by Jamie Davis
Cass paused. She had to be careful here. This was likely what their parents would have told them to ask her about. “It’s not all that different than here when you get right down to it. I mean there aren’t all the restrictions on access to things over the net and there are different types of people than we’re used to seeing, but in the end, it’s just a bunch of kids going to school just like I think you guys ran into.”
Susan smiled. “Yeah, but all those different people include some of those who might be considered dangerous to people like us.”
The statement bothered Cass. The only danger she’d run into had been from Sapiens sympathizers. She bit her tongue and held off a sharp response, instead saying, “Really, no, I think most people are just like us at the end of the day. They just want to have a life and live it in peace.”
There was an awkward pause for a few long seconds, before Susan smiled and said, “I met someone at school. She helped me get through things after we broke up.”
“Really? That sounds wonderful.”
“She’s pretty awesome. She’s from an enclave in the Midwest.”
Cass smiled. “That makes me happy, Sue. I’m glad you were able to find someone new. What’s her name?”
“Brenda. She’s studying art history. She’s hoping to start a museum of traditional artwork for Sapiens Movement members to visit when she goes home after finishing school.”
“She sounds like she’s great. I’m glad the two of you are happy.”
“How about you, Cass? We all heard you found someone new, too. What’s she like?”
Cass shot Sue a look. Cass’s initial suspicions were correct. Her friends had all heard about Shelby. That probably meant they knew all about her by now. Still, Sue didn’t seem to hold any hidden motives. She smiled at Cass and waited for her answer.
Cass decided to be honest and not hide anything. “Shelby’s pretty awesome. I think she’d surprise all of you. She’s nothing like you’d expect her to be.”
Her diplomatic response surprised herself. She smiled at Susan and shrugged.
Cass didn’t realize the other three had drifted back close to the two of them during the conversation.
Meris was the one who took the question to the next level, announcing their presence listening in nearby. “Cass, how can you say that she’s normal when we all know she’s not?”
Cass, caught by surprise, spun around to face Nick, Meris, and Natalie. “Why is she so different, Meris? Are you saying that because she’s taller than me or has dark hair?”
Meris bristled at the confrontation. “You know exactly what I mean, Cass. We were all more than a bit shocked to find out you were dating a sub out there in the city.”
Cass’s temper flared. “Don’t call her that. That’s a name nobody uses out in the rest of the world. Shelby and others like her are people just like you and me. She’s wonderful and one of the warmest people I’ve ever met. If you gave her half a chance, you’d find out you’d like her as much as you like me.”
Meris snorted a laugh. “As if I’d even talk to her. I wouldn’t let her bring her AI infected brain anywhere near me. I can’t believe you let her touch you, Cass. It makes my skin crawl.”
Cass was about to shoot off a sharp reply when Susan, of all people, jumped to her defense.
“Leave her alone, Meris. Cass did something adventurous all of us were afraid to do. She pushed back and found a way to get out of here, out from under the control of our parents and the movement. Even if it was only for a little while, she got out. We don’t know anything about her girlfriend, only what we’ve been told by others who have their own agenda. We all know Cass. We should give her the benefit of the doubt and trust her instincts.”
When she finished, Susan glanced at Cass, her eyes showing deep concern for her old girlfriend.
Cass smiled and nodded at the unexpected support, then said, “Susan, why don’t you and I go and get something to eat. I think these others would probably like to stay here and talk to someone else. I know I am tired of talking with them right now.”
She directed a level stare at Meris who, after a few seconds, looked away in embarrassment.
Susan smiled. “That’s a great idea, Cass. Come on, I’m hungry too.”
Cass and Susan left the other three standing there as they headed over to the picnic table where all the food was laid out.
Cass found herself at a loss for words once they were away from the others. “Susan, I…”
“You don’t have to thank me, Cass. They were all being assholes. We all got instructions from our parents to ask you about certain things, especially about Shelby. I can’t believe they went along with it. There was a time when all of us would’ve pushed back against telling our parents anything that went on in each other's lives.”
Cass shook her head. She couldn’t believe it either. “They’re all probably afraid of what I might have become while away from home in the big evil city.”
“That’s crap. They’re all afraid of what they haven’t become. Look, Cass, I won’t say I wasn’t concerned when I first heard about Shelby.”
Cass started a defensive reply but stopped when Susan held up her hand.
“Hear me out, Cassie. I know you better than any of them, maybe better than anyone but Shelby now. I know what kind of person you are. You never let anyone into your life who would hurt you. You’re the best judge of character of anyone I know and I have to believe that didn’t change just because you went away to school in the city. If you chose her, she must be a pretty awesome girl.”
Cass knew how hard it must’ve been for Susan to say that. It meant a lot to her that she’d taken that leap of faith on her behalf.
Cass glanced behind her at the others. Most were looking in their direction. “I don’t think I am going to be able to stay too much longer, especially if they’re going to keep peppering me with questions like they did.”
“They all have their marching orders from the council of moms.”
Cass nodded. “Hey, maybe you and I can catch up some time alone where there aren’t prying eyes and ears around. Besides, I’d like to hear more about Brenda. She sounds pretty neat, too.”
