‘Anything important?’ I whisper. I’ve become used to Jinx’s filtering of my messages, even though it’s not something I’ve ever asked him to do and I haven’t heard of anyone else’s bakus doing it. But I like it. It’s as if he knows when I want to stay focused so I’m not constantly interrupted.
>>There’s a bunch here from Tobias Washington.
‘What?’ I shriek and sit up abruptly, Jinx tumbling on to the mattress beside me. ‘What, do you mean Tobias Washington has been sending me messages? And you didn’t tell me? What if it was something important? What if it was . . .’
Jinx yawns. >>Not important. Unless you consider ‘Hey’ and ‘S’up’ are important messages.
‘I do consider that important!’ I look at the timestamp on the messages. Almost two hours ago. Two whole hours have gone by, with Tobias thinking that I’m just ignoring him. I could kill Jinx.
>>There’s a couple more.
‘Jinx, you had better show me every single one of those messages right now or else you’re going to the scrapyard where no one will have a chance to fix you.’
Jinx makes a series of beeping noises that I interpret as the baku equivalent of a scoff, but he projects all the messages on to the square of duvet in front of me. I read them so fast, I feel like I’m a starving person who’s been offered up a tasty meal. I don’t even know what I’m looking for, so I force myself to stop, sit back, and read them more slowly.
‘Hey.’
‘S’up.’
‘Just wondering if you had time tonight to go over some companioneering stuff? I want to know how you merged a rodent-link camera tail to your feline baku.’
Three unread messages, all from a couple of hours ago. He’s going to think I’ve totally ignored him all evening. I don’t know how to do this. Is there the possibility of anything more here? I painstakingly compose a message back, reworking it over in my head until I think it strikes the right tone.
Hey! Sorry, had a family dinner . . . no messages at the table and all that. I think there might be something wrong with my baku too, I wasn’t getting any notifications.
>>There isn’t anything wrong with me and you know it.
‘Shut it, Jinx,’ I say, still fuming that he hid these from me.
>>Well, look at that, says Jinx.
I look up. I hadn’t even finished my message – I had planned on answering his question. But I can see a stream of dots that show that Tobias is in the middle of replying already. My heart seems to stop beating inside my chest.
‘Jinx, did you send that before I even asked you to?’
>>What? I thought you were finished. Read fine to me.
‘I wasn’t finished! I hadn’t even said if I was free or not . . .’
Then Tobias’s reply pops up.
That’s cool, no problem.
Now I reply to his question.
I can’t do tonight – Mom will kill me if I leave again.
But I can talk you through it?
‘Okay, Jinx – you can send that.’
>>You got it, boss.
Now is my turn to scoff. ‘As if there’s any way you’d let me be your boss.’ Then I type something more to Tobias.
Do you have a strategy down yet for the battle?
He replies:
I might have something up my sleeve. We need to get through to the next round alive, and I’m worried what Carter might do now that we’ve really ticked him off.
Look forward to watching it! I reply. Then some words come up that I didn’t write. P.S. I think you’re really hot and can you please be my boyfriend?
I shriek and jump on the bed. ‘JINX, DO NOT SEND THAT.’
Thankfully the words disappear without being sent and I collapse on to the mattress, my heart pounding in my chest. Jinx leaps up on to my stomach, his face looking down over mine.
>>Don’t worry, it was just a joke!
For about a millisecond, I’m mad, but the anger bubbles over into laughter instead. I pull Jinx down towards my chest, and even though he squirms a little, he nestles into my neck and purrs.
He might be a pain in the butt, but I wouldn’t change him for the world.
>>Lacey?
His voice sounds different than I’m used to. Smaller, somehow. Quieter.
Yes, Jinx?
>>Did you make me?
I take a deep breath. I knew this conversation was going to come up again. ‘No . . . Mocha Corp did.’
>>So I’m just the same as all the other bakus - just an ordinary house cat model 2.0.
