Pride x Familiar

By Albert Ruckholdt

In the wake of the Cataclysm which ended the lives of billions and brought the First Galactic Age to an end, human civilization fell into two camps.
Aventis – humans that are host to the Symbiote which makes them stronger, faster, quicker to heal, and harder to kill.
Regulars – humans that lack the Symbiote and are thereby physically inferior to the Aventis.
Ruled by the eight Aventis clans known as Prides, humanity has settled into an age of quiet, gentle prosperity that veils an undercurrent of tension and discontent between the two races.
For Caelum Desanto, a Regular high-school student living in the asteroid colony of Pharos, his reasons for resenting the Aventis grew the day his childhood friend was deemed eligible to bond with a Symbiote and thereby join a Pride, one of the eight Aventis clans that govern human civilization. But a near deadly encounter with a knife-wielding girl on the school’s rooftop eventually lands him in Galatea Academy, a prestigious institution attended almost entirely by Aventis students.
At Galatea, Caelum finds himself pulled into the machinations of the Student Council, who have entered into a shadow conflict fought out in microcosm between those that serve the Prides, and those seeking to topple them from power. Now Caelum is forced to make a choice: shelve his resentment for the Aventis and protect the Academy, or allow the people responsible for the deaths of hundreds, including his parents, to invade the school and place the faculty and students in peril.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Albert Ruckholdt
• Release date: Jul 3, 2014
• ISBN: 9781311619716

Albert Ruckholdt

Albert Ruckholdt is science-fiction/romance novelist focusing on works written for teenage and young adult readers.A software engineer by trade, he graduated from Macquarie University in Sydney with an Honors Degree in Computer Science and immediately entered the world of financial systems. When not writing fiction, he is a senior programmer in a business solutions company based in Sydney, Australia.Raised on an early diet of science-fiction works from greats such as Harlan Ellison, Roger Zelanzy, Michael Morcook, and Clifford D. Simak, he graduated to modern science fiction works by Iain M. Banks, and Peter F. Hamilton.However, it was his introduction to the style of the Japanese light-novel, and works by writers such as Shoji Gatoh, that inspired him to take pen to paper, fingers to keyboard, and begin writing soft science-fiction that focused more on character interplay rather than the hard science.Made the decision to write for the young adult market after receiving surprisingly positive critiques from members of the teenage demographic for a couple of unpublished works.The first novel in the Pride series, "Pride X Familiar", was written with the intention of delivering a light-novel for young adult western readers.Released "Pride X Familiar ReVamp" as an alternative telling of the story.An avid fan of Japanese anime, manga and culture, he is also a student of the Japanese language at beginner level.Credits Seo Kouji's manga "Suzuka" as part of his inspiration for writing.With the completion of "Pride X Familiar", and "Pride X Familiar ReVamp", he is currently busy at work on the sequel, "Pride X Valkyrie ReVamp" which is currently enjoying a draft release at Royal Road Legend.His fourth novel, "Maiden of the Line", a sci-fi/fantasy is currently in pre-release at Wattpad and Royal Road Legend, for an intended Christmas 2015 ebook release.

Book preview

Reflections – 0.

To this day, nobody knows what triggered the Cataclysm.

That’s what it came to be known, a word synonymous with both the massive trans-space shockwave, and the wholesale destruction that it caused.

That shockwave hit the mass shadows of planets, stars, and a host of other celestial bodies.

Anything with a substantial mass shadow that dimpled into the realm of trans-space was smashed to pieces.

If you were on a planet, there was nowhere to run.

The shockwave would shatter the world like a ball made of soft earth.

Even large starships weren’t spared.

Many of the super-liners and super-sized military fortresses perished when the trans-light shockwave struck their presence within trans-space.

Racing out from an epicenter near the center of humanity’s galactic civilization, the shockwave wiped out billions in the span of a day. Millions more died in the days that followed, as the intersystem civilization was brought to an end.

The Cataclysm brought a finale to humanity’s First Golden Age.

It set the stage for the survivors to lay the foundations for the Second Golden Age.

And the remains of those scores of shattered worlds, moons and stars became the material that fueled the expansion of the Hurakan Nebula.

Nobody noticed when the Aventis appeared.

By the time they did, it was already too late.

They were everywhere and anywhere.

From the very beginning they had infiltrated the newly founded United Systems Alliance and the neighboring Coalition of System States.

The problem was that the Aventis looked just like us.

That’s because they were us.

They were human, but they were also something more.

They were hosts to the Symbiote.

It was the Symbiote that made the Aventis strong, fast, and hard to kill.

Despite their lack of numbers, they quickly overwhelmed humanity, or should I say, the Regulars.

So, after a few years of struggling against the Aventis – who fell into eight distinct clans known as Prides – humanity gave up and raised the white flag.

At least, that’s what history tells us. That’s what we’re taught in school. That’s what dramatic holovid re-enactments portray.

The truth is a little different.

The War of Supremacy wasn’t over in a flash. It lasted seven years and took place over hundreds of thousands of cubic light-years.

It was fought inch by inch, light-year by light-year, and the tide of battle only turned in favor of the Aventis late in the war.

