Conspicuous group of muscle smashed a girl's head into brick wall and stuffed the body into a duffel bag in but a few practised moves - all because she wore my jacket. Terrible choice of friends on her part. I, on the other hand, did great. Picked her precisely because she looked a little like me and investment has born a fruit. Decoy took a blow in my stead and not a moment too late – I was about to join up with her. Dove right back behind the corner and made myself scarce.

So-called students picked the perfect blind spot. And by that I mean I wasn't aware there was one here. Cameras were pointing both ways at the passage. This could have been bad. Really bad. It could have been me there. Nearly was. I wanted to trust in my superior preparation and planning that lead to the narrow escape, but nagging voice insisted that this was but a grandiose coincidence. However, my life was rife with those. It had to account for something.

Nothing went right today. Troubles started since early morning, when a lecturer called me out. I loathed public speaking, to top things off - I had come in unprepared. That has thrown me off-kilter for the entire day. Oddest thing to get in a tizzy about. I wasn't here to learn to begin with. I mean I was, but not whatever subjects that were taught around here. This institute was a place for the next generation of the most affluent to start forging alliances and I needed to know all about that.

Nobody of importance learnt anything here, yet that episode affected me so tediously. Looking stupid in front of crème de la crème was nothing out of ordinary. It was expected. By them and me as well. I wasn't even meant to stand out with a staggering amounts of brilliance. I was in hiding. Perhaps that was it – having the spotlight shone my way.

I needed to stop thinking about it. There were far bigger, brawny problems reaching for me. Just who of all these fine elites could have taken offence and what for exactly? No, that was wrong approach with far too many reasons. My snooping was bound to get noticed.

I could hope the attack was due to my offending low-class presence or stepping on some noble heels, but it wouldn't amount to murder. Not here. A lot of things were overlooked, especially when high echelon was involved, but that was one thing universally frowned upon. After all, nobody wanted to lose a nearly grown heir. And hence this taboo was far too risqué of an affair even for the most powerful to bridle. A beat down and humiliation was far more entertaining in first place.

Which meant there was a serious reason for the sight I've almost suffered. I might have uncovered something important, just did not yet know what. Or my earlier problems could have finally caught up to me here and I simply needed to bolt.

The generic rugged physiques could have belonged to any bodyguard from any private security, as well as thugs of the underbelly. There were no insignias of any sort – I've scanned them up and down. Still hoping for this to be a local problem, I rushed back to my room to check if my personal tap on the cameras picked something warranting this brutal of a response. Blackmail never solved anything, but leverage was a leverage. Anything that provided direction would be worthwhile.

Upon entering my room I found it ransacked. Stupefied, I slunk further down the narrow opening. It wasn't even my official lodging. Nobody knew I was squatting here. It wasn't even a room! Here was a lovechild of storage closet and maintenance shaft, a god-awful nook that suited needs of nobody. And luckily, that was me. Or so I thought.

Who could have even found this? Somebody with eyes on me, that's who. Timing was worrisome too. Feeling the ants scurry around on my back, I squeezed through the noisy pipes and dared to wade further into the possible ambush. I was halfway there anyway.

Unexpectedly, the nook up ahead was empty too. How... anticlimactic. Whoever was hounding me could have just quietly waited in here and I'd have perished without any pesky cameras to witness it. Strange.

Right. The cameras. I was here for a reason.

I shuffled through the wrecked brackets, picked and pulled on the various wires as dread began setting. There was nothing behind them. Nor under the junk. Not there either. Anywhere. It wasn't here. My computer was gone. I desperately kept looking, even knowing it wouldn't miraculously resurface.

The data didn't matter! Nor all the effort spent on gathering dirt on those snobby scions! The blackmail material could potentially prolong my life, but it was worthless without the precious device anyway.

My most prized possession. My only possession of any value. Something most people don't even get to see anymore. I was utterly crippled without it. Even if I somehow managed to land my grubby fingers on another one, it wouldn't have all those specific programs nor capabilities. Those cost bigger favours than the rare instrument itself. It would take me years to recover from this and I didn't even have my previous contacts anymore. Some hunted me. This was the end.

Calm down. Think. Think.

I swallowed the panic and forced violent beating in my throat to slow down.

Whoever took it probably aren't the same people who meant murder. Not yet, in any case, or they would have been here. So now I had two extermination parties on my back and in close proximity. That's the perfect reason to count my losses and get the hell out, but I needed my lifeline. Without the device and information within it I was as good as dead anyway.

It would take time for mystery burglar to break my passwords and then some more to find relevant data to get pissy about. It was encrypted too. I could still put out that fire. The previous one might solve itself after that too. Not all was lost.

