“Laurie, it’s past midnight,” Sasha pointed out and his shoes tapped on the floor as he approached. Another set of taps confirmed his fears—Sasha and Cyra. Oh, joy.
“You know I am accustomed to working long hours, Sasha,” he replied as he closed the holoscreen and walked to another server.
“Yes, but not for this long,” his visitor stated.
“You’ve worked nonstop for weeks, Professor,” Cyra said, her concern evident in her voice. “We can see it in your face—you’re gaunt and there are bags under your eyes.”
“A quick trip to a purifier center will fix the latter problem,” Laurie muttered. “As for the weight I’ve lost, I plan to enjoy a great selection of cheeses, meats, and fish along with a generous serving of wine to celebrate having everything back in order.”
“And when will this celebration take place?” the commander asked.
“Are you hoping for an invite, Sasha?” he asked. The tone made a vague attempt to be humorous but it was negated by the ragged edge to his voice. “I’ll be sure to let you know. For now, I have one more thing to do before I turn in.”
“That’s something you’ve said the last few times I’ve checked in on you,” the other man retorted. “And from what Cyra has told me, you’ve given her the same excuse. Either you plan to do more than one thing, or your one thing takes hours.”
“How is that an issue?” Laurie demanded, his tone edging toward irate. “My main function here is to overlook the Animus. I’m merely doing my job.”
“Sir, we’ve updated the system at least five times in the last three months. That’s more than double what we’ve done in a year for over a decade,” Cyra protested. She reached hesitantly to place a hand on her boss’ shoulder. “Everything is in order, Professor. You’ve examined it extensively and I’ve done the same. Not only that, the techs at this academy have combed through the entire system. Everything is in place.”
“That’s what concerns me,” he replied and moved briskly to another system. Cyra stared at him in confusion and Sasha approached with a small frown.
“Do you think this is too good to be true, then?” he asked.
“Be hopeful but cautious,” Laurie said and opened another holoscreen. “That is a simple piece of wisdom from my father. In science—and specifically, technology—you can plan and execute as flawlessly as you are able, but we are naturally flawed beings trying to design perfect creations. It’s not a realistic goal but we strive for it anyway.”
Sasha and Cyra exchanged a hasty glance and the commander nodded in an effort to reassure her while the other man rambled.
“My point is that there is a time when your hope should be overridden by your caution. This was done too well. The BREW device integrated within the Animus too perfectly.”
“You do know that the BREW device was created by the Tessa company? One of our contacts and a valued partner,” Sasha reminded him.
“True, but Gin had it for at least two months from the day of his infiltration and massacre to his speculated intrusion into our school.”
“You believe he could have done something to it? He had above par hacking abilities but nothing that could have—”
“Did you have a look at the cracked EI he used? The one that could shut down any device or power line simply by looking at it?” Laurie questioned sharply. “He might have built it, but I know of several underground hackers who could fashion such a thing. Imagine what he could accomplish if he allowed one of them to tinker with the BREW. Hell, maybe he had a sub-routine developed within the BREW itself. It’s certainly possible.”
“He was obsessed with his objective, Laurie. He might have wanted Nexus to suffer in some form or fashion, but Kaiden was his primary target. Otherwise, there were better ways to use the device—Laurie?” Sasha reached out when the professor began to stagger. Cyra ran forward quickly as he fell and the commander caught him, “Are you all right?”
“I’m a little…I’ll be fine,” he muttered and tried to force himself upright. “There are still things I need to do before the Academy opens tomorrow.”
“You’ve done enough,” the other man stated firmly with a quick look at Cyra. “Can you go over the system and activate a quick check? Make sure it’s working for the first tests?”
“It won’t be a problem,” Cyra promised. “Please make sure the professor gets some rest.”
He nodded and slung one of Laurie’s arms around his shoulder. “Let’s go, Laurie.”
The professor muttered something, but it was too low to be heard. He allowed his companion to support him to the elevators that would take them to the lobby of the Animus Center. “They will be all right, won’t they, Sasha?”
