Ascendant Unrest

by Matthew S. Cox

  Sarah closed the door and secured the deadbolt.

  She’s afraid he’s like Mason. That man tried to trick her into taking a bath. Maya decided not to say anything and let Sarah’s trust of Pope evolve the same as hers. After all, Maya’s first thought at seeing him had been ‘eep, please don’t kill me.’ Sarah turned the water on, adjusting the hot/cold spigots and testing the stream with her hand until she found a good balance of temperature. Once satisfied, she pulled her makeshift dress off and draped it over the front of the sink.

  With the door closed, the reek of Farnham coming off Maya’s T-shirt filled the small bathroom and made her feel even stickier, killing the last of her hesitation. She wriggled out of it and winged it into the corner before stepping into the tub and sitting in the rising bathwater, back to back with Sarah. She picked up handfuls of warm water and poured them over herself. Soon, Sarah closed the faucet and the bathroom hung in silence, save for dripping and sloshing.

  Sarah’s intermittent sniffles echoed as she ran the lone bar of soap around her body. Maya waited patiently, rinsing off as best she could without it, frowning at a mess of bug bites on her legs, no doubt from the walk in the meadow. After a few minutes, Sarah handed the soap over her shoulder. Maya washed herself for about ten minutes until Sarah asked for the soap again. They wound up passing the bar back and forth as needed.

  Before long, they sat in brackish charcoal-colored soup.

  Sarah opened the drain. “The water’s so black.”

  “Yeah,” said Maya. “All the dirt we washed off is getting all over us again.”

  “I’ll run another.”

  Maya availed herself of a little brush, trying to erase the grime outlining her finger and toenails as the last of the filthy water disappeared. Sarah flipped the drain shut and ran more water, turning the hot all the way open. The second tubful wound up being a few degrees warmer than chilly. Not pleasant, but nowhere near cold enough to send Maya out of the tub shrieking.

  “You should ask Zoe to fix your heater,” said Maya.

  Sarah sniffled, running the bar of soap up and down her arm. “Dad was going to.”

  “Oh.” She let out a silent sigh, grateful Sarah couldn’t see her annoyed expression. What else had that man kept putting off?

  A while of quiet soap trading later, Sarah used a beat-up plastic pitcher to pour water over Maya’s hair. Once she’d scrubbed the stink of Farnham out of her head, she twisted around and helped Sarah wash her hair. They sat in silence for some time after, dripping, neither talking. This moment together in the bath offered a sense of security and comfort. Despite their being finished, Maya had little urge to go anywhere.

  “We’re going to turn into prunes,” muttered Sarah a few minutes later.

  “No we’re not. We can’t become fruit.”

  Sarah chuckled and stood. “It means get wrinkles and stuff from being wet.”

  Maya waited for her to get out of the tub, then scooted back to open the drain before standing and stepping over the tub wall. Once she bad both feet on the plush bathmat, Sarah draped a towel over her shoulders from behind.

  “Thanks.” Maya started drying herself, but hesitated once she noticed Sarah standing there with her arms folded, dripping and waiting. They’ve only got one towel?

  She surreptitiously sniff-tested it, unsettled that she might be using a towel that had seen The Dad in places no person would want to. It didn’t smell bad. Probably clean. She dried off quick and handed the towel over before stepping damp into her black fatigue pants. Sarah gave her a forlorn look as she dried herself.

  “I’m going to get you some new clothes.” Maya grabbed her black shirt and wriggled into it. “I mean some actual clothes. You’re wearing an old curtain. I won’t listen if you say don’t.”

  Sarah wept into the towel.

  “Stop it.” Maya put her hands on her hips. “You’re always taking care of everyone. It’s okay to let someone help you.”

  “That’s not why I’m crying.” Sarah looked down. “Those men tried to grab you and you’re more worried about my crappy dress.”

  “Those guys are dead. I’m not afraid of dead people.” She looked down and flexed her toes. “Be right back.”

  Maya hurried to the bedroom in search of her shoes. To her relief, they remained half under the bed where she left them. She flopped seated on the floor and pulled them on. Sarah appeared in the doorway, again in her curtain-dress, looking sad and a little annoyed.

  Isn’t she going to wash that? It still stinks like Farnham. “What?” whispered Maya.

