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By the time the session finishes, we're both breathing hard and my ears are ringing. A bead of sweat drips down the side of Vogel's face.

‘What did you see?' I ask, breathless.

‘Nothing you wouldn't want me to, sweetie,' she puffs. ‘And I found the lock. Pretty thing. The composition is rock solid, so it's going to take some time.' She wipes her face. ‘Goodness. I've never wrestled this much with a rookie before. Must be losing my touch.'

‘Sorry,' I tell her, relieved she hasn't gone anywhere near the dark corner of my mind where I keep my puzzle-chest. ‘If I knew how to help you, I would.'

‘Don't worry. I think I've got a feel for the shape of the lock. It's strong, but I see a few chinks in it. With a bit of pressure, I could snap it within a week.'

‘You're doing okay, Josie?' Wendell asks.

‘Just fine.' I give her a droopy thumbs up.

Wendell looks relieved and rests a hand on Vogel's shoulder. ‘Great work. We'll continue tomorrow morning, then.'

I exit on uncertain legs, praying I'm not going to collapse. The strain of dealing with the intrusion of Vogel's TP has taken its toll and all I want to do is fall into bed. My talents have huddled back into their home, licking their wounds. I've never met a TP as strong and flexible as Vogel, and it's confronting to come up against such a powerful telepath. Knees wobbling, I hurry down the corridor, hoping that Vogel's strong enough to do what needs to be done. Then I wonder if
I'll
be strong enough, and I tell myself I have to be.

The day of the fundraiser approaches fast and before I know it, I'm dressing in Cora's room. My hands shake as I slip my feet into some black shoes I've borrowed from her. Cora is currently sprawled out on her bed, eating corn chips from a bowl with a wistful expression.

‘That dress is divine,' she sighs. ‘I can't believe that bitch Olivia found it for you.'

I smooth down the front, trying to think of an answer that doesn't sound like I sold out to Olivia somehow. My face is pale in the mirror and the make-up Cora helped me with is stark. Working with Vogel on breaking the lock this past week has sown a seed of paranoia inside of me. Each session is harder than the one before and I worry about the kind of techniques she's going to use when she actually tries to make a hard break. Eckhart once asked me how badly I want to stay at the academy, and I hadn't lied. I'll do anything. But I'm still worried. What if my body and talents betray me and the lock can't be broken?

‘Josie?'

I realise Cora has asked me a question. I turn from the mirror to face her. ‘Sorry, what?'

‘I was telling you to have fun tonight.' She licks her fingers. ‘Make sure you cosy up to Aaron for me.'

‘Do you know if Blake is back?' I ask casually.

Cora flops on her back with a groan. ‘He came back yesterday. Straight up told me he was going to test me by the end of the week on a solo slide.'

‘You've never gone on your own before?'

‘Nope. I've always been under supervision, or with a slide buddy. I'm not exactly the picture of elegance, you know.' Cora flaps her arms around. ‘There's usually a lot of flailing and screaming.'

‘I'll bet you're not that bad.' I go to grab one of the corn chips, but she slaps my hand away.

‘None for you. You'll get chip breath.'

‘What are you going to do?' I run a tongue over my teeth, trying to remember if I brushed them.

‘Jeremy has been helping me a lot.' Cora smiles dreamily.

‘The infamous Jeremy Murphy, hey?'

Cora smiles, biting her bottom lip. ‘He's doing wonders for my motivation.'

‘The infamous Jeremy Murphy sure sounds helpful.'

‘He is. And Blake says I can wear a nanosuit to feel more secure as well.'

‘Sounds like Blake is also being helpful,' I say. ‘But you don't need his advice, or Jeremy to hold your hand. I'm sure you're stronger than you think.'

‘Thanks, coach.'

There's a knock at Cora's door and we both freeze. A screen beside the door flickers on to show Aaron standing outside.

‘Hello? I'm looking for Josie,' he says to the door-cam. ‘Someone said she might be here. It's Aaron Galloway.'

Cora and I exchange startled glances. My first instinct is to hide, then I realise how stupid that is. Cora quickly fixes her hair, then looks round in horror at the messy state of her room. Stashing the bowl of chips under the bed, she kicks a few stray shoes aside. Huffing a breath into her cupped hand and wincing, she hurries over to open the door. Aaron wears a dark suit and crisp white tie and his hair has been styled carefully. Cora just stands in the doorway, her jaw open.

