showed the man the caged cat.

“Oh my, poor thing.” Logan gave the third-classes a look. “Where did you get it?”

“It’s not ours, we are just looking after it.”

“Not doing a very good job, are you?” Logan muttered. He peered at the cat closer. “You need a vet, but…” he trailed off with a sigh. Saiyans didn’t have veterinarians. The concept was unfamiliar to them since they almost never kept pets. If some sick animal was found, it was normally either cooked and eaten or just disposed off. In all other cases, they would just bring the animal to a doctor as the two Saiyans had done now.

“Do we have…?” Logan started and trailed off again. “Of course we don’t,” he answered his own unfinished question. He turned to his Saiyan colleague. “I will download the necessary software. Turn the scanner and the printer on for me. Thanks.”

The Saiyan nodded and walked up to an apparatus deeper in the room. Soon, a soft buzz filled the reception area. The Human browsed on his terminal for about ten minutes, then finally found what he had been looking for and downloaded it. He cast one more look at the cat, then went to get his gloves and some cellophane.

Goten carried the cat to the apparatus. The apparatus consisted of a white tray-like bed and a detachable medical scanner. While the second-class doctor was tinkering with the scanner, Logan covered the bed with the cellophane. It was the first time Goten saw Mr. Elite make no attempt to bite or scratch the hands that picked him up.

Once the cat was on the bed, Sorevala set up the scanner and held it above the cat, slowly moving it forward and backward. Once the scanning was done, the scanner beeped loudly. Both doctors leaned over the display screen to see the results.

“Has he been through a lot of gravity changes?” Logan asked while reading the data. “His ears have been damaged, and there’re multiple stress indicators here.”

“Will his ears be okay?”

Logan nodded. “Yeah, they should heal in a couple of weeks. Stop dragging him around, though. Cats like stability and need a place they consider safe. I’ll print out the recommendations for you to read later.”

Goten hummed softly. “Even if you say that…”

“Any medicine?” Reyn asked.

“Yeah, they list some recommendations. I will try diluting the medicine we have here. Let’s hope it will be effective.”

“How much will that cost us?” Goten asked.

The doctors looked at each other, then the Human laughed. “It will cost you a huge amount of nothing.”

“A thanks will be sufficient,” his Saiyan colleague agreed. “It’s not like we can put your cat down on the list of patients anyway. Just don’t tell anyone.”

ooOoOoOoo

Goten gave the door in front of them a hesitant look. Number 200 already seemed to be scary enough on its own. The third-class wondered if the prince’s former mentor would remember him. It was best he didn’t. Goten inhaled sharply when Reyn knocked, and the sound echoed loudly down the corridor.

“Yes?”

“We are new recruits, sir. The head of the division told us to see you.”

“Come in.”

The room was almost as big as Harada’s but there was no sign of any paintings on the walls. There was an unpacked suitcase on the floor, indicating that Ealdira had, indeed, just returned from a trip. Just as Goten remembered, the prince’s former nanny was one of the tallest and largest elites he’d ever seen. Most people seemed petite next to him. Unbidden, the image of the average-sized prince and this mountain of a man together in bed appeared in Goten’s mind. The image, to put it mildly, was erotically disturbing, and Goten felt awkward and embarrassed.

The deputy commander motioned them further into the room. There was a bottle of beer in his hand. Goten’s eyes traveled to the television screen located above the desk on the wall. It was off now but he had heard someone talking just before they had entered.

Staring at the two men, Ealdira sipped his beer. He didn’t offer them a seat and the two younger males were just standing in the middle of the room awkwardly, waiting for him to speak up. Ealdira took another sip. There were no words to express how badly he regretted showing Trunks the footage from Bruminan Station. He was an idiot for doing that, but how could have he expected things to turn out like this? This average second-class kid was supposed to have been a simple crush. Who would have thought the prince would go as far as to accommodate him in the Royal Palace? Insane.

