Elegy for a Star

Now that their probation was over, the team was going to be assigned to a handler. The handler was responsible for picking missions, briefing them, and sending the crew into the areas of the Black Sun that needed immediate pruning. When they read their assignments, even Joyona’s face blanched at the name of their officer: Maupoissant.

“Why is this a bad thing?” Tess asked.

“It’s the brigade commander. Command Akosua Maupoissant,” Gwendolyn replied with a dismal tone.

Tess was confused, “But wouldn’t that mean we have more opportunities and access to things?”

Joyona shook her head, “Not with Commander Maupoissant. She’ll tear us apart and spit the pieces down the mountain.” Joyona sounded more scared than she had in the Void. Tess smirked at the idea that Joyona was more scared of encountering people than encountering monsters.

Mairaela let out a sigh, “They’re probably doing this to us on purpose.”

Tess frowned. Things had been so sad since they came back. Tess was just happy to be alive, but perhaps this isn’t the start that the others expected to have in the Corps.

As they sat in their briefing room, waiting for the commander to arrive, everyone appeared antsy. Restlessly shaking feet, knuckles rapping on the table, and a few instances of deep breathing and sighing created the symphony of stress that they all experienced during the wait.

When the door did open, Tess’ three allies jumped to their feet. Tess followed after, stumbling as she rose, but trying to mimic her friends.

The person that entered was young, Tess realized. How they described Commander Maupoissant Tess expected an old witch. This woman must’ve been around Joyona’s age. Her hair was big, black and curly, surrounding her head but not covering her right ear. She was a little taller than Tess, but not as tall as Gwendolyn, but her build was just about as slender as the Dame’s. Her skin was the color of a honeyed almond, but it was her eyes that drew Tess to her. Maupoissant’s eyes were the bluest eyes that Tess had ever seen. They practically glowed with their ice-blue hue.

“You can rest,” she said, and everyone took a seat once more. “My name is Captain Kofi Maupoissant,” she explained, “And I have been assigned to be your handler.”

Captain Kofi? She must be a relative. Everyone around her looked relieved and Kofi must have noticed.

“Glad that you weren’t assigned to my mother?” She asked, giving a laugh, “Me too. She was my ‘handler’ for my first sixteen years. They don’t subject people to that torture anymore. She no longer does that work.”

Tess smiled. So far, she liked Captain Kofi Maupoissant. 

“Okay, so I received the debrief from your Void Exercise. Not that I needed it. Everyone seems to know about it by now,” Kofi gave a sigh, “Which is a problem. The worse our reputation, the worse the jobs we are offered by the Corps. So, we’re starting a little behind the curve.”

“I’m signing everyone up for classes in the College,” Kofi explained, much to the dismay of Tess’ team. They didn’t speak out against the order, but they didn’t look all that happy with it. “You’re not going to miss out on any training, but you are going to miss out on some sleep,” Kofi explained, “The classes you’re in are going to be in addition to your typical duties. They’re only six week courses, but doing this extra time will put you in a better light to the Corps."

Gwendolyn nodded her head. It seems she came around to the idea.

“Do any of you know how jobs are handed out here?” Kofi asked.

Mairaela spoke up, “The Corps assigns them according to the abilities of each team.”

“Yes, but,” Maupoissant responded, “There’s some math to it. It’s a points-based system, and you earn points from past missions, from successful training and-...”

“College courses,” Tess interrupted. Immediately she knew how rude she’d been and she insisted, “Oh, gods, I’m sorry, Captain.”

“No, that’s right,” Kofi waved away Tess’ concern, “So we’re putting in the extra work. Training and courses. We’ll get some assignments under our belt and you’ll be on your way to the inner layers of the Black Sun before you know it.”

“So, Dame Gwendolyn, you’ll be taking Aura Basics with Soveliss. That will help you improve your abilities the most,” the Captain explained, and Gwendolyn nodded. “Joyona, you’ll have a Denizens class with Cira. Learn well, since that knowledge could mean the survival or defeat of your entire team.” She looked to Mairaela and explained, “For you, Miss Aulidwulf, I give a choice: Corps Combatives, Mind and Body Meditation or Advancement Theory.”

Mairaela considered the options and then answered, “Advancement Theory, Captain.”

Kofi wrote the decision down, nodded, and replied, “That will be with Scirocca in the library.”

For a moment, Tess felt jealous that Mairaela got to take a class with Scirocca. She wondered for a moment if Scirocca taught that class with more “rituals,” like the one she performed with Tess. The Captain looked at Tess, “Tess, as I understand it, you’re Giftless, but your team vouched for your capabilities. You’ll be taking Late Gift Development with Madame Pava. With any luck, you’ll be one of the few who she can pull a gift out of. It works about a third of the time, or so.”

Tess nodded her head. That didn’t sound so bad. Maybe she was attuned to the Wyrd and had a gift. That, combined with Miri’s gifts, would make her quite the threat to the old gods. Tess was hopeful, but she tried to temper her expectations. As far as gifts were concerned, she’d been let down quite often.

“Your classes began yesterday, so you’re going to be joining a little late. I expect each of you to pass, and while this isn’t my decision, your employment in the Corps may depend on it,” Kofi explained with a rather ominous tone, “Just a warning.”

When Kofi turned to leave, Mairaela spoke up to say, “Thank you, Captain.”

After she left, the four of them looked at one another. “So, what do you all think?” Tess asked.

“Stunningly competent from the sound of it, and from what I’ve heard of the Commander’s daughter,” Gwendolyn explained.

Mairaela nodded her head, “Seems to know what she’s talking out. Has our best interests at heart.”

Joyona simply nodded.

Tess was happy with that. She was hoping that this may turn things around for them. It was nice, at least, to see Gwendolyn a bit happier. Things have been better on that front ever since they got to move back into the dormitories, even if Gwendolyn didn’t get her fancy room again. Now she and Tess were sleeping in the same bed, which was exciting at times, and at other times, very exciting. Even if Gwendolyn wasn’t happy about the smaller room, Tess was quite pleased with how things turned out for them.

Maybe this way they could talk about that one night in the void? Maybe they could talk about that kiss.