Snippet #936291

Sophie stared at Dr. Lockhart, uncertain of how to feel about what she had just heard. Awkward didn't even begin to describe it. They placed trackers in the toilets? The people in charge weren't going to let her get away with anything. She had to wonder what other resources they used to keep an eye on the students. While the idea eliminated any illusion of privacy she would have had on the Pioneer I, she understood the logic behind all of it. If they were going to put thirty kids in charge of a space ship, they needed a way to keep an eye on them. But something else piqued Sophie's interest.

"Matchmaker...?" she echoed, but Dr. Lockhart had turned her attention to the cameras - more sets of eyes for the Head Supervisor.

On one of the screens, Sophie saw Valkyn standing outside the door. It was true; she could see fear in his eyes. Her heart began to beat furiously in her chest. All she had to do was look at him, and she knew he had figured it out. Valkyn was smart. He didn't let things slip by him so easily. Sophie remembered the countless times that she had gotten discouraged in training for the Pioneer Program. While she was never one to show it, Valkyn always knew, and he always said just what she needed to hear. She wondered if he would know the right thing to say this time.

Part of Sophie wanted to stay and see if Valkyn could pull a few comforting words from under his sleeve. As much as she hated to admit it, sometimes she needed that support from someone. But part of her wanted to make a run for it. The longer she could put off an encounter with him, the better. Somewhere deep, down, though, she realized that avoiding him wasn't going to make the problem disappear. With a defeated sigh, Sophie slumped onto the couch.

"Let him in," she groaned. "I'll stay. He's got to find out sometime. But I really don't want him sticking his nose in this."