Punishment?

Lance quickly asked the onboard processor for any available precautions. The ship had already started to shake due to multiple impacts from small meteors.

At the last moment, the controls came online by themselves. The capsule had already been directing its full power to get them out of the predicament, and now with the help of the ships engines, the momentum finally decreased to a manageable level.

THUNK

The ship bounced off the meteor, dangerously going close to entering the meteor cluster.

Finally, the force pushing them out was enough and the ships exited the cluster.

Lance finally entered the capsule to reestablsh connection with the IE station.

The suit's processor automatically connected with the station and transmitted all the information regarding everything that had happened. Soon, his orders came.

"Pilot the ship to the station. Your arrival will be expected.", said a cold voice before cutting off all communications. Lance did not recognize the voice.

Sensing nothing amiss, Lance set the ship on a course toward the station. He had 3 months to spend on the ship alone.

Solitude was nothing new to him, especially after the training in the time manipulated chamber. There was enough super-compressed food in the capsule to last him a year, so everything was fine.

In the 3 months, Lance trained on the IN he had decided to learn next. It was actually a secret project that he hadn't even told his master yet.

Soon, the ship reached the station and entered through a docking bay. All around Lance were ships of different shapes and sizes, from saucer shaped crafts to one that was so huge that Lance felt like an ant beside it. Lance felt awed seeing such incredible feats of architecture.

Soon, a squad of soldiers with a man in standard IE uniform walked toward him. The man had an authoritarian air around and his clothes indicated that he was very high in the command structure.

"Initiate Lance. Follow me. A special court has been convened to decide your punishment."

"Pu-punishment?", asked Lance, bewildered. Although he hadn't been expecting an award after his loss of control, he still thought that he had finished the mission quite succinctly. Instead, he was going to be punished?

With no other option, Lance could only follow behind the man. He was also puzzled as to why his master wasn't contacting him. Usually, he would speak directly in his ear if there was any matter.

Soon, they reached an enormous room which reminded Lance of the one in which his test had taken place. As the door opened, sounds of arguing could be heard from inside.

"He is an initiate! He cannot be judged by a special court!"

"There have been cases of Initiates being punished due to lapses in critical moments! He could have ruined everything!"

"But he didn't. It is due to him that we finally have information about the Reptilian's plan."

"So? A 100 failures are more preferable to 1 disaster. He is already a talented initiate! If we let him enter a position of power, what if he loses control and puts everyone at risk?"

One voice was his master's, warm and comforting. The other filled him with dread even though he was hearing it for the first time.