His small lips stretch into a smile. “Attaboy!”
*
Our communication station is located on top of the mountain that protects the Hive, hidden among tall pines. Timothy and I need to use a secure elevator most Hivers don’t know exists.When we step outside, the view is breathtaking. The sprawling world is green and lush, with no structures as far as the eye can see.
“It’s cold out here,” Timothy says. “You should have brought a jacket.”
He’s right, but it’s easy to forget about the weather when you’re living in a place that always offers the same temperature. “I’ll get warmer on the way up.”
It’s a steep climb and the path is winding and narrow. I manage to reach the peak without taking a break, but my legs are sore. I wipe sweat from my brow and press on the intercom next to the large, metal door. Seconds later, static indicates that someone inside is listening.
“Finn,” I say. “Zero, two, four, six.”
“You’ve got cookies?”
“Yeah.”
The door creaks and slowly opens. We step into a warmer space and walk the short distance to the communication chamber. It’s packed with screens and devices I know not to touch. I take out the box of cookies from my backpack and give it to the two people on shift. It’s a Hive tradition to bring cookies whenever someone makes the journey up here, because the people stationed here are our best eyes into any possible danger. They usually spend long, boring shifts alone, so bringing them cookies is the least that I can do.
The two men go to wait outside. They know I’m here for Mother, and they were instructed to stay away during our attempts to reach her. River and the rest of the Semis cancommunicate with Mother easily, but what they have in their heads is more advanced than our old technology.
Timothy works on the computers and adjusts frequencies, humming like he usually does whenever he’s handling anything technical.
“I can teach you how to do this,” he tells me.
“I might break something, and I like watching you work.”
“River used to enjoy that as well. Then he learned how to talk, and working while answering his questions became a bit of a challenge.”
I smile as I picture baby River toddling after Timothy across the lab. He can send me as many letters as he wants, but I still miss him every day.
After a few minutes, a steady beeping comes from a speaker close by. I lean back in my chair to get comfortable, knowing that this can take a while, but this time it doesn’t.
“Hello, Finn and Timothy.” Her voice is clear, resembling that of an elegant woman.
“Hello, Helena,” Timothy says. “Are we coming through clearly?”
“Yes, but it’s hard to tell for how long. Is something the matter?”
Timothy gestures for me to continue. “Caden and his squad were attacked by Raiders. He’s okay, but his squad members are dead. The leader of the Raiders is someone named Hector.”
“The Governor of Denver,” Helena says.
I exchange a glance with Timothy. “What do you know about him?”
“He’s spent the last couple of years turning Denver into a blank space for my surveillance, but I’m aware of the growing number of Raiders’ attacks across Colorado, especially north of Denver.”
“Do you know of lizard men?” I ask.
“I’ve collected records that mention them, all startingafterHector became governor. They are clearly mutants, but not a kind I’m familiar with.”
“We need to act before it’s too late,” I say. “Dino asked me to travel to High Hope and meet with their king. We need to secure his support.”
“River would like to remind you that the king can be sneaky. You shouldn’t underestimate him.”
“River… asks?”
I can almost hear her smile. “He is communicating with me at this moment. He misses you very much, Finn, and his Nanny Spider too.”
