The Receiver

7 - Z E P H Y R

The online application for the engineering school is split into two divisions, one for general education and one specifically for robotics. The word TARS scrolls across the top of the webpage. The words beneath the heading read The Tesla Academy of Robotic Science.

I recheck the form, making sure I've filled out each little box with the proper information, as many as I can anyway. I've had to leave a lot of them blank. Like the one that asks for government ID number? I hope my name and e-address is enough as my hand hovers over the circleboard and I hit SUBMIT. A page pops up that reads Thank You For Your Submission to The Tesla Academy of Robotic Sciences and the laserscreen goes blank.

"Miss," Frank says from somewhere behind me, "You have a guest."

My eyes automatically go to the elevator doors, which open to reveal Zander, who strides in like he owns... so I guess he does own the place, I just wish he was forced to knock first.

He spots me on the couch and heads over, hands in his pockets.

"Can I talk to you?" he asks, lifting his eyes to Frank. "Alone."

"We are alone," I say. "Iris is at the gym."

"If it has eyes and ears, you're not alone."

"Fine," I say and rise to my feet.

Zander is already walking toward the balcony. I follow him out, knowing exactly what he wants to talk to me about.

I haven't been outside yet this morning, but every time I come out here it's like I'm seeing it all for the first time. Everything is so fresh and new. And I think the landscape changes. The buildings and gardens and statues appear to move, not while you're looking at them but over time, things changing shape and color day by day.

"I'll make this as painless as possible," he says, his back to the amazing view.

"Interesting choice of words."

Zander doesn't react, the jewels embedded in his face glinting. "Tetra just showed me footage she recorded of you last night in my apartment. What the hell were you doing?" His voice remains steady, despite his words, and the low simmer of the anger funnels into me. I keep my cool and try to identify the other emotion that tags along with it. Is that... humiliation?

"I had to see something," I explain without explaining.

"You don't see enough of me outside of my bedroom?"

I roll my eyes. "Get over yourself. There was something I was curious about, okay? And I knew the quickest way to get the answer."

"If you needed to ask me something—"

"You'd explicate every detail without holding back? Not likely. I needed to know what source the feeling was coming from. Sometimes knowing helps me deal with it. Otherwise it's like... trying to solve an equation without the formula."

"Well I hope you got what you came for."

"Sort of. The other two kids in the video..." I say hesitantly, knowing I'm pushing it. "They're your brother and sister."

Zander's lips press into a harsh line. "Zephyr and Zoa," he finally says. "Now you know."

"Something bad happened," I say, then realize it's only a waste of time to dance around the truth of the matter. "Look, if you're mourning the loss of someone, just tell me. Because I know what it's like to—"

"It doesn't matter what happened," he snaps. "It's done with. It's been done with for six years."

"Time doesn't always make it easier. Especially if you haven't processed your—"