He seems surprised by my words. “You can say whatever you want, and you know that the feeling is mutual.”
I don’t know that, in fact, because Caden is hard to read and stingy with his words. Now that we’ve established that both of us missed each other, I don’t know what more to say. He’ll be out of here in a few days, and I’ll be left to worry when and whether he’ll be coming back.
I can’t go through that again just because I miss him.
“I’m going to sleep,” I say.
“Okay. I’ll look for you tomorrow.”
So we can be awkward with each other again?
I nod and leave his house.
Chapter 3
Finn
I don’t sleep well, and when I finally give up, Timothy informs me that I should expect to be tired in a few hours.
“You’re not helping,” I grumble as I make myself breakfast.
“I’m providing you with information that can help you better prepare for your day. You’re welcome.”
I sit at my small kitchen table to eat my salad while listening to people as they start their day outside. Timothy climbs onto the chair next to me and says, “Since I’ve spoken with Dino while you were speaking with Caden, we should update each other on what we have learned.”
I chew on a tomato. “Shoot.”
He tells me what I already know, and I tell him a bit more about Hector from what I can remember. The bottom line is clear—something is definitely happening. Fights between the Hives and the Raiders have been going on for decades, with the worst of it taking place over ten years ago with the horrible attack on Unity known as Skyfall. The Hive Salvation was completely destroyed while the Hive Mercy was spared because it was too hard to reach. Caden lost a brother back then, who was also a close friend of Josh’s.
“Do you think they’re that eager to go to war?” I ask.
“It stands to reason that they have grown fearful of us.”
“Why?”
“The assembly has spent a lot of time and energy strengthening our relationships with the Free Cities. The Raiders could have also learned about our peace agreement with the Semi-Humans.”
I know firsthand how much effort is being spent on our military alliances. That’s one of the few things the general and Dino are in complete agreement on.
“We should examine old reports of Raiders’ attacks,” Timothy says. “Maybe someone like Hector was mentioned.”
I take a final bite of my salad. “Good idea, but I’ll need to do my rounds first.”
I put on my beige assembly uniform, still honored to wear it even after a year of doing this job. Everyone in Unity knows about my history with the Raiders, yet this uniform feels like a full-body armor that protects me from harassment. My dark, curly hair could use a bit of trimming, but it can wait until I have more time. We leave my apartment and walk toward the shopping area. It’s still early, so not all stands and shops are open. I can hear the gushing of the underground waterfall from out here, as well as the construction taking place next to it. Last year, our reactor was almost destroyed by a treacherous Semi-Human named Rowen, so it was decided we must lower our dependency on our sole reactor. It will be a while before they finish the construction of the hydroelectric system, but people are excited about something new being built after so many years.
There are three shop owners I visit every few days to gather information and rumors. We start with a small tailor shop. The old owner looks up from his work station. “Morning, you two.”
“Hello, Henry,” Timothy says, walking ahead of me. “I hope you’ll have time for a game of cards with me this evening.”
“Yeah, we can do that. Nothing I love more than losing to a spider robot.”
“He’s not a robot,” I say sternly. “He’s a synthetic being.”
Henry scratches his bald head. “Aren’t those just fancy words for a robot?”
I give him a hard look, even though he doesn’t mean to insult. “He has the consciousness of the scientist Timothy Brown as well as human blood.”
“That is correct. My blood is enhanced and constantly revives my skin, allowing me to walk around on these beauties for so many years.” He raises his two front legs, which end in pale, human palms.
