“I would prefer if you stayed late. I have a feeling the Council will require a fair amount of your time. Your partner will get used to your long work hours, and when we don’t have work from the Council, I’ll have plenty of work from the State House for you to do.”
She stood straight with her shoulders back. “I look forward to it.”
***
Chastity walked with a spring in her step. She was aware of the broad grin spanning the length of her face and knew nothing could take it from her. She was ecstatic. Possibly, even happier than she had been in her entire life. After so many long years of feeling as though she held no value, she had been invited onto the Council.
She was certain that if her mother could put aside her own jealousy, she would be proud of her—that was, if she could tell her.
It wasn’t just the burden of her mother’s jealousy which had weighed on her soul, but the judgment of Cora, her adoptive mother. Cora withdrew her affections as she didn’t want to waste her time associating with civilians who were basic. It turned out that after all these years, Chastity wasn’t common after all. Her own mother who was deemed a genius and lived inside the mountain had never climbed to this elite standing.
Although Chastity didn’t understand much about her role as a Council member, she knew she was destined for greatness. No matter what they asked of her, she would surpass their expectations. She knew it would be difficult to lead a double life from her partner, Lance, but she also knew it would be worth it. She couldn’t let their relationship interfere with her new duties.
This new calling was coming at an appropriate time in their relationship. Things thus far had been pleasant, but she wondered if there was more to the coupling experience than what they shared between them. It was comfortable. It was predictable. It wasn’t what she had heard others describe when they spoke of love.
The two of them often spent their evenings pairing light conversation with reading on their tablets. With such habits forming now, maybe she could work on her Council training with him seated on the same sofa.
She vigorously opened the door with more force than she intended, flinging it wide open.
“Chastity?”
“Hi,” she said, hardly attempting to contain her smile. He stood and walked to the kitchen area. Leaning in, he planted a light kiss on her lips.
“You are in a pleasant mood.” He observed. “I presume your day at your duty was an enjoyable one.”
Chastity took a deep breath. She hadn’t expected her giddy, lighthearted emotions to be so obvious. She wondered if it would be better to simply acknowledge she was happy, or if she should make up a story to explain. Lies could be sloppy. There was so much information to remember yet pretending there was no viable explanation for her moods might prove suspicious.
“I guess I would say I enjoyed my day.” She furled an eyebrow. “Is my mood often downtrodden when I return from my duty?”
Lance gave a smile which didn’t reach his eyes. “I wouldn’t say it quite like that. But I can tell something extraordinary happened today. I thought maybe you would like to share what that was.”
Chastity realized keeping her new duty a secret from him might prove a little more challenging than she originally expected. After all, members of Security were trained to read body language; it was part of how they assessed citizens to detect if further monitoring was warranted. She decided she had to tell him something, and it would be best to stick as close to the truth as possible.
“I don’t know that I would say today was particularly special. I think it was more that as I was working, I had a realization which put me into a rather splendid mood.”
“Oh?” He crossed his arms.
“Yes.” She maneuvered away from him to break free of his piercing gaze. She twisted around until she could retrieve their evening meals from the slot in the wall. She sat down at the table with her tray and he followed suit.
She took a few small bites of her food before proceeding. “Yes. I came to the realization that being an administrator at the State House is a higher position than most people climb to in their lifetime. I mean, it’s a higher standing than my mother ever achieved. I guess that just made me feel good.” She shrugged and continued eating her meal.
Lance dropped his fork. “Really?”
Chastity winced. The clattering sound of his fork striking his plate disturbed her even more than the sharpness of his tone. She looked him in the eye and saw a fire burning within. Her temperature rose as her cheeks burned hot.
“Well, I don’t think you can understand—”
“Why is that? Because I’m nothing more than a lowly Security officer? Not intelligent enough to understand what a great honor it is to work directly with the Head of State himself.”
Her jaw fell open, and she struggled to regain her composure. Her skin burned as it flushed an even deeper crimson shade. She realized how her remark could be misinterpreted. Without being able to explain herself further, she didn’t know how she could express her sentiment as being anything other than a slight towards him.
When they first met, she had chosen to withhold her past from him. She had wanted to have a fresh start, but now she could see how that wasn’t truly possible. Her family, her flaws, her past, it would always follow her.
Maybe there is a reason he sees my behavior as childish, and maybe he has a point.
Just as she was ready to say more to explain her actions, she caught herself.
This is the cost of being on the Council. I don’t get to explain myself or to soothe my partner’s insecurities. If he thinks I am childish and self-centered, so be it.
