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  "Would you be able to get us a couple of security passes, so we can have a look round?" Dalla said in a rush.

  Xander looked taken aback.

  "Why do you want to do that?"

  “Well,” Dalla lowered her voice conspiratorially. “We heard about the break-in.”

  Xander frowned.

  “What break-in?”

  “Someone apparently broke into Civitas' research labs last night,” Anais said quietly. She watched Xander's face, curious as to why someone on Civitas' security team wouldn't have known about a break in – unless he was covering up the fact. But it was obvious from the confusion on his face that he had no idea what they were talking about.

  “I don't know who told you that, but it's not true. At least, I haven't heard anything about it. No one's mentioned it,” said Xander, still furrowing his brow.

  “Great, all that excitement for nothing,” Dalla sighed. “It's a good job I had an ulterior motive, or this would be a wasted trip.”

  “And what might this ulterior motive be?” Xander asked, his brow clearing as he looked at Dalla in amusement.

  “I've been accepted onto the Civitas internship! I was hoping we could take a look around before I start on Monday, what do you say?” Dalla beamed at him.

  “Wow, congrats, Dal,” Xander said, looking at her somewhat surprised. He paused, and turned his dark eyes to Anais, who knew exactly what he was going to ask. She suddenly wished that Dalla would keep talking, so she wouldn't have to answer Xander's inevitable question. “How did you do?”

  The knot in her stomach was back, but Anais forced herself to shrug as though it was no big deal.

  “I've been assigned to the picochip factory,” she said, trying to keep her voice even. She saw the brightness in Xander's expression fade a little. “It's no big deal. My parents can always show me a couple of tricks of the trade. I'll be a manager or something in no time.”

  She said it with an easy confidence that she didn't feel. Xander contemplated her for a moment, as though weighing up whether or not she was telling the truth. She prayed that he wasn't going to say he was sorry, or what a shame it was. She didn't think she could bear it if he pitied her too. Thankfully, instead of saying anything, Xander turned and began to type something into his computer. Anais craned her neck so she could see the wafer thin screens that were hidden behind the desk. Each one displayed an individual's photo and the information that was kept on them in the city's Central Information Database, or CID for short. The screens flickered and changed as employees and visitors alike entered and exited the atrium, passing beneath the almost invisible ID scanners that lined the front doors. She saw her own photo on Xander's screen, the same one that Mrs Persimmon had had on her holographic screen that morning, alongside Dalla's file photo. Two slim plastic passes came out of a tiny slot underneath the desk, and Xander tore them off, affixing them both to metal clasps. He held them out, and Anais saw her image on one of the shiny pieces of plastic.

  “Here,” he said as he handed them over. “These are day passes. They'll get you around the offices and up to the observation deck and into the canteen. Try not to bother anyone too much.”

  “Thanks!” Dalla grabbed hers eagerly, staring at it with wonder. Xander held out the second one to Anais. There was a slight tingle in her fingers as his hand brushed against hers.

  “Do me a favour,” Xander said under his breath to Anais. He nodded towards Dalla who was pinning her badge carefully to her shirt as she walked towards the lifts. “Keep her out of trouble, would you?”

  Anais raised an eyebrow.

  “And what makes you think I'm not trouble?” she teased. Xander smirked.

  “You are more trouble than she is. But unfortunately for me, she'll be working here on Monday. I'd hate for her to get fired before her first day.”

  “Fair enough. See you later.” Anais pinned the badge to her jacket and waved goodbye to Xander as she began to follow Dalla towards the bank of lifts at the back of the lobby.

  “Anais,” Xander called, and she turned back to the desk. He beckoned to her and she leaned towards him, curious. Xander leaned over the desk and kissed her swiftly on the cheek. “Have fun. See you in a bit.”

  Anais felt the spot on her cheek burn where he kissed her. His dark purple eyes where inches from her own, and his lips were curved into a soft smile. On impulse, she kissed him on the lips before drawing back, smiling at his obvious surprise. She blew him another kiss, before turning and running towards to Dalla, trying very hard to ignore the heat in her cheeks and the lightness in her stomach. Dalla shook her head at her as she arrived.

  “What?” Anais asked innocently.

  “Oh honey, you've got it bad. Not that I'm surprised,” Dalla threw a look over her shoulder at the security desk and sighed. “He's gorgeous.”

  “Everyone in this city is gorgeous,” Anais pointed out. Dalla rolled her eyes as she pressed her fingertip onto the button by the lift. The light flashed green, and a lift began to descend towards them.

  “Just imagine what might have happened if I'd been late to graduation as well,” Dalla sighed dramatically. “I might have been lucky enough to meet him first.”

  Anais elbowed her.

  “If you had big feet too, you mean. I don't think he's forgiven me for making him spill beetroot juice all over his clothes.” Even now, the memory made her cringe. It hadn't even been her fault, not really, despite Xander being adamant to the contrary. It wasn't her fault if some little kid had decided to step out in front of her, just as she was running to the Academy in full graduation clothes, causing her to swerve and trip up straight into Xander. Xander still maintained it was a deliberate move on her part.

  “You just couldn't resist me and my manly charm,” he'd teased her later. She'd punched him in the arm for suggesting it.

