A map flickered to life on the eyepiece over Gemma’s cornea, a pulsating blue dot marking the designated meeting point in the building. With Christian’s help, she forwarded the note to Hawk, Imara, and Colton, then Gemma and Christian started their trek through a series of halls and up several lifts to a data center.
Inside the outstretched room, they were met with a massive table, through which several holograms projected optics and visualizations. Row upon row of analysts, donned in uniforms the shade of Earth green, sat hunched over their electroglass stations at the far end of the room. Flashes of numbers, images, and charts flickered across their screens as they combed through the various data that Zion was fed.
Through a glass wall on the other end, Rami spoke with the Kaizen inside an office—Rami’s office, Gemma assumed. Catching sight of them, Rami said one last phrase to the Kaizen before exiting.
“Ah, Gemma.” Rami’s eyes flicked between her and Christian. “Looks like you found someone to help you.” A hint of annoyance reflected in his tone. He took a seat at the head of the hologram table.
Glaring at Gemma, the Kaizen took her spot next to Rami. It was the first time Gemma had seen her since she’d hung upside down in the red-haired woman’s torture chamber.
The chill in Gemma’s bones returned as flashes of the experience passed through her thoughts. But then Rami motioned for Gemma and Christian to sit, and Christian took her hand, guiding her into a chair.
Despite the hatred radiating out of him, Christian had yet to lose control. She twined her fingers with his, hoping some of that control would flood into her.
Rami was about to open his mouth when familiar voices trailed in from down the hall.
“See, I told you this was the right floor,” Imara said.
“Oh, shut up,” Hawk replied. “You don’t have to rub it in every time you’re a step ahead of me.”
“Sounds fair since I’m always a step ahead of you.”
They rounded the bend into the data center and froze. Rami raised an eyebrow at their sudden appearance.
“Oh, um—hi, sir,” Hawk said, his cheeks as red as his hair. “Gemma invited us.”
Rami sighed, rolling his eyes. “Of course she did.” He motioned for them to take a seat.
Hawk and Imara quickly plopped into chairs—as did Colton.
“We got him to help,” Imara mouthed at Gemma.
Gemma offered Colton a smile that she hoped he took as “thanks.” When she received a slow nod in return, she decided to accept that he did.
“Are there any more stragglers I need to worry about?” Rami shot Gemma a pointed stare.
She shook her head. “No, sir. And I told them only what you’d already told me.” She prayed he correctly translated the emphasis she’d placed on the word “only.” Her teammates knew nothing about his personal past, and it would stay that way.
Rami’s jaw flexed before he spoke to the group at large. “From this point on, none of you will speak to anyone else about what we discuss here. Do you understand?”
They nodded.
He sighed. “Very well, then. Initiate silencing sequence.”
A shimmering haze floated from beneath the table to encompass them as if they were inside a glass globe. The view reminded her of the one they’d witnessed in their psychological test, but the shield that enclosed them now rippled repetitively, as if it moved to the beat of a song.
“If we’re going to uncover this conspiracy the Dissent has planned, it’s crucial that we restrict the dissemination of this information to as few people as possible. We can’t give this operative any idea that we’re onto them, or they’ll put evasive maneuvers into place,” Rami explained.
“So, whatdoyou know?” Colton asked, leaning forward onto his elbows and clasping his hands in front of him.
“Well, for starters, we know Gemma isn’t the real operative. She was a decoy. Secondly, we know this event will be large-scale and take place before the shuttle takes your group of graduates to Oranos. And thirdly, we know the operative is one of this year’s contestants. After that, the intelligence is weak. Too many different trails to run down. Some of them are false trails or decoys like Gemma.”
“There is one major lead we need someone to follow up on, however,” the Kaizen interrupted. “Originally, I was going to suggest a few of the soldiers on site accompany Miss Proctor, but seeing as you four are now here, I’m reconsidering.”
“They’re not officially ordained yet, Phoebe,” Rami drawled, rubbing his temple.
“Exactly. If something goes wrong in the field, it won’t be Systems employees who don’t come back. It’ll be Perileos civilians who died on their own planet.”
Christian bristled next to Gemma. She gave his hand a gentle squeeze.