The commander frowned as he considered the question. “You’re more rattled than you’ve let on.”
“I’ve spent years thinking of my achievements, Sasha, and never once thought of the potential consequences or the fact that they can be used against me,” he admitted. His gaze remained fastened on the floor. “Even after the Neurosiks incident, I chalked that up to someone reaching above their station, trying to emulate me without having the talent. But this time, it was my own hubris at fault. And I wasn’t the one to pay for it.”
“No one holds this against you, Laurie—not me, not Kaiden, and not even the board, and you know at least two of them hate you.” The elevator stopped, opened, and they walked across the lobby and out onto the Academy plaza.
“Where are we going?” the professor asked.
“I’m taking you to transport to send you home.”
“Take me to my office. I have a bed there,” he requested.
“All right, but you had better use it.”
“As much as I might wish to continue working, I admit I feel rather faint now. I don’t think I could crawl back at this point.”
“That’s good to know.” They reached the side of the R&D department and Sasha held his hand against a portion of the wall. It glowed blue for a moment before a section opened to reveal another elevator. They stepped in and it took them silently to its only destination—Laurie’s office. Once inside, they moved through to his private quarters behind his desk and the man eased himself down on the bed.
Laurie sighed and fixed his gaze on the commander. “You didn’t answer my question—will they be all right?”
Sasha looked down, a little hesitant. “I know this has been troubling and it is a promise we have broken.” He finally met his colleague’s gaze. “But I have sworn to every student who returns that we will see this through. They will be watched over and this won’t happen again.”
“Ever again,” Laurie agreed and turned wearily onto his side. “Do you think that about Kaiden too?”
“Of course.” He nodded, but as soon as the other man’s question left his lips, Sasha could hear rhythmic breathing. He was already asleep. “But you should know that Kaiden is exceptionally adept at finding his own trouble.”
Chapter Three
Kaiden hung back a little while the other students stepped off the carriers. He immediately noticed that some of them stared or gawked at him and raised his hand to indicate that he was aware of the attention. They hustled away quickly, talking amongst themselves. He sighed regretfully. Last year, they had stared at him in awe due to his scores. Now, word had spread that he was the reason Gin had attacked. It wasn’t totally true, of course, but enough so that he was now the subject of gossip.
“Does it feel good to be back, partner?” Chief asked. The ace studied the academy grounds to give himself a moment to move past his irritation.
“Yeah, even if it’s because I still have a lot to prove.”
His name being shouted caught his attention, even above all the voices talking at once. This one was unmistakable, mostly because he called him “mate.”
“Flynn, is that you?” he called back and searched the crowd. He finally located the shaggy blond who gestured demandingly a few yards away. He waved with real enthusiasm when Flynn, Marlo, and Julius’ gr
oup made their way over.
“Hey, Kaiden, how was your break, mate?” the marksman asked.
“Fairly good. I kept busy, even with the extra time this year.” He couldn’t help a grin as he took in all the cheerful faces. “You know, it seems like there are fewer people here now. Even the new arrivals seem less than last year.”
“It’s to be expected, right?” Otto reasoned. “I’m actually impressed that so many stayed, and the new arrivals are actually on par with what they were before our first year.”
“There are less Tsuna, though,” Julius noted.
“I guess they will address that at the assembly,” Kaiden reasoned. He hoped that didn’t mean the Tsuna would cut back on sending students in the long term.
“We don’t have an assembly today—at least it’s not on the schedule,” Marlo stated and peered at the tablet in his hand.
The ace frowned. “Really? Then when do we—”
“Kaiden! Flynn!” Amber made her way over with another girl beside her. The stranger had long blonde hair and wore a technician’s jacket.
“Hey, Amber, I wondered why you weren’t with your partners here. I could see Flynn getting anxious,” Kaiden joked and waved in welcome. He looked at the other girl. “And who might this be?”
“I was about to introduce her.” Amber stepped aside and gestured at the new arrival. “This is Indre. She’s my cousin and transferred here from the Ark academy in Britain.”
