The Expedition

by Chris Babu

  Katelyn practically swooned, biting down on her lower lip. Intentional or not, her chair inched forward, and her knee brushed Drayden’s leg.

  Maybe he had learned something from Tim. “I need to speak to Mr. Locke again. Can you help me out?”

  She didn’t respond at first; she just stared. “Yeah…yes, of course. Gimme one sec, Drayden.” She sashayed to Locke’s door, where she knocked and opened it enough to stick her head inside. After a few seconds of conversation, she glanced back, no longer smiling. When she slid in the room, the door closed behind her.

  That wasn’t a good sign.

  A minute later, she emerged and sulked her way back to the desk. “Mr. Locke says he’s too busy to see you now. I’m sorry.”

  Locke was lying, and she knew it. “Thanks for trying, Katelyn. Can you do me another favor?”

  “Sure, anything.” She flipped her hair.

  “Can you sit back down at your desk? Stay there. I don’t want you to get hurt. I’m sorry for the scene I’m about to cause.” Drayden marched toward Locke’s door. He recounted the pain this weak man had inflicted on his mother, his family, and himself. This self-important sleazebag believed he could sentence someone to death with impunity, simply because he got dumped. He represented everything wrong with the Bureau.

  One Guardian trained his rifle on Drayden and the other drew his pistol. Both blocked the door. “Where you think you’re going?” the first one asked.

  Drayden stopped a few feet away from the guns, balling his hands into fists. “Mr. Locke!” he shouted. “I know you can hear me. It was you! You hear me, you piece of shkat? You were the one who had my mother exiled. You sat in front of me, lying your face off. You thought nobody would find out. Guess what? That’s not the end of the story!”

  The Guardians exchanged looks, clearly unsure of what to do.

  “I’ve told several other people about this, so don’t even think of trying to get rid of me. I’m leaving New America on a little tour. But I’m coming back. And when I do, I’m coming for you! You hear me?”

  The Guardians had had enough. The one with the pistol holstered it and rushed Drayden.

  He wasn’t stupid enough to fight these guys. Jiu-jitsu or not, he didn’t stand a chance. Nobody would be rushing out of Locke’s office to bail him out, as Harris von Brooks had done. He raised his hands in the air and backpedaled, revealing a slight limp. “Okay, okay, fellas, I’m leaving.”

  The Guardian stopped himself before he tackled Drayden to the floor.

  Drayden could have easily dodged it, but why engage in a fight he would lose? He stood tall and strutted out of the office, finally sure who his enemy was.

  That night, Drayden fumed alone in his apartment on the brown couch. He hadn’t calmed down at all. In fact, he was even more fired up than before.

  He wasn’t quite as sure of himself as he was when he left Locke’s office fueled by emotion. Confronting him may have been a tactical mistake. Locke was a senior Bureau member and could pay a visit to Holst or von Brooks and tell them what had happened. He could arrange Drayden’s execution before he reentered New America, or ensure he was never allowed back inside. By doing what he did, Drayden guaranteed he could not safely return to the Palace. He couldn’t come home and build a pleasant life for himself here, not after threatening Locke. Assuming his family would move to the Palace, he may have put them in danger as well.

  He was so frantic and upset after Kim dropped the bombshell, he hadn’t stopped to think straight. It was a remote possibility, but she might have lied about Locke. Since she’d been watching him the past two days, she was aware he’d visited Locke once. Kim itched for him to join the insurgency against the Bureau. What better way to seal the deal than to supply the motive needed to sway him? While his gut told him to trust her, he couldn’t honestly say he knew the first thing about her.

  In their original meeting, Locke had steadfastly denied involvement in his mother’s exile. If he was lying, he was a master. If he was innocent, he’d probably refused to meet Drayden again because he didn’t feel the need to repeatedly defend himself to some overzealous sixteen-year-old. Once, sure, but not twice in two days. Yet, Drayden believed Kim. Call it intuition. He was going to trust his gut, heeding Tim’s advice. Kim had also appeared authentic and struggled to decide whether to reveal Locke’s name or not. Locke had a much greater motivation to lie as well.

