Falling & Uprising

by Natalie Cammaratta

  “It could be worse.” He shrugs, and a smile flickers across his face. “I guess we’ll need to plan to be seen together in public?”

  “Yes, we will.”

  “All right.” He pulls a holoScreen up from his cuff and taps around. “The city is going to erupt in ‘I-knew-its.’” Accurate, but that should make it more believable. “Symphony Thursday night?”

  “What series?”

  “Ancients.”

  Good. The only modern symphonies I can listen to are my father’s. “Yes. I’ll have my parents hold our—Wait, no. I promised my parents we would do dinner Thursday nights.”

  “Why don’t they join us at the symphony, and we can do dinner afterward?” He says that casually as if it is perfectly natural to go on a double date with my parents.

  “Are you insane?” I ask, matching his casual and positive tone.

  “Is it too soon for me to meet your parents?” He strokes his chin like he’s pondering the idea.

  “You’ve met them before, but it will always be too soon to introduce you as my boyfriend. They’re my parents!”

  “It would make it look real.”

  “You are insane.”

  “You know I’m right. Being seen in public with your parents pretty thoroughly locks up this alibi.”

  I open my mouth to speak, but I can’t find words in my shock. “How about we try that experiment with your mother?”

  “That’s fine too, but yours are the ones who happen to be expecting to see you on the same night we already have plans.”

  “Pfft, we were still in the process of making the plans.” I press my fingertips into my temples and comb them through my hair, pulling it slightly. “I don’t want to lie right to my parents’ faces.”

  “You think you can withstand Establishment interrogation, but not your trusting parents?”

  “You know my mother! She is definitely worse. And she’s already going to be furious that I hid our relationship from her.”

  “Maybe if you don’t hide our relationship from her, she’ll be okay.” Jase winks… as if that will convince me of the supposed humor in this situation.

  My hands clench into fists. “You are doing this on purpose.”

  “I haven’t done anything. You started our relationship, and you double-booked yourself. I think you are setting me up here.”

  I narrow my eyes. “It’s not funny.”

  “Oh, are you the only one who can use sarcasm in this relationship?”

  “Yes. I made an early claim on sarcasm.”

  “Fine, then I made a claim on planning our schedule, so we’ll go to the symphony and dinner with your parents.”

  This is the thanks I get for rescuing him and defending him against Vogue. No good deed goes unpunished.

  “Maybe I came here to break up with you today.”

  “You have one job right now.”

  “You are insufferable.”

  “I’ll be at your door at six o’clock.”

  “I’ll meet you at the theater at six-thirty,” I counter.

  “I’ll pick you up at six. It’s bad enough I’m seen as a traitor. I can at least still be a gentleman.”

  Now, I have to laugh. All we are going through, and he is worried about looking gentlemanly. It reminds me of Bram laughing at how very Kaycian I can be in the middle of this turmoil. “Anything I can do to save whatever is left of your reputation will be my pleasure.”

  “Thank you.” He seems content to ignore my sarcasm. “Are you hungry?”

  “I should be going. Vogue is apprehensive about my situation right now, and I don’t want to worry her by being out of her sight longer than I need to be.”

  “I don’t want you to worry her either. I got blamed the last time she was worried about you, and it wasn’t pleasant.” He stands up and offers me his hand to help me up. I take it and stand. “I’ll walk you home.”

  My hand drops from his, and my head cocks as I raise an eyebrow at him incredulously. “It’s three blocks. I can manage.”

  “I already explained this,” he says. “Let’s go.”

  Consummate gentleman. Begrudgingly I get in the elevator with him. As we reach the first floor, he takes my hand in his. I shoot him a suspicious look.

  “You started this,” he says under his breath.

  We walk hand in hand to my building. I can’t help but find this whole charade rather hilarious. At least Jase is being a good sport about it. He could be as annoyed with me as I am with myself. This is what I get for doing something silly to get back at Adwin. When we get to my building’s door, he wraps his arms around my shoulders, hugging me to his chest. His signature smell of warm spices envelopes me.

