The Narval House seemed to be under renovation since the visit of the fearsome Brooke Abbot and her minions from Nexus Court was around the corner. The famous HQ, the eyes of the system, the communicators of The Orb, the highest and most important political group in the entire Society, were about to set foot here, casting their judgmental gaze upon our work at the border.

So it seemed that now was finally time to implement all those changes and repairs that had piled up over the months and were called unimportant so many times. The broken window in the service area had been replaced with a new one with clear, lance-proof glass in less than a day. The silver flags had multiplied and now waved proudly in the training field, at the entrance to Narval House, and in every small corner where there was enough space to raise one. The floor was shiny and clean every day, no matter how many Narval boots tapped on it.

To me, all that political bullshit was just that—bullshit. That's why I wasn't swept up in the collective hysteria, especially not after visiting Erik. All my old concerns now felt insignificant, absurd, childish—even pathetic. Erik was all I could think about. Ever since I discovered that grim implant they'd forced on him, I called him every day to make sure he was still him. Still there. I couldn't bear the guilt I felt. Nothing else could happen to Erik. Michael would lose his mind. I would lose mine, too.

Meanwhile, Heather had been sucked into the same tornado as everyone else, and we barely saw each other. I texted her a couple of times to see how she was managing, but all I got were cold, short replies. I couldn't help but wonder if she ever thought about how I was doing—if that ever crossed her mind. It would've been nice because now, with Erik's situation, I felt utterly listless, as if nothing could reach me anymore, nothing could stir me, move me, or even scratch the surface of what I was feeling. And yet, I knew that if I let my guard down, even for a second, if I hesitated just slightly, I would shatter at the smallest disruption, like fragile glass under the slightest pressure.

I needed someone. A friend, or at least a voice who understood, who shared the grief, who would curse the Reg Society and all their implants. Someone who wouldn't try to fix things, just sit with me in the mess of it all. Michael would have known what to do, what to say. Or maybe he wouldn't, but that wouldn't have mattered. He would have been there, and that would have been enough. I missed him so much.

When the much-anticipated day of the HQ visit arrived, I woke up early and headed straight to Heather's room. I wanted to check on her, make sure she was okay, wish her luck, you know, normal things anyone would do if you care about someone, even though I wasn't sure she'd done the same for me.

Heather opened the door almost without looking at me, barely acknowledging my presence before darting back inside, as if she didn't even have a second to say hi.

"Come in and close the door, please." She ordered.

As I stepped inside, I saw her aggressively sorting border reports from the past month, which were sprawled across her desk. On the bed, her uniform was perfectly laid out—cleaned, pressed, and looking brand new, ready to impress the Reg HQ.

"Everything has to be in order. They need to find all the answers. We can't leave a single loose thread. I hope the newcomers behave." She said, double-checking the reports and stacking them in perfect alignment.

I sat on her bed in silence, not really knowing what to say or do. I definitely didn't have the energy to talk about the HQ visit or the newcomers.

"I have to be at the border in ten, or I'm a dead woman. Where have you been assigned?" She finally looked at me.

"I have to help Kate with the newcomers at the training yard." I said.

"Perfect. If Kate's counting on you, there's a much higher chance those newcomers won't make us look bad."

She moved around the room like a jittery ping-pong ball, now pulling out all the badges she'd earned over the years from her closet.

"Do you think if I wear them all, it'll come off as pretentious? Or insecure? I don't want Miss Abbot thinking I'm trying to hide something."

I stared at them, but no matter how hard I tried to care about the question, my brain just couldn't.

"I think... I don't know. You're asking the wrong person."

She paused, finally noticing. "Are you okay?"

She came and sat next to me, leaving the badges in her lap.

"Grace." She gently placed her hand on my chin, making me look at her. "What's going on?"

I swallowed hard because I really didn't know where to start. I was flooded with sadness over what happened to Erik, but I couldn't tell her because that would mean explaining our little secret message sent through the electric tower to Michael. I was testy because she had been ignoring me again and seemed to think I was okay with that. Then there were the rumors, spreading through the house like wildfire. Whispers about me and Heather, all over the place. I was sick of it, sick of being reduced to someone else's speculation. But maybe what made me the edgiest, what left me feeling out of place, what made me feel stupid even, was that she never seemed to notice. Never seemed to realize how much I was holding back. Which left me to say the only thing that could include all that mess in one simple phrase.

