Opposites

[Anonymous]

"Sir..."

Solaiel Relens was pulled back into reality by the woman's voice next to him. It was his assistant, Kiskae. The woman was of moderate height in formal military uniform with a decorated coat and modest length skirt. She was trying to key information into a datapad in her left arm when he started day dreaming into the control panel of the elevator they were in.

"Where did you want that package delivered, sir," responded Kiskae once more and finally he nodded to her. "Vault Foxtrot is fine, and what about the HE ammunition I ordered," he asked in response while wiping a bit of dust off of his jacket shoulder. He too was in formal uniform for the occasion.

"In transit, sir."

The Pilot nodded and ran a hand through his mohawk impulsively before itching the back of his head for a second. There were so many details to keep track of. Kiskae was helpful, but his real issue was his time being spread thin with matters of pilot politics. Training the next generation was important, but Sol was trying to change the world for the new generation.

Reaver, of course was nothing if not loyal. If the Pilot program required him to serve towels, hand soap, and mints in the bathroom he'd do it. Therefore he was on his way down the main elevator of the ATC. It didn't take long for him to get to his destination though as the elevators opened and he saw a large soldier in combat fatigues staring at him.

"Well well if it isn't Pilot Royal Relens, you sour bastard," responded the noncommissioned officer with a smile. Kiskae was completely mortified, looking ready to throw her datapad at the man. Solaiel on the other hand just chuckled.

"Sergeant Major Striker, i'll be sure to tell your mother about your filthy mouth when I see her tomorrow," responded Solaiel before the two men broke out into laughter and shook hands. "Its alright Captain Kiskae, Striker here is a childhood friend. Do you have that file ready for me?"

The woman nodded and handed a second datapad over to Relens as the three of them broke out in a steady pace down the corridor in front of them.

"I take it you're here to see Candidate Holding then. Poor kid I was starting to like him. I'll prepare the funeral arrangements," added the Sergeant. Reaver shook his head at the man's melodramatic words. The three of them then stopped at a door with Striker's name on it. Striker lead physical training in this section so he had run into Alec a few times. "I've sent for him a little while ago, so he should be escorted here shortly," responded the noncom officer who opened his office and let the two of them in.

Inside Striker’s office was a modest desk and very little furniture. On the walls however, was a plethora of hanged pictures and propaganda posters. Kiskae walked to the right side of the room and noticed one with Striker and Solaiel posed in their armor and with assault rifles in their hands. Black ops by the looks of it, dated almost 30 years prior.

[Anonymous]

Alec was not taking this well, not at all. He was a Stage 3 Candidate! He was halfway done! How could his mentor just...just...abandon him like this? For three years now, Alec had been getting to know, respect, and trust his mentor, and now the bastard was retiring, right in the middle of his Candidacy! It wasn't fair. Okay, so when was anything in this stupid program fair, but that was besides the point!

They were walking through the halls of the ATC, Pilot Noble Mallony had his arm drapped causually around Alec's shoulder and was trying to give him reassuring words about the whole thing. Alec wasn't really listening, his shoulders were slumped in resignation. What a bitch. Of course he wasn't the first Candidate to have to switch mentors for one reason or another, but that didn't make it suck any less in his mind. Oh yeah, Mallony was still talking, he tried to pay attention.

"...won't be so bad, you'll see. I'm just getting too old for this shit, you know? You're a good kid, and I already beat the rebellion outta ya, so you'll be fine. Besides, this will be a good change for you! I'm telling you, you're a real wiz-kid in class, and that's great, but man, your combat and physicals have been lacking..."

"But I'm passing!"

"Passing isn't good enough for me. Look, just relax. We're almost there, you don't want to come off as a pouty brat or a nervous git to your new mentor, do you? I'm telling you, this guy is good, he'll whip you right into shape with your combat stuff, which is what you really need pushed in right now."

"But...what about my psioncis? Is he going to be able to get me in enough control not to get TRIMed?"

