Gasps and exclamations grew strength like a wave. Then the sounds crashed over him. What the hell? It must be the media, Fillion reasoned. He heard his name in the digital cacophony. Alarmed, he tried to move to sneak a peek, but his arms wouldn’t budge. Did they strap him down? Shit. Must have happened when he was taking his fill of Willow for the last time. Panic filled him with the loss of control. He hated being at the mercy of others. Fillion released a string of swear words and thrashed. Still, the men continued forward, pausing only before what Fillion guessed were security stations and doors.
The shouts gave way to a gurgling creek and a jeering blue jay. Then those sounds quickly disappeared, and there was nothing. A quiet voice might pop up here and there. But really, there was zero sound. Super creepy. He heard doors open and then the gurney was placed on top of a table.
“Close your eyes, Mr. Nichols. The light is bright.” Fillion obeyed as the blanket was rolled away from his face. Slowly, his eyes squinted open and he stared at the two men who had removed him from New Eden. “Welcome back to Earth, Mr. Nichols. My name is Seth and this is Corey. We’re going to help you get ready to see your father. How are you feeling?”
“Pissed,” Fillion said with a glare. “Remove the straps now.”
“Yes. Only to help you change your clothes,” Seth said. “Officer McKee is on the other side of this door. Please be advised that if you try to leave, he is under orders to subdue you, by whatever means necessary. After you’re done dressing, he’ll escort you to your father.”
“Fantastic.” Fillion rolled his eyes. “Got it. Now, remove the straps.” Once removed, they eased him up to a sitting position and Fillion closed his eyes. “I need some water.” Corey dashed to the other side of the room and filled a cup from the sink. Damn. A sink. That sparked an idea. “Is there a shower nearby?”
“Sure, Mr. Nichols. There is a suite prepared for you.” Seth smiled politely. “Once you are ready to stand, we’ll help you get there.”
Fillion took the cup of water and gulped the cold liquid, grimacing with the aftertaste. “This water tastes like shit.”
Another patient smile. “City water.”
“Let’s go. I want to get this over with.”
Forty-five minutes later—thanks to a clock (he could really kiss time pieces)—he was dressed in a fresh tunic and breeches, which was weird. But whatever. At this point, he was grateful for the small connection to New Eden. Everything stank. It had this weird chemical smell he couldn’t place. He decided it was the scent of unnatural living. No herbs. No earth. No tallow candles. The overhead lights would be the death of him. The intensity hurt his eyes.
When declared ready, Brent––Officer McKee––chained his ankles and cuffed his wrists behind his back. Shame burned through Fillion. Nevertheless, he kept his head high. He was a prince and would stand tall. But, damn. Hanley was a mind job. First taking care of his needs, then reminding Fillion who was in charge just in case he decided to get too comfortable.
Brent kept a hand on Fillion’s arm the entire way to the Faraday cage meeting room. It was strange being touched so much. He actually enjoyed having his body to himself. The rules were strict in New Eden. However, Fillion felt in control of himself, something he’d never known until then.
For a moment, the hallway tilted as his body regulated. And his legs shook, too. But damned if he’d black out. He needed to remain sharp.
An officer opened the double doors. Brent walked Fillion through without a break in stride. For Fillion, each step took great effort, especially with the restraints. Inside the room, Hanley sat in a chair and sifted through paperwork on his Cranium.
“Thank you, Brent,” Hanley said as he looked past his screen. Fillion sank awkwardly into a chair and kept his head lowered. “You are excused.”
Fillion looked up at the officer. “Remove my restraints.”
“You may go,” Hanley said again.
“I refuse to talk unless these cuffs are removed.” Fillion’s body leaned to the side. “I’m too sick to punch you again anyway.”
“Remove the bindings around his wrists.” Hanley tapped on his Cranium and shifted in his seat with a pointed look. “Ankles remain.”
Soon, Fillion’s wrists were released and he brought his hands to the front and instinctively rubbed where the cuffs had been. Brent then left the room. When the door clicked shut, Fillion slid a glance at Hanley. They inspected one another in thick silence.
