She stood to the side of the door frame, scanning into the room. A woman’s hand raised into the air, and the recognition flooded Hope’s mind. Ursa beamed as their eyes met and she jumped up before Hope made her way to the table.
Hope wasn’t certain how to greet Ursa after so many years apart, but Ursa ran straight to her and pulled her into a tight hug. “It is so good to see you,” Ursa nearly yelled.
Hope gladly reciprocated her embrace and pulled away, cupping her beautiful full cheeks in her hands. “Look at you. I almost didn’t recognize you.”
Ursa beamed and hugged her again. “It has been far too long.” She pulled away from Hope and led her over to her table in the center of the room. “Thank you for meeting me. I wish we could do this all the time.”
Hope couldn’t help but notice Ursa’s volume was a little louder than need be. She had always been animated, but it almost appeared she wanted to be overheard by those surrounding them in the common room.
Hope took her seat. “It would be nice but I’m afraid my schedule won’t allow for this to become a common practice.”
Ursa reached across the table and took her hand. “I know. And I’ve been so busy with my little guy, Colin.”
Hope’s eyes misted with tears. Somehow, she felt a connection to this little boy, almost as though he was her grandson. “I wish I could meet him. I know children can be a handful, but please, cherish every moment with him.”
Ursa nodded. “I know what you mean; he’s growing so fast. I’m sure that in what feels like a flash he will be sent to an Education center. Who knows where Rowan and I will end up living once that happens?” She paused, her eyes glued on Hope. “I wish I could see you all the time, but I had to ask my neighbor to watch Colin for the day in order to meet you.”
Hope’s stomach churned. There were so many things she wished she could say to Ursa. Things she wished she could say to her own daughter. But Chastity was far too loyal to the State to hear what she had experienced. How could I possibly spend enough time with Ursa in one visit to know who she has become? To know if she could be trusted with any of the information I know.
Hope smiled, but her eye twitched, betraying her true emotions. “I don’t know where to begin.”
Ursa nodded and leaned closer to her. “You know something, Hope, there are so many times I’ve thought of you since I became a mother. You were always the mother I wished I had.”
Hope squeezed her hand. “I would have loved nothing more than to raise the both of you! You deserved better than the mother you had.”
Ursa nodded. “You know, I haven’t contacted her once since I was coupled. I don’t know if she even knows I had Colin.”
Hope gave a half laugh. “I can’t say I blame you. I don’t think I would contact her either. Mind you, the State places little value on family relations once you become an adult. I wonder if she has even noticed your shunning.”
Ursa shook her head. “You know, I never considered that. She may not have conceived that I hate her. Maybe she thinks it’s normal that she hasn’t heard from me.”
Hope nodded. “I severed all communication with my family when I was coupled. It wasn’t even my intention. I had no idea that the last time I spoke to my family would be, well, the last time. I simply received notice—3 years younger than average—then I was gone. By the time I came back to live under the dome once again, I felt like they were strangers to me. I could have siblings I don’t even know about.”
Ursa squinted, pulling her lips into a tight pout. “I have been thinking for years she understands I’ve shut her out of my life because she was a terrible mother. It makes me angry to think she may be completely oblivious.”
Hope laughed and shook her head. “Just be grateful she’s no longer a part of your life. You have been free of her now for longer than she was a part of your life. Who knows, she might be dead soon. This is the reality of our lives. They are short.”
Ursa cast a quick glance around the room before leaning in closer. “Don’t you think our life expectancy is a little too short? My partner found something in the historical database, humans used to live a lot longer. And that was before we had our level of medical technology and genetic screening. People used to mate with whoever they wanted, and anyone could have children, yet they out lived us by at least a third of our lifespans.” She leaned in a little closer. “I sometimes wonder if there is something about the dome they aren’t telling us. Maybe it doesn’t protect us as well as they say it does.”
All color drained from Hope’s face. How could she respond to any of this? Ursa was clever, and that could get her into a great deal of trouble someday. Her IQ may have been below Chastity’s, but she possessed a keen wit; she knew how to read between the lines.
She looked back at her and noticed Ursa staring at her with what seemed to be a look of satisfaction. “You know something, I really thought of you when I took my parenting course. Do you remember when my mom threw a fit because of that bedtime story of yours?” She paused, looking away. “I started to understand my mother’s point when I took my training. I understood why that story was inappropriate.”
Hope’s throat went dry and her stomach churned. “I’m sorry if that has negatively impacted you. It wasn’t expected for me to take the proper parental training as I wasn’t responsible for Chastity.”
Ursa’s gaze lingered beyond the point Hope was comfortable with. “That’s funny. Rowen didn’t have to take that course, but he never crafted a story the State would find inappropriate.” She looked down at her nails. “I’d say that story impacted me, I’m just not certain it was in a negative way.”
