Intentionality

by Rebekah Johnson

  “I thought they had the best that the world could give, but they are contained just as I was, aren’t they? I was to leave one prison only to swap it for a slightly bigger one with a different view. This has to change Willem; we survived the Evo-shift to ‘live’ long, prosper even, not to just exist.”

  “My plan is to trek towards the pier tonight if you can make it. There, we will wait for the arrival of The Resistance search party. I know of a small container nearby. It is well equipped with emergency survival resources, not the height of luxury but we will be hidden and able to regain our strength. I don’t intend to find the others. Craig and Luke will help them; they both know how to navigate this barren area and will get the survivors to the safety of The Resistance headquarters, through the tunnels. We are better off remaining separate until we are sure that our paths have not been tracked.”

  “This plan of yours depends on the belief that I am able to trek across that barren landscape, Willem. I have been spoilt my entire life. What makes you think I am fit enough?”

  “I am continually amazed by your resilient ‘will’ to survive Mae. You will make the trek because you have no other option. It won’t be a stroll around the travelators, along those clinical corridors but it will be real, an adventure.

  “We will change things this way. I can feel the gathering support and now that we know Natura’s true colours, we are even more certain that she must be stopped. We will find The Resistance waiting for us. I am certain that they will not leave without you, as their secret weapon, but just as a backup, you could attempt to contact Lily. She has the Grand Acer’s daughters with her remember. They are capable of using the internal communications within The Grid to access an outside line. I can pass on to you the authority code; with it they will be listened to and trusted as informants.”

  This is a very good idea, one that gives us extra options. I like options, I haven’t had them before. A secret container with ‘survival resources’ also has a strong appeal at this moment, whilst I am in fact standing encased in ripped rubber, with my teeth chattering.

  “I shall communicate with Lily but let’s be very clear about how much information I am to relay, before I give her facts that may get into the wrong hands. She is still cloaked in a world of privilege and deceit. I am sure the events in the sub have awakened her suspicions but remember even WE weren’t truthful with the facts during that emergency were we?”

  “True, but she is your sister Mae, she is gifted and highly intelligent. She is capable of putting the evidence together and of working out what needs to be done to keep you both safe. Lily has had to do that her whole life. It is she that is a skilled deceiver; she has needed to be in order to cover for your disabilities plus of course your shared twin-to-twin communication. Tell her what she needs to know. She is in too much danger to be told half-truths. She is also the only advantage we hold at the moment.”

  We decided to begin the hike while I composed myself. How was I to inform my sister that our life’s goal was all one elaborate lie? A lie so grand and powerful that even the workforce and surrounding city failed to notice. A lie built on greed derived from the success of the elders we had modelled ourselves on.

  By the time we had forged ahead, away from the ice covered rocks, over heathlands and onto what should be the making of an old road system, I was ready. We had discussed how I would show Lily a vision of what I had experienced in The Grid room. I would then explain that Willem and his group were willing to change this way of life…to improve the status of the Monos. I know that is also close to her heart. Finally I would tell her to relay our destination to Elizabeth and Julia, who must in turn contact The Resistance.

  However, I didn’t get time to execute this well planned tale because along the road came the recognisable hum of a vehicle. Willem duly threw me into the verge. I hit my head as the Jeep trundled past, searchlight a blaze but thankfully scanning the opposite side of the broken road. Two thoughts could be assumed from this passing; the Jeep was a Resistance vehicle and therefore we missed our opportunity to be saved or… more likely it is a guard vehicle and we have gained the upper hand. Without being able to communicate we are unsure of our next move. That Jeep will be forced to turn around in a few hundred metres. Dawning on my slack thought processes is also the worry that if it is a guard Jeep, searching for survivors from the sub ‘accident’ they will see people still thrashing in the water and send for back up. Our efforts will then have been futile.

  “Willem we have to signal to that Jeep. It will search and find those last few survivors rendering our plan obsolete. We can’t secretly take over The Grid if half of our main players are imprisoned within the walls already!”

  “I told you Mae, it might just be a regular patrol.”

  “Can you honestly live with taking that risk? Clearly the guards are not peace keeping this evening, I know this because I am standing in a torn wetsuit on dry land in the middle of nowhere, having narrowly missed drowning in a submarine wreck caused by the very guards who are meant to protect the people of Intentionality!”

  “Ok, put like that I am willing to consider options. You have five minutes to come up with a plan.”

  “No Willem! I don’t think you are seeing the bigger picture here. If that Jeep goes over the brow of the hill it will be too late. I am going to cause a disturbance followed by a quick getaway. There is a huge trench to the right of us, after rearranging their travel plans; I will launch myself into it before the passengers can respond.”

  Gathering all of my residual power, I began pushing a wave of thought at the huge boulder just beyond the Jeep. It was positioned on a slight incline. I assumed that with luck as it wavered; it may roll in front of the path on which the Jeep was travelling. I just wasn’t strong enough to push on my own. I realised that pulsing my power would in effect rock it much better. As I did this Willem joined forces, causing a much greater effect on the boulder. It rolled like a ball on a shiny gym floor. We both simultaneously released our pressure, slowing the momentum of the rock just in time for the Jeep to notice but not enough time for it to brake. There was a screech, a twisting of metal and a gust of dust, followed by a lot of shouting as the guards escaped just before the engine lit up the sky with a plume of orange flames.

