“Are you planning to go tonight, Andie?” she asked. “Or did you decide to skip the grad party?” Her uncle gave her a quick hug and started off in the direction of the instructors’ quarters. “Have fun!” he called. Andie turned apologetically to her friend. “Sorry! I’ll throw something else on, and I’ll be ready to go.”
“You better hurry,” growled Kelly. “We were supposed to meet the guys ten minutes ago.” Andie raced inside to change for her big night out. Then she rushed with Kelly to the tube station to meet the rest of their group before traveling to the other side of Omphalos.
♦
The graduation party was worth the months of stress and the intense workload.
Andie’s class had chosen to follow the tradition of countless Academy grads by visiting the Quintan Edge resort. Officially they were not going to be celebrating in the Red Zone of Omphalos. After all, anybody who entered the Red Zone did so at her own risk. Since this was the “vice district” of Omphalos a lot of crazy stuff went on. But the QE was a resort that literally offered everything, even if it was normally illegal.
Andie had had her doubts about going to the QE. She wasn’t exactly a wild partying type. Yet Kelly had reassured her that the “everything” that the QE offered also included things that Andie would enjoy. “Just wait. I’m sure there is something you’ll want to do. I’m just warning you ahead of time though—I’m going straight to the virtual reality floor, so you might be on your own,” Kelly warned.
“If we’re all going to be doing stuff on our own, why are we going together?” Andie had wanted to know. “Isn’t part of the fun celebrating together?”
“Trust me, you probably don’t want to do the same stuff as a lot of the guys,” Kelly had responded. “But we still should have them as escorts,” she had added. Apparently, the Red Zone was not to be traveled lightly. So they had made plans with some of their male classmates to go together. Fortunately, the QE got its name partly for its location, which was right on the border of the Red Zone. A tube with one transfer took the group almost to the door, so they didn’t have to go wandering around in the part of town that knew no law.
As they emerged from the tube station, Andie tried to take in her surroundings. This was a new area for her. Of course, as an Academy student she almost never left campus at all, other than to walk to the nearby University. She was surprised by how light it was. She had expected dark, smelly alleyways with criminals lurking in the shadows. Instead, the streets were brightly lit and fairly clean. However, beyond the street she could see that this was a poor section of the city. The buildings were deteriorating and apparently inhabited by many families. Omphalos did not officially have slums, hence the clean streets, but one could easily see past that to the crowded tenement housing.
Andie didn’t have time to think about it for long. Her escorts led them down the street, and the transition to the Red Zone was abrupt. The Red Zone got its name from the large red signs that were posted on every entrance to the area. The sign looming before their group was intimidating. “This area is restricted to adults. Travel at your own risk,” Andie read. Shivering, she followed her companions past the sign. It certainly sounded alarming.
The first building they passed was large and black with no windows visible anywhere. It didn’t have any signs or any identification at all, but Andie knew that this was the QE. It looked exactly as Kelly had described it.
They almost missed the front entrance. It was hidden in the shadows. Walking up to the simple metal door, Andie was sure that they had the wrong one. But as soon as they got close, the door slid open and they moved into a very sterile looking foyer. It had plain white walls and a plain white tile floor. Ahead of the group was another metal door. To the side was a very modern looking identification slot.
Every person who entered the QE was required to register by thumbprint and then pay a hefty entrance fee by cash card. Andie took her turn after the others, pressing her thumbprint to the small screen in the lower left corner. Then she took out the cash card Casey had presented her with and stuck it in the slot. To her utter shock, she read that she had a balance of fifty senines, even after her entrance fee was paid. Casey had given her more money than she made in a month as a pilot! What exactly was he expecting her to do in this place? Granted, he knew more about it than she did, but surely one night’s entertainment wouldn’t cost fifty senines would it? Nervously she followed her fellow pilots through the entrance.
They emerged into a giant room filled with loud chimes and shiny machines, with crowds of people standing around green felt covered tables.
