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other students in Dr. Hemming’s lab this morning didn’t realize you were gone? Attendance hasn’t exactly been first rate this term, has it? People know something’s up.”
    My shoulders tense. “They don’t know all of it.”
    “No. You’re right. Hell, I don’t know all of it. But I know you’re different. I know that something happened back there on the Surface that changed the way we think about Pearls, and the way the Captain thinks about you. And, if I can be frank, from the rumors I’ve heard floating around the ship, you’re lucky that Alkine’s letting you stay onboard like this, protected.”
    I scoff. “Lucky.”
    “Yeah,” he replies. “If I’m being honest. But I’d like you to prove me wrong. I’d like to discover that the file I read about a funny, good-hearted kid wasn’t just a lie. He’s in there. I can see him.” He sighs. “Just give it a chance. It’s like a big-brother thing. You’ve always wanted a brother, right?”
    My heart sinks. “What did you just say?”
    He shrugs. “A brother. Like, big bro … toss the antigrav ball around and hang out.”
    That’s it. Screw the people outside. I don’t care how they look at me, or what they say. Nothing can be worse than this. Without responding, I head into the hallway and slam the door before Morse can follow. Then I run, and I don’t stop until I reach the stairwell.
    ––––
    “You look terrible, mate. What did they do to you?”
    That’s Skandar Harris. Always tactful, always there to pick you up. Eva would say that he’s too dim to be deceitful or manipulative, but I don’t believe that. He sits across from me at the canteen table. His uncombed brown hair is tangled above his head, like usual.
    Next to him is Eva Rodriguez, a firm, steady voice even when I don’t need one. We’ve had our moments—we still do—but I think I trust her. I trust her enough, anyways. And compared to me, with her cropped, battle-ready hair and buff arms, she’s mass good at this Skyship Agent stuff. She’s the kind of student Alkine likes, and she’s saved my butt on more than one occasion.
    Agent “Big Brother” Morse didn’t follow me up, thankfully, though it’s only a matter of time before he corners me again. Especially if Alkine told him to.
    Lunch is some sort of potato mush, halfway between a soup and a paste, with bread. It’s bland, even with a fist full of salt mixed in, but I’m not paying much attention to it. Food’s been a problem ever since we crossed the Pacific. It’s mostly the same stuff every day, cans from deep within our rations storeroom, the odd crate our agents bring back from the States.
    We sit at our old table, the one we always stole in Year Nine. It’s lopsided, but pushed far into the corner of the room, shielded by rows and rows of students and faculty. Hopefully it’s isolated enough to keep Morse from finding me. The din of the crowd is sort of comforting. I feel like I can blend in and disappear for once.
    Eva sighs as she drags a spoon through her bowl. “At least they’re letting you move around the ship. Class this afternoon?”
    “I don’t think so.” I take a sip of water.
    “That’s a shame.”
    Skandar leans forward, whispering. “So did you really
    break it? Like, yank it from the reactor and give it the big explosion?”
    I nod. “Right in Alkine’s face.”
    Eva chokes down a spoonful of the paste. “Probably not the best way to endear yourself.” She winces. “My god this is revolting.”
    “It was satisfying.” I shrug. “Kind of.”
    She sets down her spoon and rests her elbows on the table, leaning closer. “Listen, Jesse. You know I have your back, whatever you do. But we really need to sit down and brainstorm some better ideas. There’s got to be an effective way to look out for the other Drifters that doesn’t cause this kind of chaos.”
    “Lights flickering off for a couple of hours is hardly chaos.” Skandar rolls his eyes. “I was asleep. I