"The real question is, what isn't going on?"

Heather let out a breath. "I know. I know. But hey, don't worry, HQ are assholes, but we've got it under control."

"I'm not talking about that."

"Is this about what happened at the pool?" she asked hesitantly. "Look, it's been a rough few days. I know I've been distant... but—"

She glanced at the time on her Reg bracelet.

"Shit! I'm so late!" She jumped to her feet, ready to transform back into the leader everyone expected her to be.

"Can we talk later? I'm so sorry, but I just can't handle everything right now."

Before I could respond, she was already putting on her uniform, and her mind had already shifted to the next thing on her to-do list. I guess talking with me had moved down that list in her order of priorities, maybe even with a note: "something to handle later" as she had said.

I stood up, also ready to go. "Sure, we can talk later or in a month, whenever is suitable for you."

The sarcasm didn't land well as she paused halfway through putting on her coat.

"Wow, okay." She hesitated for a moment, then pulled her other arm through the sleeve, resuming her action as if that comment hadn't existed.

"Everything will be okay," she said to herself. "They will come, they will leave, and then we'll have a talk, and everything will be back to normal."

"If you say so." I couldn't even remember what normal was with her, if there even was a single definition for it.

Heather took a deep breath, let out the air and, without saying a word, left the room.

The clunk of the door and her footsteps fading in the distance felt like the final punctuation to a conversation that hadn't even started. I lay on the bed and closed my eyes for a second. The Narval House seemed about to collapse on me, I could feel the trembling, small shakes, the sound of cracks through the walls, an incomparable vibration that hammered even in my skull. Everything would be much easier if the ceiling just collapsed now and crushed me.

· · ·

When I got to the training field, I watched the newcomers running around like a pack of hunting dogs. Well, not like hunting dogs, because they could barely breathe and were the farthest thing from fast. They dragged their feet across the grass, leaving a patchy trail of mud, which seemed a remainder of their weakness.

"This is how you plan to impress the HQ?" I asked Kate, who was watching them in unsettling silence, arms crossed over her chest.

"You think a better idea would be to show them how they fight?"

I answered right away. "Nope. Not at all."

"Then, this is our only shot." She said.

"What a great shoot..."

Kate stiffened when she gazed at the crystal doors of the Narval House.

"Shit, they're coming!"

I turned around to see three tall figures, clad in sleek, form-fitting suits, striding alongside Lea, who was pointing to the different areas of the yard.

Two of them were bald, their skin covered in a thin layer of reflective metal, and their eyes emanated a turquoise light that didn't seem human. Between them walked a blonde-haired woman with shoulder-length hair, listening attentively to Lea. I recognized her instantly.

That walk. That implant. That quiet, commanding presence.

Brooke Abbot.

When they reached us, Lea stepped forward. "Grace...Let me introduce our guests today." She said. "This is Normand Lake, this is Gabriel Tantum, and she is..." The woman interjected before Lea could say her name.

"Brooke Abbot, nice to– ." She observed me closely. "I never forget a face."

She extended her hand to me, a prosthetic hand perfectly slim, eerily human. "Grace. Nice to see you again."

It took me a moment to react.

"Do you know each other?" Kate asked, seeing my out-of-place face.

"Well... we... well." I mumbled.

"Let's say we had the pleasure of stumbling upon each other in the past. Happy to see that Narval badge on you."

"Thanks."

Kate seemed confused, but she didn't push it forward and turned to the pathetic parade of exhausted newcomers trying to run another round.

"This is the training field..." Kate said.

"I can see that." Brooke said pertly.

"They are warming up for the combat session." Kate continued.

"Oh, what a pity, I was expecting to see some action." She said.

"Sure thing," Lea discreetly gazed at us with a look that screamed to do something else, to try harder, to make a difference. "Grace, why don't you call them over and show us some combat techniques?"

I glanced at her, tensed, and then at Kate, waiting for confirmation. Showing them the pathetic, almost nonexistent talent of the newcomers was definitely not the best idea. However, Kate closed her eyes, clearly displeased, and then reluctantly nodded at me.

