Authors: JN David
The Novida Code (6 page)
“I'm so sorry,” I whispered to him as he turned round to call for assistance. “I got carried away.”
“It was my mistake, Miss”, he replied gravely, helping me to sit down on the ground. “I have far more experience than you and I have no excuse.” He looked down at my arm, which he was still compressing: “I'm really sorry, but that wound will leave a scar.”
“It doesn't matter”, I murmured. I smiled into his eyes: “It'll remind me to be more careful in the future.”
“You are very generous, Miss.”
“Lauren”, I replied, still smiling. I saw his expression soften, and he repeated: “Lauren…”
We were interrupted by the Efeghi doctor, who had just arrived on the scene. He examined me rapidly and stuck a gel over the wound. He then asked me – rather insistently – if I was feeling OK. He appeared very shaken by the incident.
I'd already seen him, as he had examined all of us one evening, a few days after the start of the classes. I'd have liked to know what he was looking for as I'd thought he looked somewhat perturbed while he was examining me. However, nothing had come of it, and I'd ended up pushing it to one side.
Judging by his pallor on seeing that I was injured, I realised that it
was
after all very significant. I was important in the eyes of the Efeghis and I needed to know why. I vowed to try and break into the infirmary and consult my dossier at the earliest opportunity. I could well have done with Auxana's help in this, but couldn't go back on my decision. It was too risky.
I used my supposedly debilitated state as an excuse to lean momentarily on the arm of Elden, who was nearby, inside the circle of spectators. He gave a start and pulled his arm away. All the other Efeghis, including Oniar, jumped in a similar fashion.
This was very interesting. I acted as though nothing had happened, and accepted Oniar's help in getting me back to my feet. As I turned round, I saw that the student who had fainted was Auxana and that Olden was helping her up. We were both accompanied very gently back to our respective rooms.
I would have liked to meet up with Auxana that evening, but I knew that I would then have probably ended up breaking my promise not to ask her for help once again, thereby putting her in danger. So I stayed in my room to mull over the day's events.
After two weeks of discovering nothing, I'd at last made some headway. I'd have to break into the infirmary and discover the truth behind the enemies' interest in me, find out who were those white gloves that avoided any physical contact, and maybe seduce Oniar. If I had the courage, that is.
In the morning, I left my bedroom earlier than usual. I wanted to wander through the corridors for a while to discover more about the security system that blocked our access to the rest of the HQ. To keep this from Auxana, I left at six, as we usually met up in the corridor at 7 o'clock.
That was why I was able to catch sight of Olden slipping silently out of Auxana's bedroom. And try as I might, I couldn't keep the look of stupefaction from my face.
Auxana
After being dismissed by Lauren, I found it a real struggle to keep up the charade, and it was even harder now that I also had to put on an act in front of her. It was imperative that she should believe I was resigned, for if I did anything to arouse her suspicions, she'd figure out my plan in no time and do all she could to prevent me from going through with it.
Not out of malice – far from it – but for my own safety.
Lauren had never been able to understand that you don't help people against their wishes. Similarly, she'd never grasped that it's impossible to set off an avalanche and then stop it: she had set me off and now I couldn't stop myself.
During the following afternoon, I kept my distance a little.
We had several more lessons, all demonstrating with great subtlety the superiority of the Efeghi culture over ours. For them, the concept of honour was sacred, famine and war were non-existent, and nature was respected. After instilling all this into us, Afren pointed out some contrasting examples on Earth and asked us to explain them, under the pretext of trying to understand our culture.
The reactions from his audience varied:
from the admiration in our row to hostile silence from the students at the back.
I tried to act in accordance with my role, showing admiration for the Efeghi culture while refusing to criticise our own.
But I found it incredibly hard to keep my cool with Afren. I knew that he'd cost me a friend. What's more, I was sure that Lauren was mistaken in not attaching any importance to his white gloves. I had a feeling they were highly significant.
Over the next few days, Lauren didn't give me any crystals.
Not that I was expecting any as I knew she'd be working alone for the time being. Unfortunately, I also knew that there wasn't much I could do without her help. But what I
could
do was to brush off any suspicions that might have arisen during the first lesson and show Lauren I was quite capable of fighting. And so much the better if this also provided the opportunity to obtain information.
So I decided to seduce Olden and glean what I could through him.
This wasn't an easy decision. I wasn't sure that I could go through with it and I knew that having any misgivings at the wrong moment would be catastrophic. But I had no choice.
A few days later, we had a medical examination.
The Efeghis wanted to check that their earthling volunteers were in good health and, if need be, to provide any necessary treatments. At least, that's what they told us.
But I spotted too many high-ranking Efeghis watching this “innocuous” examination.
I also noted a certain agitation on the part of the chief doctor just after he'd finished with Lauren. She was already leaving the room and couldn't have seen the doctor having a word with the most senior-looking Efeghi, nor the expression on the face of the latter as his eyes followed her.
I used the long wait in the queue to catch Olden's eye as he stood near the Efeghi officers.
He came up to me.
“Is everything alright, Miss Reyn?” he asked with a big smile.
“Yes, but it's such a long wait…” I said, pulling a face.
“Would you like me to bring you a chair?”
“If it's no trouble…”
“Not at all!” he replied as he went back to the other officers, who were laughing and joking in their own language; he responded to them with the smile typical of the males on these occasions. The soft expression left his face as he turned towards them, then returned as he came back towards me with the chair.
