The Seat of Power (The Securus Trilogy Book 3)

by Anthony Maldonado

  Since the exam rooms are all completely packed, we keep going all the way to the intensive care unit. There are no gurneys to spare, so we put a blanket on the bare floor to lay her down. Rana noticed our arrival and has come back to check on us.

  “What happened?” she asks while walking into the room.

  “Hadwin’s mother is in bad shape,” I tell her while getting the supplies to insert an intravenous line. “I checked her vital signs. Her blood pressure is 82/40. She needs some fluids and probably blood.”

  “That’s a problem,” Rana says with a pained expression. “We have more fluids available, but we’re out of blood. We don’t have any more of the steroid infusions left either.”

  “There has to be something we can do,” Sayda insists, pleading for us to find a way.

  “Let me check something,” I say while getting on Adara’s computer.

  I access the general medical records, searching for our only chance. While I look, Rana takes over the care of Hadwin’s mother. When the results of her initial blood screen come back, our fears are confirmed. Even though Hadwin’s mother’s blood pressure responds to the fluids, she will not survive for long without a transfusion. I look up Hadwin’s file as well as his mother’s. The results are disappointing. I keep searching.

  “Well?” Sayda asks me, becoming increasingly agitated.

  “I’m checking her blood type to see if we could give our blood to her,” I tell them. “Hadwin isn’t a match. Neither am I.”

  “But they’re related, how can they not be a match?” she demands.

  “Hadwin’s father has an incompatible type for transfusion to her. He passed his incompatibility to Hadwin,” I explain.

  Sayda slumps over next to Hadwin’s mother. She wipes the beads of sweat from her brow and looks up at Hadwin with a tear forming in her eye. Hadwin puts his hand on Sayda’s cheek, before looking back down at his mother.

  “I can’t believe this. There has to be something we can do,” Sayda shouts, letting her frustration come through in her voice.

  A broad smile comes to my face. I rub my eyes, almost not believing the information on the computer screen. “There is.”

  “What?” Sayda asks skeptically.

  “We’re not a match, but you are,” I tell Sayda, turning around the screen so they can see for themselves.

  Normally, I would not assume someone would be willing to give away their own blood, but Sayda would do anything to help us or our families. The instant she hears my words, Sayda sticks out her arm to Rana, insisting she get started. Hadwin reaches past Sayda’s extended arm, holding her gently with a hand on each cheek. He leans forward to give her a kiss. Afterward, when she realizes we are watching, Sayda’s cheeks flush. She does not like being the center of attention. For a moment, I am not sure if Hadwin’s kiss really just happened or if I was hallucinating. After all, Hadwin is not the most forward person with his feelings.

  “You saw that too, right Rana?” I ask, managing a smile. With the fluids and now blood being prepared, Hadwin’s mother has a much better chance of survival. The fortuitous change in circumstance elevates all of our spirits some. For once, something may actually go well.

  “I sure did,” Rana says with an amused look in her eye.

  “High five?” I ask Hadwin, remembering his response when I finally found the courage to kiss Talia.

  “Hey, I had to thank her for saving my mother, didn’t I?” Hadwin says, ignoring my raised hand.

  “Whatever works,” I reply. “Just promise you’ll never thank me for anything.”

  “I’ll thank you right now,” Hadwin says, puckering up and walking toward me with outstretched hands. He is definitely feeling a lot better now that his mother will be getting what she needs.

  I help Rana collect the blood and prepare it for the transfusion. The fluids combined with the transfusion stabilize Hadwin’s mother. She is doing well now, though her eventual outcome will depend on whether or not more of her blood hemolyzes. Since we have already withdrawn the cause of the illness, hopefully we will avoid any further damage to her and the rest of Securus.

  *

  That night, I return to my quarters to check on Arluin. Our mother insisted he spend the day resting in there, where he would be unable to get into more trouble. Instead of lying on the bunk as expected, he is in Talia’s office working on his Coden. I should have known he would not sit still for long.

  “Weren’t you supposed to be resting,” I ask him with fabricated exasperation.

  He does not even look up from his Coden. “There’ll be plenty of time for rest later.”

  “What are you working on? More decrypting?” I ask.

  “I’ll tell you if you tell me what you whispered in Eldin’s ear last night before he left,” Arluin answers with more than a little annoyance. He is becoming less and less patient with me withholding information from him.

  “I didn’t think you saw that.” A laugh escapes me. Even when he was in bad of shape last night, my little brother managed to notice every little thing I do. Maybe I have been underestimating him. Even so, this is not something he needs to worry about. “I just had him tell the Research Department to get some supplies ready for me.”

  “For what?” he asks suspiciously.

  “For me to get Talia back,” I say and look him in the eye to make sure he knows not to push me on this right now.

  Arluin is not intimidated, but changes the subject anyway. He lifts his bulky Coden and hands it to me. “I have some more information for you”

  I read the entry on the screen. He has decrypted the Munitus folder. I sit down to go through the files. Most of the entries are very similar to those for Securus. They have their own Methods of Guidance section that is nearly identical to ours, with one notable exception.

