Chapter 13 – Maintenance
“Hello.”
Tom Smith stared directly into the camera as he spoke. His voice was as hollow as his malnourished cheeks.
“Yesterday,” he continued, “we launched an attack on Washing. Those who did not heed our warning, were destroyed.”
Vincent could feel his heartbeat in a vein in his temple. He felt it as it throbbed, and he fixed his eyes on the blank, vacant stare of his father.
“Our attacks will continue,” said Father. “And they will grow in number. We have penetrated Newsight’s Department of Identification. We can be anyone. We can be anywhere. Standard cities are no longer safe. The halos will not protect you.” He paused, his eyes locked on the camera. “The Order will triumph.”
The feed went dark, and the classroom returned. The boy to Vincent’s right was shaking even more violently. Annie’s knuckles were clenched and white.
“It appears identification has not yet found the source of the hack,” said Mr. Watts. “But we will be safe here, children. The halos will protect the city, whatever the Order claims. They simply wish to frighten us.”
Vincent could tell the man was far from confident. The rest of the class – most of them completely quiet, the others on the verge of tears – seemed to sense the same thing.
“Now,” said Mr. Watts, clearing his throat. “For trade-training.”
Even in their shaken state, the class rose together with the simultaneity of a single, mechanical unit. Jessica followed suit close behind. Vincent remained seated, his gaze fixed on the desk in front of him.
“To your usual locations,” said Mr. Watts, and the classroom unit moved once again, this time starting for the door. Jessica tapped Vincent on the shoulder, but he didn’t move.
“Ben,” she hissed. “Come on.”
They were the only ones still sitting. The rest of the class was filing out. From the front of the room, Mr. Watts seemed to notice them. He started over.
“Ben!” Jessica hissed at Vincent again. She pulled on his arm, but he remained completely still.
“I’m flattered you would like to stay here.”
Jessica looked up – it was Mr. Watts. He had come to a stop next to their desks.
“But unfortunately,” he said, “I will not be teaching today. You will have to settle for the modules.”
Jessica looked down again at Vincent, then back up at Mr. Watts. “Sorry,” she said. “We’re new.”
Mr. Watts cast Vincent’s immobile form a suspicious look. “You’re the Carlsons?”
Jessica nodded.
“I received notice of your transfer yesterday evening,” said Mr. Watts. “I meant to introduce you today, but it slipped my mind.” He looked down at Vincent. “The Order’s message must have shaken you up especially,” he said. “They told me you were taken captive.”
“For a while, yes,” said Jessica.
“I suppose you saw that twisted excuse for a man in person?”
Vincent looked up for the first time. He locked Mr. Watts with a deadly, reckless stare. Jessica answered before he could speak.
“No,” she said. “We escaped.”
“So you have,” said Mr. Watts. He frowned as he met Vincent’s eyes; he saw the anger there. “Well your records say you’re from Hux,” he continued, turning back to Jessica. “Your trades haven’t changed.”
“But the locations have.” Jessica looked out the door where the rest of the class had just disappeared. “We knew where to go in our old school. Not here.”
“Of course,” said Mr. Watts. “For the security trade,” he looked at Jessica, “your modules are straight down the hall, third door on the left.” He turned to Vincent. “For Newsight management, first door on the right.”
“Newsight management?” repeated Vincent.
“I was as surprised as you are,” said Mr. Watts. “Your file wasn’t particularly impressive. But I supposed your lineage helps quite a bit.”
“My what?”
“Your father is a Newsight man,” said Mr. Watts. “Is he not?”
Vincent opened his mouth to protest, but Jessica cut him off.
“That’s right,” she said. She grabbed Vincent by the arm, harder this time. “We should get to our modules.” She tugged so hard Vincent nearly fell out of his chair. Mr. Watts scoffed at them.
“That one will need all the modules he can get,” he said. “Go on then.” He turned back to the front of the class. Jessica yanked on Vincent’s arm yet again. This time, Vincent let himself be pulled from the room.
“You have to try and get along with him,” said Jessica when they were out in the hall.
“Why?” Vincent snapped back. He wasn’t in the mood to placate a man like Mr. Watts.
“We’ll need him,” said Jessica. She held Vincent’s gaze when she said it, her eyes wide, as if funneling something else to him she couldn’t say aloud. Vincent stared back at her, attempting to absorb whatever message she was trying to communicate. He got nothing.
“Fine,” he said. He glanced down the hall where the last of the stragglers were just disappearing into their module rooms. “We should go.” He turned away and started for the first door on the right side of the hall, the Newsight management door.
“Ben?”
He turned around, sighing. He didn’t feel like talking. He didn’t feel like doing anything, really.
“Are you all right?”
Jessica’s eyes were shaped in the same, hinting way, at some unspoken message. This time, Vincent had no trouble at all deciphering it.
“I’m fine,” he lied, and he turned away once again.