The Sky Drifter (23 page)

After everyone had calmed down, some of us stayed behind to help Mrs. Ursa clean up as other students and residents did the same around the rest of town. It was very late—or very early—by the time I got back to my quarters.

“Hello, Seven. I am glad you are alive.”

“Hello, Ava. Ditto.”

I really
was
happy to hear her voice. I collapsed onto my bed and closed my eyes. I didn’t want to think about anything. The only thing I wanted was to drift off to sleep and let the darkness carry me away. I don’t know how long I was asleep, but after what felt like mere moments, I heard the sound of insistent banging on my door.

“Wake up, Seven,” came Ava’s voice.

“Ugh.”

“Wake up, Seven. There is someone at the door.”

“Murgh…’ont care.”

Bang. Bang. Bang.

“There is someone at the door, Seven. Wake up.”

“Uh…Just Iris…”

“It is not Iris, Seven.”

Bang. Bang. Bang. Bang.

I sleepily opened one eye, and asked, “Who
is
it then?”

“It is Ms. Photuris, Seven. She looks impatient.”

Hearing Ava speak that name was like having an ice block run down my bare back. “Why didn’t you
tell
me it was her from the start?” I growled as I stumbled my way to the door, almost tripping on half a dozen things, and almost breaking my neck.

“I told you there was someone at the door, Seven,” replied Ava pleasantly.

I regained my balance and then opened the door to find Ms. Photuris standing on the doorstep with her arms elegantly folded in front of her.

“
Seven
,” she greeted dryly, her words filling my mind.

“Ms. Photuris, how can I—”

“
Follow me.
”

Without saying another word, she turned and started down the path. Luckily, I was still fully dressed—boots and all—so simply closed the door behind me and then caught up with her. It could be difficult to tell what mood Ms. Photuris was in, as her face was always still and expressionless. Walking hastily beside her along the path that led to the town, I wondered how best to ask her why she’d turned up at my quarters unannounced, and where we were going. If her mood was good, then her reply would be nice. If it wasn’t, then I preferred to wait and see.

“
I am taking you to the academy. You’re going to have an Advanced Strategy class
,” she said curtly. It was times like these I wondered if she really
could
read minds.

“Why so earl—”

I have reviewed your last stratagem, and have concluded it was less than satisfactory. As such, you will now amend the mistakes you made
. The teacher gave the impression of being upset and angry, so I didn’t ask why doing so was such a big, urgent deal. Even so, Ms. Photuris continued.
Perhaps you fail to understand this, my child, but you were chosen for this class due to the talent you have until now consistently exhibited. Your last effort, however, was so ridiculously flawed it made me wonder why I chose you in the first place. I am taking you to amend your grievous error, so you may prove to me I was not mistaken in doing so. Do you understand?
With every word the teacher spoke, her tone became sharper and colder.

Not wanting to aggravate the situation more, I simply replied, “Yes, I do.”

We spent the rest of the walk to the academy in silence. It was still dark, but the distant planets and stars coated everything in their astral colors. The clock tower said it was six, so the day screen would be activated soon.

Inside, the academy was dark and deserted, lights above only illuminating the sections and hallways along which we walked until we passed them, before turning themselves off again. Soon we reached the Advanced Strategy class on the seventh floor. We walked with Ms. Photuris leading the way along the long hall until we reached the room at the end.

After turning on the dim lights, Ms. Photuris went to stand behind her station, and I walked to mine. As she typed, the large display screen on the back wall ahead of me came on showing the same battle landscape as it had last time I’d been there with the same squadrons standing by.

Once I’d turned on my own console, Ms. Photuris said in a more composed tone of voice,
Okay, my child, you will now replay the last scenario. This time, however, you will take into account any possible counter attacks from the enemy.

As the lights dimmed, Ms. Photuris’ torso shined brightly, washing away any nerves I had until I felt calm and focused. The simulation started.

The battle progressed in much the same way as it had last time, the enemy mobilizing its units in a predictable way as I strategically placed my own in the most effective and efficient offensive and defensive positions.

