“What about it?” P8 called back.
Instead of answering, N8 turned to Cydney. “Is it possible there’s a bus depot in the next town?”
She tossed him a couple of looks. “You mean to travel on?”
“Yeah. Like that one that went by not too long ago.”
K8 moved forward in her seat. “What are you thinking?”
“What if we all take one of those buses, and stop off at different locations along the way? That way we’d have some idea where we landed, instead of running off into the middle of nowhere where we can’t communicate with each other.”
“What if we all got telephones?” T8 initiated.
“No way,” Cydney cut her off. “Those things cost a lot of money. I can’t afford to replace my own, much less buy all of you one.”
“I’ll be honest, guys. I don’t think I can manage to live all by myself,” F8 confessed. The petite woman wrapped her arms around herself. “I’m not afraid to say it. I don’t want us to split up.” She didn’t try to hide her worry.
N8 realized the car was slowing down. Everyone did, and no one spoke further as Cydney pulled over to a rest stop on the side of the road. Without explanation, she got out of the car, leaving it running and the door open, and strode over to the picnic table, where she sat down and buried her face in her hands.
Ignoring the others, N8 exited the passenger side and went over to sit on top of the table next to her. He slid an arm around her waist and scooted closer until their thighs touched. She turned to him and leaned against his chest.
The others got out of the vehicle and walked over to them. No one spoke, but waited to see what Cydney would do next.
Sniffing, she wiped her eyes with her hands and her nose on the hem of her shirt. “I don’t intend to get into a debate with you, but I feel I have to have my say.” She raised teary red eyes at them, clearing her throat. “I think you’re wrong. I don’t believe you need to split up. Hold it!” She threw up a hand to stop T8’s reply. “Let me have my say first. But…don’t you realize you being together, you allstayingtogether, is your strength? Youhaveto remain together, if for no other reason than to support each other, and to protect each other, and to help each other.”
K8 handed her a tissue. She thanked the woman and blew her nose.
“Listen, guys. I think you’re going about this all wrong. Yes, you can’t be recaptured by those people any more, but you need to trust the police. I think…I think we need to find the nearest police station, and go in, and talk to them. I think we need to let them know what these people have been doing, and see if they can’t provide us some protection.”
Banging her fist on her knee, she emphasized, “Wehavetostopthese people! What they’re doing iswrong!And the only ones who can do that is law enforcement.”
“They won’t believe us,” P8 commented.
“They will if we show them why those people were keeping you prisoners,” Cydney told her.
Everyone gaped at her. “But that would mean…” F8 began.
Cydney nodded. “Yeah. You’ll probably have to show them your abilities. But that may be the only way we can stop those people. If others know the truth, if we let the cat out of the bag and let the world know about you guys, those people will no longer have any power over you.Thenyou can live your lives as you were meant to. As you should have been able to from the beginning.”
“Then we can truly be free?” N8 murmured.
Her smile was warm and loving. “Yeah. Starting now, and from now on.”
G8 grunted. “Then what the hell are we standing around here for? Let’s go find the nearest police precinct and turn ourselves in. If it means taking down that bunch of sadistic scientists, I’m all in!”
Pivoting around, he began striding back to the car, with the rest of them scrambling to catch up.
17Demonstr8
“Hey, Sheriff?”
Anson Biggs peered around the side of his computer monitor. Deputy Conners stood in the doorway of his office.
“We need you in the conference room,” the deputy informed him.
“Can’t you see I’m busy?”
“I know, sir, but I promise this is more important.”
