Free Pride x Familiar by Albert Ruckholdt Page A

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