The Novida Code by JN David

was horrified and made no attempt to hide it.
“No. There is no treatment.” To reassure me, he added: “Don't worry, Auxana. Nobody can be subjugated without the permission of the head auxiliary, and he hardly ever gives it.”
    I snuggled up against him and sighed: “I shan't worry as long as you're here, Olden.”
    And at that, he just held me tight.

9                Lauren
 
    After seeing Olden leaving Auxana's bedroom, I went back into mine. I was in a state of shock. I kept telling myself that it was all my fault. Yet, I had predicted such a situation; I just never imagined that it would be Auxana making this sacrifice. The worst part was knowing that I'd pushed her into it. I had dismissed her without even listening to her and this was the only way she could think of to force my hand.
    At seven, I went out to meet Auxana. We chatted as usual and I tried to behave normally, but I was on automatic pilot. Auxana immediately realised that I knew everything.
    We made our way back to the refectory. As we went into the big dining room, I noted that Olden was already there along with all of the officers' table and Commandant Amar himself. I could tell at a glance that they all knew everything. However, they were discreet and Olden exchanged just one glance with Auxana before she came over to our usual place.

 
    Oniar looked at me too, but I was too flustered to do anything, and pretended not to notice.
    After breakfast, we had Afren's lesson. As usual, I ignored his propaganda, focusing instead on any detail of the Efeghi culture that I could glean. But I was racked with guilt and my mind was wandering too much to take in anything at all.
    Just one news item caught my attention: the announcement of a party to be held the following week and to which all the earthlings were invited. Volunteers were required to help organise it.
    All the students in our row – whom Auxana and I had nicknamed the enthusiasts – volunteered. I noted murmurs of dissent from the back rows, whom we called the idiots . They made their opposition so blatant that it was obvious that Amar was only keeping them to use as involuntary lures.
    He only had to have them followed out of the general HQ to uncover several pockets of resistance. Several youngsters had already left the class in disgust, and I shuddered to think about the poor Resistance groups that had recruited them.
    At midday I suggested to Auxana that we should walk to the market. I had to talk to her and this was the only possible place. But just before we set off, Josiane came up to us and asked to speak to me. I followed her, wondering what on earth she could want from me, for she was an active member of the idiots , and our two groups didn't mix. At the end of the corridor, she turned to face me:
“Lauren, we all thought we ought to warn you.”
“Warn me about what?” I asked.
“I know you think the Efeghis don't mean us any harm, but you're wrong.” I turned away, but she persisted: “Listen to me! You're smart enough to see that that's impossible. We're in their hands and our only chance is to fight them now, while we still can!”
    I was smart enough to see that our dear Josiane was a traitor on Amar's payroll.
    There was no other reason why a so-called member of the Resistance should come and headhunt such a staunch Efeghi supporter as me. Amar must want to test Auxana and me. This wasn't necessarily a bad sign as it was perhaps standard procedure for the mistresses of his officers.
    But for him to have chosen me in particular meant that my cover wasn't good enough. Or that Oniar had also showed an interest in me and that he was in fact as highly placed as I had imagined.
    I replied vehemently: “I don't understand you! You're not even giving them a chance to prove themselves!”
    Josiane shook her head, “How can you be so blind?”
“If that's what you think, at least have the honesty to leave this class!” I yelled at her. Then I turned on my