The Legacy Quartet I: The Swan Rising

by Xennial

1,000 years after disaster engineered by humans destroyed the environment, the remaining populations inhabit sealed biospheres, and live a shadow of the life their ancestors once knew. Mutants and non-mutants are deeply divided and mostly self-segregated, but legacies of bitterness and fear remain. Enter three lives to test whether this world on the precipice will survive. 1st of 4

11. Chapter 10

MATTHEW

Matthew woke up disoriented and with a wretched feeling that something was wrong. He realized that he had no idea where he was. The room he was in was dark, and he was lying on his back, the floor hard beneath him. There was ambient light coming from the right, but not enough to illuminate anything in the other fields of his vision.

The presence of a warm body beside him entered his senses, and he knew it was Eleni. Then he remembered. She had started to leave. He couldn't let her leave: she was too important to him. But somehow here she was by his side. Relief flooded him, and momentarily made him weak.

His mind started recreating the previous afternoon, though his body tried to distract him with a pressure in his bladder. Pushing that aside, he remembered: they had failed in removing the bond and then his proximity to Eleni's memory of her mother's death had caused him to recall his own traumatic experience, and then he had become lost in it. After that everything became fuzzy.

Horror filled him as he realized that when the memory had taken over, he had lost control. That was dangerous, especially as he had been in someone else's mind. He vaguely recalled the sense of being contained and suspected that Eleni's own impressive mental control had prevented any damage to herself.

Slowly, the aftermath returned to him, but not entirely. Eleni had said…something, he couldn't recall what, except that it had been insignificant but extremely hurtful. That had led to a fight. He cringed, squeezing his eyes shut, as echoes of what he had shouted at her returned to him. That wasn't like him. He'd have to apologize.

Eleni was sleeping soundly beside him, but now that he had put things together, he needed to talk to her immediately.

"Eleni," he whispered, then a bit louder. "Eleni, wake up." She shifted, and startled awake.

"Wha-?"

"You brought me here," he added quickly. Waking up beside him this time hadn't led to a sense of contentment from her. He felt her freeze, then relax, but not entirely.

"How are you feeling, Matthew?" came her question from the dark.

"Better. I hated to wake you, but I needed to make sure things are ok between us." She was quiet for a long moment.

"You were pretty upset about what I said."

"I know. I don't know why I got so angry – that's not like me. By the Helm, I don't even recall what it was all about, but the way I reacted was unacceptable. I'm really sorry I upset you enough that you felt you had to leave." She was quiet again.

"What you did, what you said and the way you said it, it wasn't ok."

"I know. I'm so sorry." Quiet.

"It's in the past." That was it.

"You forgive me?" She didn't answer the question.

"It's done." He was perplexed by her answer for a moment but decided against pressing the issue and ending up in another argument.

They were silent for a few minutes. In spite of their reconciliation, a distance remained between them. Matthew had no idea how to repair that, but he felt a need to keep some sort of conversation going.

"Eleni, where are we?"

"Somewhere."

"Come on," he said. "You brought me here, so I'm going to find out tomorrow. You might as well tell me now."

"You'll find out tomorrow." Matthew had lifted his head slightly at his question, and now thumped it back down on the ground in frustration. There was little between him and what he suspected was a concrete floor, and pain shot through his head as it landed. He brought his left arm up to rub it and it brushed a wall beside him in the process. Then his hand ran into one above his head. Apparently, he was in a corner, with Eleni lying next to him on the open side. He rubbed his head, then put his scraped fingers in his mouth wondering how Eleni stood sleeping here.

He considered asking where the nearest bathroom was, but suspected that if he left Eleni's hidey-hole in the dark she wouldn't bring him back. He resigned himself to suffering until the morning.

The conversation stalled, Matthew eased his message mote out of his pocket, and sent a quick note home. His father had made him promise to do so after the first tabloid article had revealed that Matthew had spent the night DownMountain.

Then Matthew gave up on moving and lay there in the darkness. Eleni was a warm mass just beside him, but not touching. He became aware that his right arm, pressed to his side, was starting to ache. For the honest reason of bringing some relief to his uncomfortable position, he risked shifting and stretched the offending arm out to the side above Eleni's head.

As he turned, he noted there was a large window in the wall behind Eleni; that was the source of the ambient light though it only lit up half of the window.

"This place is extremely uncomfortable. How do you sleep here?"

"You get used to it," was her sleepy reply.

"Um, do you mind if I put my arm there," he gently tapped it on the top of her head. "I've just about lost all feeling in it."

Eleni obliged, lifting her head so he could lay his arm on the floor. As she lay her head back down, this time resting just below his arm, he shifted his body to the lie on his side with his back to the wall.

Then they lay in silence for a while. Matthew decided against pursuing another conversation but did find himself increasingly aware of Eleni's closeness. As he listened to her soft breathing, he shifted his head closer to hers to feel the warmth emanating from it. He realized he wanted nothing more than to kiss her.

A voice at the back of his head said it was a bad time, but the feeling persisted, and the lingering anxiety in his stomach over the state of their relationship suddenly highlighted feelings he hadn't yet consciously acknowledged.

He took a deep breath and thought. They seemed to have patched things up from the afternoon, and he saw no harm in taking Eleni at her word that it was in the past. Also, while Eleni had shown him no more than friendship over the weeks, she had nonetheless chosen to remain close to him in spite of the tabloids and his reputation.

These thoughts bolstered his confidence, but it was the next that seemed to banish the anxiety and the neediness that went with it: there was the bond. Perhaps there was another reason, other than their shared grief, that it had formed.

Well, why not? They had so much in common, and, at the least, it couldn't hurt to let her know the opportunity was there. He found himself hopeful and slowly, maneuvering carefully in the dark, lowered his lips to hers.

She had been on the edge of sleep and didn't respond at first. When she did, however, there was a start of surprise and then she pulled back sharply. Matthew held himself still, holding on to his hope.

"Matthew, what are you doing?"

"Um…I know with what happened this afternoon, it's not the best timing, but we're pretty good together…" He registered disbelief through the bond, and his stomach knotted as anxiety spiked. The emotion from Eleni vanished the next moment, however, as she clamped down on her feelings.

"I have someone I care about." The whispered words came after a moment's pause. Matthew's heart contracted in disappointment, though his gut relaxed slightly. His mind grasped to put her statement in context. Patches? He pushed aside the ludicrous idea. Eleni had been avoiding the man.

"But how? Who—?" he cut off the question as he realized what she must mean.

"I love him very much." This time the whisper quavered.

Someone at the Citadel. It seemed her mother wasn't the only person she had lost when she had been forced to leave. Matthew felt a mix of sadness, longing, and pain from her, and connected it with potent emotions he had felt from her on occasion in the past. His pushed down his own disappointment and dismay, Eleni's grief providing a welcome distraction from the emotional mess inside him.

"Oh Elle…" Her breath kept catching. His actions had opened up a flood gate, and he felt agony rise up to join her despair as she tried to contain the feelings. He reached for her, but she flinched back.

"Elle, I won't do anything. I know now. But, please, don't suffer that pain alone." Reluctantly, she let him pull her into his arms, and her tears came freely.

He was glad to offer her what comfort he could, even if it was only as a friend. He tried not to feel bitter at the fact that she was in his arms, where he was starting to understand he longed to have her, but it was not his arms she wanted.

Several hours later, Matthew opened his eyes to the light of day and shifted uncomfortably. He didn't know how he had managed to fall back asleep: the pain radiating out from his bladder was maddening. He was lying on his back again and stared at the concrete ceiling above him for a moment, trying to manage the discomfort and recalling the events of the previous night.

When Eleni had rejected him.

