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  “That's great, Dal,” Anais said, though her voice sounded hollow to her ears.

  There was an emptiness opening up in Anais' heart as Dalla went over every little thing her advisor had said to her. Although she was happy for Dalla, there was also part of Anais that was undeniably jealous. And she hated herself for it.

  They had both grown up in the same part of the city, and while Dalla's parents both had mediocre jobs working for the medical supply company, MediTech, Dalla had always seemed to have that magic touch that meant she sailed blissfully through life. She was top of the class in most subjects, she was friendly and charming, and Anais had always known that her friend would end up being a high flyer in the city. While Anais would be stuck in that bloody picochip factory, the mind numbing monotony gradually wearing her down day after day after day.

  But that wasn't fair of Anais. It wasn't Dalla's fault she'd been born clever and charming, as well as being beyond the usual levels of beauty that most people had. Although you could choose your unborn child's physical traits, personality was unfortunately still luck of the draw.

  “Sorry babe, I'm going on again, aren't I,” Dalla reached out and squeezed Anais' arm, jolting her out of her dark thoughts. “So what happened at yours? Did you get into the Institute?”

  “No,” Anais said with a heavy heart. “I didn't. They've enrolled me in a program at the picochip factory.”

  She swallowed the hard lump that formed in her throat at the words. Dalla's hands flew up to her mouth.

  “Oh honey, I'm so sorry. What happened to the Institute? Or what about your other choices?”

  Anais shrugged.

  “I don't know. They said the Institute only accepts the top students, but I've got 'perfectly good grades' to work at the factory,” Anais took another sip of lemonade to stop herself from blurting out everything that had gone wrong at her own meeting. Dalla wouldn't approve of the outburst she'd given Mrs Persimmon.

  Dalla's golden-flecked eyes were wide as she stared at Anais. Her luscious brown hair waved slightly in the breeze and she tossed it impatiently away from her face. The subtle hints of pure gold that were woven through her curls caught the light and shimmered in the dappled sun.

  “That's awful.” Anais looked up at Dalla, surprised by the anger in her low tone.

  “It's not too bad, I guess. Think about the credits I'll save by commuting to work with my parents,” Anais said, trying to keep her voice light, even though the lump in her throat seemed to be getting harder instead of going away. She only had to think about the dismissive way in which the Mrs Persimmon had treated her and a hot wave of anger flooded through her once again.

  “No, really, that's horrible,” Dalla said. “What's the point in asking us what we want to do, if they're just going to put us wherever they want anyway?”

  “Yeah, well, unfortunately there's not a lot we can do about it.” Anais finished off her lemonade and threw the bottle into the bin next to them, where it would be sent to the city's underground recycling plant.

  Before Dalla could reply, there was a shout and both girls looked up. Anais heard Dalla swear under her breath. A tall, lanky looking boy was bobbing towards them, a large rucksack slung over one shoulder. He had canary yellow hair, and black thick framed glasses that dwarfed his face. Anais could personally never see what Dalla found so attractive about Marcus Smith; if his personality was only half as nice as his looks it would be a big improvement.

  “Hey Dals,” Marcus said as he flopped down beside Dalla, a look of adoration on his face. He barely even glanced at Anais. “How did your career's advice go?”

  “Fine,” Dalla said in clipped tones. “How was yours?”

  “Haven't had mine yet. Hoping to get into WireX Industries. If they try and force me to go to Civitas, I might have to start a protest,” he sniggered. Dalla remained stony faced.

  “What's wrong with Civitas?” Anais asked.

  “What's right with that company?” Marcus looked at her pityingly. “All they're concerned about is fashion, not technological advances. Haven't you noticed that the last two products they brought out were just a re-hash of an earlier model? The only reason people buy their products is because they think they have to. Now, WireX Industries, they're the real way forward -”

  “The SLPs are new,” Dalla pointed out. “I don't recall anyone else coming up with anything like that.”