"Hey team, come here," I called out. They all stumbled over, fatigued and lacking any hint of motivation on their faces.

"Oh, they look very committed." Brooke said again with that ironic tone of hers. I was starting to detest that woman, if she could even be called that.

"Let's see what they are capable of." She said and crossed her arms around her chest.

Kate and I exchanged a glance.

"Alright, team, we're going to practice the exercise we did the other day." Worry flashed across the newcomer's faces.

"Grace, do it with Steven." Kate said.

Steven was undoubtedly the strongest of the group, so it was the best idea; however, before we could begin, Brooke raised her robotic hand as if asking to speak.

"I'd rather choose for myself, if that's okay," She said. "Maybe you, young lady," she added, pointing at Rachel. The girl rolled her eyes, and Brooke let out a laugh.

"What an attitude. Let's see if you can put that energy into the exercise."

Rachael didn't answer, but the gaze she sent could have killed a storm. Then, her two other partners, Normand and Gabriel, took out a digital notebook, ready to start taking notes. Rachael moved toward me, and I locked eyes with her, desperately trying to convey that she had to get this right.

"Ready? Go!" Kate said.

I swiftly grabbed Rachel from behind, wrapping an arm around her neck, and within seconds, I pulled her down, pinning her to the floor.

"Now Rachel, you're supposed to get rid of that." Kate instructed.

Brooke paid close attention, her hands interlacing with her robotic fingers.

"I can't." Rachel said.

"Come on, you know what to do." Kate said.

I could tell Rachel was trying, but she simply wasn't strong enough. I could help her if I stopped using so much force. That was an option. If she won, those HQ assholes would be pleased, and there was a possibility they might leave us alone. Yeah, that sounded like a good plan.

Slowly, I eased the pressure on her neck lock. The moment she noticed, she seized the opportunity, rolling and breaking free from my grip.

"Great job, Rachel, well done." Kate said.

Brooke clapped slowly. "Yeah, well done, Rachel... I'd be curious to see if you could have done it if Grace hadn't gone soft on you." Damn. She'd noticed. Rachel sighed tiredly and returned to where the group was.

"Next one, please." Brooke said. "I want to see them all. And, Grace, please don't take me for a fool this time."

One by one, all the newcomers went through the exercises without success. Not a single one could surpass me and get rid of the lock. Steven was close, but neither he could. Brooke's smile grew bigger and bigger with each defeat, as if she was happy to see our failure.

"Well, I've seen enough here... You too have all your notes?" Brooke asked their partners, who were facing down at their notebooks. They both nodded in unison. Lea stepped forward.

"Perfect, then now we're going to visit the border, come with me please." She said, turning around.

"Grace, could you join us?" Brooke said. I froze. "I'd like to have a small talk with you."

"Sure... If Kate doesn't need me..." I said and gazed at Kate.

"All good, go." She said.

I joined them, tension gripping my muscles as we started walking towards the border. Brooke made a gesture with her head, indicating her partners to move away so we could have a more private conversation. Lea, too, was walking ahead of us a few meters away.

"This group is a disaster." She started.

"I know. They need time. They arrived a few weeks ago." I said, trying to maintain a polite and professional demeanor, as she would expect.

"At this speed, they will need ages of time. I'm a bit worried this might not be the place for them," she suggested. "What do you think of that? Could the system have gone wrong?"

"The system is never wrong. They just need time to adapt and get used to their new reality. It's a big change. They are humans, after all."

She sighed. "Yeah, isn't that always the problem?" I cringed. "Fortunately, there's a way of fixing that."

Erik's face flashed in my mind, a painful dart to my heart. I clenched my fists, desperately trying to control the anger that was beginning to ooze from every pore of my skin.

"However, I was very impressed by you," she said, and I looked at her, surprised. "You're really strong."

"Thanks."

"Correct me if I'm wrong, but I've noticed you don't have any prosthetics."

I felt a pinch all over my body, almost as if that realization alone had already taken something from my humanity.

"Have you ever considered getting some? You could be even stronger."

"No, I'm not interested." I answered quickly, as if I needed to leave that clear before it was too late.

"Is that so, huh?" She looked at me curiously. "Mind telling me why?"

"I think prosthetics give you a false sense of strength and, eventually, they can make you a weaker fighter."

