The Energy Crusades by Valerie Noble

complete his Crusade. "Have you met my friend Caden?" They were both football players at the University; they had to be acquainted, but Atticus made no move, gave no sign of recognition; he only pulled his solar glasses back down across his face, and crossed his arms in front of him.
    "Would you like a tour of the University?" Atticus asked, ignoring the question completely. His steady gaze stayed firmly planted in my direction.
    "Oh, too bad," Caden snapped his fingers. "We were just heading to breakfast."
    We weren ' t just heading to breakfast, but I let it slide, caught at the moment between loyalty to my fellow Crusader and a fellow Athlete.
    "What ' s going on here?" I asked in an attempt to clear the air.
    Neither said anything for several moments, but it was Atticus who broke the silence.
    "Did he mention his girlfriend?" He kept his expression serene, as if the question was merely casual, but I got the message. Athletes never had time for boyfriends or girlfriends and it stung each time we learned something new about the life of Students. Hadn ' t I also bristled when Caden mentioned her to me? But, were we to take offense at every luxury the Students had and hold ourselves apart, separate and angry? I didn ' t want to isolate myself from the Students, but I was glad to have another Athlete around to commiserate with. We could discuss such things later, assuming we ' d get a chance to be alone, because I didn ' t want to take sides in his scuffle with Caden. I wouldn ' t speak out against my fellow Athlete, and I wouldn ' t offend my fellow Crusader.
    "Let ' s all go, shall we?" I mediated, and began walking without waiting for an answer. It wasn ' t long before they fell into step on either side of me.
    The campus was brimming with life. It was still early, but there were Students swarming all over the great lawns across the southern end of campus. These stretched between the rows of buildings that housed the majority of the classrooms and laboratories. Even at a distance, I could make out the molecular science, physics, solar engineering, and water production buildings. I remembered them all and their locations from the countless hours I spent exploring with Ajax when we were little. As I watched, Student engineers scaled the solar building to study the cells. Horticulturalists worked on the living roofs, and along the center of the lawns, students worked on physical fitness. Some were practicing maneuvers against the Virtual Guards, and others worked through complicated obstacle courses. There was a flurry of activity wherever I looked, and the buildings crawled with Students studying anything and everything they could get their hands on.
    Many of the Students practiced with orbs, small round objects used as weapons. They flew through the air while the Students attempted to harness their power and I felt a tug of envy while I watched. I hadn't yet started my Weapons training and wished I was using an orb rather than being stuck between Atticus and Caden.
    Seeing the Students working furiously and dedicated to their studies, gave me a rush of anticipation. I felt a renewed sense of pride about who I was and what I ' d been trained for, both mentally and physically, and the feeling stayed with me as I entered the cafeteria, which was nearly full by the time we arrived. A hush fell over the Students as we entered, and I knew the hushed whispers were in regards to the Athletes and not the redhead who accompanied us.
    Atticus didn ' t pause as we entered; he took my arm and propelled me forward, unruffled by the hushed silence. Many of the Students dipped their heads as we passed, and I dipped mine back, acknowledging each one I made eye contact with. Atticus kept his eyes focused straight ahead and Caden followed just slightly behind me. He tugged my other arm as we neared a table where Ajax sat with Balor and Tory. In response, Atticus tried to pull me along, not wishing to stop, but I held my ground and the three of