The Controller (The Securus Trilogy Book 2)

by Anthony Maldonado

  I know Talia would never order the Guards to harm his family, but the threat should be an effective one. Satisfied Talia has thought this out well, I return to my food. Something else comes to mind while drinking my nutrient slurry. “That’s perfect. But let’s not talk about them anymore for tonight. I have a promising lead in the Pellagra cases.”

  “Really, what is it?” Talia asks before taking a bite of her dinner.

  “There’s only one common factor to all the cases. This stuff,” I tell her, pointing to the nutrient drink. “Well, this and the gruel.”

  “Then why are we eating it?” Talia pushes her plate away, suddenly losing her appetite.

  “I don’t think eating the gruel is the problem. Everyone who’s gotten sick stopped eating it. We only need to figure out why they got sick after they stopped. As a precaution, I think we should probably have the gruel be the primary food served until the review is over. That way there’s less of a chance of more people becoming ill while the Controller is here.”

  After dinner, Talia returns to her office to make the change in the food dispersal. She also has a couple more meetings left and with Braeden’s impending visit, cannot postpone them. Not wanting to spend the evening alone, I head to the lower levels. The first stop I make is to find Arluin. He sits in my old dinner hall, hanging out with Reed. Both of them look to be in a foul mood.

  “Hey, Arluin, what are you guys up to?” I ask.

  “What the hell happened today?” he barks at me. His response stuns me since he rarely gets this agitated.

  “I don’t know, but I have an idea to who was behind it,” I tell him, intentionally withholding Cale’s name. “Don’t worry, Talia is all over it. When she’s done with him, Ardal’s gonna wish he were in the Detention Center.”

  Reed and Arluin both raise an eyebrow when they hear my words. With her warm affect, it is easy to forget Talia was raised and trained by Mr. Vaden, who was always a strict disciplinarian.

  “But that’s not why I came down here. I have another job for you.” Hearing my request, Arluin’s agitated exterior shifts. He is confused, probably because I usually keep him away from our plans.

  “Really? What do you need us to do?” he asks.

  I cringe when he says ‘us.’ The last time we involved the Barand brothers, things did not turn out well at all. I do not want history to repeat itself. “This one’s specifically you. No offense, Reed, but I can’t put you in danger again.”

  “What happened wasn’t your fault,” Reed says. “I can take care of myself and I want to help. If things are gonna change, we all need to do our part.”

  “I appreciate that, Reed, I really do. The only problem is this time I need Arluin’s specific training,” I tell them. “I’ll keep you in mind if the time comes later.”

  Reed relents in his demand, and Arluin comes with me, eager to hear about his new task. We take the stairs two levels down and enter another hall. This room is structurally identical to the others with only the people being different. Even in a crowd, Seonah is distinctive enough to find easily. As we approach, her friends walk away, leaving us alone to talk.

  “I didn’t expect to see you two tonight,” she says.

  “I’ll get straight to the point,” I say. “I was hoping to get both of your help with something. This task is even more sensitive and important than the first one.”

  “I’m listening,” she says. Right now, Arluin looks more intrigued than she does, but I think that will change when she hears what we need help with.

  “Come with us, it would be better to explain when we have more privacy,” I tell her.

  She looks back to her friends, reluctant to leave them for the night, but agrees to go. We all head up to find Hadwin. Even though it is now getting late, he has not left his dinner hall. I am glad to see him and Sayda laughing together near the back of the hall. When they notice us coming, their smiles disappear. With my unusual entourage, they know this is not a normal visit.

  “What’s going on?” Hadwin asks me as our group approaches.

  “Let’s go up to Electronics so we can talk,” I tell them. We have been through enough of these situations that Hadwin and Sayda get up without questioning it. They know whatever it is, we need privacy first. Out of the corner of my eye, I notice Seonah perked up some with the mention of the Electronics Department.

  “Who’s your friend?” Sayda asks motioning to Seonah.