The hostility was pouring off the elite in waves and, without thinking, Reyn moved closer to Goten. The unconscious but very noticeable action made Ealdira snort in contempt. He sucked out the last drops from the bottle and put it noisily down onto the desk. It was obvious that the two were sleeping together. He would have never imagined that Trunks could be so disgraceful. At least he had had the decency not to forcefully split them up.

“So Harada sent you?”

“Yes, sir.”

“Need the armor, don’t you?”

“Yes, sir. And…some instructions?”

Ealdira raised an eyebrow at the third-classes. “Instructions on what?”

“We are supposed to guard the garden, sir, so…”

Ealdira burst out laughing and flopped onto the sofa ungracefully. He was too old for this crap. “Fuck it,” he said. He got up and went to the fridge to get one more beer. “He wants you to pass the qualification tests, doesn’t he?” he muttered, opening the bottle.

“Yes, sir.”

Ealdira tossed the cap from the bottle across the room towards the bin. It hit the side and bounced off with a jingle, landing on top of the suitcase. “Fuck it,” the elite repeated. “You know, I had a newborn girl just a few months ago, and I seriously can’t be assed with this. It’s enough he’s dragged me back from Earth. Whatever you want, go to Harada and pester him. I am washing my hands of this.”

The third-classes gave each other awkward looks and shuffled out of the room. “That didn’t go so well,” Goten said softly.

“You can say that again,” Reyn muttered, following Goten towards room 226 – they had yet another person to visit. “You know him, don’t you?”

“Not exactly. I just saw him a few times from afar when he visited my officer training school.” Goten debated with himself for a short moment before decided to spill it all out: “He’s the prince’s former mentor, and rumor has it that they share a bed.”

Reyn gave the other third-class a skeptical look. “He and the prince? Doesn’t seem very likely. On the other hand, it would explain why he was so pissed off.”

“I think he’s pissed off for an entirely different reason,” Goten muttered. “He knows I’m a second-class. Well, supposed to be one at least.”

“Ah, so. Yeah, makes sense now.”

“Yeah, makes a very good candidate.”

Reyn glanced at the other third-class. He was thinking exactly the same. It was a pity that Goten couldn’t remember the faces of those who were supposed to kill him. Yet, Ealdira was openly hostile, which gave enough grounds to suspect him. On the other hand, usually it was those sneaky ones that had plans up their sleeves.

“Berada is another one I’ve met before,” Goten said, and Reyn gave him a disbelieving look.

“You know almost everyone here, don’t you?”

“Ugh, no,” Goten denied sheepishly. “I met Berada when we were on our way to Velora and the aircraft was attacked. Then he saw me to the National Air Force headquarters.”

“Really? The National Air Force?”

Goten nodded. “From there, I was sent to Starcut.”

“They don’t normally deal with space travelling. That’s under the Interstellar Division’s jurisdiction.”

Goten rolled his eyes. “And you’re telling me that?”

They approached the right door. The scouter showed almost ten in the evening, and Goten hesitated before knocking. They were really late.

“Yeah?”

“New recruits, sir. We were sent by the division’s head.”

“Harada, huh? Well, come in.”

The third-classes entered to find a messy room and the elite sprawled on the sofa with a bowl of something that smelled of meat. He was holding a chicken leg in his right hand while his left was changing the channels on the television set. He turned to the third-classes and his face froze.

“Huh, you’re that… Whatsname…?”

“Goten Bardock, sir,” Goten introduced himself.

“Yes, right! You know, after I saw you on TV, I somehow had a feeling you’d end up here.”

Not sure how to take it, Goten shifted awkwardly. “Uh.” He pointed at Reyn. “This is Reyn Dueri, sir. The division’s head said sir can help us with passing the qualifications tests.”

Berada nodded. He passed the bowl to Goten to hold onto, then looked around for something to wipe his greasy hands on. “You’re like half a year too late but, I suppose, you can sit at least a few tests together with the rest of the students. I’ll put your names down next to theirs. Shouldn’t cause any problems, but make sure you show up for examinations.”

