“What do you mean?” he asked with an angry tone. “That kid’s been acting weird the last few months. It’s obvious that Godrik is doing something to him,” Connor whispered.
Edred appeared to be in a rage over this information. “What makes you think that?” He needed to be sure before he did anything else.
“He was in that train accident yesterday.”
“Was he hurt?” Edred asked.
“No, not a scratch on him,” Connor replied. That surprised Edred. He knew about what happened at the train station and how serious it was. He also knew how the city didn’t like accidents and would have surely cleaned it up by now, acting as if nothing happened. The citizens who were injured would be patched up by now, their memories wiped of the incident. The city was nothing if not efficient.
“Where are they now?” Edred asked as he put his coat on. Connor peeked toward the door to make sure he was still alone. “They’re upstairs in his office. He was complaining about being sick. That’s all I heard, but something is definitely going on.”
Edred took a deep breath and composed himself. “Keep an eye on the kid, follow him if you have to. I’m going to have a word with Godrik. It appears he may have forgotten who he actually works for.” Connor nodded his head and ended the call. From now on, he wasn’t letting Ethan out of his sight.
*****
“Feel better?” Godrik asked the following day as Ethan stepped out of the elevator. Ethan simply nodded his head in reply. He took a deep breath and tried to relax. The effects of the last injection were still swirling inside of Ethan, making him slightly nauseas.
They reached the laboratory below the streets where Connor was waiting for them. Connor turned his attention to Ethan who was moving about the laboratory slowly and cautiously. He thought it odd but decided not to comment on Ethan’s strange behavior. They carried on with their work for the rest of the day but it was obvious that something was being kept from Connor.
The trials of the new fish species went about as perfect as could be expected and Godrik was happy to announce to the entire staff on the floor that the new fish would be available for harvest soon. Ethan was really happy about the progress they had made and he was proud to know he was a part of it. The citizens of Daventry would be getting a new protein to enjoy and Ethan helped to make it happen.
Godrik also told Ethan that he would be joining him and Hunter in the Agricultural Sector to train the staff there on the complexities and nuances of the new fish they were calling a snap trout. It really was a sight to see. The fish itself was bigger than the trout with beautiful red scales and spiky fins. The taste was also very mild and sweet making it amenable to different cooking methods.
A trip to the Agricultural Sector would also mean the possibility of seeing Caleb. The two of them had not spoken since Caleb found out about Ethan’s assignment but that was months ago. He hoped his friend would not harbor any ill will toward him.
*****
The following day Dr. Stevens, Ethan, Hunter and Connor boarded the train heading into the Agricultural Sector. It was a long ride and the entire time, Ethan couldn’t help but feel like Connor was staring at him. Every time he glimpsed at the older boy, his eyes were fixated on him. It was getting really annoying. They were seated next to each other with Godrik taking a seat across the aisle next to Hunter. Thirty minutes into the ride and Ethan couldn’t take it anymore.
“Is there a reason that you keep staring at me?” Ethan asked, keeping his eyes to the front. He heard a small chuckle fall from the older boy’s mouth which only served to annoy him further.
“I want to make sure you’re okay. You’ve been under a lot of stress lately.” Ethan turned toward him when he said that. Had Connor noticed Ethan’s trepidation? He wasn’t aware that he was doing anything out of the ordinary but then again, he did spend most of his time with Godrik and not anyone else. “I’m fine,” he said after a beat.
“Well I’m glad to hear that,” Connor stated.
Godrik was unaware of the conversation taking place between the two. His attention was focused outside the window as the city buildings shifted from tall skyscrapers to more modest low-rise structures. Soon they would be leaving the city walls to venture outside into the open farming fields and Agricultural facilities.
As the vast fields came into view, he brought his attention back to the dark-haired boy. He smiled as Ethan’s face lit up causing him to get out of his chair and race over to the window. He had never been this far south in the city and even though he had heard of the fields and farming facilities, he had never actually seen them.