  “This is Ms. Seonah Drok, my Developmental Electronics instructor,” Arluin says, introducing her. “Ms. Drok, this is Hadwin and Sayda. Hadwin is the manager of the production and distribution branch of Electronics. Sayda works in the Research Department.”

  Hadwin and Sayda had not yet heard about Ardal, so our trip to Hadwin’s office is nearly derailed when I tell them what happened. In a fit of rage, Sayda sprints back to the stairs, intent on dealing with Ardal herself. This time Hadwin cannot contain her alone. We are both forced to tackle her. After a few minutes of fighting, Sayda finally listens long enough for me to tell her Talia’s plans. At first she is not satisfied it will be enough, but she does trust Talia. Eventually, she calms down.

  Watching the spectacle, Seonah looks amused. Most people expect a passive and overly nice woman based on Sayda’s outer appearance. So it is doubtful Seonah expected her to respond with such fire. Then again, she of all people should know not to judge someone solely on their outer appearance.

  Redirecting the group’s focus, Hadwin leads us into his office. Once we are inside, I have him get the receiver taken from the box we found. The piece catches the attention of Arluin and Seonah who immediately move forward to examine it while I explain the purpose of this trip.

  “We found this in The Caves. It activates a box containing multiple vials of The Agent in both liquid and gas forms. The box was hidden near the pool. My guess is it’s one of the devices Caelum put in place to eliminate us if they so desire. We sent a team to look for more, but none were found. Hadwin’s working on using its locator signal to find them. I figured you two could help. We have very little time before the review is over. If the verdict goes against us, it’s imperative we find any other boxes before they’re activated. Even if we pass the review, we’ll never be free with The Agent lurking around.”

  Hadwin fills them in on his progress. They all start conversing in a technical jargon beyond my comprehension. The problem with the boxes is only one of the things I wanted them to help with. We need to have things completely in order for Braeden’s visit so before they are too engrossed in their discussion, I tell them of the other modifications we need to our own system. The more of my plan I explain, the more intrigued Seonah gets.

  With everyone now fully engaged, I decide to leave since they no longer need my help. They will let me know if any problems arise. Besides, Talia should be done with her meetings by now. I want to see her before she falls asleep from the exhausting day.

  When I get to my quarters, Talia is waiting for me inside. She already knew what I had planned, just not when we would get a chance to do it. I start to tell her what has been going on, but she cuts me off.

  “I don’t want to talk about any problems tonight. I want to pretend everything’s okay and only worry about us, if only for one night.”

  That is the best idea either of us has ever come up with. Who knows what tomorrow will bring. We should not let the uncertainty ruin the last moments of peace we have together. I reach out and pull her into my arms. With Talia close to me, nothing else matters, and nothing else exists besides the two of us.

  *

  After a surprisingly restful sleep, we both wake up to the morning alert. The Controller arrives today, so we do not have the luxury of a leisurely morning. We have made extensive preparations, and must trust they will be enough. Still, it does not calm the nervous sensation lingering in my stomach.

  After a plain breakfast, we return to the upper level. Far down the hall, near the main control room lays a hidden door. I have never been
through the door, even though we learned of its existence soon after Talia assumed control of Leadership. We approach the apparent dead end. Talia takes out her Coden and enters a security code, remotely activating the door.

  The secret room inside is much larger than expected. Its excessive volume makes it feel empty and dark, despite the spotlights illuminating the area. There is a designated cargo area off to the side as well as a sealed door that, according to the schematics, conceals another storage room.

  The elements of the area are not very dissimilar to the lounge and storage area at the entrance to The Caves, with one major difference. The set of railway tracks emerging from the darkness, leading all the way to the back wall, is unlike anything else found in Securus. Before learning of this area, I had wondered how the electronic pieces were taken from Securus to Caelum. It did not make any sense to have to carry them all the way through The Caves to get to the railway for transport. Even with those suspicions, it was still a surprise they were able to hide this place so well.

