The Outsider (Outsider #1) ✔️

Chapter 7 : Campus

Leaving from the Dean's office, the Student Counsellor had taken Dusk to the Dorm Building. There were several dorms in the campus. They ranged from shared spaces (4 to a room) to Single Accommodation. The parents generally selected the dorm based on how much they were willing to pay. There were also some premium single-room dorms that had better facilities. A set of Dorm buildings were kept for final year students and the Military Studies had their own set of dorms.

Dusk was assigned to a 4-room in Dorm-Building 6, in which 2 students were already staying. She was to be the third student. When she went to the room, the Resident Advisor (RA) was in the dorm and let them in. He then proceeded to register her details into the security computer to allow her access at any time. If he was not present, Susco could still have used her Faculty Override to get in, but she would not be able to register Dusk's name.

"We have a lounge on the 10th floor and a study room, with a structured library cum reading room on the 9th floor. The room on the 9th floor is purely for quiet study. You can be penalised for making any noise and repeated offences can get you banned by the Resident Association for limited period, or with the approval of the University Admin, permanently. We have AI Sub-Minds monitoring it. The lounge and the 10th floor study room can be noisy, so it's your choice. But both facilities are on pay-per-use, so it is not free." The RA explained.

He was a young student who had taken on the role of RA to earn some money to meet additional expense or perhaps to fund some particular hobby. He was obviously eyeing Dusk to figure out whether she would be girlfriend material ... or whether he could bully her and get some advantages. A look at her clothes and her travel bags showed she should be happy to do things for money...

Susco saw him evaluating Dusk and decided to put a stop to it. Dusk was a naïve student, but she was allowed late into the university, met personally by a dean, provided with a special schedule, would get separate coaching from professors and also the Major had his eyes on her. A lot of people would stand up for her and even if she did not want them to, each of them would kick quite a few back-sides if someone tried something stupid. This guy could get into serious trouble and she herself would be facing heat for negligence. She decided to indirectly warn the RA.

"Ms. Dusk Hale will be given unlimited access to the lounge and the study area. She is on a special, all expenses covered scholarship program. And she has military sponsorship too." Susco informed him with a smile. Well, the military sponsorship was a lie, but since she will go for morning training from the next day, it was a believable bluff.

The RA immediately became cautious. The military was a dangerous opponent. He should to be just as friendly as with any other student and stop there. He smiled and said "Then let me create an access card for you to use in the lounge. But a word of warning, the food would be extra, so be careful."

Dusk happily accepted the card. She decided to go up and have a look at the facility. But she wanted to see the room. And put her bags there. And change!

The room was reasonable. It had a pair of bunk beds on each of the sides, set against the wall. Each side had a lower and upper bed. The beds were comfortable, with nice soft bedding, sliding glass and fabric covering for privacy, in-set lighting and individual climate control. It was better that she had hoped for, in fact, it was better than her bed at home.

The room had one bathroom, which would be a bit of a problem with 4 students sharing it. She hoped they would not fight over it.

There were 4 individual work desks, which could be used for study. On either side of the bunk beds were full sized cupboards. She assumed that each of them was for one student. There would be enough space for her needs at least. The two tables located next to the windows had papers, stationary computers and cosmetics. Dusk realised that her room mates had taken the better locations. There was nothing she could do about it anyway.