Hope looked around, struggling to find any type of response.
Ursa grabbed her hand once again from across the table, leaning in. “I’ve been reflecting on this for years. As we’ve already discussed, this may be our only opportunity to have a personal conversation.” She tightened her grip on her hand. “If there is a reason you told Chastity that story—or an event that inspired it, now would be a good time to share.”
Tears instantly filled Hope’s eyes. She stammered in search of words. “Ursa… I can’t—you can’t.” She looked at her directly in her eyes and whispered. “There are cameras everywhere. You are treading on dangerous ground.”
Ursa smirked. “The cameras are placed on the outskirts of the common room. Security can see us, but they can’t hear us unless we yell.”
Hope shook her head and cut in. “You have no way of knowing that.”
“Yes, I do. I know some people who work in Security. They like to have conversations about such subjects. I told them your bedtime story and they are very interested in what inspired you to tell such a story.”
A few tears escaped Hope’s eyes. She wiped them away quickly, looking around the room cautiously. “I don’t worry about myself; I’m concerned for you and Chastity. As we have both already realized, our lives are short. I feel I already have one foot in the grave. But you, you have your son to raise. A partner.” She took a deep breath and shuddered.
“And you have Chastity.”
“No.” Hope shook her head, losing control of her emotions. “I don’t.” She stifled a sob. “I waited too long. You’re right; I told her that story for a reason. I could have done something about it, but it’s too late now. I was a coward when I needed to be strong. She works for the Head of State. She’s coupled.” She took a deep breath. “She’s happy.”
Ursa stood and walked around the table. She sat next to her and wrapped her arms around her, whispering in her ear. “Tell me. Can we live on the surface? Are there people out there?” Ursa pulled away slightly while keeping her arms around her. “This may sound crazy, but I’ve even wondered if there is a reason Chastity has blue eyes and is fairer than anyone I have ever met.”
Hope abandoned her last attempt at composure. She broke down in Ursa’s arms as though she were a child. She wept into her shoulder while Ursa gently rubbed her back. She had been alone wit
h this terrible burden weighing on her soul for so many years. Every moment of her life since returning to the dome had been filled with fear of discovery and death. She started to believe she would die with her secret intact.
It may be a bad move to divulge this information, but it felt so damn good.
“We don’t have much time.” She whispered into her ear in the embrace. “I have so much to tell you. There are people who need the information I know, and I can’t think of any other way to deliver it to them.”
Ursa moved back slightly to look her directly in the eyes. “Are they on the surface? Can we destroy the dome and leave the State behind?”
Hope shook her head. “You can’t destroy the dome, but there are other ways you can get out. There is a group—Chastity’s father is one of them—and they can speak to others who wanted to start a war. I can direct you to that community if you have a group willing to escape and deliver a message.” She gripped Ursa’s shoulder. “Your group could never defeat the military on their own. You need help and I know weapons they could build, ones they may not be aware of.”
Ursa leaned back a little further, taking her hand. “I’m not ready to go. I want to wait until Colin is older. This will take a long time to plan, but I will ensure your information gets into the right hands.”
Hope rested her head in her hand, hoping to help disguise her lip movements from any onlookers. “Some of the access points to the surface are inside the military underground, but some are used for maintenance and are easily accessible. We need to locate each of those more reachable accesses and find out what kind of surveillance they are under. If you have Security officers who are willing to turn the other way, we could regularly mule people out of here.”
“Regularly?”
Hope nodded. “They need an army to attack in unison from outside. We should send those willing and able to fight. They should leave, and the rest of us should make a plan for colonization as a failsafe.”
Ursa’s jaw hung open. “Colonization?”
Hope shook her head. “How well connected are you in this network? I fear I have more information to share with you than one mind can contain. I need people who can meet with me in a common room closer to my home. I need them to identify themselves in a way I can trust them. Can you arrange this?”
Ursa blinked rapidly. “I trust these people with my life. I will make this happen.”
“Good. I don’t know if we will live through this, but I want those bastards to bleed. I will cause as much damage as possible to the State before my time on this earth ends.”
Chapter 23
Victor
The lights flickered, springing life into each of his steps. He took a deep breath, savoring the familiar smells, the humidity, the dampness which most people found off-putting. To him, it simply felt like home. As Head of State, he had very little time to spend in the military underground. He was pulled down occasionally for meetings, but most of his work took place in his office inside of the State House.
The meeting that brought him to the underground once again wasn’t standard procedure. There was a man he wished to speak to, a man with information. If this man could help unlock the puzzle of Chastity’s background, he could put his mind at ease.
