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  Maxim shook his head. “There is nothing to discuss. The Annex Gate is gone and we are never going to see Earth again. I am not the only one who has lost their family.” He sighed. “I find it hard to bear that I will never know my father’s fate.”

  Peter laid a hand on Maxim’s shoulder. “From what I’ve heard, Nikolai’s selflessness saved a lot of lives. Did you know that a lot of people joined the Guardians after your group arrived from Siberia? They all told the story of your evacuation and they all praised your dad. None of them saw him die, Maxim. There’s every chance he’s still alive back on Earth.”

  Maxim shrugged Peter’s hand off; it was time to face the facts. “If he was alive, ADAM would have found him. I already knew, really. Now I just have to accept it.”

  “I think I can help with that,” Peter told him. “I want you to go and see a friend of mine, Doc Dietrich. He usually deals with combat trauma—it’s kind of his thing—but I think you’ll find it good to talk about this with him.”

  Maxim’s nose wrinkled. “I don’t know. I’ll try if you think it would help, sir.”

  Peter was amazed that Maxim had been able to regain his composure despite the grief he was clearly wrestling with. “You’re a wise young man, Maxim Nikolayevich.” He tossed the boy a roll of tape. “I don’t think there are many Wechselbalg–even adults–who would have been able to maintain control like you did today. You’re going to make a great Guardian. Wrap your hands, then we’ll spar for a while. We need to discuss your training.”

  Maxim nodded, following Peter’s instruction. “Thank you, sir.”

  Peter grinned as Maxim tossed the tape back. “No need to thank me. Now get your guard up.”

  CHAPTER FOUR

  QBBS Meredith Reynolds, Etheric Academy, Science Wing, a Few Weeks Later

  Masha had first-day blues.

  The start of school had been delayed due to the Yollin revolution, but there was no avoiding it any longer.

  She felt she’d outgrown the Academy, but her parents would hear none of it. She hadn’t argued too much, knowing that what was waiting for her after graduation would be just as unsatisfying to her as sitting in a classroom. It wasn’t that being a Guardian wasn’t good enough, as her father had assumed when she’d tried to explain, but she wanted a bigger life than that of a soldier. She wanted to serve–just in her own way.

  She lagged behind Mischa and the others, lost in thought as they arrived at the doors to the Science Wing. Yana ground to a halt and pulled out her tablet. She pointed it at the quote above the doors. “One minute. Tina loves these, and I said I’d send her photos of the new ones.”

  Masha grumbled, “We’ll be late for class.” She looked up anyway.

  ‘The task is not so much to see what no one has yet seen, but to think what nobody has yet thought about that which everybody sees.’

  Masha scoffed to herself as she stalked into the classroom ahead of the others. Yeah, right. All I do is think about things differently, so why is it that there’s nowhere for someone like me to shine?

  The classroom seemed crowded with new students, although according to Aleksei fewer than ten percent of the emigrant children had passed the rigorous Academy entry exam. There were also few familiar faces in the room.

  Her sister came over to sit next to her on the bench and chatted animatedly to Yana and Halli, who sat farther along the same row. Devi came in behind the last of the students and jumped onto one of the new Yollin chairs at the end.

  Devi was the most interesting thing about school, as far as Masha was concerned. The puppy had a fabulous sense of style, if a little heavy on sparkles for her taste. She and Mischa had found common ground with the fashion-conscious German Shepherd as soon as they’d met, when Devi had noticed her sparkly purple nails and her sister had happened to have the bottle of ultraviolet sparkle polish she was wearing in her purse.

  One pedicure–or pet-icure, as they now called them–later, the twins had a new best friend.

  The teacher came in, tablet in hand. Masha noted her straight spine, direct gaze, and no-nonsense demeanor.

  She sat up a little straighter and paid attention.

