“Two thousand, four hundred and nine computers.”
My emotions warred between being impressed by Logan's memory and astounded by the sheer number of computers. “I couldn't?—”
“Impossible to check them all.” His fingers tapped again. “Did you bring the detector with you?”
“No.”
“Next time you come, bring it along. I might be able to adjust it to hone in on the Controller's signal over a wider area.” He then added a number of other items he needed me to fetch for him.
Heading back to the infirmary through the air shafts, I concentrated on remembering Logan's list. When Doctor Lamont's voice sounded in my ear, I almost hit my head on the top of the shaft.
“Trella, Bubba Boom is here and he insists I wake you,” she said. “What should I do?”
I fumbled for the button mic. “What’s so important?”
“He wouldn’t say.”
Curious. “Tell him you woke me and I'll be out in a couple minutes. I'm almost home.”
“Okay.” She clicked off.
It wasn't until I had swung down into my room that I realized I had called the infirmary home. I really needed to return our world to a more normal state before I started calling Lamont Mom.
Changing into my green long-sleeved medical uniform, I pulled strands of my hair from my braid to appear sleep tousled. No need to act tired—sleep remained a low priority.
Bubba Boom wasted no time with hellos. He took my hand and pulled me from the infirmary and out into the hallway.
“Let go.” I yanked, but he wouldn’t release me. “What’s going on?”
“I’ll tell you in a minute.” He kept his quick pace through the corridors.
The few people we passed gave us either curious stares, smirks, or ignored us. Bubba Boom dropped my hand as soon as we reached a quiet corner.
“I know you don’t believe me about Jacy.” He held a finger up before I could interrupt. “He’s in his office and you should see for yourself who he’s been…collaborating with.”
“Why can’t you tell me?”
“Better this way.” He pointed to a vent above our heads. “This will take you over the Committee member’s offices in Sector H3.”
“I’m not supposed to go into the air shafts. The tracer?—”
“Isn’t that accurate. It’ll appear as if you walked through the Sector. You need to hurry before he finishes his meeting.”
I glanced up. The vent was in the middle of the ceiling. “I’ll need a boost.”
He squatted down, holding his hands out. “Stand on my shoulders.”
I kicked off my mocs, grabbed his hands for balance, and I stepped onto him. He stood with ease and steadied my legs. The vent was within reach and I pushed it open. As I squirmed into the duct, I marveled at Bubba Boom’s strength and height. He didn’t appear to be that tall, but I doubted even Cog could boost me that high.
“I’ll wait here for you,” he called.
It took me a few minutes to get my bearings and head in the right direction. Despite Bubba Boom’s suggestion to hurry, I slowed as I crossed over the Committee’s offices. Bluelightsglowed from most of them. No sounds or voices drifted, but that didn’t mean no one was below.
The bright square of daylights reflecting off the metal duct marked Jacy’s office well before his voice reached me.
“…don’t know…she…problem,” Jacy said.
Two almost familiar male voices answered him, and I crept with care for the last two meters. The front half of Jacy’s desk and two sets of legs facing it were visible from my vantage point. I strained to match the voices with faces and names.
