The Apollo Academy Read online

  Damn, that was a stupid suggestion. The city ships should really be called shitty ships. And how could he suggest the poor, old guy might meet someone? No one else in his life had ever taken care of him.

  Zane stopped trying to get the whimpering old man off of his leg and instead looked at the trash around him. This is where I grew up? He looked at the abandoned piles of old tech where computers, broken reality screens, data chips, AI cleaners, techiwatches, and all sorts of equipment were thrown away. Every few months there would be a new release of the exact same product; only the new product was just a little bit quicker or a little bit smarter and people couldn’t resist. All the waste made him sick, but it was no wonder people wanted to live an alternate reality. There wasn’t anything green in sight.

  He reached into his back pocket and pulled out one of the unused holographic screens. He’d planned on getting rid of them tonight anyway. As soon as the old man saw what Zane held, he shoved a pair of glasses into Zane’s free hand.

  Zane removed the broken alternate-reality screen and slid the new one in. Before Zane had a chance to say anything, the man grabbed the glasses, placing them over his eyes. “Thank you. See, I can live here.” The old man slumped down, finally escaping whatever misery held him.

  Zane began walking again, trying to outrun his own past.

  The warm Florida wind blew Zane’s dark hair into his eyes. He left it there and kept moving. The usual feeling of hunger gnawed on his stomach. He only needed to make it a few more hours. The last thing he wanted to do was hack into a computer program again to scam the system for food.

  Tomorrow everything would change.

  Zane increased his pace and made it just in time. He jumped onto the overloaded public transportation hoverbus. Most of the passengers were dressed in business suits, wearing wrap around glasses with neon green alternate-reality screens covering their eyes. They paid him no attention. Just the way he liked it.

  For a moment, Zane enjoyed swaying back and forth with the flow of the bus as it stopped every few minutes letting people on and off.

  A feminine voice carried throughout the bus. “Titon Technologies and Frontier Solutions continue to argue over the best course of action to achieving more resources…”

  Zane tuned out the news report like everyone else. He pulled the month-old advertisement out of his back pocket, surprised to find the crumpled piece of paper still functioning on its continuous flashing loop. Zane straightened the paper and read the Apollo Academy ad for the millionth time.

  The Apollo Academy will be hosting public aptitude placement for any who wish to join this elite training facility. Our close partnership with the Apollo Alliance guarantees job placement for all who pass the two-year training program. Each cadet will receive a general education revolving around space-related studies, as well as a core curriculum designed to fit their strengths. Depending on their aptitudes, they will be placed in specialized fields that include medicine, aeronautics, geology, or computer programming.

  The Apollo Academy accepts new students between the ages of eighteen and twenty and those with a normal body mass index due to the intense physical demands of the job.

  No tuition is required.

  If interested, please attend testing on one of the dates below. All selected cadets will then have to pass an initiation test before final acceptance. The initiation will test a candidate’s courage, determination, and strength.

  Zane squeezed the advertisement, feeling the paper crumple in his hand. He’d do anything to get in.

  Zane jumped off at the next stop. He could already hear the music coming from Beat. As he got closer, the vibrations pounding off the building were forceful enough to knock his teeth together. The loud music didn’t bother him in the slightest because over the past few years he’d become accustomed to its noise. Beat was a reliable place to safely rest his feet and now the mind-numbing sounds were a comforting distraction, keeping him from even hearing his own thoughts.

  Zane strode confidently around the young crowd waiting to get inside. There was an unusually long line tonight, but he kept walking until he was at the front. He put on his don’t-look-at me-I’m-a-bad-ass-face when he approached the door, which usually kept people from asking too many questions. He ignored everyone around him.

  Stan worked the front door. He wore a ridiculous flashing neon-green shirt and a no-nonsense face, but the only reaction he gave was the quick quirk of his lips that hinted at the smile he was trying to hide. Zane kept Stan stocked with the latest tech candy. In fact, now that Zane was closer, he could see the alternate-reality tech candy he had restored attached over Stan’s eyes.

