Phillip pats on the back after I answer the fourth question, his hand landing firmly between my shoulder blades as if he is trying to steady both of us. His expression carries a mixture of pride and disbelief. He knew I was good, but even he did not expect this kind of performance. Across the stage, however, I notice sothing very different.
A black-haired Asian girl on the opposing team is glaring at . Her straight dark hair fras a face that is calm on the surface, yet her eyes are sharp and analytical. She is not reacting like the rest of the audience. She is not impressed, and she is certainly not intimidated. She is evaluating . I recognize her imdiately as the one who answered the very first question of the competition with remarkable speed and accuracy.
The people in the audience are now leaning toward one another and whisper behind their hands. A few heads turn in my direction more often than they should. Their expressions are beginning to shift from admiration to suspicion. I realize that if I continue answering questions at the sa unnatural pace, the attention will sharpen into sothing far less friendly.
I decide to deliberately pause before responding to the next problem. I count silently in my head to create the impression that I am working through the math like anyone else would. I want to appear talented, but I also want to appear human.
That is, until the Asian girl hits her buzzer as soon as the fifth equation appears and gets it right.
"Well," the judge’s voice rings out, "it looks like we have quite the spirited and talented competition on our hands tonight."
The audience responds with enthusiastic murmurs and scattered applause. The atmosphere is beginning to shifts from casual excitent to sothing closer to rivalry now.
"Vage, does she have the nanites?" I send to the alien. I cannot sense any of the switches on the ship, but I know the alien will get the ssage.
"No, but she has her gene activated," the words appear a mont later.
"I think she has so kind of superior intellect," I tell her.
While I am distracted by this exchange, the sixth question appears on the screen. By the ti I refocus, the girl has already buzzed in with the correct answer. I curse my lack of focus for causing to miss the question entirely.
A wave of impressed exclamations rises from the audience. People aren’t just whispering anymore; they’re reacting openly. This competition has turned into a total spectacle, and I decide right then to get my butt in gear if we’re going to have a chance of winning this, If she intends to push the pace, then I cannot afford hesitation.
The next equation appears, and she presses her buzzer a fraction of a second too early. A sharp tone sounds through the speakers, signaling that she acted before the question fully registered. The judge announces that her team is disqualified for that round.
I take the opportunity to remain still and allow Sarah to answer. She gives the correct solution, and relief spreads across her face as our score inches closer to theirs.
After that, it becos a battle to see who can hit the buzzer first without hitting it too early. I screw up once, but quickly use a switch to display the equation. The girl really begins to glare at after that and ends up making two more mistakes.
The temptation to use my switches more than that once grows as we stay neck and neck, but I hold back.
Then we are one point behind going into the final question. It is worth two points.
The tension in the room is thick, and silence hangs supre as everyone waits for the final problem to appear. No pressure at all.
The screen lights up, and suddenly my vision goes blank. I do not an the room dimd or that I could not see the screen. I an everything went gray. A solid, flat gray.
It takes a mont to realize that I heard the opponent’s buzzer but no answer followed it.
"She doesn’t have it," Phillip says next to . "Look at her. She is shaking her head, and her eyes are huge."
I wish I could look at her. Why can I not see?
"I need your answer," the judge announces officiously.
Another buzzer sounds, indicating that the other team took too long.
"We have got this," Sarah says. "What is it, Nick?"
"I do not know," I tell her in confusion. "I cannot see."
The judge calls for us to answer, and I can hear Phillip furiously scribbling, trying to co up with the solution.
"What do you an?" my female teammate demands. "It is right there!"
I shake my head in denial and point shakily at my head. She does not understand, and I am starting to get worried. Have I sohow overused the nanites? Did sothing fry in my brain?
"Vage?" I send in desperation, but I cannot even see my own ssage.
Phillip hits the buzzer and shouts, "Forty two!"
"I am sorry, that is incorrect," the judge drones, and just that quickly, my vision returns.
Imdiately I glance at the screen, wanting to know what kind of equation could stump the other team, but it is already gone.
"Vage, what happened?"
"Your race is not yet ready for that answer," she responds a mont later.
What is that supposed to an?
Another buzzer sounds, and the ga is over. We lost.
The girl on the opposing team stomps over to and stares in the eyes for a mont. "You cheated," she states matter of factly.
The judge hears her. "Do you have so sort of evidence to present and back up your claim, young lady?" But she shakes her head and walks back to her celebrating team.
Then Tina, Dennis, and Rose are right there, looking around, and I realize they are acting as my bodyguards again.
"Nick," Sarah yells after , but I need to get out of here. What had Vage ant about our race not being ready for that?
I see Professor Janet looking at , worried, but I keep moving.
The four of us head for the exit, but the Asian girl cuts us off.
"Why didn’t you answer that last question?" she demands. I only now notice a faint accent in her voice.
"Why didn’t you?" I shoot back, not liking her attitude.
"You knew what it was too, then?" she asks curiously. There is no longer any heat in her voice.
I nod that I do, even though I do not have a frakking clue, and walk past her.
Unfortunately, the police are waiting for right outside the door.
"Mr. Smith?" a cop with the obligatory mustache asks, and I nod. "You are wanted in connection with the altercation that took place yesterday."
"Nick?" Tina’s voice is thick with worry.
For a mont I debate making a switch to make the cop forget, but that will not make the problem go away, and it will likely get the officer in trouble to boot. I have never had a reason to hate the police, knowing they are only there to do their duty and help protect us.
Does that make an Earth cop, since I am trying to protect all of humanity? A question for another ti.
"It is okay," I whisper to her and step toward the officer. "Any chance my girlfriend can ride with ?" I ask, already knowing the answer. I use a switch to make him more accommodating.
Yes, I am manipulating him, but I am worried about Tina’s psyche if I am gone too long.
"Um, I am not supposed to, but I guess if you behave." The policeman seems a bit confused as he walks us to the car. He even politely opens the doors for us.
I tell Dennis and Rose to head ho and that I will be there before too much longer. Dennis gives a wink before leading a chortling Rose away. They know I can handle myself.
"What is going on, Frank?" a second cop asks as we get situated. "We are only supposed to pick him up, not his floozy too."
Hearing Tina referred to as a floozy pisses off. I crank hard on Frank’s accommodation switch, then create and flip a few in the partner as well.
"Listen, bub," I say in as deep and nacing a voice as I can muster, "this lady is a high class gal. In your whole life, you will be lucky to have a woman such as her even look at you. Treat her with respect. Am I clear?"
I release him from his paralysis and let go of his intimidation switch, smiling as he turns fear filled eyes toward . He quickly nods and turns back to the front as we pull out of the parking lot.
Tina is left in the lobby as I am taken back to a different officer’s desk. I half expected to be taken to an interrogation room, but I will not complain that I am not.
I do not wait long before a large, brutish looking woman sits across from and glares for a mont. Her nose has obviously been broken nurous tis, and there are small scars around her mouth. Her shoulders are easily broad enough to play for any professional football team.
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