Chapter 19 – Holding
The three of them had been in the transport for the past several hours, trapped beneath the concealing sheet overtop of them. They had scarcely spoken to each other the whole trip. Since that morning, Vincent had uttered only a handful of words to Jessica, and she even fewer back to him. Now, nearly sundown, as they neared the outer bounds of the Seclusion, talking seemed impossible. There were too many thoughts that needed attending. Goodwin’s officers had relayed the plan to them several times over, and it was a simple plan, but it wasn’t a thing one could avoid thinking about.
The transport began to slow.
Approaching.
The word scrolled across Vincent’s Lenses, and he went still. Next to him, John and Jessica did the same.
They were being towed. Goodwin’s officers were in the lead transport and, for now, would be doing most of the work. Vincent and the others were to do nothing but remain under the sheet and avoid detection.
The transport had eased to a stop. There was silence for a beat, then footsteps. Someone outside started to speak.
“Good evening, gentlemen. May I see your permit?”
Goodwin’s officers offered no response. Now was the time to hand over the fabricated paperwork.
“That looks in order,” said the Guard. “What is your delivery?”
Vincent thought certain he could feel the man’s gaze turning toward them through the window.
“A transport,” said their driver. “For Newsight.”
There was another pause. Vincent’s feeling of being watched only intensified.
“Of course,” said the Guard. “Please allow me a few minutes to search your vehicle.”
Next to Vincent, Jessica drew in a sharp breath. Goodwin had said they wouldn’t be searched.
“Yes, sir,” said their driver. “But would you mind waiting for my escort? That should be her just ahead.”
Vincent turned to John, frowning. This wasn’t part of the plan. They hadn’t been told about an escort.
Vincent mouthed a question, but John only shrugged in response
“I suppose so,” said the Guard. “Who is your–”
“Excuse me?”
A sharp, familiar voice sounded from outside. It seemed to shoot through John like an electric current. His whole body tensed in a single movement; his ears were perked.
“Is there a particular reason you are detaining my transport?” the woman asked.
“Just protocol, ma’am,” said the Guard. Vincent could hear the tightness in every syllable. The man had snapped to attention.
“Well I don’t have time for protocol,” said the woman. “Do you have any idea how much I paid for this?”
The Guard was silent.
“I didn’t think so,” she said. “Now are you going to let them through or not?”
There was another pause. Vincent felt the Guard’s gaze on them through the window.
“Yes, ma’am,” he said. “My apologies.”
Outside, the woman gave the Guard a curt thanks, then walked back to the transport she had arrived in. Their own transport began to move once again.
“Did you know she was coming?” hissed John.
Vincent shook his head. “No idea,” he said, truthfully. Jessica said the same.
John sighed, looking down. “Goodwin didn’t want me to back out,” he said. “I should have known we would need someone on the inside to let us in.”
Vincent hadn’t given it any thought. The only other time he had come near the boundary of the Seclusion had been with Jessica on their way out. Then, the way had been prepared for them.
“Did you hear anyone else?” asked John. “Anyone with her?”
Vincent knew he was thinking of Brian. Jessica seemed to sense the same. She took a deep breath.
“John,” she started, “we should have told you this a long–”
John held up a hand for quiet. His eyes were out of focus. Vincent could see it too. On the bottom of their Lenses, one of Goodwin’s officers had sent them a message.
Stay quiet. We are being followed.
Jessica was persistent. “John you need to hear what–”
“You saw the message,” said John. “Not now.”
“But it’s important it’s about–”
“I said not now.”
John glowered at her for a few seconds, then perked his ears for any sign they had been heard. When he was satisfied, he turned back to the front. Jessica looked to Vincent, but Vincent only shrugged back, as helpless as she was. They continued on like that, silent, for over a minute. John refused to look at either of them. No one budged until the transport came to a stop, and the man with the iron voice threw off their sheet.
“We are in the first ring,” he said. “Management sector.”