Now, I frown. Well, no. You’re not the same. There’s definitely something strange about you. You’re unique. The way that we communicate – like this – it’s different. Your ability to make your own decisions, outside of the commands I give you – that’s not like other bakus.
>>Oh. So I’m not like other bakus.
No. Not to me. Even mechanically you’re different. You’re – so much better. But I haven’t really looked into your code. It’s possible that this is all something someone wrote into you, and if I was a better coder then I would be able to tell you what that is. I don’t speak that language very well.
>>But you could look into it if you wanted to. The person who created me - they might have left a trace of themselves in my code.
That would mean revealing that I didn’t exactly come across you in the ‘traditional’ way. I didn’t buy you from the Moncha Store. That’s what everyone thinks. If I tell anyone . . . they might take you away from me.
A thought strikes me that’s so painful, it’s as if a searing hot dagger has plunged its way into my heart. Maybe Jinx doesn’t want to be with me. What if he wants to be with his original owner? I never even considered that possibility.
I promise you, if you want to find out who made you, I will help you in any way that I can.
LIFE AT THE ACADEMY IS HECTIC, AND being so involved in Baku Battles takes its toll on my other classes. For the first time, I come close to flunking a test in History – I just haven’t had any time to study.
It’s almost a relief when classes are over on Monday, and I stroll to the end of Companioneers Crescent, following the directions sent to me by Tobias. Behind the beautiful houses, there’s a large park, with a baseball diamond in one corner, basketball and tennis courts in the other, and in the centre, a large, floodlit hockey rink – surrounded by boards and red-painted wire caging that stretches up into the sky. I spot Kai’s bright orange puffer jacket right in the centre of the rink, with the rest of Team Tobias hanging around the boards.
Ashley sees me first, and nudges Tobias’s shoulder. I shrink down into my powder-blue winter coat, the cold air making the end of my nose tingle. There’s no ice on the rink yet – there’s still a couple more weeks until it will be cold enough for City to flood the rinks and start up the artificial cooling systems to maintain the ice – but I can see how it’s the perfect place to practise in arena-like conditions. Tobias is a smart captain. Especially as we know that Gemma’s team have access to the best conditions of all – thanks to Carter.
‘Hi, Lacey!’ Tobias waves me over.
I can’t help the goofy grin that plasters itself on my face. When I get to the boards, I lean over the edge – not wanting to climb on to the rink while Kai and River are battling. I do hold up the yellow cardboard box of doughnut holes that I’ve brought over – and Ashley claps her mittened hands together in delight. Treats make everyone happy, and by now I know all their favourite flavours.
Oka is facing off against Lizard, the husky running circles around the oversized frog. They’re not properly battling of course – neither one is causing any damage to the other – but I can see them running through drills that test how quickly they can respond and move.
‘Kai, can you see if you can practise that crawl and strike move – we’re going to need to confuse the boar if we have any chance of taking him down.’
‘You got it, boss,’ says Kai. He’s standing within a spray-painted circ
le, so he’s also getting practice sending distance commands. He has to be able to tell Oka exactly what he wants him to do, as he passes within range. He holds his hand up to the leash. Even though he doesn’t technically need to be holding the leash in order to send commands, having that physical connection seems to help the battlers.
Kai’s square jaw tightens and his eyebrows knit together in concentration. It takes a couple of seconds – maybe a couple of seconds too long – but Oka springs into action, using his powerful legs to propel himself to the side of the arena. Then, in a move I haven’t seen before – but which I could see would work extremely well on the slick-sided walls of the Profectus arena – Lizard leaps up on to the boards and crawls at ninety degrees to the floor in evasive action. Still, Oka picks up momentum as he races around the side, before – on Kai’s command – he springs forward and lands on Lizard’s back.
Or he would do – if we were in the arena. As it happens, Oka leaps over Lizard, leaving neither with any sort of damage.
Ashley, Tobias and I burst into applause. ‘Great work, guys. I think we can take a break for a bit,’ says Tobias.
‘I brought snacks,’ I say.
‘I knew there was a reason I liked you!’ says River, laughing and digging into the open box of doughnuts and grabbing all the chocolate ones.
