Author: ARCA9
Subject: Before the War
Posted: MARCH 09, 1999 18:47

Corneria, Spring, Day 19, Year 2067
"James you had no permission to leave the base." General Pepper said
sternly. What do you have to say for yourself?
James, a young fox of 16, looked at the ground as if ashamed but his eyes
twinkled with mischief. "I'm sorry sir." He tried to sound sincere. "It
won't happen again."
"That's what you say every time James. You need to learn to obey the
rules.  They're there for a reason." James mouthed that last sentence with
General Pepper. He had heard this speech countless times before.
"As your punishment you must sweep the Bay clean and then mop it."
James nodded his head still down. If General Pepper saw his face he'd get
a lecture on respecting authority. General Pepper knew he was not a bad
kit, just one with a wild imagination and endless energy. James even swore
that General Pepper like him but it had never been proven.
"Now hurry along if you want to be done by dinner."
James turned and headed for the door.
"Oh and James, if it happens again you'll be out of Game Day."
At that James truly winced. If anything General Pepper knew how to pick a
threat. Game Day was the one-day every year the every cadet looked forward
to. It was a day of competition in every category that the cadets were
trained in. The prizes were only ribbons but a cadet's self-pride was at
stake which meant missing Game Day was out of the question.
"Yes sir." James said and slipped out the door.
"So he pinned it on you." His friends ambushed him as soon as he exited
the office. "What do you have to do this time?" Peppy asked.
"Bay again." James said.
"Jeez Hawk. Is it really worth it?" Andross asked using his nickname. They
called him hawk because he was born to fly.
"I get out of afternoon classes." James smiled. "And if I plan it right
I'll be done just early enough to be in front of the line for dinner."
"You are too good." James last friend Sam said.
"Always." James said heading towards the Bay. "Except Pepper says next
time I'm out of Game Day."
"Harsh." Andross said. "I guess no flying for a while."
"It's only two weeks." James said. "See you guys at dinner."
James headed down the hall to the Launching Bay where all the wings were
kept. He made his way to his own wing and patted it fondly. Sure it was
not one of the newer models but it could still out fly any other wing in
the sky. James had always liked arwings better then any other wing. Their
crisp handling, quick acceleration, and the g-diffuser were all good
things. He loved all the tricks it allowed him to do. James closed his
eyes picturing himself in the sky.
"Skipping class?" a voice said.
James turned around. "Nope, I got caught again. Did you really have to put
it that security system?" he asked.
An old dog walked up to him. He limped slightly on his right leg. Timber
had once been a great pilot but an injury had grounded him. He was content
now with taking care of the wings at the Academy. He and James were good
friends.
"I you didn't sneak out you'd never have to sneak back in." Timber said.
"You know how I love to fly." James said. "Once a day is just not enough."
"Mop's in the usual place." Timber said. "You know what to do."
James nodded and got the broom from the closet. He glanced at he clock on
the wall. An hour for sweeping and a half-hour for mopping. Then I'll have
fifteen minutes to get to the front of the line. James started working. He
could do any job when he put his mind to it. Dust flew off the floor as he
former pile after pile. He worked without stopping. When the bay was swept
he picked up the piles of dirt and dumped them in the trash outside.
He glanced at the clock again as he put the broom away and got out the mop
and bucket. Right on time. He smiled. The mopping took longer because he
had to clean and refill the water and plan where to mop so he would not
get stuck in the corner. He wiped the sweat off his nose and kept going.
The dirt that had clung to his clothes turned to mud in the splashing
water. He was covered from head to toe in mud when he mopped the last bit
of floor and plopped the mop back into the bucket. He smiled broadly.
"And this is that Launching Bay." General Pepper said in a voice James
said.
It was his I am annoyed enough to throw you to Katina voice. James turned
around.
A family of foxes stood at the door with General Pepper. Both the adults
dressed in fancy cloth that looked like they had just been bought. A young
vixen stood in front of them in a long pink dress. She looked
uncomfortable, but she was beautiful. The mother spotted him.
"Who is that?" she asked with disgust.
"She's looking at me like I'm a compost pile." James thought and then he
looked down at his cloths. "I guess she thinks I am."
"Hi my name's is James McCloud." He held out his paw to her.
She looked at it with disgust. James pulled it back not feeling
embarrassed but a little annoyed. He looked at the young vixen. She looked
at him with amusement on her face.
"Hi I'm Jane Boyno." She said holding out her paw. James took it and
smiled.


