Hard Reboot Episode 01

Chapter 9

"Bobbi," Brita shook her sister, "wake up."

Bobbi opened her eyes and stretched her arms out. She yawned, which caused her to start a racking cough.

Brita searched the room for some clothes. She found them in a small closet next to the bathroom. She tossed them across Bobbi's lap.

"What's going on?" Bobbi asked.

"You're getting dressed, and we're going home." She pushed David into the bathroom and shut the door.

"Who's that?"

"Never mind that right now. Just Hurry up."

"But I'm still sick," Bobbi said as she sat on the edge of the bed and started to dress. "He said I had something and I made everyone else sick." She stopped.

"He?"

"The Chief-Consul. He said I got Mommy sick and she got everyone else sick."

Brita gasped and sobbed, turning her back to hide the rising tide of tears threatening to return.

Bobbi stopped dressing. "It's true. Isn't it?"

Brita wiped the tears from her eyes. She turned back to her sister.

"What?" She went to her side. "Of course that's not true." She hugged her sister to her chest.

"Then what is it?"

Brita didn't want to tell her. She had to protect her. Those were the last words her mother had said to her. Take care of your sister, and yourself.

"It's... nothing."

"You're lying," she accused. "Mommy says we shouldn't lie."

Brita choked back a sob, but it burst through and she wailed.

Bobbi jumped from the bed, hugged her sister tight around the waist. "What is it? Tell me."

Brita didn't know what to do. "I..." She deserved to know. "Mom..." But, she's so young. "I..." Mom would want me to tell her. "Mom - is dead." Her tears started flowing again.

"What? How?"

She didn't want to break her sister's heart. But, she told her everything: the search, finding her, the trip back to the hospital, and finding her again.

"No," Bobbi wailed burying her face in Brita's stomach.

Brita held her tight, letting the tears come. She knew they needed to leave, but Bobbi needed this more. She needed to process, to grieve.

Bobbi quieted down, snuffling her last sniffles, and eased her grip. She stepped back.

Brita squatted in front of her sister, looking her in the eye. "Better?"

Bobbi cocked an eyebrow in answer.

"We've got to get out of here. We're going home."

"No, Brita. I'm staying here." She climbed back on the bed. "I need to get better so I don't get you sick too." She pulled the covers up to her chin. "Go."

"No need to do that," Chief-Consul Quinn said.

The two sisters turned to the door as David stepped out of the bathroom. The three of them exchanged glances, worried glances. Quinn cracked a smug smile. Four officers stood in the doorway and hall behind him. They clutched pistols aimed into the room.

"Not," Quinn continued, "when we've all been reunited." He gestured and two of the officers came in and restrained David.

"Hi, Dad," David snarled. "Arrested any relatives lately?"