Pushing aside his disappointment, he lifted his head to locate the doorway and briefly saw a stash of supplies in the corner across from him. His eyes grazed over a bucket, a bar soap and a razor, a pile of neatly folded clothes, a towel, a stash of packaged food that lay beside several metal water bottles, and an odd metal box that looked a bit like a radio. There were also some items of clothing hanging from the wall, accompanied by a large backpack. All of that made no impact on him as his eyes were drawn to the wall that held the window.

Because there was no window. There was no door. There was no wall.

The room, which couldn't be more than eight feet wide, opened into the air, and from the little that Matthew could see, they were very high up.

"Eleni!" he exclaimed. Not paying attention to whether his call had awoken her, he carefully climbed over her then just as carefully edged to the front of the room. Directly in front of him was the rock wall of the mountain, maybe about 30 feet away. To the left he could just make out the edge of the other tower, and the DownMountain beyond that.

He looked down – that was a mistake. Firmly placing his hands on the floor near the edge and peering out, he instead focused on the other tower, and carefully counted to get an idea of just how high up they were. 10 stories, by his estimation. To the left there was an I-beam perched precariously atop the roof of a room a level lower, leading towards another set of stacked rooms and the center of the complex.

His stomach sinking, he edged back into the room and turned toward the last wall, the one that had been at his head before. No door. This room had no doors. Or windows. The only way to enter was through the gaping hole of the missing wall. Matthew shifted himself well away from the edge, then to the wall across from where they had been sleeping, next to Eleni's assortment of stuff. Putting his back up against it as if it would hold him in more securely, he looked at Eleni.

His exclamation had woken her, for she was sitting up in her 'bed', which was no more than a few blankets between herself and the concrete floor, back against the wall, knees drawn up to her chest. Her look was guarded, and her feelings were flat. She knew how he felt about where she had been sleeping. And now that he knew, he couldn't let it go.

"Eleni, this is not ok."

"It's safe. No one can get to me here." She was not going to let go of her 'bedroom' without a fight. He didn't particularly want to fight with her again, not after yesterday, but he couldn't let things continue like this.

"Not quite. If someone who can fly gets curious, or someone who can climb walls, the height makes no difference." He saw her jaw tightened.

"People stay clear of the towers. And I've never seen anyone fly around here or climb walls." That was true; they would have been brought UpMountain. "Why would they go to the effort anyway?"

"There are some messed up people out there, Elle. You can't bet that you'll be ignored forever. And you are not anonymous anymore! But, it's not just that. I'm not going to be able to sleep knowing THIS is where you are. What if you fall out?"

"That's not going to happen. And why should I care if you lose a bit of sleep?"

That stopped him for a moment. Yes, he had no claim to dictate how she should live her life. He also believed this was no way to live any life. He had to make her see that. He thought of his plan.

"Elle, there are other options."

"The dormitories-," she began with apparent coldness.

The dormitories, where anyone with a pass card could live, and were safe and kept relatively clean. G lived at one. However, it meant communal living, and Matthew knew Eleni wouldn't accept that. She didn't want to let go of her imagined security, and her privacy, and this terrible location where she was sleeping did give her privacy.

"I understand," he cut her off, "about the dormitories. I have another solution." She just looked at him, and he had the strange sense that she was detached from the conversation. "Please hear me out. Come to the UpMountain with me, and dance for my dance teacher, Madam Pietrovich. I know she will be impressed. You are as good as, if not better than, my old partner, Jenna. And I think there is a good chance my teacher will let you stay with her. She's strict, but fair, and I think it would work out well. You'd be safe, you'd have your privacy, and you'd be able to dance as much as you wanted." He focused completely on Eleni, taking in her reaction.

At first, she just stared at him, blinking. This had taken her completely by surprise, he could see and feel that. She wasn't even able to prepare a defense, which worked in his favor. She tried to object, but it was weak.

"Matthew, I, I can't. It's too dangerous. What if, I don't know, what if…the tabloids..." her voice trailed off, leaving the thought incomplete. He picked it up.

"Yes, it will make the tabloids, but if you stay up there, living with Madam Pietrovich, things will be more transparent and there will be less opportunity for stories." That was true. The fact that they stayed DownMountain, and in the Sewers, made their supposed affair that much more depraved.

"What about…," her voice trailed off, the objection never spoken. Her gaze turned accusing, then she looked away and was silent for a long time.

"Of all the things you could have said," she finally mumbled.

She brought her hands up and rubbed her eyes with her palms, as if she had been looking at something she didn't like. He sensed reluctance from her, but it was dwindling. Whatever argument she was having in her head, his side was winning.

"Elle, it's safe there. Safer than it is here." She shook her head, her eyes distant when she dropped her hands.

"It's never safe, Matthew. And I am stupid to do this, but for the dancing, I will." The words didn't make sense to Matthew, but he let them wash over him in his relief. She had agreed.

She mumbled something to herself like a prayer; he thought he heard her say the word 'mom', but when he asked, she just shook her head. With a deep breath, she regained her composure. The decision had shaken her.

"Well, I guess we should go break the news to G," she said evenly, and began collecting her things.

The clothing went into the bag, along with the razor and soap. Most of the water bottles went into the bucket though a couple were squeezed into the bag along with the food. Then Eleni picked up and considered the radio-like box.

"What's that?" Matthew asked.

"Patches gave it to me a few weeks back. He can send and receive radio signals and has this set to a frequency he'll pick up fast." She shrugged. "He gave it to me in case I got lost or wanted to talk."

Matthew wanted to ask if she'd used it but didn't. She was leaving this place, and Patches couldn't follow. Following that train of thought, he came to a logical conclusion.

"I doubt he can pick up anything you send from the UpMountain. There's miles of rock between us and them."

Eleni looked at him strangely.

"Miles of rock…," she echoed. She seemed to take his point, however, and tucked the device into the bucket.

Done, she stood and swung the backpack up onto her back.

"I'll take that," he offered, reaching for the bucket. A smirk twitched on Eleni's lips.

"I think it's better if I hold it. I'm used to carrying it." Picking it up, she walked over to one end of the open wall. The end with an unsteady looking I-beam balancing a foot away. A wicked look entered her eyes. "Ready?"

No, he was most definitely not ready, but he wanted to put this room behind him.

"Let's go," he said with more confidence than he felt.

"Don't worry, it's stable," she said as she stepped onto the beam, and carefully made her way across.

Taking a deep breath, Matthew followed. He was thankful for his heightened strength and balance from many years of ballet training. It gave him the confidence he needed to cross the perilous beam, perched ten stories above the ground, and exit into the room at the other side where Eleni waited. Together, they descended to the second floor, where they made a quick detour to the bathroom.

With everything else that had happened, Matthew hadn't considered the implications of himself and Eleni coming down together. They were spotted as they descended the stairs from the third floor, and G was waiting for them when they got to the first. Taking each by an arm he hauled them, none too gently in Matthew's case, into his office. Matthew knew he didn't have the patience for G's antics, so before the man could speak Matthew blurted out forcefully.

"G, I'm taking her UpMountain with me." G's eyes bulged, and Matthew considered that it had not been the best way to start the conversation.

"Oh, you've gotten a little taste of heaven now, and want to keep it close by, do you? Really Matthew, I thought you were better than this! Yeah, I joke and all, but I'm not about to let you make all those things they say in the tabloids true!" Matthew worked up for his return, but Eleni beat him too it.

"G, I'm going. He offered but it was my decision. Matthew's going to introduce me to his dance teacher. He thinks she'll teach me and let me stay with her. Yeah, it might be a stupid decision, but I've made it and nothing you say is going to change it. Anyway, if he's wrong I'll be back in time for dinner." G pulled up short, fixing his gaze on Eleni. He considered her words.