The elite wiped his hands on a T-shirt he had picked up from the floor, tossed it back to the ground, and went to his desk. The terminal buzzed to life as soon as Berada touched it and, in no time, he was browsing through the list of available lectures. After opening and closing the drawers, he found a sheet of paper and a pen. He put down the names of three classes and added the examination date for each.

“Here,” he said giving the paper to Reyn. “You can pass these with the others. I’ll print out the rest of them tomorrow and we’ll see what can be done. Come about noon, I’ll also have the books ready.”

“Thank you, sir.”

The third-classes left the room and stopped in the corridor, not sure what to do.

“Do we go back to Harada?” Goten wondered. “We do need to get that armor – without it, we’ll just be attracting attention to ourselves.”

Reyn rolled his eyes. With or without the armor, it probably made no difference anymore. Tomorrow, the Royal Palace was going to be buzzing with the news of their arrival.

“He seems familiar,” Goten muttered.

“Who?”

“Berada.”

“Huh? You’ve met him before, haven’t you?”

“Not that. I think I saw him in the dream. And to think he sounded quite friendly… Asshole.”

“Hmm… At the rate this is going, we’re going to get paranoid.”

Goten could only nod.

ooOoOoOoo

Goten rolled onto his left side and reached out for the scouter on the bedside cabinet. It was only three in the morning. He lowered the scouter and, with a soft sigh, rolled over onto his back. They went to bed at eleven, but he hadn’t caught a wink of sleep yet. The room stank of cat shit, and he was tired and apprehensive.

In the end, they hadn’t returned to Harada. Having decided to visit the head of the division in the morning, they had eaten, fed the cat, and gone to sleep. Mr. Elite had eaten a few small morsels of cooked meat and lapped up a whole bowl of water. He seemed to be much better already, but they had decided not to bother him with a bath yet.

Yawning, Goten turned to his right side and took a look at Reyn’s dark silhouette on the adjacent bed. The other third-class seemed to be peacefully asleep. They had turned down the TV’s sound but left it on to illuminate the room. That had been a stupid idea, since now the shadows created by the flickering light were dancing all across the room. This way, he’d never notice anyone trying to sneak into the room.

Goten got up and went to turn the TV off. Once he did so, he became aware of a weak glow coming from behind the curtain. He went to the window and carefully glanced outside.

“Meow?”

“Shh…” Goten shushed the cat and continued to scan the garden through the gap between the curtains. The light was coming from several tall street lamps which were scattered throughout the garden. The garden seemed to be completely deserted but one could never be certain with the trees looming here and there. There actually had to be guards somewhere. Night duty wasn’t something Goten was looking forward to. On the other hand, night duty was not on his “Worried About” list. Goten turned away from the window and returned to his bed.

They had pushed the two beds together, so now they had a king-sized bed. Truth be told, Goten felt much safer with Reyn sleeping at his side. Currently, the other third-class was oblivious to his surroundings, but for someone to try and smother Goten with a pillow right next to him was impossible. Unless they tried to smother both of them at once.

Goten’s leg snuck out from under the duvet and his foot kneaded the other man’s sleeping form none too gently. The flight officer shifted but didn’t seem to be waking up. Goten moved him again. This time, the other man’s eyes blinked open.

“Sorry, did I wake you up?”

“For fuck’s sake, Goten,” Reyn grunted, turning away from him and covering his head with the duvet. “I’m sure no one will try anything on the very first night.”

“They just might.”

Goten sounded upset and whiny, and Reyn sighed. He turned to face the younger male again. Goten was obviously just as tired and uneasy as he was. Usually sex was a good way to make the other man fall asleep, but they had to get up early and there was no guarantee that, after that, Goten wouldn’t feel even more wretched than he did now.

The flight officer draped his arm over Goten’s chest. “Once, when I was a kid, I ran away from home.”

“Huuh… Really?”

“Yeah. I can’t exactly remember why, but I got so angry with my father that I couldn’t stand it anymore.”

“And?”