“Is this the casino?” Andie asked loudly, trying to be heard over the din. Kelly nodded absently, her eyes scanning the edges of the room. Andie studied her surroundings eagerly. She had never seen a casino before. It was enormous! Everywhere she looked there were more games and people talking loudly. One of the boys grabbed her arm and steered her toward a table with a big spinning wheel. “Let me show you how it’s done, Donnell!” he cried.
It only took a few tries at roulette before Andie was bored. Gambling just wasn’t that interesting. And though Jacques was still eagerly betting, he had yet to win anything either. He was so involved that he didn’t even notice when Andie wandered off.
Now where had Kelly run off to? She had said everything was available here, but how did one find it? Andie wasn’t even sure she could find her way out of the casino, but finally, after peering over countless heads, she saw a polished silver sign that pointed to the “Service Center.” That sounded promising so she followed its directions and found herself at an enormous counter, manned by at least ten people in crisp white shirts with a wide red stripe down the front and the now familiar golden QE monogrammed on the front. Andie found an available spot at the counter where a pleasant older man greeted her in a clipped voice.
“How may I be of assistance this evening?” he queried politely.
“Ummm, I was just wondering, what do you have to do here?” she asked, a bit nervously.
“Why everything, Madam!” he exclaimed. “Just tell me what you wish to do, and I will arrange it for you.” Andie thought for a moment. Anything?
“I think I’d like to dance,” she requested timidly.
“Certainly. What kind of dancing?” he clarified. “We have six different clubs featuring the more common dance music in the Union, plus private rooms where we can provide something more unusual if desired.” Andie was overwhelmed. How should she know what kind of dancing? Whatever people did at the Academy dances she supposed.
“Well,” she faltered, “you see, I don’t actually know how to dance. What I really want is someone to help me learn first,” she confessed, as if it was a great crime. To her great surprise, the little man did not even seem concerned. He was immediately typing into his desk terminal. Andie waited in acute discomfort. She couldn’t believe she was asking to do this. Maybe she should just go back to the casino.
“Here you go,” the man stated, pulling a small sheet of paper from his printer and sliding it across the counter. “Bryar, one of our best dance instructors, will be waiting for you here. The map on the paper should get you to the right room, but if you get lost there are red terminals posted on the walls of most corridors. From there you can contact guest services if you need anything. Or simply look for someone wearing a shirt like mine,” he added, permitting himself a small smile.
Map in hand, Andie soon found herself in a lobby with eight separate lifts. According to her directions she needed to take one of the west lifts to the fifth floor. Idly she wondered just how big this place was. Her map only showed a small section of it, she suspected. Once on the fifth floor she found the door fairly easily. Well, here goes, she thought, taking a deep breath. With the push of a button the door slid open silently. Andie walked in to find herself in a room about the same size as the rec lounge back at the Academy. The walls were painted a dark burg
undy, except the wall facing her, which was mirrored from floor to ceiling. Brass wall sconces glowed softly and an elaborate chandelier hung from the ceiling, which was painted to look like white, fluffy clouds. At the far end she could see a terminal screen, presumably where the music could be chosen. Standing next to the terminal was a young man, probably in his early twenties. He was of medium height and well-muscled, his plain dark shirt stretched across his chest. His hair was a startling orange and spiked, like flames were spouting from his head. As she entered the room he smiled broadly and started toward her, his shoes clicking loudly on the glossy wood floor.
“Hi, I’m Bryar,” he greeted cheerfully. His voice was smooth and deep, with a well-educated accent.
“I’m Andie,” she responded politely. Now that she was here in the situation, she wished she was miles away. Here she was in a ballroom with a complete stranger who was supposed to teach her how to dance. What was she thinking?
“So what kind of dancing were you hoping to learn tonight?” he asked, pulling a remote for the terminal from his belt.
“I don’t really know. Whatever the University crowd does here in Omphalos, I guess,” she explained hesitantly, feeling foolish. “I haven’t been paying enough attention.”