“Where’s Mom?”
“Taking care of an issue that popped up.”
Fillion figured Hanley spoke of Leaf. Rather than reply, he continued to stare back at Hanley, who was buffering. Hanley shifted slightly in his chair. Buffering time was over.
“From the time you were little, I always thought you had more passion in your little pinky finger than I have ever possessed. One day, you’ll surpass even my deeds.” Hanley watched Fillion closely. “The funny thing about passion is that it can burn with destruction, too. Do you even grasp what you have just done? Thirty years, Fillion. Thirty years!”
“I know who you are.”
Hanley chuckled. “You forgot?” He leaned forward in his seat and studied Fillion’s slumped posture. “The poison may have affected your mind for a brief period.”
“No,” Fillion said, taking in a steady breath. “I know who you are, Hayden Kane.” All emotion fled from Hanley as he eased back against the chair. Fear flickered on Hanley’s face for a brief moment and Fillion continued. “Son of Anderson Kane, half-brother to Timothy. Grandma Esther went into witness protection when you were four years old. No wonder she was a weird, hyper-anxious woman. Your father was a famous con artist and serial killer who ended up taking his own life when caught by police. What were you? Six, seven years old when that happened?”
“How many others know?”
“Doesn’t matter.” Fillion closed his eyes with another breath. “Yet.”
“I suppose this is the moment when I cower at your feet and you make your demands?”
“If you insist.”
A smug smile formed and Hanley crossed his legs, resting an arm over his knee. The posture was one of casual confidence and Fillion straightened as much as possible in his chair. The movement caused another dizzy spell and objects in the room spun for a moment.
“What is it you want?” Hanley lifted his eyebrows, as if humored. “Nothing changes the fact that you still have to ride out your sentence. There may be charges of corporate sabotage, too. Over four hundred people will be displaced due to your stunt if the domes do not return to full function soon. You think you are a hero? They will need to get vaccinated and go through stringent medical exams. Of course, mental evaluations as well. And I am sure they will be singing your praises the entire time.”
Mustering strength, Fillion flashed an arrogant smile. “None of that is necessary.”
“Health regulations.” Hanley remained unblinking when Fillion lifted a shoulder in a single shrug. “State law.”
“Unless you meet certain criteria by the morning news, you’ll get doxxed. I know everything. Including Dylan.” Fillion paused and placed his head on the back of another chair.
“Such as?”
He knew Hanley was baiting for information. The patronizing tone fueled another round of fury and Fillion wanted to punch something. Someone. Instead, Fillion said, “You’ll announce that during the fire inspection your team discovered that the Watson siblings were alive and a quick DNA test confirmed Joel and Claire Watson as their parents. Timothy Kane, suffering from ICE, among other things, confessed to irrational and aggressive behavior toward the Watson family. It began as jealousy over placement in the Legacy, and progressed from there. If you don’t, after doxxing you, I’ll start a second Watson Trial so the world knows the truth about your project negligence. Not to mention, how you tampered with the experiment’s evidence.”
Fillion swallowed, his dry throat aching. “I’d always heard of a long-con. But shit, this is t
alent,” he said sardonically. “‘Image.’ ‘Perception.’ Gross. The world is wrapped around your finger. Did Timothy agree to give up Aether status for your master plan to get Joel’s money? Or did you double-cross your own brother?”
Hanley’s smile fell and, for a blink of a nanosecond, he actually looked distressed. “You plan to press charges?”
“I will if you refuse to assist Leaf and his family.” With shaky fingers, Fillion brushed dark strands out of his eye to better see Hanley. “Because the second gen never signed The Code, they didn’t hold harmless New Eden Enterprises or any of its affiliates. If I were you, I’d do whatever possible to pacify Leaf over the murder of his father, the falsified deaths of he and his siblings, the harassment toward his family, and the attempt made on his life. The media would love to finally see you taken down in court.”
Appreciation curved Hanley’s mouth. “Clever. I am not too proud to acknowledge a masterful game move when I see one.” Hanley was far too accommodating and a queasy feeling, separate from his recovering stomach, settled in Fillion’s gut. Then he remembered. The first phase was always charm. “And the money?” Hanley asked.
