THE NEXT DAY
I stepped out of the train, and walked into the school, entering the classroom right as the bell rang, continuing over to my desk, as those same kids stared at me, all except for one, that being the girl in the glasses.
Seems she has lost interest, but I should still keep, an eye on her. I sat down.
“Alright class now that everyone is here, we have something unexpected.” He pulled out a stack of papers. “The private tests date has been pushed forward.” Everyone moaned, and groaned.
“It is literally the beginning of the year at least let us warm up.” One student complained. The teacher shrugged, and began handing out the papers to the disgruntled students.
“Sorry it kinda pisses me off too, but we get most of our funding from these guys, so.” He handed me my paper, and I skimmed through it just to get a basic idea.
Seems it would give anyone unprepared a run for there money. I pulled out a pencil. Lets see how I preform under the circumstances.
I then noticed a subtle buzzing sound almost as if a fly had gotten into the room, I brought my eyes ever so slightly up, seeing a barley noticeable glimmer.
Cloaking tech, most likely from a drone. I brought my eyes back down onto my paper.
someone obviously owns this most likely in this room, I just have nothing to go on right now to reveal them, and hitting it down right now would most likely notify them that I know of there existence, which will make trying to figure out who they are all the more difficult.
I continued on with the test, and thirty minutes later when I was done, the drone flew away, back to whomever was controlling it I assume.
I scanned the room subtly, trying to find that same glimmer, but with the amount of light in here, that is pretty much impossible.
After another thirty minutes, the bell rang, with the intercom going off. “All students please go to the cafeteria for the welcoming ceremony.” Everyone groaned again.
“This is gonna be so dry.” “They gotta learn to stop doing everything in one day.”
We continued down the hall into the massive cafe, where hoards of students where all gathering, finding there seats.
I found myself kinda in the middle with all the other students from my class, and after a few minutes everyone was seated, and they all started talking, the combined sound of thousands of kids talking blowing out my ear drums.
I took out some ear plugs that I always keep handy for situations like these, quickly placing then into my ears as it grew louder.
After a few minutes though what seemed like the class representatives walked out, and where able to get everyone quieted down. Taking out my earplugs as a result.
“Welcome to another year of school.” Everyone remained quiet the only thing being audible was the soft coughing of someone in the room.
They continued on, talking about stuff that didn’t concern me for quite a bit, and then they began calling names.
“Can Janish please come up.” She came up to the stage. “Everyone welcome Janish one our brand new student to our school.” Everyone then began clapping.
Another welcome to school type introduction. Ones understandable, and enough, but two is unnecessary especially when a sizable portion of the school will not even see them.
They then went through twenty students, before my name was called. I would’ve stayed seated if it wasn’t for the kids next to me rearing there heads, and obviously staring at me for a few seconds.
Looks like I’m forced to engage through social convention. I got up. I wish I could’ve avoided this, as I’ve already attracted attention with my grades, and I may just be saying a hello, but when people are looking at you a certain way who knows how they’ll see you.
I stepped up onto the stage walking over to the microphone, the people on the stage looking at me with wide smiles, as I stepped up to the podium.
“I am Algoris Vertid.” I then stepped away from the podium. “Come on Algoris do you have anything else to say.” “No.”
I then heard loud murmurs in the crowed, and the person I was talking too turned there head to see what the commotion was about, I then followed looking up at the image the projector was displaying, my private grades, along with my picture being put on full display for all to see.
I had an expectantly high score in all categories. I turned back around, staring at the crowd. The group of boys, and that girl with the pale-skin staring at me, while everyone else was still staring at my scores in surprise.
I need to make an alliance with one of them, if I am to be left alone. “I’m heading to the bathroom.” I said to one of the teachers, while they where talking to the other teachers on the radio, people panicking on the other side as they where trying figure out what happened. They nodded.
I continued down from the stage, and over to the door. The group, and the pale girl, watching me, as I did, the pale girl being one of the first to get up.
I continued out of the door of the auditorium, bringing my eyes back to see the two, parties set eyes on me.
I continued down the hall to a bathroom, entering it and finding a stall, waiting until one followed me in, there footsteps walking up to my stall.
I readied myself for a fight, but was still aiming to make a deal. I opened the door, just as the pale woman was reaching for the door handle.
“I know why you are here.” I said She nodded, and smiled exposing her teeth to me, a weird thing warming my head, irrelevant. She’s most likely trying to be intimidating.
“Good then you know I want you to help me.” I nodded. “Great, so how about this I protect you against those retards, and you boost my failing grade.”
The group has more people to manage which mean more chances for conflict, plus they would most likely want me to provide for all of them which places more of a burden on me, but at the end of the day she is one person so the question for her is how much weight can she throw around, only one way to find out.
I nodded, and she extended her hand, I took it. I don’t know why people believe that this is some sort of unbreakable deal, it is more of a form of nod, and it has the same worth of it.
She then wrapped her arm around my head, and began rubbing her hand against my hair violently. “Good dipshit, now lets get down to class.”