I imagined that all this was how the Efeghis expressed their interest in a woman.
And by requesting a service from him, I'd encouraged him.
Over the next few days, we bumped into each other several times.
I let him know I was interested whilst taking great care to play it cool. To begin with, this ploy helped me conceal what I was up to from Lauren, but very soon I also noticed that Olden found it a seductive combination.
The day of the sports demo provided the chance I was waiting for.
I noticed that Lauren was very closely following the two duellists. The reason became clear to me during her duel: she had decided to seduce Oniar, one of the most senior officers in the headquarters.
She even had the brilliant idea of provoking an accident.
When I saw her bleeding, it occurred to me to use the oldest trick in the world: I cried out and pretended to faint. As I was hoping, Olden came to help me up. I was genuinely trembling in his arms, for I knew that that night, my decision and my willpower were going to be put to the test.
He was very solicitous and especially delighted with this chance to hold me in his arms.
He took me back to my room while Oniar escorted Lauren. I waited for her to go into her room and then turned towards Olden:
“Could you stay with me a while?” I implored. “I don't think I'm up to being left on my own.”
A smile played on his lips and he replied,
“Of course, Miss Reyn.”
“Call me Auxana”, I said, showing him into my room.
I offered him a chair and made my way towards my little kitchen, offering him a cup of tea.
“No thank you Auxana”, he replied, sounding too close. I turned round to find him right behind me. We gazed silently at each other for a moment. Then I lowered my eyes. He reached his hand towards me and softly fondled my cheek. I began to tremble.
Gently, he took me in his arms.
I remained like that for a long time, trembling slightly in his embrace, and then looked up at him. His eyes were tender, but his emotions were totally under control.
I pretended to fall for this tenderness and murmured:
“Olden, I don't know if…” Placing his lips on mine, he silenced me.
He kissed me gently, alternately glancing at me to be certain of my reaction.
I knew that I'd only have to push him away and he'd stop, but I let him carry on. Then, his kisses became more insistent, and I began to respond.
After a while, he guided me towards the bed.
I was very scared but all his movements were unhurried and gentle, and I let him put me on the bed and lie down next to me. He stroked my cheek again, and murmured:
“Don't be afraid, Auxana…”
In response, I kissed him, and we lay like that for a long time, clasping each other on my bed.
He waited for me to relax, and then his soft kisses descended towards my neck while his hands unfastened my uniform.
He moved slowly down towards my breasts and stopped at the top of my bra.
He seemed slightly startled and I had time to wonder what Efeghi women wore instead before he overcame that obstacle and I stopped thinking.
Afterwards he held me in his arms.
Then, suddenly overcome by a roller coaster of contradictory emotions, I felt my tears rolling onto his chest. He felt them too, and turned towards me:
“Did I hurt you?”
“No…”
“What is it, Auxana?”
“Could you please promise me something?”
“What?”
“I'd like you to promise me not to talk to anybody about tonight.” I replied. I felt him stiffen, and added, “I'm not ashamed; it's just that there are some volunteers who would judge me if they knew.”
“You mean Lauren?”
“No, not her”, I replied with a little smile. “I think she fancies Oniar. But other volunteers are not so keen.”
“And do you think they would harm you if they learned that you spend your nights with me?”
“No, nothing that bad. But they'd think badly of me and despise me. And even your friends might think the same way.”
“No, not us. The Efeghis don't despise women for the presents they give them.”
“Please!” I persisted, a hint of panic in my voice.
He turned towards me and saw the fear in my eyes.
Then he sighed, “I promise that I will not mention it to anyone.”
Afren had taught us that a promise was sacred for the Efeghis.
But I had pushed this information aside, along with the rest of his propaganda. I didn't trust Olden's promise. And yet, it would show the Efeghis that I wasn't just anybody's. And Olden himself would respect me more.
“
If anyone tries to hurt you, I will protect you.” he added. He looked as though he meant it, but I supposed that this would only apply to earthlings. I doubted he'd rush to my defence if he found out I was in the Resistance.
“
Even against the scary Afren?” I asked with a grin.
“Why scary?” he asked, looking surprised.
“I don't know, but he scares me rather, with his white gloves,” I replied.
“He is an auxiliary; many people are frightened of them.”
“Why?”
“They have certain capabilities.”
“Is that why they don't like people to touch them?”
He jumped up.
“Have you touched one?”
“No, but Lauren did touch Elden's arm this afternoon. Why? Is that serious?” I asked with genuine panic in my voice.
“No, not for such a light contact.” He lay back down beside me.
“
Why? What could happen to her?”
“If the contact had been more prolonged, she could have been subjugated.”
“Subjugated? What does that mean?”
“They are called soul snatchers. When we touch them, they get into our souls and snatch.”
“But what do they snatch?”
“Memories, emotions, everything. In the end, the person who touches them becomes like an empty puppet, obeying their every command.”
“Can it be treated?” I asked. I was horrified and made no attempt to hide it.
“No. There is no treatment.” To reassure me, he added: “Don't worry, Auxana. Nobody can be subjugated without the permission of the head auxiliary, and he hardly ever gives it.”
I snuggled up against him and sighed:
“I shan't worry as long as you're here, Olden.”
And at that, he just held me tight.