The Path to Valor

[Kazinsal]

Barrier Gate Station - Deck Two, Section Beta-15

Vadim Petrov looked through the file on his desk. It was a thin folder with merely a few papers in it, all labelled "classified". The name on the folder simply read, "Jasmine Keller".

The door buzzer echoed through the small office as Petrov put the folder back into the desk drawer.

"Enter," he said.

The door slid open and Victoria Quinn walked in, trailed by a young woman no more than nineteen years old. Her face looked identical to that of the girl in the file, albeit more mature. Her black hair stood out in the light grey backdrop of the room.

"Thank you, Victoria," said Petrov. "Would you mind..."

Victoria nodded and left the two alone in the rather small room.

Petrov started speaking as soon as the door hissed shut. "Please, Jasmine, sit down."

She looked at him nervously. His stubble and dark glasses made him look extremely dangerous and powerful, which, after all, he was.

"Right," she said, sitting down. "What's all this about?"

"You are aware that your father is Jacob Keller, the commander of the Children of Conviction, yes?"

She nodded slowly.

"Well, I've been told by Commander Keller, my boss, that you are to be trained as part of the Children of Conviction. Family bloodlines and all. I will be your instructor. But first..." he paused, folding his hands together on the desk in front of him and touching his index fingers together. "First, there is something of as equal if not greater importance we must do, and I will need your help with this."

"Do tell," she said softly.

"We must find Jason Keller. Your brother." He pulled out a small bottle of fine liqueur. "Would you like a drink?"

"No, thank you," she said. "I would like something to eat, though."

Petrov nodded. "Down two decks, section delta-seventeen. The mess hall is located there. You can purchase whatever you want, just tell them it's on Vice Commander Petrov."

"Thank you," she said, standing up.

"Pleasure, ma'am."

She nodded and left the room. Petrov reached into his desk drawer and pulled out her file again. I thought she was supposed to be Keller's daughter, he thought to himself. She's nice though. Very nice. Almost too nice... I wonder how she'll do as one of the Children...

---

Retired, permanently.