"His dance teacher. Madam Pietrangelo or something?"

"Yes, that's the one," Matthew replied. G had heard stories about her over the years.

G thought for a moment more, then nodded. "It's not a bad idea if it works out. There will be more options for you UpMountain, Elle." Matthew was surprised the man had conceded so quickly, but he did have a good point about Eleni's future prospects. Then G eyed her purposefully and said, "They are not going to like you very much up there. And they won't be shy about showing it."

At the last, he shifted his gaze to Matthew. Matthew met the man's eyes but kept his face smooth; he didn't think it would be so bad. Eleni's comment broke their unspoken skirmish.

"Nothing I haven't faced before." She didn't elaborate when G raised his eyebrows questioningly at her. Matthew wondered what she was talking about as well.

"Well, then, I'll leave you two to it. I need to go find Bright and Hulio. And Scarlet." His eyes had a calculating look in them as he left.

Eleni turned to Matthew expectantly, and, leaving the Towers, they made their way to the station.

Once there, there was a brief moment of embarrassment when Eleni's card wouldn't get her through the turnstile. Matthew had forgotten that, for most of the DownMountain, access to the train, whether for the UpMountain or the production units beyond, was limited to those who went there to work.

"I forgot to apply for a guest pass. She dances, and I wanted to give her a tour of Madam Pietrovich's School of Dance." A pitifully lame explanation, he knew, though it was mostly true. The station master eyed him a little too knowingly, and Eleni a little too familiarly, making Matthew grit his teeth.

"Whatever you say, Mr. Summers." He opened the gate in front of them, and Matthew and Eleni passed through. Glaring back at the man, Matthew noticed several people had stopped to watch them. A couple were tapping notes into message motes.

The train was fairly crowded with people heading to their work day. They didn't speak much on train ride up. Matthew explained that he planned to stop by his house first, even though it was in the opposite direction from the dance school. He thought things would go better if they had Adam on their side. Then they fell silent.

He found himself thinking back to the previous afternoon and night, though he tried not to. The memory of yelling at Eleni still made him cringe. The one of her turning down his advances made him sad. He was hyper aware of her presence next to him. In an effort to make himself feel better, he noted that the man she loved was beyond her reach now. There was no need to give up entirely.

Eleni interrupted his thinking to ask a few questions about Adam and Madam P until they arrived at the UpMountain station. There were some paparazzi's outside the station, and Matthew knew this story would most likely be on the front page of the next issue. He hoped it would stay quiet until then.

As they walked away from the station, Eleni gazed at the UpMountain streets around her. "It is a lot nicer than anywhere in the DownMountain," she commented, unsurprised. "It's…pretty. Quaint." She was gazing at the detailed stone-work on the buildings, the artistic decorations that made them beautiful. Matthew felt momentarily offended, and she glanced at him in surprise.

"Um, it's a sizable city. A center of culture." Eleni just raised her eyebrows tolerantly at that. Matthew looked away, still slightly insulted.

At a point where the street was relatively clear of people, Eleni pulled Matthew to the side and whispered urgently while she pretended to be impressed with the building in front of them.

"I don't want them to know…where I came from."

"Oh." He thought about it. "The background information on the passcard has you in the DownMountain since you were a child. And people UpMountain don't really care about where you came from beyond that, so I don't think anyone will ask. I think you are pretty safe there if you don't say too much about it." Little worry of that.

"Will they think it's strange that I can dance?" Matthew paused for a second. He hadn't considered that. In his research on the dance school, he had learned that it did happen occasionally that a dancer from one of the two schools in the DownMountain was noticed and brought UpMountain to train. However, Eleni hadn't been enrolled at the dance schools, and everyone knew she had been living in the Sewers. His brow furrowed in worry and thought.

"It is a bit far-fetched," he admitted. The image of people coming off the Wastelands was that they had barely been surviving out there. Hardly a situation in which one would find a dancer of skill, not to mention the lack of equipment.

Then he recalled G saying that the refugees sometime brought in useful knowledge; there had been a woman skilled in electronics, and she helped the center out with a few devices it had when they weren't working. Another man had been familiar with working in stone, and even carving, which he did when he wasn't doing a job for income. He had visited the center to show some of the kids what he could do with a simple chisel and hammer. There were other's too, and they must have learned those skills somewhere, probably with the Remnants. So why not dance? He shared these thoughts with Eleni and felt tempered relief through the bond.

She nodded. "OK. That should work. If they ask questions." He guessed she was hoping they wouldn't.

They reached Matthew's house, and he took Eleni around to the back. Adam was sitting at the table in the kitchen, he gave Matthew a stern look as they entered in spite of the message he had sent in the night. Coming home with Eleni didn't help the situation. Matthew knew there would be a lecture later.

Jae was nowhere to be seen. Matthew had been confident she would already have left for training. They hadn't spoken a word to each other since their fight after first tabloid article had hit.

Adam turned a warm smile on Matthew's companion.

"You must be Eleni," he said, standing and coming around the table. "It's good to finally meet you." Eleni smiled slightly and took the hand Adam offered. Matthew noticed she didn't correct his father's mispronunciation of her name. Aside from himself and G, most people pronounced the middle syllable 'lay', and it seemed Eleni had accepted that. Adam clasped her hand in his, studying her face, then he invited her to sit.

"Have you two eaten yet?" Matthew could see by the clock on the wall that it was only 9 in the morning. He indicated that they hadn't, and Adam disappeared into the kitchen for a few minutes. Matthew sat down beside Eleni at the table. She gazed around the room.

It was a simple room but done elegantly with a dusky blue paint and white trim. In addition to the table, there was a buffet against the long back wall, as well as a door leading to a more formal dining room. The side to the right went into the kitchen, and there was an open counter beside the doorway where dishes could be left. The left wall had a door that opened on to what used to be a porch. Adam had had it closed in and redone to be a practice room for dance looking out onto the garden. The wall behind where they sat, where the door they had entered by was found, was mostly glass, and looked out onto the back garden as well.

"No computers or video machines?" she asked.

"TV in the living room. There's a computer upstairs." She nodded. The difference in technology between the Montagne and the Citadel still seemed to surprise her.

Matthew beckoned to Eleni and showed her the practice room off to the side. Her face lit up at the smooth wood floor and she started doing some light steps. Matthew leaned against the door frame and watched, smiling, until Adam called them back to eat.

At the table, Eleni's eyes widened at the spread. Matthew winced; Adam had indulged. He would have to make it clear that these types of food were not typical, even UpMountain.

There were fresh fried eggs, a salad of small greens, a plate of round cakes dotted with dried fruit and even some bacon. Meat and eggs were rare in the Montagne, as it was difficult to raise the animals on any sort of scale. The greens indicated the hydroponic fields, which, due to the large amount of filtered water they required, were also limited in size. Clean water continued to be an issue in the Wastelands, even though the air was no longer poisonous.

In the DownMountain, Matthew suspected Eleni's meals had consisted of a sort of millet gruel and some dried fruits or vegetables, and mushrooms. Nothing like what lay on the table in front of them. Several types of hardy millet grains had been cultivated to grow with limited light throughout the centuries, and made the base of the Montagne diet, both UpMountain and DownMountain. The cakes on the table would be made from the same grains, but the remaining items would almost never be seen DownMountain. In addition to the hydroponic fields, there were hothouses which grew rare, sought-after fruits and vegetables as well as coffee and tea. They were labor intensive, the resulting supply small, and as such limited to the UpMountain. Even UpMountain, they were pricey. Adam could afford it, and usually kept a small supply which they ate once a week at a more formal family brunch on the Holday. He had pulled them out early for Eleni.