“And nothing. I lasted whole three days and then returned since I was hungry as fuck.”

Goten grinned. “How old were you?”

“Hmm, not sure… Six? Seven?”

“Did you get a good beating once you returned?”

“Nah, I just ate everything in sight, went to my room, and we pretended it never happened.”

“Huh. My dad would’ve given me a good whipping.”

“Yeah, yours seems to be the type to address issues directly.”

Goten pouted. “You don’t have to be sarcastic. He’d just do it to make sure I didn’t wander off again and get myself hurt or killed.”

“I know that, and I’m not being sarcastic. I mean Kakarott’s straightforward: there is the action and the result, and it’s over. With me and my father it’s different – it just stays somewhere there, unaddressed, and we pretend everything’s fine. Then it bursts and we keep arguing for weeks. Pisses me off.”

“Oh, I see.” Goten waited for the continuation of the story but it never came, Reyn starting to drowse. “Umm… And? Was this just a bedtime story?”

“Hmmn?” Reyn hummed sleepily. “Not good enough?”

“It sucked.”

Reyn yawned. “Want to hear a story about a princess that everyone was in love with?”

“Sure.”

“Once, there was a third-class who lived on Vegeta-sei. He wasn’t anything special, he wasn’t even very bright to begin with, but everyone liked him. The third-class enjoyed the attention and, with every day, the number of admirers grew. They all wanted to marry him, but the third-class didn’t know which one to choose. And then they killed each other off, and the third-class lived happi...”

“I don’t like it. Besides, I thought it was supposed to be about a princess.”

“Oh, yeah, I forgot that bit. Then let me tell you the story of a magic cat that kept traveling space until it died. Interested?”

“Not really.”

“Aw.”

“Somehow, all your stories have a tragic end. Can’t you te-?”

“Oh, for fuck’s sake, just fall asleep finally,” Reyn grunted, smacking Goten on the chest lightly.

Goten pursed his lips, pouting. “I’m trying to.” Sighing, he shifted closer to Reyn. “I’m sorry you’re stuck with me.”

Reyn snorted. “Don’t be stupid. And, in this kind of situation, you should thank me instead of apologizing.”

“I suppose. Still, I’m very so-”

“Just go to sleep finally.”

ooOoOoOoo

It was six in the morning and the third-classes were at Harada Lorimara’s door. Goten and Harada were staring at each other with bloodshot eyes. Harada was only in his underwear, scratching at his side where red bedding markings could be seen.

“He says what?” the Head of the Royal Division asked in disbelief.

“That he can’t be assed and washes his hands of it, sir,” Goten repeated patiently.

“Really? Ealdira said that?”

Reyn nodded. “Yes, he did, sir.”

The division head seemed to be impressed. “Strange. Well, I’ll have a talk with him.” The newcomers wanted their armor and uniforms. It was only right since they were supposed to stand guard in the garden in one hour. Harada took a look at himself and went to grab his uniform.

“Do we exchange watch, sir?” Goten wondered while the three of them were going to the armory. “Or do we patrol together? Where exactly do we patrol, sir? When do we finish?”

The head of the division didn’t look at Goten. Recently, the security had been drastically increased, but they didn’t need two more people. There were enough guards patrolling the garden as it was. The whole situation was ridiculous. It was no wonder Ealdira had washed his hands.

“How about you weed out the potatoes?”

Not sure whether the division head was joking or being serious, the third-classes gave him uncertain looks. Reyn thought that Harada wasn’t sure either. The man seemed to be at a loss.

“Potatoes, sir?” Goten muttered. Peeling at first, then cooking, now weeding, and probably digging up later. What was with him and potatoes?

“No, it was just a bad joke, sorry,” Harada said.