  Multiple Leadership Guards stand at attention beside the tracks, awaiting the arrival of Caelum’s envoy. I walk past them and nod in the direction of Radek, who stands tall in the middle of the group. His presence was deliberate for a few reasons, not the least being that if the Soldier Guards come with Braeden Karun, he may help keep things calm since they seemed to like him.

  Talia and I stand together, staring out into the unlit tunnel while waiting for the Controller. We received a communication during breakfast informing us his arrival was imminent. It is not long before a single light pierces the void deep in the tunnel. A gentle vibration and a crackle of electricity emanates from the tracks as the light grows. I stand up straight, trying to conceal my growing apprehension. Talia looks the same as always, composed and gorgeous. Even her angelic eyes do not give away any of her emotions right now. Like her father, she is well equipped for this.

  We are a safe distance from the tracks, but with the impressive speed of the transport, I have to resist the urge to step further away from the tracks from fear of the vehicle hitting us. Before it gets too close, the transport’s momentum slows. Soon, the front end of the vehicle takes shape. A small clear portal in the front gives its pilot a view of their path. Other than that small interruption, the rest of its smooth surface looks like a deformed bullet with a curved and downward tilted front end.

  The transport comes to a complete stop just before reaching the end, avoiding a collision with the protective barrier erected past the tracks. The operator becomes visible through the small portal. As he brought the vehicle to a halt, his eyes never once looked out of the windshield. Instead, his focus was aimed downward, with his face reflecting the glow of a control panel. I assume he must have been using another type of display to guide the transport without having to look into the dimly lit tunnel. With the full transport in view, the back end is a mirror image to the front. It makes sense for the shape to be symmetrical and capable of moving in both directions since there is nowhere to turn around.

  The entry door on the side of the transport opens. Immediately after, four Soldier Guards pour out. Their guns are raised as they position themselves to secure the area. Our Guards remain motionless, as ordered. I recognize the image on the left shoulder of the first Soldier out. The same black wolf with red and gold highlights from The Caves now stalks Securus. He was obviously the leader then, and from what I can tell, appears to be the ranking Soldier here as well. As before, he carries an impressively large handgun, though it remains holstered now. Instead of wielding his normal weapon, he holds the same assault rifle as the others. When they are satisfied there is no imminent danger, he barks out, “The area is secure.”

  A couple more Soldiers exit the transport. Behind them, two more men emerge. One of them looks to be roughly the same age as me, while the other is likely twenty years older. It is unmistakable which one is Braeden Karun. The younger man has a bland exterior. He dresses in a uniform identical to our Leadership caste, down to the burnt orange trim along with the old insignia displayed on his left chest. He must be the assistant and is the same man that was on Talia’s monitor when I interrupted their meeting.

  The older man has a strong build and chiseled features that remind me of the tales of superheroes from the fantasies of humanities past. The only difference from the description of the superheroes is his eyes. No hint of caring or goodwill exists in them. He also wears a Leadership uniform, but his has a dark gold trim giving him the appearance of a higher rank. With their uniforms the men from Caelum will fit in well and should not attract a lot of attention. The two men approach with confident strides. The younger one steps in front of the other to greet us.

  “Ms. Vaden, it’s a pleasure to meet you in person.” The assistant speaks in an upbeat tone and with a slight accent that sounds like he over pronounces each word. His appearance is completely unassuming, with brown hair and matching eyes, set on an average build. As long as he does not talk much, no one in Securus would look twice at him. “This is Braden Karun, Controller of settlement resources.”

  Neither of the men acknowledges me, even though I stand immediately beside Talia. Braeden extends his hand to Talia, shaking hers with more force than needed. She winces for only an instant before suppressing it.

  “Hello, Braeden. It’s an honor to have you here for a visit,” Talia says, not missing a beat. Braeden does not respond, acting as if no words were spoken at all. The lead Soldier approaches and taps Braeden’s assistant on the shoulder. He whispers something in his ear before returning to his formation.

