by Paris Singer
I walked to where the VAIA stood, curious what the caretaker looked like. There was a creepiness to how he gazed at us in the dark, the two blue orbs glowing from within.
“Pleased to meet you,” I said, not daring to step any closer.
Mial gazed at me for a moment as if sizing me up. Then, suddenly, a whirring sound came from the two tall double doors as they opened inward, revealing a huge atrium beyond.
I stepped into the light. Mial, now visible, still gazed at me with his big blue eyes, a surly expression on his round, furry yellow face, his ears pressed back against his head. He was a third of my height, and wore thick work boots that looked to be too big for him, gray overalls and long, heavy duty black and yellow gloves.
“This way,” he said, wrinkling his flat snout with clear annoyance. He turned and walked inside.
“This is where I leave you, Mr. Seven,” said the VAIA. “You will do very well here, I trust. The Council is sure to be in contact with you. Goodbye.” It started back to the vehicle. I stood there for a moment, looking from the VAIA to the caretaker, and back again. I debated running back along the bridge, to the council building in search of Alana. I wondered if she was okay.
“Hey. You.” Mial’s high-pitched, irritated voice came from behind me. “Are you coming, or what? I’ve got a zillion things to be doing, so if your majesty wouldn’t mind…”
I sighed feeling deflated, and followed the caretaker who mumbled grumpily under his breath, wagging the tail at the back of his head in an agitated way.
There was a large, tubular tower in the atrium's center. The same, I guessed, as I’d seen outside. Its white reflective surface shone as if brand new and stretched up to the top of the academy. I could see the long walkways that joined the other two spiraling towers with itself. On the ground floor were common areas like a coffee shop and a canteen, with grouped benches and chairs spread around the middle, and clusters of various types of plants around them. The five floors around the base could be reached by crisscrossing walkways to the left and right of each. Every story, and the roof that separated the base and the winding towers, were transparent with a tint of purple.
“When you’re done gawking, I’ll thank you to step into the elevator. How do I get stuck with these people?”
“Oh. Yeah,” I said, hurrying to Mial, who was standing in front of one of two doors at the base of the white, cylindrical tower. “Sorry.”
“Sorry, he says. Sorry isn’t going to get my work done for me, is it?” The caretaker placed his hand in front of a pad to his right, making it glow blue, and the right door swooshed open. “Get in, then,” grumbled Mial. When I’d stepped in, it surprised me to see outside as clearly as if I were still standing there. He walked in and said, “Twelve,” and the elevator shot upward.
For the first time I saw the blue glass towers up close, winding around the central one, and beyond the many bright lights of the city came into view. Before I knew it, the elevator stopped, and the door opened.
“Out you get, then,” said the caretaker, shooing me out. Ahead was a walkway with high sides that led to a door into one of the winding towers. I stepped out and noticed that the white ceiling of the academy was almost within reaching distance. I walked along the walkway to the glass door on the other side.
“These are your quarters,” said Mial, from behind me. “To open it, put your hand over that pad there—the white one.” I did as he asked, and a large panel slid to one side, revealing an entrance.
“Be up by first light,” said the caretaker from a distance standing in the elevator. “You’ve got a long day ahead of you.” The door slid shut, and he was gone.
The room was basic: the walls were dark gray, with soft, blue neon lights around the edges. To my left was a single bed against the side. To my right was a small, square table, same color as the walls, with two silver chairs. Beyond it was a door which I guessed was the bathroom. The last feature was a small silver desk and chair in front of a large window with rounded edges on the wall opposite me. Like the walls, it also had light blue neon lighting around it. It was so… clean. So tidy. Real or not, I immediately missed my old room. When I walked over to the window, the door automatically swooshed shut behind me. I gazed out at the canopy of stars and lights that spread out outside.
“So, this is home,” I said, sighing. I would have to get used to this new life whether I liked it or not. Rubbing my eyes, I stepped over to the bed, and lay on it. No sooner had my head hit the firm pillow than I fell asleep.