  There was a soft jingling noise and the lift arrived in front of them. The glass doors of the lift slid silently back and Anais followed Dalla inside, the doors shutting smoothly behind them.

  *

  Dalla couldn't decide which floor to visit first, so Anais had leant forward and made the decision for her, sending them straight up to the observation deck on the 294th floor. Anais had loved it; the whole level, including the floor, was made out of glass. It was an eerie feeling to look down and see nothing but buildings and tiny cabs and trains as the city stretched out beneath them. From this height, nothing looked real; it was as though she was looking down onto a toy city, complete with miniature toy trains and cabs.

  Dalla refused point blank to go out onto the glass but Anais, after shuffling out cautiously, had quite liked the feeling as though she was floating in the air. There had been other visitors there, or employees on their break, enjoying the view of the whole city glinting in the sun as it rolled out towards the horizon.

  Dalla had forced her to move on sooner than she would have liked, and they seemed to have spent what seemed like hours looking around the different levels. It all looked the same to Anais, but Dalla had kept pointing out different computers and whispering excitedly what model it was, and what kind of software it could run. She'd almost fainted from excitement when one employee with a large orange quiff had agreed to show her how to code a piece of software on his computer. Anais suspected this was less to do with being helpful, and more to do with Dalla's magnetic way of charming people into doing what she wanted.

  Now they were in Civitas' canteen, situated above the observation deck. The only good thing to come out of this whole trip was that the machines in the canteen thankfully didn't read their ID chips, meaning Anais was allowed to order anything she wanted without the need to bother about her protein levels. As she licked the strawberry ice cream she'd coerced Dalla into buying for her, Anais stood at the window staring out at the city as the sun began to
set. It would be dark earlier tonight. Already a few pinpricks of light were being to appear as the city began to wind down for the evening. It was strange – although she still felt hurt and angry over the way she'd been treated, there was something soothing about looking out over the city with it's spiralling skyscrapers and the winding river. She might not agree with the way the city was run, but she couldn't help but think how beautiful it was. In some ways, it gave her hope that no matter how ugly her immediate future looked, there was always something better and brighter to look forward to.

  There were footsteps behind her and she turned to see Xander coming towards her, now dressed in jeans and a dark t-shirt. He smiled as he got nearer and planted a kiss on her cheek.

  “Hello again,” he said cheerfully as he scooped the ice cream cone out of her hands and licked it. “Mmm, that's nice.”

  “Hey,” Anais laughed, trying to snatch it back, but he held it up high out of her reach. “Give that back. I've had to follow Dalla all over this stupid building today, I've earned it.”

  “Hmm,” he pretended to think. “Okay. You can have it back. It'll cost you, oh, two kisses though.”

  Anais happily obliged, though she was secretly glad that there was no one around to witness their display of affection. As they pulled apart, Anais grabbed the ice cream back before Xander could change his mind. She licked it happily as they both turned back to study the view. Happiness swelled in her chest as she leant her head against Xander's shoulder and he put an arm around her. They stood for a moment, gazing out over the city, not needing to fill the comfortable silence between them.

  “I'm sorry,” Xander said in his quiet voice, and in an instant Anais' happy mood deflated. She didn't need to ask him what he was sorry for. She remained silent, unwilling to talk about her disastrous career's advice again. She didn't want to think about it or discuss it, she was sure she'd have enough grief from her parents about it when she got home; all she wanted to do right now was eat her ice cream, spend the night curled up with Xander and then enjoy her last day of freedom tomorrow.

  Anais shrugged her shoulders, stuffing the rest of her cone into her mouth so she wouldn't have to talk.

  “It won't be forever,” Xander said, and the words rankled.

  “Funny,” Anais said as she swallowed. Her voice came out sharper than she intended. “Dalla said the same thing. But I've never once heard of anyone getting a transfer out of their career, have you?'

  Xander was silent for a few seconds while he contemplated this.

  “True, but just because we've never heard about it doesn't mean it doesn't happen. Maybe the council likes to keep it quiet, in case everyone decided to apply for a transfer,” Xander reasoned.

  “They wouldn't have to apply for a transfer if the bloody council had given them the job they wanted to begin with,” Anais said, nettled, but Xander only smiled. He gently put a finger under her chin, so she was looking up into his dark eyes.

  “There's always a way, Anais. Just because you didn't get the job you wanted straight away doesn't mean you never will. Some things happen for a reason. Maybe you're meant to work at the factory, make them realise what a shithole it is, and get it shut down,” Xander said. Anais managed a half smile.

  “Easy for you to say,” she tried to match his light tone. “Coming from someone who got their first choice. Maybe you and Dalla should get together, you're obviously meant to be.”

  “Maybe,” Xander said, but there was a mischievous light in his eyes. “But I prefer grumpy, pink haired girls who won't share their ice cream.”

  This time Anais did laugh, but it was quickly muffled as Xander pressed his lips to hers. She felt the last of her worry drain away as she kissed him back, revelling in the feel of his mouth against hers. They quickly pulled away at the sound of Dalla's boots clicking across the floor.

