Eric and the Quantum Dragon
Chapter 8

Nata’s Apartment Building, 8th District, Pan City

Tuesday December 18th, V26 (2046)

Seven was watching from a concealed space next to the garbage recycling chutes when Eric appeared at last in the basement parking lot. He was chatting easily to the tall young woman at his side, someone she knew from the Orphanage as Sister Impassionata. The Sister asked everyone to call her Nata, so Seven resolutely called her Impassionata at every opportunity.

Eric was putting on his armoured face mask, drawn from his bike panniers, when he stiffened and both him and the Sister looked alertly around the parking lot. Seven held herself as still as a rock, knowing she would be nearly impossible to see under her Chameleon Cloak. She was certain there was no way they could have detected her presence!

A large, dark furred cat ran past the pair, heading for home after an evening of hunting and Eric laughed out loud. Seven eased her rigid posture as well, drinking in the sound of the boy’s laughter. She fervently wished she could have found a closer spot to observe them, but she knew that any closer would have risked discovery.

The boy and woman spoke a little more, a smile lighting up Impassionata’s face and driving a dagger into Seven’s heart. Eric mounted his motorbike and started the electric engine, settling himself comfortably on the elegant machine. With a faint whine the bike slowly moved off, Eric waving a farewell as he accelerated onto the exit ramp and disappeared into the streets beyond.

Rather than heading back to the elevator right away, Seven saw the Sister walk around the parking lot, peering behind some of the parked vehicles. The intruder watched her rival with slitted eyes, peering over her grinning demon mask as the Sword finally conceded everything was as it should be and strolled to the elevator doors at last.

The girl remained crouched in her hiding place for another five minutes until she was certain the Sister was not returning. Then she slunk out of the basement lot, avoiding the gaze of the security cameras. It was only when she was a couple of blocks away that she found a quiet place between a power sub-station and a small tree-circled park that she stopped and rested her back against a concrete wall.

Seven loosened her grinning face mask, revealing her own sorrow twisted mouth. A small sob escaped her lips and she felt tears well from her eyes.

“He was meant to be mine!” she cried to the night air and let her anger flow through her. When the trembling passed, she wiped her eyes and fixed the Oni mask back into place. The truth was, Eric had never known she had been created, the perfect match to his own abilities. Seven was meant to walk at his side, to be his companion in the challenges he faced as part of the AURA Project.

Now, the object of her desires, the whole reason for her existence, was talking and smiling with these other girls. First it had been that damned Sarah Evermore, then the other girl Carmody Brentwood. The Sister Impassionata was an even bigger hurdle to overcome, as she was older and more experienced in relationships.

Seven wished once again that her mind had been able to mesh properly with the Quantum Network. There was no logical reason why it hadn’t, yet that failure had left her alone. Eric had never been told about the companion that was being trained and prepared in a separate facility, yet Seven had known all about him.

“I love you, Eric” Seven whispered to the empty night, but nothing heard her anguished confession.

Nothing at all.

10th District Junior High School

Wednesday December 19th, V26 (2046)

“Carmody! Wait for me!” a voice called out to her so Carmody stopped and looked back towards the school gates.

A black sedan had pulled up and a twin pigtailed girl launched herself from the back seat, her school bag and lunch box dangling from her arms as she raced across the multi-coloured paving stones of the courtyard. Other students dived out of her way as she dashed past them without pausing or changing direction.

Carmody grinned at Angelina, noticing how completely her friend ignored the chaos she left in her wake. In a way it reminded her of Sarah and the trail of destruction that other friend also seemed to cause. The driver of the sedan, a big beefy man in a grey Brackenridge Transportation uniform got out of the vehicle to carefully close the door his passenger had left hanging wide open.

“I’m glad to see you today!” Carmody replied to the girl, then ‘oofed’ loudly as Angelina cannoned into her with an arm encircling hug. Her fight training with Eric and her Sunday sessions at Dog’s dojo had given her excellent balance so she managed to stay on her feet at least.

“Thanks” Angelina said, letting go of her friend only long enough to link arms and start leading her into the school. “Are the others at school today?”

“Hmm? Yeah, Sarah let me know she was heading in early to spend some time with Stanley” Carmody answered. “I think Lilly and Achmed are here too, but they are probably smooching someplace private on the roof. No idea about where Eric is, he seems to come and go as he pleases these days”

The two girls walked past a pair of grey uniformed Security Guards, a visible presence after yesterday’s fight. Carmody wondered how Andrew Frobisher was doing after the terrible encounter with Sanderson. It had already been announced that the bully was being expelled, his parents shame-faced at the exploits of their son. Nothing had been announced officially about Andrew other than he was taking some time off and would return at the start of the new school year in V-27.

“How are things with the family?” Carmody asked. They had reached their lockers so both girls divested themselves of their lunch boxes and surplus items. Feeling much lighter, Carmody propped her cricket bat over a shoulder and followed Angelina to the cafeteria.

“Mom and dad are in an uproar over the warehouse fire” Angelina admitted. “Mom has been in such a state that she has been handling it all from the Summer House while dad and I take shelter in the City apartment”

“Your mom is kind of scary sometimes” agreed Carmody. “Your dad seems a lot more laid back”

Angelina laughed at that, the bright sound easily heard over the chatter of other students in the big eating hall. Over their heads, the holo-projector was displaying Christmas scenes from around the world. The best ones were short clips of suited workers bouncing around in exaggerated leaps at the Martian Polar ice caps, little red Santa hats jammed over their spacesuit helmets.

“It would amuse him to hear you say that” Angelina continued. “They are both absolute sticklers for perfection in everything, even being parents! I always remember Mom telling Dad how they both brought Efficiency to the family business. Dad was Military Efficiency and Mom was Ruthless Efficiency!”

“Now they both scare me!” Carmody declared, paying for an Iced Lemon Tea from the vending machines. Angeline hummed and hawed and eventually decided on the exact same drink as her friend. They wandered to a spare table in the Year Seven section and sat down, admiring the views that flashed above them.

“Speaking of parents, Mum and Dad want to invite you to our place on Christmas Eve” Carmody said. “Do you think you can come over? Mum is doing a full English style dinner with ham and turkey”

“I would like that, provided you come to my place for Christmas lunch” Angelina responded. “It will be at the apartment, so it should be easier to get to rather than the Summer House”

“Sounds great! Count me in” Carmody agreed and they drank their teas and watched Martians frolic until the bell sounded for Homeroom.