-1-

The sun in Arcadia was less harsh than the one in the LOLA Sprawl. I was sure it had something to do with the all of the plants and the trees surrounding the area. Sara and I were sitting on the edge of the Arcadia property land with nearly all of the holoscreens she owned—save maybe one-- sitting in front of us. Using her fingernails she roughly pried the screen into  two pieces. She dug around in the wires until she  pulled out a small metallic cube.

“This is it,” she said handing the cube to me.

I turned it over in my hands. I couldn’t believe something that was supposed to be so dangerous was in something as pedestrian as a holoscreen.  The cube was basically the nervous system for the screen  and the inside of the nickel alloy cube was a liquid nitrogen isotope—the key ingredient in Sara’s bomb.

“How will you get this open ?,” I asked her as I popped open the other screen like she had.

“Jean has a blade with a diamond etching, it should cut through it,” she said,”We break this seal and can take the nitrogen solvent out for the bomb.”

“Are you going to do it ?,” I asked, “I mean set it off ?,”

“No, I asked Saint to do it,” she responded,” He has an easier time risking his life,”

“I was going to ask you to let me do it,” I said quietly

“Seriously ?,” she snorted

“I feel your anger. I saw something at the summit—this girl it was so bizarre and it just made me angry. This is not what the world should come to,” I said

“I agree,” she smiled handing me another screen.

We worked in silence when Sara stopped and put a round in her semi-automatic. I wasn’t alarmed by her firearms anymore,to her handling guns was just a habit.

“You should always store this weapon flat against your body, it makes it easier to conceal,” she said "When you shoot it don’t  ever brace yourself, it has a silencer. And whatever you do never bend your elbow or you will break it,”

"I could break my arm ?,"

"No, the gun," she said

She took the gun and threw it over to me.

“What, you like me now ?,”  I ventured

“I don’t really like anybody,” she smiled, “ But, I also know I can’t just get rid of you at this point,”

 

***

 

 

I was beginning to feel more aches and pain from my surgery without Minnow’s constant supply of drugs. I was thinking more clearly but, I missed the  buzz the drugs gave me. I was thankful I  wasn’t as bad off as Minnow was. For her the shakes and pain had ceased and now she was just anxious and angry.

Rachel Halliday had been a good of a hostess as she could have been considering the shitty mood Minnow was always in. Rachel set 2 cups of cold tea on the table in front of Minnow and I.

“It’s lavender and bark, it has healing properties,” Rachel said,”Oh, and it’s good,”

“Thanks,” I said

Minnow watched me take a sip before she copied me.

“It is good,” Minnow admitted

 

The front door of the lodge opened and Sara stormed in looking around frantically. She stared at Minnow and I at the table before snatching the vase of flowers off the table.

“Can I have this ?,” she asked Rachel holding up the vase.

“Of course you--,” Rachel responded

“Let me go out on this one !,” Minnie yelled to Sara, “I can’t sit here anymore, it is driving me nuts,”

“You can’t,” I said

“I agree,” added Jean coming down the steps.

Jean shot me an odd look before turning his back to me

“Well, I would have said yes, “ Sara said “But, it looks like I am outvoted.  Alan come with me,”

 

***

 

“Shit, Alan are you smoking ?,” Minnow asked picking up my discarded matches, “Let me have one,”

 

“I’m not smoking,” I said as she put her arms around my neck and leaned into my back.

 

She looked down at the burnt pieces of fabric and paper on the ground

 

“What are you up to ?,” she asked coming around to the front of  me

 

“I’m looking for a substitute for ignition paper for the bomb,” I explained to her,”It’s he last thing we need and it’s kind of important,”

 

“Damint, Alan” she said kissing my neck,”You’ve been working on that fucking thing for 4 days. Take a break with me,”

 

“Minnow, why don’t you help me ?,” I offered,”I need to find a material that--,”

“Maybe later, in a few hours,” she said getting up and walking off.

 

I felt like a jerk but, as soon as this was all over we could have the rest of out lives.

 

***

 

“ I’m going to find some way to pay you back,” I said

“Don’t worry about it. Unless you have physical cash you money literally has no value here,” Shai said as he handed me the clean white shirt and green tie.

“You really don’t want to know what I need these clothes for ?,” I asked

“No. It’s none of my business and I probably don’t want to know. Just keep them I was going to give them away or something anyway.”

“Okay,” I said

“I’ll walk back with you,”  Shai offered

"Alright,"

 

I had not really gotten to know him that well but, he was a nice guy and I was sure in another lifetime we would have been friends. We went down the steps of Shai’s house and up the road back to the lodge. Since I going to go back into the Life Summit to deliver the bomb and I couldn’t show wearing the same thing as before.

Shai and I had fallen into an awkward silence as we walked back.

