"Not great," I said and sat between the two girls. Robbie and Tami were sitting on the stone wall outside the side door. Thirty-seven-and-a-half perce...t of the cheerleading squad were sitting on the other wall. I gave Mikee, Allie, and Darlene big smiles. Beyond the overhang the rain was coming down. Mr. Nye, the science teacher, said we might set a record. I didn't want to set a record, I wanted football practice, and if it didn't lighten up soon, practice was going to be in the gym or. Speak your piece,” the Colonel snapped out.“Sir, I don’t know...”“Do you think that I’m stupid, Lieutenant?”Worthington froze.“Well, do you?”“Uh, Sir. No, Sir!”“She felt sorry for you when your stupidity allowed those Paladin crews to destroy your interceptor.”“We were outnumbered...” Worthington began but froze at the look on Jeff’s face.“You would not have been outnumbered or alone had you followed your Commander’s orders, which, not that it matters, originated from my orders. Orders. "Rick didn't listen to me. Two days later, the word "VIRGIN" along withother nasty messages were scrawled all over Martin's locker. I watched inthe hallway as he approached it that morning, studied it carefully andthen... shrugged it off. I don't know what I pictured - him collapsing tothe ground crying, screaming to the heavens, cursing Cat's name? - butall he did was take his Bio textbook out and go to class.I was careful about messaging him that night, but as always I asked himhow his day. It may seem fantastic, but truth is always stranger than fiction.You can make up your own mind—I only want to set the record straight before—well, you’ll see…Our journey started one inauspicious evening almost five years ago; the seven of us unaware, as we embarked on our incredible adventure, that nothing would ever be the same again. -----Date: 21 October 2015 Location: Frederick Blunden College of Science and Sorcery, Arthur’s Dent, Nottinghamshire.Occasion: Meeting of the Time.