Page 28 of Coldwire
I suppose nothing is foolproof, but this comes close.
LIA: in headmaster murray’s office right now with all the murrays
LIA: scary
RAYNA: horrifyingly beautiful
LIA: that’s not what i meant
LIA: and ew??
RAYNA: ugh not the headmaster obviously. gross
“Let’s go through the run-of-show one more time, shall we?” Headmaster Murray suggests, blinking out of his display. I do the same quickly, minimizing my chat with Rayna and hoping no one noticed my inattention. “Once you’re installed in the Medan server, we won’t be able to pull you out and plant you back in without triggering their security, so you’ll have to travel through upcountry Medaluo using your own means. A virtual card has been attached to your credentials—everything you spend on it will be reimbursed at the end of the posting.”
“Is it likely we’ll have to travel beyond Upsie?” Kieren asks.
“Hard to say,” Headmaster Murray replies. There’s very little warmth in the answer, no extra attention to indicate this is his son he’s about to send on an extended mission. He’s speaking directly to me instead. “Once you’re in the server, a NileCorp outpost will be in touch. They’ll be your best point of contact when it comes to the posting.”
The brief said that communication back to Atahua will still be open while we’re in the Medan server. I should hope that means I can continue to make calls to Dad without being pinged.
I suddenly have an incoming call in my display. Dad’s avatar pops up, as though my thoughts summoned him.
“My dad is calling me,” I say, wincing to cut into the run-of-show. “Is it okay if I…?”
Headmaster Murray looks to one of the engineers. “Any estimate on when we’re ready?”
“Enough time to take a call. Don’t worry about it,” the engineer replies. He must see fine under the unwieldy goggles, because he offers me a thumbs-up. Medaluo knows to expect cadets entering its server at the same time every year when final exam season rolls around, so it does its best totoughen up security. Even within NileCorp, it takes a second to find the back doors.
“All right.” Headmaster Murray nods. “Go for it, Lia. I think we’ve covered everything.”
“Thank you. I’ll be quick.” I accept the call. “Hi, Dad.”
“Lia, I’m glad I caught you. You’re about to start your posting?”
“Yeah.” I shift on my feet. “Sorry I couldn’t come home last night.”
Dad sighs over the line. There’s a slight echo. He’s probably walking between meetings in the Capitol Building, under its tall ceilings and through its cavernous corridors. “Hopefully you’ll be done with the posting quickly, and then you’ll have a bit of time to relax in Melnova before graduation.”
It’s nice what faith he has in my abilities.
“In and out, definitely,” I say.
“What have you been assigned to?”
My eyes flick up. Headmaster Murray is observing me, his gaze no longer flitting around to type. There’s no threat in his expression, but I see a warning present all the same. We’re not supposed to divulge details, even to our parents. Confidential means confidential. “Only a survey. I can’t say too much.”
“Mm-hm.” I imagine Dad nodding on the other end. He’s not often an emotive person, but I know the difference between an apatheticmm-hmand a curiousmm-hm. This is the latter.
“I think we’re about to be sent through now,” I say. “Thanks for checking in.”
“Of course.” He pauses. “If you need me, I’m always here, okay?”
The sentiment takes me aback. It’s not that I doubted it—Dad has never pushed me off or ignored me on purpose. But there’s something anticipatory about a remark like that, a presumptuous need to prove himself lest I forget.
“Okay,” I reply. I don’t know what else to say. “Love you.”
“Love you too. Good luck.”