CHAPTER ELEVEN
I jerked awake and sat up in bed to the sounds of an alarm. Explosions. I dashed to the window. In the distance, the cannons I’d seen were firing up into the darkness above.
What’s going on? I wondered. Then, from somewhere above, an enormous orange beam of light tore into and along the earth, causing cannons to explode in a rain of fire and smoke. A powerful wave shook the academy. I opened the door and ran to the elevator. What was happening? Was it an attack on Simia?
When I reached the ground floor, the atrium was still deserted. Where was everyone? Was I the only person there? Where was the caretaker?
Another series of explosions shook the ground as bright lights lit up the night sky. I didn’t know where to go or what to do. The Council, I thought, they’ll be able to tell me what’s happening. Just as I was about to run outside, someone said, “I haven’t seen you before. You new?”
I turned and saw a boy around my age, climbing in through a window to my left.
“What’s happening?” I cried, feeling panicked. “Are we being attacked?”
“Oh, that?” the boy answered, walking over to a bench and slouching down. “Yeah, that’s right.” He almost looked to be a Simian like me, except his skin was a tint of red with small, black patches all over. He had one long pointed ear, split in two at its tip and the other one which he was picking with his finger, was missing its upper half, like it’d been cut off.
“You really must be new,” he said with an air of aloofness.
“Yeah—I am. Now tell me what’s going on. Where is everyone? What should we do?”
“Hey, hey—relax, guy. It’s just the Morex doing their thing again. Chill. They’re trying to invade, blah, blah, blah, and will just fail—again. Nothin’ to worry about, okay? Jeez.”
“So it is the Morex,” I said to myself. They must be attacking because Alana and I escaped them. They must be aware that we landed near here.
“That’s what I said. So you know who’s attacking us, huh?”
“I wasn’t sure,” I replied, snapping out of my thoughts.
“You’re a strange one, kid,” the boy said, getting to his feet.
“Seven.”
“Seven what?”
“That’s my name.”
The boy paused a moment, as if thinking, then said, “What’s your name?”
“Seven—Seven is my name.”
“Seriously? What a dumb name,” he said, raising his eyebrows and curling the sides of his big mouth up to reveal big, white teeth. “Is that really your name? You’re playing me, right?”
“Well, it’s kind of my name.”
“Kind of, huh?” The boy chuckled to himself and said, “Well, Seven, come on, we’d better go.”
“Where are we going?”
“You are new, after all. Downstairs. They’re all there. I hope the principal hasn’t noticed I’m not. Oh, and you, too. Come on.” He walked over to the elevators as further explosions and flashing lights continued outside. I didn’t know who he was, but I felt like I had no choice but to follow him. At least I was doing something.
When the elevator doors closed, the boy turned and said, “I’m Sally, by the way.”
***
“Sally. That’s a little feminine, isn’t it?” I said, a little annoyed he’d commented about my name.
“It’s short for Salamandar, smart guy,” he snapped.
“Much better,” I said, nodding.
Sal
ly looked me up and down, smiled, and said, “You’ve got a sense of humor, kid. You need it with a name like ‘Seven’.”
I was planning a comeback when a faint voice drifted into my mind.
“Shh,” I said, straining to listen to the words.
“Um, I wasn’t speak—”
“Shh.”
The volume of the voice grew.
… through this before, my children. The Council are doing everything they can to stop the current attempt as quickly as possible. Once again, this…
That voice was familiar. But it couldn’t be who it sounded like. Could it? The elevator doors opened into an area as large as the atrium above. Purple neon light trimmed the circular white walls, giving the area a light purple tint. Concentric circles, three steps high, encircled the elevators. Right in front of us, teachers and students with their backs to us, were all facing a tall, slim person who stood on the highest level. I recognized her instantly: it was Ms. Photuris.
CHAPTER TWELVE
I felt a strange elation at seeing her, like bumping into an old friend at a party where you don’t know anyone. Ms. Photuris had been my Strategy class teacher aboard the Sky Drifter. The last time I’d seen her, she’d come to my room in the middle of the night and had forced me to an Advance Strategy class. I now knew it hadn’t been the real Ms. Photuris, but the Morex who’d wanted me to come up with a strategy to defeat my race. The teacher I was looking at was one I’d never met.
