by Tanya Ross
Jasper followed suit. “Glad to be back. Another successful trip.” Xander looked around the garage. It appeared that not only was this area for the vehicles to park, there was a large, sturdy table standing in the “third car” space. On the walls hung rolls of tape, rope, and spools of plastic sheeting. Zip ties lay in a plastic tray. Colorful and diverse in length, they appeared weirdly festive in the morbid environment. So, this is where they get the bodies ready…right before they put them in the truck. These supplies are gonna be perfect for what we need.
They both looked around. There seemed to be no one there to welcome them. Xander imagined there would be surveillance cameras but had no idea where they would be or who would be monitoring this bizarre type of activity. It wouldn’t be the Plauditors’ responsibility—not this kind of top-secret operation.
Nothing to do but try to be quiet; he had to let his team out of the back. It was already dark outside. The interior of the garage was not yet lit, but he knew it was only a matter of time until some lights went on for nighttime security.
“Jasper, we’ve gotta open the back. Now.” Xander scurried around the vehicle and discharged the door’s mechanism. The door rolled up.
“Hey. You all get out—fast.” Xander kept his voice to a whisper. “No noise. Hurry.” Xander said.
One by one, the REMs dropped down and lined up behind the truck. So far, so good.
A squeak and a rustle. Shazz! Xander’s ears would have stood up had he been a dog. He strode back to the front of the transport to be ready for anything.
A female voice cracked their comfort zone. “You’re back early. Wasn’t expecting you ‘til nine. You must be gettin’ good at this.”
Xander leaned nonchalantly against the hood. “Well, it doesn’t take long to do the job,” he quipped. He radiated his most charming smile. “Happy to be working for our fine city.”
The blonde sashayed to within three feet of him and narrowed her eyes. “I don’t recognize you. You new?”
“Yeah, yeah. Just started. Guess I’m gonna be able to handle this just fine.”
“You think so? An hour early will be questionable at City Hall. I’m Shelly, by the way.” She gave him the Tranquility salute.
“Xander.” He threw his arm up with his finger extended to respond correctly. Jasper walked around from the back. “And this is Jasper. Look, Shelly, can we just keep this early arrival between us? I just started this job, and I don’t want to get questioned. I can trust you, right?”
If he wasn’t mistaken, he thought he caught a flirtatious wink aimed Jasper’s way. He felt a little deflated.
“Hope so. Have a good night.”
One of the REMs hidden behind the vehicle shifted, creating a light scuffle. She stopped again as she was halfway to the door and turned. “Is there something going on here?”
Jasper affected a forward faint on the hood. “Ah…you caught me,” he said with his face to the metal. “I saw that wink, you know. Sort of bowled me over.”
She laughed. “Keep that emotion, and your Alt will thank you. Catch you later.” She was out the door with a sassy wave.
“Shazz!” Xander wiped his brow. “Good work, Jasper. She was into you. Sorry it won’t work out.” Xander grinned.
“Up yours, Xander.”
“C’mon, guys. We need to leave. We can’t risk being in here if another Trank comes in. Once we get outside, the bushes and trees’ll camouflage us. We sleep for a while and get up before dawn. It has to be totally dark when we make our way to the interior of the city.”
Xander looked around the garage. “Jasper—help me grab a couple rolls of tape and rope. Bixby—grab most of those zip ties, and zip tie them together. Put them in your bags. It’s a jackpot.”
One of the girls who was always crushing on Xander pressed up against him as they maneuvered outside. “What’s the plan, Xan?” she whispered.
“We’re goin’ to the Plauditorium. That’s where everything that City Hall wants its citizens to know gets broadcast. Our citizens need to know what we discovered, don’t you think?”
38
Will’s Disclosure
Will knew he was walking a thin line. His emotions were all over the place, like a pinball machine gone mad. He had to get a handle on himself. The guilt alone was eating him alive. Soon his Alt would be his enemy, sucking him down into an endless drain. City Hall would be questioning him, counseling him. He had to act.
