The walk to central administration building was made in heavy silence. The Master Hunter seethed in controlled rage. His pacing down the hall was quick and rigid, as though he wanted to get to the destination so that he could unload on William privately. His father did have an image to maintain. It would never come to blows, his father wasn’t like that. But there would be long lectures followed by “Do you understand?” It could take hours before William could get any shut eye and forget that this horrible day ever happened.

William failed to muster the courage to say his piece, to defend himself. To justify his actions. He did the right thing and he was being punished for it. As the night progressed, he was less sure of his father’s involvement in covering up Astral’s condition. He was pretty sure, that Mathias believe whatever the Daamon’s told him.

William struggled to keep up with his father, causing the E.M.I. pair to drag him every time he stumbled. Their grip on him was harder than it needed to be, especially since he didn’t plan to run. His dad was here, and he’d protect his son, even if he was angry with him for the time being. “Can we go home now?” William asked. His voice carried down the hall a little louder than he intended. He cringed when he heard the whine in his own voice. He meant to sound tired of all the craziness, but wounded up sounding like some spoiled teenager.

“The transportation network is shut down for the night. I don’t suppose you planned to walk to Clearwater from here. At night.” Mathias said. His tone was tightly controlled, empty of the compassion he shared with the councillor. “I’ve meetings to attend and planned to return home late tomorrow. You’ll remain in the custody of the E.M.I. in my absence until then.”

“You’re not seriously going to make me sleep in a cell, are you?” William hoped not, but wouldn’t put it past his dad to try to teach him a ‘life lesson’.

“I didn’t expect such a dire situation. I’ll check with the administration to make arrangements for you, of course, but this isn’t a hotel. I am an invited guest; my accommodations were provided for me. I doubt they’ll reinstate your campus privileges for the night. Especially, given your predilection for not being where you’re met to be.”

“That’s not my fault! I was taken! Astral just left me there!”

Mathias stopped long enough to consider his son’s words. Long enough to decide he was more than just annoyed. “I don’t want to hear another word from you. Take this time to consider the consequences of your actions. Think long and hard of the life you had before you came to live with me, and the life you enjoyed until now. Based on what you know about the people who serve the Red Order, think about how that life style came to exist. Because so far William, when you think up your great plans, you don’t seem to think too far ahead beyond the immediate rewards.”

Mathias pressed on. Over his father’s shoulder, William could see the clear open area of the main building. He felt the walls closing in on him in these tight corridors, but then again, he had the extra presence of the soldiers, who were too close to him. His father continued, “You’ve managed to ruin Astral. Congratulations. Now what? What does that really mean for you? Did your plan include getting kicked out?”

“Well, no.” William muttered. “They’ll see and they’ll invite me back.”

“And if they don’t”

“They’ve got to because it’s true!”

Mathias pinched the bridge of his nose, “William, just because you want something to be true, doesn’t make it so! Calling her an Enhanced doesn’t make it true. It takes a lot more than some personal dislike to turn someone into a genetically engineered human.”

The doors to the main building slid open. A wave of fresh air wafted into the administration side of the building. William welcomed the chill in the air. As they crossed the welcome lobby, William marvelled at the frosted glass ceiling. Each pane was a showcase of natural art as the winter frost whirled across the window in cool icy tendrils.

Small, light, droids pushed snow from the roof, in small sections, avoiding excess weight that might collapse the glass roof.

Large janitorial droids buzzed as they toiled at their duties, sloshing cleaning fluid against the floor, and filtering water through their system. The Academy felt empty. William was used to seeing this building teaming with life. The students excited chatter could be deafening, but it was life! His life!

His father approached the security guard who gulped at a cup of coffee as he read his tablet. He arched a brow at the Master Hunter, taking in the rare sight in Council territory. They exchanged words. The guard glanced at William, then focused his attention on Mathias. He sighed, and rubbed his balding head. “Melisa handles all that sort of stuff. Let me get her on the line and we’ll see if we can sort something out.” The guard fiddled with a few buttons.

“Hello?” A young woman’s voice squeaked in the room. The guard fiddled with a few more controls to lower her volume.

He shouted at his console. “Yeah, it’s Steve out at the front lobby. We have a bit of situation here with a Mr-“

“Master Mathers,” his father corrected, as gently as he could while emphasizing the importance of his title. He didn’t shout at the lady on the communication or at the guard, revealing a little bit more technological awareness.

“Right. A Master Mathers,” Steve corrected without missing a beat and keeping up his friendliness.

“Situation how? Is your room not ready? I’m so sorry, we’ve been a positive mad house this week with the Investors Gala. We’ve-“

“No, just a change of circumstance. My son is here with me and is unable to return to his dorm-”

The young woman cut in with a quick solution. “Oh! Is that all. I wish all of my problems this week were just that easy to fix. I wish more of you Order folks would drop in.“

“No-”

“I’ll just call an E.M.I. soldier to escort him to his dorm, that way he can avoid getting nailed-“

“Please listen-”

“-for curfew violations. We don’t need to ruin a young ambassador’s record over something as genuine as visiting his old man.”

“Stop talking!” Mathias was red faced with embarrassment. “Thank you,” he added.

“I don’t see what you want me to do then,” the hostess said. She sounded insulted.

Mathias explained his situation.

“Like I said earlier, we’re preparing for the Investor’s Gala. Tonight, we’re hosting a private dinner with a few of our most generous contributors, Lord Daamon being among them. You can guess that your son probably won’t be one his favourite people. Since we rely on private investors to support our school, you can understand that accommodating your request will be a tricky. Do you want to stay with your son? Does he need supervision?”

Mathias glowered at William. For a second, he could have sworn he saw the distant yellow glow staring out from behind his father’s eyes, as though something else were glaring at him. “Until recently, I didn’t think so. Yes, I’ll be staying with him. We also have two E.M.I. soldiers to accommodate.”

“They have barracks,” was the hostess’ curt reply. She had no issue using the E.M.I. to make herself look good, but beyond that they were essentially over paid servants. They probably made more than she did if they were on the Daamon’s payroll. “If they need sleep they can swap shifts. Heaven knows we have enough of them around to even out the workload.”

“As long as you’re comfortable with two guards being posted outside to ensure that William doesn’t escape while on Academy grounds,” Mathias said.

“I got just the place, but it’s beneath someone with your status.”

“Madam, I spend four years sleeping on a straw matt in a monastery that had been carved out of a mountain side. It’s an honour and privilege to sleep in the rooms you have offered me, so far.” William had no idea what his father’s life had been like. He couldn’t remember if he had ever asked? He knew that Mathias didn’t volunteer information about his life unless it was to make some else feel better about the situation. For all William knew, his dad was lying just to make her feel better and to get the job done.

Her light laughter floated over the communication. “I guess when you put it like that, these rooms aren’t so bad. Four years…wow. I don’t think I would have survived. I’m sending the key now, with a map. Take the personal com to guide you. There’s limited functionality, if that’s an issue for you Red Order folks, but if you get lost, we’ll find you.”

“Thank you for your understanding. And Mellissa? Would you mind not mentioning anything to Lord Daamon?” Would Astral’s old man already know what William did? What difference would it make if the Councilman knew that William was in the building.

“Sure. I’ll keep it between us and Steve. Steve?”

“Lips are sealed,” Steve said.

“Good. We done?”

“Yes.”

The communication cut out and the security guard handed Mathias the com.