  “Goodnight, Serenity,” he says before kissing my forehead. “I’ll see you Thursday.”

  He turns and walks away. I watch him for a moment, and it doesn’t feel particularly funny anymore.

  Chapter Thirty-Eight

  BRAM

  “Thank you. May the destination be worth the journey.” Sophos taps the pod in his ear to end his call and sighs. “Gladstone and Greenwood are ready to proceed without receiving the weapons we had amassed for them.”

  “That will complicate matters for them,” Tori says as she paces around the office. Her usual tension and angst are at a new high.

  “If we had to pick islands to do it without supplemental weapons, we’d pick these,” I say. “Miners and lumberjacks have some weapons of their own.”

  “That may be true,” Sophos says, “but now they don’t have the explosives to block off their tunnels to Kaycie and Leavenworth. We’ll need to get that set up before the uprising can begin, or they won’t have a chance.”

  I open the tunnel map over the desk. “Plus, Gladstone is in between Kaycie and Lawson. If the tunnel between Kaycie and Gladstone doesn’t get blocked off, Lawson would have to cut off Gladstone, and then they’d be on their own.”

  Tori looks at the map, shaking her head. “And even though Blue Springs isn’t participating, their tunnel needs to be blocked off. That way, the islands are all still connected to each other, but not to Kaycie or Leavenworth.”

  Sophos sighs and rubs the back of his neck. “Four tunnels we have to take care of ourselves. Would either of you like to guess who will be going on that little adventure?”

  Tori grins at me. “I’ll get on the explosives if you can find us a way through the tunnels.”

  “Thank you,” Sophos says.

  “After we set the explosives,” she says, “our new order of operations is to get to Lawson, blow the tunnels, broadcast the announcement, cut power, and overthrow the Establishment on the islands?” She enumerates them on her fingers as she lists our steps.

  Sophos nods. “In quite rapid succession.”

  I scratch an eyebrow. “That sounds like a fun day.”

  “Now we just have to wait to clear the technological barriers, set the charges, and then it begins?” she asks.

  “Yes. That is our current position.”

  “Just the most anxious waiting game ever played,” I say. “I’ll be ready anytime.” The developments about Leavenworth have depleted my confidence, but if this is going to happen anyway, I’ll go down swinging.

  Tori takes a deep breath. “As will I. Until then, goodbye, gentlemen.” She gives my shoulder a squeeze from behind me before walking out.

  Neither Sophos nor I say anything for a while.

  “Now that it’s imminent, does it feel far-fetched?” His rhetorical question doesn’t surprise me. Planning is one thing, but watching it come to fruition is nerve-racking.

  “Reality has a way of making things seem impossible. It’s a plan, though. It could work.” His lips press together as he nods to himself. “Have you spoken to my mom?”

  “Yes. She is ready and waiting.”

  “With everything that’s been going on, we never really finished that conversation.”

  Not that there weren’t opportunities, it’s just a difficult top
ic to broach. I’m resentful that Sophos kept it from me, even if it wasn’t his choice. I can’t be angry at my mom—I’ve been separated from her for too long. Plus, she’s my mom. I can’t help but wonder how these years would have been different if I had known. Could I have kept in contact with her? Why leave me isolated? It’s like the whole situation with the islands in miniature.

  Sophos’ fingers tap the desk in agitation. “All right, full disclosure. Your mother was astonishing. A young widow doing everything and more for her family, and she never let it make her hard or cold. She wasn’t only strong, she was vibrant and lively. I cared for her, and we had our stolen moments together. I enlightened her about the Establishment’s system, and it didn’t frighten her; it made her determined to find a solution.”

  She was a coffee bean in boiling water too. She was telling us that story long before she knew how big the pot was, though.

  “I wanted to stay there to do it with her, but she insisted I get myself into a position on Kaycie where I could help from this end. She was worried about you, of course, and that year I was in the perfect position to save you, so I did.”

  “How did you get the vaccine when you were a manager on Lawson?”

