Greenhaus:Storm

by Reckelhoff, Bryan

  A clearing of the throat preceded Doyle’s response. “There is no need to whisper or hide that you are conversing here. Once the signal is given that the coast is clear, HQ is a speakfreely, just like bathrooms, Decons, and sleeping chambers. “Us” in this instance is the Whisperers, though you will also be assisting in the repairs to the north wall there. After that, you will be moved to help the fix the sinking annexes. That gives me an excuse to plant you there for an extended period so that you can work on your first assignment.”

  More time with Sylvia, that is never a bad thing. Even though she had begun to rub him the wrong way, Jacob missed her.

  “Jacob, I have other news. We were presented with this information recently, and we need you to investigate. Sylvia’s last two recruits have been made and are missing. We feel that there is a mole in our organization, so it goes without saying you should be careful,” warned Doyle. “The missing agents learned of a secret program, allegedly run by Percival Needles, head of Medical and Vice Commissioner of Newer Orleans. Obviously this is a very powerful man. The program is most likely in one of the zones where access is restricted. Ultimately, our job is to find a way in to get access to the information they are hiding and find out where these programs are being conducted. But for now, that goal is secondary. Your primary concern must be to find the mole. There is no going back after this; you will be in too deep. And if discovered, you, just like this latest pair, will not make it out. This is big, especially for a first mission, but Sylvia thinks you are ready.”

  Jacob’s response was swift and decisive. “I will do anything to help, especially if it means getting to the bottom of my father’s and my uncle’s deaths.”

  “Jacob, things will soon be set in motion that cannot be undone. What we are asking you to do will have severe consequences. If things go as we expect, we could be labeled as traitors and branded as breakers of Article III and its First Amendment. It could lead to the first inter-colonial war. Does that change your mind?” Doyle asked.

  Article III. No member of the Greenhaus may take up arms in dispute against another. Amendment I. No colony shall for any reason sanction war upon another colony. Jacob knew that to break these laws, and be found guilty by judgment of the Rangers, meant a lifetime as a Wiper. But he had no idea how exactly any of this would violate these laws.

  The consequences of his true identity being discovered by those on the other side would make the punishment of Wiping seem like a day in the Gardens, especially if his side did not prevail. Surely I would suffer the same fate as my father and uncle. Just the thought of inter-colonial war made his world spin, but he remained committed to this cause.

  “When I said I would do anything, I meant it. I have nothing to lose, no family left except my mother,” explained Jacob.

  “Well, that is the other thing, Jacob. There is a final bit of news that just came to us recently, something that could be of great interest to you,” Doyle explained. “The program you will eventually investigate is known to be some sort of breeding program. But we also think they may be involved in some sort of mind control. One of our agents ran across an Outsider near the Oasis that had an EPC in his arm, but had no recollection of the Inside.”

  “And?” asked Jacob.

  “You might want to sit down for this one, it’s big,” Doyle said as the tone of his voice shifted from casual to serious. “Though everyone presumes to know that Jasper and Harvard are dead, no one ever verified the deaths, although the bodies were reportedly cremated by the Department of Medicine as per procedural policy. We believe our opposition has sent ‘Haus citizens back to the Outside. It’s possible Jasper and your father are out there somewhere.”

  Jacob mentally checked out of the conversation at that point, excitement from the prospect of his father still being alive taking over as Doyle continued to talk. “The same fate awaits any of us if we are discovered. That is why you must tell no one the details of your mission. No one!” he repeated. “Is that clear? Anyone could be the mole and I mean anyone. Keep this quiet and stay safe, Jacob. We need you.”

  The last part of Doyle’s instructions fell on deaf ears. In his moment of elation, Jacob did the one thing that Sylvia had warned him about above all other dangers. He lost focus. It was an error he would soon regret.