The Alliance and Coalition united to form the Human Territories which subsequently became the Human Empire ruled by an empress with a heart of ice.

The Aventis fought under a single banner, preferring not to make claims of territory as the war dragged on.

That was two centuries ago.

It’s a history that’s a little different from what people know today.

I guess it can’t be helped. As the saying goes, history is decided by the victors – the Aventis.

Why they chose to rewrite history, is a mystery to me. Even knowing what I know today, I can’t fathom their reasons. But in saying that, I still have a long road of discovery ahead of me.

So it was that more than two centuries after the Cataclysm, people had all but forgotten the point of going to war against these ‘superior’ humans. And the truth was, the Prides only went to war to ensure their own survival, but afterwards they managed – dare I say ‘ruled’ – humanity pretty well.

No wars. No conflicts. On the whole, a fairly stable economic and political environment.

Of course, the Aventis remained at the top of the food chain, and Regulars remained one step below. They had preferential treatment in business, education, sports, and pretty much everything else.

But it wasn’t all bad for the rest of humanity.

Just not as good as it was for those that belonged to the Prides.

However, the door to joining a Pride wasn’t closed.

During their teenage years, a Regular human was tested for compatibility with one of the eight strains of Symbiote that uniquely characterized the eight Prides.

Haruka was tested when she turned sixteen, and her body had a high compatibility with the Avenir Pride.

I was tested too and my results showed negative – I’m talking less than zero – compatibility with all of the eight strains of the Symbiote.

It’s like the damn things hated me as much as I hated them.

I had my reasons for hating them; reasons for resenting them.

In truth, I was happy to be left out.

I just never figured I would fall into a third camp.

You see, one day I found out I wasn’t as Regular as I thought I was.

I was actually more like an aberration.

An anomaly of great value to the Prides.

But I wasn’t the only anomaly around.

There were hundreds like me in the colony alone.

Nonetheless, that did not make me feel any better about the situation I landed in.

Prologue.

(Caprice)

I was surprised by how quickly she brought us to a stop.

She hit the van I was travelling in with her Fragment, partially crushing the driver’s cabin, forcing the vehicle off the street and onto the sidewalk.

It was a stroke of good fortune the sidewalk was empty of pedestrians at the time.

My Fragment reacted automatically, and the Valkyrie Armor manifested in heartbeats, protecting me as I sat in the passenger cabin.

The crippled van crashed into the corner of a building and came to a stop.

As it did, I kicked out the cabin door with my armored legs, sending it flying into the wide alley between the building and its neighbor.

I leapt out expecting to be challenged and I wasn’t disappointed.

The wrecked van rocked as our assailant leapt onto the rooftop.

Even though she was wearing a helmet, I could tell I was facing a girl.

Then she leapt toward me.

And she was fast.

I realized in a heartbeat the lev-bike riding suit she wore was a skinsuit in disguise. It amplified her speed and strength beyond human limits.

In contrast, I only had the Valkyrie Armor and my school uniform.

Perhaps she expected to subdue me quickly, and I will admit that with her speed she certainly came close, but after a dozen or more seconds exchanging blows between her jousting lance and my bladed gauntlets, she ran away, and I was left standing in the alley wondering what the Hell had just happened.

I caught a glimpse of her fleeing on the lev-bike she’d used to chase down the van.

Again I wondered, what the Hell had just happened.

I spared the driver and guard in the van a look. They were injured but not mortally. They were Aventis after all, and I could hear an emergency siren in the distance drawing closer by the moment.

I looked down the alley and the buildings.

Yes, I could do it. The walls offered enough purchase for the Valkyrie Armor’s legs to kick off.

However if I faced the girl again I would be at a disadvantage.

I needed to even the odds a little.

Using the blades of my left gauntlet I cut the passenger door free of the van, then dragged out the man slumped over the dashboard.

He was an Aventis of the Lanfear Pride, and I needed his blood.

Ignoring the pain as my maxillary canines extended, I bit the soft flesh where the neck met the shoulder, and tasted his blood as it flowed into my mouth.

A mouthful, then a second. It was all I had time for.

The longer I remained by the van, the further away she travelled.

I lay the driver down against the van, then wiped my mouth clean as my canines painfully retracted.

Then I walked quickly into the alley.

I jumped up and then bounded off the nearest wall.

Ricocheting like a bullet between the two buildings, I climbed upwards, finally executing a backward flip as I cleared the shorter of the two.

Landing on the rooftop, I gained my bearings and looked in the direction of the school.

Damn, we were so close to it.

Why had the girl waited so long? Why not strike when we entered the habitat?

I had no doubt she was heading for the school.

No more time to waste.

And then the pain hit me.

The Symbiote elements rich in the Lanfear blood grew at an accelerated rate.

I collapsed onto my hands and knees in agony. I decided not fight against the pain and released a howl as the Symbiote replicated and spread throughout my body.

It might have been minutes before I was able to stand again though my whole body trembled and swayed. A feverish sweat soaked the inside of my uniform.

But I couldn’t afford to wait for the effects to completely subside.

I needed to move, and I needed to move now.

