Logan estimated he would have the computer working in fifteen minutes. It was week 147,027, hour twenty-eight. Time for my speech.
I stood on a table as Sloan used a loud and high pitched whistle to get everyone’s attention. Quiet descended and they focused on me with various expressions—all unhappy. I sought the little group of smiling faces and took courage from Riley and his family.
“Thank you for being willing to listen to me. Scrubs and uppers coming together is vital now. But I first want to apologize for turning your lives upside down and then abandoning you. For letting a Committee make important decisions without your input. For dismissing your beliefs in the Controllers and life Outside.
“But these people who have entered our world are not the Controllers. They’re Outsiders and they plan to exile us. Send us into Outer Space to die.”
Voices rose, yelling I was crazy or deluded. Others reminded everyone I had gotten them all into this mess. Sloan used his whistle to settle them down again.
“I understand why you won’t believe me.” I glanced at Logan; he gave me a thumbs up. “Even if you can’t trust me, at least you can trust your own eyes.”
The lights dimmed and a large bright rectangle lit up the north wall. Images appeared. First of the transport ship clinging to our world, then of the port. Outsiders hustled people into thebelly of the transports and then the scene switched to inside the ships. Every image was crammed with people. Scared and frightened people.
The buzz rose again, but it had a more muted, uncertain sound.
“These are live images of what the Outsiders are doing,” I said. “They pretended to be the Controllers so they could get into our ship. They’re people from our world who had been exiled for crimes against us and are now planning to exile all of us Insiders.”
Sloan joined me on the table. “She’s right,” he said over the din. “We’re trying to stop them, but we need your help. Trella freed us from the Pop Cops. She can free us from the Outsiders.”
A man stood up and asked, “How can we trust her? The Committee and Mop Cops were just as bad as the Travas and Pop Cops.”
“This time I promise not to let a Committee make the decisions. You…” I swept an arm out. “You are going to make them.” I waited until the ruckus died down. “You will vote for your leaders.”
Then the image on the screen showed two Outsiders dragging Anne-Jade toward the transport vehicle. She fought and broke free for a second before the Outsider on the right tackled her to the ground. I glanced at Logan. He stared at the screen with his mouth gaping open in horror.
I turned back in time to see the other Outsider twist a metal X.
“No!” Logan screamed.
Everyone watching gasped as Anne-Jade bucked and shook in obvious agony. The Outsider kept zapping her over and over until she lay still. Her lifeless gaze stared at nothing.
Logan screamed again and bolted for the door. Sloan and Bubba Boom chased him down. Chaos erupted as fear andoutrage rolled through the assembled. Numb with shock and horror, I couldn’t move. Anne-Jade was my friend.
A third Outsider came into view. It was Fosord. He pointed at Anne-Jade’s body and then pointed directly at the camera. Instant silence followed his gesture.
Fosord reached to the side. When his hands reappeared, he held a wipe board. Three words had been written on the board:Surrender or die.
My grief for Anne-Jade would have to wait until later. I shoved it deep down and took advantage of the stunned silence. “They’re scared of us,” I said. “We need to actnowbefore they do.”
“Before they can poison our air?” one man called.
“Before we die of thirst?” a woman asked.
“No to both. We have a team at the air plant. And we’ll either win or lose by the time water becomes an issue.” I conferred with Sloan.
“I’ll need two groups of twenty each to secure the stairways,” he said. “I’ll lead one team.”
“And I’ll lead the other,” Riley called.
I wanted to say no, but as I told Bubba Boom, Riley knew how to fight. The teams formed quickly, and I took heart from the eager helpers.
Sloan, Riley, and Bubba Boom grouped together and I joined them.
“…suits then the stunners won’t work unless they have their helmets off. In that case, aim for their heads,” Bubba Boom said.
“Once we have the stairways, we can send bigger teams to advance up through the levels, securing each,” Sloan said.
“How big?” I asked.