"Coffee or black tea?" Matthew felt a spike of surprise and pleasure from Eleni.

"Tea, please, thank you." He looked at her curiously, and when Adam went into the kitchen, she said quietly. "My mother loved tea. It reminds me of her." There was a touch of sadness to the dancer, but Matthew was glad that the thought of her mother no longer caused her pain. He smiled at her.

"Do you always eat like this?" was her next question.

"No," Matthew replied hastily, "he's pulled this all out for you." A look of embarrassment and pleasure crossed her face, and she looked wistful.

"Occasionally, K-," she began softly, but Adam came in with the pot of tea then, and she cut off. Matthew was disappointed. Adam's generosity had disarmed her a bit. He didn't think she would repeat whatever she had almost said later if he asked.

As Eleni poured some of a creamer made from grain into her tea - even Adam Summers rarely splurged on dairy products - Adam settled down and asked her if this was her first time to the UpMountain. Matthew had told Adam about Eleni, her dancing, her loss of her mother, but he had not told him the complete story of how they had met or, of course, where she had come from.

Adam made some assumptions, for instance that Eleni had grown up in the Sewers. Matthew felt guilty about the deception, but relieved that, so far, their plan was working as hoped. Eleni nodded in response to Adam's question.

"What do you think of it?" Adam prompted, referring to the UpMountain. Eleni, who had been enjoying the aroma of the tea, took a small sip before replying.

"It's lovely," she said. Matthew was relieved she didn't say quaint. "The stone on the buildings is very beautiful."

"Yes, well, as you know the UpMountain was built after the DownMountain, and they were able to take more time with it. They made a concerted effort to make it beautiful. It is said to look like one of the grand cities of ancient Europe." This was all true, but Matthew noticed that Eleni hid behind her cup as she nodded. He decided he would try to ask her more about the Citadel later.

"Dad, we didn't just come up for a visit." Adam shifted his attention to his son, eyes surprised but waiting to hear him out. "I think Eleni should audition for Madam P." Eleni glanced at him out of the corner of her eye and spoke up.

"Matthew told me about the school, and I would appreciate the chance to study dance seriously." Matthew blinked, then continued.

"And if she will let Eleni join the dance school, I was thinking she might let her stay with her. That way she doesn't have to travel from the DownMountain every day. Eleni is very dedicated to her dancing." He looked at Eleni as he said the last part. He knew it sounded a bit lame, but it was true.

Adam took a sip of his tea and set the cup down. "Yes, that train ride is arduous. Hasn't stopped you, however." The sarcastic comment was said with a withering glance in Matthew's direction. He probably suspected that Matthew was angling to get Eleni closer to him. Matthew ignored the comment and the look.

"Well, things are quiet at the dance school now, as we are so close to the start of the academic school year," Adam mused. "I believe all she has today is the open dance studio in the afternoon. I'll give her a call to make sure and to set a time." With that, he left the table, disappearing into the kitchen again. His voice floated out a minute later, carrying on one half of a conversation.

"What is that called?" Eleni asked, tipping her head toward the kitchen.

"Telephone," Matthew supplied. "Did you have that?" Eleni nodded and murmured another word that actually sounded somewhat similar to the one Matthew had said. Eleni fell quiet, concentrating on her food.

Adam came back in, informing them that they would go over in an hour, at 10:30. He turned his questions to Matthew, asking whether his son had thought about school. Matthew replied that he had, and that he planned to re-register UpMountain this week. G had been on his case as well, and he had finally seen there was no reason to keep avoiding it. Adam looked relieved and happy at that, and also mentioned that Matthew should think about what he would do after he finished the required education. Matthew replied with a noncommittal grunt. First, they had to see how today went.

Adam's stared in evident shock as Eleni, having finished eating, opened her backpack and took out her toe shoes. Apparently oblivious to the man's reaction, she proceeded to work the shoes, breaking them in a bit more. It was the second pair from Jenna's bag, and she had barely used them, Matthew recalled. Adam looked at Matthew, incredulous. Matthew simply gave his father a pointed look in return.

Eleni finished working the shoes and slipped them on to her feet to get a feel for them. Adam and Matthew finished eating and cleared the dishes while she worked. Soon it was time to head to the dance studio.

As they walked the streets together, Eleni again peered around taking in the UpMountain. One of the main differences between the construction of the UpMountain versus that of the DownMountain, was that in contrast to the set of caverns packed with buildings, there were instead large arching tunnels, each one containing one street, occasionally two. They were high enough and broad enough that they didn't feel suffocating. Some called them cathedrals, apparently referring to some religious buildings of the past, which had had similar arched ceilings. Some of the nicest ones had atriums at the top, allowing natural light in. The one Adam and Matthew lived on did not, and the high ceiling was instead dotted with sun lamps.

The streets, all paved with large flat stones, were pleasant to walk down. Small parks and gardens gave color to the surroundings. They sometimes held trolley lines, called closed cars, for more rapid transportation, another luxury of the UpMountain. DownMountain, everyone walked, or rode bicycles if they were lucky. The only other form of transport in the Montagne were a few covered electric vehicles which only the top-tier of families used. The Head always rode in one of these vehicles, as was expected of his station.

At the first intersection, they encountered a closed car station, and hopped on a line headed in a northerly direction to what was known as the Top of the Mountain. It was one of the more elite neighborhoods. It did have an atrium at the roof of the tunnel, and Matthew noticed Eleni gazing up at it.

The dance school itself was built close to the stone wall of its tunnel, a sprawling building with a march of double doors at the front. The doors led to a large foyer in front of the auditorium, where many of the school's performances took place. There were a couple theaters in the entertainment area of the UpMountain, where professional performances were held, and sometimes, for a particularly accomplished performance, Madam P booked those out as well. Matthew had performed in one two years ago at the school performance of The Firebird.

Adam led them to a small road that curved up to the left side of the building. There was a medium sized house built adjacent to the school, simple but stately. This was where Madam Pietrovich lived. It had been in her family for generations.

Matthew noticed with distaste that a few individuals loitered on the narrow road. Tabloids. News had spread, and they were waiting in places he might show up. He glanced at Eleni, but she walked on, apparently oblivious.

Madam Pietrovich met them at the door. She was a diminutive woman. Her silver-streaked black hair was drawn into a bun at the back of her head. Her skin was a light tan, her dark eyes tilted and wide. She had high cheekbones and a low-profile triangle nose over a small mouth. She was a proud and handsome woman.

He noticed she eyed Eleni, but not unkindly. Her welcome was respectful if not warm. She led them down the hall past the floating staircase that led to the second floor, and into the kitchen.

It was a large square room, with a round table and chairs in the middle. The colors of the room varied from tan to brown, and there was some brick in the construction that gave it a warm, homey feel. The kitchen bordered on cluttered, but everything was clean and in its proper place. Matthew had many fond memories from this kitchen. It was nice to be back in it.

The entrance to the school from the house was through a hallway off to the side. That was where they would go next.

Madam Pietrovich paused by the table and turned to Eleni.

"Do you have everything you need, child?"

"I have shoes, but no leotard or tights." Madam Pietrovich nodded and indicated she could use some her students had left behind. Surely something there would fit Eleni. Matthew sensed this was his opportunity and spoke up.

"Madam P, I know my dad told you Eleni is here today to audition to join the school, but if you do take her on, we were hoping she could stay with you as well. It would save so much time. She is very dedicated to dancing." He said this all firmly, ignoring the fact that Madam Pietrovich's eyebrows climbed higher with his request and subsequent assertions. He also ignored the flash of annoyance from Eleni.

The teacher's expression turned sharp when he finished.