Gritting my teeth against the agonizing storm inside my body, I took off at a run, and leapt high over the alleyway and onto the building ahead of me.

While the artificial gravity within the buildings and at street level was the standard gee, the gravity high between the buildings was a tad lower.

This made it easier to jump between buildings.

I ran across a rooftop, and leapt over to the next building.

All the while the Symbiote continued to grow and spread throughout my body.

Soon, very soon, I would start to feel my body power up.

Another rooftop. Another jump.

I felt well enough to make the call. I rang Arisa as I ran across a rooftop.

It wasn’t easy to run while holding the palm-slate to my ear.

It wasn’t any easier to jump from one rooftop to the next.

But this was one call I needed to make.

I heard the call connect as my feet touched ground, and a heartbeat later I heard her voice.

Caprice, you have news for me—

Arisa, you asked me to meet him as your representative. Correct?

…eh, yes….

You want me to bond him to the Lanfear Pride. Correct?

Yes. What’s going on Caprice? You sound like you’re running.

In that case…we have a problem.

What problem?

The van you sent for me was hit by a Familiar of unknown affiliation.

There was a long moment of silence. Are you sure?

I didn’t nod as I ran. Yes. She was using a Fragment—it resembled a jousting lance. She was also wearing a skinsuit. I didn’t get to see her face because she was wearing a helmet.

Then how do you know it was a girl?

Arisa, I know a girl when I see one. She had hips and curves, though her breasts were probably no bigger than mine. And she moved like a girl.

Very well. Go on.

The van’s a wreck and your men were injured. I survived because my Valkyrie Armor manifested an effect-field around me. I had to leave your men behind. I’m sorry….

Gods damn it. It was easy to hear her anger.

I swallowed quickly. Arisa, I don’t know if she’s working alone, but she may have followed me when I left Galatea. If that’s the case then I have a pretty good idea who she is.

You don’t mean—?

Constance.

Damn it, Arisa yelled. She must be acting under orders from Prissila. Damn it. What is Prissila thinking?

I jumped across a wide alley and landed on the next building’s rooftop.

Arisa, I may be wrong. I didn’t get to see the girl’s face. Maybe Prissila has nothing to do with this.

I ran across the rooftop, avoiding the electronic equipment mounted on it.

I tried keeping my voice steady as I ran. But if it is Constance, then it means Prissila is ignoring the agreement between your Pride and hers.

Arisa sounded both incredulous and angry. To strike in daylight like this is crazy. It’s sheer lunacy. There’s no hiding this from the other Prides.

You said it yourself. Everyone’s been watching him for a year now. Then suddenly the Raynars offer him to the Lanfears. Maybe Prissila doesn’t agree with that. Maybe she wants to claim him.

It doesn’t change the fact that what she did is an act of aggression against the Lanfear Pride.

Arisa, tell me the truth. Do you think she wants him dead?

I don’t know. I just don’t know anymore. Where are you now?

Island Two, Habitat One. Running on rooftops. I’m headed to the school. It’s about a kilometer away. I should be there in two minutes.

You’re using the Valkyrie Armor?

Yes.

Where is the other Familiar?

She’s on a lev-bike. I think she’s headed for the school. I lost sight of her a while back.

She’s heading for the school? Why would she head to the school…unless she’s the only one they dispatched…? I heard a cry of frustration. What the Hell is going on?

I jumped onto the roof of a bridgeway connecting two buildings, then ran along its length before jumping up high onto the next building.

Caprice—take her out.

Surprise almost caused me to miss my next jump. Arisa confirm—

I said, take her out. Don’t kill her, incapacitate her. But stop her from getting to him.

Is that wise?

You let me worry about that. I’m going to have some of our people meet you at the school as soon as possible.

I didn’t ask her what that entailed because I didn’t expect help to arrive in short order.

Arisa and the Lanfear Pride had been blindsided.

I’d been caught flat-footed too.

For now I would have to deal with this situation on my own.

I made the next jump and landed on a commercial building shaped like an Aztec pyramid. Very well, I’m going to intercept her as soon as I see her.

I ran the length of a balcony, then kicked off to the next building. When I landed, I heard Arisa ask, Caprice, do you still have the vial?

Yes.

Good. Whatever you do, you must get that into his bloodstream. You must trigger his Awakening. I won’t allow the Ventiss Family to get their hands on him—not after striking at my men.

I swallowed hard as I ran.

Yes, I understand. I’ll make sure he bonds with your blood.

Go Caprice, fly like the wind. His life may depend on you.

I grit my teeth for a heartbeat, breathing in hard through my nose as I ran across the building’s rooftop.

I spoke into the palm-slate in a hurry. I’ll call you when I have news. Good or bad, I’ll let you know as soon as I can.

I ended the call, then slowed down in order to pocket my palm-slate.

Afterwards, I ran with all the power and might my Fragment could afford me – all the power I could draw out of it.

The school was up ahead, one district block away.

I cursed myself for losing sight of the rider on that lev-bike, but I had no choice. In order to make good time I had to run as the crow flies, whereas she had to follow the streets and adhere to the traffic…or maybe not.