No sooner had we stepped off the elevator than Ms. Photuris stopped speaking and gazed at me with her oval black eyes. She looked exactly like the version of her I’d known, with a high-necked, long black coat with yellow trim. The yellow-green light that glowed inside her made me feel calm.
Excuse me, she said to the small crowd, her voice sounding in my mind. Ms. Photuris made her way over to us, her gaze never shifting from where we stood.
You must be Seven, she said. It was still weird she wasn’t the teacher I’d known for so long. I wanted to tell her of course it was me, but I fought the urge and replied, “Yes,” instead.
I apologize for not having properly greeted you, my child, but the current state of affairs prevented me from so doing. I trust you found your way to your quarters with the help of the caretaker?
“Oh, yes,” I replied, remembering how surly he’d been.
Good. You will find your timetable along with a codex detailing anything you may need to know within your desk, my child. Should you have questions, do ask any of the teachers, as they will be more than happy to help with any inquiries you may have.
Ms. Photuris turned to Sally, and said, Mr. Salamandar, you are late once again. You will report to Mr. Khibik at the usual time and place. Her head jerked. Excuse me, my children, she said and walked at a hurried pace back to the upper level where she’d been standing before.
I have just received news that the attack has, once again, successfully been repressed. You may all return to your quarters, my children. Elated cheers and whoops filled the room. Teachers and students alike made their way to the elevators as Sally and I stood to one side. Throwing his arms behind his head, he mumbled, “Tsk, she thinks she’s so great. Always picking on me for something. It‘s not like I was that late this time. Whatever.”
“When did Ms. Photuris become the principal?” I asked. “Didn’t she used to be a Strategy teacher?”
“Strategy teacher?” Sally replied, screwing up his face like he’d just eaten something rotten. “The heck is that?”
“They don’t teach you Strategy in this academy?”
Sally looked at me for a moment and said, “Where d'you say you were from?”
I was aware it was untrue, but I replied, “I was a student on the Sky Drifter.” No sooner had I said those words than he burst into laughter.
When after an annoying moment he stopped, Sally said, “You’re crazy, guy. That thing when down years ago.”
“Went down?” There was a sudden pain in my chest. “What happened? The Morex?”
“Easy, easy,” he replied, holding his hands out in front of him. “I mean it was abandoned ages ago. When academies took in students from all over the universe, there was little point to the Sky Drifter anymore. It stopped being exclusive and so was pointless. Probably ended up in a scrap yard, or something.” Placing his hands back behind his head, Sally looked me up and down. “You are a weird kid.” He turned and followed the others to the elevator, squeezing into one before the door shut.
A pang of sadness washed over me. I had regarded the Sky Drifter my home even if it hadn’t been real. The news that not even the real one existed anymore emphasized just how alone I was.
I waited for everyone to leave, stepped into the elevator to the twelfth floor and walked out onto the walkway. I stopped to look out at the brisk night beyond. Plumes of smoke rose from fiery remains of crashed ships and canons. The war between Simia and the Morex was real. I tried not to think I’d been responsible for some—if not much—of the destruction over the years. I walked into my quarters and sat on the bed, worried about what the following day would hold.
CHAPTER THIRTEEN
“Time to wake, student.”
“Ten more minutes.”
“Time to wake, student.”
“Ava—ten more minutes. Just ten more, and I’ll get up… Promise.”
“Student, it is time to wake. Failure to do so would be against directive 5B of the Academy Conduct Code 2231, which would result in a disciplinary action. Please, student, it is time to wake.”
I opened my eyes wide. “Ava?” I sat up and looked around. I expected to see my old room, but quickly realized where I was. “Oh.” I scratched my head and yawned. “So, you’re an AVA, then?” I said.
“The Automated Voice Assistant models have been discontinued, student. I am an Automated Life Management Assistant. Top of the line.”
“Life Management?” I scoffed. “I’ll just call you, Al.”
