Authors: Connor Kostick

Saga (28 page)

BOOK: Saga

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The moon was
up, far away in a deep cobalt sky, a silver disc reflected in the glass of the tall buildings around us, or at least those towers that still had windows. This was a very old part of town, a business sector, long since abandoned to rats and pigeons.

“One gets tired of pizza very quickly,” observed Athena.

“Not true.” Milan gestured happily with his slice.

With a sigh, Athena closed the box and wiped her fingers before unrolling her computer.

“Are you going to eat that?” asked Nathan.

“No. Go ahead.”

“Halves!” cried Milan.

“So, what’s the news?” I asked her.

“Amazing. There’s, like, ten thousand new forums, at least, discussing the broadcast.”

“What are they saying?”

She laughed. “I said ten thousand. I can’t read them all. From what I have looked at, it’s about fifty-fifty so far as to whether they believe Cindella or not.”

We sat in a derelict office, quiet, looking out into the darkening street.

“The Defiance forums are hopping.” Athena looked up eagerly. “And we’re getting something like ten members a minute. We’re over twenty-five thousand and growing fast. Here, you should see the threads for yourself.” She turned on the projector, focusing it on a blank wall, and we turned to look. “Just taking one at random.”

IS DEFIANCE THE WORLD’S FIRST INTERSPECIES GUILD?

I was tinking, if wot you said on that cast was tru, then
you are aliens. I’m in a guild with aliens. How cool is
that? The Cutter
✂
>Well from our point of view, you are the
alien. Cat.

>>Awesome. I’m an alien.
✂
>>>What do you do, Cutter?

>>>>Me? I’m an airvan driver, delivery boy. Wot about
u?
✂
}Salt worker, but just for another three
months, then I’m going to university to study
weather systems.

}>Cool. How old are u? Are you a girl?
✂
}>>16. Yes.

}>>>Neato. 17, boy.
✂
}>>>>What do you like doing, when you aren’t
working?

}}Easy. Airboarding.
✂
}}>We don’t have airboards in our world.

}}>>Wot no boards? That’s the pits. You’re lucky u
found us then, I’ll show u if u like.
✂
}}>>>Would you? I’d love that.

}}>>>>NP. Do u know Brahms
■
? Me n friendz are
there all the time, boarding.
✂
}}}Brahms Square? I can find it. Will you be
there tomorrow, about 6pm?

}}}>Sure will. Whoo Hooo! I’ve a date with an alien!
✂
}}}>>What do you look like?

}}}>>>Sexy. Of course.
✂
}}}>>>>No, I mean how will I know which is
you?

}}}}Ahh. k. I’ll wear my Defiance hoodie. I’ve vampyre
tats on my shoulders. + Look for the board with my
tag on it. Wot about u?
✂
}}}}>I chose a character type called Silver
Trooper. It turns out to be some kind of
imperial messenger. She has a silver uniform
and an airbike.