"Matthew, Eleni isn't the only one up for audition today. We must see how much damage you have done to your dancing with this extended 'vacation'." Her voice brooked no argument. He was fine with that.

"Yes, but Eleni needs a place-," Madam Pietrovich cut him off.

"I am taking that into consideration. However, I will decide nothing until I see her dance." And without further conversation, the older woman led them into the dance school, first taking Eleni to a room that held the extra dance clothing. Adam and Matthew proceeded to the changing room. Matthew was not prepared and ended up rummaging through the lost and found himself for something that would fit his broad-shouldered form. Adam fortunately, had an extra pair of his slippers in his locker that fit Matthew well enough.

They quickly located the practice room where Eleni was already warming up. She was dressed in a dark leotard with white tights and had on soft ballet slippers. Moving to the far side of the room, he started he own warm-ups with Adam.

Eleni glanced at them when they entered, but then set herself back to her work under the Madam Pietrovich's watchful eye. The storied teacher considered dancing a lifestyle, and thought that a serious dancer should take care always to perfect their body for their art. Rushed warmups and sloppy drills, even from the most advanced of dancers, resulted in hours of repetitions of those very activities.

As Eleni moved naturally from warm ups to practice steps, Madam Pietrovich took an active role, calling out steps, and sometimes asking her to repeat them. The steps became more advanced, and then became small combinations and finally series of three or four steps including leaps and spins, and eventually a short, choreographed piece.

Then Madam Pietrovich invited Eleni to put on her toe shoes, and during the pause came over the Matthew and Adam who were supposedly practicing as well, but had really been watching Eleni dance. Adam had made several surprised and approving noises throughout the audition.

"So confident are you that you don't even need to practice?" This pointed remark from the teacher was directed at Matthew, who hastily bent back to work. "Matthew, how long have you been aware of this young woman and her talent for dance?" Matthew thought quickly.

"A few months." The arched look he received in return suggested she was disappointed in him. Eleni had finished with her shoes and was on her feet again testing them out. Madam Pietrovich went over to her, and process began again, from simple steps to more advanced, to combinations that increased in length. Through all of this Madam Pietrovich circled Eleni, watching intently but not betraying her impression of the young woman's dancing. Finally, she asked if Eleni had a piece prepared.

"The variation from Copelia," Eleni responded promptly. It was the same dance she had done for Matthew the first time he'd seen her on toe shoes.

Madam Pietrovich motioned to Matthew, who moved to put the music on. Eleni danced just as she had at the Towers, as if it were a true performance before an audience. Matthew saw Madam Pietrovich nod in approval. This time, Matthew was close enough to see that Eleni's face reflected the same emotion her dancing did, fun, flirty, and carefree. It was truly a transformation on her normally reserved countenance. He watched, enthralled.

When the dance was done, Madam Pietrovich stood, nodding appreciatively.

"Where did you learn to dance, child?"

"A mentor had some knowledge and taught me. I picked up what I could from TV shows as well," she replied. Madam Pietrovich took this in.

"Where is your family child?"

"In the end it was just my mother and I. She passed away a few months ago."

"I am sorry for your loss." Eleni nodded, looking away. The teacher turned her eyes to Matthew. "I supposed it is a vain hope that you didn't partner with her?" It wasn't really a question, and her dry tone annoyed Matthew. He stood and started walking toward to Eleni.

"Just a few simple things. Really, I didn't do anything—" He never got a chance to finish.

"Where do you think you are going?" He stopped, staring incredulously at his teacher. She was hardly going to keep him from dancing with Eleni, was she?

She was.

"Adam, partner with Eleni. Matthew, you need to practice, no?" His father gave him a rueful look as they passed each other. With barely contained annoyance and disappointment Matthew ran through warm up steps, and short pieces, but his attention was focused on Eleni and Adam. Madam Pietrovich walked them through some basic supported moves, all of which Matthew had taught Eleni and she did competently. Then the teacher asked Eleni what she knew, and the younger woman complied, listing the other moves she and Matthew had practiced together.

Matthew got some disparaging looks from the dance teacher throughout this process. He ignored them in favor of the occasional appreciative glances he got from Adam. They didn't reflect on his teaching, but on Eleni. She had taken naturally to partnering, holding herself erect when necessary, and paying careful attention to the subtle shifts in strength from her partner that indicated the progress of the move. Further, she actively entered into the give and take that resulted. She was still inexperienced, true, but it was a pleasure to dance with her.

At last Madam Pietrovich brought Eleni's session to a close. In all it had taken 2 hours. They congregated at the seats along the side of the room.

"Matthew, you have truly taken leave of your senses," Madam Pietrovich began her assessment. "You should have brought this young woman to me the moment you knew of her ability." Madam Pietrovich was stingy at best with compliments. For her to come out so clearly and praise Eleni's skill was impressive. Matthew leapt to the next conclusion.

"So you'll take her on? She can live with you?" Madam Pietrovich fixed him with a level gaze that told him he had gotten ahead of himself.

"I have a few requirements of my own which you both must agree to before I make my final decision." Matthew and Eleni glanced at each other, and both nodded.

"First, you two will dedicate yourselves completely to your dancing." Matthew thought briefly of Eleni's down days. She hadn't had one in the past week and a half. He glanced at her and saw as well as felt the resolve in her eyes. She would push herself for this goal. They both spoke their assent.

"Second, you will both attend school. UpMountain." Ignoring Madam P's pointed look, Matthew quickly agreed. Eleni hesitated.

"I'll be there, too, Elle. For the first half of the year," he said the latter reluctantly. "It'll be fine!" She gave him an inscrutable look, but after a moment's more thought, agreed.

"Third, you will both audition for the annual performance, no matter what it is, and take the roles you are given without complaint." Matthew sucked in a breath at this requirement. That was a fairly large commitment to make so far in advance. He agreed reluctantly, and Eleni again hesitated, though he sensed she was excited through the bond.

"When are the auditions?"

"The middle of December, just before the Solstice."

"And when is the performance?"

"In April."

Eleni was silent for a long moment this time. Matthew sensed she was having another debate with herself. Finally, she agreed.

The next requirement almost made Matthew wish he had never suggested coming to Madam Pietrovich.

"Finally, you two shall not partner, until I say you may." Matthew groaned internally and tried to think of a way out of that commitment. Eleni spoke first.

"You say we cannot partner, but we can dance together. In tandem." Madam Pietrovich nodded and Eleni agreed. Pushing aside his disappointment at being unable to partner with her, he found himself mildly surprised and pleased at Eleni's intervention. He agreed as well. Madam Pietrovich nodded in satisfaction.

"Then I gladly take you on, Eleni, as a student of dance and as my charge. We will complete the paperwork later today." Eleni looked stunned, it had happened so quickly, but Matthew could sense tentative excitement from her as well. And a flash of anxiety. When she looked toward him, he smiled reassuringly.

"Told you so," he couldn't resist saying. His fun was short lived.

"Well then," Madam Pietrovich's eyes took on an unpleasant gleam, "on to you, Matthew."

An hour later, an hour that had been much too long in Matthew's opinion, Madam P let himself, Eleni and Adam into the large auditorium where open dance was being held. Matthew had not wanted to go but had had no grounds upon which to object. He was already in shaky territory with Madam P.

There were clusters of dancers seated around the cavernous room. Different cliques, different interests outside of dance, different ages, there were many reasons for the groupings, but they were all kids from the UpMountain. He moved closer to Eleni.

A young woman stood up and edged out of the seats. Matthew tensed as she approached them. Hazel eyes intent, if smiling, Jenna approached him. He again moved closer to Eleni, looking for a way to put more distance between them and Jenna, when a sudden shout from the stage startled him.

