ExtraNormal
Page 28
CHAPTER THIRTY THREE
I could barely lift my head to see who had entered. A man sat on the cot next to me. My eyes fluttered open. I thought I was dreaming. Keddil. Had they somehow transported me home? Or was I asleep?
He gripped my arms and pulled me into a sitting position. “You’re a mess.” He placed a bag of water in my hand and wrapped my fingers around it. “Here, drink this.”
I dropped my hand.
Undeterred, he lifted the bag to my parched lips. Instinct caused me to sip on the round opening. The cool liquid felt foreign against my parched and swollen throat. “Good girl.”
“What are you doing here?” I whispered in a gruff voice.
“I came on the transport with your father. Been monitoring the situation.” He put the bag to my lips again.
Swallowing was only slightly easier this time. The room kept me from sensing how Keddil felt about having to travel all the way here because of me. Of being proven right about me. I was more trouble than I was worth, just like he’d said. “Sorry—” I whispered in a husky voice—“that you had to come.” He tried to give me another drink but I put my hand up to stop it. “Can you tell me about Jesse? Where—”
“We’ll have a complete debriefing,” he cut me off. “After you’ve eaten something.”
“Please…I can’t wait…”
“You can. Eat. And freshen up. Then I’ll come back.” He stood and walked out. A plate of food was on the cot beside me—along with a clean jumpsuit, a hair brush and a package of moist wipes. I stared at the door for a time, then popped a radish in my mouth. I turned my face toward each wall of the room, then the ceiling, chewing with exaggeration so the watching eyes could see me comply. A bitter sting from the radish filled my mouth, sending tears to my eyes. I wondered how many of the disgusting vegetables I’d have to eat before they gave me answers. I ate a carrot next. Then an almond. Eventually I ate just because I was ravenous.
When the plate was empty and the water bag drained, I faced a corner—as if that would give me privacy—and stepped out of the dirty jumpsuit. I relieved myself in the hole on the floor, trying not to think about the humiliation of being watched, then quickly wiped myself clean and stepped into the new jumpsuit. After running the brush through my tangled hair, I stood facing the door, to let them know I was ready.
Instead of the door opening as I’d anticipated, the partition opened. Another plate slipped through the bottom. I groaned and looked up at the ceiling, where I imagined Keddil grinning triumphantly.
I dropped onto the floor, crossed my legs, and stuffed the food in my mouth. Filling it ridiculously full. Chewing with great and grand exaggeration.
When the plate was empty, Keddil finally opened the door. Despite the room’s block on emotions, I knew he was smug.
He helped me to my feet and escorted me out of my prison cell. I didn’t want to lean on him, but my knees were too weak to make the journey across the large hangar on my own.
“There are some things you need to know,” he said as we walked. “This debriefing is being streamed live to the council. The room is built with a tower that facilitates communication. The assistance of at least six agents—in conjunction with the tower—is generally used. But the energy of an entire team is required to make and transmit a live record.” He paused in front of a door and looked intently at me. “Apparently there is an easier way. But the council has asked that we use traditional methods…at least for this debriefing.”
He turned me by my shoulders so that I faced him squarely. “Since most of the testimony was acquired by force, the council requires approval of the witnesses. I need to warn you that it will have the council’s own special slant, and may upset you. Regardless, it is vital that you behave with decorum. The council has not finalized any of their decisions and will be watching the entire proceeding. Even streams will be part of the record and could sway their decision. Do you understand?”
I nodded, though my head spun with all this information. The two plates of food hadn’t helped with my orientation as much as I would have liked. Keddil opened the door, still supporting me.
The side and back walls of the room were lined with agents in dark business suits—none with the flair of what my mom had worn to work while on this assignment. They stood at attention, their legs spread, and their hands clasped in front of them. The only true variation in their basic physical description was that the women were all precisely four inches shorter than the men. If it weren’t for their serious expressions, it would have looked like a Nreim costume party.
I scanned their faces looking for my mother. There must have been twenty…maybe twenty five of them. But she wasn’t among them. I hadn’t felt such an intense need for her since I was a small child. I found her seated in one of three chairs facing the front of the room, dressed in the same gray jumpsuit as me. I gasped and started towards her. But her facial expression told me to stop.
Keddil gripped my arm. “Decorum,” he whispered in my ear. He guided me to an empty chair in the center of the row—placed about six feet away from Mom.
As I sat, I realized that Dad was also in the room, seated in a chair in the front corner. He was dressed in the cardigan, his eyes rimmed with red, and his hair even more disheveled than usual. At least he wasn’t in a prisoner’s jumpsuit. All this time I’d assumed it was the Stones and Jesse in those empty rooms. I never imagined it might be my own mother. I looked from Dad to Mom apologetically. They both seemed relieved to see me, with no sign of anger.
My gaze fell to another chair in the row, sitting empty on my other side, also six feet away. I wondered if the chair was just another means of torturing me. To remind me of the space that Jesse would never fill. I shivered, despite the comfortable temperature of the room, my gaze glued to the empty chair, feeling the eyes of two dozen agents on my back.
