Free Galileo (Battle of the Species) by Meaghan Sinclair

four colored uniforms.
    “Welcome to the Galileo,” Principal Lockrin said. “Classes for First Years won’t begin until the day after tomorrow, but the students have all been here for the past week, settling in. As you can see, all students are required to wear their class color. White is for First Years, blue for Second, red for Third, and gold for Fourth. You may wear what you like in your dorm room, but outside of the room you must wear your uniform, unless you’re in your battle suit, of course. Understand?” he asked, looking down at Renn for acknowledgement.
    “Yes, I understand,” Renn replied in a faint voice. “Where do I get a uniform?”
    “Most students arrive with them, but this is a rather unusual circumstance. I will notify your parents of the required school materials you will need for the rest of the year so they can send them to you. In the meantime, I will have a ship-bot bring you something that will do. Do you need to stop by the medical bay first?” Lockrin asked, glancing at Renn’s clothes.
    Renn followed his gaze and saw that he had drops of green and red blood splattered here and there. “Oh, no. This isn’t mine,” Renn said, hoping he didn’t look too psychotic, covered in blood. “Why would I wear a battle suit?” he asked, trying to change the subject.
    Principal Lockrin smiled. “For students wishing to participate in Battle of the Species,” he said, pointing to a hologram poster on the wall.
    Renn walked up to it and saw an animation of a human boy impaling a large fire-breathing animal. Looks brutal , Renn thought. They didn’t have anything like that on Earth, but Earth was now so far away.
    Renn heard Principal Lockrin’s name called, but gave a start when he heard it. It wasn’t said out loud, rather sent through telepathy. Since Renn had never met another Mindeerian, he had never encountered anyone else with the ability. He was still able to converse with humans through telepathy, but Renn would have to do all the work, listening to their thoughts and pushing his own thoughts into theirs.
    Renn turned to see an old Mindeerian with silver hair and a short beard, walking towards them. Principal Lockrin smiled. “Professor Paro. I'd like you to meet our newest pupil, Renn Andreas.”
    “Yes, I just received word,” the Mindeerian said, looking down at Renn with an anxious look.
    “Hey, classic. You're Mindeerian,” Renn said before he could stop himself.
    “Classic?” the Mindeerian repeated.
    “That means ‘great’,” Renn said.
    “Ah…slang. I suppose the word ‘cool’ doesn’t always refer to temperature, and ‘defunct’ is used as an insult?” the old Mindeerian asked.
    “Sometimes…” Renn admitted.
    “Renn,” Lockrin said, “Professor Paro will be your self-defense professor for the first year.” The Olerian looked at Paro. “Professor, I was hoping you would be so kind as to help educate Renn here on his Mindeerian studies. I have received word that his studies may not be up to the level they should be.”
    Renn wondered if the Olerian had really received word at all, or if he had decided that just that moment. He tried to listen to the Olerian’s thoughts, but the thoughts were in the Olerian’s. Either way, he had chosen a very polite way to put it, Renn thought.
    “Of course,” Professor Paro said, not taking his eyes off Renn.
    “Very good,” Lockrin replied. He then turned to Renn and bowed his head. “I'll send your house father down to show you to your dorm. Good day.”
    “Good day,” Renn said, feeling a little awkward. “Uh...I mean, bye.” Yeah, that felt better , he thought. Renn watched the Olerian walk away and then realized the old man was still staring at him.
    “Child, are you not telepathic?” Paro asked out loud.
    “Oh, um…yeah,” Renn said. “I can hear people’s thoughts.”
    “That's mind reading,” he corrected. “Telepathy is an exchange of images or words in order to communicate. Did your