Cassius landed the stolen sky taxi at Portland’s southern border, on the outskirts of the wide lot reserved for public shuttles. Switching off the power, he watched a small band of security personnel gather around the side of his ship, no doubt curious as to why a Skyship vehicle had made an unplanned, illegal landing.
He scooped up his bag from beside the captain’s seat, threw it over his shoulder, and flipped the controls to open the doorway. Hands in the air, he exited the craft and jumped down onto the granite pavement. All five security guards paused, waiting for something more than a fifteen-year-old to emerge from within. They kept their guns pointed straight at him.
“Relax.” Cassius reached up to his right hand, wincing as he tore off the skin graft and revealed his identification code. “I’m Unified Party.”
The men exchanged curious looks. The one nearest Cassius lowered his gun, removed a handheld scanner from his belt, and scanned Cassius’s wrist. The blue laser caught the inside of the ID socket and the guard nodded, turning to the others. “He’s telling the truth.”
Cassius sighed, pulling at the neck of his shirt. Even the residual effect from the nearby Bio-Net wasn’t enough to counter the sweltering heat.
The guards lowered their weapons. Another strode forward, hands on his hips. “Where did you find this ship?”
Cassius sighed, glancing over to the Bio-Net entrance. “Consider it a gift.”
Then, without waiting for any more questions, he turned and made his way toward the city, passing long rows of shuttles glistening in the hazy sunshine. When he was out of the guards’ sight, he flipped open his com-pad and entered Madame’s secret number.
It rang two times before she picked up. “Cassius.”
“I’ve landed outside Portland.”
“Fantastic,” she replied. “I’ve just had word of a crashed shuttle inside the city. That will be Fisher. No doubt the authorities have already captured him. I’d like you to head to the Security Center and find out where he’s being held. Make sure he is not transferred.”
“And what then?”
“I will rendezvous with you in Portland as soon as I can. Something has come up and I’m afraid I may be delayed. Don’t let Fisher out of the city, Cassius.”
“I won’t.”
“If he escapes, he’ll head to Seattle.”
He frowned. “Why would he head to Seattle? It’s deserted.”
“Trust me, Cassius. That’s where he’ll go. Don’t let it happen.”
“Okay,” he replied.
“Excellent,” she said. “I will be in touch.”
The line went dead.
He stared at the com-pad before clipping it back onto his belt. Something had come up, she’d said. From the urgency in her voice back in the infirmary, he had assumed this mission was priority number one. Not to mention the destruction he had caused in the Lodge. But after two frustratingly brief conversations, he began to wonder if he was being intentionally kept in the dark. He wasn’t in the habit of questioning the government, but questioning Madame was something different entirely.
As he approached Portland’s southern gate, he toyed with the idea of interrogating Fisher himself. If Madame was going to take her time, he might as well use the opportunity to his advantage. Maybe he could find out what had happened back on the rooftop. She wouldn’t even have to know.
Two government officials stood at the entrance gate in front of him, positioned between ground-level Bio-Net connectors. Whirring spheres of Pearl energy spun in the center of each, weaving the force field that rocketed up to the floating black crosses. He remembered the group of Fringers destroyed at the entrance to Rochester. A chill ran down his spine.
A large screen hung above the entrance, displaying temperatures both inside and outside the Net. Seventy-two versus one-hundred and sixteen. Cassius couldn’t wait to feel the difference after stepping inside.
The officials scanned Cassius’s wrist with a dark gray wand as he passed Portland’s entrance sign. He straightened his tie, making sure he looked presentable before preceding.
Nodding to the guards, he stepped up a gentle ramp and into the city. First stop, the Security Center. Then he’d find Fisher. And answers.