“Allow me to explain. Fragments are kept under lock and key at various installations maintained by the Prides. The only Fragments out in the open are those already allocated to a Familiar. However, those Fragments are undeniably weapons, almost always melee weapons of various types. The belief that these Fragments belong in a mystical, magical or fantasy realm is hard to dispute when you take into account the nature of their designs. In other words, almost all of these Fragments belong in a fantasy holovid. They are too much like magical weapons.”
I wasn’t going to dispute his words. My Fragment fell squarely into the realm of fantasy.
Caprice’s Fragment was different to mine, but no less ‘fantastical’.
Severin continued. “However, Fragments that pose a risk to modern systems such as information networks, control systems, and so on, are considered too dangerous to field. They are not assigned to a Familiar. The likelihood these could be stolen from a Familiar is simply unacceptable to the powers-that-be.”
Stolen? Was he implying that Crimson Crescent might attack a Familiar in order to steal their Fragments?
I pointed out, “But once assigned, a Fragment is bonded to its wielder. Even in death, the Fragment is locked down and can’t be used by another Familiar. If Crimson Crescent were to steal a Fragment, they would be unable to use it.”
“That is correct. A bonded, or locked down Fragment can only be unlocked by the Prides. This is where something akin to a Master Key comes into play.”
“A Master Key?”
“Yes. This is my own personal speculation, but I believe that the Prides possess something akin to a Master Key that can unlock the Fragments. This allows them to be allocated to a different user.”
I tipped my head to one side. “But that would imply that only the Prides could steal Fragments from each other.”
He took a deep breath. “It does indeed, unless Crimson Crescent is also in possession of a Master Key.”
His words rattled me and everyone else in the room, including Simone lying seductively on the desk.
I swallowed past the fear in my throat. “In that case, there’s nothing to stop Crimson Crescent from coming after us. They could kill us, steal our Fragments and unlock them for their own use.”
Severin nodded slowly in agreement. “That is true. However, the Prides have many Familiars out in the field. If they were concerned about losing those Familiars and their Fragments to Crimson Crescent, they would have recalled all the Fragments and hidden them away.”
I frowned. “So you’re saying we’re safe then? You don’t believe Crimson Crescent has a Master Key.”
He looked up for a moment, arms still crossed over his chest. “I’ve looked into this as much as my position within the Avenir Pride can afford. I think it’s safe to say, that Crescent doesn’t have a Master Key.”
I took a breath. His words reassured me a little, but I was still uneasy.
Severin noticed. I could see he was uneasy a well.
I asked, “Where are you going with this explanation?”
He gave me a tight nod. “Allow me to finish.”
I shoved my hands into trousers’ pockets, and kept silent.
Severin resumed after a pause. “We’ve established that only a Fragment is capable of breaking into our Academy’s network with such ease. We’ve also established that Fragments of such ability are kept locked away by the Prides. And we agree that stealing a Fragment used in the field by a Familiar is pointless since you need to unlock them first. We also strongly believe, that Crescent doesn’t have the necessary Master Key.”
Maya, Rina and I all nodded.
Severin said, “So the question is, how did Crimson Crescent get their hands on such a dangerous Fragment?”
Again, Maya, Rina and I nodded.
“That’s because more than five years ago, Crimson Crescent stole a collection of Fragments being transported to Pharos.”
“Five years ago?” I asked, feeling a dull chill across my back.
He nodded. “The super freighter that exploded was carrying unlocked Fragments recently discovered out in the Hurakan Nebula. That freighter belonged to the Sanreal Pride, and the Sanreals are the most heavily involved in deep nebula exploration. Crimson Crescent used the explosion to disguise the theft of that shipment of Fragments.”
I clenched my jaw, but met his gaze.
My parents died because someone decided to steal Fragments?
Severin took a deep breath. “I had to rely on a lot of family connections to learn this. The truth is, if Crimson Crescent hadn’t begun breaching our network, I might never have investigated the freighter explosion.”
Maya spoke softly. “So you believe the Fragment they are using was in that shipment they stole five years ago.”
“Yes, I do. Although we cannot discount the possibility that Crimson Crescent may have stolen an unlocked and un-bonded Fragment from one of the Prides secret facilities.”
I shook my head quickly. “It sounds like we’re going in circles with this. Without hard facts, we could speculate endlessly.”
Severin nodded. “That is indeed true. So for now, we’re going to stick with the assumption proposed thus far. Five years ago, Crimson Crescent stole the network breaking Fragment from the super freighter. Agreed?”
After a little while we all nodded in agreement.
Maya asked, “Is it just Galatea Academy being targeted?”
“For the moment, yes. I’ve had meetings with my contemporaries at Arcala Academy and Phelan Academy, and they’ve confirmed their schools have not been breached.”
Maya asked, “So what’s so special about our Academy?”
Severin was quiet for a moment. “For the time being, I’m not in a position to comment on that.”
Maya scowled. “Then what can you tell us about the network breaches?”
His shoulders sagged a little. “I can tell you that these attacks were initiated within the premises of the Academy.”
