Chapter Eight – Cat Skips the Ethics Module

Chapter Eight – Cat Skips the Ethics Module

“I think it’s high time that we acknowledge that much of our educational system is dedicated to teaching things that have no real-world importance, purely for the sake of indoctrinating our youth!

It’s nothing but an excuse for the intolerant leftist to fill the minds of our youth with their twisted ideals!”

–Jim Reeds, the ‘Real Man Podcast’ 2029

***

Professor Rogers stepped up to the front of the class, then narrowed his eyes as he looked across all of the students.

In the meantime, I moved to the very back and smacked the floor with the tip of my shoe. The desks were meant to fold in and out of the floor, along with the chairs. Obviously so that the floorspace could be used for other shit later on. There was a seat open for me next to Olivia way out at the front, and I sure as shit wasn’t going to be sitting there.

The Professor cleared his throat. “We’ll be starting now,” he said.

“Yeah yeah,” I muttered before bending down. Oh. There was a little clasp thing. Yeah, that made sense. I pulled on it, then the seat and desk unfolded out of the floor all nice and easy like.

“I don’t think we’re supposed to add seats,” some guy said.

“First rule of combat class,” I shot back. “Don’t do the expected thing.”

Then I sat my ass down and gestured to the professor. “Present.”

He breathed out of his nose in what might have been a laugh, but it was also perfectly deniable. “Good. Now that everyone is seated. Let’s begin. This is a special class of Combat and Tactics. We will be covering some material not usually covered, skipping some that is, and handing out far more homework than usual. If you’ve signed up for this class in particular, then you know what’s going on.”

He gestured, and the digital blackboard behind him lit up with a sort of powerpoint presentation.

“We’re skipping the history modules, the legalities of armed engagement module, and the ethics module. Instead, our first three weeks, which are usually split between the above, will be dedicated to the other two modules that we usually cover.”

Two of the remaining modules on the list were highlighted.

“Basic battlefield tactics, and physical combat. This first lesson will be on the former. Tomorrow’s class will be on the latter. Which means that when you come into class tomorrow, please bring the appropriate clothing and safety equipment. For those of you who have chosen to wear glasses, bring safety goggles. In fact, bring those anyway even if they’re not on the list, there’s always someone that gets an aug poked.”

One of the students raised a hand by the front, and Rogers pointed to him. “Will we be covering any martial art in particular?”

“The primary art taught alongside this class is Keep Safe, the corporate martial art. Obviously, that art has areas where most people find it deficient, we’ll be supplementing that with grappling, traditional wrestling, boxing, Brazilian Jiu Jitsu and some Krav Maga. Does that answer your question?”

“Yes sir,” the student said.

I felt a nervous pit in my stomach at that. Martial arts? I’d swung a punch or two in my day, and I wasn’t exactly unfit. I had protein in my diet and everything nowadays. But against someone with formal training?