by Jenna Moreci
scratchpad, which was sitting on the podium in front of him. “Now, I don’t knowaboutyou,butIcertainlydon’twantcreatureslikeEmmaLynnKingpin
destroyingthisbeautifulplanet.”
AholographicimageoftheEarthwasdisplayedfromhisscratchpad,
rotatingmajestically.Thewords“SaveOurPlanet”wrappedthemselves
aroundtheglobe,completewithapinkheart.Eveswallowedtherevolting
lump in her throat, and out of the corner of her eye she could see JJ’s face contort into an ugly, loathsome glower. JJ then pulled out her scratchpad and begantappingatthemonitor.
“Now,whileherpeersarefocusedontheirrigorousstudies,EmmaLynn
Kingpin chooses to center her attention on reproduction,” Travis added, sendingEveintoastateofsickness.Againthecartoonishrepresentation
flashed across the back wall, and the speaker cast a wicked grin in Eve’s direction.
“Yousee,chimerasaren’tmentallydevelopedenoughtounderstandthe
complexitiesofhumanintimacy.Instead,theybreedwhenevertheurge
presents itself. They’re like animals in that sense, and EmmaLynn Kingpin is nodifferent.She’savictimofherownragingsexdrive.”
JustasthecaricaturewasabouttodoGodknowswhat,thoughitwasclearly
suggestive,thefigurefroze.EveandherclassmatesglancedbackatTravisas
theimageflickeredonceandthendisappearedcompletely.Travistappedathis
scratchpad,whichseemedtobedisagreeingwithhim,andsmiledattheclass.
“Itlookslikethere’sbeensomesortofmalfunction.Icanfixit.”
Heranhisfingersalongthemonitor,butstillnothinghappened.The
classroomfilledwiththesoundofwhispering,butEvefoundherselfmore
interestedinJJ,whosefacewasgluedtohercomputer,herhandsracingback andforthacrossthemonitor.
Anewsentencewasprojectedacrossthefrontoftheclassroom:
THEREHASBEENA//GLITCH\INTHESYSTEM.
Themurmuringsintheclassroomintensified,andTravisbecamesweatyand
nervous.“I’msorry,Idon’tknowwhat’sgoingonhere,”hestammered.
Anintensemoansoundedinthelecturehall,thenoisesoloudthatitsurely
couldbeheardallthewaydownthecorridor.Andwithit,aholographicimage
appearedfromTravis’sscratchpad,life-sizedandcenteredinthemiddleofthe
room:itwastwowomen,bothextremelywell-endowedandcompletelynaked,
engagedinthemostgraphicactofcunnilingusthatonecouldimagine.
Theclassroomeruptedintogasps,shouts,androaringlaughter,butstillthe
pleasuredgroaningofthepornographywasmuchlouderthantheresulting
reaction.Travis’sfaceturnedghostlywhite,andhestaredatGuptainhorror.
“Iswear,Ihave noideahowthisishappening!”
Suddenly,anotherhologramappearedbesidetheexistingone:amananda
woman,screwinginthemostobviouslyinauthenticmanner,thewoman’s
breasts jiggling with each thrust, the man donning a victorious smirk. Beside themappearedanothercouple,andthenanother,andthenathreesome,untilthe
entirefrontoftheroomwasfilledwithsomuchpornthatTravisstruggledto
findaplacetostandthatdidn’tleavehiminthemiddleofsomeactofsucking,
licking,orpenetration.Hestaredinhorrorattheclass.
“THISISN’TMINE!”hecried.“ISWEAR,ITISN’TMINE!”
JJlaughedtoherself,andforamomentEvetorehereyesfromthevulgar
scene and instead watched the hacker at work. An instant later, all of the hologramsdisappeared,andthebackwalloftheroomlitupwithascreenshot
of Travis’s scratchpad. A small cursor toggled through various files until it pulled up a tiny folder that read, in all caps: TRAVIS’S PORN— KEEP OUT.
Theimagewasmaximized,andthenmaximizedagainuntilthelettersfilledthe
entire wall. Travis glared at the classroom, his face changing from white to red.
“WHO’SDOINGTHIS?”
Againthewallwentblank,butonlyforamoment.Avideoimmediately
appeared,thisoneofpoorqualityandobviouslyhomemade,andwithin
seconds it was clear that the star of the film was none other than Travis Bravermanhimself.