  “Aldan Foster and I had been friends for a long time. He was in the health department, and he hated how the Establishment used their research. He created the vaccines for the extirpation drug and the amnesia drug.”

  “Foster? Any relation to Tori?”

  “Yes, her father.”

  “Has he retired? Shouldn’t he be your most useful ally in the health department?”

  “He died. He was developing an antidote to reverse the extirpation drug they use on the marshals. It seems he tested some drugs on himself and was poisoned.”

  Wow. I didn’t realize this war had already claimed casualties. I wonder how close he got to success before he died. “Could there be a way to reverse it?”

  “Bram, the man died trying. Who else is going to make an attempt?”

  “But, it could bring back…” My words drop away as I picture Emrys’ blank gaze. Could that be reversed? For a chance to get my brother back, hell, I’d volunteer to test drugs.

  Sophos’ head inclines, and his eyes close briefly. “I’m so sorry I couldn’t save Emrys. I was still there to give Aren a vaccine, but he wasn’t selected anyway. I had to leave when this positioned opened up in the council, though I wanted to wait until I could be there to protect Emrys. I sent your mother a vaccine for him, but it didn’t reach her in time.”

  He looks mortified about it. Even though he is apologizing to me, I feel like I should be consoling him. “There was nothing you could do for him. But we can make sure it doesn’t happen to anyone else.”

  “That would be the destination.”

  “Well, it’s going to be a hell of a journey.”

  Chapter Thirty-Nine

  SERENITY

  This. Week. Is. Miserable. Did that man just look at me curiously? Is that woman looking over my shoulder to see what I’m doing? Paranoia hangs on me at work. I’m constantly on edge. This must be the sensation of walking a tightrope. One misstep will be the end of me.

  Tonight, I get to continue this circus act as I feign a relationship hoping that we are being watched. This couldn’t be more bizarre. I glance at the time and decide my pointless fake job can go to hell. When I get home, I collapse face-first onto my bed. Vogue comes in a while later. “You look like you are very excited about your date tonight.”

  I sit up and frown at her. “I hate the idea of blatantly lying to my parents.”

  “Well, my love, I mostly have to envy you that you’ve made it this many years into life before doing it.” She sits next to me and squeezes my hand. “It’s not that big a lie. You are close with Jase. He’s your friend. I think it’ll be okay. Let’s get you ready.” She disappears into my closet and comes back with a high-necked burgundy chiffon gown. “I love this one on you, and I’ve already put hidden pockets in it.”

  “I don’t see a need to have concealed weapons on me for this.”

  “Have you not been carrying anything with you all week?” Vogue demands. My silence condemns me. “We need to be prepared at all times, and you especially. If you need to get away quickly, you can disappear with a smoke grenade or sedate someone who tries to take you.”

  Vogue is the one in action hero mode now. She’s deluding herself if she doesn’t realize I would completely botch such a thing. I can see it now, I sedate myself and wake up in an interrogation room with Agnar and Kemp. She tucks a few sedation gas pellets in my pocket.

  “Get dressed and come let me do your hair.” I do as I’m told, almost relieved to have someone else make decisions for me. Vogue braids some of my hair into a crown and touches up my curls. I make it difficult for her by moving around and fixing my makeup at the same time. As she works, she gives me updates on her progress at work.

  “Frey is working on getting the train system back, Dixon is working on the emergency broadcasting system, and I’m spinning my wheels with the power grid. The challenging part will be once we open a door, we need to keep it open until we get into the remainder of the systems.”

  “You’ll find a way. You always do.”

  She smiles at me in the mirror. “You look perfect.” The elevator chime rings. “And just in time. Open.”

  After having to use one, I’ve tried to keep my distance from amnesia shots. Those and sedation gas may be nothing to Bram, but it’s uncomfortable for me. “I’m surprised he’s coming up,” I say on our way out of my room. “I thought he was still afraid of you after the last time he came here.” Vogue smirks, proud that she might elicit fear in someone.

