“I will take all of this back to the main office,” she continues, “and we can continue this conversation through messages or in person as needed.” She nods her head finally and begins to retreat from the podium. The energy in the room shifts with her movement. Distress is evident on the faces of those who, I have now gathered, based on their comments, are working with Jessica. But the image that pulls my body away from Eric and forward to center is the slight smile that begins to appear on the Director’s lips.
“Wait,” I call after her. “Who are you?”
The woman pauses, barely deigning to turn to face me. “I’m Crystal, Carole’s assistant,” she says, and though her voice isn’t picked up by the amplifier, I can hear the disdain in her tone.
“Then you know Nick,” I say slowly. “Knew,” I correct. “Would you like to know the reason why he—and I—feel so strongly about integration?”
She turns with her arms crossed, as if bored by my commentary.
I steel myself and continue on. “Because even if we don’t know exactly where we’re headed—even if we don’t understand all the ramifications of this new system—Nick, Eric, and I—and I’m guessing many of you—” I add, pointing into the audience, “have seen red flags begin to appear within our current system.”
I turn my attention back to Crystal. “We’ve all done the conditioning. We can recite every warning sign of a failing society at the drop of a hat, yet for some reason, we fail to label them when they’re right in front of us. Happening all around us! Somehow, we’ve convinced ourselves that we’re immune to this type of failure because we logically know how it happens, and theoretically, how to prevent it,” I continue, my voice building in intensity, and my eyes blazing. “I won’t sit back and pretend that these signs are anything less than what they are. Berg is withholding information from Tier 1 citizens. They refuse to be accountable, and when they are forced to be, they have created distractions and propaganda to avoid having to take responsibility. Berg is creating fear within our population—fear of missing out on new opportunities, but most importantly, fear of each other. So my reasons for integration? To avoid continuing in a direction that stinks of corruption and reeks of totalitarianism. To change course from a path that I can feel in my bones is wrong. You killed a man who was attempting to build bridges between our Tiers,” I nearly shriek. “If that isn’t a red flag, I don’t know what is. That’s why we’re here today. We don’t even have to be a part of this, we are happy living on our own. We are here because we care about you and feel a responsibility to stand up and do whatever we can to prevent our society from failing like all the others.” I finish, pulling in a ragged breath. For a moment I stand there, almost in shock that all of that came pouring out of my mouth. Collecting myself, I see Crystal moving slowly toward me, a smile still sitting on her lips.
“I’m so glad that you brought this up, actually. For a moment, I had forgotten that you aren’t allowed to be here,” she says, swaying slightly in her approach. “I’m sure we all appreciate your willingness to ‘sacrifice’ your time to come and try to ‘enlighten’ us, but you haven’t been around for a few years. You know nothing about what you speak,” she spits vehemently, the smile finally erased from her face. “I am going to ask you to follow my associates out,” she says, her voice sweet once again as she flicks her index finger toward two men near the back entrance.
Suddenly, I feel Eric next to me. “We forgot,” he says nonchalantly, “there’s one last thing we wanted to show you.” He turns his attention to the display as Jessica begins to surreptitiously input information into her sensor. I follow Eric’s gaze, not wanting to draw attention to her movements. Before anything begins to appear, I hear them. Dings. All around me, sensors begin to announce a new emergency message, and my shoulders relax. It’s working. Thank you, Val, I breathe, closing my eyes for a split second before the display lights up.
Chapter 126
Music begins to play as our family comes into view. We are piled together on Val’s sofa, though nobody here will recognize that.
“Hi, I’m Eric, and this is Kate, Tal, and Bentley,” Eric’s voice explains through the video. He introduces us as I watch Crystal and the Director frantically tapping their sensors, then eventually attempting to turn off the projection. A red error message continues to pop up as Crystal attempts different passwords with no luck.
“It doesn’t matter,” Eric says softly. “This has been sent to every member of Tier 1 and Tier 2. You can turn it off here, but that isn’t going to prevent every single person from watching it at their own leisure.”
“We’ve got some pretty exciting information to share with you,” Tal says. “My brother and I have been working on…”
“What do you think this is even going to accomplish?” the Director hisses. “Nobody is going to pay any attention to what you have to say.”
“Then why are you trying to turn it off?” I ask quietly.
“Let it play!” I hear from the audience. Crystal and the Director step back from the display, attempting to conceal their obvious disdain for us and the current situation.
“Alright, we’ll let it play, but this is a breach of security that Berg is already looking into. This isn’t something we take lightly,” she threatens loudly, moving to the side of the stage.
My entire body vibrates as fear, anxiety, elation, and relief flood through me. Truly, we were hoping that we wouldn’t have to do this. By far, this is our most dangerous move. Presenting the information was risky enough, but to hijack Berg’s communication?
I watch images flash across the screen. While Eric and I were cooped up in Val’s apartment, we decided to put this together as a last ditch effort, and I’m pretty impressed with how it turned out. Somehow—I suspect Kip’s involvement—Eric was able to dig up old footage and images from the early days of the Tier system through the present—pictures of Tier 1 individuals serving at distribution centers, footage of Tier 2 workers farming and delivering produce to Tier 1, and an endless array of cooperative moments between the Tiers, taken from Berg’s security archives.