Alec paled at the silence he was greeted with. Oh you have got to be fucking kidding! His abilities were dangerous when out of control. He'd caught plenty enough things on fire during his three years, of course, he was getting much, much better, but he still had a ways to go before he could even be considered ready for Stage 4. His thoughts were cut short again.

"Ah! Here we are. Now remember what I told you, stand up straight, keep your shoulders back, no fucking hunching. Your behavior relects back on me, you know."

Alec did as he was told, smoothing his Cadidate uniform nervously. He really hated this. Mallony gave him a slap on the shoulder and a thumbs up before walking off, leaving Alec to fend for himself. Jerk, wasn't even going to stay long enough to get the introductions over. Taking a deep breath to try to calm himself, he knocked on the door before pushing it open and stepping inside.

He tried to keep his back straight, like he was told. He didn't want to appear to be cowering, which was kind of exactly what he wanted to be doing, actually. Clearing his throat nervously, his eyes ran over each of the three people in the room. He kind of knew Striker, the man had a serious fucking punch. It took everything in his power not to lift his hand and feel for the black eye that he knew was no longer there.

"Uh, you wished to see me Pilot Royal Relens, sir?"

[Anonymous]

Naturally Striker, Kiskae, and Solaiel all looked up at Alec when he entered the room. There was then an awkward pause before the Pilot finally spoke up.

"Captain, please make some beverages for us. Sergeant Major, i'll need to temporarily confiscate your office," added Reaver before the two saluted him. Kiskae, his assistant, then promptly left without giving Alec to much attention. Striker on the other hand gave the candidate a warm squeeze on the shoulder and nodded to him with a slight frown before exiting the room. It was as if he was trying to wish Alec good luck on his upcoming funeral.

The Royal Pilot shook his head and when the door shut he turned his attention back to Alec. "Candidate Holding, you'll have to excuse the Sergeant, he's certainly one with a flair for the theatrics, but a good soldier." He was also damned lucky he was a childhood friend.

"You know who I am, and i've read your file, so i'll skip the initial introductions. I'm assuming you've heard that Pilot Noble Mallory is retiring, and therefore I have been tasked with continuing on as your new mentor."

Relens looked down at his file taking a couple more seconds to make a mental note of his stopping point before standing and walking around the desk to sit on the front edge of it. He was massive man, not far from 7 feet tall. His formal uniform left his exact build to the imagination, but Solaiel was certainly broad underneath.  

"At Ease, Candidate Holding, you don't have to be so tense. You can have a seat if you'd like," added the Pilot while gesturing to a nearby chair.

"I brought you here to meet you, to hear your concerns, to come to an understanding with you on what I expect, and to go over what I can offer you. Your file highlights what Pilot Noble Mallory verbally addressed with me, but I want your take on whats going on with you and this program. Tell me about yourself."

While he spoke calmly, Reaver's face was void of expression.

[Anonymous]

From the moment that Alec had stepped into the office, sweat had started to bead on his forehead. Pilot Mallony had refused to tell him much about the Pilot Royal that he was giving him over to. None of the other Candidates had known anything about Pilot Relens either, really. The best he had been able to gleen was that the man had a reputation as a real fierce and hard-ass Pilot. Did Alec know if that reputation was founded? No, he didn't, but he really wasn't looking forward to finding out. When Sergeant Striker gave him that squeeze on his shoulder and that look, well it certainly didn't help his uneasiness.

Suddenly he found himself alone with Pilot Relens. His green eyes watched the man before him as warily as one might watch a snake. Some Pilots could be pretty intense, and he already had the feeling he was in for some major adjustments. Relens had walked around the desk, he was talking and sitting on the front of the desk now. Until then he had been taking Mallony's words to heart, his back had been snapped straight, shoulders back. His mentor had spent hours forcing him to learn to 'stand-up proper'.

When he was told to be at ease and that he could sit, those eyes flashed to the chair, then turned back to Relens, as if looking for the catch. So far the guy didn't seem quite as scary as the few rumors he could muster made him out to be. Alec was still waiting for the other shoe to drop, as it were.

