Chapter 27: Chapter 13 (Planet: Earth, Country: Yanar, Region: Nangee, City: Yanara )

To clear the air Pam asked about their experience in the armed forces. Unlike the air force, the navy tests the strength of the cadets in their second year; they take them to a nearby colony where they can assess the extent of their powers in peace.

In Yanar, at age four, children have their powers tested and placed in the appropriate classes to learn how to manage their abilities.

The navy is the only branch of the armed forces to retest their cadets.

Hassan and Thor were born with inactive powers, but Thor's female totem recently activated his powers when she gave birth. He was now a Streak which meant that he could manipulate energy.

Hassan however was still inactive which meant that they can't promote him to captain.

"Ok" said Izzy, "Hassan, I understand, there is no point in joining the navy if you don't have active powers but why are you here?" she concluded while setting her gaze onto Thor.

Thor said, "Let's continue this conversation in your library Izz."

Izzy's library was also her study room.

It had three mahogany brown wooden bookcases all around the room, a wooden desk and a chair, a small tea table surrounded by one cream sofa, two cream armchairs, and a holo-emitter on the ceiling.

It was considerably basic compared to the rest of the palace; the colours were a degradation from deep brown to cream.

"Thor, what are we doing here?" asked Izzy

He walked to her desk and pressed a button and a virtual room appeared. He turned to his cousins "The boudoir doesn't have access to confidential navy documents"

They nodded and joined him. After flipping through a few pages, they found the recommendations for Thor and Hassan's evaluation. It was not good news; the navy chose to send Hassan to a science station. They placed Thor however in a civilian position permanently.

They all froze, no one was uttering a word; then Thor's body started to shake, his shoulder trembled, followed by sounds of sobbing. The other three rushed to hug him; in Yanar, rejection from the armed forces is a great dishonour.

"What are your plans now?" asked Izzy

Thor shrugged and buried his head in Hassan's shoulder.

"Maybe you can join the council?" added Pam, but Thor remained silent. "It's ok guys, I'll take him home. We can bounce of ideas later"

The girls nodded, kissed Thor and Hassan took his favourite but heartbroken cousin home.

"Can't you do something?" asked Pam.

Izzy shook her head "Not during war time am afraid."

She gave Pam a sad smile "if I force the issue and get him into the army, I will have to do the same for everyone and risk chaos. We are at war; I cannot risk disorder within the ranks just to restore honour to Thor's name."

Pam switched off the virtual texts and they returned to Izzy's boudoir

As soon as they sat down Izzy said, "I need cheering up, tell me more about the Japanese boy."

Pam's cheeks turned red, but she continued with her story "well, that was it. Every day we would swim together, go on walks, kiss, kiss some more, kiss a lot more and sleep in each other's arms."

"Oh, my gods, that must have been intense. Wait, did you guys do it?" said Izzy

Pam slapped Izzy's arm gently, " Of course not. You know full well that I will be thrown out of Yanara's opera ballet company, plus he too is a virgin. He swore he would save himself for the right girl, unlike his bandmates. He loved the idea of saving himself for The One. I think he is a Yan at heart."

Izzy took her hand and said, "I am so happy for you."

Despite being incredibly advanced, the Yans were also old fashion and change was slow to come. The empire was aware that they were one of the few advanced civilizations to have retained strict religious and cultural values and defending those ideas could be a challenge.

Each branch of the government has a god attached to it. They also never make any crucial decision before consulting their priests or priestesses. They believe that their close relationship with the gods has allowed them to emerge victorious in most wars.

Izzy squeezed Pam's hand, " When are you seeing him again?"

"Hmmm, well, he went back to Japan," said Pam in a sad tone

She pressed her lips together and narrowed her eyes, "We were supposed to meet back on the island in a few months, but my artistic director ordered me to return."

She sank into the sofa and looked at the ceiling, "Apparently one of the girls is indisposed, they needed me to return to Yanara."

As she uttered those words tears began to fall down her cheeks.

Izzy, still holding her hand, said, "look at me."

Pam's gaze moved from the ceiling to her cousin's face. Izzy pulled a tissue from the nearest table and wiped her tears.

She kissed her hand "Sing with me"

Pam rolled her eyes and took back her hand with force "the Yans solution to every problem, a cup of tea and a song."

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Izzy was still smiling "Not any feel-good songs, let's sing Memories Of You."

Pam let out a manic laugh "So, in order to make me feel better you want me to sing a sad song. Wow, why didn't I think of that?"

Izzy dropped her shoulder and her gaze; Pam placed her hand on her cousin's "I am sorry sweetheart; I don't know what came over me. Alright, let's sing Memories Of You"

Izzy gave her a big smile and they started:

Though I know you're safe and at home,

pain and fear all decimated,

but I can't help it, I really wish it was far from me

I have heard distance makes one heart,

grow fonder and love much stronger

But you see it's simply just not enough

when a new sword shines through your helmet

Or you read the news on your cell phone

And you don't know why but you just start to cry

If you look around and see some soldiers

out of nowhere just comes a few tanks

Then a kick just hits you right, right inside

It is called, memories of me

I'm not going to say it's easy

Please do know my heart is all yours

If you do know me, you know my death is just a pause

When I reach the Bifrost and Heimdall

And he kicks me to Valhalla

Do not be afraid, it's a trick to say hello

when a new sword shines through your helmet

Or you read the news on your cell phone

And you don't know why but you just start to cry

If you look around and see some soldiers

out of nowhere just comes a few tanks

Then a kick just hits you right, right inside

It's just me, waiting for you

Pam sang from the bottom of her being, accompanied by Izzy. She cried and sobbed while singing as if the words and tears could be carried to Tokyo.

And now she was sitting up, sadly smiling at her cousin.

Pam hugged Izzy "You were right, I feel so so much better."

Izzy smirked, "Good, because you are going to Japan."

Pam opened her mouth, but Izzy raised her hand "Noooo, no discussion. You, my dear will go to Japan and be with him; I will cover for you. I'll tell them that I sent you to spend time with whatever they call the top ballet company there, in order to start diplomatic relations with that country. What do you think?"

Pam screamed and did a little dance; then she rested her head on Izzy's shoulder "Ok but only after I am sure that your trip is not dangerous."  

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