  “Zane, my man.” Stan clasped his hand between his. “It’s good to see you.” Stan wiggled the wand in his other hand. “Sorry, protocol.”

  Before Stan could scan his eyes, Zane pulled another alternate-reality screen from his back pocket. “Take this.” Zane thrust the screen out, avoiding the retinal scanner. Instead he focused on the two bold T’s adorning the side of Stan’s alternate-reality tech. “I want to stay off the Grid,” he whispered.

  Stan pocketed the screen. “You got it. Close your eyes.”

  Zane closed his eyes, and Stan pretended to wave the wand over his left eye. “Go on in. You’re good.”

  Zane discreetly nodded as he opened the door to the club. No one would know he was here; his status would remain a secret.

  While Zane’s eyes adjusted to the darkness inside, he noted that the club seemed just as packed and loud as usual. Zane made his way down the stairwell, trying to figure out why they kept the hallway so dark. He was surprised no one had fallen and sued the club. If he were a lesser person, he probably would have tried it already.

  When he reached the dance floor he stopped for a moment to look around. One couple was so tightly woven together that Zane wasn’t sure where one began and the other ended. He was sure they were up to more than just dancing, but it was hard to tell for sure with the pulsing lights blinding him every few seconds. Everywhere he looked there were girls with flashing lights, sparkling in a riot of colors.

  Zane recognized a few people and gave them a quick nod.

  A swirl of gold and red caught his eye, but he was never able to determine the source of the brilliant color. Unable to satisfy his curiosity, Zane began to make his way across the dance floor. People cleared a path for him as he went by; though a few girls tried unsuccessfully to approach him. He wasn’t in that kind of mood tonight.

  As he approached the center of the dance floor, a girl slammed into him. He didn’t plan to stop walking, but that all changed when she dropped to the floor frantically looking for something.

  His breath caught in his throat. Zane was looking at the sexiest damn girl he’d ever seen, the source of brilliant color he caught a glimpse of earlier. She was a petite little thing, with thick red hair that ran in long waves all the way down her back and flashed hues of gold when the lights hit it right.

  Zane stifled the urge to run his fingers through it.

  He knelt down, intending to help her find whatever was so important.

  “Where are my glasses?” Her hands roamed across the floor, barely escaping dancing feet.

  The thought of the addicted homeless man stopped him cold. He had planned to sell the remaining screens in his back pocket, but now he felt like crushing them. After tonight, he didn’t think he could sell them anymore.

  “You don’t need those.” Zane placed a finger under her chin, forcing her to look at him. Panicked green eyes framed with long lashes locked on his as they stood up together.

  She seemed to be waiting for some kind of reaction, but he stood frozen, unable to say anything. How could someone have such unusual coloring and such a perfect face? He memorized her glitter covered cheekbones and pouty lips. She wore a thin silk top that hinted at the curves lying beneath, a deliciously short skirt, and black over-the-knee-boots.

  Zane realized he was towering over her, not saying a word.r />
  “So?” She looked at him with a shy hope, causing something to crack inside of him.

  “You don’t need an alternate reality. Stay here with me.” He pulled her closer. Maybe tonight wouldn’t be so bad after all.

  They began a hesitant dance much like her demeanor. She slowly moved more into his embrace, as they continued to dance together. Zane didn’t hear the beat of the music over his pounding heart.

  Swaying and circling his hips with the music, he tugged her closer into his arms, until her head was near his chest. Even with her high heels on, she was almost a foot shorter than him. He distantly heard songs change, but he still didn’t let her go.

  Zane looked down just as she tilted her head back.

  Hooded green eyes locked onto his. His breath caught.

  Closer. He needed to be closer.

  He bent down, his gaze shifting from her eyes to her lips.

  She instinctively tilted her head back to meet his. All the music and people that surrounded them seemed to disappear. The whole world went quiet as his lips descended toward hers.