  “Don't stop on my account,” Dalla said as she ate the last of her own ice cream, smirking.

  “Did you have fun today?” Xander asked her, turning towards her, although he kept an arm around Anais, pulling her closer to him. Dalla beamed at him.

  “Oh it was amazing! I can't believe the kind of gear you have here! I didn't even know half of the software was even available! I don't suppose there's anyway you could get me a copy of the latest version of Xiscor, is there, so I can maybe practice at home?” she asked eagerly.

  “Nope,” Xander shook his head. “All the computers here are encrypted, so you can't access any of the files or systems offsite. Even if I did manage to get you a copy, it's probably coded so it wouldn't work properly on your computer.”

  Anais zoned out as Dalla began to talk about the different computer programs she'd seen so far that day. With Xander's arm around her, his hand gently tracing circles on her arm, it was hard for her to still feel angry at Mrs Persimmon. She felt slightly better after Xander's joke, as though it wasn't as serious or as depressing working at the factory as she thought it would be.

  She heard a ping and a little envelope flashed up in her vision. She opened it to find a message from her dad:

  Anais, where are you? Thought you and D would be home hours ago! How did CA go?? Dad xx

  With a jolt, Anais looked at the time in her eyesight – it was almost four. With the city curfew not coming into force until ten, normally her parents would be happy for her to stay out, but Anais had completely forgotten about the murder and the worry it had evoked in her father. She hastily composed a message back, reassuring her dad that she was with Dalla and that she'd set off home now.

  “Sorry guys,” she said, cutting across Dalla and Xander's conversation about different methods of coding. She looked up at Xander. “I've got to go. Dad's going to go crazy in a minute, if I don't get home soon.”

  “Oh, but, we haven't seen the research labs yet!” Dalla pleaded.

  “I thought they'd be off-limits?” Anais raised an eyebrow at Xander, who smiled sweetly.

  “They are. But I can at least show you where they are. Besides, I have a feeling that she'll pop if I don't,” Xander grinned as he jerked his head towards Dalla. Anais felt a pang of guilt at staying out even later, but she waved it aside. She'd be home soon enough, and Dalla would be with her on the journey home if her parents were worried about her travelling alone from downtown.

  “Alright, but I've got to go straight afterwards,” Anais said. Dalla practically bounced out of the room in her enthusiasm, while Anais and Xander followed more slowly.

  Xander steered them towards the row of lifts that would take them down to the labs. There were only four lifts, compared to the large bank of them that had brought them up to the observation deck and the main offices. Xander pressed his thumb onto the fingerprint scanner by the door and typed in floor level 55. The lift began its smooth descent down, the soft lights pulsing gently overhead.

  “So how big is the research lab?” asked Anais, peering out of the glass walls to see the floors around them glide serenely past.

  “Labs,” Xander corrected. “They're the largest section of the whole building. I think they're from floors 55 up to 94. Most of them are completely off-limits, so I'm not sure of the exact number, but there are a couple that you're allowed to see from the outside. I know there's definitely one on the floor we're going to, but I can't remember what kind of research it specialises in. RetComs or something, I think. Nothing too sensitive.”

  The lift finally slowed to a halt at the floor marked 55, but the doors didn't open like Anais expected. For the first time, Anais noticed that they couldn't see outside into the corridor that should've been in front of them. In front of the glass, a set of heavy looking metal doors barred their way. Xander frowned and scanned his thumbprint again, before reentering the floor number. But this time a red light flashed up on the touch pad, informing them that they didn't have access to the
area.

  “What the -” Xander muttered, inputting the information for a third time. But nothing happened. “That's never happened before.”

  “What's wrong?' Anais asked. “What's with the metal doors?”

  “They're standard issue for the whole R&D department,” Xander replied as he peered at the touch screen and the fingerprint scanner. He began to type in a command, but the light stayed resolutely red. He tried again, typing in a longer, more complicated code.

  “How long will this take?” Anais turned at Dalla's high pitched voice, surprised to see her looking distinctly pale. Anais reached over and squeezed her hand for comfort.

  “I don't – ah,” Xander started as the light suddenly switched to green and the doors slid open. He stood back up straight, looking satisfied. But the look was short lived.

  The doors opened to reveal a long corridor. It took Anais a minute to realise what was different about this place, until it occurred to her that the walls were no longer glass. Whereas in all the other parts of the building she'd seen the offices were open plan, and sunlight streamed through the windows; this corridor had no windows. Ceiling tiles, infused with a soft light, illuminated the hall. She could see two polished metal doors on either side of the corridor, but she couldn't see how far the passage extended, as a tall woman with long sky blue hair and matching azure eyes was blocking their view. Her eyes were cold and narrowed in suspicion as she stared at them. Everything from her perfectly coiffed hair down to her navy trouser suit and shiny black stilettos screamed of designer labels. Instinctively, Anais knew this woman was not someone to be messed with.

  For a long moment no one spoke. The woman flicked her eyes over them each in turn, taking in every little thing about their appearance. As her eyes passed over her, Anais felt a thrill of fear. She had to resist the urge to wipe her palms on her jeans.

  “Well,” the woman finally said in a soft, smooth voice. “What have we here?”