- Mom, what's wrong...? - I asked in concern. She didn't reply.7Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHhAn3YSeL4
I was very worried. Mom just learned the truth about the Agency and her reaction wasn't something I'd describe as positive. We reached a wooden stairway which led us to the surface. Up there, I knew where we were heading.
The surface level of the academy consists of various rooms connected by winding clean hallways that were hard to distinguish without a map. However, during my time in the Agency, I memorised the basic layout and managed to pinpoint the most important locations. Now, that was a useful thing.
- Where's the principal's office? - Justine asked me, puzzled by the confusing layout. She didn't sound happy.
With no other option, I led my mother to Captain Nigel's office. It was a small room with a dark wooden desk taking up most of the space. Behind it was a black chair on which Captain Nigel sat. He was checking something on his relatively old computer when we entered the office. He didn't expect a visit and was visibly surprised by someone disturbing his work.7Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdJrvSISVcN
- This meeting wasn't scheduled, please get out - Nigel welcomed us, still focused more on the work than the "intrusion".
- I demand explanations - Justine said this in a tone so serious and determined that Nigel was forced to focus on us. Usually, he's seemingly emotionless, unless somebody annoys him. Mom busting into his office surely did, as he seemed frustrated.
At this point, I was sweating in fear. This confrontation will end in complete disaster.
- What explanations? - Captain Nigel grumped.
- I enlisted my son, Chris Smith, into an Academy of Astronauts. Meanwhile, you secretely train him to become a space spy and send him on covert missions and force him to suffer through countless near-death situations?! Without my consent?! - Justine was furious, almost growling at the principal. In this mood, she was fierce like a lion, contrasting her typical, more delicate demeanour.
Nigel didn't respond, allowing Justine to continue.
- Chris is here to fulfill his dreams of going to space for science and exploration, not for foiling schemes hatched by international criminal consortiums! You didn't even notify me when you sent my poor son to almost certain death! - Justine was yelling, but I saw tears forming in her raging eyes. Suddenly, I understood why mom was in such a fury. It was so obvious that I was surprised at myself for not noticing it earlier.
She cares.7Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVcs38t2H40
Every time I went to space, she sat in the background, believing that I was attending aeronautics classes or testing my skills during roadtrips. Meanwhile, I was sent to a hostile environment, forced to fight people evil enough to kill to achieve their goals. All of this was happening behind her back.
Last time, when I went to BIORBITAL, mom was left alone in a bunker when the Agency believed that all-out war between the US and China was about to break out. As I flew away in our spaceplane, she was desperately trying to find me. She was separated from the person she cares about the most. The agents present there couldn't help, as they had to keep everything a secret.
Mom was definitely suspecting something. The spies lied to calm her down, but she started piecing together the truth and the ceremony only confirmed her beliefs. She didn't want me dead. If I died, she'd be as heartbroken as when dad vanished. She believed that he abruptly died and so did I until my previous mission. Dad was secretely enlisted into the Agency, which noticed his natural talent.
She doesn't know the truth about the dad case either. Everyone around her was lying, myself included. I was forced to lie by the higher-ups, because if anything reached civil ears, the Agency would be compromised as word would spread to enemies too. Even if I wrote the truth in an SMS to mom, the Agency's IT experts would do their best to censor the classified parts.7Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjXFbjLgkIF
Now, the facade of safety was crumbling right in front of Justine. She had learned the truth and demanded answers. Immediatelly.7Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ17miSyXJsO
Captain Nigel finally understood the gravity of the situation, because he replied.
- Your son isn't an ordinary kid. He may have dreams, but he has something far more valuable: talent. He is great spy material and nowadays, such an opportunity CANNOT be wasted. However, enemies hide behind every corner and absolute secrecy is mandatory, even if in such a brutal form - I was shocked to see Captain Nigel feel a different emotion from anger or nothingness. He felt remorse.
- We're sorry for lying to you all the time, but there is no other choice. He is far too valuable to lose. He, along with everyone else, must be protected by secrecy, no matter the cost... - Nigel continued. This was the most shocking confrontation ever.
Why am I so important? I thought I was just another agent, one amongst many.
