Event Horizon, page 27
"Understood, sir, thank you," said Margo. She had a sinking feeling that the soldier would have been killed anyway. But some thoughts were better left unsaid.
She and Cass exited the office and went down the main corridor. Margo noticed the doctor from the clinic rush by with several files in her hand. They looked like personnel profiles. Damn Hugo's mouth!
"So that's it?" asked Cass. "We just sit on our hands and do nothing?"
"So it would seem."
"And what does that mean?" Cass glared at her. Glared! Since when did Cass glare at anyone? What was this planet doing to them?
"Go back to the clinic and swap places with Donovan. Have him meet me in the craft in one hour. Got it?"
Cass stared at her for a moment and then replied, "Got it."
As Cass walked away, Margo thought about the doctor. She walked by too quickly for Margo to read anything on those files. She was curious to know the content, to know if they really did concern Nate, but she did not want to risk raising any alarms. She needed to get Nate and Eli back and soon. And leave Bedlam far behind them. She exited the headquarters and returned to the craft.
43
Penance
Dakota sat in the center of the small room with Walker, Grendel, and a woman named Morgana who had introduced herself as Walker's cousin. Both of her eyes were dark brown, a more common trait on Bedlam. The three sat in a semicircle in front of him. It was a welcomed change. Walker had ordered Dakota to wait in the room until he returned with the others, saying it would be half an hour at most. Several hours passed before they returned. Dakota only knew the exact time because of his watch. The bunker was too deep for any windows.
Walker adjusted himself in the small plastic seat and asked Dakota, "So, how does this seer thing work?"
"I barely know more about it than you do," he explained. The extra time had allowed him to get his thoughts in order. Though he still could not give answers he didn't have.
He did not need to be a seer to sense Walker's growing impatience, and his desire to push the odds into his favor. Dakota did not want to tell this man anything, but he saw little choice in the matter.
"How long have you been a seer?" asked Morgana.
"Almost two years."
"Then you ought to know a good deal about what you can and cannot do, right?"
"I have a basic idea of what I can do."
"Then start with that," said Walker, impatience turning into anger.
Dakota fidgeted in his seat. He tried to swallow, but his throat was too dry. He said, "I sometimes have dreams that play out in real life, get impressions of people or objects, and I can see things others can't."
"What kind of things?" asked Walker. His blue and green eyes seemed to burrow into Dakota's skull.
Grendel spoke first, placing a gentle hand on Walker's shoulder. "Perhaps it's best if he explains in the order he stated them."
Walker crossed his arms and reluctantly agreed, not seeing the point.
"What about these dreams?" asked Grendel.
Dakota focused on Grendel and Morgana. Looking at Walker made him feel uncomfortable, that his safety depended solely on his usefulness. It likely did. He replied, "For example, before I came to Bedlam, I dreamt about blue and green eyes painted on a wall. And when I first visited Farson, I saw the same eyes."
"So, if you have a dream about us," said Morgana, "it will come true?"
"As far as I can tell, but that dream started weeks ago. I haven't had one since coming here."
"Well, that's useless," said Walker. "Next."
Dakota's face grew warm, and the hairs on the back of his neck stood on end. Walker wanted fast explanations. Dakota feared he would start talking, telling Walker far too much, and be unable to stop. All that extra planning for nothing. He had already made that mistake with Eli and pretty much everyone else on Event Horizon. He formed his next words carefully. "I have impressions about people, usually an emotion or strong thought. Or whether I can trust them."
"What impression do you have of me?" asked Walker, leaning forward.
"That you're determined. You find a way to get whatever you want." Quick images flashed in Dakota's mind. Walker in the marketplace as a young kid, no older than eleven, haggling over the price of food. Walker carefully outlining to his manager why he had earned a raise. Not deserved. Earned. Walker convincing others to join his cause. "But having Farson swarmed by Republic soldiers is not what you wanted. You wanted every trace of Novatera removed from Bedlam, and you fear that this is all your fault."
