Pride x Familiar

by Albert Ruckholdt

  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. Computer studies, 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.”

  Rina 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 dark, conflicted feelings from the sincere expressions of appreciation they were bestowing upon us.

  I wasn’t used to those coming 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.

  Alistair 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….”

  Siobhan walked on my other side and muttered, “He’s got you on a string.”

  Alistair protested, “You’re not being fair.”

  I was about to protest myself when 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. Siobhan and Alistair did the same, flanking me.

  Caelum sounded irritated. “Caprice, just let me blame him for something. 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.”

  “Familiar? Are you serious? Wait, are you jealous?”

  “Why would you think that?”

  Their footsteps drew nearer.

  Caelum asked, “You don’t like Maya, do you?”

  Caprice stated flatly, “I don’t know her well enough to answer that. She Awakened last year, and ever since transferring to Galatea she’s been in a different class from me.”

  They were going to walk right by us.

  I glimpsed Alistair giving me a concerned look as if to say ‘this is your chance’.

  I heard Caelum ask, “You never tried making friends wit
h her?”

  “No, I have no reason to be friends with her.”

  He sighed loud enough for me to hear. “Well, it sounds to me like you have a problem with her.”

  “Caelum, I do not have a problem with Maya Khayman. I just haven’t had a suitable reason to interact with her.”

  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 you damn Familiar!”

  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 that was rare to see on her face.

  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.”

  Siobhan cried out, “Bastard. Ah—gods damn him!”

  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.

  Alistair rushed toward me in concern. “Haruka?”

  “I’m okay. I’m just feeling faint.”

  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 Alistair 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.

  However, it wasn’t nearly as much news as when members of the Lanfear Pride got into trouble.

  Personally, I felt the other Prides simply had a grudge to bear against the Lanfears. After all, when it came to Fragments, the pieces possessed by the Lanfear Pride were by far the coolest, yet hardly the most dangerous of them all.

  Chapter 4 – Decision.

  (Caelum)

  First Semester, Week One.

  Let me describe it.

  After class, I would travel with Caprice to the training center where both our performance and that of our Fragments was studied and measured by Lanfear Pride researchers.

  Locations in Pharos were identified as follows: by Island, by habitat, then by district grid.

  Galatea Academy resided in Island Three, Habitat One, District Four Alpha.

  The training center where Caprice and I worked out at was located in Island Three, Habitat Two, District Two Gee, which happened to be an entertainment district.

  I say ‘entertainment’ not ‘red-light’ district.

  The region was full of clubs, gaming centers, drinking establishments, and VR houses providing a plethora of virtual experiences.

  The training center was situated underground, beneath a nightclub owned by Arisa Imreh that hosted a healthy patronage even on school nights.

  To arrive at the club, Caprice and I travelled by mag-lev. Not only could the trains travel at high speed through tunnels connecting the habitats, but they were pressurized and designed to travel between the Islands. In other words, they could handle the vacuum of space. Running on flexible mag-lev rails, the trains were like rocket powered caterpillars running along vines between trees. They would exit one asteroid island, run along the mag-lev track and then enter a second asteroid island.

  Even if they were pressurized, there was always the uncomfortable sensation in a person’s ears upon exit and entry of an Island. It was only a little less bothersome when exiting and entering a habitat.

  Caprice and I would enter the club through a side alley. A big, metal door resembling a fire escape exit intersected the permacrete wall of the club building. But it wasn’t a fire escape and the only way to open it was to press one’s palm against the metal.

  A smart door.

  Very smart door, indeed.

  After recognizing either myself or Caprice, the smart door would unlock for us.

  From there we walked down a stairwell to the underground levels. The doors that greeted us at each level were dumb doors and were kept unlocked. Even if they were locked, Caprice and I had a key for them.<
br />
  The training center was much like a gymnasium or fitness center, except built under Arisa’s nightclub. However, this ‘fitness center’ came complete with medical scanning equipment and our very own researcher or medical technician. I felt like a lab rat whenever I came here, which was to say almost every day for the past seven months since my Awakening.

  For two hours we would perform physical training, then spend a good thirty minutes sparring with each other. Most days we trained without the use of Fragments. Most days, Caprice received training from a personal instructor or a holovid program who put her through a regimen of hand-to-hand combat training aimed at making the most use of her Fragment, the Valkyrie Armor.

  I had tried to follow along with her during these sessions, but found myself many, many months behind her. As a result, I didn’t benefit from them as much as she did.

  To me, it felt like there wasn’t a fighting style suited for using a shield-blade like my Gauntlet. I had the suspicion I would have to develop my own fighting style; a style that wasn’t found in the books. But was I good enough to do that?

  The last fifteen to twenty minutes of our sessions were spent having a researcher or medical technician scan our bodies and analyze the results before allowing us to venture back into the outside world.

  I felt our researcher had an appearance at odds with the image presented by the other Lanfear researchers I had encountered. Sure, he wore a white lab coat with the freshness of having been dry-cleaned every day, but everything else about him contrasted sharply with that coat.

  Allow me to explain.

  After I was diagnosed as a Familiar, Arisa arranged new accommodations for me. I was allocated an apartment in the same complex Caprice lived in. In fact, Arisa made sure our apartments were next door to each other. A short while after I moved in, Caprice began making it a habit to watch old ‘movies’ at my place rather than hers. These were recordings made pre-Cataclysm.

  At this point I will state for the record that at no point in time did I invite her into my apartment. She had key to my apartment given to her by Arisa, courtesy of building management. As such, I was helpless to stop her.

  One such recording I was forced to watch was a fictitious account of a Terran vampire by the name of Count Dracula who went to a land known as England in search of a worthy mate.