Chapter Text
Commander Iverson stood at a podium before a roomful of assembled cadets in neatly organized chairs. He cleared his throat and began to speak in an important sounding voice.
“Welcome to the Galaxy Garrison. Here you will continue a grand tradition. Galaxy Garrison exists to turn cadets like you into the next generation of astro-explorers. You came here as boys and girls, but you will leave as men and women.”
Pidge squirmed in her seat. Everyone in this room thought she was a boy. Katie Holt was banned from Galaxy Garrison, so she had needed to become someone else. Pidge Gunderson had never been kicked out of Galaxy Garrison and he had absolutely no connection to Katie. He also technically didn’t exist, but only she knew that.
Commander Iverson droned on about responsibility, respect, and hard work but Pidge didn’t hear any of it; her head was spinning. Why did I think I could do this? How can I keep this secret for four years? What am I doing here? She lost track of time as her thoughts consumed her.
Suddenly, the room broke into applause and everyone around Pidge stood up. Apparently the speech was over. She jerkily stood up and joined the applause, hoping no one had noticed she hadn’t been paying attention.
Eventually the noise died down and the Cadets began talking amongst themselves. Pidge drifted around, looking for a conversation to join but didn’t find one. She didn’t much feel like talking and she especially didn’t trust her voice not to betray her secret. After a while she found herself standing alone on the side of the room. She felt awkward and out of place.
“I guess you don’t like crowds either?”
“What?” Pidge looked at the source of the unexpected voice. It was a large, tall boy with brown skin and a kind face.
“It looks like you don’t like crowds,” the large boy said again.
“Oh. No, I don’t know how to act around these people.”
“Me neither,” said the tall boy. “My name’s Hunk.”
“Pidge”
“Well, It’s nice to meet you, Pidge.”
“It’s nice to meet you too,”
They stood in silence. Pidge still felt awkward, but it was better to be awkward with someone than alone. Eventually she thought of something to say”
“Why did you want to come to Galaxy Garrison?”
“Me?” he seemed surprised at being spoken to again, “I’ve always been good with machines, and I’m here for the engineering department so I can study and train on the most advanced tech available. How about you?”
I need to find my father and brother. “Because I want to explore new worlds and be of service to humanity.” She had practiced this answer before today; she wasn’t completely unprepared.
“Wow, you have such a good reason for being here. It makes my reason seem selfish and small.”
“No, your reason is good. Don’t worry about it.” If only he could know how selfish her reasons for being here were. She was here to find her brother and father who had been lost on the Kerberos mission. With the access and knowledge she could gain here, she just might have a chance of finding them.
She looked up at him. It was crazy, but she found herself wanting to tell him her secrets. To trust him completely. Think of something to say. Think. “I’ve always been fascinated be space, so you see I am being selfish too.”
“I don’t know, I still think I’m the one being selfish.”
“Fine, your reason for coming here is bad and you should feel bad.”
“That’s more like it,” said Hunk, chuckling. “I’m glad I met someone I can talk to.”
“Me too.” Pidge smiled and let her shoulders relax.