“Well.” Keddil was leaning against a metal desk like the ones at Los Robles High, though a desk wasn’t likely to be used for anything but keeping up appearances in a place like this. “I’m certain we’re all anxious to proceed.”
I suddenly wasn’t sure at all. I had been, back in my cell. But now that I was here with Mom looking like a prisoner, Dad looking desperate, and Jesse absent—I wasn’t in any way sure that I wanted to know what was happening.
Looking straight ahead—at nothing in particular—Keddil spoke in a deep, monotone voice. “The following record of what will be known as ‘The Stone Incident’ is submitted for approval by the Grand High Council.” Keddil’s eyes came into focus. He looked from me to Mom, waiting for us to show our understanding. Apparently satisfied with our reaction, he returned his gaze to just above Mom’s head. He let his eyes shift, as if he were reading something behind his eyelids, the way teachers often did back home. “On the twelfth day of the second quarter of the year five three-hundred sixty seven, Agent Kevin Rameer, acting under the direction of key Grand Council Advisors, used highly-classified communicative technology developed under the direction of the Council to successfully circumvent standard channels.”
I looked at Mom and raised an eyebrow. Highly-classified communicative technology? Would that be me and Geery? Mom was just staring at Keddil.
“With this technology,” Keddil continued. “Agent Gretta Johns obtained evidence of criminal wrong-doing in the persons of Alison Stone, Tom Stone, a rogue juvenile known only as E., and His High Authority Yoseemer Waikish: all of whom have been under intense Council suspicion for over ten season units.”
I squirmed and bit my tongue to keep from protesting. The whole report appeared to be a pile of twisted half truths designed to make the governing council look good. Was the Waikish he talked about the one who made the Waikish Directive? He was the mole? Why would they even keep him on the council if they had suspected him for that long? And did they really even know about Everett? For ten whole years?
Mom motioned with her chin for me to keep listening, so I turned back to Keddil and his droning. “Based on the i
nformation provided under Council direction, on the seventeenth day of the quarter, Agent Johns infiltrated the place of the Stones’ Earth employment. And with the assistance of an unnamed juvenile, brought the Stones and the rogue known as E. into custody. At the same time, Agent Rameer infiltrated the home of Authority Waikish, bringing him into custody as well. The arrested individuals later confessed to numerous crimes against the state.” Keddil paused, his eyes moving rapidly back and forth. He nodded. Then focused on me. “The Council now requests that you approve this record as accurate.”
I blinked. Then looked at Mom, who nodded her encouragement. I glanced at Dad who was anxiously kneading his hands. His nod was reluctant. But he did nod. This was ridiculous. I’d bet my life that the council was clueless until we showed up with the bodies. They probably didn’t even know about the Waikish part. I’d bet my life that was something Mom’s agency was keeping quiet. But they made it sound like they’d planned the whole thing.
“Please answer the question,” Keddil said.
I squirmed in my seat, my anger building. I should stand right here and now and give a speech. The council might not be in this mess if their reports weren’t so sterilized. If they actually told the truth about the Stones in the first place, maybe someone would have stopped them. And what business did they have anyway, controlling everything from the food we eat, to the news we hear, to the person we’re allowed to fall in love with? And what makes them think a perfect genetic code is so blasted great? How about just letting people be themselves?
I sighed. I’d gotten my parents into enough trouble for one day. And it’s not like I could change anything. Or that any of it really mattered. Not with Jesse gone. I exhaled, releasing my indignation, and nodded.
“Agent Johns? Do you approve of this report?”
After Mom nodded, Keddil resumed communication with whoever was on the other end of this stream. “It should be noted that Tom Stone, Alison Stone, and prisoner E. all approved of the record from their holding cells at the Cralgian Detention Facility. Agent Kevin Rameer and an unnamed juvenile known as G. have approved of the record from Telsion Headquarters.
I clutched my knees. That unnamed juvenile would be Geery. It was bad enough Mom was sitting here in a gray jumpsuit, but Geery was being treated like a criminal too?
Mom shook her head, warning me to calm down.
Keddil shifted his eyes upwards again, then moved them side to side. He nodded. “Now that the record is official, the Council will have its decision momentarily. The agents are asked to kindly maintain their stream.”
I glanced at the agents standing along the walls. Not one of them moved or responded. When I turned back, Keddil had walked around the desk. He sat in a chair and gave me a feeble smile.
Apparently there would be more torture. More waiting to learn what the council would do. I wondered if the council would really punish Waikish for covering for the Stones all this time. His authority was unparalleled—responsible for a good part of Nreim’s current laws. But apparently his stated objective of protecting humans from unauthorized scans wasn’t for strictly noble reasons.
And then there were the Stones themselves. Public outcry might prevent their sentencing—might even demand the agents involved in the arrest be punished. Even those unnamed juveniles.
Worst of all, there had been no mention of the only thing I really wanted to know about—Jesse.
“The Council is ready,” Keddil announced.
Just in case I didn’t get another chance, I turned to Mom and mouthed the words, “I’m sorry.”
