“Good morning, Miss Calista Medley. It is now 6:15 in the morning of September 21st, 2349 in the city of Washington D.C.”

  She unenthusiastically rose from her bed, going to the HARP bubble to eat breakfast. She’d gotten the habit of watching news and staying up-to-date with current events. She’d hoped to know enough to finally have a proper conversation with her peers that didn’t involve her saying ‘uber’ and sounding like an airhead.

  It was all pointless now, but she kept watching. There was no harm in keeping herself updated, and she had been looking for any hint or sign that could possibly tell her what happened to her family, but there were none so far.

  Genesis X had some small raids recently, but nothing that warranted too much concern; Calista doubted Katelyn would go back there while living in Montana, though. If something happened, her family wouldn’t have been so cryptic. In the Socializer world, her mother hadn’t appeared since her interview with Whitley Geanna, but she had been trying to lay low for a while.

  It was mostly the same nonsense; Thiki criticizing Whitley, Whitley criticizing Thiki, boring news about failed trade agreements, anti-Utopian extremists being caught by SECURE, anti-Versus protesters— Socializers— showing up left and right with ridiculous generated freeze shots of blood-soaked fighters…

  Their newest shots included images of Joanna Kajlinkho and Irenna Kalley lying dead with their alleged killers standing over them: Kunte Kamthak, the Hajjian fighter that had kicked Joanna during the Chaos Round; and Hombit ‘Smasher’ Pairen, the convicted murderer of Irenna.

  Classy. Real classy.

  Calista couldn’t extend the Breakfast period, no matter how slow she ate. It wasn’t long before her UI alerted her with:

  Task Acquired: Attend Warm-Ups period— 2 XP

  “Guess how much I want to go to this,” she told Lindsay as she finished her eggs and her strawberry smoothie infused with reconstruction therapy meds. Her body seemed to reflect her mood— there were nasty bruises spreading all over her skin. The first time she’d seen them, she’d had a panic attack, covering herself and hiding in her clothing selection station, thinking the micro-cameras would expose her. Lindsay had to coax her out and clarify that the bruises were temporary, a side effect of the treatment.

  There was mild pain when Calista moved, which didn’t help in Practicum, but it had become as numb as her emotions after the scandal. She at least had the comfort of knowing no one would see the bruises under her blue uniform bodysuit.

  “You’ve already lost enough XP. If you want any hope of getting on the team, you need to go. Forget about all those bugs around you, okay? You’re not here to be popular; you’re here to be a fighter.”

  “How am I supposed to be a fighter if no one is even talking to me? No one will work with me, my XP is cache, and my chances of getting on the team are as low as my glitching RP!” She kicked the sofa, then instantly regretted it, nursing her stubbed toe with a perfectly painted nail. “This was a big mistake.” She slumped on the sofa, depressed. “I come here to get a career and help my family, and I let them down within the first month. Who was I kidding? I don’t belong here. I should’ve just done what my mom said… now I can’t even go back there. My sister isn’t even talking to me, and I don’t know why.”

  She wanted to cry, but she felt empty. No tears threatened to leave her eyes. She was completely hollow and too tired to let any sort of emotion out. She stared blankly at the ceiling.

  “I’m sorry, Calista,” said Lindsay, her digital eyes showing sadness. “I wish I could help you in some way. I can only give you advice, and in the end, it’s up to you to take it.”

  “I probably wouldn’t have survived half as long as I did without you. Everyone says it— I’m weird for talking to you all the time.”

  “Everyone relies on their Versus Pet during the first few months. They’re just not as talkative. Most of the Pets are more silent, I guess.”

  “Then why are you talkative?” Calista asked her.

  “We’re supposed to adapt to your personality. I guess you’re the most talkative out of the first-years this year. That’s not a bad thing, though! You’ll see in the main Games that fighters pretty much constantly talk to their Pets.”

  “In the Games, not every day of their lives.”