He watched as they bolted past the abundant rows of wheat, barley and other grains, swaying gracefully in the morning sun. He saw the many large machines that were harvesting the latest crops and his mouth dropped when he noticed the incredible speed at which they worked. It was a beautifully orchestrated dance. Both Hunter and Connor appeared bored, making it painfully obvious that they had been to the Agricultural Sector before.
Moments later, the train slowed down, eventually coming to a stop at the Sector’s headquarters. It was a large domed structure that stood six stories tall and spanned the length of the entire train. It was completely covered in glass that reminded Ethan of a picture he had seen of an old green house, musty and full of steamy air.
When they stepped onto the platform they were greeted by Elora Mason, the senior Agricultural scientist and apparently one of Godrik’s best friends. The two embraced in a tender hug as Ethan took in her homely appearance. She was dressed in a dark green knit tunic and brown pants that were covered in dirt.
Her unruly black curls were swept up in a messy bun but it was her eyes that captivated Ethan. Bright hazel eyes that stood out against the earthy brown color of her skin and when he observed her, he immediately felt at ease.
Ethan was used to the high end, sleek apparel worn by those in the Technology Sector, so her laid back clothing came as a bit of a shock. He felt somewhat over dressed in his grey wool jacket and black pants. He glanced at his shiny shoes and suddenly regretted wearing them when he realized all the dirt they would be walking through.
“You already know Connor,” Godrik said dismissively and then turned his attention to Ethan. “Elora, this is Ethan,” Godrik beamed proudly. He held his hand out to shake hers but the woman insisted on hugging him instead. It caught him off guard but he accepted it none the less.
“It’s nice to finally meet you Ethan. Godrik hasn’t been able to stop talking about you!” she stated excitedly. Ethan blushed and lowered his eyes to the floor, instantly embarrassed by the attention. “It’s nice to meet you too,” he mumbled.
He tried to focus anywhere but at the preening adults. Godrik took him by the shoulder and pushed him toward the doors of the building. He glanced back at Connor but the older boy was already running in the opposite direction, citing an important meeting.
When Ethan stepped into the structure, he was hit by a steamy cloak of humidity. Apparently, he had made a poor choice in wardrobe as well. As he took his coat off, he noticed the building was both temperature and climate controlled.
They traversed past numerous shrubs and trees that appeared to serve no real purpose. Perhaps they were for decoration? Down a slanted corridor, they came across rows upon rows of impeccably planted vegetables. Efflorescent cucumbers, peppers, beans and carrots littered the grounds, their leafy tendrils curling outwardly.
Soon they reached a pair of glass doors that slid open upon their approach. Inside Ethan saw three large capacity water tanks. Each one easily held thousands of gallons of water, all of which were methodically controlled from the exact amount of water, to the temperature and the minerals within. There was a fresh crisp bite to the air in this room, differing greatly from the muggy thick atmosphere of the previous one.
They ascended a small set of stairs and gazed into the first tank. Ethan could see thousands of fish swimming rapidly, making small waves on the surface of the water.
They were gliding beautifully around each other and that’s when Ethan realized that he had never actually seen a fish in its natural habitat. Sure, he’d eaten a lot of fish but it didn’t compare to actually seeing the creature before his very eyes.
The noise of the water was soon overpowered by a sound that was unfamiliar to Ethan. He stared down into the clear blue liquid and focused his hearing. It sounded like a fast one note melody. He continued to stare at the fish before understanding the foreign tone resonating throughout the water was in fact the fish’s heartbeat. How was that even possible? He searched the vast space and honed in on various other sounds. He listened as water rushed through the piping, bursting open in pockets of mist above the vegetables. He tilted his head in the opposite direction and heard the repetitive whoosh of the reaping machines outside as they tilled the harvest. He thought about the vitamins that Godrik was giving him and wondered if the doctor and others within the Technology Sector were experiencing the same results. Godrik did tell him that the injections were meant to improve the employees. Was that what he was feeling?
“Ethan?” The boy snapped his head up. For a moment, he had lost himself in the orchestrated chatter surrounding him.
