|
Chapter 17
|
|
|
“Prior to the inception of the Executive Operative program, most Radicals trained in individual cells and went out on missions. In a sense, that period in our history was really the only time Radicals worked as a unified people rather than fractured, politicized Radical Government citizens. Some believe the bonds formed in those cells among mission members were the glue that held the original Radical Government framework together." Radical Archive – excerpt from the Executive Operatives Origins “Let’s hear it,” Veronica said to her dinner mates. She looked around the circular dinner table at her team awaiting their complaints. “It’s actually kind of a relief,” Maria said. Veronica leaned into the table and motioned for Maria to explain. Allison spoke up instead, “Maria’s saying she wanted the job as much as I deserved it.” “Hey now,” Robert said. He ran a hand through his short blond hair and sighed. “You can see why having you as the new team leader is a blessing in disguise. We all wanted the position, and have been in-fighting since we lost Jake.” “And Robert here doesn’t have the cojones to keep us all in line,” Allison said with a snort. “Enough,” Veronica said. “We’re here to air your grievances against me, not each another.” “Is that what this is all about?” Allison asked. “I thought it was a good will dinner,” she said while making air quotes. “I don’t pull punches, and I don’t sugar coat things,” Veronica said. “What you see is what you get with me. So speak now or fall in line.” Allison nodded. “I like this one,” she said. Griffin, silent for the entire exchange, finally spoke. “I like having you with us.” “You like having both red heads is all you big oaf,” Allison said. “Are you going to keep me as your number two?” Robert asked. “Everyone keeps their same roles unless any of you have objections,’ Veronica said. “I have an objection; this is bullshit,” Allison said. She pushed back from the table. “Everyone else may be okay with this, but I’m not going to sit back and act like it’s just another day while you come in and take over.” “So that’s it? You have a chance to air your baggage and you’re out, just like that?” Veronica asked sharply. “If you leave now, consider yourself off the team. And I don’t just mean the B team.” Allison’s eyes widened. “You can’t do that.” “I can and I will,” Veronica said. She stared Allison down, waiting on her to stand up and leave. Allison scowled while she pushed her chair back up to the table. “You don’t want to know what I think of this,” she said. “If I didn’t, we wouldn’t be here. Now talk,” Veronica said. “This team is built on trust and respect, and you stepping in out of nowhere shits all over that,” Allison said. “Now Allison,” Robert interjected. “It’s okay, let her speak,” Veronica said. “Thank you,” Allison said. “I don’t think it’s right that you should be able to come in after all the work we’ve done together. It should’ve been one of us.” “I understand, but it wasn’t my decision,” Veronica said. “What can I do to help you get past this?” Allison’s eyes narrowed. “Really? You’re really gonna ask that question?” “Humor me.” “I need to know what makes you a better leader than any of us,” Allison said. “How about I give you a better reason,” Veronica said. She knew it was the right time to bring it up. “How about I tell you a story about Blithe Spirit none of you know... a story about deception.” She looked at the confused faces around the table for any signs of recognition. “I know for a fact that someone at Blithe Spirit isn’t who they say they are, and I intend to be the one to expose them.” “If you know who this person is, why don’t you come out and say it?” Robert asked. “I don’t have the evidence, so it would be my word against this person’s word,” Veronica said. “I see,” Robert said. “So why are you telling us?” “I need a team I can trust in order to smoke the weasel out,” Veronica said. She turned and looked directly at Allison. “I need a trusted group of teammates I can rely on when it gets sticky.” “Exactly how high ranking is this person?” Maria asked from the periphery. “If this was just some low level Radical you wouldn’t be this guarded.” “Good observation Maria,” Veronica said. “I don’t want to say too much now. I wanted to bring you in on it though.” “If you’re so sure that this person…God, can we just give it a him or her designation? I hate indefinites,” Allison said. “Pick one,” Veronica said. “Fine; if you’re so certain that this… guy is a traitor, how can you be sure he isn’t aware you know already?” Allison