  Ultimately, it didn’t matter whether it was Locke. He merely represented everything wrong with the Bureau. The Bureau had exiled his mother. It was either random, as if she were an expendable piece of trash, or ordered by an evil weakling whose feelings were hurt. Whichever it was, an organization that would wield its power that way, without regard for every human life, needed to be destroyed.

  At one time, Premier Holst may have had his heart in the right place, attempting to save as many lives as possible. Somewhere along the way though, his logic became poisoned, twisted into something sinister. Despite the diminishing resources, there had to be a better way than exiles.

  Drayden was going on this expedition. With his own mission. He would damn sure reach Boston, but he was returning with an army. Or a plan. He would prove to Catrice, and Eugene, and the rest of the Guardians, that he was no weakling. First and foremost, he did need to ensure he didn’t die on the journey. He had to return so he could help take down the Bureau and Nathan Locke. Justice would be served.

  A knock at the door interrupted his thoughts.

  “Come in!”

  Sidney burst through the door, followed by Charlie and Catrice, who both lingered by the kitchen. Sidney charged like a bull, a huge grin on her face, almost as wide as the one she had when she met Eugene.

  Charlie wrinkled his nose and sniffed the air. “Man, smells like something swam in here and died.”

  “I think I dropped a chunk of salmon behind the stove, chotch,” Drayden said.

  “Guess what?” Sidney plunked down beside him on the edge of the couch.

  He raised his hands. “What?”

  “The Bureau kept its promise. Our families are coming tomorrow. We get to see them before we leave, and they’re staying here in the Palace, for good.” She covered her mouth, her eyes moistening. “My little sister is coming here, and I’m going to give her the biggest hug.” She wiped her tears.

  Drayden embraced her. “That’s great news. I bet our families will be pumped to see us too. We suffered through a lot to get them here.” He’d tried to block it from his own mind in case it didn’t happen, but he’d reunite with his brother and father tomorrow. He choked up a bit.

  Catrice was throwing away garbage in the kitchen and putting Drayden’s dirty dishes in the sink. She always took care of him that way.

  He walked over to her. “Hey.”

  “Hi,” she said, without making eye contact.

  “I’m sorry about earlier,” Drayden said, recalling how he’d stormed off after their meeting with the Guardians. “I guess looking into my mom’s exile has riled me a bit.” It was probably best to lie about why he was upset with her; otherwise, he’d seem like a jealous flunk. She was smart, and hopefully she knew the real reason without him saying it. In an ideal world, she would apologize herself for acting all gaga around Eugene, without any consideration for how it made him feel.

  “Don’t worry about it,” she said, her tone impassive.

  Or not.

  Drayden suspected she was most likely dismayed because she wouldn’t have any family coming. That was her choice, but still, everyone else was ecstatic.

  “Would you like to meet my father and brother with me tomorrow?” he asked.

  “Yeah, sure.”

  “Hey, you guys,” Drayden said, addressing the group, “I’ve changed my mind about this mission. I’m ready for it. We’re gonna go out there and kick the crap outta this thing and come home safe. Let’s do t
his.”

  CHAPTER 10

  Catrice chewed on her nails. Charlie yawned and checked his watch. Sidney tapped her foot, peeking back at the doors to the atrium every few seconds.

  They sat in plastic chairs at a round metal table in the sprawling atrium that adjoined Sixty Wall Street.

  Drayden wore the green hat he’d refused to take off since his mother’s exile. The others had stuffed their military baseball hats in their pants’ pockets. All the privates sported their gray camouflage uniforms for the mission, with their Bureau pins over their chests. Catrice, like Sidney, had pulled her hair back in a ponytail.

  The mission would commence as soon as they said goodbye to their families. The reunion was supposed to happen hours earlier so the boat could depart at sunrise, giving them as much daylight as possible. But there had been some complications with getting the boat to the pier, and everything had gotten pushed back a few hours. It was past 9:00 am now.

  They were alone in the atrium, a massive space over three stories tall, which stretched the whole block from Wall Street to Pine. Battered white tiles covered both the interior walls and the square pillars that supported the ceiling. The walls facing both streets were made wholly of glass, containing revolving doors. The space had not been well maintained, with many of the brown floor tiles cracked or missing. It also had no lights, and the gloomy morning made it cool and dark.