“Sorry what?” he asked, a bit dazed. “Elora wanted to know your thoughts on the tank size. Hunter thinks it’s kind of small for our species, what do you think?”
Ethan leaned back over the railing of the tank and concluded that it would indeed be too small for the size of fish they were introducing. He quickly recited the mathematical equations in his head and concluded that they would need an apparatus at least twice the diameter and many times deeper if their species was to have any chance at survival.
“We need a structure that is at least two hundred meters by one hundred meters,” Ethan informed them. Elora’s eyes widened. That tank would easily be twice the size of the current tank below them.
“It will take some time to build, but I think we can get it done,” she said. “Good,” Ethan said abruptly. He stepped away from the railing and took the stairs quickly. Godrik and Elora were confused by Ethan’s sudden brusqueness as they watched him jog toward someone. Hunter watched him cautiously.
“Caleb!” he called out. The taller boy stopped what he was doing and perked up at the mention of his name. “Ethan?” Caleb asked, surprised by the sight of his friend. “Hey,” Ethan said, winded from his sprint, his shoes now covered in a thin veil of dirt.
They stared at each other briefly. Ethan noticed that Caleb was not only tan but also appeared content. The one thing he didn’t want was to see his friend in misery and it made him smile when he saw the opposite instead. Caleb wore dusty brown pants and a red sleeveless shirt that showed off his muscular build. He was no doubt a hit with the ladies.
“Hi Ethan. What are you doing here?” Ethan glimpsed back at his group before answering. “We’re checking things out. We’re introducing a new fish species and we needed to brief Agriculture on it.” Caleb nodded his head but didn’t speak. He was holding an empty net in his hands, clearly on his way to capture a specimen.
“How are you? You seem happy here,” Ethan asked. His friend smiled. “Yeah. It’s not nearly as bad as I thought. Plus, I work with some really cute girls,” Caleb said while blushing. Ethan was amazed. Never once had he seen his friend blush but he was happy for him.
“I’m glad Caleb. It’s good to see you smiling again.” That made his friend grin wider. “How about you? Is everything as amazing as I thought it would be over in Technology?” Ethan shrugged, stuffing his hands into his pants pockets. “It’s okay. Not really my scene but we are working on some pretty cool things,” he explained.
“Ethan?” Both boys turned to see Godrik standing by the entrance waving Ethan over. He regarded his friend apologetically. “I…I have to go but it was really nice to see you Caleb,” he said. He began to step away when Caleb grabbed him in a warm embrace. “It was nice to see you too Ethan,” he said sincerely.
Ethan was somewhat surprised but hugged his friend back regardless. Apparently, horticulturists were big huggers. He made his way to Godrik, sending a quick wave to Caleb. He had no idea how good it would feel to see his friend again but he was thankful for the chance.
As soon as they were done briefing the leaders of Agriculture, the trio boarded the train and travelled back to the Technology Sector. This time Hunter sat next to Ethan and Godrik was opposite them. Connor had taken an earlier train, stating important business that he had to take care of. Regardless of the reason, Ethan was glad. He was almost certain that Connor was hiding something and he wasn’t entirely sure that he wanted to know what.
“It’s pretty amazing, right?” Hunter asked, effectively breaking his thoughts. “Yeah.” They were seated closer than before but Ethan didn’t want to read too much into it. He watched as Hunter fumbled with his hands, looking uncharacteristically nervous. “So, that guy back there…” Ethan scrunched his eyes as it dawned on him who Hunter was talking about. “You mean Caleb?” Hunter nodded.
“Are you and him… I mean is he…” Ethan bit his lip to stave off his impending laughter because there was no way that Hunter could possibly think that about Caleb. He shook his head furiously. “Nope. Never, me and Caleb, we… never.” Hunter seemed to relax at the information which was giving Ethan anxiety. It was as if he was relieved, but why?