  Sarah’s eyebrows furrowed. “He’s sitting in my dad’s spot.”

  “He doesn’t know that. If it bothers you, ask him to move. He won’t mind.” Maya bit her lip. “Are you going to wash that?”

  “No. The fabric is old. Some of the curtains where I found this got wet and they fell apart.” Sarah looked down. “It’s a silly thing to ask him to move. Dad’s not here now.”

  “It’s not silly if it’s making you sad. I’ll ask him.” Maya brushed past her and started down the hallway but jerked to a halt at Sarah’s hand on her shoulder.

  “Don’t bother him. He’s been nice to us. It’s okay.” She sighed. “I’m just….”

  Maya nodded. She opened her mouth to ask about food but froze when a knock sounded at the front door.

  Sarah dragged her backward to the room.

  “Calm down!” whisper-yelled Maya. “Bad guys don’t knock.”

  “Hello?” called a woman. “Sarah? Maya? Are you in there? It’s Zoe.”

  The girls exchanged a momentary stare of relief before rushing together down the hallway.

  Pope had pulled his rifle across his lap, not quite aimed at the door. He shifted his attention to Maya as they came barreling into the living room, headed straight for the door. Sarah stopped two steps short, hands clasped to her mouth and shivering with anticipation.

  “Zoe!” chirped Maya, opening the door.

  The woman’s green eyes lit up with relief. Light brown hair hung in an unkempt leonine mane down to her elbows, obscuring a dark stain on her powder-blue sweatshirt. “Oh, thank goodness you’re okay!” Her enthusiasm stalled as her eyes shifted toward Pope. “Who’s that?”

  Sarah zipped up behind Maya. “Where’s my dad?”

  “He’s a friend,” said Maya. “He helped me when the Authority had Mom.”

  “Ma’am.” He left the rifle on the couch, and walked over to offer a hand. “Name’s Pope. Live out a ways north. Givin’ Maya here a little help with her rat problem.”

  “Rats?” asked Zoe before grumbling. “I just can’t keep up with the little bastards.” She shook hands. “Zoe Chang. We live a floor down.”

  Pope quirked an eyebrow.

  Zoe laughed. “Married name.”

  “Not four-legged rats. Mercenary rats.” Pope pointed a thumb back over his shoulder. “They had a midnight visitation from some not-quite angels. Maya didn’t trust coming back here, and she was right. Couple of miscreants were watching the front door.”

  “Where’s my dad?” asked Sarah.

  Zoe nodded to Pope before taking Sarah’s hand. “We heard the gunfire and saw men dressed like soldiers roaming the hallways. Mike came up to check as soon as we felt safe enough to open the door. Your father’s been shot, but he’s at a medical facility in the Sanc. He’s a veteran, so they’ll treat him. Mike did what he could, but we don’t have the greatest supplies here. Your father was kinda weak. Mike’s pretty sure he, uhh….”

  “Has cancer,” said Sarah, eyes downcast. Sadness lasted only seconds before she got angry. “He didn’t wanna go for treatment.”

  Maya fidgeted. “Metavil or Alveocor both work for lung cancer, but they’re expensive. Xenodril’s cheap next to them.”

  “That’s not the problem,” said Pope. “ESC government will cover a vet’s medical bills, but it takes so damn long to get approval for them to pay out, most of us don’t even bother.”

 
; “He should’ve gone to the VA a long time ago. He’s too stubborn.” Sarah looked ready to hit something in anger, but wound up crying into her hands.

  “It’ll be okay.” Zoe squeezed Sarah’s shoulder. “You’ve been taking care of him for so long you haven’t been allowed to be a child. It’s not your fault. The man was, umm, set in his ways.”

  “He’s not dead!” yelled Sarah. “Stop talk―please stop talking about him like he’s dead.”

  Zoe bit her lip. “Sorry. I just don’t want you blaming yourself for how sick he’d gotten.”

  “It’s my fault,” said Maya. “Those men wanted me. He got shot protecting me. I don’t understand. Vanessa wouldn’t waste money on revenge. She wouldn’t even pay a ransom to save me.”

  Sarah stood in silence for a little while, a look of painful insecurity on her face, before quiet tears flowed. Her expression remained stoic, but her voice had no strength. “He was gonna die soon anyway. He wanted to. If he didn’t have me, he would’ve killed himself.”