  Chapter 30 (Ella Storm)

  After much indecisiveness, Ella settled on a plan. Hours spent thinking long and hard about how to break the news to everyone else still hadn’t given her the courage to do so. She had practiced many different speeches, but none seemed worthy. Excitement over the recovery of the new vehicles and what most believed was an impending assault on Glass City contributed to the light mood around the fortress. The distinct smell of testosterone filled the camp in the corners where the warmongers worked, the frenzy building every day. Tasks were done with unlimited enthusiasm.

  The impulse to blurt out the things on her mind was gone, knowing the harm it would cause. She once again pondered getting Niles and Jordan together and running away with Jeremiah and Ren. The caves would give them a new home, but she could not bring herself to turn her back on the rest of the camp. She had to tell the camp, then let the chips fall where they may.

  Much had changed for Ella, and most of her welcomed the change, even if her old self would be appalled at her new self. Quotes from the Elders that had preceded her popped into her head often, and now she agreed with their line of thinking. I’ve become one of them.

  It all made sense to her now that she saw the bigger picture. Her old self was ignorant and small minded; a follower, not a leader. Hungering to fight for a cause that she couldn’t begin to comprehend. Seeing Stranger Friend was the first thing to chisel away at her tough exterior and soften her hardened heart. His caring, compassionate eyes transported her to a foreign place. One brown eye, one blue. She could never forget.

  After their meeting through the glass, Ella had watched Stranger Friend send the Rangers on a wild goose chase, away from her location. In that instant, Ella began to rethink her upbringing and question her purpose and that of all the Masked, as well as those on the Inside.

  The letter from the Department of the Rangers was the next thing to chip away at her beliefs and make her wonder if the core values of Masked camps everywhere needed to be adjusted. Ella knew the power and swiftness of a Ranger counterattack, one having taken the life of her father. The question that burned inside her was: If these men are the evil Oppressors like we have been taught, then why don’t they attack us unprovoked? Being the leader of so many and having their lives directly affected by her decisions caused her to contemplate things a bit longer than her old self would have.

  Ella could not find the right words, so she slipped out the back way again, to the comfort and solitude of her bunker. Her own personal sanctuary, a little slice of the world where no one else could get to her. She could be alone with her thoughts to prepare a speech. She knew her decision would divide the camp, something she sorely wanted to avoid, but saw no way around. She was not attacking Glass City. The senseless violence had to stop.

  Ella knew some of the Storm camp would splinter off and senselessly sacrifice their lives to the defenses of Glass City. She would plead with them to follow her, but revenge flowed through their veins, a birthright most were eager to claim. She picked her team to take south, to live in the caves and search for Niles’ imaginary Oasis. She knew they would never find it, but the adventure sounded like a welcome change from the life she currently lived.

  Of all the options under consideration, Ella felt the best option would be Ranger recruitment. It would give the entire camp a better life, but she had no idea when that would happen and if she could buy enough time.

  Her obsession with finding the right words made the walk seem shorter than usual, even with the pain in her backside still throbbing. Having a preoccupied mind was nothing new to Ella. Second thoughts crept into her mind after making what she thought was the best and final decision. It was so much easier just be
ing angry all the time.

  Heavy boots carried her. A slight cough had returned, but without a mist of blood, a good sign. The constant mental wrangling had taken a toll on her body. Once in position, Ella pulled the solid veil down, blocking all light and distractions, to be alone with her thoughts and doubts. At the rising of the sun, Ella planned to return to the fortress. After sending her team away, she would break the news to the rest of the camp. If they revolted, she alone would pay the price; her closest followers would be spared. It’s better that way.

  Ella drifted in and out of sleep, tossing and turning. She never slept long enough to conjure any dreams, and her waking moments were visited by taunts from her old self. Weak, she would say. Coward.

  She did her best to force herself back to sleep, before her old self could talk to the new and improved Ella and make her change her mind once again. Ella peeked under the blackout curtain to see the morning light had come before she’d expected. Tired and hungry, with no provisions to satisfy an empty stomach that growled frequently, Ella needed to return.