  Charlie drummed on the table. “I’ll bet anyone an egg both my parents are bawling their eyes out when they see me.”

  Sidney tapped both feet now. “Ugh, I can’t take this waiting. Where are they? I can’t wait to see my sister.”

  “Your grandparents are coming, right?” Charlie asked. “You know how slow old folks are. They probably had to use the bathroom like five times before they left. How old’s your sister?”

  “She’s eight. Her name is Nora.”

  Drayden rubbed Catrice’s back.

  She forced a smile.

  “My dad’s name is Adam and my brother is Wesley. I call him Wes,” he said.

  “I know. You’ve told me.”

  Drayden peered over Sidney’s shoulder.

  A young girl zipped down the Wall Street sidewalk and pushed her way through the revolving doors, struggling to turn them. A gray-haired couple, followed by a Guardian, tried their best to keep up with her.

  Sidney drew in a quick breath and squealed. She leapt and sprinted toward the child.

  Nora was wearing green overalls and the happiest smile, her brown hair flying behind her as she ran. “Sidney!”

  Sidney scooped her up and squeezed her. Nora buried her face in Sidney’s neck and wrapped her tiny legs around Sidney’s waist. Crying, Sidney spun around and bounced her sister. As her beaming grandparents approached, Sidney plopped Nora down and hugged them both.

  “We should go introduce ourselves to them,” Drayden said. He scooted his chair back.

  Wesley and his father walked through the revolving door. Wesley jogged in Drayden’s direction, his arms extended wide.

  Drayden froze, his heart fluttering. He couldn’t believe his eyes. Wes was the spitting image of Mom. One-hundred percent Korean. “Catrice, c’mon!” He dashed to Wesley, meeting him halfway.

  Wesley wrapped his muscular arms around Drayden, hoisting him in the air. “Who’s my boy? Who’s my boy, huh?” Wesley whooped. “Did I tell you or what? I knew you could do it!” He set Drayden down.

  They held each other’s arms, grinning like they were little kids again. “It’s good to see you, Wes.” They hugged once more.

  Wesley howled. “Boy, you are the man!”

  Drayden looked over Wesley’s shoulder at his father.

  He lingered a few feet away, awkwardly staring at the floor with his hands in his pockets. Drab clothes hung on his tall, slight frame as if they were still on the hanger. When he raised his head, his eyes were filled with tears.

  Drayden released Wesley and approached him. Not having seen his father for a few weeks, he was struck by their resemblance. It was like a peek at the future. Tall and skinny, with graying hair, and hazel eyes every bit as bright as his own.

  Weeping, his father pulled Drayden into an embrace. “I’m so proud of you, son,” he whispered. “I…I love you.”

  “I love you too, Dad. I did it.”

  “You did. I’m sorry for doubting you. And for not saying goodbye.”

  “Don’t worry about it. You were trying to protect me.”

  Catrice hovered a few feet away, ostensibly aloof.

  Drayden snagged her hand and ushered her into the reunion. “Dad, Wes, meet Catrice.”

  “Hello,” she said softly.

  Drayden cleared his throat. “Catrice is my girlfriend.”

  Catrice shot him a look that just about stopped his heart. She furrowed her brow and frowned, as if she didn’t know what he was talking about or she didn’t agree.

  “Isn’t that nice,” Dad said. “Where’s your family, Catrice?” He scanned the atrium.

  Drayden tried to get his father’s attention with his own furrowed brow, shaking his head.

  “They’re not coming,” she said.

  His father looked concerned. “That’s terrible. Why not?”

  “Dad,” Drayden said.

  “It’s okay,” Catrice said, her eyes downcast. “I didn’t invite them.”

  He seemed confused. “I see. I’m sorry to hear that, then.”

  “Dray, check it out.” Wesley glowed. “They’re giving us an apartment in the same building as you. They’re also going to reinstate Dad as a doctor here in the Palace after he does some training. Isn’t that awesome? I’m not sure what my job will be yet, but it can’t be worse than stacking boxes at the FDC.”