“Well, that’s actually pretty easy. Right now the trend in Omphalos is just to do whatever random movement you want that goes with the beat of the music.” He flicked the remote at the terminal and some brassy music with a rapid, fluttering drumbeat filled the air. “This is one of the popular club mixes right now. Just try moving along with the music,” he suggested, his hips suddenly sliding into action while his arms flew out in different directions. Andie watched him in fascination. It was as if Bryar was translating the upbeat music into pictures she could see. But she still stood motionless, at a loss as to what part of her body she should move. As for moving along with the music, she wasn’t even sure what the beat was.
After a minute, Bryar observed, “Let’s try slowing it down for you.” He flicked the remote and a much slower song came on, the only kind Andie had ever danced to. The few times she had danced with Casey, for example, had been to a slow love song where she barely moved her feet at all. Bryar moved toward her and pulled her in close. Andie realized that her head came nearly even with his nose, and she didn’t have to crane her neck to look at him like she did with Casey. But it also meant there was nowhere for her to look except right into his face.
“Close your eyes and just listen to the music,” he instructed. In relief she complied. It was strange to stand there in the dark while he placed one hand on her arm and the other on her hip. She almost giggled but just managed to hold it in. “Now just sway with the music,” explained Bryar. “Listen to it and move your body with mine.” He started slowly moving in time with the music again, and Andie felt her body pulled with him. They moved around and around, and suddenly, it clicked. Andie could hear it, the beat she was supposed to move with.
Gradually, Bryar started increasing the tempo of the music while giving her examples of different moves she could try. A couple of hours later, Bryar flicked off the remote. “I think you’re ready to try out the club,” he suggested.
“No, I don’t think so,” Andie protested.
“Just give it a try. Part of learning how to dance is learning not to be self-conscious.” She reluctantly agreed, and Bryar led her down the lifts and through another maze of corridors until they came to one of the house clubs. The music was a pounding beat, but it sounded familiar and the room was packed with people, almost all of them trying to move around on the dance floor. Bryar threaded his way into the thick of the crowd, towing Andie by the hand. “Here we go,” he mouthed at her. Andie grimaced. Right in front of everyone!
“No one is watching,” Bryar reminded loudly. He had to practically shout to be heard over the music. At first she was so embarrassed she could barely move, but Bryar was already enthusiastically dancing in the middle of the crowd, and he pulled her right along with him. She found that it was just as easy to follow him in front of everyone else as it was in the private ballroom. They were so packed together that no one could move a whole lot anyway.
Time passed quickly while they were dancing, and afterward Andie treated Bryar to a very early breakfast at a hidden cafe nook that Bryar knew. Andie had waffles with whipped cream and fresh blueberries with mango juice to drink. Bryar had some kind of fried steak with gravy and an extra large coffee. The food was delicious, and Andie found she had worked up an appetite with the dancing. Despite feeling after the restaurant the night before that she would never eat again, she finished before Bryar. He was still sipping at his coffee so they sat for awhile.
Andie had been awake for nearly twenty hours by this time but she didn’t feel that tired yet. She was still running on excitement and adrenaline (and a shot of Zenithian Blue during dinner the night before), but she wondered about Bryar.
“Do you do this every night?” Andie asked him curiously.
“No, I work every other day. When it’s slow I can usually get some rest during my shift,” he explained.
“Do you just teach klutzes like myself to dance or do you have other jobs?” she questioned, toying absently with her napkin.
Bryar laughed. “You’re not a klutz, just without confidence, and yes, I do have other responsibilities. Most people who work here are very versatile. You have to be—you can be called in for a variety of things. I just happen to be one of the many employees who is a good dance teacher.”
“So do they pay you a lot?” she asked nosily.
“Pretty decent, and my tips make up the rest. It helps when I have a generous charge like yourself who buys me a meal,” he said, his eyes twinkling.
He leaned back in his chair, having finished his coffee. “So what else do you want to do, Andie? You still have quite a bit of time,” Bryar brought up. She thought for a moment. What else had she always wanted to do?