Will headed to the Fun Zone. By then it was getting late—past ten— but he had to get his thoughts off all he had discovered about the rings and his permanent separation from Ember. In spite of his iron core, his Alt numbers had been slipping, point by point, since they said goodbye. He had to get his mind and heart back in the right gear.
He called Wee and asked him to meet him at the Sugar Shack inside the park. He needed to update his buddy about all that had happened, and Wee always was the best one to give advice. He grinned as he saw his friend round the corner.
“Wee—buddy! Glad you could be here!”
“Yeah. Where you been keepin’ yourself?” Wee ran up and gave Will a bro hug.
“Still sorting some things out. You won’t believe what’s been goin’ on.” Will hoped his eyes didn’t look as wild as he felt.
“You got the girl still? Or was the apology too late?”
“A lot’s happened. We were good. We had something. Something great. But, I’m not gonna get to see her anymore. City Hall knows about us. I broke it off tonight.” Will ran his fingers through his hair.
“Whoa, Will. I’m sorry.” Wee reached out and gave Will’s arm a pat.
“And that’s not all. The Magistrate’s taking her. She has to go live in his mansion.”
“Shazz! Why?”
“It’s a long, complicated story. Most of it you won’t believe. I’ll give you the highlights. But I have to get straight. I’ve got an Alt crisis going on.”
Wee put his hand on Will’s shoulder. “You? In an Alt crisis? Man—I didn’t expect that. I’m here to listen. But, I’m gonna lighten you up, too. I imagine that’s why we’re here?”
Will shook his head emphatically. “Thanks, brother.”
The lights in the park twinkled against the night sky. A slight drizzle—the start of the nightly rain—caused Wee’s hair to crinkle into even tighter curls, a side effect he good-naturedly joked about with Will. The easy banter already soothed Will’s broken spirit as they wandered to the most popular ride in the park, the Turbo Tunnel, where a spinning tube with music, images, and scents, gave visitors a rush of pleasurable endorphins.
They took their spin, although Will’s ride was eight minutes longer and more thrilling due to his Status. Both tumbled out, laughing, at the end. They compared their Alt readings, where Will’s Alt bested Wee’s by ten points. I’m back up—at least for the hour ahead.
They grabbed some Jarnish and frosty lemonade at the food stand where Will gave his friend all the harsh details since their last visit.
“So, you actually think people are being killed—on purpose?” Wee stopped between bites. “I mean, c’mon, man!”
“I didn’t believe it either, but it’s all pointing that way. Why else would all those people be gone? And, more than that, I don’t want something to happen to Ember. I just know she’s in danger.”
“Is she able to find out anything from being with the Magistrate?”
“I told her to, but she’ll be watched closely. And, it doesn’t matter. I can’t see her anyway.”
“Look. It’s good you’re not seeing her anymore. You can’t be doing that. But even if you’ve ended the relationship, you have to get her out—somehow. Who else is gonna do that? And you’ve got to have help. That would be where I come in.” Wee puffed out his chest and pointed to himself, as if he’d just decided to become Superman.
“Yeah. I know. But it’s too risky. They’re already watching me. That’s one reason I broke things off. That, and I don’t want to lose my job. I’
m a Plauditor, ya know? I need to focus on just getting over her and then try to work through the other stuff.”
“The other stuff? God, Will. Getting her freed from the Magistrate is the right thing to do. And, yeah, you’re a Plauditor. But aren’t you some sort of hero? You’re good at saving people, remember? Happiness is about doing the ultimate good. Ya don’t have to date her, but you do have to save her.”
Will put interlaced hands on his head, his eyes wide. Of course he couldn’t leave Ember to fend for herself! What kind of lowlife was he becoming? “Shazz! You’re right. I needed to hear that, Wee. Guess I’m failing everyone, including myself.”
Wee jumped in, almost cutting him off. His voice, now raised, vibrated with energy. “We’ll have to take her, and then…hide her somewhere, right? You come up with a plan—you’re the smart one.”
“Meet tomorrow at my work? Lunch?”
“Yeah! Let’s do it.” Then he clapped his hand on his head. “Shazz. Can’t meet you tomorrow. I’m scheduled for a working lunch meeting with my department.”
