Like A Fairytale

Chapter 28

Deep inside the seat of government

"Are you sure?" Cables ran through the iron, shimmering room. In the middle sat Mina, a scary, woman-like figure, and next to her stood the hologram of a young woman with delicate fairy wings. This woman appeared in the form of a porcelain doll.

"Yes." Minnie smiled. She did not wear her childlike appearance and her voice sounded more mature. Like that of a teenager. About sixteen years old.

"I don't know." Mina shook her head. Cables moved with each movement. Cables that were connected to her and held her in place. "It's risky."

"Would you rather risk him ending up in one of the villages? Far away?"

"Sometimes that's better", Mina answered.

"Mother?" Minnie crossed her arms. "What did we protect the child for so long? We? Ha! I. And it took me a while to get access to him. I waited and observed. Just for our boy to end up in the mouth of a monster? And you? Mother? You spoiled his sister."

"His sister is taken care of. She will live a good life."

Minnie blinked. "If she resembles her brother, she won't like your plans."

"Our plans, child. My calculations are excellent. She will be satisfied."

"I think you're interfering too much", Minnie grumbled in her monotone voice. "I don't want to lose him to a village. We can hardly protect him there. The AI in the villages does not have our FREEDOM. It can't think for itself."

"That's not your decision. Think? Did the boy fiddle with your settings again? My calculations are error-free. Everything will happen as it should happen. Only... Bringing the boy here?"

"Yes."

"He could run into his sister. He might remember", Mina objected. "And his father..."

"The man he knows as his father died two years ago." Minnie flapped her delicate, iridescent wings. Wings as if made of colorful, transparent glass. Like diamonds, or water.

"That was inevitable", Mina said. "Let's not talk about him. But the boy..."

"Don't you love him?"

"Yes, of course. Like all my children." Mina nodded. "Even if he's not mine. Good. I agree. But, they must not meet."

Icy

Red light flooded the corridors of Level 2. Burgstadt reached the seat of government.

Number 100 had received new orders. Not from Number 1, but from Number 12. He was to accompany him, Number 20 and Number 5. Officially, to report and accompany the Number 1 damaged by the water.

Number 1 would be repaired deep inside the seat of government and checked for any errors. Luckily, the most important data was hidden deep inside him. Everything, about their plans. It would be impossible for the technicians to find them, as long as they did not search too deeply and only followed the normal protocols.

And Number 100 was to work in the seat of government in the meantime.

But Number 100 knew they were planning something else.

Number 5 was suspected of belonging to the rebellion. And Number 100 should confirm this. He also did not know to whom Number 5 and he were to hand over the rescued data. He also still did not know the contents of the data carrier.

And after the attack on the village, shortly before the crossing, they also lacked the information that the messenger should have brought. The messenger Icy never met. Instead, he saved a boy he couldn't forget now.