Top approached the first person, a bearded man. “What is your name?”
“My name is Bill Richards.”
“And what is your job, Bill Richards?”
“To collect outliers and bring them to you. We have found nobody since Sunday, sir. We have no new news to report.”
Everyone’s eyebrows went up, and I felt a wave of nausea.
“Oh, my God,” Captain Ward whispered. “They have it don’t they? The worm mechanism?” He pointed to his head.
All at once I remembered.
“That’s what I’m thinking,” Top answered. “But how the fuck do we get them out?”
I shook my head. What they were talking about was brain surgery. “I don’t think that’s something I can do, sir.”
Everyone looked at Captain Ward, who was staring at the humans with his brow furrowed. He lifted his arms up to rest on top of his head and blew out a deep breath.
“I’ll need to do some research and run some x-rays on them. But this is out of my area of expertise, so I make no promises.”
I could tell the thought of experimenting on any of these people frightened him. A necessary evil that could end in their deaths.
He looked at me now. “If I do this, I’ll need your help.”
Now it was my time to let out a deep breath. I looked at the people. If they’d been given the worm treatment, they must not have been completely willing to bow to the Baelese. Each of these people was trapped in a prison in their own mind, like having the Baelese voice in their ear all day. I shuddered at the thought. We didn’t know what we were doing, but we had to try. I would rather die than have that worm in my head.
“Okay,” said. “I’ll do whatever you need.”
Remy
While the children were away at lunch, I nibbled my peanut butter sandwich and stared down at my pile of perfectly answered quizzes about the solar system. The kids sometimes got their facts mixed up, but they never made the same mistake twice. Their memories were like nothing I’d ever seen. Their bodies were small factories, their brains like little machines. And though I shouldn’t feel a sense of pride at their accomplishments, I couldn’t help it. I’d come to recognize signs of their happiness. They didn’t need to smile for me to see it in their eyes—that glow of gladness. And the way they looked up to me, each one of them hungry for my words of praise, like verbal hugs. Eye contact was their intimacy. If they were ashamed or unhappy, they would not look at anyone.
I heard the doors open, and glanced up to see the Senator coming in. A blush rose to my cheeks as I stood and brushed crumbs from my peach-colored dress with white trim. The high neckline was itchy, but I’d never dare tell the ladies working in the sewing room that.
Senator Navis’s smile was small and warm, but it started to fall as he got nearer. I glanced down, smoothing my dress again and wondering what was wrong. He stopped several feet from me, staring hard at my face.
“You were injured? How?”
Oh. I lifted a hand to touch my tender cheekbone. It must’ve been a bad bruise. We had no mirrors in the Primo Town bathrooms. Shame rose in me like acid at the memory of being hit by that woman.
“I interfered during the exercises yesterday, so it was my fault. Milna fell and hit her head. My instinct was to run to her, and . . . I almost touched her.” I looked down at my twined fingers.
He made a clucking sound and when I glanced up he was staring at the wall, holding his composure together.
“I’m all right,” I told him. “I won’t make that mistake again.”
He looked at me and gave a small, tight smile. “I apologize that you were struck. Your methods with the children are far more gentle than the Baelese methods. I should have warned you.”
“It’s okay,” I assured him. “Thank you.”
“The children are quite fond of you,” he said now. “They ask of you when you are gone.”
I couldn’t help but smile. “I’m glad to hear that. The cultural differences have been . . . I don’t know.” I hushed, pulling my lips between my teeth.
“A challenge?” he offered.
His understanding made me relax. “Yes. They don’t respond how I’m used to. No calling out or laughing or jumping up and down. And it’s been really hard for me not to touch them. A pat on the shoulder, even. Everything that was normal for me is different. I’m learning, but—” I stopped and looked at him, feeling alarmed as Linette’s voice rang out in my brain to keep going.
“But you miss touching.” His eyes bore into me, and I tilted a little as a wave of heat crashed into my cheeks.
“Yes.” I glanced away from his gaze, only to look back up and find him still watching me. “I’m sorry.” I shook my head.
“Do not apologize for your honesty. The primary difference between humans and Baelese is our deference for self-control. We pride ourselves in it. Humans allow themselves to fall for temptation over and over, even knowing the problems it might cause. People expect one another to fail, so humans hold each other to low standards. But self-control is power. And power is everything.”
I said nothing, just stared at him as he stared back. Only one guard was in the room. He watched us from a distance, so I couldn’t move closer. All I had were my words.
“Senator.” I wet my lips. “Have you ever lost control?”
I was so nervous. Would he be angry at my forwardness?
If anything, he softened.
“Only at the right time and place, Ms. Haines.”
“Like . . . when you mate?”
My chest thumped, and neither of us broke eye contact.
“Yes.” His voice went husky and low. I fought the urge to cross my arms, breathing harder, my chest sort of heaving. I waited for his eyes to dip down for a peek at my boobs, the way a normal man’s might, but he remained in complete control of himself.
Of course he did.
“It is my goal to help humans achieve power over themselves as individuals. To see how much more satisfying life can be in a controlled environment, when you know you can trust the people around you. When everyone is truly equal.”
