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Chapter 10
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“We don’t exist. We travel as shadows of other people, sneaking and running with the wind. For this is the only way we can survive.” Radical Archive – excerpt from the commentaries on post-CJ Guild inception living
“Are you packed yet?” Alex asked. He began pacing outside Veronica’s room impatiently. “We’ve been here nearly five years Alex; that’s five years of accumulated junk I desperately need to take with me,” she responded only half-jokingly. “You know, we have people who can help you pack that in addition to moving it,” Alex said. Veronica opened her bedroom door and stuck her head out. “Absolutely not. I have delicate electronics in here, and letting some clumsy oaf thrash my tech equipment around isn’t high on my list of things to do today,” she said. “Fine, but the train to New Chicago leaves the station in two hours and we need at least an hour to get through security,” Alex said. Veronica knew this, of course. She was the one who’d researched the newest security protocols for everyone. With each new cycle, the Central Government seemed to be tightening their hold on the populace. What began with enhanced security at the border wall extended to all forms of transit. After that, travel restrictions began appearing to “protect the people” from roaming bands of Radical terrorists. The most recent Central Government upgrade posed the biggest threat though: retrofitted retinal scan identification. The Radical movement was nowhere near organized enough to implement any sort of massive Central Government Archive hack to implant a backdoor; with that, they could implant fake identities at will. No, at the moment each cell had to work their own magic – whether it was stealing someone else’s identity and duplicating their retinal scan onto a pair of contacts, or hacking the Archive and implanting a new identity – which proved dangerous since their detection software always seemed to detect intrusions moments after system entry. That’s why Veronica always made the argument for consolidation and organization among various Radical groups. At every cell meeting, she broached the subject – and each time the local cell leaders would silence her. Citing increased government control of information, they claimed any sort of organized movement would meet the same fate as those who protested the government fifteen years prior. Their reluctance to listen to her arguments was part of the reason she decided to leave Seattle. She needed a new environment and a new set of ears to listen to her pleas. The black shoulder bag lying on her bed overflowed with incidentals – socks, a computer tablet, snacks for the trip, a toothbrush, and other un-related items. The closet masquerading as a bedroom seemed almost spacious now; nearly all of her tech equipment had been broken down and shipped the previous day, leaving her bed, armoire, vanity, and sparse pieces of electronics. “I’ll just be another minute,” she said absentmindedly. Truth be told, she could’ve walked out the door at that very moment if she really needed to. The familiarity of the room, the feeling of home, and the memories she’d built there with Alex tugged at her to savor every last morsel of sensory input while she still could. The constant mold dew smell that permeated every crack and crevice of the building once made her stomach turn; now though, not smelling it would feel foreign. She also wasn’t sure how she felt about adjusting to a new set of Radical house mates with different bathroom schedules, weird habits, and potentially bad hygiene. This would be the first time in her life she consciously chose to uproot herself and change her life – a distinct departure from the previous twenty years. Veronica ran her hand along the peeling wallpaper next to the door and closed her eyes. Change and she weren’t strangers; on the contrary, they were constant companions. Somewhere in the back of her unconscious mind though, she knew someday she’d want to stop. She’d stay in one place long enough to plant a garden, meet neighbors and begin planting roots as her parents had done so long ago. She could barely picture her parents’ house now it’d been so long, but the idea of what it stood for still remained. As her hand arrived at the door frame and then the door latch, Veronica opened her eyes. She opened the door slowly and met Alex’s deep brown eyes waiting for her impatiently on the other side. Despite his annoying ability to eat three times his weight and still manage to remain a beanstalk, Veronica still cared for him. She still got butterflies every time he smiled at her, wrinkling his nose – which in turn stretched and contorted the freckles all over his face. “Sorry,” Veronica said. “I’m just…” Alex nodded knowingly. “It’s okay.” He stepped forward and draped his arms around her. “We need to get to the train though if we’re ever getting out of Seattle. These ID packs aren’t going to be valid for