Skin Nation

by Joni Bing

  ****

  “So, the plan is I'm taking you captive. Well, if someone's in the center.”

  Josh and I rode down the streets in Lary's H2. Little did Josh know, we both had our own game plans to fulfill.

  “Why would no one be there?”

  “This late? Because Requesters are guards and workers at night with the exception of the night techs. The Gov feels there's no need for extra people after hours.”

  “You don't think that's unwise?”

  “Not at all,” he shrugged. “In fact, its less time consuming with people out our way and more money in the Gov's pockets.”

  I gave him a suspicious look and looked out of the window.

  He chuckled nervously. “Anyway, it'll make our trip a whole lot easier.”

  I kept silent. I just wanted this night to be over with and done. He kept silent too. I guess fakers could only make so much conversation. We arrived at the NR center like before and the dead Requesters that were scattered around the road the night before were gone. There wasn't a trace of evidence that it had even occurred.

  “So far, so good,” Josh nodded as he exited the H2 with a loaded gun. “Stay close, in case I need to grab you.”

  I crept closer to him, but mentally kept my distance, and prepared my body to defend itself if he tried anything. Everything was going just as I expected it would, unfortunately. Nothing had remained the same on the outside of the center except the fallen snow on the sides of the pillowed entrance. Inside, nothing had changed. The halls were blinding with bluish-white florescent lights overhead like before and the doors on the left of the lobby entrance were locked.

  “What's behind all those doors?” I whispered.

  “You really wanna know?”

  “If I didn't, I wouldn't have asked.”

  He gave what I said a thought and searched his right pocket for the room's keycard. We stepped inside and I was surprised to see what waited behind the door. The room was small, but organized. It was neat, but stuffed like an office space. It was furnished like a dormitory; one fit for a nineteen year old Captain like Josh.

  “This is where you stay.”

  “Where I stayed,” he walked up the middle of the room where I stood and smiled. “I stay with you now.”

  He nudged my shoulder with his own and took the small steps required to scope the room. I followed his lead, scoping for my own personal reasons. I walked the small room twice until something caught my eye folded behind a pen holder on his small wooden study desk. I snatched up the card into my fingers and unfolded it. I relaxed when I realized Josh hadn't tried anything to stop me. His comfortableness with me being so free to “detective” the room made me uneasy, but hopeful. I loathed bittersweet feelings. I would rather have one or the other.

  “Murry's local den,” I read.

  “It's a secret tavern I used to escape to while I stayed here.”

  I turned to look him in the eyes. “Why?”

  “Let's get this mission done first. Maybe I'll tell you then.”

  I followed Josh out, but inside I was burning in rage. He had control of the situation and our conversations. I had to gain control back if I planned on getting information and coming out a survivor. As we took our walk upstairs, I devised a plan. We arrived on Robyn's floor and the open space looked more empty than before. It was almost cold.

  “Stay close,” Josh ordered.

  I walked closer behind him and held my hand near my gun that I brought as protection inside its black pleather case to match my long black pants.

  “Question. Are there cameras in here?'

  “They're none in this center.”

  “Why?”

  “I guess with the Captain and his Requesters team living here, they saw no point in investing in them. Who would be stupid enough to try and break in with us here?”

  I looked over at him then looked down.

  “Oh right,” he chuckled.

  As we continued walking, he inspected the white computer tables for any suspicious activity.

  “This is weird. There's usually at least one or two people up here. The database techs.”

  I shrugged with no answer to give him and no possibilities to feed him.

  “You know where the database is?”

  Josh sighed heavily, rubbing the top of his hair with his hands and looked behind him at me. “Honestly, I thought you would. I just assumed this was the floor because the other ones are filled with Requester lodges and testing rooms.”

  “You're right. You just forgot one thing.”

  “And what would that be?”

  I walked over toward the shark tank and he furrowed his brow when I turned to face his direction.

  I smiled. “To expect the unexpected.”

  I took a pleather glove, another new gift from Lary bestowed to me before I left, out of my back pocket and pressed the button to open the portal for the database room. That moment, finally being step ahead of Josh whether it was him or not, made me feel on top of the world.