  “And if I’m not mistaken, you must be Ms. Vaden’s advisor, Kagen Meldon,” the younger man says to me while extending his hand. “I am Ulan, assistant to the Controller.”

  I shake his hand and notice my name caught Braeden’s attention. He turns toward me, finally speaking, “So you are the man who interrupted our meeting.”

  “Yes, sir, I apologize for that. It’ll never happen again.” I tilt my head down in deference while replying.

  “For that and sneaking around in our tunnels?” the Controller asks. “You seem to be fond of breaking protocol.”

  “I was merely following orders and surveying the area, sir.” I do not want to do or say anything to aggravate him. He is in direct control of our fate and there is no reason to jeopardize that.

  I have been avoiding eye contact, but feel him watching me. When finally looking up, I am startled by the look in his steel blue eyes. He has a deeply analytical stare, as if he sees directly into me, but that is not what disturbs me. I have seen looks like that before, especially from Mr. Vaden. But with Mr. Vaden, there were always flickers of emotion in his eyes. Braeden’s eyes are bereft of any emotion at all. It is the most chilling sensation I have ever felt.

  “Shall we go to my office to discuss your requirements for the review?” Talia asks, motioning for them to come inside.

  Braeden nods at Ulan who in turn motions for Talia to lead the way. As we leave, the Soldiers return to the transport. The lead Soldier notices Radek among the Guards and tilts his head in acknowledgement before leaving. The vibrating hum of the transport begins as we enter the main hallway back in Securus.

  With the Controller here, every detail must go according to plan. We can only hope our preparations will be enough. If not, I am already certain he was not bluffing when he said he would kill us all.

  Chapter 19

  The corridor back inside Securus remains empty. Talia has made sure no one would be in here to see the men from Caelum. We head straight to Talia’s office. There are large, cushioned chairs set up for Braeden and his assistant across from Talia’s desk. She takes her place behind it while I sit off to the side on a plain chair.

  “So how long will you be staying?” Talia asks after they sit down.

  “As long as necessary to make sure I’m satisfied,” Braeden replies in the same odd accent as Ulan.

  “Okay, we have a room set up for you nearby. Would you like to
settle in or shall we call the Leadership meeting?” Talia asks.

  “There are a few things I want to go over before we proceed, the first being your appointment as head of Leadership. Tell me again, how did that come about?” As he speaks, Braeden’s hollow eyes fixate on Talia.

  “We believe my father suffered a heart attack. Before passing, he asked me to take his place as head of Leadership in Securus. There’s not much else to it.” Talia repeats the same story she told him when they first spoke.

  “I always had the feeling your father did not believe you would embrace this role. Interesting turn of events,” he says, even though he does not look at all amused. “I assume he disclosed the extent of Caelum’s power?”

  “Yes, I’m fully aware of your power and capability,” Talia assures him.

  “I do not think you are, and I want to be perfectly clear on this point. The occupants of this place are merely a serviceable resource to me. This resource may be a useful one, but ultimately, is expendable. I have a multitude of ways to eliminate the occupants of Securus should they no longer be convenient to me.” Braeden leans forward to emphasize his next words. “If I feel inconvenienced at any point during this review, I will not hesitate to liquidate this place. We may suffer a brief disruption in our energy supply, but that would not be long lasting. I’m sure the people of Munitus would love to discover an empty facility they could expand to and resume our supply.”

  Braeden’s words are like his steel blue eyes, cold and emotionless. He speaks of our people without a scrap of empathy or concern. We are not people at all to him, just pawns to obtain what he desires. That is the real point he makes. He wants us to know he would lose no sleep over killing every one of us. Braeden watches Talia, who has managed to stay calm under the pressure of his eerie stare.

  “I see you also know of Munitus. There was no surprise with the mention of its name,” he says, turning to Ulan, instructing him on how to read people. “The last thing I wanted to discuss before we continue was your advisor here repeatedly breaking protocol. I think he should be punished.”