As I reached the end of the block, I was one jump away from the school. A six lane street lay between me and the ten foot high wall surrounding the school grounds.

Then I caught sight of her.

She parked the lev-bike on a side street adjacent to the school, then ran over to the institution. With the aid of her jousting lance she pole-vaulted over the school wall.

She seemed to know exactly where she was going.

That was when I noticed the small drone hovering over the school – watching it.

Was it guiding her?

If she knew where he was then I would use her to lead me to him.

I took a running leap, and focused the effect-field generated by the Valkyrie Armor into something resembling winged heels.

However, I chose not to fly too high.

Hell, the best I could hope for was a barely controlled glide.

No, make that a barely controlled fall.

I landed on the girl’s lev-bike, shattering it into a hundred pieces.

This time she wasn’t going to have her way.

#

(Caelum)

I looked out at the habitat sprawled before me and was once again reminded I was living inside a rock.

One rock out of five rocks, with the largest one surrounded by its four smaller kin.

A rock oasis within the edge of an immense cloud of dust and debris – the Hurakan Nebula.

A testament to the wholesale destruction committed by the trans-space shockwave that heralded the Cataclysm.

From the secluded area of the school’s rooftop, I could see the habitat and its buildings stretch out for two kilometers into the distance. The rock ceiling overhead was hidden behind an optical field that mimicked a partly sunny day. There was even a breeze blowing strongly, courtesy of the habitat’s life support systems.

The nine foot tall wire fencing that surrounded the building’s rooftop was the only thing preventing me from taking a dive into the school’s central courtyard below.

I stared at the scene before me, closed my eyes for a moment, then paid attention to what she was saying.

Oh, I forgot to mention, I was not alone in this corner of the rooftop.

Caelum, won’t you say anything?

I leaned my forehead against the fencing, then turned only my head in order to face her. The rest of my body continued to angle forward, braced against the fence on my raised arms.

What do you want me to say? I gave her a cheery smile. Oh, sorry. I should say ‘congratulations’ shouldn’t I?

She gave me a trouble look.

Actually, she’d been looking troubled ever since she arrived at the rooftop.

I forced a bit more cheer into my smile. Bet your folks were happy to have their only daughter join a Pride.

Caelum…please…don’t be this way.

Huh?

Tell me the truth. We’ve been friends for so long—

I am telling you the truth. I’m happy for you. You finally get your wish. You’ll be joining an Aventis Pride. Isn’t that what you always wanted?

I wanted both of us to be chosen—

Well, it didn’t turn out that way. I shrugged. Who knows, maybe things will change in the future. I still have three years before I’m crossed off their list.

True. Though it was rare for anyone beyond the age of nineteen to be accepted into a Pride, it did happen. However, if the Symbiote didn’t find you worthy by then, chances were it never would.

I glanced away for a heartbeat. Then again, I’d rather I was never chosen.

I turned my body and leaned my back against the fence.

I am happy for you, Haruka. I really am. You’ve got a bright future ahead of you now. They’ll push you to get the best out of you, but I’m sure you’ll be up to the task.

She gave me a pained look this time. You make it sound like I’m going off to ‘magic’ school or something.

Sorry. But everyone knows that in this corner of the galaxy where the Aventis rule, if you’re a member of a Pride you get preferential treatment.

I didn’t make that rule.

I’m not saying you did. It’s just the way things work. They won, Regulars like us lost.

She seemed at odds with what to say.

I struggled to keep the cheer in my voice and on my face. What’s with the troubled look?

Haruka looked away. Why did you call me up here?

To say goodbye.

A sob escaped her lips.

I watched the first tears well up in her eyes then slide down her cheeks.

She swallowed and asked, Why?

You know the answer to that.

No, I don’t. I have absolutely no idea!

You’re going to be an Aventis, a member of one of the eight Prides.

So?

I sighed. Aventis and Regulars like me don’t mix.

That isn’t true.

Sorry, but it is the truth.

I watched her tears continue to trickle. I felt like my innards were being burned. But there’s no avoiding the truth. It bites like Hell and worse when it comes between you and someone you really care about.

Damn it. I had to get this over with before I lost it.

"Haruka, you and I were never that close, so it’s not like we’re breaking up. We’re just…saying goodbye to an old friendship."

How can you say it like that? How can you sound so freakishly reasonable? Do you know how much this is tearing me up inside?

You’ll get over it. You’ll attend one of the five academies in Pharos for the Aventis, and you’ll make new friends—Aventis friends—and you’ll find someone ‘special’ over there. Pretty soon, you’ll be right as rain again. You’ll forget all about me and start anew.

Are you doing this to make me hate you? To make it easier for me to leave? And why do we even have to do this?

I’m doing this for me.

What?

I smiled at her, and this time I meant it. Haruka, you know how much I hate the Prides.

She pressed her mouth into a thin bloodless line.

I added for good measure, If I say goodbye now, before you become an Aventis, I won’t hate you. If I do this afterwards, it’ll be just that much harder for me.

I meant that too.

Once the Haruka before me became one of them, I wouldn’t see her as Haruka anymore.

I pushed away from the fence and swung my arms, working the stiffness out of my shoulders.