‘Hi.' Aaron smiles at Cora. When he sees my dress, his eyes widen. ‘Josie. You look stunning.'

I touch Cora's shoulder and she jumps.

‘Ah. Yes. Right. Hello,' Cora says breathlessly.

‘Sorry.' I apologise to Aaron, but I'm not sure why. ‘I thought I was being picked up out the front.'

‘You are. Or rather, we are. I thought you might appreciate company on the trip over,' Aaron explains. ‘Hope that's alright.'

‘Sure. Thanks,' I murmur. Cora grabs the small black clutch she's lent me and shoves it in my hands.

‘Have fun,' she tells me. ‘You have to promise to fill me in when you get back.'

As I follow Aaron down the corridor, I glance over my shoulder to see Cora frantically motioning for me to slip my arm around Aaron's waist. I just roll my eyes.

Outside, a sleek black air-car waits for us, and Aaron opens the door for me. It's a fancy stretch model; the inside is all polished wood and white leather, with a real crystal decanter in a wet bar. The car gives a smooth hum as the engine starts, and I watch Helios fall away through the tinted windows.

‘You look beautiful,' Aaron says.

My fingers twitch, wanting to tug at the dress. ‘Thank you.'

‘Can I offer you a refreshment?' he asks, gesturing to the display screen in the wet bar, showing the other drinks available to us.

‘No, thanks.'

A small silence falls, before Aaron says, ‘How are you finding the sessions with the consultant?'

‘They're going okay.'

Aaron looks like he wants to ask more and I brace myself for questions about the lock that I can't answer, but he just throws me a dashing smile.

‘Just remember I'm cheering on the sidelines, okay?'

My shoulders loosen an inch. ‘Thanks.'

‘Do you know this area much?' Aaron gestures to the window and I look out, giving my head a small shake. Last time I was in an air-car was when law enforcement picked me up for my second strike. I'd hated the pitching sensation the car gave as it wove through the air, the ground so far away. But this air-car rides smooth and straight and, surrounded by this luxury, I find myself enjoying the ride.

Aaron shifts to sit closer to me and I tense. It's not that he makes me nervous, I'm just worried he's going to make some kind of move. Cora insinuated that Aaron would be a fantastic catch. But while he's crushingly handsome, I'm not drawn to him. Hell, I don't
know
the guy, so how could I feel anything? Watching him, I realise I'm comparing him to Blake and quickly shut down the thought.

Aaron points out the window at the scenery below. ‘This is the Blackwood reserve. It has incredible waterfalls. Absolutely breathtaking to hike to and watch.'

Peering out the window, all I see is rolling treetops. ‘Sounds beautiful.'

‘Have you ever been in a forest?'

‘When I was young. We lived in a small cabin by a lake.' Unbidden, fond memories of the past surface: fishing on the lake in summer; throwing snowballs in winter. I shove the memory aside as Aaron shifts to the front of the car and talks to the driver.

‘I want to show you something.' He turns back to me. ‘I promise we won't be late.'

The car turns and descends, so slow I barely notice, rocking gently when the wheels touch the ground. Aaron gets out and holds a hand to me. Smiling at the mischievous look on his face, I take it and he helps me out.

The air outside is shockingly brisk and I fold my arms, wishing I had a wrap of some sort. Even one of Cora's cardigans would do.

‘Here.' Aaron takes off his jacket and settles it on my shoulders. ‘Just until we're back in the car.'

Looking around at the breathtaking view, the open air smell takes me back to my childhood. I remember chasing lizards along the damp forest floor and rough bark scraping my knees as I climbed the nearest tree, just to see how high I could get.

I take in a good lungful of the bracing air. The sheer sense of space and freedom chases away all the dark thoughts I've been having about my session with Vogel. On the horizon, the sun is setting, smearing rich orange and purple across the sky. In this moment, I don't think I've ever seen anything so beautiful. Aaron points to the left.

‘Our family has a holiday home over that way, on the Helios grounds,' he says. ‘Sometimes I go there in the spring.'

‘That must be nice.'

‘It is. Maybe you could come along sometime.'

