Of Hearts And Stars (Classic Editon) (The Cadet Starship Chronicles) by Edward West Read Free Book Online Page A

when he did not respond to the greeting Bob had given him, it was taken as a sign of insolence.
    “ Not in the mood to talk today either I see.” Bob said curtly as he sat down across from Swift.
    “ Hullo.” Swift said in a funny voice that he didn't recognize as his own. Better late than never he thought and laughed. This too sounded funny to him and a little creepy as well.
    Bob gave him a disdainful look and continued “I've heard that you've assaulted some of your peers recently.”
    “ Yup.” Swift said, only he didn't because it wasn't really his voice anyway.
    “ Care to tell me why?” Bob asked without looking up from his clipboard.
    Swift stared at the wall behind Bob and did not answer straightaway. He found it really hard to think for some reason. Really hard to care actually. Why did he get in that fight anyway he wondered. Then it hit him like a steel freight train, and his mind came back to the world of the living if only for a little bit.
    “ They killed Ollie. He was my best friend.” he answered in a small, sad voice. He recognized it as his own this time, and he was relieved to hear it.
    Bob looked up from his clipboard in shock and declared “That troubled child committed suicide. He couldn't cope with the emotional stress dealt to him from having lost his parents at such an early age.” Bob explained. Truth be told he had no idea why that kid decided to become sidewalk pizza and he didn't care. That wasn't his job.
    “ That's a total lie.” Swift said. He was getting angry and didn't like it, but this conversation was waking him up so he ran with it “He was beaten to death by Butch and his lackeys. Then they dumped his body off of the roof to cover it up!” He was coming back pretty rapidly now “Ask Frankie!” he shouted.
    “ Calm down this instant!” Bob raised his voice and adjusted his necktie “We spoke with that child, and he has been punished for his lies.”
    That did it.
    Swift stood up in a fit of rage and shouted “Horseshit! This is horseshit!”
    Bob began to rapidly press the button on the underside of the table.
    Swift went on shouting “You people are monsters! They 'punished' him huh? Did they whip him like they whipped me?”
    Several caretakers barged in and apprehended Swift.
    “ You had a part in this! You looked the other way while he was bullied and beaten everyday!”
    “ Shut him up!” Bob screamed at the caregivers. One took a syringe full of clear liquid from the breast pocket of his shirt.
    “ You...” Swift couldn't finish his sentence before the sedative whisked him off once more to a drug induced dreamland.
    Once he had been removed from the room the head caregiver, Miranda Sweetwater, entered and spoke with Bob.
    “ What a nuisance.” she said with disgust regarding the young orphan who had just been carried out and asked “What do you think we should do with him?”
    “ I don't think we should transfer him.” Bob said while adjusting his necktie “We can still help the child.” He then pretended to check the notes he never actually took and said “For now we should keep him sedated indefinitely.”
    “ Thank you doctor.” Miss Sweetwater said, they shook hands.
    When Bob got into the hallway he took a handkerchief from his pocket and wiped his forehead. He could not afford to let this one get transferred. That kid's loud mouth could cost him his job, and he couldn't have that. Leoric Swift could stay a vegetable for the rest of his life for all Bob cared.

    - 19 -
    Zach strolled into Bird's Nest Orphanage and walked directly to the building map hanging on the lobby wall. So far Swift's messages had been highly accurate with descriptions and directions, but a little visual aid never hurt anyone. When he had located the A wing boy's ward he headed towards the hallway entrance.
    “ Excuse me sir!” The receptionist at the front desk called out, as a sharp looking man dressed in a three piece suit nearly walked by her.
    “ Oh?”