Shi Lang and the rest of the students did not disperse but all took commemorative pictures with each other, however, their bearings changed completely after they put on the military coat. They all were excited and took pictures with their parents as well.
Shi Lang was standing over with his parents with a faint smile on his face when he found Jenkins walking over to his side. The boy nodded and introduced his parents to Jenkins. The couple of civilians had idolized Jenkins’s father a lot from the spoils of his glory they heard on news. They greeted Jenkins with smiles and then gave the two people some room.
Jenkins said, “I have my orders. I will be reporting to the first division. The location is not yet confirmed, but I am sure it will be fun.”
Shi Lang nodded and said, “Just be careful out there. I will see you when you get promoted. Pass on your Comm ID.”
Jenkins nodded and they exchanged a comm ID. This ID could be used to communicate with each other when they were posted at different places through the space. The communication was not instant but with a lag depending on the location, since the message will have to channel through a lot of relays.
Jenkins asked, “What about your posting?” when they were done with the exchange.
Shi Lang smiled but did not say anything. Jenkins was not a doofus, his father was the first general and he was aware of many things the others did not know. He asked in a low voice, “Secret Divisions?”
Shi Lang winked and confirmed his guess. Jenkins sighed and hammered a punch on Shi Lang’s shoulder as he said, “Lucky swine. How did you get this? They do not recruit fresh meat.”
Jenkins’s demeanor has gone under tremendous change after he started interacting with the people around him. Shi Lang smiled and said, “I cannot really tell you that, you know.”
Jenkins shook his head and said, “Well, whatever, just do not die. Ping me some days. I will take my leave now. I am called immediately.”
The two exchanged a fist bump and the latter walked away. Suddenly, Shi Lang heard a small voice behind him, “What did he say?”
Shi Lang did not turn around and said, “He has immediate orders. Will you come with me? The class is planning to hang out for the farewell.”
Amelia shook her head and said, “I have my orders too. Immediate posting on Ao. You know that place?”
Shi Lang nodded and asked, “Scout Division?” he could guess why they have posted her there. First, that place was under the command of Charlotte, and second, scouting and exploring a hostile territory will help Amelia rake up military merit points a lot faster to help her climb the ranks. The boy said, “Be careful and do not underestimate the inhabitants. Also, do not trust anyone in that base.”
A voice interrupted him, “Boy are you sowing discord among us daughter and mother?”
Shi Lang turned around and saw Charlotte Knight standing with his parents, behind Amelia. Even his own parents were giving him a death stare, but the boy did not budge and said, “With all due respect General Knight. You know very well, what I am talking about, and if you think this much will be enough to sow discord then I ask you to have some more trust in your daughter. Also, if I found that she suffered grievance at the hands of the people, I do not mind going rogue and hunting down everyone including you.”
That said, he did not wait for anyone and lightly kissed Amelia’s lips and said, “I will see you soon. Exchange your Comm ID.”
Amelia did not expect him to kiss her so gently in front of her mother and his parents and obediently gave him her comm ID. Then Shi Lang walked away from the spot. His parents and Charlotte were all shocked at what happened in front of them. Charlotte said, “He is ignoring me? I am his superior officer.”
She did not like the threat and the display of affection between her treasured daughter and this rascal. However, Amelia said as she watched him walk away, “You cannot counter him. He will say that he has not yet taken charge of his duty and his orders have not arrived yet.”
Charlotte was left speechless, her daughter has never taken the side of an outsider in front of her, and that too in such a soft voice. She sighed and said, “Go, say goodbye to Uncle and Aunty and we will leave.”
The girl said bye to Shi Lang’s parents. The couple blessed her and Luna said, “Madam Charlotte, when the two reach eighteen, I think we can have them officially engaged?”
Charlotte nodded with a smile and said, “Sister Luna, we are in-laws, who are you calling madam?”
The two elders chatted a few minutes before parting. Shi Lang had already walked away to join his classmates for the farewell party. Some of the battle-class people also came over. Most of them had received the immediate posting orders. Shi Lang and the rest of the group attracted a lot of attention when they commuted together in the metro or when they walked around.
They were all walking in a neat formation and looked like a parade on the sidewalks. The people sneakily clicked pictures. The students all reached the bar they had reserved earlier and began to indulge in vanity. It was evening when they finished their party and they all scattered to get back home.
Shi Lang was walking through the crowd when his communicator buzzed. The boy came to stand still and checked the mail. It was his posting order. The place listed in the mail was on Federation, metropia.
He did not take this order lightly and got back home. There he found his parents and the rest of the neighborhood gathered together below the building. He was aware that they all wanted to party but he did not have any time left. So he tugged at the sleeve of his Aunt, Mila, who was also present at their home.
The lady asked, “What is it, Baby?”
Shi Lang said, “I have to leave, my posting is immediate. I do not have much time to accommodate them all. Can you handle this for me please?” he lowered his voice to keep things between just the two of them.
Mila winked at him with an OK gesture. The boy nodded and calmly excused himself to go upstairs. He needed to pack up a few things before he could leave. Mila was not a cafe owner for nothing, she handled the situation and told the people that Shi Lang has to leave right away and he did not want to feel too heavy in his heart so she hoped they bless him and give the family some room before the parting.
The people nodded and after greeting Shi John and Luna they left. The four elders walked up the stairs only to find Shi Lang holding a small duffle bag in his hand. Luna walked forward and hugged him gently. The boy was emotional as well and returned the gesture. He said, “You all must be nice to each other when I am gone. Men must look after women and not bully them, if I found my two ladies complaining then you two old guys will have it hard.”
The men chuckled as they closed their eyes to hide their tears. Mila and Luna were not strong and to the former Shi Lang was a son too. So they softly sobbed while they hugged him. The boy sighed and said, “You guys, be strong. I will be fine. Chill.”
The ladies exhorted for him to be careful and if he found something too hard then just quit and come back. Shi Lang nodded and after giving a fist bump to the men, he left. He came out of the residential complex and found an inconspicuous black levitating vehicle parked not far away. He walked up and knocked on the window.
He waited for a few seconds and nothing happened. He sighed and using his fingers he wrote a few words on the glass. The window rolled down and a cloaked figure asked, “What?”
Shi Lang said, “You have been following me for two days and keeping watch at my home as well. take me to Captain Arkham.”
The cloaked figure only had her eyes visible, her gaze was spewing fire all over Shi Lang. If gazes could kill then the boy might have vaporized. She said, “How did you find me?”
She was sure that she did not reveal herself to him. The boy said, “My senses are better than the rest. Can we go now?”
The lady nodded after letting out a sigh and opened the co-pilot seat door. Shi Lang put his bag in the back and then fastened the seat belt and the vehicle moved.