  After rubbing the sleep from her eyes and removing the veil from the bunker, she grabbed her binoculars to give the Glass City one final look, before she left the area and moved south forever. Ella wanted one more glance at Stranger Friend to say her goodbyes, even if it was from far away and he would never see or hear her gesture. As she scanned the area, she picked up Stranger in her view, locking her sight on him. Stranger had already completed his normal routine to start the day.

  Supplies were unpacked, tools readied. Stranger was being hoisted up to his steel perch at the base of the nearly finished dome. Ella stared so long and hard that the trance lulled her to sleep. After the unplanned power nap ended, Ella stuffed her backpack for the last time, a bittersweet moment. Once she had secured the lookout, she grabbed her binoculars and hung them around her neck. A silent goodbye to the small bunker, a personal sanctuary that had kept her safe from whatever threatened her, preceded her walk over the first hill. At the crest, Ella turned back for a second departing glance. She raised the binoculars to her eyes to see the man who had indirectly saved so many lives, both Inside and Out.

  The magnified view was out of focus, so Ella played with the zoom until it was just right. She looked to the top of the dome, where Stranger should have been working. She glanced back and forth, but saw no sign of him. Ella did a double check. And then a third check. Still not a glimpse. No one else was where they should be. The change in routine bothered Ella and increased her heart rate. She continued to look around, scanning the massive dome. Something is wrong, she thought to herself while frantically searching for him. When she finally located him, Stranger was rapidly descending to the ground level. That’s odd. He would normally be up there half the day before coming down to eat.

  When Stranger hit the ground floor, he detached himself and ran quickly toward the exit. Ella panned across, following him. Then Ella saw her standing there.

  The Lady in Red.

  They met in a huge embrace and immediately Ella’s heart began to race. The pulse in her neck quickened and she could feel it beating. Her thoughts turned red, like the lady’s skin-hugging suit. After breaking the embrace Stranger put his hands on the neck and face of the lady in red.

  Good, choke that bitch, Stranger. Old Ella was back. Instant rage.

  The lady kept smiling. Stranger’s actions didn’t appear to harm her, but instead pleased this Lady in Red. Stranger Friend moved in, their lips pressed into each other’s. Ella had no idea what they were doing, but this pleasant, non-threatening gesture they both enjoyed had the opposite effect on Ella. When the lengthy lip lock broke, the Lady in Red leaned forward slightly and whispered something in his ear, something delightful based on his reaction, before the pair met again at the lips. Whatever they were doing, Ella did not like it, and she most certainly did not like the Lady in Red. In fact, Ella hated whatever they were doing. And she damn sure hated this Lady in Red.

  She tossed the binoculars in her backpack and returned it to bunker. The items that kept her safe and alive no longer held the same weight, because staying alive was suddenly no longer her top priority. She was in a full sprint, and her eyes began to leak. It started as just a drop, but soon a steady stream dripped down her face. The lump in her throat returned, making it harder to breathe or swallow.

  Short of breath and searching for air, the moisture and heavy panting caused her mask to fog up, but she kept running for the fortress anyway. Reaching the gate, Ella ran straight through it, not stopping to be identified, taking a chance the snipers and spotters would not recognize her. She bolted into the fortress, making no conversation, heading directly to the Elder tent. Stopping at the entrance, she yelled for Chem to bring Zac and Swifty to her. Then she retreated into the empty Elder tent and began trashing it.

  Chapter 31 (Jacob Niles)

  Jacob felt like a kid again. Carefree and with a renewed spirit, Jacob left Engineering HQ sporting an ear-to-ear grin on his way to the work site. He had no proof, but just the possibility that his father could still be alive was enough to put him on a mental high.

  The beginning of the workday passed in a blur. Jacob and his new partner Wes Freely, a transfer from New Denver, were getting acquainted while waiting for the next shipment of supplies to be dropped on the scaffolding.