Once the battle neared its natural end with me as its victor, Ms. Photuris paused the simulation and walked over to me with unusual haste.

This
, she began pointedly,
this is where you went wrong. Here
. The teacher pointed to a unit she told me could counter attack, leading, if it did, to a chain reaction that would lead to the total annihilation of my units.

I looked at the display screen for a moment as the teacher explained in detail how something like that could happen, and having played the scenario in my mind, I had to admit she was right.

So, then, my child, how would you fix this…little problem?

It didn’t take me too long to find a way around the possible counter attack, especially as the enemy was already at such a disadvantage.

For a moment, Ms. Photuris gazed at me until finally she said gravely,
Are you certain?
   

“Positive,” I replied, adding, “they have nowhere left to run or any possibility of attack.”

Another moment passed in silence before the teacher said,
You have done good work, Seven. In future, however, I would like you to focus entirely on the simulations as they run, so such errors do not recur.

I was sorely tempted to ask Ms. Photuris why she thought it was a big deal to the point of getting me out of bed so urgently, but I didn’t feel like listening to a speech about the importance of strategies in real world battles and wars, so I kept quiet.

My eyelids were getting heavier with each passing moment, and I wondered if I’d have enough time to get back to my quarters and into bed for a while.

As if reading my mind, however, Ms. Photuris said,
Your classes will be starting soon, my child. I have taken the liberty of having your bag with all necessary contents brought to the academy for you. You will find it within your locker. I shall inform you of your next advanced class in due time, my child. Now go, lest you be late.

I left the Advanced Strategy class, thanking Ms. Photuris, and then headed downstairs to start the day, cursing how tired I’d feel.

I STRUGGLED TO KEEP
my eyes open all the way through my Quantum Mechanics and Universal History classes and was dead on my feet by the time lunch came around. As usual, the canteen was buzzing with students as they filled the room with lively chatter that ranged from high screeching to low whooping.

I quickly spotted Pi toward the back, which wasn’t too challenging, given his choice of a bright pink Hawaiian shirt with green lips dotted around it. As I wormed my way around other students, I noticed Iris sitting opposite him, wearing a light teal dress. Unsurprisingly, she was quietly immersed in the game she played on her Equinox while Pi accumulated a bunch of plates and bowls on the table in front of him.

After I finally sat on the chair in between them, I dropped my head onto the table and moaned pathetically.

“Wha’ up, ‘uddy?” Pi asked with a mouthful of food.

“I need
sleep
.” I groaned.

“Rough night?” he asked after loudly swallowing whatever he ate. “The tipping of the ship give you nightmares?” I looked up to see him grinning as he readied another large bite.

“Ha, ha,” I replied with irony. “Ms. Photuris came to my quarters when it was still dark at crazy o’clock to drag me to Strategy class and make me re-do a scenario I did badly.”

“Did she now?” Pi asked suggestively, causing Iris to look up at him for a split moment.

“Shut up, Pi,” I said while he cackled quietly.

As he continued eating and Iris played her game, occasionally taking a sip of her drink, I closed my eyes, hoping to nap for a while. My mind, however, wouldn’t let me rest. Ever since Pi had brought up the previous night’s incident, the persistent question that had plagued my mind since then came back, and I knew it would stay there until I asked it.

“Guys…I have a question,” I said tentatively.

“Huh?” asked Pi absent-mindedly as he scarfed some ice-cream.

“It’s about what happened yesterday at Shabli’s.” I found it harder than I’d thought to ask them.

“So you
did
get nightmares?” Pi smiled.

“No, it’s nothing like that.”

“So what is it?”

“Well, when the whole ship tilted, you guys—and everyone else at Shabli’s—none of you reacted to it. It was like you weren’t even conscious it was happening.”

I felt Iris’ gaze immediately lock on me as Pi casually said, “What are you
talk
ing about, bro?” He seemed more interested in the sweet glowing beetles he was about to devour.

I turned to face Iris, who still gazed at me. “Iris, it looked exactly like what happened in Brattea. It was almost as if none of you realized what was happening until only a few moments later.”