Walker leaned back in his chair, some of his edge taken away. "You've made your point."
Dakota continued, "The real reason you rebelled was your family. You couldn't stand seeing your daughter grow up in the same conditions as you. Now you wonder if you'll be able to watch her grow up at all."
"Shut up!" Walker shot to his feet, hands balled into fists, ready to strike. Anger and fear seethed from him.
"Sorry." Dakota hunched his shoulders, making himself look smaller. "It's hard to stop sometimes."
Walker relaxed his hands and sat back down. Dakota doubted he would avoid a blow the next time.
"What about the man in charge of the base? Captain Weston Christie?" asked Grendel. "What impression have you gotten from him?"
"I'm afraid I've never met him." Though that name was vaguely familiar. He would worry about it later.
"Explain the third one," said Morgana, sensing the end of her cousin's patience.
"Sometimes I see visions. Some are realistic and others are metaphorical."
"Can you induce a vision?" asked Grendel.
Dakota shook his head. "They're completely random."
Walker sighed and rose from his seat. "So, not only do we manage to capture a seer, he's completely useless," he said as he walked towards the door.
"There is one more thing."
"What?" Walker asked, glaring at Dakota from the corner of his green eye.
Perhaps he should keep this part to himself. Everyone looked at him, waiting. Too late now. "I haven't had much practice, but if I hold an object and concentrate, I can pick up residuals from it."
Walker paused, studying Dakota. He reached underneath his shirt collar and pulled out a necklace, a blue and gray dolphin pendant attached to a black string. He took off the necklace and handed it to Dakota. "Can you pick up anything from this?" It sounded more like a challenge than a request.
Dakota held the necklace in his palm, focusing on the small, metallic dolphin. There had been dolphins on Lyceum. They were smaller and faster than most species, giving them an advantage in Lyceum's turbulent oceans. A dolphin necklace was an odd thing for a man living near the woods to own.
Glancing up at Walker, Dakota knew the man was desperate. Lying could work in his favor. Walker would then think he was a fraud and keep him in the bunker where he and Eli could escape later on. Or Walker would be enraged by the trick, have him beaten or possibly killed.
Turning his attention back to the necklace, Dakota picked up one detail. "Your mother gave you this for your birthday. She had grown up in a small town near the ocean."
"Continue," said Walker, his eyes fixed on Dakota.
"You were twelve years old." The images started coming too quickly for Dakota to keep up. He saw Walker as a child. He saw his mother and father, hardworking people who wanted to make an honest living. His grandfather. The old man was also named Joseph Walker. Everyone called him Joe, so Walker was called Seth.
There had been recent cutbacks at the local lumber mill, the location of the current military base, despite an increase in sales. The people who owned the mill claimed profits were still lower than they ought to be. Everybody called the owners Novaterans because that was where the main office was located and where the people's ancestors had originated, even though they were fourth generation Bedlam natives. All of them had grown up in Farson. One foreman had been in the same graduating secondary school class as Walker's father.
Walker's father had been among the workers who lost his job. He was forced to work two part-time jobs, with Walker's mother working full-time herself, just to put food on the table. They fought more frequently, their outbursts being passed down to Walker who got into more and more fights at school. Then the people of Farson grew more vocal about their collective hatred of the Novaterans. Those who still had jobs at the mill went on strike, refusing to work until their friends and neighbors got their jobs back. The owners decided that lower profits were better than no profits and jobs became available once more. Things in Farson, and in the Walker household, quieted down. For a while.
Dakota felt someone pushing his head down and soft material underneath his nose.
"What are you…?"
"Keep your head down," instructed Grendel. "You don't want to swallow any blood.”
Blood? Dakota pulled the cloth away from his nose and saw a crimson stain. Several drops of blood fell onto his shirt.
"Satisfied?" Morgana asked Walker, coldly.