Vincent had a feeling he knew exactly where they were.
“John?”
It was Lynn, their escort. She was standing just outside, in the driveway of her dome, looking in at them.
“You’ve grown.” Her voice wavered slightly. It no longer seemed as detached as it had been with Brian. Although, Vincent reminded himself, that exchange had taken place under the careful watch of Marcus.
John rose from his cramped position and climbed from the pod. His mother reached out to embrace him, but he made no move toward her. He looked around instead. “Where’s Brian?” he asked.
The air around them grew suddenly tense. No one spoke. Even the officers grew still. John looked around at them, frowning.
“Is he inside?” he asked, turning to the dome. “I want to see him.” He started for the front door, but Lynn caught his wrist. John looked back at her. His shoulders were rising and falling a bit quicker now.
“He’s not here, John,” said Lynn.
John looked at the officers, then back at the door, as if expecting Brian to come bursting through at any second. “Where is he then?” he said.
Lynn started to speak, then stopped. She looked down.
“Where is he?” repeated John. His voice was firmer this time. His eyes were on his mother.
“I thought you would know,” she said. She turned her gaze on Vincent and Jessica. They looked away from her.
John didn’t seem to notice. He was growing restless, shifting on his feet. “Know what?” he snapped.
Lynn turned back to him. Her head was tilted to the side, sympathetic, genuine. Her usual cold mask was nowhere present. “There was an accident,” she said. John grew still. “When Marcus searched our dome, Brian was taken away in a transport, and there was a collision.”
John continued to stare at his mother. His gaze flitted between her eyes, searching.
“The other transport hit his side head on,” continued Lynn. Her voice was tighter now. She had to squeeze the words out one by one. “He didn’t make it.”
John started to shake his head. He pulled his wrist out of his mother’s grip. “What do you mean he didn’t make it?” he said.
“I’m sorry,” said Lynn. She turned to Vincent and Jessica. “I thought they would have told you.”
John turned to face them as well. He no longer appeared so much older than they were. His face had a childish look about it now, vulnerable, confused. His mask had fallen away the same as his mother’s.
“You knew?” he said.
Jessica looked down, biting her lip. Vincent forced himself to hold John’s gaze.
“You knew?” John repeated. He stepped forward as he said it this time, but the man with the iron voice moved in front of him before he could go any closer.
“Enough of this,” the man said. “We are on a schedule.” He turned to Lynn. “We need to move.”
Lynn kept her gaze on John for a moment before turning to the man. “Of course,” she said. “John, we can speak about this at another time.”
John said nothing back. His breathing had yet to ease. His eyes had yet to leave Vincent.
“There has been a change of plans,” conti
nued Lynn. “I will infiltrate the heart of the Newsight campus to disable the defense network. The three of you will handle the prisoners. You will be joining them shortly.”
“Joining them?” said John. He turned from Vincent to look at his mother. Vincent felt the burning sensation in his face begin to subside. “What does that mean?”
“I have to take you in,” said Lynn. She moved a step closer to John, cautiously. “It’s the only way you’ll be able to free them. And it’s the only way I’ll be allowed into the defense portion of campus. Marcus has been keeping a close watch on me.”
“So you’re just going to hand us over?” asked John.
“With protection,” said Lynn. “The officers will be accompanying you.” She motioned to Goodwin’s men. “When I give them the signal, they will help you escape.”
John continued to stare at his mother. He looked prepared to argue when the officer holding him interjected.
“We should leave, ma’am,” he said. “The attack cannot start until the system is down. Goodwin is waiting.”
Lynn’s posture straightened at the mention of the name. “Very well,” she said. She turned to Vincent and Jessica. “You two stay where you are. You’ll be with me in the first transport.” She started forward to their pod. “John,” she continued, “you’ll be in the second.”
John didn’t move. As his mother and the officers started for the transports, he stayed where he was. He didn’t seem to notice them. He had eyes only for his old dome, and for the stubbornly still surface of its front door.