I absorb the shocked faces of the Committee members. Most likely, very few people in this room have ever seen images like this before—they likely didn’t even know they existed. The only pictures that regular citizens have access to are those in old books and conditioning materials, and even those are carefully chosen and distributed. Seeing their reaction rekindles my hope that this just might be enough to spur a change of heart.
The words I spoke when meeting with Kip weren’t empty. I believe that we are better than this. Hearing the Committee members speaking tonight nearly tore my remaining hope to shreds, until I remembered all of the effort made by members of Tier 1, Tier 2, and Tier 3 to get us here. We worked together for this moment—connected by a shared ideology and a common goal. This Committee represents such a small portion of our population, and yet we are afraid of them. Why? Because they hold the power? The ability to threaten us? To harm us or our families? So let them.
“Do you think this will work?” Eric whispers into my ear, pulling me close.
“I really don’t care at this point,” I say. “All I needed was to know that we did everything we could. Do I believe that love is a stronger motivator than fear?” I ask, pressing my cheek against his. “Yes. A thousand times yes,” I sigh. “But do I think we did enough to inspire that in Tier 1?”
“We did all we could,” Eric echos.
“This isn’t who we are. We are a community that serves each other. Lifts each other. We are no longer in a world where we have to strip resources from one another to survive. We don’t hide in our homes, hoping that we’ll get the best of what Berg has to offer at the expense of our neighbors. It’s time that we opened up our minds and hearts to learn from all people. With all abilities, all genetic codes, all life experiences. We have an opportunity to shift course before we become another failed society. This is the truest test of our conditioning. THIS is the hing
e on which societies turn. Can we overcome this insatiable human desire to stay where it’s safe? To bury our heads in the sand? To convince ourselves that it will be fine, in an effort to avoid personal sacrifice? Can we overcome ourselves?” Eric’s voice continues as the montage ends. Unable to focus and knowing that the message is coming to a close, I turn to Eric.
“We need to go,” I whisper hurriedly. “We should have found an opportunity to sneak out while they were distracted,” I say, panic rising in my chest.
“Shhh,” Eric says smiling, pointing discreetly toward the audience. “Look.”
The Committee members that I can see are all staring at the projection with rapt attention. Shari finally meets my eyes with a sadness in her expression that I can’t place. Quickly, she looks away and, almost immediately, the message is finished. Despite my anger, I yearn to go to her and fix this. All of it.
“Well, thank you for that,” the Director says diplomatically. “I think we’ve all had quite enough excitement for one day.”
“I have to say,” Crystal jumps in, “I am impressed with your resourcefulness, and I am sure Carole will want to meet with both of you as soon as possible.” Her smile, much like Grace’s, doesn’t meet her eyes. The men that were signaled earlier again begin to approach the stage and I grip Eric’s arm.
“Carole will have to wait,” Jessica says, striding determinedly across the stage toward us. “I have orders to take Kate and Eric to Tier 2 holding.”
“Orders from whom? I’m fairly certain that mine trump yours,” she says smugly.
“Mine,” a voice rises from the back. The man that spoke earlier in defense of integration is standing.
“Mine as well,” a woman states, standing next to him.
“And mine,” another man says, swiftly rising to join them.
Men and women begin to stand across the room and over a dozen squares are lit up on the projection. My heart squeezes in gratitude for these strangers. Crystal’s eyes float across the room, quickly recognizing that she doesn’t have the immediate support to squash a group of this size.
The Director clears his throat. “I will make sure that we get them to you first thing in the morning,” he says under his breath, but not quietly enough to avoid being picked up through the amplification system. His eyes dart to the side, unsure how to proceed.
“That’s fine, it’s late anyway,” Crystal announces. “Tomorrow will be more convenient anyway.”
I breathe a sigh of relief, but any calm I feel quickly dissipates when I catch Jessica’s expression.
“Go,” she mouths as she rushes toward us. Following her lead, we navigate the stairs and quickly exit the way we came in.
“Where to?” I ask.
“Give that to me,” she says quickly, grabbing for my sensor. “They saw you with it.”
As I pull it off, she quickly throws it to the floor and crushes it under her foot. “Eric, do you have anything else with you? Files, drives, etc.?”
“Anything I had, I gave to you,” he says as we rush to keep up with her frantic pace down the hallway.
“Okay,” she nods, all business. I am beginning to question whether I actually sensed any hesitancy from her in the car earlier. This Jessica is fearless.
“We can’t take my car, too obvious, but I think I have a better option,” she says, rounding the final corner and pushing through exit doors near the back of the building.
I halt in my tracks at the sight of her, and Eric seems to be blindsided as well, given his lack of movement beside me.
“What are you waiting for?” Shari asks. “Get in!”
Even her voice sounds older, more feeble. The vehicle is sleek, and larger than I would have expected for a personal transport, but who knows what Shari uses vehicles for these days. She seems to be close to the Director, and this realization immediately sets off warning signals in my brain. Could this be a trap?