“We should totally go out and celebrate,” Hunter blurted out, blushing slightly. Ethan turned to him, surprise and a little hope painted on his face. “You could maybe invite your friend Hadley or Abby? You talk about them a lot. I wouldn’t mind meeting them.”
Oh. Goodbye hope.
“Sure,” he replied defeatedly. “I can see what they have planned for tonight. I can’t say that Hadley will be up for it. She’s really focused on her work but I’m sure Abby would be free.”
Ethan had no idea what he was doing. Never once had he gone out and celebrated anything but the prospect of being with his friends did appeal to him. And it was completely obvious that Hunter wanted to meet his friends, even though it stung his ego. Maybe Hunter would fall in love with one of them. For some reason, that thought irritated Ethan.
What if Hunter and Abby really hit it off and Ethan was left feeling like a third wheel? But would Abby ever do that to him? Ignore him for some other guy? Suddenly Ethan began to feel really insecure about his friendship with Abby.
Regardless of his apprehensions, Ethan dialed up Abby as soon as they returned to the North building. He stopped short of the elevators and waited for her to pick up. As soon as she did, he tilted his tablet to see her on full screen.
“Ethan! How are you?” she asked happily. Her face lit up as soon as she saw it was Ethan calling. He immediately felt bad, realizing he should have called her sooner. “I’m good Abs. Hey, are you free tonight? My co-worker Hunter wants to meet you,” he said nervously.
“He wants to meet me?” she asked coyly. Ethan rolled his eyes at her and acted playfully annoyed. “I just said that, didn’t I?” He could see the blush spread across her face. “Well as it turns out I am free.” She grinned obnoxiously. “I’ll meet you guys at seven on the platform?” Ethan nodded his head. “Seven it is. See you then Abby.”
Ethan took a deep breath as he disconnected the call. For some strange reason, he was nervous. The feeling that the night would end in disaster was plaguing him but he chose to ignore it for the time being. He made his way up to Godrik’s office to grab his knapsack before heading home. Of course, as soon as he got there, Hunter was waiting, hoping to hear about their plans for the evening.
“Abby wants us to meet her in Textiles at seven,” he said quickly. He reached into the office, took his bag and positioned it over his left shoulder. He stepped past Hunter who was smiling at him.
“Great. I’ll pick you up at six thirty then,” Hunter said as he walked to the elevators. Ethan stopped, confused. “Wouldn’t it just be easier to meet at the train station?” Ethan begged.
H
unter smirked in return. “Afraid to let me know where you live?” he inquired. Ethan scoffed at the accusation. “No, it’s-”
“Great, then I’ll see you at your place at six thirty.” And just like that, Hunter was out of the elevator and strutting out onto the streets in the opposite direction of the train. Ethan stood there for a moment in his own thoughts. Did Hunter even know where he lived? He shrugged to himself and made his way into the afternoon crowds.
Once he reached his building he raced from the elevator to his front door, opening it quickly. He had barely enough time to shower, get dressed and have a snack before he was due at the train station. He resolved that he would meet Hunter there. It was more logical especially since Hunter had no idea what floor he was on.
Come to think of it, Ethan didn’t remember ever seeing Hunter in his building. All of the level 1 employees were supposed to be housed there, so where was Hunter staying? As he thought back to the last few months he noticed that Hunter rarely left at the same time as Ethan and when he did, they went in different directions. In the mornings, he was either already at the office or arrived later. Ethan would add that to the ever-growing list of things he didn’t know or understand about Hunter Grey.
After a steamy shower, Ethan padded to his closet and stared at his clothing options with his hands on his hips. Should he dress up and put effort into his appearance? They were celebrating after all. Or should he keep it laid back and casual?
He thumbed through the drawers, finally choosing a thick black sweater with leather cut outs across the top and sides. He slid his fingers through the holes at the bottom of the sleeves and zipped up the asymmetrical lapel. He then picked out black pants with matching leather details and his black sneakers. He gave himself a once over in the mirror, seemingly pleased with his selections.
Awaken_Ethan Drake Chronicles Page 9