So, Haruka. This is goodbye. I’ll miss you, but I’ll get over you.

I bowed to her formally.

Thank you…for taking care of me all these years.

When I straightened I saw the ashen look on her face. She swallowed a number of times, before wiping away her tears with the back of a hand.

Then she laughed bitterly. I see. You were always like this. Always choosing to bear everything even if it made you the villain. I really was right about you. Since there’s no easy way for this to happen, you chose to make yourself the bastard of the play.

No. I just want to forget about you as soon as possible.

Now she looked dismayed.

I smiled nonchalantly, shoved my hands into my school trouser pockets, then felt my palm-slate in one of them. An idea came to mind so I pulled out the palm-slate. Calling up the screen that listed my contacts, I held it up for her to see. I made sure the voice command recognition was turned on.

Contact listing, Haruka Amiella…delete.

Confirm delete, my palm-slate requested.

Confirmed.

I heard a chime and knew the deed was done.

Her horrified look deepened before her expression turned hard and cold over the span of many seconds. Then she took out her palm-slate and held it up for me to see.

Contact listing, Caelum Desanto…delete.

Confirm delete, her palm-slate requested.

Co…con…conf….

Her hand trembled so much the screen was leaving afterimages in my eyes.

I raised an eyebrow at her. Go on. You can do it.

Shut up! she screamed. Just shut the Hell up!

She gripped the palm-slate in both hands but her fingers shook badly and wouldn’t go near the screen.

Haruka, you’re making this much harder than it has to be.

Go to Hell! I hate you!

She turned and ran away, squeezing through the gap between rooftop structures that made this the secluded spot it was.

I stared at the empty space she left behind.

That’s my girl. You never disappoint. So easy to manipulate.

I looked down at my palm-slate.

I wonder if I should delete all those photos and videos of us together?

I was busy mulling that for a while when I noticed the palm-slate’s screen was wet. I wiped it dry but more drops landed on it.

Huh?

I looked up at the habitat’s sky. Still partly sunny. No sign of rain. Hell, it never rains inside a habitat.

Then I noticed it was hard to see. My vision was blurred.

I wiped at my eyes and my fingers came away wet.

I looked at them for a while.

Well I’ll be. I guess I haven’t forgotten how to cry. I laughed softly. You hear that Celica, I guess I couldn’t keep my promise to you after all.

A simple promise.

To cry for our parents, to cry for family, and no one else.

Well, I had no one else to cry over now.

Yet I was crying over Haruka.

I shuffled over to the fence. It was getting hard to see the school buildings ahead of me, and the habitat skyline beyond it.

I shoved the slate into my pocket before I could accidentally drop it.

I didn’t bother wiping my face.

Big boys don’t cry, she used to say.

Bloody smart thing to say to a ten year old about to turn eleven.

Gods damn it…I miss you…Celica.

I bowed my head and squeezed my eyes shut.

Why…why did it have to be her? Why Haruka?

Why the Hell was she chosen? Why was her body compatible with the Symbiote? Why did the Prides take everything and everyone that was dear to me?

I hated them.

I blamed them for my parents’ deaths.

I blamed them for my sister’s death.

Why did we Regulars have to be so subservient to them?

My fingers bent the wire fencing into an unrecognizable tangle.

I held onto it, and hung against it for a long time. Even after the school bell sounded signaling the end to the lunch break, I still hung onto the fence and refused to move.

I had no intention of walking back to class.

I would accept the detention this would garner me, but I wasn’t in any state to sit through afternoon lessons.

Around me, the school grounds quickly grew quiet as students ambled, shuffled and straggled back into class. Beyond the grounds, I could hear the sounds of the habitat city.

I squeezed my fingers around the fencing loops, and clenched my teeth for a long, painful moment.

Damn it…what the Hell have I done…?

#

(Caprice)

By some miracle – an act of divine intervention from the gods above – both the girl and I managed to get over the school wall and up onto the rooftop without being seen.

Or perhaps it’s more accurate to say ‘without drawing attention’.

Maybe someone had seen us but thought they were imagining things.

After all, it’s not every day you see two young women jumping a ten foot wall and into a school, then scrambling up a sheer building wall on their way to its rooftop.

There are times I really regret wearing a skirt, and this was one of them, as I was sure to give anyone under me a glorious view of my toned derriere.

I also regretted today of all days not having regular clean underwear, and having to resort to my private collection, the kind I would be too afraid to wear out in public.

The kind I would only dare to wear in the privacy of my apartment as a guilty pleasure.

The kind a girl would reserve for a special date with her special guy.

That being said, what in the name of the gods possessed me to buy that ensemble in the first place!

It’s not like a had a boyfriend or the time for one!

I spent all my free time studying, and training, and what was left over was spent sleeping.

Boyfriend?

What boyfriend?

In any case, this thought, and wondering how I was going to stop my opponent, kept me company as I managed to scramble onto the rooftop, after tossing myself over the mesh security fence.

Again, by some stroke of extreme good fortune, the rooftop courtyard was empty. The students that ate lunch at the various benches and tables had all departed for class. As I landed in a crouch on the permacrete roof, the second bell sounded, announcing that afternoon classes were now in session.