"SUMMERS, I SAID STAY AWAY!" Matthew stared, dumbfounded, as G bounded off the stage and up the aisle towards them. He dimly registered that Bright and Hulio were following him off the stage. How were they here?

Upon reaching them, G put an arm around Eleni's shoulders and, glaring back at Matthew, escorted her the rest of the way to the stage. It was then that Matthew felt the hand on his arm. Jenna had reached him.

Seeing his predicament, Madam P and Adam shared a look and left him behind.

"Mattie," Jenna began, her voice warm, her hand tightening on his arm. "I'm so glad you are here again. We have a lot to talk about." She was looking up at him through her lashes, putting on the act she had perfected over the years. He had watched her build it up as they had grown and thought it charming and clever. Now it seemed brittle and superficial. He moved back.

"Yeah, I'm back. Can't believe it," he muttered. "Look, Jenna, I really don't have anything I want to say to you, ok? I'm just here to dance."

"Yes!" she beamed. "I've missed dancing with you so much! I can't wait to dance with you again. Madam Pietrovich will surely put us together. We were always the best together."

He didn't know what to say to that and hadn't yet thought about the fact that he was back meant that he would dance with Jenna again. And he wasn't allowed to dance with Eleni. He glanced down the aisle to see that Eleni was on the stage showing steps to G, Bright and Hulio. He wanted to join their casual, honest comradery, not be here with his ex-girlfriend.

"Jenna, look, I've moved on-"

"I get it Matthew. I had to go and explore, and you did, too. But now that you are back here…" She moved closer to him, and goosebumps rose on his arms. "I can't wait to be with you again, Mattie," she whispered. What was she thinking?

He backed away again, uncomfortable with her proximity and unsure of what to say. "Look, Jenna, you don't get it…" He glanced back at the stage then, and saw that Eleni was setting up to dance and the others were leaving. He wanted to watch.

As he moved to make his way down the aisle, Jenna stepped close enough to him that her breast brushed his arm. He jumped at the touch, and unbidden memories flashed through his mind. He glared at her for a moment, then pushing past her, made his way down the aisle, trying to banish those memories from his thoughts and focus on Eleni dancing.

G, now standing in front of the stage, looked back at Matthew. Then his eyes slid past his friend and turned flat. Matthew suspected he was locking eyes with Jenna.

Pushing into one of the rows, Matthew sat and set to watching. Madam P was just cuing up the music. Jenna came and sat beside him, and the remainder of their clique that was in attendance spread out in a wide group around them. He bristled at the claim on him.

The murmur in the auditorium dropped off, though Matthew heard a few sniggers and barks of laughter. They thought that this was some kind of joke. Probably that he had convinced Eleni to learn a bit of ballet as a pretense for bringing her UpMountain. His mouth formed a twisted smile at the rude awakening they were all about to have.

The music began.

Eleni, sitting and draped over an outstretched leg, rose gracefully and commanded the stage with her movements. Matthew noticed that the suppressed laugher from the auditorium dropped off fairly quickly. She was entrancing, and no one could deny that. Matthew indulged himself a glance at his former friends' faces and was satisfied to see discontent on most of them.

Madam P spoke as Eleni finished.

"Nicely done, Eleni. You can get more air on those jettes and your balances were a bit sloppy, no? But presentable for a pick-up performance. Your posture is superb. Now, come everyone, gather around." Matthew wondered if Madam P was being generous with her praise to make it clear to all in attendance how she felt about her new student. Not that Eleni did not deserve it.

"We have most of the upper school here, it seems, so I see no reason to wait. This is Eleni Jones. She will be joining us, starting today. Further, I will be taking charge of her general wellbeing, as she finds herself alone in the world. If you have any issues with these developments, you will speak to me." Her eyes flickered briefly to Jenna who shifted in clear annoyance, and then Madelyn Frost, Jenna's mother, whose face remained impassive. G spoke up, startling nearly everyone.

"And you, my dear lady, must be the famous Madam Pietrovich. I thank you from the bottom of my heart for taking my sister in. I know she will have many opportunities here that she wouldn't otherwise have had."

"Sister?" Madam P wrinkled her brow and glancing at the girl, Eleni. "I thought you had no living relatives, child."

The man quickly responded. "Ah, yes, it is true we are not actually blood relatives, but Eleni is no different to me than was my own dear little sister, may her spirit rest in peace. Now, Madam Pietrovich, I hate to start our relationship this way, but I must humbly ask your pardon." Madam P arched an eyebrow. "You see, I am the one responsible for introducing Eleni to Matthew." Matthew opened his mouth in shock as G made this dramatic pronouncement. The dancers around him started to titter. Jenna scowled. G didn't stop there.

"A terrible mistake, I now know, to put a man of such passions in her life, but there was the dancing connection and I had my reasons at the time. Please rest assured, I have done everything in my power to ensure their time together is limited and chaste. With a couple exceptions." At this he glared at Matthew. "He is a wily one our Mattie. But that is all the more reason why Eleni needs your stern care and guidance. From what I have learned of you, I have no doubt that a woman of your esteem is just what Eleni needs in her life to keep her safe from certain unsavory pressures. It is with honor and relief that I relinquish her care to your most competent self."

Matthew had gotten up during this speech, and with attempts to defend himself which G talked over, he tried to extricate himself from the seats. His former friends weren't making it easy.

Eleni had come to sit on the edge of the stage. Her face was a mask as she took in G's dramatic introduction, but Matthew could sense irritation through the bond.

Matthew hoped Madam P would put a stop to G's antics, but unfortunately the woman was looking thoroughly amused, as she considered G. Matthew recalled belatedly that the dance teacher had a wicked sense of humor when she cared to show it.

"My dear Matthew, you have truly been amiss in keeping your friends from me. First, I learn that you have been aware of this girl and her talent for dance for months but failed to notify me. Now I am to understand that you have kept this fine young man from me as well. Your name, my dear?"

"Please call me G." Madam Pietrovich simply raised an eyebrow and waited. 'G' wilted.

"James, Madam." It had been so long since he'd heard his friend's real name, Matthew had forgotten it.

"Well, James, if it would ease the parting from your 'sister', I would be happy to take you in as well." Matthew closed his eyes and muttered a curse to himself as he finally cleared the seats.

"My lady, your generosity knows no bounds, but alas I am 20, too old to be taken in anymore. If only we had met years sooner." Again, he glared at Matthew, but Matthew ignored him and walked over to the stage to join Eleni.

"My dear boy, it need not be in a parent-child capacity…" Matthew caught sight of G's face blooming in delight, but determinedly didn't hear the rest of what he or Madam P said. He hopped up on the stage beside Eleni and bent his head to her.

"Told you so," he repeated softly, smiling. The guarded look on her face relaxed, and he was rewarded with a small smile in return.

"You did. I can't believe this is happening."

"Mattie, I am not sure I shall ever forgive you for withholding this marvelous woman from me!" G was exclaiming. "Mattie? MATTIE! Too close!" Suddenly G was there trying to push between Matthew and Eleni.

"G! C'mon man!"

G just looked at him as if he had some sort of disease, linked arms with Eleni and pulled her over to Madam P with alacrity.

"You see, it may already be too late. I leave her in your capable hands, Madam. And by the way, I have heard there is a well-respected girls academy here in the UpMountain?"

"Ah yes, Saint Agnes'. It is a fine institution."

"I want you to know that should you decide that is the best place for my impressionable sister, you have my full support in enrolling her there. My income is meager, but I will contribute whatever I can to tuition."

"G!" Matthew jumped down from the stage, done with trying to ignore his friend's antics. "Stop it already!"