“She’s awesome and not as close-minded as you might expect from a mid-west enclave. You know, I wouldn’t have had the strength to find someone new if it hadn’t been for my relationship with you. I grew so much when we were together. You made me stronger and more confident than I ever thought I could be.”
“We both owe each other a lot, Sue. I feel the same way about how loving you helped me grow up and learn more about myself, too.”
Sue pulled Cass into an embrace holding her close and whispering in her ear. “Be careful, Cass. A lot is going on in the enclave right now. I don’t think people are going to ease up on finding out what you’ve been up to.”
She released Cass from the embrace and stepped back with a half-smile on her face.
Cass stared at her for a second, then returned the smile. She nodded and turned towards the grill a few feet away. Both Mr. and Mrs. Glenn were standing there talking. Cass walked over to them. “Mr. and Mrs. Glenn, thank you so much for inviting me to come over. It was nice having a quick visit, but I’m tired after the packing up and the trip home today. I think I’m going to go back to my house.”
“Oh, I’m sorry to hear that, dear,” Karen Glenn said. “Maybe we can have you back over another time when there aren’t so many people here. I know Nick would like to catch up some more.”
“I’d like that,” Cass lied. She waved at Nick’s parents and reached out to grasp Susan’s hand one last time. Then, she turned and headed across the yard to her own house.
Cass felt like she’d just walked through a cave filled with vipers. She hoped she’d been able to avoid any lasting damage. Her response to Meris’ harsh words was probably already being texted to all the moms in the enclave. Her own mother would be hearing about it soon enough.
Chapter 10
When
Cass got back to her house, her mother was still in the kitchen, now packing up the entree they were taking to their dinner engagement that evening.
Her mom glanced over her shoulder at the clock on the wall above the stove. “You’re home early. Is everything all right?”
“Yeah. I was tired and decided to come home after talking to a few people. Everyone was great, but I figured I needed the rest. I’m going to catch up with a few of them another time.”
“Well, that’s nice. Did you get something to eat?”
“No, but I can find something for myself. You don’t have to heat up anything special for me.”
“Your father and I are leaving for the dinner party at the Connors’. The leftover food from what we’re taking is still over there on the counter in the containers. Go ahead and make yourself a plate and heat it up. Make sure you put everything away in the fridge when you’re finished.”
Cass nodded at the same time her father called out from the front door. “Faye, we’re going to be late.”
As her mother left to go with her dad to their thing, Cass crossed over to the other side of the counter. Several plastic containers with leftovers from her mother’s famous braised beef ribs and potatoes sat there by the fridge. She realized as her stomach growled how hungry she was.
Her implant required more than the typical number of calories to keep her blood sugar up and the cybernetics fueled. Cass was surprised at school when she had to increase the amount of food she usually ate. Since she’d been home, Cass hadn’t had anything to eat at all and she realized she needed to get something now.
Cass grabbed a few remaining ribs from one of the containers and set them down on her plate. There were also roasted potatoes which she added as well. After she’d filled her plate with heaping portions of everything, Cass placed it in the microwave and set it to auto so it could reheat the food.
While she waited for the microwave to finish, she closed up the food containers and took them to the refrigerator for her mother. Cass waited until the microwave beeped, signaling her food was reheated. As she took the plate out of the microwave, she heard a chuckle from her sister across the room. Elena had come down from upstairs.
“What?” Cass asked with a rib held midway to her mouth.
“Nothing, I’ve just never seen you eat that much food at one time before.”
“I guess I’m just hungry. It’s been a long day.”
“Yeah, but I haven’t seen someone eat that much in a sitting since Cousin Mark was here for his football camp last summer.”
Cass shrugged and sat down at the small breakfast table in the corner of the kitchen and started eating. She loved her mother’s beef ribs and she realized how much she’d missed home cooked meals while away at college.
The closest she’d come had been when she and Shelby stayed with Shelby’s brother Eric, while he recovered from his injuries while in police custody. She and Shelby had shopped and cooked for themselves while they were there. Still, it wasn’t the same as being at home.
Cass looked up in surprise when her father walked into the kitchen. He wasn’t alone. A short, squat man with blond hair and a scruffy beard followed him in.
Cass asked, “Dad, I thought you and Mom were going out?”
“I was until Aaron here stopped me out on the front lawn.”
Elena gave the man half a wave from where she sat across from Cass at the kitchen table. “Hi, Mr. Benson. How’s Cadence doing tonight?”
“She’s home playing video games with Donny Glenn of all people. He called to ask if he could come over tonight.”
Elena turned and winked at Cass as she said, “That’s nice.”
Cass’s father held up a hand to stop the girls from saying anything else and turned back to Aaron. “I’m not sure what you were talking about out on the lawn, Aaron. Explain it to me again?”
“It’s like this, Mr. Armstrong. Sometime this afternoon, around two, we had a major breach in our security system.”
“But you said nothing was taken or scanned inside the system. You’re saying someone just poked a hole of some sort in our firewall and then left, without adding a virus or anything like that to corrupt systems inside the enclave?”