  “Stop comparing. I’m your Pet. How much you talk to me is no one else’s business. You just need to be more subtle, that’s all.”

  Warning: 1 minute to complete task

  Calista blew out her cheeks. “Fine. I’m going.”

  “Attagirl. Just concentrate and you’ll be fine. They’ll eventually get over the rumors. They don’t stick around forever.” Lindsay’s eyes showed happiness and optimism, but Calista knew she was just trying to make her feel better.

  She teleported to the Training Center, having no time to walk, and arrived at the gymnasium just in time. There was a shift in the air when she arrived, the straight line of students all turning to look at her.

  “Miss Medley. You cut it close,” said Coach Usda.

  “Sorry, Coach,” she said, taking her place at the end of the line.

  -2 XP

  Calista sighed, trying not to roll her eyes. Maybe it was best if she got expelled. She could go up and live in a space station, work until she had the digits to move to another planet, and start a new life. Maybe that was why the family stopped talking to her; it was better for them. She was a hot name in both worlds now, and not in a good way.

  Stolen from Royal Road, this story should be reported if encountered on Amazon.

  As the class did their exercises, directly copying the HARP-ED figure, Calista noticed a lot of people watching her. Everyone had been intentionally keeping their eyes off her, only looking at her when she had her back turned— she’d sense them watching her, but didn’t bother to acknowledge it. However, there were a lot of people looking at her even if she noticed them and looked straight back.

  A Mearthian girl with brown hair and completely brown eyes was watching her with a pitying light, whispering to the girl next to her. Both had silver patches on their sleeves— the Gamma Guild, if Calista remembered correctly. The third-ranked Guild in school. Why would they be discussing her right now?

  She noticed a boy around fifteen muttering something to his friend, also glancing at her with pity and curiosity. Calista tried to ignore them and focus on her exercises, but it was bothering her. What on Earth could they be saying about her now?

  “If I hear one more whisper, I’m freezing your mouths shut,” Coach Usda threatened, silencing the class completely.

  The rest of Combat class was normal; the first-years under Level 10— which weren’t a lot— practiced on CD-Sims while the others sparred with each other. Calista concentrated as best she could, but the anxiety about her family’s silence and the new looks she was getting distracted her, causing some slip-ups. She only gained two Experience Points when class was over.

  She had a Break period next, so she lazily walked towards the Hall of Affairs. If she could get herself a study capsule, she could lock herself away to study rather than using the public AIDA tables. Most were in classes, so it was highly likely that a capsule would be open.

  Up ahead in the hall, Calista spotted Reilly Campbell, the top student of the Versus School, walking with Rosalina Wiasod, who was also his girlfriend. Beside the two were another couple— Hillary Kaye and a Hajjian man who wore the same platinum patches and Favorite badge that Rosalina did.

  Bark ‘Savage’ Wefitan

  Alpha Favorite

  Level 384

  223 RP— Feared

  He was completely apathetic, with no hint of a smile on his face. He had shaven orange hair and matching orange eyes that glowed like lava. His skin was a shade darker than Rosalina’s; a blood red. Black age ridges formed along his chin like a beard. His uniform bodysuit lacked its sleeves, showing his strong, tattooed arms.

  Calista had heard of him; he was Hillary Kaye’s boyfriend. Many said that her relationship was what gave her the high Rep Level she had. Otherwise, she wouldn’t be at Feared status. If anyone dared to glitch with her, a Hajjian like Bark with a call sign like ‘Savage’ would surely make the guilty party pay.

  Calista ducked her head, deciding not to even look at them. The worst they’d probably do was say some sort of insult while pretending she wasn’t around, but she didn’t want to risk provoking anyone.

  “Medley, how are you faring?”

  She stopped in her tracks, confusion bugging her brain. She looked back at the four, who all looked directly at her. “Are you… talking to me?” she asked, unsure, and pointed at herself.