Brooke laughed as if what I'd said was a joke. "Prosthetics are permanent. You don't have to worry about what will happen eventually because once you have them, they're you forever."

"Forever sounds like a big word to me."

She laughed once more. "I get why you think that way. It's such a typical Outsider mindset, believing that nothing is forever, that everything is unpredictable, that all can change... Always scared of progress."

"Throwing ourselves entirely at external sources of power is not progress to me; if anything, it's naive."

"Holding onto humanity is naive, you're just too young to see it."

Brooke smiled in a knowing way I couldn't quite read, but I just didn't care, really. There was nothing I could say to that woman that would change her mind, and I didn't want to. All I thought about was ending that meeting as soon as possible.

As we made our way to the border, a row of figures loomed up in the distance. Heather and another five Narval Officers were waiting for us, hands behind their backs, standing serious and composed. When we reached them and Heather saw me, she frowned in confusion, as if internally asking why I was there, next to Brooke Abbott. I had the very same question, but she didn't say anything.

"Heather Anderson." Brooke said with a smile. "It looks like it was yesterday when we assigned you to this position." She reached out her hand, and Heather shook it firmly.

"Time flies. Good to see you."

"Nice to see you too, although I'd like to be in other circumstances. I've heard things I don't like about the border." Wow, knives flying by so quickly. Certainly, this woman didn't want to lose time. However, Heather didn't look surprised, and spoke as calmly as always.

"Don't trust all you hear. Everything has always been under control."

"By now." Brooke remarked.

Heather inhaled slowly, as if trying to contain herself the same way I had just had to contain myself a few minutes ago. Even Lea noticed the tension thick in the air and stepped forward to gain everyone's attention.

"Alright, let's go. There's much to see." She said.

"Yes, the border is quite a place; we'll need some time. We'll start with the tunnels. This way, please." Heather said as we started walking.

I speed up to walk alongside Heather, who briefly gazed at me. Meanwhile, Brook, Gabriel, Norman and Lea walk behind. I would want to talk to her, to tell her I just despise that woman as much as her. I tried to send a complicity gaze at her, but she didn't seem to get it.

When we were a few meters away from the tunnel's entrance, a low rumble began. It started as a soft vibration that traveled up from my feet and climbed through my whole body. So imperceptible that I thought maybe it was my nerves. But when I glanced at Heather, I could see in her eyes that she had also felt something. Not even a second later, the vibration grew louder, becoming a violent, crashing rumble. And then, an explosion. The ground beneath us shook. A shockwave hit us. Heather shielded me, pushing me to the ground, while smoke filled the surrounding air, making it impossible to see anything. A long, high-pitched beep pierced my ears like a thin knife reaching my brain. An acrid smell sunk into my nose and slid into my lungs. I choked.

"Grace, are you ok?! Stand up!" Heather yelled. I opened my eyes and saw nothing but grey air smoke walls all around.

Brooke was on the floor, a hand on her head, while Gabriel and Normand tried to help her up to her feet.

"What the hell is happening!" Lea yelled, trying to see beyond the smoke.

"We've been attacked." Heather said.

"Look!" I said, pointing to a dense, suffocating smoke that came out of the tunnel entrance. Narval officers ran out screaming in horror.

"Lea, take Brooke and the rest out of here." Heather ordered.

Then she turned to me. "Grace, we need to make sure everyone is safe, let's go."

As soon as we started running, another explosion shattered our ears. I closed my eyes and lay on the floor, along with Heather. What the hell was happening? Another attack? This time, the explosion had been very near to us. Then, there was a sound of something heavy falling to the ground. I glanced around. Metal pieces of the gates were on the floor. The border alarm blared immediately.

"Heather!" I helped her stand up. "Be careful, the wall is falling into pieces."

Once she reacted, she looked around as if training to make sense of the situation.

"What do we do?!" I said.

"We secure the area, make sure everyone is accounted for, and call for reinforcements. This might not be over." She said.

Suddenly, a third explosion. This time, it was far away. We both turned towards the sound. It approached, now close to the Narval House. My insides turned turbulent as I witnessed the training field ablaze. Thick smoke spiraled upwards, and the haunting wails of panic carried by the wind trapped our souls in what felt like the dirge of death.