“So, what do you do for fun around here ?,” I asked

“Well, I work a lot because my family is so involved with the running of the town. But, most young people we do normal stuff- play sports, hobbies, have big gathering where we enjoy each others company--,”

“What, like a party ?,” I asked

“Sure,” he said, “ I should invite you guys sometime,”

“I don’t know if we will be there that long,” I said

 

We walked up to Halliday Lodge and came in perfect view of  the Dories in the backyard’s porch swing. Minnow was lying on top of Jean  in a passionate embrace unaware of Shai and I’s presence

 

“I, um--,” Shai stuttered

 

“It’s nothing , they do that sometimes, they are just  . . .  odd that way,” I said to Shai.

 

***

Rachel Halliday explained to me that there is a specific treatment applied to the water to make it safe to drink but, I wondered if the treatment was for an aesthetic purposes as well. The water was crystal clear and perfect I wish I could take a picture of it just to remember it.

 

It seemed like most of the Arcadian residents  was out on the bridge overlooking the lake, listening to the live music, dancing and talking. We were all more relaxed than we should have been. Sara was sitting underneath the bridge at the edge of the water with Luce and Christopher .  Jean came up from behind her and splashed water on her , Sara chased him and easily caught him, pinning him to the ground. Minnow and I were standing on the bridge , her arms were around my neck and we were just moving slowly—not really dancing.

“It’s going to be so exciting tomorrow,” Minnow whispered in my ear, “ I want to know everything,”

“I’ll tell you everything, I promise“ I reassured her

“Alan ?,” she said kissing the side of my face,” Don’t fuck up,”

I smiled and she laughed into my shoulder.

It was a calm evening, maybe the most fun I had in a while.

Only 6 people knew this time tomorrow the Life Summit would cease to exist.

 -2-

 

 

 

I tried to walk straight and not act like the brief case I was carrying could kill me but, it was proving to be difficult.

The plan was simple enough, I even had a hand in coordinating it so I trusted it.

 

We looked over the schedule of events for the Life Summit and scheduled the bombing for the same time as the  auction they were holding that evening. The location of the auction was central to the building so, if an explosion started there the entire building would implode on itself.

 

I used my “in” with Life Solutions to sneek on to their floor in the hotel  and Jean broke into one of the rooms so, they would all have a good ariel view of the dissemination in case we lost contact. We just had to hope no one came back early.

 

 

The bomb was simple in it’s design but, ingenious in it’s execution. Even more ingenious was how Sara and I created it using household items. The bomb itself was a medium sized glass ball (made from a vase)  filled with the silvery detonator solvent.  Hanging above the solvent was a small square of wax with ignition paper inside.  When the string is loosened the ignition paper  is released into the solvent, the solvent eats away at the wax and sets the bomb off  sending an electromagnetic pulse through the building. 

If the explosion didn’t kill every piece of tech in the area, the EMP would. Nobody would be able to connect with anyone here for days. To detonate the bomb I had to release the string holding the paper and roll the ball , when the paper was fully saturated it would ignite 10 seconds later. I had less than a minute to leave the bomb and get the hell out of there.

I walked into the lobby of the Life Summit Center and into the auction room. The amount of money that was going to be spent at this auction was more than I wanted to fathom. It was all luxury items like paintings and diamonds but, it didn’t matter because this auction was never going to begin.

 

Sara told me to find a location in the back of the room to slip the bomb, that way no one would see it. I saw the perfect spot in a dark corner, I sat down in a chair in the back and  prepared to release the papers for the bomb when I saw  her.

 

She was put together just so, in a neat beige dress , black heels crossed, pearl bracelet on her wrist.

 

Long dark hair and sad dark eyes.

 

Allison Kyto.

 

I  put the bomb in my pocket, careful and not set  it off and I came up from behind her. I  pulled her arm like an idiot and she screamed jerking away. As the security guard approached us Allison turned around see and we were face to face.

“I’m sorry,” I mouthed

Her  face lit up in a dozen different expressions and she motioned for the security guard to leave.

 

I took her hand and pulled her out of her seat and down the hall. When we in the hall I started to run,  I was practically dragging her to make sure she kept up with me. When we were outside I stopped.

 

“Alan,” she said with tears coming down her face,” Are you okay ? Oh, my god we thought--

 

“I’m fine but you aren’t,” I said as she wiped away more tears.

Fuck

I had never thought about the human life being executed until now. I had to get her out first, then I would go back and set the bomb off.

“What are you doing  here ?,” she sobbed

Why the hell was she crying so much ?

“Is your mother here ? “ I asked  as we got closer to the hotel.

“Alan--,”

“Please, just answer my questions,” I said trying to remain calm.  I wondered if Sara could see me with Allison.

“No, I’m here representing dad. It’s just me,”

“You need to get the fuck out of here,now” I told her, “Call your jet or something,”

“I can’t, my Syndicate doesn’t work here. What is going on ?,”

I was being reckless and stupid but, I knew Mrs. Kyto. She was kind and I didn’t want her losing two of her loved ones in the same year.

“Follow me,” I said

“No, I’m going back inside,”  she said,” You’re freaking me out. We can ask a security guard and find a way to call home and--

“Just come with me,”

“No,” she said heading back inside

I didn’t want to physically restrain her so, I put my firearm between her back and my body

“Come on Allison,” I said

 

I walked her to the entrance of the hotel and when we got inside I put the gun away. We took the stairs to the Life Solutions floor and I slowly opened the room door as a chair came flying at me, I moved just in time for it to hit the opposite wall.

