Outside In Part 26

One of the maintenance workers must have spotted me. I rubbed my eyes. It was getting harder to sneak around Inside when everyone recognized me.

"Did I hear wrong?" he demanded, but somehow I sensed he already knew the answer.

"No. I wanted to ask you about Jacy and Sloan. And the air plant."

"Did you consider the danger? It's not safe for you to be running around without a couple bodyguards. Do you want Jacy to grab you again?"

Ah. The reason for his anger. "No. I justa""

"Let's go for a walk."

We headed west toward the common area in Quad A3. The hallway was empty and the few people in the area sat listlessly on the couches and armchairs. Stranger than the emptiness was the quiet. So used to the constant babble of voices, I felt as if every word I said could be heard by everyone.

We sat on a couch in the corner. I willed myself not to sit as far away from him as possible, but still left a half meter between us.

"Jacy's goons caught me in the infirmary so I'm nota""

"You are now. Since you returned, we've had people in there to protect you."

"I didn't see anyone."

His anger deflated a bit. "You're not supposed to."

"Oh."

"Can you at least understand why I would be upset?"

"Yes. I'm sorry."

"You're lucky word didn't get back to Jacy. Must be all these headaches."

"Are you getting them, too?" I asked.

"No. Not yet, anyway."

"You're one of the few who isn't sick," I said. "Is the air plant malfunctioning?"

"No."

"How can you be sure? Everyone's been complaining."

Bubba Boom studied me as if trying to decide what to tell me. "Did Sloan or Jacy say anything to you about the network?"

"No. All they wanted was information."

"About what?"

"What I've been doing these past few weeks."

"What exactly have you been doing when everyone thought you were in the infirmary?" he asked. "You still haven't told me how you know so much."

d.a.m.n. I decided to stick to the truth as much as possible. "I've been searching for Logan."

"And?"

"I haven't found him yet."

He relaxed a bit more. "The information?"

"I've been spending a lot of time in the air ducts, so I've overheard quite a bit."

He considered. "Trella, I need to know who you believe. Me or Jacy?"

"You, of course! Jacya""

"Was part of your rebellion. You were friends."

Interesting word choice. Your rebellion. I acted confused. "Not since you told me about him and Sloan and the Captain. Not since he locked me in a storage closet, leaving me to die of thirst because he's too much of a coward to finish me off. Where are he and Sloan anyway? Shouldn't the ISF arrest them?"

"The ISF won't touch Jacy. Plus Anne-Jade has enough problems right now. We plan to deal with them." He took my left hand in his. "They both will suffer for hurting you."

"We?"

He drew in a breath and let it all out at once. "Me, Hank, our core crew andathe Outsiders."

I jerked as if surprised. "Outsiders? Who area""

"They're from the Outside and they're angry about your rebellion. They have taken over the network, not Jacy."

"They're mad at me?" No need to fake the tremor of fear in my voice.

"No. Not at you." He rushed to a.s.sure me. "They're unhappy that our society has gotten out of control. Soon they will come Inside and fix everything!" His eyes glowed with conviction.

"Really? They're coming inside?" I pretended to be stunned. Then I leaned closer as if suddenly enthusiastic. "Will they repair the air and power plant?"

"Yes, and put our society back in order. No Committee, no ISF, no scrubs or uppers, they're going to fix it all."

"How?"

"By returning our society to its original configuration."

"Original as in Pop Cops?"

"No. As in the Outsiders once again being our Controllers, making the rules, enforcing the rules and the rest of you can return to work. I'll be one of their chosen liaisons."

Sounded like the Pop Cops, but I knew better than to argue with him. "When are they coming?" I asked instead.

"Soon. We have to prepare for them. And that's where you come in."

"Me?"

"Yes. You're a natural leader, Trella. You united every one to fight the Pop Cops. They told us to convince you of their benevolence. They want you to get everyone excited about them. That's why Jacy wanted you out of the way. He knows about the Outsiders and is trying to prevent them from coming inside."

"Oh." A twist I hadn't been expecting. "Did they contact you?"

"Not me. Hank. He's believed that the Controllers live Outside and have been instructing us on how to live better lives. Though his beliefs were shaken a bit when you found Gateway and it lead to Outer s.p.a.ce and not to them. He's been searching the computers since your rebellion. He never gave up faith that they existed.

"All that nonsense about the Controllers being operating parameters and fail-safes was just that. Nonsense. When you think about it, there had to be a higher authority than the Captain and Admirals. The Travas followed the Controllers' rules, and we should have as well. A mistake that Hank and I are going to fix. And now you can help us." He leaned toward me. "We're not going to let Jacy win. We're going to have an ordered society again, but this time you and I and Hank and all our supporters are going to be the leaders."

Bubba Boom closed the gap between us. He wrapped his arms around my back and drew me in for a kiss.

For a second, I froze. Then, remembering my mission, I returned the kiss. It wasn't the same as when I had kissed Riley. Riley's zipped through my body, leaving a trail of fire in its wake. Bubba Boom's made me nervous. I wouldn't be able to do more than kiss him, and I hoped I wouldn't have to.

When he broke off, he pulled me tight to his chest. "Unlike Hank, you understand," he whispered in my ear. "Understand what it's like to be at the mercy of another. To suffer and be forced to make a choice between your friends."