Theboylookedawkward,hisbodysweatyandhisfacedistortedintoan
expressionofeitherlustorconstipation—itwashardtotell,butjudgingbythe
uncomfortablefemaleflounderingbeneathhim,Evesettledontheformer.A
seriesofmuffledgruntswereutteredbybothparties,andafterafew
intolerable seconds, Travis let out a long, relieved groan and flopped down ontothegirl.
“Threeminutes?”thegirlgriped,hervoicestifledbyhisdoughybody.
“Really, Travis?”
Theclasswasinhysterics.Guptawavedhisarmsfranticallyashetriedand
failed to control his students, and Eve just remained in her seat, staring in shockatJJ’sself-satisfiedgrin.Withherchinheldhigh,thehackerstoodfrom
herseat,casuallystrolledtowardEve’sdesk,andgazeddownatherwide-eyed
classmate.
“Oh,don’tgivemethatlook,”shescoffed.
Withoutanotherword,sheploppedasmallboxontoEve’sdeskandleftthe
lecturehall,leavingbehindthepandemoniumshehadcreated.
Evelookeddownattheboxinfrontofher.Sheslowlyremovedthelid,and
inaninstanthereyesgrewlargeonceagain.Insidewasabrandnewscratchpad
cube—sleek,lightweight,fittingeasilyintothepalmofherhand.Attachedwas
ahandwrittennote,andshequicklyunfoldedit:
Here’sonethingIknowhowtofix.Stillworkingoneverythingelse.
Eveactivatedthecomputer,watchingwithadmirationasthejet-black
panelingunfoldedintoalarge,thinscreen.ShecouldtellthatJJhadmadeitby hand, as Eve’s initials, EJK, were engraved along the bottom of the monitor, andasthescreenbrightened,shenoticedthatthedesktopitselfwasemptyaside
fromasinglefolder,titled: InCaseYouChangeYourMind.
Eveclickedonthefileandfoundalonglistofdocuments:combat
strategies,weaponschematics,andsurveillancefootage,allrevolvingaround
theInterlopers.
Classendedearly,thankslargelytoJJ,andEvewassoonheadedforHand-
to-HandCombat.SheforcedNumberOneandNumberTwotowaitoutsidethe
athleticsarena. “Don’ttellmeyou’regoingtofollowmeintothelockerroom,”
sheteased. “Wanttohelpmechangemyclothes,too?”
Thoughherjibeswereinnocent,theywerelacedwithrancor.Shetriedto
deny it—to tell herself that everything was fine, that the day was almost over and thus her cares were few—but truthfully, she was dreading this class most ofall.Withtrepidation,Evedasheddownthecorridor,hopingtoslipintothe
lockerroomunnoticed,butherattemptswereinvain,assheknewtheywould
be.WaitingforherbesidethegymnasiumdoorswasJason.
Hestaredather,hisarmscrossedandbrowfurrowed.Evestoppedfora
moment,glancinginvoluntarilyinhisdirectionbeforerefocusingherattention
onthelockerroom.Withadeepbreath,shecontinuedonpasthim.
“Eve!”hebarked.Sheignoredhim.
“EVE!”Hehurriedtowardher.“I’mtalkingtoyou!”
/> Shestoppedinfrontofthelockerroomandimmediatelyletoutaloudsigh.
Reluctantly,sheturnedaround.Jasonstooddirectlybehindher,hisgazesharp
and his jaw clenched with a transparent bitterness she had never seen in him before.
“Whatdoyouwant,Jason?”sheasked.
“What do I want?” he repeated, his words lathered with offense. “Are you serious?”Hethrewhishandsintotheair.“You’vebeenignoringmeforalmost aweeknow.Whatthe hellhasgottenintoyou?”
Evepickedathercuticles.“You’reangry.”
“Yeah,greatobservation,Eve.I’mangry.”
Shelookedoverhisshoulderatthegym.“We’regoingtobelateforclass
—”
“Youdon’tgettodothis,”hespat.“Youdon’tgettojustwalkawaywithout
havingthedecencytoletmesaywhatIhavetosay.”
“Fine.Sayyourpiece.”
“Whathappenedthatday…”Hepausedandleanedinclosertoher.“That
was bullshit.Yougotscaredandyou bailed.”