  “Jacob, I’m looking forward to our working together. Doyle says I can learn a lot from you,” Wes said, his long curly brown hair filling the air in his helmet and sticking out the back. Only months younger than Jacob, but a newbie on the beams, Wes had only completed part of a single dome before his transfer to New St. Louis.

  “I am not sure about that, but one thing I would do if I were you is cut that hair,” Jacob told him. “It’s dangerous. It could get caught on something and it interferes with the seal created by the drape of the helmet.” Jacob gave his locks a tug to illustrate the broken seal. “This needs to lay on your neck and shoulders, to keep the toxins out,” he explained.

  “See, I never would have thought of that. Working in the elements sure is a different experience,” Wes said. “It’s coming off, first thing after I leave today.”

  Jacob walked him through the process and what to expect in the coming days. Wes showed a great work ethic and willingness to learn. Jacob liked his new partner so far, but longed for his days with Jasper, when each workday seamlessly ran into the next because of their combined expertise and the cohesive bond they shared. It would take time to form the same bond with a new partner, but Jacob would be leaving soon. For the time being, Jacob played the role of teacher to Wes’ pupil.

  The men cruised toward their daily demand, when suddenly a single toot from a loud air horn caused all work within Annex 23 to come to a grinding halt.

  Cranes stopped. Suspended supplies swung back and forth. The noise from the power tools ceased, as the toppers, glassmen, and all the systems installers quit working. Jacob flipped up his visor, shot a confused look at the crane operator, and shrugged his shoulders to silently ask, ‘What’s going on?’

  The man looked at Jacob and just as quietly replied, ‘Over there,’ pointing in the direction of the exit into Decon.

  Jacob swung around. His pulse quickened. After spending almost four straight days in Newer Orleans, he couldn’t wait to get away. The second he left, however, he had started to miss her. Now every set of eyes in Annex 23 gazed upon her beauty, except her own, which were locked on Jacob.

  After receiving his first mission from Doyle, Jacob had been on cloud nine and couldn’t wait to share it with Sylvia. Jacob ran along the beam without his usual caution. He grabbed the hitch to his drop line, and clicked in before sending a thumbs-up to the operator, who lowered Jacob to ground floor. In his excitement, he bypassed his usual obsessive triple check on his gear, but he reached his destination all the same. Unclipping his harness, he ran to meet her and wrapped his arms around her in a huge embrace. “You’re early,” Jacob said as he gently grabbed her face and h
ead and kissed her on the lips.

  After the lip lock Sylvia moved in and whispered in his ear. “I have great news.”

  “Me too,” he quickly and quietly replied. “Let’s step into Decon for a sec.”

  Jacob lightly placed his hand on the small of her back and ushered her into Decon as she said, “I was gonna suggest the same.”

  After they crossed the threshold, Sylvia slammed the shut-off button for the whooshing airlock door to the spray room. “Fast, follow me,” Sylvia ordered, grabbing him by his Second Hand glove and pulling him past the detox showers stalls and into the blood cleanse chamber. After hitting the shut-off to the whooshing door back into Annex 22, Sylvia ran back to Jacob, who was confused by her actions. “Quick, help me move this chair,” Sylvia instructed as she grabbed the padded chair and began to rock it back and forth, unable to make it move.

  “Um, Sylvia,” Jacob looked at her as if she had lost her mind. “That chair is bolted down. Ten people couldn’t budge it.”

  Her faced turned a dark shade of red from strain and exertion. “Just help me,” she grunted as she continued to pull backwards on the chair with all her might.

  Jacob grabbed the headrest and used as much leverage as he could muster to rock the chair. In tandem with Sylvia they used every ounce of their combined strength to rock back and forth. At first the chair wouldn’t budge, but soon it started to creak.

  “It’s coming,” she groaned. “Harder, Jacob. Pull it back!”

  A loud pop preceded a long squeak as the chair slowly flipped backward, opening half of the door that covered the hole in the floor. Jacob stood there, dumbfounded. He had deconned a thousand times in this chamber and couldn’t believe what he was seeing.