Elaine watched stoically as Frog’s class let out and a flood of students torrented past, breaking like a stream in front of her and reforming behind. They looked tired, as if worn down by the proceedings within; some of them carried sheets of green-lined scrap paper, folded neatly or crumpled in their fists, others had … Read more
“There’s a lot of reasons people cheat,” Frog said. She tossed a lock of her green hair from her shoulders and shrugged dramatically. “In high school all the cheerleaders cheated in one way or another—no, not me, you know that. I didn’t have to… Though, I did go through the motions. You were expected to … Read more
The dean made a long show of feigned disinterest as Frog and Elaine exited his office. Although he stared intently at the terminal on his desk, Elaine could tell that he kept his attention raptly on her as she walked away. Comparing his body language to previous encounters, she surmised that Frog would have hypothesized … Read more
“As I intimated,” he said, settling back into his chair again. “I want to hire you. I will pay you for your services—no academic favors, if you’re going to work for me, you must do so as an outside party and not a student under my jurisdiction. Of course, I cannot offer you the resources … Read more
Frog fell heavily into one of the stiff, thinly upholstered chairs and crossed her legs. She leaned back with all the bravado of someone just along for the ride, but stopped short of putting her sneakers up on the dean’s desk. Elaine pulled the remaining chair a little closer and angled it so that she … Read more
Frog borrowed Zane’s motorcycle, which he graciously offered after she flashed him a brilliant grin and promised to spend a yet-to-be-determined night over watching Battle Star Galactica on his new plasma TV with the boys. As she rolled it to a stop in an available space next to the ASU Book Store, an evening breeze … Read more
“Those students all have fit our guidelines for graduate prog—” “I’m not finished.” Chairwoman Naughton raised a knifelike finger and stabbed the air with it. “I expect every department to bring airs and distinctions to our institution. This one included.” Stab. “Behind the last quarter the admirable increase in scores across the board have brought … Read more
A place for everything and everything in its place, read the plaque on the Dean of Engineering’s desk. A mantra that Professor Richard Harwood believed he could live by. Except today, everything seemed just a little bit out of place. He carefully returned the plaque to its proper location precisely seven inches away from the … Read more
“You’ll be able to stand in a minute or so,” Elaine said without lifting her eyes from the Enoch’s screen. “There will be no permanent damage. The nerves and muscles in your legs have been overloaded with an electroshock pulse.” “So clinical,” Susan said. “Larry, I didn’t know you were on one of the other … Read more
“Webcams show six people around the house,” Elaine said. She flipped open her phone and started plugging away at the keys. “All your computers in the house are still shielded and grounded? Zane?” “Uh, yes, always,” he said. “Good,” Elaine said. She smiled to herself as she loaded up an experimental program she’d been baking … Read more