  Jase walks in and smiles at me. “You look stunning.”

  “Thank you.” He’s looking rather dapper himself in his sapphire blue suit.

  “Jase,” Vogue says, “I have to apologize for Saturday night. Of course, we all know now that it wasn’t your fault, and I shouldn’t have lashed out at you like that.”

  “There’s no need to apologize. None of us knew anything at the time, and I understand worrying about Serenity going out and getting into trouble like that.”

  Two warm gazes fall on me, making this even more awkward. An achievement, considering how absurd the whole thing was to begin with. “Okay, if you’re both done talking about me as if I’m not here… we should go.”

  “Have fun,” Vogue says.

  I wiggle my fingers in a wave goodbye from the elevator. “You’ve gotten your way.” I elbow Jase softly. “I hope you’re happy.”

  “Don’t worry about it. Your parents love me.”

  “That makes it worse,” I say as he takes my hand in his. “I don’t need my mother to be invested in our relationship.”

  When we sit on the monorail, sidled up close to each other, someone snaps a picture of us. I haven’t concerned myself with the buzzChains much in the past few months, but my reputation is now the single most important thing for me, my friends, and the uprising. The shroud of perfection I had been used to wearing seems to have tripled in weight. My free hand taps out rapid notes on the back of Jase’s.

  “Are you all right? Is being together with your parents really going to be so bad for you? I’m sorry, I—”

  “No, it’s fine.” I lay my chin on his shoulder so I can whisper close to his ear. “Worrying this much about appearances again is stifling. Spending less time hiding secrets was a reprieve, but now it’s my primary occupation.”

  “You’re not alone, though.” He slides his arm around my shoulders. “We don’t have to keep any secrets from each other.”

  The two of us or all six of us? Whichever he means, he’s right. Guilty as I feel for my part in putting him through this, having Jase with me is a comfort. Who would have thought sneaking my way to his office six months ago would lead to this?

  As we walk into the theater, he places a hand on my lower back and leads me toward the bar.

  “Oh, did
you arrange a meeting place with Mamá? If she loves you so much, I suppose you chat regularly.”

  “Isn’t the bar where anyone would think to meet Grace Ward?”

  True enough.

  The bartender greets us and asks if he may get us anything.

  “A gin martini with cocktail onions for the lady, and I’ll have—”

  “An old fashioned,” I interrupt. The bartender nods and steps away. “Do you think you can show me up like that? Two can play this game.”

  “I don’t know what you’re talking about. You’re stressed, so probably not drinking wine, and you don’t eat the olives when your drinks come with—”

  “Yes, I get it. You pay attention. Remember,”—I lean in to whisper—“you are needed for your medical expertise. My skillset is supposed to be acting.”

  “I don’t have medical expertise. It’s my access to drugs.”

  “Regardless, what does it say if you are better at acting like my boyfriend than I am at acting like your girlfriend?”

  Our drinks appear. “Thank you,” we say together.

  “You are more than an actress,” Jase says, tapping his glass to mine, “and maybe I’m not acting.” He looks at me coyly over his drink as he takes a sip. While I try to process what he just said, his gaze jumps over my shoulder. He puts his glass down and smiles. “Grace, Anton! So good to see you!”

  My mother swoops in and gives Jase a big hug as my father kisses my cheek. “Hello, Papá.”

  What just happened? My mind races as my parents greet Jase. He’s not acting? What is that supposed to mean? Does he really…? The idea distracts me from the scene in front of me. Now that I see how my parents react to Jase, every interaction they had with Adwin looks cold in comparison.

  “Serenity,” my mother sighs, “I can’t believe you’ve kept me from this for so long. You two look so sweet together.”

  “Mamá, I told you it hasn’t been long.” I hug her now that she’s pulled herself from Jase.

  My father shakes his hand, a warm smile spreads across his face. “We didn’t want to get your hopes up and then disappoint you,” Jase says. Here we go with getting them invested in our relationship, just like I thought. But what are Jase’s thoughts on all of this? His real ones.