Aaron shrugged. “It appears so, sir. It doesn’t make any sense to me, but that’s what happened.”
“Cass, I don’t think you know Mr. Benson. He was just telling me about a cyber attack on our security systems protecting the enclave. I think since you’ve been away, you’ve forgotten how we are constantly under attack from those who threaten what we believe in. We always need to protect ourselves from everything associated with the AI outside and anything or anyone connected to the Mantle.”
Cass didn’t have to guess what her father was talking about. It was clear he meant Shelby when he made that comment. Cass also knew it was most likely she and the hacking program installed in her implant that was responsible for the attack on the enclave’s firewall that afternoon. She hoped they weren’t able to track it down and find out it was her.
Cass turned to the newcomer. “It’s nice to meet you, Mr. Benson. I think your daughter is a friend of Elena’s.”
“She is, and a good friend at that, aren’t you, Elena?”
“I try, Mr. Benson.”
Cass smiled at Elena and at Mr. Benson. “Did you figure out where the attack came from?”
He shook his head. “It’s strange. It’s from a wireless carrier of some sort that I’ve not seen before. It came close to the exterior of the enclave, but no one suspicious showed up on the surveillance systems at all, when we went back and checked on the recordings. We should have seen someone or something coming by the enclave’s main entrance, but we didn’t.”
“So, you came over here to report it and stop me from my dinner event without having any answers? What do you think it could have been, Aaron? Something broke into our systems and you’re saying they snuck up pretty close to our property to do it.”
Aaron nodded. “That’s how we designed the system. We wanted to catch anyone trying to hack in, by forcing them to approach the perimeter to run diagnostics on the firewall. We figured we’d be able to catch anyone that close to the perimeter and identify who they were before they had a chance to get away. This time, when we figured out what was happening, they were gone. I think perhaps they were either disguising themselves somehow, or perhaps using some sort of miniaturized remote drone that didn’t register on our security cameras.”
Her dad frowned and put a hand on the shorter man’s shoulder. “I’m glad you brought this to my attention, Aaron. Please keep looking into it. There has to have been a reason for the break-in and hack. Please keep me up-to-date if you find out anything new.”
“I will, Mr. Armstrong.” He turned to Cass. “It was nice to meet you. I hope you enjoy your time home from school.”
“I will. Thank you, Mr. Benson.”
The short man nodded again to her father and then left through the kitchen door to the driveway outside.
Her dad glanced at his watch and then looked at Cass. “Your mother said you were home early. I thought there was a thing over at the Glenn’s for you?”
“I was tired so I talked to a few of my friends and then decided to come home.” Cass pointed to her nearly empty plate. “I guess I missed some of Mom’s cooking for my first dinner back.”
Her dad smiled. “Your mother’s cooking is one of the things I like most about her. They say the way to a man’s heart is through his stomach and she takes that seriously.”
“Yeah, I think that works for children, too.” Cass smiled at her father, despite her worry about how close she’d come to getting caught hacking the system that afternoon.
She finished up the last few bites before standing and carrying her plate to the sink. “When are you and Mom due home tonight?”
“We won’t be too late. Now that I’m finished with what Aaron had to tell me, I’m ready to go back to the Connors’ and catch up with your mother on
the cocktails before dinner. She’s probably already a glass of wine ahead of me, since I had to turn around and come back to deal with this firewall issue.”
Cass struggled not to react and show the worry she felt inside. “I’m going upstairs and get some sleep. I’ve been up late studying for finals all week and I need some real rest in my own bed.”
Her dad smiled and said, “Well, then, I hope to see you in the morning. Maybe you and I can sit down over breakfast tomorrow and try to get a fresh start on the day.”
Cass knew that was her father’s way of trying to straighten things out between the two of them. Both Elena and their mother were known for sleeping late when they could. Cass and her dad had always been early risers and often shared breakfast together when he worked at his home office.
“I’d like that, Daddy.”
Her dad nodded, waved, and then left via the kitchen door, heading back through the neighborhood to the Connors’ dinner event.
Cass cleaned up the rest of her dishes. Elena had returned upstairs to her room and was laying on her bed, listening to music on her headphones when Cass walked by on the way to her room. She decided not to interrupt her sister, instead going to her own bedroom and closing the door.
Cass hadn’t lied to her father. She was exhausted. Partly, it was because she hadn’t eaten much that day and her reserves were low. She was also emotionally tired from all the subterfuge associated with the day’s various activities.
Cass’s thoughts drifted back to the conversation with Mr. Benson in the kitchen. Somehow, they’d detected her implant breaking into the firewall before she could safely enter the enclave. She worried they might make some sort of a change to the system to try and detect her the next time she tried to update things.
She wondered if there was a way to localize her inside the enclave? If they could, they were going to discover her secret right away. Thinking the little IT security specialist hadn’t had enough time to implement any significant updates himself, Cass decided to rerun the protocol one file before she went to sleep. Derek had told her after he installed it that the protocol one system would always update itself to keep her implant hidden from the sensors in the firewall.