  Just as he was about to press his mouth against her lush lips, she pulled away.

  He watched her whirl around, answering the call of a tall, blonde girl. Without her warm body pressed against his, he could finally think.

  “Kaylana, I’m over here,” she yelled, waving her hand in the air.

  Zane didn’t know what he was thinking, dancing with a girl way out of his league. She was probably some spoiled brat just out for a night of fun. He shook his head. He’d come to Beat to get rid of the alternate-reality screens, and that’s exactly what he was going to do.

  Before she turned around, he slipped away, disappearing in the crowd.

  AURORA

  Heat flushed her cheeks as Aurora glided a finger over her lower lip. What would it have been like to kiss the hot guy from the club last night? The way he had looked at her, it was like he had truly seen the real her. In fact, they were probably the only two people at the club who had really seen each other.

  She should have just kissed him. It had probably been her last chance to be with someone who didn’t have an ulterior motive for kissing the Titon heiress. Aurora sighed. Now she’d never know.

  Beep. Beep.

  Aurora glanced at her techiwatch.

  Damn. She was daydreaming again.

  Aurora shoved thoughts of the boy away, cramming the last of her clothing into her already over-flowing suitcase. It so wasn’t going to close. She pushed the vacuum sealing bags down, pulled the sides of the suitcase together, squeezing.

  It still didn’t shut. Her arms strained as she tried to make the two pieces fit together.

  There was no other choice. She sat on top of the suitcase, pushing all of her weight down.

  The locks sealed closed.

  No, she probably didn’t need any of the old books or half the shoes she’d packed, but she couldn’t imagine leaving it all behind. Aurora grunted as she dragged the scuffed, metallic luggage into the living room. Leaving the suitcase by the door, Aurora padded barefoot around the condo, taking a few moments to say goodbye to the place she called home. At least, she hoped this was goodbye.

  With one last look, she slipped her lucky shoes on and moved toward the door, pulling her monstrosity of a suitcase behind her. To her surprise, her dad chose that time to come waltzing through the door. He was wearing a steel-gray business suit and matching striped tie, already dressed for the media storm to come. He pushed his gray hair off his forehead and moved for her bag.

  “You should have asked for help.” Frustration coated his words. “I’ll arrange for someone to get your bags.”

  “That’s okay. I’ve got it. Besides, I’d rather not draw any more attention to myself once I get there.”

  Her dad looked as if he wanted to argue but in the end must have known she wouldn’t change her mind. “I could at least get you a new piece of luggage. I can’t believe you’re still lugging this one around.”

  Aurora looked down at her bag. There was a sticker for every place she had traveled and now the bag was completely covered with flashing destination stickers. She traced her finger across the Bear Lake, Alaska, sticker. “No, I like my bag. I wouldn’t be able to replace all of my hard-earned stickers if I got a new one.”

  He shook his head. “All right, but I do have a departing gift for you.”

  “Dad, you didn’t have to get me anything.”

  Her dad waved away her protests. “You know I’d prefer you stay here and learn to run the company, but…” He shrugged, uncomfortable with expressing his feelings aloud. “It’s your choice. Besides, it’s not every day my little girl is accepted into an elite training academy.”

  “It’s not official—”

  “Aurora, you’ll pass the initiation.” He motioned for her to take a seat on the couch and pulled a black velvet bag from his pocket. “And if you don’t, well, you’ll be learning the family business.”

  If that didn’t motivate Aurora, she didn’t know what would. She’d rather die than be the Titon heiress for the rest of her life. Keeping those thoughts to herself, Aurora sat down on the couch.

  “I thought you should get something special to commemorate the day.” He pulled out a gold necklace and hesitantly handed it to her. “Here.”

  Aurora took the dainty gold chain from her father and saw that it was adorned with a vintage airplane, one surprisingly elegant and feminine. It reminded her of the Apollo Academy logo. “It’s beautiful, Dad. I love it.”