Kai is a bit more reserved, holding back.
‘No sugar for you?’ I ask him.
‘I don’t eat that junk,’ he says.
Tobias shoves his shoulder. ‘Lighten up, protein dude.’
‘Good luck lightening up eating that kind of thing.’
I shrug at Tobias, trying to show him it’s no big deal. After all, it’s Kai and River in the arena next – with Ashley as back-up. I think Kai is nervous.
I decide to change the subject. ‘Hey, I was wondering . . . do any of you guys know much about coding?’
Tobias looks at Kai, who shrugs. ‘I almost flunked that class.’
‘I know a bit,’ says River. ‘But I’m more of a design geek.’
‘Don’t look at me,’ says Ashley, throwing her hands up in the air. ‘I’m into the electronics side of things.’
‘There’s a strong coding department at Profectus, but coders don’t normally get selected for the Baku Battle teams,’ explains Tobias. ‘We’re not allowed to mess with the code of our bakus during or before a battle, so what’s the point? Other than what we get taught in class, I’m not that strong. Do you need help with something?’
I shake my head. ‘Don’t worry. I’ll figure it out.’
Sorry, Jinx, I think to him. I’ll figure out another way to get a look at your code, don’t worry.
Aero outstretches his wings, and the rest of the team snaps to attention. I haven’t been paying attention to what Tobias’s baku has been doing, but when I look back at the rink, there are obstacles set up and markings in blue paint on the floor. The bakus all move into various positions around the outer edge of the rink. They all seem to run so in sync, even though they’ve only been doing these training sessions for the past couple of months. Watching them is awe-inspiring – and almost makes me forget how cold I am.
‘Ashley, you’re up,’ Tobias says. Ashley nods, her lips pulled taut into a thin line, and she and Jupiter step on to the ice rink. There are blue lines painted on the concrete floor – markings, I realize, that are a specific choreography for a battle. It’s like a drill, or an obstacle course. Ashley needs to run through it, proving that she and Jupiter have been practising their moves so they can perform them in battle as if they are second nature.
‘I’ve added in a few different things this time, Ashley,’ Tobias says. ‘Make sure you’re ready.’ She nods, and a bead of sweat appears on her brow. Even though it’s just a training run, I can tell she’s traumatized by her last encounter in the arena. She needs to overcome that trauma if she’s going to have any hope in the second round. She attempts it the first time, but struggles on the second move, her baku colliding with one of the high obstacles. She’s clearly frustrated, banging her fist against the palm of her hand, but she goes back to the beginning with Jupiter.
The atmosphere is tense – until suddenly there’s a blast of music. It’s the theme song from the movie Rocky. It’s coming from the loudspeakers set up all around the arena. I look around and see Jinx coming out of a small concrete building – that must be where the set-up for the speakers is kept.
Tobias follows my gaze and then turns to me, his jaw almost on the floor. ‘What’s going on? How are you doing that? We haven’t been able to get those speakers to work in years,’ Tobias asks me.
‘Thought I’d try something . . .’ I look around for the naughty baku, panic growing on my face. Jinx, stop it – you’re drawing attention to yourself.
>>Are you kidding? It’s working.
And it does seem to work. This time, Ashley and Jupiter run through the course cleanly, her fist pumping the air at the end. ‘Thanks, Lacey,’ she says, giving me a high five as she bounds over to us in triumph.
‘No . . . problem?’
‘Or should I really be thanking Jinx,’ she says, slyly.
‘Oh . . . um . . . what?’ I say with a nervous laugh. Does she suspect the truth: that it’s Jinx all along, and I have nothing to do with it?
But she winks at me and grins. ‘He’s the one that managed to squeeze in to where the speakers are, right?’
‘Right.’ I breathe a sigh of relief.
As each baku steps up to run his paces, Jinx chooses a song and blasts it. All the bakus – including Aero – complete the task in record time. At the end, Jinx plays the latest pop tracks at top volume from the speakers, so we end up laughing and singing along and dancing under the floodlights.