“Well, I’ve always wanted to try rock climbing or something like that,” she mentioned at last.
“No problem,” he told her. “We have a place called the Rock Garden. They have the top instructors on the planet. I’ll take you there if you like.”
“You don’t rock climb?” she asked, a little disappointed. She liked Bryar; he was fun to have around. She didn’t want him to leave yet.
“I do, but . . .”
“Would you like to teach me? I would feel much more comfortable with you. That is if you’re allowed to do that,” she added, biting her lip. She didn’t know how much an employee was supposed to do.
“Of course, if you really want that. Our primary job is to make the customers happy, and if that means having me as an instructor or a companion, whatever, I’m happy to oblige.”
When Bryar and Andie entered the door to the Rock Garden, she gasped in amazement. It was a huge indoor arboretum. Tall trees abounded, and she could hear the trickle of running water. The glassed in ceiling trusses were at least ten stories above, and she could see the moon shimmering in the night sky. The air smelled like freshly mown grass and pine mixed with some strong flowery scents. Andie had never seen anything like it. While Bryar led her to the rock wall, she gazed around in open-mouthed wonder. It must be fake though, she decided. At least some of it.
Certainly the rock wall wasn’t made out of real rock, but it was huge all the same. It towered above them, going most of the way to the ceiling. A girl was already harnessed and halfway up the wall, her fingers clawing to handholds and her mouth turned down in a grimace of pain. Andie frowned. It didn’t look like much fun at all. More pain would be involved than she was willing to put up with.
Bryar noticed her expression. “Would you rather try the ropes course?” he asked, pointing across the room to a thick stand of fairly realistic looking trees. By squinting Andie could see wires strung among the tree tops. “You’ll still have to climb to get up there but it’
s not quite so bad.”
“OK,” she agreed. It looked far more intriguing than the rock wall. They walked over to the trees where there was a huge slick board set on posts. The bottom of the board was about twenty feet off the ground. On one half of the board there were staggered wooden pegs, so obviously she was going to have to do a little climbing, but it would be mercifully short compared to the rock wall. Hanging next to the board was a large tree log with notches. Apparently she would have to start by climbing the log to get to the board.
Bryar went to a small trunk off to the side and started pulling out some of the safety equipment. “I’ve commed for someone to help us,” he called over his shoulder. “We’ll need another person so it will be just a minute or two.” While he continued to remove equipment Andie wandered over to the nearest tree. It was some kind of tall pine, she judged, and placed her hand on the trunk. To her surprise, it felt just like a real tree, not some realistic reproduction of one.
“Are these trees real?” she asked Bryar in disbelief.
“Yeah. Don’t ask me how Mr. Quintan managed that. The man is a miracle worker, I’ll tell you that.” He beckoned her closer and passed her a helmet. “Strap that on. Are you afraid of heights at all?” he asked as he helped her into a harness.
“No,” Andie laughed. “If I was, do you think I would even ask to do this?”
“You’d be surprised how many people come to the QE determined to conquer a fear or two, like you with the dancing,” he remarked. Andie cocked her head, thinking about that. She had never thought she had been afraid of dancing but maybe that was true.
A girl suddenly appeared at Andie’s side. Andie jumped. Where had she come from? “I’m Malissy,” she introduced, a bit breathlessly. “I’ll be helping you with the course tonight.” Malissy turned to Bryar. “I’ll take top,” she told him. Bryar nodded as Malissy pulled on her own harness and helmet. Then, without so much as a line on her, she turned and scampered up the log, swung to the board, and whisked up the wall using the pegs. Andie’s jaw dropped. The girl must be more squirrel than human to race up like that! But at least she knew in theory what she was supposed to do to get to the top. A few more seconds Malissy called that she was ready, and Bryar led Andie to the hanging log. “All right, up you go!” he encouraged.
The Legend of Sirra Bruche (Roran Curse Book 1) Page 7