  “Good morning, class!” The teacher pointed to the slide that appeared on the holographic interface behind her when she tapped her tablet. “As you can see, my name is Ms. Katie Treble. Welcome to the Genetic Engineering Taster Module. Those of you who enjoy this module will be able to enroll in the full course after graduation, but during this term, we will focus on the applications of genetic engineering for a space-faring species—namely us.”

  The class tittered at her humor.

  “Very well, let’s begin. Open your tablets to the first page of your text.”

  Masha opened the e-text for the class and skimmed the first page, which looked dry as dust. She sighed as the lesson began, not for the first time wishing she could be anywhere else but in school.

  Ms. Treble paced as she spoke in an animated voice. “Genetically modified organisms, or GMOs, have been one of the most controversial topics of the modern era. Disregarding the debates back on Earth, genetic engineering is a cornerstone of humanity’s continued survival. Our survival in space will rely heavily on the continually developing techniques and processes our scientists dream up.”

  She stopped pacing and faced the class. “We have developed grains that are drought- and disease-resistant, and others that are super-saturated with vital nutrients. We are able to breed food animals that grow faster and produce more calories for the same cost, and save endangered species from extinction. Genetic engineering will give humanity the ability to tame our environment.”

  Masha rolled her eyes. “Humanity abuses the mudball. That’s not taming, it’s exploitation. Will we exploit the resources of the planets we find?”

  Ms. Treble grinned and pointed at Masha. “You know, I was promised students who challenge everything, and you don’t disappoint! First of all, let me assure you all that every proposed genetics project has to pass a rigorous ethical examination before it can be approved. This is not Earth, where an unscrupulous scientist can find a wealthy patron with questionable motives. Let me ask a question… How many of you are Wechselbalg?”

  The twins raised their hands, along with Halli and a boy in the front row.

  Ms. Treble smiled. “Without genetic engineering, there would be no Wechselbalg. There would be no vampires, so no Queen to lead us—and nobody to stand between Earth and the Kurtherians. Our military would be less powerful, our food supplies would be uncertain, and our medical capabilities would be much poorer. Without genetic engineering, the Battle for Yoll could not have been won, and humankind would have become slaves to the Kurtherian masquerading as their king.”

  She clicked her tablet and the slide changed to show an angora rabbit peering out from under its fluffy mop. “But those are the big concerns. There are many everyday applications for genetic engineering that would surprise you. Meet Boomer. Boomer and his herd are a sustainable economic source of natural fibers for our clothing manufacturers.”

  Halli raised her hand. “Why don’t we just use sheep?”

  The teacher grinned. “Great question, Halli. Why do you think we might have chosen rabbits over sheep?”

  Halli frowned, thinking. “They’re smaller?”

  Ms. Treble nodded. “That’s one reason. Can anyone else think of another?” A few hands went up and she pointed to them one at a time.

  “They eat less than sheep do?”

  “They poop less?”

  “Sheep are harder to take care of?”

  “They smell better?”

  Ms. Treble held up a hand. “Good guesses. The answer is a combination of all those things. They are also hypoallergenic. However, our angoras are labor-intensive compared to most rabbit breeds.”

  Mischa raised her hand. “What do rabbits have to do with genetic engineering?”

  “Why, everything!” Ms. Treble replied, switching the slide again to show a simple life
-cycle diagram. “Angora rabbits shed their wool every ninety days or so. Boomer’s DNA has been slightly altered to give him a denser coat and a shorter shedding cycle. We’ll be studying Boomer’s descendants to chart the progression of the altered gene in the rabbit population and sharing the results of the data collection with Bernadette and her team, so they know which rabbits to breed.”

  Yana raised her hand. “Why don’t we just put them in the Pod-doc?”

  “We could,” Ms. Treble told them. “But it would be a waste of resources to alter each animal separately. Besides, the Pod-docs are reserved for military and medical use only. This is where we come in: we’re going to assist the rabbit handlers to identify the rabbits with the modified gene. Later in the week, we’ll be visiting the rabbit habitat to assist the handlers with grooming. Before we can work with the rabbits they have to get used to us, because stress can make them sick. Grooming them will help us avoid that.”