  “That’s great, Wes. It’s great.” Drayden wiped tears, surprised at how emotional he became. Being with Wes and Dad in the Palace, knowing they were safe and reunited, was overwhelming. That the reunion would be short-lived was heartbreaking.

  A woman wailed on the right side of the atrium. Charlie’s parents both sobbed, pawed at him, and stroked his cheeks. Charlie made eye contact with Drayden, raised his index finger, and mouthed, “One egg.”

  Drayden giggled, appreciating how Charlie could manage to bring levity to any situation. “Do you guys know about the expedition?” he asked Dad and Wesley.

  “They told us on our way here,” Wesley said. “They said we’d only get a few minutes together.” He scowled. “That’s total shkat. You guys finished the Initiation. They should let you stay here. How are you feeling about this thing?”

  Drayden gave him the “so-so” hand gesture. “We’re ready. They told us about it as soon as the Initiation was over. They said it was the only reason we were all allowed to join the Bureau. We’ve been training the past week and receiving the Aeru vaccine they created. I mean, don’t get me wrong, it sucks. My ankle’s busted, we’d rather not go…but we have to.” He quickly scanned the atrium. “Wes, I need to speak to you alone for a minute.”

  He gripped Wesley by the arm and dragged him to a corner, unsure of how much time they had left. When the Bureau said they’d have a few minutes with their families, they were probably being literal.

  Drayden remembered Kim and the surveillance cameras and microphones. He whispered in Wesley’s ear. “Wes, listen. I’m going to tell you some things you’re not supposed to know, and you need to keep them secret.” He proceeded to tell him about the failing power storage and New America’s desperation.

  Wesley looked horrified. He was speechless.

  Drayden peeked behind him to ensure no one was around. “That’s not all. They’re exiling people at random in the Dorms to shrink the population. There’s not enough power, so they can’t grow enough food to support everyone. I thought that was the reason for Mom’s exile. But I’ve been digging into it, and I don’t
believe it was that. I have evidence it was Nathan Locke. He—”

  “No way! That g—”

  “Wes, Wes.” Drayden held up his hands. “Let me finish, I need to get this out before it’s too late. He wanted Mom to move to the Palace with me and you. He claimed she said yes, but I doubt it. I’ll bet Mom said no and he had her exiled. Even though I’m not one hundred percent sure, I’m ninety percent sure. I don’t want you to do anything about it, at least not before I return. I just wanted you to know in case I don’t make it back.”

  Drayden peered back again. “I also did something stupid. I confronted Locke, told him I knew. He denied it, as expected. Then I threatened him, and said I’d told other people about it. I may have put you and Dad in danger because he’ll assume I let you know. In reality, I haven’t told anyone else. Plus, I doubt he’d do anything, since he doesn’t know how many people I’ve told. Getting rid of you and Dad wouldn’t help him if he believes I’ve told others too. Still, I think it’s best to avoid him.”

  “Holy shkat.” Wesley rubbed his chin. “That’s a lot of…are you sure about all this? Shouldn’t we tell Dad?”

  “I don’t know.” Drayden grimaced. “I don’t think so. Like you said a few weeks ago, if Dad didn’t know about the affair, why crush him? And if he did, why embarrass him by letting him know we know?”

  He debated telling Wes more, about Kim and the plot to overthrow the Bureau, for the same reason he told him everything else: in case he didn’t return. Kim had forbidden him from saying anything, however. Wes was a hothead and likely to accidentally expose it, endangering the people involved. Drayden also carried the envelope from Kim in his pocket and briefly considered leaving it with Wes, but figured he should hold onto that as well.

  “Privates!” Two Guardians stood on the Wall Street side of the atrium. “Time to go!” one yelled.

  Wesley held Drayden by the shoulders. “You’re going to make it back, bro. You’re special, Drayden. Like the Initiation. Nobody was supposed to pass that, but you did. This is the same thing. You’ll find a way. I know you’ll be smart, because you always are. I need you to be tough—strong. There’s no math problems out there, only stuff that can hurt you.” He clenched his jaw. “Be tough, you hear me?”