  “Perhaps,” Marcus lowered his voice so Anais had to strain to hear. “But I heard a rumour a while back that Civitas didn't come up with the idea - they stole it from someone else. And did you hear? Their research labs got broken into last night. If you ask me, they're really starting to lose their touch.”

  Anais was surprised by this piece of news. The rumour didn't surprise her – there was always rumours flying around about the three tech companies that practically ran the city, and they hardly ever turned out to be true. But surely a break-in at the city's largest technology company couldn't be kept quiet for long. She racked her brains, trying to think whether or not she'd heard anything about it on the news that morning, but she could only remember hearing about that grisly murder. Before she could ask Marcus where he'd heard about the break-in, Dalla spoke.

  “Who would be stupid enough to break into Civitas?” Dalla asked, looking as horrified as if it had been her own home that had been broken into.

  “Dunno, but they were obviously after something pretty important to attempt it,” Marcus said. He didn't look remotely concerned about the news; if anything he seemed even more smug than usual.

  Dalla eyed him suspiciously.

  “What are you so happy about?” she asked.

  “Well, you know the SLPs? I've already bought one,” he said triumphantly.

  Anais stared at him, shocked. Dalla's mouth dropped open.

  “What?” gasped Dalla. “But – but, they're not going on sale until next week!”

  Marcus nodded smugly.

  “True. But I managed to get a pirate copy – there's a guy selling them down at the market. He told me someone managed to get hold of one of the prototypes and they're making their own version. Selling them five times cheaper than the Civitas ones will retail at.”

  “But, isn't that dangerous?” asked Anais, still in shock. “How do you know it's safe?”

  “Don't I look okay to you? I'm telling you, this is the only way forward. To just download information and instantly know everything about a subject...it's so cool.”

  “Prove it,” Dalla demanded. “What do you know?”

  “Permítanme demostrar. Mi nombre es Marcus y yo puedo hablar español,” Marcus said smoothly. This time, Anais' jaw dropped.

  “Spanish?” she managed to choke out. “You know Spanish?”

  “Sí.”

  “Where did you get it from?” The sharp question caused Marcus and Dalla to look round in surprise at Anais, who refused to lower her gaze. “What shop?”

  Marcus raised an eyebrow.

  “Why should I tell you?”

  A hot stab of anger pierced Anais. Marcus was smirking at her, as though he could tell how badly she wanted the information. She clenched her jaw, biting back a retort, as Dalla reached out and caressed Marcus' knee.

  “Come on, Marcus, let us in on your little secret,” she coaxed, looking at him in admiration. “We won't tell anyone; we're just curious.”

  “Well...I wasn't going to tell anyone, but I guess it would be okay if you knew,” he spoke solely to Dalla, his eyes softening as he gazed at her adoringly once more. “You know the food court down by the market? If you go past the juice bar, there's an electrical shop on the right. Go in there and ask for Denzel. He's the one who hooks me up with all my goods. Like this - I refused to pay Civitas' prices so he got me this RetCom for cheap.” He pointed to his eye.

&
nbsp; As Marcus took Dalla's hand and began asking if she'd like to go out that evening, Anais' mind was racing. The sentence for buying pirated products was a hefty fine and five years in prison. But if what Marcus said was true...if she could buy an SLP cheaper than what they would retail at...if she would learn what she wanted to now - she could have whatever future she wanted, she realised with a jolt. She could get into the Institute of Architecture. She wouldn't have to work at the picochip factory forever. She could save up and buy her own SLP. Then she'd actually have a future. The thought made her feel almost dizzy with relief, but she had to reign in her hope, at least for the moment. These SLPs might still be too expensive, or dangerous in some way.

  “I've got to go for my career's advice,” Marcus stood up. “Wait for me though, yeah?”

  He was looking at Dalla as he said it. Dalla nodded, but as Marcus bobbed away across the grass, she turned and pulled a face at Anais.

