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bitterness she contained in her soul, she only let it out during her work for the Blue tribe, it seemed.
    Even without all of those clear signs, he’d known it was hers just from the electronic signals alone. Her personality was so deeply interwoven with the machine it was frightening. People definitely get too attached to these things.
    Now, let’s see what she’s been up to since her “rehabilitation,” shall we? Rehabilitation, he scoffed at the idea. Alan’s tribe, the red tribe, had attempted to wipe Tait’s memories of the Alturan war and return her to “normal.”
    They’d gotten ahold of a sophisticated device that was considered some kind of Alturan holy relic. This machine allowed users to connect with their brains, search through their entire lives, pick out the information it desired, and move it to storage on its hard drive. In the past, the Alturans used it to document vital events in history. Now, they were using it to safely lobotomize their enemies.
    Only, someone else hacked the computer system during Tait’s turn and the operation had to be shut down partway through. Supposedly, she didn’t know enough to continue involvement with the war. The techs claimed they were able to remove all of the essential details revolving around how to use her abilities and whom she worked for. Gideon didn’t buy it. He had been inside the computer at the same time, and none of her memories were being transferred from her mind to the system. Somehow, the program had been altered, messed around with—hacked. By someone who wasn’t him and who wasn’t an ally.
    First, he searched through Tait’s email. He wasn’t expecting to find much there. Email was too easy for an outsider to observe. Careless. Sending a message through one of the school computers or at home would raise some eyebrows if anyone were to look over her shoulder. Most of its contents were school or cheerleading related. One brief message from Nathan caught Gideon’s attention, but only because it was from Nathan. Tait shouldn’t have been interacting with Nate in school since they were both in different grades. To be fair, however, Nathan was smart, and like Gideon, qualified for higher-level courses. They might share a science class, and they’re both popular, so it’s possible they might have a few mutual friends. It’s not completely ridiculous. But he was at that party…somehow he’s involved too. Gideon made note of the two’s meeting time next week for a “special project,” and moved on to her text messages.
    Like most teenagers, she sent thousands of them a day. Including during class. An active conversation was going on as he snooped—with Orlando, of all people.
    â€œI’m thinking about dropping Spanish,” Orlando wrote.
    â€œ Why?” Tait replied.
    â€œBecause I suck at it.”
    â€œPractice more!”
    â€œIt’s going to ruin my GPA. I barely managed an A last semester. Class is breaking my brain.”
    â€œI could help you. Study date?”
    â€œNot sure. I have a feeling not a lot of studying will happen.”
    Gideon scrunched up his nose. Walked in at a bad time. She’s hot and all, but he knows what kind of a monster she is. How can he still be into her?
    He opened his eyes and shifted his position to watch the two, trying to get a feel for what was really going on. Deep down, he wanted to believe Orlando wouldn’t fall victim to her female charms, but Tait was indeed charming when she wasn’t acting like a tyrant. Gideon wasn’t sure he’d have been able to resist, especially when she came on so strong.
    She smirked as she typed in her reply. “So?”
    â€œI want an A,” came Orlando’s short response.
    â€œYou’ll get one, and then some.”
    Orlando’s body tensed up as he read the message and he pressed his lips together. He lifted a finger, ready