  Sniffling, Maya clamped her arms around Sarah. “Being careless about his health and wanting to die aren’t the same.”

  “So, you’re…?” Zoe peered at Pope.

  “Evidently the guy keeping an eye on these two until her mother comes back.”

  Sarah looked up at him. “Can we go see my dad? Please?”

  “The Sanc is under lockdown right now. There’s some rioting going on, and I’ve heard rumors that the Authority is fighting itself. You know, the ones Vanessa bought and paid for with the blueberries from out of town.” Zoe shivered with worry. “Mike’s still stuck there after takin’ Billy in.”

  “Who’s Billy?” asked Pope.

  Zoe gestured at Sarah. “Her father.”

  “They won’t let me in to see my dad?” asked Sarah, her expression heartbroken.

  “They’re not letting anyone in or out. I…” Zoe shrugged. “Maybe if you found a blueberry with a soul and made that face you’re giving me now they’d let you in, but I wouldn’t count on it.”

  “Thanks for helping her dad,” said Maya.

  Zoe smiled. “Oh, that’s all Mike. I hid in the bedroom with Emily. We had no idea what happened. Em was sure the Authority was coming to arrest everyone. Speaking of Em, I should really get back home.”

  At the word ‘Authority,’ Sarah scowled.

  “Sarah’s water heater doesn’t work. Can you look at it sometime?” asked Maya.

  “Sure, sweetie.” Zoe winked.

  “Right. We’ll be here.” Pope eased the door closed as Zoe walked off, and locked it. “Figure I’ll stick around at least ’til your mother gets back. Gonna grab a couple zees so I can keep alert when it gets dark. You two stay inside, and wake me up if anything strange happens.”

  Sarah glared, seeming ready to lash out. Maya braced for the shout of ‘you’re not my dad,’ but her friend’s defiance melted away, and she slumped in a defeated slouch.

  “Yes, sir,” said Maya.

  Pope reclined on the sofa, rifle over his chest.

  “C’mon,” muttered Maya. She tugged Sarah by the hand into the kitchen and went for the drawer of cheese sandwich packets. “Mom can sneak us into the Sanc. Soon as she’s back, we’ll go see your dad.”

  Sarah sat at the table, staring at the plastic-encased square in front of her while Maya brought three of them to Pope.

  “Hey.” Maya pulled a chair around to sit beside her. “He’s okay. He’s in the hospital. We’re safe.”

  “But what if they come back?” Hands in her lap, Sarah picked at her nails.

  The strong scent of imitation fresh baked bread filled the air when Maya opened her sandwich. “They can’t come back. They’re dead.”

  “You know what I mean.” Sarah reluctantly picked up her packet and crushed the capsule inside. “Mercenaries get paid. Someone hired them to take you.”

  Maya hesitated, sandwich less than an inch from her mouth. “Someone’s stupid then. They should know that woman won’t pay them.”

  She bit off almost a quarter of the sandwich in one chomp. While chewing in silence, watching Sarah nibble, a guilty realization dawned. It didn’t feel like that long ago that Sarah had invited herself in to meet ‘the new kid.’ Maya hadn’t had a friend before; she’d never even been in the same room with another kid. As soon as Sarah had peeked in, Maya had been so terrified at the thought of interacting with other children she’d almost run and hid in the bedroom. The warmth that had radiated from this girl when they’d first met felt at that moment like a fist in the stomach.

  Before the lump in her throat grew too fat to talk around, she muttered, “I’ll go back down the hall if you want. I understand if you’re afraid of being around me.”

  Sarah looked up, blinked, and stared at her. “No! Don’t you dare run off alone!” The mini-mom sternness returned to her eyes. “And we’re not allowed out. Pope said to stay inside.”

  Tears welling, Maya dropped her half-sandwich on the plate and clung to her friend. As awkward as sharing a bath had been, afterward, Sarah had become closer to family than merely a friend.

  Maya had no idea what the future would bring, but she knew that no matter what fate held for her, she wouldn’t have to face it alone.

  13

  A More Permanent Fix

  Maya went to bed fully dressed, shoes and all. Despite Pope planning to be up all night on watch, Sarah put the Hornet under the pillow.