To get to the armory, they had to go all the way from the right wing to the left wing. They could have walked outside, gone past the main entrance and then into the left wing, but Harada was in no mood for detours and led them in a straight line. The guard, who was situated at the door that connected the right wing with the Royal Palace, took one look at the Royal Division Head’s face and, saluting, let them pass. Once they entered the Royal Palace, Goten expected to see a very big difference but, since the only thing he was able to see was corridors, the transition was hardly noticeable. They walked down the carpeted corridor, turned left, passed one more door, turned right into a corridor with different carpeting and several colorful paintings, walked straight for several minutes, and finally found themselves at the door leading to the left wing. They had to walk all the way to its end as, in case of an accident, the armory had been built as far away from the palace itself as possible.

The guard at the armory saluted Harada. The division head beckoned with his hand and the armory keycard exchanged hands. If the guard was surprised to see Harada taking care of the newbies’ armor, he didn’t show it.

Once inside, Goten’s eyes set on rows and rows of armor, uniforms, and guns. Past the piled-up goods, he could see that the walls were lined with ki-absorbing material. It was more than likely that the armory walls were made of ki-resistant metal as well.

“Which size are you?” Harada asked, walking deeper into the armory. He turned to the men following him, his eyes taking their builds in. “This should do,” he said without waiting for an answer and reaching out to one of the shelves with a pile of uniforms on it. “You’re the same size, right?”

“Yes, sir,” Goten confirmed with a nod. He took four sets of uniforms from the elite and, with a towering pile in his hands, followed him to the section with the boots.

“They may smell stale, but the smell will disappear once you wash them,” Harada said, looking at Reyn’s feet. “Size?”

“Forty-seven, sir.”

“Forty-six here, sir,” Goten said. He watched the boots exchange hands, then followed the two men to the armor section. Never, not even in his wildest dreams, had he ever imagined he would end up wearing a royal guard’s armor. The bright royal symbol on it seemed to be the epitome of improbability.

It was obvious that they didn’t have enough hands to carry all the separate pieces that made up two sets of armor and they quickly decided to get dressed then and there. While the freshly-baked royal guards were dressing, the head of the division went to take a look at ki-guns and scouters. He quickly picked four of them and returned to show the newbies how and where all the armor pieces and the clasps went. The ensemble was finished with the strapping of two ki-guns to their sides. Ki-guns were part of the curriculum in any officer school, but Harada doubted Goten knew how to use one. Amongst the general populace, ki-guns were frowned upon, but it was part of the royal armor and had proven to be useful many times.

“Wow,” Reyn said with an appreciative glance at Goten once they were dressed. “This actually does look good on you.”

“Indeed,” Harada agreed with Reyn. The usual blue and white colors went well with the young man’s complexion, the yellow straps making the ensemble livelier. The armor made Goten look more refined and masculine, the change both startling and amusing.

Uncertain, Goten glanced at the other two Saiyans, but it didn’t seem like they weren’t making fun of him. Goten wished there was a mirror in the armory. He lowered his head, trying to take himself in, but it wasn’t the same. The uniform itself was dark blue, which was uncommon, since blue was usually worn by the air force. Yet, Goten couldn’t imagine the usual brown colors going well with the blue and white armor. Besides, the Royal Division didn’t only perform their duties on the ground. The royal flame symbol on the breastplate was prominent and Goten traced it with his fingertips. It somehow made him proud.

Reyn watched the younger male’s unguarded expressions. Getting promoted to the Royal Division was nearly every Saiyan’s dream. They’d both achieved it without even trying. It would be amazing if only it weren’t for the fact that all of this was actually the result of the unfathomable mess their lives had become. This promotion was also, apparently, going to get Goten killed.

Snickering, Reyn turned away and headed out of the armory. They still had to return to their room to leave their clothes there, go to the canteen to have breakfast, and then report to the garden.

ooOoOoOoo

With a sigh, Goten sat down on the edge of the fountain. He looked at the sun above his head – it was a little past midday. It was quite hot and the spattering water felt good. He hooked his fingers under the ridge of the fountain, straightened his legs, and started rocking himself.