"Are you talking about Vinco and the Pop Cops?"

"Yes. He wouldn't stop until I told him who the Tech Nos were, but I kept Anne-Jade and Logan's names to myself, giving him the others. Every time I close my eyes to sleep, I see all their faces. Your mother understands as well."

I hadn't thought of it that way. Karla had threatened to recycle her husband and daughter if she didn't cooperate. She had named friends in order to protect themame. And then we were taken from her anyway. She had lost everyone.

Bubba Boom released me. "That's why we need Controllers. They won't torture or trick people."

"Do you know why they wish to come in?"

Again his face shone with a fervent glow. "We're their lost children. We have run away and made a mess of things. They've been trying to catch up to us, but Inside is faster than they are. But not anymore. We've stopped accelerating so they could join us."

That's why the Transmission had been targeted twice. "Then we better prepare everyone for their arrival." I tried to sound like an avid believer.

His smile encompa.s.sed his whole face. "I knew you were smart. Hank said you'd be impossible to convince, but the logic is hard to ignore." He stood. "Come on, we have lots to do."

I hurried to keep pace with him as he headed back toward the infirmary. When we arrived in the crowded patient area, he said, "Go and get your things. I'll talk to the doctor."

"Why?"

"You can't stay here. It's too dangerous. We have an extra room for you and you'll be protected at all times."

Which also meant watched at all times. Not much I could do without blowing my cover. I collected my meager possessions. When I returned, Bubba Boom was talking to Lamont.

My mother met my gaze with a question in her eyes. I got the impression all I needed to do was signal her in some fashion and she would prevent him from taking me from the infirmary. Half tempted to see what she would do, I almost nodded in encouragement. But the need to find out all I could stopped me. Instead, I kept my expression neutral.

"Trella, can I have a word in private?" she asked.

"Uh. Sure." I turned to Bubba Boom. "Be right back."

Lamont led me to her office and shut the door. She motioned toward the chair and I perched on the edge. Remembering how Domotor and Bubba Boom both avoided talking to me in the infirmary, I guessed Lamont's office probably had a hidden microphone somewhere inside.

"I understand he rescued you and saved your life, but don't you think you should wait a few weeks before staying with him?" she asked.

"That sounds like a mother's question and not a doctor's concern," I said.

She stiffened as pain flashed in her eyes. "You had a rough week. You're not fully recuperated."

"I'll be fine. In fact, I can rest better surrounded by Bubba Boom and his colleagues. There's no way Jacy can get to me there." Unable to leave her without a better explanation, I took a wipe board and marker from her desk and wrote, It's not what you think. This is part of a plan.

"Oh. WellathenaI just wanted to make sure you considered your health. You'll come back if your headaches get worse?"

"Yes." I erased the words from the board and wrote, Thanks.

Bubba Boom led me up to level five. Although it had been completed before the first explosion, the Committee hadn't had time to decide who should move in. Bluelights lit the hallways and our footsteps echoed. The layout of the new level matched all the others so when he stopped in front of a set of double doors, I knew we were close to Quad A5.

He turned to me and took both my hands. "This is the new headquarters for Inside. All the system controls are now here." Letting my left hand go, he knocked on the door.

A thin hidden panel opened and eyes peered at us before the doors hissed apart. Bubba Boom didn't hesitate. He strode in like he owned the place, towing me along like a prized possession.

The area resembled the main Control Room in Quad G4, but it wasn't finished. Computers and half completed manned stations sprouted exposed wires. Desks and diagrams were drawn on the walls. Lots of general activity and buzz of voices that ceased the moment we entered.

My heart paused as I glanced around. A feeling that I had just made the biggest mistake in my entire life overwhelmed me.

I expected to recognize a bunch of the maintenance crew. I also knew a few uppers and a couple scrubs.

I expected to see Hank. And expected he would be the hardest one to convince of my newfound faith. Hank jumped to his feet and barreled toward us clearly upset. No surprise there.

I didn't count on Karla Trava sitting with a group of uppers around a small conference table. But as much as her presence upset and surprised me, she wasn't the reason my heart tore a hole in my chest, fleeing for its life.

Twoabeings wearing strange white reflective suits stood near a bank of computers. They had round silver metal heads with black tubes that ran from their chests to small tanks on their backs.

The Outsiders had come in.

17.

EVEN THOUGH THEY WERE SHAPED LIKE USa"TWO legs, two arms, hands, torso and, I guessed, a heada"I backed away from the Outsiders. Bubba Boom stopped me. "It's okay, Trella, they're just wearing protective suits. They look just like us, and these two men are here to help us get ready for the others."

Men? Their silver heads reflected like a mirror. Hank's broad shape alone covered half of the one's on the left.

"Are you out of your mind?" Hank asked Bubba Boom. "Why did you bring her here?"

"She understands. I was right about her."

Hank snorted. "You're a fool."

It was time for me to convince Hank. I forced my gaze away from the strange Outsiders and met his. "He isn't a fool. I'm the foolish one. I thought once we gained control of Inside, my job was done. A mistake I plan to fix. I'm here to do it right this time. To get us back on track."