“What do you think? It’s rightfully Leaf’s,” Fillion said, rolling his eyes, “who is willing to negotiate for the permanence of New Eden Township. If you amend The Code to allow permanent residence status, Leaf will relinquish the funds to New Eden Biospherics & Research.” Fillion touched his Cranium, which thankfully left with him from New Eden. He brought up the document, then held out the Cranium. “Here.”
Hanley took the device and perused the notes and desired changes. Over the screen, he met Fillion’s eyes and said, “They wish to permanently reside in a biodome?”
To better clarify, Fillion said, “They wish to reside in the biodome city of New Eden Township.”
“Of course they do.”
Did Hanley agree? Unease dripped into Fillion’s thoughts. God, his mind was still too hazy. “So, you’ll not harm the Watsons, and you’ll let those who choose to remain in New Eden, stay?” Fillion rolled his body to an upright position with a heavy breath.
“Let me make a deal with you.” Hanley removed the Cranium and folded his hands into his lap with a sharp look. “If I let those who signed The Code remain in a biodome as their permanent residence, you will call off your hounds. Their choice, of course. Doxxing me damages our entire family, including your sister.” Hanley brushed at something invisible on his pants. Fillion tensed, knowing an accusation was coming. It always did at this point. “You want the world to know that killing is in your blood? Isn’t that what they used to call you? Son of a killer?”
Heartache seized Fillion, and he looked at his hands. Fingers, jittery and in need of an occupation, picked at the leather on his belt. Voices from his past hurled insults at him all over again. Their cruel words pushed against the tender wounds. An image of Willow layered in his mind and Fillion willed himself to stay focused. His mind needed to stay sharp.
Weary of the emotional games, Fillion pinned Hanley with a hard stare. “Do you agree to acknowledge the Watsons publicly?”
“A whole generation who has never seen a mountain or a rainbow stretch across the blue sky.” Hanley crossed his arms across his chest with another satisfied expression. “I knew you were the perfect solution.”
“What the hell does that even mean?” Fillion groaned and sank further in his chair. “Never mind. Stay on point. Do you agree to represent the Watson family?”
Hanley chuckled. “And if I agree to everything else but this?”
“I have a video of someone at New Eden Biospherics & Research meeting Leaf through the airlock. It will be released to the world, discrediting the reputation of the experiment and those who run it.”
“I see.” Hanley covered his mouth with his hand in a thoughtful pose. Hazel eyes darkened as he considered Fillion’s words. “I will agree to reveal the Watsons to the world and protect them only if you honor the engagement and marry Akiko.”
“What?” Fillion stood up, and his head swam. “No way. I’m not a pawn to be married off. Consider yourself doxxed and discredited.” He looked toward the door and shouted, “Officer McKee!”
“Go ahead. If I fall, then so do you. And if you fall, then so does New Eden, including the Watsons. Where would all the families go then? Everyone is a pawn on a chess board, awaiting your move, Son of Eden.” Hanley raised his eyebrows.
Ember’s voice drifted back to Fillion. Had Hanley drilled these same words into the Techsmith Guild? Nausea swirled in Fillion’s stomach and a cold sweat broke out on his forehead. “So it’s my fault if the project fails? If you take out The Watsons? Here’s my official response to that.” Fillion lifted both hands and flipped off Hanley. “You swindled and terrorized an entire family, but the demise of the ninth Wonder of the World rests in my hands. Yeah, you’re not a bad guy at all. I finally see your point, Hayden.”
“If New Eden Township is shut down, I will issue a restraining order against you and you will never see the Watsons again, including Willow Oak...if they survive shut down that is.”
“You can’t issue a restraining order on behalf of someone else. When the project is shut down, I’ll see them if I want.”
“They were born in a lab and are the result of an experiment. The U.S. government recognizes me as their legal guardian, regardless of age. Their rights are limited.”
“What? Shit, you can’t be serious.”