“You’re going to fall into it,” Reyn warned him. He was sitting under a tree, in the shade. With his arms resting on his bent knees, he watched Goten swinging himself back and forth. The fountain area was quite secluded, hidden amongst the trees and visible only from the main path that was mostly deserted. There were a few wooden benches near the fountain, but Reyn found it more pleasant to sit on the warm grass. It was not often that he had an opportunity to enjoy its touch and smell. He had not expected their guard duty to be so enjoyable and tranquil. They were supposed to be patrolling but, as Goten had accurately put it, they couldn’t be assed.

Perhaps they could bring Mr. Elite here once he got better. The cat would definitely like it here. They needed to get a leash for him, though. Reyn doubted that it would be easy to put it on the cat.

The flight officer grinned when he saw Goten’s fingers slip. The younger male’s feet and arms waggled about in the air for some purchase, found none, and then he plummeted into the fountain where he landed on his back with a loud splash. In a few seconds, only Goten’s raises legs and his arms, holding a scouter and a ki-gun, could be seen dangling from behind the fountain’s edge.

“Wow, you saved them,” Reyn said with a chuckle.

“Barely.”

“You know, they’re actually waterproof.”

“No shit?”

Reyn shrugged. “We’re going to the canteen soon,” he said when Goten didn’t show any intention of getting out of the fountain. “You’ll still be dripping wet by that time.”

“Ah, crap.” The sound of sloshing water could be heard, but Goten stayed in the fountain on his back. “Uh,” he muttered in a moment, “help? I kinda don’t wanna test to which level they’re waterproof.”

With a grunt, the flight officer got to his feet and went to the fountain to take the ki-gun and the scouter from Goten’s raised hands. The younger male pushed himself off the bottom of the fountain with his palms and swung himself out of it without getting his feet wet. His efforts had been for naught though, for as soon as he had landed on his feet, the water from his uniform and armor started running down into his boots. Grimacing, he took his ki-gun and scouter from Reyn.

“I think we should take our exam material and read it here,” Reyn said while Goten was reattaching his scouter.

“Hmn…” Goten hummed unclearly.

“Wow, looking good.”

The third-classes turned to Daimara Backeri, who was coming down the path leading from the main road. When he came closer, the elite’s eyebrows rose and he couldn’t help chuckling. “I hd intended to ask you how it’s going but I see you’re adjusting just fine. Just don’t let Harada see you or he’ll rip your heads off.”

“Huh,” Goten wondered. Harada had actually struck him as quite lenient. On the other hand, it had to be as Daimara said, since he couldn’t imagine the head of the division instilling any order within the ranks with that kind of easygoing attitude. There was something off with the way Harada was acting towards them. It had to be the purple-haired nuisance’s fault.

Daimara turned in the direction of the palace and raised his hand to point at it. “The fountain can actually be seen from the third floor.”

Goten blanched. “Seriously?”

The elite nodded. “Seriously. Once, the youngest prince actually made a few displeased remarks concerning that.”

“Huh,” Goten muttered, “what a prick.”

The royal guard stared at Goten uncertainly. Just a few days ago, he’d have punched the youth for those words. He couldn’t understand the mystery of these two appearing in the Royal Division. People who had that kind of attitude towards the Royal Family weren’t supposed to work in the palace. Normally, for insulting a member of the Royal Family in public, they were supposed to be sentenced to death. The world was going mad. On the other hand, was it really ‘in public’ if it was just the three of them here?

“He spoke fondly of you, though,” Daimara said. “I mean, back then, when I received orders to see you here.”

It was true, too, and it was obvious that the elite wasn’t being sarcastic, he was being curious. Goten groaned mentally. None of the royal guards could understand what Reyn and he were doing here. And it was only natural, their curiosity.

“There’s a swimming pool inside,” Daimara added softly after a spell of silence.

“Oh,” Goten said, trying to wrap his mind around the concept.

Daimara nodded. “Yeah, everyone can use it if they wish. But no pissing in the water.” He leaned closer to the third-classes to whisper conspiringly. “There’s some dye in it that makes the water go bright red when you do.”

“Ooohh… Thanks for the warning.”

