Nininger Hall, the last remnant of the true “Old Corps” buildings in Cadet Area, isn't often used for Honor Hearings any longer. But, there's a mock trial going on in the law department today, so Nininger it is.

The room is somber, and it carries with it some of the heavy responsibility and tradition that comes with the Honor Code. I know that a lot of people, especially the witnesses and the accused, say that an Honor Hearing is scary. But, to be honest, I'm just as scared. I know that if I make a mistake today, I could change someone's life forever.

We start right at nine o'clock, and after some statements from both sides, we start with an audio testimony from Captain Gautier, the French instructor who made the formal accusation who's gone back to France and has to testify via telephone.

Cade is getting assistance from one of the JAG officers, and looks confident.

“So Captain, did you actually see Cadet Edwards using the supposed smart phone?” one of the board members asks.

“I believe the question was about a smart watch,” Captain Gautier answers, and his accent is no problem at all to me. “But no, I did not see it. The room was arranged in a standard U shape, and Cadet Edwards sat at a corner position.”

After Captain Gautier, Ashley is called. I've felt nervous about this the whole time. I appreciate Keith and the Commandant's vouching for my impartiality, but I'd still rather have had someone else in this chair.

Ashley's testimony starts with her repeating what she saw, and I have to suppress a smile as she faces up to the Board. Once her statement is completed, the Board starts questions. I lead off. “Cadet Carlyle, did you see Cadet Edwards actually manipulate his watch or any other device underneath his desk?”

“No,” Ash says evenly. “The angle of our desks, I could not see that area. I was merely suspicious.”

“And you didn't approach for clarification from Cadet Edwards why?” one of the Cows asks, and Ashley sits back, resting her arms on the sides of her chair.

“I was a Plebe, the day after Recognition, and Cadet Edwards and I had studied together. I felt uncomfortable in approaching, so I talked with Captain Gautier.”

Cade indicates that he'd like to ask a question, and I nod. “Cadet Edwards?”

“Thank you. Cadet Carlyle, if you would, tell the Board about the nature of you coming to my room to study.”

Ashley looks perplexed, then at the Board. “I don't see how that's germane. The Honor Code states that an approach for clarification is recommended, it is not required.”

“Point taken. Cadet Edwards, what is the point of this question?” I ask, trying to give him some slack. Maybe I'm giving him a little too much leeway, but I can't be sure.

“I'd like to show the Board that the base of this accusation is not grounded in merit, but rather in the jilted feelings of a Plebe who was trying to garner an advantage and to break the rules with me,” Cade says, and I have to restrain the urge to jump across the room and choke his fucking neck.

“I am not jilted in any way,” Ashley says before I can reply. “And as for the study session, you asked me to your room. When you hit on me, I left. That's all.”

“Really?” Cade asks, and I can see what he's doing. He's casting doubt, and as I look at the Board, I can see the doubt creeping in. They don't know Ashley the way I do, she'd take me to task about breaking the rules if she felt it was needed. A hysterical, hormonally driven Plebe female pissed about a handsome upperclassman who rejects her. It's outlandish, it's sexist as hell, and it can work.

Ashley sees the trap though, and shuts up, looking to the Board. “I saw what I saw. I approached Captain Gautier. That is it.”

The Board however, isn't so satisfied. “Cadet Carlyle, are you certain you saw what you say you saw?”

Ashley nods, convinced. “First off, I'm not a person who goes into hysterics or gets jealous or jilted. Second, I saw his hands under the desk. Like I told the Board, I don't know what he was doing under the desk, but he had his hands there. And I saw a large faced watch, I thought it looked like a smart watch. That's all.”

The Board seems satisfied, but I can tell they don't quite believe Ashley's story. However, another cadet came to Keith the other day and said he wanted to testify as well. “The Board calls Cadet Benjamin Richards.”

Cade looks surprised, and raises his hand. “Excuse me, but I was not informed about Cadet Richards' testimony.”

“It was in the hearing packet you were given. You may take a moment to discuss this with your JAG rep if you'd like.”

Cade whispers with the JAG officer, who tells him what I checked with Keith when he sent me the update last night. This is totally within the standards of the Honor Committee, as Ben Richards had been interviewed earlier and had been on a potential witness list. Finally, he turns back, and gives us a surly nod. “I'm ready.”

Ben Richards sits down, and after stating his name, begins his testimony. “Second semester last year, I was Cade's roommate. We lived in the second floor of Bradley Barracks, and for the most part got along well. But when the committee came to me to ask about the events in question, I grew angry.”

“Why?” one of the Board members asked, and Ben nods.

“Because when I heard the story, I immediately thought of my smart watch. It was a gift from my grandparents, who thought that I could use it. They didn't quite get the fact that living in Bradley, you can't get a signal outside of the USMA WiFi signal, and that it was basically useless to me except as a toy until I got off post. I didn't even set it up with a carrier, it's no good to me,” Richards says.

“Did you talk with Cadet Edwards about your thoughts?” I ask, and Richards shakes his head. “Why?”