I think this isn’t the most optimal person to be aligned with, but if she’s the lesser of two evils then I must go with her, because some protection is better then no protection.
We walked down the hallway the group stepping out. Her first proof of usefulness lets see how she preforms. They stopped in front of us, hesitantly, but they eventually continued forward.
“So Plaxia mind handing over your new friend.” She removed her arm from around my neck, and began getting closer to them without hesitation.
I looked down at her hand noticing it was twitching for a second, she stopped it by relocating her hand to her waist as she walked forward, stopping a little distance away from the group, stanching herself so that she appeared confident.
Nervousness is probably what afflicted her hand, and if so she hides it well. “Sorry, he’s not like the whores you bang, he’s gonna be with me for a while.” She said giggling.
“Your one to talk, I’m the son of.” “You know for someone so powerful you always need your daddy''s status.” she said cutting him off, she stepped forward, as his friends held him back.
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“What are you gonna do fucker, fight me, you remember what I did to that kid, you where there and we both know what the recovery looked like. To be honest I thought the surgery was gonna be a bust.” She said, a commanding seriousness in her voice, with a mix of psychopathy.
The group stepped back, and one of the leaders friends whispered into his ear. “Fine have your prize, we got enough braineacs on line up already.” Plaxia looked back at me.
“Come on shit stain we gotta huff it now that these fuckers small dicks slowed us down.” We then walked past the group.
Her ability to control, and intimidate others is sufficient, she’ll suffice for now, until she is no longer of use. I got beside her again, and she wrapped her arm around me once more. Seems shes going to make a habit out of that, probably to establish her fake dominance.
We entered the class, and sat next to each other. The girl with the glasses sitting some what close to us, The teacher getting up from his desk once everyone found there seats bringing a mound of papers with him.
“Alright class to start the year lets get the biggest pain in the ass out of the way.” He said holding up the papers.
Everyone including Plaxia collectively groaning, with the girl in glasses being the only one who didn’t, the teacher shrugged.
“Now you know what you need to do select a government, research it the basic stuff, but since everyone chose the same government last year, I’ve taken the liberty of assigning each person a different random government.”
Everyone groaned again, this time with more anguish. Everyone seems to hate this project, I’ll wait to see what it offers before forming an opinion on it.
The teacher then began passing out everyone''s assignment, and Plaxia leaned closer too me. “Wanna head over to your house so we can work on this.” I looked at her.
“I figured you’d make this a more parasitic agreement.” She giggled. “No, I’m not gonna waste a good free study.”
She may be dumb compared to a good proportion to everyone else here, but she’s got potential, and potential can lead to mastery.
I shouldn’t allow her into my house though, I have too many incriminating items that are easily accessible to her, and I do not want to arouse suspicion.
“No, I would like to keep my place of residence private, I think it would be better if we did things at your place.” She stared at me. “well tough shit I don’t want ya going to mine either.”
It seems we’ve come to an impasse, no problem when I leave here I can track her, and find her residence, and sort everything out there, still it would be wise to know why she feels this way.
“Why.” She scowled. “Because I live in the Under-Districts, and I don’t want your marry ass going down there, getting yourself killed because you looked at someone funny.”
She’s being hyperbolic but I’ve lived there for years, and I can say she isn’t far off. “Very well.” But unlike her I can trust myself to handle things, and every time she steps out that door her chances of getting killed skyrockets, and she’s no use to me dead at least for now.
“So are you going to bring me over.” She said. “No.” “Why not fuck face.” “Like I said privacy, we can do the project during study hall that should suffice.” She then brought her head forward.
“Yeah, but I don’t wanna be chasing those pricks off twenty four seven, plus it’s only like a fucking hour.” “we’ll find a way,” I added.
This relationship was born out of hostility so our trust isn’t exactly on the best of terms, still I should try and mitigate her stress, and anger towards me.
Problem is I’m pretty sure what I’m about to do is going to drive this relationship to the breaking point, a risk I am willing to accept, if it means I can avoid the risk of her connecting dots on who I am, besides if she does try to engage in hostility against me I would most likely dominate her, and then use her as the puppet I need.
The teacher then got to my desk. “You two working together.” We both nodded, and he gave me the paper. I opened it seeing an image of our clan emblem on the document.
(“Come on Algoris grab your swim suit.” My Mom said, I did as she asked, and climbed into the truck, the dirt road only taking us a little bit away from the camp, until we came to our destination.
A cliff over looking a deep pond. Mom got out putting on her swim suit, and I followed, thinking we where just going to walk down.)
I inhaled deeply, Plaxia looking at me weird, as I immediately returned to normal.
“You alright.” She asked. “Yes.” The rest of the day went by normally, with me and Plaxia going from class to class together with her arm constantly around me, the weight of her body starting to wear me down, but I need to make sure she''s in a semi good mood before I track her down.
The day then started to come to a close, so I made my move, and when she brought her attention to something else, I brought my phone out and began checking if her archaic phone was emitting a Bluetooth frequency.