  Willem and I launched ourselves into the trench only to realise too late that the gap was in fact a hole. We fell in slow motion, turning in the air within the small space both landing with a thud on our backs, which echoed around the cylindrical walls of The Grid service tunnels!

  Result!

  However my joy was short lived as I realised that Willem was breathing through gritted teeth, rocking steadily and worse still cradling a rather misshapen wrist.

  Great, serves me right for celebrating a success. I should have known an idea of mine would only end in a negative.

  “I am so sorry Willem it’s entirely my fault. Are you in a lot of pain, do you think that it’s broken?”

  “Mae, you are going to need to communicate to Lily. It’s not my arm that I’m struggling with as much as the large piece of metal sticking into my leg. You were right though. I spotted the uniforms of the guards as I leapt into the trench. They were not from The Resistance search party. Your quick thinking may just have saved the lives of those in the water, including my mother and father. I am so very grateful for your bravery. The Jeep should not have exploded like that, I can only assume therefore that they must have been carrying explosives on board.”

  Come to think of it, there is a lot of blood pooling around Willem. How did I not notice that? One thing is certain; we have no emergency medical supplies. We are completely obvious, sitting as we are in the middle of a long straight stretch of tunnel, injured and lost.

  I do now need to bring Lily into the picture. If the plan with Elizabeth and Julia is on track, Lily will be in these underground passages somewhere.

  “Mae, before I pass out, I need to tell you the code and remind you that you are still wearing your tracke
r. They will be able to use the signal emitted to find us.

  “The code name is Morris Ward. He was a very influential Mono during the days just after the Evo-shift. He took a group of explorers to the south in an attempt to find help but he was never in contact again. The hope is that he settled somewhere, forging a new frontier.” Willem’s voice trailed off then into a whisper, brave as ever, he tried to smile and reached for my hand to give it his signature ‘everything’s going to be alright’ squeeze. However it clearly won’t be if I can’t figure out how to stop the blood escaping.

  I have begun a futile attempt, trying to rip my suit with my frozen fingers. I think that I have watched a film about emergency first aid after the Evo-shift. I think that I need to wrap it just above the metal on Willem’s leg. I need to reduce the flow of blood. Luckily I have located another sharp piece of metal on the floor; I presume that they are both from the ceiling collapse. If I am uncharacteristically careful I may be able to use it to cut the suit and not me in the process. Next I shall look to steady his arm and then when he is comfortable I shall contact Lily.

  I have become so cold that my hands are trembling. I have no awareness of where my fingers end and the thick rubber begins. But Willem looks very pale, his breathing is shallow. The rubber is just long enough to wrap around his leg, which I will attempt to tighten by twisting a long nail around in a clockwise direction. Willem is groaning in pain but I am convinced that this is the correct thing to do.

  I have covered him in a piece of ceiling structure, its hard and curved and won’t keep him warm but it will hide him well if I have to go for help. He has finally given up the fight, his body has taken over, in his unconscious state I can see how young he is, just my age, yet with so many people relying on his success. It’s my turn now to take over.

  I steady my thoughts and begin contacting Lily, she is alert and thinking at warp speed, I can tell by the barrage of pictures coming at me.

  “Lily, it’s me. I am ok but Willem is badly hurt can you hear me?”

  “Oh Mae, thank goodness for that. I have lots to tell you, I did what you said. A boy came to see the girls this morning, said he had been sent by a leader called Luke. They were given orders and a letter from their father. As soon as we heard from you in that sub, we were rushed underground to the tunnels. I have of course been beside myself with worry about you. Why haven’t you been in contact since you begged me to send you those thoughts? I assumed you were dead and was really uncontrollable until the girls contacted The Resistance again. Julia has a code to get an outside telecom line.”

  “Lily I am so relieved to hear that you are in the tunnels,” I shouted trying to get a word in to quell the rant.

  “The Resistance showed me the tracking system that traces our anklets. I have been following you on the screen so I knew you were moving but not how you were. I tried to communicate but you had closed me out, don’t ever do that again!”

  “Lily I can only apologise and explain that I was very focussed on keeping myself safe. I suppose that I blocked you out because somewhere in the back of my mind I felt you didn’t need to know how much danger Willem and I were facing. I need you to help us now though. I can go no further alone. Willem is badly injured. We need The Resistance to move towards a rescue and really quickly. Do you know exactly where we are?”

  “Yes, to the nearest ten metres. There is something you need to explain though before I ask Julia to contact them. Are you above ground or in the access tunnel? My tracker got really misleading.”

  “It’s a long and completely fantastical story, however we were above ground and then in an instant, following a completely unplanned flight, we weren’t! This is why Willem is injured. You need to explain to Julia that he has lost a lot of blood. He needs urgent medical attention.”