  He nodded and took the necklace from her, clasping it around her neck. “I had one of your mom’s gold rings melted down to make the airplane. This way you’ll have a little piece of her with you while you’re away.”

  Aurora was speechless. As little time as she and her father had spent together over the past few years, she hadn’t been sure if he really knew she existed.

  “Thank you,” she whispered. She awkwardly hugged her dad. “It’s perfect.” She touched the necklace that was now secure around her neck and knew that her mother would be with her every step of the way. She missed her mom, even if she never got a chance to know who she was. Aurora had only been two when she died. She’d stolen the autopsy report a few years back and the words still haunted her. A myocardial infarction of her atrial fibril valve that collapsed in the closed position.

  The necklace was the perfect goodbye gift. Her dad usually only gave gifts as an apology. Aurora was ecstatic to begin her new journey but sad to leave her father behind when he was acting like this.

  “I wish your mother were here to see this. She would be so proud of the woman you’ve become.” His brown eyes began to tear up.

  Oh, please, no. Aurora fidgeted with the little airplane. Now was so not the time for all the feelings to come pouring out of her father. Was he trying to guilt trip her into staying?

  “I’m going to miss you too, Dad,” she finally admitted, realizing her words were true.

  Beep. Beep.

  Aurora looked down at the expandable glass screen on her techiwatch, thankful for the distraction. It was finally time.

  Her dad pulled her luggage behind him and hesitantly touched the elevator screen for the lowest level.

  When the elevator began its rapid descent, the usual flickering of lights and people that sailed by was so disorienting that Aurora touched the elevator’s clear door to opaque them. Aurora and her father didn’t speak on the quick ride down; too busy trying to deal with the emotional rollercoaster he seemed to be on.

  The doors opened on the lower garage level floor, and Aurora spotted Kaylana and her family waiting off to the side. Kaylana lived close enough that it made sense for them to share a hovercar to the Academy.

  To her horror, she also saw a small crowd of reporters had been allowed into the building. Aurora’s mouth dropped open as she turned to look at her dad. “Dad,” she hissed.

  He shrugged unapologetically. “You may as well get it over with.” He
put his arm around her shoulders and escorted her in front of the reporters as if this were an everyday occurrence.

  Despite the fact that her father had been wonderful to her a few moments before, she hated him for dragging her into the spotlight. She was so naïve. Did her father know that he only bestowed gifts on her when he felt guilty for something? Guilty for his extended absences and now guilty for this betrayal. He knew she hated being the center of attention, but that didn’t seem to matter when it came to publicity.

  “How are you feeling about today’s initiation test?” A young female reporter with light brown hair and green eyes boldly stepped forward.

  It felt like someone was squeezing her chest. Aurora wasn’t sure she could speak, even if this were a life and death situation. She looked to her dad, hoping she could get out of this, but he handed off her luggage and grabbed her arm.

  “Aurora, you’re going to have to face this at some point,” he whispered.

  “Dad, not right now. I’m already too nervous about this.”

  He pressed his lips together. “This is great publicity. You’ve hidden from the spotlight long enough.”

  “Please.” Aurora’s voice cracked.

  Her dad shook his head, frowning. “You’re going to have to get used to it at some point. You’ll always be a Titon. I guess I’ll take a separate car and handle this for now. I’ll see you at the Academy.” He stepped in front of her, blocking the reporters’ view.

  “All right, everyone. Aurora has a test to pass. Let’s let her concentrate.”

  Aurora turned and ran to the hovercar. She felt, like a physical blow, every snap of a camera. Kaylana hurried after her and slammed the door shut. The reporters followed and surrounded the hovercar, but with the windows up, Aurora knew the only picture they would get would be their own reflection. Finally, the reporters stepped back, allowing the hovercar to move.

  Aurora shoved her hands back through her hair. “This is what I wanted, but . . . ” Tears burned as they tried to escape. She sucked in a deep breath. Why did all of this attention make her so uncomfortable?