Stealing the hairpin and loosening the vent in the bathroom turns out to be an easy mission. The hair and makeup area is empty other than one very frazzled Evolved man who is in charge of making me look like I haven't been through hell for the past day and a half. He sees me as a canvas rather than a person, and once his work is done, he doesn't pay any further attention to me.
After I loosen the screws on the bathroom vent, Marie sends me a quick message through my contact cameras telling me that the files she downloaded from Dr. Rodriguez's tablet were corrupted. I'll need to find time after the interview to get on my Strand tablet so she can get back on his system and see what the problem is.
Not wanting to raise any suspicions, I walk toward the set we'll be using for the interview with Tressa. Just another obedient Throwback ready for duty.
"Your behavior today will directly impact where your Molly sleeps tonight—safe in the pod, or six feet under," Lexi says.
I flinch at the barely-leashed rage in her tone. "I understand."
"Blake has written talking points for you, but Tressa refused to give us the full list of questions, so there will likely be some you will have to answer on your own. If the public and the police watch your interview, they must see that you are being treated well and are here voluntarily. Which you are, of course."
"Of course," I reply, aiming for my usual sarcastic tone, but missing. Maybe Dr. Rodriguez's torture didn't fail after all. Maybe I am broken.
"I see that your treatment yesterday was effective. You've seen the value in cooperating."
"I do."
The set designers, who have been adjusting furniture and lighting, suddenly straighten.
I look over my shoulder and see Tressa striding toward us with her signature wide, white smile.
"Welcome," Lexi says, reaching out her hand to Tressa's.
Tressa looks at her outstretched hand, but doesn't shake it. "I trust that there is an Evolved Strand representative here I can engage with as we get ready for the interview?"
"Certainly," Lexi says smoothly, seemingly unfazed by Tressa's dismissal. A vicious part of me hopes she's often snubbed now that her Status as a Genetic Replicant is public knowledge.
Blake Greene hurries onto the set, and he and Tressa talk logistics. I should be paying attention, or at least trying to think about how I can use this interview to my advantage without putting Addie in danger, but I can't focus. That dread is back in my stomach.
When my vision comes this time, it isn't one of Lozen's messages. It's worse.
Mav, Jin and Blu are in the old Bunker space, sitting on the beaten couch in the main room.
"I won't leave Joan locked up in there," Mav says, his little mouth set in a firm line. "Harriet and Mason say that we have to wait for the right moment to help, but they could be too late. It's up to us to save her."
"Let's get some explosives and blow a hole in the wall at Strand. Then we can run in and get her," Blu says excitedly.
Mav rolls his eyes. "That'll never work."
"Then what's your great idea?"
"Easy. We kidnap Lexi. Then they'll have to let Joan out if they want her back."
Blu and Jin stare Mav with wide eyes, clearly impressed.
"You're a genius," Jin says.
Mav looks like he's fighting a smile. "She's got to come out of Strand sometime. She might be on the lookout for someone dangerous, but she'll never expect it to be a few kids. We'll snatch her up and bring her back here. You both in?"
YOU ARE READING
Joan Ascends
Science-FictionSeason 3 of The Throwbacks The outlook for Throwbacks in Seattle - and across America - has never been bleaker. If Joan and her friends want to have any chance at building a more just future, they will have to expose the inhumanity of their enemies...