“Crap. Really? Tomorrow Ember’s already with the Magistrate. I can’t wait too long to make plans. Who knows what he’ll be doing with her?”
“Man. So sorry. But, come up with a plan, will ya? I’ll think too. Meet you on Thursday for lunch. Plauditorium.”
“You sure you’re ready for this, Wee? This is dangerous. Really dangerous. We could be sent to The Outside—or worse.”
“With all that you’ve told me, there’s a lot at stake here. I don’t want to believe it, but I trust you. And you’re gonna need me in order to do something about it—you can’t do it on your own. You’re my best friend, Will. We’re in this together.”
The next morning, Will was a few minutes late arriving at the Plauditorium. He suddenly did not care, realizing that his lack of punctuality shouldn’t be a reason for his now-sunny disposition to take a dive. Austel was already seated and checked in, involved in surveillance.
“Hey, what’s up?” Will asked, sliding into his seat.
“Nothing new, as usual. I’m always secretly wishing that something crazy would happen, either on the screen or in an emergency. We still on for some competition with our Alt points today?” As usual, Austel looked at Will with hooded eyes, impossible to read.
“Of course. I’ve been waiting all morning. Yesterday you prevailed by a couple of points. Not gonna let that happen today.” Will smiled, disguising his ulterior plan for an unnerving conversation with Austel.
“Oh, yeah? With all due respect, my dear friend, in spite of your talent, I can make it a streak, I’m sure.”
Will let some minutes go by without saying any more. He glanced over at Austel, measuring the impact his next words would have. I’m going to drop this news like a bomb. He turned on the city’s radio, OptiStation, enjoying the programmed gaiety of the Top Ten. Waiting just a moment so the music would mask their voices…
Will whispered. “So…Ember’s sickness came from a ring.”
Austel blinked, twice. “Cut it out.”
“I’m dead serious.”
“How do you know?”
“Ember and I figured it out. The ring made her mother sick too, and then she died. Other people with rings are dead. Lots of them.”
Although Austel didn’t shift his position, Will knew he had Austel’s full attention now. Austel spoke through gritted teeth. “I’m not sure why you’re telling me this. I should report you for treason.”
“You do, and you’re gonna have to tell them what I told you. Then you’ll be in the hot seat, no matter what your Alt readings are.”
Will glanced up at the screen on the wall. Austel’s Alt readings showed a keen fall. Tedman, the supervisor, would be alerted. The conversation had created the desired effect.
Will watched his colleague shift nervously in his seat before he became a stone sphinx, his eyes on the screen ahead of him. Time stretched out.
Finally, Austel spoke. “If you’re sure about this, you’re a bigger hero than everyone thought. Or a delusional fool. You’ve got balls, that’s for sure. I’m just gonna keep my mouth shut and keep to myself. And, for the record, you’ve won the competition. I’m asking you kindly— please don’t involve me in this for even one more second.” Austel turned away and pushed the comm button signaling he was taking a break, calling a Temp to fill his spot. Then he abruptly got up from his chair, slamming it against his work desk.
Will smiled broadly, accidentally making eye contact with another Plauditor across the room. The woman, a young twenty-something, smiled back, and blushing, smoothed down her hair. He’d brought a few moments of happiness to someone and he hadn’t even tried.
But it was the quiet revenge with Austel that made his own morning. He was never the type to intentionally cause anyone unnecessary pain. He prided himself on it. But, in spite of the unkindness, his Alt rewarded him with points. Funny how sometimes the Alt could misread things. The pleasure he’d gotten from doing something devious had actually helped him.
He swiveled in his chair, full circle, in an act of pure joy, before engaging with his screen. As he locked himself into the mind-numbing position at the monitor, it was the perfect time to scheme and lay out a plan to rescue Ember.
As he mentally dreamed of rushing into the Magistrate’s mansion on a white horse, sweeping Ember off her feet and carrying her away, excited voices from near the broadcast booth distracted him from his fantasy. Tedman emerged from the broadcast room, accompanied by the main anchor. Something had them pumped up. Will was twenty feet away, but he heard occasional words repeated and stressed, as if the words were popcorn under heat. “Magistrate.” “Tomorrow.” “Important!” “Critical.” “Special!” And then… “Ember.” A flush of heat spread through his chest.