asked. “I’m not. That’s why I need each of you,” Veronica said. For the remainder of dinner, conversation remained on the nameless Central Government spy in the midst. While not naming Todd by name, Veronica tried to give her new team the urgency and caution needed not to go around Blithe Spirit blabbing about a potential spy. While at the time bringing them all in on the problem seemed like the right thing to do, Veronica worried that telling them before Ruby could cause problems. Debating the issue now was moot; the damage was done. Back at Blithe Spirit, Veronica reluctantly ventured back to her suite. She didn’t have the energy to deal with Lorelei, but really didn’t want to run into Molly or Chad either. Given the option, Veronica decided her annoyance with Lorelei’s new acquaintance didn’t compare to the anger Molly probably still had, so the option was clear: off to the suite it would be. “Oh hi Veronica,” Lorelei said as Veronica entered. Veronica looked around, performing a quick visual scan of the room. She needed to know how much more space Lorelei intended to assimilate. On first glance, it appeared the same as it had previously – a good sign that hurricane Lorelei was subsiding. She smiled and nodded to Lorelei. “How was your evening?” she asked. “Just trying to re-learn the paths through Blithe Spirit mostly; it’s changed so much just since my tour!” Veronica crossed the room and sat down at her desk to boot up her computer terminal. “You mentioned that you toured here previously. May I ask what made you decide not to stay here?” Lorelei wrinkled her delicate nose and squinted her eyes slightly. “It’s a bit embarrassing I must admit,” she said. “I thought Mister Leigh was just trying to sleep with me. He gave me a creepy vibe when we met.” “So he’s the one who recruited you?” Veronica asked. She still wasn’t convinced Lorelei wasn’t lying outright. “It was Ruby actually. She and I met at a bar, of all places.” Lorelei blushed. “Wait,” Veronica said. “You and Ruby?” “Please don’t tell anyone,” Lorelei said softly. “Between my creepy Todd vibe and my developing thing with Ruby, I thought it would be best to turn down Todd’s offer. I only came when Ruby asked that I at least see the place.” Veronica sat back in her chair, visibly taken back. “I’m sorry if I offended you,” Lorelei said. Her face seemed to sink from its permanently happy fixture for the first time since she met Veronica. “Oh no, no no no… I didn’t mean it like that,” Veronica said. She stood up from her desk chair and crossed over to Lorelei’s bed. After taking a seat next to Lorelei, Veronica said, “I think it’s beautiful. I just didn’t know you were…and well, who knew gay bars existed in New Chicago?” She chuckled nervously. “Well there aren’t really gay bars per se, but bars exist that people show up at knowing they may run into others with the same predilection.” Lorelei looked up and half-smiled at Veronica. “You sure it’s not a big deal then?” “I once risked my life for a guy who the Central Government locked up for merely appearing too gay. To me, he was a friend, not a label,” Veronica said. “So does Todd know?” “I don’t think so,” Lorelei said. “Well he certainly wouldn’t be against it; look at how many same sex couples live here,” Veronica said. “We’re all Radicals here, gay or straight.” “I wish it was that easy,” Lorelei said. “You’d think sharing a common enemy would eliminate all the tensions. They’re still there though, believe me.” “I’m sorry.” “It’s not your fault,” Lorelei said. “Some people just need to open their eyes and realize we’re all on the same side. We all just want to live our lives and love who we want.” “Well if Todd chooses not to like it when you tell him, you can rest easy knowing I’m not too fond of him either for my own set of reasons,” Veronica said. “Just don’t tell him I said that.” She laughed. Lorelei joined in on the laugh, and breathed a sigh of relief. “I’m glad you and I can talk and get along. I was afraid Todd placed me in here as a punishment for not accepting his original invitation.” “Perhaps it is supposed to be punishment… for both of us,” Veronica said. “I just accepted a position on Ruby’s team. I know Todd couldn’t be overly happy about that.” “I heard already,” Lorelei said. “Ruby and I had dinner tonight and discussed you.” ”I hope she had wonderful things to say about me,” Veronica said. “She’s certainly putting a lot of trust in you at the moment by the sounds of things.” Conversation continued for a few more minutes along mundane topics, and then Lorelei decided