The Bridge | Bots 'R Us

Chapter 23 | Family Reunion

PORTLAND COUNCIL
2 MAY 634 - 8:08

With impeccable Gossamer precision, the Pop arrived in Portland at 8:08 hours. Simone and Vic's pod slipped to a reserved area that allowed the Interim First Councilor to remain unannounced. GINI had requested that the private halls Simone and Vic would cross on their way out of the station be emptied by 8:00 hours. Unfinished breakfasts in the coffee shop section showed people had to leave hastily. Outside, a gentle morning spring in the Pacific Northwest greeted the duo. Zita was on time to pick them up. Dressed in a heavy cotton dress with a country-style flowery print and dainty ribbons, she was standing next to an odd All-Terrain vehicle, her Lander brother Bryan at the wheel with his young adult Original son, Hector, by his side.

"It's like a little family reunion!" Simone said when she spotted them, walking towards them with open arms. She gave Zita one of those powerful Andro squeezes and introduced Vic. "So good to see you after all this time, Zita! We're lucky you're still around."

"Same to you with all that's happening now! It's a relief to see you right in front of me. And yes, we're still around after all that long, long time," Zita said, hand on her heart—a symbolic gesture for an Andro. "We have to thank GINI for trying to keep families together and schedule their back-transfers close to one another—a gift and a curse." She gave Simone a tired smile. "Looks like we'll all be Landers soon enough now. Get in the back with me. Vic, you're first; you'll sit in the middle." She walked around the vehicle to board on the other side while Vic and Simone hopped into the strange truck.

"Hi Bryan, Hector, my world! You're so grown up!" They exchanged quick hugs across the rows, and Simone couldn't help but ask: "What are you driving, Bryan? This truck is so weird!"

"It's called a Humvee!" He laughed. "On Hector's mom's side of the family, they're crazy for Revival Rides. It's kind of a political statement against GINI and The Bridge, too. It says you're in favor of the 'Good Old Days.'"

"It's a total rebuild of a second-century all-wheel-drive inspired by military vehicles," Hector explained with pride. "I had a lot of fun customizing it!"

"And he's much better at self-driving it than me," Bryan added. "But I do fine with all the assistive stuff in here."

"And it can even maglev as needed! Don't worry, cousin, you're in good hands," Hector said to conclude the barrage of father-and-son boast.

Bryan had married into an Original family that wasn't very supportive of the CS overall. So they didn't tell Hector's mom and siblings who they were meeting on that day. "We just told Alma that Zita needed a ride," Bryan said to Simone when she inquired.

"Good! I was afraid for a second we'd be stuck here." Simone laughed nervously. She and Vic were very stressed by the sudden change of plans that brought them to Portland.

"And it has more tricks up its hood," Hector said, sliding his fingers on a control slate.

Simone and Vic looked at each other, puzzled, and said almost in unison, "We've lost the network! Don't tell me they brought down Goz!"

"Cryo, cousin, it's just the truck. I turned on the shield and sent a narrative code. For their spies, you went off the grid. We'll send a narrative when we've figured out what you want them to believe. For now, you disappear with us for a short while, and I'll be safe enough to give you details that mustn't get out of here!" Hector said with a mischievous grin, his freckled face topped with a messy mop of curly strawberry blonde hair framed between the two headrests.

"You haven't told us where you want to go," Zita said.

"We need a fast transport that can evade detection," she turned to Vic. "I'm thinking of a Hopter, and the Willamette Security Base could lend us one. What do you think?"