“It’s nice to meet you.” His greeting was immediately echoed by Julius, Otto, and Mack, who also introduced themselves.
“The pleasure is mine. Amber has told me a lot about you, Mr. Jericho,” the girl stated politely.
“Are you an initiate?” he asked.
“No, I’m a master as well.”
“They don’t worry so much about the formalities here,” he quipped with a smile.
“Wait, does that mean you want the underclassman to address you as mister?” Flynn asked and received only a wry grin from his friend in response.
“Sorry, we ran a little late and had to finish some last-minute paperwork,” Amber explained.
“It’s all good.” Kaiden studied the newcomer with casual interest. “A technician, huh? What class?”
“Agent,” she replied.
“Agent? I don’t think I’ve worked with one of those,” Julius admitted.
“They are a rare group. Most techies go into the operator or hacker class. The agents are like the yang to an infiltrator’s yin. They are excellent hackers who also work out in the open, akin to spies,” Otto informed them.
“Neat. It looks like Chiyo might finally have someone to talk shop with,” Kaiden noted.
“Everyone knows it was lost on you.” Chief’s little dig accompanied his sudden appearance in front of the group, which made Indre step back in surprise.
“Hello again to you too, Chief,” Amber said cheerfully and grinned at her cousin. “It’s all right. That’s Chief, Kaiden’s EI.”
“Oh, right.” The girl nodded and relaxed. “You did tell me he was special.”
“Howdy, new girl, and you better believe I am,” the EI proclaimed as he twirled dramatically.
Amber chuckled at his boisterousness before her gaze focused on the crowds around them. “I don’t see the others.” She took out a tablet. “Hey, Luna?”
“Yes?” A light blue nymph EI with wireframe wings appeared. “Would you like me to find your other friends, Amber?”
“I think I might have mentioned it before, but that is a nauseously cute EI for what we usually do,” Kaiden commented wryly.
“Hey, I ain’t complaining. Besides, not every EI can have the swagger I have,” Chief stated.
“You are a damn ball.” Kaiden deadpanned and stared at the EI as he turned and glared at him.
“It looks like you don’t need to, Luna,” Amber stated as she smiled and waved. “I see them coming over—hey, guys!”
“What’s up, fellow masters!” Luke shouted. He walked toward them with Cameron, Raul, Jaxon, Silas, and Izzy.
“Que Pasa.” Cameron shook hands with Flynn. He fixed a brief, stern look on Kaiden that he returned before he smiled and offered a fist that the ace knocked with his own. “It looks like the gang is getting back together—the good ones at least, except you, Kai.”
“Keep talking that shit. See if I back you up the next time you have a team of droids coming after ya,” Kaiden warned sarcastically. “It’s good to see all of you. Now, we’re missing my typical partners in crime.”
“Genos notified me that he was on one of the last carriers to leave. He should arrive shortly,” Jaxon informed him. “He also mentioned that Chiyo was with him.”
“Really? She’s usually here before any of us during the start of the set-up days,” Kaiden commented.
“Heya, who’s the new girl?” Izzy asked and focused on Indre.
Before the newcomer could speak, Kaiden answered. “Indre, Amber’s cousin, agent, transferred from another academy.” He looked suddenly sheepish. “We have a big group. It’s better to give them the dotted list.”
“Hey, Kaiden. Chiyo said to meet her and Genos at the AC, hall 1200,” Chief informed him.
“What? Why there?”
“She said you’ll find out about now.”
Before he could voice his confusion, he received a message from Head Monitor Faraji requesting every third and fourth-year student to go to the Animus Center. He looked around as his companions glanced at tablets, EI pads, or oculars. They had all apparently received the same message.
“Well, that didn’t take long,” Silas commented.
“What do you think is going on?” Amber asked.
“My guess is it’s like it always is when we are called to the AC.” Cameron shrugged. “A test or mission.”
“So soon?” Izzy asked.