  The class murmured their appreciation for the project.

  Ms. Treble grinned. “I’m glad you’re all so engaged. Right, class. Before we get to data collation, we need to know what we are looking for. Turn to Chapter One of your texts, Mendel’s Principles of Inheritance...’”

  QBBS Meredith Reynolds, Open Court

  Tina and Ron sat in a booth by the window in the diner. The open court was busy with people grabbing lunch, shopping, or just catching up, but Tina didn’t notice any of it.

  Her mind was on more serious matters.

  She pushed her spoon into her half-finished dessert and looked out of the window. “I don’t really want this.”

  “I’ll make it disappear for you,” Ron told her with a wink. He pulled her dish over next to his empty one and got to work demolishing the ice cream. “So, what was so important that we had to come all the way out here to talk about it?”

  She made a face. “I have a decision to make–or more accurately, I’ve made a decision and I’m trying to figure out how to implement it.”

  Ron glanced up at her. “What kind of decision?”

  “A big one. I have to switch my focus. Biology isn’t where I’m needed.” She picked up a paper napkin and began twisting off small pieces. “When you think of how little time has passed and how much has happened...” She shook her head, trying to find a way to encapsulate the events of the last few years.

  Ron frowned in sympathy. “I know what you mean.”

  “Do you? Really?” She looked at the remains of the napkin on the table, then brushed them into her hand and deposited them on her empty plate. “Yoll...it made everything we did back on the mudball look like child’s play.”

  Ron snickered. “It kind of was, if you think about it.”

  “Don’t be an ass. What happened in Wales was Gott Verdammt serious, Ron.” She sighed. “People died, and more people would have died without the defenses we built. The siege was when I realized that I have more to give. My work saved some of those lives. Now we’re smack in the middle of the galactic stage and everyone is looking at us.”

  “Let them look.” Ron shrugged. “It’s all they’ll be allowed to do.”

  Tina shook a finger at him, her face serious. “You know as well as I do that most of the new species we encounter will have to be taught to respect us. There’s war ahead, and I can’t justify playing around with bacteria–no matter how interesting it is–when I could be working toward the protection of our people. I just can’t.”

  “I get it, really,” Ron sympathized. “And I know we’re going to make a difference. So what are you going to do if you’re dropping biology?”

  Tina grinned. “I spoke with Dorene about switching tracks and got her advice about my options, but I’m worried about what my mom will think. And say. You saw how badly she freaked at John and Jean when we got back from the UK.”

  “Well, yeah. She could have lost you. I wish my mom and dad worried that much. They probably wouldn’t have even noticed if I’d died during any of our scrapes since starting school. It’s like I’ve already grown up and left home.”

  Tina pressed her lips together and placed her hand over Ron’s. “I know. They’re pretty caught up in their work.”

  “Understatement much?” Ron shrugged. “I know they love me, but they aren’t the most engaged parents. Forget about them; they just give me more space to create. Tell me more about your switch.”

  Tina squirmed with happiness. “I’m dropping biology and switching to applied mathematics.”

  Ron frowned. “Why would your mom be worried about that?”

  Tina raised an eyebrow. “That’s not all. I’m taking modules in interpersonal management, too.”

  Ron laughed. “Oh, I see where you’re going with this. Two tracks? Yeah, your mom is going to be worried about you burning yourself out.”

  “Which is why I need to practice my argument for when I tell her. I’m not going to see much of anyone for the next couple of years.”

  Ron did a double take. “You’ll still have time for me, right?”

  Tina shrugged. “Realistically, I can’t see how. I’m barely going to have time to sleep. Anyway, you’re starting with Jean’s team. You won’t have time to see me, either.” She let go of his hand and sat back against the shiny leather seat. “You have realized that we need to take a break while we get our careers off the ground, right?”

  “No?” he spluttered. “I mean... A break?”

