by Grace Hudson
“Is that…”
“It’s music,” said Reno.
“It doesn’t sound like the piped music I used to hear in my chambers. What is this?”
“It’s something I have not heard for a long time. This is real music, someone is playing that, right now.”
“I like it,” said 201, closing her eyes, allowing the sound to wash over her. It was like something she had known before, a reminder of a feeling she had never had, yet knew like it was her own.
“What you said before,” said Reno, rustling in the straw as he shifted his position. “You mentioned a backup plan. What makes you so sure about that?”
“I thought I understood. I dreamed of a scroll, a set of orders. I thought I understood but I was wrong.”
“What do you mean?”
“I thought they were your orders, but I was wrong.”
“I followed my orders exactly, that is unquestionable.”
“Yes, you did. You followed instruction to attack the camp and it was unsuccessful. Did you wonder about that at all?”
“Yes, of course I did. I know of strategy, what it takes to plan an attack. But Pinnacle Officer Cerberus is an engineer. Perhaps strategy is not his main concern. Nevertheless, I must follow the orders of the Pinnacle Officer, whether I agree with them or not.”
“Perhaps they were designed in order for you to fail. Maybe we are just a distraction.”
“You call this a distraction? 299 is expired! My best Fighters are expired! How is this a mere distraction?”
“The real orders were given after you left. The scroll I saw… It was not meant for you.”
“Then who…”
“I do not know. But I know the orders that were given.”
“Tell me. I must know, 201.”
“The backup plan was simple, Reno. Destroy it. Destroy it all. You were not sent to be victorious in attacking the camp. Your purpose was only to pinpoint its location so it could be destroyed. They’re going to burn the camp with you in it. They can’t have any loose threads.”
– 39 –
The next morning, Kap knocked on the door to the cabin, poking his head inside. The sunlight streamed in through the doorway, illuminating the tips of the straw.
“Raf wants to see you,” he said.
201 squinted up at him, edging her way up the wall. “I thought Raf didn’t want to speak with me.”
“Alright then, Cal wants to see you, which means Raf wants to see you, it’s the same thing. You coming or not?”
“Reno comes or I don’t.”
Reno shook his head. “201, what are you saying? Go with them!”
“No, Reno must come. I can vouch for him.”
Kap let out a throaty laugh. “Vouch for him? Who will vouch for you? Nobody trusts you here, not after what happened.”
“It matters not,” said 201. “He’s coming with me, unless you think you can’t control the both of us.”
Kap narrowed his eyes, grinning at 201’s challenge. “Come on then, both of you. I think I can manage. Raf’s not going to like it though, so I don’t know, keep yourselves in check. Think you can remember that?”
“Lead the way,” said 201 as they filed out the door.
– 40 –
201 blinked into the sunshine, trying to shield her face with her still-bound hands. Reno bumped into her shoulder, grunting in surprise.
“Why did you stop?” he asked.
“Look at that,” she whispered.
A tiny blue bird with a forked tail sat on a branch outside their cabin. Its song was pleasing, bright and jarring at the same time. The bird cocked its head to the side, studying 201. It tittered, flicking its head this way and that before losing interest. 201 had encountered birds before from the vantage point in her chambers, staring out through the thin sliver of window at the forest below. She had even spotted them through the branches through the wooden bars of the cart, but she had never seen one up close like this. Its eyes blinked in rapid succession, the song bursting forth from its little chest as it puffed out its feathers to appear larger than its delicate frame. Before long another bird answered the call with a similar sound, the bird tilting its head to the side and calling to the other. 201 listened to their exchange, much like a conversation but with sounds instead of words.
“Come on,” said Kap. “Raf will think we got lost.”
201 looked up to catch the bird’s departure. She was left gaping at the speed at which it disappeared without a sign of where it had landed. She stared at the now empty branch, still bobbing from the absence of weight. Kap opened the door to the main cabin, ushering them inside. Reno gave one last glance at 201, his brow furrowed. She turned to face Lina and Jotha, keeping watch by the door.
“201?” said Caltha. Her form was huddled in front of the fire, though the day was mild. She sat, wrapped in layers of blankets, face pale save for the flush of her cheeks.
201 moved towards her but was stopped by Rafaella’s hand.
“That’s close enough,” said Rafaella, glancing over 201’s shoulder. “What’s he doing here?”
“She insisted,” said Kap. “I couldn’t really say no.”
“No,” said Rafaella, studying 201’s face. “I suppose you couldn’t.” She remained standing between 201 and Caltha. “Say what you’ve got to say and then I want you out of here.”
“Raf…” Caltha pulled the blankets from around her chin. “Let her through.”
“No, Cal, you need to rest.”
“Raf! Let her through.”
Rafaella dropped her hand from 201’s arm, grumbling as she stepped aside. “I’m watching you,” she said as 201 stepped past her to kneel at Caltha’s side.
“Caltha,” said 201. “I am Beth 259201. It’s good to finally meet you.”
Caltha turned her head, attempting a smile. “I know who you are, 201,” she said, adjusting the blankets. “I saw you.” She lowered her voice to a whisper. “I saw you when I was there, with Renn. It was dark, but you were there. Thank you for being there.”
“You're welcome,” said 201. “I’m just glad you’re okay.” 201 placed a hand on Caltha’s shoulder.
“That’s enough. Cal needs to rest.” Rafaella ushered 201 away from Caltha, leading her back to stand with Reno.
“Let them go,” said Caltha.
“We’ve talked about this, Cal, it’s too much of a risk.”
“It’s all I ask. Let them go.”
Rafaella turned to face 201 and Reno. She huffed out a breath. “Give me one good reason why I should let you go.”
