The Generators

3. Taya

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Theo, Luce, Jack, and I each went our separate ways and promised to meet back up in Luce and Jack's apartment for dinner to determine a plan of action.

First, I hit the gym, needing to break a sweat to ease my swirling mind. I ran until I thought I might throw up, I lifted weights until I thought my arms and legs would fall off, and I swam laps until I felt like death. But still, I couldn't find resolve.

I had questions and qualms that only the Prophesayer could answer, whoever they were. They'd say that many things would happen that we could never expect or prepare for and to be ready for anything, always. We couldn't trust anyone, and sometimes it felt like that even meant each other, but that was the only sure thing. The team. But were we? Everyone had secrets, that was obvious, but the Prophecy was foretold of harmful divisions between us. Honestly, even now, I could see it happening, and it scared me.

Take Charlie, for instance. Charlie just saw the world differently than all of us. When we were kids, it was clear that Baylor favored him over the rest of us, and to him, the missions the Civil Institute sent us on were all for the sake of good, there was no arguing that. Not that I thought that the Ethics Board was corrupt or anything, none of us did. The work they did was, for the most part, right and just. But here at CIVINST? Corruption ran red in the rivers and rampant through its blood. Ulterior motives were Professor Baylor's middle name. But Charlie just couldn't see any of it. As for the Prophesayer, Charlie didn't seem to have reservations, but I imagine, in the end, he'll want to come back here, to CIVINST, to continue doing "the good work." When the prophesayer told us to keep balance in the team, Charlie elected himself as the head, on and off of the field, Charlie was there to watch our backs. Which wasn't always a good thing. I mean, I love him, he's like a brother to me, but there are just somethings that Charlie can't do, and change is one of them.

With Charlie stood Lou, second in command. Lorelei (Roo)and I used to be best friends, better than best friends actually. Her cell was next to mine when we first got here, and for years, we were the only ones that we could count on. We were sisters and partners. Even to this day, she and I go on duo missions together. But when we were put into the team, and she became Charlie's second in command, things started to change. She took his word over her own, even though I see the way she bites her lip when Charlie stakes a notion she disagrees with. And who knows when Roo will stand up to him, if ever. She follows him, and he loves her for it, but I fear that Charlie will do something one day that will put her over the edge.

If Charlie and Roo were the brains, Navi and Sam were the brawn. They were born to be fighters; it was just who they were. And they did the best when they had someone to follow orders from, that someone being Charlie most of the time. But unlike Charlie, they both were fiercely committed to the prophesayer and our task. Navi was so sweet; from the look of her, she wouldn't hurt a fly. She and I, we bonded over our peacemaking abilities, which we had to use often in a team like ours. She was the only one who really knew the inner workings of Charlie's mind, maybe more than Lou. They were training partners, and that meant a lot more than just being gym buddies. When Theo tried to rebel against our fearless leader, it was Navi who would talk to him and calm him down. And Sam? What would we do without Sam.? He was always smiling. I've seen him leave a session with Baylor with a grin plastered on his face, both if his eyes were blackened, and blood leaking from his mouth. And he always had a joke to tell or a song to play on that ukulele he carried around. He'd sing mariachi at the top of his lungs under Navi's bedroom window or bring her a pile of roses just to brighten up her day. He would stick with Charlie if Charlie was a sinking ship, and it didn't matter that they rarely agreed about anything. Though they could usually be found in shouting matches, Sam trusted Charlie with his life, and that was that. No ifs or buts about it.