  Tina saw time stop for Ron. His face fell even as it reddened, and his eyes began to shine. “Ron, it isn’t forever. It’s just a break.”

  Ron frowned. “It’s not just a break. It’s a break-up, out of nowhere. I did not see it coming.”

  Tina made a face. “You hadn’t considered where you were going to fit in time to maintain a healthy relationship with me? Ron, your work will be just as time-consuming as my studies! You won’t have any more time for me than I’ll have for you. Honestly, it’s like you forget logic exists sometimes.”

  “There you go again with the snark!”

  Tina shrugged at Ron’s sulky response. “If you hate my snarkiness that much, then a break won’t be a problem, will it?” She held up her hands. “Look, I’m not saying we’ll never see each other, but our energy needs to go into building the future so we have a future to enjoy–when we get there. If my parents’ relationship has taught me anything, it’s that I won’t settle for anything less than healthy. I watched how hard my mom worked to rebuild herself from the ground up after John saved us from my asshole dad. I won’t ever go through that.”

  She could tell Ron wasn’t even listening, and she waved a hand in front of his face. “Ron, did you hear me?”

  Ron glared at the ice cream puddle in the bottom of the bowl, stirring it angrily. “I heard you, but I don’t get why you’re doing this. I’m nothing like your dad.”

  Tina dropped her head onto the table and groaned with exasperation. Her arms muffled her voice. “I didn’t say you were!”

  Ron said nothing.

  When she looked up, the opposite side of the booth was empty and Ron was on the other side of the diner pulling the door open angrily.

  Tina considered calling him back for half a second, but her pride stung as much as the frustrated tears in her eyes. Why doesn’t he listen? I wish he’d actually listen instead of just hearing what he thinks I’m saying. Ugh!

  She got up and left by the opposite door.

  CHAPTER FIVE

  QBBS Meredith Reynolds, All Guns Blazing

  Marcus hummed to himself as he left the bar.

  He paused at the service corridor when he heard a sniffle and sidetracked to investigate. He poked his head into the corridor and saw Tina sitting hunched over her knees, sobbing with her face in her hands.

  He almost tripped over his feet in his hurry to get to her. “Tina, what’s wrong? Are you hurt?”

  Tina looked up, utterly miserable. “It’s Ron! He’s such a jerk sometimes!”

  Marcus took a step back, flummoxed. An injury
to her body he knew how to deal with, but a broken heart?

  Tina gave a choking laugh at his distress. “It’s okay, Marcus. I’m fine, really. We just had a fight, is all.” She scrubbed her raw cheeks with damp sleeves.

  Marcus didn’t miss the clues; she’d been here a while. Still, what to do?

  He knelt next to her and awkwardly patted her on the shoulder. “Cheer up, Tina. It’s not like you’re going to see much of him after graduation. You’re young. You’ll find a new crush soon. Plenty more fish in the sea and all that…” His voice trailed off as Tina burst into fresh tears.

  Oh, dear. “I’m sorry, that was the wrong thing to say. Matters of the heart are not my strong point.”

  Tina made a face. “You don’t say. I said I’ll be fine, Marcus.”

  Marcus shook his head. “Well, you don’t look fine to me. Come on, let’s get you to the office. I think we have a few Cokes left in the fridge, and you can tell me and the guys all about it.”

  He held out a hand to pull her up and steered her out of the corridor and over to the private entrance to BMW’s offices.

  “You don’t have to look after me, Marcus,” she protested as the door swung shut behind them. “I would have been okay.”

  It was Marcus’ turn to make a face. “If that’s true, why were you camped out right where I would find you? I’m glad you’re here, actually. I had a favor to ask you.”

  Tina shrugged and let him lead her into the main workroom. She loved the smell of the offices: a combination of musty paper, engine grease, man-sweat, and stale beer. It was homey and messy, and she loved being there.

  Bobcat and William were hard at work, which meant they were drinking and slinging insults over a messy workstation.

  William banged his fist on the table. “I’m telling you, it will have to do.”