long, and hacking the mainframe to steal two new ID’s will take a while.” Veronica shook her head in affirmation. “I know,” she said. “Let me grab my bag and we can go.” The recognition of her departure seemed telling. She noted the absence of a large number of people, and the presence of quite a few people she knew were only there to make sure she actually left. In total, she could count the number of close friends waiting for her at the train station on one hand. Veronica didn’t let that bother her though; she’d been intentionally closed off for the better part of five years after the events at the facility. Back then, it seemed that every time she befriended or became attached to someone, she had to say goodbye a moment later. The solution seemed simple – avoid attachment. Life seemed more difficult now too, if that was humanly possible. Life outside the facility just making it day to day freely felt infinitely more difficult than following a set-out regimen as a child inside captivity. People paid more attention to her movements, her statements…to her in general. Slipping by adults unnoticed seemed to be a thing of the past now. “Do you have everything ready?” Alex asked, shaking Veronica out of her thoughts. “We’ll be at the Tube station in a few minutes.” Veronica looked around her to be sure she had everything. “Looks like it. Since we’re almost there, we should talk about what to do if…” Alex shook his head and interrupted, “No, we don’t think like that, remember?” “Alex, hoping something bad doesn’t happen and not talking about it isn’t going to help. Think of this as insurance in case something does go wrong.” Veronica smiled. “Fine, whatever. So what’s the plan?” He knew arguing with Veronica would be about as effective as swimming with weights on each arm. “We walk through separately. If one of us has a faulty ID pack, the retinal scan will be the one device to catch it if all else fails. If that happens…” Alex nodded. “The other has to act as surprised and appalled as everyone else, I know,” Alex said. “Yes, that too. On top of that, you have to keep moving forward. They look at everyone else around the offender to see if people turn back out of fear. It’s the easiest way to catch a traveling Radical,” Veronica said. “So if one of us gets caught, the other has to keep moving without as much as a second of hesitation.” Alex’s face seemed to fall slightly as he frowned. “You act like we’re on some sort of spy mission. This is real life, Veronica. This is you and me, not some search and destroy Radical operation.” Veronica squinted her eyes. “I know that Alex, I just want to make sure you’re okay.” She slid her hand across the seat and intertwined her fingers with his. “Now kiss me before we have to get off the train and walk to the Tube.” Veronica changed the subject and hoped for the best. She needed to prepare him though since she made an executive decision a few days prior. In her research, she learned of the increased city border patrols, the intensified ID pack scrutiny, and the overall concerted efforts of the Central Government to crack down on Radical movement. Traveling anywhere outside the city posed a high risk, but Veronica simply couldn’t stand by and watch as cell after cell fell at the hands of the Central Government…and all because they refused to share information and band together. That’s why she decided not to share everything with Alex when she revealed the results of her research. And it’s why, at this particular moment and time, Veronica could hear her heart beating in her stomach and her throat. Had she not taken a sedative on the train en route to the Tube station, she’d probably be trembling with fear. All around her soldiers in all-too-familiar fatigues patrolled with trained dogs sniffing random travelers for detonating materials. Others without dogs stopped people to search their bags, looking for anything remotely contraband-related. She wanted more than anything to hold Alex’s hand right then – to have him with her when she made it to the check-in gate. She could see him out of the corner of her eye a few paces to her left since his distinctive tussled brown hair distinguished him like a shining beacon – for Veronica at least. Walking casually with his shoulder bag flopping back and forth on his skinny shoulders and back, Alex appeared to be the definition of calm and collected. “Ma’am, I’m going to need to inspect your belongings,” a gruff male voice said from Veronica’s right side. Surprised, Veronica jumped. “I’m sorry sir, I didn’t see you there. Certainly,” she said. Veronica pulled her black bag from her shoulder and handed it to the soldier. He began rifling through the bag indiscriminately yanking items out for everyone around to see. When he found her tablet, he stopped and turned his head while he said something over a transmitter. “Is there something wrong?” she asked. “I’m going to need you to unlock this tablet so I can inspect the drive miss,” he said. Veronica noted the change immediately. She was