  Since the occupants must make repeated trips to the surface to maintain our food supply, we needed another method to prevent them from discovering The Agent has become inactive. In order to accomplish this, and ensure our food supply remains untainted, an engineered chemical has been added to the life support systems of their bio-suits. When inhaled with the specific air mixture within the bio-suits, the chemical remains inert. However, when exposed to the normal atmosphere, a chemical reaction causes it to bind to red blood cells with an extremely high affinity. This leads to severe hypoxia and eventually the death of the occupant. Any occupant who removes their bio-suit or becomes accidentally exposed to the atmosphere will be instantly affected. This method will reinforce the presumed presence of The Agent.

  Of note, this chemical must be deactivated before the occupant reenters Munitus. Otherwise the air inside would trigger the same reaction. We have placed a deactivating reagent inside the mist of the decontamination chambers to serve this function.

  So far, this method has proven rather effective. Unfortunately, some of the exposed occupants have survived, but our Agents of Guidance have convinced them The Agent has mutated to a less aggressive form. They believe this is why those who return to the decontamination chamber quickly survive the exposure.

  The entry is not surprising, though Rylan, Bynah, and Auden may find it useful. I move on, scrolling through the other files. When I am almost certain there is nothing else of use, an entry from the history of Munitus catches my attention.

  When we were forced to cleanse Castellum, the population needed to be restored. Since Munitus’ population was far greater than Securus’ at the time, we decided to transfer some of their occupants. In order to do this without establishing a continuous link between the colonies, a subterranean transfer was deemed the most optimal method. The preexisting tunnel systems connecting the three colonies were used for this.

  Since we did not want to give the exact location to any of the occupants, this was a coordinated effort between the head of Leadership and our Agents of Guidance. They told the occupants their exploratory efforts revealed an unfinished facility they were working on completing. When the eventual transfer was made,
we sent enough Leadership personnel to establish order. After the occupants were far enough into the tunnels, a collapse was induced, effectively cutting them off from each other. The remaining occupants of Munitus believe all those in the tunnels were killed during the collapse. The new Leadership of Castellum has told their occupants the collapse was from an earthquake that also forced a part of Munitus’ outer wall to tear open, exposing the entire colony to The Agent. Both colonies are unaware of each other’s continued existence.

  If another transfer is necessary, we recommend using the occupants of Securus in the effort. This is preferable since none of their occupants will have heard any secondhand stories of this event. If the number of occupants is not sufficient to maintain both colonies, demoting some Laborers from Caelum is another option. However, this is considered a last resort because of the considerable effort and monitoring that would be required to ensure they do not disclose our existence. Our Agents of Guidance would also need to convince the occupants they can from an isolated portion of their original colony.

  While reading the entry I remember something Wakil had mentioned to me before. Munitus’ population had a significant decrease for some reason. It was possible they had simply died or tried to escape, but knowing they were the replacements for a slaughtered people is so much worse.

  I had never doubted the sincerity of Braeden’s threats, but each new documented proof of their brutality makes them feel even more deadly. Caelum has wiped out an entire colony before and may do so again very soon. With the Controller suspecting I made contact with Munitus, there may be nothing capable of saving us. The more I consider the possibilities, the more of an inevitability our destruction seems. Braeden is probably working on finalizing the details of how he intends to proceed. If I am right, they will most likely strike as soon as Braeden has finished the game he is playing.

  Then again, maybe the Controller thinks he can salvage the situation. Why else would he go through the hassle of abducting Talia and sending for me? I do not want to acknowledge it, but the answer is obvious. Braeden could simply be distracting us while his plan is set in motion. Either way, this does not change my intentions. I will not sit idly while waiting for the Controller to send for me. I am going to Caelum before then. We would never be able to pull off a large scale attack, but a small group could cause a lot of damage with the right weapons. Even if I fail, Braden will regret the game he started with me.

  Chapter 20

  The only thing I see when my eyes close is Talia stuck in Caelum’s Detention Center. Those thoughts make it nearly impossible to concentrate. Even worse, my only chance to rescue Talia will most likely prevent me from ever holding her in my arms again. The information Arluin and Seonah have provided us will be important for the future, but unfortunately it does not help me get Talia back.

  Arluin does not interrupt while I finish reading the decrypted files. When I finally look up from the Coden, he locks his eyes onto mine. And I thought he was going to drop the subject, I lament to myself, seeing his thoughts before he says them out loud.

  “What’s the plan?” Arluin asks, clearly intent on helping.

  “What do you think I’m gonna do?” I ask.

  “You’re going to sneak into Caelum,” he says confidently. “And I’m going with you.”

  “I’m going soon. You need to stay here and help Cyrina keep things from falling apart,” I say, offering a task that might appeal to him.

  “Not gonna happen,” he says, seeing through my weak attempt to trick him. “You’ve been keeping me away from every excursion, but this time you don’t have a choice. I am going with you. Besides, if you’re planning what I think you are, you’re gonna need me.”