“You’reright.I wasscared.”Shestaredathim,hereyesbrimmingwithboth irritationandsadness.“Youalmost died because of me, Jason. I can’t let you paythepriceforthecross Ibear.”
“That’s mydecision.Notyours.”
“I’mtryingtoprotectyou.”
“Bypushingmeaway?”Heglaredather.“I’mabigboy,Eve.Icantakecare
ofmyself.”
Evestaredemptilyatthefloor,tryingherbesttothinkofsomething,
anything to say, but she came up with nothing. She looked up at Jason, and againherthoughtsbecameaconvolutedmess,sowarpedwithswirling
emotions that she loathed the idea of even trying to sort through them. Jason staredather,andsuddenlyhisangrybrowbecamesofter,asifweakenedbythe
lookinhereye—thelookthatspokewhateverwordsshewasfailingtosay.
“Look,Ineedtoknow,”hesaidatlast,quietly.“Whenyousaidit’sover…”
Hepaused.“Wereyoutalkingaboutus?”
“I…”shestarted,andforasecondshethoughtthatshemightcry.Sheclosed
hereyes.“Idon’tknow.”
“ImeantwhatIsaidthatday,Eve.Youandme—that’swhatIcareabout.We
don’thavetofightifyoudon’twantto.WecanforgetabouttheInterlopers.
ButIdon’twanttoloseyou.”
Herlipsparted,butagainshedidn’tspeak.ShelookedbackatJason;hisface
wasadeepshadeofred,andshewonderedifperhapshewasstiflingthesame
swellofemotionthatshewas.Slowlyhebackedaway.
“Promisemeyou’llthinkaboutit,okay?”
Andwiththat,hedisappearedintohislockerroom.Eveexhaleddeeply,her
breathwaveringinawaythatmadeherhopetoGodthatnooneheardit,and
thenshe,too,ranintoherfortunatelyemptylockerroom.
Aftertakingamomenttostillhernerves,Evequicklychangedintoher
uniform and headed out to the football field. Ramsey started class with laps, andthoughEverelishedthethoughtofreleasingherstressthrougha
formidableworkout,thesightofJasoninherperipheralvisionleftherfeeling
hollowandoverwrought.Thoughtheywereclearlyattheheadofthepack,
they didn’t sprint together—Jason trailed behind her the slightest bit for the entirety of their run. Perhaps he was making an effort to give her space, or perhapshewassimplytooangrytosharethepathwithher,butstillshecould
feelhisgaze,andthatalonebothpainedandcomfortedher.
“KINGSTON!”
Eveflinched;Ramseywaspacingattheoppositeendofthetrackasheoften
did.Hecrookedafingerather,andshequicklytrekkedacrossthefieldtohis side.Whenshearrived,hiseyeswerepointedathisclipboard,andherustled
throughaseriesofwrinkledpages.
“Yourtimesaregood,Kingston.LookslikeIwon’tbefailingyouafterall.”
“Thankyou,Captain.”
Theystoodtogetherinsilence,Ramsey’sgazestillpointeddownathis
work.Evefidgetedinplaceandanxiouslyshovedherhandsintoherpockets.
“Isthatall,Captain?”
“Ofcoursethat’snotall.YouthinkI’dinterruptyourruntotellyou’boutyour goddamngrade?”
Evewaitedforhimtocontinue,butheremainedunusuallyquiet.Shetooka
quick peek at the clipboard in front of him and noticed that the paper he was staringatsointentlywascompletelyblank.
“Youknow,Itookyouforalotofthings,Kingston:Afighter.Awarrior.A
hell-raiser. But a quitter?” He growled to himself. “That one caught me by surprise.”
“It’scomplicated,Captain.”
“It’s always complicated, soldier.” He finally dropped his clipboard to the ground.“Butyoumusclethroughit,’causeyouhaveto.’Causeit’syour job.”
“Withallduerespect,it’s notmyjob,Captain.”
“Whoelseisgonnadoitthen?”Ramseycountered.“Thepatrolmen?Furst?
Hell,whataboutLionel-shitstain-Vandeveld?Want himtodoit?”Hespatonthe turf.“Nooneelseisgonnadoit.Nooneelse candoit.But youcan—andthat makesityourjob.Iknowyouknowthat.”
Ramsey stopped abruptly; his clipboard, lying in the grass, trembled as if suddenly stirred to life. Eve felt it too—the shaking of the ground like an earthquake—andthensheheardthedistantboomandthehumoffaraway
screams.