to call it a night. They turned off the suite lights and Veronica dimmed her terminal screen so it wouldn’t keep Lorelei awake all night. Having learned she could initially trust her new acquaintance, Veronica felt safe in reviewing Todd’s log files with Lorelei sleeping on the other side of the room. Something in the countless logs she downloaded had to contain useful information; otherwise, why would Todd take the time and effort to hide the information? The dim glow of the terminal monitor glared across Veronica’s tired face. She could almost feel the bags under her eyes they felt so heavy, beckoning her to lay her head down for just a few seconds to rest. When she finally gave in, Veronica drifted into her subconscious almost immediately. In it, she found herself standing at the same train station that had originally taken her to New Chicago in the first place. She looked around, remembering the details of that horrible day. The sky above her had already opened up, releasing a torrent of downpour, thunder, and lightening. The air tasted metallic, almost like she was gripping the side of the train for dear life again. Her face shoved against the car as she swung back and forth, her hands on the ledge on the side of the car…all of the sensory memories distilled into the thick, moist air around her like the air held the memories rather than dense fog. Through the fog, she could hear voices, but couldn’t make out what they were saying. She wanted to move closer, but something inside her wouldn’t allow it. Instead, she turned and looked at the train car entrance directly behind her. It felt warm… almost inviting. She instinctively climbed up the miniature staircase and peered into the car. Inside the entrance, Veronica found herself inside Todd’s Blithe Spirit office. Standing like a ghost, she watched as Todd sat as his desk speaking with someone sitting in one of the two plush guest seats opposite his desk. “Are you sure you won’t reconsider?” Todd asked. “I’m certain, but thank you for the opportunity Mister Leigh,” the female guest responded. Veronica moved in closer to see who Todd was speaking to and noticed the black hair and blue eyes immediately – it was Lorelei. Before Veronica could process any of the information, an alarm began sounding outside the office door. Like a police siren, it wailed loudly, echoing through the corridors of Blithe Spirit drowning out all other sounds. Lorelei turned to Veronica and placed a hand on her arm. “Veronica, you need to hide. Quickly, get to the bathroom!” Lorelei’s eyes seemed to burn with something almost primal. Veronica stood from the second plush guest chair and rushed out of the office door, finding herself back in the train yard once more. Behind her, she could still hear Lorelei’s voice in the distance, almost a whisper now. “Veronica…” Lorelei said. “You need to wake up.” Veronica opened her eyes and peered up at Lorelei standing over her. “I must have drifted off,” she said. “Right on your keyboard at that,” Lorelei said. “It finally began giving off this awful beeping noise when the input from your face pissed off your computer terminal enough.” Veronica let out a sleepy chuckle. “The alarms,” she said in a groggy, half-asleep voice. “I’m sorry for waking you.” “I’m fine; I just wanted to get you to bed so you don’t wake up with pains through your neck from sleeping at your desk all night.” “Thank you. I’m heading there now,” Veronica said. Veronica shut down her terminal, stood up, and walked to their bathroom to wash her face and brush her teeth. With her red locks pulled back into a scrunchie, she dabbed her face with cleanser and went about brushing her teeth while she let the gel sit on her face a few moments. In the silent moments she stood getting ready for bed, Veronica tried to make some kind of sense of the weird dream. Why was she dreaming about that place now? Perhaps digging up all of the information on Todd triggered something in her memory from that day. She shook off the bad dream, turned off the bathroom light, and made her way to bed. The morning briefing would be different tomorrow – she’d have to participate – so she wanted to be as rested as possible. Lying in bed staring up at the cement ceiling, she wondered silently how she was ever going to juggle all the various issues all demanding her attention. Sleep would soon delay the answer that question, at least for the immediate future. She drifted off fairly quickly, delving into a dreamless yet restful sleep. |
|
The Radical Chronicles is Copyright © 2009 by Tim Peacock.