Victor opened the door to the small, confined meeting space. It barely had room for a table with two chairs, ideal for the type of interview he had in mind.
“Ahh, I see you have been waiting,” Victor said with a winning smile as he opened the door.
An older man with deep lines between his brows jumped to his feet and saluted Victor. “Yes, sir.”
The left side of Victor’s lip curled upward. “At ease, soldier.” Victor pulled out the chair and sat adjacent from him at the table. “Thank you for meeting me, Cameron. I know this request is a bit odd—not an average occurrence.”
He nodded. “It is an honor to be summoned by the Head of State. Please, anything I can do to be of service.” Cameron kept his eyes cast aside from Victor.
Victor observed him before speaking once again. Cameron seemed to be near the age where most military personnel were retired. It is only when they can take on a more administrative role—which Cameron had successfully done—that they live to a mature age.
“That’s what I like to hear.”
Cameron smiled briefly and reached for his glass of water. Victor couldn’t help but notice Cameron’s hands trembled slightly in the gesture. “How may I be of service, sir?”
“Cameron, I understand you have been serving on the reproduction selection team for the military for almost 20 years.”
Cameron nodded, still not fully meeting his gaze. “Yes, sir. Nineteen years.”
Victor casually leaned back in his chair. “I know that the information I seek may seem like a needle in a haystack but considering your previous work history and the timing of your reassignment, I’m hoping this case I’m investigating might ring some bells.”
Cameron’s face paled and his breathing became forced. “I will do my best to assist you, sir. What is it you seek?”
“I’ve got some questions, or perhaps we should call it a curiosity. You see, I have this assistant.” Cameron’s eyes momentarily darted to Victor, and he quickly looked away. “She is something quite extraordinary. I am curious as to why she wasn’t selected for reproduction. It’s had me so baffled, I investigated the board’s decision. It appears that the entire board unanimously voted for her to be selected for reproduction. Then, a military representative, you, vetoed their decision, and sent her to be sterilized. I am hoping you remember the reason.”
Perspiration glistened on Cameron’s brow and upper lip. Victor could assess from his eye movements that Cameron knew exactly who he was referring to without further information.
Victor also, unfortunately, knew how aware Cameron was of his own looming death. It would be difficult to threaten a man who knew he could be retired any day, who was already living on borrowed time.
Cameron continued to look off to the side. “Wow. That is a needle in the haystack.” He forced a nervous laugh. “Is there any further detail you can give me about this assistant that might guide my memory?”
Victor pursed his lips. He contemplated if he should bother going through the song and dance with a man who was unlikely to talk. “Well, hopefully this will narrow the search considerably. Her parents were both scientists in Cheyenne Mountain—your previous posting. There was some sort of an incident resulting in her father’s death, and her mother was sent back here to raise their child alone. As both her parents were from a breeding family, I can’t conceive as to why she wasn’t selected for reproduction.”
Cameron nodded. It was as though Victor could see the wheels turning in his mind. “That does narrow the search considerably.”
He nodded again, shifted in his chair, and momentarily made eye contact with Victor. “I must explain something to you about my role before I can answer questions about her case. I am nothing more than a messenger. I am not informed as to the thought process or rationale behind a military veto. It is rare I am given any information whatsoever when a veto is delivered to me. Sometimes, the vetoes come from higher ranking military personnel under the dome, and sometimes they come from the mountain.”
Victor leaned back. “I am aware of the politics governing our world. I was hoping this case was an exception, something you might have known more details about.”
“I do have some familiarity with this case—which is rare for me. I’m afraid I don’t know any of the fine details, but I will share with you what I can.”
Victor smiled warmly and nodded. “Please. Anything you could share about her parents and her case might be of personal value to me. I am aware that her father was killed, and Chastity was conceived in the mountain, but unfortunately those records were not only sealed, they were deleted. It is the fact that someone took the time to delete information which raises alarms for me—I’m sure you can appreciate that.”
A fine m
ist of perspiration appeared on his brow. “That is rather odd. I didn’t have access to the files myself so I can’t tell you what was originally recorded there.”
Victor took a deep breath; he still held out the hope that he just needed to take the right angle with this man to get the information he desired. “Is it not unusual for scientists to conceive in the mountain? It is my understanding that once the project is completed, they are sent to breeding centers. It appears their project was completed at an earlier date than when Hope left the mountain.”
“Yes, that is correct. It is rare for a scientist to be killed on the eve of victory. Those kids were field testing, Weston was killed, and Hope was injured. She was held back in the mountain for medical purposes, leaving the mountain later than the rest of her classmates. I did not receive an explanation for my veto vote, but if I were a gambling man, I would bet the purpose of that veto was because Chastity was conceived before her mother’s injury.”
Betrayed: Book Five of the State Series Page 14