“After careful study of evidence,” Keddil continued, “the Governing Council has seen fit to charge Alison Stone with seventy-four counts of crimes against the state. Tom Stone has been charged with three hundred and six counts of crimes against the state, including thirty counts of murder of a Neoearth human, and at least twenty five counts of unauthorized tampering with genetic materials.” Keddil looked around the room—at his agents and my parents. His expression didn’t change, but I could have sworn I sensed relief, maybe even excitement. His eyes shifted back and he continued reciting. “Furthermore, Fellow Councilman His High Authority Yoseemer Waikish has been charged with fifty three counts of crimes against the state, including various counts of bribery, document tampering, forgery, and bearing false testimony. No other persons have been charged with crimes in this incident—though Kevin Rameer will be held for further questioning on multiple counts of evidence tampering; and prisoner E. will be held indefinitely in an undisclosed holding facility.” He paused and looked around the room. “This concludes the official portion of this debriefing. The Council would like the agents to be at ease.”
Until I felt them relax, I hadn’t realized just how much energy the agents were extending to keep the stream open. The room went through a dramatic transformation from strenuous and nervous energy to jubilance. Though they all remained in their original positions, the feeling in the room was like a circus.
And they deserved to feel vindicated, even if the council did take all the credit. But I couldn’t bring myself to join in their cheer. Apparently Mom and Geery wouldn’t be punished. Which was wonderful. But I still hadn’t heard a word about Jesse.
Keddil rested his hands on the desk in front of him and spoke directly to me. “The Council has decided against including the remainder of this meeting in the official record. However, I must caution you that a record is being kept, and we expect to maintain a professional atmosphere.” He gave me a stern warning look.
I shifted in my seat. If they were going to tell me they’d murdered Jesse…they could just stick their decorum and professional atmosphere—
“It is time to turn our attention to the matter of the half-breed.” He nodded to a female agent standing near the door. I sat up tall, my head darting in that direction. The agent opened the door. Two agents stood in the doorway. Between them was the most wonderful sight in the entire world.
I jumped out of my seat.
“Sit!” Keddil bellowed in an uncharacteristically stern voice.
I froze in place, poised to run.
“We still expect decorum.”
My eyes locked on Jesse’s as the agents guided him to that third chair. I dropped back into mine but scooted on the seat as close to him as possible.
Jesse is alive. He is here and alive. I wanted to shout. To leap.
Keddil cleared his throat. “Now, I’m sure you wouldn’t be surprised to know the council’s initial recommendation regarding this individual.”
I couldn’t pull my gaze away from Jesse’s face to look at Keddil. I held my breath, waiting for his next words, my heart pounding.
“I must admit that I was close to carrying out their instructions. But that was before his test results came in.”
I gripped the edges of the chair and turned to Keddil. He tapped the top of the desk with his fingers and stared at me for a long thoughtful moment. Then he looked to my mom. Then my dad. Obviously reluctant to say what he needed to say. I was afraid I might faint if he didn’t continue.
He leaned back in his chair and scratched his chin. “I didn’t sign on to eliminate the linkmate of one of my best agents.” He looked pointedly at both my parents.
They both gasped.
I rose from my seat. “D-did you say…?”
He nodded gravely. “The repatterning isn’t perfect, but adequate.” He watched me, giving me a moment for it to sink in.
I reached for Jesse, but Keddil blasted the word
“There are a few terms,” Keddil continued. He opened a desk drawer and slammed a ream of paper about two inches thick onto the top of the desk. “This is the boy’s copy. Yours will be sent by stream.” He looked up, to me poised half-way out of my seat.
I looked to Keddil…my parents…Jesse. Had I heard righ
t? Maybe I was still dreaming. It sounded like Keddil said Jesse had repatterned. With me. We were linkmates. And he wouldn’t be eliminated.
“Please sit,” Keddil continued brusquely. “I am not quite done.”
I hesitated before dropping onto my chair once again, though my right hand and leg inched closer to Jesse.
“In the course of the investigation it has also become clear that Mira has committed a series of offenses that warrant harsh consequences.”
I looked nervously at Mom.
She tried to give me a comforting look but her face was riddled with worry and confusion.
“However,” Keddil continued. “The government is currently in upheaval. History files are being revised as we speak. The Stones have left a trail of children with questionable genetics that the Governing Council has decided will remain classified. Frankly the agency is not prepared to handle them.” He adjusted his necktie and cleared his throat. “It has taken quite a bit of persuasion. But in this climate, the council was able to see the logic in allowing the two of you to remain on Earth—especially given your special communicative abilities—as lead agents of our newly-formed Juvenile Investigations Division.” He put his hand up, stopping me from the leap to my feet that he knew I was about to make. “But there is one important caveat,” Keddil said. “Travel to Nreim with the half-human will be strictly forbidden. For any reason. At any time. This means you can never return home, unless you come alone. Is that clear?”
He studied me as if I should be giving this serious consideration. As if I’d think for a minute that giving up Nreim would be too big of a sacrifice to make for being with Jesse. Before I could be told to sit back down, I flew across the desk and wrapped my arms around Keddil’s neck. The stack of papers scattered, causing a flurry of fluttering white. “Thank you!” Not only did we both get to keep our lives, but we would be together. More than I’d dared hope.
Keddil chuckled awkwardly, his back stiff and straight, as he pushed me away.