"Because if you don't
transfer, we will!"
Roger merely smiled, flipped his fingers to his forehead in an arrogant
gesture of farewell and turned to leave again. But his path was blocked
by the sudden appearance of Captain Steve Strong. The three cadets
quickly braced.
The Solar Guard officer strode into the room, his face beaming. He
looked at each of the boys, pride shining out of his eyes, and then
brought his hand up and held it in salute.
"I just want to tell you boys one thing," he said solemnly. "It's the
highest compliment I can pay you, or anyone." He paused. "All three of
you are real spacemen!"
Tom and Astro couldn't repress smiles, but Roger's expression never
changed.
"Then we passed as a unit, sir?" asked Tom eagerly.
"Not only passed, Corbett"--Strong's voice boomed in the small
room--"but with honors. You're the top rockets of this Earthworm group!
I'm proud to be your commanding officer!"
Again Tom and Astro fought back smiles of happiness and even Roger
managed a small grin.
"This is the fightingest group of cadets I've ever seen," Strong
continued. "Frankly, I was a little worried about your ability to pull
together but the results of the manuals showed that you have. You
couldn't have made it without working as a unit."
Strong failed to notice Roger's face darken, and Tom and Astro look at
each other meaningfully.
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