I realized I was going to be late for class as well. Very late. In fact, the way things were turning out I doubted I’d make it back to Galatea for any of the afternoon lessons.

The girl in the black and white skinsuit turned and faced me.

She might have been surprised to see me, but judging from her body language, I didn’t think that was the case. There was no way she hadn’t sensed me, unless her Fragment lacked a sensorium field and I found that doubtful.

For a heartbeat she stood in the middle of the courtyard, held down by indecision. Then I saw her glance over her right shoulder into the sky over the opposite side of the school building. Ignoring the smaller buildings within the school grounds, the main building was shaped like a giant octagon some three hundred meters across. You could say we were standing on the east side, and the girl was looking at the sky over the west end of the octagon. I glanced in that direction and realized she was looking at the small, discus-like drone that hovered a few hundred feet over that side of the building’s rooftop. The thing hadn’t moved in a long while, and I was more certain than ever that it was watching someone on the school grounds.

Or someone on the rooftop.

Unfortunately, if someone was there the various machinery penthouses prevented me from seeing them.

I decided enough with the delay, and then leapt toward her.

Now it was my turn to strike, and this time she wasn’t going to run away.

With both gauntlet blades fully extended forward, I kicked off and crossed the fifteen feet between her and me in the blink of an eye. My sharp Valkyrie Armored feet flew inches off the ground, before I landed a few feet away from her and delivered the first of many slashing swipes at the girl.

She skipped back repeatedly, somehow managing to elude the blades, but not the piercer-fields that surrounded them.

Even when she managed to block one blade with her lance, the second would come close enough to inflict damage on her skinsuit.

It wasn’t long before she was sporting a handful of narrow, long rents that revealed bare skin underneath.

That was to be expected. To wear a skinsuit properly, you had to be buck naked underneath.

I heard her muted cry behind the visor of her helmet. She sounded more frustrated and angry than in pain.

Adjusting the grip on her jousting lance, she wielded the weapon against me in a manner it was probably not designed for. In fact, she wielded it more like a spear.

But the Valkyrie Armor sensed the narrow blade-like piercer-field projecting around the tip of the lance, and I realized I’d better take her seriously or else I’d be wearing a shredded uniform back to class.

Too late. The narrow piercer-field brushed against my midnight-blue blazer, and a thin cut emerged.

I felt a stinging pain as the field drew a line as narrow as a scalpel along the skin of my midriff.

I ignored it.

The Symbiote inside me now would heal the cut in a minute or so.

A cut or two I could afford. If it wasn’t deep the Symbiote would ensure there would be no scar.

But blood loss was another matter, and that I couldn’t afford.

I blocked the lance and its piercer-field with a gauntlet blade, then struck back.

My moves were reflexive, and as I stepped through one combination after another, careful to defend while attacking, mindful of openings while slashing, a second troubling thought crossed my mind.

Why me?

Why had Arisa chosen me as her representative?

I wasn’t the only one with a Fragment in her family’s employ. I wasn’t the only one the Lanfear Pride had in their possession. I had met two others like me over the past month, and both were older, better trained and far more experienced than I was. So why choose me?

I was young, and inexperienced.

I was a first year high-schooler.

I didn’t have the practice or training to be doing this.

Since summoning the Valkyrie Armor’s blades, I’d spent a mere month practicing with them.

I wasn’t ready for this!

So why send me?

Had Arisa really been blindsided? Had she really not expected trouble? Was that why she felt I was up to the task of delivering the vial to the boy?

Wait, I was thinking of him as a boy when he was actually only a couple of weeks older than me.

But that aside, how could Arisa have assumed that the agreement between the Prides would hold?

She knew the Raynars were chomping at the bit after their Primatriarch handed down her decree.

As I defended against the furiously thrusting and jabbing lance, I was starting to curse my lack of ability, and Arisa’s lack of foresight.

Then fresh doubts crawled across the back of my mind, doubts that presented a distraction I could ill afford.

What if Arisa had chosen me because the others in her employ were busy dealing with problems elsewhere?

What if this girl in front of me was the least of her worries?

Perhaps by sending me to greet him and bring him into the fold, Arisa had lulled Prissila – or whoever was behind this – into a false sense of security where they believed this girl in front of me was sufficient for the task – whatever it may be.

Through the Valkyrie Amor, I sensed the lance’s piercer-field extend significantly.

I backed away, and almost immediately realized she’d feinted and that my footing was wrong. I lacked the stability to weather the next blow which came in the form of a barrier-field shaped like a battering ram of sorts projected ahead of the jousting lance. The impact knocked me off my feet and onto my backside. Remembering that to stay still was to die, I moved, rolling away ungainly from the lance as the barrier-field changed to a piercer-field. The girl plunged the weapon at me, and its tip punched a hole in the ground I’d rolled over a heartbeat ago.

I stopped rolling and kicked out, willing a barrier-field to form around my armored foot. I succeeded and my kick connected with the girl’s right leg, sending her back and then down to one knee. It gave me time to gain my feet, and renew the offensive.