I blinked a handful of times. “From inside Galatea?”
“Unfortunately…yes.” Severin worked the pen remote and the Crimson Crescent emblem vanished, only to be replaced by a very detailed representation of the Academy grounds and facilities.
Five little red dots appeared inside a number of the buildings.
Severin waved the remote. “Each breach happened at a different facility within the Academy. Accounting studies, computing, physics and chemistry laboratories, and the library. All were used at one point or another to access the secure levels of our school’s information network. All happened within the span of a month. But they stopped as soon as the school year came to an end.”
I asked, “Any idea why?”
Severing glanced at Simone. “We have an idea, but we’ll get to that shortly.”
I gave Simone a quick look. The serenity on her face conflicted with the tension in her eyes.
Maya asked softly, “Do we know what they are after? Do we know what is being protected by those security layers?”
Severin was quiet for a moment. “I cannot answer that question at this time.” He raised a hand to forestall a protest from the girl. “Maya, please. Later, you will understand why this is so. There are some matters I need to confirm before I can even attempt to answer your question.”
Simone slipped off the desk, and walked closer to the holovid image representing the Academy grounds. She cleared away the image with her own pen remote, then quietly addressed all of us in the room.
“I’d like all of you to listen carefully. Bringing you all together, and revealing this to you carries a degree of risk for us. To that end, I’m asking you all to keep this a secret. Caprice isn’t here, but she does understand the situation. So please, do not discuss this with anyone else. Is that clear?”
She gave each of us a measured look, favoring none over the other.
I gave her a nod. “My lips are sealed.”
Maya said, “I understand. My lips are sealed as well.”
The other girl replied in a like manner.
Simone swept her gaze over all of us again, and I saw relief and gratitude in her eyes.
She smiled and said, “Thank you.”
Severin stepped up beside her. “You have my sincere thanks as well.”
I felt a little embarrassed from the sincere feelings of appreciation they were bestowing upon us.
I wasn’t used to that from an Aventis.
When I glanced at Maya and the other girl, they looked troubled and a touch embarrassed as well.
The Student Council President and the Vice-President shared a quiet look, before Severin spoke again.
“There’s something else we need to show you.”
Simone took a couple of steps back from the center of the room. Severin fiddled with his pen remote and after a while a holovid security recording began to play. It showed a library terminal being operated as though by an invisible user. Then I narrowed my eyes when I noticed the user wasn’t quite invisible.
“Thermoptic camouflage,” I said.
Severin shook his head tightly. “No, it’s better. Every thermoptic camouflage system we know of has one flaw. It cannot hide the user’s shadow. This one is nearly perfect. Almost no shadow. The only give away is the fact the terminal is in use. I think it’s safe to say, this is another Fragment.”
I looked at him. “You’re saying it’s possible for them to be inside a crowded room, and no one would know they were there?”
“I’m saying that’s exactly what happened.”
I glanced at the other girls, then turned back to Severin. “What do you mean?”
“Each attack was carried out against our network during school hours, from inside a crowded, occupied room.”
I swallowed and voiced an awful conclusion. “So that’s why they stopped attacking the network during summer break.”
He nodded dejectedly. “No crowded classrooms or laboratories. No students or teachers to use as unwitting hostages while the breach was in progress.”
Maya’s voice was low and guarded. “Would Crescent really go that far?”
Simone answered her. “I have it on good authority that Crimson Crescent is willing to go much, much further.”
I felt her words foreshadowed a dire future for the Academy – for the school I really didn’t care for.
But if I didn’t care for it, why was I wondering what I could do to help?
I didn’t understand my feelings at all.
Severin cut across my confused thoughts.
“Let’s bring this meeting to an end. I think we all need some time to think this through on our own.”
I gave him a shallow nod, feeling relieved he was bringing the briefing to a close.
I was late, and there was somewhere I urgently needed to be.
#
(Haruka)
I gave him another few minutes, then hefted the straps of my school carry-bag onto my shoulder. Somehow I managed to hold back sighing in disappointed as I stared through the glass doors at the rows of lockers inside the lobby of the building.
I decided to call it quits for today, and try again tomorrow.
Why was I in such a rush?
The school year was just starting, but somehow I felt that if I didn’t confront him now, I’d never gather the courage again.
I was being stupid.
Hefting the straps on my shoulder a little higher, I started walking down the steps to the paved path that led all the way to the school’s north gate.
I walked with my head bowed down.
Siobhan walked beside me, and patted my back in an attempt to encourage me. She pointed out, “There’s always tomorrow.”
I gave her a nod I didn’t agree with. “Yeah, I guess you’re right….”
Then I heard his voice.
“I can’t stand that guy. We’re late because of him.”
Then I heard ‘her’ voice.
“I called ahead. We’re fine on time.”
I walked off the path and came to a stop on the grass bordering it.
“Caprice, just let me blame him for something,” he demanded in an irritated tone. “And what’s the deal with him and Maya? They were acting like a couple of ex’s.”