"Thank you, Pilot Relens, sir, but I'll stand if it's all the same, sir." Alec might not have been the greatest fighter, but he had gone through the military training and it kicked in. He licked his lips nervously as he was asked to tell about himself.

"Well sir, I am making top grades in all my classes. My psionics and physicals have greatly improved over my three years in the program, however, Pilot Mallony feels that, although I am passing my physical evaluations and combat trainings, that I could be pushed to do better in those areas. I personally feel more concerned about my psionics than my physicals, but I trust Pilot Mallony to know what is best, sir" He licked his lips nervously again and glanced at the file that he just knew held all his personal information.

[Anonymous]

Solaiel nodded to Alec when he refused the chair. In truth to sit in the chair would put him in an intimidating spot. Honestly Sol didn't expect him to take it. Pilot Mallory had already gotten to this one, so even if he did do a dance in a clown suite and give the candidate a backrub, he'd still be looking for the attack coming out of nowhere. That was good because Alec would need that mentality for years to come. Never the less tonight wasn't about training his reflexes and critical thinking skills.

As he spoke the Pilot watched him for every tiny detail. His facial expressions, the sweat beading on his forehead despite comfortable climate in the office, the nervous licking of his lips, and especially where his eyes traveled and rested while he talked. He certainly noticed the Candidate sneak a glance at the file on the desk.

"Yes top grades, but you..."

The man was cut off as there was a slight knock at the door and it opened to show his assistant again. Relens waved her in casually and the woman brought a tray of assorted drinks that seemed to be coffee, tea, and a couple different juices and sodas.

"Thank you, Captain, Candidate Holding feel free to help yourself," added Solaiel as he imagined that Alec's throat was getting quite dry. Kiskae left just as soon as she arrived, and naturally he helped himself to an interesting purple looking tea. It was always funny what odd things popped up in the Staff Lounge.

Only his eyes quickly narrowed after taking a sip. That cup was quickly set aside for another with a different tea.

"Anyway, as I was saying you have top marks in your academics. Its quite impressive, but its as obvious as day you do just enough to get through the physicals. You do, however, seem to genuinely care about getting the psionics under control. Its understandable considering the alternative TRIM solution. Of course the desire to not be TRIMed hasn't pushed you to your full potential has it?"

Reaver reached back onto the desk breaking eye contact for a moment to grab the Candidate's file. He looked over the file for a moment and then looked back at the candidate judging his posture and facial expression looking to see how tense he was. Then Reaver reached into his pocket and tossed a lighter to Alec.

"The story on file about how you saved your home was an interesting point that might have been overlooked in the past. Candidate Holding can you ignite that lighter and use your mind to extinguish out the flames in front of me?"

Alec was unrefined, his powers would come and go seemingly randomly, but Solaiel was certain the under stress when his life was on the line he'd make it happen. Of course right now his life wasn't literally on the line and to the contrary the Pilot had been quite calm.

[Anonymous]

Alec had mentally prepared himself for the lecture he was pretty sure was coming. Pilots were the highest military force in Aedolis. He knew this. He also knew that being book-smart wasn't enough. They expected to mold him into one of their perfect little fighting machines. The thought twisted his stomach into knots. Alec didn't want to be a soldier, he didn't want to fight wars, but what he wanted hardly mattered here.

The Captain woman interrupted what Relens was about to say, and he felt glad for the reprieve, as momentary as it might have been. His eyes glanced over at the assortment of drinks, not sure if there was a catch there. Frankly, he didn't want a drink, but would it be rude of him to refuse? Shifting on his feet uncomfortably, he looked at the cups again before shaking his head.

"Thank you, sir, but no thank you."

And there it was. Alec listened patiently as he was praised for his academics and then scowled for his less than stellar effort in his physical trainings. Mallony had been over this with him a thousand times. Okay, so maybe he could try harder with his drills, but there wasn't a lot of passion or excitement for him in that part of the program. Although, at the mention of his psionics, he visibly winced.