  They’d spent the rest of the day keeping away from windows and generally being quiet so Pope could sleep. Zoe dropped by again with Emily in tow and worked for a few hours patching bullet holes in the walls. She’d even replaced a blown sensor on the hot water unit that made it register ‘full’ at only a quarter capacity. Sarah had been too unsettled by the blood in the carpet, so Maya had spent her evening scrubbing after a little coaching from Zoe on how. Emily and Sarah collected shell casings and bits of drywall big enough not to need a broom. By the time Zoe left, the living room and hallway had dozens of fresh plaster spots, and the apartment smelled like rug cleaner.

  The sense of safety Maya felt with Pope watching over them, and the relief at knowing he’d killed the men who attacked, let sleep come easy. Vaguely aware of Sarah’s arm around her middle, she lay on her side, annoyed at the sunlight for knocking on her eyelids. Her head felt as heavy as stone, and she had no desire to move.

  A gentle touch brushed hair from her face.

  Maya murmured and snuggled tighter into the pillow.

  “Wow. Someone’s sure tired.”

  The almost-familiar female voice needled at her, triggering a fight between heavy sleep and her need to understand why she recognized this woman.

  A gasp puffed at the back of her neck. “Maya!” shouted Sarah. Small hands shook her from behind. “Maya, get up!”

  Alarm exploded in her brain. Maya shot upright, searching for the source of danger. In seconds, the fog of sleep drained from her consciousness and the blurry figure hovering over her clarified into Genna. A swath of olive-drab at the door became Pope.

  “Mom!” Maya dove into a hug.

  “Hi,” said Sarah.

  Genna sat on the edge of the bed with Maya in her lap. “Oh, baby. Pope told me what happened. Dammit. I shouldn’t have gone off yet. Stuff hasn’t cooled off enough.”

  Maya grinned, elated at having her mother back. Her surge of joy ebbed at the earnest look on Sarah’s face. “Can we go to see Sarah’s father?”

  “Not sure what the situation at the Sanc is like yet, but we will definitely go as soon as we can. Give Barnes and Weber a little bit to wrap up and we’ll get a handle on it.”

  Maya nodded. “I was worried about you. Like, a lot.”

  “I’m sorry, baby. We all gotta do stuff that’s scary. World won’t make itself a better place. We had a pretty easy run. Didn’t even get shot at once.” She chuckled. “Philly’s a bit of a mess though. People are pissed about Fade. That PR bullshit ain’t holdin’ no tack with them people. The
y all believe you, knowin’ Ascendant did it on purpose. There’s been attacks on medical clinics as well as Authority officers.”

  “Oops,” deadpanned Maya.

  “Barnes wanted me to ask if you’d do another video. Something to send out a message the Brigade ain’t no enemy of the Authority. We need to tell people that most of the Authority are veterans who remember what they fought for. Yeah, it’s true the ones around Baltimore aren’t too much different from Ascendant thugs, but people as a whole gotta know their opponents are the Vanessa Omans of the world and the corporate machines they run.”

  Maya blinked. “But you hate the Authority.”

  “Oh, baby…” Genna rocked her. “I hope you never know the kinda rage that losin’ a child can cause. I watched Sam get sicker and sicker and couldn’t do a damn thing about it.”

  “But, you’re technically a Citizen, right? Because you’re a veteran?” Maya tilted her head. “Why didn’t you take him to the VA?”

  Genna’s expression darkened, though her anger didn’t feel directed at Maya. “Was with the Brigade already. That hacker you found hadn’t wiped my records back then. I knew I’d get nailed as soon as they looked me up in the system to verify the VA claim. Went anyway, even wit’ Harlowe and Barnes tellin’ me not to.” She let off a somber chuckle. “I was too pissed off to think. Didn’t care what happened ta me, long as Sam made it. Damn, I was furious wit’ Barnes an’ them too, thinkin’ they wanted Sam to die. They’s right though. Got there, they took Sam into ’nother room ‘for a checkup.’ Blueberries showed up real quick. Since my ass was suspected Brigade, they didn’t bother haulin’ me to jail. We just went right out back the hospital. Put me up against a wall and planned on shootin’ me. Only, they brought Sam out too. Figured he was old enough to be Brigade. Asked me if I wanted to watch him die, or if I’d rather he watched me go first.”

  Sarah gasped, covering her mouth with both hands.