An announcer hovers up onto a floating, translucent cube. “This game of Low-gravity Laser Tag has one goal: survive and get to the ribbon at the other end. If you’re the last pair standing, you get a pair of complimentary hoverboots as a souvenir. If you make it to the other end and pass through the ribbon without being tagged, you get a week’s paid vacation on the Pearl of Gaia.”
“And bragging rights,” Teol cheers. She extends a fist to me and gives me a happy nod. I bump her fist. “Team effort. It’s either you or us going across that line. I just want a piece of the glory, ya feel me?”
“I feel you.”
Gashnaar’s brows quirk. He cants toward Elix. “What doesss that mean?”
Elix nods. “They have agreed.”
Teol giggles. “They’re silly sometimes. Not great with emotions. But they’re good at other things, yeah?”
I blush.
Teol’s eyes widen in excitement. “You too?”
I bite a lip and tilt my head toward Elix. “Had to get special permission since he’s not supposed to be in the race.”
We form up in lines to get our laser rifles.
Teol glances back at me. “Because he’s an alien?”
I pause as I reach for the rifle they hand me. The officer shoves it in my hand, and I keep walking. “How did you know?”
“Oh, come on girl. His eyes are glowing. You think we haven’t studied stealth tech in MAMA?” She clicks her tongue as she steps up beside her mate. “Can’t hide those eyes, even if the dermal shield paints over his natural hue. It’s all over social anyway. Forums are blowing up about you two.”
“How do you know?”
“Researched everything I could when we were stuck on theblimpfor two days.” Teol stands ready as the announcer gives us directions on how to use the weapon. “But don’t worry. I’m on your side.”
“Why?” I finally ask. “I’ve not done anything for you.”
Her jaw slacks and her eyes take on a sadness that grips my heart. “Teol?”
“I had a little sister. I was left in charge of her when Keo was off to war. Father died in the war years before, so it was just usand our mother. Nebs raided our ship. I was the only one from our family that made it out. It’s why Keo and I are so close now. We’re it. But I make it a point to form a team wherever I go. That gives us the best odds of making it out alive.”
27: Zariah
The announcer hovers overhead atop a translucent cube, motioning into the laser-tag arena. He’s a smaller human with gravity-defying brown bangs and is dressed in a formal ABR uniform with silver stripes down his slacks and sleeves. “Please beware that the cubes will change heights throughout the game. The armor you wear will puff the same dust as the Glitter Ball when it receives an impact.”
“Fuck.” Teol chuckles, hangs her head, and shakes it. “We’re screwed.”
Gashnaar growls a deep clicking sound and leans against Teol, sniffing her neck. “I dooon’t mind.”
“I want a damn vacation on the Pearl!” Teol insists.
He grins. “I can give yooou that. We dooon’t have tooo win.”
I’m jealous.
“I could too,” Elix whispers as he pulls his magazine out of his rifle and looks at it. “If that’s what you want.”
I watch him, wondering what he’s doing. “We all got the same magazines. Something wrong with yours?”
He frowns. “Lasers are not effective. I know this is pretend like in basic training. But I feel like I have nothing. And you should always check your weapons, magazines, safeties, know the firing pattern options, the range—” He looks over at me. “You are only as safe as your tool’s capabilities and your situational awareness.”
The wall of doors opens, and we step inside a massive room, a railing keeping us at one end. The cavern is enormous, all glass, and filled with cubes in spaced-out rows that rise and fallin no order I can perceive. But they have to have a pattern of some kind. I just have to take my time.
They look like hyperengine cams—rotating out of sync.
