A message flickered back over his HUD in a moment. "You shouldn't be
using this terminal for this," it said.
"I know. It's the only one I've got here. It's pretty secure."
"Not secure enough. You have a watcher on your ass."
"Fuck," he swore. "Can you disable it?"
"Yes, for extra fees, are you willing to pay?"
"Yes, I'll wire it to wherever you wish."
"Deal, give me an hour."
It would at least give him time to run and then shower off, maybe get some
study in before he had that kind of reading and thinking to do.
He made his way back nice and slow, and then showered. The waiting was
killing him.
When the knock to his HUD came through this time, it was just a set of files
and a location for the money, using several networks to hide it.
That he could do easily enough, just a matter of several micro transactions.
No one would even think to look for.
His RI did that while he opened the files and read. It took him more than a
few hours to read everything on the students in the year below him.
But he now knew he had two solid reasons for his request to LC O'Conner.
Ones he couldn't deny were sound.
Justin Bridger, and Malaki Canlas.
His HUD knocked again.
"This is something else I think you should see considering you're looking
behind you and not forwards."
"Thanks, any extra pay?"
"No charge. Just be sure if I need you. You'll respond."
Niko hated owing favors more than money, but he nodded. "Of course, I owe
you one."
The file dropped in full, and he opened it.
Declan Harbor and Walter Kestral. Full data files popped up.
They were students at Ground school, right now. Both came from good, rich
families. There was nothing special about them… then he saw it. Both students
were tagged - FIFT
He tried his best to find out what FIFT was for, nothing. "What the hell does
that mean?" he said aloud, slapping his leg in frustration.
To his surprise his RI responded then. FIFT means simply. For Immediate
Fast Track.
The RI then pointed him towards their aptitude test results and he whistled.
He didn't just have two or even three solid reasons for requesting to re-sit. He had
four.
Now he only had to tackle the last piece in this puzzle and work out how he
was going to talk to her… his girlfriend.
----
Ocean Fields - Sector Two - 20th Jan - Sunrise
Niko couldn't sleep. He'd paced his room for long enough. Long enough that
his stomach growled. He grabbed his boots, slipped them on and strode out of his
rack. The walk to his favorite bar for breakfast on his mind. Yet when he stood
outside the doors, it hadn't quite opened.
He looked around. Any minute, though, he was sure of it. His stomach never
lied. He paced the street now instead.
The bar's little light flickered on, neon bright. TruDive.
He always laughed at that. The Techean-bars the base over were all managed
by one family, run by the many.
"I'll be with you as soon as I can," Cher said, opening the door for him from
her side of the water.
"No rush," Niko said, "Just wanted to watch the sunrise."
"Day off?"
"You know it," he said, not really able to even pay attention to her. He moved
across the bar to his usual table.
Stars twinkled above him, the sun nowhere near rising as yet.
Fuck, Niko checked the time.
05:16
"Cher," he shouted. "I'm so sorry." He glanced over to the bar area, still
shadowed in darkness.
Little lights flickered on as Cher swam her way around. "Don't be," she said.
"I don't open the doors for anyone, though. Just remember that."
Niko sat and stared out into the dark.
Drifting sounds and noises from the back eased his mind, and he enjoyed
seeing that sun glow in the distance, even if he had just under an hour to wait.
Cher set a mug of coffee before him and scooted away without asking for
payment, either.
The view from here was his absolute favorite and though his thoughts were
mixed and his life a mess, it settled him.
"You doing okay?" Anders voice interrupted Niko's thoughts, pulling him
back to reality.
Niko's eyes drifted to the Techean walkway at his side before he answered.
"I don't know, Anders. Everything just feels like I'm watching through someone
else's eyes. I'm standing on the edge of something, and I don't know what it is."
Niko paused. "You're not usually around here."
"Was visiting a friend," Anders said and put a tray down on the opposite side
of the table, then handed Niko one filled with freshly made pancakes.