Fillion crumpled into his chair. “This is why the second gen never signed The Code,” he whispered to himself as the epiphany stabbed him over and over again. “They never had to.” A sharp pang tightened his chest as his heart broke and Fillion gasped with the pain. Tears brimmed and his vision grew cloudy. “I’m inheriting human property. Oh god. You made me a slave owner?” He swiped an angry tear away. “Frankenstein laws can’t apply to them. Impossible. They’re not genetically engineered.”
“Transgenerational epigenetic inheritance through psychological conditioning is the correct terminology.”
“You’re so disgusting.” Fillion wiped away another tear. “Does Mom know?” Hanley just stared with a droll expression. A knock sounded on the door.
“Come in,” Hanley said in a light tone.
“Sir.” Officer McKee issued a brief look Fillion’s direction. “I heard my name?”
“False alarm, Brent. Our apologies.”
Michael and John squeezed past the officer. The scientist looked around the room with large, rounded eyes. “Sorry to barge in, but the biodomes are fully operational again. The motors revved back to life ten minutes ago and the lights just turned on. The emergency switch reversed. There was a glitch in the computer software. The Guardian Angels are now preparing a patch to the operating system to fix the problem. The fire has burned out. Oxygen levels are fine. Better than our atmosphere, actually. And the N.E.T. servers are no longer under hacker control.”
A small, proud smile taunted Fillion from the across the room. Hanley maintained a level gaze with Michael, but Fillion knew the smile was for him. Fillion couldn’t believe the man appreciated his move. No, he didn’t. They were back to charm.
Hanley shot Fillion an enlightened look, then asked Michael, “And the people?”
“The state confirmed we are free to let the people remain.” Michael noticed Fillion and turned white.
“Does the state require that they meet health regulations?”
John lowered into a chair next to Fillion and answered, “I spoke with the surgeon general and she said it is your call, since the residents will probably remain enclosed until project shutdown.”
“Then we’ll skip it.” Hanley looked at Fillion with a smirk. “Della still in a meeting?”
“Yes, Dr. Nichols and her team are ready to help those traumatized by this event. A few psychologists are preparing to enter New Eden for a short duration with your permission.”
Hanley locked eyes with Fillion, then turned to John. “We’re going
to amend The Code and begin Project Phase Two immediately.” Then he turned to Michael. “I will go with Della’s lead.”
Michael nodded and looked at Fillion again. “Medical is outside the door when you’re ready.”
“How are you?” John studied Fillion.
“Sick.” Fillion swallowed back a wave of grief. “I was poisoned. Yay me.” He met John’s eyes. “Hey, sorry about taking your Cranium.”
John smiled at him with genuine concern. “No worries.”
Fillion tensed to hold back more tears. “Is it true?”
Jeff’s cousin tilted his head and looked him over once more. “Lynden? She’s fine. Recovered well. You’ll be all right, too. We’ll take good care of you before you’re moved to a corrections facility.”
“Uncle John, tell me it’s a lie.” Fillion sucked in a quick breath. Panic was rising and his heart rate became erratic. “The second gen, are they really human property?” John lowered his eyes and shifted uncomfortably in his chair. “Oh god.” Fillion slumped over and his body shook, no longer able to hold back from crying. “I can’t. I just can’t,” he managed, heaving with the pain. “Did ... did the first gen know this?”
Hanley relaxed into a look of compassion. The fake emotions further insulted Fillion and he clenched his jaw. With a brief look at the floor, Hanley said, “They willingly enclosed their families.”
“What the hell kind of answer is that?”
Fillion stared at the man who had sired him. The man whose father was a notorious con artist and serial killer. The man who tricked good people—his own friends and family—into an experiment to create slaves for science, something Fillion once said in sarcasm, never even getting an inkling he was actually right. All this time Leaf had suffered, but the position of Aether was a joke. What power did Leaf really have? It was an illusion. Joel’s son had partial ownership in a company that owned him. Hanley essentially owned Leaf’s share. In a couple of years, Fillion would, as majority owner. Probably another reason Hanley duped Timothy. Rage pumped through Fillion until he couldn’t hold it in any longer.
Elements (The Biodome Chronicles series Book 2) Page 63