But as I slashed, cut and parried against her, all the while dancing between courtyard benches, tables and hard seats, a third realization crossed my mind.

We were both amateurs, and as such we were both making mistakes that leveled the field between us.

Nonetheless, I refused to give up, even as my concentration slipped more often than not, even as I found openings in her defensive posture more often than not – neither of us refused to give up.

Pivoting on one foot, I managed to spin kick and knock her lance aside, my Valkyrie Armored leg protected by a barrier-field against the lance’s piercer-field. As risky as it was since for a half second I had presented my back to the girl, the move paid off. With the jousting lance out of the way, I used the kick’s momentum to carry me into the next attack.

Slashing down with my right gauntlet blade, the field around it cut a long path down the front of the girl’s skinsuit, exposing even more skin that included the creamy curves of her small bosom.

I was right. She was no bigger than I was.

I experienced a brief moment of solidarity with her.

It was a feeling only small breasted girls’ like I could empathize and understand.

I had great legs and a great ass, but up top I was less than impressive.

I chocked back a sob.

The distraction cost me.

Swinging the lance back up, the girl generated a barrier-field strong enough to crater a permacrete wall and slammed it into my gut.

It was the Valkyrie Armor that saved me.

I wasn’t able to consciously will a barrier-field to block the lance, but the Fragment manifested one automatically, and it spared me from a blow that would have broken most of my ribs and crushed my insides. Even so, I was sent tumbling backwards several yards before a nearby bench brought my careening body to a stop.

For a half dozen heartbeats I was frightened she would finish me off, but instead she dropped to her knees as though exhausted, before recovering a few seconds later.

By then I was staggering to my feet, but hardly ready for another round with her.

But she surprised me.

She retreated with an unsteady run, heading for the rooftop mechanical penthouse at the northern end of the courtyard. Using the jousting lance Fragment to propel herself into the air, she leapt up onto the roof of the building.

Less than steady on my feet, I had no choice but to run after her. I had to really concentrate on maintaining control of the Valkyrie Armor, especially the armored legs that encased mine of flesh and blood.

I crossed the courtyard, and leapt onto the roof of the mechanical penthouse. I was faintly surprised to learn the penthouse ran much of the length of the octagonal building’s rooftop.

The girl was a dozen meters ahead of me on the penthouse roof, and running with a purpose now.

When I glanced up and westward, I saw the drone was still hovering over the same spot.

At the speed she and I were running over the rooftop, it wouldn’t be long before we circled around to a point under the drone.

I came to the decision I would stop the girl before we arrived there.

In short, I wasn’t going to let her get to him first.

Amateur or not, I had my pride as one affiliated with the Lanfears. I wasn’t going to disappoint Arisa, who for whatever reason had placed her trust in me to accomplish my duty as her representative.

I picked up my pace, and caught up to the girl easily courtesy of the Valkyrie Armor.

Foregoing a loud war cry, I leapt at her exposed back a moment before she turned around and faced me with the Fragment jousting lance.

My right gauntlet blade held high, I brought it down in the blink of an eye.

This time my piercer-field parted her Fragment’s barrier-field, and shock ran through my arm as the blade struck the lance.

And once again battle was joined.

#

(Caelum)

In those minutes after the final bell rang, I wasn’t thinking of anything at all.

Maybe it was because my mind was so blank that the feeling of being watched grew on me until I could no longer ignore it.

I looked about slowly, but then felt my gaze drawn upwards.

There was a disc-like object some two or three hundred feet overhead. From where I stood it was hard to tell as I had nothing for a decent frame of reference. But the object didn’t look to be too large, maybe a few feet in diameter. In fact, the more I looked at it, the more it reminded me of the small traffic monitoring drones you normally saw flying slowly between the buildings of a habitat.

But what was it doing here?

Rather, what was it doing hovering overhead?

I stared at it, growing uneasy with the sensation it was watching me.

Why?

Suddenly I heard something land loudly on the rooftop a few yards away. I turned in fright and saw a bundle of limbs roll across the ground and come to a crashing halt against the wall of the rooftop hut behind me.

It took a moment for me to realize I was looking at a girl, bloodied and beaten to a blue pulp. I could tell she was a girl by her figure alone, though her face was covered by the visor of the helmet she wore. She was dressed in the remains of a bike suit, torn in places too numerous to quickly count. A weird black mist surrounded both her right arm and the long pole that she held in her hand. The mist faded and the pole vanished with it, leaving a sudden chill in the air that I felt all the way to my bones.

My heart jumped then began to beat loudly as my mind questioned what I’d just witnessed.

Was that a Fragment I’d seen fading back into that other space? What did they call it, Pocket Space?

I stared at the girl.

If that was a Fragment, then she must be a—

A second bundle of limbs crashed to the rooftop. This bundle landed much better than the first, and I watched it resolve itself into the slender body of a girl probably no older than I was.

She was wearing a uniform I didn’t recognize.

Actually, she was wearing the remains of a uniform. Her midnight blue blazer was in tatters, and I had a clear view of a lacy white bra showing through the rents in her white blouse, and her skirt was sporting several non-regulation slits that revealed smoothly toned thighs and—violet underwear?

