He is the Principal: A Kurtherian Gambit Series (The School of Harder Knocks Book 2) by Michael Anderle

Author:Michael Anderle [Anderle, Michael]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: LMBPN Publishing
Published: 2024-12-06T00:00:00+00:00

Kirian had said his goodbyes to his mother and Gramps and took the tram to the heart of the entertainment district. Tor had arranged to meet him at the juice bar attached to an arcade neither frequented.

Being in the city without his chair was an eye-opener. With the aid of his exosuit and the pain patches his mother had applied to his spine before he left, Kirian walked among the crowds for the first time, experiencing what it was like to go unnoticed.

Strangers jostled him on the crowded sidewalks, everyone in a hurry to get where they were going. He felt vulnerable without the bubble his chair provided to separate him from the masses. He also had a sense of freedom he could never have experienced in the chair.

“Your heart rate went up,” Cerebro commented. “Do you need assistance?”

“I’m fine.”

The professor cut in. “Are you sure? I can be there in fifteen minutes if you need me.”

“I’m fine,” Kirian repeated. “I have the tracker dot you gave me if things don’t go the way we want.”

Kirian dodged someone in a Princess Warrior costume who was handing out flyers and made a left turn off the main strip. Here, X-rated adult entertainment establishments vied for space with niche businesses that catered to those who couldn’t find what they wanted in the larger arcades and clubs.

Many people played the Inner Life sim to avoid their mundane existence. Its users were both pitied and scorned for their preference for building the fantasy existence they wanted in-game. Nevertheless, dozens of places like ReImagine catered to them.

Kirian pushed the smoked glass door open and headed inside to find Tor. The juice bar’s entrance was opposite the reception desk on the right. The walls were painted a garish green and decorated with neon fruits and vegetables.

He debated going to the counter to get a drink. Then he spotted Tor poking his head out of a corner booth.

“Over here,” Tor called, waving Kirian to him.

Kirian eyed the other customers as he walked over. They all wore VR headsets and had the glassy-eyed stares of people lost in their games. Tor didn’t look much better.

“Have you been sleeping on the streets?” Kirian asked as he slid into the booth.

Tor nodded and lifted a shoulder. “I had to avoid the gangs. I have enough trouble without them forcing me to join them.” He adjusted the hood of his cloak, which had fallen back with the movement. His eyes were red from lack of sleep and wide with alertness.

Kirian noted that Tor’s gaze remained on the door as if he expected someone to barge in. “What’s going on with you? I’ve been worried since you vanished. Is someone after you?”

“It’s more than that.” Tor shook his head. “It doesn’t matter. You said you needed my help with something?”

Kirian’s chest constricted. “That can wait. I’m worried about you. Your family up and left you almost a standard cycle ago, and now you’re on the run from stars knows who.”

They were interrupted by the surly waitress from behind the counter.

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