The metallic scrape of my panel opening woke me from a light doze. A hand held the end of the tray. I recognized the thick callused fingers and an idea popped into my head. I removed the meal and seized his wrist, yanking his arm inside my cell.
The element of surprise would only net me a few seconds. “Listen, please,” I said before Bubba Boom could break free. “One minute.”
He stopped. “Thirty seconds,” Bubba Boom said.
“You once told me the Controllers wouldn’t torture or trick people. But I’ve been tortured and tricked.”
“You lied and were spying for Jacy,” he said.
“So? When the Committee had been in charge, we didn’t torture or trick the Travas. We treated them well. Anne-Jade wouldn’t even resort to strong-arm methods to get them to help us repair the Transmission. And we had no plans to recycle the Travas either.”
“The Controllers won’t kill anyone. You’re trying to confuse me.”
“No, I’m not. Think about it Bubba Boom. I’m at Ponife’s mercy. He’s forcing my cooperation. Just like the Pop Cops did to you long ago.”
Silence. I pressed my advantage. “You also told me we’re their children who have run away. Do you even know why we ran?” I released his arm.
Bubba Boom drew it back and closed the panel. I hoped he would think about what I had said, but I had no idea if I had reached him or not.
A few meals later, my panel slid open. No tray came through, but Bubba Boom peered at me from the other side.
“The Transmission is repaired,” he said.
No time left. No idea how to stop the Outsiders. No hope of rescue. Anyone who had the resources or determination had been captured.
“Did they tell you what’s next?” I asked.
“Yes.” He waited.
“Are they still planning to send everyone out into Outer Space?” I asked.
“How do you know?”
“Ponife told me.”
“Did he tell you that those who aided the Controllers will be allowed to stay?”
“No. Fosord said everyone.”
“You’re lying.”
“I wish I were.”
Bubba Boom shut the panel.
The next time my door opened, Ponife rushed in. His agitation clear. I braced for pain, but he yanked me to my feet and dragged me from the cell. It was the first time he had touched me. He was surprisingly strong. Unfortunately, he didn’t have the X in his hand.
He hurried me to a room in Sector E5. Five Outsiders lay on a row of beds. Blood drooled from their mouths, and they were all curled on their sides as if in agony. Bubba Boom, Hank and a few others hovered nearby, but they looked panicked.
I didn’t wait for orders. Running to the closest Outsider, I felt her pulse. It raced and her skin was clammy. She shook as a spasm seized her muscles. I opened her eyes. The whites were stained red.
“They had acclimated and were doing fine,” Ponife said.
“We need to get them to Doctor Lamont, now.” I shouted to Hank and Bubba Boom to help me carry them. The beds didn’t have wheels.
They jerked but remained frozen in place.
“Hurry! They’re dying,” I said.