She straightened her shoulders and held her head higher. “That’s not what I said.”
“But it’s what you meant,” he snapped. “You think you’re better than everyone, including your mother because you’re an administrator for the Head of State.”
He gave a bitter, sarcastic laugh. “You know, the first time I met you, I thought I was lucky to be paired with someone so intelligent. But now, I don’t think you’re as bright as I originally thought. The Head of State is powerful and you’re just his administrator. That doesn’t make you special, yet you’ve let it inflate your ego. It’s kind of pathetic that I go to my duty and work hard, then I come home to my partner who has put herself up on some self-righteous pedestal. All you are or will ever be is just an administrator, like any other.”
Her eyes rapidly filled with tears. She had often noticed that he was opinionated, but she was realizing for the first time that his temperament made him a bit mean. She struggled to find the words to make him understand.
“No, Lance, that’s not what I meant,” she pleaded, deciding she needed to divulge some information from her past. “I don’t think I’m better than you. It’s just that growing up with parents who are brilliant was difficult. I’ve always felt like I was a mistake somehow because I didn’t measure up to their legacy.”
Lance threw his napkin on the table. “Well, that’s even more pathetic. Why the hell would you ever consider how you rank against your parent’s accomplishments? You’re a grown-up now. Grown-ups don’t seek their parent’s approval. In fact, most grown-ups don’t even have contact with their parents. I’ve said it before, I think it’s weird you even keep in touch with your mom.”
He looked away, pinching the bridge of his nose. “Now I find out that the reason you stay in touch with your mother is because you are comparing yourself to her? It’s pathetic.” He pushed back and stood from the table. “I’ve heard enough of this garbage. I’m going for a run. Hopefully, you’ll grow up by the time I get back.”
Chastity could hardly comprehend how suddenly and viciously he lashed out at her, and how he had instantly taken her remark as an attack. She suddenly understood why Victor forbade her from telling her partner.
Maybe this is common. Maybe he’s jealous, just like my mom. I do have a much higher status than he does, and I’ve never stopped to question how t
hat would make him feel. It was sad, pathetic, that no one in her life celebrated her successes.
I guess this is what the top of the pedestal looks like. It will be lonely.
She moved their plates to the slot in the wall.
Lance could run all night for all she cared. His disappearance was welcomed as it would give her more time and energy to work on her training for the Council. She would train with every extra morsel of time and energy she had.
The Council is all I have. Everyone in my life except for Victor and Ursa has let me down. I don’t have enough access to Ursa to make our relationship count, but I can make this Council make up for everything I’ve lost.
Chapter 27
Hope
Ursa leaned in closer. “I know, I know. It is risky for me to be here. But I wanted to see you again. Who knows if we will have another chance in our lifetimes.”
Hope squeezed her hand. “Yes, I’m glad you did. I’m happy to see you.”
Ursa looked cautiously around the room before she whispered to Hope. “I would love to say I am here just for pleasure, but unfortunately, I come with an agenda.”
Hope smiled reassuringly. “In times such as these, don’t we all?”
Ursa nodded, giving Hope’s hand a squeeze. “The first matter I have been commissioned to discuss with you is Chastity.”
The coloring drained from Hope’s face. She leaned back in her seat, shaking her head. “No. She’s too compliant. Plus, I think she is unhappy with me. I hate to think this of my daughter, but she will hand us over. There is nothing to discuss.”
Ursa sighed and leaned in closer. “But we need someone in the right place at the right time to help us gain control of the transport device.”
“I know we do. I’m telling you, Chastity isn’t that person. I have given up on her.” Hope cautiously cast her eyes around the room.
Ursa’s shoulders slumped. “Don’t give up on her. Not yet. She may have a change of heart someday.”
Hope shook her head. “Maybe, but she isn’t the person you are looking for—she’s too much like her father. She won’t take risks. She will buy into whatever dogma is laid out for her.”
Ursa’s eyes misted with tears. “So, she may not be the insider we’re looking for, but don’t give up on her. You may yet get her out.”
Hope looked down, fearing Ursa’s welling emotion would trigger her own. “I can’t conceive of a way to do so. She is happy. She idolizes the Head of State and loves her civil duty. What am I supposed to do? Throw a blanket over her head and kidnap her?”
Ursa shrugged. “It’s better than leaving her behind.”
Hope laughed, not because it was funny but because it was absurd. “She would just turn back and compromise everyone, and I mean everyone.”
“Do you really think so? Don’t you think she would feel differently after she knew where she came from?”
Hope shook her head. “I’m uncertain it would be enough. Her mind could create some sort of justification for the State. For some reason, I get the impression she has villainized me.”