no longer a Ma’am – and suddenly needed a reason she couldn’t unlock the tablet. If they confiscated it, her Seattle cell would be at risk since she hadn’t taken the time to completely encrypt all the files with cell information. She did a mental head-slap at her sloppy work, and began weaving a lie. “This is actually my parents’ tablet sir,” she said smiling. “I’m carrying it since they didn’t have room in their bags.” “And where exactly are they?” he asked suspiciously. “They’re in the bathroom back at the train station. I wanted to get good seats, so I went ahead.” Veronica mentally crossed her fingers. “We can wait here for them then,” he responded. “I need to look at the contents of this tablet, otherwise you won’t be able to board the Tube train.” Veronica’s anxiety levels began bubbling over as sweat formed along her temples. She continued smiling nervously at the soldier while looking around the crowd for her imaginary parents. “They’re around her somewhere,” she said. “Let’s move over to the detention area and they can come looking for you when they realize you’re not on the train,” he said. Veronica made one last glance at the crowd, this time intentionally looking in Alex’s direction to make sure he was still walking. She couldn’t help herself – she knew this could be the last time she saw him. She scanned the crowd intently, but couldn’t find his brown bob anywhere. “Oh God,” she muttered incoherently. “What was that?” the soldier asked. Before Veronica could answer, Alex answered the question for her. He appeared from behind the soldier, grabbed the tablet from the soldier’s hands, and smashed it against the ground. Veronica felt paralyzed. “Why?” she mouthed in the milliseconds they had to see one another. He simply smiled and stared into her hazel eyes. The moment felt simultaneously too short and eternally long. Despite her instructions to keep walking, Alex came back. Of course… when Veronica made the plan, she was the one that would keep walking if Alex was captured – she never figured she’d be the one stopped and detained. The solider jabbed his right index finger into Veronica’s shoulder. “You! Don’t move!” He turned, began yelling commands into his wrist transmitter, and took off after Alex – who’d taken off at a sprint a half-second prior. Veronica waited until the count of five to put distance between herself and the soldier. She turned and began walking at a brisk pace toward the Tube gate. She fought back against the tears threatening to burst from her eyes at any moment – something that would make the retinal identification scan fail. The contact lenses in her eyes held a delicate imprint, and a deluge of salty tears could destroy everything. On her way to the gate, Veronica pulled her ID documents out of her black shoulder bag and dropped the bag next to the closest dumpster she could find without looking suspicious. She suddenly wished she’d worn layers of clothing so she could change her appearance as well; ditching the bag would have to work for now though. After an unbearably long walk through the crowded area outside the gate area, Veronica arrived at the front of one of the check-in lines. She flipped her pockets inside out, handed over her documentation, and leaned into the scan. As she waited for the terminal to verify her identity, she mentally crossed her fingers and toes for good luck. A moment later, the indicator light turned green, the female guard behind the counter smiled, and Veronica walked through the x-ray screen. Her identification victory was short-lived though; as Veronica walked quickly toward the train, she heard the guard’s desk transmitter ring and the guard answer. “Yes... yes… I understand sir. Right away,” the guard said. “Actually, I think she just… yes sir, I will, right away.” She disconnected. Veronica knew immediately what the call meant. They’d either given up searching for Alex or they’d captured him; either way, she was now their primary target. “Excuse me, ma’am?” the guard said in a raised yet polite voice. Veronica liked this – it meant the guard wasn’t sure if she was the one they were looking for with complete certainty. She used this momentary lack of belief to her advantage and walked faster, attempting to make it to a group of people to begin blending in among the crowd. In the distance, she could hear the first alarms sounding. The guard apparently moved from doubt to certainty fairly quickly after the hastened retreat from the check-in post. Veronica didn’t dare look back for fear of seeing how close the guards were; she kept her eyes forward, locked onto the nearest train entrance. Once inside, she could hide long enough for the train to rocket out of the station toward New Chicago. If they couldn’t find her before the scheduled time they’d simply contact New Chicago and let them handle the situation. Veronica was counting on this as she power walked through hordes of zoned out travelers. The moisture in the air began thickening, turning into a mist. As fog began rolling in from