  “Mae help is already on its way, we sent for a rescue team when we realised that you were no longer moving. One team is above ground and the other will find you in the tunnels.

  “I am waiting to decode a message that has been redirected from one of Natura’s lab technicians, apparently it is encrypted, my skills are being utilised in a very real way, plus it acted as a distraction. They didn’t want me to come along just in case it was you that was seriously injured.”

  “So I shall see you again in just a few minutes. Stay strong code breaker!”

  “You too warrior princess!”

  I can now begin to think practically. Help is on its way. I need to check that Willem is still breathing. His hand is cold but there doesn’t seem to be any more blood on the floor.

  I can hear an electric motor getting louder. It sounds like the ones used to travel along the corridors in The Nest. Do I wave at it frantically or hide?

  I shall choose to listen out for fragments of conversation. If I am careful I could also climb under the piece of ceiling tile that I have positioned over Willem.

  The motor has stopped. I haven’t decided whether to trust the men’s voices. If it was only me here I would maintain my hiding position, but Willem needs help. The footsteps are heavy, booted. The voices are gruff, hurried. There is the faint hiss and buzz of a radio transmitter in the car. But are they listening in to follow instructions or to intercept those from the Intentionality guards? Nothing is clear and I know that I am running out of time.

  “22.52.05.14 is at large travelling on foot towards The Grid. It must be captured unharmed. It must be rendered silent then placed with immediacy in the preparation cylinder. It is a necessary element for the continued well-being of Natura.”

  Thirty-seven

  To: julia@spareception.com, elizabeth@spareception.com,

  cc: skye@labalpha.com,

  Subject: change of travel plans.

  Message: The group booking has arrived on the mainland. Two party members have travelled ahead of the main group. They will communicate their exact position from which they will be collected. Please proceed to the agreed next step of preparation.

  Look forward to doing further business with you soon.

  From Luke

  luke@morriswardintentionalitytours.net

  “Life lived a different way!”

  Thirty-eight

  To: luke@morriswardintentionalitytours.net

  Cc: julia@spareception.com, elizabeth@spareception.com

  Subject: re change of travel plans.

  Message: Hi Luke. There will need to be a slight change of plan here too. Please inform your passengers that due to a small electrical fault with the Spa doors, they must enter the Spa through the lower trade access tunnels. Unfortunately the observation section of their tour inside the genetics laboratory will also be out of bounds tomorrow. This is because Natura has ordered a very special power surge, one that will render The Grid impenetrable for twelve hours from 06:00hrs. Can I suggest that you make your way immediately to the collection point, where Julia and Elizabeth will be only too happy to show you to your conference accommodation? Arrivals after this time will be turned away for their own safety.

  From Skye

  Assistant lab geneticist

  skye@labalpha.com,

  Thirty-nine

  I am bound by the feet and hands. Some kind of regulation cuffs, so tight that I have absolutely no chance of escape. I have tried to use my power but as it emanates from my palms and they are in fact facing each other, all I succeeded in doing was causing myself more pain. Neither can I see past the cold metal floor, that I have been thrown onto. I am hanging onto the back of a pickup vehicle, strung up really, like a piece of rope. I have no idea whether they gave up on Willem because he was dead or he seemed like he soon would be. But they left him there all the same. My only hope is that The Resistance got to him quickly enough. He was wearing his tracking anklet too so they shouldn’t be long. They can’t be a long time; he hasn’t got that much time left. He has not communicated to me in my head since we were hit by that torpedo under the Polar Ocean.

  I on the other hand have screamed at the top of my lungs, both in
my head to my sister and in the corridor to whoever was close by. I was not going to be bundled like a piece of litter into a bin without making a really big fuss. However, now I am back to listening, fragments of conversation and radio bulletins mostly but they may come in useful.

  I know that I cannot be harmed. Natura has ordered this. I also know that my sister has not been found. I have also learnt that my kidnappers are incredibly pleased with themselves. They have been promised a pay rise and more importantly, day work out in the open. In an alternative situation I could be persuaded to feel very sorry for them. They have been working the tunnels for years as the lowest paid employees. They weren’t actually searching for me. They had been sent to repair the hole in the ceiling. They are Monos and as such the lowest of the low. Alternatively I could also assume that as Monos, they may be open to persuasion from The Resistance if they are able to cross our path along the corridors.

  Imperative then that I keep yelling!

  I have assumed two possible destinations for my journey. The first being the preparation cylinder for which I am already prepared. The second option is that I shall be taken straight to Natura so that they can claim their prize in person.

  I can hear another sound, the same vehicle electric hum of our pick up. The Monos are talking, waiting to show off their catch! They have planned to stop and ask their colleagues about the best way to enter The Grid. They haven’t been inside before.

  We have now come to a halt and I can tell that by the movement of the vehicle my heavy-set Monos are getting off. Footsteps are echoing along the corridor, a couple of polite introductions, and then an unexpected shuffle or is it a drag?

  There is now silence. I find myself wanting my heavy-set Monos back. At least I knew what I was fighting against.