- I understand, but all you had to do is contact me. Bring me into this mess if you forced my son into it! - Justine was still outraged.
- We didn't force your son into it, he volunteered to join our program and he agreed to take part in missions when the truth was revealed! Am I right? - Captain Nigel turned to me. I wasn't ready to take part in the conversation, but I had to.
- Well, yes... - I sighed deeply. The discussion was going off the rails.
- But he isn't eighteen! His parents should know! In this case, I should, because his father is gone! - Justine continued.
- Justine... - Nigel knew my mother's name, probably because our family was observed by the Agency for much longer than I assumed - ...I'm terribly sorry for this... mess. But you have to understand, he is too important to lose. More importantly, he isn't as incompetent as you assume. He has proven himself in the field three times! This kid is special and we must protect him from the dangers of the world...
- Three times?! THREE TIMES?! - Justine turned from rage to shock - You lied to me three times as my son as shot into space!!!
- Well, they launched me twice, but the first time was two missions combined... - I added, trying to do damage control.7Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsyiOQcAe5m
- He and his unit thwarted an extremely dangerous cosmic criminal group and ultimately landed their key members behind bars. Unit 212 is very skilled and they're a key asset in the bigger picture... - Captain Nigel flattered my mom, but to no avail.
- I understand, but first comes the safety of my child, than the safety of the country. You don't know how it is be a parent. It is impossible to recreate the feeling of responsibility without becoming a parent yourself! I'm grounding Chris until this chaos is properly explained! - Justine grabbed me and we left the office.
- Wait...! - Captain Nigel actually got up, returning to his normal, angry ways.
- No! I refuse! - Justine pulled me into the lobby. As I turned around, I saw my team watching us, stunned.
- What on Earth...? - Claudius started, but I didn't hear the end of his speech.
Before I knew it, mom forced me out of the academy. It was a warm summer day outside, but with all the emotions, it felt boiling hot. Mom quickly ordered a taxi that brought us home. To my surprise, Captain Nigel went as far as running out of the building to catch me. However, the taxi drove away before he even got close to mom.
- Time Skip -7Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQJU6UGVBtg
We made it home. Justine was still negatively charged, but was slowly calming down. As we made it to the front door, she approached me.
- I'm sorry for my freakout, but you must understand: this is for your safety. That scumbag Nigel lied to me for all those months! I can't let you die! - Justine cracked and started quietly sobbing.
- Mom, I'm okay. Sure, thwarting schemes in space is super deadly, but I've braved all the challenges. It was pretty satisfying to send the Perseids to prison and save the country, maybe even the world... - I tried to comfort her, but swiftly realised that I was achieving the opposite, since I used the word "deadly".7Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrVBdhskZJi
- The Perseids? Is that the criminal organization you've been dealing with? - I did manage to distract Justine from her rage, as she wanted to learn the details of my missions, now that the secrecy was turned to dust.
- Yes... - I started explaining how everything went as we entered the house.7Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpiyGITxkjJ
The escape from the academy was so abrupt that I only brought my backpack with clothes and some equipment, along with my diploma. I dropped the stuff onto the floor, as I was too overwhelmed by the situation to keep it clean. To my positive surprise, mom ignored it and allowed me to rest.7Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡABsiF4dC3O
- I'm going back into the lion's den and confronting your principal once more. I want this properly sorted out, but for now, you need to relax. Fighting bad guys is exhausting after all, isn't it? - Justine finally calmed down, but still wanted to get the job done.
However, she didn't want me involved. Back when I was unpacking my stuff, she thought a few things over and noticed how stressed I was during the whole confrontation with Captain Nigel. She didn't want me to be in this state anymore, so she left me in the house to relax. As she was preparing to leave, she spoke to me.7Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUCiyTtJ3yf
- I know this may be overwhelming, so I want you to calm down too. Forget about the academy and everything that happened there for the time being. Think of this as the prelude to summer holidays. Also, don't leave the house, I want you to be safe - Justine said. I nodded in response.
With a falsely cheerful "Goodbye!", mom came back outside, leaving me alone to rest...7Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmjjJyiJV2u
and then Add to home screen.