the west, Veronica knew this would be the last time she saw weather this beautiful. The barren plains around New Chicago felt depressing in comparison. She’d have to suck it up though – everything seemed to be centering on that city recently, and she knew if her voice was going to be heard, it would be there. As she reached the railing of the train entrance, Veronica breathed a quick sigh of relief. She’d made it half way there, and just had to stay out of sight now until the train took off. She pulled herself up the steep stair climb, looked back briefly against her own better judgment, and scanned the crowd. In the middle of the crowds, halfway between the train and the check-in gate, she could see a steady ant-trail of soldiers making their way toward the train. They meant business. She knew simply hiding in a corner seat wouldn’t do; a better hiding place would be in order. Veronica ducked into the train and looked around. On either side of the aisle, rows of red patterned seats (three on either side) lined the car. What little light existed in the gloom outside filtered in through the tinted windows, illuminating the otherwise dim car. Veronica walked down the aisle toward the door to the next car, and then to the next after that. Each car looked identical to the previous one. After walking through six cars, Veronica began to panic. Where could she hide? The bathroom in each car seemed too obvious; they’d send a man into each car to check each stall before anywhere else – she’d certainly be caught if she attempted something that obvious. Just before pressing the button to open the door to car number seven, she looked through the circular peep-window and found one of the soldiers already searching the car. She was out of time and had limited options. Veronica turned, retraced her steps, and opened the door at the opposite end of the car after checking to be sure it had no unwelcome security visitors. After pressing the small square button to the right of the door, the sliding door separating the two cars opened, revealing the gap between the two cars. Since the train sped forward in a direct line between the two cities, the train had little need for large gaps between cars – the trains merely made large loops in train yards at their destination cities to re-track themselves for the next upcoming trip. The lack of gap was touted as a safety feature when the Tube trains originally went public. The smaller the gap, the less chance of someone slipping off the side (through the chain-railing) . Veronica stopped on the miniscule space outside the sliding door, looked up, then over to the side. If she climbed on top of the car they could spot her from outside the train at ground level. No, she had to do something even riskier (and dumber). She decided to climb over the chain railing to the other side of the train. Once there, she’d have to position herself to where she could climb back inside the train the moment it began moving – otherwise she’d fly off the car with the train’s momentum within seconds. The light mist began transforming into a light rain, and a moment after that into a heavy downpour. Veronica’s wavy red bangs clung to her face like a wet noodle to a kitchen wall. She struggled with the chain railing as she flopped her left leg clumsily over the chain while keeping a death grip on a handle by the sliding train door. With one leg on either side of the chain railing, Veronica paused a moment to take a deep breath before flinging her body completely over the rail onto the side of the train. In that silent, contemplative moment, Veronica nearly leaped the rest of the way when the automatic door she came out through timed out and automatically closed. Thoroughly mortified at the entire situation, Veronica decided she needed to suck it up and finish climbing. She re-gripped the handle once again and lifted her right leg over the railing, keeping her eyes squeezed shut. She kept telling herself it would be less dangerous if she didn’t see the impending death below her waiting on a slip and fall. After she fully pulled her body over the chain rail, Veronica rested another moment while she removed one of her hands from the handle by the door. With her right hand still firmly planted around the door handle, she used her left hand to feel around the side of the train for anything she could grab onto for support as she waited out the soldiers. Water seemed to be streaming down the sides of the train car like a waterfall. Veronica moved her left hand around the train car furiously looking for anything she could hold on to – a handle, a spigot… anything. When her hand finally grazed over a groove she could physically grab and hang from, she nearly cried out with joy. Before letting go of the door handle, Veronica made sure she had a firm grip on the mini-ledge to her left on the train car. Just before she released her grip on the handle though, the automatic door slid open. Veronica immediately dove into a panic. She released the death grip on the