Sheturnedandstaredinshockatthesightthatmetherfromacrosscampus.
Amassivecloudofgreyandblacksmokehaderuptedintothesky,billowing
highabovethebuildingsandspreadingthroughtheair.Thenaseriesof
shrieks sounded from afar, and her blood ran cold: one Interloper, two, ten, countless more were circling the distant destruction, their wings beating as theysoaredthroughthesmokeanddisappearedamongthecampusbuildings.
Anotherrumbleshookthefield,thisonefollowedbyathundering
explosion,louderandmuchcloser.Evestumbledoverthequakinggroundand
watchedastheBillingtongateswereengulfedinroaringflames.Astampedeof
studentspouredfromthenightmarishscene,theirfaceswhitewithterrorand
streakedwithash,butEvewastransfixedbytheswarmofInterloperswho
followedthem—thealienswho,onebyone,dovedownpastthewreckageand
pluckedthestudentsfromthegroundwiththeirrazor-edgedtalons.
Thethirderuptionwasashock—awalloffiretorethroughthefootballfield
bleachers, the explosion itself so powerful that Eve could feel the heat right downtoherbones,asifitwereonlyinchesaway.Asshestaredatthecloudof
smokeandflames,asinglebody—amaninthesameblackuniformashers—
torpedoedthroughtheair,propelledskywardbytheforceoftheexplosion.In
aninstant,Evechanneledhergiftandraisedherhands,catchingherclassmate
withhermeltandquicklyloweringhimtotheground.
Evefranticallysurveyedthescenebeforeher.Thefieldwasnowpacked
withstudents,someincombatuniformsandothersemergingfromGodknows
where, all scattering in different directions. Nearby, an Interloper plunged to the ground and ripped a student from the field, lifting him high into the air untiltheybothvanishedfromsight.Evelookedupatthesky,andherjawfell
openindisbelief:everywhere
shelooked,thecloudswerespottedwithflecks
ofgrey.Aliensdippedandweavedabovetheirheads,aswarmlikeshe’dnever
seen,neverimagined.Itwasn’treal—it couldn’tbereal—andyetdespitehow inconceivable it was, she couldn’t deny the truth: the Interlopers had lowered theircloakofsecrecy.Forthefirsttimeever,theywerewagingaverypublic
attack.
ThreeInterloperspartedfromtheothersanddovetowardthefield.Their
sightsweresetonEve,theultimateprizeinthischaos,butjustastheyneared
her, she thrust them back into the sky, sending their bodies jetting past the cloudsandfadingintothedistance.Shespuninplaceandscannedthefield.She
waslookingforonlyoneperson,butallshecouldseewerewavesoffrenzied
studentsscamperingineverydirection,trippingoverrubbleastheyforced
theirwaypastoneanother.
Then,justwhenthetaskseemedutterlyimpossible,shespottedhim:Jason
was at the opposite end of the track, ramming his fists into the face of a bloodied Interloper. With a hateful glower, he melted the creature against the burningbleachers,watchingasitthrashedwithintheflames.Thenquickly,
Jason turned toward the field, his face and chest streaked with ash, his eyes bulgingashefranticallysearchedforsomethingorsomeone.
HisgazefellonEve,andtheireyeslocked;withasharedsenseofrelief,they immediately ran across the field, fighting their way through the crowd until theymetinthecenterandwildlythrewtheirarmsaroundoneanother.
Eve buried her face in the side of his neck, gripping him tightly, and then reluctantlypulledawayandlookedintohiseyes.
“What’shappening?”
“Thisisit,”hepanted,stillholdingherclose.“They’recomingforyou.
They’recomingfor everyone.”
Theyswiftlybrokeapartasamonsterheadedintheirdirection—thoughthis
onewasintheformofacleft-chinnedfootballplayer,hisfacewhitewithfear,
anInterloperrightonhisheels.LionelgrabbedJason’sarmsandswerved
aroundhim,duckingbehindthechimeraasiftoshieldhimself.
“Whatthe hell?”Jasonbarked.
Therewasnotimeforexplanations;theInterloperwasrightinfrontofhim,
swinging his talons, and so Jason kicked at the creature’s chest and then his knee, forcing him to the ground. As the alien fought to regain his balance, JasontorehisarmsfromLionel’sgripandstompedonthebackofthe