“Because I didn't know, and I didn't want to pile on. The days Cade had French that semester, I had DPE in the mornings second period, and then mech engineering fourth period. Honestly, I usually left the watch in my room most days anyway. But, after I heard about the hearing, I had to know for sure. I feel like crap honestly, not just doing this earlier, and I talked with my TAC about it and my company Honor Rep, I don't know if this is a toleration offense or not. But, Sunday afternoon I checked my watch.”

“Checked it for what?” another board member asks, and Richards sighs.

“I checked the browser history. From up in the DFL classrooms, I know you can get a cell signal, I've seen instructors use cell phones up there. And my watch was sent to me unlocked, my grandparents said they didn't know what provider USMA uses. They're a bit... technically behind. I'd on a whim for a trip to New York set it up with some prepaid data and minutes. It'd been months before, but there was still plenty of data on the plan, I guess. The browser was used during the time of the test, accessing Google Translate.”

“Objection! Calls for conjecture!” Cade shouts, but he shuts up when Ben takes out his watch and stands up. He brings it over to the Board and hands it to me. “Objection!”

“Noted,” I reply, turning on the watch. Out of the corner of my eye, I see Ashley looking on, content, and I shut it off. “Cadet Edwards, the Board will have this verified by the Goldcoats computer experts, but I'd like to give you a chance to question Cadet Richards at this time.”

Cade talks with his JAG rep, who whispers strongly to him. Cade and him argue for a moment, then Cade cuts him off. “Fuck off, it's my only choice!”

Cade turns back to the Board and stands up, putting his hands on the table. “I'd like to change my initial status from contested to admitted. I admit to using the smart watch, I took it from Ben's desk and used it to cheat on the test. I ask for the Board's mercy.”

I look around, willing to take Cade's words at face value, but down on the end, one of the other Firsties, Elise Stuckey, interjects. “And of your statement about Cadet Carylyle? About her being a jilted Plebe that you dumped on? That statement's already been called into question by Cadet Carlyle herself.”

Cade turns red, then looks down. “I hit on her. Cadet Carlyle never violated regulations with me.”

* * *

“That had to be hard,” Cara comments as I sit in her room, rubbing at my temples. I'd talk with Ashley, but she's got fifth and sixth period classes right now. I know we'll talk later, but I need to destress right now. “How'd you handle it?”

“We'll see what the Comm and Supe say, but after his more or less lying about Ashley, the Board wasn't feeling very merciful. They recommended separation.”

Cara hums, nodding. “I bet. You never knew Cade Edwards, did you?”

“I'd seen him around DFL, we're both foreign language majors,” I reply, “but our languages didn't overlap. I'm focusing on French and Russian, while he's in Chinese, and I guess French was his secondary language.”

“Then you don't really know how he operates. He and I were in the same battalion as Plebes and Yuks. He made a lot of enemies, not that anyone would really say it to his face. He had that year of prior service, and the TACs loved the guy. I mean, look at him. He's a goddamn recruiting poster brought to life, with that build and everything. But... fuck Simon, he's one of those types who have the up front charisma to work his way into your confidence, but I'd heard from people, he'd use what he learned against you. Never directly, but a lot of people who tried to oppose him got hamstrung when their backs were turned. He tried to come after me at one point when he figured out about my.... never mind.”

I nod, and sit up, sighing. “Either way, it's in the hands above us now. You would have been so proud of Ash, Cara. She sat there and never once blinked. I don't think I had balls that big when I was a first semester Yuk.”

“Not what I've heard, big boy,” Cara teases, then shakes her head. “Jesus, how do you do it?”

“What?” I ask. “Talk about my balls so much?”

“No, you idiot. You realize when I was First Sergeant, the last person I wanted to be buddies with was you? I knew your rep, like I said you tagged Ronnie Mitchell. I've had my fill of players in my life. But now here I am, and you're one of my favorite Firsties in the company. How'd you pull that off?”

“You can thank Ash for that, I think,” I reply honestly. “She's special like that. Kinda like Tammy is, I bet.”

Cara looks over, giving me a measured look, then nods slowly. “Maybe. Either way, I'd say you can spend the rest of today not worrying about the Honor Board, but just be a good boyfriend. Hey, mind if I ask you a personal question on that?”

“Fire for effect, go.”

“You love her?” Cara asks quietly after a moment. “I mean, are you in love with her?”

I consider the option carefully. I've never said I've been in love before, to be honest after what my mother did to me I've had a hard time trusting any woman. Until Ashley, sex was just a fun game, a partner based way to blow off a little stress, and I'm damn good at it. But Ashley... she's different. “I... I think I may be. What about you?”

“Yeah,” Cara says, smiling a little shyly, something I've never seen her do, and it makes her look cute. “We're going to stay down low, but yeah, I do. Who the hell knows if it's going to last. I hope it does, but yeah, I really do.”

“Congrats. So does that mean you're not going to choke me out if I fuck up, oh great grappler?”

Cara laughs, and shakes her head. “Nope, no choke outs. Break your arm maybe, but no choke outs. Come on, chill. We're Firsties, we find out our branch in two weeks, and we've got the whole world in the palm of our hands. Enjoy it.”