It's not that I don't believe him, but I suddenly wish he'd stop trying so hard. Promises of becoming close friends and visiting holiday homes just don't seem real to me. It's hard enough to process the fact that I've been invited to the fundraiser event in the first place.

‘Did the consultant give any indication of how long breaking the lock might take?' Aaron asks smoothly, like we're discussing the weather and not how my future hangs in the balance.

‘She's confident it can be broken soon.'

‘Wonderful.' He grins. ‘There'll be plenty of board members at the fundraiser tonight, wanting to meet you. Being who and what you are.'

Staring at the gorgeous sprawling view of treetops, I ask, ‘Do you know anything about what my parents did at Helios?'

Aaron turns to me with a careless grin. ‘Bit before my time, I'm afraid. Eckhart hasn't told you anything?'

‘He just starts talking about how the projects they worked on are classified,' I say. ‘Guess I'll have to work up the ranks to find out.'

‘And you will.' Aaron laughs. ‘But I'll see what I can find out for you.'

I glance at him, wondering if he knows why I'm so keen to understand this piece of my past. But Aaron has already changed the subject.

‘Let me just warn you about tonight: there's a good chance you'll be bored stupid. These fundraisers can be trying. It's Olivia's first one, and I've got to keep an eye on her. Make sure she doesn't get drunk and needle Blake so he loses his temper.'

‘That shouldn't take long,' I mutter, Blake's brooding face appearing in my mind's eye. I'm suddenly anxious at the thought of seeing him again. Then I remember I'll also be seeing Olivia, and my anxiety cranks up another notch. My fingers brush the silky fabric of my dress, wondering what kind of revenge she has planned against Archer and what part she thinks I'm going to play.

‘Guess you'd know all about Blake's temper then, wouldn't you?' Aaron chuckles and it's an infectious sound. I'm almost tempted to join in. Almost.

‘He does seem to have a high opinion of himself,' I say.

Aaron's laugh fades, though amusement still twinkles in his eyes. ‘He's only three years older than me, but you'd think the gap was fifty, the way he acts sometimes.'

‘Not to mention the anger management issues,' I say.

Aaron shrugs. ‘Blake was eight when our mother died and it hit him the hardest. I was young, so I barely remember her. Both Blake and I shielded Olivia from the worst of it. Father just retreated into his work. We barely saw him.' Aaron's smile is sad. ‘When she was alive, I remember she used to try and read to us all the time, but only Blake had the patience to sit still and listen. After she died, he became withdrawn and angry. As soon as he was old enough, he enlisted in the army.'

‘I know what it's like to lose a parent,' I murmur.

‘You were raised by your uncle, weren't you?' Aaron asks.

‘Bobby,' I tell him. ‘He took me in when I was six. He was in the army most of his life, until they had to amputate his leg.'

‘Blake never really talks about his time with the army. I think he saw some terrible things.' Aaron touches my hand. ‘If he does anything to make you feel uncomfortable because of the lock, let me know.'

‘Okay.' I find myself warming to him, touched by his concern and flattered by his questions.

His fingers curl around mine, squeezing. ‘You know, your tests indicate you've got a magnificent threading capacity. Combined with my talents, there'd be no limits to what we could do. I want you to remember, if you need anything, come to me or call me anytime. I'll always be available for you.'

He sounds so earnest that I believe him. The offer to be part of a powerful partnership with a technopath is more than I ever expected. As Eckhart had pointed out, the academy had little use for a threader locked with a slider.

I'm so elated at the possibility I almost feel dizzy. But instead of grinning like a lunatic, I give him a small smile. ‘I'd like that as well.'

I pass back his coat and he slides his arms into it. ‘If Blake behaves hostile towards you, try to remember that this whole episode has been difficult for him. He's a very private person. The fact that someone intruded into his mind the way you did probably shook him up.'

Guilt worms through me as we climb into the air-car. The engine hums and inertia pushes me against the seat as the beautiful scenery falls away. I know Aaron's right about what happened with Blake. Even though locking with him was an accident. Even though I'd hidden deep the images my TP had glimpsed in his mind. It was still a violation. As I watch the distant rolling forest under us, I firm up my resolve to work harder with Vogel to break the lock and become the cadet Director Eckhart wants me to be.