201 stepped forward. “I believe in what you are doing here. I wish to fight against FERTS. To the end.”
Rafaella studied 201’s face. “Hmm. Is that so.” She turned to Reno. “And what about you? What’s your story?”
Reno cleared his throat. “I… was wrong. I would like the chance to make things right somehow.”
“I don’t know why I should believe either of you, but…”
“Raf…” said Caltha.
“I must be out of my... okay, fine. You got it. You’ll have supervision but you can go free throughout the camp. I can’t let you leave so that’s the best I can do. Happy now?” she turned to Caltha.
Caltha just smiled, shifting to make herself more comfortable.
“So,” said Rafaella. “What do you want to do first?” she looked over at Reno.
“I would like a tour of the camp. Maybe check out the weapons…”
“Ha,” said Rafaella. “You hear that? The weapons.”
“I’m curious, that’s all.”
“About our techniques? I’ll bet you are. Not that your techniques aren’t good, just… well, I’m not giving away our secrets to just anyone.”
“I think 201 has proved…” began Reno.
“Proved what? You attacked our camp! What do you expect me to do?”
201 caught Jotha’s eye. “I would like to bathe,” she said. Jotha nodded, rummaging in a closet for s
ome clothes for 201.
“201 has convinced me. I do not wish to fight you,” said Reno.
“You say that now. Look what happened to Cal,” said Rafaella.
“I didn’t know.”
“You didn’t know? What's the matter with you? Can’t you see what we face here? You don’t get to see what we see. All you know is that place. Do you want to meet Zeta Circuit? I’m sure they would love to meet an Officer of FERTS!”
“Did you not listen to a word I said?” Reno threw his arms up in frustration. “I do not want to change your training methods, I just wish to observe.”
“You do not know how to train an army. You may know how to run a show…”
“How dare you!” shouted Reno. Jotha edged past him, handing 201 a bundle of clothing. They stepped from the entrance of the main cabin, leaving the raised voices of Reno and Rafaella behind them.
“Is he always like that?” Jotha asked.
“Hmm. I suppose he is. What about Raf?”
“Yes, she is always like that. They should get along well.” Jotha chuckled to himself, leading 201 down the path.
“I wanted to thank her,” said 201 as they reached the edge of the waterfall. “What she did… it was something beautiful,” 201 mused, watching Jotha as he folded her new clothing, placing it on a dry rock. “She saved them. You all did. Every one of them would not be here. You gave them something that they never had, never thought they would ever receive. Her plan, the rescue, it was a success.”
“That was no rescue, 201.” Jotha patted the clothing, backing away from the waterfall. “We’re building an army.”
Jotha headed for a large rock, seating himself with his back to 201.
“Take your time,” he said. “I’ll be here when you get out.” He pulled a stick from the ground and began to whittle the end. “There’s soap next to the clothes. You might need it.”
“Thank you.” 201 removed her Omega jumpsuit, wrinkling her nose at the stench of sweat and blood. She tossed it to the side, watching Jotha from the corner of her eye. He made no move to look at her, keeping his attention trained between the pathway to the waterfall and his task of whittling.
201 took a deep breath, taking in the scenery. The fragrance of the flowers surrounded her, underpinned by a fresh, mossy smell. 201 breathed deeply, absorbing the energies around her, revitalizing her entire being. She did not know how long she remained at the waterfall. Time slowed and sped up but 201 took no notice. She was in her own form, her own energies, no longer open to outside forces.
She grasped the soap and stood under the spray of the water, washing herself randomly, deliberately avoiding any reminder of bathing in regulation order. The soap was crudely made, with an earthy, minty fragrance. She shook her head under the stream, listening to the hiss of the cascading droplets spraying against moss and rocks. When she was done, she placed the soap on a rock and plunged into the water. She dived to the bottom of the pool, running her hands against reeds and watching the ripples distort the water above her, surrounding her with dappled sunlight.
201 rose to the surface, drifting towards the light.
She broke the surface with a gasp. The sun streamed across her face and the scent of wild flowers drifted along the surface of the water. She spied her Omega jumpsuit crumpled on a rock. A bird called from above. She turned to find the new pants and tunic and waiting for her, a leather belt placed on top. She chanced another peek at Jotha, who had barely moved from his spot on the rock, his attention trained on the finely whittled point at the end the stick. She sensed that he had not glanced in her direction in all the time she had been bathing. Not once.
She pulled the hair from her eyes, blinking the water from her vision. She was no longer an Internee of Epsilon, no longer an Internee of Omega, no longer an Internee of FERTS. She left the soiled Omega jumpsuit on the rock, pulling on her new clothing. She fastened the tunic, pulling the leather belt tight.
“I’m ready,” she said.
Jotha put down his stick, tucking his knife in his boot.
She hopped down from the rock, shaking her hair until droplets rained down on her tunic. She felt new, cleansed and refreshed. Her spirit lifted as another bird called to her from the trees, the waterfall pattering against the moss, filling the air with mist.
The words of 232 rose in her mind and she felt her chest expand with the fresh scent of wild flowers.
Someday I believe we, all of us, will be…
She grabbed her soiled clothing and soap, following Jotha as he made his way back down the path towards the cabins.
Free.
A Note to Readers
Thank you for reading The Rogue Thread.
If you enjoyed this book, please consider leaving a short review on Amazon.
Thank you for being awesome, your support is very much appreciated.
GH
Books in this series:
FERTS (Book 1)
The Rogue Thread (Book 2)
Alpha Field (Book 3)
Other books by Grace Hudson:
Open Doors
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Table of Contents
Title Page
(Book 2 of FERTS)
Copyright
Author's Note
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– 2 –
– 3 –
– 4 –
– 5 –
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– 40 –
A Note to Readers