Hounds of Orion

A short while later, Logan and Cameron gathered around the ladder leading up to the Squires cockpit. As confident as he had been, Cameron still couldn’t help but to feel his stomach knotting up with anxiety. He reached down to clutch at his stomach involuntarily. Logan watched and pursed his lips, looking at Cameron sympathetically.

“You alright kid?” He asked softly.

Cameron nodded, pulling his hand away as he felt the knotting turn to nauseousness. He swallowed dryly, a sour taste rising in the back of his throat. “Y- Yeah. I’ll be okay. Just some nerves is all.”

“You better get over them quick.” Logan said, “After all that shit you talked, this isn’t the time to get stage fright.”

Cameron gave a soft laugh, choking down a dry heave. “Yeah, that probably wasn’t the best idea.”

“Not at all.” Logan agreed, his cheeks raising as he smiled. “But it was hilarious to watch that asshole lose his shit-eating grin.”

“Now I just need to walk the talk.” Cameron said, giving a sigh as he felt his nausea fade. He stood tall and exhaled, looking into Logan’s eyes as he asked the question that his body needed an answer too. All the nausea, the worry, the fear. They washed over him in a wave of anxiety, because he knew that for all of his blustering and false confidence, Cameron couldn’t truly believe in his abilities unless he knew the answer to his query from the only person who’s opinion mattered right now.

“Be honest with me, Logan. Can I do this? Can I win?”

“Yes.” Logan said with hesitating, his conviction iron clad.

Cameron couldn’t see a hint of doubt in his mentors eyes. A feeling of relief washed over him, building in intensity the longer he stared, his eyes failing to assess any dishonesty or deceipt. If Logan had faith enough in him, then the least Cameron could do is trust in him, therefore trusting in himself.

Cameron nodded, giving a final look before he grasped the rung of the latter beginning to climb up towards the cockpit.

“Hey kid! Wait a second!” Logan’s voice called out to him from below.

Cameron looked down and was getting ready to ask why, when he watched Logan toss a headset up to him, motioning for him to put it on, to which Cameron nodded, putting the cushioned cups over his ear, hearing his heart hammering in his ears with every rung that he ascended.

Eventually, Cameron reached the cockpit. He hopped inside, and closed the hatch before he began to flip the switches on the dash, listening to a high pitched whine begin to rise in volume as the engine cycled on.

“Kid.. Can you hear me?” Logan’s voice crackled in his ears through the headset. Cameron waited until the engine had fully cycled, the whine lowering in volume, before he flicked the microphone down and began to speak into it.

“Loud and clear Logan.” Cameron said, eyes looking forward to across the field where the two Amreith veterans and their squires stood, weapons already drawn, ready for a fight. Cameron wasn’t sure what to do from here, assuming Logan would guide him if need be, but instead, he watched as his father walked forward, raising his hands to gather their attention, and motioning for them to turn on the outer speaker on their squire units, so he could be heard. Cameron did as requested, watching his father as the king began the festivities.

“We are gathered here today, in accordance with the sacred texts of sovereignty gifted to us from the Mother Planet. Today, young Cameron Pellyn has agreed to have his combat and piloting capabilities be assessed and examined by Lord Lazarus Lendrick of Amreith, as is his right. This bout will be used to legitimize Prince Pellyn’s ascension to Seneschal as agreed by all third parties and signed off by the ruling monarch of the hosting Planet. The rules for this assessment are as follows;

1) No one but the chosen combatants will be allowed to intervene with this assessment at anytime until said assessment has reached it’s conclusion. Coaching and radio communication will be allowed.

2) This assessment will end when the assessing proctor is satisfied with the examinees result, or neither side can continue.

3) Grievous injuries will be allowed to take place without legal ramifications, in order to simulate a real-world scenario. This includes death.

Do you understand the rules as I have stated them to you now?”

Cameron could hear the two men sound off in the affirmative from across the way, and he responded as well. He pushed down a fresh wave of anxiety and fear, switching off the microphone in the cockpit for a moment as he only had words for Logan, his eyes staring intently on his father who was slowly raising his hand high into the air.

“Any last-minute advice here man?” He asked into the microphone. He heard nothing but static for a moment, but eventually Logan’s voice came over the headset, speaking with a hardened and dangerous tone that quick cut through any doubt that had settled in.

“Yeah, I do,” Logan began, “Now listen carefully. Focus up… Lock in… and put these fuckers in the dirt.”

Cameron had to stifle a chuckle as he watched his father’s arm begin to fall almost in slow motion. “Heh… Yes sir.”

He grabbed the throttle and pushed it forward, redlining it as his father’s voice boomed inside the cockpit.

“Fight!”