“How’d you find us?” P8 spoke up, breaking the uncomfortable silence.
Another guard grunted but didn’t answer. None of them did.
N8 narrowed his eyes. They had to come up with a plan, and do it soon. If they waited until they reached the complex, it would be too late.
He glanced behind him to find the others either staring out the windows at the gradual brightening of the dawn, or sitting with their heads bowed and eyes closed, as if sleeping. He double-checked to make sure he’d counted correctly. There were six guards and seven of them—eight if he counted K8 twice—but the guards were armed. However, it was clear they were reluctant to use them. Their orders probably were to bring the escapees in alive. If that was the case, then it was possible their guns were meant for show only. It was highly possible the success of their mission depended on N8 and his friends not causing any problems, and obeying all commands. The way things had been all their lives. The way they’d been programmed.
Do as you’re told. Don’t argue. Don’t try to fight them because you won’t win.
Leaning over, he kissed her hair over her ear. “I have a plan.” As he’d hoped, she didn’t respond. Instead, she gently squeezed his hand to show she’d heard.
“Hey!” he addressed the guard across from them. “I need to use the restroom.”
The man grinned. There was nothing humorous about it. “You’ll just have to hold it.”
“Yeah. Tie a knot in it,” another guard snickered.
N8 persisted. “You fucking woke me from a sound sleep. Tell me you don’t have to go first thing after you wake up.”
Coxwell addressed the driver. “Pull over and let ‘em take a leak. I need to call in and let Sullivan know we got ‘em.”
The driver slowed down and pulled onto the shoulder, and Coxwell moved next to the door. “If anyone else has to go, do it now, or else hold it until we get back.”
“Does that include us girls?” Cydney called out.
“That includes all ‘a y’alls,” the leader replied with a smirk.
Everyone got to their feet, and the man immediately realized his mistake. Holding out his pistol, he snapped, “Siddown! I’ll let you go one at a time, awright? You.” He pointed the gun at N8. “You first.”
N8 slowly stood and made a pretense of limping toward the door.
“What’s wrong with you?” another guard asked.
“My foot’s gone to sleep,” N8 explained irritably. He placed his tied hands on the back of Coxwell’s seat, when he stumbled. The man shoved him away but said nothing. N8 continued off the bus and advanced a little ways into the brush.
“Shouldn’t we follow him?” another guard inquired.
“Nah. He won’t abandon his friends, much less his girlfriend,” the leader declared, following N8 outside. “But if he tries, shoot ‘im.”
N8 was aware of the man moving to stand beside the front of the van, where he pulled out one of those small, flat, rectangular things Cydney called a telephone. He couldn’t hear the man’s conversation, but it didn’t matter. He would soon know what was said.
Finishing his business, he buttoned up and returned to the van. The guard across from them waved at Cydney. “You. Next.”
N8 kissed her cheek. “Bump into the leader.”
She gave him a peck back and exited. He waited, every muscle tense, as he waited for her to return. As he hoped, the leader ended his call and climbed back inside just as Cydney reached the steps. She stumbled and almost fell against the leader, who caught her at the last second and pushed her away from him. As soon as she finished taking her turn outside, she hurried into the vehicle and took her seat next to N8. Clasping her hand, N8 gave her a warm smile…
And rejoined himself.
15Oper8
He wasaware of the others passing him as they went to relieve themselves, but his focus was on recalling the conversation his second self had overheard while inside the leader’s body. It was the first time he’d ever attempted a transfer from one host body to another without returning first to his own, but his effort had paid off.
The biggest puzzle piece had fallen into place.
“Any problems?”
“None at all. We tracked ‘em down easy as pie. Those big heads had a smart idea when they decided to microchip them. Saved us a lot of time and effort.”