handle prematurely, forcing her body to do a small swing down from the railing like swinging from a tree vine. Once her body began the upswing toward the ledge, she grabbed on with her free hand, closed her eyes, and tried to steady her uneven breathing. She listened intently to the sounds coming from the door, waiting on the person to pass. In the meantime, eons passed as the waterfall pelted her forehead. After footsteps faded and the familiar whoosh of the automatic doors passed, Veronica felt a little safer. Veronica heard a chime in the distance… the sound coming from one of the downtown clocks announcing the arrival of the new hour. It was with this signal she decided she could begin moving back toward the inner train car; the train’s last call would be sounding, leading to the reverse train motion placing it in the magnetic holster. After a moment of reverse positioning, the train would slingshot down the track and into the underground tunnel using the train’s momentum and magnetic force to guide it along the polarized hovertrack all the way to New Chicago. She just had to make it inside before the slingshot maneuver – especially since it sent the train from zero to an insanely fast speed in milliseconds. Getting back up proved a little more difficult than getting down; the more she inched along the slippery ledge, the further it seemed she had to go. With her right hand, she reached out for the corner and slipped. She tried again and only managed to frustrate herself more when her hand missed the corner and grasped the miniscule ledge that seemed increasingly harder to hold as her muscles waned and the water fell. Just when it seemed like a bad situation couldn’t get much worse, it did: the train began its reverse motion. “Ugh!” she said aloud. Veronica craned her head back away from the train car. A few cars back, she could see the junction where the rear car connected with the sling shot. It felt dangerously close – so close she began to worry. She pulled her head back to the car, rested it a moment, took a deep breath, and began inching to her right again, faster this time. Thoughts flashed through her head she thought she’d never remember… thoughts of her years with Alex, her time at the facility… all of it seemed like she’d wasted her life waiting when she should’ve been living. She suddenly regretted keeping Alex at such a distance all the time. She desperately wanted to jump into his arms right then and kiss him. That meant she’d have to survive though, and to do that she’d have to get to the chain railing. As she reached the corner of the train car moments later, Veronica knew her time was short. The train would only need a minute or two to reverse to the junction, and she’d spend at least that long trying to fight the rain in getting back up to the space between cars. Veronica reached up, stretching her right arm as far as she could while still holding on to the corner ledge with her left hand. The chains rattled with the storm, shaking back and forth. A bolt of lightening lit up the darkened sky, making Veronica involuntarily jump. The jump pushed her in the right direction though – right up to the nearest chain. She grasped the guard rail chain as hard as she could and let go of the ledge behind her so she could put both hands up on the chain. Veronica felt five pounds heavier than normal with water soaking through her clothes. Nonetheless, she pulled herself up the guard chain slowly just as the train stopped. She had precious seconds to get inside before the train would take off, and being outside could prove potentially deadly. Veronica flipped herself clumsily over the chain rail and lunged at the door. She pressed the automatic door button and waited, but nothing happened. She pressed it again – this time repeatedly – to no avail. A moment later the train’s auto-navigation system responded. “All doors have been sealed for passenger protection during launch. Please return to your seat until the train is in motion.” The color drained from Veronica’s face. Knowing what she had to do, Veronica looked around her feet for the safest spot. She slid down, back against the door, until she was in a sitting position. She pulled her legs up away from the open gap so the train’s take-off wouldn’t injure them, and looked at the chains on either side of her shivering body. The train seemed to go quiet all at once. Veronica could almost feel the potential energy build up in the fleeting seconds she had left to strap herself in for the take-off. Veronica reached out and looped the rail chains on either side of her around her arms until they tightened and she couldn’t loop anymore. Convinced she’d done all she could do, Veronica closed her eyes and waited. Seconds later, the train clamps released from the junction and the train took off like a bullet, racing down the track toward the underground tunnel that would lead it to New Chicago. |
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The Radical Chronicles is Copyright © 2009 by Tim Peacock.