A Temp slid into Austel’s chair, filling the spot. He didn’t know the Temp, but the Level Fourteen gave him a smile and the Tranquility salute as he settled in. Tedman’s group continued to jabber and gush, as they walked along the wall toward the lavatory.
“Mind watching my monitor for just one minute? Bathroom trip! Quick.” Will didn’t wait for a reply from the Temp, but dashed across the room, looking like a guy on an emergency sprint to the restroom.
Will practically slid into Tedman, as if he was trying to make Homeplate. The news anchor scrambled out of the way, a frightened look on his face. “Whoa, buddy!” he cried out. Then, as he turned to walk away, he added, “Tedman, thanks for the heads up. We’ll be prepared.”
“So! Will! Letting it go a little too long, son?” Tedman asked, chuckling.
“Ah, yeah. But I think it was a false alarm. Just gas, I guess. And… sorry.” A fake apologetic smile touched his lips, as he fanned the area with his hand.
Tedman guffawed. “So glad to know you’re human, kid. Was beginning to wonder.”
Will laughed. “Human for sure. Umm…why all the excitement over here?”
“So…curious, huh? That’s a good trait for a Plauditor. Magistrate’s bringing in a special guest for tomorrow morning’s broadcast.”
“Oh, yeah? A new agent?” Will used all his self-control to keep his voice level.
Tedman’s eyes sparkled. “No. But not sure why exactly. No real details. He’s introducing a girl for some reason. She’s some kind of special. We won’t know everything ‘til he goes on air.”
“Huh. Hope whoever it is takes the spotlight for a while.”
“So, yes. Maybe a new hero.” He put his hand on Will’s shoulder and looked at him with sympathy. “Fame is fleeting, right?”
“Guess so.” He motioned toward the bathroom door. “Think I’ll make a stop in here after all.”
“Got your station covered?”
“Long enough.”
Tedman chuckled again, before calling out an order to stay focused on his way to another Plauditor’s workstation.
Will ducked into the restroom, just to compose himself and think. Leaning against the wall, his adrenaline w
as pumping. Ember will be in the Plauditorium tomorrow morning. He would have to act then. He paced back and forth a few times to dispel the nervousness he felt. Then, he took some calming, deep breaths, used the toilet for relief, and left, ready to return to his station.
As he approached, he said to the Temp, “Sorry. Took me a little longer than I thought. You know how it is.”
The Temp waved off the apology. “No worries. It’s amazing how our bodies process all that. Have you ever thought about it? Why is pee even yellow? I mean, it’s a full-scale chemical reaction in there.”
Chemical reaction. The words were like a bolt from the blue. Wee works at City Hall as a chemical engineer. He has access to chemicals.
“…don’t you think?” The Temp had continued to talk, his newly uttered words disappearing into space, unheard by Will.
“Oh. Sorry. Yeah. Crazy.”
Austel stood behind the Temp. “Thanks, Rob. You can go.” Austel waited patiently for his replacement to exit the chair, and settled back in. Austel did everything he could to erect an imaginary wall between them.
Will’s heart raced as a plan began to form in his mind. As much as he hated to involve his friend, Wee was the key. The plan was perfect.
Will could hardly wait until he could clock out. When 5:00 came, he raced from the building. Thirty feet out, in an area without people, he made the call. He tapped his foot impatiently until he heard Weeford’s voice come through his Alt. “Will, hey. How’s things?”
“Got news. Ember’s coming to the Plaud tomorrow. For a broadcast.”
“No way.”
“Yep. I’ve got a plan. But you’re gonna have to help. And it’s dangerous…”
“Shut up. Just…what.”
“Can you get a knock-out chemical?”
Silence. “Yeah…probably. What’re you thinking?”
“We can bomb the broadcast room when Magnus and Ember are in there. Just somethin’ to put ‘em out.”