“I think you are wrong. I think when she sees the truth with her own eyes, her loyalties will shift.”
Hope huffed. “But how would I get her there?”
Ursa shrugged. “Can you convince her to go out to the mountain for anything? If the two of you could get out there, couldn’t you find your way back to the village?”
“It would never work, not in a million years.” Hope took a deep breath and steadied her emotions. “What else did you want to discuss?”
Ursa looked down. “I’m hoping you can give me a general idea of the plan to colonize. Not the details, just an overview so I can pass the information to the right people.”
Hope looked down. “I don’t know the details. I don’t fully comprehend how the device works. I was only responsible for the power source.”
Ursa nodded. “I understand. But so far, no one else has even heard about the colonization project. This is still so highly classified, you are the first person to bring it to our attention.” She gripped Hope’s forearm. “Any information you have will surpass what we could learn left to our own devices.”
Hope scooted so her body was touching Ursa’s, practically speaking directly into her ear. “I don’t know where this world is. I don’t know if the transport device works through teleportation or wormhole technology.”
Hope paused, her memory flashing back to her short coupling with Weston. Damn the State. All of these years have passed, and I still don’t know the answer for certain. They really have kept us blind this entire time. I thought it trivial at the time, nothing more than Weston’s paranoia. Now, I realize he was right. The State segregated teams for reasons other than to keep us focused.
She continued. “Teleportation seems more in line with the power source I developed, but teleportation doesn’t have the capacity to reach the distances needed. It has to be a wormhole to travel outside of our solar system.”
Ursa giggled. “I’m sorry, I have no idea what you just said. Can you dumb down the jargon for the rest of us common folk?”
Hope’s coloring flushed. “All I can tell you is the transport device requires two components in order to function. There will be one device on the colony world, and one here. They must both be switched on to function.”
Ursa raised an eyebrow. “Can it transport people? Or is it limited to something smaller? What will they use it for?”
“That, unfortunately, I cannot answer. Theoretically, I think it’s intended function is to move people.”
“And it needs to be in both places to work? That means we need to have the right people in the right place on both sides.”
Hope nodded. “Yes, it does.” She sighed. “I think if the State wants to colonize unnecessarily, I say let them.” She shook her head. “I think our best option is to get as many people out of the dome as possible. The odds of having your people in control of the transport device on both worlds is improbable.”
Ursa smiled softly. “Don’t give up on us so easily. Our numbers grow daily. Support for the State is continually dropping. People want change.”
“I do not doubt your numbers. I just can’t comprehend how so many people could work together to coordinate such a task under the eye of the State.”
“Just as we are now.” Ursa cast her eyes around the room. “When we sit in the center as we do, we do not fear the State overhearing, simply the people surrounding us.”
“But it’s so risky.”
“It’s necessary.” Ursa paused and held her gaze. “Hope, there are two opportunities arising. We have the chance to take the new colony world, or this one. I agree, the State will watch the colony world closer, which could also provide for a great red-herring.”
Hope squinted. “You’re saying, if we can’t take the colony world, our attempts to do so will make the State blind while we move people to the surface.”
“We are preparing to take both the colony world and this one, but we know better than to underestimate the State. It is likely we will only gain control of one but not both.”
Hope nodded. “I feel our odds are better outside the dome than getting the right people in place from within.”
“But the dome can’t be destroyed.” Ursa shrugged. “So, what else can you tell me about colonization?”
Hope thought for a moment and continued. “The transport device has to be brought to the colony world somehow and assembled. I imagine there would need to be some sort of a spacecraft which would travel to the colony world first.”
“How long will it take for the spacecraft to get there?”
Hope laughed. “I have no idea. It depends on where the world is and if the State has discovered a technology which enables us to travel faster than the speed of light.”
“Five years? 100?”
“It certainly won’t be 5.” Hope shrugged. “It could be 100. For colonization to be viable, I would put it somewhere between 20 and 40 yea
rs.”
“Wow. We will probably be dead.”
Hope smiled. “Yes, we will. If you are searching for instant gratification, I recommend you focus your efforts on muling people to the surface.”
“If we can get enough people to your village, we won’t have to worry about who is the first to step onto the colony world.”
Hope gripped Ursa’s hand once again. “That is a wonderful thought. I hope we win before that spacecraft lands.”
Chapter 28
Chastity
She stood off to Victor’s side, scrolling through her tablet to send him the information he needed. It was drawing near the day’s end and her body grew heavy with wariness.
Betrayed: Book Five of the State Series Page 17