The sound of the elevator as it slid open startled Vanessa. She jumped up from her chair as Roger entered the room.
“Roger?” She said, as the Premier approached her and lifted his gun. He shot her point blank in the chest. The gunshot rang out through the apartment, and echoed, as her expression changed from one of bewilderment, to surprise, and then to blankness as she fell to the ground.
“Bitch.” He said under his breath as he holstered his gun. “You should have married me when I asked.” He turned away from her and withdrew his comm device. “Charles.” He headed back towards the elevator. The door slid shut behind him. “Charles.” He said again, impatiently. The door slid open. He exited and walked out at a fast pace. “Damn it.” He said. “Do I really have to do everything around here?” He turned the corner, and saw a group of Guardians as they marched ahead. He ducked back quickly. He keyed the comm device again. “Amelia.”
“Yes, sir.” Came her response.
“Have you carried out my order?” He asked.
“No. No, sir, I mean.” She replied.
“And why the hell not?” He asked, angrily, as he peered around the corner, and saw that the Guardian’s had disappeared. He ran across the street.
“He has not been back, sir.”
“I spoke to him just minutes ago. He said he was in sector two.”
“Yes, sir. That’s where he was heading when I saw him last, sir.”
“Well, where the hell are you?” He asked, as he peered around the next corner, and he ran ahead.
“The other side of the tunnel, sir. It’s where the Chancellor had stationed me, sir.”
“He said he had them trapped.” Roger said, as he navigated the next turn. “Get you ass over there, and see to it that they are finished.”
“Ye…Yes, sir.” She responded. She got up slowly from the floor. She bent back down and picked up her gun.
“And Amelia…” He said.
“Yes, sir.”
“As soon as they are dead. Carry out my order.”
“Yes, sir.” She said, as she looked at her comm unit with disgust. It indicated that he had disconnected. She pocketed the unit, and began a slow walk towards the tunnel. She knew it wouldn’t take that long to walk through, having been through it once, but she didn’t know how long it really would take to actually walk through. And she had no idea what the floor of it would be like. She could see the rails as they led in, but was worried that if she walked between them, the skid might come back and run her over in the dark before she ever knew what hit her. As she approached the large opening, she stood to the side, took a deep breath, and began to walk. She had traveled a few hundred feet, and walked even slower as the tunnel darkened when she heard a voice.
“Hold it right there.” The man said. She stopped, and flattened her back against the wall. She turned to glance back from the way she had come, and could still see the mouth of the tunnel. Whoever was there had seen her plainly silhouetted against the brightness of the opening.
“Who’s there?” She called out, as she raised the gun in her hand to point towards the ceiling. Silence was the response. “Hello?” She called out again, as a strong hand closed around her wrist, and quickly removed the gun. “Ow!” She yelled, as she jumped back and slammed into the wall.
“Take it easy.” The voice said. “Who are you?”
“Give me back that gun!” She yelled. The hand took her by the arm and began to lead her back towards the tunnel opening. She did not like to be handled this way, but she was glad to be headed back to the light. She no longer fought the grip, and walked peacefully. “I’m the Chancellor’s assistant.”
“Charles?” A different voice asked from the dark.
“Yes. Charles.” She replied.
“What’s your name?” A female voice asked.
“I am Amelia.” She answered, as they approached the end of the tunnel. Suddenly the grip on her arm forced her to the side of the tunnel wall and held her there tightly.
“Be very quiet, Amelia.” The voice next to her said, as she watched two figures approach the opening on either side. In the dim light, she could clearly make out that one was a man, and the other a woman. A moment passed as they scanned ahead, then the woman called back.
“It’s Clear.” She said. The hand on Amelia’s arm moved her towards the opening. She blinked in the brightness of the light as she exited the tunnel. The man that held her arm, released her. She stepped back and looked at the young man, then to the woman ahead, and then the other man. She turned back to Jericho.
“You’re them.” She said, as her lips barely moved. He ignored her, and ran to join the others. Now spread out three wide, they began to check the room for dangers. She spoke up, louder this time. “You’re them.” Still they ignored her, and cautiously moved deeper into the room. “There’s no one here but me.” She said. The girl turned back to her.
