Victor leaned forward. “But her mother shouldn’t have conceived until they reached the breeding center.”
What coloring remained in Cameron’s face drained. He kept his eyes cast to the side.
“I cannot tell you why Hope was pregnant to begin with, but I know they discovered her pregnancy during her recovery. Perhaps it was a risk they didn’t want to take. Maybe they thought Chastity could have genetic mutations or something of the sort. Maybe they thought her mother was a pain in the ass. I can’t say why they made the choice they did. I can only confirm that Chastity was in vitro when some sort of a force field for a technology I could never hope to understand killed her father, and two of my colleagues.”
“And her mother was shielded by a military craft, correct? Why the concern then?”
Cameron shrugged. “Her mother may have been shielded, but if the decision of veto were up to me, I would have made the same call. I don’t understand the science behind any of that, but I wouldn’t want to take the risk of what that accident could have done to her genetic code. None of us military type can even comprehend what those kids work on. They could have been communicating with an alien race for all we know. Maybe they thought Chastity might be half alien or come out green.”
Cameron laughed at his own joke, but Victor could see the tension between his vain attempt at humor. He’s lying. And none of this explains the tampering of her files.
He thought about a counter alien joke, but everything was suddenly clear, clicking in his mind. Weston is not Chastity’s father. He let the information marinate in his mind. Who, a doctor treating her during her recovery? They kept her from reproducing just to cover up an affair? There had to be more to this story: a story he knew Cameron would carry to the grave, no matter what he did to make him talk.
“Well, I’m no scientist or doctor either, but I can now see why they would have made that call.” Victor stood from the table and reached out his hand. “Thank you for your assistance in this matter. You have eased my mind.”
Victor shook his hand and left the room quickly. He hurried to his replica office in the underground and retrieved his tablet. The first thing he did was to request a videoconference with the Head of the military.
It was mere moments until his monitor flickered to life. “Sir, how may I be of assistance to you today?”
Victor looked up at the monitor. “I just had a meeting with one of your men. He is on the board for reproduction, Cameron.”
“Yes, Cameron. He has been on the board for a considerable amount of time. He is quite proficient at his job.”
Victor nodded curtly to the monitor. “I’m sure he has a spectacular service record, but he also just lied to me.”
“Sir? Are you certain? I can have him arrested and interrogated immediately.”
Victor shook his head. “It’s difficult to interrogate a man his age; there would be no benefit. Besides, it’s bad for morale.”
“Are you recommending his retirement?”
Victor nodded. “I think that would be the most effective course of action. Choose your replacement for his posting. I need him retired and I need those he’s worked with at Cheyenne to know about his retirement. Someone’s hiding something out there. I want whoever it is to know that they’re next.”
“Very well, sir. Consider it done.”
Chapter 24
Hope
Hope squinted as she looked at her tablet. This message was not only startling, it was practically incomprehensible. She had to read it several times and cross reference today’s date and current time with what was listed in the email. She blinked rapidly trying to process the information.
Hi Hope,
I wanted to message you to introduce myself. I’m Ursa’s friend, the one I believe she told you about. I would love to meet with you. Does tomorrow evening around 20:00 work for you?
I was already planning on going tomorrow night, regardless of if you can meet with me or not. I hope you are free, as it sounds as though we could become very good friends.
Ursa has informed me your schedule is challenging. If there is a time which works better for you, feel free to let me know.
I really hope we can work something out. I’m looking forward to meeting you!
Regards,
Simone
Her heart slammed against her chest. This is far too risky to contact each other so publicly, so easy to track.
The message was sent the previous day—which was another reason a direct message to her in-box was a terrible idea as she was always running behind on her messages. It was nearly the time Simone requested, and she wasn’t anywhere near the common room. She quickly finished her tasks to close out the day and scurried towards the common room.
A moment before her arrival, she came to a halt as the absurdity of the situation settled in. She was rushing to meet a complete stranger, and she didn’t even know what they looked like—or how Ursa found them. Can I really trust this woman?
With her arriving late, Simone may have left already. As intelligent as Hope was, she realized that forming a rebellion wasn’t something that played well into her skill set. I can outsmart the State, but I don’t know who to trust, or how to trust others. I didn’t even truly trust Joshua. I followed him because my brain was too scrambled from the accident to think of an alternative.
It was impossible to know if the people Ursa sent were trustworthy. She knew Ursa was clever, but was she cunning enough to properly screen each of these people? She was so young and power-hungry. Ursa may be too idealistic, making herself an easy target for the State to spy on, leading them back to her. The State couldn’t have remained in power for so long without having dealt with multiple groups like Ursa’s before.