I watched as multiple frequency’s popped up, and selected the closest one, and ran my program, force pairing with her phone, and dropping in a tracking program that disguises itself as calculator, and when she began to turn back around.
I put my phone back into my pocket, and watched as she opened up phone the program installing and triggering as she did, and soon I felt my phone vibrate with the coordinates of her position updating every few seconds.
The bell then rang. “See ya later.” She said, I nodded, and continued out the door. Seeing the girl with glasses, down the hall staring at her phone, noticing her eyes glance over at me from moment to moment, I continued on taking note of the encounter.
I then continued out of the school heading to the station, and taking the train home, watching Plaxia move on my phone, until she stopped at Ginger street, going into house two-seven-four. I will head down to her place once I acquire all my gear, and feed myself.
It’s not wise to stay out late down there, so being time efficient is going to be a must.
The train then stopped, and I walked out of it heading up to my apartment. Seeing Mum laying on the couch as I entered.
“Foods on the table.” She said, and I looked at the counter, seeing many plates, with a wide verity of meats and vegetables on them.
“I do not believe it was necessary to make such a diverse quantity.” “Can it, and eat.” I walked over to the table, and began selecting the foods that will maintain my body for the rest of the afternoon.
“I’ll be heading down into the Under-Districts.” “What for.” “I have a study partner for a school project.” I heard her jump up from the couch with a smile across her face.
“Jeez Algoris how did you pull that one off.” “This was by no means obligatory.” Her smiled went away. “Oh.”
“I need her so I can evade those that wish to use my mind for there own benefit, especially those willing to escalate confrontations to violence.” “At least give me some hope.”
She sat back down on the couch, looking at me from over the top of the ridge. “Is she at least cute.”
“That is an extremely broad term, and no I do not plan to establish a relationship with her.”
“She also seems very mentally troubled in terms of constantly expressing dominance over me potentially outweighing the benefits of said relationship.” She sighed.
“What’s her name.” “Plaxia.” “Hopefully I can meet her.” Why, shouldn’t the reasons I have given deter you, no matter, that''s not important right now.
I sat down at the table, and finished my food, getting up immediately after, getting a gas mask with black tinted glass, and my belt, immediately heading to the door once I had attached my equipment.
“Remember Algoris we still need to move my stuff out of my old apartment.” I nodded. “Tomorrow afternoon.” She nodded. “Yeah, that should work.” I then opened the door, and continued out heading into the garage, and bringing out my bike.
She’s extremely close to an elevator, probably the only reason she leaves the house is to go to this school she probably lets her parents deal with the more riskier travels.
Either way it reduces my time out in the Under-Districts streets, something that is welcomed by all.
I got onto the bike and went down the highway, getting to the elevator a short time later, entering it and pressing the button that lead to the ground floor, putting on my gas mask as the elevators numbers ticked down and I soon found myself on the trash littered streets of the Under-Districts. I walked out.
Corporate tried revitalizing this place, but that involved getting all the rabble out as there skills don’t serve there needs.
I turned my head, and saw a man spray painting a wall. His hand steady, and careful. Especially the more rebellious types.
I continued forward. Seeing the many burned out, cars and homes, that where still left lying about after the riots, caused by corporates ambitions, most of them where police vehicles.
Police’s only real objective is to secure order, there’s plenty of corporate corruption of course, a scandal every week on average, but if your a mercenary even under corporate license they’ll arrest you no questions asked and give you a hefty prison sentence on top of that.
The only reason why they where down here was to secure a foothold, and push out the gangs, but that war ended in the favor of the defenders, mostly because they had there networks, and contacts.
I soon found myself in front of Plaxia’s house. Seems she’s living in what was supposed to be an employee residence, also seems it has been modified to accommodate for the toxic air down here.
I stepped up to the airlock, and opened the door, walking inside. No leaks, and everything seems well maintained, her family seems to have done well. I walked up to the buzzer.
I’ve heard many people describe this place as a trap, and that is true to an extent, as you have to focus more money and energy on surviving down here then trying to return to the middle sections.
I then pressed the buzzer, and the cameras light came on. The airlock then engaging, cleaning out all the dirty air, hearing angry footsteps whom I assumed where Plaxia’s heading to the door, stopping once she had gotten close enough as we both had to wait until the red light had turned green.
Once it did I took off my gas mask, and she threw open the door. “What the fuck are you doing here.” “To finish our assignment.” She pressed her fingers against the ridge of her nose, and exhaled.
“I fucking thought we where going to do it at school in the library.” “I changed my mind and agreed with you on it’s inefficiency’s.” She shook her head.
“How did you even find me.” “I tracked you, I recommend via your own methods to acquire a new one that is still being supported.”
Best to answer honestly, as I have nothing to form a lie. “You hacked my phone.” I nodded, and she growled.
“If you weren''t so fucking useful I’d have fucking ground pounded you.” She whispered. “Fucking wait out here, I’ll get ya when I’m ready.” She added, closing the door, as I heard her frantically rummage throughout the house.
Good it seems this agreement wasn’t shattered by may actions.