Heritage (Under Revision)

Chapter 12 - Leon

There’s about a half hour until Tech Repairs class since it was Wednesday. We always had a different schedule on Wednesday, but somehow things still stayed pretty calm.

I decided to take the time I had and hang out in my Habmod and play a game for a while. Video games, as nerdy as they were, evened me out when I didn’t have anything else. I put in my favorite that I played almost every night once I finally got to relax after the day.

I started thinking of how I’m going to ask Stella to my party and not only that, but I was also thinking about actually having her as my date. And before the party I wanted to take her out on a date and get closer to her.

That’s three things I have to ask her all in one day.

Boy, do I have my work cut out for me.

I lose track of time between playing the game and thinking of how to ask Stella and when I look at the clock I see that there’s five minutes until class and I grab my pack and rush down the halls, making it into the classroom just in time.

I walk into the classroom and take my seat. Strangely enough, Stella is actually late for class for the first time I’ve ever seen. My mother seems to be late as well, must be just a weird day.

A few minutes pass and Stella enters the class, with a giddy look on her face. She sits down, and after removing the circuit board from its pack, we begin to talk about the incident that happened in the Mess Hall, in which Senior Cadet Stacey Hill kicked Marshall in the nuts for hitting on her. Serves the bastard right in my opinion.

We hardly notice my mother set her things down on the table as me and Stella jolt up in her direction. We both sit there somewhat embarrassed for some reason, and quickly jump up to salute my mother. We approach her desk once she returns the salute and show her the circuit board.

“Commander, we fixed the circuit board. It was the A.I. threading,” Stella says to my mother.

How did you come to that conclusion? my mom asks, intrigued.

“She’s the one that found the problem, Ma& uh, Commander, sorry. She spotted the tear in the threading and suggested that we removed and replaced it, so we did, and it worked,” I say, explaining it.

“Very good work, both of you. I’m impressed. So, impressed, in fact, that I’m going to offer both of you a project. You have the option to refuse, of course, but I think you both could really be a big success,” Mother says, placing confidence in us.

“What is it, Commander?” Stella asks curiously.

“Well, I’m sure you both are aware of the storage garage, correct?” Stella and I nod our heads.

“Well, there are ten broken down Krakens residing in the storage garage, and if you two are game, I’d like you to get them up and running. We used to use them for Cadets who didn’t have transportation to the ship-town, but they are in such bad shape that they’re safety hazards now. They’re in serious need of repair and upgrading, and I’m giving you both full, free rein to work together as a team and bring them up to date,”

“Wow, Ma...Commander, thanks! I know I’m definitely game, I’d love to work on them!” I exclaim with a grin on my face.

“Thank you, Commander, I’d be more than glad to help, if Leon wouldn’t mind, that is?” Stella says, unsure of my reaction.

“Nah, I think it’ll be a lot of fun. Besides, we seem to make a great team,” I reply, feeling myself blushing.

“Well, whenever you have some free time, go ahead and get started on them. I’ve keyed in both of your TAPs in so you can enter the storage garage at your convenience. There’s no time limit or deadline on these, it’s simply as a project. You’ll both be receiving extra credit as well,” my mother adds, and we smile even more.

I come to the realization that Stella and I have officially become permanent partners at this point. Which couldn’t make me any happier. Being partners with the girl I’ve had a crush on forever is certainly my cup of tea.

Stella and I discuss the Krakens all the way until the end of class. We only stop talking about it when my mother announces our dismissal and we stand to salute.

“So, uh...when did you want to check out the Krakens?” I ask Stella as we leave the classroom.

“Well, I don’t have anything planned for the rest of the day, and all of my homework is finished...so if you’re not busy, we could go right now?”

“Yeah, that sounds great. Uh, Stella?” I say with a hint of shyness.

“Yeah?” Stella replies slinging her bag on her shoulder.

“Well, uh...my birthday is in a few days, and I’m having this huge party in the Grand Hall on Saturday, and I now it’s last minute, and you probably already have plans, but...I say, then stop to dig through my pack. I’ve been wanting to invite you, and I know it’s short notice, but I’d love it if you could be there. It’ll be a lot of fun,” I say finishing my sentence, embarrassed.