Reyn watched the two conversing. It was obvious that the elite wasn’t certain how to treat them but was curious to no end. Maybe this was also his way of apologizing about their first unpleasant encounter. Goten seemed to be more approachable, and Daimara was mostly ignoring Reyn.

At some point, Daimara stiffened, his head rising quickly and he turned in the direction of the main road. “I think I’ve just heard Harada’s voice,” he said. “Well, I’ll be off, then. Have fun.”

Indeed, almost as soon as Daimara had made his escape, the head of the division appeared. He was accompanied by the elite that Reyn had fought with on the Imperial Destroyer. Once the two of them came closer, the third-classes saluted smartly.

Harada gave them an awkward look. His eyes set on Goten’s dripping clothes, then the fountain, and then back on Goten.

“Already fighting off those mad badgers and zombie squirrels?”

“Erm, those were mad rabbits, sir,” Goten corrected him, still saluting.

“Good job,” the division’s head complimented him. “At ease.” He turned to the elite next to him. “This is Captain Amren Komira,” he introduced, “your new commanding officer. From now on you’ll be coordinating your activities through him. I’ll leave you to discuss your further schedule.”

With a concluding nod, the head of the division departed. Amren gave his superior’s back an inquiring look but, in a few moments, it disappeared behind the bushes and trees. He concentrated back on the two young men at hand. It was incredible that the division’s head hadn’t admonished them for mucking around in the fountain. And their tails were still brown, not even a single white hair showing on the tip. Since the division’s head hadn’t said anything about that, Amren wondered whether he was supposed to ignore that as well or if Harada had left it up to him to deal with his subordinates.

“No swimming in the fountain,” Amren said.

Goten and Reyn saluted. “Yes, sir!”

“You’ll be taking turns for lunch and dinner,” the elite said. “Your guard duty ends at seven in the evening and starts at seven in the morning.”

“How about nightshift, sir?” Goten wondered, and Reyn nearly kicked him in the ass.

Amren gave the youngster a look. “There’s no nightshift.” The captain looked as if he wanted to add something but, then, he just shook his head and continued: “You can have a day off of your choice once a week. Not both of you on the same day, of course. Clear so far?”

The third-classes nodded. “Yes, sir.”

“As of yesterday, both of you are registered in the Royal Division and you’ll receive the corresponding salary at the end of the month.”

“Wow,” Goten said dreamily.

“Don’t ask it,” Reyn warned Goten when the younger male’s mouth opened again with an obvious question.

“It’s five thousand credits,” Amren said. “If you rise in rank, you’ll get more.”

“I’ll be rich!” Goten muttered in disbelief.

“And dead,” Reyn reminded him, annoyed by the way the younger male always latched onto thoughts about money. Goten glared at him, and the flight officer answered with a mirthless grin.

“The code numbers of your scouters have been entered into the database,” Amren continued, ignoring them. “If you need to change your scouters, you inform me first. Any questions?”

“No, sir.”

“Good. Ask someone to teach you how to connect to and use the local database. Now dry yourself.”

Goten saluted. “Yes, sir.”

The energy swish that suddenly came from Goten nearly knocked Amren off his feet. The elite caught his balance and snorted. “I didn’t say right away!” he said, trying to silence his alarmingly beeping scouter.

“Yes, sir!” Goten said, powering down.

“Show-off,” Reyn muttered when Amren disappeared behind the bushes; in a few moments, they could hear his footsteps echoing down the main road.

Goten gave him an innocent look. “Me? Never!” He frowned. “Well, he’s kinda started pissing me off.”

Reyn rolled his eyes. “He’s not too bad for an elite.”

“He tried to paint our tails white! And he’s not too bad only because he thinks we’re elites too. If he finds out, all shit’s gonna break loose. Mark my words, he’d be the first to turn his back on us.”

“He’s never turned his front to us either,” Reyn said. “What is it?” he asked when Goten’s face acquired a funny expression.

“My boots are still wet.”