Aero spreads his wings one more time, showing us all the time. It’s late. When Aero closes his wings, Jinx shuts off the music.
‘Catch you later, guys!’ says Kai, swinging his backpack over his shoulder. Oka pants at his side.
‘Lacey, can you hold up a sec?’ Tobias asks me as I prepare to follow Kai, River and Ashley out towards the main road.
‘Oh, sure.’
I hang around the edge of the rink while Tobias packs up the obstacle course. He seems to be taking his time, waiting for a gap to build up between us and the rest of the team. Finally, he walks over to me, carrying a duffel bag full of equipment. Aero takes it out of his hands and flies with it towards the road.
Tobias grins at me. ‘Look, I’m glad you came today. I wanted to let you know that I’m going to ask Ashley to step down from the fighting team. Is that okay?’
‘What?’ I stare at Ashley’s retreating back, the spring in her step – and Jupiter trotting at her side. ‘You want to replace Ashley?’
‘Ash and Jupiter are great, but you and Jinx are better – especially with that boost collar I gave you. And if Carter can fight, then so can you.’
I take an involuntary step backward, my back colliding with the boards. I put my arms out to steady myself, avoiding Tobias’s gaze. ‘No, you can’t do that. I’ll . . . I’m fine on the sidelines.’
Tobias takes a step forward, then reaches out and puts his hand on my arm. ‘Hey, it’s okay. Ash will get over it – I don’t think she wants to risk Jupiter again anyway.’
‘But it might stop her from being chosen on a team again . . .’
His hand travels down from my arm to my hand. He interlaces his fingers in mine, and pulls me close. ‘You’re the best companioneer I’ve ever met, Lacey. What you can do . . . it’s incredible. You’re so in control of your baku.’ I almost laugh at that, but stop myself just in time. ‘And I get to pick the team. I’m the captain.’
My heart pounds, my brain unable to compute that Tobias Washington is holding my hand. But also I hear a resounding no in my brain – I don’t want to fight. I don’t want to risk Jinx. I don’t want . . .
>>Wait, you don’t want this? I thought this was what we’ve been working towards? Jinx’s voice whines in
my head.
I can’t risk you. What if you get ripped apart? All that hard work . . .
>>I won’t lose. I want to fight.
‘No!’ I don’t realize I shout the word out loud until I catch Tobias’s shocked expression.
‘Hey, I get it,’ he says, and he takes a step back. ‘I won’t push it. I thought maybe it was what you wanted . . .’
I look up at him, our eyes locking. My mouth opens to speak, but I’m not sure that any words really come out. ‘What do you mean?’
‘I thought you wanted . . .’ His moss-green eyes shine in the bright light of the floodlights. Without waiting for a second beat, he leans forward and kisses me, pressing his soft lips against mine. I melt back against the boards of the hockey rink, and for a moment it doesn’t matter that my baku is having an existential crisis, that my mom doesn’t understand me and things have changed.
Because Tobias Washington is kissing me. And in that moment, I am perfectly and completely happy.
THE ATMOSPHERE FOR THE SECOND Baku Battle has the entire school buzzing. In the hallways leading up to my locker, I pass by students making bets on their apps, trying to guess the strategies. Jake is the mastermind of the gambling ring – I even hear some of the teachers are getting involved. With at least two bakus in the arena (Team Tobias and Team Gemma have three) per team, it’s going to be more hectic than ever – and there are two hundred points up for grabs this time.
‘I’m going to put ten bucks on Team Tobias,’ says one student in passing as I’m collecting my books from my locker. They stop a few feet away from me.
‘Nah, Team Gemma all the way. Have you seen how that guy with the hog baku has been walking around the school? He’s definitely got something up his sleeve.’
The guy looks up to see me staring. He’s weedy and tall, with lanky brown hair, glasses and a face full of acne. But he gives me a big grin when he sees me. ‘Hey, you’re on Team Tobias, right? Got any tips for us? Everyone on your team feeling all right?’
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