Alice wasn't lying when she said that this place would be better.
It's a lot better. Well, better than a gurney, at least. No more 45 - no, 50 - degree angles for me. Things are looking up.
The space I'm in is sparsely furnished. A simple bed hugs the back wall opposite the sliding door that only opens from the outside. I've checked. There's a dark strip that runs the length around the room, continuing even through the corners. It's a tad darker shade of the gray that blankets the room and sits at eye level. It's only perhaps two or three inches wide. The fluorescent light above shines too brightly and casts shadows from the chair and desk that sit lonely on the right.
As if I didn't have enough light the desk has a small lamp and a simple data pad - one of those old ones from 2237 or 2238. I blanch. I hate seeing old tech not being put to good use.
Or at least recycled.
My curiosity gets the better of me after a little while (my sense of time and "a little while" being incredibly relative) and tap the data pad. It pulses to life with a small hum. The display lights up with a blue hue, gradually shifting to white, then finally translucent. The time and date are provided at the top.
12 SEP 2240 // 1631
I grin. At least I can tell what time it is now. I frown, however, as I take another glance at the time. Was it really that far into the evening? I felt like I'd been here forever.
Turns out two days without a watch feels like forever.
I thumb through the contents of the data pad. Not much here except for some pre-installed games and news articles. I get bored of the games after beating all two of them and try accessing the net, only to receive a NO SIGNAL error message.
Typical. Skimp on the data, Bad Guy Organization.
A few hours pass (I make sure the data pad stays on sleep mode so the time is constantly on the screen) before my attention is drawn to the familiar hissing of the door.
"The Coordinator wishes to see you," says a small, ponytail-sporting young soldier. Her eyes are electrifying.
I look her up and down and notice that both she, and a rather large brute behind her, are strapped with guns at their thighs. "Can you tell her I'm busy? I've only been staring at this wall for the last forty-two minutes and want to make it an even sixty."
The brutish man almost has to squeeze himself through the door. He approaches me and grumbles, "We won't ask again."
I shrug, "I don't suppose you're a gentle giant, are you?" I get up out of the chair and turn to point at the data pad, "Can I at least bring that with me?"
The man shakes his head. My shoulders slump, "I thought you might say that."
*****
I'm led through hallways for a while. Again, a while because I'm left with no way to tell time.
This is getting slightly irritating.
The only variation in our journey are the occasional turns which lead to more of the same hallway. I'm about to make a snarky remark about the copious amount of hallways when we stop abruptly in front of a door. I try to slam on the brakes but only come to a full stop after bumping into the brute's back.
I give him a sheepish grin and mumble an apology. His face says he's still angry, though.
I am led through the door into a spacious room. It is coated in a warm red with accents of deep browns. It isn't extravagantly furnished, but it definitely feels better than a lot of hotels I've visited. I don't have long to examine much more before I hear her clear her throat, "Thomas?"
It comes out more of a question and I doubt that's what she intended. "Yes?"
"I've been waiting. Please, have a seat." She motions to one of the plush sectionals that surround a glass coffee table.
Alice's hair is tied into a loose braid, cascading down her left shoulder. She is wearing a wool, gray sweater that is one size too big for her that has a dangerously wide neck. The sweater slides ever-so-slightly down her right shoulder, catching level with the collarbone. The straps of a red undershirt do little to curb my imagination and I'm shocked to see she wears very thin gym shorts underneath - solid black.
I look back to see the other two have gone. I am alone with Alice.
I nod and seat myself. My heart is racing, racking itself against my ribcage. I sink comfortably into the cushion, "Nice place you have here. I was thinking of redoing mine but I think I might need a bigger budget." She giggles and it's a sound I didn't know I missed, "Do you think these sofas come in 'prisoner orange'?"
Her smile is warm as she shakes her head, her braid dancing with it, "I'm afraid not."
I snap my fingers dramatically, "Drat."
Alice takes a few steps toward the coffee table and places a small device on it. It gives a sharp screech before silencing. I wince, my ears ringing, "Quite the ambient music. I prefer jazz, myself."
Alice puts a finger to her lips, silencing me. After a beat of silence she sits down next to me. Well, I'd say "next to" but it is more like "nearly on top of." Nerves of steel, this one.
She clears her throat and her hazel eyes lock on mine, "That, Thomas, is a bug canceller. A little device we reverse engineered when we spent all those years looking for you."
"Reverse engineered? From what? I've never used anything that fancy," I eye the little square - cube - that sits atop the table.
"Not physically, no, but you pulled a handy little trick back in the Dakotas, remember?"
I recall, "You mean when I used a loopback protocol to stun your earpieces?"
She extends her finger into a pistol. Very cute. "Bingo." She repositions herself slightly farther from me, but not by much. "Do you know why I called you here?"
I shake my head, "Honestly? No clue. No snarky remark. Trust me, I love snarky remarks."
She giggles, "I've noticed." She tugs at her braid a little as she continues, "While I had been joking about going on a 'date', that is probably the best course of action. I know you're confused, but for public appearances and to eliminate City suspicion, we'll do just that - a date."
"You can't be serious?" My eyes widen when I notice her expression doesn't change, "I'm dating a bad guy?" She frowns. "Girl? Bad girl? And what kind of suspicion do you need to avoid? It's not like I've got anyone actively looking for me. Also, even if I just waltzed up to where we're hiding him, it's not like the City cares."
"That's where you're wrong, Thomas. Very wrong." Her brow furrows and her gaze becomes deadly serious, "I don't have time to explain it all now. I pulled a lot of strings to talk to you and went to great lengths to keep this conversation hidden." Alice motions to the bug canceller, "I'll only ask once. This question comes with a promise."
I nod, not quite sure what she's talking about. "Okay?"
"Who is working with you to keep Michael hidden? What is their name? How old are they? Do they have any political power? Are they with the City?"
The questions are so rapid fire that I have trouble keeping up, "Whoa, settle down. What makes you think I'd give you any information about them?"
"Because, Thomas, despite what you think, we're not all bad girls looking to dominate the world. You understand the situation the same as everyone else does in the City - which is to say not at all. Again, I don't have long." Her hazel eyes plead with me now and I can feel that same longing tingle creep up my neck and shoulders, "I promise I won't divulge this information to anyone here."
I cast my eyes downward. I can't trust her. I can't trust the Holos. There's no way I can simply give her vital information that could ruin my plans.
The answer is no.