  “Let's get out of here before he comes back. If he says one more word against Civitas, I won't be responsible for my actions” she grumbled, standing up. Anais followed suit.

  “What do you think about the SLPs? Should we go and check it out?” Anais burst out, unable to keep quiet a moment longer. She had to find out more about them. She had to know if it was possible to own one.

  Dalla nodded.

  “Definitely! I don't know if I completely trust Marcus – he's always banging on about some pirated tech or other, but can you imagine if it's true?” Dalla's eyes got that faraway look again. But she blinked and her gaze came back into focus. “So, what about that break-in at Civitas? Shall we go and check it out?”

  Anais was thrown by the change in conversation. She narrowed her eyes.

  “Why do you care?” she asked. Dalla shrugged.

  “I just thought, if I'm going to work there, I should just make sure that everything's okay for when I start on Monday. I'd hate to have my start date pushed back.”

  Although she looked innocent, Anais wasn't convinced.

  “Dalla...” she said warningly. Dalla wilted under Anais' glare.

  “Oh alright, I just want to have a look round before I begin on Monday, and this is the perfect excuse! Plus, what's the point in you having a boyfriend who works in security at Civitas, if you're not going to ask him for a favour now and again?” Dalla pleaded. Anais rolled her eyes.

  “You know what Civitas is like with their security, Xander probably wouldn't be allowed to let us in anyway. Plus, I'd be surprised if they let anyone in today, if the news is true,” Anais said, crossing her arms.

  “Oh come on, pleeeasee? It'll be fun to have a look around anyway!”

  Anais snorted.

  “Okay, how about this – we go to Civitas and look round for, like, an hour. Then we'll go downtown and I'll treat you to some ice cream to cheer you up, how does that sound?”

  The word 'downtown' brought something back to the front of Anais' memory.

  “I can't. I promised my parents I'd go straight home after our advice was over,” Anais said, though she couldn't deny that the offer of free ice cream was tempting.

  “How about this - we'll whizz round Civitas, get some ice cream, and you'll be home before it gets dark,” Dalla wheedled.

  Anais tried hard to still look stern, but inside she was beginning to cave. She was already planning on sneaking out later to see Xander anyway; going to Civitas with Dalla wouldn't be any more dangerous, not with the murderer apparently dead. And this way she'd be able to see Xander for a little while and be home before it got dark. When Dalla continued to look at her with her puppy dog eyes, Anais gave up and threw her hands into the air.

  “Okay, fine, let's go. But if we get kicked out, it's your own fault,” Anais grumbled.

  Beaming, Dalla took hold of her arm once again. As they made their way across the quad towards the station, Anais tried hard not to notice all the students around them that were chatting excitedly to each other, or on their RetComs, making plans to go out and celebrate that night. She also tried not to look at the ones who were sobbing hysterically or staring dejectedly into space. She still wasn't sure which one she belonged to. She fervently hoped that Marcus' story about the SLPs was true – even if she had to work at the factory until she managed to save up for one, there was at least a chance of getting out of the life that had been chosen for her.

  “Don't worry about it, hon,” Dalla said quietly. Anais turned to see her friend looking at her sympathetically. Dalla squeezed her arm. “You won't have to work there forever. You can do whatever you want to do. You'll show them all in the end.”

  Anais managed to flash her a small smile, and squeeze her arm back as they reached the station platform.

  But they were hollow words, and they both knew it.

  *

  The Civitas building was a towering mass of glass and steel, built in a prime location next to the meandering river that cut the city in two.

  It was an impressive feat of engineering. At one thousand feet tall, it dwarfed all of the other slick buildings around it. It was a landmark in itself; the giant white 'C' that marked the Civitas logo could be seen from a mile away on a clear day. The great expanse of glass shone in the afternoon sun, giving the building the impression of being warm and welcoming. Anais felt a brief pang of jealousy at the thought that Dalla would get to work in this amazing building, but then she remembered what Dalla would have to do for a job and the feeling passed. There was no way Anais would ever apply for a job coding and programming computers. She'd almost prefer being at the factory.

