Sirius Zero: Building A Corporate Kingdom After Being Expelled

Annette awoke to a splitting headache, and a stiff contorted body.

A guttural groan escaped her lips as she straightened herself from the dining table, her bones cracking and popping.

Her senses became dimly aware of Mikaela standing next to her.

"M-Mikaela?" she asked, her eyes watering and her head throbbing.

"Here, hangover cure. You have 15 minutes to get to Boston Public," said Mikaela, setting a glass down at the table.

"W-what?" asked Annette, but Mikaela was already out the door.

Annette took the glass and drained it.

"Oh shit! I’m late!" she exclaimed as the warm water mixed with turmeric, black pepper, salt, ginger and lemon juice eased her symptoms and reduced her headache.

She dashed to her bathroom for a quick shower, then changed into a fresh hoodie and jeans.

Her stomach rumbled as she came back down the stairs.

"Ugh! I need to eat," she moaned, going into the dining room, to find a peanut butter and jelly sandwich on the dining table.

She snatched it up and stuffed it into her mouth as she turned and ran out of the house to her car.

"I’m late so I’ll let it go for now," she grumbled as the realization that she had just been managed like an unruly child, and that Mikaela had been ice-cold with her finally caught up.

---

"Hey, Ms. Petra. I heard what happened. How are you feeling?" asked Anna, as Annette stepped out of her white Hyundai Ioniq 5.

"I’m feeling OK, Anna. Actually, scratch that. I’m pretty much a prisoner in my own house," said Annette, as they walked towards the school entrance.

"Tell me about it! I’m stuck with Dad and Ms. Washington. At least you just have Mikaela to deal with," sighed Anna.

"Ms. Washington isn’t all that bad," said Annette.

"That’s just a face she puts on over here. When she’s with my dad, she goes full, what was it called? Oh, yeah! Internalized misogynist! That’s what she is," grumbled Anna.

"Is she now?" asked Annette, perking up at Anna’s energy.

"Yeah. She actually calls my dad ’Daddy Stefan’ when she sleeps with him. And she’s a screamer," said Anna.

"OK, that was too much information," chuckled Annette.

"Hmph! Well she’s on suspension right now, so it doesn’t matter," said Anna, as they arrived at the staff room.

"Actually, Anna. I’m back. Your father was kind enough to have the suspension overturned by the school board," said Maria, standing in the doorway of the staff room, her hands on her hips and a vein throbbing in her temple.

Anna stood rooted to the spot, looking wide-eyed at Maria.

"Ms. Washington, please. Anna is only venting her frustrations," said Annette, coming between them.

"I see. Well, I’m going to tell you this only once, Anna. Spreading rumors and telling tales are very serious offenses, and can easily happen to you as well. You wouldn’t like everyone to know certain things, now, would you? Or perhaps you would like your father to know about this side of you?" asked Maria.

"I-I’m sorry," stammered Anna, trembling at the mention of Stefan.

"Now get to class," said Maria, and Anna hurried off.

"Did you really need to threaten her like that?" asked Annette.

"Perhaps you’d like all the staff to know about your little family business?" asked Maria, glaring at Annette.

"You wouldn’t!" gasped Annette.

"No, so I expect you to teach the same to those who don’t know," said Maria, brushing past Annette to get to her 5th grade class.

---

"Hey Mikaela, need any help?" asked Edward, checking in on Mikaela as she studied a physics book.

"Yes, but not with course work. I looked over the clubs St. Ignatius has, and I can’t decide between fencing and kendo," said Mikaela.

"Got the idea from seeing my ceremonial sword last night eh?" asked Edward.

"Well, yes. But I still think either one is good," said Mikaela, blushing slightly.

"Well, if you’re looking for actual sword fighting instruction, then it is kendo that you want. It may be tailored for Japanese katana blades rather than European straight blades, but the discipline itself is rooted in martial tradition. Fencing on the other hand is essentially a dance at this point. It’s good for reflexes and footwork, but you won’t get any actual sword fighting technique from it. It may look cool in a movie, but it is next to useless in an actual fight," said Edward.

"I see," mused Mikaela.

"That being said, most people just use guns these days," chuckled Edward.

"Maybe, but there was something in the way your sword was shining last night that I can’t get out of my head," said Mikaela.

"That’s true I suppose. A skilled swordsman makes combat look fluid and almost romantic, compared to just blasting away with a gun. But then again that was why guns replaced swords in the first place. You can teach a bunch of guys to shoot a gun in a couple of weeks and no sword master can stop a bullet, even if they trained for a lifetime," said Edward.

"I know that. I’d still like to learn though," said Mikaela.

"Of course, it’s kendo that you want then," said Edward.

"OK. Kendo it is," said Mikaela, going back to her physics problem.

---

"Hey, Ms. Petra. I forgot to tell you earlier. I’m going by they/them pronouns now," said Anna, coming into the staff room at the end of the school day.

"I see. I’ll update it in your records," said Annette, quickly logging back into her school computer.

"Also, can I come over? I’d rather not deal with my dad and Ms. Washington," asked Anna.

"I suppose you can, but you’ll still need to ask your dad for permission," said Annette.

"Meh, I’ll ask when he notices I’m not home," said Anna with a nonchalant shrug.

"OK, you can come," said Annette, her caution morphing into a rebellious determination as she recalled the current cold-shouldered treatment Mikaela was giving her.

"Yay!" squealed Anna, bouncing in excitement.

"Looks like it really is a prison eh? Well, I suppose I can bust you out for at least a little while," chuckled Annette, picking up her car keys.

---

"Let it go, let it go. Can’t hold back anymore," sang both Anna and Annette as the Hyundai Ioniq 5 practically drove itself back to the Pine Springs neighborhood.

"The cold never bothered me anyway," they both finished, just as Annette pulled into her driveway.

"Ahh, that was fun. It’s been a while since I’ve heard this song," sighed Annette, getting out of the car, and helping Anna out.

"It’s still my favorite song," said Anna.

"Well, come on in. You can finish your homework and then call Stefan to pick you up," said Annette, leading Anna through the front door.

"So, Mikaela is hell-bent on going to that St. Ignatius is she?" asked Anna.

"Yes, she is. Unless I can come up with a reason that nobody can refute," sighed Annette.

"Hmm. Has Ester told you why she left?" asked Anna.

"Yes, she was bullied and ridiculed for trying to get the uniform abolished," said Annette.

"That’s only part of it. Apparently, Saladin himself forced her parents out," said Anna, a thrill of satisfaction going through her as Annette’s eyes bulged.

"Are you telling me that Saladin, the butcher of Libya has his kid in St. Ignatius Academy?" asked Annette, her voice trembling.

"Yup," said Anna.

"There is no way I’m letting Mikaela go then!" said Annette, marching out of the house, and across the street.

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