"Did it work?" Walked asked Dakota. His concern laid only in the results.
Dakota shook his head and lied. "No. It did for a moment. The rest is a blur."
"Perhaps he'll remember if he has a chance to rest," suggested Grendel.
"Yeah," Walker nodded. "An hour—"
"A day. Minimum," Grendel interrupted.
Walker grounded his teeth, staring at Grendel. The Zephyrian, and resident doctor, did not back down. "Fine. Take him back to his room."
Grendel helped Dakota to his feet and escorted him down the hall. Morgana remained with Walker.
"Could I speak with Eli first?" Dakota asked. He moved the cloth away from his nose. It had an odd, coppery smell. The bleeding, thankfully, had stopped.
"Of course." Grendel lowered his voice. "I am very good at detecting lies. I wouldn't tell many of them to Seth if I were you." Grendel motioned to the guard at Eli's door, a girl who was not much older than Dakota. She let Dakota enter. The door closed behind him, the lock clicking into place.
Eli sat crisscross on the cot with his back resting against the wall. He stared blankly ahead, his mind miles away. He paid Dakota no attention.
Dakota pulled up the spare chair and sat down next to Eli. "What are you thinking about?"
He shrugged. "Nothing. Just wondering."
"Walker knows that I'm a seer. Probably a mistake."
Eli did not respond.
"He wants to use me, but I don't know how. Probably to spy on the military base." Funny, at one point, everyone on Event Horizon believed that he was a spy. "I've memorized most of the bunker's layout. We can't wait much longer. I'm going to escape tomorrow, before Walker can use me."
"That's nice."
"Don't you want to hear the plan?" Plans worked better when everyone involved knew their parts.
"Nate, it's good that you're getting out of here, but I'm staying."
"What do you mean?" Dakota asked, confused. Why would Eli want to stay here?
"I've made some choices this past year." Eli paused, clearing his throat. Not once did he look at Dakota. "Choices I'm not proud of. This is my punishment."
"Punishment for what? Eli, we can't stay here."
"No, you can't stay here. You've done nothing wrong."
Dakota felt a pang in his heart. If only Eli knew. "I could think of a few things."
"I chose not to fight." Tears welled up in Eli's eyes, ready to fall. "I had every opportunity to join the Dissenters, to fight for what I believe in. I could have left with Katia. Hugo forcing me to stay was just an excuse. I'm an adult. I don't have to listen to my big brother anymore. And I've been so angry with him and everyone else. But it's my fault, can't you see?"
"I understand what you're getting at, but I chose not to fight, too. We made the same choice."
"Maybe. Look, when you get out, tell Hugo I'm sorry for being such a jerk. All his life, he's been trying to keep me safe. It's just a reflex now. He didn't mean anything bad."
Dakota moved into Eli's line of sight, forcing the other man to look at him. There was no way he would leave Eli behind, even if he had to drag him out of this hole. He locked eyes with him. "There are three exits in the bunker. The first is near the main room. Another is close by. Just go left, then turn right, and then left again. Last door on the hall."
"Nate, please stop." Eli shook his head. Large tears fell down his face.
"Once we're on the surface, I can figure out where the base is from the sun. The base is due south of town, so if—"
"Dakota, stop."
Dakota fell silent. Eli had never used his real name before.
"You get out," said Eli. "Get somewhere safe. But not on Event Horizon. You can't go back there."
"It's okay." The image of Margo shaking hands with Myrddin cropped up again. Guilt washed over him. The guilt of Eli standing by and doing nothing. But Eli did not understand. When dealing with Myrddin Graiko, you couldn't do anything without facing dire consequences.
Eli shook his head and buried his face in his hands.
Dakota thought of telling him that he knew Margo would drag him back to Dionysus. He did not care anymore. If they took him to Dionysus, hand delivered him to Myrddin, then so be it. He would find a way to escape or make his own deal. But would his acceptance erase Eli's guilt?
