The Resistance

fighters, eh? And what are we fighting for, exactly?’ Pip was smiling slightly, and it unsettled Jude.
    ‘You’re against Longevity, aren’t you? Against old people.’ His voice was shaking a little.
    ‘Against old people.’ The smile deepened. ‘That’s interesting. And why do you want to join us?’
    Jude looked at him uncertainly. ‘I thought you’d be grateful for my help.’
    ‘How old are you?’ Pip leant in close; Jude could feel his breath on his ear.
    ‘Old enough.’ It was all he could do not to whimper pathetically.
    Pip moved away suddenly, and the other man spoke. ‘And who taught you how to hack into systems?’
    Jude felt himself relax slightly. They were on more comfortable ground now. He could talk about hacking for hours. ‘I taught myself. I got a computer when I was really young and I used to –’
    ‘Nice house, this,’ the man interrupted, throwing Jude off his stride. ‘Big for just one person.’
    ‘It was my mum’s. She –’
    ‘And you’re Legal,’ the man interrupted again.
    ‘You don’t think the neighbours might have reported me if I wasn’t?’
    The man, who had noticed the sarcasm in his voice, regarded him coolly, then moved around to face Jude so their noses were almost touching. ‘You may think that you’re very clever, but we do not appreciate people hacking into our systems, leaving trails for others to find. Do you understand?’
    ‘I didn’t leave a trail,’ Jude protested. ‘I never do.’
    ‘And yet we found you,’ Pip said gently. ‘We always leave a trail, Jude, whether we wish to or not.’
    Jude reddened. He must have messed up his diversion code. A stupid mistake.
    ‘You didn’t go to South America. Why?’
    Jude stared at Pip. ‘What?’
    ‘When your mother went. You could have gone too.’
    ‘How did you know . . .’ Jude started to say then stopped. ‘So you know who I am. Why bother asking any questions then?’
    Pip smiled. ‘It’s nice to hear it first-hand, I suppose.’
    Jude sighed. ‘Like I was going to move halfway across the world,’ he said dismissively. ‘Anyway, I wasn’t that wild on her new husband.’ As he spoke, an image of his mother crept into his head and he forced it out again. He didn’t care about her. Didn’t care that she’d followed that creep to South America after his father died. He could take care of himself anyway.
    ‘So this is your life now? Hacking into systems, blackmailing companies?’ It was the other man talking again. Jude bristled.
    ‘It’s not blackmail. I offer a service. I only hack in to show them their systems are open to threats.’
    ‘Threats like you?’
    Jude didn’t say anything. This wasn’t turning out at all as he’d planned it.
    ‘Show me the tapes,’ the man said briskly. ‘Now.’
    Jude opened up his DVD rewriter and handed the man a disk.
    ‘This the only copy?’
    ‘Uh-huh.’
    ‘If we find out there are more, you’ll regret it.’
    Jude’s usual insouciance seemed to have deserted him. ‘So can I join?’ he asked, his voice hoarse, nervous. ‘Did I pass the test?’ He looked at Pip hopefully; Pip laughed.
    ‘Test?’ he said, walking towards the door. ‘The only tests worth passing are the ones we set ourselves,’ he said, turning briefly. ‘You will choose your path, or perhaps it will choose you. Either way, I expect that we will meet again. Until then, be careful Jude. You know about Icarus?’
    Jude nodded quickly, as though showing his knowledge might impress Pip, might change his mind. ‘Sure. Flew too close to the sun.’
    Pip nodded and, to Jude’s immense disappointment, turned and made his way out of the room. ‘And singed his wings, Jude,’ he said as he walked. ‘And singed his wings.’
    Dr Edwards didn’t mention the lunchtime incident again. Once back at the lab, Peter went back to learning about enzymes and their role in the body; Dr Edwards went back to his research. They worked silently, the only words exchanged ones of necessity.
    But later that afternoon, Dr Edwards called him over.
    ‘Peter, come and look at this.’ Dr Edwards lifted his head from the large microscope in front of him and moved out of the way, motioning for Peter to take his place and peer through the lens. Slowly, Peter wandered over and did as Dr Edwards bid.
    ‘What do you see?’
    Peter shrugged. ‘I dunno,’ he said casually. He was still feeling resentful, had found nowhere to direct his anger except at whatever was in front of