Free Fighting Gravity by Leah Petersen

enjoying my reaction.
    Director Kagawa’s voice came from over my shoulder, “Mr. Dawes is no doubt overwhelmed by Your Excellence’s generosity. Of course, I’m sure it’s frightening as well, the prospect of leaving behind your only home for something completely foreign and no doubt quite strange for someone of his origins, at such a young age.” I wondered if he missed the look on the emperor’s face at that reference to my age. “And to do so alone? Perhaps someone should accompany him, both as a familiar presence and as a chaperone. As his mentor I’d be more than happy to fill that role.”
    Fury welled up in me. I could usually ignore Kagawa’s insulting assumptions but this was too much. My hands clenched into fists in my lap. The emperor seemed surprised by the director’s little speech and turned to me with a questioning look.
    The heady feeling of power rushed through me. Kagawa was trying to acquire something extraordinary for himself by capitalizing on my success, and the emperor had laid the decision in my lap.
    I didn’t even look at Kagawa. “He’s nothing to me, Excellence,” I said. “Had it been up to him, I’d have been Resettled years ago.”
    The emperor’s face went blank when he turned to regard Kagawa, as if the director no longer existed. Somehow it was the most frightening expression I’d ever seen. The emperor looked over at Lord Sifer, who nodded acknowledgement of something that had passed unseen between them. He turned back to me and his face resumed its previous expression of polite interest.
    “It’s settled then. I can’t wait to see the fascinating things you’ll think up to do in that lab.”
    I was paralyzed with horror. What had I done? I forced myself to look over at Director Kagawa. Pale as death, he stared out into space, poleaxed. I dropped my head, my face hot with shame.
    I spent the rest of the meal staring at my plate, my appetite gone. I couldn’t look at Kagawa, nor could I look at the emperor, but looking up at the room would have been just as bad or worse. The closest tables would have heard the entire conversation, and many more would have seen the reactions. Unless Kagawa looked markedly different now than he had the last time I’d raised my head, the whole room had to know that something had happened. Something big. Something terrible. Something that was my fault.
    I don’t think the emperor spoke to me again. If he did, I didn’t notice. When dessert was served, it was all I could do not to lose what I’d already eaten. I sat in agony until the emperor stood and made a small, closing speech. He praised our work. He promised to return every five years or so to keep himself abreast of all that we did. He spoke of how much he had enjoyed the day, how much he had learned, and how valuable we were to the Empire. He thanked us and we rose as a group and bowed as he left the room.
    As soon as he was gone I catapulted out of my place and rushed after his departing retinue. I caught up to Lord Sifer and grabbed at his arm without thinking.
    “Please sir, please, what’s going to happen to Director Kagawa? What I said, I didn’t mean it like it sounded. That is, I mean, please sir, I just said something stupid.”
    He looked at me without emotion. “Mr. Dawes, you may address me as Lord Sifer or ‘my lord.’ Please remove your hand from my arm.”
    I snatched my hand away. “Forgive me, my lord.”
    He nodded. “Mr. Dawes, what happens to Director Kagawa is not your concern.”
    “But sir! My lord! I didn’t mean what I said. You can’t do anything to him just because of what I said!”
    He raised his eyebrows. “Was what you said untrue?”
    I flushed. “No, my lord, but it’s not what it sounds like…”
    “Mr. Dawes, I’m sure you’re very brilliant when it comes to the physical sciences. I would not be in the position I am in if I were not also very good at what I do. I won’t presume to tell you how to conduct your work, and I