Artemis Files (0.5)

Chapter 11

Late 2272 - Chicago Outskirts

S9 enjoyed two days in the family's homestead. It was the longest she'd been able to rest since that mission went wrong and escaping. In the meantime she tried to figure out why her memory had this fog over it. It seemed like it was something specific but she wasn't sure what. When she wasn't doing that she was playing with the little boy who was, for all intense and purposes, her age. The parents had a hard time believing it but S9 explained that synths were brought in with the minds and bodies of adult humans so they could do the slave labor the Institute needed them to do. "Can't do very much if you're stuck in the body of a child. Nothing against children of course," she'd said looking at Joshua. She'd grown to care for him during this time. "And then there's aging. I'm not really sure how it works for us synths honestly. We either don't or it's much slower then our human counterparts."

The couple seemed to understand this though it was limited. Suddenly a knock at the door, causing S9 to jump and hide around the corner. She'd been jumpy, aware that X6 was probably still on her trail. The woman, her name was Thalia, checked the window through a space in the curtains. Even from this angle, S9 saw the look of shock on her face. She didn't bother to turn and face the synth but did begin to speak. "The man that's looking for you. You said he's dark skinned, sunglasses, with a black jacket like what you were wearing when you came to us?"

S9 forgot how to breathe for a moment, and her lack of an answer was enough of one for Thalia. "Joshua," Thalia said quietly, but it was clear what she was going to say was important and the boy paid close attention. "Take our friend here to the cellar. You know that hole in the corner we have that's covered up? It used to be part of a bootleg tunnel a long time ago?" The boy nodded and saw where this was going and grabbed S9 gently by the hand and began to lead her. Once she was out of view from the front door, Thalia opened it.

"Hello young man. Is there anything I can do to help you?" Thalia, her motherly voice ringing through the house even as S9 was being guided through the cellar to the old bootleg tunnel. She'd since come to hate the underground, not only because of the Institute but it always seemed that whenever X6 was just about to catch her, she was underground where she wouldn't be able to get very much help. Joshua opened a part of the wall up that S9 didn't see in this dim lighting. He told her to stay in a particular corner and should X6 come down here, he wouldn't be able to see her should she stay quiet. She nodded and thanked him before going back upstairs to meet with his parents.

"I'm looking for a woman," X6. It couldn't be anyone else. Even his monotone voice was unique among Coursers. "Similar styled clothes to me, bow and arrows, red hair, pale skin, blue eyes, freckles. Perhaps you've seen her?" For a while, Thalia stood silently, acting as if she was thinking if she'd seen such a woman. X6 became impatient as he crossed his arms and scowled at the woman. "Please ma'am. She's an escapee. It's very important I get her back where she belongs."

Thalia scowled back. "Being impatient with me, young man, won't bring the answers forward any faster." S9 wished she didn't have to remain so quiet otherwise she would have laughed, appreciating, not only the woman's sass, but the gaul to do it to someone like X6. X6 deserved worse for being so cruel, even for a Courser, but this would have to do for now. Thalia's face grew a faux sincerity as she continued on with her answer. "As for the woman you're looking for, no. I haven't seen her."

For a while, there was nothing, but then X6 spoke. Even in his monotone voice, S9 could tell that he didn't believe Thalia's lie no matter how smooth it had been. "I'd like to do a thorough search of your home. This particular woman is... very clever. She might have snuck somehow without you realizing it." And before Thalia could tell him otherwise, X6 let himself in. She turned around and suddenly saw her son. Even with his young age something passed between him and his mother. They had to protect S9 from her captor.