“As you wish.”
“And stop calling me ‘student’—my name’s Seven.”
“As you wish, Seven. You will be late for your first class, Seven. To arrive late to any lesson would be against directive—”
“Oh, can you stop talking for a second?”
“It is my duty as the Auto—”
“Oh, man—fine. Fine. Where do I have to go?”
“Access your timetable from your desk, Seven.”
I stood up and walked over to it.
“What do I do?” I said, looking around it for a panel to press.
“You need only ask, Seven.”
A screen, separated into various menus, appeared on the surface of the desk.
“Anything you need assistance with you have only to ask, and I will comply.”
“Good to know,” I replied, trying to navigate through the masses of information. “Timetable… Timetable… Okay.” I pressed the screen, and the schedule was displayed. From what I could tell, my first class was biology—third floor, C. “Now, how do I get to door C on the third floor?”
“You may find it useful to know that you can take the timetable with you, including the academy map and all other features contained for your convenience.”
“Wow. Well, that’s actually useful. How do I do that?”
“Please stand still, Seven.”
As soon as I did, the holographic screen lifted off the table, elongated into a band, and floated over to my forehead where it wrapped around it.
“Whoa, that’s kinda cool,” I said.
“To access features on the Portable Codex, simply state what you are seeking, Seven.”
“Um, okay, so: Biology class,” I said. From the faint screen, a blue four dimensional image of the academy was displayed in front of me, showing the class as a red dot.
“To zoom in, please say, ‘zoom’,” said Al.
“Zoom,” I said, and the image zoomed in to where the class was.
“To turn off your Portable Codex, just say ‘end’.
If you wish for my assistance, simply call me. You will be late if you do not leave soon, Seven. To arrive late to any lesson would—”
“Yeah, yeah, gotcha, thanks.” I looked around me and realized I didn’t have a bag, notepads, or anything else. I would have to ask teachers about it. “Okay, I’m going,” I said, looking at the map to visualize how to get to the class walking. Just as I opened the door, Al said, “Consider setting your Portable Codex on path tracking, Seven, so you do not become lost. Just say, ‘biology class track’.”
“Oh, okay, great, thanks,” I said, walking out the door, onto the bridge. “Biology class track,” I repeated. A row of four blue arrows appeared on the path ahead. “I guess I just follow these then,” I said. I walked along the bridge, waited for the elevator, and got in. The doors closed and the elevator descended on its own. When the doors reopened, I was in the atrium. The arrows pointed ahead, curving when I reached one of the crisscrossing walkways. When I reached the third floor, they led me along the left side, to the third door where they became a single green cross in front of it. A large blue ‘C’ marked the white door.
***
“End,” I said, and the Portable Codex turned off. I placed my hand over the blue pad on the wall and the door opened. A sudden booming sound jerked me backward and stopped just as quickly. I eased into the class and looked around for a sign of where the sound could have come from. Students of various species stared at me while they stood around their round, white desks. The classroom had a high ceiling, and the big windows opposite me crisscrossed at an angle. All along the center section of the window panes, red interweaving moss or webbing of some kind spread up and out onto the ceiling and the upper part of the left wall, compacting into a mass across part of the floor between the desks.
Against the wall on the far right of the classroom was a large screen that reached all the way from the floor to the ceiling. In front of it was a white rectangular desk with various instruments and equipment spread around on it. The biology teacher stood to one side of it. No taller than the length of my forearm, his amphibian-like head was bright blue with small, yellow circles spread around his face. Unlike an amphibian, though, he had gray hair all around it, like a mane. He looked a little funny wearing a red bow tie, an argyle sweater vest, brown corduroy pants and black shoes that looked way too big for him. The teacher continued staring at me with his bulbous black and yellow eyes for a moment. “Welcome.” A blast of sound boomed from his mouth, almost sweeping me off my feet. “You must be the new student,” he continued. I had to lean forward to stop from falling while trying to cover my ears as best I could. “I am Mr. Hibutt. Please find a desk at which to stand.” I wondered how I would survive that lesson without being blown up or going deaf.