We discussed various reasons the Trava’s would allow the scrubs to increase in number, but we couldn’t find a logical explanation.
“I’ll ask LC Karla next time I see her.” I joked.
But Doctor Lamont’s demeanor turned to ice. “If that woman was injured, I would not save her life. In fact, I would happily feed her to Chomper myself.” She stood and strode from the room, claiming she needed to check on her patients.
While I agreed with the doctor about Karla, I wondered what the LC had done to cause such a strong reaction from a caring individual.
The meeting with the uppers who agreed to help us convened in the doctor’s sitting room at hour sixty. Riley and Doctor Lamont stood apart from the group, who talked among themselves in low whispers, getting acquainted and reminiscing about prior events. Riley’s father, Jacob, kept peering at his son as if amazed the boy was there.
After learning about the upper’s birth control, I had wanted to discuss so much with Riley, but the group arrived and we had limited time.
Takia Qadim was the most vocal and spoke for the group. “Why will this attempt work when our first one failed?” Her sharp and intelligent gaze focused on me.
I willed my heart to stop its panicked thumping, and focused on the need for full disclosure. “First we already know whereGateway is.” A mixture of expressions spread over the four uppers. I waited for the information to sink in.
“Second, we have access to the other hidden files. One led us to the location, and I’m reasonably sure the others will tell us how to open Gateway and what to expect on the other side.”
“Why do you need us?” Hana Mineko asked. Her black hair had been piled on top of her head in a pleasing twist of curls. She fiddled with a curl hanging by her ear, pulling it straight and releasing it. The hair sprang back each time.
“When Gateway is open, it will alert all the systems in Inside, and we need you to cover the alert so the Controllers and the Travas don’t know. Once we know exactly what to expect on the other side of Gateway, then we can plan how to use it.”
“Why don’t you know what’s in the rest of the files,” Takia asked.
“They’re protected by passwords. We haven’t figure out the rest of them yet.” A rumble of alarm rolled through the uppers. “We have the password clues, and I hoped as a group we could deduce the answers.”
“Let me get this straight,” Jacob said. “Provided you open the files, we then have to hide your activity from the Trava family while you open Gateway.” He looked around. “You’re going to need to recruit more uppers.”
“We have two scrubs willing to ghost through the network and aid in hiding data. And don’t forget Domotor.” As long as he listened to Logan’s instructions.
Breana Narelle pulled her shirt down over her pregnant belly. “Four people were recycled last time because Domotor was caught. This time we all know who’s involved. What if someone here is the person who ratted us out?”
“We know who spied for Karla and she hasn’t been invited back. Obviously you don’t say anything to anyone, but especially not to Kiana Garrard,” I said proud I didn’t stutter over hername. It’s possible she hadn’t abandoned me, but she still caused much pain and suffering.
Most of the group nodded with understanding, but Jacob flashed the doctor a strange, pain-filled look, which she returned. I wondered if they both knew Kiana.
“Why should we risk our lives for the scrubs?” Breana asked. “They hate us and are jealous of us. They won’t do anything to help us, why should we help them?”
I counted to ten before answering her. She had been fed lies about the scrubs all her life. Then I explained to the group just how much the scrubs have done to get me here. The ghosting through the network, Cog’s sacrifice, and Jacy’s risks as well as the amazing fact that not one scrub has yet to provide information to the Pop Cops despite the fantastic rewards offered by the LC.
“The Travas are our mutual enemy. They have lied to you and to the scrubs to keep us from joining together. Think about it. The scrubs outnumber the uppers ten to one. But you have control of the systems keeping us alive, and the Travas have control of us both. Teaming up takes the Travas out of the equation. We can return to the times where each family had an equal say.”
My speech worked and the uppers set about planning. They wanted to hear the password clues and I read them aloud. Two questions produced answers right away. Six left. I repeated the first question and everyone brainstormed.
During an unusual lull in the conversation, LC Karla spoke from my pocket. Terrified faces turned to me and I hurried to explain about the listening device and Riley’s receiver. I retreated to my room to listen.
“…another busted scanner? That’s three this shift. Something is going on,” the LC said. Her voice strained with frustration.
“It can’t be sabotage. No scrub was allowed near them. They were guarded the entire time by my people,” a man said. His voice sounded familiar.
“Eyes on the devices? Or an ensign stationed outside the supply cabinet?”
“Why would it matter?”
“The scrubs are using the air shafts to get around you idiot!”
“Lieutenant Commander, no one is in the shafts. The RATSS have found no evidence.”
“I saw her with my own eyes,Commander.” Karla’s tone was even, but each word had a little kick to it as if she bit back her anger.