  Arluin wears the same stubborn look I give Talia when she tries to stop me from doing something she thinks is dangerous. In this moment, I understand there will be no stopping him. Bringing him along scares me, especially since this time my chances of returning alive are slim. There has to be a way to convince him to stay here. He does not give me a chance to think of one.

  “Don’t forget I’ve been there before. No one has studied the layout of that place like I have. You need me.”

  “I’m not arguing your worth,” I reply, feeling the guilt of risking his life already rising within me. “But, truth be told, I seriously doubt both Talia and I will make it back. This is not just going to be a rescue mission. I’m gonna make them feel our pain. Besides that, the Controller is out for blood and no matter what, he will have it. Most of this mess is my fault since I was the one who brought Braeden’s attention to Securus. Someone has to pay for my mistakes. I don’t want you to get caught up in the crossfire.”

  Arluin shakes his head at me. “You’re my brother. I’m not letting you do this alone. We all understand what Talia means to Securus, but I also know what you mean to me and Mom. If there’s any chance of making this right, I intend to see it through.”

  “What do you think Mom is going to say about you going?” I ask, using the last bit of leverage available.

  “The same thing she’ll say about you going,” he shoots back at me. “She won’t like it, but she’ll understand.”

  I know he will not back down. “Fine, you can help, under one condition. You have to stay hidden, just like last time. No hero stuff, okay?”

  “That’s fine with me,” he says, trying to hide a smile. “So when do we go?”

  “As soon as I get everything set up,” I tell him. “Probably in a couple of days, if not sooner. Make sure you know the layout of Caelum by heart. And see if you can find any information about their detoxifying protocol for our food’s poison. That’ll be your main priority.”

  I leave Arluin in the office and go to my bunk. There are so many moving parts to this plan. We have a lot to take care of to ensure the mission does not get derailed before it ever begins. Despite the work needed to be done, I must force myself to get some rest. The day has been long and my mind is weary. If I am going to keep my brother and friends from dying in Caelum, I need to be focused.

  *

  The next morning, I wake up to an empty room. Arluin must have left during the night. That is not surprising. After sleeping in the same place for your entire life, falling asleep in an unfamiliar setting becomes surprisingly difficult. I slowly get dressed and mentally map out my day. There is a lot to do before attempting Talia’s rescue.

  My first stop brings me to the infirmary. Today, the waiting room holds a pleasant change. Instead of piles of people everywhere, only a few scattered patients remain. Apparently, resuming the old poison was effective in halting the hemolytic anemia’s progression. This would be more encouraging if not for the lives already lost. Still, any improvement is something to be welcomed at this point.

  The hardest part of setting up my plan will be deciding on the safest route to Caelum. There is one person who could be of particular use, but he is in a place I have no interest in returning to. Against my better judgment, I instruct one of the Guards to bring him to me. Removing someone from the Detention Center for personal reasons is against our regulations, so this will have to be kept quiet. We are to meet in the lower levels, ensuring there will be less people around to notice. The Guards will make sure there are no detours and that he is unable to contact anyone in Securus or Caelum without our knowledge.

  I take one of the outer stairwells down to the lower levels, exiting on the second to last floor. This area is seldom used except for some of the workers from the Deep Vents. The initial hallway looks the same as any other, but around the corner it changes completely. By nature, all of Securus is very mechanical, with limited decorations and plenty of exposed metal. Despite this, the organized halls and planned layout somehow make our surroundings feel welcoming. This harsh and uninviting area does not share that feel at all. Instead of the normal clean lines, stored equipment and sizable machinery are packed under a low ceiling.

  I maneuver around some storage cabinets and pass some of the machinery used for th
e initial steps in our water purification process. This area was not even part of the original structure of Securus, but as we expanded downward, repurposing more and more space for living quarters, this vast array of equipment needed to be relocated. Since the majority of the purification process is automated, workers generally do not come down here unless repairs are needed. The only other visitors would be workers getting equipment for the maintenance of the Thermal Vents. The empty cabinets tell me they have already gathered the tools and parts required for the day.

  The main space down here is quite loud, so I open one of the side storage rooms. Shuffling around some of the equipment, I make a seating area out of some aluminum cabinets. As I finish, voices become audible within the main room. When the Guard sees me, he backs out the door, waiting near the stairs. Since the freight elevator needs a special code to activate, the stairs would be the only way Wakil could escape.

  “Kagen,” Wakil greets me as he comes in the room. “This is quite a surprise. I didn’t expect to hear from you again, let alone under these circumstances.”

  “I’ve had enough of the Detention Center. Besides, I wanted to make sure we have complete privacy,” I explain. “The Detention Center was set up for surveillance, so this is the only way to be sure.”

  My words are interrupted by the sound of footsteps, barely audible through the mechanical humming in the main room. I get up and crack open the door. The sight of the two people walking this way annoys me. Before they get too close, I step into the main room, closing the door behind me. They likely already know about Wakil, but if they do not there is no reason to tell them.

  “What are you two doing here?” I ask, not bothering to hide my irritation.

  “We came to see what you’re up to,” Eyra says with a leery stare. “I was informed that you’ve come to believe the laws of Securus no longer apply to you.”