Her insides turned, thrashing with each step. She was ready to turn back, removing herself from the situation completely.
This is too risky, too fast. I will get caught.
She spun around, ready to retreat.
“Hope?”
She looked up, seeing a woman with a heart shaped face and peppered grey hair making her appear to be about Hope’s age, looking eagerly at her.
“I’m so happy you could make it! I didn’t see you in there so I came out to see if I could find you.”
Hope looked down, her skin flushing. “Yes, well, I came as soon as I could. I’m afraid I didn’t receive the message until just moments ago.”
“Come with me,” Simone nearly yelled. “I’m so excited to talk to you.”
Simone grabbed her hand and led her into the common room, selecting a table located at the room’s center.
She sat on Hope’s side of the table leaving little space between them.
“I’m here tonight to tell you our plan,” Simone said with a warm, friendly smile. “I know that you work hard. I also know that you don’t have to work as hard as you do. I need you to come to the common room one evening a week.”
She grasped Hope’s hand, again acting as though they shared a close kinship. “You need to tell everyone that taking an evening off every week to socialize helps you to recharge your mind and gives you a fresh perspective. There will not be someone here every single week, but we need to establish the pattern. We can’t message you every time we need to meet with you.”
It wasn’t enough to feel confident in their deception of the State, yet it was reassuring to hear this group put more thought into their actions than she initially thought. She hoped their actions continued to follow this promising pattern; her life depended on it.
Her mind started to sift over the finer details, wanting more information to test for flaws. “How did you know it was me?”
Simone shrugged. “There are photographs of everyone in the State’s database if you know where to look—a trick my partner taught me. We will only show your photograph to those assigned to meet with you. They will always arrive before you and sit near the center table. The more repetition you show in your behavior, the less suspicious the State is of you. T
hey pay attention to changes, not patterns. You will be monitored more closely now than you will in a few months’ time.”
Simone spoke with so much confidence, it melted a few concerns away.
“How am I to pass all my information to you?” Hope rested her arm on the table, trying to look casual.
Simone chuckled softly, pretending Hope said something humorous. “We have selected the best person in our organization to memorize each piece of information. Ursa gave us a summary of what type of detailed information you possess, and we have been selecting the person whose mind is the keenest in such an area.”
Hope nodded, relaxing further. “That’s all you need from me? You will send a person to me, I tell them what I know, and they memorize it?”
“Yes. We feel you can’t take any unnecessary risks as your information is invaluable. You need to continue to do your work in strengthening the dome, and normal routines in your life. The only difference will be your weekly visit to the common room. Your knowledge of the looming war outside and the tactics the State is planning in order to defend themselves could very well tip the scales in our favor. We can’t afford to have you do anything else out of the ordinary. Let us take the risks while you keep those secrets safe.”
“What do you intend to do?”
Simone laughed again, touching Hope on her shoulder. “We want to get as many of our people out as possible.”
Hope’s stomach knotted. “How will people go missing without the State investigating? I feel this departure is something that can only happen once, not something that could happen on a regular basis.”
Simone smiled warmly. “We disagree. It is hard to move large groups of people—that will alert Security. The State avoids having groups congregate to ensure there is no uprising against its military. If twenty people were to suddenly start walking in the same direction it would raise alarms. We need our groups to be small; 10 at the most, at least to start. They need to each take a different route to the surface’s access and then they can escape.”
Hope was impressed. This group has found Security’s blind spots.
“And won’t they watch all the Security footage once these people go missing?”
“I know we are taking a risk with this, but we don’t believe they will. We have reason to suspect that the military and Security don’t work together. The people we are moving will not be of importance to the State; they aren’t high profile like you. Besides, people disappear all the time.”
Hope squinted. “What do you mean? We all have civil duties. If I didn’t show up on time tomorrow, I’m certain Security would investigate.”
Simone laughed again. “You, yes, of course. The rest of us, not necessarily. If someone doesn’t show up for their civil duty, Security is flagged to check their apartment. Once they verify the apartment is clear, the responsibility of recovering the missing person doesn’t fall on Security.”
Hope shook her head. “It can’t be that simple. If Security doesn’t look for these missing people, someone has to.”