 

“WHAT THE HELL  ?,” Sara yelled pulling us inside and slamming the door shut.

 

She unhooked her gun, so I quickly  took out the bomb and she hesitated.

 

But just barely.

 

“What happened, who is that girl ? One simple thing and at the last second you bitch out on me !,” she shouted

 

 “Give him a break, Sara” Jean said, “Maybe Alan has a good reason.”

 

“This is Allison,” I explained,” She is my friend. I saw--,”

 

“We don’t have time,” Sara said looking out the window

 

Groups of people were leaving the center heading for the hotel

 

“ I don’t know who this girl is but, you can explain her back at the lodge, let’s go,” Sara said

 -3-

Allison was crying again.

 

There were so many tears that small wet stains were forming on her  dress. Even though we had been close aquatints for our entire lives I had never seen her so broken up. Not even when she had heard about her father’s death.

 

Minnow peeked out of the door of  the room stared at Allison for a while but, she had not made any contact. Rachel was the only one who had really talked to her, she offered Allison some of her tea, which  she refused. She had been alone for a few hours so, I decided it was time I did something

“Allison you will be fine,” I said quietly as I walked over to her, “Alright,  trust me I saved you,”

 

“Who are these people ? What is happening ?,” she asked, “Am I going to disappear like you did ?,”

 

“No,” I said, “Not if I have any say.”

 

Which I probably didn’t but, there was no reason for her to know that

 

“Are these terrorist?,” she asked

 

“They aren’t terrorist exactly-- they are paid killers ” I explained trying not to sugar coat the truth

 

“He means  we," Minnow said walking in to the room with Jean following behind her.

 

“I’m not a killer,” I said

 

“Tell, that to Dakota,” Minnow smiled

 

Minnow picked up the tea cup off of the table and gave it to Allison, who was staring at me.

 

“Drink the tea, Allison you look more frantic than me,” Minnie said,” I hate to see you cry and it really calms you down,”

 

Minnie held Allison’s  hand as she timidly took a sip of the tea, never taking her eyes of me.

 

“Is she the other girl ? ,” Minnie asked me

 

I nodded my head

 

“Other girl ?,” Jean finally spoke up, “And all this time I thought you were an innocent as a lamb,”

 

“You both have it all wrong,” I sighed

 

“My name is Jean Dory and this is my sister, Minnow,” Jean said stepping closer to Allison,”It appears you will be in our company for a while,”

 

“It's a little plain but, I like your dress,” Minnow said tracing one of the black circle patterns on the dress,,” Don't cry anymore . . . let’s be friends, okay ? I mean  for as long as we are together and all.”

 

Allison did not respond to Minnie

 

 Jean knealed down to the side of Allisons chair and moved a strand of her hair

 

“Another designer baby, I assume ?,” he said, ” You are almost as lovely as Alan was,”

 

He placed his hand on the side of her face and stroked her lips with his thumb, at his touch she jumped up pushing him away.

 

“Please don’t,” Allison said quietly, her hands shaking

 

“Don’t touch her, Jean !” I scolded him.

 

 

“Oh fine,” he said standing up and backing away from her, “But, Minnow gets to touch her. I just wanted to see,”

 

“Allison is Henry Kyto’s daughter,” I explained,  “She has a Proximity Block,”

 

“I knew there was something !,” Jean said,

 

“What is a proximity block  ?,” Minnie asked taking Allison’s hand and leading her to the bed to sit down. Allison’s  held her hands in tight balls.

“It means she can’t be touched by anyone who is male without an intense aversion,” I explained

“I—I guess I am sorry then,Allison Kyto,” Jean said,” I had no idea,”

“That is so trippy,” Minnow said, “ But, why would your parents do that to you ?,”

“Um, they want me to concentrate on school and get a job as a,priority,” Allison managed

“If my parents did that I’d fuck the dumbest dick in the world to get back at them,” Jean laughed

'Shut up, Jean," Minnow said,"I'm sure she's like the smartest girl in everything. Right ?,"

“Alan, Please,” Allison begged, ignoring the Dorys. ”Please, let me go. I just want to go home,”

“I want to let you go,I just need to work it out so you will be safe,” I explained

"Alan,"

"Just wait here, they are harmless," I said referring to the Dorys.

A part of me  knew Sara would never let her go, I just hoped Sara didn’t kill her. I walked out the room and down the hall to Sara’s room, her anger seemed to have subsided.

“Sara, can we please let Allison go,” I said,” We can leave he somewhere with a Syndicate-- let her find her own way home,”

“No,” she said

“All because I fucked up the plan ?,”

“No, because she knows about our plan, and she has seen my face. She might tell someone about me and my business rests on the fact that people have no idea who I am,”

“Well, maybe we can make her not tell and let her contact her mom and--,”

“No,” Sara pressed

I went through every option with Sara from serious to ridiculous-- throw Allison into the river to swim back,take a ransom out on her and then return her, try and giver her amnesia and send her home.

And each one we shot down.