“Serves you right.”

ooOoOoOoo

People still stared at him. They didn’t even bother pretending that they didn’t. Goten lowered his tray of food onto the table in the far corner of the canteen and sat down. He had hoped that most of them had already satisfied their curiosity during breakfast, but that had just been wishful thinking.

The third-class arranged his food in front of him and started eating. Meals were free, there was a large choice of dishes, and one could take as much as they wanted. Even with the free living space, the basic means of subsistence weren’t needed either. Add five thousand credits to that. Amazing.

There was a soft thump in front of the table, and Goten raised his eyes to see Berada getting comfortable at the other end of it. He had a large glass of some kind of juice in his hand. Goten wondered if he was supposed to salute. Unconsciously, he started raising the spoon to his temple. The elite gave him a look filled with amused wonderment.

“Are you trying to salute or are you trying to spoon-feed your ear?”

Blushing, Goten lowered the spoon. “Sir?”

“When will you come for your books?”

“We finish at seven, sir. Can we come then?”

Berada nodded. He indicated Goten’s full plate. “Eat up, don’t mind me.” In silence, he watched the younger male eating and sipped his juice from time to time. “I feel bad about last time,” he said finally.

Goten kept quiet, waiting.

“I mean, I had no idea you were a National Security agent undercover,” Berada continued. “I thought you were just some random second-class.”

“It’s fine, sir,” Goten said. “These kinds of misunderstandings happen much more often than you can imagine.”

Berada nodded and lifted the glass to his lips. He could actually imagine – the man looked incredibly young even with the royal guard’s attire, which was an incredible fact in itself; the armor could make any hick look tougher and more efficient, and commanded respect at once.

“Why did you actually come to the Royal Division?” Berada asked.

“We’re on a mission, sir,” Goten said.

“Well, yes, that’s obvious,” Berada said, “but everyone knows who you are, so your cover is blown. What kind of mi-?

“Sir, I’m afraid, I can’t tell you that.”

Berada nodded again. He had figured as much.

“Mind if I join you?”

Goten looked to his left, at Amren. The captain was carrying a tray of food and, without waiting for a positive answer, was already seating himself next to Berada. The third-class noted that Berada didn’t salute. Goten decided that the royal guards didn’t salute each other in the canteen. Made sense.

“Be my guest, sir.”

“Show him how to work his scouter with our database, Berada,” Amren said, arranging his plates. “He should at least know the basics.”

“Will do, sir.”

Goten wished he could kick his boots off. They were still unpleasantly damp even though he had allowed Reyn to have his lunch first and, while the flight officer had been eating, had taken his boots off to dry.

“You know, I checked your profile,” Berada said casually, and Goten’s teeth bit down on the spoon, jarring. “It says there that you haven’t even finished your officer training school.”

Goten removed the spoon from his mouth to give the elites a blinding grin. “I bet it also says that I’m a third-class, sir.”

Berada and Amren frowned in distaste. Berada shook his head. “No, but it does say that you’re a second-class.”

“Awesome!” Goten laughed. “Congratulations, sir, you found the old file that was used for the undercover mission.”

“Well, I know that, but I am supposed to enlist you for the qualification tests. I can’t do that if it says you haven’t even finished your officer school.”

“Oh. That.” Goten licked at his spoon absentmindedly. “How about sir discusses this problem with Harada?”

“Harada?” Berada wondered. “What’s he got to do with this?”

“Oh, I don’t know, sir,” Goten hummed unclearly, “but I think he can make my real profile more accessible.”

Berada gave him an annoyed look. “I do realize that you’ve probably been removed from their database but can’t you just tell me which officer school you graduated from?”

Goten blinked at him; it seemed that they kept misunderstanding each other. “Oooh. Hataro Officer School, sir,” he said, and a wave of nostalgia washed over him.

While mixing his salad, Amren nodded approvingly. “That’s a nice school. I heard it was attacked by the Ice-jins, though.”

“Yes, sir,” Goten said, quietly. “Not much of it left now.”

TBC