She smiles at me and take the invitation from my hand.

“I’d love to come, Leon. Thank you for inviting me,”

“Really?” I ask surprised.

“Yeah, it’ll be great,” she replies as we reach the end of the corridor.

“Yeah, great,” I say just barely getting the words out.

We take the elevator up to the storage garage, and after Stella uses her TAPs to unlock the door, we step in to find ten Krakens, all in states of disrepair.

“Oh, wow...” Stella mumbles.

“Yeah, my thoughts exactly. Ma wasn’t kidding when she said they were in bad shape,” I say walking up to the first Kraken, examining it.

“Well, first I think we need to start each one up, and see where the problems are, before we jump in. That way we’re organized and we know which vehicle needs what work,” Stella says pulling her Tablet out and prepares it to take notes.

“Great idea, Stells...I mean, Stella,” I say correcting myself while beginning to inspect one of the vehicles

“You can call me Stells, if you want, it’s ok.”

“I thought you hated that though?” I reply confused.

“I did, when you were a jerk. But...I don t know, you seem like you’ve changed a lot.

“Not really, people just don’t take the time to get to know me. I mean yeah, I was arrogant and acted like an asshole, which I have changed, but this is who I really am. No one tries to know me, because I’m the General and Commander s son,”

“I’m glad I gave you a chance then,” Stella says giving me another flash of that beautiful smile of hers.

“Me too,” I respond, smiling back.

I insert my TAPS into the first Kraken and it immediately powers on and allows me to enter it.

“Well, at least we know the power core is still good. We might want to check it though, to make sure,” I say as Stella types in some notes on her Tablet.

I turn the vehicle itself on, but nothing seems to happen when I push on the gearshift. I turn the Kraken off and get off of it.

“There’s a problem with the fuel tank or lines, I don t know until I take the rear quarter panel off. I’m thinking that it’s the tank itself, because I can hear the suction from the fuel lines,” I say as Stella jots down more notes.

“Do you want some help?” Stella asks me as I begin removing the screws from the panel.

“Yeah, please?” I ask as Stella sets down her Tablet and walks over.

I decide to remove my jacket and roll up my sleeves so that they don’t get covered in grease and foreign fluids while I’m working on the Krakens. I then continue removing the panel from the Kraken.

I glance at Stella and catch her staring at my muscles while I work. I can’t help but to be amused and think of the irony of her staring at me like that due to what happened the last time we worked together.

“Now you know how I felt,” I say with a smirk on my face as I’m still working.

“What do you mean?” Stella replies acting like she has no idea what I’m talking about.

“The other night. What...happened, because I was watching you. Now you know how I felt,”

“Yeah, I suppose I do,” she says blushing and not looking me in the eyes.

“Hey, Stella?” I say shyly.

“Yeah?”

“Uh, well...I know I invited you to my party, but uh, I was wondering if maybe you’d like to uh, you know, uh, go as my date?” I ask feeling myself blush.

I sit there for a minute waiting for her response. She almost seems stunned at my question.

“Stella?” I ask, snapping her out of whatever trance she was in.

“Oh! Um, yeah, of course I’ll be your date! Thank you for asking me, Leon,” she finally replies to me.

“Thank you for accepting. It...it really means a lot to me, Stells,”

“You don t have to thank me, Leon...I... I really like you,”

I’m somewhat caught off guard by that statement and I feel my own state of shock creeping up.

“You d-do?” I say, stuttering like an idiot.

“Yeah, a lot actually,” she replies.

I’ve liked you for a long time, Stells,”

“Well, then I guess we’ll see how things go after the party?” she asks me, placing her hand on mine. I feel a jolt of electricity pass through me as she does that.

“Yeah, definitely,” I reply tracing her thumb with mine and giving her a smile.

After a few moments pass, Stella looks at the inside of the Kraken, noticing the crack in the water tank.

“Well, I think we’ve found our first problem,” she says to me removing her hand from mine, with a bit of difficulty it seems.

“Well, let’s get started then,” I reply giving her a cocky smile.