Rising Shards

Caeda hummed to herself as she sat in the back seat of a fancy taxi. She was headed for her regular weekly visit with Octa Kathron at the Taramin Labs, and even better, her best friend was coming with this time. Clover stared out the window, mostly in silence until Caeda started talking to her.

“Glad I finally convinced you to come along!” Caeda said.

“I’m not convinced of anything,” Clover said. “This seems like a colossal waste of time. And I still think it’s shady.”

“It’ll be fine,” Caeda said. “You’ll see.”

“Do you have to take this cab every time?” Clover asked.

“Sometimes it’s a different company, sometimes it’s a bus. I’ve also taken the train, then got picked up by a taxi. Seems like it’s always something different!” Caeda said.

“Seems like it’s always a huge pain.”

It was true that it was a bit of a struggle getting to the lab during the lessons with Octa that fell during class time. The Taramin Labs workers were great at getting permission slips to Caeda when she had to leave during the school day, at least.

“Isn’t it strange?” Clover asked, holding up the permission slip they’d gotten for her. “The slips don’t mention the labs at all. They make it sound like this is a doctor’s appointment.”

“Well, it kind of is!” Caeda said. “I’m sure Miss Kathron is some kind of doctor. She’s really smart.”

“You really don’t even know what she does?”

“It’s really important,” Caeda said, eyeing the driver to make sure they weren’t listening. “It’s supposed to be really private, you know? It’s important work here. It’s something with Cani, and the void, and…”

Clover sighed, not wanting to dive into another argument about this.

Once they arrived at the labs, Caeda excitedly showed Clover to the door, looking back every time someone like a receptionist or lab worker greeted her. Clover didn’t seem to care, though. I’m well known at this big fancy lab! Isn’t that impressive? Wouldn’t you like to be known by these important people? If they couldn’t convince her, surely Miss Kathron could. The regular worker that led Caeda to Miss Kathron’s office knocked on her door before letting Caeda in.

“See you next time, Mr. Skive!” Caeda said.

“Until next time, Caeda,” He nodded.

Caeda peered into Miss Kathron’s office. She wasn’t sitting at her desk.

“Miss Kathron?” Caeda asked. She could feel Clover staring daggers at her as the two entered the room, as Miss Kathron was still, staring at a wall like she was in a horror movie. “Why are you…doing that?”

Miss Kathron finally turned around. “Thought there was a leak.”

“A leak? A leak of what?” Caeda asked.

“It’s nothing, Caeda.” Miss Kathron sighed before sitting down.

“Do you prefer Mrs. or Miss? Because I’m pretty sure you’re not divorced, at least not yet, am I right?”

“Caeda!” Clover snapped.

“It’s a thing we do,” Caeda explained. “Just some back and forth between a teacher and her student. And I keep asking and getting conflicting answers, so I’m really curious. Oh!” Caeda took Clover’s hand and brought her closer to Miss Kathron’s desk. “I brought my friend just like you asked. This is Clover Locke Dragnis!”

“Greetings,” Clover said.

Miss Kathron typed on her computer a bit more, her keystrokes a bit more forceful than usual. “I apologize for making you come all this way, but I have to cancel this meeting. Something’s just come up.”

“What?” Clover asked. “You didn’t even say anything to me—”

“Both of you turn around for just a moment, please.” Miss Kathron said. Her icy tone was so forceful that the two immediately obeyed.

“Caeda, what the hell is this?” Clover whispered.

“I don’t know!” Caeda said.

Behind them, it sounded like a metal panel opened, then maybe the sound of a beeping keypad. Then a mechanical noise, and the metal panel clanging sound again. “Alright.”

Miss Kathron was directly behind the two now, shooing them out of her office. The entire lab was cast in a red light as an alarm blared for two tones. Nobody in the office reacted like this was a big deal, but they all stopped what they were doing and did something else.

“So what’s happening?” Caeda asked. “Miss Kathron?”

“I apologize again,” Miss Kathron said. “I will have a better lesson for you next time.”

Miss Kathron shut her door, and the two were quickly escorted out of the building by a cheerful security guard.

“The cab should be here shortly,” the guard said. “Make sure you don’t miss it, unless you want to walk back to your school! Hee hee hee.”

Caeda didn’t want to look at Clover while they waited for the cab. Instead, she watched the snow from a light storm falling gently around them. Clover had a mean streak, and even as her best friend Caeda knew when she was the target of her anger.

“Don’t you have anything to say to me?” Clover asked.

“A-about what?” Caeda asked.

“You don’t think this is even a little shady?” Clover asked.

“OK, that whole thing was a bit suspect,” Caeda said. “But—”

“But? But what?! What on earth could have you wanting to go back there after that?” Clover asked.

Caeda pouted. “It’s…” She muttered.

“Say that again?”

“It’s for my destiny, alright? This is how I finally become important.” Caeda said.

“Caeda…” Clover said. “I know you want to be famous, but maybe this isn’t the best path for it? I’m worried about you.”

“Don’t be,” Caeda said. “I promise, next time will be better. Will you please come with to one more lesson?”

Clover kicked at the sidewalk. She didn’t answer until after the taxi arrived and brought them back to campus.

“This one got interrupted,” Caeda said, trying one more time. “I’ll let you know when Miss Kathron needs me again. You’ll see.”

“I sure hope so,” Clover said before the two parted ways.