Simone shrugged. “If someone goes missing, the people around them are always told that they died in their sleep of natural causes. Even when people are young, their friends and family are told they came down with a rare illness. We have lost enough of our own to know what it looks like when someone is taken by the military. As Security and the military don’t seem to collaborate, we believe we can slip through the cracks unnoticed.”
It was Hope’s turn to laugh, although her laugh wasn’t to fool any bystanders. “That is a big leap of faith your little group is taking.”
Simone shook her head. “We aren’t a little group.” She looked deeply into her eyes. “You are fearful based on the assumption that the State cares about the people under this dome. I am sure that as a genius, you have had a very different life than the rest of us. Speaking as a civilian who works in manual labor, the State does not care if we live or die. We are all replaceable—the bottom rung of their perfect society. We are their most disposable civilians, and we would also make the best warriors.”
Hope had to concede that Simone may have a point. Hope had been told since birth she was special, and she was. There was likely another side of their civilization she had never even considered.
She nodded. “I’m certain your physical duties are an asset. Life is different out there—more physically strenuous. They don’t have any machinery or technology to aid them in the simplest duties.”
“We will adapt and thrive. We work in civil duties where we use our bodies. We have a strength and endurance that the rest of the population doesn’t possess. We will make it to the community you told us about, and we will fight alongside the people who have prepared for this war.”
Chills ran down Hope’s spine. Her speech was so confident, she felt moved, inspired, hopeful. She made a commitment then and there. She would trust Simone, and any other person she referred. This group was intelligent and well organized. This was her best chance—possibly her only—to destroy the State.
“I can commit to rearranging my schedule for one night off a week. You will not need to message me again. Is this evening and time your preference?”
Simone beamed, this time her joy reached her eyes. “It is, and I am happy to hear that.” She leaned in closer. “I am a greenhouse worker, like Ursa. I have a sharp memory; therefore, my role is to learn what types of vegetation are edible. What do the people in the community eat? As we can’t pack enough food to take with us, we will have to find it along the way. My job is to ensure we don’t starve to death while locating this community, or to show up completely empty-handed.”
Hope wrinkled her nose. “You want to understand their diet. I’m surprised your group decided to start there. The village isn’t that far away. Even if you got a little lost, I don’t think anyone would starve.”
Simone held her gaze. “We know that, but we have to have a fallback plan if they don’t allow us into their community. We will have to become survivors, just like them.”
Chapter 25
Victor
He opened the door and froze in place. Seeing a young woman waiting for him was not what he expected. Although her youth was apparent, her features were hard and square for a girl her age, giving her an intimidating appearance.
She stood confidently yet casually, as though she had not a care in the world. She looked at him directly in the eye and extended her hand to him. “Victor, how lovely to meet you in the flesh.”
He hesitated momentarily. Her casual use of his name—a name which most people either never knew or no longer remembered—seemed as though she was exerting her authority.
He collected himself, recovering from his surprise and smiled warmly at her. “I would say the same, but I don’t yet know your name.” He extended his hand to her.
She shook his hand and returned to her seat before responding. “The High Council felt you were in need of someone younger and well-positioned to give you greater hands-on support with the rebellion and colonization project. As you have previously been informed, there will be another culling during your time as the Head of State. I wanted to meet you in person instead of hiding behind the veil of secrecy. We will be working closely together for the rest of our lives.”
He nodded. “I trust the High Council knows best.”
A slight smirk rose on her lips. “I am glad to hear that as you seemed concerned about my age.”
He smiled. “I said no such thing.”
She leaned forward in her seat. “You didn’t have to.”
He laughed. “I am a little surprised, yes. You appear to be in your late teens, hardly an adult.”
“I am 21 years old.”
He leaned back in his chair. “I still don’t have your name.”
“Yes, of course. I am known to my colleagues as Dr. Rhetta. I am a psychologist.”
Victor narrowed his eyes. “You have already completed your schooling?”
“Obviously.”
Her
tone felt like shards of glass hurled towards him. He fought off the instinct to react in anyway, keeping his mannerisms friendly.
“I look forward to working with you.” He observed her for a moment. “How is it you came to be both a psychologist and High Council member so young?”
Her dark beady eyes were deeply set, reflecting a wisdom far beyond her years. Victor felt as though her piercing gaze bored directly into his soul.
“Unlike you, I was born into my position. You had to prove your loyalty, where mine was assumed. I was never sent to an education center or forced to mingle with the other children. I received private training at an advanced pace my entire life to take his role. It is a precaution taken to ensure the High Council is never tainted with impurities.”
Betrayed: Book Five of the State Series Page 15