G hastily kissed Madam Pietrovich's hand and hugged his 'sister'. "I must be going, but I will be back. Farewell fine lady!" At this point his was beating a quick retreat up the auditorium aisle with Matthew in hot pursuit. G's cry echoed throughout the acoustics of the large room. "Stay away from me, you lecherous man you! I don't want the sugar you're selling!"

"G that's going too far!" He kept his voice quiet. G did not. The laughter behind them proved he had an appreciative audience.

"Mattie, if you can't keep it in your pants, you should have gone back to the red-headed chick!" He reached the back of the auditorium, wrenched open a door and fled. Matthew caught him in the foyer and grabbed his arm.

"What the HELL was that about, G?" He was really mad. G was laughing.

"Fun, my precious peacock. Fun."

"Look, G, I'm just trying to help her! Back off, ok!" Picking up on the depth of his friend's anger, the man pulled himself under control and surveyed Matthew coolly.

"Hey, Mattie, you can take a bit of this. And it should take some of the focus off of Elle." That stopped Matthew. It might. "She's going to deal with a lot worse. I'm trying to help, too."

"Help?" Matthew responded flatly. He had his doubts. He changed the subject. "How are you here, anyway? And Bright and Hulio? Elle's pass card didn't let her through. I had to pull strings."

G looked at Matthew sideways. "We sacrificed ourselves. And thought we'd see how the other half lives. Or other quarter." The DownMountain population surpassed the UpMountain significantly.

"C'mon, after putting me through that crap, the least you can do is tell me how you got here." G breathed out heavily.

"I suppose there is no harm. Hulio was scouted, so that was easy. Just had to call the scout. Hulio's going to go talk to the lady after this." Matthew grinned at hearing that news and made a mental note to collect his share on the wager.

"And you and Bright?"

"So, they've never figured out my mutant ability, right? And Bright…well, it turns out Bright is a unicorn, though they are not quite sure what they did." Matthew actually stepped back in shock at that news. Sacrificing themselves indeed. "So…another mystery. We go do the initial interview this afternoon." G watched his friend closely. The tall man just nodded.

"When do you start the process?" G shrugged.

"After today? Like I care? I'm not going to be calling them to set up a time, so, they'll have to go through the dormitory, and you know, messages often get lost there..." The large man grinned, and Matthew felt slightly sympathetic for the UpMountain administrator who didn't know the run around this man was about to give them.

"Stay safe," he said. G nodded. People were emerging from the theater. Apparently open dance was over. G leaned close.

"Thanks, Mattie, for keeping all that quiet. And keep an eye on her, ok? A distant eye." Matthew glared but nodded. Adam came up beside him and explained that Madam P was closing the school for the afternoon to take care of Eleni's paperwork. Matthew looked back hoping to say goodbye.

"They went back through the house." Adam informed him to his disappointment. Resigned, Matthew said goodbye to G and left with his father.

CITADEL 3020.08.11 (same day)

DAVE

The scarf swathed head in front of him held Dave's attention as he walked. He should have been watching the building numbers, but it was strange to see someone wearing a head covering. Save for Eleni, of course, who had always worn one, as had her mother. Realizing he had lost track of where he was, Dave took his eyes off the captivating headwear, and turned his attention back to the building numbers.

Discovering he had indeed gone too far, he backtracked two buildings to his destination.

Dave was in Bloc 7 today. The Citadel was comprised of 9 sections, geometrically arranged as a central octagon surrounded by eight segments. Each of the outer segments was an elongated pentagon radiating outward from the center of the city. Blocs 1 and 2, pointing to the south-east and south, contained large factories and the train yard. The central Bloc, Bloc 9, contained a large portion of the city's business, financial and government buildings. The rest, including Bloc 7 which pointed to the north-east, were primarily residential, and the streets were a near-uniform march of tall grey apartment buildings, no matter where you were.

This one was dotted with trees. The government made efforts to insert plants wherever possible, also evidenced by the parks in the city, both large and small. The goal was three-fold – bringing some refreshing color to the city, helping to maintain the oxygen levels, which were low coming off the Wastelands and had to be supplemented, and also preserving plant species for the day when they could once again grow beyond the Veil.

If that day ever came.

Arriving at his destination, Dave entered the foyer and buzzed the apartment in question. While he waited for a response, he stood by the windowed door and gazed back at the street. His eyes lingering on the trees that alleviated the monotony at regular intervals.

A noise behind him made him turn to find a young woman opening the inner door. Hers had been the first name on the list Dr. Wagner had given Dave. She looked nervous.

"I'm Dave Kelly," he said quietly, offering his hand.

"Come on up," she replied, as she returned his grip.

They went up four floors, then down a short hall and into a small apartment. There, a young man stood up from where he had been sitting on a low couch. He stared for a moment, then came over and stood next to the woman, his wife. He also looked nervous.

They were close to Dave's age, which gave him pause. Outside of the elite, people usually married soon after finishing compulsory education. Married, and started producing the children the Citadel so desperately needed. The elite didn't wait much longer, for that matter.

"Dave Kelly," he said, extending his hand to the man, who grasped it in turn.

"Please sit."

Dave sat on the couch. Two pillows were laid out on the floor across from him. The young couple set out tea and a few hard biscuits on the low table in between. Dave took a biscuit but didn't eat it as his companions settled onto the pillows.

"Um…thank you for taking the time to talk to me. I was…relieved when I heard about this network. I…also…lost someone." He thought he might need to say more, but those words were enough.

"I never even saw him," the wife began. "They did the blood test immediately after the birth, and then just took him away. They told us he had been sick. But, Ken got a look at him…" She looked to her husband.

"I know, I should feel horror, but he looked perfect, and so tiny. So helpless. He was alive, kicking away…" The man bent his head in grief, and his wife put her arm around him.

"I heard him cry." She started to cry. Given their youth, they must have lost their baby recently. Dave felt tears press at his eyes.

"I'm so sorry," he said honestly. "The person I knew, she managed to live, to have a life. But…" …that hadn't made any difference in the end.

They spoke for a long while, sharing things about the person for whom they were grieving. The couple showed him the room they had prepared, and the baby things. They were feeling the pressure to have another baby but found it difficult in the wake of their loss. The loss of a perfectly healthy baby, save that he had been a mutant.

Dave never named the person he had known or explained his connection to her. They understood his grief without all that.

"She loved the parks," he said with a tight smile when they had returned to the couch. The wife reached out and squeezed his hand.

"It helps to talk about it," he nodded, and did agree. Even if he had another goal in mind, he was finding the meeting a welcome catharsis.

They spoke for a few more minutes, then he excused himself.

"It's good that you are in the Network," the husband added as they bid him farewell at the door. "They are quiet as mice. They won't talk about the fact that you are one of us." That was the only indication given that they knew exactly who Dave Kelly was, as well as the place he held in their society. Dave nodded his appreciation and left.

Returning the hat he had worn there to his head, he took some deep breaths as he walked back down the street to the nearest trolley station. He hadn't told the couple about his true goal. It was too soon for that; he had to build trust first, make people comfortable enough with him so that they would listen to his ideas and not shut him out. He felt it had been a good start in that effort.

The tightness in his chest eased as he went, and he began to take in his surroundings again. He had noticed before and noticed again that there was a uniformity to the appearance of the people who apparently lived in this Bloc. Nearly everyone he walked by had straight black hair, tan to brown skin, and dark eyes. The young couple he had just met had been the same.

In Dave's experience, skin tone in the Citadel was a kaleidoscope ranging from dark brown to beige, and hair from straight to woolly curls but almost always a darker shade. Dave's light skin, blond hair and grey eyes were rare, a gift from is fair mother.

However, he couldn't remember seeing a group of people with such consistent traits. He wondered at it, thinking it wasn't a coincidence, and decided he'd have to look up the history of this Bloc later.

