Port Casper

Chapter Three

The quad was nearly devoid of cadets. Nick had returned and waited at the bottom of the steps.

"Hey, Grace," he began, "Flora said she didn't need any help. She told me you needed help, then broke down and ran back to the dorm. What's going on?"

"I have two old sayings for you, Nick. 'Pride goes before the fall,' and 'the road to Hell is paved with good intentions.'" She surveyed the courtyard. "We need privacy. Let's head back to the room."

They walked in silence. It took them less than five minutes to reach the room. She closed the door and offered Nick a seat. Grace didn't want to sit. She wanted to pace. Flora sat on the edge of her rack, eyes puffy but no longer crying. She watched Grace silently.

"All right. This is what happened." She took a deep breath, avoiding Flora's eyes. "I was so worried about Flora that I put a dermal dot on her in case she had difficulties with Charlie." Grace paused for a moment, her fists clenching. "I forgot to remove it from her afterwards, and they found it. I didn't know they had sweepers looking for this stuff."

Nick glanced from Flora to Grace. "A dermal dot? What's that? Some kind of tracking device?" he asked.

"Yeah," Grace said. "And they're hypocrites. They use tech like the dot to find contraband devices."

"Damn, Grace. What are you doing with contraband?"

"From my friend. Raj. He's mechflesh, used to live here in cloister," she said.

"Raj. I remember him." Flora murmured. "He's mechflesh now? I used to like his curly hair."

She didn't sound angry. Grace felt a mingling of guilt and relief.

"I talked to Raj about you, Flora," Grace said. "I was worried. He gave me the dermal dot and a ptenda in case you needed help."

"I can't blame you. The academy gets lazy with its failing cadets," Nick offered, then frowned and looked at Flora. "No offense. You made it through Charlie."

"You have a ptenda?" Flora said, ignoring him.

Grace nodded, glancing toward the gun safe.

"Inefficient use of sweepers, if they didn't catch you on the way in," Nick said. "I wonder what other contraband's lurking here."

"What's going to happen now?" Flora asked.

"I have to leave the academy," Grace said. "Hell, I have to leave cloister."

"No!" Flora exclaimed, her voice pitched high.

Nick's face had fallen. "Yeah, I figured you were out. What a waste, Grace." He shook his head. "You'd think Huber would have had your back."

"He couldn't. Regulations. The tech I used was too connected. They reported it to Cloister One. Or the other way around. I don't know."

"But Grace," Flora said. "It's not—why? What will people think? That you're out and I'm in?"

"Everyone's going to think I cheated," Grace said. "Hmph. Let 'em."

She watched her two friends, knowing she had let them down. Nick looked disappointed. Flora seemed near panic.

"Sorry," Grace said, but it felt empty. She couldn't just leave it at that. She crossed the room to where Flora was crying again, and cradled her friend's face in her hands.

"Flora," she said. "You beat Charlie on your own. You can stand on your own two feet. I'm counting on you to protect me after you graduate."

She thought Flora would protest. Instead, there was the hint of a smile.