The Novida Code by JN David Page A

manage it, but I knew that she would change all this. She was simply unstoppable.
    I met her in the corridor at dinner time. She was in uniform but was still carrying a pretty handbag that I'd bought her during my peregrinations whilst waiting for the supplier.
    The main purpose of this bag was to hide the siphon, and my heart stopped when I saw that she intended to take it with her under the very eyes of Commandant Amar. We only sat at his table at lunchtime, but eating dinner with this device just a few metres away from him scared me to death.
    She began talking excitedly about Oniar, revealing that things between them had “developed considerably” and that she was sure of her feelings for him. Then, whilst still talking along these lines, she signalled to me to activate the crystal she had just slipped into my hand.
    Auxana,
    I've found the perfect hiding place for the siphon where no-one would look: the refectory. I need your help for this. When I give you a big smile, you must faint. You'll only recover consciousness when I grab your hand and yell “Auxana, can you hear me?” I'll take care of hiding the siphon in the wall sculpture near our usual table.
     
    I pushed away any thought of all the things that could go wrong with this plan and just had time to recover my composure before reaching the refectory, which was already crowded as we made our way through it. I had hoped to arrive before the officers but their table was full up. I forced myself not to think of Amar, focussing only on Lauren.
    We were within sight of our table when she turned to me and gave me a huge smile. I was so nervous that pretending to faint was no problem at all. My plate flew from my hands and I fell. Just before crashing onto the floor, I was caught by a soldier standing nearby. I heard Lauren and then a few others scream, but I kept my eyes closed and remained impassive.
    I heard Olden close to me, distraught and calling for help. Then, Amar's soft and sinister voice in my ear asking if I could hear him. I blocked this voice out along with the terror it aroused in me and remained passive as I felt someone taking me in his arms.
    I prayed hard that this would be Olden but was soon disappointed when he called out for a doctor. There was no mistaking Amar's voice.
    I then felt a hand slip into mine, and Lauren shouted: “Auxana, can you hear me?” My hand stirred slightly and I blinked my eyelids, only to find Amar's eyes boring right into mine.
    I stared at him vacantly for a while. Lauren came into my field of vision and my eyes cleared. I murmured weakly: “What happened?”
    It was Amar who replied: “You passed out, young lady. Do you feel better now?”
    I said nothing, continuing to stare rather vaguely around me. The Efeghi doctor arrived and passed a strange device around my face. Then he turned to Amar: “Nothing serious, Commandant. Just a little dizzy spell. This young lady needs to lie down for a while and then she'll be fine.”
    Amar continued to carry me to the infirmary, where he put me on a bed. Then he stared at me.
    I smiled hesitantly back: “Thank you, Commandant”
    “ It is nothing”, he replied. “Have a good rest.” He bowed his head in my direction and left.
    I couldn't believe it. I'd managed to pull the wool over the eyes of Commandant Amar himself. And he had fallen for it. Lauren was right: fear was our only real enemy. I felt very proud of myself, but just to be on the safe side, I carried on pretending to feel weak while Lauren acted the anxious friend to perfection.
    The Efeghi doctor came back and told me I could return to my room. Accompanied by Lauren, I found Olden at my door. He asked if he could come in for a moment.
    In my room, I expected him to embrace me as usual, but instead he began pacing up and down. Clearly, something was troubling him. I didn't think he was worried on my account. I knew he had several other girlfriends with whom he spent the nights when he wasn't with