“No Guardians?” Gabrielle asked, then turned back to continue their sweep.
“No. No Guardians. They all went to through to the other side.” She replied. The older man turned back to her.
“And you expect us to believe you’re the only one here?” He said, as he smirked. She noticed the control stick in his hand.
“Believe what you want. It’s just me.” She walked towards them. “I know who they are.” She said. But who are you?”
“It doesn’t matter.” Jonah said, as he glanced back at her.
“It might.” She said, as she still approached them from behind. “Are you from the farm?” She asked.
“The farm?” He replied.
“The farm?” Asked Gabrielle. “What farm?”
“You know.” Amelia answered. “The farm. The village. The road. The factory. The farm.”
“We’re from the village.” Jericho said. “But we don’t know anything about a farm.” Jonah stopped, and turned to her.
“That’s what you call it, isn’t it.” He said, as he stepped towards her. She stopped and took a step back, suddenly uneasy at the way that he approached.
“Well. Yeah. That’s what it’s called.” He stepped up into her face, and grabbed her by the wrist. She tried to pull free, and he pulled her closer.
“You know, don’t you? You know what’s going on here. Don’t you!” She twisted her arm as she tried to get free, but he held tight.
“Yeah!” She yelled back. “But not-”
“How can you just let this happen?” He said and slung her hand away from him. “They are people, damn it! Just like you and me! They are not animals!” She stumbled backwards, and just caught her balance before she fell.
“I didn’t know…” A soft sob escaped her. “I didn’t know until today.” She said as she began to cry softly.
“What do you mean?” Jonah asked angrily.
“I had no idea!” She pled with him, as tears streamed down her face. “I thought it was all grown in some lab somewhere.” She turned away, and sobbed uncontrollably. “I thought it was tissue cultures or something. For rejuvenation. For God’s sake, they have commercials!” She fell to her knees, and sobbed. The anger eased on Jonah’s face, as he recognized the emotions she felt. The same emotions he had been through just hours before.
“Charles knows?” He asked her. She looked up, her face wet as tears dripped from it. She nodded. “And Roger?” Without hesitation, she nodded again. “And where is your place in all of this?” He asked. She shook her head.
“I don’t know.” She said. “I’m the Chancellor’s assistant. I…I help.” She began. “I help with scheduling meetings, and…and…doing reports…and…and checking to make sure his tunic is straight before a meeting. I swear...” She said. “I didn’t know anything about all of this.”
“Take it easy on her.” Gabrielle said, as she stepped up to Jonah’s side. “Maybe she really didn’t know.”
“We can’t trust her.” Jonah said disgustedly and turned away from her. Gabr
ielle approached her, and helped her up from the floor.
“Why not? We trusted you.” Jericho said, as she approached Gabrielle. Jonah spun around.
“That’s different. I wasn’t a part of this. No part of it.” He said. “She’s neck deep in it!”
“No-” Amelia began, when Gabrielle interrupted her.
“I think she’s telling us the truth.”
“Me too, Gabby.” He patted Amelia on the arm then turned and continued to survey.
“So that’s it?” Asked Jonah, in disbelief. “You magically believe her, so she’s just part of team now?”
“Oh, I didn’t say that.” Said Gabrielle. “I said I believe her. That she didn’t know until today. How she really feels about the death and the lies and those tanks of little babies upstairs-” At this Amelia, burst out in tears again and began to sob.
“Those poor little babies.” She sobbed.
“Maybe she is part of the team.” Jericho said. “Jonah. Is that the door we were looking for?” He said as he pointed to the far wall at the large impression. Jonah followed him over for a closer look.
“This is it.” He said, as he lay his hand against the metal, and felt the groove where the door would part and slide open. “Do you see a control panel anywhere?” Both he and Jericho began to scan around the edges. “There it is.” He said. They both approached the side with the panel. Jonah looked it over then turned back to Amelia. “Okay, if you’re with us. What’s the code to open the door?” He asked sarcastically.
Chapter 37
Immortal Page 36