He was passing the physicals, even if he wasn't exceling, so they didn't worry him. He could get TRIMed if he didn't learn to properly harness his psionics, so it was a very pressing matter to him. A frown crossed his lips. Hadn't pushed him to his full potential? Well, no, not yet, but he was working on getting things going how he wanted them too. Alec's entire body went rigid when he was confronted with the act of psionics that had initially doomed him to the program to begin with.

The lighter was thrown to him, and obediantly he caught it. Emerald eyes narrowed as he squeezed the lighter in his hand. So Relens wanted a demonstrastion, did he? Well fine. Alec didn't need the lighter to make fire, when his pyrokinesis was cooperating, but he would use it and do as he was told. Or try to anyway. Holding up the lighter, his eyes focused in on the flames that appeared as he struck the switch. Taking a shaky breath he tried to do exactly as Mallony had instructed him a thousand times, in that dull monotone he started using when he began a long lecture.

Slowly he cleared his head, trying to void himself of emotions that might get in the way. Once he felt empty he tried to fill himself with the flame, make it a part of himself. His mind reached out to the tiny dancing blaze and...nothing. He might as well have been trying to catch air with his hands. Sweat beaded on his forehead again as he tried again...and again. He couldn't connect to the flame, it eluded him.

Finally he made a strangled sound of frustration and let the lighter click off naturally. Looking away from Relens he glowered at the wall. "I can't. It doesn't work when I want it too, but I've been doing much better at making sure it doesn't spontaneously combust something."

[Anonymous]

The Pilot observed the Candidate fail exactly as he anticipated he would. Interestingly he now seemed quite upset with himself as he broke eye contact and glowered at the nearby wall.

Better at not making things spontaneously explode? It went without saying that he'd have to be in full control. Never the less Relens figured it would be counterproductive to correct him.

"It was as I expected. We'll no doubt be working on this for a while, but i'll give you the most fundamental concept you'll ever need that Pilot Mallory may or may not have explained to you. After all we all learned to harness our powers however we could."

Reaver stood from the desk and approached Alec. "You fail because you try, Candidate Holding. You see this," he added while pointing to the teen's forehead, "this gives you the power to think, and the power to act. When you removed the flames from your house you didn't think about how to do it. Your life was on the line and you acted. It came to you on impulse just as the Psionics do. It generally takes a few years of practice for deadly skills like your own, but if we can find your block we can have you in control of your powers sooner."

Relens then went back to the desk and grabbed the file and his cup. He continued to talk casually as if talking about the weather.

"Some people can force their powers out with anger as it forces a person to act without thought. Others think and analyze and get lucky here and there. Ultimately, you'll need to experiment with different thoughts, environments, and scenarios to see if we can't further understand your triggers and your blocks. I can't tell you how many nights I spent holding a taser trying to manipulate its energy. Its going to take a lot of effort on your part, which is why fear of being TRIMed simply isn't enough. You have to genuinely want this, and It doesn't seem like you do. Thats why we're going to take a field trip."

He then motioned towards the door as he passed Alec towards it.

"Any thoughts? Be open, I need to understand your trials to better help you."

[Anonymous]

Alec hated to fail. He needed to succeed. It didn't matter to him that his psionics were of a difficult and violent nature, which made them harder to control. Every failure still hit him like a knife.

When the Pilot told him he'd expected him to fail, well, Alec's head jerked back to a straight position, turing his glare on the much taller man. He had expected him to fail? What kind of mentor expects their Candidate to fail?

In his three years of Candidacy, Alec had gotten a lot of the rebellion beaten out of him. He knew better than to openly back-talk or speak out against a Pilot. It took everything he had not to say something. His teeth grinded, jaw clinched as Relens approached him and pointed at his head.

That made absolutely no sense. How could you fail by trying? It was illogical. His block? He didn't really want to think about what blocks he might or might not have. However, if Relens was going to help him get a better control of his psionics, then that would be good. So far, he wasn't sure what to make of his new mentor. At least things seemed to be going fairly well, he hadn't gotten his face punched in.

