Letters to Gabriel

Gabriel,

Orientation has finished and I have completed my first full day of classes here at the Imperial Naval Academy. As I told you previously, I enrolled here to better myself. The Imperial Navy has seen fit to grant me the rank of Tribunus Colonel, yet I had none of the qualifications of those within the Navy who hold the same rank. My only qualification is that I could come back from death. Had I not, I would have never made it this far. So, enrolling, I intend to earn the qualifications to deserve the rank.

I've heard the whispers in the halls of the capsuleer who came to school with the common man, and I was unable to evade identification. However, I am a common man. I was born one, and as such shall die. There have been many for whom the power of a capsuleer has corrupted; twisted them into a most vile form of egocentrism and sociopathy. I shall not succumb.

I am, however, not without problems of my own. When I originally sat down to write this, it was going to be a simple mass-mailer form to my friends. Within moments, however, I realized that you are the only one I have left. You are my only friend. I have aquaintences, of course, but none with whom I would write. The closest I have are my CEO, my old Captain (an Admiral now, unsurprisingly), and my ex-fiance.

Aldrith...we used to be friends, or something close to it. But I've lost faith in the man and he has disappeared anyhow. He has married the Admiral, you know. I attended the wedding, as hard as it was for me. I had to show my support.

The Admiral, I respect her more than anyone else, but we are not friends. We've shared drinks, stories, combat...yet I cannot see her as a friend. Everything between us has been nothing but professional...and so it shall stay. She was my mentor, and to this day continues to advise me, though I know I've done nothing but disappoint her.

And of course, Shalee, my ex. We were on rather good terms for a while before I could no longer take her abuse. She, however, seems to be unable to see her own failings, her own faults, and so of course I know it must have seemed to come out of left field. Despite my best attempts to explain, unable to see anything but her own wants and needs, failed to see anything. The woman I fell for is dead, her memory now trampled by this demon who now inhabits her body. She has shamed and humiliated me on so many levels, in so many ways, I do not think I can maintain my sanity unless something in her changes and she no longer hides behind the vacuous notions she shields herself with. I have told her what she needs to hear, yet I know I will forever be villified for it.

Well, I have wasted enough of your time with my complaints. I know I am but a man angrily shaking his fist at the sky. There's a bottle of liqour sitting here on my desk given to me as a gift by a classmate, a brand I've not yet tried. Nepenthe. Sounds like it's exactly what I need.

I will write you again soon.

Your friend,
Raphael