Part 5
Julian had just left the Door when Waldemar got brought before the Principal still shackled, Warden Kurt giving a short nod to him: “Don’t stay up to long.” before leaving Julian alone to Wait.
His times in there weren’t fondly remembered. A leather strap, slaps and getting yelled at usually was the result.
This time however he didn’t even hear a raised voice. Julian had heard from the others that the Principal had sympathy for those he called ‘Victims of their Circumstances’, yet since these meetings are usually solitary he never had witness a visit to the office aside his own. Considering the principal believed him an entitled brat when he first came her, the welcoming was a lot louder and painful.
That and the fact that the principal believed him to have just crippled the Brother of the then Empress after stealing the car for a joyride.
After roughly half an hour of waiting, Waldemar walked out of the office, his eyes bloodshot and teary, the Principal unshackling him before nodding to Julian:
“Bring him back to the Dorms. I told the warden to gather the crew. I leave the rest up to you.”
The Pair walked silently, Julian not speaking much. He could feel Waldemar grew more anxious as they came closer to the dorms, before stopping one hallway away:
“If you feel like talking, now’s the time.” Wingert announced, before taking a seat on a nearby cupboard.
“I lost. I am not strong enough to be a top dog here.” Waldemar replied, with julian shaking his head:
“Get that idea out of your head. All of us are bottom feeders here. There’s no point in trying to be the top of a turd.” Pointing to the door:
“No matter how sorry you are, let me get one thing clear. They will not go as easy on you as the principal. Especially once they realized he didn’t even lash you once.”
“I know.” Waldemar growled, before julian walked up to him grabbing him by the collar:
“Don’t take this easy recruit.”
“i am not your…” before his eyes widened: “NO. NO!”
Julian let him go, as he slumped down: “The principal expects me i make sure you join the crew. That’s your punishment. And quite frankly they need you.”
Leaning back on the cupboard, the senior convict took a deep breath:
“Look, i don’t know what makes you hate ships. and i won’t ask until you are ready to tell. I don’t care what got you here. Tell us once you are ready.”
“I’ve beaten someone into a coma.” Waldemar sunk on to the bottom, leaning onto a wall. he looked mortified to Julian: “They tortured an animal! They deserved pain! I just, lost control…” Julian folded his arms, slowly raising his chin to signal Waldemar to continue:
“It’s just. The strong ones always are right. They decide what you do. Else they beat you. Now that i lost, it’s just the same. I get beaten into your submission.”
“How old?” Julian asked, keeping up his posture, though moving is arms to his side, now both grabbing the rim of his stand.
“Ten.” Waldemar quietly said.
Julian tilted his head: “It doesn’t matter for them. What you did today, and if you are ready to atone for it matters. I have a fair idea what they will call for. And you will hate it. It will humiliate you to the bone and beyond. Question is.”
Julian pointed to the door:
“Are you going in there with the strength to face you mistakes, or as a the coward trying to justify them? Make up your mind. They will not accept joining the crew is a punishment, for all for them it’s a great piece of freedom they all fought and bled for. You got it as a gift from the principal. It will take months for them to accept that, and it’s up to you if they ever will. It will take time, so for now. Whoever will be decided to be your new captain? His word is law to you. Think for yourself, but if you get an order, follow it.”
“I’m scared.” Waldemar squeakly admitted, before julian nodded:
“Rightly so. But better get this over with now than dealing the next,.. “ Julian paused as he thought for a brief moment: “how old are you again?”
“Twelve” Waldemar replied.
“So, better get this over now and have a chance getting them to understand you, than having them fight you for the next six years.” Julian nodded, before leading him back into the dorms.
Waldemar froze at the scene as he entered the dorms. Aside from this place being his home for the next years to come, the large hall was filled with dozens of angry convict cadets, many in their pj’s already, glaring at him.
“What is this shit!”, one younger cadet barked: “He can still walk, that’s not right!”
Julian raised his hand, but the noise wouldn’t clam down. One of the Other student put his whistle skills to use loudly, allowing julian to be audible:
“Guys, i had a little talk with the Principal about him.” some murmurs hushed the room before julian continued: “We have two things to take care off. First, we need to get a crew list together. So everyone belonging to the Camp Ship crew stand ready. Secondly.”
He unanimously shoved Waldemar in the middle as a circle as he crossed his arms:
“Caius will miss this, so make sure he can see the effect tomorrow. But first, one announcement. That miserable pile there is an experienced helmsman. Just to bad, he hates doing that!”
Waldemar felt sick, dozen teenagers cracking their knuckles, glaring at him, before Julian answered again: “The principal has made sure that he is to be a nice boy or else from now on. So, he will be our helmsman, but he won’t be second in command. It’s a break with tradition but a necessary one. We need him, and we do not have experience other than him available. But…”
He nodded to Waldemar: “This is your part now. because from the looks of it, they are more than willing to take the chance without you. We will lose the boat, they will hate you, the principal will hate you. Make something of it.”
“i…” Waldemar shook his head: “I hate boats, i hate ships. but i will comply. and…” he looked around: “I’m sorry. i … thought i i show off being the strong one would make sure i can have my peace and quiet…”
The team who whistled earlier stood up, walked over and slapped Waldemar across the face, before turning to julian: “We have already decided what to do with him.” Julian nodded slowly: “He’s due for a doctor's visit tomorrow. I’ll make the list ready who will be on the team. Make sure once you are done. Don’t make him hate you, Captain Schmitt.”
As the room suddenly got mostly quiet, aside from a sobbing Waldemar rubbing his cheek, Hans Schmitt blinked several times:
“Uhm, wait? Did you just?”
“Yes, sir.” Julian saluted to him: “We both know you are as passionate as no one else, and you have been with us for the last three years. You know the ins and outs of the ship. of handling the crew. make us proud. Now, deal with the Recruit acting out the way we all had agreed to take care of it.”
Schmitt blinked: “Oh.” he shuddered slightly: “Well, i guess i won’t be the only one then to have gone through it.” he then turned around to waldemar:
“Recruit? Are you ready to receive your punishment for acts against the crew?”
Waldemar shuddered, then slowly nodded: “I don’t have a choice.”
Julian walked off to a sideroom, filling out the form for the application.
He knew what would happen. And he wasn’t proud of it. He did the same to Hans two years ago, as they caught him stealing from other crew members. Back then they decided it#s best handled among themselves, a code between the crew members. Waldemar had never agreed on this. It wrenched julians guts, but he knew for the group to stay together, for them to accept him, waldemar would have to go through this.
He could hear the whimpering through the door.
They would tell him to strip now, then naked in front of the dorm shave off his hair, fit a dogs collar around his neck.
Julian could hear him crying. Probably shaving off the hair right now.
Then while they told him eat with his mouth out of a bowl, they would use a thick permanent marker to write one word on his back: “KAMERADENSAU”
Julian looked up. the sound had stopped. Silence. Not what he was expecting. The door to the room he was working in swung open, and Hans lead Waldemar inside. Still naked. But hair on, and no collar.
“I won’t.” Hans said: “See for yourself why.” Julian nodded. Waldemar was covered in green and blue all over. Some of these bruises at best two days old.
Waldemar himself whimpered, before Hans gave him a slow hug:
“You are an idiot. But you are Part of my Crew now. We get you your Pajamas. I’ll make sure Caius understands.”
Julian smiled, nodding: “Good job Hans.”