“I...Jessica, are you sure…” I stammer.
“Oh stop mumbling, Kate, and get in the car!” Shari commands, sounding much more like herself. “If you haven’t noticed, you’re in a little bit of a time crunch here.”
“But why would you help us!” I blurt out, tears building in my eyes. “You’re the reason why we even had to go through all of this! Why would I trust you now!”
Shari flinches at my outburst, but her face remains calm. “Kate, I know we need to have this out, but now is not the time. Please, get in the car and if you don’t trust me, I think you trust her. Go with that.”
Jessica slides into the front seat, and Eric pulls on my arm. I follow him into the vehicle, searching Shari’s face as he closes the door behind me.
Chapter 127
The sudden silence, interrupted only by the comforting hum of the engine, is almost impossible to bear. After the electricity of the past few hours, my body doesn’t remember how to calm down. Closing my eyes and relaxing my head into the soft, malleable cushion, I force myself into a deep, slow breathing pattern.
“How do you know this is taking us back to Tier 2?” Eric asks, his voice low. Now that we have left the building, his desire to get back to the boys mirrors my own.
“Because I set the destination while you two were arguing over whether to get in,” Jessica mutters.
Unable to contain it, I laugh out loud. “Who are you?” I ask, my voice slightly hysterical.
“What do you mean?” Jessica asks, her face pulled into a scowl.
“A couple of hours ago, we sat in a car and you seemed about to keel over out of anxiety. Now you are commandeering vehicles that aren’t yours and commenting on our ineptitude?” I laugh, sneaking a sidelong glance at Eric’s baffled expression. “What?” I ask. “It’s funny!”
Jessica rolls her eyes. “I’m just good at doing what needs to be done,” she says, but I see the corners of her mouth pull up slightly as she turns toward the display.
Eric shakes his head. “Won’t Berg be able to track us?” he asks.
“Shari assures me that her vehicle isn’t tracked, given her position within the Committee, but just in case…” she trails off, working on her sensor, “...I have deployed twelve other cars to random Tier 2 locations. They won’t be able to follow them all at the same time. It should hopefully buy us some time, at least.”
Eric smiles. “How in the world were you able to get into Tier 1 communications? With Berg loosening up the reigns in Tier 2, it was relatively simple, but I doubt they have opened up the same loopholes here.”
“I am a woman of many talents,” Jessica says, a playful smirk on her face. “There’s a reason Nick and I partnered up,” she comments, a cloud passing over her expression.
“Were you and Nick—” I begin, but then think better of it. “I’m sorry,” I say. “I’m sure you miss him.”
Jessica nods. “Every day.”
“Jessica, we can’t thank you enough for your help,” Eric states.
She clears her throat. “I am grateful I had the opportunity to participate in this little venture,” she says sincerely, then straightens her shoulders, “and, while I appreciate the sentiment, we don’t have any more time to chit-chat. I will be dropping you off at a completely random address about six blocks from one of Kip’s friend’s homes. Val and I decided it would be better to meet in a location that Berg would have no reason to connect to you. I am hoping that you can make it from there?”
My hand subconsciously flies to my now naked wrist.
Jessica notices the movement and nods. “No GPS this time, guys. It’s too risky. Here, take a look at my map.”
She pulls up a grid of the city and walks us through the directions. It seems simple enough, but I continue to repeat the steps in my head as we drive.
“Val is already there with the boys. She left her sensor at home, as well. It’s the best we could do.”
Eric nods. “When we get there…”
“You’ll need to leave Tier 2 immediately,” she finishes his thought.
I swallow hard. My body is already aching from exhaustion—the stress of the day taking its toll on my joints and muscles.
“That part...will be up to you. I haven’t had a chance to arrange anything beyond this.” Her smile is apologetic.
“Thank you so much,” I say, my eyes again beginning to sting at the corners. “I’m going to miss our messages,” I admit and she laughs.
“Me, too. But I am hoping I will have plenty more Committee members to talk with after tonight. You know, it’ll help fill the void,” she comments and I laugh. “Kate, I want you to have these,” she says, placing a small, fabric bag into my hands. “They’re Nick’s.”
My breath catches in my throat.
As the car begins to slow, Eric reaches for my hand.
“We won’t get to see what happens with all of this,” he says slowly. “I don’t even know where we’ll go, or what we’ll do…” he trails off as the vehicle comes to a stop. “Good luck,” he says finally. Reaching across the seat, I pull Jessica into an embrace, tuck the bag under my arm, and follow Eric out into the cool night air.
Chapter 128
Knocking on the door softly, we wait. Despite the comfortable temperature, I can’t stop shivering. Eventually, the door opens slightly, and Val’s eyes peek out from behind the edge. Sighing in relief, she flings the door wide and ushers us in. Bentley runs—and Tal hobbles—toward us from a back room and we greet with warm, desperate embraces, attempting to field their questions.
“What happened? Did they listen?” Bentley asks excitedly.
“No, but—” Eric starts.
“Did you have to send the blast?” Tal asks, cutting him off.
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