I could hear their footsteps behind us on the path.
Caprice said, “Maya? You’re calling her Maya already?”
“Huh? What’s wrong with calling her Maya?”
“I find that a little too familiar. Please refer to her as Khayman from now on. Better still, refer to her as Cave Woman.”
They were going to walk right by us.
“What? I can’t do that?” he complained. He sounded confused by her request.
“Of course you can. It’s entirely fitting.”
“You don’t like Maya, do you?”
Their footsteps drew nearer. I glimpsed Siobhan giving me a concerned look as if to say ‘this is your chance’.
“I’d prefer to having nothing to do with her,” Caprice retorted.
“Is that why you didn’t attend the meeting? Does Simone know about the two of you not getting along?”
“The Vice-President is a prudent woman. Did you just refer to her as Simone?”
“You really have a problem with me using people’s first names, don’t you?”
“And you’re asking too many questions.”
They drew abreast of us, and a moment later I watched them walk by. Their shoulders weren’t quite touching but there was a degree of familiarity between them that wasn’t close to intimacy.
They were like sportsmen, or tennis partners.
Yes, that’s right. Like a mixed doubles pair that had been playing together for a long time.
For a little while I studied them as they walked down the path.
Who was I kidding? They were definitely closer than sporting comrades. Just look at the way she’s holding her head high as she walks beside him.
And look at the way he appears concerned for offending her sensibilities.
Damn, I was simply kidding myself.
Siobhan stabbed through my melancholy thoughts. “Haruka! Snap out of it! He’s getting away.”
I shook my head. “No, it’s okay.”
Siobhan cursed. “I had to wait half an hour with you. No way this is okay!” She stepped onto the path, and cried out, “Caelum Desanto.”
“Siobhan, don’t—”
Too late. Caelum and Caprice both stopped simultaneously. They both turned quickly in perfect unison. They both shared matching expressions.
Ugh…this was too much to take.
They’re in perfect harmony with each other, like a pair of champion ice-skaters.
There I go again with the sporting analogies.
Siobhan didn’t let up. “Hey, Desanto. Pay attention to your surroundings.”
He gave her a confused look, until his gaze fell on me. I turned away but not before I saw his expression fall.
Siobhan almost screamed. “Hey, don’t you walk away from her!”
What? He’s leaving?
I turned to look down the path in his direction.
He had come to a stop again, but he was looking in the direction of the open gate and thus with his back to me. A couple of feet away, Caprice was watching him with a bemused expression.
He slowly turned around and our eyes met.
His mouth opened. I saw his lips move. But no words came out.
He struggled for a long while, a pained look in his eyes, an almost tortured expression on his face.
Then he turned around in a hurry and resumed walking down the path.
Siobhan yelled out, “Hey—”
“Stop it,” I begged her. “Please, Siobhan. Let him go, please.”
My legs turned rubbery. I had to sit down quickly on the edge of the path or I’d have collapsed hard to the ground.
Siobhan rushed toward me in concern. “Haruka?”
“I’m okay. I’m just feeling faint.”
&nb
sp; I rubbed my eyes and my fingers came away moist.
Damn. I’m losing it. Please, please don’t let him see me like this. Please dear gods.
I wiped at my eyes but it only seemed to make things worse.
There was nothing I could do to stop the tears.
I felt Siobhan wrap her arms around me as she knelt behind me.
“Haruka…you’re not fine. You’re very, very far from fine.”
I nodded and gave up trying to stop my tears altogether.
I didn’t bawl, but I came close.
Really, really close.
Reflections – 4.
The Symbiote can be classified into eight distinct strains.
These eight strains form the basis for the eight Prides that Aventis fall into.
The known Prides are as follows.
The Avenir Pride, known for its prominence in the domain of finance and business.
The Sora Pride, known for its prominence in the domain of business and entertainment, recently dabbling here and there in deep space mining.
The Sanreal Pride, known for its presence in the world of shipbuilding, shipping, salvaging and surveying.
The Irulan Pride, known for its interests in construction and deep-space colonization.
The Fenrir Pride, recognized for its interests in research and development of new technologies – as well as very old ones.
The Lorian Pride, with deep widespread connections to the learning institutions and academies across the colonized systems.
The Raynar Pride, known for its ties to the military and covert organizations.
And last, but not least, the Lanfear Pride – known as the black sheep Pride.
Courtesy of my bonding to Arisa Imreh’s blood – actually to the Symbiote inside her blood – I was bonded to the Lanfears.
As such, my affiliation to them wasn’t viewed with much pride by the Aventis of our academy. As mentioned before, the Lanfears weren’t very well received. This stemmed from the fact that the Lanfears had a habit of going against the flow. They would frequently paddle upstream when everyone else paddled down. This didn’t always work out in their favor, but on the occasions that it did, the Lanfears would profit greatly.
Also, the Lanfears had their fingers in everything, whether legitimate or illegal.
Elements of the other Prides were guilty of crimes as well.
Pride X Familiar ReVamp (Pride X ReVamp Book 1) Page 9