Noting that the light from the sun was just starting to turn orange with the onset of evening, he picked up his pace. When he reached the station, however, no trolley was in sight down the long, straight boulevard, so he amused himself by looking at the nearby shops: a clothing and fabric recycling boutique, a rare florist, a hole-in-the wall take out place serving food he didn't recognize, a jewelry shop.

Casting his glance disinterestedly across the display in the window of the last, his eyes landed on a silver bracelet with a heart shaped charm on it. He tried to look away, but the tightness in his chest returned and he was taken back.

"Elle!" Dave called as he entered the open office space. It was dotted with desks and partitions throughout, and populated with assistants, administrators, and interns, a small army all working in his father's name.

Eleni sat at large table located amidst the desks. His father's staff occasionally used it for meetings, but otherwise it was left clear and Eleni and Dave often used it for homework when they were hanging out at the office in the afternoons and evenings.

"Hey!" She smiled at seeing him. "Didn't think you'd be here today."

"Practice ended early. Too cold!" Dave played lacrosse on his school team, and the season had just started. The temperature usually stayed above freezing during the month of January, but today it had dipped unusually low and even the coach had given up.

He would have made sure to come today, anyway.

They had been 'together' a month short of a year. A year of holding hands and stealing kisses - and sneaking into the lounge when the rare opportunity provided. In the privacy of the lounge they talked with no worry of being overheard, held each other, or kissed for as long as they wished. The latter was getting more interesting.

Once during the summer, they had caught a sunset out of the room's west-facing window, and then they had sat on the couch, arms around each other, and watched it. It was the closest they had come to an actual date.

Dave joined her at the table. She spent a few minutes showing him the new tablet his father had given her at the small party the man had held three days ago. Then they chatted about school for a bit.

He told her he was thinking of going for captain of the lacrosse team when he was old enough. He was really enjoying the sport and interested in how the coach set up the team on the field. The captain would have a hand in those decisions.

"It's either that or a titled position on student council." He had already joined, but only as a general representative of his class. Eleni rolled her eyes. "Come on, Elle! You know it's important. They let us help make decisions about the school."

"Like what food to serve at the end-of-year party, how to decorate for the dances and occasional petitions for more free times? Which always fail by the way."

"Well, ok, it's practice. As we get older, we can weigh in on teacher hiring and stuff like that as well." Eleni looked dubious.

"You really want to do that?"

"Yes!"

"Well, I'll help you if I can." She smirked. "I can be your secret eyes and ears at the Academy." She assumed a devious look. Some decisions impacted both their schools, and the student councils worked together in those cases.

"Fabulous." He grinned back.

They settled into their work, though Dave's leg beat an impatient rhythm the entire time.

Finally, it was evening, and he and Eleni retreated to the large conference room; the tables made a square around the center of the room and wouldn't be taken down that night. Eleni's mother was still working at one of the desks in the open office and Dave's father was ensconced in his private office down the hall.

"We could dance. In the middle of the tables," Eleni suggested quietly. They were getting social dance lessons at school, and when he had complained about them to Eleni, she had hauled him onto the floor and declared that she would give him supplemental lessons. Outwardly, Eleni was sacrificing her toes for Dave's future social success, but in truth it was another way for them to be close with no one the wiser.

Dave nodded distractedly as he worked a small square box out of his bag. That would be nice, but he needed to do this first. He had written '14! You caught up!' on the top of the box, partially because he didn't know what else to write. When they were little, they had enjoyed the fact that that for these 5 months they were the same age, and it was reminiscent of that time.

"Elle, here," he whispered as he pushed it discretely towards her. "Happy Birthday." Today was the actual day. He knew she was pleased by the smile she couldn't suppress, no matter how she tried.

"Can I open it?" Dave looked out at the hallway glancing at the two separate doors that led into the room. Despite the fact that work hours were done, a person passed by every few seconds. He had overheard that there had been a disturbance in the city, and the military factions were up in arms. They were calling for established military presence in the city, a return to the way things had been 40 years earlier.

Dave shook his head regretfully.

"Open it later, when you're alone." He wished he could be there when she saw it, but it was too risky.

Eleni did as he asked, and the next time they met she told him it was beautiful. She didn't have it on her, however, which was a disappointment. He did manage to sneak a kiss which thankfully went unseen in the bustle of the office.

A few weeks after that, when she lay her hand on his behind his school bag, he felt something cold brush his skin. Looking down, he saw a silver bracelet around her wrist.

"I didn't want to put it on right away in case someone noticed. I told my mom I found it at the flea market on the way home," she whispered.

"Did you open it?" She nodded.

"I really like it." There was one surprise he doubted she had discovered. He glanced at the hall. Things were quiet now, and there were few people walking by. He reached into his bag and pulled out a safety pin he had packed for this purpose.

Taking the heart charm that hung from the braided silver chain in his fingers, he gently eased it open. The side that flipped out was slightly curved and could hold a tiny picture. The other, however, was smooth and flat and had the initials E.P. engraved there. He looked up at Eleni.

"I wanted to do E.L.P., but they could only fit two letters." Eleni smiled at his reference to the middle name he had given her when they were kids. "I bet you didn't find this."

Opening the pin, he gently pushed it into an inconspicuous hole found in the inside edge of the small locket. The panel with Eleni's initials popped open. Eleni gasped in delight. He eased his nail under the pane and flipped it to the other side of the locket. Now, it displayed the initials D.K.

"I love it!" she exclaimed, and he knew she meant it. "But, how did you get this done?"

It had been a bit of a feat. He had seen the bracelet last fall, when his father had dragged him into their family's jewelry store on the way home. Robert Kelly purchased jewelry for his wife on her birthday and other significant occasions. Dave had heard her speak of the pieces from her husband to her friends, and thought she enjoyed them.

Waiting for his father, he had noticed the bracelet. One of the sales people, thinking maybe he also wanted to purchase something for his mother, had shown him how the panel inside could be flipped from one side to the other, and snapped into place to make it stationary. Dave had hidden his true interest then, and reserved the piece later online, requesting one side of the panel be engraved with his initials. A courier had picked it up and delivered it to his father's penthouse on an afternoon Dave had known he'd be there alone to intercept it.

"Then, I stopped in at a small-jewelers a bit out of the way in Bloc 4, and had them do your initials while I waited," he finished, blushing at the effort he had put into it.

"I love it." She whispered again, and glancing to make sure the hallway was clear, kissed him.

Dave's throat closed, and tears press against his eyes. Coming back to himself, he realized he was pressing the rim of his hat against the glass and staring like an idiot. He quickly turned only to see a trolley leaving the station.

"Hi Dave," he started, then whipped his head around to see Sahira Trebong standing a short distance away. Had she seen him staring in the window of the jewelry shop? His dismissed his worry. It didn't really matter.

"Hi Sahira." They were the same age, and she had attended the Academy like Eleni, though Eleni had been a year behind her. Sahira had light brown skin, dark brown eyes and thick, straight black hair, worn long.

"What brings you here?" she asked, looking around the nondescript Bloc. Dave shrugged.

"Just exploring."

Sahira looked at him and a thoughtful expression crossed her face.

"You got into the law program, right?"

Dave nodded.

"Great. It'll be nice to know someone else there." Dave made a sound of agreement, though he was sure some other of their classmates must have gotten in as well. As distraught as he had been at the end of the school year, he hadn't paid attention.

Nonetheless, he was looking forward to the start of the law program next week; it meant freedom from his parents and would make the work he was doing easier. The academics would suit his purpose as well.

"I've got to get back home. I'll see you in class, then." He waved goodbye and crossed the street to the station.