When he judged he had waited long enough, Vincent stepped out of the restroom. The factory floor, which earlier had been lined with tables set up for maintenance, was now empty.
“You there.”
It was the same, iron voice they had heard in the hallway.
“Have your Lenses been fixed?”
Vincent turned around, unsurprised to see the same man as before.
“Yes, sir,” he said. They hadn’t, of course – he had come to the factory only to avoid any unwanted attention.
“Are you certain?” the man pressed.
“If I’m remembering correctly,” said Vincent.
The man scowled at him. He was beginning to speak again when a second voice sounded behind them.
“Vincent!”
Vincent turned around. It was John.
“We’ve been looking for you,” he said. “Goodwin needs us. It’s about the Seclusion attack.”
“He needs to have his Lenses fixed first,” said the man with the iron voice.
“I already have,” said Vincent, firmer this time. He turned to John. “Let’s go.”
Before the man could stop them, Vincent led them back the way John had come. He didn’t look back.
“Everything ok?” asked John, catching up.
“I don’t think so,” said Vincent, but he could say nothing more. They had reached the other side of the factory’s enormous machine, and Goodwin was there, standing with Jessica. He was leaned down, talking to her, his tone soft.
“What do you mean?” said John, still looking at Vincent.
Goodwin heard them. He straightened his posture. Jessica was nodding.
“There you are, Vincent,” he said. “Now we can begin. John, can you find us a room?”
John turned his gaze from Vincent, and his frown was gone in an instant. “Of course.” He scanned the perimeter of the factory, and spotted a promising, large-windowed room not far off. He led them to it, then inside. They settled into rigid-backed chairs around a long, rectangular table.
“You will have to excuse my secrecy,” said Goodwin, “but a certain amount of it is necessary.”
Vincent looked out the room’s giant window. Apparently, they needed very little secrecy indeed.
“The three of you will play a pivotal role in the attack,” continued Goodwin. “Of all our other brothers and sisters, you are the only to have set foot in the Newsight Seclusion. For the attack, this knowledge will be invaluable. Are you willing to share it?”
“Yes.” John and Jessica echoed the word at the same time.
“Yes.” Vincent said it a beat behind.
“Very good,” said Goodwin. “The Seclusion is protected by Newsight’s most advanced air defense network. Our transports, nor even our fighter planes, are capable of penetrating it. The attack will succeed only if the defense network is shut off. This will be your job.”
Vincent looked at John and Jessica. They were nodding, unflinching.
“You will be smuggled into the Seclusion,” continued Goodwin. “From there, it will be your task to infiltrate the Newsight campus and disable the network.”
Jessica leaned forward in her seat. “Will my dad be in the Newsight campus?” she asked.
“I believe all the prisoners will be,” said Goodwin. “And if you can do only one: save the prisoners or disable the network, choose the prisoners.”
Vincent felt a hollow, empty sound to these words, but he said nothing.
“But this decision will not be necessary,” continued Goodwin. “You will be able to do both. I believe in all three of you.” His sightless gaze lingered on Vincent here. Vincent stared steadily back.
“When do we leave?” asked John.
“This evening,” said Goodwin, turning to him. “You will arrive by ground transport to avoid being detected by the Newsight satellites.”
John nodded. He shifted slightly in his seat, seeming anxious. Vincent got the feeling he may have run to the Seclusion if given the chance.
“You will not be alone,” said Goodwin. “We will be with you. From above. From our few sources within the Seclusion.” He turned the charred, cratered holes in his head once again onto Vincent. “We will be watching.”