Finally deciding on an action plan, I got up. Changed my clothes into a masculine attire and strode around like I've had all the time in the world. Hiding in plain sight worked wonders, especially for people of average build and nondescript short hair. Sticking to crowds was key.

I put an advert on the bulletin board about buying high-end tech. The price range was really only affordable by the top echelon, so random thief would be disinclined to come forward. However, offering anything less would be deemed fake. And who knew, perhaps they'd even put it back if impression of messing with someone of infinite funds was believable enough?

Dropped by the robotics shop next. Security was through the roof, both coming in and out to protect valuable assets. An unlikely place to find a missing device, but sometimes the techies would bring in their own matrixes to get worked on. There were also the assignments. As disinclined the environment was for education, some determined souls still tried to forge path out of the gutter. Getting adopted by snobs in need of a certain skill was always a possibility here.

Didn't see the familiar parts nor heard any hushed chatter about new acquisitions. Moved onto the campus' watering hole next. That would be the place for loose lips to do some bragging. After all, to everybody but the wealthiest it was a hoard. Somebody had to slip up and reveal truth.

Would have helped to change into body-fitting dress and a wig for the occasion, but alas – I didn't have a useful fool to run errands in my officially assigned room anymore. The audacity to just up and die like that. Who even surrenders so easily? Well, whatever. Water under the bridge. The girl did her real job adequately. I'd miss her but it was necessary.

Mingling within a drunken crowd until dawn had been complete bust as well. The thief was being too careful. Or indifferent, which would be a whole other problem. I'll need to start asking direct questions of a wider range of people. Subpar.

The long day was nearing morning. I sauntered towards the canteen, defeated. It was deserted, both the path there and building itself. Despite slight tipsiness and the sleepless exhaustion, all my senses were on high alert. Such abandoned environment was prime real estate for a hit.

Myriad glass eyes helped my situation, but witnesses might not be an issue for pursuers this determined. Especially if they brought along a projectile weapons. Lethal contraband was harshly discouraged but I was wary of the open windows anyway. Somebody has been watching me long enough to know where to sneak up and how to obstruct the constant surveillance, as there's been no manhunt.

I entered cafeteria unmolested. The hall was as desolate as it appeared from outside. There were no tell-tale knuckleheads lurking, though I had no doubt they kept an eye on the sole food dispensary. The ceiling-tall windows offered me many routes of escape if it came to that. I knew exactly which panels could open and where the latches weren't all the way caught. It was necessary. Sooner or later somebody would have gotten on my case.

Just as I was picking out most generic food items with longest shelf life, a sect of attendants spilled out from the kitchens with a selection of covered trays. Such a feast and it wasn't even breakfast! Their master was likely bursting at the seams.

Easy enough to imagine and privately scoff at the affluent, but much harder to actually believe it. Positions of the military leaders had become hereditary at some point, but state of affairs had ensured meritocracy. They either performed or died.

It wasn't all that unlikely for paupers to rise in ranks either. This establishment originally came to be with such purpose in mind. To find people showing promise and wring out maximum potential from the grey mass. Any one of these no-name lowlifes could become elites. It's why I was here, too. To hold hand on the pulse of current affairs, sure, but also – to acquire some dirt for decades to come. I was trying to think ahead. With limited success.

Perhaps I'd have had better time vying for a spot at a general's feet. Alas, whilst people with no past got this opportunity, it was just the opposite for individuals with too much past. Reprobates on the run didn't get to be publicly acclaimed persons.

Chatter shook me out of my tired pondering.

"That's her, isn't it?"

Very peculiar. I concentrated to make out the details. The attendants on their way out were being really quiet, however my augmented ears were made just for this.

"We should warn her."

"Mind your own well-being," voice of someone barely older scolded as they scurried out. "You know what mistakes cost."

Hint of the threat seemed to stomp out the do-gooder's beneficent will. Got to love people of integrity and immovable moral values. Pale woman looked back at me one more time before stepping through the door. I hurried and I drew laptop-sized rectangle with my hands. Her eyes widened, she nodded vigorously and darted out.

Well. This has been unexpected and revealing. My eavesdropping abilities finally got me a lead, but this was not something I'd ever want to follow up. Even if it even was the same thing we communicated about by some miracle, what was I supposed to do with this information? I was essentially warned about being caught by the top echelon. Even the servants knew enough to pity me.

I should just go. No packing, just leave as I stand now - dried meat in my hand and all. This failed endeavour will leave me so deep in the red I'll never again see the light of day again, but at least I'd be alive.

Who was I kidding? If my life was over either way, I could at least try grabbing the darn device. I can do it. I really could. Probably. I was literally made for this. So what if the foe was a high lordling this time? How different could it really be? It was but a title. Very heavy title, but nevertheless. It wasn't yet his. This was but a brat for now.