He was deliberately turning the conversation to safer ground.
“How will you make us equal?” I asked.
“One race, to start.”
I felt my forehead scrunch. There were all races of humans in Primo Town.
He went on. “We will control the reproduction of humans going forward. No two people of the same race will mate.”
My neck craned back and I fought to remain curious-sounding and not aghast. “You’re going to choose who makes babies together?”
“We will use artificial insemination if the pairs we choose do not wish to procreate naturally.”
Oh. My. Lord.
And just as I wondered who they’d have me mate with, I was smacked hard by the memory of my own fate. The fate this creature chose for me.
“I can’t have children,” I whispered. “I was given a shot at one of the DRI clinics before our town was rounded up. Then I was told at Dugway, when I was captive, that those shots caused infertility.”
The Senator watched me, going very still, all but his breathing, which seemed to quicken.
“I am surprised to hear that,” he said. “The orders were to give shots only to those who were socially inept, openly rebellious, or closed-minded to the idea of interracial mating. You don’t seem close-minded.”
“I’m not.”
He had the decency to look ashamed for a split second. “Well, while your eggs might have been depleted, which is a shame, your uterus should still be able to carry an embryo.”
The fire of injustice burned me from within. I tried really freaking hard not to show it. “What an honor.”
The way he stared at me, dissecting my words, I knew he wasn’t buying my syrupy sweet response.
“In the end, it will be better, Ms. Haines. I swear it will.”
How could he think that? We weren’t wired like them. To be control
led was not living. We were created to have free will and thrive by making choices and learning from them. People should love who they wanted to love, and have babies, or not, with the partner of their choice.
The door to the room opened, and children began to file in. The Senator looked crestfallen as he glanced at them and back at me, his voice earnest.
“I want to continue this conversation.”
I swallowed and nodded, though I’d be happy to never talk about it again.
“Tonight?” he asked. “Will you join me for dinner before you return to Town?”
Dinner together? My jaw went slack with surprise and I forced myself to respond. “I . . . yes. Thank you.”
“I will collect you after your lesson.”
Holy crap. All I could do was nod again, and then he left me standing there in shock with rows of Baelese children anxiously awaiting my instruction.
Amber
“Are you sure it’s safe to go off base?” I asked Rylen as we left the barracks.
“No. That’s why we’re headed to strap up. Our orders are to scout for any stores that haven’t been raided, and to look for stray humans in need of help.”
We both knew humans could be as dangerous as the enemy, but if there were any out there who would actually be willing to join us, that would be awesome. We were met in the supply room by Tex, Devon, Shavontae, New York Josh, and Matt. The seven of us were outfitted with weapons and vests, and given keys to one of the larger vehicles. We each had a set of earplugs, too, even though Top and the Colonel were fairly certain the only Baelese in Alaska had been on this base.
“Is Officer Sean joining us?” I asked.
Tex shook his head. “He’s working with the tactical team.”
I wondered what they’d found out by taking over the communications from the Baelese headquarters, and what we were planning on doing. I guess we’d find out tomorrow. The thought of going up against the Baelese again turned my stomach. That guy had been able to control my mind so easily. Granted, I would never make the mistake of going near them again without my earplugs, but it was still going to be scary.
Tex started for the driver’s side, and I snatched the keys from between his fingers. He turned on me with eyebrows drawn.
“No driving with that bum shoulder, Tex.” I tossed the keys to Ry, whose eyes were lit with amusement.
“Damn, why you so hard on me, Doc?” Tex whined. “Does she bust your balls like that too, man?” he asked Rylen.
“I plead the fifth.” Smart man.
Rylen climbed behind the wheel, and Tex made his way around to the passenger seat. Shavontae and I took the smaller seats in the far back while Devon, Josh, and Matt sat in the middle.
“How you doin’?” she asked me.
“Good, I had coffee.”
“Aw, Lord. Watch out,” she laughed. “My first day at the Exchange I went straight to the candy aisle and found myself every bar of dark chocolate in sight.”
“You gonna share that, right baby?” Devon asked.
“Boy, you better think again.” Everyone laughed at this, even Devon.
When we passed through the gates and out onto the main road, the mood in the vehicle got heavier. Each of us scanned the surroundings. My eyes couldn’t help but wander to the snow-capped mountain ranges. And trees. So many tall trees, like dark green bristles shooting skyward. I’d always liked gazing at the mountainscape in Nevada, but these were so much more majestic.
We stopped at two gas stations, both of which were out of gasoline and had been raided of all goods. Shavontae and I were on lookout at the vehicle each time. The third place we stopped was a little farther out, a small food mart near a smattering of older, rundown homes. Devon stayed with us as the other guys went to check it out. I stared around, eyes peeled, as the creepy sensation of being watched settled over me.
Shavontae let out a small gasp and hiked her gun to her shoulder, making Devon brandish his gun too. My heart jumped violently in my rib cage as I stared where they were staring toward one of the houses. I clutched my handgun and flicked the safety off.
“What’d you see?” Devon asked.
