Fragments - Book One of the Missing

Chapter 18 - Scooter

Scooter's neck ached but his heart hummed. He had been lying on the floor for over an hour now, engineering more wires from the brain of his computer. His baby. One more piece here... He reached and listened for the sound of the final click. In response, monitors buzzed to life as the brain of his precious project woke up.

He crawled out from underneath the long desk and took a few feet back to admire her from afar. Twenty beautiful screens glowed back at him. He was glad to know he hadn't lost his skill from the stints in St. Andra's. It turned out all the reading he did there from mechanical and engineering textbooks of universities long ago had augmented the skill.

Pictures started coming into focus. The top two rows were security footage from cameras he had installed throughout Fenesmere and around the loft to protect their position. Most monitored Underground entrances and known hotspots. Several quiet stations and a few in the Nines. But when he found out where the Officials were stationed, you could bet he would have cameras surrounding them too. He saw Kat cross the screen and tense. At least his security system worked.

He had rigged all the cameras to alert them of unusual activity and to record it. He hoped one day they would lead him to who was responsible for the Missing. Who had kidnapped his family, or worse.

But in the aftermath of his family disappearing, mechanics had become a home of sorts. He used to build cars with his father and brother. At first model cars, but then real ones too. He didn't have the same resources now as he did then, so stealing cars and getting those few minutes of freedom would have to do. When he was locked up, and in hiding, building the brain was good enough.

Scooter sat down to focus on the bottom few screens. Escape routes from the city, hidden locations of his cars, and most importantly the hidden location of his safe and arsenal. Of course, he trusted Gills, but he didn't trust him not to freak out. Gills was paranoid by nature but too gentle at heart. Scooter knew that whatever was coming, if they wanted to be part of it, they would have to be ready.

A window popped up on the screen. One that he had not designed or engineered. His heart stopped and he leaned closer.

A message.

N - remember our deal. Time is running out. They need to learn.

How the Stars did someone hack into his system. Only someone better than him could have gotten in, and no one was better than him. His blood sizzled.

He knew who it was from. The blasted old man who picked him up from St. Andra's. He knew something. And he knew about them. It seemed like there was a game being played. Scooter didn't know the players and he didn't know the goal, but somehow they had gotten dragged into it. He didn't know if he could trust the old man, but he promised help if they ever needed him. Scooter could only hope he was on their side, because if. No, he corrected himself, when things went wonky again, the old man might be their only hope.