  Dalla gripped Anais' arm as she stared up at the skyscraper in front of them.

  “Doesn't it look amazing?” she breathed. Anais rolled her eyes.

  “It's a tower. There are plenty of them in the city,” she said. “It's not like you haven't been here before.”

  “Yeah, but even so...” Dalla's voice trailed dreamily off and Anais sighed.

  “Come on you, the sooner we look around, the sooner I can get that ice cream you owe me,” Anais said as she pulled Dalla towards the revolving glass door.

  As they pushed through the entrance, Anais couldn't help looking up in wonder. The main atrium was pleasantly cool, a respite from the fierce heat outside, and it was filled with light – the roof (if it had one) was lost in the bluish blur high above. Beneath her feet, the granite floor was smooth, with no joints or cracks to be seen. Everywhere there was a hum of activity, as employees walked and talked, and announcements came over loudspeakers in that female voice that seemed to be everywhere. On the far side of the atrium, there was a bank of ever moving lifts, and as Anais looked up, she could see that he walls on every floor that faced out onto the atrium were glass too. She wondered idly whether there were any walls in the building that were actually walls, and not windows.

  “It's something isn't it?” came Dalla's excited voice from her left. Dalla's eyes were bright with excitement and she couldn't stop smiling. Anais was about to tell her to calm down before she had a heart attack, when a new voice caught her attention.

  “Anais?” came the puzzled voice.

  She turned, and her heart lurched. There, standing behind the security desk, was Xander looking at them slightly perplexed. Anais' feet felt as though they were frozen to the ground as she stared at him, her heart hammering hard in her chest. She still couldn't quite get over the shock that she had a proper boyfriend, not just someone to fumble around with like she had with Huw Messenger last summer. Although his eyebrows were still raised, a slow smile was spreading across Xander's face. Dalla grabbed Anais' arm and dragged her across the floor to the security desk. Xander's berry purple hair glinted in the sunlight that filtered through the glass walls, and his indigo eyes were crinkled with warmth as he smiled at them. His nut brown skin stood out against the shiny silv
er uniform that marked him out as part of the Civitas security team.

  “Hey,” Anais said as they drew closer. Xander's eyes were still crinkled into a smile as he looked at her, and Anais felt another swooping in her stomach.

  “Hey Xander!” Dalla chirped, beaming at him. Xander opened his mouth to greet her, but he stopped and looked at her quizzically.

  “Dalla, what the hell have you done to your eyes?”

  Dalla fluttered her eyelashes theatrically.

  “Do you like it? I only got them done yesterday. It's called 'Golden Summer.'”

  “It looks like you've got a really bad eye disease,” Xander said bluntly. He caught Anais' eye and winked. Dalla sniffed and flicked her hair back.

  “Yeah, well, you just wish you could pull off a colour like this,” she said with dignity.

  “Yes,” Xander nodded seriously. “You're right. Who wouldn't want to look as though their irises are melting?”

  Dalla narrowed her eyes at him and he grinned. He turned back to Anais.

  "Little early aren't you? I thought we said eight?” he asked, but he was still smiling. Anais couldn't help but respond in kind, her heart skipping a beat. She wished Dalla would stop staring at them.

  "It's her fault," Anais said, jerking her head towards Dalla. "She forced me to come."

  "And here I was thinking you just couldn't wait a moment longer to see me," Xander sighed, shaking his head. "So what can I do for you ladies? Or are you just here to distract me from my work?"

  Dalla tossed back her hair and flashed him an award winning smile.

  "Well, I was just wondering, you know how you work in the security team here?" Dalla asked, fluttering her eyelashes.

  "I'm aware of that fact, yes," Xander said, raising an eyebrow.