Iris gave me a deep look of concern, and said, “Seven, what you’re saying is crazy. I mean, think about it. Why would no one react to the ship tipping so violently like that?”

“Yeah, bro,” added Pi. “Are you even sure you saw what you think you saw?” Even though he was still focusing on his food, I caught him shooting me the same look of concern as Iris. They thought I was crazy.

“Well,” I relented, “the whole thing
did
happen quickly.”

“Exactly,” replied Pi, clearly satisfied with my answer as he devoted his attention to his lunch again.

“Seven, think about it logically,” continued Iris. “How could such a thing make any sense? I mean, really, think about it.”

“The same thing happened in Brattea—”

“Which was explained as being a virus we were exposed to.” After pausing briefly, Iris asked, “Seven, do you think you were traumatized by the trip, and yesterday’s incident brought it back somehow?”

Part of me knew what she said made sense, or I couldn’t rule it out, at least. Could what happened on Brattea really have affected me that much? Was what I saw at Shabli’s really just all in my mind? I was so tired I couldn’t think straight. “I guess,” I replied simply.

Placing her hand on my arm for the second time in as many days, Iris looked into my eyes and gently smiled. “Maybe going to the academy nurse would help you, Seven. She might be able to help you and clarify it all for you. You do realize what you said just isn’t possible, don’t you?”

I smiled back at Iris, feeling my face steadily reddening, and said, “Yeah, I guess you’re right.”

Before lunch ended, I took a couple of highly caffeinated drinks to keep me awake, which helped me make it through the rest of the classes. When the announcement signaling the end of the academic day came, I walked over to the academy entrance to wait for Iris and Pi. I felt tired and was so very glad there was no Sphere practice that day.

Soon after, Iris, Pi and I walked out of the academy, heading toward the town.

“Let’s go to Shabli’s,” said Pi, smiling, “I hear a new flavour of shake is out.”

“Your stomach amazes me,” said Iris airily. “What flavour is it?”

Playfully nudging my arm and most likely bruising it, Pi said, “Bet you’ll like this, buddy. They’re flavors from your planet—marshmallow onion.”

“Pass,” I replied, suppressing the urge to gag at the thought of it. “No, think I’ll go to my quarters and sleep. I can hardly keep my eyes open.”

“
What
?” exclaimed Pi with a look of shock. “It’s early! What’s wrong? You sick or something?”

“Dude,” I sighed heavily, “I
told
you earlier. I’ve barely slept.”

Furrowing his brow, Pi replied, “What? Oh, yeah. Well, come anyway.”

“Pi,” began Iris, “if Seven wants to go to sleep, let him. He’s obviously tired.”

I looked over at Iris and thanked her with a smile, which she acknowledged with a wink.

“Bah,” moaned Pi, throwing his hands behind his head. “Never mind then. More for me.”

We’d entered the town and navigated its narrow, busy streets when we stopped at a junction. “Sure you won’t come?” Pi asked, looking hopeful.

“No thanks, buddy. Seriously, I’m tired.”

“Suit yourself then, bro. See you later.” Pi turned right into the street that led to Shabli’s, his hands still resting behind his furry head.

“Okay, Seven.” said Iris. “Have a lovely sleep. See you later?”

“Definitely. See you—”

All of a sudden, something out of the corner of my eye caught my attention, making me instantly turn my gaze toward it. Through the bustling crowd, I saw the mysterious girl, who was halfway up the street ahead, partly standing at the entrance of an alleyway. She stared right at me without blinking and pointed down at something just past her feet, at the base of the wall in front of her, so I couldn’t see it.

Without a word to Iris, I impulsively dashed ahead toward her, who remained where she stood. I fought my way through the thick, ambling crowd. My heart beat wildly with excitement and anger. Maybe it was irrational, but I would have bet anything that she’d had something to do with the tilting of the ship. There had been too many strange occurrences, and she’d even admitted to having blown something up herself. It seemed to me that every time the mysterious girl appeared, something bad had or was about to happen.