A Chronetic Memory (The Chronography Records Book 1) by Kim K. O'Hara Page B

she had showed a few how to point at the source location, set the direction, and turn on the projector, she left them experimenting and moved over to talk to Ms. Harris, who had sat quietly but approvingly through the whole talk.
    “I think you’ll be just fine during the political discussion,” she said.
     
    Eight students and Ms. Harris followed Dani into the conference room for the political discussion. She sat near the middle of one side of the long table, leaving the head of the table for whoever might want it.
    She looked around to see what—and who—she might be facing. “Will you all introduce yourselves before we begin? Maybe one short sentence about why you’re here today while you’re at it. I’ll start. I’m Ms. Adams, but I’m not much older than you and it’s okay to call me Dani, if you want, with Ms. Harris’s permission?”
    Ms. Harris nodded her permission, and Dani went on. “I’m here today because I believe in the institute that I work for. I believe it has done some wonderful things, but I also know there are concerns about what it could do, so let’s talk about those too.”
    She looked to her immediate left at the girl in the bright yellow shirt. “I’m Alanya. I’m here because chronography seems really exciting, but really dangerous. I want to know more.”
    The girl in the dark hoody, to her left, said, “Meredin. I love learning about the past. I just don’t want everybody to know everything about my past. Or really, about anyone’s past, without a very good reason.”
    The math whiz with the bright blue hair had claimed the spot at the head of the table just beyond them. “Joph. I like numbers. I want to be sure we’re all getting the truth.” He looked at her very directly as he spoke. She could tell he meant business, and she liked what she saw.
    The dark-haired girl with the casual tee shirt was next to him, opposite Meredin. She had pulled one long leg up under the other and was attempting to sit cross-legged on the chair, which was falling short of adjusting to her posture. She gave up and decided to be satisfied with one leg up. “I’m Tejaswi, but people call me Jazz. I see things other people miss. This chronography stuff weirds me out. It’s bad news. You’re from RIACH, right there in the middle of the weirdness.”
    “Why are you here?”
    “Honestly, I’m here to throw it in your face to see how you respond. No offense.”
    Dani laughed, amused in spite of the girl’s challenge. Here was the opposition she’d been warned about, and she was keenly aware of the nods of agreement scattered around the long table. “Fair enough. I’ll remind you that I’m an intern. I’m not in the middle of anything, really. I’m out on the edge. But I’ll do my best to listen and answer what I can.”
    She turned to the curly-haired boy, who was sitting on the left of Jazz. “Your turn,” she invited.
    “I’m Shard. I’m interested in everything, but I’m here mostly to get out of sixth period.” His admission made everyone laugh, and lightened the tension.
    An athletic-looking boy who hadn’t spoken up during the technology discussion, and who had slipped in late to this one, sat directly across from Dani. At her nod, he spoke. “I’m Beck.” He hesitated, trying to find words. “I don’t really want to say why I’m here, if that’s all right. It’s personal.”
    “That’s fine, Beck.” Two more kids to go. She hoped she’d be able to remember these names. Ms. Harris was sitting next to Beck. Her gaze skipped past her to the next position, the other end of the long table.
    “I’m Lora,” said the girl in the white shirt who had defined chronography. “I think chronography should be regulated. I want to know if anyone is watching the watchers. And if nobody is, I want to make a lot of noise until people wake up and do something!”
    Dani nodded. She’d almost gone full circle now. “And you?” she asked the slender young man sitting on her