emperors and kings

Though I wasn't able to go with the others on the first day of school, they certainly had a lot to tell me about it afterwards.

"It started off quite boring, doing drawings and stuff, but of course you'd like that sort of thing."

"You're right, I would. I mean, let's face it, I'm not exactly what you'd call a brain box. Not like Thia here."

They laughed.

"Now, I wouldn't really call myself a brain box."

"Why not, it's the truth? I'll tell ya, if you're not in the highest class of whatever grade we get put in, then I'm a clown."

"You are one anyway."

We laughed again.

"I never said I wasn't smarter than most, but it's not good going around telling everyone. I'll get people jealous." Thia said, laughing.

The next day, I wasn't really looking forward to the first day of school, but if what Thia said was true and it was mostly drawing, then I guessed I could pull through.

We got up early, and I even received a good luck call from my dad. Maybe it wouldn't be so bad after all.

When we got there, I thought I'd have to wait outside like the others did, but miss Zaffin said that, because I was with my friends, I could go in with them.

Just before we went in, Thia said bye to her dad.

"Be careful today." He was telling her. "I have a feeling those Tru-beeins might start making a move some time soon."

She nodded. "I'll be fine. Love you dad."

As Thia had said, it was mostly drawing and copying, and did get a little boring after a while.

There was this older girl that came in late that the others seemed to know quite well from the day before.

"Oh, Jay, this is Mora. I think you'll like her. She seems to know a lot about travelling around and not staying in one place."

"Great!" I said.

I of course knew a lot about travelling around and not staying in one place. When I was younger, before I met Thia, I didn't really do much else but travel around and not stay in one place. Of course that all changed when I got my pack.

"Mora, this is Jay. He's kinda like the leader of the group."

"I am the leader. Jay Carpenter." I said to Mora.

She suddenly looked slightly shocked "Carpenter! I'm sure I've heard that name before."

"Well, I have quite I big family. Maybe you've heard it from one of them."

She shrugged. "I suppose that must be it."

"Yeah, my families back in England."

"Why? Did they leave you, or send you away?"

"Neither. I chose to go."

"What for?"

I shrugged. "Because, I like travelling and wanted to see America."

She nodded. "I did a lot of travelling too."

"I know. Thia told me. How d'you find it?"

"Well, it was pretty cool at first, but, when you're never in one place for too long, it gets a little boring, and lonely."

"Believe me, I know what you mean."

Though I enjoyed the drawing, the day seemed to go on for quite a while. At lunch-time, Thia got a call from her dad. We all stood by, fearing what might be to come. When the call was ended, Thia walked over to us looking rather grim and sad.

"It's happened?" I said, more of a statement then a question.

She nodded.

"Is your dad o.k?"

"Oh, he's fine. It's James that's starting to get stressed."

"I'm not surprised, having to lead in something like that."

"Technically, it'll be dad that's leading it, and it's not quite a war just yet. It's just a. . ." she paused, looking for the right words.

"Push? Kick?" suggested Noaba.

"Yeah, something like that."

"It is going to happen though." I said. "There will be a war. Then a lot of things will have to change."

Thia sighed. "I really hate change."

"Well, it would get a little boring if things just stayed the same, wouldn't it?" I said with an attempt of a smile.

"I still hate it, even if it's a good one. It just takes quite a while to get used to."

I nodded. "Mmm. And this one will probably take the longest time. If it lasts that long of course."

"It'll be good if it doesn't, then you won't need to get used to it." Said Noaba.

"Maybe, but from the sounds of things, it'll probably go on for years." Said Sam

"Well, I guess that will depend on how far the Tru-Beein leader's willing to go, and how hard he'll try."

"Leader?" as in king."

"I think it was something like that. But..." she stopped suddenly, looking at something behind us. I turned and saw that Miss Zaffin was looking at us with a curious and slightly worrying look on her face. When she saw us watching, she turned and walked away.

"How long had she been there?" whispered Noaba, as though there might have been more people trying to listen in.

"Long enough I expect." I said, also lowering my voice. "Was your dad ganna tell us about this leader?"

"I asked him that. He said he might do if the need arises, whatever that means."

"I hope he does." Said Noaba.

"So do I!" Then we can find out exactly what we're up against." Said Sam, enthusiastically.

"What for?" I laughed. "It's not like we're ganna be the ones fighting."

"I'd like to." I said. "Anyway, if this war is going to go on for years then I might get the chance when I'm older."

Thia then fixed me with a stern glare."

"You'll be staying on stake-out duty." The whistle rang. "Nothing more. Besides, even if we could fight, dad wouldn't let us." She muttered as we were walking back into the class room.

The rest of the day went by in a daze. When it ended and we all went out to go home, it wasn't Thia's dad that had come to pick us up, but Cat.

"Where's dad?" Thia asked, while we were driving home."

"He's in a briefing at the moment. You heard about the fight today."

"Yes, I heard. Is there really going to be a war?"

"Certainly looking that way at the moment."

When we got back to the base, the Commander was only just finishing the briefing, or whatever it was called. When we went in, there was still an image –

of something that didn't look too friendly - on the simulator screen.

"Ugh! What is that?" asked Noaba, looking at it in disgust.

The Commander looked round and saw us all standing there.

He then turned off the simulator.

"That was Troom, and he's going to be one of our main worries for quite a while."

"Troom? Is he the Tru-Beein king?" asked Sam.

"Emperor." The Commander said.

"Emperor?" I repeated."

"Same sort of thing isn't it? They both rule."

"I've seen him before." Said Thia, suddenly.

I looked round at her, only now to see that she was looking at the place where Trooms image had been with deep curiosity.

"I've seen him before," She repeated. "Sure I have, in a dream."

Then she shook herself out of it and smiled.

"It's probably just my imagination." She said.

Even if it was just her imagination, I couldn't help but worry for Thia. She was my best friend, my closest friend, and even if she hadn't seen that guy before, this was going to be tough,

for her more than anyone else. And the truth was that...I cared for her more than anyone else. I only ever wanted to keep her safe. Keep her smiling. She had the most radiant smile.