“It’s better to get it out of the way,” Marlo ventured cheerfully. “I’m sure there are still some who are skittish about the whole thing, even though they returned.”
“We would make a good example to show the initiates and advas that everything is all right,” Julius added.
“So, guys, what are we waiting for?” Mack challenged and the group turned to him. “Let’s get over there and show them the masters are leading the charge.”
“Well…I had actually hoped we could all get together before going to the introduction ceremony,” Flynn said.
“I had a message from Chiyo saying her and Genos are already at the Center, hall 1200,” Kaiden revealed.
“Already?” Amber looked surprised.
“She must have had a tip-off,” Izzy suggested. “Or, you know, best hacker in our year.”
“Then we should join her,” Jaxon stated and gestured at the dispersing crowd. “And soon because the halls will fill with other students rather quickly with two years going in at once.”
The ace nodded and jogged away. Chief floated behind him for a few steps before he disappeared. “Meet ya there!”
As Kaiden entered the hall—not yet full, thank goodness—he took a moment to catch his breath before he jogged quickly over to Chiyo and Genos who were talking with Faraji at the front of the hall. “Hello, all you beautiful people.”
They turned to him and smiled. “It’s good to see you, Kaiden,” Chiyo said warmly. “I hope your break went well.”
“Just peachy, really.” He folded his arms and leaned back to study Faraji who wore a new white-and-gold coat. “So, head monitor huh?”
“Yeppers,” she exclaimed and showed off her coat. “Zhang decided to move back to R&D. He wanted to get back to overlooking the Animus the old-fashioned way and gave me his recommendation, and I am now your new HM.”
“It’s nice to know you will watch over us, Akello,” Chiyo stated.
“Does this mean I can convince you to give me extra synapse points?” Kaiden asked jokingly.
Faraji frowned but her eyes twinkled. “That’s not how it works, and you know it,” sh
e huffed. “Besides, you already get a bonus, don’t you?”
“I could always use more,” he said with an offhand shrug.
“What point is there in extra points if you do not actively use them?” a voice asked from behind Faraji. Kaiden peered past her to see Sasha working on the Animus console.
“Oh, hey, Sasha. I didn’t see you there.” He walked up to the commander, who turned and offered a hand. The two men shook. “How’s it looking now?” he asked and motioned to the console.
“Laurie and his technicians have worked night and day since the incident to make it better and safer than before. You have nothing to worry about,” the older man promised.
“I wasn’t worried. I have a back-up after all.”
“Just because I can create separate planes of existence in the Animus doesn’t mean I should,” Chief said and appeared over his shoulder. “Ever since the last time, I keep tasting purple.”
“What the hell does that even mean?” the ace demanded before he blinked with real surprise. “Wait—you can taste?”
“There are my favorite hacker and Tsuna,” Luke bellowed and Kaiden turned to see the group walking in. “Don’t worry, Jax, you are my favorite ace.”
“Wait, what about me?” he chided sarcastically.
“Besides me, you’re my favorite soldier,” Luke declared and held up a fist.
Kaiden chuckled and bumped it. “So, the red ribbon. I’ll take it, I guess.”
“You have some stiff competition,” Luke replied.
“Akello! Look at you,” Izzy said enthusiastically. “Head monitor.”
“I look good in this coat, don’t I?” She laughed. “As much as I would like to brag more, we have to get started.” She pressed a button on her tablet and a camera drone activated behind her. It immediately elevated to hover and turned to film her. “That’s for everyone else. You guys pay attention, all right?”
The group nodded as Sasha walked up beside Faraji, who immediately began to speak. “Good morning, students—masters and victors, as I should address you. I am your new head monitor and I have been instructed to greet you and begin your assignments for the start of the year.” She looked at Sasha. “I know this seems sudden, but the technicians of the academy, working personally with professor Laurie, have applied themselves all this time to improve and fortify the Animus.”
Animus Boxed Set 2 (Books 5-8): Revenant, Glitch, Master, Infiltration Page 46