It was the accusation, that he didn't genuinely want this, that made him look away, jaw still tight. No, he really hadn't wanted it. Alec had come to accept that he was going to either become a Pilot or be TRIMed. It was more resignation than desire. The idea of a field trip wasn't exactly pleasant, and he figured it wasn't going to be something that he would enjoy.

At least he knew better than to protest to the field trip. He didn't know what Relens wanted him to say as he followed him.

"I don't understand the question, sir. My trials? Every Candidate here has trials. This program is all about pushing and testing people."

[Anonymous]

"Oh Son, you're going to have to do better than that," responded Relens as he opened the door and gestured for the Candidate to follow him. They moved down the hallway as Reaver continued.

"First however, let me put down a couple points for our future interactions. You still have fight in you Candidate Holding. Don't think I don't see your glares when you don't hear what you want me to say. Pilot Noble Mallory was a bit of a traditionalist from my understanding in his disciplinary actions. You are however a stage three candidate now and you'll be expected to act like one and will be treated like one. I won't strike you because you act up. Breaking your nose isn't going to teach you anything."

The Pilot took a moment to take the last swallow of his tea before tossing the empty cup in a nearby waste bin that they were about to pass.

"I've served my share of operations and battles in the name of Aedolis. I can be very imaginative in what things can be done to you or have you do that teaches a lesson far more efficiently than physical contact."

They reached one of the lifts that was off limits to Candidates and Solaiel finally stopped in front of its doors and turned back to Alec with a very no nonsense gaze. Like other veteran soldiers he had seen around the ATC, Reaver's eyes were cold and intense. This was a man that could kill without the slightest ounce of regret or compassion.

"Threats aside however, I can get you through this program with flying colors. I can show you things about this world you couldn't imagine right now. You have to be open with me, confide everything and above all I need every ounce of your attention and your effort. If you doubt me or hold anything back you're just looking for pain. Worse than that you'll be wasting my time."  

Solaiel was a twist from the norm. He didn't do the expected thing and scream at Alec or threaten him with beatings. His voice and motions were always eerily calm.

"Can we continue?"

[Anonymous]

Alec walked stiffly as he followed his mentor out of the office. Things weren't going that great, he had surmised. Oh, they could be going much worse, for sure, but things weren't running smoothly, yet. He wanted to try, of course. Life was a living nightmare here if you found yourself at odds with your mentor. Mallony had made sure he understood right from the get-go that they could be friends, or enemies.

As Relens pointed out that he still had fight in him, and that he had noticed the glares, well, Alec wasn't sure if he should get even angrier, or if he should apologize. He shouldn't let his temper get the best of him. He shouldn't let any emotion get the best of him. His previous mentor had been quite clear on that point. Feeling emotions was fine, but you had to maintain control.

At least he wasn't going to get beaten for his insolence, and he realized it was insolence. He was questioning his mentor's authority and wisdom. Perhaps not vocally, but his glares were more than enough. Still, these other 'lessons' didn't sound like something he was going to enjoy.

When they reached the lift, he found himself face-to-face once more with his new mentor. His first instinct was to shrink back, but he stomped that out immediately, forcing his back to remain straight. He was not going to cower. He doubted that his mentor actually wanted him to.

There were no glares now, he'd managed to regain some control over his expression. His posture was stiffer than he would have liked, but he couldn't pretend to be at ease in this man's presence. Not yet, but he would. Burn him, but he would. For what seemed like forever, he maintained eye contact. He'd never seen eyes that cold, but he refused to look away. At least, until Relens finished talking.

Finally, he dropped his eyes. Pride be damned. He was a Candidate, pride had to be forfeit right now. He could be proud when he graduated. It was never an easy truth to accept, of course, but he would do what must be done.

"We can continue, Pilot Royal Relens, sir."

He would do his best. He had to. Whether he liked it or not, Relens held the key to his Candidacy now. The only way he would ever advance would be through this man's blessing.