  “Is there another Medley here?” Rosalina remarked with a chuckle. “You must be devastated right now. I would be, too, if I discovered something so scandalous.”

  “I don’t expect any less from her kind, honestly,” Hillary chimed in.

  “Rosa, you’ll be late to class,” Reilly told his girlfriend.

  Calista turned away, deciding to ignore the group. Maybe now they’d be acting on that ‘Insults’ attribute she earned with her Rep Level.

  -4 Rel-P (Rosalina)

  -6 Rel-P (Hillary)

  “Come now, human, I’m trying to be sympathetic,” Rosalina pressed, following her. “Anyone with a family member in prison would be upset. It’s understandable.”

  She stopped again and looked at the Hajjian woman with utter confusion. “What do you mean, ‘prison’? What are you talking about?”

  Rosalina now shared her confusion, her rose red eyes genuinely surprised. “You… don’t know?”

  “Don’t know what?” Calista snapped. She noticed a few students stopping in the hallway, watching intently and whispering among themselves. They probably thought there was a confrontation coming up.

  “The Socializer not up-to-date on gossip? Shocker.” Hillary joined Rosalina, crossing her arms as she drew out the rolled ‘r’. “And about your own family, at that. You didn’t see the HARP this mornin’, with your humie idol, Whitley?”

  -10 Rel-P

  Approaching Worst Enemy Status

  “Come on, Hill, we don’t have time for this,” Bark said wearily, sporting the same accent as Rosalina— the Russian-Hungarian mix. He had a deep, strong voice that could intimidate anyone.

  Hillary smiled at Calista. “Well, good luck findin’ out. Send your humie sister a prison gift from my part.” She winked and left with Bark.

  -5 Rel-P

  “My sis- who the glitch are you playing with?” Calista impulsively charged forward, wanting to retaliate, but Rosalina pushed her by the shoulder to stop her.

  “Calm down, Medley,” she said. “She’s not in prison, but she could be. Your kayam was found on one of the space stations. Turns out she’s been working there for a while, it seems.” She continued even while Calista’s face lost all its color. “Eh, they’ll likely let her off because of how young she is. You have nothing to worry about… unless that ‘peaceful’ community of yours wants to make their opinion clear.”

  “Rosa, come on,” Reilly sighed. “Leave her to figure it out herself.”

  Rosalina shrugged. “I can afford being late every once in a while. Good luck, human.” She winked and left with Reilly, who rolled his eyes.

  -7 Rel-P

  “Wait, I- wait!” Calista wanted to follow her, but stopped, realizing she’d do nothing but taunt her. She looked around at the students that had stopped to listen and stare. Some watched her with contempt, others with pity, and others seeming excited at what she could do, probably hoping she’d pick a fight with the tops and get humiliated.

  She pushed her way out of the crowded hallway and ran to a hallway teleporter to get to the dorms. When she arrived, she ordered AIDA to call the Youngblood residence again.

  “Youngblood Residence unavailable,” AIDA announced, as she had done the past few days.

  Calista didn’t give up. “Try them again.”

  “Youngblood Residence unavailable.”

  “Keep calling them.”

  “Youngblood Residence unavailable.”

  “Don’t stop!”

  “Youngblood Residence unavailable.”

  Calista let out a scream and punched the wall, pain shooting up her fist as a consequence.

  -1 HP

  She collapsed to the floor in tears, nursing her fist, but also watching Katelyn’s image flash in her mind’s eye. What had happened up in Cosmos? Was it a raid? A targeted attack? Did someone unMask her? Was she hurt? Was she arrested?

  Lindsay ejected from Calista’s belt and hovered over her. “Cali, try to calm down. It might not be as bad as they think. If you watch the broadcast and see what-”

  “I’m not listening to anything that glitch has to say! She ruined everything, she ruined… everything.”

  She refused to get up from the floor, ignoring the UI’s warnings and Lindsay’s insistence.

  Task Missed: Attend Teamwork class

  -10 XP

  Level Down incoming