She stood up smoothly on legs that resembled those of a mythical armored Valkyrie.

Her forearms were sheathed in black gauntlets, each with a two foot long blade that ran over the top of her hands.

She wasn’t looking in my direction but at the girl lying against the wall. When she took a step toward the girl, the newcomer faltered and fell onto her hands and knees.

Damn—pushed past my limit.

Cold permeated the air, spreading thick and fast over the rooftop. I shivered as that strange black mist enveloped the girl’s arms and legs. When it faded, I saw she was wearing school shoes and black stockings.

Now I was certain I’d just seen a Fragment disappear.

What the Hell was going on here?

Who the Hell are these girls?

The girl wearing the remnants of a uniform gained her feet and quickly walked over to the other girl by the wall.

She spoke in a flat, emotionless voice. Now to find out who you are….

She nudged the girl harshly, then reached for the latter’s neck and chin, and removed the helmet. The girl in the bike suit was clearly unconscious. Her eyes were open and heavily lidded, but she wasn’t home.

The uniformed girl stared at the comatose one for a long while. I watched her press her lips into a thin line, then reach into her skirt for something.

I was surprised her skirt’s pockets were still intact, which was more than could be said for the remains of the palm-slate she pulled out. After staring at it for a moment she put it back into her skirt’s pocket, then fished around the other remaining pocket.

I wondered if she was aware of my presence.

I didn’t have to wonder for long.

She suddenly stopped feeling around in her pocket and turned to faced me.

I saw her face clearly.

Wow!

What a beauty!

Near raven dark hair, emerald green eyes, and a heart shaped face.

Even with her clothes in shambles and not looking her best, I could proclaim this girl was clearly an eight point five out ten.

The only reason I didn’t give her a higher score was because I found her lacking in one critical aspect – a decent chest.

That white lacy bra might as well have been a training bra.

Despite the situation I forgot myself and released a heavy sigh.

Compared to Haruka who had an impressive bust, this girl was a major disappointment.

Even so, I gave her another good look.

On second thoughts, other than her small breasts, she had a fine figure, perfect legs, and her looks made her appear exotic. Maybe I’ll give her an eight point eight on the ten scale.

I noticed she was regarding me with a fixed, emotionless expression on her face.

I smiled guiltily. Ah…hello there.

Caelum Desanto….

I blinked and lost my smile.

She knows me? What reason could she have for knowing me?

Eh—this might not be good. Maybe I should be making a quick retreat.

Who’s asking? I replied as I started backing away from her.

She started walking toward me. Please don’t make this any harder than it needs to be.

My eyes widened. What?

Hadn’t I just said the same thing to Haruka?

Wait, was this girl here to make me suffer for making Haruka cry? Did Haruka’s Pride-to-be send her? Was this retribution for shredding my friendship with her?

I prepared to defend my position on the matter, but then I glanced at the unconscious girl on the ground.

Was I going to end up like her?

The flat-chested girl picked up her pace, then drew a menacing butterfly knife from her skirt pocket.

My eyes grew wide and I began to panic in earnest. Wait—wait! What the Hell are you doing? You can’t bring that into the school. Weapons aren’t allowed on school grounds.

Please don’t run away, she said.

Are you serious? Don’t run away?

As she raised the knife she added, This is for your own good.

Gah—she really was serious. Crazily, insanely serious.

Before I could run away she leapt toward me.

I threw my body to the left, hoping the blade would only graze me at best.

But then something odd happened.

Her leap continued carrying her toward me albeit very slowly.

It was like watching a holovid played back at a quarter speed.

Very slow indeed.

I had time to see the artificial sunlight glint off the blade.

Time to see her lips part slightly as she exhaled.

Time to see her body sail past me as I desperately threw myself out of the way.

It was all so surreal.

This had never happened before.

Then I saw surprise spread across her face, before it slowly turned into elation.

Her voice sounded funny, as though I was hearing it at a quarter pace as well.

Overclocking…excellent…you have…the trait….

I twisted my body to make use of the momentum I’d gained in order to land on my feet.

Damn, every move I made felt unbearably slow. I realized my body wasn’t keeping up with my mind.

Overclocking? Was this what she called overclocking?

She landed lightly on her feet but it didn’t prevent her slashed skirt from billowing upwards.

Okay, that had to be violet underwear I just saw.

She charged at me again, but this time she pivoted on her left foot, and lashed at me with her right.

Now I had clear view of what her skirt had been hiding.

Yes—racy violet underwear. It was sheer and seamless with lacy ruffles along the edges.

Holy Molly, this girl was going to be the death of me in more ways than one.

I wonder if Haruka ever wore underwear like that?

I tried throwing my body back, pushing off the ground with everything my legs could muster. Even though I had plenty of time to think through the move, my body failed to respond in time.

But the blow she landed on my chest wasn’t as bad as it could have been. I was already moving away from her. Even so, the impact lifted me off my feet and I sailed in slow motion through the air until my back hit the ground.

I felt the air expel from my lungs.

That took a long time.

Pain and shock raced through my body. What should have taken seconds felt like it