“That cellar door went up, then closed again. I thought I saw a face.” Her voice was no-nonsense.
From the front of the store, Rylen saw us and jogged over, gun out. “What’s going on?”
“We might have company,” Devon told him. “Cellar of that house.”
Rylen stared out as a crash sounded, making us all jump.
Our heads spun toward the minimart where Texas Harry had just smashed a window and they made their way inside, oblivious. My eyes darted back to that cellar door at ground level. The four of us stared until it cracked open again. Air stuck in my chest and I stared like a statue as the cellar door raised about a foot, and sure enough, someone was looking out at us. A face in shadow.
“Fuck, get down!” Rylen grabbed my arm. The four of us fell on our stomachs, elbows propped up to hold our guns.
I stared at the shadowed face as the cellar door went up a few inches more and our entire group sucked in a breath at the sight of the small form.
“Shit,” Shavontae breathed. “It’s a kid.”
My heart lurched.
“He’s probably not alone,” Rylen said.
I shook my head. “If his parents were with him, do you think they’d let him open the door and stare out at people? No way. They’d make him stay low until we were gone.”
Rylen and Devon shared a look, but quickly turned back to the house when the cellar opened further, revealing the chest, shoulders, and head of a young boy. With more light shining on him, I could make out the fear on his gaunt, brown face.
“We have to help him,” I whispered, but Shavontae was already getting to her feet. We walked together, guns pointed.
“Tae!” Devon said through clenched teeth. Rylen cursed and the two of them jumped to their feet, following.
The boy spooked, crouching again, so we slowly lowered our guns and held up our free hands.
My heart was going crazy. Please, don’t let this be a trick. The boy had partially closed the cellar again, but it was open enough for him to see out. He was watching to see what we’d do.
“Damn it,” Devon said. “Keep your guns up!”
“Hush!” Shavontae said back without looking away from the cellar.
Rylen’s jaw clenched, but he responded, “We’ll have your back.”
Shavontae and I stood arm to arm, inching our way forward. Behind me, I heard the jangle of the shop doors open, and feet pounding the pavement as the other guys realized there was a situation, but I was too focused to look back.
We got about fifteen feet away, and Shavontae was the first to speak.
“Hey now. We’re not gonna hurt you. Are you alone?”
The boy stared hard at her, then at her gun, which she held downward as we inched forward.
“We’re not going to shoot,” I assured him. “I promise.”
He didn’t move or speak.
“That’s close enough,” Rylen warned.
Ten feet away, we crouched down.
“I’m Shavontae, and this is my friend Amber. Those guys behind us are Devon and Rylen. We want to help you.”
I watched closely. It seemed like forever before the boy’s mouth moved.
“Why they look so mad?” he asked, referring to the men.
Shavontae, well trained, never took her eyes off him. “They ain’t mad, don’t worry.”
“They’re just looking out for bad guys,” I said. “Is anyone with you?”
He slowly shook his head.
I felt Devon and Rylen crouch behind us, giving off a slightly less aggressive air. The boy raised the cellar door a bit more, and Shavontae moved forward a few feet. She held out a hand. The next minute seemed to drag on forever until the boy opened the hatch door all the way and took a tentative step out. God, he was so thin. She set down her gun, holding out both hands now, and he slowly went to
her.
“He ain’t nothin’ but skin and bones,” Devon whispered, taking the words out of my mouth.
“Amber, take her back to the car while we check it out,” Ry whispered. I nodded and walked next to Shavontae, who held the boy in her arms. One glance behind me found Devon picking up her discarded weapon as Rylen lifted open the cellar door with his foot, pointing his gun in. Texas Harry and New York Josh rushed forward while Matt escorted us to the vehicle, pointing his gun out in all directions as he crouched. My eyes went back and forth between the boy with dark skin and dusty black curls, to the guys dipping down into the cellar. If this was a trap, it was cruel.
“What’s your name?” Shavontae asked him.
“Tyree,” he whispered. He sounded lethargic. “You in the Air Force? My mama’s in the Air Force.”
“I’m in the Army,” Shavontae told him. “And Amber’s a paramedic.”
“How old are you?” I asked.
“Nine.” He peered at me with wary brown eyes, trembling.
When we got to the vehicle, he seemed to wake up, and he wiggled out of her arms, looking around.
“Where my mama?”
Shavontae knelt before him. “When’s the last time you saw her?”
“When them people came to get us eleven days ago. I got a calendar down there. Mama told me stay put. She’s coming back.”
Shavontae’s eyes were full of knowing sadness. Oh, my heart.
The ground seemed to shake as the five guys jogged over. Tyree went behind Shavontae and peered around her arm at them. He was as tall as her elbow.
“They’re nice,” she told him. “Nobody’s gonna hurt you.”
“All clear,” Tex said. The five men circled us, all looking for answers, so I caught them up on the little I’d just learned.
“Hey, big man.” Devon crouched down to face Tyree. “You seen anyone else since your mama told you to stay here?”
The boy shook his head.
“This your house?” he asked him.
Undone (Unknown Trilogy Book 3) Page 11