Author: ARCA9
Subject: Before the War Part 2
Posted: MARCH 12, 1999 19:04

"Jane are you sure you want to stay here?" The vixen asked looking around
like she was in a prison.
"Yea mom." Jane said.
"What was that?"
"Yes mother." She said tensely.
"Very well. General Pepper I believe we have a few papers to sign."
"Of course." General Pepper said as nicely as he could. "James could you
take Jane to get her a uniform. Then take her to the Mess Hall when you're
done."
"Come on." James said.
"Thank you so much." Jane said when they were around the corner. "My
mother has been driving me crazy. I hate this dress and all the lessons.
Sit this way. Talk that way. Don't slouch. Ugh."
James didn't say anything at first.
"So why did you want to come here?"
"Mostly to get away from my mother." Jane said. "And I've always wanted to
fly in the Cornerian Army."
"You any good?"
"It was not one of the lessons my mother approved of. My father did manage
to get me some flying lessons though."
"This way." James pushed her down the hall to the Dressing Room. He opened
the door and led her in.
"New recruit?" Rose said.
James nodded. "This is Jane."
Rose shook Jane's paw. "I'm Rose. And you Hawk. It looks like you could
use a new uniform too. You've gone through more uniforms then anyone I've
ever seen."
James just smiled. Rose pulled a uniform off the rack and threw it to him.
"I'm always ready."
"Thanks Rose." James walked into the other room and quickly changed into
the new uniform. When he came back out Rose was holding a uniform up to
Jane. "That looks about right. Try it on."
Jane took the uniform and went into the back room.
"She seems nice." Rose said. "That is some dress she's wearing."
James nodded. "Her mother and father are really rich I think. Her mother
all but slapped me when I met her. Wow. I didn't know what to do."
"Some people are like that Hawk." Rose said.
"It fits fine." Jane came out of the room. She threw the dress onto the
counter. "I don't need that any more."
"Do you mind if I use it for a few projects?" Rose asked.
"Sure." Jane said. "I never want to have to wear one of those again."
"Don't worry about that." Rose said.
"What time is it?" James asked suddenly.
"Quarter after." Rose said.
"Dang." James said. "I'm late."
He raced into the hall towards the Mess Hall. So much for being early. He
thought. As he entered the Mess Hall he saw the kitchen was closed
"Fur n feathers." James said. "And I'm starving."
"Hey Hawk." He heard Andross shout.
He turned and made his way over to his friends.
"I saved you some dyer stew." Andross passed a bowl to James. "I had a
time convincing the cook it was for you."
"Thanks Ross." James said.
"So what happened to being early?" Andross asked.
"I got caught up. General Pepper asked me to show the new recruit to the
Dressing Room and then I needed a new uniform so it took longer then I
thought it would."
"So who's the new recruit? A girl." Sam asked.
"As a matter of fact yes." James said.
"Oh no wonder you're late." Peppy said.
"Don't even start guys." James said downing the cold stew. "So what'd I
miss in class this afternoon?"
"Nothing important." Sam said.
"I'm closer to finishing my bio project." Andross said. "I just have to do
a few more experiments."
"I still can't believe you won the science fair last year with that two
tailed Dyer." James said. "It was probably just a miss breeding."
A dyer was an animal native to the planet of Corneria. It was a short
animal no bigger then a two-year-old kit. It had short black fur and short
legs with dull claws for digging through the dirt to find its food: 
insects that burrowed far underground. Their tails were only used for
balance and they ran whenever anybeast got to close.
"Nope." Andross said. "I proved that both its parents were not carrying
the gene."
James shook his head. "Now it's two heads this year right?"
"Funny Hawk." Andross said. "But no. I'm trying something different this
time. You can come and see it after dinner if you want."
"Sure why not?" James said.