"It's okay."
44
Two Minutes to Midnight
Joseph Walker was the last one to enter the cramped storage closet. Shelves stacked with canned goods and other provisions occupied half of the space. Most of the supplies had been given to them by people in Farson. Good people who did not want violence, just the chance at a better life.
The four people he trusted most, Grendel, Morgana, Wilf, and Freddy, had to stand in single file so that they would all fit. He had asked them, individually when no one else was around, to meet him there in the middle of the night. It was a risk, considering Freddy was supposed to be on guard duty with Maddock that night, but Joseph accepted it. In the dark room, he could barely make out their faces.
"Anybody see you come here?" Joseph whispered. They all shook their heads. Nothing more than subtle movements in the dark.
"What's the plan?" asked Morgana, cutting to the chase. If only they had all been clearheaded like her, how different their situation would be.
"I was thinking about the Republic soldiers. Our next move with them." He had narrowed it down to two options, though in reality, only one was feasible.
"We're not doing another bombing," said Freddy as a statement of fact. The man had been his father's closest friend. And after his father died, Freddy became a second father to him, making sure he was doing okay, that the family always had enough to get by. Even when his own family was struggling as well. Joseph heard the disappointment in Freddy's voice loud and clear. And had the man been a complete stranger, Joseph still would have agreed wholeheartedly.
"Absolutely not," replied Joseph. "In all honesty, I think we've drawn too much attention. We did a lot of good, working behind the scenes. Going public was a mistake." He paused, wishing there was more light so he could see their expressions. He hated being uncertain, wondering if the wrong move would leave him all alone. "And so was including certain members."
"Who's getting the boot?" Morgana asked, no surprise in her voice.
"I have a few names in mind. Just wanted to make sure it's the right idea."
"Do you want our opinions or our permission?" asked Grendel.
"A bit of both." This was the part he was iffy about. "And the seer's."
"I thought he disappointed you," said Morgana. The ruffling of cloth signaled that she crossed her arms. A raised eyebrow likely accompanied the movement.
"He's not what I expected, but when he was holding my necklace, he saw or sensed something. I know he did." He wished he knew what Nate Kennet saw. The past? The future? Joseph's true intentions, even the ones he hid from himself?
"Do you want him to touch the people before you get rid of them?" Morgana asked sarcastically.
"No. Maybe a picture or their names written on a piece of paper."
Grendel told everyone to shh. The group fell silent. Joseph strained to listen. If only he had the Zephyrian's hearing! Footsteps echoed in the hallway, growing closer. Joseph's heart pounded in his ears. Could it be Maddock looking for Freddy? Or someone getting food from this closet? How would Joseph explain away this meeting? The footsteps continued down the hallway and gradually faded away. That was too close.
"Perhaps it's best if you get on with it," Grendel whispered.
"I have two names in mind. Maddock Haus and Jem Landyn."
"Agreed," said Morgana without hesitation. "Maddock's too much of a hothead, and Jem always goes along with him. So how are you going to kick them out?"
"I'll turn them in to the military."
There was a long pause. No one was sure how to respond. Joseph knew the risks. Merely kicking them out would piss them off, possibly enough to turn traitor. They could tell the authorities the location of the bunker and all their names. And the names of their loved ones. Turning them over to the military might work in their favor. The bombing was not the work of the entire group, just a few. But there was one problem. Joseph had no idea if it would work.
"How are you going to do that, Seth?" asked Wilf. "Won't they arrest you if they see you?"
"Without a doubt. We'll have to knock them out somehow and tie them up close to the base. Lure the mils to their location."
"Won't they suspect it's a trap?" asked Grendel.
Joseph sighed. "It's possible. Either way, they will get arrested and won't be our problem anymore."
"And what happens when they squeal?" asked Freddy. "Tell the Novaterans the location of this bunker, all your plans and tactics?"
"That's the other part." The part that tore at his heart. "We have to leave Farson."
