Fate of Frailty Chapter 3
By Karen Hart
Mary kicked the air with her feet, legs too short to reach the floor from her seat, and tried to feel reassured by Gaignun's words, though for reasons she couldn't explain, it was rather difficult. Instead, she concentrated on the breakfast pastry on her plate, and tried not to focus on anything else.
A click interrupted her non-thoughts, followed by a strangely nervous "I'm back." She swiveled about in her seat, brightening when she saw Rubedo standing in the door. His face was smudged, and his eyes looked a little red, but for the most part he seemed all right. So why had he snuck off? Her expression turned to one of light concern. Rubedo seemed not to notice, instead making his (for him, inevitable) way to the fridge, and began rummaging.
He returned to the table, laden with a small mountain of packaged edibles—no one present was any good at cooking, so they made due with ready-made food—and began to eat, while Mary wondered how he could pack so much away. She was having enough trouble with her pastry…
Shelley broke the momentary silence. "We're supposed to start UMN courses today, yes?" Mary grimaced.
Gaignun nodded. "Ah, that's right." He'd almost forgotten about that. "Once Rubedo's done eating we can get you set up."
A week ago.
Gaignun sat seemingly transfixed at the computer, green eyes focused on the screen, a state that inspired curiosity in the two sisters that'd only recently moved in with them. They peered over his shoulder, puzzling over the screen's image: row after row of humped or angular symbols, often squished together, and broken here and there by blank spots.
The black-haired teenager stiffened for a moment, suddenly aware of their proximity. He smiled. "Just something I'm reading for sociology—basically the effects of the Gnosis since their arrival two years ago. Some of it's pretty interesting, like this part here." He pointed to a series of symbols near the top of the screen, only to receive a pair of blank, slightly confused stares. Shelley suddenly felt oddly embarrassed. Mary just stared at the screen.
Gaignun blinked, absorbing their reaction, his mind trying to wrap itself around the conclusion it came to. "You two—you can't… I mean, you don't know how to read?" For once the eloquence that came so naturally failed him. He couldn't conceive of illiteracy, and from the sudden mental twitch he felt from Rubedo—who was seated on the couch behind them, engrossed in one of Helmer's ancient books—neither could his brother.
Shelley shook her head. "It wasn't really necessary…" Mary remained silent, letting her older sister do the talking. Gaignun nodded slowly. "I see…"
"Hey, Gaignun," Rubedo spoke up. "There are openings for beginner's courses now, aren't there?" Gaignun took a moment to check, and confirmed. "Why don't we enroll 'em?" He put the book down, and moved towards the others. "Shouldn't be too difficult."
Mary finally found her voice. "Enroll us? What?"
Rubedo blinked. "Oh. Sorry. Okay, see, this base is too far away from any schools, so we take UMN courses instead. On the one hand, it costs a bit, and it takes time to find instructors for whatever courses you're taking. On the other hand, once everything gets all set up, you can move at your own pace, and things seem to go by faster than in a standard classroom environment." To Shelley and Mary, he suddenly sounded far older than the twelve years he looked. "Anyway, giving it a shot wouldn't hurt."
They found no reason to disagree.
Half an hour later, the girls were situated in front of the computer, faces simultaneously anticipatory and apprehensive. Gaignun tapped something out on the touchpad, and a moment later a young, pleasant-faced woman was on the screen. "Welcome to the UMN Decentralized Educational Center. Shelley and Mary Godwin, correct?" The sisters nodded quickly. "I'm Dell Mara, and I'll be helping you with reading and touchpad usage." Dell continued to explain how things would work, Shelley and Mary hanging onto the woman's every word.
Rubedo and Gaignun could already tell this was going to work out quite well.
---
Three hours later the girls took a break, already somewhat drained.
Mary expelled a loud breath. "I'm not used to cramming my head so full of…full of…" She trailed off.
"Information?" Shelley offered.
Mary thought the word over for a moment. "That'll do!" she replied quickly. Who knew sitting in front a screen could end up being so exhausting? She flopped down on the couch, Shelley following suit a moment later. "So tired," Mary mumbled, blue eyes closing.
Shelley nudged her. "Don't fall asleep. We've still got another three hours to go."
Mary groaned.
---
Damned dirty, scheming bastards, Helmer thought as he tossed the flimsy on his desk. Ever since the Conflict, the U-TIC Organization had been…pushing, trying to increase their influence, bit by bit, equipping themselves with hardware no "study group" should actually need. If they continue like this…
He stood up and began pacing the room, dark face set in a thoughtful scowl. Given the current situation, the Galaxy Federation couldn't shut down U-TIC—the organization had not actually yet exceeded the bounds of what it was allowed for self-defense—though they were starting to push it—and if the government did attempt to stop them, the repercussions would be enormous. Not to mention the fact that the Federation had its collective hands full trying to find ways to deal with the continuing onslaught of attacks by the Gnosis. No, they needed something to keep the U-TIC Organization at bay.
But what?
Helmer came to a decision a moment later, and sat back down, reaching to open the UMN phone-line.
This was something Second Miltia should have a hand in.